Let's start this review off by acknowledging that I don't agree with WWE's "Top 50" list, you don't agree with WWE's "Top 50" list, and no one we know could possibly agree with WWE's "Top 50" list.

 

This list was clearly used to showcase who is currently in WWE's good books, and anyone who gives the list any more credence than that is in serious need of therapy.

 

Why, um, did I bother buying the DVD, then?

 

Because beyond the "controversy" of the list, I knew that there would be some interesting discussion about 50 top wrestlers, even if their order and inclusion is up for debate.

 

I counted more than 75 different wrestlers and other personalities in the documentary (including some 28 WWE Hall of Famers) commenting on wrestling greats past and present -- that in itself is more significant than your usual Jim Ross, Triple H and John Cena panel used for practically every DVD these days.

 

Of course, they're still included, but the other voices range from Wade Barrett to Antonio Inoki and from John Waters to Wade Boggs.

 

Host Todd Grisham mentions off the bat that the list was decided upon by the current roster. While I don't believe that for a second, at least we were given some loose criteria to go on. And Grisham warns ahead of the rankings of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair in particular, anticipating the outrage it may cause from people take the list far too seriously.

 

So what is the documentary like? Picture a VH1 or E! channel "Best Of The 80's" type show and you get the right idea. A quick four or five minute snapshot of what made said wrestler so impressive, followed by comments from the likes of Bobby Heenan, Ron Garvin, The Honky Tonk Man and Billy Kidman.

 

One minor complaint: I get that someone in WWE thinks that Santino Marella is absolutely hilarious. In certain situations, I think he can be funny. But weighing in on wrestling legends? Not so much.

 

In addition to the documentary, there are two discs full of matches, and I've never seen such an unusual and seemingly random collection presented for. It ranges from a rare six-man elimination match pitting Rowdy Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat and The Junkyard Dog against Macho Man Randy Savage, Adorable Adrian Adonis and Harley Race, to Lou Thesz versus Argentina Rocca, to the criminally-underappreciated Empty Arena match between Mick Foley and The Rock (seriously, watch it again and tell me it isn't a fun little hardcore match).

 

Again, just a bizarre collection, especially with Kurt Angle appearing in a surprising three matches.

 

Overall, I'm not sure if this DVD set is for everyone. If you're into nostalgia like I am and just want to see mini-features on some of the old-school performers, by all means pick this one up.

 

But if you're going to debate how they could include, say, Rey Mysterio and not The Ultimate Warrior, or Rick Rude and not The Dynamite Kid.... you may want to give this a miss and come up with your own damn list.