WingedEagle

There is no such thing as too high a spot for Brock Lesnar.

It really is the Super Bowl. A week ago I had minimal interest in the lineup, but I'm still beyond amped for the show on Sunday, NXT tomorrow and the entire weekend. Even if its not an amazing show I just don't see how it won't be a ton of fun.

Is anyone not voting for names that have been discussed as top of the ballot contenders?

Parv, how much of this is list is who you think is greatest vs. who you enjoy watching?

Amazing recall to put this together so quickly without having to pore over notes or the set list in greater depth. You diving right into '98?

Pete, love your recaps as always. Great, quick summaries of the year and I'm still beyond impressed at how quickly you get them out after finishing the footage. Feel like I've been dragging my feet on '94 forever, nevermind having stopped posting in mid-93.

I'd love to see an Anthony Bourdain-style travel show starring Brock. Except every episode ends with Brock giving an F-5 to his local guide and immediately going to the airport and back to Minnesota. Forget wrestling. This would be the best comedy on television until Veep & Silicon Valley return. Maybe even then, depending on Brock's temper.

I'd pay another $9.99 a month if they added a show that covered Brock being transported to and from every show. I can only imagine the shit fit he must throw dealing with traffic going to Barclays Center. It would legit be the best original programming on the network.

Apparently if I'm in the minority, but I thought Shawn a terrific actor. Especially for his environment. Always dug him. All that being said, I've almost come full circle on Shawn. I'd like to add a few more things in detail about him once the list is turned in, but essentially I started out thinking he'd be one of my highest ranked American workers, and couldn't see him falling below top 15-20 overall. Going back through some early comeback work I thought he was incredibly overrated. Not at all bad, but nothing to really make a case for as an all-timer. Really dug him the last few years (a bit in '07 and then lots of big matches going forward), but looking back the tag work, especially the AWA classics, bumped him well back up for me. Now he's not going to sniff the top of the list, but top 30? 40? That feels like a floor. But I also never had any of the vitriol for him that some did.

Haven't seen in it forever so can't comment, but outside of the 2 Wargames, I'm not sure how many matches Arn's been in that people would rate as all-timers. When people talk about their top 10 candidates, be it a Flair, Misawa, Fujinami, Liger, Bockwinkel, Casas, whomever the case may be, they can point to some (or many) matches that are legit classics. I'm not sure Arn has a list of those. That's just fine. Not everyone needs to be Michael Jordan. Whether its working squashes, picking apart or feeding a hot babyface, secondary title matches or brawls, he generally made the most of any situation and never really overstayed his welcome. How often during an Arn Anderson match do you find yourself checking the time? Maybe akin to a James Worthy or Klay Thompson depending on when you were a basketball fan? Maybe never wins a ring on his own, but he damn sure helped aces get over the hump.

I said this last month, and have since watched a little Horsemen-era stuff and a lot of Brain Busters. I don't know that I'd call a single Busters match great, but I absolutely love Arn in every one of them. He is always interesting and solid at worst. Still haven't thought about a list past the top 10 but hard to see how he's not in the top 25-30. Can only really justify placing him below those who have a metric ton of classics.

Awesome, many thanks. Slotted these angles in on the playlist and hopefully get to it ASAP. Will also have to check out much of the Banderas stuff.

Aztec Warfare really was a tribute to the power of booking. I have no idea if Jeff Cobb is any good as this is the first time I've seen him, but he looked like an absolute monster and star in the few minutes hes was out there and a force for the rest of the roster to reckon with. Still amazing that there isn't room for this kind of booking, or something Goldberg-esque on the babyface side in the majors.

Boricua, you are the man. Thanks for the background info. First things first -- is the angle with Colon's wife on youtube? Want to make sure I include that if available. Love hearing about feuds I'm unfamiliar with, but anything around a bump like that is vital information. Just one of the craziest spots I've ever seen, and all the more impressive because I had zero clue it was coming. Would you highlight any of the Banderas matches above as standouts or all generally worth checking out?

Martel probably made the biggest jump for me of anyone. I considered him a back-end candidate, at best, when this started. He's now likely top 40 at worst.

Sounds good, have all 4 matches saved in hopefully right the order. Looks like the Texas Death is JIP?

Have you watched him against Bock or Jumbo at all?

Definitely need to find more Banderas. Why is there never a comprehensive playlist out there for times like these? Ladder Match: Really enjoyed the early portions with the brawling in & outside the ring, as well as how they incorporated the ladder and did so judiciously. Back half of the match it felt like they fell under the spell of the ladder needing it for every spot and having someone (typically Shane) always regenerate their life bar in time for a save. Fun watch but nothing all that standout. Remember reading about Colon/Ayala in Apter mags back in the day but haven't watched any. Where do I start if that's a fun place to pick thing sup?

No. Believe I checked out a couple a while back and didn't love them, but really don't remember at all. Where do I start assuming the Banderas run is over?

So Banderas vs. Slash Venom from October 2003 was an insane, incredibly fun brawl with a spot at the finish that legit qualified as homicide. *THAT* was a money brawl. Also checked out Banderas & Vampiro vs. Venom & Apolo in a cage from January 2004. This was fine but suffered a bit with the dubbed commentary replacing all noise from the building. A few solid spots and blood, but nothing outstanding. Shane ladder match is on deck, but what's next after that? I know its the Mesias/Banderas thread, but that first Banderas/Venom match was sick. Open to any and all PR that are in the same universe.

What are his best PR matches?

I was also dead wrong saying Fujinami would be my highest ranked NJPWer. That honor goes to Mr. Liger.

Sylvester Lefort for one. They wanted to bring him up as a manager but he wanted to wrestle. Now he's in TNA. Ouch. Hope he's content with his current options.

Today I watched Tanahashi & Nakamura vs. Sasaki & Minoru Suzuki from 12/04 to take a look at younger Tana & Nak, and always find something fun in a Suzuki outing. Well, I was absolutely blown away by this. Tanahashi was laid out early and having his knee iced outside like a Kobashi tribute, while Nakamura spent the bulk of the match playing face in peril getting absolutely destroyed, with Sasaki in particular looking like a brutal powerhouse. Great stretch run with the crowd completely behind the young babyfaces, which was all the more impressive given this was in a real low point in New Japan's history. Terrific near falls along with spots building upon work from the early portions of the match led to really fun finish. Not sure why this wasn't nominated on Ditch's best of the 2000s project, as it felt like a legit high-end candidate. Big feather in Sasaki's cap as well as Nak's, as I'd never seen him play such a sympathetic babyface.

If you're in NXT and making six figures, you came in with the understanding that you're not going to the main roster absent some unique circumstances or making enough money that, financially, it probably doesn't matter what letters are on the ring apron.