WWE's 5 Best DVD Releases for Learning History and Finding Classic Matches

For all the flack Netflix got for changing their pricing structure, you have to give them credit for one thing—they have the largest selection of wrestling content available to view on-demand.

Everything from WWE-produced documentaries about WCCW, AWA and WCW, films about specific wrestlers, to films which highlight the Indy scene, are available.

WWE is always known for producing high-quality video packages and DVDs, but some of the most interesting content is produced independently of WWE.

I recently reviewed Card Subject to Change, and it got me more interested in what was available. I have seen many documentaries about professional wrestling, but there is so much out there that I did not even know existed.

Here I will list five of the best DVD sets WWE has released—which feature great matches and documentary footage.

Ricky Steamboat: The Life Story of the Dragon

Ricky Steamboat is someone who is well known inside the wrestling world as one of the best in-ring workers of his generation.

He made other people look better than they actually were, and when he faced someone who was at his level, it was always a great match.

Whether it was his match with Savage at WrestleMania or his matches with Steve Austin in WCW, I have always had fond memories of Ricky.

Now his family is continuing on his legacy and we may soon see Ricky in WWE.

This DVD set from WWE is a great example of how great a superstar The Dragon really was. It contains matches and other clips from his storied career—which will bring back memories for many fans as well as expose newer fans to what wrestling was like during Steamboat's career.

Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

Whether you love him or hate him you have to admit that Hulk Hogan is the biggest name in wrestling history. This is one of the few DVD sets which WWE chose to have fully published on Netflix, which says something.

All three discs from the DVD are available for viewing, making a total of over seven hours of footage from matches to interviews to testimonials from those who know him best. This is rare since most NF releases from WWE are either cut down or are just the documentary section.

Hogan is viewed as an icon by many, but he is also known for his ego by some who know of his backstage reputation.

This is all addressed in the DVD set which also shows some of his earlier matches before he was the yellow and red warrior.

If you want to know anything about Hogan, then you have to watch this DVD set because it has it all.

Macho Madness: The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection

Macho Man passed away last year in a moment that shook the wrestling world. Despite being out of the business for years, he was still an iconic name to fans.

Many news outlets covered the events of his death due to his memorable name, image and legacy going beyond being just a wrestler.

Some people may only know Savage as the guy who was selling you Slim Jims in the '90s, but many of us remember him as the guy who should have been number one in the company had Hogan not been around.

He was everything a promoter could want in a wrestler. He was talented in the ring, on the mic and he had a unique voice which could be pointed out by the most casual of fans.

His style was somewhat unique because he was not known as a small man, but he would often fly from the top rope more than most guys with his build.

I miss Savage—which is why I am glad I can go back and watch some of his greatest matches and moments on this set.

R.I.P. Mach Man and Miss Elizabeth.

Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story

Roddy Piper may just be the most popular wrestler to never win the World Title in WCW or WWE. He is quite possibly the greatest talker in the history of the business.

Piper had everything you could want in a pro wrestler. He was intelligent, outspoken, talented, and most of all, he was dedicated to being the best possible wrestler he could be.

Some of his greatest moments from his entire career are put together in this great production from WWE. Piper was one of the people who used to make WrestleMania a success. His main event feud with Hogan was one of the most entertaining at the time.

My favorite match from Piper's career was his IC title match against Bret Hart. The two pulled out all the stops in what will always be known as a classic.

Piper at one point was going to use the ring bell to take out Hart, but before he could do it, the crowds reaction got to him. He slowly lowered the bell from over his head, and in that moment he went from heel to face.

When Hart won the match it was proof positive that he was one of the best—but Piper deserves equal credit for making it great.

If you are too young to remember Piper or just never watched when he was on, then this is the perfect chance to see some of his best moments put into one compilation.

The Rise and Fall of WCW

Another WCW title to make the list is The Rise and Fall of WCW. This, unlike the previous title, highlights WCW from close to the beginning through interviews and clips.

Jim Ross, Michael Hayes and Dusty Rhodes are the most prominent in the documentary. They discuss everything from the talent to the booking to the financial aspects of the business.

Seeing what WCW was going through during the early years is somewhat enlightening because you see the problems behind the scenes that led to the multiple sales of the brand and eventual demise.

Egos and attitudes led to the downfall of the once-biggest company in wrestling.

The film also shows how Vince McMahon's early dealings with Ted Turner led to Turner buying WCW and Vince buying out just about everyone else in the business.

This focuses more on the company than the matches so the amount of wrestling is minimal, but the entertainment value is high.

Arn Anderson also discusses much of his time in the company, including why Ole Anderson is not universally loved by the other wrestlers.

Bill Watts and Bill Shaw are given credit for bringing WCW out of a slump during the '70s by having better booking and using Ted Turner's money more wisely.

This is another example of how WWE can produce some of the best wrestling DVDs and documentaries in the business.

One funny thing to see is a short clip of a very young RVD doing his split-legged moonsault move in the very early days of his career when he was employed by WCW for a short time before he moved on to ECW.

Honorable Mentions

Making this list with only five entries was very hard as there are a lot of great DVD sets from WWE which will give you great information and hours of entertainment.

Here is a list of other suggestion from the WWE library.

Hart and Soul: The Hart Family Anthology

Twist of Fate: The Matt and Jeff Hardy Story

Dusty Rhodes: The American Dream

Tombstone: The Story of The Undertaker

The John Cena Experience

And here are a few non-WWE produced DVDs you may want to check out.

Beyond the Mat

The BackYard

Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (you can read my full review here)

Card Subject to Change (you can read my full review of this documentary here)