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WRESTLING DVDS
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101 Reasons NOT To be Pro-Wrestler
www.HollymoodEntertainment.com
If you've ever been annoyed by wrestlers giving "programmed" responses to hard hitting questions, the boy do I have a DVD for you. 101 Reasons NOT to be a Pro-Wrestler is a documentary that presents a series of shoot interviews from a unique array of wrestling personalities.
The Cast: New Jack, Diamond Dallas Page, Sean O'Haire, Chyna, Vampiro, Konnan, Psicosis, Rikishi, Tylene Buck, Sylvester "Predator" Terkay, and Babi Slymm.
The main portion of this documentary is has an amazing THREE hours of candid interviews packed into it. Michael Moody asks hard hitting questions to some of the industry's most brutally honest personalities and their responses never fail to amaze, shock or confuse all who view. As if the initial three hours was not enough, the additional two hours of bonus footage should seal the deal for you. Its unique format of jumping back and forth from character to character to maintain a healthy flow of information, will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end, and leave you asking "where did the time go?".
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Without giving too much away, I will now run down the cast and evaluate their performances.
New Jack: This guy is crazy. This guy is controversial. This guy was born to be in this documentary. I am literally scared of this man. But I also feel like he'd be a great ally if I ever went to war. Duh. Everyone who has ever experienced New Jack's style knows he is a straight shooter and every word out of his mouth will shock you sensless. Part of this DVD includes an absolutely insane match between New Jack and a 75 year old man that is so violent that it will leave you with your jaw hanging.
Diamond Dallas Page: A veteran who remains humble to this day, and remains "Positively Page" til the end. His wealth of experience is respected by all he works with. This interview was shot during a UPW show featuring DDP in one of his first matches out of retirement and he looked in tremendous shape and thrilled with the direction of his life. DDP also reacts to comments made by Ric Flair about him in his book.
Sean O'Haire: A self proclaimed "Asshole" and proud of it. You can't help but respect him for being so confident. This is the first time I've ever heard a wrestler credit Goldberg for helping him in the business. The most intrigueing part of his interview is when he addresses the highly publicized bar-fight incident in July of 2004.
Chyna: Or Chyna-doll, as we're supposed to say. Among other things, Chyna talked openly about the Triple H & Stephanie incident and the events leading to her WWE departure. Just as I started to think we were seeing a rare dignified side of Joanie Laurer, the tailgate came down and drinks were mixed and she turned into the embarrassment that we've all grown used to. You'll find yourself cringing when Chyna verbally experiments with lyrics to a new "song" she's composing while drunk.
Vampiro: Another straight shooter who has matured somewhat with age. You can tell he just has no time whatsoever for politics and that's been his downfall in the wrestling business. He seems like he spends most of his time being a joker with his friends, and that is actually a credit to his personal character. The DVD takes viewers behind the scenes of a commercial shoot for the Backyard Wrestling video game, showing Vampiro and New Jack performing stunts. Nice stuff.
Konnan: He has always had a big mouth and had a lot to say about many of the issues plaguing the wrestling business. His experience and wisdom lends a wise perspective to the goal of the entire documentary. Konnan expresses his passion for lucha libra and makes a bold prediction for where wrestling will be in five years.
Psicosis: A fun guy. All business. Clearly interested in his personal growth in the business and enjoys the reaction of the fans. He is a master of his craft and talks openly about his mask and its history. His innocence is exposed as he openly apologizes for his poor English several times. But he did a good job in my opinion.
Rikishi: Just weeks after getting released from the WWE after a 15 year career in and out of the company. Rikishi maintains his dignity and talks about his career as well as his family tree and has nothing bad to say about anybody in the business.
Tylene Buck: As much as I liked her contributions to WCW, I think her star shines a little brighter in her own mind than it does in the real world. She really was only a small piece of the pie that was WCW, but she tends to believe she was in Goldberg's league (seriously). What is more bizarre is that a make-up artist was working on Tylene during the entire duration of the interview, leaving me wondering "how much make up does she really need?"
Sylvester "Predator" Terkay: I knew very little about the big man before seeing this, but I was immediately drawn to his gentle and fun-loving personality. He talks of his experience as a WWF developmental wrestler, becoming a star in Zero-One, and making the transition to K1 fighting in Japan. He has his head on straight and really knows how to handle his own career, and doesn't seem in a hurry to sign over his life to the McMahons -- not unless the circumstances are right.
Babi Slymm: One of the young up and comers in UPW who got to work in the ring Diamond Dallas Page on the night this documentary was shot. Babi comes off as a green rookie who is eagar to learn and grow professionally and that will only help his career in the future.
The mix of personalities presented in this documentary is what makes it so entertaining. You get so many different perspectives that it really makes you think about each and every little thing said. Of all the characters involved, no two people share the same opinion on a single topic.
Speaking of topics, a few that are discussed in this film are politics, the death of WCW, backstage heat, creativity, losing your job, travelling, backyard wrestling, ribs (pranks), the internet, Mexico & Japan, drugs, injuries, alcohol, unions, Vince McMahon and SO MUCH MORE.
If you're a fan of shoot interviews. If you're a fan of wrestling. If you're a fan of having fun. Get this DVD.
If you would like to purchase a copy of 101 Reasons NOT to be a Professional Wrestler, you can go to the Hollywood Entertainment website by clicking here.
Or if you're still not convinced, go ahead and check out the trailer by clicking here.
Reviewed by Brad Dykens on July 5, 2005.
New York-based wrestler Mason Raige sent in his review:
If you're a casual wrestling fan and would pay $20 for a card that featured Rikishi, Diamond Dallas Page, Vampiro, Konnan, and Chyna, then you might want to pick up 101 Reasons Not to be a Pro Wrestler. If you're slightly interested in becoming a wrestler, you're already established, or you're a die-hard fan who's always wanted to sneak a peek backstage, 101 Reasons is a must-own DVD that gives the viewer an intense glimpse into the volatile world of professional wrestling.
The DVD features wrestlers who are not exactly lighting the wrestling world on fire these days, so I figured that they would be a bunch of whiners crying sour grapes about how they were never given the right opportunities to shine...and to a certain extent, I was correct. However, some of the interviewees are so surprisingly honest and brutally blunt that it will definitely raise your eyebrows quite a few times during viewing. Featuring wrestling's most outspoken performer, New Jack, as well as many familiar and not-so-familiar faces, 101 Reasons is a chair shot to the head that will change your views on wrestling, especially if you have a fan's perspective.
Two of the most honest wrestlers featured on the DVD are Konnan and Vampiro, who apparently are the "Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth" of Mexican wrestlers, according to Konnan. Great analogy! Konnan discusses frankly the state of the industry today and trashes JBL as WWE Champion. He also openly discusses WWE and its political locker room and office yet is political enough himself to possibly leave the door open for one more run with Eddie Guerrero or Rey Mysterio. Hey, you can't blame the guy for trying to make a living, right? Vampiro, on the other hand, seems to care less about ever working for Vince McMahon and pulls no punches when talking about the business.
Vampiro discusses drugs, politics, sexual politics (yikes!), and the pressures of wrestling. He talks honestly about injuries, gaining and losing one's spot, and many other negatives of the business. Vampiro, who for some reason showcases his very bizarre-looking pectorals throughout his interview, does lose credibility as his buddies throw objects at him and distract him as he's being interviewed. Although he looks very childish at times, Vampiro speaks with a great deal of conviction, and he definitely has the experience to know what he's talking about. However, he does admit that "drugs are good," so one has to wonder if he's bitter because he may have never reached his full potential due to his personal choices.
Chyna is also heavily showcased, and her storied past is openly discussed. As lucid and well spoken as she sometimes comes off in this documentary, there are many clips where she is acting unprofessionally, and that overrides any credibility she has. We won't even factor in her performance on The Surreal Life. However, her track record does speak for itself as far as her career goes, so you can't argue that she has the experiences from which to draw. It's sad to see someone so broken by the business, although, to her credit, she really doesn't blame wrestling for her downfall. She blames Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Her brother, who unfortunately makes a cameo, is a complete and utter buffoon. You'll get slightly uncomfortable every time you watch him try to add something to the commentary.
New Jack, as can be expected, holds nothing back and releases a profanity-laden tirade like only New Jack can. While sipping a very large vat of alcohol, the Original Gangsta speaks candidly about promoters, drugs, paydays, and the Internet. He claims that wrestlers are "men who pretend to be boys" so they don't step on promoters' toes, and he discusses the industry today in great detail. The camera follows New Jack around California, where the video is set, and he is never at a loss for words. 101 Reasons also contains a match (I use this term loosely) that New Jack has against an old, feeble wrestler (again, loosely). If you can watch this match and not feel at least slightly awkward, you may be a heartless person. New Jack literally beats this guy senseless and drags him all over the gym, where a small number of odd-looking fans have gathered to witness this debacle. The guy, who I believe is named Gypsy Joe, is old, flabby, and seems to be under the influence of something because he barely reacts to the beating and doesn't seem to comprehend what's happening. You have to see this to believe it.
Other participants in the video are Rikishi, Sean O'Haire, and Diamond Dallas Page. Each is very cautious when answering questions and presents the business in a positive light. However, Rikishi and DDP have both had successful and high-profile careers and may not have too much complaining to do. O'Haire, who claims to be done with wrestling, is smart enough to realize he is young enough and athletic enough to break back into wrestling in the future, so he's understandably careful not to burn any bridges. DDP, aware that many people will see this DVD, plugs everything he is currently involved with! Free publicity can't be beaten, and Page knows that.
Some less-famous faces also appear on 101 Reasons include Tylene Buck, who spends the entire DVD in a make-up chair (very annoying to watch) and offers no real insight whatsoever. The camera operator must've realized this and seems to zoom in on her torso quite a few times as she's babbling. Predator, a fighter from Zero-One who claims to have rejected a WWE contract, offers lots of opinions and speaks freely. To his credit, he has a strong vocabulary and speaks with conviction. On the other hand, Babi Slymm, a slovenly independent wrestler who will annoy you with his nonsensical chatter and repeated use of the word "dawg," offers nothing to the viewer but a desire to scan through his screen time, of which he receives way too much. Although rather unaccomplished, these guys do offer a different side to the wrestling business, and it's clear why the director/writer added in these clips.
101 Reasons Not to Be a Pro Wrestler will definitely give you some further insight into the wrestling business, but I'd be highly surprised if it actually steers people away from becoming wrestlers. A big problem with the industry today is that it contains many people who should be in the crowd rather than behind the scenes, but this DVD won't scare away those individuals. While Moody's offering only highlights the negatives of the business and it is can be argued that the individuals airing their gripes are somewhat hypocritical and/or soured, 101 Reasons is definitely worth a peek.
Email comments to Mason@MasonRaige.com
For more on the author, check out www.MasonRaige.com
If you would like to purchase a copy of 101 Reasons NOT to be a Professional Wrestler, you can go to the Hollywood Entertainment website by clicking here.
Or if you're still not convinced, go ahead and check out the trailer by clicking here.
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