Admittedly, when I first got a hold of this DVD for reviewing, it looked like a quick cash-grab by WWE’s home video department. I mean, at this point in time, everyone and their grandmother knows the story of the Kliq and what they did for (and to) the business over the careers of each member: Scott Hall, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Kevin Nash, Sean “X-Pac” Waltman and Shawn Michaels. Chances are, most fans have read enough books or watched enough DVDs that discuss this notorious group to choke a horse, so what’s one more DVD to add onto the pile?
While all the stories presented here by the Kliq are probably ones you’ve heard a hundred times (although there were still a few surprises), this is probably the first time all five members have been collected for a set to give their opinions and viewpoints about everything that happened during the group’s highs and lows from 1993 and on. In addition to the core members, numerous wrestlers and personnel who were around or involved with the Kliq in some way weigh in as well, including former employees like Lex Luger, Tammy “Sunny” Sytch, Vince Russo, the Godfather, junior Kliq member Justin Credible, Sting, and of course Vince McMahon himself, to name a few. Also included are surprise appearances by the two fans responsible for filming the infamous “Curtain Call”, which is kind of cool. Hearing the perspectives from two straight outsiders (no pun intended) just adds another layer to the stories.
The stories from everyone are pretty entertaining, as well as very candid. Even better is all five members of the Kliq are surprisingly honest. Instead of blame being placed here, there, and everyone else for all of the bad times (which were plentiful, especially during WWE’s dark years before the “Attitude Era”) each man not only offers their perspective, but more or less confirms everything that’s ever been said about the Kliq, with no denial being found whatsoever. Shawn Michaels does tend to tiptoe around a few anecdotes, but never in any kind of damaging way or in any way that paints himself a saint with everyone else being scum. Even Vince Russo dials it down and presents himself as more of a straight shooter, something that must be really foreign territory for him.
While most everyone on the set comes off honest and open about the run of the Kliq, leave it to the new “He who shall remain nameless” one in wrestling, whose stage name rhymes with “Bulk Bogan”, to paint himself like an idiot. The absolute best is when, while talking about the Outsiders and Syxx being in WCW, [NAME REDACTED] talks about how everyone hated these guys because they were making power plays, flexing creative control, refusing to help out the company and instead were only out for themselves, etc. Listening to [NAME REDACTED] say that, I had to roll my eyes and just think to myself, “Good god. If that isn’t the pot and the kettle…” Fortunately, his time on the DVD is amazingly short, and instead more story time is focused on the Kliq themselves, as well as other performers who have way more interesting stories to tell. The documentary is relatively short at around 90 minutes, but again, given how much is out there on the Kliq at present time, that’s probably for the best.
Now, onto the matches. There’s definitely an eclectic mix of goods here, but it’s all pretty fun. A whole slew of “New Generation” matches are featured on the second disc. Say what you will about these guys at the time, but they consistently put on some of the best matches in WWF at the time. There’s a rare (and excellent) match between HBK and the 1-2-3 Kid from RAW, some tag team matches featuring Kliq members from both RAW and the Action Zone (remember that show?), some typical stuff like Kid’s upset over Razor Ramon in 1993 and the Wrestlemania X ladder match, and a couple lesser-seen PPV matches, such as a “Crybaby Match” between Ramon and Kid and the Bad Guys vs. the Teamsters from the 1994 Survivor Series that led to Diesel’s mediocre run as WWF Champion.
The “New Generation” matches continue onto the first part of the third disc, which also included the “Curtain Call” in its entirety. The rest of the matches are a couple of WCW affairs, an “Attitude Era” match and three post-WCW matches. These matches are hit or miss, but thankfully, the second disc is loaded to make up for that.
Overall, while not the most revealing or eye-opening set, The Kliq Rules is a fun collection that will especially be enjoyed by fans who grew up during the “Monday Night Wars”, as it provides a really enjoyable trip down memory lane during what was considered by many to be the most exciting period in wrestling history.
Friends 4 Life
Forming a Bond
Strength in Numbers
“Kliq Only”
The Curtain Call
Divide and Conquer
Excess Baggage
Resurgence
Disc Two
Razor Ramon vs. The Kid
RAW • May 17, 1993
Razor Ramon vs. 1-2-3 Kid
RAW • June 21, 1993
Diesel vs. Razor Ramon
RAW • November 29, 1993
Shawn Michaels vs. 1-2-3 Kid
RAW • December 6, 1993
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Quebecers vs. Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid
RAW • February 21, 1994
Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship: Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels
WrestleMania X • March 20, 1994
Intercontinental Championship Match: Razor Ramon vs. Diesel
Superstars • April 30, 1994
Shawn Michaels & Diesel vs. Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid
Action Zone • October 30, 1994
Survivor Series Elimination Match: The Bad Guys (Razor Ramon, 1-2-3 Kid, British Bulldog & The Headshrinkers) vs. The Teamsters (Diesel, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Jarrett, Owen Hart & Jim Neidhart)
Survivor Series • November 23, 1994
Razor Ramon vs. Hunter Hearst-Helmsley
RAW • January 22, 1996
“Cry Baby” Match: Razor Ramon vs. 1-2-3 Kid
In Your House • February 18, 1996
Disc Three
No Holds Barred Match for the WWE Championship: Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel
In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies • April 28, 1996
Shawn Michaels vs. Hunter Hearst-Helmsley
RAW • May 13, 1996
“MSG Curtain Call”
Madison Square Garden • May 19, 1996
WCW Tag Team Championship Match: The Outsiders vs. The Steiner Brothers
WCW Nitro • January 12, 1998
Kevin Nash vs. Scott Hall
WCW Halloween Havoc • October 25, 1998
Triple H vs. X-Pac
Backlash • April 25, 1999
Six-Man Tag Team Match: Kevin Nash, Scott Hall & X-Pac vs. Hulk Hogan, The Rock & Kane
SmackDown • March 28, 2002
World Heavyweight Championship Match: Triple H vs. Kevin Nash
Judgment Day • May 18, 2003
Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match: DX (Shawn Michaels & Triple H) vs. Jeri-Show (The Big Show & Chris Jericho)
TLC • December 13, 2009
Blu-ray Exclusives
Scott Hall & Syxx vs. Harlem Heat
WCW Nitro • July 14, 1997
Kevin Nash vs. The Rock
SmackDown • March 21, 2002
Sledgehammer Ladder Match: Triple H vs. Kevin Nash
TLC • December 18, 2011
Triple H vs. Sting
WrestleMania XXXI • March 29, 2015
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Dustin Nichols
Dustin Nichols is a freelance writer, and you can keep track of all of his work on his Facebook page, which can be found at www.facebook.com/DustinNicholsWriter. Oh, and if you like bodybuilding, check out my mom’s official site by clicking the banner below:
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