As World Wrestling Entertainment moved away from the Attitude Era to a more family friendly TV-PG environment, longtime fans grew frustrated, preferring the ways they were instead of how they are now. Some still maintain a status quo making a point to tune in weekly in the event something great happens. Every once in a while you will get a match that is a gem. Other times it’s a hot angle that gets extinguished before it has the opportunity to become a four-alarm fire. But great incidents are few and far between nowadays.
Call it a coincidence but the OMG! The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History arrives just as WWE seems to be on an upswing. Typically, the company rallies around when it comes time to promote “The Road to WrestleMania.” After that three-month stretch the company goes on autopilot, regurgitating matches with no clear idea of building worthwhile angles and feuds. But ever since wrestler CM Punk went on a rant on the June 27, 2011 episode of Monday Night Raw, World Wrestling Entertainment has gotten a boost in media coverage from outlets like ESPN. Now this is because of a wrestler cutting a promo with a mike (or as Punk calls it a “pipe bomb”) in hand. The coverage isn’t because of a recent tragedy involving a wrestler currently or previously involved with WWE.
Undoubtedly, had OMG! been released later this year Punk’s rant would have made the list, easily in place of something like #44, the Concrete Crypt (Paul Bearer covered with concrete at The Great American Bash 2004). Instead, WWE fans will have to wait for the eventual Best of Raw 2011 release.
Even without CM Punk’s rant, OMG! still has plenty to offer WWE fans, especially those who tuned in during the Attitude Era. In a way this release is perfect for friends to watch and relive some great moments that may or may not have Good Ol’ J.R. belting out his famous “OH MY GOD!” when things get really outrageous.
A few months ago, WWE released The Top 50 Superstars of All Time. If the purpose of that release was to get people arguing about WWE’s placement of certain superstars, well the sports entertainment giant succeed. With this three-disc compilation, OMG! The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History, fans will be less inclined to argue and more inclined to wonder why they can’t see more of these moments in WWE today. The release is highlighted by a two-hour countdown feature and two discs of bonus matches and promos.
The feature itself is pretty standard. Each moment is allotted two to three minutes before moving on to the next incident on the list. What’s bad is that each moment is preceded by an OMG! graphic and music bump, a hip-hop styling of “Oh My God.” So if you watch the feature in full, just know that you will hear that same music bump between each moment.
Without heading into spoiler territory and give a listing of all the incidents from #50 to #1 – because what would be the fun in that? – it shouldn’t be that hard to guess what moment placed first. If you are a die-hard fan you should be able to name it in three tries or less.
Best in the World, I’d like to introduce you to the Best in the World.
What makes this feature entertaining is hearing guys like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, William Regal, JR, and The Miz (even Zack Ryder pops up) give their thoughts about certain incidents that were picked for the countdown. Punk is by far the best – he’s the Best in the World for a reason – totally having fun participating. At one moment he just laughs in a “are you freaking kidding me” way about why an incident was selected.
OMG! is dominated by clips from Monday Night Raw (no less than twenty) and twelve are from pay-per-view (including three in the top ten – none of which are from WrestleMania). Stone Cold Steve Austin is the personality that is featured the most in the countdown, and you also get to see plenty of special attractions like snakes, an artificial leg, trash dumpster, thumbtacks, and a bedpan.
Taking a look at the packaging, OMG! comes housed in cardboard packaging with a gateway foldout to reveal the three discs. Unfortunately, WWE has decided to not include an insert or print the countdown on one of the cardboard foldouts.
The release has a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation that is pretty decent. The segments involving wrestlers giving their two cents about a particular OMG moment are especially good. The older footage has a softer look as compared to recent footage but is still respectable. Material that was originally shot full frame is presented as is, but with mattes on the sides.
In terms of audio, just like the video the older footage is not as good as stuff produced now. The stereo track is easily discernable for listeners. But if you are hard of hearing, WWE has done a disservice by not including subtitles, closed captioning, or alternate language options.
Note to self: Never go grocery shopping with Booker T or to the barber shop with Shawn Michaels.
Disc Two (01:55:34)
Rowdy Roddy Piper Gives Haiti Kid a Haircut
Tuesday Night Titans – 7th March, 1986
Jake The Snake Roberts Attacks Macho Man Randy Savage
Superstars – 23rd November, 1991
The Rockers Split on the Barber Shop
Wrestling Challenge – 11th January, 1992
WWE Championship Match
Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel
In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies – 28th April, 1996
Intercontinental Championship Match
Hunter Hearst-Helmsley vs. Undertaker
Shotgun Saturday Night – 8th February, 1997
Stone Cold Stunner to Mr. McMahon
Raw – 22nd September, 1997
Hell in a Cell Match
Mankind vs. Undertaker
King of the Ring – 28th June, 1998
Mr. McMahon’s Ceremony to Crown a New WWE Champion
Raw – 28th September, 1998
Stone Cold Gives the Corporation a Beer Bath
Raw – 22nd March, 1999
Dearly Departed
SmackDown – November 11, 1999
Hardcore Championship Match
Shane McMahon vs. Steve Blackman
SummerSlam – 27th August, 2000
Pillman’s got a gun and OMG! what is Chris Masters doing here?!
Disc Three (02:26:05)
Tables, Ladders & Chairs II for the WWE Tag Team Championship
The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Edge & Christian
WrestleMania X-7 – 1st April, 2001
Street Fight
Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon
King of the Ring – 24th June, 2001
Kurt Angle’s Milk Delivery
Raw – 20th August, 2001
Stone Cold Steve Austin Brawls with Booker T in the Supermarket
SmackDown – 13th December, 2001
WWE Championship Match
Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show
SmackDown – 12th June, 2003
Concrete Crypt Match
Undertaker vs. The Dudley Boyz
Great American Bash – 27th June, 2004
The Highlight Reel with Trish Stratus & Lita
Raw – 8th November, 2004
WWE Championship Match
John Cena vs. Edge
New Year’s Revolution – 8th January, 2006
Hardcore Match
Mick Foley vs. Edge
WrestleMania 22 – 2nd April, 2006
Mr. McMahon Appreciation Night
Raw – 11th June, 2007
The Miz thinks snakes are awesome!
With the exception of the HHH/Taker match from Shotgun Saturday Night, which I don’t think has ever been released on DVD, and Kurt Angle/Shane McMahon from King of the Ring 2001, most of the other matches can be found elsewhere. To an extent so can KotR 2001, but that title is OOP and can fetch between $35 to $80 on the open market. Just know that for most of the second disc and part of the third disc to expect the dreaded blur covering the WWF Attitude logo. As far as the selection of matches go it’s hard to argue since the countdown only has a few instances that involve an actual match. Most are derived from in-ring and backstage segments, and promos.
For some reason, I found myself liking this set more than I originally thought I would. Regardless of countdown rankings OMG! is a fun release that is perfect for a party environment. Though I have to wonder why certain incidents were ignored. Hulk Hogan bodyslamming Andre the Giant was a definite OMG! moment as was The Ultimate Warrior beating the Honky Tonk Man for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam 1988. The DVD presentation is good, CM Punk, Santino and William Regal are a hoot with their comments, and the bonus material, though repetitive, helps to round out the set. A solid recommendation if watching with friends.
WWE Home Video presents OMG! The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History. Featuring: Stone Cold Steve Austin, Randy Savage, Mick Foley, Edge, Kurt Angle, Vince McMahon, Jeff Hardy and Shawn Michaels. Running Time: 6 Hours and 22 Minutes (box art advertises 9 hour run time). Rating: TV-PG. Released on DVD: August 23, 2011. Available at Amazon.com.
