My Thoughts on STARRCADE: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION

Purchased the new 3 disc Starrcade set with $30 bucks I found on the floor the other night ( fringe benefits of working as "Bar Security") so I decided to pick up this latest WWE Home Video release.

I havent watched all the bouts ( and likely won't for a few days at least) but as is customary when I purchase WWE DVDs, I immediately watch the documentary portion.

I largely liked what I saw, but one particular thought I had while watching was this: why didnt they cover the background better that lead to the inaugural Starrcade?

For example, Jim Crockett Promotions was a major wrestling promotional office for approximately 55 years (which was mentioned) However, for many years before the name Starrcade was attached to Thanksgiving night (and later Xmas season) the Crockett office promoted highly successful events, some years in as many as 3 different towns.

This information, with newspaper clips and results, are featured on a few websites, most prominently at www.midatlanticgateway.com

If you check out that sight, you will see a fascinating array of not only top name wrestling talent, but a few other "legitimate" sports figures as well-most notably, legendary heavyweight boxing champion "Brown Bomber" Joe Louis appeared almost annually during the late 60s-early 70s as a "special enforcer referee" for one of the circuits top "blowoff" matches.

("blow off"-the culmination of a wrestling feud; think the last 15 minutes of any action film- the "good guys" finally overcoming the "Bad Guys". Usually, the last match between the participants)

I thought adding that backstory alone would have improved the documentary tremendously.....

There was also no mention at all of the wrestling event which actually sparked the "Starrcade" concept- "The Final Battle"- the blow off of a tremendous feud which sold out the Greensboro Coliseum a mere 9 months earlier, when two excellent teams face off with consequences, as Sgt Slaughter & Don Kernodle took on Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood. Inside a steel cage, the Slaughter/Kernodle team put up the World Tag Team titles, and Steamboat/Youngblood put up their team- in other words, if they lost, they could never team again. Its on youtube, and its a classic-by all means watch it.

Match selection: instead of nitpicking the matches, Id rather hear from those of you who are familiar with the matches of Starrcade history, and send me 5 bouts that didnt make the cut.
Heres mine,in no particular order:
1) Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes, '84, Smokin Joe Frazier referees as "1 Million dollars" is on the line
2) Tully Blanchard vs. Ricky Steamboat, NWA Tv Title, '84
3)"Nature Boy" Buddy Landel vs Terry Taylor, National Title, '85
4)Tuxedo Street Fight: "Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant & "Miss Atlanta Lively" (Ronnie Garvin in drag) vs. The Midnight Express ( Condrey/Eaton version) '85
5) Ric Flair vs. Ronnie Garvin- NWA World Title- '87

Come up with a few a hit me up- theres tons more Im sure would be worthy as well.

Closing thought: what would you do if you found the "hokey pokey" was really what it was all about?

Thank you- goddnight!