Are you ready? Are you ready? Let’s get it on!
UK distributor Silver Vision has updated its site with a complete breakdown of what will be included in the first WWE Greatest Rivalries release Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart. To be released on October 25, 2011 as both a three-disc DVD set (currently $20.99 at Amazon.com) and two-disc Blu-ray set ($27.99), the release will feature WWE Hall of Famers Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart speaking candidly about their feud against one another, both in and outside of the ring.
WWE Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart DVD
Disc 1 (Interviews)
San Antonio vs. Calgary
The Rockers vs. The Hart Foundation
Heartbreak Kid vs.The Hit Man
Intercontinental Champion vs. WWE Champion
Showstopper vs. Excellence of Execution
Progressive vs. Traditional
Fantasy vs. Reality
Respect vs. Trust
Redemption vs. Reconciliation
Hope vs. Peace
Disc 2 (Matches)
The Rockers vs. The Hart Foundation
Madison Square Garden – 25th November, 1989
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Wrestling Challenge – 10th February, 1990
The Rockers vs. The Hart Foundation
Tokyo Dome – 30th March, 1991
Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Portland, Oregon– 21st July, 1992
(Note: Match also featured on The Ladder Match)
Intercontinental Championship Match
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Syracuse, New York– 29th April, 1992
WWE Championship Match
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Survivor Series – 25th November, 1992
(Note: match featured as part of the Survivor Series Anthology Vol. 2, and on the Greatest Stars of the ’90s release)
Steel Cage Match
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Utica, New York – 1st December, 1993
Disc 3 (More Matches)
Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
WrestleMania 12 – 31st March, 1996
(Note: match included as part of the WrestleMania Anthology Vol. 3, and on Shawn Michaels: From the Vault)
WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Bret Hart’s Induction
Chicago, Illinois – 1st April, 2006
Bret Hart Returns to Raw
Raw – 4th January, 2010
WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Shawn Michaels’ Induction
Atlanta, Georgia – 2nd April, 2011
WWE Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart Blu-ray
Disc 1 (Interviews and Matches)
San Antonio vs. Calgary
The Rockers vs. The Hart Foundation
Heartbreak Kid vs.The Hit Man
Intercontinental Champion vs. WWE Champion
Showstopper vs. Excellence of Execution
Progressive vs. Traditional
Fantasy vs. Reality
Respect vs. Trust
Redemption vs. Reconciliation
Hope vs. Peace
The Rockers vs. The Hart Foundation
Madison Square Garden – 25th November, 1989
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Wrestling Challenge – 10th February, 1990
The Rockers vs. The Hart Foundation
Tokyo Dome – 30th March, 1991
Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Portland, Oregon– 21st July, 1992
(Note: Match also featured on The Ladder Match)
Intercontinental Championship Match
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Syracuse, New York– 29th April, 1992
WWE Championship Match
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Survivor Series – 25th November, 1992
(Note: match featured as part of the Survivor Series Anthology Vol. 2, and on the Greatest Stars of the ’90s release)
Steel Cage Match
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Utica, New York – 1st December, 1993
Disc 2
Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
WrestleMania 12 – 31st March, 1996
(Note: match included as part of the WrestleMania Anthology Vol. 3, and on Shawn Michaels: From the Vault)
WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Bret Hart’s Induction
Chicago, Illinois – 1st April, 2006
Bret Hart Returns to Raw
Raw – 4th January, 2010
WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Shawn Michaels’ Induction
Atlanta, Georgia – 2nd April, 2011
Blu-ray Exclusives
Vince McMahon Interviews Shawn Michaels & Bret Hart
Raw – 3rd February, 1997
Bret Hart Promo In Ring
Raw – 12th May, 1997
Hart Foundation Promo In Ring
Raw – 19th May, 1997
WWE Championship Match
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Survivor Series – 9th November , 1997
(Note: Match also featured on Best of Confidential Vol. 1)
Extra Interview Pieces:
The First WWE Ladder Match
SummerSlam 1992
Winning the WWE Championship for the First Time
Bret’s WCW Regrets
Cameras Rolling Between Takes
I have to say that I’m underwhelmed as far as extras go – even though I like that we are getting some matches that have never had a DVD release. Do we really need the Iron Man match on a DVD release again? Granted, it is memorable when discussing Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart, but it takes up so much room that could have been used for other matches. Though, I guess we should be grateful World Wrestling Entertainment didn’t include The Harts vs. The Knights (where Shawn Michaels subbed for Jerry Lawler) from Survivor Series 1993. Furthermore, having The Montreal Screwjob as a Blu-ray exclusive is pretty bush league on the part of WWE. When you think of Michaels and Hart that match/moment is the first to spring to mind, and not to include it as an extra on the DVD set is again a weak decision. You would think for a company that won’t even commit to putting its PPVs on Blu-ray with regularity (yes, I’m talking mostly about the heralded Money in the Bank 2011 event) and is selective about what retrospective titles get the HD treatment, would want to appease DVD and Blu-ray owners alike.
Also, if WWE wanted to make the release even more special, they could have included footage of any matches where Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart were paired together (be it from their massive tape library or quality fancam footage). Like in 1995 when you had Diesel, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels teaming up against Yokozuna, Davey Boy Smith, and King Mabel. That same year at two house shows (July 24 and July 25) the two teamed against Jacob and Eli Blu one night and against Hakushi and Jerry Lawler on another. At a December 26, 1996 house show, Michaels and Hart teamed up against Vader and Steve Austin.
