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Alan Wojick Reviews "Heroes of World Class"

Posted: Feb 1st 2007 By: CMBurnham

Pop quiz time readers. Can you name all of the Von Erich boys? What about some members of Devastation, Inc.? When I mention the Dynamic Duo, who do you think of? If you don't think Gino Hernandez and "Gentleman" Chris Adams, then the HEROES OF WORLD CLASS DVD is not for you. However if you do want to learn the history of World Class Championship Wrestling and the rise/fall of the Von Erich/Adkisson family, then this DVD is for you. If you are like me and saw the promotion in syndication or on ESPN this will be a trip back to your youth.

According to the DVD sleeve and an audio interview on disc 2, director Brian Harrison used his credit cards plus loans from family and friends to make this DVD. He made several trips to Dallas, Texas over a four year period to compile interviews with former WCCW wrestlers and the only living member of the Von Erich/Adkisson family, Kevin Adkisson. From the opening minute of the film until the last second you will not be disappointed. Besides talking to Adkisson, Mr. Harrison interviewed "Playboy" Gary Hart, General Skandar Akbar, WCCW ring announcer Marc Lowrence, WCCW TV announcer Bill Mercer, TV executive producer Mickey Grant, referee David Manning and WCCW star "Cowboy" John Mantell. In addition to those interviews Mr. Harrison gained unfettered access to the WCCW film library and got some great Chris Adams footage from RF Video.

Through that library many of the WCCW stars that have passed away will tell you in their own words what was going on in 1983 until WCCW was folded into the Jerry Jarrett owned CWA to form the USWA. It is truly haunting to see interview footage of David, Kerry and Mike Von Erich/Adkisson, Bruiser Brody, "Gentleman" Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez. All of them died far too young but you can see they truly loved every minute of their lives. Included is some of the memorable feuds in WCCW like the Dynamic Duo vs. the Von Erichs, the Von Erichs vs. the Fabulous Freebirds, The Midnight Express vs. the Fantastics, "Gentleman" Chris Adams vs." ;Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin, the Fabulous Freebirds vs. Devastation Inc and David Von Erich vs. "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin with footage of chores Garvin and his valet Sunshine had to do on the Von Erich ranch after losing to David. The one part of both DVDs that took my breath away was Kevin taking a final tour of the Dallas Sportatorium before it was razed. You will find it hard not to be emotional as he talks about being the only brother not to commit suicide or die of an intestinal issue (Kevin had another brother who died at age seven).

DVD number 2 has some excellent special features courtesy of the Monday Night Mayhem radio show who interviewed Mr. Harrison, Mr. Mercer and Mr. Grant. ROH provides about 20 minutes of a Jim Cornette shoot interview while PW Torch has audio segments about the DVD. Mr. Harrison scores some great deleted scenes, plus from the WCCW archives we see the Von Erichs taking Bill Mercer on a duck hunt, David Von Erich's last appearance on WCCW TV before his death and Bill Mercer and Mickey Grant outside the Sportatorium.

Other people have reviewed this to be the best documentary of a wrestling promotion ever made. I will echo their thoughts to a degree. For some a near three hour running time might be a drag and that is the only thing stopping it from being the best ever. I enjoyed the piece and recommend it. You can purchase it at Best Buy retail stores or through www.bigvisionentertainment.com