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Mike Rickard's Pro Wrestling Holiday Shopping Guide 2006
By Mike Rickard II
 ...
With Black Friday upon us, now is the time to let the gift givers in your life know what you want or you’re just as likely to get that 8x10 framed picture of Eugene as you are the SmackDown! vs RAW 2007 game you’ve had your eyes on for months. Quite frankly, there’s way too much stuff out there for a non-fan to pick through without some help. Even hardcore fans may find themselves surprised at the incredible array of merchandise available to place under the Christmas tree or Chanukah bush (if you celebrate Festivus, you’re SOL).
As a public service for you, the wrestling fan or loved one of a wrestling fan, I’ve assembled a gift-buying guide sure to please the most hard to please fan:
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)-the WWE has gone all out in assembling a cornucopia of wrestling memorabilia to purchase. Whether it’s clothing, DVD’s, books, or miscellaneous items, there’s something for every fan and at every price range. If you’re cheap like me, you’ll want to go to Shop Zone’s “Hot Deals” section and peruse through the deeply discounted items. In any event, consider buying from the WWE’s website http://www.wwe.com/shop/ because not only do they have everything under the sun that is made by them but they have all sorts of deals including free shipping that will probably save you some serious bucks if you buy straight from them rather than another site. Here are some items you can’t go wrong getting for a fan or for yourself:
1. Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology- this three disc set is a great retrospective of the Hulkster’s career in the ring from start to finish. Go for broke and get the bonus disc either by ordering through Shop Zone or Wal-Mart. Note: The Shop Zone bonus disc features Hogan Knows Best, the Hulkster’s reality show while the Wal-Mart bonus disc features several extra matches.
2. WWE ornaments-an inexpensive way to decorate your Christmas tree WWE style. Priced between $6-12, these ornaments feature WWE superstars, ball ornaments, and WWE titles to deck the halls wrestling style. If you’re really crazy, consider a WWE tree skirt for $30.00.
3. Wrestlemania Anthology Set Plaque Package-not only do you get all 22 Wrestlemanias on DVD but you also get a plaque with an actual piece of the canvas from Wrestlemania XXII. While it’s certainly not cheap ($195), it’s still a steal as you’re getting each Wrestlemania DVD for less than $10 each.
4. Inflatable Sandman kendo stick-don’t let anyone fool you; nothing incites kids to kick someone’s ass like watching an hour or two of wrestling. As responsible parents, you can now let your kids watch wrestling, knowing that the damage they inflict on one another will be safely conducted using inflatable weaponry. A real value at $10, especially when you think of how much you’ll save on emergency room visits and lawsuits. You know Lionel Tate wishes this item was out a few years back.
5. SmackDown vs. RAW 2007-regardless of what game system you own, it’s hard to go wrong with the WWE’s best wrestling videogame ever. This game has become the Madden Football of wrestling games. You’ll drop $50-$60 for it depending on what system you own. Available for everything but Playstation 3 (but it is available for Playstation 2).
6. Rey Mysterio Replica Pants-if the kiddies are jumping around the house in their Rey Rey mask, why not suit them up all the way with the Rey Mysterio replica pants. Also available in adult size for those who have given up on what they look like in public. $99
7. Controversy Creates Cash Book Package-Eric Bischoff’s autobiography reveals his take on what led to the rise and fall of WCW. This well written book is a must-read for anyone looking to explore the Monday Night War between the WWF and WCW or anyone just looking for a good read. The $17.48 package also includes a copy of WWE Home Video release The Monday Night War so you can watch Vince’s take on the whole battle for control of professional wrestling. 8. Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon DVD-not only does this DVD boast a great documentary on the life of one of wrestling’s true wildmen but it includes some of the best technical matches you’ll ever see in North America. Get it for the documentary; keep watching it for the matches. $20 9. John Cena Chain Gang Battalion t-shirt-if you know a wrestling fan under 14 or who doesn’t have a penis, this is almost guaranteed to make them happy. By far one of the best designed wrestling shirts, it should make the Cena fan in your life very happy $25 10. Wrestlemania XX-whether your cash flow is low or you need a stocking stuffer, you can’t go wrong buying this WWE DVD. One of the best Wrestlemanias ever and it includes over eight hours of wrestling fun. Affordably priced at $14.98 at Shop Zone.
Total Nonstop Action (TNA)-just because they’re number two, don’t think TNA isn’t going to try and squeeze some extra revenue out of merchandise. Be warned, you probably won’t find a lot of TNA merchandise anywhere but on the Internet. DVD’s are usually found at Best Buy and sometimes Wal-Mart.
1. TNA Poster set- if your wrestling fan likes posters, you can’t go wrong with all twelve posters from TNA’s 2005 pay-per-view lineup.
2. TNA Anthology-this set includes three complete TNA PPV’s from 2004 including Lockdown, Victory Road, and Turning Point. It’s an affordable way to sample the TNA product or just enjoy over ten hours of good wrestling.
3. LAX 5150 t-shirt-cool t-shirt for one of TNA’s hottest acts. Unfortunately the shirt is on back-order. $20
4. Best of the X Division volume 2 DVD-high-flying action at its best. TNA’s innovative X Division wrestlers will entertain you or the wrestling fan in your life. Sure to be watched over and over. $19.95
5. Bound for Glory 2006 t-shirt-let’s face it, most wrestling t-shirts aren’t good enough to shine your shoes with. This TNA shirt is a beauty and features stars from TNA’s recent PPV Bound for Glory$20.
Ring of Honor The cool thing with Ring of Honor is that they almost always run a $10 sale every month. You just have to be on the lookout for it. You can’t go wrong picking up ROH DVD’s at just ten bucks a pop whether they’re ROH shows or “Best of” compilations.
1. Autographed Pictures-beat the long lines and get an autographed picture of some ROH stars or guys just passing through. Affordably priced from $10-19.95.
2. ROH “Fiercely Independent” T-shirt-one of ROH’s better looking t-shirts and deeply discounted right now to $10!
3. Best of Samoa Joe-whether it’s Volume 1, 2, or 3, you won’t believe the violence and in-ring action between Joe and his many ROH opponents. $20
4. Straight Shootin’ with Jim Cornette & Bobby Heenan volume one-any of the three volumes are highly enjoyable as legendary managers Bobby Heenan and Jim Cornette discuss their days in the business. A must-have for any old school wrestling fan or someone who enjoys road stories. $20
5. Secrets of the Ring-this DVD series features legends such as Raven and Jim Cornette sharing their insights into how to put on a good match, cut a promo, and all the fundamental skills needed to succeed in the business. A must for any aspiring wrestler and an enjoyable program for fans in general. $20
Non-affiliated stuff There’s lots of good stuff to check out besides from wrestling promotions. Consider some of the following gems while you’re looking for that perfect gift:
1. Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of the ECW by Scott Williams-there have been a lot of books and DVD’s released about the late, great Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). However this well-researched book blows them all away. Not only does it feature a comprehensive history of the fabled promotion from start to finish but it includes comments from many of the men and women affiliated with ECW. This agenda-free retrospective of ECW is a must-have for any ECW fan or any fan looking to learn about one of the most important promotions in professional wrestling. $16.47
2. Wrestlers Are Like Seagulls- by James J. Dillon-the legendary manager of the Four Horsemen shares his story from how he went from fan to manager of one of the greatest heel factions in wrestling as well as his time spent working in the front office for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). A well-written entertaining read for old school fans everywhere. $24.95
3. Lipstick and Dynamite DVD-watch the fascinating story of women’s wrestling from the 1940’s and 1950’s as told by the wrestlers themselves and their family members. An excellent documentary that reveals a largely unknown piece of wrestling history.
4. World Wrestling Insanity: The Decline and Fall of a Family Empire by James Guttman-this very funny book seriously examines the decline of World Wrestling Entertainment over the last few years while keeping you laughing page after page. If only WWE was this funny… Check out the main page at www.worldwrestlinginsanity.com for all the details on scoring a copy.
5. Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs and the Rise and Fall of World Class Championship Wrestling DVD-during the 1980’s World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) featured some of the biggest stars, the hottest angles, and some of the finest production values seen to date in wrestling. This documentary examines the phenomenon that was WCCW by speaking with many of the major players involved in WCCW’s rise and fall.
6. The Hulk Hogan Ultimate Grill-legend has it that the George Foreman Grill was originally offered to Hulk Hogan for his endorsement. Unfortunately the Hulkster passed and George Foreman made a fortune with it. Now, the Hulkster is out to capture whatever market share there is for a premium priced grill which promises to grill, bake, and much more. https://www.hulksgrill.com/?cid=225961 While it’s a good product (I’ve used it myself) , you’ll have to answer the question of whether or not you’re willing to shell out $150.00 (along with $29.95) in shipping and handling for this grill brother.
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| © 2005-2007 All content contained here Copyright 2006 by James Guttman *** World Wrestling Insanity and ClubWWI are not affiliated with any wrestling promotion. |
