WWE ECW Unreleased VOL.2 (FSM 96; Aug 2013)

Information: - DVD Region: Region Two - Distributor: Fremantle Media - Price: £29.99 - Other info: 435 Mins - Release: Out now -Weblink: www.WWEDVD.co.uk

While cynics might wonder if WWE is going to the well once too often, some might be surprised by this latest compilation of matches from Extreme Championship Wrestling. The collection's strength is in its variety; silly brawls, infamous angles, interesting trivia notes, and yes, great wrestling matches populate the three-disc package.

The opening contest sees the debut of a starry-eyed pretty boy by the name of Tommy Dreamer, against a cartoonish gimmick known as "The Tazmaniac". While the match itself - actually from the Eastern Championship Wrestling days - is unremarkable, it's fascinating to see how much both men would evolve.

The company's legal battle with WCW proves beneficial when Arn Anderson and Terry Funk face Bobby Eaton and Sabu in a red-hot affair that starts off as a technical grappling match before breaking down into the trademark mayhem. ECW also had a slice of fortune when The Steiners fell out with the WWF, as they were able to pick them up for some dates in 1995, including an August match with Eddy Guerrero against Too Cold Scorpio, Dean Malenko and Cactus Jack. This is a wild and enthralling melting pot of styles.

Some matches on the first disc do feel tokenistic, with the included Raven versus Tommy Dreamer bout nowhere near their best in terms of action or drama. Dreamer's clumsy I Quit match with The Sandman is also nothing special, but does conclude with the famous "blinding" angle that was a creative highlight for the company. The first third of the set concludes with The Public Enemy's farewell from ECW, in a predictable scrap with The Gangstas that at least is a reminder of how popular Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge were at their peak.

A DROP IN QUALITY
Disc Two opens with apologetic hosts Joey Styles and Tommy Dreamer reflecting on Taz and Chris Jericho's 1996 "shootfight", which is included in its underwhelming entirety. Thankfully, Jericho is showcased in a much more entertaining contest with Sabu, as both men put on a high-flying spectacle for the crowd.

While not as familiar as the bout that gave birth to the ECW title in 1994, Shane Douglas' TV championship match with Scorpio is an engrossing 30-minute affair, featuring wonderful pacing and storytelling. Indeed, it will down as one of Douglas' best efforts in "the land of extreme".

The second disc also includes two very entertaining yet wildly different tag team bouts. The first illustrates how receptive the ECW fans were to foreign talent, as a lightning-quick Michinoku Pro six-man electrifies the crowd. The second is a plunder-filled war between The Gangstas, The Dudleys and The Eliminators, with the latter's devastating Total Elimination combo eliciting as big a pop as any of the other anarchy.

Disc Three is a mixed bag, with more lesser-known classics and some forgettable filler. The opening contest, an eight-man ECW versus "WWF" tag team bout can be categorised as the latter, serving only to illustrate that, yes, prior to 2001 there was some variety of invasion that saw ECW stars turn heel by aligning with Vince McMahon.

Chris Candido and Lance Storm versus RVD and Sabu gets things back on track, with all four men looking in peak condition, and delivering a very crisp encounter. RVD is also in fine form in a brief but entertaining TV title defence against perennial underdog Mikey Whipwreck.

Arguably the finest bout on the whole set is a rarely-discussed three-way pitting Taz against Bam Bam Bigelow and Sabu. The contrasting styles and undeniable aura makes for an all-action encounter. One highlight sees Taz kick a table to pieces, only to beat his foes with the remaining wooden shards, all to a naturally raucous ovation.

While this set won't convert anyone fed up with ECW nostalgia, it offers more than enough for those looking for another trip down memory lane.