So I got this in the mail today...

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

So I get home from grocery shopping today, check the mail, and what is this...?

WWE has my address. They've sent me a few things before, but I wasn't expecting anything. I didn't request anything. And this package is pretty beefy for just a DVD. Too square for an action figure or something. Hm...

WHAT!? I totally forgot this was even coming out! This is the 12-disc, 30+ hour collection celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Monday Night Raw. I looked it up on Amazon, and it's coming out next Tuesday. So I guess WWE wants me to review this...

Just need to clear a day and a half out of my schedule in the next week...and not sleep...

 

[Y 2 Jake]

A 30 hour Raw DVD? I feel for you, man.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

Guess I'll do some sort of live commentary on this. It'll help me collect thoughts for when I have to do the actual review. Spoilers, obviously, if you want to get the set yourself.

DISC 1

-There's about 30 minutes of Raw stats. Stuff like most matches wrestled, host cities, talk shows, celebrity guests, announcers, etc. It's hosted by Michael Cole and the Bella Twins, which is a weird choice. A lot of their banter is lame, but the actual stats and video clips are nostalgic, and for the most part pretty fun. If you've ever wanted to know how many matches John Cena has wrestled, and the only 3 people to have more than him....now you know.

Episode #17 - May 17, 1993
1. The Smoking Gunns vs. Glen Ruth & Tony Vajda
-Vince McMahon interviews Shawn Michaels, who is the IC Champion at the time. His "fighting spirit" is questions, and Michaels says he'll fight anybody, at any time. Marty Jannetty returns, and the match is booked.
2. The Kid vs. Scott Hall
3. Tatanka vs. Scott Taylor
4. Kamala vs. Yokozuna
5. Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty for the IC Championship

Man, WWE needs more jobbers. The Smoking Gunns looked great opening Raw against two nobodies; Tatanka carried his streak perfectly well against a nobody. It was a big deal when The Kid beat Scott Hall, because he was a nobody. Of course, Glen Ruth went on to become Thrasher, and Scott Hall went on to become Scotty 2 Hotty, but at the time? Jobbers.

This really is one of the more solid early episodes of Raw, which for me are pretty hit and miss. Right in the middle of the HBK-Perfect feud, and the Yokozuna-Hogan feud. Some very solid wrestling, including a great main event, with Jannetty's surprise return and title win.

 

[Slash-LN]

Guess I'll do some sort of live commentary on this. It'll help me collect thoughts for when I have to do the actual review. Spoilers, obviously, if you want to get the set yourself.

DISC 1

-There's about 30 minutes of Raw stats. Stuff like most matches wrestled, host cities, talk shows, celebrity guests, announcers, etc. It's hosted by Michael Cole and the Bella Twins, which is a weird choice. A lot of their banter is lame, but the actual stats and video clips are nostalgic, and for the most part pretty fun. If you've ever wanted to know how many matches John Cena has wrestled, and the only 3 people to have more than him....now you know.

Episode #17 - May 17, 1993
1. The Smoking Gunns vs. Glen Ruth & Tony Vajda
-Vince McMahon interviews Shawn Michaels, who is the IC Champion at the time. His "fighting spirit" is questions, and Michaels says he'll fight anybody, at any time. Marty Jannetty returns, and the match is booked.
2. The Kid vs. Scott Hall
3. Tatanka vs. Scott Taylor
4. Kamala vs. Yokozuna
5. Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty for the IC Championship

Man, WWE needs more jobbers. The Smoking Gunns looked great opening Raw against two nobodies; Tatanka carried his streak perfectly well against a nobody. It was a big deal when The Kid beat Scott Hall, because he was a nobody. Of course, Glen Ruth went on to become Thrasher, and Scott Hall went on to become Scotty 2 Hotty, but at the time? Jobbers.

This really is one of the more solid early episodes of Raw, which for me are pretty hit and miss. Right in the middle of the HBK-Perfect feud, and the Yokozuna-Hogan feud. Some very solid wrestling, including a great main event, with Jannetty's surprise return and title win.

Might want to fix that...

Anyway it's cool that you got the set. It might be nice to look back on some old stuff.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

Episode #174 - September 6, 1996

1. Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Sycho Sid
-Ahmed Johnson interview
2. Marc Mero vs. Steve Austin
-Jerry Lawler interviews Mark Henry
3. Mankind vs. Alex Porteau
-Bob Backlund & Iron Sheik segment
4. Shawn Michaels vs. Goldust for the WWF Championship

There's a lot of stuff going on in this episode, and it's great. You know how you watch Raw today, and sometimes you just feel brain dead, because there's really nothing important going on? Nothing feels must-see? Here we've got a tournament for the midcard title, with Sycho Sid getting CM Punk level pops (still not convinced there isn't post-production work, because seriously, there's no way he was THAT over). You've got Brian Pillman teasing Bret Hart's return. A WWF title match. Jim Ross saying Hall/Nash were coming back to WWF, which turned into his heel turn, and the fake Razor/Diesel team. Bob Backlund and the Iron Sheik, for the first time in a LOOOONG time (they would eventually manage Rikishi). There's just a lot of stuff going on in an hour of television. More than WWE puts on in 3 nowadays, that's for damn sure.

I didn't even watch Raw this week. That's only happened a handful of times in the last 10 years or so.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

Might want to fix that...

Anyway it's cool that you got the set. It might be nice to look back on some old stuff.

Too late now. I think it's better to imagine Scott Hall becoming Scotty 2 Hotty.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Stay objective Killam but remember Big Brother is watching and if this review doesn't go well, he may cut the cord.

 

[nightmare]

Vince has your address. If you go missing, we know where to start looking.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

Stay objective Killam but remember Big Brother is watching and if this review doesn't go well, he may cut the cord.

Yeah, there's a line with WWE, where I'm going to be honest, and I won't play up their products as better than they are, but because I do want them to keep sending me stuff, I'm definitely not going to be as childish about the way I note their flaws.

 

[Miko]

Sid was always mega over, from what I remember

 

[Slash-LN]

Too late now. I think it's better to imagine Scott Hall becoming Scotty 2 Hotty.

The visual of Hall doing the worm is quite entertaining.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Probably would've seen it if you'd ever been to one of his cocktail parties.