NintendoLogic

I've noticed that it's a lot easier for me to make it through long (say, >30) matches when I watch them in fullscreen mode. Being able to see the progress bar and know how much time is remaining completely drains my attention span. Also, I really liked the Okada/Marufuji IWGP match. I've never cared much for Marufuji, but I dig his current Chopbashi tribute act. However, I was confused when Okada jumped over the guardrail and hit Marufuji with a flying crossbody. I thought going over the guardrail was an automatic DQ in New Japan. At least, it was in the 80s. When did that fall by the wayside?

http://fightnetwork.com/news/6576040:anthem-statement-on-investment-in-tna-impact-wrestling/ Unbelievable.

It sucks if that's the version on the set because it cuts out the best part of the match: Hansen cackling manically after ramming Kobashi into the ringpost. Anyway, it turns out that Hansen's last Triple Crown match was by far his best. As great as Hansen was, I've generally found his TC matches to be disappointing. Part of that was because the title was held so often by Jumbo and MIsawa, who he had no chemistry with, but even against guys like Kawada, he seemed to be holding back somewhat. He wasn't a pure technician by any means, but he did more working of holds and less brawling on the outside than usual. I suspect he had the idea that title matches were supposed to be clean technical affairs and tried to work accordingly, which neutralized his greatest strengths. I guess he figured that this was probably going to be his last shot, so he might as well go out on his own terms. And like everyone other than OJ said, this match is awesome. It's hard to believe that a promotion as thoroughly scoured as 90s All Japan could have some hidden gems (and a Kobashi Triple Crown match is pretty much the definition of hiding in plain sight), but here we are.

The Internet's got the scoops, brother.

It seemed to me that Orton was more "I respect his right to protest, I just disagree with the way he chose to do it." At least, that's how he put it on Booker T's radio show. And I don't see how that stance would hurt him. WWE loves to wrap itself in the flag almost as much as the NFL does.

I watched this match for the first time in several years, and it's actually a lot less bloated than I remembered it being. In fact, it probably has the best slow build of any match I've ever seen. The first big nearfall doesn't come until more than 30 minutes in, which is nothing short of astonishing. And I didn't have a problem with Misawa not selling the arm at the end because Kobashi had long since stopped targeting it. I do agree that the finishing run was excessive-specifically, the TD91 should have ended the match. The Emerald Flowsion being above the TD91 in Misawa's finisher hierarchy has never sat well with me. But the good in this match far outweighs the bad. I'd rate this the second-best Misawa/Kobashi match by a comfortable margin.

Holy cow, this was great. And not just great by 2000 Vader standards, either. I thought this was legitimately on par with his WCW classics. Vader is just as brutal as you want him to be (the chokeslam onto the table and the powerbomb onto the floor is quite the 1-2 punch), but he also bumps and sells huge to make Akiyama look like a legitimate threat. And there's no sluggish moments, unlike most post-WCW Vader matches. Some spotty selling takes it down a bit, but this is still well worth going out of your way to see.

I'd go Starrcade/GAB/Superbrawl (and if this poll is any indication, I'm literally the only person who feels that way). I've never been a fan of the strap match gimmick.

I'd say the main thing that separates NWA-style matwork from other styles is the lack of urgency. Working a single hold for minutes at a time isn't uncommon, and even established submission finishers rarely cause an instant tap-out. That doesn't make it inferior, though. In fact, I voted for NWA style because I prefer matwork to be methodical enough that you can see the gears turning. When it's done right, it feels like a chess match. Unfortunately, most wrestlers are too unskilled or lazy to work at that level, so it usually feels like they're just killing time.

Updated my US/Japan/Mexico MOTY list.

I've seen this done before in a couple of places, and I think it's a cool concept. Mitsuharu Misawa of the Year Bret Hart of the Year Stan Hansen of the Year Steve Austin of the Year Vader of the Year Kenta Kobashi of the Year

They're wear-down holds. They're not going to win matches on their own, but they make opponents more susceptible to high-impact moves. It's like running the ball up the middle in football.

It's probably the most appropriate response to most of my posts.

It occurred to me recently that Cena is more Angle-esque now than Angle ever was, so I decided to bump this. Honestly, I'm starting to think that a lot of people, myself included, owe Angle an apology. His workrate epics feel like paragons of minimalism and restraint compared to Cena's matches with Owens and Styles. Looking at what WWE main event style has become, criticizing Angle for being a spotfest worker seems rather quaint now, like old-timers in the 70s saying that Flair and Steamboat were all highspots and no psychology.

The Observer website is reporting that Becky Lynch is off the PPV due to injury. This is what, the fourth major injury in the past two months? Not to mention all the busted lips and noses that, according to Dave in the latest Observer, happen almost every week. It's way past time to start toning down the in-ring style.

Where did you get the idea that Tamura was considered the best wrestler in the world in 1998 and 1999? I strongly doubt that was anything close to a consensus opinion at any time.

Dave discusses HOF voting in the current Observer. It's too long for me to quote in its entirely (it includes a discussion of the historical candidates), but everyone should check it out. I do want to quote a couple of passages because they almost seem like responses to arguments made on PWO and elsewhere.

I figured that "the right situation" meant a dumptruck full of money and some degree of creative control to prevent him from being booked like a complete goof.

My understanding is that Seiji Sakaguchi was the one with the TV connections because he went to college with a lot of guys who became major executives.

In response to a reader suggesting that he check out the Dolph/Miz segment from Smackdown: My mind is made up! Don't confuse me with the facts!

Rasheed Wallace ordered replica belts for himself and his teammates after the Pistons won the title. The Pittsburgh Penguins have the HBK Line.

So Alberto no-showed AAA's Heroes Inmortales after being booked in the main event and confirming the morning of the show that he would be there. His restaurant had better be off the chain because he's running out of bridges to burn in wrestling.

On the Austin heel turn: This strikes me as revisionist history.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like Dave really hates Sheamus for some reason. A few weeks ago on the F4W board, he said that Chris Hero was ten times the worker Sheamus is. And in his write-up of the Raw Foley/Sheamus/Cesaro segment in the current Observer, he wrote that Foley "said they were two of the greatest superstars he’s ever seen. He said that about Sheamus. I mean, there’s a limit of how far you can stretch credibility before it snaps." I don't remember Dave being this negative on him in the past, so I wonder if there's some kind of backstory here.

TNA death watch update: Meltzer is reporting that they have no money to fund Bound for Glory and the next set of TV tapings and Corgan has until Friday to put together a deal. Good luck with that. This leaves WWE as the most likely suitor, and there are rumors that the sale has already happened. Of course, WWE just wants the video library and will pull the plug on TNA itself if/when the sale is finalized. You can't say anything with certainty given how many times this cockroach of a promotion has staved off certain death, but it looks like this really might be the end.