Classic Revelations

I don't watch much current wrestling, but thanks to WWE Classics on Demand, not a week goes by where I'm not taking in some squared circle action. As someone who was weened on early '90s WWF action, the channel is a goldmine. It provides nostalgia and also fills in the gaps for those stretches of time where I wasn't able to see anything but the PPV shows on home video.

What the channel also provides through its content is the opportunity to re-examine wrestlers you thought you had an accurate opinion about. By that, I mean that through seeing a more expansive body of work from a given wrestler, you're able to better appreciate his contributions to the mat.

Over the next few weeks, I'd like to focus on this handful of wrestlers in a series of dedicated posts. Let's start by checking out not a singles wrestler, but rather, a tag team: The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers.


Jacques and Raymond Rougeau entered the WWF in 1986. Originally working as faces, they played second-string roles behind the likes of the flashier The British Bulldogs and The Killer Bees. Even though their in-ring work was sharp, their bland attire and watered down good-guy personalities didn't do much to catch the eye of Federation fans.

As someone who only saw late-80s WWF action through Coliseum Video releases, my first memories of the brother duo was of their later heel personalities. Under the guidance of Jimmy Hart, the now Fabulous Rougeau Brothers had the bedazzled outfits to match their cockier, faux American patriotic gimmick.

Even though I always knew they were a capable in-ring force, it wasn't until getting WWE On Demand in 2007 that I gained a greater appreciation for them. I guess when the bulk of the Rougeau matches you see involves The Bushwhackers, it's tough to make a fair assessment.

But through the channel, I've seen more of their work with The Killer Bees, The British Bulldogs, and The Rockers. And I must say, it's...wait for it...fabulous.

What I really admire was the meticulous transition from bland good guys to arrogant bad guys. If you've been watching episodes of Primetime Wrestling on WWE Classics, you're aware that the duo is in transition right now. The start of the heel turn felt a bit forced, with announcers such as Gorilla Monsoon and Vince McMahon telling fans of a change in the Rougeaus' demeanor, even though there really wasn't much of a visible change.

Weeks later, those signs are appearing, including a match against The Killer Bees, which I suppose you could label their official heel turn. But even with their leaning toward the bad guy side, it's still not a full-blown situation. Jimmy Hart is not yet their manager and they haven't picked up that catchy "All American Boys" theme song.

And perhaps factors like that are why I'm able to better appreciate the talent it took for the Rougeaus to make that turn. This isn't your generic, instantaneous heel turn. This is a multi-month-long burn from one side to the other. And it's the type of turn that only some wrestlers can pull off convincingly.

There's Jacques extending his hand to opponents. He's earnest in those gestures far more often than you'd expect. And that's what makes the team's eventual disrespect of those same teams so much better.

If you have access to WWE Classics On Demand, I suggest you pay special attention to this developing storyline. It's caused me to view the duo in a much different light. They were always talented wrestlers. But this slow-burn turn coupled with their eventual transformation into mockingly patriotic heels exemplifies how gifted the brothers were in the ring psychology aspect of the business.

3 Sale Items Not to be Missed

In the spirit of spring cleaning, there's a little sale happening with the eBay store right now. A lot of stock is part of it, so to make things a bit easier, here's a short list of three items not to be missed during this temporary markdown:

• The History of Wrestlemania (Coliseum Video / 1994):

Now with two and a half decades worth of Wrestlemanias in the books, there's an overwhelming wealth of footage to pick through. It's quite daunting when you consider it. Let's start with baby steps and consider the first nine installments.

This two-hour video picks some of the more memorable matches and moments from those Wrestlemanias for your consideration. You've got Hogan, Savage, DiBiase, Piper, Andre, Rude, Hart, Roberts, and dozens more. It won't get you caught up to present day, but you'll be sitting pretty in 1994 when this one is over.

• World Tour 1992 (Coliseum Video):

Say you want to travel the world. But you're broke. You've spent all your money at The Retropolis. First, I'd like to thank you. Then, I'd like to let you know that it's gonna be OK. You can still travel the world. And it will only cost you $10.47. You can't even check a bag for that little these days.

Your favorite early '90s WWF stars compete in matches from around the globe. You'll see Bret Hart do battle in Great Britain. You'll see Macho Man Randy Savage duke it out in Germany. And you'll see Roddy Piper go toe-to-toe with The Barbarian in Spain. Don't you want to tell your friends you've seen a Barbarian match that originated in Spain? Sure you do.

• WWF Magazine June/July 1984 (Sgt. Slaughter cover):

But why limit your wrestling absorption to just the TV? Let it spill over to your periodicals, too. And do so with a nostalgic flair. This edition of WWF Magazine features old favorites like John Studd, Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan, and more. And what's manlier than a magazine with old Sarge on the cover sitting on top of your coffee table? Not much.

The sale extends for only a short time more, so don't sit on the fence too long. Check back soon for another handful of sale items worth your attention.

Spotlight: The 3rd Annual WWF Survivor Series

Thanksgiving just isn't what it used to be if you grew up a WWF fan in the 1980s and early 1990s. If you fit that bill, you knew that along with that big, beautiful bird and pumpkin pie, you'd get to carve into nearly three hours of WWF action each Thanksgiving. As most of you know, the WWF slowly the Survivor Series away Thanksgiving, first by making it on Thanksgiving Eve starting in 1991, and then a week apart from Thanksgiving starting in 1995. And as all of you know, WWE decided to ax the event entirely as of 2010.

But let's not lament what's no longer. Let's focus on what was. And there's really no better way to do that than to check out one of the Survivor Series events from the days when it truly was the Thanksgiving Night tradition.


So it's 1989 and even though the WWF is less than a year away from jumping the shark (i.e. the attempted shift from Hogan to the Warrior), the promotion is packed with some real star power. Hulk Hogan is doing his thing, The Ultimate Warrior is seemingly the heir apparent to Hogan's top spot, and there's some healthy heel competition in the form of Randy "Macho King" Savage, The Big Boss Man, and Ted DiBiase.

There's also a strong second tier of superstars such as Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, Rick Rude, Brutus Beefcake, and Mr. Perfect. The tag team division, though not what it was two or three years prior, is still a strong showcase for tag team action thanks to Demolition, The Rockers, The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, and to an extent, The Hart Foundation (I say "to an extent" only because they were not teaming at the time of this event).

So with this much star power, an event like the Survivor Series is really what the doctor ordered. You find a way to wedge all of them onto the same card, along with dozens of other competitors, all in the name of team action.


Now, I must confess that this event is quite dear to me. It's not beloved by alleged smart fans, but it's a sentimental favorite of mine. Without getting too long winded, I'll say that if you rewind a couple of decades, you'll find me in a video rental joint down the street from my house. I'm wandering around, even though I probably can't rent anything that isn't in the children's section. During my travels, I come across the sports section. I see a row of pro wrestling videos. I've never seen a match before, but I've heard of this Hulk Hogan guy that's on so many of the front covers for these videos. I pick up one that has him standing on the front with a couple weird looking dudes with face paint and another guy with a python wrapped around his neck. I've got to rent this. And that, ladies and gents, is how my illustrious relationship with pro wrestling started.

So don't you want to own the very video that got *me* hooked? Sure you do. It's right here. Enjoy!

Just In: Early '80s Wrestling Magazines

Spring is undeniably in the air, so you should probably start getting outside more. But don't be left with nothing to do on those numerous rainy spring afternoons. Grab a few of our latest additions to the Miscellaneous Wrestling Publication section of our online abode.

These are priced to move, so take advantage of the low prices and reduced shipping rates for multiple magazine buys.

It's the most affordable way to get your all-so-important "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin fix, folks.

Stacks of Squared Circle Goodness

Things have been quiet around these parts. That's mostly due to tight schedules and a focus to streamline the type of products you'll find at The Retropolis. That includes marking down quite a few items by 60 percent.

We're at the tail-end of this process, which means it's time to start adding fresh stock again. We'll kick that off by adding a few stacks of vintage wrestling reading material very soon. This includes publications from the early '80s. Better yet, they'll be up for grabs for as little as $2 a shot.

There's also a nice little pile of WWF Spotlight Magazines we're eager to share with you. Once we get them tossed up, expect a blog, ahem, spotlighting them. Stay classy, all.

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Sharing the Same Building with Your Heroes

One of the things I miss about my pro wrestling fascination as a child is the thrill that came with attending a live event. I grew up in Michigan, but far enough from the WWF's most frequent mitten stops (such as Flint and Detroit) that convincing my mom to take us to those shows wasn't happening.

Luckily, though, I hadn't been a wrestling fan two years when I got to experience my first live event. It was October 1991 and though my then-hero Hulk Hogan wasn't on the card, I got to see my second favorite star Bret Hart successfully defend his Intercontinental title against the beastly Warlord.

While digging through a box of my old stuff the other night, I came across some of the match listings included with the programs from events I attended in the '90s. The scanned listing at the top of this post is the actual one from the second show I ever went to.

Honestly, I don't remember much about it, other than it being a last-minute plan. A friend came to school earlier in the day insisting that his dad had bought tickets for some WWF show in town that night. Even though he invited me, I wasn't sold. This was the same kid who'd delivered some of the finest fabrications I'd ever heard at that point in my life. As it turned out, he was telling a rare truth.

The show paled in comparison to my first live event. Even looking at the match listing, I can scarcely remember what happened, other than Bret Hart was a no-show. The only really notable thing to come of that evening was my friend's father purchasing both of us pairs of the Hitman's shades. I made sure to take those to school the next day and convince anyone who would talk to a kid wearing pink sunglasses that Bret himself had bestowed those upon me. Never mind we had sat what seemed like a mile away from the ring. Regardless, they became one of my more prized possessions, even if Bret had never been within 500 feet of me. I still have them today.

What are some of your earlier live wrestling event memories?