Review of TNA: Best of the Bloodiest Brawls Vol.1

Introduction

In another release from the Total Non-Stop Action (TNA) Wrestling company, here we have "Best of the Bloodiest Brawls Vol.1", a compilation look at some of the most violent matches that the company put together in 2004 & 2005.

Some of the bouts included are TNA specialities, such as the "Six Sides of Steel" (referring to the hexagonal ring used by the company) cage match, and the "House of Fun" match, where various weapons are suspended above the ring, with each of them being legal once retrieved.

Regular commentators Mike Tenay and Don West are our hosts, introducing the matches, and providing some background to what we are about to see. The DVD`s main protagonist is Abyss, who appears in six of the ten matches here.

Video

Video is presented in 4:3 fullscreen NTSC, and is good for a DVD of this genre. In fact, it is very good when considering that there is close to four hours of material available here.

The image is rather soft, not unexpected given that this is a NTSC recording, but those who have been used to watching TNA on The Wrestling Channel will delight in visuals which are light years ahead of that.

Audio

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0, and is also good for a DVD of this genre. Commentary for each match is provided by Mike Tenay and Don West, the latter of whom is difficult to listen to for four hours continuously.

From a technical standpoint, the only issue I found with the audio was that in the opening two matches, the commentary was a little low in the mix, perhaps drowned out somewhat by the always-vociferous crowd. From the third match onwards, however, the issue did not reappear.

Features

There are no extras on this DVD, which can be excused by the fact that the main feature alone lasts for four hours.

Conclusion

The DVD begins with the first ever Monsters Ball match (Raven vs Abyss vs Monty Brown), which is basically a no disqualification affair, with the first person to score a pinfall to be declared the winner. In what is not the only time they will appear here, thousands of thumb-tacks (!) are used in brutal fashion. There is no technical wrestling of any kind on offer here, but this was still an entertaining brawl.

In a Six Sides of Steel cage match, the teams of America`s Most Wanted and Triple X contest a long match that is nonetheless full of non-stop action (and thus the TNA name). The bout also includes one of the most high-risk (read: insane) moves I`ve ever seen, which is a reason in itself to watch this one.

Abyss appears for the second time in the next bout, against Jeff Hardy, whose nickname of "The Charismatic Enigma" is certainly one of the worst that I can recall. This is a good match, however, with lots of big moves, and the inevitable involvement of the Hardy pastime, the tables, ladders, and chairs.

In what is the best bout in this collection, it is the turn of "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles to take on Abyss. Styles is currently one of the very best high-flying wrestlers in the industry, and he puts forth another excellent performance here, in a cage match. There are some crazy moves applied here, including several that I have never seen before.

In a match that only occurred because Jeff Hardy no-showed the event, Sean Waltman (best known as X-Pac) faces Raven in a House of Fun match. This bout features a lot of props, including, sadly, a staple gun. If anything, despite the great effort from both participants, it goes over the top in the use of these type of weapons.

In the second of three consecutive Raven matches, he then faces Abyss in a Dog Collar match. In this bout, the participants are linked together by a chain attached to the neck. This is another good bout, which features the brutal use of a table, and more thumb-tacks, with predictable consequences.

The next encounter sees Raven tag with former ECW cohort Sabu, to face Jeff Jarrett and Rhino. This is another very enjoyable bout, and features more actual wrestling than any other on this compilation. Unfortunately, it also plays host to the most ridiculous weapon, a pizza slicer. Is it any wonder that pro wrestling gets such a bad name?

Abyss, Rhino, Sabu, and Jeff Hardy then collide in the second Monsters Ball affair on this DVD, which is an improvement from the inaugural bout. By the way, do not adjust your television sets, Jeff Hardy does look like he`s just been painted green! Speaking of Hardy, this match includes a highlight-reel moment from him that has to be seen to be believed.

The penultimate encounter sees Jeff Jarrett and America`s Most Wanted team to face Rhino and Team 3D (The Dudley Boyz). This is another good contest which plays out in front of a particularly heated crowd.

The final bout on this compilation was voted the TNA Match of the Year for 2005. Whilst I wouldn`t go that far, the Abyss vs Sabu Barbed Wire match (the ropes are removed from the ring and are replaced by barbed wire) is quite the spectacle, given that it is something that has almost never been seen in high-profile American wrestling. There are also some particularly cringeworthy moments in what is a relatively short contest.

The production finishes with some ringside-camera highlights of the prior Barbed Wire match, as well as a look at Raven`s head being shaved, following a battle with Shane Douglas. Why on earth the latter has been included is anyone`s guess.

Overall, "TNA: Best of the Bloodiest Brawls Vol.1" is a good compilation of the most violent matches in the company`s history. If there is one criticism, it is that so many stipulation matches on one DVD dilutes the effectiveness and drama of such contests, which are designed to stand out from their regular counterparts.

That said, there are many spectacular moments on view throughout this DVD, and anyone who is interested in this daredevil style of pro wrestling should immediately seek out this title. Those who are interested in the technical side of the sport should steer well clear.