Customer Reviews

WWE From the Vault - Shawn Michaels [VHS]

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

For the first time ever, Shawn Michaels talks about the matches that helped define his illustrious career and set the standard for others to follow. Seven of the matches that made him the "Showstopper" are presented in their entirety in this one-of-a- kind compilation:

- AWA Tag Team Championship
- Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match vs. Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X
- Iron Man Match vs. Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII
- No-Holds-Barred Match vs. Big Daddy Cool Diesel
- WWE Championship Match vs. Mankind
- Hell in a Cell vs. Undertaker
- Shawn`s comeback Non-Sanctioned Match vs. Triple H at SummerSlam 2002

DVD Extras:
Three hours of bonus footage, including promos, interviews, a photo gallery and alternate commentary by Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash on their now-classic No-Holds-Barred Match.

As you can see this is a great chance to see some of HBK's greatest matches, matches that truly show why Shawn Michaels is one of the best wrestlers of all time.

Great set. It's wonderful to see these matches in their entirety and in their digital glory. Just wish there could have been more like Shawn vs. Brett at Survivor Series '97, Wrestlemania XIV vs. Steve Austin among others.

There are three hidden features on the new wrestling DVD from the WWE.

First up on Disc 1 go to Extras. Select and highlight Be Ready! Then press left on the remote. This brings up the infamous and hilarious TV commercial parody, The Biddy Rose Blow-Away Diet. In this clip, 300 + pound wrestler Buddy Rose tries to lose weight.

Also on Disc 1, go to Extras. Select and highlight Barbershop. Press left on the remote. This will bring up a short story from WWE Confidential with Shawn commenting on his entrance music and video "Sexy Boy".

On Disc 2, go to Extras. Select and highlight Photo Gallery on the second page. Prss left on the remote. This brings up Shawn's emotional interview where he gives up the WWF title, claiming injuries have forced him to "lose his smile."

Andrew Marchand
Orange Park, FL

The Shawn Michaels DVD `From the Vault: Shawn Michaels' will be released on June 24th. According Silvervision the matches scheduled to be on the DVD are:

- AWA Tag Team Championship
Midnight Rockers vs. Buddy Rose and Doug Somers

- Ladder Match at WrestleMania X
Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon

- Marathon Match at WrestleMania XII
Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart

- No Hold Barred Match at In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies
Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel

- In Your House: Mind Games
Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind

- Hell in the Cell at Bad Blood
Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker

- Streetfight at Summerslam 2002
Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H

Credit - TheMayhem.com

If you ask me, this DVD can be simply put, AWESOME! Also some interesting facts about these matches ... The WrestleMania X Ladder match is for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. The Marathon match featuring HBK & Bret Hart is a 60-Minute Iron Man match, in which HBK captures his dream on becoming the new WWE Heavyweight Championship. The Hell in a Cell match is the first HIAC match ever, and the Streetfight from Summerslam 2002 is HBK's return-match after 4 and a half years. His last match was at WrestleMania 14 with Stone Cold Steve Austin.

This looks to be an all-match DVD, meaning it will not be like the Undertaker or Mick Foley DVD's. If you are familiar with the Triple H "That Damn Good" DVD, it will be like that, featuring nothing but matches!

September-2, 1986: The Midnight Rockers vs Playboy Buddy Rose & Prettyboy Doug Somers. AWA Tag-Team Title Match: Unfortunately for myself, I already have this match on an AWA DVD & actually reviewed the bout way back in 'The Wrestling Menu #33'. A 16 minute bloodfest where Michaels & Jannetty show their resilience after taking a massive beating and bleeding from very early on in the match. The bout ends in a no contest. Michaels basically played a moving unconscious man after the opening 5 minutes.

March-20, 1994: Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon (Scott Hall). Ladder Match for the InterContinental Title: Arguably one of the top 10 greatest WWE matches ever (voted tied for 6th in my 'Greatest Ever Match' poll in The Wrestling Menu #54'), this ladder match was simply groundbreaking at the time. Nothing is held back, the action begins practically immediately, the offense is innovative & both competitors play their part very well. Scott Hall's alter-ego picked up the win at WrestleMania 10, in this bout that just failed to last 20 minutes.

March-31, 1996: Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart. 60 Minute IronMan Match for the WWE Championship: The infamous WrestleMania 12 match which possibly receives more of a mixed reaction than any other WWE bout in history. Definitely not perfect, this bout has too few exciting spots & one or two too many restholds. But the psychology is amazingly real. So real, you would swear that all but the final 4 minutes were unscripted. Michaels' emotion following his sudden-death win caps it all off perfectly. While 3 alternate matches could have been placed on this DVD, this classic just had to be there.

EXTRAS

It should be noted that most of the extras are directly related to the matches featured on the DVD.

Bloodbath!: Two minute interview with Greg Gagne after the AWA match. I have no idea why this is here!!!

Be Ready: Fascinating little one minute interview during Shawn's AWA days. He was decent on the microphone for his age, but it's fair to say that he has improved since. ***Easter Egg***: Push 'left' twice with this option highlighted & you will get to see a strange & humorous dieting promo by Playboy Buddy Rose.

Barbershop: The infamous 6 minute January '92 Barbershop segment where Michaels turned heel by superkicking Marty Jannetty & throwing him through a window. This was where HBK truly began his singles career & I'm so glad this was included on this DVD. It is very well done & a genuine classic moment in WWE history. ***Easter Egg***: Push 'left' twice with this option highlighted & you get to see HBK discussing singing, dancing & his entrances.

No Rules: Good, if unspectacular, 3 minute in-ring speech concerning the WrestleMania 10 Ladder Match. This extra is handy in order to remember the heel Michaels of the early to mid nineties.

2 Champions: Documentary-like segment explaining why 2 wrestlers were walking around with 2 separate InterContinental Titles for about 5 months. Used as the promo for the WrestleMania 10 match.

Piper's Announcement: Good 8 minute face-to-face segment between HBK & The Hitman, where Rowdy Roddy Piper comes out to explain the WrestleMania 12 main event will be a 60 Minute IronMan match.

Training Video: I always like these training videos, and this 5 minute one is no exception. Focuses on both Shawn & Bret, and is mainly narrated by Jim Ross.

IronMan TV Spot: OK, although covers similar ground to the 'Training Video'.

Match Of The Year: Strange little spot from the Slammy Awards, where both Bret & Shawn accept the 'Match Of The Year' award & give a little speech.

Before They Were Superstars: Typically well produced 13 minute piece which includes interviews with Shawn, his parents & his childhood best friend.

Tell Me A Lie: Music video to the 'Tell Me A Lie' song that was used at the time of one of HBK's hiatus' from wrestling. Decent highlights of his career are included.

April-28, 1996: Shawn Michaels vs Diesel (Kevin Nash). No Holds Barred Match for the WWE Championship: This is an often over-analyzed bout from the 'Good Friends, Better Enemies' pay-per-view. It really did set out to purely be entertaining, and succeeded in doing this for most of it's 18 minutes. Despite ordinary pacing & the lack of anything great wrestling-wise, I don't mind this match at all. Nash wasn't much better mobility-wise 7 years ago than he is now!!!

This match is also available with commentary from Michaels & Nash. While the commentary is ok, it's nothing more than that, and could have been so much better. The inclusion of having Jonathon Coachman there asking them questions is a negative, as Nash & Michaels could have been hilarious if left to their own devices.

September-22, 1996: Shawn Michaels vs Mankind (Mick Foley). WWE Championship Match: Taking place at the 'Mind Games' pay-per-view, this is a truly superb match which proved that HBK could get the job done in the ring against practically any type of opponent. As Shawn said himself in the introduction to this 25 minute bout, Mick Foley's style gave him the opportunity to do something a little different & show the fans something new in his matches. Intense, well-paced & very psychological, the Disqualification ending (Vader running in) is the only real low point of this bout.

October-5, 1997: Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker. Hell In A Cell Match: A genuinely brutal & bloody half hour inside the cell for HBK. Completely disregarding the ending which saw Kane debut in the WWE, there wasn't too much wrong with this match. Apart from the brutality, the cell gimmick was used with great impact, while both wrestlers got in their fair share of offense. Whether inside or on top of the cell, the fans got what they paid for in this bout.

August-25, 2002: Shawn Michaels vs Triple H. Non-Sanctioned Match: Taking place at last year's SummerSlam, this is undoubtedly one of the most pleasant surprises I have witnessed in all my years of watching professional wrestling. No-one could have ever expected a match up to this standard, considering how long Michaels had been away from a wrestling ring. My personal Match Of The Year for 2002, this was another pure classic involving HBK. Imperfect when over-analyzed, this 28 minute brawl is pure entertainment & intensity. As Shawn said himself in the introduction to the match, he believes the bout will stand the test of time. I agree!!!

EXTRAS

Diesel Interview: Ordinary 90 second promo by Nash regarding the No Holds Barred match.

Big Daddy Cool: More of the same, but with Nash more in the 'Diesel' character. HBK throws his 5 cents worth in as well.

Good Friends: Short & mediocre promo for the upcoming pay-per-view match.

Better Enemies: More of the same, but a little better.

In Your House: Yet another promo, but this is longer, better produced & more informative. The only one of the five extras concerning this match that was really needed.

Have A Nice Day: Short little promo asking the WWE fans to pray that Mankind does not become the new WWE champion.

SlamJam Promo: Average 30 second monologue from HBK.

Mankind Promo: Classic little promo by Foley from the boiler-room.

Brain Surgeon: OK interview with Michaels on the day of the 'Mind Games' match.

Pre-Match Interview: Interview of Michaels, by Kevin Kelly, moments before the main event against Mankind. Showed fairly well that this match would be a little different than the usual HBK bout.

Hell In A Cell TV Spot: Ok little (45 second) promotional spot for the HIAC match against The Undertaker.

Building Hell: The now familiar, but good, look at the building of the cell. Narrated by Vince McMahon.

Blaze Of Glory: Nicely put together 5 minute interview of Michaels in the ring on Raw by Jim Ross. Includes a short speech by The Undertaker on the TitanTron.

Good News, Bad News: Backstage interview before the big HIAC match.

Badd Blood: Interesting & well-produced 3 minute promo looking at Michaels in general, and then the Hell In A Cell match specifically.

Nothing Left: Nicely put together look at HBK & Triple H. Some of their history is shown, but it concentrates mostly on the lead up to the 2002 return bout. Four minutes worth & includes the song "Fight" in the background.

Hammered!: The aftermath of the match where Triple H ruined the HBK party by savaging him with his sledgehammer.

Photo Gallery: Super clear stills of all matches on both discs of this DVD set, except the AWA bout. ***Easter Egg***: Push 'left' twice with this option highlighted & you get to see the infamous & emotional February-13, 1997 "I lost my smile" interview. Excellent 7 minute segment which just had to be included.

In short, this 2 DVD set is an absolute must for any wrestling fan who likes what Shawn Michaels has accomplished in the ring. Even if you are not a huge fan of HBK, 'From The Vault' would be a worthwhile addition to your DVD collection. With over 6 hours of footage, and priced favorably to alternative WWE DVD's, this set does provide value for money. While some will feel the WWE made an incorrect decision with regards to not having a 90 minute biography-type main section, those that have seen previous WWE DVD's will know that they are very imperfect anyway. So with the length of most of Shawn's matches, why not just go all out & show 7 full matches as they have done.

While some of the extras (especially on Disc 2) are a waste of space & could have been replaced by much more meaningful & insightful segments, the time wasted is fairly minimal when all is said & done. The matches were chosen well & get good replay value over the years. Overall, I definitely recommend the addition of this DVD to any wrestling fan's collection.

This DVD is a nice package for any wrestling fan....or Shawn Michaels fan. With 6 hours running time, you're sure to be entertained for a while. Every match on this DVD is either good or great.

There are also 3 easter eggs and loads of extras. Such as interviews, pay-per-view promos, T.V. spots and even an alternate commentary feature with Kevin Nash (Diesel) and Shawn Michaels commentating on their classic match back in '96.

Here's the matches on the DVD:

AWA Tag Team Championship

Midnight Rockers vs. Buddy Rose and Doug Somers
***1/2

WrestleMania X
Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship
Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon
****1/2

WrestleMania XII
Ironman Match for the WWF Championship
Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart
****1/2

In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies 1996
No Holds Barred Match for the WWF Championship
Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel
*****

In Your House: Mind Games 1996
WWF Championship
Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind
*****

Badd Blood 1997
Hell in a Cell Match
Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
*****

Summerslam 2002
Street Fight
Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H
****1/2

Hey Yo!
If there is only one DVD you get this year, make it From the Vault with Shawn Micheals! This DVD has all the great matches in their entirety icluding entrances and aftermath. Each match is chock full of extras!
Heres the breakdown:

AWA Tag Team Championship:
The Rockers vs. Play Boy and Pretty Boy
Ok match. Things got a little brutal to the point of ending in DQ.

Wrestlemania 10 Ladder Match for Intercontinental Title:
Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) vs. HBK
Great match! The first ladder match set the standards for how the match works.

Wrestlemania 12 60-minute Iron Man Match for WWE Title:
Bret Hart (champ) vs. HBK
Settle in, this is a long one. In some moments it's slow but after awhile it gets exciting. The first time HBK won the title.

No Holds Barred Match for WWE Title at "Good Friends, Better Enimies":
Big Daddy Cool Diesel (Kevin Nash) vs. HBK (champ)
Kevin's last match in WWE before going to WCW. Very fast paced. Kevin even removed a prosthetic leg from a former wrestler in
the audience! HBK wins with the Sweet Chin Music.

WWE Title Match at "Mind Games":
Mankind (Mick Foley) vs. HBK (champ)
When you get the Hardcore Legend against the Showstopper, you know you're in for a classic! Big backdrop through table was insane! Match ends in DQ after interference by Vader, Sid, and Undertaker. Shawn retains title.

Hell in a Cell Match at "Badd Blood":
Undertaker vs. HBK
The first HIAC match ever! Just plain sick! The match that put a toll on Shawn's back. Also, Kane's debut which pretty much gave HBK the win.

Unsanctioned Street Fight at Summerslam 2002:
Triple H vs. HBK
Simply amazing. Possibly the best match of 2002 next to Rock vs. Hogan. Match ends with HBK countering the Pedigree with a rollup for the win.

The DVD has this and loads of extras including promos, TV spots, unseen footage, history packages, post-match events, a look at Shawn's past, a music video, photo gallery from said matches, commentary from Shawn and Kevin Nash on the No Holds Barred match, and hidden easter eggs. Try to find them!

Above all, I give this DVD not 5, but 10 stars. They should've named this "The Essential Shawn Michaels." I hope to see more of the "From the Vault" series with icons like Ric Flair, Bret Hart, or anybody else who has achieved the title of "MAIN EVENT"
BANG! BANG!

If only this went on longer...

HBK has gone down as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and one of the most controversial wrestlers of all time. He was the guy to take a company who had competed with Disney, and turned it into the huge attraction it is today!

We all have read the reviews about this DVD though, and we all know Shawn Michaels. We know this DVD is great, but here are some flaws....

1.Length
If only Shawn's DVD continued... it's only like, what, got seven matches? Yeah sure, it's got the Iron Man match, but let's face it, it's basically just a real great match spread over into a one hour match. And that AWA Tag Title match wasn't as great as I had thought it would be.

2.Interviews
I believe Michael's off screen, real life persona is a tad too boring. He sometimes is at a loss for words. At least they had Kevin, Shawn and the Coach commentating on their match together, because Kevin can be pretty humourous, but Shawn doesn't do...GREAT interviews, but average ones. My opinion strictly, though...

3.Sound
We know that the quality has improved because it's on DVD, but the sound quality sucks, quite frankly (especially for a DVD). Maybe they can't get the sound better for some reason, or maybe it's at its best, but if your DVD player comes with a reverb option that changes the sound, it'll be just fine for you. Again, my opinion.

4.Not Enough Matches
I would rather they had thrown out the AWA match, and switched it for any other HBK match. There could've been the future classic, HBK vs. Y2J at WM XIX, or even Survivor Series '97, because they provide us with some HBK history, but that AWA match is mediocre. Bloodbath or not, If I wanted to see a match from the '80's, I'd take out my Ric Flair DVD and watch him wrestle Steamboat instead.


Despite these flaws, the DVD is undoubbtedly still great, and well worth a purchase.
If the DVD DID go longer though, they could leave the AWA match and add extra ones. I know that Ric Flair is an older and better wrestler than Shawn, but why not set aside these age differences and give all legendary wrestlers a 3 disc compilation of their own? I mean, imagine: Finally, a well thought out DVD for Steve Austin, instead of hundreds of hour long ones, or a future- Triple H, Rock, Taker, Kurt, Benoit & Jericho one? As we speak, Vince is trying to tie ends with Bret Hart, why not earn some of his respect with a complimenting 3 disc set which should tell the tale of the Hart saga, and give a proper send off to the fans, and Bret himself?

Granted, we're not EVER going to get a 3 disc Hogan set, though he already has a 2 disc one, but who cares? When you can watch Shawn Michaels performing mind-blowing matches, why watch some bald guy with millions of bucks coming back from being brutalized, then dropping a leg on him, every time?

SHAWN MICHAELS
FROM THE VAULT

HBK has always been my favorite wrestler with maybe only Randy Savage coming close to that number 1 spot. This DVD was not a documentary it was a collection of some of Shawn's matches, with HBK doing a little telling of his story introducing every thing. I was sitting here and wondering why I have not reviewed this, the real documentary or any thing else of Shawn's and thought I would pop it in. Another reviewer on this site who happens to be really good at it reviewed an HBK DVD and inspired me to so, shout out to KA.

DISC 1

1.AWA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP-THE MIDNIGHT ROCKERS VS BUDDY ROSE & DOUG SUMMERS-this is actually a really good match as it is full of drama, these two teams tell an excellent story with this one. Most of this match is Michaels being dominated and bloodied and unable to tag in Marty Jannety. When Marty is finally tagged in things heat up and become fast paced for a while. The teams go back and forth from this point on taking turns dominating the other until a great end.5/5

2.I-C CHAMPIONSHIP-LADDER MATCH-SHAWN MICHAELS VS RAZOR RAMON-now this was not the first ladder match in the WWF, it wasn't even the first ladder match ever but it is probably the most remembered. This match was the culmination of a feud between these two to find out who the real I-C champ was. The story was Shawn was suspended and had to let the title go, and Razor would end up winning it while HBK was gone. Naturally when Shawn returned he claimed to be the real champ since he had never lost it, hence this grudge match here. The action in this one is great from start to finish a non stop classic in my opinion, most people don't even remember that it was a while before the ladder was brought in. This has to be for its time one of the best matches ever, probably the best of that event. Although the Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart match that opened the night could take that crown as well so that would be your call. Any way I think this is one of the most entertaining matches of all time, and that shot of Shawn jumping off of the ladder is legendary. Even in real time it looked like he was in slow motion, which is truly a great moment in wrestling history. The action in this match is great and even the ending is entertaining. I still feel to this day HBK was cheated, why couldn't Diesel just stay out there.LOL.5/5

3.WWF CHAMPIONSHIP-IORN MAN MATCH-SHAWN MICHAELS VS BRET HART-I still to this day don't understand why people talk bad about this match, this I absolutely with out a doubt one of the greatest matches in the history of the business. People talk about this match and say it is overrated and not all that entertaining, how in the world can people say that. These two gave us all a very entertaining and competitive match that was well paced and exciting in my opinion. Of course after countless iron man matches have taken place people who started watching wrestling with those ones will likely look down on this one. This was the first and still to this day the best, Bret vs. Shawn every time was excellent and this was one of those. Of course people will argue "well this wasn't the first match to go an hour" which is very very true but it was the first as far as I can remember with the stipulation of who ever has the most decisions within an hour is the winner. This was the third major meeting between the two and the second major meeting on pay-per-view, 1.[I-C title ladder match {first in WWF}] 2.[WWF title survivor series 92] 3.[WWF title Iron Man Match Wrestlemania 12]. Like I said before this was a well paced match all the way through but don't think that the action doesn't pick up to a quicker pace because it does. There are many memorable moments that take place during this bout like HBK sailing all the way over the turnbuckle. And the camera was in the perfect place for that shot of the time keeper taking some sweet chin music. Bret flying threw the ropes onto Shawn still lives in my mind as does HBK flying off the top turnbuckle onto Bret on the outside, sure they did that stuff before but the emotion and atmosphere really add to the action. I guess it also doesn't hurt that the camera angles are perfect during all this. Of course the real great thing about this is that between all the high spots there is a lot of real good wrestling taking place. Mix in a very exciting finale and even better over time and you have all the makings of a classic, plus the celebration afterwards is great and McMahon is hilarious.5/5

Disc 1 has a lot of great vintage interviews and classic segments explaining situations surrounding the matches.

DISC 2

1.WWF CHAMPIONSHIP-NO HOLDS BARRED-SHAWN MICHAELS VS DIESEL-the first match that the two had with the roles reversed as far as baby face/heel goes, and unlike last time HBK came to win. This was the classic no hold barred match between the two where Diesel [Kevin Nash] used Mad Dog Vachone's [not sure I spelled that right] fake leg as a weapon. Once again like every other match on this collection people will argue that it is over rated, to me this is still a classic. Maybe it is because when I watch these it is like when I first saw it, or maybe it is because HBK is my favorite wrestler but I enjoy all these matches. This was for the time in WWF was a pretty hardcore match, I say for WWF because at the time ECW was alive and well. But for this company this was a great hardcore match before this was the norm in the company. There is a lot of good action in this match and the best friends turned enemies angle was working real well even after it started way back in 1994 between these two. To any one who says Vince doesn't care about his wrestlers [at least some of the time] should check this one out. I never really noticed it before but when Nash goes to power bomb HBK into the table notice how Vince tries to grab the video monitor out of the way but it pops up into the air. Shawn wins this one after some sweet chin music is played for Nash.5/5

2.WWF CHAMPIONSHIP-SHAWN MICHAELS VS MANKIND-once again we have another match that people say is overrated and not as good as advertised. I really don't get it because it just seems like if the match didn't happen post DX people don't give Shawn's matches enough credit, yes his series with Kurt Angle and the hour long RAW match with John Cena are all classic but he has had classics long before those. I remember watching this match and really being worried that Shawn may not keep the belt, because at the time Mankind was a whole new breed in the WWF. I had watched Mick before in WCW and ECW [who were in the house that night] and was well aware of what he could do. But I relaxed and knew Shawn would over come this obstacle, still though this was the same guy [Mankind] that took it to the Undertaker so I knew it would be interesting. The match its self was great and very entertaining, the action in this match was very well paced and did not over do any thing. It seemed to me that the story of this match played out very well and the Undertaker, Vader, & Psycho Sid appearances just added to the atmosphere. There were a lot of high spots in the match of course like the super kick off of the chair or both wrestlers falling from the top turnbuckle onto the table. Shawn takes a DQ victory for this unique match. This was not really a hardcore match or a traditional wrestling match but kinda a hybrid of the two, very unique feeling to this one.5/5

3.HELL IN A CELL-SHAWN MICHAELS VS THE UNDERTAKER-probably the least likely to be called overrated by the casual fan and rightfully so, because this is one of the most entertaining things I have ever seen. This match took place right as the "Attitude Era" was kicking and DX was really rolling [I think the next night on RAW was the first time they used the DX entrance music], Shawn was even the European Champion at the time. The match is non stop action and these two just go at each other with every thing they have. To be honest this was a classic before the match even went outside and up top, Michaels fall from the cell is still great to watch though. I still think to this day that this is the best Hell in a Cell ever and I am sure a lot of people are going to disagree with me. Mankind/Undertaker will always be the most remembered and most shocking, Mick Foley/Triple H may be the most brutal as far as both getting in on each other. Even the Armageddon Hell in a Cell may be highly entertaining and wild but this one has got to be the best wrestling match to take place in the cell to me. Other then maybe the Mankind/Taker one all the others while good just seemed to be there for the sake of being there [see the DX vs. McMahon's & Big Show]. This one actually made sense between the contestants in it, it not only fit the story line but also the story that was told in the ring. All the others just seem like they were going to be matches taking place any way and then on RAW/SMACKDOWN some grabs a mike and says "you vs. me at {pay-per-view} is now going to be........{long pause for dramatic effect}..............A HELL IN THE CELL MATCH" and to the loud cheers of the audience the wrestlers looked shocked. To me that just says "hey we could have a really great match but I think we need some shock value for ratings", not all but a lot of them seem like the story line would have done fine with out the cell. Any way the match its self is by far a classic and highly entertaining, plus the first appearance ever of Kane makes things interesting. There are a lot of high spots during this match and a lot of great wrestling action. 5/5

4.NON SANCTIONED MATCH-SHAWN MICHAELS VS TRIPLE H-this was the infamous return match for one Heartbreak Kid and in my opinion not only lived up to what it could be but really went above and beyond. Every one knows that this was the best friends turned enemies [have we seen that before] angle, and this was a really entertaining feud. The whole HHH turning on HBK and leaving him bloodied in a parking lot, and then acting like he was investigating who did it afterwards was brilliant. This match was full of high spots and a lot of exciting moments, my favorite for some reason was Shawn's expression before he jumped off the top onto Triple H and goes through the table. This has got to be one of the best hardcore types of matches I have ever seen and I am an ECW fan. Even when they were not using weapons it was still hardcore, meaning even when they were doing actual wrestling moves it did not seem like they were doing so to further themselves to a victory but to really hurt the other guy. That point was proven after the match when after Shawn won it was Triple H who was left standing. This is a real enjoyable match full of non stop action and a nice ending.5/5

Like the first disc there are a lot of great vintage interviews and classic segments explaining situations surrounding the matches. This is a wonderful release that I think every wrestling fan should own, a great addition to the collection I guarantee it. There is also an excellent alternate video commentary from Shawn and Nash for their match on here, it is highly entertaining and informative.

Just as I said about Triple H's DVD...backstage politics aside, HBK will go down as one of the best performers in the history of the business. This DVD isn't an anthology like Hulk Hogan's or a biography like Bret Hart's but this follows the format of Ric Flair's in which it covers his highest profiled matches in his career with DVD extras such as commericals & promos for each match.

with Marty Jannetty (Midnight Rockers) vs. AWA Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers - This match was from Shawn's stint in the AWA back in the mid-80's and was heavily remembered for being a bloothbath which was rare back in those days. This was early Shawn still coming into his own with Jannetty so don't expect the "showstopper" performance here but it was good showcasing for a baby HBK.
(For those old school fans who want to see the steel cage match between these two, check out the AWA DVD.)

WrestleMania X Ladder Match vs. Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon - This was the beginning of the "showstopper" here as this match stole the show at WrestleMania X. This match set the standards for the later Ladder/TLC/Full Metal Mayhem matches as they were pulling out stunts that you never saw before & it wasn't a spotfest as they did some good wrestling here as well. You haven't hear much (if ANY) bad comments about this match in over 10 years so it should tell you how good it is.
(Also available on the Vol. 3 of the WrestleMania Anthology)

WrestleMania XII 60 Minute Ironman Match vs. WWF Champion Bret Hart - I know this match gets alot a praise but honestly, I could only watch the match once since it became predictable after around 20 mins. that they were just going to wrestle the match straight for one hour instead of actually using the "ironman concept" to tell a story of them one upping each other, I just found myself watching the clock & counting it down. Believe it or not, I enjoyed the Survivor Series '97 match more.
(Also available on History Of The WWE Championship & Vol. 3 of the WrestleMania Anthology)

IYH: Good Friends, Better Enemies No Holds Barred Match vs. Diesel - The alternative commentary is really something interesting to listen to between Nash, HBK and Coach (don't worry, Coach doesn't try to talk over people like he does on RAW). Not much of the wrestling world heard of ECW at this time so this was alot of things you haven't seen before or in a very long time & was one of the first matches in WWF that you started to see a more aggressive & physical style such as this match. The ending was pretty humorous involving AWA legend Mad Dog Vachon.

IYH: Mind Games vs. Mankind - This was Foley's best match of his career (he said it himself in his book) and probably the best match of 1996. HBK's high flyin' lucha libre influenced style mixed with Mankind's hardcore daredevil style made for one hell of a match. Wanna know how good this is, it's been on 3 different DVD sets besides this one.
(Also available on History Of The WWE Championship, Mick Foley: Hard Knocks & Cheap Pops, Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses)

IYH: Bad Blood Hell In A Cell Match vs. Undertaker - Another had that HBK was an innovator of which saw him play the "cowardly heel" real well. This wasn't as brutal as later HITC matches but for it being the first one, this was really something to watch as they dished out heavy punishment like never before & used everything they could get their hands on such as the steel steps & chairs. HBK's fall towards the end would later be heavly overshadowed by Mankind's fall less than a year later but again, at this time...it was something to see.

SummerSlam '02 Street Fight Match vs. Triple H - This was HBK's big return after his last match at WrestleMania XIV around 4 years earlier. The way the match was structured allowed HBK to go beyond a normal match performances as weapons were utilized as well along with ladder & steel step spots. HBK made one of the greatest comebacks of all time here and Triple H was the perfect "dancing partner" in this match.

As I said before, DVD extras mostly include commercials, promos & history revolving the matches themselves but some other DVD extras include the infamous "Barber Shop" episode that began HBK's singles career as he threw Jannetty through the window; a "Before They Were Superstars" profile; his "Tell Me A Lie" music video; and the post-match attack by Triple H after the SummerSlam match. Hidden extras include a funny "Blow Away Diet" commerical starring Buddy Rose; HBK talking about his entrance music; and the "Lost My Smile" promo from '97 where he forfitted the WWF Title before WrestleMania 13.

The matches on this DVD were 5 star quality and a good choice of extras. I would expect an ultimate anthology of HBK's career further down the line but for now, this is highly recommended.

Shawn Michaels, the HeartBreak Kid, The Show Stopper, The Main Event, one of the greatest of all time (next to Ric Flair and Bret Hart). This DVD set is EXCELLENT, one of the best the WWE has to offer, next to Ric Flair's DVD set. Here's my review:

Disc One

the AWA tag team match (I don't know why this match was included, it's not classic and I doubt if anyone who watched the AWA back then even remembers this. Give it a look ONLY if you've never seen it, otherwise, don't bother, because the TRUE CLASSIC material is after this match.)**

vs. Razor Ramon, Wrestlemania X, Ladder Match (I had the pleasure of seeing this match on PPV and it was FANTASTIC, one of the greatest matches EVER that set the standard for ALL preceding ladder matches)*****

vs. Bret Hart, IronMan Match, Wrestlemania XII (This one was great because of both mens' wrestling acumen and the storyline of the match. Even though it's one hour, it's entertaining, but if you don't have the patience to sit through an hour long match, skip to the last few minutes, but otherwise, this match is recommended viewing.) ****3/4

Disc Two

vs. Diesel, Good Friends, Better Enemies 96 (Nash's best match ever, with a good friend no less, but the action here is just awesome. Who said that ol HBK couldn't beat a man larger than him?)****1/4

vs. Mankind, Mind Games (Oh man, this one was crazy, but @ the same time excellent, they tore the house up this night. One of the greatest matches I've ever witnessed.)*****

vs. Undertaker, Hell In A Cell, Badd Blood 97 (The very first Hell In A Cell match is one to be remembered, even though Kane's involvement ruined the finish. This was a phenomenal match.)****3/4

vs. HHH, Summerslam 2002 (After four years, it's amazing that HBK can come back and work one hell of a match. This match is great and gave HHH the best match he had since his match with Steve Austin at No Way Out 2001)****1/2

Check out the extra features as well.

Overall, this recommended to any wrestling fan. It's worth your time AND money. After viewing this DVD, you'll see why Shawn Michaels is one of the all time greats.