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Thread: Plague Watching

  1. #101
    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    ussr
    he was using the fork in the big dusty rhodes brawl, hasn't used it other than that in 2003 so far

  2. #102
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    Not so much "plague watching", but I was "plague listening" to the Cewshcast on WrestleMania 22.


    @The Law and Cewsh talked about the pre-show jobber battle royal, but you didn't mention the best part. Road Warrior Animal was supposed to win the match, to give him a win in his kayfabe hometown. Until, in a botched up spot, he got dumped over the top by accident and they had Big Daddy Viscera win in a quick audible.

  3. #103
    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    We’re in Elizabeth, New Jersey for ROH’s biggest show ever at this point, DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR, July 17th, 2003. The first time ROH has a crowd bigger than one thousand, with 1200 fans. Open promos stress the big angles going on with Punk cutting a great promo about how this is the biggest night of his life, Joe cutting a promo about how this night is going to be a big moment for HIM, not for Paul London, who is challenging him for his Title in his last match in ROH before going to WWE, and Homicide challenges Steve Corino to a STRONG STYLE match with no interference.

    The show opens up with Special K raving in the ring and around ringside. The techno music stops to be replaced with ITS RAININ MEN, and the Christopher Street Connection come out and say that they’re here to show Disco is better than Techno. Special K attack them and start raving again, but the lights go out and Low Ki’s music hits. He’s back for the first time in over two months. He takes out Special K, but Deranged hits him with a low blow from behind and we get DERANGED vs. LOW KI as our opener. This is actually an awesome competitive squash. Deranged follows up on the low blow by taking the early offense, hitting some good armdrags and hurricanranas, a nice moonsault to the outside, and a great looking springboard dropkick. Low Ki catches him in a flippy move and dumps him on the mat, and fucking KILLS him with kicks. Holy shit, these are some of the stiffest kicks to the face you’ll ever see. Slugger interferes and squeezes Low Ki in a reverse bearhug. Suddenly, Slugger starts to release the hold and grimace in pain, as Low Ki is squeezing him by the balls. Slugger collapses and Low Ki goes back to Deranged, finishing him off with Ki Rushes, a huge Ki Crusher, and a Dragon Sleeper that bends him in half. Really fun opening segment to begin a big show, very good squash match. ***1/4

    MATT STRYKER vs. JIMMY RAVE next. Really good fast paced, hard-fought match. Good technical wrestling exchange to start off with. Crowd is really hot and the match never slows down and is very well executed. Stryker wins it with the Death Valley Driver. ***1/4

    THE CARNAGE CREW vs. HOTSTUFF HERNANDEZ, FAST EDDIE, DON JUAN and RUDY BOY GONZALEZ in the blowoff to the totally forgotten classic feud of 2003. This isn’t as good as their MOTYC a couple shows ago, but it’s still an awesome, wild brawl. No blood and a couple awkward moments keep it from reaching that next level. Tons of crazy spots though: Fast Eddie takes a German suplex off the top rope onto an open chair, Hernandez does another wild dive where he lands on his head, plenty of stiff chair shots, a piledriver through a table, and plenty more. Hernandez picks up the win by hitting Masada with the Razor’s Edge-style throw through a bunch of chairs. ****

    THE OUTKAST KILLAZ vs. THE PURISTS. The Purists being the new team of Tony Mamaluke and Jonh Walters. This is a showcase for Mamluke and Walters, and goes on too long for what it is. Not much heat, and the best part of the match by far is the Outkast Killaz hitting a cool double-team move that is hard to describe. Focus is on the Purists’ technical wrestling and they get the win with a double-team submission. **. Post-match, Dunn and Marcos come out to rub the loss in the face of the Killaz, but XAVIER makes his return and takes them out. He says he’s back to enter the upcoming Field of Honor tournament.

    TOM CARTER vs. DOUG WILLIAMS next. Carter really needs to go back to high flying stuff, his technical gimmick is terrible, because he’s extremely dull as a ‘technical wrestler’. So, most of this match was dull. It does get better toward the end as they start to trade bigger moves. Doug Williams hits the Chaos Theory but can’t hold the bridge because Carter had worked over his arm. Carter wins it with a rollup. **1/4. In the back Allison Danger tries to recruit Carter for the Prophecy, but he walks away.

    HOMICIDE vs. BJ WHITMER vs. DAN MAFF vs. COLT CABANA for the number one contendership. Awesome match. This is a spot-spot-spot kind of match, but all the spots are good, look competitive, and the whole match is hot and comes together perfectly. Homicide overshoots on a tope con hilo and slams into the barricade. Maff overshoots on a tope and flies over the barricade right into the crowd. Lots of stiff chops and strikes and really well done intricate move sequences. Homicide throws Maff out of the ring and puts Cabana on the top rope, but Whitmer pushes Homicide off and hits Cabana with an Exploder ’98 off the top rope for the win, with Maff and Homicide reaching to break up the pin but not making it in time. ****

    Daniels is in Japan getting phone updates. He’s angry at hearing Xavier came back, but cuts a promo pretending he’s happy about it.

    SAT and THE BACKSEAT BOYZ vs. HYDRO, DERANGED, BRIAN XL and MIKEY WHIPWRECK next. Really fun clusterfuck. The high flying stuff is more polished than it is in most of the Special K-SAT matches this year. Fast pace, lots of spots, really hot crowd. Joel Maximo KILLS Hydro with a lariat. SAT hit a Spanish Fly but Mikey is able to hit Trent Acid with the Whippersnapper for the win. ***1/4. Post-match, Backseat Boyz attack the SAT.

    KRAZY K vs. JOEY MATTHEWS vs. JEFF HARDY. Holy shit, the crowd HATES Hardy. Booing him like crazy, chanting “you got fired,” “fuck you Hardy,” “we want Matt.” The crowd is just relentless booing him, other than the high-pitched screams you can hear from girls who came to see him. 2003 ROH Jeff Hardy was the original John Cena. The wrestling was no good but this was VERY entertaining. How to rate something like this? ***? Not a good match, but totally worth watching. I have no idea why the ROH fans hated Jeff so much at this time.

    CM PUNK vs. RAVEN in a Dog Collar Match. Another big moment as Punk debuts his Meseria Cantere theme. Punk runs down the crowd on the mic including calling out DANNY DORING in the audience before Raven comes out. Raven starts off hot, beating Punk around ringside. Punk bleeds big and is great bumping and selling. Punk reverses an Irish whip putting Raven through a table to get on offense. They brawl through the crowd. Raven stands on top of the bleachers to pose, but Punk yanks him down with the chain. Back in the ring Punk gets the mic and runs down Raven, but Raven comes back with punches, clotheslines and knees. He hits the kneedrop onto the chair but when he goes to follow it up with a chairshot, Punk moves and Raven hits the ref. Raven hits Punk with the DDT but there’s no ref to count. Cabana comes out and hits Raven with a DDT on the chair, but DANNY DORING runs into the ring to take out Cabana. Punk is still able to crawl over the Raven and get a three count for the cheap win. Really good brawl, both guys blade, hot crowd, they kept things interesting. Cool old school feel. Super cheap win to allow the feud to continue. ***3/4.

    Major angle post-match. Punk ties Raven’s arms to the ropes and brings out a pack of beer. He says he’s sending Raven back to rehab and starts to pour beer into his mouth. Tommy Dreamers rushes the ring to a MASSIVE pop and hits Punk with a chair and then ties him up. Dreamer and Raven hug and then pour beer in Punk’s mouth. Dreamer slams a beer can into his head Sandman style. His theme plays and the crowd pops big. Definitely the best angle ROH has shot up to this point.

    Paul London cuts a promo backstage reminiscing about his time in ROH ahead of his last match before he goes to WWE.

    AJ STYLES and AMAZING RED vs. THE BRISCOE BROTHERS for the Tag Titles. Match starts off really hot with some big moves exchanged, including a vicious spinning lariat from Styles. Briscoes work on Red’s leg, and begin to act much more heelish, taunting Red and AJ. AJ gets the hot tag and the match sort of loses steam. Good wrestling, but nothing really comes together like it should. Still, lots of good moves and spots, it just feels a little disjointed and the crowd isn’t too into it. AJ hits Jay with a sort-of Styles Clash that he doesn’t really get all of, but still gets the pin with it. They definitely didn’t reach what they were going for here, and this is for sure the third best of their three matches, but it’s still for sure good. ***1/4

    SAMOA JOE vs. PAUL LONDON for the ROH World Title. This definitely feels like the biggest ROH title match yet. The dominant champion vs. the top babyface, going on last on a big show. Really the first time for the ROH title. London gets the streamer treatment during the introductions for the first time in ROH. They start off fast, London’s speed vs. Joe’s power. Joe gets the advantage for a while, hitting some big Ole kicks. London comes back with a bunch of roll-ups and even hits a SSP for a near fall. They trade some more moves and Joe gets the choke and choke London out and retain the title. Good match, crowd was a little lethargic due to the length of the show, but came alive for the big moments. ***1/2. Maybe a generous rating but I’ll give it for the context.

    Definitely ROH’s best show up to this point, and one of the classic ROH shows. Lots of good matches up and down the card, three great matches in the Carnage Crew brawl, the four way, and Raven/Punk. Huge angle after the Raven and Punk match. Important main event with a great post-match celebration for London. 9/10
    Last edited by Tainted Eclipse; March 28th, 2020 at 2:13 PM.

  4. #104
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    Keiji Muto vs Owen Hart from July 1990

    9 minutes of chinlocks and 3 minutes of fun super athletic stuff

  5. #105
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    Liger vs Baby Nakajima from 2004 at the Dome.

    I remember this being more of Young Lions type match, but Liger kinda just eats him alive.

  6. #106
    X Ringo's Avatar
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    brazil
    I just watched the Go Shiozaki vs. Kazuyuki Fujita title match from NOAH's empty Korakuen show this weekend.

    It's certainly a strange and entirely unique match that wouldn't have worked in the same way in front of a crowd. It begins with a 30 minute (yes, THIRTY MINUTE) stare down with both guys standing their ground and barely moving. Shiozaki the champion in the centre of the ring, Fujita the old wily challenger in the corner. The most notable thing that happens during this 30 minutes is when Fujita moves from one corner to another. Until finally Fujita waivers and goes for a takedown. This was a strange thing to do and it surely wouldn't have worked in front of a live, restless crowd. But here it kind of does. There's no crowd to play off for once and so instead they choose to play off the silence. It lasts a really long time and I did skip a good 15 minutes of it but I think there's something bold and different about it. A unique idea to go with a unique setting and one that's unlikely to ever be replicated.

    After this there's some mat work with Fujita in control, talking shit and seemingly trying to convince the referee that Go's shoulders are down. Eventually they spill outside and start beating the hell out of each other all over the empty Korakuen Hall. The thuds of the strikes are all the more pronounced with no fans around. Fujita decides to gargle what I suppose is hand sanitizer and ends up spitting it in Shiozaki's face. At one point Fujita is continually pressing the button for the elevator (which never comes) whilst dishing out a beating and later has Go dangling over the balcony where they usually hang all the banners. Fujita kicks Go square in the head a few times which makes an especially disgusting sound that echoes around the empty arena. In the end, Fujita doesn't have the endurance to keep up with the much younger champion and concedes defeat after 57 minutes.

    Bizarre, unique and yet somehow mostly compelling match that will generate a lot of discussion and no doubt divide opinion. Regardless, unless something particularly notable comes out of Mania, this feels like the match that will define the "COVID-19" era of wrestling.
    Last edited by Ringo; March 30th, 2020 at 4:29 AM.

  7. #107
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    I just watched an eight minute Shawn Michaels vs Marty Jannetty match from the week after Shawn first won the IC title from Coliseum video. The match ruled. I would place it 2nd of all their matches together behind the July 1993 Raw match which either that or Bret vs Perfect is the WWF MOTY for 1993 in my book.

  8. #108
    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    We’re in Dayton, Ohio for the first time for WRATH OF THE RACKET, August 9th 2003, so named for being the first ROH show featuring Jim Cornette.

    Funny pre-show segment with Cabana and Ace Steel wanting to find out what the upcoming Field of Honor actually is. They find Homicide and Julius Smokes playing dice against a wall. Julius Smokes seems to know what it is, but Ace and Cabana can’t understand him when he explains it.

    THE CARNAGE CREW vs. DERANGED and HYDRO vs. DON JUAN and FAST EDDIE vs. SAT opens up. Fun spotfest tag, these matches are getting much smoother and more botch-free than they were in the beginning of the year. Fast Eddie does a moonsault to the outside where he lands right on the fans in the front row. For the first time, the Carnage Crew is represented by Loc and Masada teaming up. SAT hit a nasty pendulum slam on Deranged driving his head into the mat. Deranged gets the pin on Loc by hitting and hurricanrana and grabbing onto his Special K teammates on the outside for leverage in the pin. ***

    Post-match, Jim Cornette comes out to a big pop. He runs down Special K on the mic. He says he’s bringing out the greatest tag team you’ve ever seen – and out come DUNN & MARCOS. Not who Cornette expected. They tell Cornette they should join together, but Christopher Daniels and Dan Maff attack them. Daniels and Maff are joining up with Cornette to challenge AJ Styles and Amazing Red for their tag titles in the main event. Daniels announces that Cornette is now part of The Prophecy.

    CHET JOBLANSKI vs. NIGEL MCGUINNESS. Yep, Chet Joblanksi. Both guys making their debuts here. Decent match, executed well. Not too interesting, but quick. Nigel wins it with a rollup. **1/4

    CHRIS SABIN vs. HOMICIDE next. This match just never really gets into groove, just feels awkward and the crowd doesn’t get into it. It’s short at least. Homicide wins it with the Cop Killer. **

    COLT CABANA and ACE STEEL vs. ALEX SHELLEY and JIIMMY JACOBS. The HUSS thing is again really over with the crowd. The power that repeating a one syllable word over and over again has in wrestling. Good tag match. Jacobs gets a nice hot tag after Shelley gets worked over for a while and the home stretch is fun. Shelley takes a vicious neck bump off a German suplex. Cabana and Ace win it with a double team Colt 45. ***

    MATT STRYKER vs. JUSTIN CREDIBLE. Hard to guess what kind of match this will be by looking at it on paper. Turns out to be a really fun old school heel vs. face match. Credible is really turning up the heel schtick, avoiding Stryker, obnoxiously complaining to the ref. They brawl around ringside and Credible gets busted open. They trade moves back in the ring and Stryker ends up winning with the Death Valley Driver. Sort of marred by some botched/awkward spots at the end. ***

    Daniels and Maff attack Red, taking out his knee. Styles will have to find a partner of his choosing to replace Red later tonight as he defends their tag titles.

    SLYK WAGNER BROWN vs. HOTSTUFF HERNANDEZ vs. SCOOT ANDREWS vs. MICHAEL SHANE next. The Black Nature Boy Scoot Andrews was a mainstay on the early ROH shows, making his first appearance in about a year. This match is sort of tiresome, and has a lot of overly-cooperative spots. Hernandez busts out some cool power offense though, and the crowd pops huge for his dive over the top. Michael Shane wins it with a Fisherman’s DDT. **1/4

    SLIM J vs. JIMMY RAVE. Weird match to begin with, with Slim J coming out without Special K and just having a straight up match. Really awkward match, some botches, they both just sort of hit moves without any kind of flow or structure. Slim J doesn’t seem ready to work a singles match at this level. Rave gets the submission with a crossface. *1/2

    SAMOA JOE vs. BJ WHITMER for the ROH World Title. Okay match. Never really gets going or gets heated. Pretty even. Whitmer hits a really nasty Exploder for a nearfall toward the end. Joe wins it with the German-Dragon-Straightjacket Suplex Trio. **1/2

    Backstage Ace and Colt are looking for Rob Feinstein to find out more about the Field of Honor. Colt asks a young boy if he’s seen Feinstein and the boy responds “not yet.” Ay caramba. They bully Dunn and Marcos.

    AJ STYLES and HOMICIDE vs. CHRISTOPHER DANIELS and DAN MAFF for the ROH Tag Titles. AJ and Homicide start out hot including an awesome double dive over the guardrail. Daniels and Maff work over Homicide for a while. Maff’s heeling has been good lately. AJ gets the hot tag but unfortunately he’s marred by a series of botches when he gets in the ring. Decent but unspectacular homestretch ending with AJ avoiding a racket attack from Daniels and hitting a Styles Clash on the racket for the win. ***. Post match, Daniels and Maff turn on Cornette.

    One of the weaker shows of the year for sure. Even the better stuff isn’t really that good. It’s a mostly consistent show though, with little that’s actually bad. Kind of feels like the hangover after Death Before Dishonor. 5/10

  9. #109
    an affront to god mth's Avatar
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    EVOLVE is putting up some interesting videos on their youtube. Anybody interested in seeing some WWE/AEW crossover matches actually can because here's Velveteen Dream versus Orange Cassidy:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2GHXCPNjeE

    And here's Velveteen Dream versus Darby Allin:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwWTDpZx2-8

    Planning to watch both when I'm on the exercise bike tomorrow.

    Some other interesting stuff like Adam Cole vs. WALTER, Gargano vs. Theory, Theory vs. Allin, etc..

  10. #110
    OBJECTION Psycho666Soldier's Avatar
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    I watched the Dream/Allin match when it first came out. Really fun stuff. Looking forward to see that one against OC soon.

  11. #111
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    Hart Foundation and Honky vs Savage and Strike Force in a cage from the March 1988 Boston Garden show

    Manages the oh so fun pairing of being short and boring

  12. #112
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    Quote Originally Posted by Defrost View Post
    Hart Foundation and Honky vs Savage and Strike Force in a cage from the March 1988 Boston Garden show

    Manages the oh so fun pairing of being short and boring
    I've heard of that match. Never saw it. But the person who reviewed it said it was as basic as it gets. Lots of punching and brawling and not much else. But because it was six dudes in a cage, in a pretty novel match for the time, people were really into it in the arena.

  13. #113
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    grenadines
    Quote Originally Posted by Defrost View Post
    Hart Foundation and Honky vs Savage and Strike Force in a cage from the March 1988 Boston Garden show

    Manages the oh so fun pairing of being short and boring
    Where do you find this crap? Savage and Strike Force sounds like a team that never should have been together...

  14. #114
    Champ is Gone
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    Quote Originally Posted by Horatio View Post
    Where do you find this crap? Savage and Strike Force sounds like a team that never should have been together...
    Well right now I am organizing every match I have on some type of physical media and getting it onto a hard drive.

    However a quick google search shows me it is on dailymotion

    https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x31cpkg

  15. #115
    ... Beer-Belly's Avatar
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    Just watched an Austin vs. Angle match from the January 28, 2002 episode of Raw. Even with fairly simple TV matches, these guys were great together. The chemistry was always kick ass.

  16. #116
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    Dynamite Kid vs Davey Boy Smith 2/3/82 NJPW WWF Jr Championship Tournament

    Super hot start, boring middle, okayish finish

  17. #117
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    DARBY ALLIN vs GREAT SASUKE - F1RST Wrestling January 6, 2019

    Awesome match. Simple stuff. Opens with great psychological warfare/comedy. Sasuke works like an old man, Darby works like a total punk. Everything hits smoothly. They bump big, match ends.

    Quote Originally Posted by Defrost View Post
    Dynamite Kid vs Davey Boy Smith 2/3/82 NJPW WWF Jr Championship Tournament

    Super hot start, boring middle, okayish finish
    Do you know of any other match these two had against eachother?
    I could have sworn I've seen them work a better, longer match, but I might be trippin...

  18. #118
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    Quote Originally Posted by Horatio View Post


    Do you know of any other match these two had against eachother?
    I could have sworn I've seen them work a better, longer match, but I might be trippin...
    They had a match four days later in the original Sumo Hall. They had to have wrestled against each other in Stampede at some point.


    Just watched Dean Malenko vs Ultimo Dragon from Starrcade 1996.

    They have an awesome ten minute match. Problem is the match is twenty minutes long.

  19. #119
    Titty Master Jordo's Avatar
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    I watched shibata vs Okada from Sakura again this morning and honestly knowing the story leading to the match and then what the headbutt resulted in.

    I think it's my favorite match of all time. The pacing is fantastic, the facials through out are perfect. I know it's terrible that shibata ended his own career but the fact that he did does add to the story of the match, and that moment with the blood running down his face... It's amazing.

    It's a fantastic match that I'd never want to see happen again.

  20. #120
    Titty Master Jordo's Avatar
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    Also Chris hero started a subreddit (r/wrestlinggenius) and it's a fun little place.

    Someone posted a match between Joe and Dean malenko that's like 20 minutes long and from I've seen its almost all ground based. I am gonna try and dive into it at some point.

  21. #121
    X Ringo's Avatar
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    brazil
    Quote Originally Posted by Jordo View Post
    Also Chris hero started a subreddit (r/wrestlinggenius) and it's a fun little place.
    Thanks for the heads up. He's done an AMA on there too. Some interesting answers and contributions from others. I know how much of a wrestling nerd he is but it's still weird seeing a current WWE wrestler post online about DVDVR forums and Alan4L and the segundacaida guys and how much he likes reading their perspectives. Really weird.

  22. #122
    Titty Master Jordo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ringo View Post
    Thanks for the heads up. He's done an AMA on there too. Some interesting answers and contributions from others. I know how much of a wrestling nerd he is but it's still weird seeing a current WWE wrestler post online about DVDVR forums and Alan4L and the segundacaida guys and how much he likes reading their perspectives. Really weird.
    It's a lot like his ama. Unique matches, cool insights.

  23. #123
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    GULAK vs HERO - CZW Cage of Death XV 12/14/13

    I thought Hero made Gulak eat one too many stiff punches and kicks to the face, but the match had a great story of mat-master vs wrestling genius. Gulak was awesome outwrestling Hero, and Hero struck back real mean the whole time. It probably should have ended with the third anklelock, but these two are awesome and it's a great forgotten match.

  24. #124
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    GULAK vs CHRIS DICKINSON - CZW TOurnament of DEath XII 6/8/13

    Gulak gets on the mic to remind Dickinson that this is nontournament/not a deathmatch. Smart thinking. Dickinson is such a sleazy indie-darling, but at least he's got his drawstrngs tucked in back in '13. An injured MASADA interrupts the match in its opening moments. He corners Gulak but eats a nasty release german from Dickinson. Gulak tries to double team MASADA and Dickinson wants none of it. Chris cuts apromo while Gulak kneels in the corner and then suffers a low blow from Gulak. The match ends in a DQ. Gulak cuts a promo calling MASADA a liability. Crowd chants "fuck you" while Gulak is the last man standing in the ring. Good stuff/break from the death match tourny. Gulak raises MASADA's title belt and lays it out in the ring.
    I'm glad Gulak didn't have to wrestle Chris Dickinson.

  25. #125
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    NOAH in the aughts ran a couple of shows in the plaza of the office tower where NTV, their tv station at the time. was located. Looks more like a mall. Outdoor shows are always cool.

    Watched Misawa and Shiozaki against Marufuji and Sugiura from 2007. Shiozaki worked about 85% of the match, but Misawa looked so good in his 15% that it was kinda depressing. The formula for saving Misawa and Kobashi was right in front of their faces and they never took it.

  26. #126
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    CZW New Heights 7/13/13

    GULAK vs TOMMY DREAMER

    #1 contenders match. They trade holds. Dreamer is perfectly competent but Gulak is a bit craftier. Gulak haults the actionto say, "tha was the best armdrag i've ever seen," and offer a handshake. Dreamer laughs it off while Gulak remarks, "you still got it, Tommy"... Dreamer finally shakes his hand and catches the boot Gulak attempts to sneak in. Good shtick that ends with a hard right hand from Dreamer. I love how Gulak will eat a clothesline by stumbling to his knees. He's so good at not giving the fans what they want. Especially a CZW crowd. Dreamer's size comes into play and Gulak eats a fallaway slam by landing on his stomach and falling to the outside. Dreamer is such a good behemoth. He really is built like a hulk and he's very sympathetic taking Gulak's stiff offense. Gulak has help from ringside and he sometimes makes mistakes. Dreamer lands a nice sunset flip and some good worked punches, but he bites Gulak and in disgust says he tasted like gay schwimmer, whatever that means. He hits a really nice reverse sto into the second rope that I don't remember seeing before, but Gulak makes it look lethal. It gets a 2 count and Dreamer goes for a ladder under the ring. I can't tell if the hot chick at rignside is Princess Kimber Lee because she's dressed in actual clothes. Dreamer goes head first into the ladder and gets busted open. They trade submissions and pin attempts. Not all of it looks great, but this is Tommy Dreamer AND Drew Gulak in CZW so no one's complainin...Dreamer comes close to winning and The Campaign assists Drew. Shenanigans insue and Gulak wins with a backcracker and la magistra. Good match. Interesting to see how Gulak made it towards the title in CZW.

    - - - Updated - - -

    MASADA vs CHRIS DICKINSON - CZW TItle matxh

    MASADA is big but Chris has that Benoit/DK heavyweight look to his junior stature so this looks like it could be the end for MASADA's championship reign. Pretty straightforward stuff. MASADA still has an injured leg and Chris targets it. The wrestling is not great but it's gritty. MASADA is the fan favorite and it shines when he almost takes over, but he gets dropped on his head pretty quick and it seems like you rarely see a guy his size taking headdrops. Dickinson is one of the more convincing power wrestlers whenhe gets to show off his strength. He gets a two count on rolling germans and holds onto the waiste. MASADA breaks the hold but only to catch a release german suplez. Dickinson is one of the great suplez guys right now. He is what NXT needs right now to be honest. I dont know what Kross and Thatcher are supposed to add that Chris Dickinson couldnt do.
    Dickinson tries to Pazuzu Bomb MASADA's girl and eats a headdrop for his efforts. Match ends. Fun stuff. Gulak and The Campaign attack MASADA and his girl in the aftermath.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 4th, 2020 at 1:41 PM.

  27. #127
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Defrost View Post
    NOAH in the aughts ran a couple of shows in the plaza of the office tower where NTV, their tv station at the time. was located. Looks more like a mall. Outdoor shows are always cool.

    Watched Misawa and Shiozaki against Marufuji and Sugiura from 2007. Shiozaki worked about 85% of the match, but Misawa looked so good in his 15% that it was kinda depressing. The formula for saving Misawa and Kobashi was right in front of their faces and they never took it.
    Misawa could wrestle a marble statue and it would be a good match. That guy had the music.

  28. #128
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    DREW GULAK VS CHRIS DICKINSON - CZW Down with the Sickness 9/14/13

    This is for the title, so I'm guessing you have to buy the TAPE of the MASADA/Gulak title change. It will turn up on IWTV eventually, maybe I just have to look for it. Since that throws things out of wack, I'm going to review :

    GULAK vs DANNY HAVOC - No Ropes Barbed Wire match - CZW Proving Grounds 5/12/12

    Gulak is in usual ring gear and they both send their seconds to the back before the bell rings. This is Gulak's first ultraviolent match and it's Danny's 23rd. It takes 6 minutes for someone to get thrown into the wire. The wrestling in this is great. Gulak is Gulak and Havoc was trained by Quackenbush, DJ Hyde, and Hero and it shows. They trade hammerlocks and chops and Havoc was bleeding when the match started?
    There is some interference and a bullshit chant starts when Danny Havoc dropkicks Drew Gulak into the barbed wire. This is about 14 minutes in. Then Gulak gets irish whipped hard into the wire. Gulak gets his face rubbed into the barbed wire and then both guys are bleeding. Gulak continues to work his match, jawing with hecklers, and demanding the barbed wire get snipped so that he can use it against Havoc. They wrestle some more. This match is siick and not just ultraviolent. It is pretty violent though at 20minutes. Gulak likes using his body slam into the ropes, this time into the barbed wire. He whips Havoc with the barbed wire. Gulak is psychotic. His legs are all gouged. He wraps Danny in barbed wire and locks the Gulock in tight. My 3 yr old nephew just got here so I'll have to finish this later...
    Last edited by Horatio; April 4th, 2020 at 2:30 PM.

  29. #129
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    Macho Man Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat from Maple Leaf Gardens on 2/15/87

    A criticism their Wrestlemania match gets is that Steamboat doesn't wrestle it like it's a blood feud. His argument is that that match was about winning the title and it was this match in Toronto that was about getting even with Savage. He tries to crush Savage's throat in this one. By the end Savage is a bloody mess. It is a really good match that is completely different from the match at Mania.

  30. #130
    Titty Master Jordo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Horatio View Post
    DREW GULAK VS CHRIS DICKINSON - CZW Down with the Sickness 9/14/13

    This is for the title, so I'm guessing you have to buy the TAPE of the MASADA/Gulak title change. It will turn up on IWTV eventually, maybe I just have to look for it. Since that throws things out of wack, I'm going to review :

    GULAK vs DANNY HAVOC - No Ropes Barbed Wire match - CZW Proving Grounds 5/12/12

    Gulak is in usual ring gear and they both send their seconds to the back before the bell rings. This is Gulak's first ultraviolent match and it's Danny's 23rd. It takes 6 minutes for someone to get thrown into the wire. The wrestling in this is great. Gulak is Gulak and Havoc was trained by Quackenbush, DJ Hyde, and Hero and it shows. They trade hammerlocks and chops and Havoc was bleeding when the match started?
    There is some interference and a bullshit chant starts when Danny Havoc dropkicks Drew Gulak into the barbed wire. This is about 14 minutes in. Then Gulak gets irish whipped hard into the wire. Gulak gets his face rubbed into the barbed wire and then both guys are bleeding. Gulak continues to work his match, jawing with hecklers, and demanding the barbed wire get snipped so that he can use it against Havoc. They wrestle some more. This match is siick and not just ultraviolent. It is pretty violent though at 20minutes. Gulak likes using his body slam into the ropes, this time into the barbed wire. He whips Havoc with the barbed wire. Gulak is psychotic. His legs are all gouged. He wraps Danny in barbed wire and locks the Gulock in tight. My 3 yr old nephew just got here so I'll have to finish this later...
    Where are you watching that second match? I'm super interested in that.

  31. #131
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    It's on IWTV (independentwrestling.tv or IWTV.live). I think it's free for 20 days if you use promo code "ACTION" but that's what actionwrestling.tumblr.com says, so don't quote me if it's a scam...it's got like 180 promotions and almost all of CZW and IWAMS death match library, going back to the 90s. Lots of gems inside.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 4th, 2020 at 11:22 PM.

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    There's good death match wrestling out there?

    Wow.

    Most of the "death match" wrestling I've seen is fat, sloppy guys dressed like they work at a gas station haphazardly falling into barbed wire and various metal debris.

  33. #133
    Titty Master Jordo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spudz Mackenzie View Post
    There's good death match wrestling out there?

    Wow.

    Most of the "death match" wrestling I've seen is fat, sloppy guys dressed like they work at a gas station haphazardly falling into barbed wire and various metal debris.
    I haven't seen much good death match stuff either but that's GULAK is a beast and that match has like a 9 consensus rating.

  34. #134
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spudz Mackenzie View Post
    There's good death match wrestling out there?

    Wow.

    Most of the "death match" wrestling I've seen is fat, sloppy guys dressed like they work at a gas station haphazardly falling into barbed wire and various metal debris.
    I sift through a lot of crap, but I had to see Gulak try NRBW. That guy is priceless and I definitely wanna see more Danny Havoc. There's some guys they call "hybrid" wrestlers who rassle and do the ultraviolent thing. John Wayne Murdoch is one whose name I can remember. Homicide gets pretty violent at times. And Low Ki is still working ICW No Holds Barred where the ropes are chains and nearly every match has a violence gimmick.

    As far as the review goes, the match ends around the 25 minute mark and I don't wanna spoil the ending. It sucks that I didn't get to see it all in one sitting, but I'm glad I took the time to watch it.

    GULAK vs DICKINSON 2
    This match has a big fight feel to start. Gulak has the nicest entrance jacket and comraderie while Dickinson is on his own. These two are in a way both heels and both tweeners. Gulak is great outclassing on the mat, but Dickinson knows a lot of tricks. Gulak even has a nice running centon. Dickinson puts Gulak down with a beautiful falconarrow. This is worked like Dickinson's match; Gulak has every nice counter but Dickinson nails him with a Pazuzu Bomb which is a razor's edge throw. He also dropped Gulak on his head with a german so it's hard to see how Gulak is supposed t stay conscious in this. Chris is earning the respect of the fans in this match. Gulak goes house of fire with chops and slaps and now it's like he's the babyface in this. Chris is hella intense firing back on that. He hangs Gulak in the tree of woe and floats in a nice basement dropkick. Gulak turns things around using a headbutt and even lands a nice diving lariat. He rarely uses the top rope anymore. Gulak takes over in the second half; he just couldn't g down to a suplezmachine. Drew is stiff as hell with his strikesbut he tries a second superplex and is forced to eat a superBurningHammer by Dickinson. MASADA's girl comes out and things get stupid. Dickinson does an awesome military press throwing Gulak onto his comrades. Then he does an awesome somersault dive to the outside. Dickinson is such a crowd pleaser - if all crowds were diehard puroloving purists like .. Davey Richards or someone like that. He absolutely wastes Drew on a razor's edge type jackknife that i have never seen before, but Drew kicks out, which might have been crazy but Drew is one of wrestling's crazies. He tries a discus lariat type move thatyou'vegot to see to believe. He totally clubs dude with it. The Gulock doesn't work and he takes a brainbuster for holding on, but within minutes he has Dickinson tapping.
    If you buy into Gulak's conditioning, which is ungodly real, you can see how he comes out of all those headdrops as the ultimate ringmaster. Very good match. It's awesome how Gulak brought workrate to the CZW title picture like only he can.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 5th, 2020 at 12:42 AM.

  35. #135
    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    We’re in Fairfield, Connecticut for the first time for BITTER FRIENDS, STIFFER ENEMIES, August 16th 2003.

    On the last show, with CM Punk absent, someone unknown attacked Lucy. Punk is furious and will spend the show looking for the person responsible.

    PRINCE NANA vs. HOMICIDE starts off. This was supposed to be Nana vs. Oman Tortuga, but Homicide hijacks the ring and demands Steve Corino. One of Corino’s friends/lackeys comes out and tells Homicide Corino will be ready for him later tonight. Nana demands Homicide face him. Nana actually starts off hot with a nice run of big, good looking offense. Homicide hits a nice tope con hilo and finishes it with his STF. Really solid short squash. **1/2

    Loc and Davito cut a fun promo about how much they hate their lives and all the teams they’re facing tonight. 2003 ROH has made me a big fan of the Carnage Crew.

    DUNN & MARCOS vs. THE PURISTS. Only about a minute of this airs as they clip it for an unexplained reason. Actually, what’s show is pretty fun. Dunn and Marcos stage a nice, brief comeback but get cut off the the Purists stretch Dunn into a submission victory. ** I guess.

    MATT STRYKER vs. BJ WHITMER for a invitation to the Field of Honor. Wow, this match way overdelivered. Awesome hard fought match. Great selling, awesome stiff strikes and elbows, slow progression to bigger and bigger moves that actually feel significant. Feels like a real war. The crowd really is wild, massive dueling chants. Gabe responds to the dueling chants by saying he loves ROH because “you don’t hear this anywhere else.” Simpler times. After a great strike exchange they both hit each other with rolling elbows and the 15 minute time limit expires. Crowd chants for five more minutes, but instead, Gary Michael Cappetta announces that they’re both going to be in the Field of Honor tournament. ***3/4

    IZZY and DIXIE vs. THE CARNAGE CREW vs. THE BACKSEAT BOYZ vs. SAT. Really fun spotfest. These guys definitely have polished this match big time compared to the beginning of the year. Fast pace, good spots, hot crowd. Almost everything goes off without a hitch, and the one significant botch actually ends up being a cool looking spot. Izzy especially looks much sharper than usual in this match. Nice sequence of dives at the end and Dixie ends up getting a cheap cradle pinfall on Loc for the win. ***1/4

    Special K starts to rave but Alexis Laree comes out leading to ALEXIS LAREE vs. BECKY BAYLESS, playing off a confrontation between the two in one of the pre-show DVD segments. Special K puts the boots to Laree but she ends up taking them out and beating Becky with a reverse DDT. Really more a match than an angle, hard to rate something like this. Call it *3/4?

    CHRISTOPHER DANIELS vs. XAVIER for the number one contender’s trophy. Man, here’s another match that overdelivers. Daniels focuses on working over the ribs, Xavier works over the neck, and almost all the offense from both guys targets the body part they’re working over. This leads to some cool stuff you don’t see too often from both guys. Daniels hits a shockingly good spear out of nowhere. Xavier hits a really sweet STO variation. The selling is great and this really feels like a hard fought competition. They don’t bust out too many big moves, so the ones they hit mean a lot. Xavier hits the 450, but Daniels gets his foot on the ropes. They trade rollups at the end. Xavier almost has it won with his feet on the topes, but the ref stops the count. While Xavier argues with the ref, Daniels catches him in a reverse rollup and gets away with holding the tights for the win. ***3/4

    Fun promo segment backstage. GMC tries to interview Corino but Corino isn’t having it. He’s too big of a star.

    HYDRO vs. DERANGED vs. JOHNNY STORM vs. SLYK WAGNER BROWN. What a jobberish match, and they don’t even get entrances. Ends up being pretty fun really. Storm hits an INCREDIBLE dive that makes the match worthwhile on its own, but also does some other cool technical stuff. Big spotfest homestretch. Deranged beats Storm with a reverse rana. ***

    SAMOA JOE vs. CM PUNK in a non-title match. Is this the first match they’ve ever had? Commentary informs us that Punk’s knee and Joe’s arm are both injured from their recent tour of Japan. They end up both working the body parts, and especially Joe’s work on Punk’s knee is good. They have a lot of good ideas in this match but some of them don’t come off too well. Still, this is good overall. Joe catches a Shining Wizard from Punk and turns it into a nasty look Dragon Screw, and wins with a deep half crab. **3/4. Post-match, the new number one contender Christopher Daniels attacks Joe and lays him out. Big pop from the crowd, actually. Honestly, Joe wasn’t lighting the world on fire as Champ at this point yet, and Daniels is a sort-of face at this point getting big reactions. In context, Daniels winning the title when they face off was totally plausible.

    HOMICIDE vs. STEVE CORINO. Corino comes out with a whole entourage, his cornerman Guillotine LaGrande, his own ring announcer, and a coterie of young boys. The ring announcer spends several minutes listing all of Corino’s past and present championships. Match heats up fast with Homicide landing a stiff slap on Corino and Gabe hilariously freaking out over it on commentary. Homicide brings out a strip of barbed wire and this match goes to the next lever after this. Homicide rips up Corino’s arm with the barbed wire and his fork, nasty stuff. Corino makes a comeback and bangs Homicide’s head into the guardrail. Great visual with the blood coming out of Homicide’s headband, and then Corino pulling the headband off to reveal a crimson mask, and then ripping at the cut. Homicide goes for a tope con hilo but Corino moves and Homicide crashes into the barricade. Nasty bump. The crowd is crazy behind Homicide as he survives a Cobra Clutch from Corino. They trade bigger and bigger moves until Homicide locks in his STF, pulls back on it, and LaGrande throws in the towel to save Corino’s neck. Awesome, awesome match. Dramatic, crowd is super hot, tons of blood, both guys wrestle like they hate each other, big spots, both guys entourages at ringside add a ton to the match. One of the under-appreciated classic match in ROH history. ****1/2

    LOW KI vs. DAN MAFF is our main event. Maff attacks Low Ki during his entrance and they trade some stiff strikes for a while. The match is looking to get pretty good but then Maff gets in control and the crowd just isn’t too into him working over Low Ki. Low Ki comes back with a NASTY springboard kick the Maff’s head and covers him for the three. Maff is out, and it’s either a botch or a “worked shoot” angle deal because commentary sells it as a legit KO. They play a bunch of replays of the kick, and it’s a believable legit KO shot for sure. ***

    Really, really good show. Very strong undercard, one of the classic ROH matches in Homicide/Corino, super hot crowd all night, better promos and angles than usual. The main event couldn’t follow what came before it but they sure ended on a exclamation point with that kick. 8.5/10

  36. #136
    X Ringo's Avatar
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    Watched Toshiaki Kawada vs. Gary Albright, 10/25/95 at Budokan. Great little match with a super hot crowd that goes wild every time Albright threatens to deliver a suplex on Kawada, particularly the German. Great sense of struggle. Kawada's performance here is just terrific. With his offence and selling he makes both himself and Albright look like a million bucks. Albright has a different vibe to the other big heavyweight gaijin who were around All Japan in the 90s. He's an awkward looking chap. Only 32 here but he looks older. Like a big American Tamon Honda. He'd be dead within 5 years, suffering a heart attack during a match and being pronounced dead just after they got him out the ring.

    Last edited by Ringo; April 5th, 2020 at 3:23 PM.

  37. #137
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    Albright had a very soft, humble aura about him. Makes Steve Williams look like a wooly mammoth, rip...

  38. #138
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    Took a look at cagematch and that Kawada bout came at the end of what was Gary Albright's very first tour with All Japan. So why was he as over as he was? The answer presumably comes from his time with UWF in the preceding few years. Here he teams with Kazuo Yamazaki to face the giant team of Vader and John Tenta. Right from the get go Vader and Albright want a piece of each other. Yamazaki isn't about to stand aside though and he doesn't seem interested in anything other than kicking Vader as hard and frequently as possible. Eventually Albright is in there with Tenta and beckons Vader to bring it. They clash like two bulls and just clobber the shit out of each other. Albright successfully pulls off two pitch perfect German suplexes on Vader and the crowd goes crazy. Yamazaki gets back in and tries to finish what he started, just going to town again on Vader with hard kicks but Vader drops him with a huge powerbomb and he can't respond to the 10 count. Really solid, hot match.


  39. #139
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    Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Dick Togo, NJPW Skydiving J 6/17/96. Togo from Michinoku Pro defends a junior heavyweight title against New Japan's top junior heavyweight, in New Japan. So Togo is very much the heel outsider here and he encourages the heat right from the start. Early on he hits a fantastic looking tope and then rips up the safety mats and plants Liger with a DDT on the hard floor. Then he comes off the top rope and lands a nasty looking double foot stomp to Liger's stomach and continues to target that area. So Liger decides he's had enough and just turns into a violent bastard, hitting Togo with all kinds of cool offence and not really letting up. He targets Togo's left elbow throughout. There's a great moment after Togo's made a mini-comeback where Liger just comes flying off the top rope with a missile dropkick to Togo's elbow. At one point he just smacks Togo in the face with a stiff right hand when Togo's standing on the turnbuckle, causing him to tumble all the way to the outside. Liger just stands in the ring mocking Togo and posing. He's really in great form here. Very enjoyable match.

  40. #140
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    Raven and Stevie Richards vs The Pitbulls Double Dog Collar

    Just a beautiful bit of ECW clusterfuckery. Maybe the ideal version of it. You have blood, weapons, insane spots, run ins galore, 911 chokeslamming someone, the ECW arena going nuts. Good stuff.

  41. #141
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    Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi 6/12/98

    This is considered by a lot of people as their best match with each other.

    The meta story here is that just a month earlier Kawada had finally vanquished Mitsuharu Misawa at AJPW's first Tokyo Dome show. Then he has to deal with Kobashi who he had beaten repeatedly much like Misawa had beat him, but just when it seemed like it was Kawada's time Kobashi rises up and overtakes him. Interesting booking by Baba.

  42. #142
    X Ringo's Avatar
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    Bret Hart interrupts Owen Hart vs. British Bulldog, RAW 3/31/97

    I thought I'd start watching Raw and Nitro beginning with the night after Wrestlemania, through the rest of '97. Bret follows on from one of the great promos of all time the previous week by intervening in Davey and Owen's family feud. Bulldog was about to blast Owen with a chair during their match and Bret breaks up. What follows is another great promo and a hell of a segment which signals the beginning of the '97 version of the Hart Foundation. Bret talks about his relationship with Owen and brings up the stuff with Davey and Diana from years gone by. Owen's facial expressions in response are particularly good and at one point he breaks down when Bret says he's always been there for him. Bret makes sure to trash the American fans again, as he had done the previous week and Vince isn't convinced that Bret is genuine.

    This episode was really enjoyable in general. Aside from this, there's another great segment featuring Bearer, Undertaker and Mankind, which ends with Mankind emerging from under the ring and throwing a fireball into Undertaker's face. Sunny flirts with the Spanish announcers during a lucha match (Super Nova vs. El Mosco!?) and Pat Patterson beats the shit out of Triple H at one point which Vince goes absolutely wild for. Vince also interviews Austin in the ring as Austin reiterates that he never actually said I Quit at Mania before going in on Shamrock and Bret. Bret appears on the screen and he's on fire again. Great exchange between two of the all time greats at the peak of their powers.

    The ropes are still red, white and blue but we've got the Raw is War/War Zone intros in the warehouse by now and the Attitude era is well on it's way.
    Last edited by Ringo; April 8th, 2020 at 2:45 PM.

  43. #143
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    CHRIS HERO vs MILANO COLLECION A.T. - IWAMS 4/1/06

    Pretty good match. The great thing about Hero is that he's jus unpredictable. He seems like a candidate for biggest moveset even if he's jus torturing a guy with strikes and headbutts. This was from a time when he was undermining his opponents by not using the cravat he's known for. He wins with a boston-crab after a lion-tamer.
    MCAT is a great opponent for Hero. He's got skills but he's too nice and falls prey to the total jerk.

    MILANO COLLECCION AT vs CHRIS HERO - CHIKARA 10/25/05

    Much better match with a cheap ending at 17:00. This match is more about counter-wrestling, not quite as mean as the IWAMS match. Milano's springboard flying clothesline looks especially great here, maybe because of the camera angle, maybe because the ring is smaller. Hero hits an especially impressive standing somersault neckbreaker.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 9th, 2020 at 11:44 AM.

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    KASSIUS OHNO vs GENTLEMAN JACK GALLAGHER - NXT UK 2019
    This match was freakin great. It happens because Ohno is claiming to be the best european wrestler and Gallagher takes exception to that. So that's the story and it starts with respect, but Hero plays dirty. Wish there was more than one match to this, but it only happened once. The in-ring work throughout AND the finish leave you wanting more and I mean that as a compliment to this match. I'd love to see these two try to out-heel eachother in 2020 but who knows if they'll ever meet again.

    KASSIUS OHNO vs DAVE MASTIFF -NXT UK 2019
    Gosh this is a weird match. Mastiff does heavy lifting like Gary Albright and Hero tries to show he's not just a fatso. Totally cool match. Not very long, but the ending is a very impressive highspot that you can definitely buy as a decisive finish.

    KASSIUS OHNO vs A-KID - NXT UK 2019
    I don't know if I would have liked this match if it was anyone other than Chris Hero in there, but I've Never seen A-Kid look better; I recommend this to any fan of highflyin dropkickin sons of bitches. Had one of the coolest finishes and it's a countout!

    KASSIUS OHNO vs WALTER - NXT UK 2019
    Not as great as the previous three matches but those are three various matches and this one is different to all of them as well. And it's good! Someone may like this better than the others, but I thought the others were more awe insPiring. WALTER is just a hard youth and Ohno just wasn't ready for him is the basic story they told. Good action, great visual as Ohno goes up and comes down heavy for the powerbomb.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 9th, 2020 at 11:00 PM.

  45. #145
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    This is a bit of a left field thought, but going through my collection here seeing all this mid aughts New Japan got me thinking. It is amazing that dude ran that NJPW fansite during all those dark years only to shut it down like the day the new boom period started.

    Then he went to jail.

  46. #146
    X Ringo's Avatar
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    The SSS guy went to jail? What?

    edit: Oh well what do you know. Jesus. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ailed-15874693

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    Modern day Bobby Roode looks like your creepy uncle that doesn't get invited to anymore family reunions, because of that time he wanted to "wrestle with you" with the video camera recording and he didn't want you to tell your parents.

    But I'm not sure if Bobby cosplaying as the third long-lost Beverly Brother is that much better.

  48. #148
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    I watched Josh Barnett's Bloodsport last night. It was an event from last year where the ring had no ropes and all matches were submission/ten-count rules. Apparently they've done the show a few times but this one just showed up on iwtv. Hideki Suzuki vs Timothy Thatcher is a total dream match and Barnett vs Minoru Suzuki felt like a Joe/Kobashi level big fight.
    Anyone who really likes shootstyle/mat wrestling would love this card.
    Gresham vs Masashi Takeda is on youtube.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 10th, 2020 at 10:34 AM.

  49. #149
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    I watched that show live (as in, on Fite TV) and it was really enjoyable. Particularly Barnett/Suzuki. The previous year's show ("Matt Riddle's Bloodsport" featuring amongst others Suzuki/Riddle, Gage/Thatcher and the best match imo WALTER/Tom Lawlor) was good fun too. I see that they did another one last September and it included Santino vs. Simon Gotch, DBS Jr. vs. Tom Lawlor, Killer Kross vs. Gage and Barnett vs. Dickinson. I might have to check that out.

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    Yeah, I've gotta see those.

  51. #151
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    I am watching the Ultimate Warrior Coliseum video. It really is amazing how terrible he was before Rick Rude took him around the circuit. He was dreadful even in matches with his best opponents Savage and Rude. Then by the middle of 1989 he was perfectly capable of having really good matches against the right guys.

  52. #152
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    Followed that up by watching Satoshi Kojima's Triple Crown title win over Toshiaki Kawada from 2005

    Back when this match happened it was super hyped all over the place, and now you never hear anyone talk about it. Match holds up. Especially the finish of Kawada forcing Kojima to murder him with Lariats until he stays down.

  53. #153
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    Man, I forgot about that match too. As you say, never seems to come up much anymore. Kawada's last great match, I'm sure.

  54. #154
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    I'm gonna have to check that out

    I always liked Kojima and felt that his recent status in New Japan belied some of his past achievements. The dude can still go whenever he's in that ring, and just seems to have a baseline minimum of "more than solid." But I've never done anything more than read about his old matches.

    I really need to brush up on late 90s-mid 00s puroresu. I know there are a lot of gems I'm missing.

  55. #155
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    Rob van Dam vs. Doug Furnas, ECW 8/24/96 (on Hardcore TV on WWE Network 8/24/96).

    For a long time RVD's match with Dan Kroffat in All Japan in '95 was considered his best match by many. What I didn't know was that he had a match the following year with Kroffat's partner Doug Furnas in ECW. This was a blast. Furnas kills RVD with chairshots throughout. RVD bumps around like crazy. There's a bunch of cool spots including Furnas charging RVD on the apron sending him flying into the third row and Furnas dropping RVD with a sick tombstone on a chair. RVD is completely nuts here but he's still less sloppy than he would be later in his career. The ending is really well timed as Furnas pushes the referee away just as RVD throws the chair at him in preparation for the van Daminator.

  56. #156
    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    a favorite of mine. has to be RVD's best match.

  57. #157
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    Speaking of RVD

    I just watched RVD vs Jeff Hardy from Invasion. I hadn't watched it in years so I didn't realize all of the soundbites from JR in the old don't try this at home disclaimer came from this match.

    Helluva match. Has to easily be the best Hardcore Title match ever even though that's a super low bar to hurdle. RVD being the only thing that got over from the WWF buying WCW is a trip.

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    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    best hardcore title matches would be interesting research. i remember RVD vs undertaker from the end of 2001 getting a lot of praise at the time too.

  59. #159
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tainted Eclipse View Post
    best hardcore title matches would be interesting research. i remember RVD vs undertaker from the end of 2001 getting a lot of praise at the time too.
    This was one of my favorite matches back in the day. This was about the period where I was learning to truly appreciate the American Badass(Though, I guess this was a bit closer to the "Big Evil" half of that era).

  60. #160
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    I was looking for some good ECW bashes (saw Sandman/Foley from Hoodies and Foley/Sabu from oct. 94) when I remembered 205live might have some new Gallagher greatness. It turns out he fought Lorcan. I was also looking at Raven/Lawler and Sandman/Regal; a couple matches that never really got legs but are dream matches which is what I usually seek.
    I'm all for researching the hardcore title.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Horatio View Post
    I was looking for some good ECW bashes (saw Sandman/Foley from Hoodies and Foley/Sabu from oct. 94) when I remembered 205live might have some new Gallagher greatness. It turns out he fought Lorcan. I was also looking at Raven/Lawler and Sandman/Regal; a couple matches that never really got legs but are dream matches which is what I usually seek.
    I'm all for researching the hardcore title.
    Did you used to have a different name here? I was gone for a while lately and I don't recognize your user name but I'm really enjoying your match breakdowns in this thread.

  62. #162
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    He was cmpunkisecw last. I'm not sure if he had a different name before that.

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    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    im pretty sure he's corinoismybestfriend isn't he?

  64. #164
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    I am starting to watch my way through the Dynamite Kid vs Tiger Mask series

    Watching the first match from April 23rd 1981 a couple of things strikes. I know it is unfair to give these two 100% credit because Fujinami, Kobayashi, and a few others were working like this too, but this is basically the popular style of wrestling in the world thirty years later. Then it must have been mind blowing.

    Dynamite Kid obviously inspired Benoit, but you can see a ton of Owen Hart here too.

    Tiger Mask is unique. Sayama moves more so fluidly it is almost like he is the cartoon character.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jordo View Post
    Did you used to have a different name here? I was gone for a while lately and I don't recognize your user name but I'm really enjoying your match breakdowns in this thread.
    Yeah, I'm corimo.

    I started watching wwf hardcore title matches. I almost forgot how comical it was...

    So far i've gone through:

    Undertaker vs RVD from Raw Nov. 2001 - it was a bore but I had to see it based on memory

    RVD vs The Rock from Oct 2001 - this was known at the time for being the only match during the Invasion where RVD was not the most over guy in the company. It was a pretty good sprint, not really helped by the shenanigans. I can't believe The Rock sold so much for VD. it's even weirder that RVD has a win over The Rock. Truly a dream match of legendary proportions.

    Hardcore Holly vs Al Snow from Backlash 99 - this was fun. Al Snow seemed frustrated and threw some stiff shots which was cool to see. Mostly this was a silly garbage match and Holly is basically a broomstick in this...

    Bossman vs Road Dogg from Raw 98 - this was good. Involved coxaine or fake coke but it was a good beatdown by Bossman. Road Dogg was so over and loved at this moment, it sucks to see such a hip dude getting swung around by a noose. The finish is kinda hilarious. It got a chuckle from me.

    Road Dogg vs Mankind 12/28/98 - this was the best match I saw. These two were actually cruel to eachother. Apparently Road Dogg had McMahon whispering in his ear so he wasn't the same babyface he could have been, but this was actually worth a watch. In the age of moves-on-the-apron, you never see a guy hotshotted facefirst ont the apron like Mankind did in this match. Foley always was fun for surprises like that.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 12th, 2020 at 12:07 AM.

  66. #166
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    I liked Gallagher/Lorcan. It seemed like another introduction to Gallagher's new character which is pure badass, and it should have gotten at least 5 more minutes, but it's cool they've got a heel, Tony, frustrated as hell with Gallagher being badder than he is.
    The match was competitive without just being stiff. I know they have a better match in them but you can tell Gallagher was doing all he could to bring out the best in Lorcan.
    Quote Originally Posted by Defrost View Post
    I am starting to watch my way through the Dynamite Kid vs Tiger Mask series

    Watching the first match from April 23rd 1981 a couple of things strikes. I know it is unfair to give these two 100% credit because Fujinami, Kobayashi, and a few others were working like this too, but this is basically the popular style of wrestling in the world thirty years later. Then it must have been mind blowing.

    Dynamite Kid obviously inspired Benoit, but you can see a ton of Owen Hart here too.

    Tiger Mask is unique. Sayama moves more so fluidly it is almost like he is the cartoon character.
    Have you ever seen George Takano/The Cobra?
    I don't know if other guys in Stampede taught him what he did, but that guy seemed lightyears ahead of his time and not bad in his actual matches.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 11th, 2020 at 10:28 PM.

  67. #167
    an affront to god mth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jordo View Post
    Did you used to have a different name here? I was gone for a while lately and I don't recognize your user name but I'm really enjoying your match breakdowns in this thread.
    Quote Originally Posted by Psycho666Soldier View Post
    He was cmpunkisecw last. I'm not sure if he had a different name before that.
    Quote Originally Posted by Tainted Eclipse View Post
    im pretty sure he's corinoismybestfriend isn't he?
    I kinda wish he'd changed it to corninowasmybestfriend.

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    Rob Van Dam vs. Undertaker at No Mercy 2001 or whatever is actually a really great match. I've never seen that RAW match.

    'Taker/Spike Dudley of all people actually had a great Hardcore Title match on RAW around this time. Spike counters 'Taker's Last Ride with a garbage can right to the beak, for a really good two count. Super fun stuff.

  69. #169
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    Quote Originally Posted by Horatio View Post

    Have you ever seen George Takano/The Cobra?
    I don't know if other guys in Stampede taught him what he did, but that guy seemed lightyears ahead of his time and not bad in his actual matches.
    A couple of matches, but not a lot

  70. #170
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    I wish Colby Corino the best in all his future endeavors.

    Quote Originally Posted by Spudz Mackenzie View Post
    Rob Van Dam vs. Undertaker at No Mercy 2001 or whatever is actually a really great match. I've never seen that RAW match.

    'Taker/Spike Dudley of all people actually had a great Hardcore Title match on RAW around this time. Spike counters 'Taker's Last Ride with a garbage can right to the beak, for a really good two count. Super fun stuff.
    I don't know what match you saw... I saw Spike get in one hope-spot and Taker powerbombed him into oblivion and then chokeslammed him into bolivia.

    All this hardcore title stuff got me wanting to see Spike Dudley.
    His CW title win over Rey Mysterio was such a good little match. Rarely did he get enough tv time to show off his stuff, right? His matches with Rhyno and Regal could have been epic.
    I need to sit through his ECW stuff some day...

    I saw Jericho vs RVD for the hardcore title not long ago. That's definitely one of the better ones.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 12th, 2020 at 12:03 AM.

  71. #171
    Cirque du Soleil Chris's Avatar
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    For more hardcore title matches, I recommend Raven vs Rhyno at Backlash 2001 and the RVD vs Jeff Hardy ladder match from Summerslam 2001.

  72. #172
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    Was just about to recommend that first one Chris. Underrated little match.

  73. #173
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    The red-hot crowd makes it and the sound carries really well when Rhyno’s getting whacked with signs and the kitchen sink. Shame the Gore happens during a replay, but overall a great little match.

  74. #174
    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    We’re in Wakefield, MA for BEATING THE ODDS, September 3rd, 2003. In a pre-match promo, AJ Styles looks to be taking Jimmy Rave under his wing. Punk and Raven cut promos to hype their cage match tonight.

    COLT CABANA vs. JIMMY RAVE is the inaugural match in the Field of Honor tournament, which is a round robin tournament with multiple blocks. Early in the match they cut to a segment from before the show with The Backseat Boyz arriving late and getting into a fight with Homicide and Julius Smokes. Decent match. Rave starts off getting the advantage with lots of armdrags, Cabana ends up in control for a while, they trade moves and then Cabana wins it with the Colt 45. Cabana really looks like shit with his attire tonight. **. Backstage, Styles critiques Rave’s strategy in the match.

    DIABLO SANTIAGO vs. SLYK WAGNER BROWN next. Slyk is really over tonight. Someone even has a sign for him! This is mostly a showcase match for Brown to show off his athleticism, including a sweet missile dropkick. Brown wins with a pop up powerbomb. **

    DUNN & MARCOS vs. THE BACKSEAT BOYZ vs. SAT vs. DIXIE and IZZY next. Pretty standard scramble match with these guys. Super hot crowd though. Fast paced, good spots, nothing special in terms of these matches but nothing to fault and this kind of match always has a worthwhile spot on the card. Joel hits a nasty spiked northern lights suplex on Dixie. Some cool dives at the end and the Backseats pick up the win after Trent Acid hits a running knee strike on Joel Maximo. ***

    MATT STRYKER vs. JOHN WALTERS in the Field of Honor. Good match. Starts with some technical wrestling, moves on to Stryker working Waters’ leg. Waters is pretty good selling the leg and they’re able to make the last couple minutes feel like a real hard fought contest. Waters goes for a powerbomb but his knee gives out and Stryker hooks the legs for the pin. ***

    In the back, Homicide accosts Rob Feinstein and says he’ll take himself out of the number one contender’s match tonight if he can get a match tonight with Trent Acid. Rob accepts.

    THE CARNAGE CREW vs. DERANGED, HYDRO and ANGEL DUST. Really fun match with the Carnage Crew as total babyfaces. Carnage Crew runs wild to start off. Loc hits a cool tornado DDT turned into a bulldog. Justin Credible hits a long series of rolling vertical suplexes which the crowd goes nuts for. Deranged bumps big off Davito’s punches and takes some nasty crossfaces. Special K yell at Slugger and tell him to do his job. He gets in the ring and no-sells Loc and hits him with a reverse chokeslam. Special K work over Loc for a while but he gets the hot tag and Carnage Crew make their comeback. Slugger tries to interfere again but gets taken out. Then Julius Smokes comes out of nowhere and starts quoting Malcolm X at Slugger, telling him to leave Special K and join the Rottweilers, a group yet to debut that he’s been teasing. Slugger walks out with him. Hydro and Deranged take everyone out with dives, leaving Justin Credible to hit a That’s Incredible off the second rope on Angel Dust for the win. ***1/2. Davito smashes Special K with chair shots post-match and then they hit Becky Bayless with a piledriver off the apron through a table. Very ECW.

    MARK BRISCOE vs. BJ WHITMER next. Mark hits a great spinning heel kick to start off. Whitmer gets in control and works over Mark’s ribs. Mark makes a comeback with a beautiful shooting star press from the top rope to the outside. They trade some big moves, dropping each other on their heads with urinages, exploders and dragon suplexes. Mark picks up the big upset with a urinage off the top rope. ***1/4

    HOMICIDE vs. TRENT ACID to settle the score. Man, this is an unsafe match. Trent starts out by hitting a beautiful Asai moonsault over the guardrail. He goes for another but Homicide leaps onto the apron and pulls him off the ropes into the guardrail. Nasty spot. He follows it up by sitting Acid on a chair and hitting his tope con hilo onto him spot on. He hits Trent with a running knee strike that busts Trent open around the eye, and Trent seems woozy for the rest of the match. Acid ends up delivering a receipt with a nasty spinning elbow right to the nose and Homicide’s nose is gushing blood for the rest of the match. There are some awkward moments and spots that don’t come off too well, but probably because they’re genuinely knocking each other loopy. Julius Smokes also takes a beautiful pump from a clothesline on the outside. Acid reverses a Cop Killa attempt into a rollup, the same way he beat Homicide at Wrestlerave, but Homicide gets out of it a hits a big Cop Killa for the win. ***1/2

    JAY BRISCOE vs. AJ STYLES vs. CHRIS SABIN vs. SAMOA JOE. If Joe wins, the person he defeats can never challenge him for the title. Anyone else who wins becomes number one contender. Joe dominates to start out. About ten minutes in the match really takes off with a nice strike exchange between AJ and Joe. The rest of the match is a solid homestretch with some cool spots. Sabin takes out Joe in the middle of his Ole kick with a nice spear into the barricade. Jay takes out the other three with a big flip over the top rope. Styles and Joe dominate the match, but they take each other out with a double enzighiri, allowing Jay to hit the Jay Driller on Sabin for the upset win. Big night for the Briscoes! ***1/4

    CM PUNK vs. RAVEN in a steel cage match. The cage also has weapons strewn about. This match feels odd because it seems like there’s clipping. What’s here is pretty good, though. Both guys bleed. Good spot with Raven handcuffed to the cage and making his comeback with punches from his one free hand. Punk puts Raven on a table and goes up to the top of the cage, but Raven ends up pushing him through the table and then hitting a DDT off the top rope through another table for the win. Like I said, odd match. Doesn’t feel as big as it should, either. Still, the work was good. ***1/4

    Very solid show. Nothing memorable, but plenty good and hardly anything bad. 7/10

  75. #175
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    Was it a Clockwork Orange cage match?

  76. #176
    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    a clockwork orange house of fun cage match actually

  77. #177
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    Hulk Hogan vs Akira Maeda NJPW 5/30/83

    RINGS Hulk Hogan. A lot of mat work early on until the high spots start coming from Maeda countered by power stuff by Hogan until the Axe Bomber finishes it.

  78. #178
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    WILLIAM REGAL vs RVD - WM18 - what's cool about this is that they have a good match without totally stiffing eachother as both are known for. I expected that from Regal at the time, I didn't realize how fast he was... this is a backandforth match worked as a total spotfest. Great stuff, still underrated performances from both men. It's probably one of the best mania matches period.
    RAVEN vs RHYNO - Backlash 2001 - this holds up as one of the better hardcore title matches. Hitting your opponent with a sign is one of the worst visuals of offense in wrestling, but yeah, they totally waste eachother in this match. Probably Raven's best WWE match
    WILLIAM REGAL vs RAVEN - INvasion 2001 - this was a backandforth match that was workrate based but totally misdirected. I don't know who was the agent on this, but whomever told them how to work this the way they did obviously didn't care about anything but the finish. Both guys could potentially be the face in this, both could have worked as heels and it's obvious neither man is comfortable with whatever role his was. I guess fans of these guys would like seeing how bad it was, but it's a totally ignorable match. Really could have been great, and should have been...
    TaJIRI vs RHYNO - US title match summerslam? 2001 - tajiri comes in with his ribs taped, so you know he's getting gored. I think these two tangoed in ECW and I've got to see that if it's real. This is one where Tajiri should have been his evil self and Rhyno should have had the handicap, but it was what it was, and i don't recommend it.
    WILLIAM REGAL vs TAJIRI - Insurrexion 2001 - skip it. Tajiri should have been heel.
    VAMPIRO vs MIKE AWESOME - Halloween Havoc 2000 - this is some wrestlecrap level bad wrestling. With that said, Vampiro has a talent for hiding whether he's putting in minimal effort or maximum effort into a match. He challenges Awesome to put his title shot on the line and in the course of the match, he tries to escape into the crowd which is some strange psychology, but it leads to a rare beatdown by Awesome on a FAN. Awesome basically stops trying in this match, but he does get to Batista Bomb Vamp on the floor and Awesome Bomb him off the top rope, so everybody wins in the end. One of Vampiro's all star performances.
    VAMPIRO vs FIT FINLAY - Nitro 2000 - not a great match, but Vampiro is professional and obviously respectful of Fin for doing the job
    VAMPIRO vs FIT FINLAY - Uncensored 2000 - Falls Count Anywhere - both men are in arm casts but Vampiro never uses his with malice. Finlay sells his punches like death though. They wrestle into the men's room and Vampiro climbs the stall to dive into a trashcan shot. The Miami crowd loved this. Finlay threatens to dump Vampiro off the balcony to the outside of the building. Cruel bastard. Vampiro hits the Nail in the Coffin on the concrete, amidst fans, for the win. This pushes aside that Benoit/Sullivan brawl for bathroom greats.
    FIT FINLAY vs BRET HART-Nitro 98- this is unlike almost any Bret Hart match. Rarely does a guy totally club him like Finlay does and Bret seems genuinely rocked by the experience. A hidden gem.

    And speaking of hidden gems, the Vampiro search turned up REY MYSTERIO and EDDY GUERRERO vs DAVE TAYLOR and CHRIS ADAMS from Nitro 99. It's basically what you'd expect from these 4, and it leaves you wanting more. Adams is not in shape for this but he totally SMAcks Mysterio with a superkick and takes a frankensteiner like he had a deathwish(ouch). Awesome match, up there with Finlay/Bret for match of the day. If it's not dream match enough, in the aftermath, Vampiro and ICP hit the ring and attack the rare duo of Rey and Eddy. Then Kidman comes out and it's just overload, but still...
    Last edited by Horatio; April 13th, 2020 at 9:44 PM.

  79. #179
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    WILLIAM REGAL vs JEFF HARDY - Raw 2002 - european title match - this is good stuff. Jeff misses Whisper in the Wind but Regal takes the match from there. Jeff reminds me of Terry Funk in this, for some reason.
    WILLIAM REGAL vs JEFF HARDY - Venegance 2002 - they pick up where they left off, not repeating any spots. Not as long as the first, but these two mesh very well. I don't remember Regal's euro title runs at all, just how he lost them.
    ROB VAN DAM vs JEFF HARDY - INvasion 2001 - now this is some hardcore greatness. It definitely holds up. The van terminator is one of the Best of all time, looked way cooler than i remembered. Probably should have ended with the van terminator shot, but Jeff's second wind flurry of offense looked especially violent. This had an ECW quality to it, without any stupid interference to it, so it seems so rare...
    ROB VAN DAM vs JEFF HARDY - Summerslam 2001 - so glad this one got mentioned. I don't know if it's better than the Invasion match, but i will watch them again. I am partial to ladder matches and this is one of the good ones. These two were so good at keeping up the pace and selling the effects of the match, too.

  80. #180
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    WILLIAM REGAL vs EDGE - Venegance 2001 - i forgot Edge used to have cool Rob Zombie music. i liked seeing Regal powerbomb Edge three times in this. Maybe you will too...
    WILLIAM REGAL vs EDGE - Royal Rumble 2002 - "what's fair about another man putting his hand down your pants?" - jerry lawler...Edge is not so keen on taking a powerbomb this time; Regal makes him take one anyways. He keeps wasting Edge with these weird germans; he grabs a wastelock but dumps him with one arm like it's a half nelson suplez. Pretty cool stuff. Better than the last match.
    WILLIAM REGAL vs EDGE - raw 1/21/02 - this was shaping up to be their best match, it's the sprint, but Edge uses the knucks and gets disqualified early
    WILLIAM REGAL vs EDGE - No Way Out 2002 - knuckledusters-on-a-pole match. Sounds funny but they needed a gimmick to keep this going. Powerbomb on the outside this time. And the inside. Regal tries to powerbomb Edge off of the apron and all goes wrong. Edge is not very good overall; I don't like this match very much.
    ROB VAN DAM vs GOLDUST - No Way Out 2002 - Van Dam doesn't seem ready to follow Goldust at first. Goldust takes his offense very well and then goes into a nice control segment. Big surprise Goldust gets his balls hurt. I hate calling him Goldust now. This was during his thin period. Right before he got electrocuted. Van Dam misses a frogsplash and the fun keeps going. Van Dam lands his stuff very well.

  81. #181
    X Ringo's Avatar
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    Hair vs. Hair match: Kerry & Kevin von Erich vs. Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams, 10/6/85

    This is from a big outdoor show at the Dallas Cotton Bowl. The crowd looks absolutely vast even with large empty sections but apparently it was only around 26,000. There must have been no one on the side of the hard camera. This is a huge stadium. The screams for the von Erichs are deafening as you'd expect. There's lumberjacks around the ring and the ring announcer says there's not enough time to announce all of them but he does give special mention to Fritz's "nephew" Lance, who shakes hands with the two real von Erichs in the ring. This was amusing given I'd just seen the von Erichs episode of Dark Side of the Ring where they touch on the misstep that was the Lance von Erich push. David Manning is the special referee which the heels aren't happy about but everyone else seems to think it'll be just fine. Bill Mercer points out that the lumberjacks are there to stop the losers from getting away rather than to throw the wrestlers back in the ring.

    This match is definitely aided by the great crowd and the lumberjacks shouting and beating on the mat. It lasts about 10 minutes and the work is frenetic and chaotic. It gets across the idea that both teams desperately want to get the win here as soon as possible. Kevin particularly looks determined as he jumps around trying to get to Hernandez and Adams. The von Erichs get the win as Kevin dodges some powder and partner hits partner with Kerry rolling up Adams for the win. Adams gets his haircut first but Gino is the bigger deal and the lumberjacks carry him into the ring. He managed to break free and almost escapes but young Chris von Erich tackles him to much fanfare. Hernandez gets his head shaved and everyone's loving it. As he runs off there's a commotion at ring side and I spotted a man in a cowboy hat, who may or may not have been a wrestler, giving a fan a right old whack. Good fun.
    Last edited by Ringo; April 14th, 2020 at 4:17 PM.

  82. #182
    X Ringo's Avatar
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    NWA Champion Harley Race vs. Kevin von Erich, 6/17/83

    Throwing your opponent over the top rope is legal here. If Race is disqualified he loses the belt. Harley Race looks like such a boss as he makes his entrance. Kevin has some early success and the crowd goes wild. I love the energy Kevin von Erich puts into everything he does. Race sells a lot for Kevin. The champion manages to turn the tables when he throws Kevin through the ropes. Kevin bounces off a table and hits the floor, injuring his arm. When he gets back in the ring he does his best to make a comeback but he keeps going back to the injured arm and Race begins to target it. Kevin decides to put the hand of his injured left arm down his tights in a kind of make-shift sling which looks a bit strange. One armed Kevin sells great here and makes a series of fiery comebacks but Race keeps cutting him off. As Race comes off the turnbuckle Kevin catches him in the Iron Claw with his good arm but Race is able to escape, throwing Kevin through the ropes onto his bad arm once again. Then David von Erich comes out and tries to get his brother to call it quits and live to fight another day but he's not having any of it. Harley kicks David in the head and David fights back, causing the DQ. David shouts "you couldn't even beat Kevin with one arm!" and says he's next, promising to quit wrestling if he can't beat Harley. Really hot match with a great performance from Kevin.

  83. #183
    R.I.P Vader Eddie Brock's Avatar
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    So my three:

    Austin/Rock - WM15 - the main event of my first WrestleMania, first PPV I watched as a fan; the two biggest stars of the Attitude Era in what would be the first match of their trilogy. Not to mention the cast in this match; you had all three Attitude Era refs, you had Vince trying to get himself involved, Foley as a ref. Austin standing triumphant to end the night. 15 truly felt like we got the two at the closest to the company's peak.

    Aztec Warfare II. C'mon, I love a brawl, and this takes the cake for me. For those unfamiliar with Lucha Underground, Aztec Warfare is one of their marquee matches, a 20 man Rumble though the eliminations come from pinfall or submission. Fast paced carnage which all lead to the climax being the reveal of owner Dario's murderous brother: The Monster Matanza Cueto. Matanza had been teased for the past season and a half, and he looked terrifying. Yes, Jeff Cobb is still around killing it, but Matanza was a different monster. Obviously the formula doesn't hold up for the rest of the series, but here it was perfect. Watching what happens next...some of the most cathartic wrestling I've ever seen.

    And finally, Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes at Double or Nothing. The chemistry obvious between the two brothers, the build/pre-match promos were gold, and such a bloody and brutal slugfest. To me still the best match in AEW's history, and one of my favorites the last couple years.

  84. #184
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    RVD vs RHINO - Anarchy Rulz 2000 - this one is not good. RVD is especially gymnasticky in this for some reason. Rhino basically has his hands full and he sells good for RVD but he's basically just there to piledrive him through a table.

    RHINO vs NEW JACK - November to Remember 2000 - this is a fun garbage brawl. New Jack rules the whole thing. Staple-guns a referee. Breaks a guitar that's full of powder and explodes like a bomb over Rhino's head... I don't think Rhino could depend on New Jack to stand in place for a gore, so he picks him up and spinebuster-gores him through a table to retain the ECW TV title.

    SPIKE vs RHINO - Massacre on 34th 2000 - Spike is fiery from the git go and fiery throughout, including a balcony dive. Rhino controls the in-ring action and idiots start a "boring" chant. Finish is interesting because Rhino chokes out Spike. Chokes him for so long that he pukes...

    RVD vs Kurt Angle - Raw 9/10/01 - quite a date to revisit. Hardcore title is on the line. These two seem like a natural fit for eachother. You hardly see pros in singlets anymore. Angle is dead set on applying the ankle lock. RVD hits a nice chairshot to the head while in the Anglelock. Angle does a rare spinebuster on the chair. They make their way to the stage and RVD straight punches Angle in the nuts. Angle wins the title but only for a minute or so. There's nothing too offensive in this match, but it does basically expose their egos and make them seem fitting for comical hardcore title matches, rather than something a little more challenging

    RVD vs The Undertaker - Vengeance 2001 - I don't think this holds up very well. Van Dam hits a nice crossbody from the second tier. Undertaker is a little too Yosemite Sam as a heel. RVD's offense looks good against a guy Taker's size, but not all of it is great. The finishing chokeslam spot looks great. Not my kind of match.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 15th, 2020 at 2:20 PM.

  85. #185
    Main Eventer Horatio's Avatar
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    TONI STORM vs TIMOTHY THATCHER - Beyond Wrestling 4/5/18 - this is the main event of a card that's all intergender (the show was called Lit Up). Thatcher looks disinterested at first, and within a minute or so he looks bored. He's gentle as Storm tries to scramble for holds, but doesn't take long to wring her in an armlock, to gutwrench suplex her, to anklelock her, and put her in a bowandarrow. She gets to the rope and gets a smile out of him by landing a hard chop. Thatcher puts her on the ground and tries to end things with a pinfall, but Storm isn't done for. He knees her in the ribs, but not as hard as usually might...She finally slaps him in the face. He finally garners boos after a european uppercut and a bodyslam. He lets her headbutt him a couple times and she hurts her head. She makes him mad with a couple shitty eurocutters, so he lays her out with a good one (again, not an audibly stiff one) and she looks funny when she bumps for it. Timothy just stands there looking down at her and again he gets booed. She goes for a waistelock, he tosses her, but she manages to mount him and get in some angry forearms. They don't work. Back on their feet, he slaps her twice, the second time harder than the first (judging by the sound, about as hard as a woman would strike)...She finally sneaks in a Gallagher-style headbutt and german suplex which gets Thatcher rocked. Her brief flurry of offense doesn't last and Thatcher tries a pin after another good european uppercut. She kicks out at two and the ending follows shortly thereafter. I don't want to spoil it but I will just say, he shouldn't have gone for her throat.
    Great match for being as one sided as it was. Thatcher shows how you can make stuff look good without making it all too hurty. I don't think men and women should fight, but I don't mind if they wrestle. I don't like intergender wrestling, but sometimes I gotta see how they school eachother.

    SANTANA and ORTIZ vs TIMOTHY THATCHER and WALTER - Beyond Wrestling 5/26/18 - this wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be. some of LAX's double teams seemed a little convoluted. And although they were disrespectful punks, they wrestled as underdogs. WALTER was on point and Thatcher made all of LAX's moves look good, but it's the dumbest thing when he has to stand there and wait for his opponent to do something convoluted. Still, if you like these guys, you might wanna see this.
    Last edited by Horatio; April 16th, 2020 at 1:44 PM.

  86. #186
    too big to fail Tainted Eclipse's Avatar
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    We’re back in Philadelphia for GLORY BY HONOR II. Along with the Anniversary Show, Death by Dishonor, and Final Battle this is one of ROH’s Big Four. Not only that, but this show is ROH’s last ever show in the Murphy Rec Center, the site of its first several shows and its early Philadelphia home arena. CM Punk is joining us on commentary.

    JIMMY RAVE vs. BJ WHITMER in the Field of Honor. Whitmer is 0-0 and Rave is 0-1. Pre-match, AJ once again told Rave he needs to stay focused on working BJ’s arm. He does so for most of the match, though it never really feels like a big theme as BJ isn’t selling the effects too much. BJ looks good here with a nasty lariat, and a really nice brainbuster and dragon suplex. Rave hits a series of big moves and places Whitmer on the top rope, but Whitmer turns it into a TOP ROPE POWERBOMB for the win. ***1/4. Good opener. Rave goes 0-2 in the Field of Honor.

    XAVIER vs. JOHN WALTERS in the Field of Honor. This match had some good moments but didn’t really come together. Xavier hits a nice top rope 450 to the outside and a really good looking Blockbuster variation. Walters hits a strong looking roll-through spear. Xavier picks up the win with a low blow and a very sloppy rollup. **1/2

    TJ WILSON vs. TEDDY HART next. Not much of a match. Teddy spends most of it doing submissions. Punk and Gabe are bickering about Punk’s match later tonight with Terry Funk so much that it seems like they’re actively trying to ignore the match. Teddy wins it with an SPP. **

    STEVE CORINO vs. RAVEN. The gimmick with this show is Punk chooses Raven’s opponent, Raven chooses Punk’s opponent. Corino comes out with his entourage again and his ring announcer takes several minutes listing down all the people Corino has beaten. The match itself is pretty boring, though. Just dull and nothing going on. Raven hits the DDT but Punk pull’s the ref out of the ring. With Raven distracted Corino is able to hit a superkick for the win. *1/2

    COLT CABANA vs. MATT STRYKER vs. AJ STYLES vs. CHRIS SABIN. Good match. Lots of back and forth, no one guy with an advantage for any extended period of time. Some good stuff here, including Matt Stryker busting out a cool springboard cross body on Styles. Sabin looks really sharp in this match, busting out a lot of good moves including a reverse rana. After a big exchange of everyone hitting big moves, Cabana is able to hit the Colt 45 on Stryker for the win. ***1/4

    Next is the TAG TEAM GUANTLET MATCH for the vacant Tag Titles, Styles and Red having to forfeit them due to Red’s injury. It actually starts off with a six-man tag with THE CARNAGE CREW of Loc, Devito and Justin Credible vs. HYDO, ANGEL DUST and DERANGED. It’s the standard Special K vs. Carnage Crew match which I’ve really come to enjoy. Carnage Crew run wild, Special K cheats to get the advantage, Carnage Crew make their comeback. All of Special K starts to interfere so The Carnage Crew bring out some straps and start whipping Special K, which gets them disqualified. Deranged And Hydro advance to THE BRISCOE BROTHERS. Hydro and Deranged actually wrestle serious for this one and they have a pretty good quick sprint. The Briscoes pin Hydro with a spiked Jay Driller. They advance to DUNN & MARCOS. It’s mostly a squash with the Briscoes killing Dunn and Marcos and finishing it with a Doomday Device. They advance to yet another Special K iteration, DIXIE and IZZY. Briscoes dominate at first, Special K gets on the offense, the Briscoes make their comeback and look to be about to win but another member of Special K interferes and hits Mark with a blockbuster, allowing Dixie to pin him and eliminate the Briscoes. Dixie and Izzy advanced to THE BACKSEAT BOYZ. The Backseats come in hot hitting their double team moves and are really over. Special K gets a run of offense but the Backseat Boyz are able to hit the T Gimmick on Izyy to become THE NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS. This is actually the first time a regular tag team holds the titles, as both Christopher Daniels and Donavan Morgan and AJ Styles and Amazing Red were primarily singles wrestlers who just teamed together to go for the titles. This whole thing was pretty fun but it was such a clusterfuck and had so many low carders that it did feel somewhat devaluing to the tag titles. ***. Special K attack the Backseats post match, The Briscoes come out to help, they end up brawling on the floor and of all people TEDDY HART comes back out to hit a totally wild springboard corkscrew moonsault.

    Alex Laree comes out and gets a big pop as she’s about to go to WWE and become Mickey James. Special K come out to try to attack her but JOEY MATTHEWS saves her … and then attacks her himself, apparently re-joining Special K. SLUGGER comes out to save her and Julius Smokes follows behind, which leads to … ALEXIS LAREE vs. HIJINKS with JULIUS SMOKES as special referee. They have a short match ending with Alexis getting the win after a reverse DDT. Too little of a match to rate.

    CM PUNK vs. TERRY FUNK next, it turns out to be NO DQ. Punk cuts a promo on Terry beforehand and actually gets mostly cheers. He’d been getting real heat for a while but we’re getting to the point where Punk is so clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the roster in charisma and presence that the fans are starting to turn him face. This is a severely limited match but they work hard. They brawl around the ring. Funk goes for a moonsault but misses and Punk focuses on the knee. The rest of the match is Punk locking in figure fours and going after Funk’s knee with a chair. Punk won’t break a figure four when Punk gets to the ropes and gets DQed, even though it’s no DQ. Funk made this match with his selling and trash talk. I’ll go *** for effort. Raven and Tommy Dreamer save Funk post-match and attack Punk and Cabana. Big pops.

    SAMOA JOE vs. CHRISTOPHER DANIELS for the World Title. Daniels is a totally babyface here, the crowd is very much behind him. Match starts hot with Samoa Joe really bringing it with the strikes more than he had usually been these last couple months, looking like the dominant champion. Daniels pushes Joe out of the ring and hits a beautiful Arabian Press to the outside. Joe is able to get back into control on the outside and hit some Ole Kicks. Back in the ring they trade big moves including a beautiful German Suplex from Daniels and a nasty STO from Joe. Daniels string together a series of big moves and has Joe on the ropes. He hits a big top rope hurricanrana and follows it up with the Angels Wings for a HUGE nearfall. Crowd goes crazy thinking it’s the end, and they even ring the bell as a tease but the ref waves it off. Daniels tries to follow it up with the Last Rites but Joe turns it into the choke. Daniels is able to make it to the ropes but the life is squeezed out of him. Joe drags him to the center of the ring, hits a big kick to the head and follows it with the Island Driver for the win. Definitely had a big match feel, maybe the biggest big match feel an ROH title match has had up to this point. Super hot crowd that was really into the final several minutes. ***3/4

    Not a bad show by any means but underwhelming for one of the Big Four shows and the last Murphy Rec show. Solid but unspectacular undercard and a very strong main event. 6/10

  87. #187
    X Ringo's Avatar
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    Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto vs. Masanobu Kurisu & Dragon Master, Texas Death Match, FMW 4/1/90

    This thing was fucking wild. I can't recall having ever seen Kurisu or Dragon Master/Sakurada before so I wasn't sure if they were even the guys in this match at the start. They come down to the ring in street clothes and Onita just flies out of the ring and takes them both out with a crazy tope and I didn't know what was going on. Dragon Master just starts absolutely walloping Onita with chairs, some of the hardest chairshots I've ever seen, as Onita climbs over rows of seats (and members of the public) to try and get away. It doesn't seem as though Dragon Master cares if he takes out an audience member or two as he swings the chair. Goto starts getting pelted as well. Just sick thud after sick thug. All four guys are bleeding after about 5 minutes and that's when the Texas Death match rules start to come into play with the pin for a 3 count followed by a 10 count. They play at tagging in and out like a normal tag match for a bit but that's never on the cards and it's not long before it breaks down again. Kurisu takes off his cowboy boot and starts leathering Onita. Onita takes off his belt and starts leathering everyone. There's a handful of wrestling moves alongside the brawling. A couple of DDTs. A couple of brutal powerbombs. After about 10 minutes Onita hits another powerbomb on Kurisu and he can't get to his feet before the 10 count and it's all over. This whole thing felt like four guys had got into a fight in the bar and decided to settle it in the ring. Crazy Southern US-esque brawl.

    Last edited by Ringo; April 18th, 2020 at 12:52 AM.

  88. #188
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    - Found a great Youtube channel full of old OVW matches. Most of these are from 2003 onward, but my God, they look like they're from a 1998 independent show shot from a video camera in the crowd. WWE's training gym looks nicer than the setup they have here for an actual TV show.

    - Travis Bane - The future Tyson Tomko is here. The guy had a great look, but I think drugs kicked his ass. He had a good stint in TNA, where it seemed like he was going to be "something", before he went to Japan. He showed up for a "special challenge" and got wrecked by Samoa Joe some time later, and he looked like a deflated balloon.

    - Seven is Kevin Fertig. The future Mordecai and Kevin Thorne. Meh?

    - Speaking of Kevin Thorne, does anyone else remember Ariel? She had nipples the size of dinner plates.

    - Mark Henry here, pre-Hall of Pain. WWE used OVW as a "storage closet" for guys who weren't ready to come back after an injury or for guys who needed a "tuneup run".

    - Matt Morgan. *sighs*. They gave this guy so many chances. And they did nothing with him.

  89. #189
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    Jim Cornette always makes that "I never fucked a 10, but one night I fucked 5 2's." joke.

    The fat chick with Tomko and Mordethorne is the current Missus Cornette.

    She's a 1. Maybe she's a Kentucky 5?
    Last edited by Spudz Mackenzie; April 18th, 2020 at 12:14 AM.

  90. #190
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    - Is there a bigger gulf of talent between two wrestlers than Chris Kanyon and Jackie Gayda? One can come up with 75,000 new moves in one match and the other can figure out how to botch a move in 75,000 different ways.

    - Charlie Haas would be a solid midcard talent right now. In a more work-rate oriented world, he'd be right at home. Especially on NXT.

  91. #191
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    - Actually, scratch what I said about the gulf of talent between Kanyon and Jackie. Charlie Haas is out with Linda "Shaniqua" Miles. If Charlie Haas is the wrestling equivalent of a mechanic, Linda Miles is the wrestling equivalent of a drunk driver running a red light at rush hour. She's a 15 car pileup in wrestling form.

  92. #192
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    - Jim Cornette always talks about how WWE wasted Nick Dinsmore, when they made him go full well... you know... in the WWE. This is the first time I've ever really seen him work not as Eugene. He looks like a modern day Chris Benoit in a lot of ways. The German Suplexes, the Crossface. He's really damn good.

    - He doesn't go very far, but before he gets beat in short order by Nick D, Lance Cade actually looks pretty damn good. He's a big guy who hits hard and moves pretty well. They're a little off on that bulldog headlock spot, but otherwise, he looks good in his 7-8 minutes.

    - Johnny Jeter is the prototype of a lot of modern day, flippy-dippy bullshit wrestlers. Dude throws some cool flying kicks. He gets it over Dinsmore in a pretty cool little mat exchange/rollup/pinning predicament.

    - Rob Conway and Johnny Jeter have a Hell of a mini-match. The longest of the entire gauntlet. Conway reminds me a lot of Shane Douglas. Its an odd comparison, but there's a good bit of Shane Douglas there in Conway's punches, his cutoffs, and the way he gets his heat. Also, Douglas used to beat guys with a Belly-To-Belly Suplex, Conway finishes guys with a regular neckbreaker.

    - Johnny Jeter goes for a springboard moonsault, but slips, crashes and burns. He pulled it off so well I thought it was a legit botch at first. That's tough to do. Usually when a guy "botches" on purpose, it looks bad, because you can tell they're still bracing for the bump. But Jeter winds up on his head.

    - Conway manages to lead Matt Morgan - who's still so green if you turned out the lights, he'd glow in the dark - by the hand through a decent little match. Conway gets caught going for a punch with the dreaded "loaded glove" and gets disqualified.

    - Matt Morgan and Mark Henry have a good, little hoss match. They keep it simple and Matt Morgan scores a big boot and a regular bodyslam for the win. Good enough.

    - Its not quite that classic "Pink Jacket Swerve", but Henry turns on Morgan after the match. He knocks down Morgan and gets as much "air" on a splash as a broken pogo stick in an anti-gravity chamber.

  93. #193
    X Ringo's Avatar
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    brazil
    Masakatsu Funaki vs. Tatsuo Nakano, UWF 7/27/89

    Like the last match, this is another one I saw on a "greatest matches of all time" list that I don't think I've actually even heard of before. I'm familiar with Funaki as the co-founder of Pancrase alongside MInoru Suzuki, I remember his feud with Yuji Nagata in New Japan and he had quite substantial runs with All Japan and Wrestle-1 in recent years too. But I don't think I've seen too many of his matches. I knew nothing of Tatsuo Nakano when I watched this. Here he is the established UWF veteran, having competed for the original UWF in the mid-80s, and he's treated like the hometown boy by the crowd. They absolutely love him. That said, he's surely the clear underdog here against Funaki. They beat the piss out of each other early on and the crowd is molten. The aggression is off the charts. Slaps, fists, kicks, stomps. But it's Nakano who comes off worse from the opening exchanges and he may have a broken nose as blood pours down his face. They tease ending things early but the doctor gives the all clear and Nakano lifts his fist to a huge roar from the crowd. He makes a comeback with, amongst other things, some sick looking roundhouse kicks. Funaki tries to get back to his feet at one point but his legs buckle and he falls down again. It's top class selling. Or at least I assume he's selling.

    Funaki does a sort of flipping Alabama Slam on Nakano towards the end which looks strange but cool. Nakano comes close to pulling off the win but can't quite manage it and Funaki wins with a Boston Crab. This all clocks in at under 10 minutes. Crazy little war and I fancy seeing more Tatsuo Nakano matches.


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    - Gotta love WCW trying their hand at a multiple team match. Most of these in WCW have been complete flustercunts. Not expecting much better here.

    - Erik Watts out, dressed in his best 90's raver pants. His side pockets can hold an entire Rey Mysterio.

    - Hacksaw Jim Duggan, by 1999, might have been the worst full-time wrestler in the business.

    - Jimmy Hart's First Family is the worst stable in wrestling history. Don't @ me, bro.

    - Cute spot where Brian Knobbs and Hugh Morrus both get tagged and actually have a brief slugfest. Now that's a dream match.

    - Holy mother of shit, this is terrible. The action isn't bad. But the finish sees "Lightning Foot" Larry... err... Jerry Flynn, Jimmy Hart, and Fit Finlay (cosplaying a character from Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels) all run in. Hart nails one of the Armstrongs with the megaphone, everybody fights, Finlay clobbers Hart with a flag, and then FINLAY PINS HART! and wins the match for The Blue Bloods. Wow... I have no words.

  95. #195
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    - Blitzkrieg was one of those rare highlights of late-90's WCW. I've said it before, but they brought him in with no hype, no build, and no background given. Blitzkrieg was a Canadian guy who wanted to use a high-paying WCW job to pay his way through computer programming school. He seemed to coalesce out of the wrestling ether with wrestling experience beyond his limited years and he was gone within two years.

    - Rey Mysterio looks like a Slim Shady Mini-Me and I hate it.

    - Pretty good match. I was expecting face vs. face, but Blitzkrieg plays a pretty blatant heel.

    - Mysterio wins with a top-rope hurricanrana. And he still looks Slim Shady's Mini-Me and I still hate it.

  96. #196
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    - Interesting comparison here to the Blitzkrieg/Mysterio match. Blitz works face this time.

    - Dean Malenko is in The Revolution this time with Shane Douglas, Saturn, and Chris Benoit. "You wanted evolution? Well, you got a REVOLUTION!"

    - Malenko eats Blitzkrieg alive in this match. Poor Canadian luchador computer programmer kid gets about four moves. But one of those is a pretty wicked little pinning combination. But Malenko ties Blitz up so much, if he threw some salt on him, he'd be doing a pretty good impersonation of a pretzel.

    - Now I want a Mexican pretzel. That's a hot pretzel wrapped in a soft shell taco shell, with hot sauce and melted nacho cheese.

    - Actually, I just made that up.

  97. #197
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    - Oof... this one's a tough watch. Wrath and Hugh Morrus are both imminently talented big men, but they just don't "click" in this match.

    - Compliment sandwich time - Big props to Morrus for taking a bodyslam on the floor. - Positive

    - Morrus botches the living shit out of a Powerslam attempt to counter Wrath's springboard flying clothesline. He just kind of... catches him.. and gently sets him down off to the side. - Negative.

    - Jimmy Hart takes a great moonsault from Hugh Morrus, when he comes in and gets in a downed Wrath's face, but gets grabbed and sandwiched between Wrath and Morrus. - Positive - Even though, with Hart on top of him weighing as much as a pile of newspaper, that shouldn't have been too much cushioning for Wrath. Its like trying to shield yourself from a falling fridge using a magazine.

    - Wrath botches the living daylights out of his finish. He can't pull Morrus all the way up and over his shoulder for the Meltdown, so he just kind of awkwardly puts Morrus down on his side. Ouch.

    - This match sucked. Wrath's Van Halen ripoff music is still awesome, though. Wrath went from entering to a knockoff of "Running With The Devil", to a knockoff of Static X's "Love Dump" when he wound up in Kronik. That's a pretty big step down.
    Last edited by Spudz Mackenzie; April 20th, 2020 at 2:15 AM.

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    - Whoa, this is a great little 4-minute tag-team match. Kaz and Dragon make a pretty cool team.

    - Mike and Steve Armstrong are great bread and butter heels. In 2020, they'd be tearing it up in NXT, like The Revival, instead of languishing on the C-show.

    - Kevin and Bill Armstrong look like Ken Dolls with the haircuts and hair color.

    - Kaz and Dragon have some pretty cool offense, but Dave and John Armstrong are good enough to keep up with them.

    - Brent and Michael Armstrong, presumably, don't get a lot of chances to play "the big man", but it looked like they enjoyed it in their limited capacity here.

    - Chet and Chip Armstrong doing a perfectly clean job here surprised me. But, good on Sven and Norman Armstrong for going through with it. WCW didn't usually put their cruiserweight guys over their heavyweights, so you can see exactly where Tyler and Sal Armstrong were on the totem pole.

  99. #199
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    I just picked up some bud called Rollins, so I'm about to get baked and watch Rollins/Cena from SummerSlam 2015.

  100. #200
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    Quote Originally Posted by Psycho666Soldier View Post
    I just picked up some bud called Rollins, so I'm about to get baked and watch Rollins/Cena from SummerSlam 2015.
    While listening to Limp Bizkit's "Rollin'" and some tunes by The Henry Rollins Band?

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