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WWE: Daniel Bryan – Just Say Yes! Yes! Yes! Blu-ray review
Thanks to his own hard work, talent and likeability, Daniel Bryan is a superstar who is well on his way to becoming one of the most loved WWE Superstars of all time. This DVD/Blu-ray documentary offers you an insight into his rise to fame and also a behind the scenes look at his 2014 championship winning WrestleMania moment.
Originally broadcast on the WWE Network in the months following WrestleMania XXX last year, this release follows in the steps of previous releases The Destruction of the Shield and The Ultimate Warrior: Always Believe by being released on Blu-ray and DVD as a director’s cut. The documentary itself offers a look at Bryan’s career from how he got started in the business, right up to how he earned his spot at WrestleMania XXX in 2014. All of this is illustrated by frank interview snippets from Bryan and other WWE Superstars, together with clips from various WWE programming. Added to this are behind the scenes clips from the period leading up to his WrestleMania championship win and even a couple after the event.
On paper this sounds fantastic, and to a degree it is interesting and entertaining to watch, but it also feels like it’s missing something. This could be due to the fact that it’s now been over a year since the event and a lot more has happened to Bryan during that time which is far more dramatic than the events in this documentary. Also, the segments about his life and career are very short and as such you feel that it is more like a potted history of this young talent. It’s a shame as the main documentary is what people will be paying to see on the DVD version, which does not have the wealth of extras offered on the Blu-ray version. For example there is no mention at all in the documentary about Bryan’s relationship with the paediatric brain cancer patient, Connor The Crusher Michalek, a relationship that was very special to Bryan and one that saw Connor have a ringside seat at the event to watch his hero triumph. There are deleted sections in the extras too, but as this is a director’s cut of the original documentary, why not just add them in?
That said the extras are fantastic and you are treated to a wide range of matches from Bryan’s career, but these are mostly WWE focused due to the fact that these are all the WWE owned or were able to negotiate. In regards to the Blu-ray version, the extras are a good enough reason to buy the title.
Content aside, as usual both versions offer the viewer the highest quality based on the format you have purchased; something that you may not have been able to experience had you seen the documentary on the internet based WWE Network (depending on your internet connection).
Overall, whilst it is great that the WWE are releasing this original and often fantastically created content that was made for the WWE Network, it would be nice if they released it a little bit sooner to avoid some of it being dated.
WWE: Daniel Bryan – Just Say Yes! Yes! Yes! is available now on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Fremantle International, can be purchased here and is definitely worth purchasing if you have not seen it on the WWE Network. If you have, then it is recommended that you go with the Blu-ray version as this has enough extra content to justify spending £22.99 (along with the £9.99 per month you spend on the WWE Network subscription).
WWE: Ultimate Warrior – Always Believe Blu-ray review
For many wrestling fans of the late eighties and early nineties there is only one neon face painted and decorated man that runs into their mind when they think of the sport and he is The Ultimate Warrior. Flash forward to 2014 and after a long and tumultuous relationship with the WWE he was now simply known as Warrior. He was also finally back in the company that made him, and he helped make. He was even afforded the ultimate honour of being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame that year.
The perfect end to this dark chapter of his very own tale, but alas in something more akin to the end of a Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, several days after his induction and appearance on WWE Monday Raw, this great legend died when he collapsed in a car park in front of his wife following a heart attack. It was a moment so monumental that it attracted news coverage the world over and caused a wave of grief that spanned generations of fans and wrestlers alike.
So what has this history lesson got to do with a DVD/Blu-Ray review you ask? Well shortly after his death the WWE announced that they would be airing a documentary tribute to the superstar on its own subscription product, The WWE Network. Now, nearly a year later, this documentary has finally been released on to home video format with an extra thirty minutes of footage and a whole host of extras.
The documentary itself chronicles the recent homecoming of Warrior to the WWE with a bit of history about how he came to the company and his impact at that time mixed in. Setting the tone for the following ninety minutes, it begins with a statement from his wife recorded early this year. It makes you realise that you will need tissues if you intend to get through this.
The documentary takes viewers on an emotional journey as it mixes in a lot of heartfelt stories and interviews from the people closest to the Warrior, such as his wife, friends, WWE superstars Triple H, Sting, Vince McMahon and to add the emotional knockout punch, his two young daughters Indiana and Mattigan whom he treasured. With interviews shot after his death, this really does help make the documentary unique as rarely, if ever, in WWE history have they shown some of its highest ranking officials this vulnerable. In fact, the scenes featuring the normally strong and tough Vince McMahon welling up will have even the toughest wrestling fans crying along with him.
You are even shown a piece of footage that was shot as Warrior left WWE Monday Night Raw, where he gives what is likely his last ever short WWE interview; a moment that leaves a chill down your spine when you realise this.
As mentioned there is still comment from the man himself, which is is coupled with some footage from not only his family archive, but also footage from the days and months building up to his WWE return. Many have speculated that this footage was to be used as part of a special WWE series looking at his return had he been alive, so its inclusion here helps add a sense of sadness to the piece and at what could have been. It also provides us with a great look at a man finally being able to settle old scores, mend broken fences and as such give him the peace he had long been craving.
This release also has the lovely and heartwarming addition of footage showing the family after his passing and how they are coping, as well as how their WWE family have helped them during their grief.
It is hard not to think that the release of this product is a way of the company making money. But when you consider that the WWE have still honoured the existing contract between them and Warrior so as to take care of his family, you then realise that earnings from this release will in some part be going to his family.
The WWE have done themselves proud when it comes to the extras on the Blu-Ray set. It features a comprehensive collection of Warrior’s legendary and sometimes nonsensical promos and interviews, deleted scenes from the documentary, uncut footage that was used in the documentary, a wide variety of matches from throughout his career and more; so much more. One of the highlights of these extras are a series of interviews with his wife and children about their life together as a family, giving you a rare glimpse into the man he was when away from the ring. It also further helps to hammer home how cruel fate was to take him from the world when it did, as it finally appeared that with his re-connection to the WWE he had everything he had ever wanted. It is safe to say that the content and running time of these extras is actually enough to make it a viable home video release in its own right and worth the extra money to get the Blu-Ray version.
All in all this documentary is a masterpiece (and those are words I do not use often) of storytelling from start to finish and one that takes the viewer on an emotional celebration of this talented pro-wrestler’s life. Looking stunning in HD, it is filmed, edited, scored and constructed brilliantly and as such the viewer is seamlessly guided from emotional moment, to happy moment and back again, without even realising it. It will have you smiling, crying and may even help take you on a voyage of self-discovery through showing the true strength of a person and how it can help you through whatever life throws at you.
This is a release that hands down every fan of WWE past and present should own, and even those who are not fans will find themselves spellbound by it. It is a perfect tribute which shows that the man behind the face paint was a true legend. To quote from this great entertainer’s last televised speech,”What that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them believe deeper in something larger than life. Then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalised by the storytellers, by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honour him and make the running the man did live forever.“
Rest in Peace Warrior.
WWE: Ultimate Warrior – Always Believe Blu-Ray is available now priced £22.99 here.
WWE Tables, Ladders, Chairs…and Stairs 2014 Blu-ray & DVD review
TLC is still a relatively young pay-per-view event, but it has solidified its place as one of the ones to watch every year for the dangerous array of weapons that it brings to the table. It’s also played host to some great matches, such as the merging of the two world titles into the WWE World Heavyweight championship, and CM Punk defending the belt against the Miz and Del Rio in a TLC match. It’s the kind of night that gets the wrestler’s blood boiling, and the fans cheering for more. This year’s entry into the series sees some upstart superstars fighting for their place in the limelight. Seth Rollins takes on the legendary John Cena to prove himself as the future face of the WWE. Erick Rowan goes toe to toe with the giant Big Show. Rusev continues his path of destruction, taking on Jack Swagger again. Dean Ambrose takes his feud with Bray Wyatt to the next level with a full TLC match.
2014 is the year the next generation of superstars got to really make their mark, so why not put an exclamation point on the end of a fantastic run with the final major outing of the year. Get ready for some high octane action as a card full of fan favourites, and newer, eager faces ready to make their mark go head-to-head, and they’re bringing all the dangerous toys, except maybe the kitchen sink.
Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship – Luke Harper vs Dolph Ziggler
Kickstarting the night is Dolph Ziggler facing off against Luke Harper, and true to the show’s form they’re doing so with ladders. The two underrated performers put on an amazing bout to open the show. Ziggler’s quick offence combined with Harper’s explosive brutality basically guarantees an interesting match-up, but throw a pile of ladders into the mix and you know it’s going to be great. Both men really go the distance, and have the crowd chanting and screaming with excitement from the get-go. A classic match between two talented wrestlers with plenty of action and surprise.
Tag Team Championship match – The Miz & Damien Mizdow vs The Usos
Another jewel on Damien Mizdow’s rise to stardom as the Miz’ stunt double sees the Usos re-challenging the Moneymaker and his stunt double for the tag team titles that they lost at Survivor Series. This match really sets the foundation for the coming feud between Miz and Mizdow, and shows the fan support for the ever-humorous Mizdow character.
The Usos bring everything to the table, from high-flying offence, to comedic spots, and some brilliant tag-team capers. Add in Mizdow’s copycat-stunt-double antics, and you can be sure of entertainment from start to finish. Maybe not the most important match of the night, but one you want to see nonetheless, even if it’s just to get a bit Uso crazy.
Stairs match – The Big Show vs Erick Rowan
A curious addition the line-up was the stipulation of a stairs match, giving this year’s TLC a little extra added S. Big Show, representing the Authority, is looking to dish out some pain, but Erick Rowan won’t go down lightly. These two bald behemoths have clashed before, but never in an environment like this. Both men are easily capable of throwing the steel stair sets around like they were cardboard and make for an excellent choice to bring this gimmick match to fruition.
This match seemed to lack the heat of some of the other marquee match-ups of the night, but Rown and Show put on a fairly impressive fight. Big Show tosses Rowan around like his 300lb weight is nothing, and Erick Rowan pulls out some surprise offence as he tries to take out the Giant.
Tables match – John Cena vs Seth Rollins
One of the biggest matches of the night sees an arrogant challenger take on a legend. Seth Rollins steps up against one of the most popular WWE superstars of all time in a devastating tables match, with the added stipulation that if John Cena doesn’t beat the upstart challenger, then he will lose his #1 contender status for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and his match against current champion; Brock Lesnar.
Both men take a beating in this tables match, which has the makings of a match of the year candidate. Rollins proves again and again that he is ready for more main event spots with big stars such as John Cena with his talented in-ring ability, and John Cena puts on a stellar showing against the Money in the Bank contract holder.
Seth Rollins has shown lightning offence combined with high-flying, high-risk maneuvers, and powerful finishers, making for a deadly opponent in the ring. John Cena’s legacy of overcoming all odds is not to be taken lightly, especially when it’s all on the line. One man has everything to prove, whilst the other has everything to lose. Be sure of tension, and some amazing spots throughout.
Divas Championship match – Nikki Bella vs AJ Lee
Another rematch sees AJ Lee looking to take back the Divas Championship from Nikki Bella. The Bella Twins have been on a bit of a roll as of late, with Brie’s surprise heel turn helping Nikki capture and keep the Diva’s Championship over the last month. Brie watches Nikki from ringside, but you know that the devious sisters have a few tricks up their sleeves.
AJ is one of the best competitors in the divas division, and after her embarassment at Survivor Series, she wants revenge on the twins. Pulling out some brilliant offence to compliment Nikki’s mat-focused assault, AJ really shows off how talented and capable she is.
Chairs match – Ryback vs Kane
Rounding out the Authority’s feud against Ziggler, Rowan, and Ryback is the Big Guy’s confrontation with corporate Kane. Both lifelong and new fans of wrestling should be familiar with Kane’s streak of brutality over the WWE locker room, and Ryback’s reputation as the human Wrecking Ball bodes well for this match-up. Throwing chairs into the mix means we’re sure to see some devastating spots.
I expect to see a bit of violence at TLC every year, and this is the match-up that delivers. Ryback’s speed and strength pair well with Kane’s seemingly endless appetite for destruction. Slow at times, but sure and steady even when they both seem like they’ve got nothing left, these two men persevere to put on an exciting match.
United States Championship match – Rusev vs Jack Swagger
Rusev’s first pay-per-view title defence pits him against the Real American, Jack Swagger. Fighting not just for patriotism, but to take back the United States Championship from the tyrannical clutches of Rusev and Lana, Jack Swagger is set to once again face the Bulgarian Brute.
Rusev’s undefeated streak has become even more impressive since acquiring the United States Championship, and made it much more important that he remains undefeated. Swagger makes for a great challenger, after putting on some fantastic matches in their patriotic feud earlier in the year. Running roughshod over everyone else in the locker room, Rusev has certainly deterred his fair share of challengers as well as destroy them. The Accolade looks to claim another victim.
Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match – Bray Wyatt vs Dean Ambrose
I’m gonna admit, I was looking forward to this match the most. Dean Ambrose quickly built a following and became a fan favourite almost overnight after the Shield broke up. His insane antics proved entertaining week after week, and his berserker fury at Bray Wyatt could only end in the most fitting of ways; a TLC match. Best yet, it’s a chance for both men to prove that they’re worthy of main event status without their prior respective stables.
Both men had an electric entrance, from the eerie sea of ‘fireflies’ that accompany Bray, to the shrieks of support for Dean. The Lunatic Fringe breaks out some astonishing offence early on, and maintains an advantage over the maniacal Wyatt patriarch, but Bray has plenty of tricks up his sleeves (well, glove) and truly puts Ambrose to the test in this savage match.
The no disqualification nature of a TLC match means that both these crazed fanatics get a chance to annihilate one another in the cruelest of manners, and be sure that they do. The crowd watching were in awe, and you probably will be as well.
All in all, TLC was a good pay-per-view. It’s got ups and downs, but even at its worst, you’ll still be excited by the best it’s got to offer. Everything from brutal showdowns, to match of the year candidates made up for any slow parts of the night, and just about every match had something surprising that got the fans on their feet. The younger stars definitely impressed a lot of people, and this pay-per-view could go down in history as one of the stepping stones that leads to an entirely new generation of superstars. If nothing else, the main event alone should be exciting enough for any fan of wrestling or WWE.
Blu Ray Exclusives:
Monday Night Raw – November 24, 2014
Daniel Bryan returns
Monday Night Raw – December 1, 2014
The Anonymous General Manager sets the main event match for TLC
SmackDown – December 5, 2014
Wyatt and Ambrose’s feud escalates as Wyatt decimates the Lunatic Fringe
Monday Night Raw – December 8, 2014
Dean Ambrose returns with a vengeance, and Paul Heyman calls out Seth Rollins
DVD Special Features:
TLC 2014 Kickoff
The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) vs Gold & Stardust
Post Match Interview with Dolph Ziggler
Post Match Interview with The Bella Twins
The Road Is Jericho: Epic Stories and Rare Matches From Y2J
Y2J fans rejoice: the ‘Highlight’ is back with an all new DVD/Blu-ray, The Road Is Jericho: Epic Stories and Rare Matches From Y2J, set for release on March 16th.
This release is a little different from the classic “where they grew up, how they broke into the business and where they are now” documentary-style release the WWE usually put out, and that’s a good thing.
In The Road is Jericho, we join Y2J in his limo on route to a Fozzy gig, as he looks back at the matches that have, in his opinion, defined his career, his character and his love for the business – matches that he loves, matches that he hates and even (in the cast of one against Stone Cold), matches that he has no memory of.
Jericho not only introduces each match, with his reasons for making the choice, the story behind the match itself and even some insights into the build-up and his personal relationships with his opponents, but also shares a number of previously unheard stories. The stories begin from as far back as his days as Lion Heart Chris Jericho in Stampede Wrestling, moving onto his time in Mexico and Japan, and his brief but successful stint in ECW, before turning to his growth and eventual heel-turn in WCW and of course his infamous arrival in WWE, all the way up to his final (for now) match against Randy Orton.
Jericho also talks about his input into the business, how frustrations, storylines and fellow superstars helped shape his career and how he manages to balance his multiple jobs. Even when he is away from the ring, he is always working, be it on tour with his band Fozzy, writing (he has a journalism degree), or talking about his fantastic podcast, Talk Is Jericho.
One of the most interesting stories concerns how European dates, especially in the UK, were difficult: arriving on the day of the show and only catching a couple of hours’ sleep at the venue before going out to perform, and then often travelling back the same night. He tells of how the Undertaker once tore his ear, but he didn’t have time to get it stitched up in case they missed their flight.
In another fascinating revelation, Jericho explains how, when he initially came to the WWE, Vince McMahon paired him with X-Pac to help come to terms with the “WWE style”. At that point, Jericho had to run all his match ideas past X-Pac before each match.
Unlike many of WWE’s previous releases, the matches that Jericho has chosen tend to be rare and forgotten matches, or pay-per-view undercards, rather than the same old main events that already appear on multiple other releases. Matches against Ultimo Dragon, Pitbull #2 (for the ECW TV Championship), Dean Malenko and X-Pac, as well as a wonderful ladder match with Shawn Michaels are just a few of the electrifying battles hand-picked by the Ayatollah of Rock-n-Rolla.
The Road Is Jericho is a fantastic release, packed with great stories, wonderful memories and a whole bunch of incredible battles, all put together in a completely new format that will hopefully mark a new direction in WWE DVD/Blu-ray releases that is sure to thrill Jericho and wrestling fans alike.
If you’re looking for a biography for the star, check out Chris Jericho: Breaking The Code, but if you’re interested after a collection of outstanding matches and behind-the-scenes stories, then The Road Is Jericho: Epic Stories and Rare Matches from Y2J is definitely for you.