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WWF 20-MAN OVER-THE-TOP BATTLE ROYAL (WWF at London’s Royal Albert Hall: Taped 10-3-1991)

SUMMARY:   APPROX. RUNNING TIME: 14:40 Min.

At the Royal Albert Hall, in London, on October 3, 1991, the WWF’s Battle Royal main event winner earns the silver Royal Samovar Trophy. 

In this 20-Man Over-the-Top Battle Royal, the participants are: 1. WWF Intercontinental Champion “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich (although he isn’t acknowledged as such);  2. The Mountie; 3. “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith; 4. and 5. Power & Glory’s Paul Roma & Hercules; 6. Tito Santana; 7. and 8. The Rockers’ Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels; 9. The Barbarian; 10 and 11. The Natural Disasters’ Earthquake & Typhoon; 12. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan; 13. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper; 14 and 15. The Nasty Boys’ Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags; 16. The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer); 17. and 18. WWF World Tag Team Champions The Legion of Doom’s Road Warrior Hawk & Road Warrior Animal; 19. Big Boss Man; and 20. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

The match’s co-commentators are: Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and “Lord” Alfred Hayes.  An ailing Andrè the Giant’s cameo is among his last appearances in the WWF.

Notes: The wrestlers highlighted in black italics later appeared in the 20-Man Battle Royal held in Madison Square Garden on February 23, 1992.

REVIEW:

The match is very entertaining with some memorable sequences.  Specifically, there is the perennial Piper vs. Flair feud, along with a welcome twist pitting Piper vs. the Undertaker.  The same applies to a solid reprise of the Boss Man’s recent series against The Mountie.  Despite a predictable winner, the finish is still a definite crowd-pleaser.  If anything, André the Giant’s presence adds luster to a classy WWF production.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     7 Stars

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WWF WORLD CHAMPION BRET “HITMAN” HART VS. WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION “THE HEARTBREAK KID” SHAWN MICHAELS (WWF 1992 Survivor Series: Aired 11-25-1992)

SUMMARY:              RUNNING TIME: 26:40 Min.*

On November 25, 1992, at the Richfield Coliseum, in Richfield, OH, the WWF Survivor Series main event pitted WWF World Champion Bret “Hitman” Hart against WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn “The Heartbreak Kid” Michaels (with only Hart’s title at stake).  These perpetual rivals had both won their prospective titles for the first time the month before this Pay-Per-View. 

Further, this title showdown represented the first in their trilogy of WWF World Championship matches extending through 1996’s WrestleMania XII in Anaheim, California; and, in their ultra-controversial final battle, 1997’s Survivor Series, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  

Note: Including pre-match interviews, entrances, and a post-match appearance from Santa Claus, the running time extends to approximately 36:52.

REVIEW:

Both methodical and moderately-paced, this Hart/Michaels match proves a worthy successor to SummerSlam 1992’s Intercontinental Title classic pitting Hart vs. his brother-in-law: The British Bulldog.  Among Hart and Michaels’ career showdowns, this 1992 title bout sports the advantage of seeing them early in their main event primes. 

Hence, the timing of this match-up is crucial in WWF/WWE history.  Come late 1992, the ‘super-hero’ component starring at the top of Vince McMahon’s company was severely depleted.  Specifically, Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, The Road Warriors, the Ultimate Warrior, and the British Bulldog had all departed the WWF that year for various reasons.  With only a 40-year-old Randy Savage and a mostly recuperated Curt Hennig available as their other top faces, the WWF desperately needed its new World Champion, Bret Hart, to impress fans against the brash, young Michaels.

Exuding a welcome low-key classiness, the 35-year-old Hart accomplishes this task with surefire gusto.  Reminiscent of  Ric Flair-style cockiness, the punkish Michaels also delivers his half of the necessary goods.  This World Title defense signifies that Hart and Michaels would be positioned atop the WWF for the next five years.  Unquestionably, their 1992 Survivor Series clash justifies McMahon’s faith in them.       

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        8½ Stars

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HIGH ENERGY (KOKO B. WARE & “THE ROCKET” OWEN HART) VS. THE HEADSHRINKERS (SAMU & FATU), WITH AFA (WWF 1992 SURVIVOR SERIES: Aired 11-25-1992)

SUMMARY:                       RUNNING TIME: 7:40

On November 25, 1992, at the Richfield Coliseum, in Richfield, OH, the WWF Survivor Series undercard included a tag team showdown featuring the recently-formed High Energy (Koko B. Ware and “The Rocket” Owen Hart).  The brutal opposition is The Headshrinkers (Samu & Fatu), with their relative, Afa (formerly of The Wild Samoans), as the duo’s ringside manager.  The WWF announcing team is Vince McMahon and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

Notes: High Energy was the WWF’s second failed attempt that year to package young Owen Hart as a tag team player.  His previous partner was brother-in-law Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart in their brief and unsuccessful run as The New Foundation. Also, Ware and Owen Hart had been sporadic tag partners during Hart’s 1988-89 WWF stint as the masked ‘Blue Blazer.’  

REVIEW:

Though stuck with embarrassingly gaudy outfits, Koko B. Ware and Owen Hart, chemistry-wise, are still a decent pairing.  The problem they face here is a glorified squash, as the winners are no surprise whatsoever.  What is dubious about the choreography is how a defenseless Hart lays sprawled on his back and then must wait seemingly forever for the slow-footed Headshrinkers to complete their devastating top rope finisher. 

Suffice to say, this filler material is watchable, but then it is instantly forgettable. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     3½ Stars

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WWF WORLD CHAMPION KEVIN “DIESEL” NASH VS. “THE BRITISH BULLDOG” DAVEY BOY SMITH, WITH JIM CORNETTE (WWF IN YOUR HOUSE 4: Aired 10-22-1995)

SUMMARY:                          RUNNING TIME: 18:14 Min.

At In Your House 4 on October 22, 1995, at Winnipeg Arena in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, WWF World Champion Kevin “Diesel” Nash would face “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith.  In addition to the ringside presence of Smith’s wily manager, Jim Cornette, the announcing team consists of Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and guest commentator Bret “Hitman” Hart (at this point, he is a two-time WWF World champion). 

It is repeatedly teased that, as an impartial observer, Hart awaits the match’s winner in a month for a World Title showdown at the 1995 Survivor Series.

REVIEW:

Describing this main event as an unwatchable ‘DUD’ probably isn’t the fairest assessment.  Make no mistake: clearly neither Kevin Nash nor Davey Boy Smith are striving here for ‘Match of the Year’ consideration.  Still, their battle conveys an aura of painful realism (i.e., countering Nash’s overwhelming size, Smith & Cornett’s ground game repetitively target his knees) rather than the polished big-league choreography that fans are expecting. 

The power-packed Smith, hence, fails to accomplish what Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels seemingly made look easy: maximizing Nash’s in-ring limitations to justify his position as Vince McMahon’s World Champion.  Another factor hampering this dull title match is that neither competitor affects an ounce of charisma. 

Aside from Bret Hart’s match-ending contributions, this match’s disappointing quality resembles mid-card filler for a forgettable house show.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 3 Stars

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WWF WORLD CHAMPION “NATURE BOY” RIC FLAIR, WITH “MR. PERFECT” CURT HENNIG VS. BRET “HITMAN” HART (WWF Prime Time Wrestling: Taped 10-12-92)

SUMMARY:           RUNNING TIME: Approx. 31:00 Min.*

Taped for WWF Prime Time Wrestling on October 12, 1992, this WWF World Championship showdown would take place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.  Defending his recently-regained WWF World Heavyweight Championship is “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, whose ringside crony is his ‘executive consultant,’ “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig.  Challenging Flair is two-time ex-WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret “Hitman” Hart.

The commentators are Gorilla Monsoon and “Lord” Alfred Hayes.   

Note: This running time includes entrances.

REVIEW:

Proceeding at a moderate pace, this Hart vs. Flair title match is not nearly as compelling as Flair vs. either Randy Savage or Ricky Steamboat, but this bout shines at the right moments.  Besides Savage, Roddy Piper, and ultimately Curt Hennig, Hart was the other WWF notable whose game equaled, if not, surpassed Flair’s (even at 43-years-old). 

Among his impressive 1992 career accolades, one the 35-year-old Hart truly deserves credit for is the WWF’s ‘Mr. Consistency.’  Case in point: his stellar Intercontinental Championship choreography that year, including a bloody pinfall title win against Piper and a Match-of-the-Year-caliber loss to The British Bulldog, ensuring that his opponent looked as good as he did.

In terms of Flair, even if the multi-time World Champion had passed his iconic Late ‘80s’ prime, Hart’s reliability and in-ring professionalism makes up the necessary difference.  More specifically, during this era, the aging “Nature Boy” was still a superior performer, as compared to virtually all his peers in either the WWF or WCW. 

Yet, this pivotal match confirmed that the rising Hart had eclipsed him (and, simultaneously, Randy Savage) as the WWF’s acknowledged MVP.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       8 Stars

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WWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPION DAVEY BOY SMITH (OF THE BRITISH BULLDOGS) & THE JUNKYARD DOG , WITH MATHILDA VS. THE HART FOUNDATION (BRET HART & JIM NEIDHART) (WWF House Show: Taped 1-11-1987)

SUMMARY:                   RUNNING TIME: 18:28 Min.

On January 11, 1987, the WWF’s house show at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens would include a WWF World Tag Team Title defense.  Specifically, The British Bulldogs’ Davey Boy Smith defends the title against his brothers-in-law: the unscrupulous Hart Foundation (Bret “Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart). 

With British Bulldog Tommy “The Dynamite Kid” Billington hospitalized due to in-ring injuries, the WWF opted to supply  Smith with substitute partners.  Accompanying Smith and bulldog mascot, Mathilda, appropriately enough, that night is the Junkyard Dog.  Conspicuously absent is the Harts’ manager: Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart. 

Refereeing the bout is a corrupted Danny Davis, who essentially makes it a six-man tag bout against a makeshift Bulldog team (if one counts Mathilda).  The match’s co-commentators are Gorilla Monsoon & “Luscious” Johnny Valiant.

REVIEW:

Including the fun use of Mathilda to harass the villains at the get-go, this tag match (including its commentary) is as fun as one could expect.  Unsurprisingly, a vibrant Smith’s chemistry with his brothers-in-law delivers some surefire wrestling magic.  Contributing little during the match’s mid-section, the Junkyard Dog still gets a welcome piece of the inspired finish. 

This title bout is not necessarily DVD-worthy, but the players involved ensure that fans are entertained. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                  6 Stars

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YOKOZUNA, WITH MR. FUJI VS. VIRGIL (WWF 1992 SURVIVOR SERIES: Aired 11-25-1992)

SUMMARY:            RUNNING TIME: 3:34

On November 25, 1992, at the Richfield Coliseum, in Richfield, OH, the WWF Survivor Series undercard included future two-time WWF World Champion Yokozuna (with manager Mr. Fuji) taking on Virgil.  The announcing team is Vince McMahon and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. 

REVIEW:

Having long exhausted his push from WrestleMania VII and SummerSlam the year before, an athletic Virgil at least appears game.  Yet, fans are unmistakably getting a squash match.  This brief showdown playing up Yokozuna’s massive size is easily skippable filler.       

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      2 Stars

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BRAD MELTZER’S DECODED: THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF BILLY THE KID (Season 2: Episode 6)

SUMMARY:              RUNNING TIME: Approx. 44:16 Min.

This episode premiered on The History Channel on November 23, 2011.  Hosted in-studio by novelist Brad Meltzer, his investigative team consists of: mechanical engineer/author Christine McKinley; attorney (and now a circuit court judge) Scott Rolle; and professor/author Buddy Levy. 

Revisiting pivotal New Mexico sites during the last months of Billy the Kid’s life, Meltzer’s investigators probe alternate theories re: whether Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett indeed killed the Kid (aka William H. Bonney/Antrim/McCarty) on the night of July 14, 1881. 

Cause for skepticism primarily stems from the Meltzer team’s efforts to debunk some of Garrett’s claims ultimately leading to the Kid’s death: i.e., on April 28, 1881, why did Garrett fatefully (or perhaps conveniently) leave town on county business prior to the Kid’s deadly jailbreak?  How were the sheriff’s security precautions breached, so the shackled Kid could readily access a firearm?  Months later, at Pete Maxwell’s home, how could the Kid have slipped past Garrett’s two deputies standing guard outside before meeting his fate against Garrett in a darkened bedroom?     

Guests interviewed are: historian Mark Lee Gardner; retired police officer Steven Sederwall (who supervises a forensics test re: Deputy Bell’s murder during the Kid’s escape); author W. C. Jameson; two of Garrett’s grandchildren: Savannah & J.P. Garrett; and two of the Kid’s purported descendants: great-grandson Elbert Garcia and second cousin-once-removed Elaine McReynolds.

Meltzer’s team further examines Garrett’s veracity, as to the Kid’s infamous jail breakout killing two deputies, let alone the theory that an obstructive scheme shielded Garrett’s supposed killing of the wrong man in the Kid’s place.  Also contemplated is the likelihood of whether elderly Ollie “Brushy Bill” Roberts (one of innumerable mid-20th Century Kid claimants) was the authentic Kid, as based upon photographic analysis technology and eyewitness accounts. 

Further, several uncredited reenactment segments are included.

REVIEW:

Without passing judgment on the series itself, this episode proves watchable.  Even its most dubious speculations are more plausible than, say, America Unearthed’s “Lost Secrets of the Alamo Revealed” episode, which dubiously pitches Davy Crockett’s alleged survival into old age in a secluded corner of Alabama. 

Veering between theories that long-time buddies Garrett and the Kid had conspired together to fake the outlaw’s death (in an everybody-wins scenario), or that Garrett’s less-than-heroic version (despite its logical flaws) is basically correct, Meltzer’s presentation of disputed history is generally fair.  His cohorts also convey an articulate pendulum weighing alternative answers explaining Garrett and the Kid’s final showdown. Yet, Meltzer’s advocation for sensationalizing conspiracy theories is excessive, which obstructs his program’s own credibility.

Though 1990’s Young Guns II, is not specifically mentioned, several elements of the film’s premise and plotting are mirrored throughout this episode.  Hence, fans of Young Guns II should enjoy “Billy the Kid’s Mysterious Death.”  Most others will deem the truth behind the Kid’s demise still muddled – as Meltzer’s show readily stirs the unprovable conspiracy pot.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 5½ Stars

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THE FLANNAN ISLES LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY: REPRISE (2021)

SUMMARY:             RUNNING TIME: Approx. 27:19 Min.

First produced as a 2017 podcast, this revised Bedtime Stories documentary is from writer/editor/producer/animator/narrator Richard While and artist Mikey Turcanu.  Accompanied by a musical score from Co.AG and Keven MacLeod, While details the true story of the unsolved December 1900 disappearance of three lighthouse keepers on the remote isle of Eliean Mór.  Often buffeted by raging wind and monstrous waves, the locale is The Flannan Isles within Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.

Including easy-to-follow captions, While describes the backstory, investigation, and aftermath re: the unknown fates of James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald McArthur.  Various theories are weighed, with an emphasis on plausibility, as opposed to sensationalistic fiction subsequently appearing in the 20th Century.  With artist Mikey Turcanu’s black-and-white paintings now animated and more reminiscent of a shifting pop-up book, While conveys a virtual ghost story. 

Note: Though While’s narration is practically the same, the original 2017 podcast is ten minutes shorter.  Further, Turcanu’s original black-and-white paintings are not ultra-polished animation.

REVIEW:

Boasting impressive production values, this intriguing and historically accurate film is eerie without being exploitative.  The ambiance of this animated black-and-white cartoon, when combined with Richard While’s spot-on narration and its haunting musical score, is mesmerizing.  Though meant more as ghost story entertainment, “The Flannan Isles Lighthouse Mystery – Reprise” is recommended for all-age armchair sleuths.       

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       8 Stars

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THE OATH: A BATMAN FAN FILM

SUMMARY:             RUNNING TIME: Approx. 17:32 Min.

Released by Kaotica Studios in 2022, this film’s writing, cinematography, editing, and directing are credited to ‘Johnny K.’  Per the closing credits, the production was evidently filmed in Petersburg, Virginia.

Heavily inspired by the 1989 Batman movie’s opening sequence, “The Oath” depicts two Gotham City cops investigating the demise of low-level hoodlum Johnny Gobs in a rain-drizzled alley.  Ordering his subordinate to watch over Gobs’ remains, Sgt. Frank Kelly (Morgan) departs on foot for another call.  Instead, Kelly goes to a clandestine meeting with one of mobster Carl Grissom’s most notorious players: Johnny Atlas (Keenum)

Pressured by his wife’s skyrocketing medical bills, Kelly faces a moral pendulum whether to accept bribe money and join the long list of others on Grissom’s illicit payroll.  Watching from above is the Dark Knight, who then makes his own ultimatum. 

GCPD Sgt. Frank Kelly: Jerry Morgan

Jimmy Atlas: Oz Keenum

GCPD Officer Joey Barnes: Chris Konke

Batman: Guillermo Mejía

Transient: Chris Konke

Mary Kelly (voiceover): Paula S. Morgan

GCPD Dispatcher (voiceover): Heather Stone

Peter McElroy/newscaster (voiceover): Dan K. Anderson

GCPD cops: Uncredited

Johnny Gobs (corpse): Uncredited   

REVIEW:

Despite its pedestrian script, this short film’s production values are impressive.  The movie’s running time, in that sense, exceeds the simple morality tale it is depicting.  At least, nothing seems rushed for budgetary purposes. 

Kaotica Studios can be commended for conjuring up what is effectively a test reel that rivals DC/Warner Bros.’ own TV programs, quality-wise.  Case in point: in limited screen time, Guillermo Mejía (deliberately reminiscent of Michael Keaton’s Batman) is effective in the role.  Though short on conveying emotional reactions, the other cast members still deliver some relatively good work.

“The Oath: A Batman Fan Film,” if anything, demonstrates how effective live-action Batman can be when it is in the right creative hands – even outside of big-league Hollywood.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        7 Stars

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