FOREVER HARDCORE -- THE DOCUMENTARY "DIRECTORS CUT

 

REVIEW BY:  Johnny Dakota

 

"If you like "The Rise and Fall of ECW,"  you MUST have this amazing companion piece!"

- Derek Burgan, PWTorch.com

 

I couldn't have put it better myself.  FOREVER HARDCORE is an awesome "other half of the story" documentary for fans of ECW.  I was a fan of WWE's ECW DVD, it was very interesting to see the insight of Paul Heyman, Tommy Dreamer, the Dudleys, Rob Van Dam, and others that were big parts of ECW.  But after watching it, you'll notice that almost 1/2 of the other people who made ECW do not get to tell their stories either because they aren't contracted by WWE, or because they work for TNA.  This is where Forever Hardcore comes in, Tod Gordon (ECW Founder), the Sandman, Terry Funk, Nu Jack, Shane Douglas, and many more get to tell their sides of ECW, and some stories that can only be told by the people involved, such as the famed behind the scenes feud between Shane Douglas and Francine which has been hinted at for years but the true story never told.  Well now for the first time both Douglas and Francine tell their sides of what happened in detail!  You'll hear Terry Funk, who many credit as putting ECW on the map, talk about how he came into ECW, how he helped many younger wrestlers, all the way up to why he chose to participate in Hardcore Homecoming instead of WWE's One Night Stand PPV.    Nu Jack is uncensored on topics such as the Mass Transit incident and his opinions on everyone he came in contact in ECW.  The highlight for me and many others i'm sure, was hearing Sabu speak on camera about ECW.  Sabu has never spoke before on a wrestling show, and many including me figured he never would.  But on this DVD Sabu, who many credit for garnering its first national attention, comments on all the famous stories he created, both behind the scenes and in the ring.

As an added bonus, you'll hear stories that extend even outside of ECW and some of the wrestlers personal stories of going to WCW and returning back to ECW, and backstage stories told by the people involved such as the night Scott Hall showed up backstage at ECW at the height of the nWo run, and the manner he was forced to leave about 3 minutes later.  The Directors Cut also features even more stories and out takes told by the same group that was not included in the original DVD. 

And even more bonus's added on, you'll see full matches from ECW stars from the post ECW era when they appeared in XPW.  I purchased this DVD along with "Hardcore Homecoming," which was the reunion event featuring many of the guys WWE didn't use on their PPV, including the rematch of one of ECW's most historic matches, that being Sabu vs. Shane Douglas vs. Terry Funk, which was the original three way dance.  Both DVD's can be found at my DVD page (in my byline) and I highly recommend these for anyone who enjoyed ECW One Night Stand or The Rise and Fall of ECW.  Be sure and pick them up if you haven't already!!!

 

--Johnny Dakota

  Originally Published at: Forever Hardcore Director's Cut DVD Review