[.ca] Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling

From Amazon.com:
"Sure, wrestling is fake," admits narrator Steve Allen. "We wouldn't have it any other way." So much for ripping the lid off pro wrestling, but fear not--there may be no dirty little secret, but there is a colorful history. Digging way back to its roots--when it was a genuine athletic event and not "a soap opera with a referee"--the slow mutation of wrestling is analyzed in generous detail from its height at the turn of the 19th century to its nadir as a carnival sideshow attraction and urban entertainment during the Depression to its phoenix-like rebirth on early television to its modern-day explosion on cable. Interviews with modern stars, such as Hulk Hogan and veterans Classy Freddie Blassie and Killer Kowalski, wrestling historians, and even college professors tackle the subject from all sides, but the commentary is secondary to the spectacle provided by a rich array of clips--everything from prissy Gorgeous George's ringside sashays to midget wresting to a montage featuring the ubiquitous folding chair to the head. The Unreal Story of Pro Wrestling tends to emphasize the freak-show elements of the sport--which, granted, are much of the documentary's fun--but does capture the showmanship and crazy energy that has transformed a sideshow attraction into a gonzo spectacle in a format that manages to be informative and fun at the same time. --Sean Axmaker

Don't waste your money...:
This title really is a waste of cash. If you saw it on A & E when it first came out then you will know what I mean. If not, trust your Uncle Jon here- the stories on here are mostly fiction, even the interviews they do. The story on Andre the Giant and Wrestlemania III is laugh out loud for how little truth there is to it. They focus a little on the early days (get your truth meter out) and then jump mainly to the 1990's and the WWF. A man like Ric Flair, who has done so much for this industry, is glossed over with at most 3 minutes of screen time. Bruno Sammartino is skipped entirely, as are countless others that are legendary figures in pro wrestling. Skip this title and go get Beyond the Mat or even better- Wrestling with Shadows.

Only a true wrestling fan would have a video like this!:
From the wrestling legends, to the their gimmicks and matches, this documentary shows it all. Just be prepared to spend a couple hours in front of the old tube... You can find all of your old favorites from Lou Thesz to Andre the Giant, to Hulk Hogan, and more! I reccomend this movie to any real hardcore wrestling fan who wants to know more about true Sports Entertainment.

One Of The Best Wrestling Documentaries Avalible.:
Honestly, if you are looking for a wrestling documentary, if you don't already have it, I would highly suggest getting Beyond The Mat before buying this one, as Beyond The Mat is a much better, much deeper look into the world of professional wrestling. If you already have or have seen Beyond The Mat, this DVD would be an excellent add to your collection. This documentary originally aired on A & E, and is presented in a manner to explain pro wrestling to the non-wrestling fan. For wrestling collectors, this is a must have. For the casual fan, go with Beyond The Mat instead.

Not very timely, but still a good contemporary documentary:
I saw this premiere on A & E the night before the April 27, 1998, WWF Raw is War/War Zone show from Hampton, Virginia (which I attended). That date is very significant because it was the moment, in my opinion, that the WWF started to soar in mainstream popularity once again. This documentary premiered the night before that fateful show. It served as a prelude of what was to come over the next couple of years. Basically, it is a pretty-much thorough history of professional wrestling in the United States, from Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidt to Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Although the most recent stuff that is covered is from October 1997 - just before Bill Goldberg started his meteoric rise to fame and right before the double-cross in Montreal - the documentary is still contemporary enough that you can still relate to it in the present terms. There are few inaccuracies in this documentary. Pretty much everything is spot-on, history-wise. I still give it a very high recommendation. If you wish to delve into the history of the grand spectacle of pro wrestling, this is a great place to start.

Dont buy this video.......unless........:
If you your looking for a video that has a lot of stuff about wrestling today. Then dont buy this video. It has a couple of pictures and stuff but not much. It mostly show footage of past wrestlers that are dead. The story goes from: 1910-1989. I bought this video over a year ago and I only watched it once. Its a pretty bad video unless your intrested in the wrestling back when there was black and white television. Another bad thing is that its over 2 hours long so you cant watch it any time you want you got to plan to watch it and make sure your not doing anything for 3 hours. I hope this helps.