Alan Wojcik sent out the following:
DVD REVIEW: History of WWE… 1986 with George “the Animal” Steele
Like many years in the decade of decadence, 1986 was a great year to be a wrestling fan. The AWA and WCCW were still in business and doing well. The NWA/Crockett promotion led by Ric Flair, the Four Horsemen, Dusty Rhodes, etc. were living it up (that’s another DVD all together, see the end of this review) and the World Wrestling Federation was riding high after a successful WrestleMania I in spring 1985. WWF TV consisted of TNT (Tuesday Night Titans), All-Star Wrestling on USA Network & Saturday Night’s Main Event on NBC.
By the end of the year several successful feuds would launch heading off to the record breaking WrestleMania 3 (see History of WWE 1987 with Honky Tonk Man) and Jim Myers was there in the ring plus backstage as a road agent (called producers in current WWE.) Who is Jim Myers you ask?? Wrestling fans love him as WWE Hall of Fame member George “the Animal” Steele and he joins Sean Oliver for History of the WWE 1986.
As my colleagues & I on Kayfabe Wrestling Radio found out (http://wildtalkradio.com/oww/owwradio010411.mp3 to listen) things are not what you think they would be. Do not ask to speak to George or the interview will be grunts and groans.
At the beginning of 1986 Myers was teaching High School & coaching football in Michigan after a successful fall season. Wrestling in the WWF was a part-time venture. By the end of it he was part of the NY/LI leg of WrestleMania 2 taking on the late Randy Savage, being a regular tag team partner to the late Junkyard Dog and was on the road to escorting Ricky Steamboat to the ring at WrestleMania 3. In between was a wild ride as “sports entertainment” took over the professional wrestling scene.
Myers and host Sean Oliver cover the WWF debuts of Randy Savage, Dick Slater, the Machines, Kamala, Koko B. Ware, “Doctor of Style” Slick, The Rougeau Brothers, Jimmy Jack, Terry & Dory Funk Jr., Honky Tonk Man (as a babyface), Outback Jack, “the King” Harley Race (with some salacious rumors), Ted Arcidi, Jake Roberts, Tom Zenk & Billy Jack Haynes plus the return to WWF of “Superstar” Billy Graham, “Adorable” Adrian Adonis, Rick Martel & Mr. T.
The program covers the classic feuds of Hogan/Paul Orndorff, Roberts/Steamboat plus then Intercontinental Heavyweight champion Randy Savage’s protectiveness of his former wife Ms. Elizabeth is brought up covering the Steele/Savage feud, which actually knocked Tito Santana out of a rematch at WrestleMania 2. WWF launched the toys & lunch boxes, “the Wrestling Album” and the Slammy Awards during 1986 which are covered briefly by Myers.
An interesting story on Junkyard Dog and selling the ring will make you change your view of the in-ring action. Another funny story involves Bruno Sammartino and the locker room changing from his era plus wrestling Andre the Giant & traveling with Pat Patterson. Even if you have never purchased any of the previous DVD’s in this collection, you MUST BUY this. Not many times will you see Mr. Myers speak openly about the wrestling business. Next up on the sales page on www.kayfabecommentaries.com is Investigative Special: Being a Horseman w/JJ Dillon (Feb 28th) and YouShoot with “the Franchise” Shane Douglas (March 21st)
