ROH From Love to Hate: The Jimmy Jacobs Story (FSM 90; Feb 13)

Information: - DVD Region: All Regions - Distributor: Ring of Honor - Price: $19.99 - Other info: 326 mins - Release: Out now - Weblink: www.ROHWrestling.com

For issue 80 of FSM, this author had the occasion to sit down with Jimmy Jacobs to discuss his eclectic career. What emerged wasn't just that Jacobs is one of the most underrated talents in the business, but that he is a fiercely creative personality, and utterly aware of the very deliberate progression of his fascinating character. Therefore, revisiting his work thus far in the form of a mere match compilation would be doing him an incredible injustice; wisely, Ring of Honor have thus chosen to go down a different route with this From Love to Hate double-disc release.

Disc One of this set includes a 75-minute interview with the man himself, and is an enormously compelling piece. Jacobs possesses bags of charisma, often overlooked by casual ROH fans. He presents himself very well indeed, recollecting his career in great detail, without shying away from controversial topics. His recounting of the early days is intriguing, as he delves into making the most of opportunities - several of which came by fluke - and admitting where he was at fault. Of particular note are the details about his partnership and then rivalry with BJ Whitmer. The interview even deciphers Jacobs' rather odd relationship with former ROH booker, Gabe Sapolsky, with whom it took a long time to develop a creatively satisfying rapport.

MAGIC MOMENTS
Perhaps the big revelation, though, is that Jacobs has been responsible for numerous moments, events and gimmicks that have been genuinely great times in ROH history. Not just the matches, but the "Huss!" chants, the waving of lighters upon his entrance, and the throwing of streamers as he slumped, crestfallen in the ring, having had his heart broken. He's been an absolutely vital part of company history.

In terms of featured bouts, this set is also a winner, spanning Jimmy's ROH debut, right up to until his 2009 break from the group. Obviously, the big inclusions are those focused on his feuds with BJ Whitmer and his run as leader of The Age of the Fall. That period is represented by several encounters, from he and Whitmer winning tag gold, through their split, culminating with a brutal Death match in Chicago against Colt Cabana, and then the thunderous steel cage match opposite Whitmer. One of the finest punch-ups in ROH history, this bloodbath was also among 2007's most memorable bouts. A singles tussle from Unscripted III against Bryan Danielson is another cracker, with a surprising ending, while a Triple Threat featuring Bryan also delivers the goods.

The Age of the Fall's influence is felt in heated matches with The Motor City Machine Guns, and a compelling title scrap with The Briscoes. The best action, though, is arguably found in the Jacobs versus Austin Aries feud-ender. An absolute scorcher, this again cemented Jimmy as a master of the epic finale. Jacobs' eventual split from Tyler Black led to a bloody cage match in June 2009; a satisfying battle between former allies, it's a bout that deserved better than their stop-start feud.

If there's minor criticism to be levelled at these inclusions, it's that perhaps several more snippets demonstrating storyline progression would have added a little context for the uninitiated.

Still, combining genuinely brilliant in-ring performances, including several real epics, with a proper sit-down interview, this is absolutely the way forward for these ROH compilations. This is a winning release that should not be overlooked because Jacobs was not a prolonged singles main-eventer within the company.

This stands alongside the Nigel McGuinness: A Career Retrospective as possibly the finest set to emerge from the Ring of Honor vaults.