What can i say from start to finish my eyes never moved away from the tv story was great as where the matches i hope to see more of wcw come on dvd :)

Nice to see wwe putting a small part of the vast wcw tape library to some use. would be nice to see a more extensive release of wcw pay-per-views. I mean wwe own them all so why not make money on them!!

For the most part this is a great set. The matches on DVDs 2 and 3 are top class, although it is a shame no matches appear from certain Starrcade events, 1995 and 1999 for example, and it is a constant annoyance that none of the classic entrance music is used, but I guess thats due to copyright or something. Highlights include Vader vs Sting from 92, Lex Luger vs Ric Flair, and the brutal scrap between Vader and Ric Flair from 93. This DVD set can serve as a reminder of just how good NWA/WCW was. More please!

Starrcade was what many claim the first ever supercard show!It was the wrestlemania of wcw if you will!Some great legends like Ric Flair,Harley Race,Dusty Rhodes,Magnum T.A.,Tully Blanchard,Arn Anderson,The Road Warriors,Ricky Steamboat,Sting,Lex Luger,Big Van Vader,The Great Muta,Goldberg and so many others had great matches at the event!This is a great set for old school wrestling fans(mainly wcw fans!)and a history lesson for newer fans!This looks great and it?s one of the best dvds released by the wwe in 2009!

The WWE is famous for the revisionist history it employs in most of its DVDS %u2013 as they say history is written by the winners. Hence, it is surprising that NWA/WCW and Starrcade are actually shown in a rather positive light in this DVD with even criticism getting in of some of the underhand tactics originally used by Vince McMahon during the late NWA era. The documentary itself is very informative with input from various wrestling icons past and present and I imagine would be enjoyed by a majority of watchers, particularly those not so clued up on the origins and early days of WCW.

To the matches though, the main reason many people will be interested due to the sheer bevy of those available. There are 25 of the supposed best matches from Starrcade as voted by WWE (but also decided upon by the WWE of course) and include some terrific matches with such standouts including: Sting vs. Big Van Vader, Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine (Dog Collar Match), Magnum T.A. vs. Tully Blanchard (Steel Cage %u201CI Quit%u201D Match), Road Warriors vs. The Steiner Brothers and many more classics featuring familiar faces from the past.

There are a couple of dud matches thrown in for novelty%u2019s sake such as the Battlebowl and the Scaffold matches which aren%u2019t great but my personal gripe is the huge emphasis on Ric Flair in the set, this including the documentary as well as five of the included matches. Though I will concede that he was entertaining on the microphone, Ric Flair in my opinion has always been awful in the ring, even at his supposed peak. His shortcomings in the ring athletically are clearly evident to any sane wrestling fan and his inability to tell a story in a match is awful. It%u2019s near painful to see his matches against such superior wrestlers as Vader and Harley Race and his match with his obese equivalent Dusty Rhodes is horrendous.

All in all if you%u2019re a Flair fan (God knows why) you can discount most of my criticism but even if you recognise him as talentless this collection is still well worth a purchase.

Starrcade: The Essential Collection
BEST MATCH: Sting vs. Big Van Vader/Magnum T.A. vs. Tully Blanchard (Steel Cage %u201CI Quit%u201D Match)
WORST MATCH: Road Warriors vs. The Midnight Express (Scaffold Match)/Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair

I'm happy that they have the sting vs hogan match from starrcade 1997. back then i was a fan of both wwf and wcw. sting is the lord of wcw, and undertaker is the lord of wwe/f. watchin sting enter with the crow theme and childs narrative is amazing

i'd give this dvd 5 stars as a fan of WCW when i was a kid it was great to relive moments like Flair Vs Vader, Holywood Vs Sting and Goldberg Vs Nash, if you were a fan of WCW like me then this is a must have dvd.

When I found out WWE would be releasing a dvd consisting solely of WCW matches I was very, very excited. However, when I found out that it would be voted for WWE Universe Marks, instead of wrestling historians like JR, Michael Hayes and Ric Flair, I knew there would be some dud's on here. (And an absence of Chris Benoit matches make me think it wasn't wholly chosen by the fans...)??

Regardless of how the dvd was born, it does contain some brilliant matches, and some forgotten gems, which shows exactly why WCW was the alternative choice for fans seeking proper wrestling action. This dvd makes me yearn for more WCW action to be made widely available, although I can't say I'm looking forward to the Rise and Fall of WCW dvd which will undoubtly re-write history yet again.

All in all, it is a hit and miss affair, and it does start to drag at times, so I wouldn't reccomend watching this all in one sitting. If you want to relive the glory days of WCW, or are seeking some historical bouts, this dvd certaintly delivers on both fronts. I wish WWE would release exclusive bio dvd's on Vader, Steiner Brothers, Sting and, as unlikely as it sound, NJPW wrestlers in WCW!

Almost nine hours of superb Starrcade history across three DVDs, released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the very first Starrcade.

Disc 1 has a documentary lasting approximately three-quarters of an hour, looking back at how Starrcade was built up into the first major pay-per-view event, and carried on through NWA and WCW until the WWE buyout in 2001.

The remainder of disc 1, plus disc 2 & 3 are the best 25 Starrcade matches as voted by the WWE Universe (I really hate that term!) in reverse order. Matches are introduced by J.R., Dusty Rhodes, Tully Blanchard, Road Warrior Animal and the legendary Ric Flair.

There were some interesting concepts during the Starrcade years, most notably the Dog-Collar match from the very first Starrcade, the Skywalkers scaffold matches, Battlebrawl and the Future Shock tournaments. All of these are highlighted throughout the 25 matches, along with some excellent one-on-one contests.

The only downside, and therefore missing out on my fifth star, is the lack of build up to the matches. In my opinion, there could have been a little bit more build up to some of the matches to explain the feuds a little better. However this shouldn't dissuade wrestling fans from a very good boxset highlighting a forgotten part of wrestling history.

This is by far one off the best dvd's ever released from wwe. With a full documentary and 25 matches picked by the fans you just can't go wrong with this dvd set.

A few matches that sand out on the dvd are :
Tully Blanchard vs. Magnum T.A.
Road Warriors vs. Midnight Express
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine &
Eddie Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko.

A must have for any wrestling fan !!! 10/10.

I like so many other people have been waithing for something like this to be released for a long time and it didn't disapoint :)

I only wish WWE would release more WCW shows on DVD.

How long did teh oldschool fans have ti wait for that package? Starrcade for years was the biggest event in the NWA Season and finally WWE releases a dvdv covering the most meorable moments of it's legacy.

The documentation however is one of the weaker ones I know from WWE, since there is not too much personal issues and emotion includet. Dusty had an idea and the Crocketts had the money to realise it and make the traditional thanksgiving show one of the biggest events in wrestling.
It also tells some backround stories of some of the biggest matches in Starrcade history and lets some of the athletes who took part share their thoughts.Still OK but I guess that is a documentation I wil not have to watch too often.

But when it comes to the matches, it does not get any bigger. Starrcade was not only the equivalent of Wrestlemania, it was one of it's forerunners (by the way: I think this might be the first time, WWE even admits that there have been such thins as forerunners of Wrestlemania) and has been equal for years. As far as the presentation they might not have been able to keep up with WWF/E but when it came ti in rind performance Starrcade was as good as any other show if not better.
Wrestling fanes votet via internet an this package includes the 25 most wantedt matches in Starrcade history from the beginning when d Harley Race passed the torch to the new generation and Ric Flair became the man of the decade in 1983 to the last Starrcade in 2000. And there are matches, every oldschool fan should have at home. Horsemen, Road Warriors, Dusty, Magnum TA, Sting, Rock N'Roll Express, Midnight Express and yes... Hogan, Nash, Goldberg...you name them, here they are.
It is easy to see that, while New York early on focused on glamour, glitter, looks and flashy presentation, the NWA hat solid and sound athletes among their's and some of the greatest matches of that era are on this dvd package.

great DVD, a must have for any wrestling fan

Without a douat a must have dvd for the wide collection of classic matches, the documentary is a really good watch but maybe a little short. You can forgive it for that with the fantastic bouts. More of the same please silver vision as far as nwa/wcw dvds are concerned.

A fantastic DVD, some great matches from early WCW/Late NWA days.

First of all... WOW!

The WWE are finally releasing a DVD collection of NWA/WCW matches without a WWE match in sight. Kudos to WWE.

Mind you, saying that, there is a documentary on the disc which will be interesting to see from WWE's point of view. But aside from that here we have a collection of 25 matches from the superb 1983 Valentine vs. Piper Dog Collar match to the 2000 3 Count vs. Jamie Knoble & Evan Karagias vs. Jung Dragons via the infamous Sting vs. Hulk Hogan from December 1997.

Starrcade was seen as Jim Crockett's version of WrestleMania, even though it did start 2 years before the WWE event. It included some momentous matches of which only a handful appear here. From a WWE owned library that is not a complaint as we have seen NWA/WCW matches on other compilations but a whole 3 discs is a great step forward by WWE. Who knows what's next, maybe a complete Anthology of The Great American Bash... or even SuperBrawl!!!

We'll just have to dream I guess.

Highly recommended.

This is yet another excellent compilation release from WWE. This three disc set contains an insightful documentary looking back at the history of the legendary Starrcade event which includes interviews with legends such as Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair. The DVD also includes 25 complete matches featuring classic NWA and WCW action. If you are a long-time wrestling fan or a newer fan who wants to learn more about the history of wrestling, then this DVD has something of interest for everyone. Overall this is an absolutely outstanding release from World Wrestling Entertainment.

Finally a DVD with WCW matches in it! Can't wait for it's release.

Good line up of matches Pre Order made

i cant wait to see this exellect dvd i was a huge fan of wcw

This DVD sounds fantastic! Can't wait! I remember most of these memorable matches from this iconic ppv! The Mania equivelent for WCW!

Sounds like a must-buy and a great ingredient for a Wrestlefest night in!

Looks great. Very interesting. Nice to see more NWA/WCW matches.

I know quite a little about the story of WCW and NWA: just the rivalry Sting- Flair, the NWO with Hollywood Hulk Hogan and not much other.
The dvd seems interesting, I see it covers a long period.

looking forward to this one folkes,from what iv read so far got some right classic moments on it,the only real challenge for wwf/e in past present and future,its a must for me

Having seen the match listing for this it will be superb and a slap in the face for those that think WCW was what WWE has been saying it is for years.

Will also mean I can clear some of the First Independent WCW VHS releases off my shelves finally !

I hope there is lots of the buildup to the '97 main event (build up was better than the match) which is still one of the biggest PPVs in history.

Even if there isn't, Flair v Vader, Sting v Muta and Rey v Liger rock and it will take me back to the days when if you didn't want to watch only WWE, you had to check out DSF on German satellite.

The only slightly sour note is that the Sting DVD isn't going to be released around the same time (if at all).

At last a dvd tribute to some of the NWA/WCW cratest matchis cant wait for this one