WWE: Ruthless Aggression Vol.1

Great documentary brings back memories totally 100% recommend.

Back when wrestling was raw! Real talent getting over and making it big.

Favorite episode is the Evolution episodes, I learned alot of things about the group that I didn't previously know. Good DVD with each episode detailing something good from the Ruthless Aggression era.

Thanks

The DVD Set has only 5 episodes.

WWE was riding high on the Attitude Era but just like everything in life...it eventually came to an end & what followed was a period of change with the top names of the past leaving, future "superstars" being developed & the biggest change being their long term competition in WCW & ECW no longer existing & absorbed into WWE including the talent causing the company to be the monopoly for the first time in it's existence with everything summed up in the infamous two words called "Ruthless Aggression." Michael Rapaport narrates the first volume of this series that follows what happened to WWE after the "Monday Night Wars" series that focused on the "Attitude Era" with various names interviewed including staff (Bruce Prichard, former RAW head writer Brian Gerwitz, Jim Cornette, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman), talent (Hulk Hogan, Christian, Mark Jindrax, Mick Foley, J.B.L., Kurt Angle, Matt Hardy, Steve Austin, Mark Henry, Eric Bischoff, Shelton Benjamin, John Cena, Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Batista, Bubba & D-Von Dudley, Jerry Lawler) & current WWE superstars who were fans during this period (Becky Lynch, Ricochet, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Adam Cole, Drake Maverick, Kofi Kingson, Natayla)It’s Time To Shake Things Up - This episode begins being a brief recap of the "Monday Night Wars" leading into the infamous Invasion angle with all the issues going into it from the talent that was & wasn't acquired to the one match that changed all potential plans for the WCW brand before discussing all of the WCW legends who came in later on along with who was stepping up & issues attempting to continue the content of the "attitude era." How the concept of the brand extension was heavily discussed next from the pros & cons they were aware of to the measures taken on the draft followed by the aftermath of both The Rock going to Hollywood & Steve Austin walking out ending the episode on the name change to World Wrestling Entertainment (the lawsuit wasn't mentioned) & the purpose behind Vince McMahon's "Ruthless Aggression" speech.Enter John Cena - John Cena himself puts in one surprising word what "Ruthless Aggression" means to him before the episode begins talking about how he was accidentally discovered in developmental leading into his debut the same week as Vince's now infamous speech including the now-funny first words that were said to him by the chairman before everyone gives their opinion on his debut match against Kurt Angle. What went wrong after that debut was discussed next before another happy accident on a bus trip gave him another opportunity with how various elements of himself started to catch on with the fans followed by how the opinions were in the locker room leading to WrestleMania XX & how the fallout of another match on that card left open another opportunity he would capitalize on within the next year. His polarizing character was discussed next from what he decided to change when he noticed the audience was also changing to the infamous "spinner" belt to the crowd's reactions to him including his takeaway from WrestleMania 22 after he heard the reaction to him at the Hall Of Fame before ending on his work ethic various appearances in media to charity & his WrestleMania 23 match against Shawn Michaels.Evolution - The biggest group of this era was discussed on this episode starting with a brief history of Triple H's own evolution from coming into the company up to this point before going into the issues Ric Flair was having coming into the company after WCW's close to the point where it effected him not just mentally but physically in the ring leading to them working together & how the concept of the group eventually came together including how he had to sell the idea to Vince. Randy Orton's beginnings in WWE was discussed next with how an early injury ended up helping him followed by Batista coming into the company with the funny story of what happened to a suit he bought that he couldn't afford before it was discussed why both men were chosen before discussing who actually came up with the name Evolution & the meaning behind it. The importance of the speech Triple H gave both men & how it related to the reactions they were getting by the locker room was discussed next followed by what happened that made Triple H so upset that he threatened to end everything if it happened again & the now infamous match that delayed everything that one participant put as "a bad night night at the office" leading into the story of Mark Jindrax's involvement with the group including the now infamous vignette clips that are shown with him in the group as far as the qualities one man saw in him but what the negative qualities that another saw & witnessed personally. How Batista's return put everything back on track was discussed next from becoming a modern day version of another famous faction to their involvement at WrestleMania XX before going into what went wrong with Randy Orton's run after he won the World Championship leading to what was done right with Batista & how the crowd showed it during one specific segment before ending the episode on everyone's involvement at WrestleMania 21.The Next Big Thing - Brock Lesnar is the subject of this episode beginning with talking about his amateur wrestling background leading to being recruited & sent to OVW developmental with what exactly was standing out about him in his time there leading up to his initial matches in WWE & how meeting Paul Heyman changed everything for him. His dominate run was discussed next including his match against Hulk Hogan & conversations behind the scenes of why he was chosen for the top spot leading into this SummerSlam match with The Rock & the reaction of the crowd to him followed by discussions of his continued dominance throughout his rookie year & his private life leading into his WrestleMania XIX match against Kurt Angle & the infamous finish. The effects of the business was heavily discussed next from how he showed things were taking it's toll on him & what he would do to avoid people before heavily discussing what was leading to him leaving the company including how some people had resentment but others saw it coming leading into the WrestleMania XX match against Goldberg ending on what happened after his left from the what impressed people about his tryout in the NFL to how UFC perfectly suited him & his return to WWE back in 2012. As a side note for those wondering, Brock didn't participate in this episode.Civil War: RAW vs. SmackDown - The episode began discussing the issues WWE had with having a heavy amount of talent but limited television time leading to the brand extension & the steps taken for each show to develop it's own personality & keep the shows balanced as time went along including what would happen in the writers room between the two creative teams before going into how competition was created between both shows both on screen & ratings to the live gate & merchandise sales. How the brands continued to evolve into their own products & allowed more business to be conducted was discussed next before ending on superstars who used this opportunity to become top talent & create history making moments where the effects are still referenced today.Bonus features include two alternative clips from the Evolution episode, teaser & trailers for season one & two of this series, and Vince McMahon's "Ruthless Aggression" speech.WWE did a good job in this series as they spend time on subjects that haven't been talked in as much depth before & were fair in their discussion on each subject including criticism of their own product & acknowledging actions that didn't look best in their favor but I have to say fair as some things said like their reasoning of becoming "World Wrestling ENTERTAINMENT" when it's public knowledge that it's because the lawsuit is laughable with the only real negative I can say is that not hearing from Brock Lesnar hurt his episode as it's just the recap story we've already heard about him before. All of these episodes are on their network & these aren't extended cuts like other network to DVD sets in the past (The Shield & Daniel Bryan) or had never before seen exclusive content (the previous Monday Night War volume sets) here so I would only recommend if your a collector wanting a physical copy but otherwise I would pass & just view it on the network.