Product Details

• Actors: Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sgt. Slaughter
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: World Wrestling
• DVD Release Date: June 14, 2005
• Run Time: 510 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009E32TI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,087 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

WWE THE GREATEST WRESTLING STARS OF - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No matches that have Jesse Ventura doing commentary included, June 17, 2005

By 

C. N Wells "floyd_is_me" (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: WWE Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80s (DVD)

It's not just all matches, they also do a 10-15min biography on the 15 wrestlers they showcase on the DVD. I have to admit the short biographys are VERY well done. I realized something..None of the matches that had Jesse Ventura do commentary are on this!!?! WTF? I think it has to do with the royalties lawsuit they have.. What does this mean? Well basically all the WWE's big matches from 85-89 are missing including Savage/Steamboat, Savage/Hogan, Bulldogs/Hart Foundation, etc..etc.. Lots of NWA matches could've have gone here too including Wargames, Sting/Flair and any of the NWA tag teams matches..

MATCHES:
1. Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper (Starcade 11/24/83) - This is a Dog-Collar match. This means both wrestlers are attached by a chain around their neck! Valentine injuried Pipers ear and now Piper want revenge. **** (out of 5 stars)

2. Sgt. Slaughter vs. Iron Sheik (MSG 5/21/84) - This isn't the famous Boot Camp match, it's the one before. Really good brawl! ****

3.Greg Valentine vs. Tito Santana (Lumberjack match 3/17/85) - Lumberjack Match means if someone is thrown out of the ring, they get thrown back. There is no escape! These guys have had much better matches. **1/2

4. Junkyard Dog vs. Randy Savage (Wrestling Classic Finals 11/7/85) - JYD is fun to watch, and this match reminded me just how freaklishly awesome Savage was in the 80's. **1/2

5. Ultimate Warrior vs. Bobby Heenan (Weasel Suit Match - 6/25/88) - Whoever loses gets stuffed in a weasel suit. OMG Heenan is a better bumper and worker than Ultimate Warrior! Seriously! 1/2*

6. Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair (NWA Championship - Starcade 84) - Flair defends the NWA title. Whoever wins gets 1 million dollars. Special guest ref. is Joe Frasier. Not bad! ***1/2

7. Ole & Arn Anderson vs. Wahoo McDaniel & Billy Jack Haynes (NWA Tag title - Starcade 85) - Pretty fun old school match, but nothing special. **

8. Jerry "The King" Lawler vs. Kerry Von Erich (AWA Superclash III 12/13/88) - Famous unification match. Whoever winds gets both the WCCW and AWA World titles. ****

9. Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair (NWA Title - 2/20/89) - From Chi-Town Rumble. YES! They've complete the Flair/Steamboat trilogy on DVD! Flair defends the title. Match of the DVD *****

10. Ric Flair vs. Jay Youngblood (2/23/83) - Don't know why this is on here. Wow Youngblood was pretty good! Shame he passed away. :-( Short match. ***

11. Jimmy Snuka vs. Bob Backlund (WWE Title - Cage match - 5.19.80) - Awesome cage match. Not as crazy as modern cage matches, but back then it was the equivalent of a Hell-in-the-Cell. ****1/2

12. Iron Sheik vs. Bob Backlund (WWE Title - 12/26/83) - Another famous match. Backlund defends his title against Sheik. **1/2

13. Paul Orndorff vs. Salvatore Bellomo (1/23/84) Bellomo actually good here, but come on! They should've had Orndorff Vs. Santana, Piper, or Hogan matches.. **

14. Iron Sheik vs. Hulk Hogan (WWE Title - 1/23/84) - Sheik defends his title against the Hulkster. The MSG crowd is insanely in favor of Hogan. ***1/2

15. Bob Orton vs. Jimmy Snuka (2/18/85) - Ughh. Best of 80's? WTF? I think this was last match Orton had before he put on the famous cast. *1/2

16. Roddy Piper vs. Hulk Hogan (The War to Settle the Score from MTV - 2/18/85) - Wrestlingwise, not very good. But fun to watch. ***1/2

This isn't a Best of 80's DVD. The lack of WWF material from (85-89) is unforgivable. More like a Best of WWF (1982-1984).. But what's here is pretty good. If you got some spare cash lying around, and you watched wrestling in the early 80's, particular the MSG one's, you'll love this set!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE the 80s!!!!, February 6, 2006

By 

Wayne Maye "Creative Cancer" (North Chesterfield, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: WWE Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80s (DVD)

Lately I've been (and always have been) on a nostagia kick, more so than the average fan. It's something about the 80s (the WWF) that I love so much I just can't identify it (I know I sound markish, but bare with me here!). This 3 DVD set about the Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80s is a definite testament to the trend setters as far as the 1980s go. Maybe the reason why I appreciate the 80s so much is because if it wasn't for the 80s, there wouldn't be a wrestling business today, and for that, I appreciate the decade of the 1980s. Here's my review of the matches with a little extra material as well:

(Note: Workrate fans, try not to take these ratings TOO seriously. This is the 80s I'm talking about here, so even though there is ONE 5 star match, try not to search for TOO MANY of them here. My ratings are based on real feelings and nostagic purposes. I hope you understand.)

Also, I use WWF here, as this was the 80s, a different time and era.

Disc 1
Bios:
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Junkyard Dog
Sgt. Slaughter
Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Matches:

Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper - NWA United States Championship Dog Collar Match - Starrcade 11/24/83, ***1/2 (We begin with a very good match from the NWA. They entertained me with this one.)

Sgt. Slaughter vs. Iron Shiek - Madison Square Garden 5/21/84, ***1/2-**** (I honestly have to watch this match again. I truly enjoyed the brutality of this match, as this one was WAY before the hardcore material that was populated in the 90s. As for the Sheik and Slaughter, they brutalized each other in this one, and had the MSG crowd roaring.)

Greg Valentine vs. Tito Santana - WWE Intercontinental Championship Lumberjack Match - Madison Square Garden 3/17/85, *** (A decent in the long feud between these two.)

Junkyard Dog vs. Randy Savage - Wrestling Classic Tournament Finals - Wrestling Classic 11/7/85, DUD (I'd have to say that this match had no redeeming qualities, but for nostagic purposes, it's fine.)

Ultimate Warrior vs. Bobby Heenan - Weasel Suit Match - Madison Square Garden 6/25/88 (Not really a match, but for comedic purposes, there is none better from this time period.)

Extras:

Junkyard Dog performing "Grab Them Cakes" at the 1986 Slammy Awards
Sgt. Slaughter story about going to Verne Gagne's Training Camp
Sgt. Slaughter story about meeting President Reagan
Piper's Pit - Haiti Kid - Tuesday Night Titans 3/7/86
Valentine Back Rub - Tuesday Night Titans 7/17/86
Bobby Heenan Show with Guest Jameson Winger - Prime Time 7/10/89

Disc 1 "Easter Eggs"

Highlight & click the Chapters option on the main menu & highlight the Roddy Piper button and push the right arrow button twice. A promo by Roddy Piper in Mid-Atlantic will play of Piper talking about wanting the World Title.
Highlight & click the Extras option on the main menu & on the third page of the extras section, highlight the Pipers Pit - Haiti Kid and push the left arrow button twice. An interview will play with Roddy Piper telling the story about doing a promo about Dusty Rhodes having six liters of puppies.

Disc 2

Bios:
Jerry "The King" Lawler
Arn Anderson
Dusty Rhodes
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Ric Flair
Matches:

Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair - NWA World Heavyweight Championship 1 Million Dollar Challenge Match - Starrcade 11/22/85, ** (What can I say about this feud? Yep, they drew money back then, as Flair was one of the ONLY performers to this day who get something fairly watchable out of Dusty Rhodes, this match included.)

Ole & Arn Anderson vs. Wahoo McDaniel & Billy Jack Haynes - NWA National Tag Team Championship Match - Starrcade 11/28/85, ** (This is your semi-standard NWA tag team match here.)

Jerry "The King" Lawler vs. Kerry Von Erich - Championship Unification Match - AWA Superclash III 12/13/88, *** (A pretty good match. I'm not familiar with a lot of the AWA's material, but this match stands out for fans of the former promotion.)

Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair - NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match - Chi-Town Rumble 2/20/89, ***** (WOW! One of my favorite matches and one of the greatest matches of all time, Flair and Steamboat's series will go down as the greatest series of all time. This match, along with the two rematches later in 89, set standards that will never be equalled.)

Ric Flair vs. Jay Youngblood - Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling 2/3/82, *1/2 (An average match here. You can safely say that Flair was still honing his style in a way to eventually emerge as the Nature Boy.)

Extras:
Dusty Rhodes Promo - World Wide Wrestling 5/7/85
Jerry Lawler after winning AWA World Heavyweight Title - AWA All Star Wrestling 5/15/88
Ricky Steamboat Gets His Name
Arn Anderson Interview - NWA World Championship Wrestling 1/21/86
Four Horseman Interview - NWA World Championship Wrestling 6/21/86
Jerry Lawler's Worst Injury In Wrestling

Disc 2 "Easter Eggs"

Highlight & click the Chapters option on the main menu & highlight the Dusty Rhodes button and push the right arrow button twice. An interview with Roddy Piper talking about Dusty's promo ability will play.
Highlight & click the Chapters option on the main menu & highlight the Ricky Steamboat button and push the left arrow button twice. An interview with play with Ricky Steamboat telling a story of how a blizzard caused himself & Shane Douglas to wrestle a WCW Tag Team Title match against Steve Austin & Brian Pillman in front of 18 people.

Disc 3

Bios:
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka
"Cowboy" Bob Orton
Iron Shiek
Paul Ordorff
Hulk Hogan

Matches:

Jimmy Snuka vs. Bob Backlund - WWE Championship Steel Cage Match - Madison Square Garden 5/19/80, *** (A good match here. Two of MSG's favorites during this period.)

Iron Shiek vs. Bob Backlund - WWE Championship Match - Madison Square Garden 12/26/83, *1/2 (A shocking moment as the Sheik captures the title from Backlund. Behind the scenes, Backlund claimed that he had no knowledge that the towel was going to be thrown in.)

Paul Ordorff vs. Salvatore Bellomo - Madison Square Garden 1/23/84, *1/2 (Worth a look to see the early days of Paul Orndoff.)

Iron Shiek vs. Hulk Hogan - WWE Championship Match - Madison Square Garden 1/23/84, *1/2 (Not a great match to be sure, but Hogan capturing the WWF title for the first time started the ball rolling for the phenom known as Hulkamania.)

Bob Orton vs. Jimmy Snuka - Madison Square Garden 2/18/85, **1/2 (Above average match. Snuka and Orton could perform with the best of them around this time.)

Roddy Piper vs. Hulk Hogan - The War To Settle The Score - Madison Square Garden 2/18/85, **1/2 (Above average here. I always wanted a TRUE one on one match between these two on a WWF PPV.)


Extras:

Iron Shiek Swings the Persian Clubs - All Star Wrestlling 12/7/83
PoseDown: Paul Orndorff vs. Tony Atlas - Tuesday Night Titans 11/27/84
Cowboy Bob Orton Goes to the Doctor - Tuesday Night Titans 5/10/85
Jimmy Snuka - Tuesday Night Titans 6/26/84
Hulk Hogan on Hercules - Saturday Night's Main Event 11/29/86
Disc 3 "Easter Eggs"

Highlight & click the Chapters option on the main menu & highlight the Jimmy Snuka button and push the right arrow button twice. A clip will play of Jimmy Snuka accepting the Victory Magazine, 1983 Wrestler Of The Year Award.
Highlight & click the Extras option on the main menu & on the first page of the extras section, highlight the Jimmy Snuka vs. Bob Backlund (5-19-80) Steel Cage Championship match button and push the right arrow button many times. The (10-5-82) episode of Buddy Rogers Corner will play with Jimmy Snuka & Caption Lou Albano.
Highlight & click the Extras option on the main menu & on the first page of the extras section, highlight the Bob Backlund vs. The Iron Sheik (12-26-83) Championship match button and push the right arrow button twice. The post-match interview with The Iron Shiek & Freddie Blassie will play.
Highlight & click the Extras option on the main menu & on the second page of the extras section, highlight the Hulk Hogan vs. The Iron Sheik (1-23-84) Championship match button and push the left arrow button twice. The post-match interview with Hulk Hogan celebrating with Andre The Giant, Ivan Putski & Rocky Johnson will play.
Highlight & click the Chapters option on the main menu & highlight the Hulk Hogan button and push the left arrow button twice. A clip will play of Hulk Hogan's pre-match interview talking about The Ultimate Warrior from WrestleMania VI.

Overall, if you're a long time fan like myself, then this set is for you. If you're a new fan and you want to know what the 1980s was about, feel free to check this out. I recommend this highly. I LOVE THE 80s!!!!!!!!!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Relilve the past like it was yesterday. WWE Home video has done it again!, July 3, 2005

By 

Stonecoldmark "stonecoldmark" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: WWE Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80s (DVD)

This is an incredible collection. But I really feel that it is for the fans that enjoyed it during that era. I can't imagine the fans that started watching during The Rock, Austin, Mankind era or god forbid the stuff that passes for wrestling these days.

3 discs isn't even enough to cover this era, there are plenty of Stars left off, I am hoping this is a Volume 1 of sorts and the WWE will make more if the fans take to this one.

I truly enjoy the depth and time they explain each SuperStar and the impact they made during their time. They really go in depth almost going through the entire career. Sure some the the depressing stuff is left off (i.e Steamboat's 2nd run in the WWF) but I think that is for the better.

Going in depth with guys like Paul Orndorff, Arn Anderson, & Ricky Steamboat, shed light on some characters that were never over the top gimmick wise.

I was also to see Dusty Rhoads on this collection expecially since his stint with the WWF in the early 90's was laughable at best. But I respect Vince and the WWE for not just showcasing WWF talent and really showed a nice spectrum of guys that were wildly popular, but not to the Hogan Status.

For fans of the Old School 80's wrestling this is the kind of stuff that reminds me why I enjoyed wrestling in the first place, and begs the question, does Stephanie McMahon and the current creative department at the WWE watch any of this stuff? They should be using these as molds for current characters. While the match tempo has changed over the years, close attention to good in ring action never goes out of style.
One thing I noticed is that despite the characters of your Hogan's, Piper's and Slaughters, the SPORT of wrestling was taken a lot more serious.

The Bad....
One thing i did miss was the absence of Randy Savage and Elizabeth. Granted this guy deserves the 3 disc treatment ahla Ric Flair, but he should have a segment on this disc. Not only was he one hell of a heel for Hogan, but he had some amazing matches with Tito Santana, and of course Ricky Steamboat. Plus he is one of the most original characters to ever come out of the Wrestling scene.
The other thing dearly missed was Ventura's portion of the commentary. I wish Vince would reach into in pockets and get Jesse some $$ for his awesome commentary. Really some of the matches were just that much better with Jesse in the booth.

All in all if you enjoyed the wrestling in the 80's this will make you feel like a kid again. Awesome collection and I surely hope there is another set in the making (Savage, Santana, Steele, hell you can even put Kamala and Steve Lombardi on there). And 80's tag team collection wouldn't be bad either. Hart Foundation, Demolition, Bulldogs, Dream Team, Islanders, Rockers, Brain Busters)