Customer Reviews

WWF: Hardcore [VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I love Hardcore wrestling. This is the DVD that offers it at its best. For the most part it is pretty good, although it could have been a little better. The regular DVD itself is great. There are a lot of extra matches (20). About half of these matches are good. I will highlight both the DVD and the extras. Matches are rated on a star (*) system. They are based out of 5 stars.

One of the main features is on Mick Foley. It is pretty funny.
Match 1. KEN SHAMROCK (VS) MANKIND (HARDCORE TITLE)
This match, from RAW is somewhat slow and not very hardcore, but it is one of the first hardcoe matches. Mankind retains the title with the help of the corporation. **1/2
Much of the DVD is WWE superstars recalling their favorite Hardcore memories.
Match 2. IVORY (VS) TORRIE
This match is from RAW. Ivory wins after she burns Torrie. Nice women's hardcore. ***
Match 3. HARDCORE HOLLY (VS)AL SNOW (HARDCORE TITLE)
This is from Saint Valentine's Massacre 1999. Fun match. Goes into the Mississippi River. Hardcore Holly wins the vacant title.**1/2
Match 4. HARDCORE BATTLE ROYAL AT BACKLASH 2000 FEATURING PERRY SATURN, JEFF & MATT HARDY, HARDCORE HOLLY, TAZZ, & CRASH HOLLY
Good match with some good spots by the Hardy's. Crash comes away with the title when all is said and done.
The Street Fight for the WWE title at Royal Rumble 2000 between Triple H and Mick Foley is featured. This piece is amazing. It the best feature on the tape.
The 24/7 rule is featured.
Match 5. SHANE McMAHON (VS) STEVE BLACKMAN (HARDCORE TITLE)
This match took place at Summerslam 2000. Decent match. Ends with a bang as McMahon fall 50 feet backwards off the TitanTron. Steve Blackam wins the title by jumping about 25 feet of the side of the TitanTron and delivering an elbow to Shane O'Mac. Good match because of the fall. ***

DVD Extras
Their are twenty extra matches. The top 3 are:
1. RHYNO (VS) RAVEN (HARDCORE TITLE)
This match took place at Backlash 2001. Great match. Lot of great action and bumps. ****
2. KANE (VS) BIG SHOW (VS) RAVEN (HARDCORE TITLE)
Good match from Wrestlmania X7. ***
3. UNDERTAKER (VS) RAVEN
Undertaker destroys Raven in this Smackdown match.

Overall, this is a pretty good DVD. It is nice piece to add to your wrestling collection. It could have been a little better, but for the most part it is pretty good. I recommend this DVD for Rhyno (vs) Raven, the Shane McMahon fall, and most of all the Triple H and Mick Foley montage from Royal Rumble 2000.

Documentary

Even if you're not a long time wrestling fan or hardcore division fan, you'll still feel right at home from the very beginning of this documentary on hardcore. The movie is hosted by former ECW Champion and Multi-Time WWF(e) Hardcore Champion, Tazz, so there's no question as to whether or not he knows what he's talking about. Right off the bat, various WWE superstars, hardcore or not, give their own definitions of what exactly "hardcore" is, and what it means to be hardcore. Soon after the movie begins, you'll have been educated on hardcore and the fact that it's not just a title, it's a way of life.

Next up on the agenda is a full chapter dedicated to the Hardcore Legend himself, Mick Foley, complete with interviews, his picks on some of his most hardcore matches, and clips of some of the most brutal moments in his illustrious career, including his street fight with Triple H at the Royal Rumble, and many other moments from the WWF and various other promotions around the globe.

Also featured in this film is some early action that will really give fans a sense of how the hardcore division was when it first started out, and a good history as to previous champions and how it evolved into what it is today. From there, the DVD goes on to cover "who is hardcore", including a unique look at some of the women of hardcore and their infamous locker room brawls.

Moving on, the DVD covers another one of the matches that shaped just what hardcore is - the Al Snow versus Hardcore Holly match that saw both men battle all the way out of the arena, across the street, and right down into the Mississippi River! Appropriately following that match, there are some rather humorous interviews with wrestlers recalling their worst injuries as a result of hardcore matches. These interviews are worth it for the humor alone, especially the words of wisdom from the likes of Chris Jericho and Mick Foley.

More in depth coverage of some classic hardcore matches including a six man battle royal and the now legendary Mick Foley versus Triple H is shown, and then we are treated to another important part of the DVD, especially for newer wrestling fans - a segment on the Hardcore Title 24/7 Rule, and some clips from early 24/7 matches that mostly deteriorated into unsanctioned battle royal matches or three on one attacks.

In another interview-heavy portion of this movie, we're treated to some of the most hardcore superstars' memories of their favorite matches, followed by an in depth chapter on the A.P.A. and their impact on the hardcore division, including some sick bumps that were delivered along the way, including Shane McMahon and his much talked about 50-foot fall from near the top of the arena during SummerSlam 2000.

Lastly, Tazz introduces a few final clips that help "mop" up the DVD into a very fitting ending. As was mentioned before, this DVD definitely serves its purpose in giving WWF(e) fans, new or old, a vividly detailed history on the Hardcore Championship and the hardcore division, long with some great clips of brutal moments and hilarious happenings along the way. If you call yourself a wrestling fan, and you don't already own this disc, do yourself a favor and go buy it right now.

The Extras

Even though the video and sound on this disc may not be all that you were hoping for when you heard that WWF Hardcore was getting the special DVD treatment, your complaints will mean nothing after checking out this huge extras section, including a whopping 20 bonus hardcore matches from the WWE's past. Here's a complete breakdown of the awesomeness:

Hardcore Holly vs. Bart Gunn - Raw - 2/22/99 - Chattanooga, TN - Lots of glass gets shattered, and nearly everything from ringside (including a watermelon and a crate of bananas) is used in this title match from the early days of hardcore.

Crash Test - Smackdown - 2/24/00 - Nashville, TN - Crash Holly takes on the big man, Test, in a hardcore match with some unexpected interference from Crash's cousin Bob at the end.

24/7 is Born - Smackdown - 3/2/00 - Trenton, NJ - Tazz and Crash Holly's hardcore brawl all over the arena quickly deteriorates into a giant display of mass confusion that unsuspectingly goes on to make hardcore title history with the creation of the 24/7 rule.

Laundry 24/7 - Smackdown - 3/9/00 - Boston, MA - The Mean Street Posse interrupts Crash while he's doing his laundry, attacking him in an attempt to capture the hardcore gold. The end result is one of the funniest segments in wrestling history.

Airport 24/7 - Raw - 3/13/00 - Meadowlands, NJ - Another funny Hardcore Title segment involving Crash Holly and the Mean Street Posse. Unfortunately this segment suffers from its lack of commentary.

Funtime U.S.A. - Smackdown - 3/16/00 - Long Island, NY - In the funniest of all 24/7 segments (and possibly one of the funniest WWF segments of all time), The Headbangers chase Crash Holly through an amusement park in attempt to capture the HC gold.

Crash vs. Hardcore Holly - Raw - 3/27/00 - Houston, TX - The Hardcore Cousins go at it in an attempt to find out which of the two it truly the most hardcore, but they are rudely interrupted by a gang of uninvited guests looking for the title.

Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy - Smackdown - 4/27/00 - Charlotte, NC - This match is a brother versus brother collision in which the two siblings battle to see which one will walk out with the hardcore belt around their waist.

Hardcore Brisco - Smackdown - 5/18/00 - Detroit, MI - In another absolutely hilarious 24/7 segment, Gerald Brisco, one half of Mr. McMahon's stooges, pins a sleeping Crash Holly for the Hardcore Championship. The end result? Comedic genius!

Hardcore Patterson - Raw - 6/19/00 - Nashville, TN - A title celebration takes a turn for the worst when Pat Paterson attacks fellow stooge Gerald Brisco in an attempt at capturing the title.

Big Boss Man vs. Steve Blackman - Raw - 9/4/00 - Lexington, KY - Another traditional hardcore style match with all the weapons and fixings that make the hardcore division so great, but to be honest, this match isn't anything too spectacular.

Edge & Christian vs. Steve Blackman - Raw - 10/2/00 - Washington, DC - Edge and Christian managed to con their way into a supposed "triple threat" hardcore match that turned out to be more of a 2 on 1 assault than anything. As always, E&C are good for a laugh, and a great match while they're at it.

Steve Blackman vs. Tazz - Smackdown - 10/19/00 - Cleveland, OH - Blackman has a grand ole time beating the hell out of Tazz with everything he can lay his hands on in this hardcore title match.

Tiger Ali Singh vs. Steve Blackman - Raw - 11/30/00 - Ames, IA - This isn't the greatest hardcore match in the world, but it's pretty funny, especially some of the commentary that goes along with it.

Raven vs. Undertaker - Smackdown - 12/14/00 - Little Rock, AR - The Undertaker captures his first ever hardcore title in his first ever hardcore match by pinning Raven for the 1-2-3 after a vicious last ride through an announce table.

Triple Threat - Raw - 2/21/01 - Phoenix, AZ - In The Rock's first ever "official" hardcore match, he takes on The Big Show and Kurt Angle and lays the smack down on each of their candy-asses like only "The Great One" can.

WrestleMania X-Seven - 4/1/01 - Houston, TX - Kane, The Big Show, and Raven battle all throughout the Astrodome in Houston, going through walls, steel fencing and even a piece of the WMX7 staging in one of the most memorable hardcore title matches in recent history.

Backlash 2001 - 4/29/01 - Chicago, IL - Two of ECW's former greats, Raven and Rhyno, lock up in a hardcore match and take it to the extreme, like only they know how. Any ECW fans should see this, although it seems watered down compared to old school ECW.

Judgment Day 2001 - 5/20/01 - Sacramento, CA - Test, The Big Show, and the champion Rhyno go at it all over the arena in a hardcore match that saw a brand new innovation in an attempt at victory - the wall pin!

Big Show vs. Rhyno - Raw 5/21/01 - San Jose, CA - In a rematch from the pay-per-view the night before, the Big Show and Rhyno put another hardcore clinic, only without the third man from Judgment Day, Test.

The Video

Unfortunately, because of the nature of World Wrestling Federation programming and its live broadcasts, this DVD isn't as crisp and crystal clear as it could be, but that's not to say that it's no good. You aren't given any display options on this disc, so the lack of choice between widescreen and fullscreen is of course a real bummer, but because of the discs use of original source material, everything is just about as good as it can possibly get, given the circumstances. On the plus side of things, the menus, although not fully animated, are good-looking and extremely easy to navigate, and during play everything seems to flow together nicely. Sometimes, depending on the footage used, some moments are sharper and more colorful than others. This is not something that should really ruin the overall experience for casual movie watchers that bought this DVD as more of an educational wrestling tool, but after all, this is DVD we're talking about, and there are certain things that have come to be expected, and this time around, WWF Hardcore falls a little short of par.

The Audio

Once again, there are no options on this disc to choose between stereo sound or 5.1 surround, so WWF Hardcore isn't really anything special to go raving to you friends about, sound wise. However, the sound is still up to average DVD quality, and it's nice to hear some of your favorite matches called nice and clear (with the exception of all the screaming from the rabid fans), rather than muffled like you may find it on you TV every Monday and Thursday night. It has its strong spots and its weak spots. Overall, the sound isn't terrible, but it's definitely nothing to brag about. They can do better than this.

I'm assuming some of the other people who reviewed this DVD wrote their opinions based on the VHS version, because some of the things I read are untrue. For example, the person who said:

"They didn't show many hardcore matches"

So the 20 matches they added exclusively to the DVD in addition to the other matches on the tape isn't a lot??

Or,

"Rhyno isn't even on the tape"

Not like that's a big deal if he wasn't, but he IS on here! (The person was probably referring to the VHS version, which came out before Rhyno even debuted in the WWF)

I actually own this DVD, and here is a list of the matches/segments that are exclusively on the DVD version (from the table on contents located inside the DVD):

-Hardcore Holly vs. Bart Gunn

-Crash Test

-24/7 is Born

-Laundry 24/7

-Airport 24/7

-Funtime USA

-Crash vs. Hardcore Holly

-Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy

-Hardcore Brisco

-Hardcore Patterson

-Big Boss Man vs. Steve Blackman

-Edge & Christian vs. Steve Blackman

-Steve Blackman vs. Tazz

-Tiger Ali Singh vs. Steve Blackman

-Raven vs. The Undertaker

-Triple Threat

-Wrestlemania X-Seven

-Backlash 2001 (Raven vs. Rhyno)

-Judgment Day 2001 (Rhyno vs. Test vs. Big Show)

-Big Show vs. Rhyno

Yes, this is a VERY up to date DVD as you can see. It also features other classic hardcore matches like the Cactus Jack/Triple H Street Fight from Royal Rumble 2000, and some earlier hardcore classics with Al Snow, Road Dogg and Hardcore Holly. Anyway, enough rambling. Take it from me though - I actually own the DVD, and I know firsthand that it's excellent.

Firstly I must say that this video/DVD is fantastic. However the biggest problem is in regards to the difference between the DVD and VHS versions. First I bought it on video, then when I saw that the DVD had an extra 20 matches I bought the DVD with the intention of selling my video version. However, I found that there were differences between the actual program on both versions. Instead of the Al Snow vs Road Dogg, and the Boss Man vs Al Snow matches which appear on the VHS version, the DVD has a Mankind vs Ken Shamrock match and a 5 or 6 man (I can't remember which) battle in their place. There is also some of Tazz's talk missing on the DVD. I found this to be dissapointing, as whether you buy the video or DVD, you will still miss out on some good matches. Despite this, it is a very good buy and I shall be keeping both copies.

This was a DVD I just bought because I found it cheap, used, and it advertised 20 matches on the back. However, I have to say that this DVD was somewhat a disappointment because if you read the back of the DVD case...you'll see them advertise barbed wire baseball bats, steel cages, tacks & tables & chairs, and parental discretion is advised yet a majority of the 20 DVD extras matches are focused on the Hardcore Championship back when it was a comedic prop for the 24/7 storyline they did with the Hardcore Title.

The documentary is done by Tazz who is in character the whole time & basically follows the format of showcasing some of the hardcore matches from that era with wrestlers commenting in-between on various subjects like what & who they consider hardcore along with hardcore injuries & memories. Mick Foley also gets his props on here as a hardcore legend & talks about some of his hardcore moments in WWF like his Boiler Room match against Undertaker, RAW match against Terry Funk, when he was awarded the Hardcore Championship and we later see highlights from his Royal Rumble street fight with Triple H.

The matches in the documentary include:

Hardcore Champion Mankind vs. Ken Shamrock - This was the first Hardcore Title match & just set the standard as they did brawling in & outside the ring all the way up the ramp.

Tori vs. Ivory - The first women's hardcore match that started out with Tori (wearing only a white thong & shirt) attacking Ivory in the bathroom with them fighting through the men's locker room & the shower that Jacqueline was using before Ivory won & burned Tori's back with an iron.

Al Snow vs. Bob Holly - The match that created the Hardcore Holly we know today as he won the vacant hardcore title against Al Snow in a match that went through the crowd, backstage, parking lot, and the Mississippi river. They did edit out the beginning of the match where Al Snow "no sold" & kept laughing at the chairshots he got hit with. If you watched Mick Foley's Hard Knocks DVD, you'll know the story behind the heat Al got for that.

St. Valentine's Day Massacre '99

Hardcore Champion Crash Holly vs. Hardcore Holly vs. Tazz vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Saturn - This was the typical multiman hardcore brawl with them hitting each other with weapons & brawling.

Backlash 2000

Hardcore Champion Shane McMahon vs. Steve Blackman - This was only memorable for one thing...Shane McMahon's falling backward from the top of the SummerSlam stage. The rest of the match was just Blackman battling Test & Albert while Shane was trying to get his cheap shots in whenever he wasn't running away from Blackman.

SummerSlam 2000

This DVD also comes with 20 bonus "matches":

Hardcore Champion Hardcore Holly vs. Bart Gunn - The story here was that they were former tag team partners (New Midnight Express) & Bob Holly was the only person Bart Gunn didn't knock out in the brawl for all. Typical weapons/brawling fest with a few funny props like a watermelon & flour sack before a masked "Dr. Death" Steve Williams threw Gunn off the stage for Holly to get the win.

Hardcore Champion Test vs. Crash Holly - Crash wins the title with help from Hardcore Holly

24/7 Is Born (Hardcore Champion Crash Holly vs. Tazz) - This was just to put over the Boss Man & Albert vs. Tazz storyline that was going on as they attacked Tazz backstage & he fought them off before Crash capitalized & won. Afterwards, he created the 24/7 rule only to be attacked by the Mean Street Posse in the parking lot later in the night.

Airport 24/7 (Hardcore Champion Crash Holly vs. Mean Street Posse) - The Posse attacks Crash in an airport

Funtime U.S.A. (Hardcore Champion Crash Holly vs. Headbangers) - Crash gets attacked in a amusement park

Hardcore Champion Crash Holly vs. Hardcore Holly - This just turns into a bunch of people coming out to win the title from Crash such as Tazz, Headbangers, Viscera, Mean Street Posse, Funaki & Taka.

Hardcore Champion Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy - Nope, this isn't their flop from Vengeance later in the year but it was a hardcore match between the two that saw Tazz & Saturn come to ringside before Crash was able to sneak in & win back his belt.

Hardcore Champion Crash Holly vs. Gerald Brisco - The deal here was that Crash paid the A.P.A. to protect him for an hour so he can get some sleep but the hour passed when he was still sleep so the A.P.A. just left him in their office. Gerald quietly pinned him (including the commentators whispering) winning the title.

Hardcore Champion Gerald Brisco vs. Pat Patterson - Brisco just won back the Hardcore Title earlier in the night from Crash so Pat helped him celebrate by pouring champagne over his head...which got in his eyes causing him to be blinded before Patterson knocked him out & won the belt.

Hardcore Champion Steve Blackman vs. Big Boss Man - This went to the back where Crash & Dean Malenko interfered by throwing coffee in Boss Man's eyes before losing to Blackman...who took Crash & Malenko out afterwards.

Hardcore Champion Steve Blackman vs. Edge & Christian - This was suppose to be a triple threat but was both E&C working together against Blackman until one move backfired & Blackman capitalized.

Hardcore Champion Steve Blackman vs. Tazz - Blackman showing his use of hardcore martial arts weapons with an appearance from Crash Holly & Just Joe backstage.

Hardcore Champion vs. Tiger Ali-Sighn - A one sided hardcore squash match for Blackman.

Undertaker vs. Raven - Just like the previous match, this was a heavily one-sided squash as Undertaker almost killed Raven ending with a last ride on the announcers table.

Hardcore Champion Big Show vs. Kurt Angle vs. The Rock - Big Show interfered in their WWF Title match at No Way Out the previous night to set this up. The match was a normal triple threat match until Angle & Rock started brawling outside before all the usual hardcore competitors came out (phasing Angle & Rock completely out of camera range for the rest of the "match") to beat Show for the belt brawling all the way to the back where Show got a standing pin on Essa Rios to retain the title.

Hardcore Champion Raven vs. Big Show vs. Kane - Kane & Show were just destroying each other with Raven trying to get his shots in as well. This had some real moments like Kane running over Raven in a golf cart, Raven being thrown through a glass window, Show & Kane falling through walls, and Show & Raven falling off the WM stage before Kane eventually won the championship

WrestleMania X7

Hardcore Champion Rhino vs. Raven - This has gone down as one of the best Hardcore Championship matches of all time. With moments like a drop toehold onto a stop sign right off the bat, Rhino missing a leaping gore off the ringsteps onto an open chair, some stiff headshots with weapons & the infamous "gore the shopping cart" spot that is always revisited whenever Raven & Rhino wrestle each other in hardcore matches elsewhere.

Backlash 2001

Hardcore Champion Rhino vs. Big Show vs. Test - Just brawl that went all over the place (including Rhino making a dent in a wall backstage) with the occasional weapon being used only to have things more impactful.

Judgment Day 2001

Hardcore Champion Rhino vs. Big Show - This happened the next night as Show regained the title in this typical hardcore match.

In the end, if WWE's hardcore championship matches & the whole 24/7 storyline satisfied you then I recommend but if you like more from your hardcore matches than just non-stop weaponsfest & clustered brawls then this is something you would want to pass up.

This VHS is not that great. Full matches shown below-

Road Dogg vs Al Snow Raw 1999 Hardcore Title

Hardcore Holly vs Al Snow St Valitines Day Massacre Hardcore Title

Big Bossman vs Al Snow Hardcore Title SummerSlam 1999

Clips of Royal Rumble 2000 WWE Championship Cactus Jack vs Triple H

SummerSlam 2000 Hardcore Title Steve Blackman vs Shane Mcmahon

This VHS also shows Most Hardcore injury, Who is Hardcore and What is Hardcore. The WWE Superstars awnser them.

If you were to buy this video buy DVD I heard that it has 20 extra matches. Buy the DVD.

One of the WWF's newest home videos is WWF Hardcore and I must say that it is very well done. Tazz is the host of the video so he adds his own insight during the tape. Many WWF Superstars are ask What thy think Hardcore means and what Hardcore is. The tape has highlights of Foley begin awarded the Hardcore Title and becoming the first champion, then Dogg/Snow in the snow, Ivory vs Tori Hardcore Women;s Title match, Cactus Jack vs HHH from RR 2000, Crash Holly and the 24/7 rules and the tape wraps up with highlights of Shane vs Blackman from Summer Slam 2000. If you enjoy Hardcore matches, then get this tape.

This video is cool, Finally a video that showcases all the great hardcore matches. Features all the great hardcore wrestlers the wwf has ever seen hardcore holly,al snow,road dogg,steve blackman,mick foley,etc. If you love hardcore matches just like me, than you will love this video.

WARNING: The following video contains realistic violence, some blood, and some of the most kick a** violent fights ever seen.Viewer descretion is advised.

I own both and in my opinion the dvd was 100 times better with all the extra matches some of the extra stuff was lame tho like the brisco and Pattersn clips.. those were a waste of my time. The other matches were awesome tho i really like the last matches on the dvd, The Documentary part was better on the dvd for giving the first hardcore match(its kool to see the first one) and the 6 man match from backlash that was sweet as hell.
buy this dvd it rules

I got this DVD yesterday after much deliberation. The match that sold me on the idea of buying was Road Dogg vs. Al Snow,a match I was in attendance for in Worcester Mass(The same RAW where Foley won his first world title.) However that match is conspicuous by it's absence as the late great Gorrilla Monsoon used to say. However the other great matches and the insights from the wrestlers more than make up for the fact. The matches on the DVD are incredible though a little short. Overall a great DVD an I'm glad I bought it.