KENSO vs SUSHI [*1/4]
This match didn't hold my interest. It was an opener that did its job in getting the crowd amped but nothing to make me care about the two combatants involved. The crowd loved both men, which was odd to me since KENSO is obviously supposed to be a heel. He even chokes SUSHI with a scarf in full view of the ref and still does not get a DQ. KENSO does the worst thing a wrestler can do in a match which is screw up the finish. KENSO slips off the top rope when, he recovers well enough and finished SUSHI off with an elbow off the top rope.
Junior Stars vs Andy Wu & Osamu Nishimura [*3/4]
Junior Stars are Koji Kanemoto and Minoru Tanaka. Andy Wu does not have a profile on CAGEMATCH which tells me he either sucks or is taking the fall in this one. Luckily for me this is the latter as he is in the ring for the lion's share of the short match and is competent enough to keep it together. This is little more than a squash as the result was not in doubt. Tanaka makes Wu sumbit to the Minoru Special.
Seiya Sanada & Yasufumi Nakanoue vs Turmeric Storm [**3/4]
Tumeric Storm brings the hate here and it is awesome. This match has an intensity that the rest of the undercard cannot match. Honma gets his team disqualified for using a chair on Sanada, but even without a finish this is worth checking out. Not a MOTYC by any means but a solid AJPW undercard match.
Last Revolution vs SMOP [**3/4]
I really liked this match, a definite solid outing by both teams. SMOP have an issue in their strategy, they use the big avalanche way too much and it. It is their version of a high risk top rope maneuver, when it misses it misses big. I am a fan of SMOP because they are fun to watch, especially with good opponents like Doering and Suwama. There is no major buildup to the win here but the ending is rather impressive. Doering hits Akebono with a Death Valley Driver and the crowd is quite impressed. Last Revolution will have a title shot in their future.
GURENTAI vs Kaz Hayashi, Kenji Muto & Masanobu Fuchi [***]
GURENTAI are awesome coming out to "I Need A Hero". We are in the midst of a Taiyo Kea retirement tour as he plans to go into business management. Muto was amazing in this, dispite his age and larger size he can still move. I think he can do everything he could in the 80s short of the handspring elbow. Fuchi brings comedy to the match and Hayashi doesn't do more than screw up a backbreaker almost dropping MAZADA on his cranium. This was a strong, well built match that ended with a schoolboy rollup from Fuchi on MAZADA. Worth a look.
Get Wild© vs Stack of Arms - AJPW World Tag Team Titles [***1/4]
We get all out action from the outset, not sure what happened in Soya's Big Japan singles match from the same day but this was in a different stratosphere. It is interesting what Japanese fans boo as wrestlers I thought would be heels got cheers tonight but when Soya's attempted suplex out of a hanging front facelock is broken up, the fans give major heel heat. Omori finishes the match with the awesome Axe Guillotine Driver. Very enjoyable match.
Hiroshi Yamato© vs Shuji Kondo© - AJPW World Jr Heavyweight Title/GHC Jr Heavyweight Title [**3/4]
I wasn't as big a fan of this as I was expecting to be. Yamato wrestled the match from so far underneath that I never took him to be a threat to win. As the match went on he got some desperation moves in but nothing that sucked me into believing he would take the GHC title. Kondo hits a couple of nice lariats to end the 143 day AJPW Jr Heavyweight Title reign of Yamato. Kondo become the 34th champion. This match was okay but I preferred the two that preceded it.
14 Man Battle Royal including Joe Doering, Kazushi Miyamoto, Kenji Muto, KENSO, Manabu Soya, Masayuki Kono, Osamu Nishimura, Royota Hama, Seiya Sanada, Suwama, Taiyo Kea, Takao Omori, Tomoaki Honma, and Yasufumi Nakanoue [**]
Going into this match I was trying to decide how a Japanese promotion would approach a battle royal since I had never seen one from Japan. No one in this match gave much of an effort and while there were some decent spots like KENSO hanging on for dear life, the 10 man chinlock and double crosses, but there just wasn't much here. The combatants made good use of pinfalls since they were legal and there were more than one double pin. Taiyo Kea won with the TKO and is as good of a choice to win this match as any.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: The middle portion of the event is good, but it ended in a bust for me.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
TNA: iMPACT 01/17/13
I have fallen way behind in my wrestling viewing, it's catch up time!!
I am reminded of the Bully/Brooke wedding and immediately hate on this show. Spike Dudley and Tommy Dreamer show up to congratulate Bully. Everyone wonders if Hulk will show for the wedding.
Jeff Hardy comes down and reminds me why I dislike him so much. He hasn't changed much since at least 2006. Christopher Daniels says we can worship him when he wins the title next week. Kaz and Daniels jump Hardy which brings out James Storm. TNA liberally borrows from the Teddy Long school of booking to make a tag team match tonight.
Jeff Hardy and James Storm vs Kaz and Christopher Daniels
The good thing coming out of this match is a name for Kaz and Daniels, Bad Influence. I wonder about the state of wrestling. I am not sure if it is the over saturation compared to the 80s but the TV matches in the 80s seem like they had more flow to them. It seems like they were more memorable for sure. There was nothing here to separate this match from any other match on any other Impact. Don't get me wrong there was nothing offensive about the match, it is four good performers plying their trade but nothing to run to the Internet and write about.......oh. Hardy got the win with the Twist of Fate. Daniels attacks afterwards with a sweet Angels Wings on the title and then lays on Jeff with the title over his shoulders in a classy move.
The Gut Check judges deliberate over the two candidates but refuse to make a decision just yet. Neither candidate made a huge impression on me last week. Nerves and lack of time to do much hurts getting a good evaluation on the two wrestlers.
In the back Spike reeks of beer and strippers. Joseph Park gives Bully non street legal cigars. I do not like wrestling weddings. I watch to see men FIGHT!
Gut Check Decision Time
Jay Bradley gets the contract despite the crowd chanting "No". It's way too early to tell if they made the right decision. I am not sure I like having two gut check contestants. There is a lot that can be accomplished with a contestant beating a TNA guy.
Christian York vs Kenny King
I cannot believe King did not win the tournament. I feel there is more money to be made off of King than York. King brings a lot to the table. I need to watch some York matches from last decade to see if he was always bad or if he has just gotten slower over the years. Maybe they are doing spots too complicated for him because York seems like he is always a step too slow. It really hurts the flow of the match, at least King gets the win with a schoolboy rollup.
The big drama over the wedding is whether or not Hulk will show up. Sting says he will attempt to talk to Hulk for Bully.
Aries and Roode trying to upstage each other is awesome in every way possible. They agree to work together to accomplish their goals. They are a fun team that I hope will have some awesome matches.
Sting gets Hogan in the ring and corners him about going to the wedding. Hogan, in so many words, says he will do the right thing.
Gail Kim confronts the ref about what she missed (foot on the ropes) that cost Gail the #1 contedendership at the PPV. She gets a rematch tonight.
Gail Kim vs Velvet Sky - #1 Contenders Match
Why have a rematch for a contenders spot? It renders the previous match as pointless. I wonder if they screwed up the ending at the PPV and had to have a rematch here. Velvet wins again with a pedigree. They messed up some stuff here, not that great of a match.
This is such an angle driven show. Now we get Brooke and Dixie having a little heart to heart.
Before our wedding we get Aries and Roode coming out upset the show is about a wedding and not about them. Their claim that they are the best thing on the show is hard to argue with. The tag champs come down and object to the objections and we have a fight on our hands. If this leads to Aries and Roode as tag champs I am all in!
Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan Wedding
As a wedding this sucked but as an angle it was awesome. Taz reveals himself as the newest A&8's member and the ensuing beatdown by A&8's was fantastic. The crowd legitimately was floored by the reveal. There was a girl in the background just stunned shouting "WHAT, WHAT!!" This was great pro wrestling. Brooke audibly tells her dad her boobs are out, while Bully gets hit by D-von withone of the stage pieces. this is the sort of chaos wrestling has been missing for the last ten years. Let's hope they capitalize on it.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:<\b> A complete angle driven show that really lacks on the wrestling side. The angle is really good but really short. I am actually looking forward to this Thursday's Impact so I guess this week's show did its job.
I am reminded of the Bully/Brooke wedding and immediately hate on this show. Spike Dudley and Tommy Dreamer show up to congratulate Bully. Everyone wonders if Hulk will show for the wedding.
Jeff Hardy comes down and reminds me why I dislike him so much. He hasn't changed much since at least 2006. Christopher Daniels says we can worship him when he wins the title next week. Kaz and Daniels jump Hardy which brings out James Storm. TNA liberally borrows from the Teddy Long school of booking to make a tag team match tonight.
Jeff Hardy and James Storm vs Kaz and Christopher Daniels
The good thing coming out of this match is a name for Kaz and Daniels, Bad Influence. I wonder about the state of wrestling. I am not sure if it is the over saturation compared to the 80s but the TV matches in the 80s seem like they had more flow to them. It seems like they were more memorable for sure. There was nothing here to separate this match from any other match on any other Impact. Don't get me wrong there was nothing offensive about the match, it is four good performers plying their trade but nothing to run to the Internet and write about.......oh. Hardy got the win with the Twist of Fate. Daniels attacks afterwards with a sweet Angels Wings on the title and then lays on Jeff with the title over his shoulders in a classy move.
The Gut Check judges deliberate over the two candidates but refuse to make a decision just yet. Neither candidate made a huge impression on me last week. Nerves and lack of time to do much hurts getting a good evaluation on the two wrestlers.
In the back Spike reeks of beer and strippers. Joseph Park gives Bully non street legal cigars. I do not like wrestling weddings. I watch to see men FIGHT!
Gut Check Decision Time
Jay Bradley gets the contract despite the crowd chanting "No". It's way too early to tell if they made the right decision. I am not sure I like having two gut check contestants. There is a lot that can be accomplished with a contestant beating a TNA guy.
Christian York vs Kenny King
I cannot believe King did not win the tournament. I feel there is more money to be made off of King than York. King brings a lot to the table. I need to watch some York matches from last decade to see if he was always bad or if he has just gotten slower over the years. Maybe they are doing spots too complicated for him because York seems like he is always a step too slow. It really hurts the flow of the match, at least King gets the win with a schoolboy rollup.
The big drama over the wedding is whether or not Hulk will show up. Sting says he will attempt to talk to Hulk for Bully.
Aries and Roode trying to upstage each other is awesome in every way possible. They agree to work together to accomplish their goals. They are a fun team that I hope will have some awesome matches.
Sting gets Hogan in the ring and corners him about going to the wedding. Hogan, in so many words, says he will do the right thing.
Gail Kim confronts the ref about what she missed (foot on the ropes) that cost Gail the #1 contedendership at the PPV. She gets a rematch tonight.
Gail Kim vs Velvet Sky - #1 Contenders Match
Why have a rematch for a contenders spot? It renders the previous match as pointless. I wonder if they screwed up the ending at the PPV and had to have a rematch here. Velvet wins again with a pedigree. They messed up some stuff here, not that great of a match.
This is such an angle driven show. Now we get Brooke and Dixie having a little heart to heart.
Before our wedding we get Aries and Roode coming out upset the show is about a wedding and not about them. Their claim that they are the best thing on the show is hard to argue with. The tag champs come down and object to the objections and we have a fight on our hands. If this leads to Aries and Roode as tag champs I am all in!
Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan Wedding
As a wedding this sucked but as an angle it was awesome. Taz reveals himself as the newest A&8's member and the ensuing beatdown by A&8's was fantastic. The crowd legitimately was floored by the reveal. There was a girl in the background just stunned shouting "WHAT, WHAT!!" This was great pro wrestling. Brooke audibly tells her dad her boobs are out, while Bully gets hit by D-von withone of the stage pieces. this is the sort of chaos wrestling has been missing for the last ten years. Let's hope they capitalize on it.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:<\b> A complete angle driven show that really lacks on the wrestling side. The angle is really good but really short. I am actually looking forward to this Thursday's Impact so I guess this week's show did its job.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The Year That Was 1996 - Part 3
Sabu vs. Stevie Richards (ECW 1/5/96)
The critiques of Sabu and his pension for botchiness is well known in wrestling circles. He has several full episodes of Bothchamania, entiled Sabuamania, dedicated to his mistakes in the squared circle. I am used to thinking its just Sabu, no big deal. What I see here is a younger more spry Sabu that is very impressive. This is not to say that he doesn't screw up, but it is not as noticeable as it would become later in his career. His trademark top rope springboard moves to the outside after coming off of a chair are performed so fluid it is amazing. I can see why fans were gaga over him in the early-mid 90s. Neither wrestlers are scientific masterminds, but what they pull off is an intense brawl that tells a solid story. ECW was a macho wrestling company with action tailored towards men. The story's are rarely of the scientific variety, which was smart since they wanted to be different from WWF and WCW, and they did not have the talent to pull off scientific matches night in and night out. This is a coming out party of sorts for Stevie Richards. He is able to take all of Sabu's best shots, and through a loss he elevates himself in the eyes of the fans as a wrestler that is tougher than his persona would indicate and if he faced Sabu again might be able to steal a victory. Stevie took a sunset flip to the floor which was brutal since ECW did not have any padding on the floors at this time. The highspots I remember the most is the Big Stevie Kick that takes Sabu's head off. This kick looked as if it could have hurt Sabu, it was that good. The Arabian Facebuster is vintage Sabu and enough to finally put Richards away.
Public Enemy vs. The Gangstas (Public Enemy Farewell) (ECW 1/5/96)
There isn't much to analyze here, it is four guys beating the tar out of each other. I only counted two wrestling moves, a spinning toe hold and figure four leglock, in the entire match. They find any and everything to hit each other with including pies and cheese graters. While it is packed with a lot of action, it starts to wear a bit thin by the end. Flyboy hits a Drive By through a table for the win. Kind of surprised with Paul E's penchant for good booking he didn't do something more epic for TPE's last match. The match is followed by a quick retrospective of the Public Enemy's ECW career.
The critiques of Sabu and his pension for botchiness is well known in wrestling circles. He has several full episodes of Bothchamania, entiled Sabuamania, dedicated to his mistakes in the squared circle. I am used to thinking its just Sabu, no big deal. What I see here is a younger more spry Sabu that is very impressive. This is not to say that he doesn't screw up, but it is not as noticeable as it would become later in his career. His trademark top rope springboard moves to the outside after coming off of a chair are performed so fluid it is amazing. I can see why fans were gaga over him in the early-mid 90s. Neither wrestlers are scientific masterminds, but what they pull off is an intense brawl that tells a solid story. ECW was a macho wrestling company with action tailored towards men. The story's are rarely of the scientific variety, which was smart since they wanted to be different from WWF and WCW, and they did not have the talent to pull off scientific matches night in and night out. This is a coming out party of sorts for Stevie Richards. He is able to take all of Sabu's best shots, and through a loss he elevates himself in the eyes of the fans as a wrestler that is tougher than his persona would indicate and if he faced Sabu again might be able to steal a victory. Stevie took a sunset flip to the floor which was brutal since ECW did not have any padding on the floors at this time. The highspots I remember the most is the Big Stevie Kick that takes Sabu's head off. This kick looked as if it could have hurt Sabu, it was that good. The Arabian Facebuster is vintage Sabu and enough to finally put Richards away.
Public Enemy vs. The Gangstas (Public Enemy Farewell) (ECW 1/5/96)
There isn't much to analyze here, it is four guys beating the tar out of each other. I only counted two wrestling moves, a spinning toe hold and figure four leglock, in the entire match. They find any and everything to hit each other with including pies and cheese graters. While it is packed with a lot of action, it starts to wear a bit thin by the end. Flyboy hits a Drive By through a table for the win. Kind of surprised with Paul E's penchant for good booking he didn't do something more epic for TPE's last match. The match is followed by a quick retrospective of the Public Enemy's ECW career.
WWE: Main Event 01/16/13
Randy Orton vs Antonio Cesaro
This was a great Main Event match, that put over the new Miz/Cesaro issue. I have grown to like Miz since he has started in the commentary booth, he really adds a lot to the show. Cesaro uses a move or two from Miz to drive home the point that he is studying Miz. Cesaro went airborne, getting great height, on a double axhandle. Most of the match revolves around Orion's injured shoulder, all for nought though as The Shield make a run in. After Orton and Miz are left lying around Cesaro neutralizes Miz.
Prime Time Players vs The Usos
Beef Wellington comes down for commentary and it rules, I have become a big Brad Maddox fan. The match was secondary to Maddox being unbelievably awesome here. He steal JR's lines, makes fake promotional sponsors, creates tweets on air, does the lead in to a break that isn't happening. I really didn't pay attention to the match, Maddox was that entertaining. I doubt Cole and Maddox even called one move the entire match. The Vesselmania 13 promo had Cole trying not to lose it on camera. Usos win but I don't care, WWE needs to let the Beef loose!
Thoughts: Great main event and an entertaining tag match make this worth your while to find on YouTube. Very enjoyable show!
This was a great Main Event match, that put over the new Miz/Cesaro issue. I have grown to like Miz since he has started in the commentary booth, he really adds a lot to the show. Cesaro uses a move or two from Miz to drive home the point that he is studying Miz. Cesaro went airborne, getting great height, on a double axhandle. Most of the match revolves around Orion's injured shoulder, all for nought though as The Shield make a run in. After Orton and Miz are left lying around Cesaro neutralizes Miz.
Prime Time Players vs The Usos
Beef Wellington comes down for commentary and it rules, I have become a big Brad Maddox fan. The match was secondary to Maddox being unbelievably awesome here. He steal JR's lines, makes fake promotional sponsors, creates tweets on air, does the lead in to a break that isn't happening. I really didn't pay attention to the match, Maddox was that entertaining. I doubt Cole and Maddox even called one move the entire match. The Vesselmania 13 promo had Cole trying not to lose it on camera. Usos win but I don't care, WWE needs to let the Beef loose!
Thoughts: Great main event and an entertaining tag match make this worth your while to find on YouTube. Very enjoyable show!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
WWE: RAW 01/14/13 - 20th Anniversary Show
We start with Vince McMahon in the ring hyping the big 20th Anniversary show. We will get a Cena/Ziggler cage match. The Big Show interrupts and is upset over the circumstances surrounding his title loss. Show had me cracking up when he mentions that he has an ironclad contract which makes him better than everyone in the world. He must have one good agent. Alberto Del Rio comes out and is awesome. First off Ricardo is the most likable man in wrestling. His announcements of ADR have become "sing along with Ricardo" moments. ADR wanted to defend the title tonight but Show wanted to be prepared so it is made for the Royal Rumble. The crowd reacting to ADR is awesome. They start chanting "Si" when they approve of his suggestions. It is a fun environment in Houston. Ricardo throws confetti on Show and Del Rio deposits Show out of the ring. There was a lot going on in this segment and it was fun. Alberto Del Rio looks refreshed and having a lot of fun as a face. I think his problem was that he had gotten stale doing the same shtick since his debut.
Wade Barrett© vs Randy Orton - Intercontinental Championship
Could not believe Barrett was put over that strong over Orton. A true landmark win for Barrett and should mean his career is still heading upwards, or possibly Orton falling out with management. Match was okay with nothing really special or worth remembering happening. The ending Bull Hammer elbow was awesome. Great to see Barrett with the clean win.
Book lays down a stip for the Divas championship match tonight. If Eve gets DQ'ed or counted out she looses the title. Eve laid an awesome slap on Teddy Long.
Team Hell No is sent back to the doctor for a follow-up where they plan to lie and tell him what he wants to hear to get out. Dr Shelby brings in Rhodes Scholars to try a new treatment, however they criticize the doctor and he lets Hell No chase them away. These segments are always funny and this was no different. Amazing how much chemistry Kane and Bryan have.
Kane vs Damien Sandow
Most matches featured on RAW aren't much and this certainly was more of the same. Kane wins this extended squash with a
Mick Foley is announced as going into the Hall of Fame. The Shield attempts to make a name for themselves at his expense but Ryback, Orton and Shaemus come in for the save and a decent brawl. Ryback says he is determined to destroy the Shield. He isn't a bad interview in a caveman sort of way.
Skipped the DIVAS match because I frankly do not care. Katelyn is your new champ, as Eve is leaving to get married.
Brodus Clay has foul words for Punk. Looks like we might have a match.
Brodus Clay vs CM Punk
Fun little squash by Punk. The ending was cool as Punk transitioned the Macho elbow into the Anaconda Vice. Being a special show, RAW hasn't provided anything great in matches.
Mick Foley is in the back and is found by The Rock. Vickie interrupts, and actually shuts them up. Rock doesn't respond, as he will choose to respond during his concert.
Shaemus vs 3MB - Over the Top Rope Challange
I like the booking of a fluke win for 3MB. Shaemus is clearly better than all three combined but a missed Brogue Kick puts him on the Apron where the two eliminated members pull Shaemus off the ring. Shaemus tears them a new one afterwards.
Cena claims RAW is his house and he is going to destroy Ziggler. He also mentions taking a dump the size of Papa Shango.
MIZ tv with Ric Flair
A complete nostalgia segment with Antonio Cesaro playing the heel the faces trash. Amazing how a special show can be so crappy, and I enjoy the WWE midcard more than most.
Ziggler lays down a passionate promo promising the greatest performance in the history of RAW.
Dolph Ziggler vs John Cena - Steel Cage Match
Jim Ross has joined the commentary team for this match. I was not happy about the Cena win here. He wrestles the Hogan formula but his comeback is instantaneous instead of having to chain together moves like Hogan did. I like Ziggler a lot and keep hoping he can keep his momentum after the big PPV win. I will say Big E Langston was boss taking that briefcase to the head, it was one of the harder shots to the head in recent memory. This match is good and the fans were very much into it. This would be worth inclusion on a 2013 comp.
The Rock ends the show with a hilarious concert about Vickie Guererro and a brawl with CM Punk. They were running so late that the brawl was the shortest part of this segment. Rocky is a great entertainer.
Overall Thoughts: I was hoping for a blow away show and we just didn't get it. It was one of those RAW's that seemed to drag on forever and by the end you are so tired you just want it to be over. Hope they find a way to add some life to the marathon show.
Wade Barrett© vs Randy Orton - Intercontinental Championship
Could not believe Barrett was put over that strong over Orton. A true landmark win for Barrett and should mean his career is still heading upwards, or possibly Orton falling out with management. Match was okay with nothing really special or worth remembering happening. The ending Bull Hammer elbow was awesome. Great to see Barrett with the clean win.
Book lays down a stip for the Divas championship match tonight. If Eve gets DQ'ed or counted out she looses the title. Eve laid an awesome slap on Teddy Long.
Team Hell No is sent back to the doctor for a follow-up where they plan to lie and tell him what he wants to hear to get out. Dr Shelby brings in Rhodes Scholars to try a new treatment, however they criticize the doctor and he lets Hell No chase them away. These segments are always funny and this was no different. Amazing how much chemistry Kane and Bryan have.
Kane vs Damien Sandow
Most matches featured on RAW aren't much and this certainly was more of the same. Kane wins this extended squash with a
Mick Foley is announced as going into the Hall of Fame. The Shield attempts to make a name for themselves at his expense but Ryback, Orton and Shaemus come in for the save and a decent brawl. Ryback says he is determined to destroy the Shield. He isn't a bad interview in a caveman sort of way.
Skipped the DIVAS match because I frankly do not care. Katelyn is your new champ, as Eve is leaving to get married.
Brodus Clay has foul words for Punk. Looks like we might have a match.
Brodus Clay vs CM Punk
Fun little squash by Punk. The ending was cool as Punk transitioned the Macho elbow into the Anaconda Vice. Being a special show, RAW hasn't provided anything great in matches.
Mick Foley is in the back and is found by The Rock. Vickie interrupts, and actually shuts them up. Rock doesn't respond, as he will choose to respond during his concert.
Shaemus vs 3MB - Over the Top Rope Challange
I like the booking of a fluke win for 3MB. Shaemus is clearly better than all three combined but a missed Brogue Kick puts him on the Apron where the two eliminated members pull Shaemus off the ring. Shaemus tears them a new one afterwards.
Cena claims RAW is his house and he is going to destroy Ziggler. He also mentions taking a dump the size of Papa Shango.
MIZ tv with Ric Flair
A complete nostalgia segment with Antonio Cesaro playing the heel the faces trash. Amazing how a special show can be so crappy, and I enjoy the WWE midcard more than most.
Ziggler lays down a passionate promo promising the greatest performance in the history of RAW.
Dolph Ziggler vs John Cena - Steel Cage Match
Jim Ross has joined the commentary team for this match. I was not happy about the Cena win here. He wrestles the Hogan formula but his comeback is instantaneous instead of having to chain together moves like Hogan did. I like Ziggler a lot and keep hoping he can keep his momentum after the big PPV win. I will say Big E Langston was boss taking that briefcase to the head, it was one of the harder shots to the head in recent memory. This match is good and the fans were very much into it. This would be worth inclusion on a 2013 comp.
The Rock ends the show with a hilarious concert about Vickie Guererro and a brawl with CM Punk. They were running so late that the brawl was the shortest part of this segment. Rocky is a great entertainer.
Overall Thoughts: I was hoping for a blow away show and we just didn't get it. It was one of those RAW's that seemed to drag on forever and by the end you are so tired you just want it to be over. Hope they find a way to add some life to the marathon show.
Monday, January 14, 2013
WWE Smackdown 01/11/13
First let me say that I am seemingly always behind watching wrestling but that is the great thing about a DVR. Second I did check out the big spoiler for this show, since I do all of my reviews live that knowledge will be factored to the review too.
Booker comes out and makes US and World Title matches. Big Show is understandably upset and runs down the Latinos in Miami effectively getting a good face reaction for Del Rio. ADR comes down and knocks Show out of the ring.
Antonio Cesaro© vs Randy Orton - United States Championship
Not much was shown but I though what was was okay, this was mostly here for The Shield to further their issue with Orton. I think a clean win for Cesaro would get him where they are taking him a lot faster.
3MB is interviewed and says they are ready for the Royal Rumble but first they are going to et even with Shaemus. At this point I must mention the awesomeness of JBL on commentary. He has been great all night really putting over the fighting show Smackdown is. Matthews asks JBL is there is a chance 3MB can win the Rumble, to which he simply replies "No!" It was so short and direct that it made me laugh and laugh hard.
CM Punk sends a tape of an awesome promo he cut in Miami telling the Rock he can come back to Miami but never come back home. It is hard to describe these promos because Punk is on such a high level right now that you have to see them to take in everything he is trying to say.he is that good.
Dolph Ziggler & AJ vs The Great Khali & Natalya
What was this?? Horrible match that showed how slow Khali has become, I must have bought into the WWE hype machine the last few weeks because this was a different Khali tonight. AJ skips around the ring bites Natty and a Sliced Bread #2 for the win. Waste...of....time.
Another great promo by CM Punk, amazingly I am starting to think that CM Punk could win this match. He is talented.
The Rock comes out and is The Rock of 2000. Rhodes Scholars interrupts and awesomeness follows. Lots of fun from The Rock. The Craigslist and Caterpillar lines were the best of the night.
Team Hell No vs Prime Time Players
Daniel Bryan's knee is still messed up from RAW. He sells better than 99% of wrestlers in the world. This is essentially a squash with THN winning with a Kane chokeslam. Amazing how fast the PTP's have fallen. They should be in the title picture.
The Big Show© vs Alberto Del Rio - Last Man Standing - World Heavyweight Title
Get this match, if you can find it!! it is such a great moment booked very very well. ADR needs to drop the large champ so he hits him repeatedly with the steps until he drops, then turns the announce table on too of Show. I don't think the fans were convinced ADR was going to win until the ref hit 9. Amazing moment for a wrestler that has had some false starts. Before this win, ADR was good not great and could have been released in a year or two. Hopefully this will become the memorable reign he needs to become a mainstay in WWE.
Booker comes out and makes US and World Title matches. Big Show is understandably upset and runs down the Latinos in Miami effectively getting a good face reaction for Del Rio. ADR comes down and knocks Show out of the ring.
Antonio Cesaro© vs Randy Orton - United States Championship
Not much was shown but I though what was was okay, this was mostly here for The Shield to further their issue with Orton. I think a clean win for Cesaro would get him where they are taking him a lot faster.
3MB is interviewed and says they are ready for the Royal Rumble but first they are going to et even with Shaemus. At this point I must mention the awesomeness of JBL on commentary. He has been great all night really putting over the fighting show Smackdown is. Matthews asks JBL is there is a chance 3MB can win the Rumble, to which he simply replies "No!" It was so short and direct that it made me laugh and laugh hard.
CM Punk sends a tape of an awesome promo he cut in Miami telling the Rock he can come back to Miami but never come back home. It is hard to describe these promos because Punk is on such a high level right now that you have to see them to take in everything he is trying to say.he is that good.
Dolph Ziggler & AJ vs The Great Khali & Natalya
What was this?? Horrible match that showed how slow Khali has become, I must have bought into the WWE hype machine the last few weeks because this was a different Khali tonight. AJ skips around the ring bites Natty and a Sliced Bread #2 for the win. Waste...of....time.
Another great promo by CM Punk, amazingly I am starting to think that CM Punk could win this match. He is talented.
The Rock comes out and is The Rock of 2000. Rhodes Scholars interrupts and awesomeness follows. Lots of fun from The Rock. The Craigslist and Caterpillar lines were the best of the night.
Team Hell No vs Prime Time Players
Daniel Bryan's knee is still messed up from RAW. He sells better than 99% of wrestlers in the world. This is essentially a squash with THN winning with a Kane chokeslam. Amazing how fast the PTP's have fallen. They should be in the title picture.
The Big Show© vs Alberto Del Rio - Last Man Standing - World Heavyweight Title
Get this match, if you can find it!! it is such a great moment booked very very well. ADR needs to drop the large champ so he hits him repeatedly with the steps until he drops, then turns the announce table on too of Show. I don't think the fans were convinced ADR was going to win until the ref hit 9. Amazing moment for a wrestler that has had some false starts. Before this win, ADR was good not great and could have been released in a year or two. Hopefully this will become the memorable reign he needs to become a mainstay in WWE.
Zero1: Happy New Year 01/01/13
Hayato Mashita vs Yoshikazu Yokoyama [*]
This was a super fast sprint that was clipped. We have two young boys with a combined 7 years wrestling experience. There were slaps galore and a cool spear to the back. The younger Yokoyama prevails with a camel clutch.
Meiko Satomura vs Yuhi [**]
The first JOSHI match of the year and it was pretty good, though I might be too accustomed to women's wrestling in America. This felt little more than an exhibition with the only story being who could hit one of their many kicks to win. One of the big faults in the match is that the kicks do not come into play in the finale. After a backdrop suplex Satomura puts Yuhi in a sleeper and its lights out. For a 17 year old in her rookie year (she started April '12), Yuhi impressed me. She is high energy and uses her kickboxing background extensively. Yuhi sold the sleeper very well by flopping around like a fish out of water until she was wrapped up by Satomura.
Bikuma, Craig Classic & Menso-re Oyaji vs Mineo Fujita, Travis Banks & Yuki Sato [1/2*]
This was both JIP and hacked to pieces. We mostly see Menso-re Oyaji and Fujita. Fujita gets the win with a beautiful swanton.
KAMIKAZE, Kohei Sato, Onryo & Ryouji Sai vs Jesse Williams, Shito Ueda, Will Gibson & Yusaku Obata [1/4*]
There is no two ways about it, this match was not good. You have eight men in a match that can turn into a Dragon Gate sprint or an awesome suplexfest or something you know interesting. I zoned out twice through the match looking at other posts on DVDVR or something on CAGEMATCH. Onryo's vampire dust (or whatever the stuff is called) was the most engrossing thing in the match. Onryo gets the pin on Will Gibson after sitting down to escape a full nelson and rolling him up, think last half of a victory roll.
Akebono vs Jason New & Jo Kyung-ho - Handicap Match [*3/4]
I maybe overrating this but I really enjoyed Akebono destroying these two young boys. New and Kyung-ho must be the youngest of the young boys as neither has a page on CAGEMATCH (cagematch.net). These two actually get a good amount of offense in but that allows Akebono ample opportunity to look boss no selling it. One of Akebono's opponents attempts a swanton bomb from 3/4ths of the way across the ring and comes dangerously close to landing on the top of his head. I actually cringed when I first saw it. If Akebono was any smaller that guy could have broken his neck. Akebono wins with a big splash on both New and Kyung-ho. After the match there is a big angle but I don't speak Japanese.
Takuya Sugawara© vs Ikuto Hidaka - ZERO1 International Jr Heavyweight Title/NWA World Jr Heavyweight Title [**1/4]
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. The first half is filled with good leg work that is forgotten in the latter half of the match. The latter half of the match is fast paced but it is just move move move without a definitive story being told. If the leg work would have been carried past the midpoint in the match this could have been very good. Sugawara retains the titles after an impressive head dropping move that I think is the Shiisanpuuta or the T.C.O. Cannot find a YouTube clip to confirm this.
Daisuke Sekimoto & James Raideen vs Emblem (Masato Tanaka & Shinjiro Otani) [**3/4]
Raideen is the NWA UN Heavyweight Champion and he along with his partner Sekimoto come out to Sting's old NWA music which scores major points with me. The tag team action is good but yet again we get another match lacking something to bind the match together. Make no mistake this is a power match that features plenty of suplexes, shoulderblocks and clotheslines, but the mat wrestling never goes anywhere Sekimoto breaks out a Chaos Theory which I had never seen him do. Otani gets the pin on Raideen after a head and arm suplex and of course Raideen kicks out at three. In a complete Botchamania moment Otani slips on the second rope celebrating and drops to the canvas laying there with his foot trapped between the ropes for a couple of minutes. I enjoyed this match but it is nothing special nor is it worth going out of your way for.
Overall Thoughts: Happy New Year is mediocre at best. This is probably for the hardcore Puro fans and not for everyone. Most of the matches give you something to enjoy, and though the rating doesn't reflect it the handicap match would be the only match I would recommend to see because it is harmless fun.
This was a super fast sprint that was clipped. We have two young boys with a combined 7 years wrestling experience. There were slaps galore and a cool spear to the back. The younger Yokoyama prevails with a camel clutch.
Meiko Satomura vs Yuhi [**]
The first JOSHI match of the year and it was pretty good, though I might be too accustomed to women's wrestling in America. This felt little more than an exhibition with the only story being who could hit one of their many kicks to win. One of the big faults in the match is that the kicks do not come into play in the finale. After a backdrop suplex Satomura puts Yuhi in a sleeper and its lights out. For a 17 year old in her rookie year (she started April '12), Yuhi impressed me. She is high energy and uses her kickboxing background extensively. Yuhi sold the sleeper very well by flopping around like a fish out of water until she was wrapped up by Satomura.
Bikuma, Craig Classic & Menso-re Oyaji vs Mineo Fujita, Travis Banks & Yuki Sato [1/2*]
This was both JIP and hacked to pieces. We mostly see Menso-re Oyaji and Fujita. Fujita gets the win with a beautiful swanton.
KAMIKAZE, Kohei Sato, Onryo & Ryouji Sai vs Jesse Williams, Shito Ueda, Will Gibson & Yusaku Obata [1/4*]
There is no two ways about it, this match was not good. You have eight men in a match that can turn into a Dragon Gate sprint or an awesome suplexfest or something you know interesting. I zoned out twice through the match looking at other posts on DVDVR or something on CAGEMATCH. Onryo's vampire dust (or whatever the stuff is called) was the most engrossing thing in the match. Onryo gets the pin on Will Gibson after sitting down to escape a full nelson and rolling him up, think last half of a victory roll.
Akebono vs Jason New & Jo Kyung-ho - Handicap Match [*3/4]
I maybe overrating this but I really enjoyed Akebono destroying these two young boys. New and Kyung-ho must be the youngest of the young boys as neither has a page on CAGEMATCH (cagematch.net). These two actually get a good amount of offense in but that allows Akebono ample opportunity to look boss no selling it. One of Akebono's opponents attempts a swanton bomb from 3/4ths of the way across the ring and comes dangerously close to landing on the top of his head. I actually cringed when I first saw it. If Akebono was any smaller that guy could have broken his neck. Akebono wins with a big splash on both New and Kyung-ho. After the match there is a big angle but I don't speak Japanese.
Takuya Sugawara© vs Ikuto Hidaka - ZERO1 International Jr Heavyweight Title/NWA World Jr Heavyweight Title [**1/4]
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. The first half is filled with good leg work that is forgotten in the latter half of the match. The latter half of the match is fast paced but it is just move move move without a definitive story being told. If the leg work would have been carried past the midpoint in the match this could have been very good. Sugawara retains the titles after an impressive head dropping move that I think is the Shiisanpuuta or the T.C.O. Cannot find a YouTube clip to confirm this.
Daisuke Sekimoto & James Raideen vs Emblem (Masato Tanaka & Shinjiro Otani) [**3/4]
Raideen is the NWA UN Heavyweight Champion and he along with his partner Sekimoto come out to Sting's old NWA music which scores major points with me. The tag team action is good but yet again we get another match lacking something to bind the match together. Make no mistake this is a power match that features plenty of suplexes, shoulderblocks and clotheslines, but the mat wrestling never goes anywhere Sekimoto breaks out a Chaos Theory which I had never seen him do. Otani gets the pin on Raideen after a head and arm suplex and of course Raideen kicks out at three. In a complete Botchamania moment Otani slips on the second rope celebrating and drops to the canvas laying there with his foot trapped between the ropes for a couple of minutes. I enjoyed this match but it is nothing special nor is it worth going out of your way for.
Overall Thoughts: Happy New Year is mediocre at best. This is probably for the hardcore Puro fans and not for everyone. Most of the matches give you something to enjoy, and though the rating doesn't reflect it the handicap match would be the only match I would recommend to see because it is harmless fun.
BJW 01/02/13
Amigo Suzuki & Atsushi Ohashi vs Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kazuki [*1/4]
They packed a lot in here but it still kept a nice flow without feeling overwhelming. This match contains the most violent backslide I have ever seen. It is a arm ringer into the backslide, cool spot. The Big Japan young boys win this short opener.
Bad Bones, Shinobu & Shinya Ishikawa vs Strong BJ (Diasuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi) & DJ Hyde [3/4*]
Strong BJ and Shinobu are the only guys to like here. DJ Hyde moved slower than a school bus driven by a 90 year old woman. The match put over Shinobu as one tough man by taking several lariats that folded him in half yet he still kicked out. Okabayashi finally put Shinobu down after a big splash from the top rope.
Danny Havoc, Drake Younger & Jaki Numazawa vs Jun Kasai, MASADA & Masashi Takeda - World War 2013 Death Match [**]
My experience with BJW is very limited and I have no history with watching CZW. I am a big MASADA fan since I was in the crowd to see him, apart of Texas Death Club (with Todd Sexton), win the NWA-Wildside tag team titles. I was impressed with his size and MASADA just looks cool. Drake Younger left an impression as he took his beating like a boss. Drama is an element I love in deathmatches and there is none here. It feels like all six got together and decided to have a deathmatch instead of hating and wanting to destroy one another. The ending gains points in my eyes for Danny Havoc being smart. I do not like "Hey buddy, hold this item while I kick it into your head" spots. Danny holds the light tubes until he reverses Kasai's move into a death valley driver through light tubes for the pin.
Yoshihito Sasaki© vs Manabu Soya - BJW Strong World Heavyweight Title [*3/4]
Nice to see Soya, a member of Get Wild in AJPW, win a singles title here. The match was slow until the end and was two bulls going at it. I may overuse that line but it is very true in its description of the match. They challenged each other in anything they could, who was stronger, who had the better shoulderblock, who had the hardest chop, etc. They pick up the pace towards the end and Soya takes the title with a lariat.
Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto© vs Sumerian Death Squad (Michael Dante & Tommy End) - BJW World Tag Team Titles [*1/2]
The crowd was dead for this match and so was I. While there were some nice moves there was not much of a context to put them in. In the end the champs isolate Michael Dante and put him away with a quick flury of offense. Dante screws up the ending by kicking out at three. Take a pass here.
Abdullah Kobayashi© vs Shuji Ishikawa - Glass Board and New Years Death Match - BJW Deathmatch Heaveyweight Title [***1/4]
Abdullah is my favorite deathmatch wrestler and his title reign goes out with a bang here. I think Abby outdid Ishikawa, though Ishikawa did take the bump through the pane of glass. We got a ton of violence with thumbtacks, nails, chairs, light tubes, a staple gun and a plant potted in a glass pot. My favorite spot of the match was the little arms behind their backs headbutt contest. They hold nothing back and it is as brutal as it sounds. Great match and worth a look.
They packed a lot in here but it still kept a nice flow without feeling overwhelming. This match contains the most violent backslide I have ever seen. It is a arm ringer into the backslide, cool spot. The Big Japan young boys win this short opener.
Bad Bones, Shinobu & Shinya Ishikawa vs Strong BJ (Diasuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi) & DJ Hyde [3/4*]
Strong BJ and Shinobu are the only guys to like here. DJ Hyde moved slower than a school bus driven by a 90 year old woman. The match put over Shinobu as one tough man by taking several lariats that folded him in half yet he still kicked out. Okabayashi finally put Shinobu down after a big splash from the top rope.
Danny Havoc, Drake Younger & Jaki Numazawa vs Jun Kasai, MASADA & Masashi Takeda - World War 2013 Death Match [**]
My experience with BJW is very limited and I have no history with watching CZW. I am a big MASADA fan since I was in the crowd to see him, apart of Texas Death Club (with Todd Sexton), win the NWA-Wildside tag team titles. I was impressed with his size and MASADA just looks cool. Drake Younger left an impression as he took his beating like a boss. Drama is an element I love in deathmatches and there is none here. It feels like all six got together and decided to have a deathmatch instead of hating and wanting to destroy one another. The ending gains points in my eyes for Danny Havoc being smart. I do not like "Hey buddy, hold this item while I kick it into your head" spots. Danny holds the light tubes until he reverses Kasai's move into a death valley driver through light tubes for the pin.
Yoshihito Sasaki© vs Manabu Soya - BJW Strong World Heavyweight Title [*3/4]
Nice to see Soya, a member of Get Wild in AJPW, win a singles title here. The match was slow until the end and was two bulls going at it. I may overuse that line but it is very true in its description of the match. They challenged each other in anything they could, who was stronger, who had the better shoulderblock, who had the hardest chop, etc. They pick up the pace towards the end and Soya takes the title with a lariat.
Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto© vs Sumerian Death Squad (Michael Dante & Tommy End) - BJW World Tag Team Titles [*1/2]
The crowd was dead for this match and so was I. While there were some nice moves there was not much of a context to put them in. In the end the champs isolate Michael Dante and put him away with a quick flury of offense. Dante screws up the ending by kicking out at three. Take a pass here.
Abdullah Kobayashi© vs Shuji Ishikawa - Glass Board and New Years Death Match - BJW Deathmatch Heaveyweight Title [***1/4]
Abdullah is my favorite deathmatch wrestler and his title reign goes out with a bang here. I think Abby outdid Ishikawa, though Ishikawa did take the bump through the pane of glass. We got a ton of violence with thumbtacks, nails, chairs, light tubes, a staple gun and a plant potted in a glass pot. My favorite spot of the match was the little arms behind their backs headbutt contest. They hold nothing back and it is as brutal as it sounds. Great match and worth a look.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
TNA Impact 01/10/13
Opening segment seeing Sting, Angle and Joe come out and establish that they still do not like Aces and 8's (A&8's). The real issue with with Mr. Anderson's non involvement in the cage match last week. I do not like Mr Anderson so maybe it is good he is a heel. There were odd silent moments from the crowd during this, something not heard in the WWE. Angle used a form of the tired "You're either with us or against us" line. Angle and Anderson have a little exchange and Anderson bails. It may be that it has only been two weeks since I ended my Impact hiatus but I have no idea what A&8's objective is, other than giving midcard wrestlers something to do.
Brooke Hogan has been getting better but her fake answering of the phone looked just that fake. Her interview skills are better though she says nothing of note and nothing to do with pro wrestling.
Zema Ion vs Kenny King
Competitive match, but the result was never in doubt. Kenny King is going to win this little tournament and the title at Genesis. He is too good to not be pushed up the company. He won with his Royal Flush.
I take back what I said about Mr Anderson, I hate Robbie E much much worse. There is never a reason to say Bro....NEVER A REASON TO SAY BRO. Robbie must say it every other sentence. He asks one of the Knockouts to tag with him in his mixed tag. She says yes if she can tag with Robbie T (his bodyguard) instead of him. Not much of a segment, just hate seeing Robbie E on my TV.
I like all thing Joseph Park. He is ultra dedicated to this character and his facial expressions are second to none. It adds so much believability to everything he does. Tonight he is proud to not talk to Hogan as a lawyer but as a professional wrestler.
Jesse & Tara vs Robbie T & Miss Tessmacher
Not much here but is continuing the push for Robbie T. He is so big you wonder how he passed a drug test. Robbie T has a killer looking powerbomb that destroys Jesse and ends the match. And there was much dancing by all.
Brian Cage vs Jay Bradley - Gut Check
I forgot who the wrestlers were, which isn't a resounding vote of approval for these two. The most interesting move of the match was a superplex where the man delivering the move stood on the second rope and pulled his opponent up into the vertical suplex position. Cage won with his Boom Stick lariat and I predict he will win the contract next week.
Back at the biker shack A&8's talk about business and because Mike Knox lost his mask last week, he needs to earn his spot back into the business table or he will be out of the group.
I really like the Joseph Park character, and he gets any match he wants with A&8's. The segments turns into Brooke handling personal business with her father in public. Hulk says he will not reinstate Mark (Bully Ray's real name). Brooke has gotten better behind the mic......please TNA don't let her act!
Another thing I love is this new pairing of Aries and Roode. The are TNA's Team Hell No as they fight over everything and it is fun to watch. This week they fight over what they are wearing.
Austin Aries & Bobby Roode vs Jeff Hardy & James Storm
Aries and Roode are the best thing going in TNA. Their one upsmanship is the story of the match and it is so entertaining to watch. It is amazing to me that we complained about feuding tag team partners 10 years ago and now they are the "in" thing. I guess the better handling of these situations along with the better talent involved has helped matters. This match fell into 2000- era booking with the match going along fine until Kaz and Daniels make a run in and through all the craziness Aries hits Hardy with the belt causing the DQ. Good TV match brought a little higher with the Roode and Aries stuff. We are left with Aries and Roode in a tug of war over the belt.
Brooke Hogan calls Bully for a ride home....really.
Joey Ryan continues to be awesome, and I quote "Morgan and the organ, we will continue to show that size matters" the tag champs sneak attack them then after a brief scuffle run off.
Mr Anderson vs Kurt Angle
We get a no contest due to Mike Knox with the hammer in the ring on the neck of Angle. Angle gets stretchered out. I guess he gets back to the table of A&8's.
Sting vs Mike Knox
Sting comes out and calls out Knox. This was a complete squash. Sting dismantled Knox and after the match nailed Knox with the hammer.
After the match A&8's show they hold Brooke Hogan and Bully makes the save. Hulk still doesn't trust Bully, B Ray cuts a good promo and has the crowd on his side. It is by far the best promo of the show, though once he proposes the promo jumps the shark for me. We go from dating marriage in two weeks. This is WAY to fast to progress an angle. It takes wrestling and puts in giant flashing neon letters "WE ARE FAKE!!!"
Overall Thoughts: I was not a fan of the ending but the show wasn't bad. I liked most of the show, and the Aries/Roode stuff takes the cake for me.
Brooke Hogan has been getting better but her fake answering of the phone looked just that fake. Her interview skills are better though she says nothing of note and nothing to do with pro wrestling.
Zema Ion vs Kenny King
Competitive match, but the result was never in doubt. Kenny King is going to win this little tournament and the title at Genesis. He is too good to not be pushed up the company. He won with his Royal Flush.
I take back what I said about Mr Anderson, I hate Robbie E much much worse. There is never a reason to say Bro....NEVER A REASON TO SAY BRO. Robbie must say it every other sentence. He asks one of the Knockouts to tag with him in his mixed tag. She says yes if she can tag with Robbie T (his bodyguard) instead of him. Not much of a segment, just hate seeing Robbie E on my TV.
I like all thing Joseph Park. He is ultra dedicated to this character and his facial expressions are second to none. It adds so much believability to everything he does. Tonight he is proud to not talk to Hogan as a lawyer but as a professional wrestler.
Jesse & Tara vs Robbie T & Miss Tessmacher
Not much here but is continuing the push for Robbie T. He is so big you wonder how he passed a drug test. Robbie T has a killer looking powerbomb that destroys Jesse and ends the match. And there was much dancing by all.
Brian Cage vs Jay Bradley - Gut Check
I forgot who the wrestlers were, which isn't a resounding vote of approval for these two. The most interesting move of the match was a superplex where the man delivering the move stood on the second rope and pulled his opponent up into the vertical suplex position. Cage won with his Boom Stick lariat and I predict he will win the contract next week.
Back at the biker shack A&8's talk about business and because Mike Knox lost his mask last week, he needs to earn his spot back into the business table or he will be out of the group.
I really like the Joseph Park character, and he gets any match he wants with A&8's. The segments turns into Brooke handling personal business with her father in public. Hulk says he will not reinstate Mark (Bully Ray's real name). Brooke has gotten better behind the mic......please TNA don't let her act!
Another thing I love is this new pairing of Aries and Roode. The are TNA's Team Hell No as they fight over everything and it is fun to watch. This week they fight over what they are wearing.
Austin Aries & Bobby Roode vs Jeff Hardy & James Storm
Aries and Roode are the best thing going in TNA. Their one upsmanship is the story of the match and it is so entertaining to watch. It is amazing to me that we complained about feuding tag team partners 10 years ago and now they are the "in" thing. I guess the better handling of these situations along with the better talent involved has helped matters. This match fell into 2000- era booking with the match going along fine until Kaz and Daniels make a run in and through all the craziness Aries hits Hardy with the belt causing the DQ. Good TV match brought a little higher with the Roode and Aries stuff. We are left with Aries and Roode in a tug of war over the belt.
Brooke Hogan calls Bully for a ride home....really.
Joey Ryan continues to be awesome, and I quote "Morgan and the organ, we will continue to show that size matters" the tag champs sneak attack them then after a brief scuffle run off.
Mr Anderson vs Kurt Angle
We get a no contest due to Mike Knox with the hammer in the ring on the neck of Angle. Angle gets stretchered out. I guess he gets back to the table of A&8's.
Sting vs Mike Knox
Sting comes out and calls out Knox. This was a complete squash. Sting dismantled Knox and after the match nailed Knox with the hammer.
After the match A&8's show they hold Brooke Hogan and Bully makes the save. Hulk still doesn't trust Bully, B Ray cuts a good promo and has the crowd on his side. It is by far the best promo of the show, though once he proposes the promo jumps the shark for me. We go from dating marriage in two weeks. This is WAY to fast to progress an angle. It takes wrestling and puts in giant flashing neon letters "WE ARE FAKE!!!"
Overall Thoughts: I was not a fan of the ending but the show wasn't bad. I liked most of the show, and the Aries/Roode stuff takes the cake for me.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
WWE Main Event 01/09/13
-Prematch interviews has Shaemus extremely confident and Dolph Ziggler's bodyguard chasing off a reporter asking tough questions.
Shaemus vs Dolph Ziggler
I really like Shaemus. I can get through the comedy stuff however the "I just want to fight" part of his character is awesome. He is a big man with offense that can believably end a match quickly. Shaemus has high quality matches with virtually everyone with alarming regularity. Shaemus had a lot to work with here and this was a slight step below a PPV match without a quality finish. I was actually okay with the finish since it continues to put over Shaemus's Brogue Kick as a killer match ending move, however Ziggler rolls to the outside and flees protecting him from being pinned by Shaemus. It is good protective booking for a free TV show.
Wade Barrett vs Zack Ryder
I do not understand how a group of adults running an entertainment business have no idea what to do with a wrestler. Ryder has passion to be a wrestler and doesn't just want a check but isn't given a chance to succeed. Last year he got over with the fans due to his own merit with his YouTube show. Ryder's career is to the point now where nobody in their right mind would pick him to be the Intercontinental Champion in a non-title match. Wade Barrett has been skyrocketing through the WWE since coming back from injury. He has found a gimmick that is true to himself and easy to play. This is something that bothers me about the WWE, in the late 90's wrestling boom they gave wrestlers characters that were extensions of themselves and saw their family run company explode into a gigantic corporation. CM Punk was right in his infamous 2011 Las Vegas promo, Vince McMahon should be a Billionaire not just a millionaire. The WWE wastes time on characters and wrestlers doomed to fail. To succeed in the WWE you really need to love, no just like wrestling. You need to be able to reinvent yourself and not rely on the same gimmick that will grow stale over time. WWE also seems timid to make star as they are afraid their newly made stars will leave for brighter lights and bigger checks. In this match Ryder gave it a try but the fans never buy into him as a threat in this match and Barrett mops him up with the Bull Hammer elbow. Not a bad extended squash, but several steps below the previous match.
The show continues to be good. Make no mistake about it this is a complete wrestling show, unlike other programs the WWE produces
Shaemus vs Dolph Ziggler
I really like Shaemus. I can get through the comedy stuff however the "I just want to fight" part of his character is awesome. He is a big man with offense that can believably end a match quickly. Shaemus has high quality matches with virtually everyone with alarming regularity. Shaemus had a lot to work with here and this was a slight step below a PPV match without a quality finish. I was actually okay with the finish since it continues to put over Shaemus's Brogue Kick as a killer match ending move, however Ziggler rolls to the outside and flees protecting him from being pinned by Shaemus. It is good protective booking for a free TV show.
Wade Barrett vs Zack Ryder
I do not understand how a group of adults running an entertainment business have no idea what to do with a wrestler. Ryder has passion to be a wrestler and doesn't just want a check but isn't given a chance to succeed. Last year he got over with the fans due to his own merit with his YouTube show. Ryder's career is to the point now where nobody in their right mind would pick him to be the Intercontinental Champion in a non-title match. Wade Barrett has been skyrocketing through the WWE since coming back from injury. He has found a gimmick that is true to himself and easy to play. This is something that bothers me about the WWE, in the late 90's wrestling boom they gave wrestlers characters that were extensions of themselves and saw their family run company explode into a gigantic corporation. CM Punk was right in his infamous 2011 Las Vegas promo, Vince McMahon should be a Billionaire not just a millionaire. The WWE wastes time on characters and wrestlers doomed to fail. To succeed in the WWE you really need to love, no just like wrestling. You need to be able to reinvent yourself and not rely on the same gimmick that will grow stale over time. WWE also seems timid to make star as they are afraid their newly made stars will leave for brighter lights and bigger checks. In this match Ryder gave it a try but the fans never buy into him as a threat in this match and Barrett mops him up with the Bull Hammer elbow. Not a bad extended squash, but several steps below the previous match.
The show continues to be good. Make no mistake about it this is a complete wrestling show, unlike other programs the WWE produces
Monday, January 7, 2013
WWE RAW 01/07/13
-Cena starts us out as a complete hype machine, and is in complete PG baby kissing mode (ie ANNOYING). I wonder if Cena gets like this when he is starting a big push or when there is a bigger star that threatens his throne. This entire segment blows, I have no interest in it. I maintain Cena is my #1 pick to win with Shaemus as a close #2. Big E Langston accepts a challenge from Cena for Ziggler. Another big PPV rematch tonight.
John Cena vs Dolph Ziggler
Save for the ending which came out of nowhere, this was a fantastic match. Dolph and his entourage play the numbers game to keep Ziggler in control until they are tossed by the ref. the fans were completely into this match and I though Ziggler had a shot but Cena pops up like Superman and hits the AA for the win. The ending bothered me so much, why ruin a match by making this superhuman recovery as if the rest of the match hadn't taken place and he was as fresh as a daisy. Like I said earlier minus the ending this is worth a second look.
Eve Torres vs Kaitlyn - DIVAS Championship
Call me crazy but this was a step above the usual DIVAS match. They did some actual wrestling during the first portion before breaking down and Eve bailing on the match to save the title. I was not a fan of the ref stopping the action to make Kaitlyn tie her wrestling boots. I don't think tripping over a shoelace will hurt as much as getting slammed or punched in the face.
-Wade Barrett continues to rule and has the balls to tell Ricky Steamboat he is an old man blowing smoke. Steamboat is in Santino's corner tonight!
-The WWE are really hyping the Orton/Shaemus thing making me think they will be fighting at Westlemania. Orton and Slater tonight!
Team Hell No vs Team Rhodes Scholars
TRS gets a much needed win over the tag champs to keep them in contention for the titles. The match was mostly formula breaking it at the end when Danielson injured his knee off a moonsault and was Crossrhodesed in defeat.
Randy Orton vs Heath Slater
Slater got a fair shake with The Miz on Smackdown but no such luck here as he plays complete JTTS to Orton. Orton is being booked strong going into the Rumble and may be a big factor in that match. Dominant win for Orton.
Wade Barrett vs Santino
Santino is entertaining but has been treated as a JTTS as of late. He ran through his spots and some armdrags, which I believe were a nod to Ricky Steamboat, and Bull Hammer elbow ends this quickly. After the match Steamboat gets a rise out of the crowd by simply taking off his coat.
-Shaemus is confident he will win the Royal Rumble. 3MB shows up and a match is made. If this is how matches are made in the WWE, does that render the GM positions pointless.
Antonio Cesaro vs The Great Khali
This was a very light version of their far superior Main Event match. I think the only reason for its inclusion was to show a larger audience the impressive Neutralizer on the giant.
-The awesome Brad Maddox pisses off the awesome Paul E. Apparently Paul doesn't want the Beef around him or Punk.
Shaemus vs Jinder Mahal
Complete squash of the extended variety. Shaemus got a spot where he clothesline 2/3rds of 3MB over the top rope alluding to the Royal Rumble. He destroyed all three of these guys.
CM Punk vs Ryback - WWE Championship
Ryback gets screwed again by The Shield and awesomely powerbomb Ryback through a table on top of the steps. The match itself is the early leader for TV match of the year. CM Punk is still awesome.
-Punk declairs he is going back out to drop a pipe bomb before The Rock Comes out.
-Bryan and Kane get into an awesome heated exchange over who was at fault for their loss. They must be evaluated by Dr Shelby. These two are a lot of fun.
Kofi Kingston vs The Big Show
Another squash where the TV rating wasn't off the screen before Kofi was knocked out by the fist. Kofi should be above matches like this....oh well.
-The Punk/Rock confrontation was great and surely will pop up again on YouTube. Punk was every bit on level with The Rock while The Rock returned the favor from the 1000th RAW by Rockbottoming Punk. This was fun and hopefully the next 19 days will be just as fun.
The show was good with two very good matches and a fun ending. It's like it is 1999 all over again.
John Cena vs Dolph Ziggler
Save for the ending which came out of nowhere, this was a fantastic match. Dolph and his entourage play the numbers game to keep Ziggler in control until they are tossed by the ref. the fans were completely into this match and I though Ziggler had a shot but Cena pops up like Superman and hits the AA for the win. The ending bothered me so much, why ruin a match by making this superhuman recovery as if the rest of the match hadn't taken place and he was as fresh as a daisy. Like I said earlier minus the ending this is worth a second look.
Eve Torres vs Kaitlyn - DIVAS Championship
Call me crazy but this was a step above the usual DIVAS match. They did some actual wrestling during the first portion before breaking down and Eve bailing on the match to save the title. I was not a fan of the ref stopping the action to make Kaitlyn tie her wrestling boots. I don't think tripping over a shoelace will hurt as much as getting slammed or punched in the face.
-Wade Barrett continues to rule and has the balls to tell Ricky Steamboat he is an old man blowing smoke. Steamboat is in Santino's corner tonight!
-The WWE are really hyping the Orton/Shaemus thing making me think they will be fighting at Westlemania. Orton and Slater tonight!
Team Hell No vs Team Rhodes Scholars
TRS gets a much needed win over the tag champs to keep them in contention for the titles. The match was mostly formula breaking it at the end when Danielson injured his knee off a moonsault and was Crossrhodesed in defeat.
Randy Orton vs Heath Slater
Slater got a fair shake with The Miz on Smackdown but no such luck here as he plays complete JTTS to Orton. Orton is being booked strong going into the Rumble and may be a big factor in that match. Dominant win for Orton.
Wade Barrett vs Santino
Santino is entertaining but has been treated as a JTTS as of late. He ran through his spots and some armdrags, which I believe were a nod to Ricky Steamboat, and Bull Hammer elbow ends this quickly. After the match Steamboat gets a rise out of the crowd by simply taking off his coat.
-Shaemus is confident he will win the Royal Rumble. 3MB shows up and a match is made. If this is how matches are made in the WWE, does that render the GM positions pointless.
Antonio Cesaro vs The Great Khali
This was a very light version of their far superior Main Event match. I think the only reason for its inclusion was to show a larger audience the impressive Neutralizer on the giant.
-The awesome Brad Maddox pisses off the awesome Paul E. Apparently Paul doesn't want the Beef around him or Punk.
Shaemus vs Jinder Mahal
Complete squash of the extended variety. Shaemus got a spot where he clothesline 2/3rds of 3MB over the top rope alluding to the Royal Rumble. He destroyed all three of these guys.
CM Punk vs Ryback - WWE Championship
Ryback gets screwed again by The Shield and awesomely powerbomb Ryback through a table on top of the steps. The match itself is the early leader for TV match of the year. CM Punk is still awesome.
-Punk declairs he is going back out to drop a pipe bomb before The Rock Comes out.
-Bryan and Kane get into an awesome heated exchange over who was at fault for their loss. They must be evaluated by Dr Shelby. These two are a lot of fun.
Kofi Kingston vs The Big Show
Another squash where the TV rating wasn't off the screen before Kofi was knocked out by the fist. Kofi should be above matches like this....oh well.
-The Punk/Rock confrontation was great and surely will pop up again on YouTube. Punk was every bit on level with The Rock while The Rock returned the favor from the 1000th RAW by Rockbottoming Punk. This was fun and hopefully the next 19 days will be just as fun.
The show was good with two very good matches and a fun ending. It's like it is 1999 all over again.
The Year That Was 96 - Part 2
Shinya Hashimoto vs. Kazuo Yamazaki (NJ 1/4/96)
I love matches like this where it is just two big bulls going at it. Yamazaki focused on Hashimoto's arm, Hashimoto fought it off with kicks and got the brainbuster for the win. This was a very simple match and a test of wills. It might be everyone's cup of tea due to the slower pace, however I loved this.
Vader vs. Antonio Inoki (NJ 1/4/96)
You would be hard pressed to find a wrestler in Japan, short of Giant Baba, more legendary than Antonio Inoki. This is the fifth stop in Inoki's Final Countdown Retirement Tour ending his 35 year career. The story through the match is Inoki dealing with the size and ferocity of Vader. Ionki's strategy for doing this is by wrapping up Vader and chocking certainly doesn't hurt either, Inoki has the most awesome death sell of a suplex. He literally did not move for a minute. They went outside where Vader was walloped with a chair that caused him to bleed. Vader, understandably, let Inoki have everything including a powerbomb, Vader Bomb, and a moonsault. Inoki kicked out of everything and body slammed Vader and put him in a cross arm breaker for the win. The building was so hot for Inoki you can tell even watching 16 years later how much the people loved him. This match is so awesome and is my first real MOTY candidate.
Keiji Muto vs Nobuhiko Takada - IWGP World Heaveyweight Title(JIP) (NJ 1/4/96)
This was a huge match in the NJPW vs UWFi feud, which may be the most money making feud in history. Takada is one of the forefathers of the MMA boom in Japan. What is shown here is beautiful, I love exchanges of holds and grappling. There was one point where Muto had Takada in a figure four and Takada had a funky heel hookish hold on Muto. That hold looked painful like it could rip both your ankle and knee apart with its twisting motion. The fan were solidly behind Muto and the heat was incredible. Muto gets his big moves in (power drive elbow, moonsault) but the grappling of Takada eventually gets Muto in a position he is incapable of getting out of and he submits to the cross armbreaker. Takada wins the IWGP World Title. After the match Hashimoto gets in Takada's face and we have our next big feud set. I need to track down the full version of this match, as I mentioned before this looks right up my alley. I bet the full Dome show is good too.
Raven + Beulah + Tommy Dreamer Angle (ECW 1/5/96)
This might be the most famous angle in ECW history. Stevie had been making out with Missy Hyatt the previous week and tries to kiss Beulah (Raven's girlfriend) and she vehemently rejects him. She reveals she is pregnant which draws out Raven who is pissed and blames Beulah, she then reveals it isn't his. This enrages Raven and he attacks Richards who would have the closest access to Beulah besides Raven. She tells Raven to stop it isn't Richards.....It's Tommy's! Tommy responds as the noble hero protecting his lady. We get the famous "Tommy use my sign" sign spot which contains a stop sign underneath and used on Raven, as is a pie. Everything is built so well, progresses logically and takes one step at a time. It is such a fun moment and a lights a new fire under the already hot Raven/Dreamer feud, I should note that I love this time period. I was in sixth grade and had the world by the balls. I had a flannel shirt I wore virtually everyday for a year or two. I really enjoy watching 96 ECW since it captures everything I was about at the time.
I love matches like this where it is just two big bulls going at it. Yamazaki focused on Hashimoto's arm, Hashimoto fought it off with kicks and got the brainbuster for the win. This was a very simple match and a test of wills. It might be everyone's cup of tea due to the slower pace, however I loved this.
Vader vs. Antonio Inoki (NJ 1/4/96)
You would be hard pressed to find a wrestler in Japan, short of Giant Baba, more legendary than Antonio Inoki. This is the fifth stop in Inoki's Final Countdown Retirement Tour ending his 35 year career. The story through the match is Inoki dealing with the size and ferocity of Vader. Ionki's strategy for doing this is by wrapping up Vader and chocking certainly doesn't hurt either, Inoki has the most awesome death sell of a suplex. He literally did not move for a minute. They went outside where Vader was walloped with a chair that caused him to bleed. Vader, understandably, let Inoki have everything including a powerbomb, Vader Bomb, and a moonsault. Inoki kicked out of everything and body slammed Vader and put him in a cross arm breaker for the win. The building was so hot for Inoki you can tell even watching 16 years later how much the people loved him. This match is so awesome and is my first real MOTY candidate.
Keiji Muto vs Nobuhiko Takada - IWGP World Heaveyweight Title(JIP) (NJ 1/4/96)
This was a huge match in the NJPW vs UWFi feud, which may be the most money making feud in history. Takada is one of the forefathers of the MMA boom in Japan. What is shown here is beautiful, I love exchanges of holds and grappling. There was one point where Muto had Takada in a figure four and Takada had a funky heel hookish hold on Muto. That hold looked painful like it could rip both your ankle and knee apart with its twisting motion. The fan were solidly behind Muto and the heat was incredible. Muto gets his big moves in (power drive elbow, moonsault) but the grappling of Takada eventually gets Muto in a position he is incapable of getting out of and he submits to the cross armbreaker. Takada wins the IWGP World Title. After the match Hashimoto gets in Takada's face and we have our next big feud set. I need to track down the full version of this match, as I mentioned before this looks right up my alley. I bet the full Dome show is good too.
Raven + Beulah + Tommy Dreamer Angle (ECW 1/5/96)
This might be the most famous angle in ECW history. Stevie had been making out with Missy Hyatt the previous week and tries to kiss Beulah (Raven's girlfriend) and she vehemently rejects him. She reveals she is pregnant which draws out Raven who is pissed and blames Beulah, she then reveals it isn't his. This enrages Raven and he attacks Richards who would have the closest access to Beulah besides Raven. She tells Raven to stop it isn't Richards.....It's Tommy's! Tommy responds as the noble hero protecting his lady. We get the famous "Tommy use my sign" sign spot which contains a stop sign underneath and used on Raven, as is a pie. Everything is built so well, progresses logically and takes one step at a time. It is such a fun moment and a lights a new fire under the already hot Raven/Dreamer feud, I should note that I love this time period. I was in sixth grade and had the world by the balls. I had a flannel shirt I wore virtually everyday for a year or two. I really enjoy watching 96 ECW since it captures everything I was about at the time.
WWE Smackdown 01/04
-Randy Orton and Shaemus declare their entrance into the Royal Rumble. Big Show comes out and says he will step on Orton's snake (which made the 12 yr old in me chuckle). Antonio Cesaro comes out to say the Swiss people are hard working and smart. Per the WWE Booking Rulebook this necessitates a tag match being made between the four. Shaemus is my 2nd pick for the Rumble as he has loose ends to tie up with Big Show. Cena is my pick to catapult him to Wrestlemania against the new champ The Rock.
The Miz vs Heath Slater
Heath Slater was impressive in that he hung with a bigger star for the longest match I have ever seen him in. The Miz wins, obviously, but this was good and a surprise this went longer than 5 minutes. They were allowed to build something that was pretty good, not a show stealer but adequate and enjoyable. I like 3MB they are goofy and make me laugh, hope they stick around and enjoy some success. Miz wins with the Skull Crushing Finale.
-I like Wade Barrett, he is very good behind the mic and promises to get Kofi off his back tonight once and for all.
The Great Khali, Natalya, & Hornswaggle vs Epico, Primo & Rosa Mendes
They showed the Mae Young baby thing and I am now happy I missed RAW. I hope this week's episode is more tolerable than that tripe. I like Natalya and really miss Beth Phoenix. Hopefully Beth will end up in TNA and be able to be awesome again. Epico and Primo are complete JTTS here and that one star is Khali. It is amazing how the WWE has gotten him over. His offense is simple yet powerful and his dancing makes him likeable with the ladies. I have no use for Hornswaggle.
-Kofi delivers a good promo and looks determined to win back his IC title. I am hoping for a good match here.
Wade Barrett vs Kofi Kingston - Intercontinental Championship
It maybe impossible for Kofi and Barrett to have a bad match. These are two of the WWE's young stars, that will take over the main event scene in the next 5 year, putting it on the line for the IC Title. Barrett did everything he could to take the easy road by laying down for countouts but Kofi was wise to his ploy. This helped to further Barrett's elbow as a death move a wrestler needs to stay away from. As a Barrett/Kofi match it was good not epic, but it was in the upper echelon of Smackdown matches.
Layla vs Tamina Snuka
How the mighty have fallen. Earlier in 2012 Layla was Divas's champ and now she dresses like Eve and jobs to Tamina. Layla missed some spots here. Compare this match to the TNA Knockouts from the previous night and it isn't even a contest the Knockouts are a trillion times better. There was good here like the Tamina's chinlock and the Samoan Drop, which got a great reaction. Tamina's splash looked odd, almost like she wanted to do a frog splash but changed her mind midway through the move.
The Big Show & Antonio Cesaro vs Shaemus & Randy Orton
Take half of the RAW and Smackdown main events from the previous year and you know what you are getting here. There is such a formula to these matches and you don't get much variation. The ending was the faces trying to out preform the other putting over the every man for themselves aspect of the Rumble. I personally preferred the Slater match over this as at least it was different with Slater wrestling a long match. Shaemus got the pin on Cesaro after a White Noise and RKO.
The Miz vs Heath Slater
Heath Slater was impressive in that he hung with a bigger star for the longest match I have ever seen him in. The Miz wins, obviously, but this was good and a surprise this went longer than 5 minutes. They were allowed to build something that was pretty good, not a show stealer but adequate and enjoyable. I like 3MB they are goofy and make me laugh, hope they stick around and enjoy some success. Miz wins with the Skull Crushing Finale.
-I like Wade Barrett, he is very good behind the mic and promises to get Kofi off his back tonight once and for all.
The Great Khali, Natalya, & Hornswaggle vs Epico, Primo & Rosa Mendes
They showed the Mae Young baby thing and I am now happy I missed RAW. I hope this week's episode is more tolerable than that tripe. I like Natalya and really miss Beth Phoenix. Hopefully Beth will end up in TNA and be able to be awesome again. Epico and Primo are complete JTTS here and that one star is Khali. It is amazing how the WWE has gotten him over. His offense is simple yet powerful and his dancing makes him likeable with the ladies. I have no use for Hornswaggle.
-Kofi delivers a good promo and looks determined to win back his IC title. I am hoping for a good match here.
Wade Barrett vs Kofi Kingston - Intercontinental Championship
It maybe impossible for Kofi and Barrett to have a bad match. These are two of the WWE's young stars, that will take over the main event scene in the next 5 year, putting it on the line for the IC Title. Barrett did everything he could to take the easy road by laying down for countouts but Kofi was wise to his ploy. This helped to further Barrett's elbow as a death move a wrestler needs to stay away from. As a Barrett/Kofi match it was good not epic, but it was in the upper echelon of Smackdown matches.
Layla vs Tamina Snuka
How the mighty have fallen. Earlier in 2012 Layla was Divas's champ and now she dresses like Eve and jobs to Tamina. Layla missed some spots here. Compare this match to the TNA Knockouts from the previous night and it isn't even a contest the Knockouts are a trillion times better. There was good here like the Tamina's chinlock and the Samoan Drop, which got a great reaction. Tamina's splash looked odd, almost like she wanted to do a frog splash but changed her mind midway through the move.
The Big Show & Antonio Cesaro vs Shaemus & Randy Orton
Take half of the RAW and Smackdown main events from the previous year and you know what you are getting here. There is such a formula to these matches and you don't get much variation. The ending was the faces trying to out preform the other putting over the every man for themselves aspect of the Rumble. I personally preferred the Slater match over this as at least it was different with Slater wrestling a long match. Shaemus got the pin on Cesaro after a White Noise and RKO.
Puro 2013 Match Rankings
The 2013 match rankings for Japanese Pro Wrestling. This thread will be continually updated.
- Shinsuke Nakamura© vs Kazushi Sakuraba - IWGP Intercontinental Title (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04) [****]
- Akitoshi Saito & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs Daisuke Sekimoto & Tomohiro Ishii (Legend The Pro-Wrestling 01/13)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi© vs Kazuchika Okada - IWGP Heavyweight Title (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04)
- Junior Stars © vs Team 246 - All Asia Tag Team Titles (AJPW 01/03) [***3/4]
- Katsuyori Shibata vs Togi Makabe (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04)
- Shinsuke Nakamura© vs La Sombra - IWGP Intercontinental Title (NJPW 01/19)
- Minoru Suzuki vs Yuji Nagata (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04)
- Nanae Takahashi© vs Kyoko Kimura - World of Stardom Title (Stardom 01/14) [***1/2]
- Danshoku Dino & Yoshiko vs Sanshiro Takagi & Yuzuki Aikawa (DDT 01/27)
- Prince Devitt © vs Kota Isbushi vs Low Ki - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04)
- Get Wild© vs Stack of Arms - AJPW World Tag Team Titles (AJPW 01/02) [***1/4]
- Abdullah Kobayashi© vs Shuji Ishikawa - Glass Board and New Years Death Match - BJW Deathmatch Heaveyweight Title (BJW 01/02)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi, La Mascara & Rush vs Kazuchika Okada, Rey Escorpion & Volador Jr (NJPW 01/19)
- Konosuke Takeshita vs Kota Ibushi (DDT 01/27)
- Dragon Rojo Jr© vs La Sombra - NWA World Middleweight Title (NJPW 01/20) [***]
- Kenji Muto & Shinjiro Otani vs TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzen & Satoshi Kojima) (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04)
- Kenny Omega© vs Isami Kodaka© - KO-D Openweight Title/DDT Extreme Title (DDT 01/27)
- Euforia, Kazuchika Okada & Mephisto vs Atlantis, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Prince Devitt (NJPW 01/20)
- 12 Man Elimination Torneo Cibernetico Match (NJPW 01/20)
- GURENTAI vs Kaz Hayashi, Kenji Muto & Masanobu Fuchi (AJPW 01/02)
- Hailey Hatred vs Yuhi (Stardom 01/14)
- Atlantis vs Euforia (NJPW 01/19)
- Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Thunder Liger & Masahiro Chono vs Riki Choshu, Tatsumi Fujinami & Yokio Sakaguchi (Legend The Pro-Wrestling 01/13)
- Seiya Sanada & Yasufumi Nakanoue vs Turmeric Storm (AJPW 01/02) [**3/4]
- Hiroshi Yamato© vs Shuji Kondo© - AJPW World Jr Heavyweight Title/GHC Jr Heavyweight Title (AJPW 01/02)
- Seiya Sanada© vs Tomoaki Honma - GAORA TV Title (AJPW 01/03)
- Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer)© vs Hirooki Goto & Karl Anderson - IWPG Tag Team Titles (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04)
- Hiroyo Matsumoto vs Yoshiko (Stardom 01/14)
- FUMA, HARASHIMA & Yasu Urano vs Hikaru Sato, Masa Takanashi & MIKAMI (DDT 01/27)
- Last Revolution vs SMOP (AJPW 01/02)
- Daisuke Sekimoto & James Raideen vs Emblem (Masato Tanaka & Shinjiro Otani) (Zero1: Happy New Year 01/01)
- Apollo 55 & BUSHI vs CHAOS & Dragon Rojo Jr (NJPW 01/19)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & La Sombra vs Misterioso Jr & Shinsuke Nakamura (NJPW/CMLL 01/18)
- Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & Titan vs World Class Tag Team & Misterioso Jr (NJPW 01/19)
- Dragon Rojo Jr vs Prince Devitt (NJPW/CMLL 01/18) [**1/2]
- Maximo & Toma Tonga vs Suzuki-Gun (NJPW 01/19)
- Yuzuki Aikawa© vs Kairi Hojo - Wonder of Stardom Title (Stardom 01/14)
- Bear Fukuda & Mitsuya Nagai vs Ikodu Hidaka & Shinjiro Otani (Legend The Pro-Wrestling 01/13)
- Takuya Sugawara© vs Ikuto Hidaka - ZERO1 International Jr Heavyweight Title/NWA World Jr Heavyweight Title (Zero1: Happy New Year 01/01) [**1/4]
- Diamante & Mascara Dorada vs Mephisto & OKUMURA (NJPW 01/19)
- La Mascara© vs Volador Jr - Mexican National Light Heavyweight Title (NJPW 01/20)
- Rey Escorpion vs Rush (NJPW 01/20)
- Act Yasukawa, Natsuki Taiyo & Saki Kashima vs Kellie Skater, Portia Perez & Tomoka Nakagawa - Artist of Stardom Title (Stardom 01/14)
- Atsushi Onita & Ichiro Yaguchi vs First Tiger Mask & Kuniaki Kobayashi (Legend The Pro-Wrestling 01/13)
- CHAOS (Takashi Izuka, Toru Yano & Yujiro Takahashi) & Bob Sapp vs Muscle Orchestra (Manabu Nakanishi & Strongman), Akebono & MVP (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04) [**]
- Get Wild, Hiroshi Yamato, Ryota Hama & Suwama vs Keji Muto, Masakatsu Funaki, Masanobu Fuchi, Taiyo Kea & TAKA Michinoku (AJPW 01/03)
- Atlantis, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs World Class Tag Team & Mephisto (NJPW/CMLL 01/18)
- Team Dream Futures© vs Monster Army - KO-D Six Man Tag Team Titles (DDT 01/27)
- Hiromu Takahashi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs BUSHI, KUSHIDA & Ryusuke Taguchi (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04)
- Meiko Satomura vs Yuhi (Zero1: Happy New Year 01/01)
- Danny Havoc, Drake Younger & Jaki Numazawa vs Jun Kasai, MASADA & Masashi Takeda - World War 2013 Death Match (BJW 01/02)
- 14 Man Battle Royal (AJPW 01/02)
- Alexander Otsuka & Katsumi Usuda vs Super Tiger & Tiger Shark (Legend The Pro-Wrestling 01/13)
- Io Shirai, Mayu Iwatani & Natsumi Showzuki vs Kellie Skater, Portia Perez & Tomoka Nakagawa (Stardom 01/14)
- Akebono vs Jason New & Jo Kyung-ho - Handicap Match (Zero1: Happy New Year 01/01) [*3/4]
- Masato Tanaka© vs Shelton Benjamin - NEVER Openweight Title (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04)
- Kazushi Miyamoto vs Masayuki Kono (AJPW 01/03)
- Miho Wakizawa, Tsukasa Fujimoto & Yui Yokoo vs Act Yasukawa, Natsuki Taiyo & Saki Kashima (Stardom 01/14)
- Yoshihito Sasaki© vs Manabu Soya - BJW Strong World Heavyweight Title (BJW 01/02)
- Junior Stars vs Andy Wu & Osamu Nishimura (AJPW 01/02)
- Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto© vs Sumerian Death Squad (Michael Dante & Tommy End) - BJW World Tag Team Titles (BJW 01/02) [*1/2]
- CHAOS (Jado, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs Captain New Japan, Tama Tonga & Wataru Inoue (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7 01/04)
- Maximo vs Taichi (NJPW 01/20)
- Akito & Makato Oishi vs Daichi Kazato & Tetsuya Endo (DDT 01/27)
- 8-Man Battle Royal (AJPW 01/03)
- KENSO vs SUSHI (AJPW 01/02) [*1/4]
- Amigo Suzuki & Atsushi Ohashi vs Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kazuki (BJW 01/02)
- Rush vs YOSI-HASHI (NJPW/CMLL 01/18)
- Akebono vs Joe Doering - Triple Crown #1 Contenders match (AJPW 01/03)
- Hayato Mashita vs Yoshikazu Yokoyama (Zero1: Happy New Year 01/01) [*]
- KENSO & MAZADA vs Andy Wu & SUSHI (AJPW 01/03)
- BUSHI, Diamante & Ryusuke Taguchi vs CHAOS & Ray Escorpion (NJPW/CMLL 01/18)
- Gota Ihashi vs Batten Tamagawa, DJ Nira, Hiroshi Fukuda, Hoshitango & Michael Nakazawa (DDT 01/27)
- Euforia & OKUMURA vs Tama Tonga & Titan (NJPW/CMLL 01/18)
- Osamu Nishimura vs Yasufumi Nakanoue (AJPW 01/03) [3/4*]
- Bad Bones, Shinobu & Shinya Ishikawa vs Strong BJ (Diasuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi) & DJ Hyde (BJW 01/02)
- Bikuma, Craig Classic & Menso-re Oyaji vs Mineo Fujita, Travis Banks & Yuki Sato (Zero1: Happy New Year 01/01) [1/2*]
- KAMIKAZE, Kohei Sato, Onryo & Ryouji Sai vs Jesse Williams, Shito Ueda, Will Gibson & Yusaku Obata (Zero1: Happy New Year 01/01)
- Akifumi Saito vs Nobuyuki Kurashima (Legend The Pro-Wrestling 01/13)
- AKIRA & Gran Hamada vs Hiro Saito & Masashi Aoyagi (Legend The Pro-Wrestling 01/13)
TNA Impact 01/03/13
-The TNA wrestler award is given out and of course Jeff Hardy wins. I can't put my finger on it but I really do not like Jeff Hardy and will cheer for anyone he faces. Turns out he is facing both Ares and Roode at the Genesis PPV. They join forces to attack Hardy and the trophy gets destroyed. I do not like that Ares is touting having four star matches at every PPV. For a pro wrestler on screen none of that stuff should matter, though if it did I would want one or two star matches that I breeze through. Four star matches means every match is a grueling battle (which I guess puts over the company as tough, rugged and competitive), I digress.
-James Storm, Christopher Daniels and Kaz have interview of the year with this exchange making fun of Storm then Storm saying he is going to kick Daniels in the twitter and punch Kaz in the Facebook. To top it off he asks Daniels why he drinks nothing but piss water and spits in the Appletini. To top Storm Kaz yells that he forgot MySpace. Just awesome, made me laugh so hard.
James Storm vs Kaz
Entertaining enough back and forth match Kaz and Daniels always play the numbers game and certainly this match was no different. Kaz let's his guard down coming off the top rope and runs right into the Last Call super kick. These two worked well together and kept the pace up to where there were no slow spots. Good match.
-Devon is still trying to recruit Mr Anderson which seems to have worked but I get a DDP vibe from him so this could be a swerve. A&8's has a big steel cage match against Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe tonight.
-I like Kenny King and his over the top overconfidence. He made me chuckle with his "I used to watch you on VHS" line about Kid Kash. Looks like we have some kind of X-Division #1 Contenders Tournament who's month on Impact. Kash looks a lot different with short hair, and he certainly doesn't look like a kid any longer.
-D.O.C. is in the ring asking for Sting and a black bat drops from the rafters. DOC is scared as I ponder how pointless this segment is.
Kind Kash vs Christian York - X-Division Contenders Tournament Semifinals
There are only four men in the tournament so this is the semis by default. We get a back and forth matchup that is well paced but York has some awful spots. I like York and really want him to succeed. This would have been a fantastic match 10 years ago but Thursday was an off night for sure. York tries the Tajiri slot where he would do a handstand into the ropes and kick his opponent in the head. York's handstand was dreadfully slow into the ropes and his kick missed by a mile. He had another missed kick that just didn't have that Christian York sharpness. Kid Kash looked pretty good, still flying around as he did 10 years ago, even if he has put on a little weight. York gets the win with a swinging neck breaker to advance.
-The tag champs have an issue with Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan tonight. They aren't scared and will chop Morgan down like a cherry tree.
Hernandez vs Joey Ryan
This was supposed to be Matt Morgan but he is injured so he subs Ryan in, unbeknownst to Ryan. It becomes apparent Morgan is not injured and he attacks SuperMex for the DQ. Morgan and Ryan leave the tag champs laying. Ryan bumps around like a pinball and I love it. Maybe Morgan can finally make something out of himself.
-Angle's New Years resolution is to unmask all of A&8's.
-You have to feel bad for Hulk finally having to come face to face with the fact his daughter is a whore. To be fair I think Brooke has improved greatly since first coming to TNA, she doesn't seem as awkward as she was in her first few weeks. Hulk suspends Bully, and tells Brooke to move along to Bully's house. This is complete soap opera and doesn't move the wrestling product along at all. This has to end with A&8's cornering Hogan and he has to bring back Bully to defeat them.
-I guess Joseph Park is heading back to TNA now that he has graduated OVW. Park is awesome.....this is all.
Gail Kim & Tara vs Mickie James & Miss Tessmacher
This was so much better than the WWE Divas it isn't even funny. The story revolved around Tessmacher wanting to get the win over Tara because she wants her title back. Gail Kim and Mickie James were their awesome selves. They seem like two chicks that would cool to hang around and watch wrestling with. I wasn't into Tara as much. She looked awkward or slow in certain sequences. Her guillotine leg drop where she used the leg with the knee brace on Tessmacher was bad. The brace nailed Tess in the head, that had to hurt. Mickey hit her MickeyDT on Gail for the pin.
-A&8's are down to two masked members and they decide they need to guard them with their lives.
-ODB says her hubby is at home recovering. I love their relationship always brings a smile to my face. ODB's hair is insane tonight. Words do not do justice.
-Hulk makes the triple threat title match at Genesis an elimination match and Roode and Ares must team up next week on Impact to face Hardy and a partner of his choice. If Ares and Roode would work together they would be the best tag team in the company by far.
Aces & 8's (Devon & Masked Man) vs Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe - Cage Match
A&8's had sound strategy by having DOC keep Angle from entering the cage, which gave their team the numbers game they thrive on. We had the drama of Joe trying to survive by himself and Angle trying to find a way into the cage. Angle finally destroys DOC and gets the key and Angle and Joe cleaned house winning with the Angle Slam. Good hard hitting TV main event and Sting returns post match. We get an unmasking revealing Mike Knox as one of the members. At least there is a place for mid carders the WWE does not want, and its TNA.
-James Storm, Christopher Daniels and Kaz have interview of the year with this exchange making fun of Storm then Storm saying he is going to kick Daniels in the twitter and punch Kaz in the Facebook. To top it off he asks Daniels why he drinks nothing but piss water and spits in the Appletini. To top Storm Kaz yells that he forgot MySpace. Just awesome, made me laugh so hard.
James Storm vs Kaz
Entertaining enough back and forth match Kaz and Daniels always play the numbers game and certainly this match was no different. Kaz let's his guard down coming off the top rope and runs right into the Last Call super kick. These two worked well together and kept the pace up to where there were no slow spots. Good match.
-Devon is still trying to recruit Mr Anderson which seems to have worked but I get a DDP vibe from him so this could be a swerve. A&8's has a big steel cage match against Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe tonight.
-I like Kenny King and his over the top overconfidence. He made me chuckle with his "I used to watch you on VHS" line about Kid Kash. Looks like we have some kind of X-Division #1 Contenders Tournament who's month on Impact. Kash looks a lot different with short hair, and he certainly doesn't look like a kid any longer.
-D.O.C. is in the ring asking for Sting and a black bat drops from the rafters. DOC is scared as I ponder how pointless this segment is.
Kind Kash vs Christian York - X-Division Contenders Tournament Semifinals
There are only four men in the tournament so this is the semis by default. We get a back and forth matchup that is well paced but York has some awful spots. I like York and really want him to succeed. This would have been a fantastic match 10 years ago but Thursday was an off night for sure. York tries the Tajiri slot where he would do a handstand into the ropes and kick his opponent in the head. York's handstand was dreadfully slow into the ropes and his kick missed by a mile. He had another missed kick that just didn't have that Christian York sharpness. Kid Kash looked pretty good, still flying around as he did 10 years ago, even if he has put on a little weight. York gets the win with a swinging neck breaker to advance.
-The tag champs have an issue with Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan tonight. They aren't scared and will chop Morgan down like a cherry tree.
Hernandez vs Joey Ryan
This was supposed to be Matt Morgan but he is injured so he subs Ryan in, unbeknownst to Ryan. It becomes apparent Morgan is not injured and he attacks SuperMex for the DQ. Morgan and Ryan leave the tag champs laying. Ryan bumps around like a pinball and I love it. Maybe Morgan can finally make something out of himself.
-Angle's New Years resolution is to unmask all of A&8's.
-You have to feel bad for Hulk finally having to come face to face with the fact his daughter is a whore. To be fair I think Brooke has improved greatly since first coming to TNA, she doesn't seem as awkward as she was in her first few weeks. Hulk suspends Bully, and tells Brooke to move along to Bully's house. This is complete soap opera and doesn't move the wrestling product along at all. This has to end with A&8's cornering Hogan and he has to bring back Bully to defeat them.
-I guess Joseph Park is heading back to TNA now that he has graduated OVW. Park is awesome.....this is all.
Gail Kim & Tara vs Mickie James & Miss Tessmacher
This was so much better than the WWE Divas it isn't even funny. The story revolved around Tessmacher wanting to get the win over Tara because she wants her title back. Gail Kim and Mickie James were their awesome selves. They seem like two chicks that would cool to hang around and watch wrestling with. I wasn't into Tara as much. She looked awkward or slow in certain sequences. Her guillotine leg drop where she used the leg with the knee brace on Tessmacher was bad. The brace nailed Tess in the head, that had to hurt. Mickey hit her MickeyDT on Gail for the pin.
-A&8's are down to two masked members and they decide they need to guard them with their lives.
-ODB says her hubby is at home recovering. I love their relationship always brings a smile to my face. ODB's hair is insane tonight. Words do not do justice.
-Hulk makes the triple threat title match at Genesis an elimination match and Roode and Ares must team up next week on Impact to face Hardy and a partner of his choice. If Ares and Roode would work together they would be the best tag team in the company by far.
Aces & 8's (Devon & Masked Man) vs Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe - Cage Match
A&8's had sound strategy by having DOC keep Angle from entering the cage, which gave their team the numbers game they thrive on. We had the drama of Joe trying to survive by himself and Angle trying to find a way into the cage. Angle finally destroys DOC and gets the key and Angle and Joe cleaned house winning with the Angle Slam. Good hard hitting TV main event and Sting returns post match. We get an unmasking revealing Mike Knox as one of the members. At least there is a place for mid carders the WWE does not want, and its TNA.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom 7 - Evolution (01/04/13)
CHAOS (Jado, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs Captain New Japan, Tama Tonga & Wataru Inoue [*1/2]
YOUNG BOYS FIGHT! I have no confidence in Captain New Japan to win anything but his team actually won. Tama Tonga has a complete Jimmy Snuka gimmick and showed the most charisma out of the bunch. He won with a K.I.D. into a DDT.
Hiromu Takahashi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs BUSHI, KUSHIDA & Ryusuke Taguchi [**]
This was a dark match on the card and these six men gave a solid effort, I hate seeing a team with Tiger Mask and Liger losing. BUSHI gets the pin after the 450 splash of death on Takahashi.
CHAOS (Takashi Izuka, Toru Yano & Yujiro Takahashi) & Bob Sapp vs Muscle Orchestra (Manabu Nakanishi & Strongman), Akebono & MVP [**]
If you like big bulls going at it, this is for you. Nakanishi getting who I believe was Yano up in the torture rack was awesome, it also got a massive pop from the crowd. This was not the match for MVP as he kinda gets lost in all the big man offense but hits his elbow and a couple other moves. Akebono against Bob Sapp was crazy fun. The cool thing about big men is that if you get a little bit of work out of them it goes so far, whereas a Junior has to work a lot harder to get the same reaction. Nakanishi gets the win with a torture rack.
Masato Tanaka© vs Shelton Benjamin - NEVER Openweight Title [*3/4]
I like the idea of the NEVER title, a very NXTish idea. Shelton Benjamin got some good pops for his athletic stuff and got all of his moves in. This match was going along fine until Tanaka's seconds got involved and it fell to crap. Benjamin went between the ropes only to hold on two or three full second until he was hit with the cane. Tanaka hit the Sliding D elbow to retain the title.
Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer)© vs Hirooki Goto & Karl Anderson - IWPG Tag Team Titles [**3/4]
I thought this was good, not great. The problem is that there wasn't a great story being told in the ring. I like kicks to the face and there were no shortage of them here. KES hit the Killer Bomb on both members of the Machine Guns, and on Goto twice for the win. I like the Killer Bomb, very impressive move when performed by two tall guys.
Minoru Suzuki vs Yuji Nagata [***3/4]
Nagata is amazing and puts on a fantastic performance. This had kicks and slaps to the face which are a definite plus. Nagata weakened Suzuki's arm which game him an avenue to counter the slaps and completely negate half of them. Nagata's facial expressions are so good, he looks like he is mustering all his energy into putting on holds like an armlock. It helps to give the match more of an epic feel. Nagata got the pin with a backdrop Suplex hold.
Prince Devitt © vs Kota Isbushi vs Low Ki - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title [***1/2]
These three put it all on the line for this one, as we get non stop action for the entire bout. We get the awesome Tornado Enzaguri's and even some moves out on the ramp. Low Ki apparently is running with a Hitman gimmick complete with tattooed bar code on the base of his skull. Sadly we did not get to see if he does that crazy scream when doing the top rope double stomp. Isbushi was awsome and flew all over the place. The match felt like Isbushi and Ki vs Devitt, it is great to pin the champion but you can pin the other guy for the belt too. Devitt took the win with a Top Rope Single Underhook Vertical Drop DDT.
Kenji Muto & Shinjiro Otani vs TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzen & Satoshi Kojima) [***]
Good match and very cool to see the fans so into both teams. The crowd knew all four wrestlers big spots and popped loudly for all of them. I would have popped huge to see a power drive elbow from the 50 year old Muto, but no dice. Muto's pose during the count after the powerbomb was fantastic. Kojima laid in the chops and Otani returned the favor with a great face wash sequence. The arm and legwork were nice but ultimately did not lead anywhere. Tenzen got the pin on Otani after a moonsault.
Katsuyori Shibata vs Togi Makabe [***3/4]
These two hated each other and it shows. From the outset it was all out action. They threw stiff kicks and forearms aplenty. Makabe even put Shibata through a ringside table which ruled. The story was based around Shibata's penalty kick against Makabe's lariat. Makabe won with the Top Rope King Kong Kneedrop. Fun match and much different than the rest of the card.
Shinsuke Nakamura© vs Kazushi Sakuraba - IWGP Intercontinental Title [****]
I loved this match. There wasn't so much of a story just who could outlast the others strikes. We got an awesome pro wrestling/MMA hybrid that the fans ate up. When Nakamura popped up and hit a running knee strike the crowd was all over it. Nakamura picked Sakuraba up in a Death Valley Driver and the fans popped for it. This had a believability factor unlike any other match of the night. This is the type of stuff Hayato does in M-Pro. I popped so many times this is well worth taking a look.
Hiroshi Tanahashi© vs Kazuchika Okada - IWGP Heavyweight Title [****]
I wanted to like this more than I did, while being a very good match I think it is a case of a match not being able to live up to the hype given. This had a story of Tanahashi trying to stay away from The Rainmaker while also working over Okada's leg. Okada sold that leg to the end and had me thinking he was going to take the match after surviving all of Tanahashi's best shots including the High Fly Flow. Luckily Tanahashi found a way to win and keep the 68th title reign from becoming the 69th. This match had a very slow build and may have killed the match for some. Through the loss Okada still looks like a tough SOB having to take two High Fly Flow's to be beaten. Tanahashi may be NJPW's John Cena but I have become a fan of his anyhow. Some seem to be put off by his dominance of the title picture, and at least in the short term that may not change, but I really like him. Tanahashi puts on great matches, have a great look and a fun moveset. Love it or hate it it is an important match that is worth an hour of your time.
YOUNG BOYS FIGHT! I have no confidence in Captain New Japan to win anything but his team actually won. Tama Tonga has a complete Jimmy Snuka gimmick and showed the most charisma out of the bunch. He won with a K.I.D. into a DDT.
Hiromu Takahashi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs BUSHI, KUSHIDA & Ryusuke Taguchi [**]
This was a dark match on the card and these six men gave a solid effort, I hate seeing a team with Tiger Mask and Liger losing. BUSHI gets the pin after the 450 splash of death on Takahashi.
CHAOS (Takashi Izuka, Toru Yano & Yujiro Takahashi) & Bob Sapp vs Muscle Orchestra (Manabu Nakanishi & Strongman), Akebono & MVP [**]
If you like big bulls going at it, this is for you. Nakanishi getting who I believe was Yano up in the torture rack was awesome, it also got a massive pop from the crowd. This was not the match for MVP as he kinda gets lost in all the big man offense but hits his elbow and a couple other moves. Akebono against Bob Sapp was crazy fun. The cool thing about big men is that if you get a little bit of work out of them it goes so far, whereas a Junior has to work a lot harder to get the same reaction. Nakanishi gets the win with a torture rack.
Masato Tanaka© vs Shelton Benjamin - NEVER Openweight Title [*3/4]
I like the idea of the NEVER title, a very NXTish idea. Shelton Benjamin got some good pops for his athletic stuff and got all of his moves in. This match was going along fine until Tanaka's seconds got involved and it fell to crap. Benjamin went between the ropes only to hold on two or three full second until he was hit with the cane. Tanaka hit the Sliding D elbow to retain the title.
Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer)© vs Hirooki Goto & Karl Anderson - IWPG Tag Team Titles [**3/4]
I thought this was good, not great. The problem is that there wasn't a great story being told in the ring. I like kicks to the face and there were no shortage of them here. KES hit the Killer Bomb on both members of the Machine Guns, and on Goto twice for the win. I like the Killer Bomb, very impressive move when performed by two tall guys.
Minoru Suzuki vs Yuji Nagata [***3/4]
Nagata is amazing and puts on a fantastic performance. This had kicks and slaps to the face which are a definite plus. Nagata weakened Suzuki's arm which game him an avenue to counter the slaps and completely negate half of them. Nagata's facial expressions are so good, he looks like he is mustering all his energy into putting on holds like an armlock. It helps to give the match more of an epic feel. Nagata got the pin with a backdrop Suplex hold.
Prince Devitt © vs Kota Isbushi vs Low Ki - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title [***1/2]
These three put it all on the line for this one, as we get non stop action for the entire bout. We get the awesome Tornado Enzaguri's and even some moves out on the ramp. Low Ki apparently is running with a Hitman gimmick complete with tattooed bar code on the base of his skull. Sadly we did not get to see if he does that crazy scream when doing the top rope double stomp. Isbushi was awsome and flew all over the place. The match felt like Isbushi and Ki vs Devitt, it is great to pin the champion but you can pin the other guy for the belt too. Devitt took the win with a Top Rope Single Underhook Vertical Drop DDT.
Kenji Muto & Shinjiro Otani vs TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzen & Satoshi Kojima) [***]
Good match and very cool to see the fans so into both teams. The crowd knew all four wrestlers big spots and popped loudly for all of them. I would have popped huge to see a power drive elbow from the 50 year old Muto, but no dice. Muto's pose during the count after the powerbomb was fantastic. Kojima laid in the chops and Otani returned the favor with a great face wash sequence. The arm and legwork were nice but ultimately did not lead anywhere. Tenzen got the pin on Otani after a moonsault.
Katsuyori Shibata vs Togi Makabe [***3/4]
These two hated each other and it shows. From the outset it was all out action. They threw stiff kicks and forearms aplenty. Makabe even put Shibata through a ringside table which ruled. The story was based around Shibata's penalty kick against Makabe's lariat. Makabe won with the Top Rope King Kong Kneedrop. Fun match and much different than the rest of the card.
Shinsuke Nakamura© vs Kazushi Sakuraba - IWGP Intercontinental Title [****]
I loved this match. There wasn't so much of a story just who could outlast the others strikes. We got an awesome pro wrestling/MMA hybrid that the fans ate up. When Nakamura popped up and hit a running knee strike the crowd was all over it. Nakamura picked Sakuraba up in a Death Valley Driver and the fans popped for it. This had a believability factor unlike any other match of the night. This is the type of stuff Hayato does in M-Pro. I popped so many times this is well worth taking a look.
Hiroshi Tanahashi© vs Kazuchika Okada - IWGP Heavyweight Title [****]
I wanted to like this more than I did, while being a very good match I think it is a case of a match not being able to live up to the hype given. This had a story of Tanahashi trying to stay away from The Rainmaker while also working over Okada's leg. Okada sold that leg to the end and had me thinking he was going to take the match after surviving all of Tanahashi's best shots including the High Fly Flow. Luckily Tanahashi found a way to win and keep the 68th title reign from becoming the 69th. This match had a very slow build and may have killed the match for some. Through the loss Okada still looks like a tough SOB having to take two High Fly Flow's to be beaten. Tanahashi may be NJPW's John Cena but I have become a fan of his anyhow. Some seem to be put off by his dominance of the title picture, and at least in the short term that may not change, but I really like him. Tanahashi puts on great matches, have a great look and a fun moveset. Love it or hate it it is an important match that is worth an hour of your time.
Friday, January 4, 2013
WWE Main Event 01/02
Miz and Cole inform us we will hear from CM Punk's doctors to see if he will be cleared to wrestle Ryback Monday on RAW. They also hype the main event which is billed as a big match. I said last week I thought Khali would go over so Cesaro could assent to greater heights.
Cesaro comes out with more hype and video packages. Khali is so going over, this is the biggest platform the US Title has ever been featured since its return. This is made to look like a big deal and I know Khali is going over.
Antonio Cesaro vs The Great Khali - United States Championship
I can't believe it but I was completely wrong. Cesaro and Khali have a pretty good match revolving around Cesaro cutting Khali down to size by destroying his legs. Also Cesaro has to stay away from the mammouth chops Khali throws as when he is in position for one he has no way to counter them. Cesaro gets Khali up in the neutralizer and it is awesome. I find it odd (and Cole even mentioned it) that an Indian, Canadian, and an Irish midget would chant USA USA. I guess it may be one of those McMahon ironic twist type of things he seemingly loves to book. Impressive win for the Swiss native.
Cesaro and Miz have a verbal confrontation where Miz defends America.
Replay shows I shouldn't have skipped RAW as Wade Barrett won the IC Title from Kifi Kingston.
The WWE physician says CM Punk is 100% and Punk can wrestle Monday against Ryback.
Wade Barrett JTTS Gauntlet Match
Yoshi Tatsu
One of the hardest elbows you will see in WWE...that was it.
JTG
JTG puts up more of a fight, Bull Hammer elbow for the win.
Justin Gabriel
Barrett gets a tougher test here having to deal with the strikes and air tactics of Gabriel. This match put over how close Gabriel is to breaking through. I think he will break in the tag ranks but apparently my instincts aren't the best tonight. So far the gauntlet is putting over the Bull Hammer as a death blow to be feared.
Kofi Kingston
Wade said he would challenge anyone and the face pulls the wool over the heels eyes. Barrett is so shocked he get nothing in and is dominated by Kofi who hits him with all of his moves. Trouble in Paradise ends it and Kofi has the upper hand going into the Smackdown rematch.
Main Event is a great wrestling show, maybe the best WWE runs on a weekly basis. It is easy to watch being only and hour and does not feel like overload as RAW can easily do.
Cesaro comes out with more hype and video packages. Khali is so going over, this is the biggest platform the US Title has ever been featured since its return. This is made to look like a big deal and I know Khali is going over.
Antonio Cesaro vs The Great Khali - United States Championship
I can't believe it but I was completely wrong. Cesaro and Khali have a pretty good match revolving around Cesaro cutting Khali down to size by destroying his legs. Also Cesaro has to stay away from the mammouth chops Khali throws as when he is in position for one he has no way to counter them. Cesaro gets Khali up in the neutralizer and it is awesome. I find it odd (and Cole even mentioned it) that an Indian, Canadian, and an Irish midget would chant USA USA. I guess it may be one of those McMahon ironic twist type of things he seemingly loves to book. Impressive win for the Swiss native.
Cesaro and Miz have a verbal confrontation where Miz defends America.
Replay shows I shouldn't have skipped RAW as Wade Barrett won the IC Title from Kifi Kingston.
The WWE physician says CM Punk is 100% and Punk can wrestle Monday against Ryback.
Wade Barrett JTTS Gauntlet Match
Yoshi Tatsu
One of the hardest elbows you will see in WWE...that was it.
JTG
JTG puts up more of a fight, Bull Hammer elbow for the win.
Justin Gabriel
Barrett gets a tougher test here having to deal with the strikes and air tactics of Gabriel. This match put over how close Gabriel is to breaking through. I think he will break in the tag ranks but apparently my instincts aren't the best tonight. So far the gauntlet is putting over the Bull Hammer as a death blow to be feared.
Kofi Kingston
Wade said he would challenge anyone and the face pulls the wool over the heels eyes. Barrett is so shocked he get nothing in and is dominated by Kofi who hits him with all of his moves. Trouble in Paradise ends it and Kofi has the upper hand going into the Smackdown rematch.
Main Event is a great wrestling show, maybe the best WWE runs on a weekly basis. It is easy to watch being only and hour and does not feel like overload as RAW can easily do.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
MPro 11/10/12
Kenbai vs Ayumu Gunji
Not much here, Kenbai has some nice holds while rookie Gunji has an excellent dropkick and nice facial expressions. Kenbai destroys Gunji with a top rope double stomp for the win.
Yapper Man #1, Yapper Man #2 & Yapper Man #3 vs Kinya Oyanagi, Katsuo & Mika Iida
Must stay positive, must stay positive, must stay positive. Yapper Man #3 and Mika Iida both had fantastic dropkicks. Katsuo looks like a giant baby in a diaper. I am not sure I am a fan of comedy wrestling, I like Colt Cabana but I did not like this.
Ultimo Dragon & Kesen Numagirolamo vs Rasse & Owen Phoenix
Ultimo Dragon is good, Rasse is good, Owen Phoenix tries hard, Numagirolamo sucks. Numagirolamo has the worst shining wizard I have ever seen and one of his moves is an assbutt. Of course he gets the win with a Muscle Buster on Pheonix.
Rui Hyugaji vs Daichi Sasaki
This was more of a beating than I expected. Once Hyugaji nailed Sasaki with the Singapore Cane in the knees he went to work on them and did not stop. Sasaki got one last gasp but the Texas Cloverleaf finishes him off for good. Hyugaji scored points with me for putting the figure four on correctly (the injured leg is the straight leg not the stepover toe hold leg) but his timing was off for a few spots. This was good enough for an indy, not New Japan or All Japan worthy however.
Asura (Kenou, Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei) vs Hayato Army (Tekeshi Minamino, Manjimaru & Ken45° )
Though it was entertaining enough, this was a complete garbage match. I like the Brahmans, they are always crazy. Their big spot is trapping an opponent in the corner with a chair to brace the street cone near their nuts and rolling a bowling ball up the incline of the chair which drives the cone squarely into the opponents jewels. Ken45° hit a tombstone piledriver out of the death valley driver position and it ruled! Asura, always the opportunists, use a run in, and salt for Kenou to dragon suplex Ken45° for the pin.
Fujita Hayato Jr. © vs Great Sasuke - Tohoku Jr Heavyweight Title
Sasuke has a sound strategy to work on the arm and go back to the Kimura Lock any time the opportunity presented itself. Besides the arm work he also worked over a leg and gave Hayato a piledriver on the ring apron. Hayato survived this encounter and it felt like when he found an opening for the K.I.D. Sasuke panicked and got to the ropes. The second time Hayato locked in the maneuver it was over. Great match well worth tracking down.
Not much here, Kenbai has some nice holds while rookie Gunji has an excellent dropkick and nice facial expressions. Kenbai destroys Gunji with a top rope double stomp for the win.
Yapper Man #1, Yapper Man #2 & Yapper Man #3 vs Kinya Oyanagi, Katsuo & Mika Iida
Must stay positive, must stay positive, must stay positive. Yapper Man #3 and Mika Iida both had fantastic dropkicks. Katsuo looks like a giant baby in a diaper. I am not sure I am a fan of comedy wrestling, I like Colt Cabana but I did not like this.
Ultimo Dragon & Kesen Numagirolamo vs Rasse & Owen Phoenix
Ultimo Dragon is good, Rasse is good, Owen Phoenix tries hard, Numagirolamo sucks. Numagirolamo has the worst shining wizard I have ever seen and one of his moves is an assbutt. Of course he gets the win with a Muscle Buster on Pheonix.
Rui Hyugaji vs Daichi Sasaki
This was more of a beating than I expected. Once Hyugaji nailed Sasaki with the Singapore Cane in the knees he went to work on them and did not stop. Sasaki got one last gasp but the Texas Cloverleaf finishes him off for good. Hyugaji scored points with me for putting the figure four on correctly (the injured leg is the straight leg not the stepover toe hold leg) but his timing was off for a few spots. This was good enough for an indy, not New Japan or All Japan worthy however.
Asura (Kenou, Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei) vs Hayato Army (Tekeshi Minamino, Manjimaru & Ken45° )
Though it was entertaining enough, this was a complete garbage match. I like the Brahmans, they are always crazy. Their big spot is trapping an opponent in the corner with a chair to brace the street cone near their nuts and rolling a bowling ball up the incline of the chair which drives the cone squarely into the opponents jewels. Ken45° hit a tombstone piledriver out of the death valley driver position and it ruled! Asura, always the opportunists, use a run in, and salt for Kenou to dragon suplex Ken45° for the pin.
Fujita Hayato Jr. © vs Great Sasuke - Tohoku Jr Heavyweight Title
Sasuke has a sound strategy to work on the arm and go back to the Kimura Lock any time the opportunity presented itself. Besides the arm work he also worked over a leg and gave Hayato a piledriver on the ring apron. Hayato survived this encounter and it felt like when he found an opening for the K.I.D. Sasuke panicked and got to the ropes. The second time Hayato locked in the maneuver it was over. Great match well worth tracking down.
Why I Love Professional Wrestling-1
This is a set I purchased a few years ago because it sounded like a fun random set. I was blown away at the randomness this set offers. Please note I am breaking most of these sets by how much I watch per day as opposed to breaking the setup by disc. This should allow for a better flow in doing multiple shows or sets at one time.
Ron Wright interview (WWOW Knoxville 1973)
If you like southern mountain wrestling then this segment is for you. Everyone involved save for the announcer has a thick southern accent straight from the mountains of Tennessee. Ron Wright is your typical heel manager/wrestler who had a match the previous night that got him fined and suspended due to his conflict with the referee. The interview consists of a rant by Wright celebrating what happened last night until he is informed of his suspension and fine. This little piece of information sets Ron off and he has another confrontation with the referee that includes the weakest backhand slap in the history of wrestling. Favorite quotes include calling the referee's stripes black, yellow and white, as well as calling all of them nitwits. It is such a fun little interview that is simply amazing and does its job in making me wish the footage from the wrestling match that was made between the referee and Ron Wright for Lenior City was available somewhere. There are a few full shows of Knoxville wrestling from this time period on YouTube that may be worth searching out.
Gran Apache/Faby Apache/Polovo de Estrellas/Mini Abismo Negro vs Oscar Sevilla/Cynthia Moreno/Pimpinella Estrella/Mascarita Sagrada (HUSTLE 05/08/04)
If I was looking for randomness you cannot beat this match. It has everything from women to cross dressers to midgets. Pimpinella Estrella is better known as Casandro and is a crowd favorite. This match felt like a Lucha intro for the Japanese crowd. It had crazy holds and flipity flopity goodness you expect from Lucha. Mascarita Sagrada who I believe was Max Mini in the WWF is the star of the show. Just amazing athleticism encased in his tiny frame. At one point he does a flying hunanconrada from the top rope over the barricade. Mascarita Sagrada pulls the upset with a roll up on the elder statesman of the match, Gran Apache. This is classic Lucha booking with the man you least expect to win the match wins the match against the person you would least expect him to win it over.
The Texas Outlaws in a Bar (The Wrestler 1974)
The Wrestler was a 1974 movie produced by Verne Gange and it is as cheesy as anything in wrestling. This scene is Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch in a bar trying to stay out of trouble but as always trouble finds them. They end up defending wrestling in a bar fight against two karate masters from Japan. I like my Rhodes and Murdoch as much as anyone but I this clip isn't for me.....save for the slam on the pinball machine, that was awesome.
Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio Jr. (WWE Smackdown 06/23/05)
Eddie Guerrero was such a master of his craft. Here he leads Rey to an unbelievable TV match that had the crowd on the edge of their seat the entire match. It is rare in this day and age of the WWE that a crowd is so hot for a match by the finish. I say Eddie was the mastermind behind the match as since Eddie's death Rey has not had a match anywhere near as good as what was featured in this series of bouts. They start with a decent little wrestling match and it hits a different level when Eddie snaps and shoves Rey off the top rope off of a clean break, Eddie spends the remainder of the match working on Rey's spine. Rey rebounds with a flurry of offense ending in a 619, hunanconrada roll up into a pin. This furthered the storyline that Eddie could not defeat Rey. A simple wrestling storyline told so well can still hook fans in the 21st century.
Ron Wright interview (WWOW Knoxville 1973)
If you like southern mountain wrestling then this segment is for you. Everyone involved save for the announcer has a thick southern accent straight from the mountains of Tennessee. Ron Wright is your typical heel manager/wrestler who had a match the previous night that got him fined and suspended due to his conflict with the referee. The interview consists of a rant by Wright celebrating what happened last night until he is informed of his suspension and fine. This little piece of information sets Ron off and he has another confrontation with the referee that includes the weakest backhand slap in the history of wrestling. Favorite quotes include calling the referee's stripes black, yellow and white, as well as calling all of them nitwits. It is such a fun little interview that is simply amazing and does its job in making me wish the footage from the wrestling match that was made between the referee and Ron Wright for Lenior City was available somewhere. There are a few full shows of Knoxville wrestling from this time period on YouTube that may be worth searching out.
Gran Apache/Faby Apache/Polovo de Estrellas/Mini Abismo Negro vs Oscar Sevilla/Cynthia Moreno/Pimpinella Estrella/Mascarita Sagrada (HUSTLE 05/08/04)
If I was looking for randomness you cannot beat this match. It has everything from women to cross dressers to midgets. Pimpinella Estrella is better known as Casandro and is a crowd favorite. This match felt like a Lucha intro for the Japanese crowd. It had crazy holds and flipity flopity goodness you expect from Lucha. Mascarita Sagrada who I believe was Max Mini in the WWF is the star of the show. Just amazing athleticism encased in his tiny frame. At one point he does a flying hunanconrada from the top rope over the barricade. Mascarita Sagrada pulls the upset with a roll up on the elder statesman of the match, Gran Apache. This is classic Lucha booking with the man you least expect to win the match wins the match against the person you would least expect him to win it over.
The Texas Outlaws in a Bar (The Wrestler 1974)
The Wrestler was a 1974 movie produced by Verne Gange and it is as cheesy as anything in wrestling. This scene is Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch in a bar trying to stay out of trouble but as always trouble finds them. They end up defending wrestling in a bar fight against two karate masters from Japan. I like my Rhodes and Murdoch as much as anyone but I this clip isn't for me.....save for the slam on the pinball machine, that was awesome.
Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio Jr. (WWE Smackdown 06/23/05)
Eddie Guerrero was such a master of his craft. Here he leads Rey to an unbelievable TV match that had the crowd on the edge of their seat the entire match. It is rare in this day and age of the WWE that a crowd is so hot for a match by the finish. I say Eddie was the mastermind behind the match as since Eddie's death Rey has not had a match anywhere near as good as what was featured in this series of bouts. They start with a decent little wrestling match and it hits a different level when Eddie snaps and shoves Rey off the top rope off of a clean break, Eddie spends the remainder of the match working on Rey's spine. Rey rebounds with a flurry of offense ending in a 619, hunanconrada roll up into a pin. This furthered the storyline that Eddie could not defeat Rey. A simple wrestling storyline told so well can still hook fans in the 21st century.
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