By Chris Vint
Bang…Self High Five…He’ll help you help you! Those are just some of the catchphrases we have heard from DDP and DDP yoga which is now a worldwide phenomenon. But, do we know how the man called Diamond Dallas Page started his journey into professional wrestling? Well this documentary does an amazing job of telling us!
DDP was quite the athlete at school and needed to be as he had one huge obstacle he later overturned later in life…he had ADD and couldn’t focus on reading or writing. Football and hockey were his main interests. That all stopped when he was hit by a car and flew 42 feet which took out part of his knee, he was only 12 years old.
Not allowing anything to hold him back his next sport of choice was Basketball. While also going to wrestling school once a week he unfortunately tweaked his knee again. So he decided to enter the “bar” business with Norma Jeans. While doing radio work for his bar he soon found himself as a manager in the AWA but his “clients” couldn’t wrestle – a sharpe contrast to what he became later with WCW.
Greg Gagne phoned to invite him to the NWA and started in 1988. Eric Bischoff wasn’t a fan of DDP due to his loud and over the top persona. Working with Dusty Rhodes and through Luke of Bushwhackers DDP became rhythm and blues driver at wrestlemania 6 and would later return to the same arena to fight Christian at Wrestlemania X8. He had a try out at the WWE for a commentator in 1990 to replace Jesse Ventura. He didn’t get the job and then decided he didn’t want to be an announcer or manager but he wanted to be a wrestler!
Going to the power plant at age 35. Lot of people didn’t think he would make it because most Wrestlers started out much younger. He was put on tv after only 3 weeks of training and had a lot of gimmicks before we finally got the end product of the DDP we know and love now.
- In 1995, Page got an award for most improved wrestler of the year from PWI. And 2 years later, he worked with Randy Savage and said his promos in that feud were the best he has ever done. It was called the Feud of the Year for 1997. Page said that Randy Savage elevated him to be a top guy.
Page and Malone vs Hogan and Rodman. Malone stayed with Dallas and trained in the power plant – biggest grossing PPV in WCW history. One of the first celebrities that WCW would have in their time.
Page’s professional wrestling career forever changed when he was in a 4 Corners Match featuring Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Sting. Against all odds, Page emerged victorious, which he couldn’t believe that he was the one to win this match against 3 of the best of all time.
In 2001, DDP came to WWE and did the stalker angle, the Positively Page gimmick, “He will help you like you.” Right here is where his career would end but this wasn’t a horrible situation in Page’s eyes because he ended his career working for the company he always dreamed he’d be.
After Page’s pro wrestling career was over, it was time for him to set the world on fire with Yoga! AJ Styles, Mick Foley, Goldust, Steve Austin and Chris Jericho are some of the WWE Superstars, like so many others, who have used DDP Yoga. Two best known for being “helped” are Jake Roberts and Scott Hall. Wow, the transformation between these two icons alone is a testament to DDP. From drug and alcohol addiction, these two changed their lives around thanks to Diamond Dallas Page. He even got them inducted in the Hall of Fame (thanks to DDP yoga)!
One day, DDP gets the call from HHH to say he’s going in the Hall of Fame and gets quite emotional about it. To be honest so did I with seeing how much he had grown over the years and how much he has done for people like Scott Hall and Jake Roberts (who he said helped him get into the wrestling business).
Available on blu-ray and DVD from 27th of March. You can head to WWEDVD and pre-order your copy today. I highly recommend you do so! Click here to order – https://www.wwedvd.co.uk/
What was your favourite match on the set and do his matches feature his nirvana theme song or the soft rock theme?