The Thread Killer

Yeah see here's the thing...I post there off and on, so does Josh Johnson (who owns it), so does Dr. Tom, and there are other good people there who post on a semi-regular basis. Just because some of the posters there are morons, (and I am not for one minute saying there isn't) don't brush the entire board with the same brush. The problem is that Jingus is determined not to ban ANYBODY no matter how they post, including idiots like Carnival and Lesson In Machismo, psychos like Leena, trolls like "Lactose" or "The Neocon" and out and out stupid gimmicks...so people get away with murder over there. The fact that they don't ban blatant trolls or gimmicks is a pain, and it takes away from the board, but there are still some good people there. I don't post in their wrestling folder, because there are so many stupid people, but it's not just a site for trolls. Hell, it's no worse than the Hardcore Discussion folder at TSM, Non Stick Wrestling at DVDVR, or the new WDI.

My biggest problem with that Loss, is that for me, it's been very hard to find information and then access to those kinds of matches. There are good resources out there if you're looking for information about the best AJPW stuff...and easy ways to get the matches once you've identified what they are. I have Barnett's Best of AAA in the 90's collection...but beyond that, I don't know where to get any information on which are the best Lucha matches to see, and anywhere to get them easily. Ditto for the territory days. If there were some easy to find sites that listed the best stuff from Mexico and the Territories, and then a good resource to get them, I'd probably go after some more stuff. From what I have seen, people around here have put together some excellent comps in the chronicles folder, but I have nothing to trade them for these tapes and DVD's and no technology to do so, so that leaves me out in a lot of cases.

I was going to make a bunch of recomendations, but I have an even better idea, which is a much easier way to help out. CLICK HERE. That is a pretty complete list of all of the greatest matches in AJPW from 1990 - 1999. If you were to get all of the matches that are rated 5 Stars by Meltzer, you'd have yourself one helluva jumping off point. Then you'd know who you like, and where to look from there.

Blind TNA hate annoys the hell out of me too. I don't mind people stating their problems if they make sense, but some places (DVDVR, TSM) if you try and discuss any positive things about TNA you get overwhelmed with idiots making really intelligent contributions like "I wish this company would just die already" or "Jarrett sux." I've watched every TNA PPV since they've been on SPIKE, and the product ain't bad. It's not great, but it's hardly as bad as all the hate it gets from a lot of smarky types.

What's the difference between a standard squat and a Hindu Squat? I know that Ken Shamrock starts every workout with 250 - 500 free squats, and he can do 1000. EDIT: I checked. Hindu Squats. Yeah those are the same kind that Shammy does every workout. I can't imagine doing them before a match, but Shammy claims he does 250-500 a day, and he can do 1000.

Does anybody have a copy of the infamous "Gordy List" that those guys over at tOA go on about in judging if people deserve to be in the Observer Hall of Fame? I myself have recently changed my mind on who I actually think is the greatest wrestler of all time...and I'm semi-curious to see if the Gordy List criteria is close to my own personal criteria: 1) Can he actually wrestle? 2) Has he ever held a major championship? 3) Can he give a good interview? 4) Can he wrestle different styles? 5) Is he as good at Tag Team Wrestling as he is Singles? 6) Has he ever been involved in any famous feuds, angles, shows or storylines...ones which actually "drew" business? 7) Was he ?over?? 8) Will people remember him as a legend? As I said, with my continued exposure to more international stuff, my own criteria for what makes up a "great" wrestlers is changing...I wondered if anybody else had input.

He was pretty big in Texas with Fritz Von Erich too, in Puerto Rico of course, and also in the Montreal territory. He had a run in the AWA too, didn't he?

Who is TJ related to?

According to an interview he did at WWE.com, he wants to go to Japan. He says the style over there fits him better, and he wants to get some seasoning and come back. I think Johnny Ace and Muta have some sort of deal where any "hoss" that gets released from WWE automatically gets a shot in AJPW...if you look at Palumbo, A-Train, Morgan, Jamal, etc. Sadly, if you have seen any recent AJPW it looks nothing like the AJPW we all know and love...that aura has gone to NOAH...but it's work I guess.

Or they could bring Chyna back, and she could try and apply it to her, only to find out the horrible secret that Sean Waltman found out... The horror...

SILENCE FOOLISH MORTAL! THOU SHALT NOT MOCK THE KING OF KINGS AS HE SITS ON HIS MIGHTY THRONE! OFF WITH YOUR HEAD I SAY!

That picture of Triple H actually made me bust out laughing sitting here at my computer. That is one of the most ridiculous things I have seen...and I actually saw The Gobbedlygooker hatch LIVE. Of course, I have no comment on this show. The day McMahon gets 50 bucks of my money is the day I start writing a column with Dave O'Neill. I'll be watching Lockdown, thank you very much. I was impressed to see that they gave the Smackdown World Title Match a whole NINE minutes. WOW.

I think the time off did him some good, plus that smaller six sided ring was practically made for him. It really cuts down on his blown spots.

I'm ordering this show, and I am really looking forward to it. I love TNA. I've ordered every PPV since they got on Spike, and I've never been disappointed. F all the haters, and you know what? I'm looking forward to Joe vs. Sabu. Sabu has looked good since coming back from injury, his series with Abyss was damn good. I still like Sabu, so F all the smarky types who like to take shots at him because they think it's "cool."

I can think of about a zillion things I'd rather buy than a championship belt. I think if you buy one for yourself...not an autographed one, or one that actually belonged to somebody...I mean if you buy a duplicate belt just because you wanted to have one...you need to sit down and have a serious look at your life. You either have money to burn...or another more serious problem. Like, time to legally change your name to Lou Zer. I was once in line at an ECW show in Buffalo, and Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten were working the tables. Balls was selling that chair that he smashed over Steve Corino's head, the one that was shown on the clip at the start of ECW on TNN every week. They were selling it for 100 bucks...and for about one second I considered buying it. Then I said..."What the HELL am I thinking?" I have a piece of smashed table autographed by Sabu. I have a Funk U T-Shirt that Terry himself sold me at an indie show. I have a ticket stub from the last show the Road Warriors ever worked before Hawk died, and it's autographed by Ted DiBiase. That's as far as I go with memorabilia.

I saw a shoot interview with him where he claimed he knew he was being tested, so he deliberately flunked the test, so he could get his release...but then WCW wouldn't hire him because of it...so that's when he got cleaned up. Then again...rumor has it that wrestlers sometimes lie.

Is anybody credible reporting this? I know that some guy known as Glensoe has been making the rounds of all the boards spreading this as "news" but he is notorious for posting fake news items. He even got banned for it at TSM. Not that I care anyhow, because I've never even SEEN Kenzo Suzuki, nor do I wish to, but I'd just be careful how much weight I put in this until somebody like Meltzer reports it.

Ugh me either! I've seen that match a bunch of times and I figured that Kobashi just busted open Tenryu's leathery old lumpy hide. Yeeech. Then again, I just found out that Terry Funk and Dusty Rhodes used to blade their arms and ears for effect, so I guess anything is possible.

What...you mean putting the not so talented Hart family members over other more talented workers? Owen I always bought as the best in the promotion. Bruce? Not so much. And the other brothers? Yikes.

I'm curious Will. Did you dislike the "head dropping" style because it was dangerous to the workers, or did you feel that those moves were being done at the expensive of more sound, mat based psychological wrestling moves?

This is one of the rare cases where my being Canadian is a problem. I followed Stampede, the Montreal Territory and of course Frank Tunney's Toronto office.

I disagree. Team Canada for me, have the perfect mix of what all good heel stables should have. Four distinct personalities, and wrestling styles, with a mouthpiece for a manager. They have Roode, the Old School "Enforcer" or technician. They have Williams the High Flyer. They have Eric Young, the Comedy Relief. They have A1 the big powerhouse, musclebound goon. To top it all off, they have the loud mouth, bragging, cheating, illegal object using manager, Scott D'Amore. I don't think Eric Young would get over as a face, because he's over now for being such an over the top coward who is scared of his own pyro, and runs away. That's fun to cheer as a heel, but wouldn't make him much of a face. I couldn't agree more. Bentley is a total and utter waste and needs to be cut. He has no charisma, and sucks down the quality of every match he is in. He is too big to be in the X Division, but too small to be a heavyweight. He needs to go. Now. I disagree for now. They still haven't beat AMW and that feud needs a payoff. They are WAY over, so that move can be stalled for a while. I agree. She's useless. I think they have booked Joe very well so far. I think this feud with Sabu will be perfect for getting him over into the Heavyweight Division. I agree. The proof is in the ratings every week. When Sting is on TV, the ratings go up...it's a fact. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place here. The roster is so big and they only have one hour a week to do what they need to do. They need at least 90 minutes at once, or two one hour shows. Totally disagree. Mitchell is GOLD. I love that TNA uses old school managers. Agree. Generic knock offs don't do it for me. I agree. Tenay is awesome but he needs to stop shouting, and West is fun but he also needs to relax. I disagree. Strong and Aries are awesome, but they made a dumb choice and I bet they don't do it again...especially when you see how much air time Shelley has been getting since then. This is why they need more TV time. There isn't enough air time for more stories. And Siaki sucked anyhow, so he was no big loss. I wouldn't mind another belt though. I agree, but I have come to accept that TNA will always be full of Jarrett. I don't mind him half as much as most, but he shouldn't be the #1 heel in the company right now. I think that was done fairly well. It was dumb to take him off television, but the whole angle did show a side of him we never saw in WCW. WORLD X CUP BABY! It's coming up! I agree that Homicide could be doing much more. Lethal is getting quite the push though. And random X Division Matches are part of what makes TNA seem different, so I am okay with them. His promo last week was surprisingly good. But he does need to wear a shirt. He looks disgusting as yeah...that tattoo don't help. I agree. They should set up a small tour schedule for venues to tape at, even if it's only 6 or so. Too much Orlando is not so good. Meh. All three guys are doing what they've always done, no? I am still undecided on him. I agree that the leopard skin jackets and tights are DUMB. Just being the Alpha Male should be enough.

I don't think sek is saying the rating is good. What I take from what he is saying that running a WWE show against March Madness will take away a lot of the WWE's desired demographic. Most males 18-30 are going to choose NCAA over WWE any day of the week. If that show would have got a better rating if CBS had been showing reruns is a matter for speculation. I don't think that the NCAA running opposite WWE HELPED the rating, that's for sure. Then again, as other people pointed out, WWE lost to a movie and Cops as well. So maybe the rating would have been bad either way. As far as the show goes, I see both sides of the argument. I don't like Sports Entertainment. So I didn't even bother watching the show, because I knew ahead of time that if I was looking for wrestling, I'd be out of luck. I haven't heard anybody who liked the show argue that there was good wrestling on the show. What I am hearing is that the show was entertaining. Which is fine if you like that kind of stuff. So if you like WWE, you would probably like this show. If you don't like WWE, this show wasn't going to make you like them any MORE, it would probably just confirm to you why you dislike them in the first place. I saw Vince McMahon give an interview once where he said that they had discussed ways to have the WWE do their shows, and get rid of the ring. Vince Russo confirms that in his book. The titles are just props, and they would get rid of the ring if they could. Remember Vince's famous quote in Beyond The Mat? "We make movies." Anybody who tuned in last night expecting to see wrestling was bound to be disappointed. Anybody who tuned in wanting to see a slick produced Sports Entertainment show got what they wanted. It sounds that simple. The WWE used this show as their chance to present the product that they want you to see. Not the product that the fans want to see. They say that they give the fans what they want, but they really don't. They let all sorts of outside factors, including Vince McMahon's own whims influence what they put on television. They have decided they want to present Sports Entertainment, and that's what you're going to get, dammit. If that's what you wanted...or if that's what you will accept from them...that's what you got. If you wanted wrestling, you would have been better off buying a ROH DVD, or even watching IMPACT instead.

I'd get a lapdance from Star Jones before I'd watch any WWE event. Even if I didn't have good plans for tonight, I'd not watch TV before watching this crap. Watching WWE supports Vince McMahon and I will never do that again, as a wrestling fan so long as I live.

1994 AJPW A lot of people claim that 1993 was the best of all of the glory years that All Japan had during the 90's. That might be, but All Japan still had some all time classics during this year. Let's review, shall we? Yes we shall. I am going to list the matches that I have seen from that year, that Dave Meltzer listed as Four Stars or higher: 01/29/94: Giant Baba/M. Misawa/T. Kobashi vs. T. Kawada/A. Taue/M. Fuchi To start off the year we had Baba making a rare appearance in a non-comedy match, helping Misawa and Kobashi in their feud with Kawada and Taue. This match is a lot of fun in my opinion, and shows that even in 1994, when he booked himself in the right kind of match, Baba could still be in a 5 Star Match. 03/27/94 Taue vs. Kobashi This was a match in the 1994 Champion Carnival tourney. The two matches that Taue had with Kobashi for the Triple Crown in 96 (when Kobashi beat Taue for the TC) & 98 (when Kobashi beat Taue in his second defense) were probably better matches that this, but this is still a very good match. 04/16/94 Williams vs. Kawada For my money, this is one of the best matches of all time, and probably the best match Dr. Death ever had during his entire career. This is the finals of the 1994 Champion Carnival. A must see. 05/21/94 Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue See above. This is for the World Tag Titles, it's another must see, and in my opinion the greatest Tag Team Match of all time. That's right. I said it. I like this one more than 6/95 and 12/06/96. Don't get me wrong, I love both of those matches, but this one kind of set the tone for the ones that followed. They slowly build for the first 20 minutes or so, and then have you on the edge of your set for the last 20 minutes. I've never had 40 minutes of action fly by so fast. 06/03/94 Misawa vs. Kawada What else can be said about this match that hasn't already been said? For many, many people this match is the absolute pinnacle of the 90's in AJPW, the greatest match in the Misawa/Kawada feud, and for countless people, this is the greatest match of all time. As soon as Loss wrote "1994 in AJPW" I instantly thought about this match. This is Kawada getting his second (or third maybe, I forget) shot at Misawa for the Triple Crown. They had met before for the Title(s) and they had also met during the Carnival, but the friendship was well over by this point and the rivalry was in full swing. The crowd was super hot, and there was a real sense of history in the making during this match. Mike Campbell (aka: "Black Tiger") wrote an excellent review of this match at 411, which can be found HERE. Now, I'll go on record and say what I have said before...this is not my favorite match of all time. This is not my favorite match of 1994, (that would go to the match listed above) and this is not even my favorite match in the Misawa/Kawada feud. That distinction would go to their Triple Crown match on 06/06/97. I have taken a lot of shit from fellow Puro fans for this opinion. Chris Coey once went off on me like you wouldn't believe (well...actually if you know him you would believe) for saying that. Other people tell me that if I only saw Jumbo vs. Tenryu on 6/5/89, that I would "get" this match. I have seen that match, and yes...it helped me appreciate this one. I've been told that the 06/06/97 match is too reliant on the "head dropping" style and not as "smart" of a wrestling match. Duh. Head dropping, intensity and hard hitting "holy shit" action was a large part of what the Misawa/Kawada feud was all about, in my opinion. This is a smarter wrestling match...but for my money, I can pop 06/06/97 into my VCR, show it to somebody who has never seen Misawa or Kawada before, and they STILL get blown away by it. This starts the whole "stand alone" matches vs. "back story" matches debate, and I am not getting into that one. The fact is that this match is my second or maybe third favorite of the Misawa/Kawada singles matches. It doesn't matter, because no matter how you look at it, this match is STILL easily a 5 Star Match, and one of the greatest matches of all time. I agree with that totally, it's just not my "all time" favorite. This is still a must see, and is one of the matches that made 1994 a banner year in AJPW. To say that this match is great would be an understatement. Just because I don't think it's the greatest match ever doesn't mean that I don't think that it's one of the greatest matches of all time. It would make my all time Top 10 List, no doubt about it. 07/28/94 Misawa vs. Williams Dr. Death was probably having the best year of his career in 1994. He had the outstanding match against Kawada, and then there was this...where he manages to do a little something...like BEAT MISAWA FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN! I really like this match. For whatever reason, Misawa and Williams never clicked together for me like Kawada and Williams or Kobashi and Williams, but this is still a helluva match. 09/03/94 Williams vs. Kobashi Here's good old Dr. Death again...having another classic. This time, he defends the Triple Crown against Kobashi, and manages to hold him off. I would say that this is a very good match...in fact I think this is the best match that Williams and Kobashi had against each other. In my opinion, Kobashi busted ass in this match to make Williams look like he was a legit champ. 10/22/94 Williams vs. Kawada Here we have Dr. Death going for revenge against the dude who beat him in the Carny finals. This time he is defending the Triple Crown, after doing what Kawada couldn't do on 06/03/94...beating Misawa. I got the feeling Kawada was none too pleased about that fact, and he retaliated by beating Dr. Death for the TC and becoming the champ for the first time. This is a very good match, but it's not as good as the Carny finals, and it tends to drag on a bit. Still, it's Kawada vs. Dr. Death, Kawada wins the TC, and it's still a very good match. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - So, there are eight matches alone which I have seen that make 1994 a banner year in AJPW. However, according to Dave Meltzer (whose star ratings I have included below since I haven't seen this fights listed...so I can't say what I thought) there were quite a few more matches that year that were very good to great. They are: 01/16/94 Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Fuchi: (****) I need to get this match. I didn't order this match originally because I didn't appreciate Fuchi, but after seeing the total Jumbo & Co. vs. Misawa & Co. feud I really grew to respect him. I am going to get this. Anybody seen it? 01/30/94 Misawa & Kobashi & Akiyama vs. Kawada & Taue & Omori: (****1/4) With the participants involved, I can see this being good...but I will be honest and admit the reason I've never gone out of my way to see it is because or Omori. I don't like him. I'd say he's over-rated except I don't know anybody who rates him. His style doesn't do anything for me, he's awkward, and he carries himself (especially when he was in NOAH) like one of those guys who thinks he's tough because he's tall...but then the first time he gets in a real fight he ends up getting his ass kicked. Pass for me. 02/13/94 Omori vs. Akiyama: (****) See above. I don't go out of my way to see Omori matches, plus I could take or leave Akiyama, to be honest. Even now, he still strikes me as a guy who is either awesome when he's on his game, or uninspiring when he's off it. Back in 94 he was trying a lot harder than he tends to now...but still. If he's in a Tag or 6 Man Match that I think will be outstanding I'll get it, but I had no desire to see this and still don't. 02/20/94 Kobashi & Asako vs. Kawada & Omori: (****1/2) And once again...Omori = pass for me. Now if he and Kawada had been on seperate teams, I would have gotten it to see Kawada kick his ass. That's why I got their TC match on 7/18/04, and enjoyed seeing Kawada win by a mighty KAWADA KICK TO THE FACE! 03/06/94 Misawa & Kobashi vs. Baba & Hansen: ****1/4 You know what? I actually want to see this. I forget where, but I remember reading somewhere that Baba and Hansen were a lot of fun as a team in the Tag League in 94. Maybe I'll order this one, and the first match I listed here with Fuchi on a comp. 04/23/94 Misawa & Kobashi & Akiyama vs. Hansen & Baba & Omori: (****1/4) I'm as generous as the next guy when looking for the bright spots, but young Akiyama, Baba and Omori all in the same match? I think not. Meltzer gave it 4 1/2 snowflakes, but I have also heard that he madly over-rates every match that Kobashi is in...which was evidenced by his rating for this past year's Kobashi/Joe match. 06/25/94 Kobashi & Akiyama vs. Taue & Honda: (****) Yikes. Honda alert. I don't mind Honda in small does, but the thought of him and Taue as a team makes me think they just might have been the least gracefull and mobile team of all time...with the exception of maybe Baba and Andre. Maybe. 10/15/94 Misawa & Kobashi & Akiyama vs. Kawada & Taue & Ogawa: (****1/2) Hmmm. Don't know why I don't have this one. I don't hate Ogawa as much as most, and these exact same teams had a HELLUVA match on 7/2/93. I need to add this to my list of potential orders. 11/05/94 Misawa & Hansen vs. Kobashi & Taue: (****1/4) Weird. I'm sure there is a story behind why these teams got booked this way. I thought I had this match but checking my list...I don't. Added to my shopping list. 12/10/94 Misawa & Kobashi vs. Williams & Ace: ****3/4 May I roast in hell for a million years before I spend one penny on any match that has Johnny Ace in it. There, I said it. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - So there you have it. 18 matches that either according to this Dave (me) or that Dave (Meltzer) were worth seeing rated at Four Stars or higher. So was 94 a great year in AJPW? Damn skippy. Discuss. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EDIT: My old bud Marty pointed out that some of the match dates I have listed here might be off by a day or two in some cases. Thanks for the heads up Marty. My list is out of whack because in some cases I have the dates the matches took place, but in others I have the "air date" so I could order them from the TV tapes. My bad if I got any dates wrong, and thanks again to Marty for heads up!