Silver Vision Memories

[patiirc]

Cheers guys, did always wonder as would be natural progression. Politics seem to have caused no end of grief, what's the worst interference you had from outside influences re releases, promos or whatever?

[melina_mma]

If silver vision was still going do you think the network would have killed it? Personaly i think im going to struggle to ever buy a wwe ppv again now i got the network, think about it-i have every single wwe ppv essentially in my pocket, all 25+ years worth, why would i shell out for a disk now?

[Onyx2]

With the Network Silver Vision would struggle bbut I don't think it's all doom and gloom. There is to be a collector market who -_must_ complete the set that wrestling breeds. A wrestling DVD is also a very common gift purchase.

 

There were attempts to try and make the online library work from the Silver Vision side in the late 2010 but it was just too darn expensive. The last version of the SV website that I helped launch had digital downloads alongside discs at the prototype stage.

 

Sony nearly stopped there being WWE Blu-rays at all because of this. As co-platform holders they sent an edict from up high that all Blu-rays must have a bundled digital copy. This was logistically impossible for us. An appeal by Clear Vision and other smaller distributors managed to get their voices heard.

[bbabba]

What was the deal with Silvervision releasing the Wrestling with Shadows DVD?  Were WWE ok with this?

[MVP RULZ]

Add me to the Silvervision Fanclub

 

Great service that never disapointed, I was wondering about the PPV Boxes, I love those and thought it was a great idea and have all of them from 03-09 and was wondering why they stopped after 2009.

 

Did they just not sell enough to make them worthwhile, or did the addition of Blu-ray play a part as the sizes would need to be different and not every PPV was released on Blu-ray at the time.

[Midnight Zeus]

There was a special catalogue company that used to order in the PPV boxset each year from the start, and when they closed their doors there wasn't enough demand to satisfy the costly production of the set.

 

As for Wrestling With Shadows - that one always baffled me, and even though it was a Clear Vision release it just added fuel to the fires of conspiracy. For years I was sure it was proof that the Montreal Screwjob was a work! In reality the WWE either didn't know, didn't care, or behind closed doors SV may have had a telling off. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the latter as I was usually told about all WWE dealings - good and bad. WWE probably saw it as more exposure for the brand, an opportunity to get more people talking about it.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Midnight Zeus

[bAzTNM#1]

What was the deal with Silvervision releasing the Wrestling with Shadows DVD?  Were WWE ok with this?

 

WWE probably didn't know anything about it. Film wasn't going to get a DVD release anyway if they didn't step in. It was part of a documentary series called "Storyville" over here in the UK on BBC2.

[Midnight Zeus]

Interview we did with Randy Orton in August 2008

 

 

When we last spoke to you Randy you were just about start a programme with Hulk Hogan, how did that work out?

 

The programme that I had with Hulk Hogan was one of my favourites by far. I grew up as a child around the scene; my father, of course, was Cowboy Bob Orton and he had an ongoing feud with Hulk Hogan. It was really cool to be in the ring with him 20 years later. I did lose so I wouldn’t mind facing him again. His last match was against me at SummerSlam 2006 and if I could have a rematch that would be great. The outcome would definitely be different.

 

You said back then that the best match of your career was against Mick Foley at Backlash 2004, is this still the case?

 

Mick Foley and I had a barn burner of a match – we went about 40 minutes. It was in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and we made it such a great match and a great memory for me. The best thing for me was that it was a hardcore match. The crowd was great, they were on their feet the whole time and when they’re like that it makes your adrenaline boil, it makes you jump higher, run faster, hit harder, all the better for the match. Also we did some stunts which that I’d never done before and probably will never do again. I landed on 10,000 big thumb tacks. I had about 500 of them penetrating my body, like a human pincushion. It was incredibly painful, but it was just one of those things that I wanted to do, to give me a boost in the fans’ eyes. Being a tougher competitor has definitely helped my career.

 

What do think of CM Punk as World Heavyweight Champion and his title reign so far?

 

CM Punk isn’t the biggest guy but he’s got some moves – he’s got the kickboxing background and he’s definitely a good competitor. I have faced him twice and beat him both times so I don’t think he’s necessarily a threat to me. Coming off this injury (broken collarbone) if I were to come back and face him it would not be hard for me to take that title from around his waist and put it around mine. But I must respect the fact that Punk started at the bottom and worked his way to the top – he’s a workhorse so that is what he’s got going for him.

You mention that taking the title wouldn’t be too hard for you when you come back. Is that your main aim when you return?

 

You know, I’ve got some unfinished business with a few guys… its too bad Triple H got drafted because I need to go back and prove to everybody – myself and him included – that I am the better man, and I believe I could do that. But he’s on a different programme, he got drafted to SmackDown. So that leaves me and John Cena who got hurt last year. He tore his pec which I had a little part in that in which I’m very happy about, but it did stop our programme before we could finish it. We had some great stuff planned moving forward, you know, different stipulations, last man standing matches, cage matches, falls count anywhere, things of that nature… so I’d love to get back in the ring with John. But the title, it’s the biggest prize in our sport and I’d like to have it back around my waist so maybe CM Punk, then let John Cena challenge me for that title – that could be a good go.

 

Is it long before we’ll see you back in the ring?

 

No, I’ll be back in the ring very soon. Last Thursday I was cleared by my doctor for in-ring competition, full contact, I’m ready to go. Back sooner than expected and I feel great. I’ve got a little more weight to put on – I lost some when I wasn’t able to lift weights but I’m back in the gym, I’m feeling good, I’m ready to go back – you can expect me back right around SummerSlam.

 

So there are a few guys that should be looking over their shoulder come SummerSlam?

 

Yeah, definitely – John Cena is the main one who should be concerned about my return.

 

What was it like headlining Wrestlemania 24 as the defending WWE Champion and walking away as the victor and still the WWE Champion?

 

Wrestlemania was great for me this year. It was a great venue, you know, open dome format. I believe there were 60-70,000 people, maybe more, and we had a great PPV buy so there were a lot of people there which makes it all the more exciting for us competitors. Also only 8% of the fans who entered the text voting thought that I would retain the title and I went ahead and did that – I proved the other 92% wrong. That was huge for me because in their eyes they thought I was going to lose and I proved everyone wrong. I proved that the Legend Killer, Randy Orton, was a one man dynasty, it was the Age of Orton as I proclaimed. And I plan for it to become the Age of Orton again.

 

With things like Foley, Flair and Wrestlemania you seem to be making a habit of proving the fans wrong.

 

Yeah, that’s right! I think that when it comes to those guys, they have a lot of respect with the fans. The fans think ‘How could Ric Flair lose, who could the Rock lose, how could Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Triple H, Jeff Hardy and Chris Jericho lose?’ Well, they did, and they do. I’ve beaten them all. There’s nobody in the WWE that I’ve not beaten.

 

Is there anyone outside of WWE that you would like to face?

 

Of course I’d love a re-match with Hulk Hogan. And there are a few guys I’d like to work with… Samoa Joe and AJ Styles from TNA, but other than the WWE there’s not really anyone else who could go with me. Those guys I mentioned are popular in their own sort, with their own following, but if you’re not in the WWE you’re not really a contender. I don’t think there are many people who could go with me and keep up.

 

After your time with Ric Flair in Evolution were you sad to see him retire and leave WWE?

 

I love that guy, he was like a father figure to me on the road and I can still call him for advice. He’s happy now with his new wife Tiffany and his grandkids. He can live the life that he wants to live at home, he’s made a great name for himself and he’ll be able to use that for the rest of his life. Autograph signings, he’ll still be in the mix even though he’s not with WWE, but he will still be missed.

 

Do you think he’ll be back at some point?

 

You never know. I’d never say never. Nobody has a love for the sport entertainment business like Ric Flair. It wouldn’t surprise me if he made his way back to the WWE ring.

 

Cocky young second generation newcomers Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes have been making waves on RAW recently, do they remind you of yourself when you were starting out?

 

It’s almost scary how much they remind me of me when I was breaking in. I believe that with my father I had a name to live up to, but with fathers like theirs, the Million Dollar Man and Dusty Rhodes, they’ve got bigger shoes to fill than I had. So its questionable – they definitely have potential but they also have a very long way to go, just like I did at that point. But I made it and I’m sure they will too eventually, but they have a lot more proving themselves to do for the fans to accept them as top contenders. For instance, I don’t believe that they have one chance of becoming the new youngest world heavyweight champion. That is a title that I hold and I will keep.

 

You don’t see anyone coming up and beating that in the future?

 

No. Not a chance.

 

Would there be a possibility of you standing in their way if that looked likely?

 

Yeah, why wouldn’t I want to protect that title of youngest World Heavyweight Champion in history. It’s an awesome title to have and if anyone came close I could definitely see myself knocking them down.

 

Seeing Austin, Cena and Kane being recently involved in movies, is that something you’d like to get involved in at some point?

 

Its funny you should ask. The day I broke my collarbone at One Night Stand I actually read for a part in an upcoming film with the WWE. I haven’t heard back yet… I was told I did an outstanding job but I’m not an actor, it won’t hurt my feelings if I don’t get the part. It would be cool to be in a movie one day, you know, take the wife and kid to the movies to see Dad! It would be cool to do – its exposure, its an extra paycheque. But I’m a wrestler, I love being in the ring and that’s my main priority.

 

You’ve just been rated #1 Wrestler in the World in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500. How much does that mean to you?

 

It means a lot me. A lot of people maybe look at that list and think ‘Who’s doing the voting, who’s deciding?’ but I think they made a good choice because for the last 18 months before my injury I was wrestling in the main event of every show, I was headlining every PPV, I had the WWE on my back. For seven months I was the WWE Champion and I’ve beaten everybody that there is to beat. I think I’ve represented the company very well. I think they’ve made a very good choice. What does it mean to me? It makes me feel even more confident in my ability, and even more confident that when I return I’ll go back to being the top heel in the WWE.

 

When you injured yourself at One Night Stand did you know immediately that it was a serious injury?

 

It wasn’t really too serious. Collarbone breaks aren’t the worst. If it breaks in more than one place it can get a little tricky and they need to put a plate and screws into the bone, but that wasn’t the case with me. It just broke in one spot. I was supposed to be out in 12 weeks, I came back in seven – I heal very quickly. I had a great doctor who put a bone growth stimulator on my collarbone for three hours whilst I slept at night and that helped regenerate strong bone growth. So that really helped me bounce back as quick as I did.

 

Growing up with a wrestler for a father and that old school mentality, do you think that made you want to carry on and do that last little bit with Triple H when you were actually injured?

 

Yes, I think that growing up in the business has given a different respect that a lot of guys take for granted or don’t have at all and that’s why I think I am where I am. Without that respect you can’t go far. You need to respect the others around you but at the same time if you need to disrespect people, earn that spot, step on people, squash them, take them out of the equation. I did whatever I needed to do to get where I am. Becoming the Legend Killer is just that -disrespecting the legends, ending their careers, literally dismantling them piece by piece. That respect for myself is what eventually put me in the position I’m in now.

 

How is married life and what’s it like being a father after the birth of your baby daughter on 12th July?

 

It's very hard to be away from home with my wife and new born at home. This trip to London is the first time I’ve had to be away, but I’ve got to get used to it because the WWE doesn’t have an off season. We travel all year, it’s a very rigorous schedule. But my wife Samantha is a wonderful woman and a fabulous mother. She has already proved that she is perfectly capable of taking care of that baby to the full extent. My baby, she’s healthy, 8lbs 10oz when she was born, 22 inches long, her name is Alannah Marie Orton. She’s definitely made me put everything in perspective and understand what’s important in life. The other wrestlers told me ‘Wait until you become a father, its going to change you’. The day she was born was the greatest day of my life. I can’t explain in words the feeling that came over me. Looking at her and the pictures that my wife sends me, its pretty cool to see that little baby changing day by day, her eyes starting to open, the little faces she makes when she’s sleeping... she’s a beautiful human being. I’m very proud as a father.

[Briefcase]

The company that used to be CV still does TNA, with 3 upcoming releases announced this week and more coming soon.

 

So when I started with SV I was asked to provide some basic information on the wrestlers - catchphrases and finishing moves. This came from some of the non wrestling fans, hoping to get a bit of info so they could sound more knowledgable dealing with customers and the business that brought in the majority of the revenue at the time. This is what I came up with - riddled with mistakes I'm sure!

 

 

 

My memory may be a little sketchy but I'm sure I remember seeing pretty much the exact same thing either in a WWE video game (Smackdown on PS2?) either in the manual that came with the game or in the official game book which gave you tips on how to play the game and the characters etc. 

 

Someone on here may remember but it looks exactly the same layout unless you copied it yourself? 

[Onyx2]

I've known Steve a long darn time and I know for sure he wouldn't have copied it, and the chance of him even seeing that game is negligible.

 

Outside chance it may have ended up going to THQ though.

[Briefcase]

I've known Steve a long darn time and I know for sure he wouldn't have copied it, and the chance of him even seeing that game is negligible.

 

Outside chance it may have ended up going to THQ though.

 

Sorry my post wasn't meant to come across as disrespectful or anything just that I remember seeing something similar so wasn't sure if the guys at THQ (or whoever made them guides) copied the concept and used it themselves. Strange how things trigger the memory! 

 

On a side note I also have nothing but good words to say about Silver Vision, its crazy how everything is now online based. 

[Buzz Lightyear]

What a thread, what a company.

 

Absolutely fantastic customer service, brilliant prices with great deliveries. What more could you want?

 

Have yet to buy from the new company, over christmas had a look on the website and it hit home how much you guys are missed.

 

As a UK WCW fan back in the 90's was really disappointed you guys didn't have the WCW license back then.

[DaveWWE88]

Have very fond memories of Silver Vision. In fact a friend of mine used to work there! He sent me a friend request after I wrote a review of In Your House 21 & 22 I think it was. His name? Stephen Ambury. Stephen sadly left us too soon and was a great friend to me and was always there for moral support as I was going through a bad patch during that time too.

Will never forget buying WWF VHS growing up and seeing the inserts with all those covers and thinking 'Man.. Someday I would like to have every one of these. The Tagged Classics helped me build my collection and I remember once Armageddon 2000 & No Way Out 2001 was released I felt a bit sad as it was my final one and the missing piece of my PPV collection.. I remember getting the Mega Mail catalogues in the mail and going through them, making notes and making a list of our next order etc.

So many great memories that I could be here forever writing.. Loved their customer service, their posts on their official Facebook page and who remembers having Mark Silvervision as a Facebook friend?

 

[Midnight Zeus]

Stephen was indeed a great man, is his loss is still felt by many today. I used to spend a lot of time with him at shows around the country and remember one up North in Manchester or maybe Birmingham - hey, it's all up North to me! Anyway, we were due to have Kurt Angle and Trish Stratus at a signing in HMV and about an hour before he got a call from WWE saying the appearances had changes, it was now Spike Dudley and Hardcore Holly. Stephen asked me if that was okay, to which I looked at him quite gobsmacked. It wasn't really a like for like replacement, but they were very good with the fans and nobody kicked up a fuss.

 

On that same day I'd already driven all the way down to Wales and back for a Hurricane Helms appearance but he was late, and so I had to leave before he arrived. Luckily the PR person there got me a WWE Magazine signed by Helms, which I then gave to someone in the queue for HMV, thinking it was my spare unsigned copy.

 

I also remember when we swapped from Mark Silvervision the 'person' on Facebook to a Facebook page because a person could only have 5000 friends. Luckily everyone moved over to the new page and got see all the latest videos of yours truly dropping DVDs on the floor every week or so

Edited February 24, 2015 by Midnight Zeus

[Onyx2]

Aye, Stephen was a good chap and gone too soon. He had the loudest laugh in the office and a gamut of sleazy Cena anecdotes. Apart from his immediate family, he is survived by his (twin?) sister Dr Sue Black, a crazy clever computer scientist and instrumental in saving Bletchley Park from demolition.