Alan Wojcik Reviews Guest Booker: Greg Gagne DVD

Courtesy of Alan J. Wojcik:

The people over at KayfabeCommentaries.com never seem to take a month off as they are back with another Guest Booker DVD release. This one features former AWA wrestling legend Greg Gagne who is asked to travel back to 1984 and take on the World Wrestling Federation by host Sean Oliver who as always is a great host, by letting the guest shine in the spotlight.

Here is some background information given on the DVD and from research on the topic. In 1984 the WWF was beginning its national takeover by looting the territory system of its top stars like Hulk Hogan, Junkyard Dog, Greg Valentine, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Ricky Steamboat to name a few. WrestleMania I was one year from coming to fruition. The territory bosses namely Jim Crokett Jr (Mid-Atlantic), Jim Barnett (Georgia), Jerry Jarrett (Memphis), Bill Watts (Mid-South) and Verne Gagne (AWA) decided to come together and take on Vince McMahon with a mega-promotion called Pro Wrestling USA. Unfortunately after a few months the promoters turned into rivals trying to steal the others talent and the venture failed horribly.

Oliver and the KC.com crew make Gagne the head booker of Pro Wrestling USA. He must create a roster chosen from the promotions listed above plus the World Class territory and several indy wrestlers (the Funks, Sgt. Slaughter & Harley Race for example). He also has the TV deals each promotion held including the NWA/Mid-Atlantic time slots on Superstation TBS and the AWA/WCCW deal with ESPN. After creating Heavyweight and Tag Team champions for the promotion he is asked to book from October 1984 to a supercard event in April 1985.

Mr. Gagne is a great storyteller since his family promotion was on the front lines in the war with McMahon. Plus he recently worked for the WWE and thanks to chats with McMahon we get the addition some interesting notes on the subject. He goes into detail on a visit to Minneapolis by McMahon in 1984 which you will not believe. He also talks about the inner working of the AWA at that point in time and the TV deals AWA and other promotions saw snatched away by McMahon and his huge wallet. The amazing thing is to look at the legendary names Gagne is given to work with including a pre-car accident Magnum TA, pre-motorcycle accident Kerry Von Erich, pre-drug problems Jake Roberts, Ric Flair, the Road Warriors, Nick Bockwinkel, Jerry Lawler, Bill Dundee and the Fabulous Freebirds. I think Gagne does a good job of educating the fans and creating a good product on paper.

Log onto www.KayfabeCommentaries.com to purchase this and other releases including the forthcoming My Side of the Story: Magnum TA/Nikita Koloff.