Death Valley Driver Video Review

Death Valley Driver Video Review

URL	http://www.deathvalleydriver.com
Commercial?	No
Type of 'zine	Professional wrestling
Registration	No
Available language(s):	English
Chief-editor	Dean Rasmussen
Owner	Dean Rasmussen
Created by	Dean Rasmussen
Launched	1995
Current status	Active

The Death Valley Driver Video Review (DVDVR) is an online fanzine dedicated to criticizing, analyzing, and reviewing professional wrestling. Characterized by its use of parody and satirical humor, DVDVR has been credited for popularizing certain expressions and slang in internet culture such as the "tilde-bang" (~!)^{[1][unreliable source?][2][unreliable source?]} and coining the term "metric assload".^[3]

History

The Death Valley Driver Video Review was started in 1995 by Richmond, Virginia-based pro wrestling fan Dean Rasmussen. It began with Rasmussen posting his wrestling review/newsletter to rec.sport.pro-wrestling. He covered a wide spectrum of professional wrestling styles, ranging from basic United States-style to Japanese puroresu organizations to lucha libre. Rasmussen wrote the first 60 issues and eventually compiled a massive video library numbering an estimated 1,500 tapes.^{[citation needed]} He also published weekly "Nitro Workrate" reports, the title and format a deconstruction of the term "workrate" used by internet "dirt sheet" writers^{[1][unreliable source?]}, and based on the "Raw Workrate" reports originally created by Oliver Postlethwaite. Eventually, other writers joined the DVDVR team and have since become known as The Death Valley Playboys or The DVDVR PLAYAZ.

The DVDVR 500

Influenced by Pro Wrestling Illustrated's "PWI 500",^{[citation needed]} Rasmussen sought to compile his own online version for DVDVR. Starting in fall 1999 the PLAYAZ made a list of the 500 best wrestlers, based upon workrate and the actual quality of matches wrestled. Every year 2 lists were released (once every 6 months), lasting from November 1999 to May 2003. Chris Benoit was ranked as the #1 wrestler for three consecutive lists. The majority of the 500 were ranked depending upon workrate in the prior six months, but generally the #500 spot was used as a harmless chide at a wrestler. For example, Shane McMahon once got the #500 spot after wrestling less than 5 matches during the time period, due to the dangerous bumps he took in his matches. The DVDVR 500 has since been put on indefinite hiatus, as has the DVDVR Joshi 100, a similar project which ranked the top 100 female wrestlers. Though Lance Storm publicly criticized the list on his website in 2001,^{[4][unreliable source?]} it has been recognized by independent promotion the Carolina Wrestling Federation.^[5]

Recent years

Rasmussen and DVDVR have had a strong presence in the internet wrestling community over the last decade. They have been acknowledged by several wrestling writers such as Scott Keith^[6] and Bryan Alvarez^{[2][unreliable source?]} as well as Jamsbio Magazine^[7] and IGN.com.^{[8][unreliable source?]} In 2002, a columnist on 411Mania.com named Rasmussen one of the top 100 influential internet wrestling personalities since 1997.^[9] In August 2006, and again in March 2007, he appeared on the internet radio show Joe Versus The World to discuss DVDVR as well as his opinions on wrestling in general.^{[1][unreliable source?][10][unreliable source?]} He also appeared with fellow DVDVR writers Phil Schneider and Rob Naylor on the debut episode of the Good Will Wrestling radio show for an in-depth discussion on the downfall of World Championship Wrestling.^{[11][unreliable source?]}

DVDVR Foghat vs. DVDVR Hollendaise

In March 1999 on rec.sport.pro-wrestling, Phil Schneider and Rasmussen had a war of words with each other. This led Schneider, Phil Rippa, and Mike Naimark to form the splinter group DVDVR FOGHAT, and Rasmussen to form DVDVR Hollendaise with Ray Duffy and Pete Stein. Sniping continued on both rec.sport.pro-wrestling and on the DVDVR board. Finally it was agreed that both factions would share time on DVDVR by writing alternating issues, starting with FOGHAT's DVDVR #90, which featured a column where Schneider heavily criticized Rasmussen. All parties resolved the conflict just in time for DVDVR #100.^{[1][unreliable source?]}

Website and message board community

Message board

Over time, DVDVR's message board has changed the website's focus from being strictly about wrestling and mixed martial arts to other areas, such as sports, music, and comic books. Recently, several former members of the message board who were banned for what they consider to be unclear and/or arbitrary reasons, have led storms of criticism about the DVDVR forums's subjective policies on other prominent wrestling message boards that they also post on. Rasmussen defended the website explaining in a 2007 interview "Wrestling fans fall into two categories. Guys who are really cool and neat and complete flaming idiots. (Laughter) You know the cool guys, you need the cool guys to keep the idiots out."^[1]

In the summer of 2008, the DVDVR message board produced a ten disk 150 match set after months of match suggestions, committee reviews, and nominations. Those who participated paid a small fee to view the set, chose the top 100 matches, and then ranked them via a ballot.^{[12][unreliable source?]}

Writing style and content

Initially, Rasmussen's style was just thoughts on the week's episode of WCW Nitro and other matches he had recently watched, but soon it became match-by-match reviews of entire cards. Rasmussen and company use a variety of methods to get their points and feelings across in their reviews, including enthusiasm, satirical stories, parody, sarcasm, hyperbole, and analysis of everything from the actual in-ring product to a wrestler's fashion and haircuts. Rasmussen gives crazy, complex, long-running, often humorous summaries in the header for each issue.^{[neutrality is disputed]} Another feature of the web site is the DVDVR Road Reports. The DVDVR Playaz attend various indy wrestling shows on the East coast Mid-Atlantic area where they meet and commentate on the quality of the show.^{[1][unreliable source?][13][unreliable source?]}

In addition to wrestling, DVDVR also hosts interviews with stand up comedians conducted by staff writer Ryan Muldoon including The Onion editor-in-chief Rob Siegal, Matt Walsh and Amy Poehler, Janeane Garofalo, David Cross, Mitch Hedberg, Steven Wright, Tenacious D, Frank DeCaro, Lewis Black, Patton Oswalt, Greg Behrendt, Todd Barry, Doug Benson, Dave Chappelle^[14] and Marc Maron.^[15]

Writers and contributors

Dean Rasmussen (Founder) Phil Schneider (First appeared in DVDVR #61) 'Pogo' Pete Stein (First appeared in DVDVR #75) 'Reverend' Ray Duffy (First appeared in DVDVR #66) Tom Karro-Gassner (First appeared in DVDVR #129)

Marcel Hillie (First appeared in DVDVR #129) Phil Rippa (First Appeared in DVDVR #76, Last Appeared in DVDVR #146) Raven Mack (First appeared in DVDVR #144) Ryan (Mul)Doomstone (First Appearance in DVDVR #148) Rob Naylor (First appeared in DVDVR #155)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Gagne, Joe (2006-08-31). "Joe Versus The World - 18: Dean Rasmussen". TheCubsFan.com. http://www.thecubsfan.com/jvstw/JVSTW18.mp3. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Cool... yet stupid... My Introduction to the ~! (Tilde-Bang)". Archives for: December 2006. DoubleDeckerBuses.org. 2006-12-15. Archived from the original on 2010-11-03. http://web.archive.org/web/20101103122815/http://doubledeckerbuses.org/blog/index.php/2006/12/. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
3. ^ Barrett, Grant. The Official Dictionary of Unofficial English: A Crunk Omnibus for Thrillionaires and Bampots for the Ecozoic Age. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006. ISBN 0-07-145804-2 (pg. 230)
4. ^ Spinosa, Dave (2001-05-27). "And It's Like That: #10: Lance Storm lashes out at DVDVR..". The Wrestling Oratory: Leaving Its Mark. Rajah.com. http://oratory.rajah.com/index.php?id=1142. Retrieved 2011-10-02. 
5. ^ Carolina Wrestling Federation. "Detailed Profiles". CWF/FWA-Carolinas Profiles. Go4Star.com. http://www.go4star.com/cwf/profiles.html. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
6. ^ Keith, Scott (2002-08-28). "Klassic Keith: The Top 20 WCW Matches Of The 90s". Video Reviews. 411mania.com. http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/video_reviews/32584/Klassic-Keith:--The-Top-20-WCW-Matches-Of-The-90s.htm. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
7. ^ Peters, Mark (2009-04-29). "X is the Y of Z: The Grateful Dead of Garlic Sauce and Other Counterculture Condiments". JamsBio Magazine. JamsBio.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20100427012017/http://magazine.jamsbio.com/2009/04/29/the-grateful-dead-of-garlic-sauce-and-other-counterculture-condiments/. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
8. ^ IGN Staff (2000-11-27). "The WWF Smackdown 2 FAQ". IGN.com. http://psx.ign.com/articles/087/087253p1.html. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
9. ^ "The Monday Edition 12.30.02". Columns. 411mania.com. 2002-12-30. http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/27498/The-Monday-Edition-12.30.02.htm. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
10. ^ Gangne, Joe (2007-03-31). "Joe Versus The World - 48: Dean Rasmussen". TheCubsFan.com. http://www.thecubsfan.com/jvstw/JVSTW48.mp3. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
11. ^ "The Death of WCW 5/2/2010 - Good Will Wrestling on Blog Talk Radio". Good Will Wrestling. BlogTalkRadio.com. 2010-05-02. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/goodhelmet/2010/05/02/good-will-wrestling--the-death-of-wcw. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
12. ^ Philapavage (2008-02-08). "The Mid South Wrestling Experience". PWChronicle.com. http://www.pwchronicle.com/2008/02/08/the-mid-south-wrestling-experience/. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
13. ^ Cal, Jay (2007-12-14). "Better Late then Never: Presenting the World Wide Wrestling". Alliance-Wrestling.com. http://www.alliance-wrestling.com/2007/12/better-late-then-never-presenting-world.html. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 
14. ^ Gale, Thomson, ed. Contemporary Black Biography: Profiles from the International Black Community. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, 2005. (pg. 35) ISBN 0-7876-7922-4
15. ^ Brook, Vincent, ed. You Should See Yourself: Jewish Identity in Postmodern American Culture. Piscataway, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-8135-3845-9 (pg. 271)

External links

• Official website
• DVDVR message board