Resident Evil

The no selling tombstones talking point is something that I strongly disagree with. Selling as some would put it does not have to mean staying down on the mat or floor for X amount of time before getting on to the next part of the match (And I will still fight in defense of the Kobashi vs Williams 93 ending by saying that not only was that not bad selling but it was FANTASTIC selling at the end by Kobashi). If you watch the end of the match closely. you will not see two nobody wrestlers hit non impact tombstones on each other, get up and act as if nothing ever happened, do some jumping jacks and than give autographs to the crowd. I have seen this happen before and it doesn't come off as believable as it does here. What you do see is the two toughest top of the line juniors having the kayfabe and nonkayfabe for that matter match of their lives in an epic feeling bout. A bout where even the two combatants don't even know how far they can take themselves. DK is pushing the legendary *undefeated TM to the limit and this tombstone trading spot right here is an excellent culmination of a match series that shows that. It is to this point the climax of their storied rivalry. We all know DK's tombstone was legit risky. TM's tombstones never looked like were they fun either. As far as legit looking tombostones good you can actually legit tell that these too tombstones connected. That is beyond insanity. That should invest a viewer into the match right there alone. I've said this before but once a wrestling fan starts thinking "They didn't sell like I wanted them to there" instead of thinking "Man alive, TM and DK are two of the baddest hombres that ever lived, how are they going to muster the strength to get up form that?" and getting lost in the moment than it is time to take a step back and at least try to allow yourself to think that way. Otherwise, the magic is gone. And that's one of the dangers of too much message boad posting and reading. Anyway, back on topic about the selling -- when I first saw this I thought it was extremely well done selling (actually, I wasn't thinking about selling but my brain registered how much the tombstones took out of them right away) and I still do to this day. DK in particular sells fatigue during this spot as well as anyone you will ever see. Look at this body language and try to deny it. I will take that type of selling a MILLION times over some mathamatical stay down X amount of time formula every day of the week.

And it's interesting to watch the crowd in that. I really do like the MSG match between the two BUT imo and I don't mean this in an insulting way that is the worse match of the whole entire series. Still, it left people marking out of their minds for these two guys who they weren't familiar with. It's totally written on their faces. I don't think it is possible for anyone to truly understand or put themselves in those shoes and give a total accurate, fair represntation of what they're watching, myself included. Now take matches that are as least as five times as good (no exaggeration) as the MSG match in Japan and see how an observer at the time will take to it. I looooved Cujo. Awesome movie. As far as the Japanese fans looking back on the series, I am not too sure on what they think. Of course, NJPW was bigger than life than and the stars from that time I hear are more fondly and often remembered. In fact, Tiger Mask I once heard was top 5 or actually I think it was top 3 biggest NJPW names in history. DK, just from watching NJPW over the years left a big impact as well seemingly on the wrestling world. Of course, he really stood out as a main rival of TM, a very strong personality and he was a foreigner. NJPW constantly mentions him over the years on commentary and to this day want to duplicate him -- See Richards who NJPW wants as DK and who is doing a terrific job in Japan these days --. You see stuff in interviews (a podcast I think) like with Lo -Ki where NJPW told him they wanted to replicate DK and IIRC (stupid memory) his feud with TM. As far as backlash against TM/DK there has always been some to be honost. For the people who view wrestling as JDW does -- they're not going to like some of the structure of the matches. Someone like Childs I can see not taking to it as much. There is also a backlash among some fans over time to certain types of matches. But from what I've seen in other places, there is also still great love for the series. It is my belief that while the structure at times can bother some of the more hardcore fans that same structure is perfectly fine with others and in cases like mine I actually like it a lot.

Did they have more than one match around this time? I ask because I know I have a match from these two in 96 and I haven't watched it since about 98. It was a terrific match and I remember thinking it was pretty cool how they implemented more traditional pro wrestling into a more shootish pro wrestling enviornment. Terrific stuff.

This match brings back memeories Interestingly, after Rutten's loss to Funaki, he went to Funaki to improve his submission game. Rutten then avenged his loss to MMA legend Masakatsu Funaki in 1996 in what is considered to be one of the greatest fights in Pancrase history. Rutten described the war with Funaki in an interview: “ "Before the fight when he came to me, he made that thumb over the neck, throat slashing motion like I was going to go down. I turned to my manager and said, "Okay, now I'm going to kill this guy, you watch". My game plan was to keep the fight going for 15 minutes...Funaki had never fought above 15 minutes. But then, like 12 minutes into it, while I'm still on my knees he kicks me in the head. I block, but for me that was an illegal thing to do. So right away I start, BANG, BANG, BANG, and he goes down. From that moment on, I totally destroyed him. You got to see the fight; it was a massacre. My palms were black from hitting him so hard. He had the gods on his side or something, because he stood up every time. I hit his face back on the mat and you hear it slam into the mat. His nose is all the way to the side, broke, they have to straighten it out. I go, "Oh my God, this guy can take a shot!" I kneed him so hard in the head. He went down four times. But the last knee I gave to him was like everything I had. I grabbed him by the head and kneed him. It was really like a Rocky movie. I'm standing there and I fall backwards, and I'm totally out of breath. I get up and the referee holds my hand up. Then he lets my hand go and I drop again, BOOM! I was exhausted, I gave everything I had; I really wanted to destroy him. I broke his cheekbones and broke his nose, just because he said he was going to kill me. Oh, I was so angry at him. But afterwards, friends again...what a crazy sport this is, huh?"

Come on, you can do better than this! I had written down some stuff but after thinking about it and for several different reasons I just deleted it. Instead of writing edit, I just closed my eyes, decided to have some fun and picked a letter on the keyboard. FFFFFF means nothing at all since it was random though it does kind of come out as me going FFFFFUUUUCCCCKKK* which is kind of funny. Rey Mysterio Jr was heavily influenced by TM and DK's matches. IIRC and I can't quote anymore since I read the interview in the late 90s -- He loved their athleticism and I believe their quick creative thinking. Since Rey I beleive would like to sit in the arena, look at the ring and imagine a creative match taking place inside his head I imagine he truly appreciated TM and DK's work. It's always my belief that it's harder to come up with this stuff right away at the pace DK and Tiger were doing and matches that display it no matter who it is always gets me worked up more emotionally. Than I went on to how Sayama is such an influence to a high percentage of wrestlers eitheri seemingly directly Saskue/Lyger - or indirectly. Than I think I complimented the Sabu post since I'm such a huge Sabu mark. But yeah basically, I have to give up message board posting unless I'm really excited like I am over the Savage/Garvin Best Territory Match of the 80s candidate or somrthing like that. It's a bad habit (that can accumulate with others) that distracts one from their goals in life and I was kind of disguested at myself for sinking into a habit that I really shoud give up for the most part so I said screw it, you can't keep on doing this RE. You can't correct everyone. Work on yourself as any being should always be doing. Reduce message board posting to absolute minimal talk and save that for productive sensible people with productive type posting. Habits wether they're good, bad or ok are extremely powerful forces in ones life. Remember that kids. Also remember this the next time you post something “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” UWFI = Pro Wrestling = Pancrase = Pride = MMA.

FFFFFFFF

There are some really great matches missed in that set though.

I wanted to notify everyone here that they have got to watch Savage vs Garvin from ICW in the cage. It's got to be one of the best territory matches from the 80s. As far as Savage's matches ago, it is actually one of my two fav Savage matches now. Better than even the Maple Leaf Gardens match against Steamboat. Savage and Garvin are awesome punchers and in wrestling where punching often doens't mean anything to the fans, it's awesome that these two were able to make this match so brutal. Savage is one of the best punchers in wrestling and Garvin as most hardcore fans know is a fav here too in this department. This match feels very rugged and rough, very stiff in its own distinct style. Everything is structred very, very well. Savage as I mentioned before is one of the best at body language inside the ring and here is another prime example. His selling is tottally off the charts here which is needed because this match is brutal with a capital B. An incredible match. My fav Garvin match of all time though I would have to rewatch Garvin vs Valentine from the Rumble as I haven't seen that since it aired.

He would probably go elsewhere. The only possible way I'd see him not going somewhere else if he did leave the WWF was if he found something else he was extremely passionate about in life or if he simply could not move anymore or if he wasn't happy with his in ring preformances anymore. Last one I don't see happening since mostly everybody still loves his matches.

I've written better things about that match. That was only a partial review. Basically, it never fails to bring out emotional response for me (and it's not only what they do but when they did it all mixed up in the context of time) at a higher level than most other matches and I'm one who doesn't care for some of DK's antics outside of the ring. And also like I said I do have an ability to shut other things put myself back in time and appreciate a match in that time frame. Of course it's not pure as watching a million matches changes how wrestling effects you but I'm good at it. But it's just not DK and Tiger that are effected by people not seeing it properly. Even stuff like the almost always praised 90s AJPW or lesser work for that matter doesn't get appreciated as much by some of the newer fans who saw (when in comparison to the older fans) great moves, fighting spirit, innovation by others before seeing it by the masters. Interestingly, on the flip side of the coin, the older fans don't appreciate the newer stuff as much as they should.because they've already seen epic and have emotion invested with their favs. Their is a signifigant difference in the overall rating system of matches by these two sets of fans for the same matches which I find intriguing.

Still in a rush but I want to say I am a fan of Hamada. Much respect for the man and his wrestling. I have much respect for his athletic feats in the ring but becoming comepletly objective here and I have no reason to be bias toward eitehr guy -- Hamanda's spots were not on the level of Sayama's spots from a WOW/physical standpoint. In fact, Sayamawas considerably ahead which is saying something since Hamada was awesome in this department too. Plus Sayama had the gimmick and the presence that worked with his atheltic ability to make him stand out even more. Props to both guys but Sayama was ahead in this deaprtment.

WRONG and Meltzer is totally right. A) They do hold up. 4/21/83 is still one of the best matches of all times and has the privelege of being a match that can't be duplicated While on a rant, a lot of Sayama's backlash and DK's too for that matter is that people always tear down what is obviously the best out there. People always tear down people who are better at something so they can feel and cheat themselves up higher in the totem pole of life. The scary thing is that people don't even conciously know when or why they're doing this. Than they embrace mediocrity or something not quite as good as the best as a way to justify not getting their self esteem by actually going out and doing something .... I have to go but I continue on this rant if i have time. You are comparing 80s matches to other 80s matches from a 2011 brain. I am one of the few who can actually put myself in the 80s. Also, you are comparing 80s to s80s in what you think is good wrestling from your perspective, not what was actually great wrestling than and what is actually great wrestling now.

Is Rude vs Watts on this set?

Loved this match when I watched it years ago. Strong replay value.

This was a pretty good match but the Worldwide match for the straps is signifigantly better.

Very underrated match. I had it pretty high in the SC WCW list.

If I remember correctly, Sasuke was reported to have cracked his skull.

Edit -- Thought this was the Lyger vs Dragon match for the belt unifications.

I love the shirt. Looks cool as anything. So .... "In a world where there is no civilization, only one man can keep things civilized. It's 2098 AD. Earth has been through many nuclear revolutions over the past 50 years. Except for scattered people in far corners of the earth, the human race has been exterminated. Horses are extinct, so of course unicorns have taken their place. When man is threatened by the mutant beasts created by biological warfare, there is only one hero that can save them... THE LAST OUTLAW." I wish this becomes a movie. Please, please, please, please.

I also really like Jumbo when at his peak. The famous Tenyru match is a fav of all time. Benoit is one of my favs of course. I know it's hard for people to talk about him because it's fairly obvious that wrestling turned him from (perhaps) a nonmurder to a murderer and that is a scary thing to think about when you have a find seemingly focused on wanting to have a family but still before he went crazy his matches speak for themself. His WWE run is actually very underrated. Kobashi I would definitely have up there which almost everyone agrees with.

Well, Toyota does murders Michaels, but at this point Michaels just doesn't belong in any "greatest anything" discussion to me, except the "biggest non-jobbing unprofessionnal douchebag" category. But yeah, Dave should have dropped the names Hokuto, Jaguar, Chigusa, Devil, Ozaki, Aja, Bull here instead. But hey, he dropped Kobashi's names instead of Misawa and Kawada. It's not the sama hiatus, but still. It's intersting that a lot of poeple do think that Michaels is the best. I believe Jericho may have outright said that he was the best ever recently. Ross once said it was he and Flair who were the best ever and nobody else was even close. Lots of fans think he's the best too. Personally, I think he's underrated among the smarky smark crowd and is a great wrestler but I don't think he's quite the greatest ever. Toyota is my pick for the best wrestler ever male or female. Her passion I look up to since she is one of the most driven people I have ever seen in my life. I haven't met any wrestler yet who can work my emotions and get me engrossed in a match like she can. I still remember the first time I ever saw her wrestle. I knew she was spectacular because PWI talked about her in those terms but wow, words just didn't do the eyes justice. My jaw was literally on the floor. Nobody ever blew me away like that after first seeing them. Nobody. I can still go back to this day and watch her matches and they still capture majic even moreso than all the other GOAT contenders. I don't talk about joshi puroresu much because as mentioned I worry about someone wrestling pregnant but Toyota is getting underrated here. Joshi puroresu at its best is I believe the pinnacle of wrestling especially within the context of time and Toyota was the best of the bunch. Even last year after all these years, she had my favourite moty in Chikara.

Personally, I always liked Lothario. I thought it was wise,intersting and cool for Michaels to have a mentor in Lothario.

I saw the Cena promo becaue I wanted to see how he responded to the Rock. I had predicted that he would revert somewhat back to his past and start dissing the Rock part of which would include gay insults. I was right. I was also right that they would get looked over because of people getting excited over Thuganomics and people's attitudes toward gay people. I found the comments pretty disheartning myself. To get his old self over right out of the gate and show that he was serious, Cena had to go for shock value (which seems to be what a lot of rap does) and go for the throat against the Rock. Like it or not, being called gay to a straight man is a primal insult that a lot of guys hate wether they're homophobic or not. It's an insult to their manhood. I dislike how it would hurt gay men watchign the show but I understand why they did it. It works. Emotion beats out logic every time. Even on this site here, you will see this. I do know of one prominent poster on this board who will call people out on being anti gay in wrestling turn around and use gay to insult the fanbase of a particular company and wrestling style he doesn't like. The same holds true for fat women. Calling a woman fat is one of the two (no wait 3) biggest general insults you can call a woman to tear her down. It's an insult to her womanhood. The thing that really bothers me though is that the WWE has an incorrect perception of what fat is calling ladies fat when they clearly aren't. There is a thing as being too skinny for a woman and if the WWE's model of what an an ideal attractive woman is off.

There is a reason why Japan got idealized in geek culture. Simply put, especially in the past, they were doing stuff and working harder than their peers in other countries in the world. They were putting out stuff that geeks loved to see and do. Geeks loved (I don't know abouit the present, there is a less of a gap these days) animation and comic books. Personally, I was a fan of Japanese animation as a youngster before I even knew it was Japanese. Even watered down, you could still tell it was so much better tan the current North American stuff I was watching. It caught people's imagination. For us wrestling geeks, wrestling was the same way. The difference betwwen the products there and elsewhere was astrominical and just like the animated stuff, it was because they were working so much harder. They were using their heart, imagination and creativity more than others. Video games ditto in the past though now this is a category where terrific video games can come from anymore. Japan more than earned their stars and stripes from the geeks.

I'm not sure who would want to see that, or why a pregnant woman would be in the ring. That could happen very easily. I'm never comfortable seeing blows to the stomach in joshi puroesu. A lady has sex and does not realise she's pregnant for awhile than continues to wrestle for X amount of time. I know of one wrestler who did for sure before discovering she was pregnant. Than she stopped wrestling so she could deliver healthy. If you take hard enough blows to your stomach in that time period before you realise you're preganant and stop wrestling, than damage is going to occur.