I remember being 10 years old and watching Wrestlemania 10. At that event, Shawn Michaels defeated Razor Ramon in what was probably the greatest match my young eyes had seen. In the midst of that excitement, my friend's father walked in, took one look at the screen, and said "boy, that Michaels reminds me a lot of The Dragon". Bemused by this statement, my friend and I decided to do some research. A little hinting and guilt landed us the Wrestlemania collection, and it was there that i first witnessed Ricky Steamboat's infamous Intercontinental Title match with Randy Savage at Wrestlemania 3. That match has always resonated in me as a fan, as Steamboat's athleticism, physique, and technical excellence struck me as a perfect combination for a wrestler. Sixteen years later, that match still stands out as one of my favorites of all time, so when it was announced that the WWE was making a Ricky Steamboat DVD, I was as excited as a kid on christmas morning. Seeing more classic Steamboat matches along with finally learning his life story was something I wasn't going to pass on, and after seeing it, I would advise that no one should. This is an absolulte must see for any wrestling fan, as I believe this DVD highlights Steamboat as both a greater wrestler and man.
As per usual with WWE DVD sets, the format includes a biographical feature on the first disc, with discs 2 and 3 being devoted to some classic Steamboat matches. However, there's a few things that make this set truly special. For one, the Steamboat story is told very well in the biographical portion. From classic photos and videos to intimate stories right from the Dragon's mouth, the biography has almost everything you want. Of course, you must remember that this is a WWE produced DVD, so although many would highlight some portions of Steamboat's career over others, this DVD puts most of its emphasis on Steamboat's time in WWE. This is typical of WWE, but is in no way a negative to this DVD. It is clear that Steamboast was a gifted talent from the beginning, first wrestling as Richard (Dick) Blood, and was a standout no matter where he went. It was interesting to hear the story of how he became Ricky Steamboat, the nephew of Sam Steamboat (yeah, no idea who that is either!), and how Ricky Steamboat got dubbed "The Dragon" upon entering WWE. While this may serve as a reminder of how cartoonish the WWE was back then, nostalgia makes these images and stories quite entertaining. The story takes us up to current times, where Ricky works as an agent for WWE and has assisted in helping his son train to follow in his footsteps. It is heartwarming to see how much of a connection the father and son have, and this DVD may serve as the first glimpse of future superstar, Richie Steamboat. If this wonderful story isn't enough, the first disc also includes deleted scenes from the story, Steamboat promos, vignettes, and more. In some ways, these extras are almost as good as the biography itself. It's hilarious to see Tuesday Night Titans hosted by Mean Gene Okerland, as well as Chris Jericho's teenage mullet as he tells the story of when he first met Steamboat.
For a man that was known for his in ring work, the second and third discs are quality keepsakes for any wrestling buff. From Ric Flair to Jake Roberts to the infamous Savage match, at least one match from all of Steamboat's best feuds are featured on these discs. If Steamboat's masterful work isn't enough, Steamboat and Matt Striker do guest commentary on a couple of matches, including the Savage match, which is something unique and special to the DVD set and is worth the purchase price alone. Of course, this only adds to the fact that Steamboat's matches are about as good as anyone on the planet, but anyone buying this DVD should already know that.
This DVD is truly special. In the annuls of Wrestling history, Ricky Steamboat is often overlooked, but this DVD should remind us all of how truly great he was and still is. This man revolutionized the sport as one of the first to combine superb mat skills with high flying innovation. His work was the inspiration to so many who are excelling in the business today, and that alone should motivate any modern wrestling fan to buy this DVD. It comes out today, and take it from me, you will not regret this purchase. That is, unless you don't enjoy incredible workers who also double as superb human beings.
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