JerryvonKramer

I think it is a valid criticism of Hase that he doesn't always do long term selling as he might. He's good at selling and bumping in the moment, but sometimes he's a bit too eager to get to a spot and high impact moves can be brushed off too easily.

I don't think so, which is probably for the best so you can't go in and immediately tear the match down after I gave it such a positive review.

I might actually do a written review of that match later as a swan song to Learning to Love Dory.

It's because that bout builds up to big bombs and suplex variations. Whereas your typical shoot-style match begins and ends on the mat. I also don't think the work is that slow. I mean ... when I watched it with Will he was almost trying to accuse it of being a spot fest.

Was having a read of this just now, was of interest: http://insidepulse.com/2006/07/13/49642/

Forgot to do Hash for some reason: Shinya Hashimoto Basic (offense, selling, psychology) 2/3 2/3 2/3 (+1 for stiff kicks) = 7 Intangibles 6 Great matches 6 Length of Peak 1990-2004 = 14 years = 8 +1 ability to work tags +1 ability to work as ace / carry promotion +1 ability to work shoot style Ability to work different styles / roles rating = 3 Variety = 9 39 Some people will be pleased to note that he has a score 1 point higher than Hase's.

Curiously much less discussed than the other #1 candidates. In Your Case, if you are still watching, his match against Rick Martel in Puerto Rico is a must watch just because of its sheer outrageousness. Flair feud also, which you didn't mention, probably his career best feud (thoughts on this anyone?). Using the Biglav system he is the only one who has come within touching distance of Flair so far, which would not have been what I predicted before designing it. On a personal note, Terry Funk is a wrestler I really love. Not just as a worker, but I love his intelligence and passion for the business and its history. He's also much more forward looking than a lot of the other voices of his generation. His book is one of the best wrestling books I've read. He's never less than compelling on shoots. To me he's like the beating heart and soul of wrestling. And is maybe the wrestler I feel "closest" to, in the same way some people might feel close to Mick Foley or Bret or whoever. One of my true wrestling heroes.

On the contrary, I'd love to see what sort of list you'd turn in. And I even made sure Jimmy Valiant and Manny Fernandez were both nominated just in case you did have a change of heart. Don't say I don't think of you bro!

Yeah I've thought about that too. I rank War Games in my top 100 but not Royal Rumble. Where does this stand in that spectrum?

I kinda do want Hansen to finish #1 overall, just cos I think it'll be interesting to see.

Given that you are voting for The Barbarian and have people like Sean Waltman as locks, I find this really pretty baffling. Ted's AJ stuff is pretty tangental to his case, which is built on his Mid-South run primarily where he was the main guy, not Hansen's little buddy. Wait, what? Barbarian wouldn't finish in my Top 500. Waltman is a lock but I also love his style and I think he was excellent at what he did. You don't like junior heavyweights as much as I do. I have you confused with NotJayTabb! I don't really care if you do or don't vote Ted, but I do think people should be judged generally on their very best work and then from there see what else there is. Like, that Jake match from 85 I watched the other day is a great example of why the smart community in 1985 would have touted Ted as a world-class worker. I'd maintain he does have solid performances in AJ, but they are all about as pereferal to his case as Tiger Mask II is to Misawa's.

Nah it's just the Idol run. But it struck me pretty much as an exact carbon replica of the Luger WCW run from years later. Both are pretty Hansen-by-numbers. And both are less than inspired performances from him coming in to pick up a cheque. I mean, it's not a huge problem, Terry Funk seems a bit like that in Southwest footage (for example), but it's there and is kinda glazed over as stuff that adds to rather than detracts from his case. I don't like the Backlund matches much, cos I think Backlund gobbles him too much. But other workers -- supposedly lesser workers -- had better matches with Backlund. And the AWA stuff was good, but I felt it should be BETTER given increased expectations. I mean he was working Martel and Slaughter. Those should have been pushing all-time status, you'd have hoped. I have Hansen pretty damn high on my list, and he is likely gonna finish #1 in the collected project result. But I do think he has disappointing performances and matches that don't live up to what you'd hope, on several different occassions. The Jumbo series could have been better, for example. Like Hansen is awesome don't get me wrong, but he's had a habit of riding out nitpicking of this sort while other candidates haven't really been given such a pass. So while Bret is being hauled over for his house shows, or Ted is being questioned for having disappointing matches with the Ultimate Warrior Japan, or old-man Flair is being accused of being the worst worker in the world in 2004, Hansen has a very different narrative pushed about him. The closest I've seen is Matt D asking why no one criticises his work in the Brody tags. I can see him as a solid #1 pick and he has a lot of the right goods to make a really strong case. But y'know, I think he has flaws like any other candidate.

Out of interest, did you watch his WWF, Memphis or AWA runs? And if so, do you think "reall good" adequately covers them? Cos I feel Hansen gets a bit of an easy ride in general in all three.

Given that you are voting for The Barbarian and have people like Sean Waltman as locks, I find this really pretty baffling. Ted's AJ stuff is pretty tangental to his case, which is built on his Mid-South run primarily where he was the main guy, not Hansen's little buddy.

I think I am not going to rank Fujiwara or Maeda. It is what it is. It means Regal and Scorpio are now the only workers left to rank. Going to watch a handful more Regal matches and then do them. I am struggling to see how he doesn't score 7+ in all six categories right now and I reckon he might get a beastly score. THEN, I am going to make a thread for fun giving the Top 10 workers in each of the six categories.

If Hogan isn't getting 83-7, Rock isn't getting those years either. The L rating has been pretty consistent on insisting on guys who could really go, and Rock just not quite there even at his peak.

I don't think either guy is making it, but ... Triple H's score for L down to 0 Seems just.

Latest batch: http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/32779-regal-jvk-edn/&do=findComment&comment=5732074 Takeaway:

Steven Regal & Bobby Eaton vs. Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko (Main Event 10/29/95) Going through the list of matches, this one stood out to me as being topical for today as PWO Dreamteam Regal and Eaton take on 90s IWC Darlings Benoit and Malenko. This was a pretty hot match truth be told with Eaton hanging in there with the new generation, and Regal busting out a butterfly suplex from the top rope to show he can drop bombs too. I thought Dean was perfectly fine here. I was watching for his selling and facials and he sold being dazed pretty well at one point. Benoit, unfortunately, was pretty bocthy here as the smaller man palpably struggled to lift the weight of the larger frame of Regal. He tries to set him up for a doomsday device or something at one point but when he loses his balance opts to power bomb him instead. And then later, a similar spot where struggles to get him up for a suplex. Wasn't pretty. If the execution had been more on point, this would be a hidden gem. As it is, it's just a hot TV match. ***1/2 Steven Regal & Bobby Eaton vs. Harlem Heat (WCWSN 11/4/95) I am in the camp that believe Harlem Heat to suck pretty badly, so not really looking forward to this. Dusty is on commentary with Tony by the way. Also, I will freely admit that I just think "spit roast threesome" whenever I see them with Sherri. Highlight of this overlong match is Regal working Booker T's fingers and setting up an assault on the left arm. Of course, Booker can't work so there is zero long term selling from him and the attack is just forgotten about. Col. Parker comes in to carry Sherri away. Lucky girl. Harlem heat suck. ** Steven Regal vs. Keiji Muto (NJ 11/13/95) Regal in his Blue Bloods gear and with the music just seems silly somehow in Japan. On the flip side, I much prefer Muta in the gimmick, he seems so bland without it. This is Regal working a bit more like Billy Robinson on the mat to suit the Japanese crowd. He's stiff as hell here, and does the spots like grinding the elbow into Mutoh's face and just elbowing his head while tying him up into a pretzel. God Regal could wrestle, he really fucking could. He just abuses Mutoh here, as Mutoh gives him a slap he fires up, "come on!" He is just so gritty and intense and amazing in this match. The shots on Mutoh's eye are just Bockwinkel vs. Robinson levels of sheer manliness. This match knocked me out. Came out of nowhere. Mutoh mainly just takes a beating before a comeback, but Regal,working basically as Billy Robinson is ... One of the best things I've ever seen in wrestling. God he was good here. **** Steven Regal vs. Chris Benoit (Pro 12/16/95) I think it's Scott Hudson on commentary here alongside Larry Z and Dusty. I really haven't enjoyed these Regal vs. Benoit encounters. I don't think they meshed well as opponents and Benoit seemed to take a lot of these. This was a nothing match really. *1/2 Steven Regal vs. Chris Benoit (Nitro 1/1/96) Struggling to keep up with these WCW commentators. Heenan is one, but struggling with the other two. I think it's Eric Bischoff and Mongo. Fucking hell. Woeful. This was a much better match. And surprisingly, Benoit traded the loss back and Regal got a clean pin on TV. Weird booking in a way with Benoit knocking himself out. Still not my fave Regal opponent, but Regal took more of this match which meant some nice gritty and stiff work from him on top. *** Steven Regal vs. Eddie Guerrero (Nitro 1/8/96) I couldn't hate this Eric / Bobby / Mongo triple team more. Just leave it be Tony and Bobby for god's sake. Eric says "forgot about the Royal FUMBLE". God. Just the absolute pits. One thing I will give Heenan here though, he really does put over Regal huge. His history, the mythology of him working all around the world from the age of 15, etc. I think they did a great job of getting across "the idea" of Regal beyond just the nobility gimmick. WCW get shit on a lot, but I will give it that they built Regal up well. This is an upset win for Eddie, but Regal just beats the crap out of him for the whole match. Biggest win for Eddie so far and the start of his push, but man, Regal is just so vicious and intense in his offense here. Good TV match and he retained his heat. ***1/2 Steven Regal vs. Belfast Bruiser (Uncensored 3/24/96) During this match, Dusty wonders if Ireland is about five miles from London. Ha ha. Holy fuck. This match is just all sorts of brutal. Sick as fuck. Regal during this stretch in 95-6 was ridiculously stiff. Between this and the Mutoh match, his you could make a highlight reel to charge him with attempted murder. It is amazing this went out on a WCW show. So damn gritty and hard hitting. Commentary team are marking the fuck out during this, as the crowd kinda don't know what to do. I don't know why they were so quiet for this, even if Finaly wasn't over as a babyface. Sick sick match. Regal's nose gets busted open late on before a cheap run-in finish to remind us this was 1996. Un-fucking-believable. I watched this card but don't recall this match at all. Why is that? Turner edit? ****1/2 Steven Regal vs. Belfast Bruiser (WCWSN 4/13/96) Jesus God these two. Just a little TV match to keep the feud bubbling. Solid as hell work, but short and fuck finish again. **1/2 Steven Regal vs. Belfast Bruiser (WCWSN 4/27/96) You can just tell Dusty was a total mark for this matchup. Virtually cumming all the way through these matches. More spot orientated than their other matches, and the fight breaks out with weapons and the ref throws it out. Pretty great booking arc for this most old-school of feuds. *** Steven Regal vs. Belfast Bruiser (Parking Lot Brawl) (Nitro 4/29/96) So this is a perfectly setup blow off to this as they've proved this match is too hot for regular rules, which is why gimmick matches are a thing in the first place. Finlay actually uses a breeze block at one point. Face rubbing in the concrete. Shots into cars. Smashed glass. Piledriver into the roof of a car. Great brawl, but I have to say that I preferred the less gimmick orientated match at Uncensored that set up this feud. That match was so sick they couldn't stop talking about it on TV a full month later. This is pretty sick too, but feels a little bit too much of its time. Taken as a whole, this feud is one of the great ones of 90s WCW. ***3/4 ------- Regal is just on some next-level shit here in 95-6, just unlike any other worker around and clearly one of the best wrestlers in the world. The matches with Mutoh and Finlay (Uncensored) are just blow away good. Before exploring late Regal, I need to go back and see him against Hash and some of the other NJ boys. That match with Mutoh came out of nowhere! And I need to see him in that environment some more.

I'd prefer to take away Triple H's peak years than give Rock his.

I've basically spent most of today marking the fuck out at Regal in 95-6, holy shit!

I like having the picks only from "AJPW booked and owned by Giant Baba" .... Heh heh

Yeah, that's worth about a 2 on G, Steven. The rating is correct.

Wait wait wait wait, did Baba ever book LA Park or minis? AJPW only come on now.

The great matches rating isn't a rating for number of good matches, it's a composite rating out of ten for how many great matches they have had at the 4.5+ level. What are the Waltman 5-star matches I'm blanking on?