“Living on a Razors Edge” the Scott Hall Story
I usually never bother with the documentary portions of these sets. A minute or two segments between matches doesn’t bother me but a full hour and a half tends to bore me. Especially when the WWE glosses over so much. But Scott Halls story interests me and the only way to gloss over any of it is not air it, period.
As with most WWE documentaries it starts with a bit of his earliest years. Small bits of his childhood and breaking into the business. I was left wondering what happened to his dad but they never mentioned it again. The most shocking portion for me was learning that Scott Hall (inadvertently) killed a guy. It’s a pretty wild story and plays into how much it affected his life later on. You want to talk about demons? There’s the reason for his right there. His earliest years in the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling (1985-1992) are blown through in a matter of minutes and then we’re onto his days in the WWF as Razor Ramon. That (of course) got a lot of good mention and ended with Vince McMahon (in a rare display of humility) admitting to being wrong in letting him go in 1996.
Then again they blow through the rest of his career without too much time spent. The video gets eye rolling after that. A lot of blame is put on WCW for his demons and I don’t know how to take that. Sure, WCW wasn’t the best place for a person like Hall but it’s also a WWE produced video. Surprisingly while the video did obviously paint the WWE in a good light it didn’t get to ridiculous levels, like crediting Roman Reigns for cleaning up Halls life. It ends with the Kliq boys having a their collective midlife crisis’ during Halls introduction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014, as Razor Ramon…which is one of the dumber things they (the WWE) have done in recent years. Oh who am I kidding? That doesn’t even register with all the stupid shit they’ve done the last few years. But it’s still really dumb.
Overall the documentary was still worth watching. It painted Kevin Nash as Halls “guardian angel”, and as an unbiased Nash mark that made me feel warm inside. They showed the video of a completely drunk out of his mind Scott Hall at some Indy show in 2011 and that was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to watch. That led to his road to recovery with Diamond Dallas Page and it made Page out to be the greatest person to walk the face of the earth. But I already knew that. And Norman Smiley was in a couple shots during Halls visit to the WWE performance center. I’ll take any Norman I can get.
It was inspirational. I don’t think there was a shot where Hall didn’t have a toothpick in his mouth. But I wanted the matches:
From Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling on December 25th, 1984
American Starship vs. Inferno #1 and #2
This match was pretty terrible. It's a squash that lasts less than a few minutes. I'd imagine it's the earliest Scott Hall match available on tape so it had to be included. I will say one positive thing: the filming and camera quality was very good. It looked like it could have been from the early-1990's, which is a look I really like.
Winners: American Starship
From ESPN Championship Wrestling on November 19th, 1985
Scott Hall vs. Michael "PS" Hayes w/Buddy Roberts
This was a much better match. It was nothing earth shattering but it was better than the last. At the end Hall goes to pull Buddy Roberts over the top rope into the ring but the botch it and Roberts lands on his head HARD.
Winner: no contest
From ESPN Championship Wrestling on November 28th, 1985
Battle Royal for a future title shot, one hundred thousand dollars and (most importantly) the WRESTLETRUCK
This was a single camera match and it was kinda hard to follow. Intros would've been nice too because I had no idea who anyone was. It was pretty terrible.
Winner: Scott Hall
Afterwards Scott is presented with the truck
From AWA Wrestlerock on April 20th, 1986
For the AWA Tag Team Championships
The Long Riders (Wild Bill Irwin & Scott "Hog" Irwin) vs. Curt Hennig & Scott Hall (champions)
I've not seen too much of Bill Irwin but the guys yelling always gets on my nerves. He sounds like every-dude from the town I grew up in (Oshawa, Ontario). Watching this match after the documentary is pretty funny because Hall admitted that Hennig carried all of their matches then he'd run in at the end for the pin. But, Hennig was the greatest wrestle to ever live.
Winners: Curt Hennig & Scott Hall
From WCW Clash of the Champions XV on June 14th, 1991
The Diamond Studd w/Diamond Dallas Page vs. "Wildfire" Tommy Rich
This wasn't much of a match. It was a squash where the loser (Rich) got at least a shred of offence in.
Winner: the Diamond Studd
From World Championship Wrestling on December 7th, 1991
The Diamond Exchange w/the Diamond Doll vs. Chris Sullivan & "Primetime" Brian Lee
The audience sounded really canned in this one. There was decent noise the whole time but everyone in the crowd didn't look to be making much noise or movement. This wasn't a squash...but it was about ninety percent to ten percent for the Diamond Exchange. I swear I've seen Chris Sullivan before somewhere. Either one of my other old videos or bagging groceries at the supermarket.
Winners: the Diamond Exchange
From WWF Superstars on August 8th, 1992
Paul Van Dale vs. Razor Ramon
Razors WWF debut match. Typical 1990's jobber squash.
Winner: Razor Ramon
From the WWF Royal Rumble on January 24th, 1993
For the WWF Championship
Razor Ramon vs. Bret "the Hitman" Hart (champion)
It's nice to get a good match after three straight jobber-fests. I've seen this once before but it was close to ten years ago. It's the best match on this set up to this point.
Winner: Bret "the Hitman" Hart
From WWF Monday Night Raw on May 17th, 1993
Razor Ramon vs. "the Kid"
Wow, you should see the ring girl at the beginning of this match...what the hell was going on there? They spoiled this match and it's outcome in the documentary. If I hadn't seen that before I'd have been very surprised. Still, a gutsy move on the part of the WWF at the time.
Winner: "the Kid"
From a WWF house show on September 1st, 1993
For the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Shawn Michaels (champion) w/Diesel vs. Razor Ramon
HBK got sling-shotted over the top rope and out of the ring about five minutes into this match and his landing on his back was fucking brutal! I honestly don't know how he got up after that one. This was a decent match. Nothing spectacular. It was interesting that the commentators referred to the Sweet-Chin Music by its proper name: side-savant kick.
Winner: Razor Ramon via disqualification
After the match Diesel and HBK toy with double-teaming Razor but are thwarted.
From WWF Raw on October 11th, 1993
For the vacant WWF Intercontinental Championship (I’m guessing HBK got beaten up by some circus midgets between the last match and this one?)
Rick "the Model" Martel vs. Razor Ramon
I think a few members of the grindcore band Terrorizer were in the front row for this match. This was another solid but not essential match. Some awkward, sloppy moments and spots, but I kinda appreciate that. It seems more real; less choreographed. Wrasslin’, not dancing.
Winner: Razor Ramon (new WWF Intercontinental Champion)
From Wrestlemania X on March 20th, 1994
Ladder Match to determine the undisputed WWF Intercontinental Championship
Shawn Michaels w/Diesel vs. Razor Ramon
I was going to skip this match because everyone's seen it but then I realized I haven't watched it in over ten years. I have to put myself in a 1994 frame of mind when I watch this. I mean shit, I watched Ring of Honors Ladder Wars III last weekend. This match is the fucking Octonaughts compared to that shit. But considering the cartoon crap the WWF was at the time it was pretty insane. And you know what? You don’t see many ladder matches these days that are just two guys. Obviously worth watching.
Winner: Razor Ramon (now the undisputed WWF Intercontinental Champion)
Disc 2
From WWF Summerslam on August 25th, 1994
For the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Diesel (champion) w/Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon w/Walter Payton
When Nash was in the ring with a good competitor he could be carried to a decent match. It's just that during his heydays there were four legit guys in the WWF and WCW matches weren't allowed to go over six minutes. So this was as good a match from Nash as you could ask for. Like, two stars.
Winner: Razor Ramon (new WWF Intercontinental Champion)
From WWF Royal Rumble on January 22nd, 1995
For the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Jeff Jarrett w/the Roadie vs. Razor Ramon (champion)
Lol, they edited out Jarrett's entrance. I can't remember but I think "Wildfire" Tommy Rich got his entrance left in. Poor Jarrett. The WWE certainly hates that man. Who'd have thought $100,000 would cost so much? This was an okay match. They played off an injury to Razors knee a lot and that slowed things down quite a bit.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett (new WWF Intercontinental Champion, I'm surprised they didn't edit that out)
I guess 1995 wasn't too good for Razor, because we skip ahead a year.
From the WWE Royal Rumble on January 21st, 1996
For the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Goldust w/Marlena vs. Razor Ramon (champion)
This match is okay but despite the amount of booze in my system I am just not feeling this mid-1990's WWF stuff. Which is weird because I LIKE mid-1990's WWF. The 1-2-3 Kid and Marlena cost Razor the match.
Winner: Goldust (new WWF Intercontinental Champion)
Sweet, WCW.
From WCW Hog Wild on August 10th, 1996
The Outsiders vs. Sting & Lex Lugar
This was your typical WCW pay per view main event: which means it was more important in setting up Monday's show. Plus it was at Hog Wild. But for some reason I'm so much happier watching it as opposed to the WWF stuff. This actually wasn't bad at all!...for WCW.
Winners: the Outsiders
From WCW Halloween Havoc on October 27th, 1996
For the WCW Tag Team Championships
The Outsiders vs. Harlem Heat (champions) w/Sister Sherri and Col. Parker
This match was fine but I'm Hall as Fuck (drunk as fuck) and having a hard time paying attention.
Winners: the Outsiders (new WCW Tag Team Champions)
From WCW Nitro on October 20th, 1997
Scott Hall vs. Scott Steiner w/Ted Dibiase
It was a Scott Steiner I've never seen before in this match. A midway point between the feathered mullet and singlet of the early 1990's and the jacked out freak of today. Leaning more towards the earlier Steiner though. This was an average TV match that ended with the referee getting knocked out then some other referee (with what I thought was a sack over his head, but it was really a mask akin to Jason in Friday the 13th part 2, but black) running in and counting the pin. I have no idea why it was felt this should have been included. We’re never told who was under the mask. I’m pretty sure it was Mike Jones though (Virgil)
Winner: Scott Hall
From WCW Nitro on November 3rd, 1997
Scott Hall vs. Chris Jericho
This match worried me. I figured Jericho would just redefine "jobbing". The promo Hall cut before the match was longer than the match. And then Jericho actually won. But it wasn't a dominating, well-fought win. It was a flukey, 1-2-3 Kid win. I don't see the reason for including this one either. I guess since it was in Philadelphia and Straw Hat guy was there?
Winner: Chris Jericho
Afterwards Hall pummels Jericho. So yeah, even in victory Jericho looked like a chump.
From WCW Uncensored on March 15th, 1998
For the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Scott Hall w/Dusty Rhodes vs. Sting (champion)
This was a bit better but not by much. I gathered from the commentary that this wasn't even the main event that. So they got maybe ten minutes. I wonder whatever happened to referee Mark Curtis?
Winner: Sting
From WCW Nitro on November 22nd, 1999
The Outsiders vs. Goldberg & Sid Vicious
Uh, from the moment I see the "new" Nitro stage my expectations go down exponentially. But despite being during WCWs "dying days" the crowd was still really loud and into it. So this wasn't the dregs just yet (but I did hear the words "Jeff", "Jarrett" and "champion"). This was a fun match to watch.
Winners: the Outsiders
Afterwards the two teams brawl.
From WWF Smackdown on March 7th, 2002
Scott Hall w/the nWo vs. the Rock
Damn, I never realized until just now how dead and wrong the nWo in the WWF felt. Seeing Hall come out still looking like WCW Hall in his red and black gear just feels...not right. I guess that's how it should have felt. This match fell apart into a three-on-one beatdown before Stone Cold Steve Austin came down to aide the Rock. It was less than six minutes and not worth watching.
Winner: no contest
From WWF Wrestlemania X8 on March 17th, 2002
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall w/Kevin Nash
I guess that last match served the purpose of setting this one up. The "other" match the nWo had at Wrestlemania X8. I remember the air of uncertainty surrounding this match well: in that Nash was never booked a match that night because the WWF wasn't confident in Hall not screwing up and getting himself fired before the event happened. I was at Wrestlemania X8 and I remember no one really caring about this match. It's okay. It was a shit Wrestlemania. And Hall did end up getting himself fired less than two months later.
Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Blu-ray bonus matches:
From WCW Power Hour on September 28th, 1991
Big Josh & the Z-Man vs. the Diamond Studd & Oz
I really wish they'd have included the intro to this match. I've never seen Nash as "Oz" in all his glory. I know I'm not as drunk as Hall was during this match but Big Josh's "Log Roll" move had me laughing my ass off. This was inoffensive and fine.
Winners: Big Josh & the Z-Man via disqualification
From A WWF House Show on May 18th, 1992
Razor Ramon vs. Jim Powers
This had to have been one of Halls first matches in the WWF as it was untelevised and had no commentary. It was fine.
Winner: Razor Ramon
From WWF Summerfest on August 30th, 1993
"Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase vs. Razor Ramon
This is a decent enough match but nothing to go out of your way for.
Winner: Razor Ramon
From In Your House! On May 14th, 1995
2-on-1 Handicapped Match
Jeff Jarrett & the Roadie vs. Razor Ramon
This was a decent match. I swear I've seen it before. It wasn't on the WWE best of Jeff Jarrett video so maybe it was on the best of In Your House video? (Maybe I remember from watching the previous Jarrett match on the set a few weeks ago, this review was written over the course of seven months)
Winner: Razor Ramon
They brawl afterwards until Aldo Montoya comes to Razors aide. He's not much help then a debuting Savio Vega comes to the rescue.
From WCW Nitro on January 25th, 1999
Ladder Match with Scott Halls taser hanging above the ring
Scott Hall w/his taser and Disco Inferno vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
The WWE is so concerned with their stupid crowd reaction shots these days and getting "that moment". WCW did it right: they just panned in on the hottest girls. What they didn't pan to but what I noticed was CHUCK NORRIS IN THE FRONT ROW! This was a solid match for later-era WCW and was enjoyable to watch.
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None of the matches were really earth shattering and mind blowing. But I’m a mark for the older non-WWF stuff and anything WCW so I really enjoyed watching those, even if some of them were downright wastes of time. The WWF stuff was fun to watch too. But I think I’ve seen most of it. I wish there had of been more of the older stuff but it was a WWE video so it’s obvious that they included more WWF stuff than anything. There are some big gaps in time there (a lot of times a year passed between matches) and I want to know what was going on then? I know with some of the WCW stuff he didn't wrestle a lot but I don't know, for example, why 1995 was entirely skipped. I’d still recommend buying this one. If you’re a Hall fan the documentary portion is worth your time. And if you’re just a fan of wrestling the matches cover a long period in history.
The video also features all the Razor Ramon debut vignettes, some road stories and his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame
Alcohol consumed whilst watching this Blu-ray: nowhere near as much as Hall had wrestling these matches.
Do you like old people porn? Because I just put enough to fill an old folks home in the wrestling section!