Feeling bored recently, I decided to write an online review about the DVD The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior. Thought I'd share with y'all that are wrestling enthusiasts. 🙂
I have mixed feelings about the content of this DVD. Growing up as a young teenager in the early 90’s, the Warrior was my favourite wrestler. The music, the frenetic and almost spastic ring entrance, the Incredible Hulk-a-like style inside the ring… Coming some years after his fall from grace and seeing he had a web-site (www.ultimatewarrior.com) I eagerly logged on to see what he was doing these days. The impression I got was that the man was a complete lunatic who had been possessed by his character like Linda Blair was possessed by the Devil in The Exorcist. His posts on his web-site are like an ever so slightly toned down version of his gibberings on promo slots during his wrestling days. One gets the impression that the man got bored of real life so made himself believe he was his character and wrapped himself up in a fairy story where he was the central (and only) starring figure. He could certainly have had a better claim to the “Narcissist” gimmick Lex Luger ran during the early part of 1993.
This is the impression we get from his contemporaries who are interviewed on the DVD too. Jim Ross, Ted Dibiase, Bobby Heenan, Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler… All line up to castigate the Warrior and tell stories of how stiff his performances were, how little technical skill he had, what a self-centred egomaniac he was, and how selfish and ignorant he could be. I would have been horrified and outraged at this character assassination and instantly suspected another McMahon speciality screw job (a’ la Bret Hart) if it wasn’t for the fact that this was the exact same impression I’d gotten from the man’s own disjointed, ramblings on his web-site. I don’t doubt for a second that most, if not all, of these highly entertaining anecdotes are true. Having said that, I am left with no doubt that Vince McMahon is also an unprincipled liar and an opportunistic screw-job artist. The way he talks about the faults of others breaks the known bounds of hypocrisy, considering he is capable of being the most dishonest, conniving and unprofessional man in the industry. Him criticising the Warrior’s ethos is like a skunk complaining that a dog stinks. McMahon has a brilliant brain for wrestling and its various angles, but as a human being he is worth nothing. Doesn’t detract from the fact that he’s probably telling the truth about the Warrior here however.
Having said this, the Warrior is still my favourite wrestler of all time and this DVD not only gives you the career commentary, but five of his most memorable matches as an extra: his WWF debut against a “jobber”; his under 60 second IC title win against the Honky Tonk Man at Summerslam 88; his WWF title win against Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania 6; the WWF title defence against Rick Rude at Summerslam 90, and the thunderous career ending match against Randy Savage at Wrestlemania 7. (The last one being my all time favourite Warrior match and not containing the cuts and rewinds the WM 7 VHS video had.) The wrestling content of this DVD is great, especially for us nostalgia lovers and especially for actual fans of the Warrior. Say what you like about the man (and I obviously have done) but the wrestler was great fun and captivating to watch. The interview content is also captivating and fun. The newer and younger guys (Christian and Chris Jericho – to name two off the top of my head) are all enthusiastic about the Warrior and recall his days with great enthusiasm (they never had to work with him mind you). Seeing Christian’s impression of a classic Warrior promo is side-splitting.
If you’re a fan of wrestling back in the early 90’s, then go ahead and get this, you won’t regret it. If you were a fan of the Warrior himself, then this DVD is probably worth sacrificing one of your internal organs for.
I have mixed feelings about the content of this DVD. Growing up as a young teenager in the early 90’s, the Warrior was my favourite wrestler. The music, the frenetic and almost spastic ring entrance, the Incredible Hulk-a-like style inside the ring… Coming some years after his fall from grace and seeing he had a web-site (www.ultimatewarrior.com) I eagerly logged on to see what he was doing these days. The impression I got was that the man was a complete lunatic who had been possessed by his character like Linda Blair was possessed by the Devil in The Exorcist. His posts on his web-site are like an ever so slightly toned down version of his gibberings on promo slots during his wrestling days. One gets the impression that the man got bored of real life so made himself believe he was his character and wrapped himself up in a fairy story where he was the central (and only) starring figure. He could certainly have had a better claim to the “Narcissist” gimmick Lex Luger ran during the early part of 1993.
This is the impression we get from his contemporaries who are interviewed on the DVD too. Jim Ross, Ted Dibiase, Bobby Heenan, Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler… All line up to castigate the Warrior and tell stories of how stiff his performances were, how little technical skill he had, what a self-centred egomaniac he was, and how selfish and ignorant he could be. I would have been horrified and outraged at this character assassination and instantly suspected another McMahon speciality screw job (a’ la Bret Hart) if it wasn’t for the fact that this was the exact same impression I’d gotten from the man’s own disjointed, ramblings on his web-site. I don’t doubt for a second that most, if not all, of these highly entertaining anecdotes are true. Having said that, I am left with no doubt that Vince McMahon is also an unprincipled liar and an opportunistic screw-job artist. The way he talks about the faults of others breaks the known bounds of hypocrisy, considering he is capable of being the most dishonest, conniving and unprofessional man in the industry. Him criticising the Warrior’s ethos is like a skunk complaining that a dog stinks. McMahon has a brilliant brain for wrestling and its various angles, but as a human being he is worth nothing. Doesn’t detract from the fact that he’s probably telling the truth about the Warrior here however.
Having said this, the Warrior is still my favourite wrestler of all time and this DVD not only gives you the career commentary, but five of his most memorable matches as an extra: his WWF debut against a “jobber”; his under 60 second IC title win against the Honky Tonk Man at Summerslam 88; his WWF title win against Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania 6; the WWF title defence against Rick Rude at Summerslam 90, and the thunderous career ending match against Randy Savage at Wrestlemania 7. (The last one being my all time favourite Warrior match and not containing the cuts and rewinds the WM 7 VHS video had.) The wrestling content of this DVD is great, especially for us nostalgia lovers and especially for actual fans of the Warrior. Say what you like about the man (and I obviously have done) but the wrestler was great fun and captivating to watch. The interview content is also captivating and fun. The newer and younger guys (Christian and Chris Jericho – to name two off the top of my head) are all enthusiastic about the Warrior and recall his days with great enthusiasm (they never had to work with him mind you). Seeing Christian’s impression of a classic Warrior promo is side-splitting.
If you’re a fan of wrestling back in the early 90’s, then go ahead and get this, you won’t regret it. If you were a fan of the Warrior himself, then this DVD is probably worth sacrificing one of your internal organs for.
