I'm not partial to one hour draws and expected somewhat of a snoozer based on your critique. I was pleasantly surprised and the match ended when I thought there was still another 20 minutes or so to go. I think one of us is misremembering the match.
Also, I'm not critiquing a match based on what was said in some shoot interview or something. I'm critiquing it based on what was on the screen. If Valentine had limitations because of his stamina, its that much more impressive that they found a way to work so compellingly around them.
Because the match is still great. I think you are overemphasizing the headlock spot. It really isn't that long and it is something they play off of, going back to it multiple times without just sitting in it. It is still an action-packed match.
One thing I've learned is that Ricky Jackson didn't base his list on in ring work.You're right I didn't
Did it play a role, or was it a complete non-factor?
Ikeda was my gateway into Battlarts and the rest of those guys. He clicked with me immediately in a way that Ishikawa and Otsuka didn't. That said, I have Ishikawa higher. Ikeda did seem to coast a bit in NOAH, but he is still great when he pops up today.
Chicana is the first guy from my top 20 to go. I believe he was somewhere in the 11 to 15 range. Incredible brawler and seller. If we had more footage from the 80s he might be a top 10 guy.
Here are the wrestlers that made the top 100 in the 2006 SmarksChoice Poll that won't be making it this time around.
1. Adrian Adonis
2. Akira Maeda
3. Antonio Inoki
4. Chigusa Nagayo
5. Dan Kroffat
6. Dean Malenko
7. Devil Masami
8. Dory Funk Jr.
9. Dump Matsumoto
10. Dynamite Kansai
11. El Samurai
12. Great Sasuke
13. Kazuo Yamazaki
14. Kyoko Inoue
15. Lioness Asuka
16. Lou Thesz
17. Jaguar Yokota
18. Marc Rocco
19. Mariko Yoshida
20. Masahiro Chono
21. Mayumi Ozaki
22. Naoki Sano
23. Nobuhiko Takada
24. Psicosis
25. Shiro Koshinaka
26. TAKA Michinoku
27. The Rock
28. Tiger Mask
29. Tommy Rogers
30. Toshiyo Yamada
31. Ultimo Dragon
Dropoffs from the 2006 List
Adrian Adonis
Akira Maeda
Antonio Inoki
Chigusa Nagayo
Dan Kroffat
Dean Malenko
Devil Masami
Dory Funk Jr.
Dump Matsumoto
Dynamite Kansai
El Samurai
Great Sasuke
Jack Brisco
Kazuo Yamazaki
Kyoko Inoue
Lioness Asuka
Lou Thesz
Jaguar Yokota
Marc Rocco
Mariko Yoshida
Masahiro Chono
Mayumi Ozaki
Naoki Sano
Nobuhiko Takada
Psicosis
Shiro Koshinaka
TAKA Michinoku
The Rock
Tiger Mask
Tommy Rogers
Toshiyo Yamada
Ultimo Dragon
More guys in the top 100 who didn't make it the last time around: Chicana, Fujiwara, Dundee, Andre, Buddy Rose, Valentine, Breaks, Ishikawa...this is going to be fun
Looking at the 2006 list there are actually a lot of guys that didn't make that one that will be there this time around. A lot of guys are finally getting their due. The future looks bright...
Despite my disappointment on a few workers not making the top 100, I'm excited to see that guys like Pillman, Scorpio, Santana, Garvin, Chicana, Virus and Ikeda are going to make it.
I actually think Hogan was way better in the United States than he was in Japan. He just wasn't good at Strong Style and did the same shitty sequences like you said.