If it can't move, it's not an action figure!  More like a figurine. 

Both of those look like Vince in a blonde wig

I can’t see “unsee” that. 

I agree.

Wrestling can often feel redundant. I mean, did the death of WCW need more discourse? I fully expect that in 2027, we’ll see a “Montreal Screwjob DVD”. What is there left to say?

Everyone here has no doubt not only watched wrestling but read about it. We’re a knowledgable bunch, all of us. From the PWI family of mags and insider newsletters to countless DVD and Network documentaries, I’d say any one of us here would pass a “History of Wrestling” Exam.

I just don’t know what more can be said, and they certainly can’t discuss a potential court case.

If anything, it's not going to paint a particularly good picture of Vince for people that aren't already familiar with him. Honestly, he's kind of a sad person, but not to the point where I'd ever feel sorry about him. He's done deplorable, horrible things for the sake of protecting himself. He wanted the world to remember his name, but as the decades went on, it's become known for all the wrong reasons

Last night’s viewing, hosted by Johnny Polo:






What’s this exclusive Owen Hart match? Hmmm…

Lex Luger vs. The Model Rick Martel

Martel seemed like glorified enhancement talent in 1994. Here, he and Lex put on a solid bout, which Lex wins via the Torture Rack. As I said, solid, but nothing particularly great or memorable.

Owen Hart vs. Mike Freeman

Mike who? Yes, the “exclusive Owen Hart match” that the sleeve promises is a squash match from 1994, which Owen wins via the sharpshooter. At the time I presumed this’d be an unreleased Bret vs. Owen match or something, well, exclusive. Shameless as ever, Coliseum Video.

The Bushwhackers vs. The Quebecers

This is about exactly what you’d expect, nothing more, nothing less. It’s fun while it lasts. Jacques pins Butch for the win.

Tatanka vs. Chris Hamrick

Chris who? Read my thoughts on Owen Hart vs. Mike Freeman, and you’ll have an idea of how I feel about this being include on the tape. Coliseum tapes should have been about star power, they weren’t exactly cheap tapes (between £10 and £15 in the UK). Tatanka wins via pinfall.

Koko B. Ware vs. Jeff Jarrett

A typical WWF match of the era, which doesn’t last too long. Jarrett pins Koko. Like Martel, Koko, and so many others, became “glorified enhancement talent” between 1992 and 1994, which is a shame.

Tatanka, the Smoking Gunns, The 1-2-3 Kid & Sparky Plugg v. Jeff Jarrett, IRS, The Headshrinkers & Rick Martel

Yes, this is the match that wasn’t included at WM X due to time constraints (or whatever the real reason was). Lots of strange bedfellows here: The Headshrinkers never came across as team players, just like Bad News Brown didn’t. I mean, would Martel have approved of the fashion choices of Samu and Fatu? And could IRS have been sure the Headshrinkers had done their taxes? This doesn’t really work because at under 8 minutes, there simply wasn’t time to showcase all the participants. If you ask me, 6, 8 or 10-man tag matches would need at least 15-20 minutes to really work. So there’s nothing memorable here. (IRS pins Kid to get the win for his team)

Yokozuna vs. Scott Powers

Scott who? Yep, another squash match. The only other time I recall a squash match being on a Coliseum tape was on one of the Ultimate Warrior’s tapes, where he slaughtered Bob Emery. Squash matches do not belong on videotapes (oh, Yoko pins Powers, but you knew that already).

Summary

WWF Mania was one of my favourite WWF shows of that period, I even preferred it over Monday Night Raw (mostly), and it did feature competitive matches. This tape doesn’t really have a standout bout that would make its purchase worthwhile. Once again, the match selection is baffling, and it made you wonder if Coliseum employees just chose things without any rhyme or reason. The inclusion of the match that didn’t make the WM X card makes sense, but it doesn’t save the tape. This will be another video I’ll be donating.

This afternoon’s viewing:






This is, as the tape states, a review of the year 1992, Unlike later DVD releases, the chronology is all over the place, as was often the case with Coliseum releases. There is also the dreaded “recycling”, which confirms my “conspiracy theory” that Greenpeace were secretly funding the WWF.

There’s also some coverage of late 1991 moments (such as The Rockers’ splitting up) that will provide context to the 1992 stuff.

Let’s concentrate on the matches to start with.

The Mountie vs. Bret Hart

This is a grudge match of sorts, taking place in February of 1992. The Mountie had cheated Bret out of the IC Championship and then lost the belt to Roddy Piper at the Royal Rumble. It’s a pretty good bout, but just as Bret is about to win with the sharpshooter, the Nasty Boys interfere. So we get an inconclusive ending. Thankfully, Roddy Piper runs out to even the odds.

Roddy Piper vs. Shawn Michaels

When Michaels became a singles star, he was often kept away from main eventers (I wanted to see Michaels battle Hulk Hogan), although he did face WWF World Champion Randy Savage during the 1992 European tour. Anyway, there’s an interesting contrast between the veteran Piper (he was a veteran in ‘92, right?) and the cocksure, young heel. This was a cracking bout, and I wish we’d seen a feud between these two, although Piper left after WM VIII. Sadly, we have our second non-finish ending of the tape after a ref bump. Shame.

Hulk Hogan tribute

Hogan sits down with Vince McMahon and they have a semi-kayfabe discussion, with Vince wishing Hogan well. There are also match clips. For the ten thousandth time on Coliseum releases, we see Hogan vs. Andre (WM III) and Hogan vs. Warrior (WM VI). Understandable though it is to show highlights of his key bouts, as this is a 1992-specific review, could we not have seen, I don’t know, a 1992 match from say, SNME? Coliseum were so unimaginative at times.

WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty

After clips of the Rockers’ split up, we get this mesmerising bout, possibly the best one the two men had. We’re in November 1992. From start to finish, no move is wasted. Shawn gets the win via pinfall (not entirely by legal means, I might add, but that’s what he was like, eh?).

The Undertaker vs. The Berzerker

I quite liked this feud, and both men seemed to have good chemistry. Berzerker seemed to be very good at selling his frustration of not being able to put Undertaker away. The Berzerker risks a police prosecution (presumably) as he attempts to use his sword. He also piledrives Undertaker onto the exposed concrete. So, another non-finish, but satisfying in its own way.

Casket Match: The Undertaker vs. Kamala

From Survivor Series ‘92. It’s woeful. Taker wins. This was one of my least favourite feuds of 1992. Enough said.

Papa Shango vs. Brian Brieger

A match that isn’t a match. The black goo and fire incapacitates Brieger. Enough said.

WWF Tag Team Champions Natural Disasters vs. Money Inc.

This is the belt where the heels regain the tag team championship. I initially enjoyed the feud when it began in early 1992, but by late 1992, I was a little bored with it. The two teams had the “same match” each time. This was a slow, plodding bout, and I was glad when it ended (DiBiase finishes off Earthquake with the Million Dollar Dream).

WWF Champion Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair

I did expect better from this when I first saw it. Flair wins the title back via figure-four leglock, thanks to interference from Razor Ramon. Savage’s reign did seem a little underwhelming, and I actually believe he and Flair had better bouts in WCW. This was rather unsatisfying.

WWF Champion Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels

From Survivor Series ‘92. It’s an excellent bout, and it’s back and forth between both men, leading to a sharpshooter win for Bret. Of course, this match was on the PPV tape, which most of us already had at the time.

WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith

From Wembley Stadium, the place that Hulk Hogan claimed to have wrestled at (he didn’t). It’s a remarkable bout which has stood the test of time well, and one of the best bouts ever seen on British soil. You know the result (Bulldog wins via pinfall). Both men celebrate as the PPV goes off the air. Hogan main eventing is nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he had a dark match against Skinner or Jim Powers, who knows?

Summary

There’s a lot that is good about this tape, and one can’t criticise the calibre of the PPV bouts. I do feel more could have been done to keep the narrative chronological. And I feel there could and should have been some focus on the WWF’s syndicated shows. “Recycling” of bouts always got on my nerves, though. However, the majority of the tape is enjoyable.