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Yeah, the whole DR story is that the others can get the job done and Moxley can’t. I have no doubt that this all ends with Darby beating PAC on the way to the semis of the CC

I just think they had PAC go over Darby for two reasons: one it was playing off the build of him saying Darby couldn't hang with him in a straight up m match with no gimmicks, but got outplayed and had to resort to using a bat to get the win. Secondly, I think this is going to play into the Death Riders imploding when PAC starts pointing out he was able to get the job done but Mox wasn't. I don't think for a second TK is suddenly going to try to make PAC a top guy over this, it was just a progression point in the story. It's not even the first time they've booked Darby losing to advance an angle. I don't think @C.S. has any reason to fear any megapush for the guy.

Very much a guy who was hurt by ECW closing, he kinda went under the radar from then on. I know he was still working indies because every now and then he'd pop up and still look good, but he never had a TNA run nor turned up in WWE (bar a few WWECW matches). Not saying he'd have gone on to be a top 100 candidate, but it definitely stopped his momentum. Thanks for boosting these threads @El McKell, some interesting names coming back into the mix.

Appreciate it was well past his prime, but when I was watching Prime Time from 1986, I used to dread Tony Garea matches. He wasn't even bad, he was just there, like a plate of unseasoned boiled potatoes. I used to enjoy Scott McGhee far more as a JTTS from that era. However, if someone can point me to a good Garea match from his prime, I'd gladly give it a watch, but he's not making my list.

I think Bob Holly was a good wrestler, and he was as convincing as a peppy babyface who liked racing cars as he was as a grumpy old prick, so he could play multiple roles well. I don't know that I ever looked forward to a Holly match, but I also never felt like turning off when he came out for a match, which puts him over plenty of other nominees here. I've not considered him because I know of at least 100 wrestlers I think are better.

Somebody said this earlier but big Super Bowl Shuffle vibes. Cheese overload, and it's great.

I don't hate Pac at all. I just - correctly - don't see him as a top guy. He has never has been and never will be. At most, maybe he'll get a token Kazarian-like reign late in his career, and even that feels like a wildly optimistic prediction. Meanwhile, Sting - an actual main eventer, which PAC will never be - spent three years helping to establish Darby Allin as a big deal and future World Champion. Darby shouldn't be losing to PAC, period.

I'd definitely recommend TA in Mid South & Houston in 1984. His tag team and feud with Mr. Wrestling II is worthwhile but I'd also suggest his matches versus DiBiase plus a great one versus Butch Reed as well.

Heck yeah, I picked the Howard the Duck one up recently. Memories of that movie tarnished a really good comic. Glad I did some research and found out how cool it was. I've looked at Showcase Presents but most of the ones I'm interested in are too pricey used.

Don't feel too bad about filling in the details for those two matches, you still put more info into this one card then I have the entire month. Being honest, Maeda v Karelin was the obvious final but that doesn't make it any less exciting.The Tokyo Dome is gonna be rocking come New Year's Eve.

Seconding the Sheik/Goulet v Dick/Thomas tag, it's incredible.

UWF Newborn – “U-COSMOS Grand Prix 1990: The Final Four” November 26th, 1990 Osaka, Japan Osaka-jo Hall Attendance: 16,000 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (live) The WOWOW broadcast opens with the commentary crew greeting the viewing audience, and they break down the card for the evening. They discuss the two big semi-finals tonight and break down the rest of the card. Fans finish shuffling into the arena before Nobuyuki Furuta officially opens the event, which is, of course, followed by a light show and fireworks as the UWF theme plays. The wrestlers make their way to the ring one by one for the introductions, with the loudest pops from the crowd reserved for all four of the semi-finalists. Akira Maeda, Nobuhiko Takada, Maro Ruas, and Aleksandr Karelin all give speeches for the fans, with the last two being translated. Billy Robinson, Lou Thesz, and Karl Gotch are at ringside for formalities as well. Steve Nelson vs Billy Scott Steve Nelson and Billy Scott opened with an energetic scramble, each testing the other’s developing fundamentals. Both traded short palm strikes before instinctively dropping into repeated skirmishes on the mat, where both felt most comfortable. Nelson’s wrestling pedigree showed early as he hit a clean inside trip that put Scott on the mat, but Scott recovered quickly, using a sharp hip switch to escape a half-nelson ride and return to his feet without burning a rope break. Nelson pressed again with a double-leg attempt, only for Scott to sprawl low, countering into a tight front headlock that forced Nelson to defend and momentarily concede position. It was a back-and-forth affair as both traded rope breaks and found themselves tied 1-1 on points. As they transitioned to the mat again, Scott slipped behind, hunting the legs; Nelson tried to base out and turn, but Scott threaded his right leg through with surprising speed, dropping backward into a well-applied heel hook. Nelson fought the rotation, reaching for the ropes, but Scott tightened the crank, forcing a tap. Scott defeats Nelson via submission (heel hook), 8:12 Koji Kanemoto vs Mitsuya Nagai Kanemoto and Nagai were eager to test each other’s mettle, and both were hoping to get a win tonight in front of a sold out crowd in Osaka-jo Hall. Nagai started with a ton of energy, though Kanemoto’s sharper skill set quickly established a clear difference. The opening minutes saw Nagai pressing forward with eager but ragged kickboxing combinations. Nagai relied on snapping low kicks, but overcommitted with body shots. This allowed Kanemoto to answer with tighter, more balanced striking, stinging him repeatedly with clean kicks to the ribs and brisk palm strikes that disrupted Nagai’s rhythm. A rushed clinch attempt from Nagai allowed Kanemoto to counter with a quick inside reap, taking the fight to the mat, where his superior grappling showed; he transitioned smoothly from side control to a scarf hold before Nagai scrambled desperately toward the ropes for a rope break. Kanemoto continued to press Nagai on the mat and exposed his overzealous striking attempts with clever takedowns. Eventually, Kanemoto built up a 2-1 lead on points through ropebreaks, with Nagai getting a knockdown after catching Kanemoto with a sharp palm strike to the nose. As the pace settled, Nagai swung wildly again, this time walking straight into a sharp low kick that buckled him briefly, costing him a knockdown after he failed to rise cleanly before the count. Sensing momentum, Kanemoto surged, firing a flurry of body strikes before snapping into a waist lock. Nagai tried to peel the grip, but Kanemoto powered through with a crisp German suplex, bridging for the decisive pinfall. Kanemoto defeats Nagai via pinfall, 12:03 Nikolai Zouev def. Willie Peeters via submission (banana split), 11:29 Andrei Kopylov def. Naoki Sano via submission (kneebar), 10:31 Kiyoshi Tamura & Masahito Kakihara vs Yoji Anjo & Tatsuo Nakano Tamura and Nakano opened the bout with a mix of caution and strategy. Tamura moved lightly on his feet, hands open and relaxed, while Nakano marched forward with his bulldog demeanor. Nakano tried to overwhelm him early with swinging palm strikes to the head and body, but Tamura’s footwork and timing kept him just out of danger, countering with sharp low kicks and quick level changes that forced Nakano to sprawl repeatedly. When Nakano finally caught Tamura in a rough clinch and tried to muscle him down with a front headlock, Tamura used his agility to pivot behind, tripping Nakano into a clean takedown that brought the crowd to life. On the mat, Tamura flowed effortlessly between positions, threatening a cross-armbreaker until Nakano managed to lunge for the ropes for the first rope break of the match. Kakihara tagged in next and immediately unleashed a barrage of fast palm strikes that rattled Nakano, forcing him backward into his own corner, where Anjo tagged himself in to stabilize the pace. Anjo entered with tighter fundamentals, testing Kakihara’s raw aggression with crisp body kicks and measured palm strikes. When Kakihara swung too boldly, Anjo countered with a lightning single-leg, dragging him into a scramble before securing top control. Kakihara’s speed allowed him to slip free and tag Tamura back in, resetting the match’s rhythm. The match continued at a solid pace, and both teams managed to get two points each after several back-and-forth encounters, before Tamura and Anjo found themselves facing off again. Tamura and Anjo exchanged a rapid series of kicks and palm strikes, with Anjo landing a clean shot to the ribs that briefly staggered the younger prodigy, earning the first knockdown of the bout after Tamura took a moment to rise under the referee’s count. Recovering quickly, Tamura shifted tactics, baiting Anjo into overcommitting on a body punch; he ducked under, snatched a waist lock, and dragged him into a fluid takedown that transitioned directly into a leg entanglement. Anjo scrambled frantically for space, but Tamura’s precision was on point. Tamura slid into a tight cross-heel-hook setup before abruptly switching to a textbook ankle lock, torquing the joint until Anjo had no option but to submit. Tamura & Kakihara defeat Nakano & Anjo via submission (heel hook), 14:17 Dick Vrij & Gerard Gordeau vs Dave Taylor & Marty Jones In a true style clash, the Dutch kickboxing duo of Dick Vrij and Gerard Gordeau found themselves up against two classically trained British catch wrestlers. The match was clearly intriguing to the fans, as they made their interest known vocally. After the opening bell, the contrast in styles was clear as Vrij probed with low kicks and stiff palm strikes while Taylor refused to be drawn into prolonged striking exchanges. Taylor waited for Vrij to overcommit on a body kick, slipping inside and securing a tight waist lock that forced Vrij to cheaply grab the ropes for the first rope break of the night. The crowd groaned a bit, making their displeasure at Vrij’s tactics known. The reset allowed Taylor to dictate terms, angling for a clinch and dragging Vrij down with a leg trip that deposited him into half guard. Vrij reacted quickly, framing with his forearms and shoving for space, but Taylor’s methodical pressure kept him pinned long enough to float into a double-wristlock attempt. Vrij immediately lunged for the ropes again for the second rope break of the match, costing his team a point. But it was part of Vrij’s strategy, and the crowd grew behind the British team. Gordeau entered next to recalibrate the tempo, firing long-range kicks that Taylor absorbed warily before tagging in Marty Jones. Jones brought a different kind of pressure, using subtle level changes and a sharp inside tie-up to shepherd Gordeau toward the mat. Gordeau, uninterested in extended grappling, twisted into the ropes for a clean break. Jones returned to the center, snapping palm strikes to close distance, then executed a crisp butterfly throw that sent Gordeau skidding. Gordeau rose at four after the referee initiated a ten count, giving the British duo a two-point lead. The momentum shifted abruptly when Vrij called for the tag and re-entered with renewed urgency, taking a more aggressive stance against Marty Jones. Vrij barreled forward behind thudding low kicks, one of which buckled Jones’ lead leg and forced him into a defensive shell. Jones attempted to catch Vrij by surprise with a defensive counter, but Vrij was smart and backed off from the attempt, forcing Jones to stand. Jones attempted to close the distance and wrap around Vrij for a full-nelson hold, but Vrij managed to fight out and catch his opponent by surprise with a beautiful spinning backfist. The strike instantly dropped the British wrestler to the mat. With another ten count started, Jones rose at eight. Jones attempted to slow the bout with a chain-wrestling entry, but Vrij stuffed the attempt, shucking him off with a violent shrug before landing a crushing right round kick to the ribs. Jones faltered, and Vrij followed instantly with a palm-strike flurry that drove him into the corner. The referee allowed the action to continue until Vrij connected flush with a right high kick. Jones collapsed flat, unresponsive until the new count reached ten. Vrij & Gordeau defeat Taylor & Jones via KO, 12:43 Before the next two matches, Lou Thesz gives a brief speech and presents the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship belt alongside Karl Gotch and Billy Robinson. Aleksandr Karelin vs Marco Ruas Despite Maeda vs Takada being the headliner, this match was equally hotly anticipated as both Marco Ruas and Aleksandr Karelin have built up fearsome reputations inside and outside of UWF. Both were highly accomplished athletes and deeply respected in their respective countries. It would be an intriguing clash between Luta Livre and Greco-Roman wrestling, and the clinical nature of Ruas versus the raw power and strength of Karelin. The Soviet gold medalist entered the arena first, marching to the sound of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” as the fans reached out to try and get a slight touch of the already legendary figure. Karelin was dialed in, however, and he looked straight ahead as he made his way to the ring. Ruas entered next, dressed in nothing but black Vale Tudo shorts, and the chiseled Brazilian did not have Aleksandr Karelin’s frame, but he was an imposing figure all on his own. The crowd awaited anxiously as Nobuyuki Furuta made the ring introductions, followed by Motoyuki Kitazawa checking both wrestlers. The broadcast cameras caught Karelin and Ruas staring each other down as they waited for the opening bell. Ruas immediately angled with movement, chopping at Karelin’s lead thigh with sharp, low kicks meant to test the Soviet’s balance. Karelin absorbed the first couple of kicks without flinching, stepping forward with stalking pressure that made the crowd lean in. Ruas tried to follow with a digging body kick, but Karelin caught the leg on his hip and used his upper-body strength to wrench Ruas into a clinch that instantly shifted the dynamic. Ruas attempted a quick inside trip, but Karelin planted his feet like they were bolted to the canvas, muscled Ruas upright, and cracked him with two heavy body punches that forced the Brazilian to reset his footing. Ruas circled again, firing another series of low kicks, and managed to sting Karelin enough to slow the advance. When Ruas stepped in with a knee to the body, Karelin smothered the attempt, locking a body clinch and hitting a short but violent belly-to-belly throw that sent Ruas crashing to the mat. Karelin immediately transitioned to chest-on-chest control, grinding his weight down and working for a neck crank that Ruas resisted by sliding toward the ropes for a rope break just past the five-minute mark. After the reset, Ruas tried to reestablish distance with more kicks, but Karelin walked through them and punished Ruas with more body punches followed by a clinch, forcing Ruas to work off more energy as Karelin tripped him to the mat. Ruas put his Luta Livre skills to good use, however, and somehow managed to fend off Karelin near the ropes. They were close enough to prompt a clean break from Kitazawa. Back on their feet, Ruas regrouped with visible urgency, returning to the legs and landing two loud, low kicks that visibly buckled Karelin’s stance, drawing a rumble from the crowd as Ruas followed with a crisp Muay Thai-style body kick. Karelin stumbled back a half step, giving Ruas the opening to fire a third low kick that finally forced the Soviet to drop to one knee. The crowd seemed a bit surprised as Kitazawa started a ten count, forcing Karelin to react quickly. Ruas now held a surprise 1-0 lead on points. Sensing Karelin’s defense was compromised, Ruas surged forward, throwing palm strikes and a quick hip throw attempt, but Karelin countered by digging in under the armpits and wrenching Ruas into a brutal Greco-style body lock. From there, Karelin hit a towering German-style suplex that folded Ruas on impact, the referee starting another count as Ruas shook out his senses and rose gingerly. With the match tied 1-1, Karelin pressed his opponent more confidently. Ruas tried for a quick heel-hook entry as Karelin advanced, but Karelin’s balance held firm; he sprawled, dragged Ruas upright again, and punished him with three short body punches before hurling him down with a high-amplitude and violent single-underhook side suplex that echoed through the hall. Ruas took another knockdown, giving the Soviet machine a 2-1 lead on points. Ruas seemed a bit shaken, and the crowd was beginning to get behind Karelin. The final stretch showed Karelin’s suffocating pressure in full force. Ruas attempted an explosive surge, launching a flying knee, but Karelin smothered the attack, body-locked him, and took him down with a single-leg trip. Karelin exerted control on the mat. Ruas had great defense, but he was growing fatigued, and even the best Luta Livre wrestler would have trouble defending against Karelin on the mat. Karelin worked for a kneebar attempt, and Ruas had no choice but to reach for the ropes to break the hold. Karelin was relentless and managed to wrestle Ruas down to the mat, establishing side control on Ruas's waist. Ruas tried not to panic, but he sensed what Karelin was going for. A brief period of resistance wasn’t enough. Karelin retained control with a near-perfect gutwrench hold. With one sudden movement, Karelin executed a devastating Karelin Lift. The Soviet monster lifted Ruas off the mat and sent him crashing down headfirst, leaving the Brazilian dazed and vulnerable. When Ruas rolled reflexively to his hands and knees, Karelin pounced. The Olympic gold medalist got both hooks in with efficiency as the crowd roared. Ruas tried to peel at the wrists, shifting his base toward the ropes, but Karelin’s weight dragged him flat, and the rear-naked choke locked in deep under the chin. The Brazilian’s resistance faded within seconds. Ruas started to fade, but perhaps out of respect for his opponent, tapped right before it seemed he would pass out completely. Karelin defeats Ruas via submission (rear-naked choke), 16:21 Nobuhiko Takada vs Akira Maeda The second semi-final to determine who would meet the Soviet machine in the final was nearly at hand. Akira Maeda and Nobuhiko Takada were both determined to advance. Takada could taste redemption after a disappointing but somewhat predictable exit last year against Vader. Maeda was chasing a form of redemption of his own as well and knew that many expected that he would avenge Sayama’s exit. Many also thought he would win last year before Sayama put it all together to come away with the championship. Maeda made his entrance first to Camel’s “Captured” as the crowd chanted his name in cadence. Osaka was Maeda’s hometown, and the reception was as loud as feasibly possible. Takada entered next to the training montage theme from Rocky IV. Takada had supporters in the arena, even in Osaka, and they made themselves heard. Takada seemed laser-focused as he entered the arena. Nobuyuki Furuta made the ring introductions, and Masami Soranaka checked both wrestlers before the bell sounded. Maeda and Takada circled with the kind of wary respect that only develops between two veterans who know each other too well; their first several exchanges unfolded at a testing pace, each man probing with light kicks to the thigh and quick palm strikes designed to read timing. Maeda, standing tall and patient, used his longer reach to back Takada up with front-leg teeps and a stiff left low kick that thudded sharply off the thigh, prompting Takada to adjust his stance and shift to a more lateral movement pattern. When Takada darted in with a sharp combination of two palm strikes to the cheek and a hard inside-low kick, Maeda absorbed most of it on his arms and countered by locking onto the lead leg, dragging Takada into a clinch that immediately became a grind on the mat. Maeda pressed chest-to-chest, working gradually for a straight armlock, forcing Takada to strain and re-pummel for position. A methodical battle unfolded on the ground, with Maeda tightening pressure around the wrist until Takada finally rolled towards the ropes for a clean break. The referee separated them with no points lost at around the four-minute mark. Moments later, however, Takada’s attempt to escape another leg entanglement forced him to hook the ropes more deliberately, costing him the first rope break of the match. By the seven-minute mark, Takada began finding more success with his mid-level kicks, landing a sharp right roundhouse that knocked Maeda visibly off balance. When Maeda steadied himself, Takada stepped in with a flurr. Takada landed two stinging palm strikes and a body kick that landed flush, forcing Maeda to take a brief count as he steadied himself on one knee. The first knockdown of the match gave Takada the early lead. After quickly getting back on his feet, Maeda responded with a surge of urgency, moving forward with heavier kicks that clapped hard off Takada’s ribs. Takada tried to angle out, but Maeda caught him stepping in and delivered a crushing counter low kick that chopped Takada’s legs out from under him, earning his own knockdown to even the score. Takada quickly got back up as well and seemed almost flustered that Soranaka initiated a ten count. The fight’s rhythm steadily escalated, and both men were increasingly willing to enter more risky exchanges. After a clinch sequence where Maeda worked for a front headlock and transitioned toward a possible armbar, Takada again had to lean to the ropes for safety. The second rope break gave his opponent a 2-1 lead on points. Maeda, sensing the shift, began walking forward more insistently, peppering Takada with front kicks and powerful palm strikes that had Takada circling under visible pressure. A sudden German-style rear waistlock attempt from Maeda forced Takada into yet another scramble. Maeda worked for a rear-naked choke while Takada worked defiantly to defend himself. It was enough to force another rope break from Takada, however. Maeda was increasingly getting the crowd behind him as he seemed to be in control. As the match ticked past fourteen minutes, Takada rallied with a renewed striking burst, landing a clean right high kick that staggered Maeda, electrifying the crowd. Maeda collapsed to the mat, and Soranaka initiated another ten count, giving Takada a crucial knockdown that pulled the score even at 2-2 apiece. Takada tried to press the advantage, darting in with rapid-fire palm strikes and a snapping body kick, but Maeda absorbed the punishment and countered with a violent Capture Suplex. Takada landed hard on his head and remained dazed on the canvas as Soranaka called for another ten count. Takada was down 3-2 on points now, but this didn’t slow him down. Takada rushed forward and closed the distance on Maeda. Takada attempted to distract Maeda with furious low kicks before attempting a clinch, but Maeda defended well. Takada’s opponent battered Takada’s legs with punishing kicks that buckled his stance. Another heavy roundhouse connected to the midsection and dropped Takada again, shaving away his fourth point and bringing him dangerously close to a stoppage. After beating Soranaka’s count at seven, Takada continued firing back, twice landing clean palms to Maeda’s jaw that caused visible redness and forced Maeda to shoot for a takedown to slow the pace. On the mat, Maeda threatened a heel hook, and Takada had to scramble. Takada’s defense was enough to cause a stalemate on the mat, and both men were encouraged to get back on their feet after a clean reset. Takada managed to find Maeda’s waist for a sudden German suplex that caught the crowd and Maeda by surprise. The impact was forceful enough to keep Maeda grounded long enough to get Soranaka to call for another ten count. Maeda, however, was still leading 4-3 on points and managed to beat the ten count to continue the match. As the match entered the twentieth minute, Takada summoned one last surge, throwing a committed left middle kick. Maeda took it cleanly on the ribs, and he stumbled forward as Takada launched several hard palm strikes. Maeda’s defense withered, and Takada fired a sharp high kick aimed at Maeda’s jaw. The kick landed cleanly, and the impact dumped Maeda flat on his back, prompting a fresh ten count from Soranaka. With the match tied 4-4 on points, Maeda had to recollect himself quickly. He was able to beat the ten count by the count of nine, just in time. Exhausted, Takada’s response was delayed. This allowed Maeda to clinch with Takada and deliver several sharp knee strikes. Showing good awareness, Maeda shifted to Takada’s back and sent him flying with a German suplex of his own. Maeda quickly followed and lifted Takada for another Capture Suplex. This time, the impact would keep Takada down for good as Maeda forced a fifth and final knockdown, handing him his much-desired victory via TKO. Maeda defeats Takada via TKO, 21:22 The crowd inside Osaka-jo Hall explodes as Maeda is declared the winner. Chants of "Ma-e-da!" fill the arena as "Captued" by Camel plays at full blast, and the commentary crew goes a bit wild as they put over Maeda's win and the excellent match that just took place. Takada appears to be disappointed in defeat, but he eventually shakes hands with Maeda and bows slightly before exiting the ring. Maeda continues to celebrate before the cameras follow Takada backstage. The commentary crew break down the events from the evening. After Maeda leaves the ring, we eventually get interviews from both Maeda and Takada backstage. Maeda congratulates Takada on the well-fought match and gives him props. Takada says he thought he had a good gameplan going into tonight, but Maeda was just too tough, and it seems like there is nothing stopping him. We also get pre-recorded interviews from earlier with Karelin and Ruas. The commentary crew hypes up next month's event at the Tokyo Dome on December 31st, and the grand final that will feature Aleksandr Karelin and Akira Maeda. Both wrestlers have seemed unstoppable in recent months, but only one man can win. Who will it be? Stay tuned! (OOC: Didn't get the chance to finish two matches here due to time constraints (holiday travel prep and outdoor work). Apologies in advance!)

IWGP Tag Team Champions Shinya Hashimoto & Junji Hirata vs Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan - NJPW 9/23/95 Yes Chono & Tenzan won the vacant belts on 6/12 but according to everything I read had to vacate them because Chono’s Dad which might be true but I think this was to play into NJPW company screwing over Chono. Hashimoto & Hirata defeat Scott Norton & Mike Enos for the titles on 7/13 and then successfully defend against Chono & Tenzan on the 18th. Youre telling me they couldn’t wait 5 days. Definitely a booking move. After Hashimoto dropped the title to Mutoh in May and until he became the Defender of NJPW against UWFI this was his main feud. Four major matches against the Wolves…three of which I found, this is the 3rd chronologically. I think this was a clear step down from 6/12. This was more disjointed. Each segment didnt really depend on the last. The work within segment was right and looked good but never seemed to serve a higher purpose. Also I find Chono & Hirata to be pretty bland and I like Tenzan in a very specific environment so it led to very little investment in the characters. The work did not feel heated. There was only so much Hashimoto could do. Pre-bell the Wolves steal the belts and open a Can of whoop ass on the babyfaces on the outside but Hashimoto & Hirata are able to reverse the tide in the Ring and nothing really happens. The fun shine where Hashimoto double stomps Tenzan and Hirata sentons is done again. Chono is able to take over on Hirata with Yakuza Kicks. Hirata is not Chono-stopper like he was on 6/12. Hirata wins a pretty intense Headbutt battle with Tenzan. Chono needs help from Tenzan to get one over on Hashimoto. Honestly I just watched this match and I am blanking on the middle portion. There was not a lot that was sticky. It was just solid work. They gain control of Hirata and I know he tags out to Hashimoto who goes into full Destroyer mode. He is on a tear when Chono ball shots him. This is when the match picks up. Chono hits top rope shoulder block. STF with falling Tenzan headbutts to the back. Glorious. Love Hirata saving Hashimoto with his own top rope Headbutt. Hashimoto makes his comeback! All the Hashimoto staples knocks Hiro Saito off the apron. Then Brainbuster Chono while Hirata restrains Tenzan for the win. Last 5 minutes or so get this on the right side of the Mendoza Line but I don’t know the body of match really didnt much for me. *** 1/4

Let's go with more 1995 shoot style wrestling! Also want to say a big thanks to superkix & KB8 for their work as it's been a big help in sorting & sifting through all of this wrestling goodness. The UWFi & RINGS threads in The Microscope section is the place to start. So now let's look at my sampling of 1995. Hiromitsu Kanehara vs Kenichi Yamamoto (01/16) - Quick one sided bout but very entertaining as Yamamoto not only refused a hand shake but had a couple rude gestures for Kanehara. So seeing Kanehara teach the young punk a lesson was fun. I LIKED IT Kazushi Sakuraba vs Yoji Anjo (02/18) - This was very mat scrambly as you would expect from Sakuraba. Anjo can do any discipline of fighting. He threw some very good knees to the bread basket for instance. Nothing earth shattering here but still fun to watch them work in & out of holds. I LIKED IT Masahito Kakihara vs. Kiyoshi Tamura (02/18) - Holy cow! Too short to say much about but cool while it lasted. Short & intense enough to be a shoot frankly. Worth a watch. James Stone vs Kazushi Sakuraba (06/18) - Fun match but Stone/Little Guido was enhancement talent for UWFI. Still he looked pretty good on the canvas. His selling/defense of the stand up fighting was too "pro wrestling" than I've become accustomed to. That said, his matches might be an excellent entry point for someone wanting to see what shoot style/UWFi was about. IT'S OK Yoshihiro Takayama vs Kazuo Yamazaki (06/18) - My favorite matches have a good sample of all tactics - strikes, suplexes and submissions. This was no different. There's actually an emphasis on striking here. That made this interesting since it felt more like a shoot style brawl. I also think this translates well to fans not used to shoot style. Anyhow, this was exciting and dramatic wrestling. I LOVED IT Naoki Sano vs James Stone (07/13) - Stone already has the Guido character figured out. He shoves Sano while the ref is checking his ring gear. I liked this more than the Sakuraba match as Sano kept things on the ground. He used choice strikes to either set up a takedown or to count as a knockdown. I wish they let Stone be more competitive because these really are squash matches. They are a novelty for ECW/WWE fans who want to see Little Guido/Nunzio. But hey, that's me & I'm glad I saw this 😋 Plus I'm a Sano fan. IT'S OK. I should note that it's a little closer to earlier UWFi style in they use a couple pro moves in good shoot style context. Not sure if they did this to make Stone more comfortable or more likely to ease people into the upcoming NJPW feud/gain wider appeal to draw bigger audiences. That's a general trend I've noticed for 1995. Yoshihiro Takayama vs Naoki Sano (08/18) - Oh wow, this was a neat one! Sano was targeting Takayama's bandaged thigh. Not super obvious but, it was giving him openings with the big man. This match definitely could have gone on a couple more minutes and I would have been happy. Terrific showing from Sano. He & Takayama had great chemistry. I think that they tagged together later on in NOAH. I LIKED IT *** If you like what you're reading then check out my other blog: wrestlingdreambattles.blogspot.com More stuff, less ads! *** OK I've got a few more RINGS matches this time. Mitsuya Nagai vs. Willie Peeters (RINGS, 4/28/95) - Pretty quick but pretty sweet. This was primarily about strikes. Peeters palm strikes were nasty. If he could connect with his kicks then he might have ended this sooner. Nagai was landing his though. Seems like he was going for the liver - nice! 😋 Short and sweet. I LIKED IT Volk Han vs. Masayuki Naruse (RINGS, 4/28/95) - It's neat to watch Naruse mature. Here he takes it to the master. Volk is like fly paper. He seems to turn every strike encounter into a hold/take down to the mat. Here Han's height advantage plays a part since it's tough for Naruse to land kicks to the head. He does just fine with palm strikes though. Han has much better strikes now too. In fact, he seems much more animated than in earlier years. This seemed much more like a true competition than an exhibition. Earlier RINGS seemed at half speed of UWFi for example. LOVED THIS Mitsuya Nagai vs. Andrei Kopilov (RINGS, 5/20/95) - Excellent intensity here. Striking when it's appropriate to open up a takedown. Great throws from Andrei. Competitive wrestling on the canvas. I really dug how Nagai pulled Andrei back into the middle of the ring on one attempt. And that reminds me! Andrei is strong as hell! He damn near dumped Nagai over the ropes a couple times! I think this could have developed more because they had great chemistry. I LIKED IT! Tsuyoshi Kohsaka vs. Grom Zaza (RINGS, 12/19/95) - Bullshit Zaza's 29 years old! More like 39. Holy crap...just saw his Wikipedia entry. He was 30 years old. The man aged like LeBron. Anyhow, WAY more aggressive than we were seeing a couple years ago with striking. RINGS is stepping up in '95. Or maybe TK brings out the best in people. This looked way more like a legit fight than much of the RINGS I've seen pre '95. I'm no expert but the intensity and speed of the strikes made this super exciting. On top of that, the mat wrestling was top notch AND they really played up the drama. I LOVED this one! Maybe the best RINGS match I've watched. Ishikawa vs Naruse excluded. I'm glad that I didn't quit on RINGS. Don't know if it's just me but, RINGS seems to get better as time goes on. Thanks for reading!!!

Terrific blocks. An Okada-Takeshita final still seems pretty likely, but lots of great matches for sure.

My take on The Sheik is that he basically sucks, but that's not universal it seems

I bet @C.S. will still hate Pac even after he has a fantastic match with every guy in his bracket too!

I'm kinda shocked at how few thoughts there are on Magnum TA since the last poll, both here and on the discord

Anybody wanna defend or argue for Tony Garea before April 2026? These were the kinds of discussions I loved reading from last time around

Just last month MLW had CW Anderson killed off in storyline by their champion in a Chamber of Horrors match and Brock Anderson had a match last week to get revenge (which he lost). I just thought that was funny. Anyway here's some actual opinions on CW from the discord.

Yeah, that’s just a wild collection of great matches. Darby/Okada will be fucking great if Okada turns up. Roddy Strong is a great pick for this too. He’s probably just going to eat pins but he’ll have a great match with everyone in the Blue League. I sincerely hope Moxley loses every match; they’ve started on this story, they may as well continue with it and I assume it leads to Claudio assuming control of the Death Riders