Undertaker- This is My Yard (DVD) Review

When Taker's new WWF home video came out, I resisted the urge to buy it. Reason being, the DVD looked kickass and I was still stuck with a VCR. So, after I finally broke down and bought myself an awesome DVD player, I decided this would be one of my first choices for DVD purchases (after Young Guns, however *g*).

The DVD contains the same documentary deal as the VHS, however extras include 5 matches and a couple interviews that didn't make it in. The matches are: 1997 Badd Blood HBK/UT Hell in a Cell, WM 14 UT/Kane, Unforgiven 1998 UT/Kane Inferno Match, Fully Loaded 2000 UT/Angle, and WM 17 UT/HHH. And those matches aren't anything to sneeze at; hell, I bought a couple videos just for the UT/Kane matches (this was during his 9-month hiatus, during which I decided to do some stockpiling just in case he didn't return). When I first bought the DVD, I was afraid they'd chop up the matches into just the highlights, like they've done on Excess, which I caught a couple times. But when I loaded up the HIAC one, I was relieved to find the match there, even UT's entrance, in its full form. Haven't looked at much of the extras but it's worth the extra 10 bucks for the DVD just to get an additional 2 hours and change of material not found on the VHS.

OK, now to the documentary itself. All in all, it's worth a viewing. The thing I dug about it most was UT doing a lot of commentary. For his other videos, it was pretty much a narrator and clips from various matches, short interviews, close-ups of him rolling his eyes into the back of his head, etc. But with this one, he throws his two cents in on pretty much everything. And there are times where he has some humorous commentary about things, such as his reaction to when they proposed the Inferno match to him.

It is a chronological documentary, starting from how he first got into wrestling (which he briefly explains) to today. There's some footage from when he was part of the Skyscrapers but nothing too in-depth. And they also skim over his earlier WWF years. So if you're looking for an in-depth history on this part of his career, you won't see it on this video and should just hope that he writes an autobiography someday. Primarily, this video picks up from about 1998 and on. For anything before that in the visual arena, I suggest trying to grab a copy of one of his older videos. And they even cover the Ministry Era, which I thought they were trying to keep hidden in the closet. Taker doesn't exactly diss it, but you can tell he feels it wasn't one of his brighter moments and pretty much exhausted what he felt could be done with the mystical Undertaker persona.

One thing they really do try to emphasize is the metamorphosis in character through his WWF debut in 1990 to today. And it seems he's really trying to get across why he decided to go for the change that many fans, including myself, weren't happy to see. It's also emphasized that when you really take a look at the Undertaker of today, you will still be able to see facets of the Undertaker versions of days gone by. All in all, he's trying to say that even though the Taker on the outside is much different than the Taker incarnations we saw up until 1999, the heart and soul of the Undertaker is still there. Speaking of all of this, I was also surprised to hear him call Undertaker "the character" at times. Of course, I also need to remember that the kayfabe is pretty much gone now.

As a different feature, we also get a bit of Taker behind the scenes. I also knew it and he admitted it- he's a redneck (and those boys are a hoot). :) And, yes, for all you folks who don't like Sara, myself included, she's there. However, her bit is pretty painless to watch. They show her for a few moments with Taker at the arena, a couple seconds of interview (she says they're both sports nuts), she puts him in an armbar, and he does a bit of a voiceover about her. Taker also gives a quick tour of a couple of his bikes. But don't think he's opening the door to show the public how he is in his private life. It's more like he's opening the door up a crack, won't open it anymore, ao whatever is behind that door is out of your sight and remains a mystery. Of course, that's cool with me because whatever he decides to keep out of the show is his thing and shouldn't be infringed upon.

Well, that's my down and dirty quick review. All in all, I do recommend the documentary and if you own a DVD, spring for it instead.