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THE DEBUT OF THE INDY WRESTLING DVD REVIEW

Welcome to the first edition of the Indy Wrestling DVD Review here on PWInsiderXTRA.com, where I'll be looking at DVDs produced and released by independent wrestling promotions and more. If you are a promotion that would like your DVDs reviewed, you can find information on that below. No, on with the reviews, featuring three distinctly different releases:

The Worst of Roderick Street (Also Featuring The Todd)

A DYI DVD by Roderick Street, who started his career as “Chip Daley” (A Chippendale dancer) and also wrestles with Officer Colt Cabana as “Deputy Dick” for JCW shows. He was trained at Dan Severn’s Michigan Sports Camp and Roderick has trained up-and-coming wrestlers at the same camp.

Featured on this disc are his matches in Juggalo Championship Wrestling, HCW, MCWA, EWF, OCWA, and Destruction Pro Wrestling. Some of his opponents are: Sabu, Vampiro, PJB, Jud Hado, Chase Matthews plus others. All the matches are very good and Roderick Street can wrestle a “heel” or “face”.

Roderick is usually accompanied by “The Todd”. Todd is about 36 years old (give or take a year) and has down’s syndrome. However, Todd doesn’t let his disability get in the way of participating in matches and knows how to give a mean Stone Cold Stunner. Todd is being taken care of by Roderick and his wife, who is Todd’s sister. The Todd understands “the business” but he think it’s real. If you’re a promoter and you have the Todd in your show; do not give him the mike because you will never get it back.

The only negative thing about the DVD is “The Todd Condition”, which is a little film featuring Todd getting ready in the morning. He’s in sparkly tights and there’s a camera shot from the back of him urinating in the commode. I can’t unsee that.

There’s a promo called “Kitchen Corner with Roderick and Randi” as they prepare tacos (or something). There should be a drinking game with this promo by taking a shot every time Randi says “gimmick”.

Overall, the matches are very good and the camera work varies from promotion to promotion. I won’t talk about the production value because I know most independents can’t afford the WWE budget on high-quality lights and HD cameras.

RECOMMENDATION: Get it for the matches.
Chapters: 17
Extras: None
Running Time: 75+ Minutes
Best Match: Roderick Street vs. Troy Miller
Quality of Wrestling: Roderick is usually the general in the ring and is able to bring out the best in his opponents.
Link to Purchase: http://www.facebook.com/joshwa.roderick

YouTube Clip: “In The Kitchen With Roderick and Randi” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4fbmtqHOEs

$5 Wrestling Volume One

Everyone has talked back to a movie or TV show. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is the best example of audience participation plus there are showings of “The Sound of Music” with singalongs and shouting out one-liners. There was eve a little show called “Mystery Science Theater 3000” with a guy stuck in space with robots forced to watch bad films. His only release was to do a running comedic commentary on what he was watching. The shadows of both him and two of his robot pals in the lower right corner would riff away on the worst of films.

Now there is $5 Wrestling. This series of DVDs has had a polarizing effect on pro wrestlers. Either they relate to it and get what Colt Cabana and Marty Derosa are doing or they think both guys are being disrespectful and mocking “the business”. Whatever your opinion, you should watch at least one DVD of $5 Wrestling before you make your decision.

I chose to review the first DVD released. I don’t know if this was intentional or not but the DVD cover is a general Highspots cover with “$5 Wrestling 1” written on it. The disc label bears a resemblance to one of those copied disc with scribble writing. At least it gave me a smile.

The hosts, wrestler Colt Cabana and comedian Marty Derosa do an introduction on what $5 wrestling is, which is the best of the worst (or worst of the worst).

In the first DVD, they tape a live $5 wrestling show and Colt and Marty are seen on the lower right corner making their comments. From what I’ve read, they are seeing the show for the first time, which makes their ad-libs all the more funnier. They point out that The Masked Assassin and The Sheik (not to be confused with Ed Farhat) are wearing the same ring gear. They say that The Sheik lost his luggage so The Masked Assassin lent his gear to him.

In between matches, “Manscout” Jake Manning interviews various “wrestlers” who are working in $5 Wrestling. Let’s just say they definitely need to work on their promo skills.

Looking at this and the other $5 Wrestling DVDs, I wonder if the $5 wrestlers are in on the joke. I know that Freight Train (who does not appear on this DVD) is “special”. Are we laughing at them because they’re not aware of what’s going on in and out of the ring? It’s up to you to decide.

Overall, it’s a hilarious series and I hope they continue.

RECOMMENDATION: Great party DVD to show to pro wrestling fans and pro wrestling haters. Also, I recommend that the viewers be “heavily medicated”.

Chapters: 10
Extras: Interviews with Raymond Helms, AJ Cross, & Wolfman; Marty and Colt bloopers
Running Time: 65+ minutes
Best Match: Um…er…next!
Quality of Wrestling: yeah…next!
Link to Purchase: http://www.highspots.com

YouTube Clip: You can also rent $5 Wrestling 1 on YouTube for $4.99. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im9y3AjfVWs

Johnny Legend Live On The Sunset Strip/Mondo Legend

Not a review of a wrestling DVD per se but an overview of the man, the myth, the legend himself: Johnny Legend.

You don’t know who Johnny Legend is? Shame on you! Johnny Legend is a true raconteur. He is a rockabilly/pyschobilly artist (he’s in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame), actor (Bride of Reanimator, Severed Ties), collector and connoisseur of sleaze movies (he once ran the only “indoor” drive-in and released a series of videotapes through Rhino called “Sleazemania), and most importantly: A wrestling promoter and manager.

This DVD is divided into two sections: One part is Johnny performing live in a club on Sunset strip on the anniversary of the 1966 riots and the other part is a biographical look at Johnny’s life.

The concert portion is great look at Johnny’s singing and performing on stage. Most of the songs he wrote himself like “Soakin’ the Bone”, “The Naked Die Young” and “Wild, Wicked, Wanda”. If you’re into psychobilly music, this is for you.

“Mondo Legend” is an update on an earlier video from Something Weird called “I Am Legend”. There is additional material plus some clips being removed for “copyright reasons” (film and TV clips of Johnny acting). It starts off with 8mm footage with a young Johnny and friends acting in short films, mostly horror themed. Johnny was heavily influenced by horror movies shown on TV.

Throughout the bio film are clips from his appearances on public access shows, scenes from movies he was in, and wrestling promos featuring Johnny and various wrestlers; including the Aztec Mummy. One of the public access shows he appears on is “Art Fein’s Poker Party”. Johnny and the Legendary Stardust Cowboy try (the key word is “try”) singing a duet.

The wrestling clips feature Johnny as a heel manager. One clip features Jason Hervey confronting Johnny while another clip features Johnny doing a promo with Eddie Graham.

RECOMMENDATION: A great educational tool to teach the unknowing about the greatness that is Johnny Legend. All hail Johnny!
Chapters: Too many to count
Extras: Clips of Johnny Legend at various California indy wrestling shows; Johnny Legend singing and teaching how to play his songs on guitar.

EASTER EGG: An ESPN promo for the America’s Cup race featuring Johnny as Neptune.
Running Time: 2+hours all together
Best Match: No complete matches. Best part is his live concert and his appearances on various public access shows.
Quality of Wrestling: N/A since only snippets of the wrestling shows are shown
Link to Purchase: http://www.legendhouse.net

YouTube clip: Johnny Legend with horror Host Dr. Shock from Toledo singing “Pencil Neck Geek”; a song he wrote for Fred Blassie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQkLOmofcS8

If you would like your DVDs reviewed, please send review copies to: Wrestling DVD Review, c/o 11569 Boyne Blvd, Allendale, MI 49401.  P