The Shawn Michaels Story: Heartbreak and Triumph (2007) (V)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Release Date:

2007 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Professional Wrestling | WWE | Wrestling

Cast

Shawn Michaels	...	Himself
Marty Jannetty	...	Himself
Paul Levesque	...	Himself (as Triple H)
Vince McMahon	...	Himself
Chris Jericho	...	Himself
Rebecca Curci	...	Herself (as Rebecca Hickenbottom)
Jim Ross	...	Himself
Curt Hennig	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bret Hart	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jim Neidhart	...	Himself (archive footage)
John Cena	...	Himself
Shane McMahon	...	Himself
Scott Hall	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lou Albano	...	Himself (archive footage)
King Kong Bundy	...	Himself (archive footage)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-14

Company:

WWE Home Video

Movie Connections:

References "WWF Monday Night RAW" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Sexy Boy

The life of Shawn Micheals with a WWE slant

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

But not much of a slant. This DVD is, in general, a balanced portrayal of a deeply flawed man, now reformed through dedication to his faith and family.

Of course the WWE can't resist taking subtle jabs at Scott Hall and a few other wayward talents and giving a fairytale account of the Montreal Screwjob that was discredited years ago which Shawn I gather wasn't too interested in as he hardly speaks about on the DVD.

It does a good job of talking about his drug problems and their impact on his career, as well as his career threatening injury in 1998, and his eventual salvation, before descending into 5 minutes of hero worship and hyperbole to wrap things up. But let's not nit pick, it's a quality doco.

The WWE obviously figured, probably correctly that the WWE fanbase wouldn't be overly interested in his faith, so they leave interviews with his pastor and some young men he mentors through his church off the doco proper and include them as extras on the first disc where those who are interested can watch.

Brings us to Disc 2 and the matches, which include a very early match from WCCW in 1984 where Shawn is defeated in short order by Billy Jack Haynes. Two tag matches from the AWA with Shawn and long time tag partner Marty Janetty teaming up as the Rockers against Buddy Rose and Doug Sommers and then Super Ninja and Ninja Go.

From there, we're into the WWE as the Rockers take on another great tag team the Brainbusters, better known as Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard in a nice tag match. Then we get to see the Rockers defeat the Hart Foundation, another great tag team in best 2 of 3 falls match. We already know from the doco section that the top rope broke during the match, rendering the action almost unwatchable. The title change was never aired or acknowledged on WWE television. The DVD rounds out the ROckers section with another good match from the 1991 Royal Rumble against the Orient Express. Wow, tag team wrestling was fantastic way back when.

The disc ends with Shawn defeating the Britsih Bulldog in a good Intercontinental Championship match from 1992 and then winning the 1995 Royal Rumble after entering at No.1.

The final disc is again all matches starting with a nice match between Shawn Micheals and future TNA part-owner Jeff Jarrett in 1995, then another quality scrap with the British Bulldog, this time for the WWE Championship from the 1996 King of the Ring PPV.

The DVD then skips forward seven years to another terrific match with Shawn Micheals and Triple H both having their shoulders counted down simultaneously on the final RAW of 2003. Then we end in 2005 with the Rockers taking on evil french tag team la resistance in a nostalgia match.

The disc then goes into top gear with two of Micheal's best matches, his superb win over Kurt Angle at Vengeance 2005 and then sensationally helping John Cena to the best match of his career, pinning him after 58 minutes on RAW in April 2007.

This is an excellent DVD, with some obscure matches included. Some of these matches are fantastic, some are a bit out of place. In the end, this is more than worthwhile DVD purchase that would be enjoyed by any fans of Shawn Micheals and pro-wrestling in general.