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DVD Review: 101 Reasons NOT To Be A Pro Wrestler
Directed By Michael Moody
Available at HollymoodEntertainment.com
Running Time - 3hrs approx. (Over 4 hours with Extras)
Quality - Excellent.
Michael Moody's film gives wrestling fans a once in a lifetime chance to see the part of the wrestling business they never see. With behind the scenes footage and interviews fans learn all about the ins and outs, ups and downs of professional wrestling.
From the opening credits, which has footage from interviews with New Jack, Chyna, and Sean O'Haire spliced in, I could tell I was going to enjoy this film.
The first topic covered is getting into the business. Rikishi talks about his entrance into wrestling and how it used to be more full contact, where now it's entertainment. Sean O'Haire then gives his resume and talks about asking for his release from the WWE. We also hear about Psicosis', Predator's, Vampiro's and Tylene Buck's breaking into the business.
Topics covered on the dvd include the WWE takeover of WCW, Politics, Internet, Mixed Martial Arts, Drugs, Injuries, Goals and Dreams, Unions, Vince McMahon, Backyard Wrestling, Backstage Heat, Ribs, Mexico and Japan, and more.
Some highlight on the DVD (at least to me) include:
Tylene Buck discussing Goldberg's jealousy of her. (It amazed me how all of Tylene's interview segments took place while she was getting her hair and makeup done. It must take her a LONG time to look like that.)
We then cut to Sean O'Haire talking about how Goldberg took him under his wing.
Diamond Dallas Page talks about his leaving his bar business at the age of 35 to become a manager only to be dropped as a manager and made into a color commentator. He then decided to train and was on tv three weeks later with Scott Hall.
Konnan comments on how wrestling is at an all time low right now. He says that the TNA locker room is good but they do bad business there. He also states that the business can't just wait for another Stone Cold or another Rock to come along. The business has to just keep moving forward with other things. That is a problem they seem to have.
Psicosis compares his days in ECW (when the boys gave 110%) to those in WCW (where the boys gave 70%).
Joanie Laurer goes into detail about her relationship with HHH, his affair for a year without her knowing it, and her leaving the WWE.
Locker room footage of Konnan, Ricky Reyes, Psicosis, and Puma discussing a match is shown.
We are then taken to some great footage of the filming of the Backyard Wrestling 2 Video Game commercial.
Indy wrestler, Baby Slymm discusses backyard wrestling and wonders what happened to the days when a slam and an elbow got a pin. "Now you have to come off the roof with a pitchfork to the eye."
Vampiro (who is constantly harassed during his segments by friends in the background) talks about the drug abuse being out of control when he was in WCW and how 3 guys died from it during his time there.
In a sobering moment, Toby Hero and Tabitha Stevens are drinking with Chyna out of the trunk of their car.
Footage is then shown of a match between New Jack and Gypsy Joe. New Jack looks as if he is trying to kill Joe. The match ends up being stopped for "unnecessary roughness".
All of New Jack's segments are awesome. His sense of humor is one of a kind. Same goes for Vampiro. The segments with Konnan and Psicosis are great as they tell of the wrestling in Mexico first hand. Tylene Buck does come off looking like quite the diva. She seems very into herself. It amazed me that Rikishi claimed to have never seen any drug use while in the WWE. Considering the length of time he was with the company, you'd think he would have stumbled across some. Then again, why would he say so? It would guarantee him never working there again.
Bonus features on the DVD include tons of interview segments as well as backstage footage. In addition, full interview segments with DDP, New Jack, Vampiro, Predator, and Joanie are shown.
If you are a fan of shoot interviews or enjoyed "Beyond the Mat" you will more than enjoy "101 Reasons Not To Be A Pro Wrestler". Michael Moody does a great job of showing us what goes on behind the pyrotechnics, music, and lights. You will earn a new respect for those in the business after hearing what they have to say.
"101 Reasons Not To Be A Pro Wrestler" is available at HollymoodEntertainment.com
