Monday Night Mayhem DVD Review:
“The Best Of Saturday Night’s Main Event”
Produced By: WWE Home Video
Written By: “Wild” Bill Brown
****
Content: 9.5
This DVD is filled with must see revolutionary matches & long-lasting over the top comedy skits that built generations of fans, this DVD is much needed for any WWE lover. This could be the most rewarding of all WWE Home Video releases in regards to today’s fans & how they can relate to all the groundwork that this special series produced. Many of the major stars through the ’80’s, ’90’s, & up through today have a prominent role on this major network show, due to the penetration of this television vehicle that this three-disc set will clearly show you. This is your chance to relive the history from the very beginning, “as Mean” Gene Okerlund hosts & guides you through all the major breakthroughs that made “Saturday Night’s Main Event” a never forgotten staple in WWE history.
****
Video & Audio: 9.5
The footage used looks great, which once again shows that WWE has an incredible ability to retain their video archives in perfect condition. Dolby Surround Sound is crisp & clear in two channels. No High-Definition shot footage is shown in this set, as it was well before its time, but there is no complaint to the way all footage was preserved & used in this title.
****
What’s On The DVD’s: 8.5
You will see classic matches with huge stars as well as some not so classic matches, but yet monumental in building the WWE Universe of today. Names like “The Macho Man” Randy Savage, Bret “Hitman” Hart, “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, & “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan bring you some of the most-memorable moments of all times while Flag Matches, Haircut Matches, “Mega Power” unions & fallouts as well as music videos, weddings, & countless comedy skits leave their forever marks with the viewer. Luckily, we are also given a treat, because “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs Boris Zukoff & Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake vs. “Outlaw” Ron Bass type matches were just reflected upon & not shown in their entirely, which was a very smart move by WWE Home Video. The DVD special features were kept to a minimum & not much to brag about, but they still had a great purpose to be included. Take into consideration that over the past twenty-four years, there has only been close to fifty-made television broadcasts of this series, so the selection process for a nine-hour production is not that diverse. But all the key moments are included, and you are guided through the timelines with “Mean” Gene Okerlund.
****
Here is the content:
Disc I
*Gene Okerlund — A Must-See Attraction
*WWE Championship Match: Hulk Hogan vs. “Cowboy” Bob Orton (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — May 11, 1985): The first Hulk Hogan match on the first show.
*Uncle Elmer’s Wedding (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — October 5, 1985): “Rowdy” Roddy Piper thinks it sticks.
*”Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — October 5, 1985): A classic feud with former partners.
*A Trip To The Zoo (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — October 5, 1985)
*Gene Okerlund — “Field Reporting”
*Halloween Contest (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — November 2, 1985)
*WWE Championship Match: Hulk Hogan vs. Terry Funk (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — January 4, 1986): Terry was being considered at this time for a WWE Title run.
*Randy Orton Reflects On His Dad — This is where some of the “next-generation” current superstars are a huge asset with their involvement.
*Boxing Match: Mr. T. vs. “Cowboy” Bob Orton (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — March 1, 1986) — So bad, but so unique to watch this being done.
*Gene Okerlund: “Settling The Score”
*”Snake Pit” Match: Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — October 4, 1986): A great match from a top feud.
*Jake “The Snake” Reflects On “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — Nice to hear Jake speak about his involvement in two key matches.
*WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — November 29, 1986): Long-well done battle of feels
*Gene Okerlund — The Steel Cage Match
*Steel Cage Match: Hulk Hogan vs. “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — January 3, 1987): The first time a cage match was briefly determined a tie.
*Gene Okerlund — “The 8th Wonder Of The World”
*Battle Royal (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — March 14, 1987): This was done several weeks before WrestleMania III, so Hogan/Andre was big stuff in this.
*Natalya Neidhart Reflects On Her Dad — Natalya is well-spoken & has great knowledge of her father’s days.
*Best Two-Out-Of-Three-Falls Match: The Hart Foundation vs. The British Bulldogs (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — May 2, 1987): A great WWE World Tag Team Title Match…with a twisted ending.
*Gene Okerlund — “Insurance Policy”
*WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: The Honky Tonk Man vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — October 3, 1987): History is made!!
*Mega Power Formation (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — October 3, 1987)
*The Union of The Mega Powers
*”Piledriver” Music Video (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — October 3, 1987): Absolutely hilarious to witness every scene in this…Not a hit from Koko B. Ware at all.
*”Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. Bret “Hitman” Hart (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — November 28, 1987): Savage sells an injury well in a long story-telling match.
Extras
*First Ever Match On SNME: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat & The U.S. Express vs. The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, & George “The Animal” Steele (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — May 11, 1985)
*”Real American” Music Video (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — March 1, 1986): Do you remember when Hulk was indestructible…no matter how badly he was presented?
Disc II
*Gene Okerlund — Turning Back The Clock
*WWE Championship Match: Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — January 2, 1988): A rare loss by “The Hulkster,” although via count-out.
*Gene Okerlund — The Re-Match
*WWE Championship Match: Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant (WWE’s “The Main Event” — February 5, 1988): Yes…apparently 33 million viewers did in fact see this on prime-time NBC television.
*Ted Dibiase Reflects On His Dad — Yet again…great to hear stuff like this about Ted’s legendary father.
*Randy “Macho Man” Savage vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” – March 12, 1988): What a match! These guys could go!
*Andre Passes Out (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — March 12, 1988): Jake “The Snake” Roberts plays games with The Giant.
*Hulk Hogan vs. “The King” Harley Race (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — March 12, 1988): All-time legends battle it out one-on-one.
*Gene Okerlund — “Macho Madness”
*Randy “Macho Man” Savage vs. Andre The Giant (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — November 26, 1988): Randy was being put over as a fighting champion.
*”Hacksaw” Jim Duggan Reflects On His Flag Match (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — November 26, 1988): Thank God it is only reflections on this one…
*WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: The Ultimate Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — January 7, 1989): The Warrior was a phenom at this time.
*Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake Shaves Ron Bass’ Head (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — January 7, 1989): Clips & the haircut…We are saved from watching the battle.
*Gene Okerlund: A Supreme Alliance
*The Twin Towers vs. The Mega Powers (WWE’s “The Main Event” — February 3, 1989): The Mega Powers (Hogan/Savage) explode here!
*Gene Okerlund: A Grueling Encounter
*WWE Championship Steel Cage Match: Hulk Hogan vs. The Big Boss Man (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — May 27, 1989): This match featured a Superplex off the top of the cage for the 350 lb. Boss Man.
*Best Two-Out-Of-Three-Falls Match: The Rockers vs. The Brain Busters (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — November 25, 1989): Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson had given their notices. This was taped prior to Tully being suspended.
Extras
*Brother Love Interviews Hulk Hogan (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” –?November 26, 1988): Bruce Pritchard in his hundreds of vignettes of stirring-up storylines.
*Dusty Rhodes vs. The Big Boss Man: Sapphire’s Debut (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — November 25, 1989): Dusty was a true player when he went to the WWE at this time.
Disc III
*Gene Okerlund — Hulk Hogan vs. The Genius
*Mr.. Perfect & The Genius Smash The WWE Title (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — November 25, 1989): Mr. Perfect actually made the WWE Hardcore Championship by doing this.
*Hulk Hogan & The Ultimate Warrior vs. Mr. Perfect & The Genius (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — January 27, 1990): Building up for “The Ultimate Challenge” in April
*Vince McMahon & Jesse “The Body” Ventura On Horseback (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — April 28, 1990): Put over by the stars as something hilarious back then
*Hulk Hogan vs. Mr. Perfect (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — April 28, 1990): Mr. Perfect makes Hogan have a decent match.
*Arrogance — “The Model” Rick Martel shows us the fragrance of the ’90’s.
*The Rockers vs. The Hart Foundation (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — April 28, 1990): Demolition ruins a great battle.
*Gene Okerlund — Intercontinental Competition
*WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Mr. Perfect vs. Tito Santana (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — July 28, 1990): Tito was a long-standing competitor always having great matches.
*Oktoberfest (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — October 13, 1990): Lord Alfred Hates & “Mean” Gene take you through a weird setting.
*20-Man Battle Royal (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — April 27, 1991): The second Battle Royal on this DVD set
*Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — April 27, 1991): I mean, how much better can the match choices get?
*Gene Okerlund — FOX Takes Over: The WWE totally can re-write history, as if they outbid NBC (or something similar) when NBC had canceled the show (due to falling ratings).
*The Undertaker & “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan & Sid (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — February 8, 1992): Hogan & Sid have a falling-out.
*”Rowdy” Roddy Piper Shocks The Mountie (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — February 8, 1992): Having a shockproof best is all it takes!
*WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith vs. “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — November 14, 1992): Shawn’s first major singles title run
*Gene Okerlund — The Return: “Mean” Gene once again plays off that it came back by popular demand…when for 13 years, nobody wanted to pick up the series.
*Street Fight: “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels vs. Shane McMahon (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — March 18, 2006): A great match for SNME’s return to television
*RKO On Hulk Hogan (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — July 15, 2006): Watch your back “Hulkster”
*Five-On-Two Elimination Match: D-Generation X vs. The Spirit Squad (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — July 15, 2006): Just a total burial of five over-talented & underutilized competitors
*Gene Okerlund — One Of The Greatest Rivalries In Sports
*WWE Championship Match: Edge vs. John Cena (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — July 15, 2006) To this day, the feud still lives on…
*Gene Okerlund — Television History: The usual parade of overemphasizing the greatness of this historic WWE series
Extras:
*Lord Alfred Hayes & “Mean” Gene Okerlund Go On Safari (WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” — July 28, 1990)
*Shawn Michaels Talks About Winning His First Intercontinental Title
* Matt Hardy Talks About Boxing Evander Holyfield
****
The Verdict:
A must-have for any fan to put in their wrestling library. A well put-together piece of wrestling history through its rise in popularity. Although some of the comments & history of the series is explained inaccurately, this still without saying is one of the best jobs the WWE has done in quite some time.
****
Overall Recommendation:
Highly recommended to any fan. Go to the store & get this.
****
Final Thoughts:
If you are looking for many comments from the top competitors like Hogan, Savage, or “The Hitman,” you may be disappointed. If you are hoping for a more documentary style story to be included with all the main people like Vince McMahon himself to be told, it will not be here. I wish a little more would have gone into the development of this DVD release, with more-inserted instead of the marathon style of footage we got. I will say though that the footage used throughout these three discs is simply awesome to watch. Any WWE fan needs to see how it was done back then & what “Saturday Night’s Main Event” has turned into today.
Overall Rating: 9.2
****
This DVD was reviewed By “Wild” Bill Brown. Visit the official website & MySpace pages of The Mayhem’s official DVD reviewer at www.BBrownVideo.com & www..MySpace.com/BBrownVideo.