Great DVD on World Class Championship Wrestling

[Watts]

Heroes Of World Class Championship Wrestling- The Story Of The Von Erichs

I picked this up at Best Buy the other day. It's about 2.5 hours and is pretty low budget, but the content and commentary makes up for that altogether..

It gives the history of WCCW in Dallas from the late 70s to its demise in the late 80s.. it goes into great detial about the life and death of the Von Erichs, but also focuses on other wrestlers such as the Freebirds, Jimmy Garvin, Gino Hernandez, Iceman King Parsons, Skandar Akbar, Gary Hart, etc...

I remember watching the last days of WCCW on ESPN in the late 80s, and this was a treat to me...

And for those who dont know much about WCCW, it's a great DVD and source of info.... WCCW had the talent and tools to make it, but like others in the day, they didn't have the foresight that Vince, Jr. did....



www.amazon.com/Heroes-World-Class-Wrestling-Harrison/dp/B000I2JDD0/sr=1-1/qid=1170636302/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2737721-1641406?ie=UTF8&s=dvd

[algertman]

very good DVD

[Hulk With A Mustache]

Are there any matches on the DVD?

[joeman]

I liked the DVD, but it was sad to hear about all the Von Erich's deaths being discussed. Would David Von Erich evantually be NWA champion if he didn't die in Japan the night before?

[TRMcGillicutty]

I actually watched that DVD before the Super Bowl. Its heartbreaking, but its definitely the best wrestling documentary I've ever seen. I've never seen a lot of WCCW stuff, but it seemed like a really well put together federation.

[THE Dinobot]

It's the most bestest wrestling documentary ever. Hearing all the buzz about it before I recieved it, I started to get skeptical, but by God, it certainly didn't disappoint in the 'awesome' department.

hulk6785 said:

Are there any matches on the DVD?

Nope, no complete matches. But now there's a new 2 disc Director's Cut ($10 bucks cheaper than the single release ), with tons of more bonus junk.

[Dynamic Dude Johnny]

its a great DVD . However you must listen to the Jim Corenette interview and the PWTorch hour and a half radio show on the special features. They give a ballance to some of the spin you get fron Kevin Von Erich and other friends of the Von Erichs. The best example of this is how every in the film one swear up and down that David Von Erich died of a stomach virus. It is well known that David died of drugs(most likly cocain, with some pian killers involved too) and it was well covered up by his family and friends. They ignor the time when Kevin himself passed out in the ring was "knocked out" by Brian Addias and was revived by Tommy Rodgers who saw that it was no wrestling injury and gave kevin mouth to mouth. It was explained away as Addias using the dreaded "oriental tool" to knock out kevin. Rodgers was chewed out by Fritz Von Erich for making kevin look weak in the ring. Nice way to thank a guy for possibly saving your kid.

Another ineteresting point brought up in hte Torch radio progarm is how Fritz Von Erich uesd David Von Erichs death to promote his wrestling product much the same way Vince Mcmahon has used Eddie Guerreros death(Fritz was even more blatent in using his sons death to promote the company than Vince has been with Eddie,s in promoting the WWE). Fritz knew he could get away with it without much critiical backlash because David was his son. However that does not change the fact it is a close paralell to what Vince has done with Eddies death.

Even with these flaws it may be one of the best wrestling documentaries I have ever seen.

[Hulk With A Mustache]

I would like to see the DVD before WWE releases their WCCW DVD.

Also, this thread has made me wonder just what horrible things Fritz did. I know he faked a heart attack and may have talked Kerry into coming back to the ring too soon when he injured his foot. Just what else did Fritz do that was so bad?

[Kerry Von Erich is my hero]

He talked Mike into coming back too soon from his toxic shock syndrome which really messed him up and drove him to suicide. All in all, I thought the DVD was ok. Wish there could have been more wrestler interviews, but many of the wrestlers from that promotion are now deceased but yeah, its worth the 20 bucks

[krzykraka]

For anyone interested I came across a great deal for the dvd. 12.08 WITH FREE SHIPPING. Also its the directors cut.
I ordered mine and received it in about a week. Its a great deal and would have paid 20.00

www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=BGV080169

[Handsome Halfbreed]

khedrick said:

Another ineteresting point brought up in hte Torch radio progarm is how Fritz Von Erich uesd David Von Erichs death to promote his wrestling product much the same way Vince Mcmahon has used Eddie Guerreros death(Fritz was even more blatent in using his sons death to promote the company than Vince has been with Eddie,s in promoting the WWE). Fritz knew he could get away with it without much critiical backlash because David was his son. However that does not change the fact it is a close paralell to what Vince has done with Eddies death.

I'd have to disagree w/ you on that one. Yes Fritz did promote David Von Erich memorial this, David Von Erich memorial that. What his true intension was is definately called to debate but I wouldn't go as far as to compare it to Vince w/ Eddie. Eddies death was written into angles and storylines as material for a heel to get heel heat and for a face to get face pops. In World Class Davids death was promoted but there weren't any angles that revolved around it. Davids memorial pick-up didn't get trashed by the Freebirds, Davids widow didn't turn heel. Its one thing to promote an event as a memorial to help get butts in the seats, but its another story to totally comprimise a dead wrestlers legacy to do the same.

I too own this WCCW documentary...the two disc... if anyone would like to trade PM me.

[Watts]

hulk6785 said:

I would like to see the DVD before WWE releases their WCCW DVD.

I dont think WWE has the rights to use WCCW footage. I'm actually glad this is one historical period in wrestling that Vince can't get his grubby hands on and put his own spin to.

[kswolf]

lightningjoeywatt said:

hulk6785 said:

I would like to see the DVD before WWE releases their WCCW DVD.

I dont think WWE has the rights to use WCCW footage. I'm actually glad this is one historical period in wrestling that Vince can't get his grubby hands on and put his own spin to.

Actually, WWE just bought the rights to the World Class tape library a few months ago. They're releasing their own WCCW DVD set later this year.

[darthpipes]

mongobeefhead said:

khedrick said:

Another ineteresting point brought up in hte Torch radio progarm is how Fritz Von Erich uesd David Von Erichs death to promote his wrestling product much the same way Vince Mcmahon has used Eddie Guerreros death(Fritz was even more blatent in using his sons death to promote the company than Vince has been with Eddie,s in promoting the WWE). Fritz knew he could get away with it without much critiical backlash because David was his son. However that does not change the fact it is a close paralell to what Vince has done with Eddies death.

I'd have to disagree w/ you on that one. Yes Fritz did promote David Von Erich memorial this, David Von Erich memorial that. What his true intension was is definately called to debate but I wouldn't go as far as to compare it to Vince w/ Eddie. Eddies death was written into angles and storylines as material for a heel to get heel heat and for a face to get face pops. In World Class Davids death was promoted but there weren't any angles that revolved around it. Davids memorial pick-up didn't get trashed by the Freebirds, Davids widow didn't turn heel. Its one thing to promote an event as a memorial to help get butts in the seats, but its another story to totally comprimise a dead wrestlers legacy to do the same.

I too own this WCCW documentary...the two disc... if anyone would like to trade PM me.

I read that Fritz charged people $500 to view David's body. You get bits and pieces of how bad Fritz was in this documentary but Kevin seemed to make sure it didn't go into how much of a scumbag his father was. Fritz makes Vince look good.

[pits]

Does anyone have the warriors of wrestling 4 disc dvd set,it was tito santanas promotion.i bought it and it is good,but it seems like they,mixed up the episodes a little bit.

[Handsome Halfbreed]

darthpipes said:

mongobeefhead said:

I'd have to disagree w/ you on that one. Yes Fritz did promote David Von Erich memorial this, David Von Erich memorial that. What his true intension was is definately called to debate but I wouldn't go as far as to compare it to Vince w/ Eddie. Eddies death was written into angles and storylines as material for a heel to get heel heat and for a face to get face pops. In World Class Davids death was promoted but there weren't any angles that revolved around it. Davids memorial pick-up didn't get trashed by the Freebirds, Davids widow didn't turn heel. Its one thing to promote an event as a memorial to help get butts in the seats, but its another story to totally comprimise a dead wrestlers legacy to do the same.

I too own this WCCW documentary...the two disc... if anyone would like to trade PM me.

I read that Fritz charged people $500 to view David's body. You get bits and pieces of how bad Fritz was in this documentary but Kevin seemed to make sure it didn't go into how much of a scumbag his father was. Fritz makes Vince look good.

After all the horror stories of how much bank Fritz scored after Daves death.... Fritz still left Dave with a strong legacy. Vince on the other hand totally compromised Eddies legacy w/ tasteless angles and storylines. With that being said, Vince makes Fritz look good.

[ICBM]

I am looking forward to the WWE/WCCW dvd. I had known about the "HIstory DVD" a couple of years ago but never could find it.

[darthpipes]

mongobeefhead said:

darthpipes said:

I read that Fritz charged people $500 to view David's body. You get bits and pieces of how bad Fritz was in this documentary but Kevin seemed to make sure it didn't go into how much of a scumbag his father was. Fritz makes Vince look good.

After all the horror stories of how much bank Fritz scored after Daves death.... Fritz still left Dave with a strong legacy. Vince on the other hand totally compromised Eddies legacy w/ tasteless angles and storylines. With that being said, Vince makes Fritz look good.

He sure didn't leave his other sons a strong legacy.

[willywonka666]

this thread inspired me to finally order the dvd, i just got confirmation of its shipping today

[Hulk With A Mustache]

kswolf said:

lightningjoeywatt said:

I dont think WWE has the rights to use WCCW footage. I'm actually glad this is one historical period in wrestling that Vince can't get his grubby hands on and put his own spin to.

Actually, WWE just bought the rights to the World Class tape library a few months ago. They're releasing their own WCCW DVD set later this year.

That's right. WWE bought the rights when they held last year's second Saturday Night's Main Event, in Dallas. And, I think the WCCW DVD comes out in November.