KayfabeCommentaries.com

Kevin Sullivan and the end of the WCW

Description: While Eric Bischoff was taking a most of the credit, and Vince Russo was taking most of the blame, there was one guy who lived through it all and openly takes responsibility for both the good and the bad during WCW's roller-coaster years at the top and bottom of the wrestling industry. His name is Kevin Sullivan and he has worn many hats during his long career in professional wrestling.

Kevin Sullivan was featured in KayfabeCommentaries.com's very first DVD entitled "Guest Booker with Kevin Sullivan." In that DVD interview, Sullivan reorganized the 1984 line-up for a product that he had nothing to do with - the World Wrestling Federation. In this latest DVD from KC.com's Sean Oliver, Mr. Sullivan dissects a product for which he has first hand knowledge of all aspects - that being World Championship Wrestling - specifically the downward spiral and ultimate death of the company. It continues to be one of the biggest news stories in the history of professional wrestling; the death of WCW rocked the industry and changed it forever - its rippling effects still being felt today in both WWE and TNA. The reasons which led WCW to its unfortunate demise are too numerous to mention here in this review, but I think everybody understands that WCW disintegrated because it was poorly run by a company (AOL/Time-Warner) that was embarrassed to be associated with the wrasslin' business. Ted Turner, who loved wrestling with a passion, had lost all his power, and could no longer save the show that helped his TBS Super Station become a major destination for television viewers. Kevin Sullivan was there for most of it, through all the highs and all the lows; as a wrestler, as a booker, as a writer, as an agent, he was as involved in laying the foundation of WCW as much as anybody in the company. So what I'm trying to say is, Kevin Sullivan knows what the hell he's talking about when the subject of WCW's downfall comes up, and thankfully he's not too bitter to talk about it.

KC.com director Sean Oliver guides viewers through the many incarnations of WCW, through each era represented by a different figurehead, who was put in charge of the company or the creative direction of the company. Then we take an in depth look at the final year of WCW's existence, when many people could already see the writing on the wall, a message that was loud and clear, "WCW was doomed." Still, die-hard wrestling employees like Kevin Sullivan, hung on for dear life, literally going down with the ship (while others bailed). It's not like this topic hasn't been covered before; Remember, R.D. Reynolds and Bryan Alvarez published a book called "Death of WCW" a few years back. That book was adored by fans but trashed by people in the industry because clearly Reynolds nor Alverez had spent a day inside of WCW. This was a brilliant effort by KC, and my only complaint is that it should have been four hours instead of two.

Reviewed by Brad Dykens on April 14, 2008.
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