The names Coliseum Home Video and Silver Vision conjure up nostalgic stirrings amongst wrestling fans who grew up in an era before YouTube and on-demand digital video streaming. Back in the halcyon days of VHS, the release of a brand new WWF video tape featuring unique never-before-seen match-ups was a cause of much excitement. Down the years we were treated to such hidden gems as The Steiner Brothers vs. Bret & Owen Hart, Shawn Michaels & Diesel vs. Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid, Roddy Piper vs. Rick Rude in a cage match, and far too many other forgotten classics too numerous to mention. But they didn't always get it right. Sometimes a tape was so bad that it was offensive. From shameless cash-ins to tapes entirely bereft of actual in-ring action, Coliseum and Silver Vision (and lets not forget Avision Entertainment, Goodtimes Home Video, Columbia House and German distributor Polygram Video) were responsible for some real dogs, tapes which any self-respecting collector is ashamed to own. VHS releases of pay-per-views were not eligible for this list (that is a different article for another time), leaving us with 273 tapes to choose from starting in 1985 and ending in 2002. If your least favourite tape is not on this list don't suppose it is because I haven't seen it, because I have. I have seen them all far, far too many times. Believe me, there were dozens of others that were considered and good arguments could be made for all of them, I am sure, but these were the crème de la crud.
The author of the highly acclaimed 'Titan' book series, James Dixon has been involved in the wrestling business for 25 years as a fan, wrestler, promoter, agent, and writer. James spent several years wrestling on the British independent circuit, but now prefers to write about the bumps and bruises rather than take any of them. His past in-ring experience does however give a uniquely more "insider" perspective on things, though he readily admits to still being a "mark" at heart.
James is the Chief Editor and writer at historyofwrestling.co.uk and is responsible for the best-selling titles Titan Sinking, Titan Shattered, and Titan Screwed, as well as the Complete WWF Video Guide series, and the Raw Files series.
