10. Raw Strategies & Secrets: The Video Guide
The premise of this release is simple: a thirty minute tape presented by Todd Pettengill which sees WWF wrestlers explain how to perform their moves in the 16-bit video game WWF Raw, interspersed with the odd sliver or real in-ring footage. The only full match to receive an airing is an 8-minute contest between Bam Bam Bigelow and Lex Luger that aired on Raw in October 1994, which if you were being kind would be described as unremarkable. If this had been a free tape given away with a copy of WWF Magazine then nobody would have complained, but the WWF had the gall to release it under their Coliseum Collectors Series umbrella. Forcing parents everywhere to shell out top dollar so their children could hear a bored 1-2-3 Kid mumble, Press A to hit a dropkick, was the cash-strapped company extorting its loyal fan base to the max. Okay, hearing The Undertaker in full zombie garb utter the words, Super Nintendo does border on an hallucinogenic experience, but that alone does not make Raw Strategies & Secrets worth owning. Fortunately, UK fans don't need to worry about grabbing this one to round out the collection, as it was a US-exclusive release.
James Dixon
Contributor
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.
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