Intercontinental Title DVD error: Collector's item

Intercontinental Title DVD error: Collector's item

"To err is human, to forgive, divine."
- Alexander Pope

Truer words were never uttered in a most unique instance surrounding the forthcoming release of WWE Home Video's The History of the Intercontinental Championship, a three-DVD set that chronicles the nearly three-decade run of the honor that for many years was looked at as the "No. 2" title, second only to the WWE Championship. Order

Watch an entire match from the DVD:
Mr. Perfect vs. Bret Hart

Packaged with the DVD set is a booklet listing the matches on the release. Also in the booklet is a collage of some of the former Intercontinental Champions, including "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, "The Texas Tornado," Kerry Von Erich, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels. However, prominently displayed in that collage is an individual who looked totally unfamiliar as an Intercontinental Champion to some long-time WWE historians. After doing some research into identifying this person, it was determined that the mystery man in question was Buddy Roberts, a competitor who was best-known as being a member of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds tag team during their run throughout the 1980s.

In the photo, Roberts is shown wearing the Texas Heavyweight Championship, a title he held while competing in the Lone Star State in 1978 under the ring name of Dale Valentine. It was purely a case of mistaken identity, as the usually crack staff at WWE Home Video who selected Roberts' photo thought that it was of the first Intercontinental Champion, WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson. This snafu was discovered after the first set of DVDs were done, and prepared for distribution. It was decided to go ahead with the release, now making this DVD set a collector's item, based on Roberts' photo in the mix, which actually pleased the ring veteran.


Incorrect packaging. Click here for larger view.


Correct packing. Click here for larger view.

"To tell you the truth, I'm flattered, and I guess that they can't keep me out of wrestling," Roberts said. "It's a business that I've loved all my life. And even if there was a mistake made, it doesn't make me angry at all. I'm actually honored that they thought I was Pat Patterson. He was truly one of the greats that ever donned a pair of tights."

And Patterson also had some lighthearted thoughts about Roberts being portrayed as himself.

"When I found out that they had the wrong picture in the booklet, I started laughing. Anyone can make a mistake, that's no big deal. And to pick Buddy Roberts as me, well that means that I was as good-looking as he was," mentioned Patterson.

"I will even pick up a copy, just so that I can say that I was Buddy Roberts."

WWE Home Video will release a second edition of this DVD, this time with a revised booklet that will indeed have Patterson's photo in place.

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