October 2001 Latest Topics

[2001-10-25-Zero-One] Mark Kerr vs Dick Vrij

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 20:25:35 +0000

Thanks to @Ma Stump Puller for the hook-up!

Mark Kerr vs Dick Vrij - Zero-One 10/25/01

Is Vrij pronounced "Fly" or "Frye"? This is at Budokan and reportedly only drew 2000 people, rough, 1/8th full that is bad. Headliners were Naoya Ogawa vs Josh Dempsey and Hashimoto vs Gerard Gordeau. I have seen some 90s Vrij from RINGS and this match completes my Complete & Accurate on Mark Kerr.

Both men have pretty thick fingerless MMA gloves on and wrestling shoes. Some check kicks thrown. Great explosivity shown by Kerr on the Double Leg and works to transition to the cross-armbreaker. Another great throw by Kerr but cant get anything to stick on the mat. Vrij is known as a Dutch Kickboxer which Aleister Black keeps that tradition alive even though I wish he would ditch the lame gimmick and just be a badass Dutch Kickboxer. Vrij scores two knockdowns on Kerr with a knee and then a kick. I didnt think either one was particularly electric. I thought the finish was superb. Kerr catches a spinning heel kick into a massive slam and a cross-armbreaker for the win. Vrij and his team attack Kerr after the bell. Kerr retreats but gets on the mic and says "This one is for America and he challenges someone named Hans". This about a month after 9/11 so understandable comments on saying this is for America. Based on a quick Google search, I believe the Hans in question is Hans Nijman who apparently was a figure in the Dutch world and was murdered in 2014. Maybe not the best guy to be challenging, but Kerr is still alive. Anyways, enjoyable shoot-style match. ***

[2001-10-22-AJPW] Genichiro Tenryu & Yoji Anjoh vs Keiji Mutoh & Taiyo Kea

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:32:01 +0000

All Japan World Tag Team Champions Genichiro Tenryu & Yoji Anjoh vs Keiji Mutoh & Taiyo Kea - AJPW 10/22/01

The rematch from the Main Event of the September Budokan. October Budokan would feature Mutoh vs Chono and Tenryu vs Kea so no Tag Team Title match. The Tag Team Championship situation does way downhill after this and never recovers

We get about 7 minutes of a 20 minutes match. It is interesting in both this and the Budokan match Mutoh really takes a backseat to Kea. I think until Kojima 2002 push started they really saw Kea as their only future hope.

Anjoh hits his piledriver into a cross arm breaker again on Kea helluva way to enter a match. Kea makes his comeback against Tenryu. Mutoh comes in does 2001 Mutoh things on Tenryu. But Anjoh breaks up the Figure-4. Anjoh dropkicks Mutoh’s knee which I love and puts a sick inverted Figure-4. Tenryu loses the advantage to a Mutoh Frankensteiner. Kea looked good in the finish run. His kick combo looked awesome and he has a great top rope splash. Tenryu throws him off on a swinging DDT attempt. But he nails it on Anjoh. Mutoh does an ugly Shining Wizard off of Anjoh’s back to Tenryu. Mutoh Shining Wizard to Anjoh. Kea hits a TKO to win the All Japan World Tag Team titles.

What we saw wasn’t as good as the September in my opinion. Around *** would be my guess.

[2001-10-27-AJPW] Genichiro Tenryu vs Taiyo Kea

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:57:19 +0000

Genichiro Tenryu vs Taiyo Kea - AJPW 10/27/01

Mrs. Baba is out for the third match in this trilogy. Tenryu defeated Kea twice this year in a Triple Crown defense and a Champions Carnival match. This is on the undercard of the Anniversary Show Budokan match which Mutoh/Chono headlined. Kea also lost tag belts with Johnny Smith to Tenryu & Anjoh. BUT Kea upgraded his partner to Keiji Mutoh and on their second try defeated Tenryu & Anjoh for the tag belts 5 days prior so Kea has a little momentum going into this match. Also interesting is that Tenryu is still billed as representing WAR and with Mutoh still representing New Japan, 2/3rds of All Japan’s main eventers are not All Japan.

Just like the other Tenryu/Kea 2001 matches this is clipped but this one is only missing the first 3 minutes of an 11 minute match.

These two have great chemistry together and I thought this was another great match. I still prefer Kojima and Tenzan to Kea but it is not due to technical proficiency but rather a lack of charisma.

We JIP to Tenryu’s trick knee acting up causing him to ballshot Kea! Helluva way to start the match! Tenryu lays a pretty good beat down on Kea with a Brainbuster and a great whip into the railing. I like how the announcers stop him from using their table. The usual combination of meaty punches and lariats from Tenryu. Transition to Kea is he gets his feet up on a charging Tenryu and then a top rope dropkick.

Strike exchanges between Tenryu and Kea are sick! This is how you do it folks! The punches by both are absolutely sick. We all know Tenryu throws a great potato but I was really impressed by Kea’s. Kea finally throws some of his characteristically great kicks. That back heel kick to the head of a standing Tenryu is sick! He has Tenryu reeling. Tenryu tries to get a water bottle to throw like a grenade but Kea blasts him with a kick and then Kea beats up the Young Boy who gave it to Tenryu! Fuck Yeah! This is the shit that elevates a match. Kea tees off on Tenryu with three perfectly placed kicks to the head. How this match has differed from the last two is there no Mutoh-style knee-based offense. It is all head rocking strikes. He goes up top which fucked him over at the Champions Carnival and that happens here as well but in epic fashion.

TENRYU RED MIST~! On the Flying Kea! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB! Fuck yeah!

Id love to see the first three minutes because this rocked. Like I said different than the first two. There is a lot more urgency here. Tenryu knows Kea is getting close and really tries to pour it on. Kea abandons the Mutoh’s approach and just goes for caving Tenryu’s head in. Kea looked like he was on the brink of victory before Tenryu pulled out a crazy trick from his playbook. Loved this! ****

[2001-10-27-AJPW] Keiji Mutoh vs Masahiro Chono

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 12:46:22 +0000

My expectations going into this were extremely low, knowing that both are well past their primes and how these two can tend to phone it in, but I completely dug what they were going for here. It's a match that takes into account their physical limitations and builds off of their collective charisma to make all the sparks and quick bursts (particularly from Mutoh) hold much more significance than usual. The matwork and limb targeting early on is kept to a minimum and that's for the best: Mutoh's a great face when his sporadic choices in pacing and offense come off like a necessary reaction to his opponents. Chono can't work like Vader in 1991, but somewhere along the lines of an older Tenryu is possible and that's the feeling I got while watching this. Chono is in control most of the time and is usually able to shut down those moments of hope from the champion and be disrespectful as hell while doing so. It's one of the few times I can recall finishers being blocked instead of just countered or avoided. The match also plays on the more recent parts of their rivalry; Chono had beaten Mutoh earlier in the year as well as the year prior, both times submitting to the STF. They milk that a couple times in the finishing stretch, however it's Chono's insistence of never really trying to win quickly that left the biggest impression. He knows that this matchup has been in his favor these last few years, so he's not rushing to a pin after most of his Yazuka Kicks land their mark. By giving Mutoh enough time to recover, he's quick and still agile enough to perform a flash Frankensteiner to snatch the win. Not a MOTYC, but it's one that I felt strongly enough about to post here.

[2001-10-26-APW-King of the Indies 2001] American Dragon vs Spanky

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:19:09 +0000

Talk about it here.

[2001-10-08-NJPW] Kazuyuki Fujita vs Kensuke Sasaki

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 20:43:57 +0000

Ah, the glorious period of New Japan when wrestlers were forced to shave their heads and wear gloves. It is always interesting to see what conclusions workers came to when doing matches like these. Kensuke's Lariats and Strangle Holds aren't exactly shooty, but they don't feel *that* out of place in these hybrid matches either, and certainly give the match a unique flair. There's a lot of face punching, which is enjoyable on its own but these two find smart ways to incorporate them into transitions as well as make it look like a struggle-you'll see dodging, shoving, blocking and so on. Kensuke's great timing maximized the value of his flash attacks and hearing the echo of the Dome crowd is always a special feeling. Fujita's side mount knees were a nice callback to what he was doing in PRIDE at the time and the TKO finish was worked about as well as it gets. ***1/2

[2001-10-27-BJW] Zandig & Van Hammer vs Madman Pondo & Wifebeater (Fluorescent Boards, Barbed Wire Boards & Thumbtacks)

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 14:04:03 +0000

Van Hammer’s unlikely tour of Big Japan continues with another televised bout. The light tube and barbed wire covered boards are already in the ring, one positioned upright in each unoccupied corner. Zandig presses Beater over his head, which brings in Pondo with his Stop sign to make the save, however before he can do so, Hammer, who is moving in slow motion, is in and boots the sign into his face. Hammer gets in on the Hardcore action, stapling a dollar bill to Pondo’s cheek and then another onto Wifebeater. Ah, okay, this is clipped, the next thing we see being Beater getting powerbombed through the light tube covered board. Zandig and Hammer double press slam Pondo off the stage into a mass of chairs. Beater suplexes Zandig from the apron back into the ring and then side slams him onto the thumbtacks. Alabama slam by Hammer on Beater. Pondo charges Zandig, but a drop toe hold sees him go face first into the tacks, Hammer stomping on his head for good measure. Zandig positions a couple of tables at ringside and places the barbed wire board onto them. He’s about to powerbomb Beater from the ring, over the top rope and through it when he’s attacked from behind by Ruckus. Beater lays Zandig across the barbed wire and Ruckus with a Swanton onto him from the top turnbuckle to the floor. Pondo staples Hammer in the groin, some payback for earlier. They set some light tubes between a couple of chairs and surely Hammer’s not taking the bump? He is! Double superplex through the light tubes for the win, Zandig unable to get there in time to make the save. Hammer and Zandig exchange words post-match, Hammer pissed about something, whether that be the state of his back (which is an absolute bloody mess), Zandig not being there to help or being forced into this match in the first place. Zandig tells him this is “C-Z-fucking-W” and that you’re either with us or against us, the rest of the CZW crew still in the ring at this point. Hammer acts as if he’s going to accept Zandig’s hand, but pulls it away at the last minute. Against them he is then!

[2001-10-21-BJW] Zandig vs Mitsuhiro Matsunaga (Tarantula Forest Death Match)

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 14:02:56 +0000

No sign of the tarantulas yet, but the ropes are entwined with bracken and there looks to be boards covered in barbed wire and bracken positioned upright in two corners of the ring. Oh there they are, we just get a glimpse of a glass/Perspex box containing them. Matsunaga pulls the box into the centre of the ring, goes to powerbomb Zandig into it but ends up getting backdropped into it himself. That breaks the box, leading to one of tarantulas escaping and crawling across the ring and they have to stop the match whilst the ref scoops him up and puts him back inside. Each tries to force the other’s head into the box as another tarantula makes it’s bid for freedom. Matsunaga gets flung head first through some light tubes, Zandig then digging the end of a broken tube into his forehead. And he’s back trying to shove Matsunaga’s head into the box. Zandig gets suplexed through some thorny brambles and light tubes that have been bridged across a couple of chairs. Matsunaga with the worlds slowest applied Scorpion Deathlock. They even edited the video it was taking so long! It looks like Zandig is tapping when he is in fact just banging on the mat to rally the fans. The two end up on the outside where Zandig slams Matsunaga onto the carpet. He drags him up to a raised platform whilst a bunch of the seconds position one of those bracken barbed wire boards between two tables underneath and then press slams him through it. Zandig leaves Matsunaga there to return to the ring and arrange more tables and boards. Fucking hell, a powerbomb off the top turnbuckle with both men stood on a table into a mass of stuff that has been set on fire! Jun Kasai breaks up the cover at the count of two which brings in Van Hammer to help Zandig. Stereo Falcon Arrows, the match having been thrown out at this point. Zandig empties that box of tarantulas onto Kasai (I actually don’t think there were many, if any, left in at this point) who scarpers out of there.

The whole tarantula gimmick was incredibly lame, they should’ve just stuck with the thorns and brambles instead. Matsunaga took a couple of crazy bumps, especially the powerbomb through the flames, but if you were intrigued by the gimmick and were considering watching it, it’s not worth the time.

[2001-10-20-BJW] Zandig & Van Hammer vs Jun Kasai & Wifebeater (Fluorescent Light Tubes & Barbed Wire Board Death Match)

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 14:01:57 +0000

Van Hammer, in Big Japan, teaming with Zandig, in a Death Match, might be the most surreal thing of 2001. The big question is will he take any bumps into the barbed wire or allow himself to be hit with a light tube? Zandig gets busted open on the first shot of the match as he and Wifebeater simultaneously break a light tube over the other’s head. Beater falls into his corner so he is able to tag Kasai who goes about working Zandig over. Double flapjack. Double clothesline and both Beater and Zandig go down. Tag to Hammer, making his first foray into the match. Considering he’s a vet at this point he looks so stilted and awkward. Kasai ducks the clothesline and hits a floatover DDT. He collects a bunch of light tubes but Hammer kicks him in the mid-section before he gets the chance to use them. Modified Alabama slam onto the light tubes, Beater saving his partner by breaking a light tube over Hammer’s back. Well that answers that question! The action takes to the floor, Kasai landing a high plancha out onto everyone. Zandig whips him into the merchandise table, which may add or subtract something from the price of the merch that’s now got Kasai’s blood all over it. That slam onto the light tubes shredded him good and proper. Some slight clipping in the broadcast and next thing we see is Beater and Hammer back in the ring. Zandig powerbombs Beater through the barbed wire board. Delayed superplex on Kasai, however Zandig holds on and sits him back on top for Hammer. Delayed superplex by Hammer. That was a cool spot. Flying elbow but the bloodied Kasai somehow kicks out of the cover at two. Beater returns and breaks a light tube over Zandig before positioning a bunch more between a couple of chairs. Powerslam through the light tubes, this time Zandig kicking out of the cover at two. Kasai is on the outside setting a barbed wire board between two tables, the only question now is who is going through it. Hammer saves Zandig on the attempted double suplex and the pair suplex Beater and Kasai back into the ring from the apron. The answer to question two was the Wifebeater, Zandig press slamming him through the barbed wire board. Cobra clutch slam on Kasai. Zandig places some light tubes on his chest and then comes off the top with a big splash onto them for the win. Some good moments in here.

[2001-10-14-BattlARTS-BattlARTS vs The World] Quinton Jackson vs Alexander Otsuka

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 10:10:15 +0000

I thought this was going to be interesting, Rampage Jackson in a worked environment, however everything online indicates that this is a shoot and it’s counted in Rampage’s MMA won/loss record. Rampage is wearing the red, white and blue shorts, like he’s Apollo Creed in Rocky IV. Yup, this is being fought under Pride Rules, a ten-minute first round followed by, should they be needed, two five minute rounds.

Rampage stuffs the initial takedown attempt. Each throws knees from the clinch, Rampage eventually able to get the takedown. He lands some blows from inside the guard but isn’t really doing much damage. Jackson powerbombs his way out of the armbar and gestures for Otsuka to get back to his feet where he has the advantage. Another takedown by him, however Otsuka ends up on top looking for a Kimura. He gives up on that and is just lay on Rampage, not doing anything. Rampage powers him off and unloads as the fight briefly comes to life. They’re in the clinch against the ropes and it’s fairly dull with not much happening. A stray knee catches Otsuka in the family jewels and Rampage is apologetic to the crowd, trying to explain to them it was an accident. Touch of gloves on the restart. Jackson catches a kick and drops Otsuka. A big takedown by him. Rampage controls top position, throwing some knees and elbows. He’s in half guard and this could be ugly for Otsuka as he starts to rain down punches. The bell ends the first with Rampage firmly in control

Round two opens and Rampage has seemed to have found his range. Another big takedown but Otsuka is quickly to his feet. Jeez, a second errant knee and Otsuka takes more time out to recover. It looks like the ref gives Rampage an unofficial warning saying “no more”. More clinch work with not much going on. Eventually the ref steps into separate them and Otsuka starts swinging wildly, before we get yet another clinch. Big slam awakens everyone, Otsuka getting dumped on his head. Rampage throws a couple of knees and Otsuka’s wincing face tells it’s own story. Rampage gets the mount and he’s busted Otsuka’s nose. I was going to say that the bell saved Otsuka there, but the fight’s been stopped at the end of the round.

Overall a pretty dull fight with lots of time taken up with not a lot going on. Things came to life at the end of the first after the initial low blow and again towards the end of the second following the big slam. In all honesty though I think Otsuka was in over his head here.

[2001-10-14-BattlARTS-BattlARTS vs The World] Kazunari Murakami vs Dos Caras Jr

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 10:09:14 +0000

It’s like Caras is trying to confuse Murakami with his Lucha forward rolls and bouncing off the ropes. He throws a dropkick which is just weird in this environment. Lovely belly to back suplex followed by a gut wrench. He gets the mount and starts paint brushing Murakami before applying an armbar, Kaz going to the ropes. Caras kicks him to the floor and Kaz has a look on his face that says “I’m going to fuck you up”. On getting back into the ring that’s exactly what he does with punches, kicks and knee strikes, the cumulative effect of those dropping Dos. Murakami goes for the mask, eventually pulling it off Caras’ head on the outside. An official and a second are immediately covering Dos’ face as he puts the mask back on. That’s riled Caras up and he lands another of those textbook belly to bellys. Running flying headbutt straight out of Lucha Libre. Kaz fires back with more kicks, backing Caras into the corner where he again starts ripping at his mask. When the referee tries to pull him off, Murakami gives him a Judo throw for the DQ. A bunch of seconds then hop into the ring to separate the pair.

I just found this bizarre, what with Caras doing this Lucha Libre pro wrestling stuff in a shoot style promotion. His belly to back suplexes are very nice though so I can give him that. The match was nothing and Murakami was clearly pulling his stuff, bar that one punt to the face.

[2001-10-14-BattlARTS-BattlARTS vs The World] Bas Rutten vs Carl Malenko

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 14:20:13 +0000

Decent match. The matwork felt restrained and there were some awkward hesitations most likely due to Rutten adjusting to the worked "shoot-style" environment. Rutten keeps staggering Malenko with high kicks but can't really cinch anything in on the ground except for a kimura, whereas Malenko keeps sending Rutten to the ropes by focusing on the arm but obviously can't outstrike Rutten. In the end, Rutten's kicks win out, when he connects with a shot to Malenko's ribs, downing him for the TKO victory.

[2001-10-21-WWF-No Mercy] The Rock vs Chris Jericho

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 03:23:24 +0000

WCW World Heavyweight Champion The Rock vs Chris Jericho - WWF No Mercy '01

I am still sad that Big Goldy has been retired. As a part of the botched WWF run, we end up with two WWF wrestlers wrestling for the WCW World Championship. JR makes sure to get in early that Jericho never wrestled for the heavyweight championship in WCW despite working there from 96-99. The video package made the build look good, Jericho has got the choker label on him, they are both technically faces, but an errant chairshot by Jericho has tempers flaring and of course some good trash talk.

The novelty of the match is that they attempted to work a traditional championship match build in 2001. It did get rave reviews and finished #27 in Smarkschoice greatest WWF matches of all time in 2007. I appreciated the sentiment and there was very good work in the match, but I did not feel a real sense of escalation. I am not one to shy away from a face vs face match as I think those can be very intriguing. They started with the typical symmetrical face vs face segment trading armdrags in this case. Then all of sudden Jericho just unloads with a right hand. I feel like a closed fist could have meant a lot more if they really played up the cleaness more in this match. They tease finishers, which I think should happen more today before Jericho nails a springboard dropkick. The turning points of this match came from the ropes. The story was that these two were very even. If one man gained an advantage, it was very hard for the other to comeback because the man in control would cut off so quickly. I thought Jericho working cutoffs was great in this match with his hotshot and spinwheel kick. The Rock is able to level the playing field with a superplex so again use of the ropes to definitively take control. The Rock was very explosive at the beginning, but then it almost settled into a Rock heat segment with Jericho playing face. The chinlock was a bad choice in my opinion. Jericho's comeback was initiated by a missile dropkick, which again plays into the idea since these two are even they need that extra oomph to turn the tide. Jericho busts out a hurricanarana and then a Rock Bottom. Finisher stealing was envogue, but never did much for me. Lionsault gets two and now Jericho goes for the People's Elbow. Now that type of stealing is bit more heat-seeking so I can get behind it. So far Jericho has not really done anything all that heelish besides that. It just really has not felt like the match has progressed. It feels like a sports game where both teams are playing well, but there is no real story. The transitions are well worked and there are clear shifts in momentum so it is not spotty. There is just no cohesive narrative. After Jericho misses the People's Elbow, the match goes to shit. First, we get The Rock's shitty Sharpshooter. Then he decides to Rock Bottom Jericho on the announce table, which is crazy escalation. Like the match is just humming a long and then there is a crazy overkill highspot and this leads to Rock wanting to hit the Rock Bottom again just in the ring??? The announce table makes a lot more sense if Jericho was being a prick all match, but he really wasn't. Now the match is moving in reverse and Jericho fights out of that Rock Bottom. Rock goes for the People's Elbow, but that leads to the Walls and here comes Stephanie. Stephanie hates both these guys and they both hate her. She just throws a chair in the ring. What the fuck? Rock Bottom to Stephanie, but Y2J hits the Skull Crushing Finale on the chair. What? Everybody is cheering wildly for the newly minted heel Jericho.

The finish stretch sucks. Why couldn't Jericho just turn heel where he has a crisis of confidence where he realizes he cant keep Rocky down so he has to resort to a chair shot to win? Where was that drama? Jericho is being labeled as a choker, but there was no sense of drama or frustration that he could not keep Rocky down. Jericho doing his crybaby routine from WCW on each Rocky kickout would have been fantastic. There was really no drama whatsoever in the match. The story should have been about Jericho overcoming the choker label either valiantly or being a shithead about it. Jericho really did not foreshadow the heel turn in the match at all. The work in the body was very good, but really did not hook me in.

So somebody sell me on this match being a top 30 match in WWE history because I can name 30 better WWF matches from the 80s alone. ***1/2

[2001-10-05-CMLL] Virus & Felino & El Hijo del Santo & Atlantis & Antifaz del Norte & Safari & Ricky Marvin & Blue Demon Jr vs Black Tiger & Black Warrior & Fuerza Guerrera & Juventud Guerrera & Dr Wagner Jr & Magica Mascara & Averno & Mephisto

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 11:46:52 +0000

This was the Leyenda de Plata cibernetico that determined the semi-final match up. CMLL had a stacked roster in 2001. I'd consider almost everyone in this match a good worker yet they could have easily replaced them with 16 workers just as good. Not a classic cibernetico, but it has its moments. Atlantis and Wagner reprise their feud from earlier in the year, Santo has a deep run, as you'd expect from a tournament in his father's honour, and we get a double turn at the end when Black Tiger refuses to tag in when Black Warrior is in trouble. Definitely the best match from the tournament.

[2001-10-26-CMLL] Villano III & Villano IV & Villano V vs Gran Markus Jr & Poder Boricua & Violencia

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:24:38 +0000

This was so much fun. The Villanos were on point in this match and the crowd was hot. Pierroth continues to be one of the best performers in the company.

[2001-10-26-CMLL] Satanico & Felino & Black Warrior vs Tarzan Boy & Black Tiger & Mascara Magica

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:22:03 +0000

This had a lot going for it. Felino was being given a singles push again, Black Warrior and Black Tiger had a burgeoning feud, and there was some awesome brawling between Satanico and Mascara Magica. It's always great watching guys face off again after an apuestas, so it was cool that we got this match up. I was really into this and then they did a bullshit finish. I could have cried. Where's the Commission?! Why don't they do something about these bullshit finishes, huh? Tarzan Boy is so annoying. Hey, you worked me, but you ruined the match jackass! I really liked what they had going here.

[2001-10-26-BattlARTS] Yuki Ishikawa vs Katsumi Ueda

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 12:42:34 +0000

This was from a weird venue. It was an outdoor amphitheater at some Seaside Park in Okinawa. Ishikawa got his win back from earlier in the year, but I'm not sure how much it mattered in the grand scheme of things. Short fight, but one of the better BattlARTS matches of the year. As far as I can tell, this was their last show until the following year. Another reason to dislike 2001.

[2001-10-27-APW-King of the Indies 2001] Low Ki vs Samoa Joe

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 12:02:06 +0000

This is exactly what you would expect and it's brilliant. A hard hitting match with a strong shoot style influence. Joe gets the better of most exchanges, but all it takes is one big strike landing and Ki has control. They even do the spot where they take turns selling strikes and it doesn't look hokey, unlike the number of times ROH has attempted to replicate that same moment throughout the years. Both guys look strong from these, even with the submission ending.

★★★½

[2001-10-19-CMLL] Black Warrior vs Negro Casas (Leyenda de Plata Final)

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 00:20:46 +0000

This was the final of the Leyenda de Plata tournament. Black Warrior challenged the holder of the trophy, as was the tradition at the time. I was looking forward to this, but it was underwhelming. It was a short, single fall contest with no drama whatsoever. A bit odd, really. Even Casas' acting was off. He tried to appear dejected but laid it on a bit thick. Not the great moment I was expecting.

[2001-10-27-APW-King of the Indies 2001] Low Ki vs American Dragon

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:20:05 +0000

Talk about it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJVIjUWTdd8

[2001-10-16-CMLL] Villano IV vs Ultimo Guerrero

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 09:17:48 +0000

This was about as good as a sub-10 minute mano a mano can get, I suppose. Mano a manos are usually shorter than title matches or apuesta matches, but this was kind of taking the piss. The action was good, but of course it had to get screwy. Mascara Magica interfered in the end and pulled Villano IV's mask off. I was disappointed that he had the same male pattern balding as his father and brother (not my image of Villano IV), but surprisingly a ton of fans left after the finish. I don't remember seeing that before. Afterwards, Villano IV made an empty mascara contra mascara challenge, but I suppose dyed in the wool lucha fans should be used to that.

[2001-10-16-CMLL] Pierrothito vs Ultimo Dragoncito

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 09:01:42 +0000

This was a treat even if it was short. I would have liked a more traditional title match, but for a 10 minute title bout the fans sure got their money's worth. The Arena Coliseo tecnico fans were behind Ultimo while Pierrothito had Los Boricuas in his corner, and apparently Pierroth cared as much about the minis title as he did the National trios titles. The match almost ended on a botched moonsault to the outside where Ultimo's head hit the ramp with a sickening thud, but he was able to continue the match. There was one spot after that where Pierroth had to walk through a sequence that he'd usually execute in a flash, but they managed to right the ship and finish the bout. This might not be on the level of the Minis Classics, but in an era where the minis usually wound up on the cutting room floor, it was a joy to watch.

[2001-10-12-CMLL] Black Warrior vs Black Tiger

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 08:48:21 +0000

This was the semi-final of the Leyenda de Plata tournament. I guess I should have watched the cibernetico first as I was confused by the booking. Black Warrior, who's supposed to be a rudo, had Atlantis in his corner while Black Tiger, who is still a tecnico, had Pierroth as his second. I'm not sure if he wanted Pierroth as his second, though. There was some sort of drama that ended with Pierroth being barred from ringside. Maybe it something to do with the Mexico vs. Japon element. The action was good, though fairly standard for both men. Black Warrior uncorked a pearler of a tope. That man is on the shortlist for best tope ever. It looks like he's getting a tecnico push, which is well deserved. He's been the third guy on his trios team for the longest time despite being a rock solid worker.

[2001-10-08-WWF-Raw] Kurt Angle vs Steve Austin

Mon, 15 May 2017 04:47:41 +0000

So the SummerSlam match is a classic, the Unforgiven match was great but a step down...and then there's this. They started out brawling in the entrance way like they did the other two and they did the exposed floor bit from Unforgiven but with one bump instead of three. Angle teased using the Stunner but Austin countered. They didn't do a whole lot to play off of the Unforgiven finish here. This felt like a lame duck TV match that just happened to be a title change. I'm not a huge fan of the Regal turn here, both because it was predictable and it wasn't the finish. Austin hitting one Stunner after that for the finish when we know Angle can take far more ends this one on such a flat, sour note compared to the masterpiece at SummerSlam and the really solid match from Unforgiven. They have a match at Vengeance (and a couple earlier in the year) that I want to check out again. It's a good match, but for the climax of the heel Austin vs. babyface Angle series, this is not a fitting or satisfying conclusion at all. ***

[2001-10-09-CMLL] Villano III & Villano IV & Villano V vs Ultimo Guerrero & Rey Bucanero & Mascara Magica

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 23:51:51 +0000

Looks like the Villanos will be the first program for Los Guerreros del Infierno after the Anniversario. Works for me. Dunno how fans took it at the time. Perhaps they wanted GdL to feud with younger wrestlers. At least the focus is on Guerrero vs. Villano IV and not Villano III. I always enjoy it when Villano IV gets a little piece of the spotlight.

EDIT: The correct date for this is 10/9. The 10/2 match featured Tarzan Boy and ended in a DQ finish when Mascara Magica attacked the Villanos. This is a return match.