Shooting Stars of Today

Rating:
Summary: Old School
Review: "Shooting Stars of Today" showcases many of today's wrestling stars during their rookie years. This DVD is actually part of the 8-disc "Classic Superstars of Wrestling" DVD set which was put out by Delta Entertainment.

All of the matches were pulled from the archives of the old WCCW, USWA and GWF promotions of the late 80s/early 90s. In addition to seeing some of today's stars as rookies we're also treated to seeing many of the stars of yesterday that are no longer active. The result is a mixed bag of matches featuring some awesome matches and some decent matches.

The video and audio quality varies throughout the tape but the overall presentation by Delta is well done as each match is preceded by an intro by show host Brian Webster. As an added bonus, the program also features a present-day interview with the legendary Harley Race.

THE MATCHES and CONTENTS

1. Harley Race interview where he gives his opinion on Dustin Rhodes

2. Dustin Rhodes vs. "Gorgeous" Gary Young (w/ Skandor Akbar) in a Texas Bull-Rope match: From the USWA. Rhodes is of course the son of "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes and went on to fame in the WCW under his own name and in the WWE as Golddust. Young was a star in Tennessee and Texas. Decent action. 2.5 stars

3. The Handsome Stranger vs. Steven Dane: From the GWF. "Handsome Stranger" was a rookie Marcus "Buff" Bagwell of WCW fame. Decent mat wrestling sequences in this one. (What happened to you Buff???) 2.5 stars.

4. The Lightning Kid (champ) vs. Chaz for the GWF Light Heavyweight Title: Awesome cruiserweight action in this one. Lightning Kid of course was a rookie 123 Kid/Syxx/X-Pac. 3 stars.

5. Soultaker vs. The Avenger: From the GWF. Soultaker was a rookie Charles Wright who later went on to WWE fame as Papa Shango, Kama and the Godfather. Soultaker looks great in this match as he just demolishes The Avegner. 2 stars.

6. "Mean" Mark Callous (w/ Downtown Bruno) vs. "Superstar" Bill Dundee. USWA Heavyweight Title Tournament Match. Callous of course went on to legendary status in the WWE as the Undertaker. Dundee was a top-level star in the Tennessee area. Bruno later on became Harvey Whippleman in the WWF. Match was short but you could see traces of what would become "Big Evil" here. 2 stars

7. Jeff Jarrett and Terry Gordy vs. Ron Starr and Tarrus Bulba (w/ Skandor Akbar): From the USWA. Before he was Double J in the WWF, or the Chosen One in WCW/NWA TNA, Jeff Jarrett was a babyface cruiserweight. The late Terry Gordy was a legend in the South as one of the Fabulous Freebirds and a legend in Japan. This is easily the best match on the DVD with awesome back and forth action and a hot crowd. Match was clipped at the end. 4 stars.

8. The Samoan Swat Team (Samu and Fatu) vs. The Missing Link and Jason Sterling. From the WCCW. Sons of the legendary Afa and Sika, the SST ran roughshod throughout the South and the NWA. They went on to become the Headshrinkers in the WWF. Fatu can be seen today as Rikishi in the WWE. The Missing Link was an independent legend during the 80s. Decent match showcasing the talents of all 4 men. 3 stars.

THE ANALYSIS:

Overall, not a bad deal here. While the match quality (along with video and audio quality) varies, you do get a nice mix of matches and sampling of the work done by the stars as rookies. While none of the matches are blow-away, most are at least worth a watch. Here's my breakdown of the matches.

Best: Jarrett/Gordy vs. Starr/Bulba, Kid vs. Chaz

Good: SST vs. Link/Sterling, Stranger vs. Dane, Taker vs. Avenger

Just Okay: Callous vs. Dundee, Rhodes vs. Young

THE VERDICT:

Overall, the DVD features a nice mixed bag of matches. What makes it great is seeing today's stars during their developmental years. For it's cheap price you actually get a good deal here as the DVD was put together fairly well. The lack of DVD features is made up for in a feature package consisting of 7 matches (6 worth watching) and 1 interview.

Not a bad deal.

Recommended

Rating:
Summary: Old School
Review: "Shooting Stars of Today" showcases many of today's wrestling stars during their rookie years. This DVD is actually part of the 8-disc "Classic Superstars of Wrestling" DVD set which was put out by Delta Entertainment.

All of the matches were pulled from the archives of the old WCCW, USWA and GWF promotions of the late 80s/early 90s. In addition to seeing some of today's stars as rookies we're also treated to seeing many of the stars of yesterday that are no longer active. The result is a mixed bag of matches featuring some awesome matches and some decent matches.

The video and audio quality varies throughout the tape but the overall presentation by Delta is well done as each match is preceded by an intro by show host Brian Webster. As an added bonus, the program also features a present-day interview with the legendary Harley Race.

THE MATCHES and CONTENTS

1.Harley Race interview where he gives his opinion on Dustin Rhodes

2.Dustin Rhodes vs. "Gorgeous" Gary Young (w/ Skandor Akbar) in a Texas Bull-Rope match: From the USWA. Rhodes is of course the son of "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes and went on to fame in the WCW under his own name and in the WWE as Golddust. Young was a star in Tennessee and Texas. Decent action. 2.5 stars

3.The Handsome Stranger vs. Steven Dane: From the GWF. "Handsome Stranger" was a rookie Marcus "Buff" Bagwell of WCW fame. Decent mat wrestling sequences in this one. (What happened to you Buff???) 2.5 stars.

4.The Lightning Kid (champ) vs. Chaz for the GWF Light Heavyweight Title: Awesome cruiserweight action in this one. Lightning Kid of course was a rookie 123 Kid/Syxx/X-Pac. 3 stars.

5.Soultaker vs. The Avenger: From the GWF. Soultaker was a rookie Charles Wright who later went on to WWE fame as Papa Shango, Kama and the Godfather. Soultaker looks great in this match as he just demolishes The Avegner. 2 stars.

6."Mean" Mark Callous (w/ Downtown Bruno) vs. "Superstar" Bill Dundee. USWA Heavyweight Title Tournament Match. Callous of course went on to legendary status in the WWE as the Undertaker. Dundee was a top-level star in the Tennessee area. Bruno later on became Harvey Whippleman in the WWF. Match was short but you could see traces of what would become "Big Evil" here. 2 stars

7.Jeff Jarrett and Terry Gordy vs. Ron Starr and Tarrus Bulba (w/ Skandor Akbar): From the USWA. Before he was Double J in the WWF, or the Chosen One in WCW/NWA TNA, Jeff Jarrett was a babyface cruiserweight. The late Terry Gordy was a legend in the South as one of the Fabulous Freebirds and a legend in Japan. This is easily the best match on the DVD with awesome back and forth action and a hot crowd. Match was clipped at the end. 4 stars.

8.The Samoan Swat Team (Samu and Fatu) vs. The Missing Link and Jason Sterling. From the WCCW. Sons of the legendary Afa and Sika, the SST ran roughshod throughout the South and the NWA. They went on to become the Headshrinkers in the WWF. Fatu can be seen today as Rikishi in the WWE. The Missing Link was an independent legend during the 80s. Decent match showcasing the talents of all 4 men. 3 stars.

THE ANALYSIS:

Overall, not a bad deal here. While the match quality (along with video and audio quality) varies, you do get a nice mix of matches and sampling of the work done by the stars as rookies. While none of the matches are blow-away, most are at least worth a watch. Here's my breakdown of the matches.

Best: Jarrett/Gordy vs. Starr/Bulba, Kid vs. Chaz

Good: SST vs. Link/Sterling, Stranger vs. Dane, Taker vs. Avenger

Just Okay: Callous vs. Dundee, Rhodes vs. Young

THE VERDICT:

Overall, the DVD features a nice mixed bag of matches. What makes it great is seeing today's stars during their developmental years. For it's cheap price you actually get a good deal here as the DVD was put together fairly well. The lack of DVD features is made up for in a feature package consisting of 7 matches (6 worth watching) and 1 interview.

Not a bad deal.

Recommended