WWE â€" Rey Mysterio: The Biggest Little Man – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

Studio: World Wrestling Entertainment
Rating: Not Rated
Run time: 540 minutes
Number of discs: 3
Release Date: October 23, 2007

During the Monday night wars between the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling, WCW’s biggest draw was the New World Order. But another component to their success was a strong undercard, especially bouts involving cruiserweights. It could be argued just who was the cornerstone of the division. Dean Malenko, the man of a 1000 holds, was the scientific wizard of all the cruiserweights in WCW. A pre-Y2J Chris Jericho brought character (and comedy) to the division. But it may have been the high flyer Rey Mysterio that best embodied the cruiserweight explosion in the States during the mid-to-late 90s.

Today, WWE pays tribute to the man who uses his area code as a finishing maneuver. Rey Mysterio: The Biggest Little Man is a three-disc retrospective that shows just how Mysterio went from being part of the cruiserweight revolution of the nineties to becoming a main event superstar. He wasn’t an overnight success, having competed all over the world. He wrestled in Mexico, ECW, and WCW before calling WWE home in 2002.

Having wrestled for eighteen years there really isn’t anything Rey Mysterio, real name Oscar Gutierrez, hasn’t accomplished. At five feet, six inches and weighing less than a hundred and eighty pounds Mysterio has never let his “little man” stature be the deciding factor in what he could or could not achieve. He first gained notoriety in America by competing in the Philadelphia-based federation Extreme Championship Wrestling. There he dazzled hundreds inside of a bingo hall, competing against two of his greatest rivals from Mexico: Psicosis and Juventud Guerrera. His matches with the two luchadors were but a small example of the high-flying antics he would bring to WCW in 1996.

This was my first exposure to the cruiserweight. I can recall his title victory over Dean Malenko from a WCW Monday Night Nitro broadcast from Florida. I also remember when he was one of the first victims at the hands of the New World Order, when Kevin Nash threw him into the side of a mobile trailer. This little man would get his revenge on “Big Sexy” some years later, surprising the seven-footer in a pinfall victory.

With him being on live television broadcasts each week it wouldn’t take long for people to understand the wow factor that was Rey Mysterio. Hurricanranas, Diving crossbodies, headscissors takedown, and his numerous counters — all that, and the fact that he’s a quick as a hiccup. Mysterio was his own highlight reel. Just watch his debut at 1996’s Great American Bash, his event opener against Psicosis at Bash at the Beach, or the his “Title vs. Mask” encounter with the late Eddie Guerrero at Halloween Havoc 1997. Each has something memorable to offer; Mysterio’s reverse out of Psicosis’ Space Mountain finisher is as astounding now as it was eleven years ago.

As the nineties came to a close, Mysterio changed; when he and Konan lost a tag match against The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) at Superbrawl IX, Mysterio had to take off his mask. Without the mask the mysteriousness vanished. Though, he continued to perform well. He had some good matches against Billy Kidman and when they were a team they had an interesting summer feud with Raven and Perry Saturn and Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko.

Most likely an editorial decision on WWE’s part, that period in Mysterio’s wrestling career is not explored in The Biggest Little Man. Instead, we get twenty-nine of his best bouts (where he’s donning a mask) inside of a squared circle. Spread over three discs, we see the evolution of Mysterio. Though it can be argued if Mysterio is deserving of the three-disc treatment to chronicle his rise to prominence, the matches included are a reminder of the encounters he’s had with Japanese legends, luchadors, and of course his feud with Eddie Guerrero.

Considering this is the second DVD release/retrospective about Rey Mysterio — the other was 2003’s Rey Mysterio: 619 — the big question is if this new release worth owning. Five of the matches that appear on the 2003 DVD have made it onto the 2007 release. Excluded is the abovementioned Psicosis match from Bash at the Beach 1996 and a few other one-on-one encounters with the likes of Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle, everything else is superfluous. While it would have been great to include some of the memorable matches of the “SmackDown Six” from the fall of 2002, those who follow World Wrestling Entertainment know why they were omitted.

I’d recommend holding onto the original release, if you have it, for posterity sake.


Complete Match Listing

———- Disc One ———-

Latin Lover, Heavy Metal & Rey Mysterio vs. Madonna’s Boyfriend, Fuerza Guerrera, Psicosis (When World’s Collide – November 6, 1994)
Rey Mysterio vs. Psicosis (ECW Hardcore TV — September 26, 1995)
Rey Mysterio vs. Juventud Guerrera (ECW Hardcore TV — February 6, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Dean Malenko (Great American Bash — June 16, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Dean Malenko (Nitro — July 8, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Ultimate Dragon (Hog Wild — August 10, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Super Calo (Fall Brawl — September 15, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Dean Malenko (Halloween Havoc — October 27, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Jushin Thunder Liger (Starrcade — December 29, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Ultimate Dragon (Spring Stampede — April 6, 1997) )

———- Disc Two ———-

Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Halloween Havoc — October 26, 1997)
Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (World War 3 — November 23, 1997)
Rey Mysterio vs. Juventud Guerrera (Thunder — January 15, 1998)
Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho (Souled Out — January 24, 1998)
Rey Mysterio vs. Psicosis (Road Wild — August 8, 1998)
Rey Mysterio vs. Blitzkrieg (Nitro — February 9, 1999)
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero (SmackDown! — July 25, 2002)
Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle (SummerSlam — August 25, 2002)
Rey Mysterio vs. Matt Hardy (SmackDown! — June 5, 2003)
Rey Mysterio vs. Tajiri (SmackDown! — January 1, 2004) )
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero (Great American Bash — June 27, 2004)

———- Disc Three ———-

Rey Mysterio / Eddie Guerrero vs. The Bashams (No Way Out — February 20, 2005)
Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Judgment Day — May 22, 2005)
Rey Mysterio vs. Shawn Michaels (RAW — November 15, 2005)
Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton (WrestleMania 22 — April 2, 2006)
Rey Mysterio vs. John Bradshaw Layfield (Judgment Day — May 21, 2006)
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero (No Mercy — October 8, 2006)
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero (SmackDown! — October 20, 2006)


A/V QUALITY CONTROL

All matches are presented in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The quality is what we have come to expect from World Wrestling Entertainment. Older footage (specifically ECW and the match from When World’s Collide) is not as vibrant as the TV and PPV broadcasts of WCW and WWE. Footage from WWE has minimal blemishes; the only real hang-up is Mysterio’s elaborate entrances. Such pop can cause pixellation. This shouldn’t bother wrestling fans in the slightest.

For this release we get mostly a 2.0 surround mix, and like the video footage, the quality is as good as the source material allows. You can definitely hear the difference with a WWE-televised match from 2005 and a ECW match from 1995. Also, there is no optional subtitles or selectable close captioning.

SPECIAL FEATURES

There are no true extras on this DVD set, as it is in essence one long profile on Rey Mysterio. So, interspersed throughout the collection is Rey Mysterio in vignettes as he sets up the next match. He talks about his arrival to WCW, how he wanted to steal the show, remembering Eddie (Guerrero), and taking the next step as he transitions to WWE.

THE INSIDE PULSE

While his catch-as-catch-can style made him an awesome sight in the ring, it was in WWE where Rey Mysterio became a main event star. Taking a page from his late friend Eddie Guerrero, his strength lies in his heart and not his size. And his ability is to entertain is undeniable. This collection, The Biggest Little Man, may not be truly definitive of the superstar, because of certain omissions, but the matches never fall beyond the point of being good. Recommended.

The DVD Lounge’s Ratings for
WWE — Rey Mysterio: The Biggest Little Man
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE FEATURE

8
THE VIDEO

7
THE AUDIO

7
THE EXTRAS

0
REPLAY VALUE

7
OVERALL
7.5
(NOT AN AVERAGE)

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!

Available at Amazon.com

Studio: World Wrestling Entertainment
Rating: Not Rated
Run time: 540 minutes
Number of discs: 3
Release Date: October 23, 2007

During the Monday night wars between the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling, WCW’s biggest draw was the New World Order. But another component to their success was a strong undercard, especially bouts involving cruiserweights. It could be argued just who was the cornerstone of the division. Dean Malenko, the man of a 1000 holds, was the scientific wizard of all the cruiserweights in WCW. A pre-Y2J Chris Jericho brought character (and comedy) to the division. But it may have been the high flyer Rey Mysterio that best embodied the cruiserweight explosion in the States during the mid-to-late ‘90s.

Today, WWE pays tribute to the man who uses his area code as a finishing maneuver. Rey Mysterio: The Biggest Little Man is a three-disc retrospective that shows just how Mysterio went from being part of the cruiserweight revolution of the nineties to becoming a main event superstar. He wasn’t an overnight success, having competed all over the world. He wrestled in Mexico, ECW, and WCW before calling WWE home in 2002.

Having wrestled for eighteen years there really isn’t anything Rey Mysterio, real name Oscar Gutierrez, hasn’t accomplished. At five feet, six inches and weighing less than a hundred and eighty pounds Mysterio has never let his “little man” stature be the deciding factor in what he could or could not achieve. He first gained notoriety in America by competing in the Philadelphia-based federation Extreme Championship Wrestling. There he dazzled hundreds inside of a bingo hall, competing against two of his greatest rivals from Mexico: Psicosis and Juventud Guerrera. His matches with the two luchadors were but a small example of the high-flying antics he would bring to WCW in 1996.

This was my first exposure to the cruiserweight. I can recall his title victory over Dean Malenko from a WCW Monday Night Nitro broadcast from Florida. I also remember when he was one of the first victims at the hands of the New World Order, when Kevin Nash threw him into the side of a mobile trailer. This little man would get his revenge on “Big Sexy” some years later, surprising the seven-footer in a pinfall victory.

With him being on live television broadcasts each week it wouldn’t take long for people to understand the wow factor that was Rey Mysterio. Hurricanranas, Diving crossbodies, headscissors takedown, and his numerous counters – all that, and the fact that he’s a quick as a hiccup. Mysterio was his own highlight reel. Just watch his debut at 1996’s Great American Bash, his event opener against Psicosis at Bash at the Beach, or the his “Title vs. Mask” encounter with the late Eddie Guerrero at Halloween Havoc 1997. Each has something memorable to offer; Mysterio’s reverse out of Psicosis’ Space Mountain finisher is as astounding now as it was eleven years ago.

As the nineties came to a close, Mysterio changed; when he and Konan lost a tag match against The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) at Superbrawl IX, Mysterio had to take off his mask. Without the mask the mysteriousness vanished. Though, he continued to perform well. He had some good matches against Billy Kidman and when they were a team they had an interesting summer feud with Raven and Perry Saturn and Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko.

Most likely an editorial decision on WWE’s part, that period in Mysterio’s wrestling career is not explored in The Biggest Little Man. Instead, we get twenty-nine of his best bouts (where he’s donning a mask) inside of a squared circle. Spread over three discs, we see the evolution of Mysterio. Though it can be argued if Mysterio is deserving of the three-disc treatment to chronicle his rise to prominence, the matches included are a reminder of the encounters he’s had with Japanese legends, luchadors, and of course his feud with Eddie Guerrero.

Considering this is the second DVD release/retrospective about Rey Mysterio – the other was 2003’s Rey Mysterio: 619 – the big question is if this new release worth owning. Five of the matches that appear on the 2003 DVD have made it onto the 2007 release. Excluded is the abovementioned Psicosis match from Bash at the Beach 1996 and a few other one-on-one encounters with the likes of Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle, everything else is superfluous. While it would have been great to include some of the memorable matches of the “SmackDown Six” from the fall of 2002, those who follow World Wrestling Entertainment know why they were omitted.

I’d recommend holding onto the original release, if you have it, for posterity sake.


Complete Match Listing

———- Disc One ———-

Latin Lover, Heavy Metal & Rey Mysterio vs. Madonna’s Boyfriend, Fuerza Guerrera, Psicosis (When World’s Collide – November 6, 1994)
Rey Mysterio vs. Psicosis (ECW Hardcore TV – September 26, 1995)
Rey Mysterio vs. Juventud Guerrera (ECW Hardcore TV – February 6, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Dean Malenko (Great American Bash – June 16, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Dean Malenko (Nitro – July 8, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Ultimate Dragon (Hog Wild – August 10, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Super Calo (Fall Brawl – September 15, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Dean Malenko (Halloween Havoc – October 27, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Jushin Thunder Liger (Starrcade – December 29, 1996)
Rey Mysterio vs. Ultimate Dragon (Spring Stampede – April 6, 1997) )

———- Disc Two ———-

Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Halloween Havoc – October 26, 1997)
Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (World War 3 – November 23, 1997)
Rey Mysterio vs. Juventud Guerrera (Thunder – January 15, 1998)
Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho (Souled Out – January 24, 1998)
Rey Mysterio vs. Psicosis (Road Wild – August 8, 1998)
Rey Mysterio vs. Blitzkrieg (Nitro – February 9, 1999)
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero (SmackDown! – July 25, 2002)
Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle (SummerSlam – August 25, 2002)
Rey Mysterio vs. Matt Hardy (SmackDown! – June 5, 2003)
Rey Mysterio vs. Tajiri (SmackDown! – January 1, 2004) )
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero (Great American Bash – June 27, 2004)

———- Disc Three ———-

Rey Mysterio / Eddie Guerrero vs. The Bashams (No Way Out – February 20, 2005)
Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Judgment Day – May 22, 2005)
Rey Mysterio vs. Shawn Michaels (RAW – November 15, 2005)
Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton (WrestleMania 22 – April 2, 2006)
Rey Mysterio vs. John Bradshaw Layfield (Judgment Day – May 21, 2006)
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero (No Mercy – October 8, 2006)
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero (SmackDown! – October 20, 2006)


A/V QUALITY CONTROL

All matches are presented in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The quality is what we have come to expect from World Wrestling Entertainment. Older footage (specifically ECW and the match from When World’s Collide) is not as vibrant as the TV and PPV broadcasts of WCW and WWE. Footage from WWE has minimal blemishes; the only real hang-up is Mysterio’s elaborate entrances. Such pop can cause pixellation. This shouldn’t bother wrestling fans in the slightest.

For this release we get mostly a 2.0 surround mix, and like the video footage, the quality is as good as the source material allows. You can definitely hear the difference with a WWE-televised match from 2005 and a ECW match from 1995. Also, there is no optional subtitles or selectable close captioning.

SPECIAL FEATURES

There are no true extras on this DVD set, as it is in essence one long profile on Rey Mysterio. So, interspersed throughout the collection is Rey Mysterio in vignettes as he sets up the next match. He talks about his arrival to WCW, how he wanted to steal the show, remembering Eddie (Guerrero), and taking the next step as he transitions to WWE.

THE INSIDE PULSE

While his catch-as-catch-can style made him an awesome sight in the ring, it was in WWE where Rey Mysterio became a main event star. Taking a page from his late friend Eddie Guerrero, his strength lies in his heart and not his size. And his ability is to entertain is undeniable. This collection, The Biggest Little Man, may not be truly definitive of the superstar, because of certain omissions, but the matches never fall beyond the point of being good. Recommended.







The DVD Lounge’s Ratings for
WWE – Rey Mysterio: The Biggest Little Man
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE FEATURE
8
THE VIDEO
7
THE AUDIO
7
THE EXTRAS
0
REPLAY VALUE
7
OVERALL
7.5
(NOT AN AVERAGE)

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!