GUEST BOOKER with J.J. DILLON
Reviewed by Brad Dykens
Description: KayfabeCommentaries.com is back with the third installment of their innovative and popular “Guest Booker” series of DVDs. Previous editions featured established bookers Kevin Sullivan and Gabe Sapolsky breaking down and re-booking different eras of pro-wrestling’s past. In Sullivan’s case, he was faced with the task of booking the expansion WWF in 1984, and Sapolsky re-organized the new ECW product of 2005. J.J. Dillon headlines the latest “Guest Booker” DVD, which follows a slightly different format. Guest Booker’s 1 and 2 focused on developing the product over a long period of time and culminating in one big payoff event, such as a Pay-Per-View. J.J. offers a completely different perspective, that of a television producer, explaining how to use the promotions TV programs to build to a prearranged PPV line-up. The conversation BEGINS with a discussion about the basic requirements of what it takes to deliver a successful wrestling show for television, including the ins-and-outs of the all-important production meetings and some insight into his experience co-producing the WWF product between 1989 and 1996 along side Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson. Then when it was time to get down to business; they started the process by announcing the entire PPV card from top to bottom and it was Dillon’s job to “get us there” over a three week period, including A and B shows each week and a Saturday Night prime time special. The era is 1992 and the matches are inter-promotional (includes WCW and WWF wrestlers). Dillon gives explanation as to how he would build each of the high profile matches to generate the most interest (heat), and then concludes with telling us the finish of each PPV match.
J.J. Dillon is also the co-author of his highly-praised autobiography Wrestlers are Like Seagulls, From McMahon to McMahon, which is an in-depth look at Dillon’s career as a pro-wrestler, manager, booker, and television producer. Mr. Dillon is one of very few people who has achieved success in all aspects of wrestling; so now everybody can benefit from the wisdom of his unlimited experience.
I must reiterate how important it is for anybody working his or her way into the wrestling business to purchase all of the Guest Booker DVDs and study them closely. Unfortunately, so many people think they know everything, but in reality there is so much to learn. What a thrill it is for me personally to watch and listen to the greatest wrestling minds talk about their craft and provide a rare glimpse into the guts of the wrestling business. Thank you to KayfabeCommentaries, Sean Oliver, and J.J. Dillon.
Rating: 8.5 / 10
Reviewed by Brad Dykens on November 7, 2007.
