WWF’s first episode of NXT aired last night, and it was an entertaining show for two reasons – Bryan Danielson…erm…Daniel Bryan, and Chris Jericho.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Danielson being showcased right off the bat to begin the inaugural show. His interactions with Miz were humorous, but I wonder what direction they will take with the angle they started. Will the Miz end every show pummeling Danielson after he stole the show with the match of the night?

Matt Striker and Michael Cole came across as douchebags, which isn’t anything new, but Cole’s sudden heel turn was unexpected, but cool. He was harping on the Miz only a day prior, but the next day he is a supporter of the Miz and his heelish actions. I’m presuming his lines were being fed to him, as he still cannot string together a sentence of his own without citing one of his favorite lines ad nauseam. Cole’s incessant burial of Danielson was head scratching (it does serve a purpose), but at least Matthews continued defending the best in the world. The WWF wants to hammer in how unimportant Danielson really is because of his non-WWF accolades – not surprising in the least, but tacky, yes, lame, certainly - but they will make him into a superstar (hopefully). Judging from last night though, that is the plan, and I am game for it. I also hope Danielson responds to Cole's bashing and beats the "living life" out of him for being an obvious mark.

The main event was awesome. I was excited to see that Jericho’s intro music played with twenty minutes left of television, but they started the match with five minutes left until the top of the hour. Damn commercials and advertisements. The match itself was no MOTYC, but a simple star building exercise for Danielson to display what he can do in five minutes. As it stands, it is my favorite match of the year. Danielson’s tope suicida bump was inane, very similar to what Benoit did on SmackDown! many years ago against Booker T. It was funny seeing Jericho botch a dragon screw, as he hasn’t competed with someone that has a lot of talent since what…Mysterio in mid 2009? Honestly though, there were a few mistakes which I noticed - like Danielson falling backwards after an enzuguri, and the attempted topple over the ropes. I chalk that up as nerves.

It was scary how truly small Danielson is; I just forget that he is another “vanilla midget”. Nevertheless, yeah, the match was an awesome debut match, not on par with Benoit/HHH, but damn close. **1/2 in my book. Probably high for a six minute match, but oh damn was it entertaining.

The other “rookies” are forgettable, and some are very annoying. That Otunga guy…*vomits* Slater looked like a woman when the camera was panning around in his vignette, and his voice is all nasally. I can’t even remember the guys name who is with Jericho, or Punk’s rookie. Tarver is unimpressive as well. The Carlito/Christian match was nearly identical from last right – apparently, Carlito forgot his back springboard attempts were reversed….

Maybe it is my biased outlook, but Danielson is hands down the best in the WWF right now, even after ONE match. Now that is in-ring talent alone, more than half of the roster is better on the stick than Danielson, but I do not care about those superficial qualities. I want to see wrestling, not talking.

All Japan 1980s – Been watching me some “classic” and actual classic All Japan from ’80-12/31/89 @12:00PM…

Harley Race vs. Giant Baba 9/9/1980

• Race looked like a pimp I met in Chicago in 2005, or the grizzled shark hunter from Jaws.

• Baba is Akira Taue’s father, the resemblance is too similar.

• Baba is defending the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and he looks completely miserable and out-of-shape.

• Baba even does the Taue stomp and those stupid overhead chops that look incredibly soft and fake.

• The theme of the match for me was laughing at how incredibly slow and physically weak looking Baba was in this match. I mean, he is normally slow and plodding, but tonight was extra helpings of that bad stuff.

• Race was the consummate professional, bumping all over the place for Baba and his quasi Hogan move set. Race took a gorilla press slam from the top rope, a big bump circa 1980. Race also did a better version of RVD’s piledriver bump than RVD’s own version.

• Race stalling on the pinfall attempt following a vertical suplex I found interesting.

• Race started head butting tables and the ring post on the floor busting himself open, which did add some level of drama and excitement to the match.

• There was this intense bro hug on the ropes that made me do a double take…they seriously stood there just hugging each other for a few moments.

• The ending was abysmal, Baba goes up top (no idea why), gets crotched, and is pinned to lose the title.

• Race was blown up by the end of the match – his physique slipped considerably from a match with Lawler in ’77.

• *1/4 – if this is on the viewing list, bottom tier has some company.

Stan Hansen vs. Terry Funk 9/11/82

• I anticipated this match to be one crazy ass bloody brawl – who wouldn’t when HANSEN and TERRY FUNK get in the ring?

• Terry looks like a stand in for Dale Dobeck, which I find hilarious at 4:30AM.

• Funk goes punch drunk early in the match, and takes an awkward looking back-body-drop from the ring through the ropes and to the floor that caught my attention.

• Hansen is spectacularly stiff in this match.

• Terry bailed to the floor A TON. It’s rare to see a FACE bail to the floor.

• Funk’s use of Stan’s kneepad for a takedown was splendid – a nice touch of excellence.

• Funk using the London wake-up call numerous times was also spectacular. It is one of my favorite strikes of all-time, because it really works in disorientating an opponent – I have used it in MOUT training and in combat.

• I found it interesting how long it took them to go for a cover.

• I loved how Hansen absolutely hurled the chair that Funk had just thrown at him back at Funk who was on the floor. That was awesome.

• Whoever assisted Hansen is a genius. He held Funk to get lariated, and instead of standing upright so Funk can duck so his captor takes the shot, he bends down and is at knee level. Attention to details…

• Hansen beating on young boys never gets tiresome; neither does Hansen low blowing Jumbo.

• Funk’s selling of the lariat post-match was incredible.

• Although there was *zero* blood, and a zero finish, the brawl was still hate filled, which I mark out for. ***