Guest Author - Vance Rowe

Heroes of World Class – DVD Review

A couple of weeks ago, I did an article promoting the new DVD, The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Wrestling. Now, let me tell you about one I just received the other day. It is called The Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs and the Rise and Fall of World Class Championship Wrestling.

I have to tell you that it is an outstanding DVD. It starts out with who Fritz Von Erich was and how World Class came to fruition. How World Class started out as many regional promotions in Texas under the NWA banner to how they became a worldwide phenomenon. Then it goes into whom the Von Erichs are and who most of the other wrestlers were. It is narrated by Kevin Von Erich, Gary Hart, Skandar Akbar, Mark Lowrance, former referee David Manning and many others.

The DVD shows clips of matches and how feuds got started. For instance it goes into whom the Fabulous Freebirds were and how they started a historical feud with the Von Erichs, Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin and his feud with Gentleman Chris Adams and Kevin Von Erich’s feud with Kamala plus others. One clip was especially humorous was when Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin lost a match to Kevin Von Erich and he had to work on Von Erich’s ranch for a day. He had to wash his dogs, move bales of hay, dig post holes, etc… It is quite comical.

The DVD talks about the tragic deaths of the Von Erichs and the impact they had on the world of professional wrestling. The title implies that it is just about the Von Erichs but it isn’t. While they are certainly the focus, the DVD spotlights most of the wrestlers in the company’s storied history as well.

The DVD has special features as well. It has an interview with Jim Cornette; the Von Erich’s taking David Mercer hunting on their ranch, the last appearance of David Von Erich on the World Class show, an alternate opening sequence as well as other things. This DVD is a must own for any professional wrestling fan, especially fans of World Class Championship wrestling. If you have lived under a rock all of your lives and have never heard of World Class, the Von Erichs, Michael Hayes and the Fabulous Freebirds then this is the perfect DVD to buy or rent to get to know them. It is a fabulous documentary and is a must have for any collection.