-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.
Monday, January 7, 2013
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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