WingedEagle

Dude the story writes itself (minus the slum lord chapter). Her V Stiviano is Vince Russo!!

I read it as saying he he was best overall for that 10 year stretch.

Full schedule from VOW: http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2015/07/06/njpw-g1-climax-25-full-tournament-schedule/ How do people see this turning out? B Block looks set to come down to Okada vs. Nakamura on the final day. Nakamura either goes over or wins it with a draw and goes on to win the finals and set up a title match vs. Okada at WK 10, which feels like the biggest main event they could deliver for the show at this point. What about A Block? Styles vs. Nakamura would be a fresh match we haven't seen yet, but if he's not committed for 2016 then giving AJ that rub is unnecessary. It feels way too soon to rush Naito back to that level with his new heel character. Tanahashi is a safe bet and one they can probably count on to sell out Sumo Hall. Ibushi would be a great story getting his rematch after WK 9 going for the big win, but if he's not getting it here I don't know you want him taking another loss. If they have a plan to rebuild Ibushi and set up getting his win back over Nak in early '15 I can see him getting the call, but for now I'd put my money on Tanahashi after taking a backseat since February. What do you predict/want?

Harsh! But fair. Post-Sterling should be like a clean break as though TNA were sold by the Carters to to Spike, but that ain't happening in this lifetime

Not arguing the history, but they had the Cassell/Brand squad that came close to knocking off the Nash Suns and then the last few years of CP3/Blake/Deandre. That'd be TNA moving to Monday nights and competing with WWE, not running for the hills as fast as possible.

Tim, one point that bears consideration there is that 1998 Dave wasn't watching Japanese wrestling live. He was always catching it on tape knowing the results and finishes in detail whereas he's going into today's NJPW shows live the same way he would Raw or a WWE PPV.

If I missed something similar in the first 12 pages my bad. But, if you were to point someone in the direction of 5 Flair matches to make the case for him as #1 where would you go? We're obviously talking about someone who's not really familiar with his work pre-monday night wars era and the tribute videos that came with it. Presumably don't want to load it up with 60 minute classics but I want this person to come away understanding why he belongs in the discussion.

Clips strike me more like WCW because they had higher highs than TNA. Now how about Chris Paul? Dude basically came into the league anointed the point god and lived up to that billing. Minus anything more than a second round appearance. Made his way to LA with Blake & Deandre...to the second round. Now it sounds like at worst he was a big reason Deandre bolted for Dallas and at best simply not a factor in keeping him in town. LAC will clearly take a step back this year with the question being whether its to the 7-8 range or if they slip to the lottery in a stacked west. Either way I'd sell any remaining CP3 stock.

Cena probably deserves WOTY this year.

Agree you can credibly put him at #1. Wouldn't challenge that at all.

I don't get why transitions need to be so intricate or amazing. One dude misses a move. Another takes over. There's your transition. One dude counters a move and takes over. Its a fight.

Can't argue with someone who says the Bullet Club stuff brought it down a notch. I can't hold it against the match because of the payoff with them finally being ejected and Red Shoes even throwing a crotch chop, followed by basically an entire match of greatness. How'd you like the finish? I need to give Sak/Shibata another look. Thought it was good when I watched it. But enough people I respect have gone great on it so will have to check it out again this week.

Alex Shelley on Twitter just now with a really nice tribute to his friend Kushida for winning the IWGP Jr. Title. Nice to see how much it means to them and how close they are.

David West takes an $11M paycut to go to war with Duncan & Pop. 96 minutes to split amongst Dunc/LMA/West/Diaw/Kahwi & others when playing small ball. Then they channel dubya and get all nucular come playoff time. This is going to be beyond fun to watch.

Overbooked, 100% agree. Could very well aregue they're 2 entirely different watches.

That wasn't the point you originally made or the one that I raised upon reading it. I'm sure that much is clear.

Not alone in thinking that it was a MOTYC. I went 4.75 immediately after watching but am curious how I'll take to it on a rewatch later in the year. I loved the beginning, thought it was a little slow until the BC were ejected and then picked back up from there for the meat with Styles's offense and Okada fighting through it. Definitely saw the finishing stretch different than you which is what put it over the top for me as I thought it was so well laid out and executed, one of the best I've seen in ages.

Haha stoked to listen to the show because nothing beats Dave going off on history which the mailbag permits, but this was not that kind of blowaway though. Makabe/Ishii thoroughly did nothing for me and I'm a huge Ishii guy. Loved the main event and thought it was a legit MOTYC and even enjoyed Nak/Goto more than possibly any Goto match I've ever seen. But this was not my GOAT show. All that aside, I'm still grateful that Dave finds things to enjoy and rave about in wrestling. I could so easily see him having the joy sucked out of wrestling on countless occasions over the years so its great to see him enthused. Now about that MMA stuf...

I believe they're setting up Barclays for a 5K capacity for NXT with the ability to expand if if demand warrants.

I might rather watch a Baba match at this point, but there's no way I can vote for him over Punk. Between the WWE years Will cited and a number of ROH goodness that holds up well for me he takes it on sheer volume. Though he probably doesn't many, if any, that hold up to some of the tags Baba play a (vital) part in. Nevermind some of his hot singles matches with Hansen. But a vote for him would feel a whole lot more romantic then realistic.

I agree with this. However, bad booking in a match can be held against a match on initial viewing but not mean as much on rewatch, giving you more enjoyment the second time around. Definitely, one thing a rewatch can do is separate you from bad booking, weeks or months of horrendous TV and let you enjoy a match on its own. I'm sure I'll find that when I go back to watch some TNA that looks great in hindsight but must've been a chore to sit through for the regulars.

This guy: WWF @ New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden - February 23, 1992 (matinee) (14,000) Televised on the MSG Network 2/29/92 - featured Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan, & Lord Alfred Hayes on commentary: Prime Time Wrestling - 4/20/92: The Berzerker pinned Jim Brunzell with a falling slam at 8:44 Prime Time Wrestling - 5/25/92: The Nasty Boys (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated the Bushwhackers at 12:38 when Brian Knobbs pinned Butch after Saggs hit Butch with the ring bell behind the referee's back Prime Time Wrestling - 3/9/92: The Warlord pinned Chris Walker at 11:14 with a powerbomb Prime Time Wrestling - 3/23/92: Sid Justice (w/ Harvey Whippleman) pinned Hercules with a powerbomb at the 25-second mark; prior to the bout, Justice allowed Hercules to leave the ring and forfeit the match but Herc attacked him from behind WWF IC Champion Roddy Piper pinned Repo Man at 3:31 with an elbow drop after hitting the challenger with his own steel hook; prior to the bout, Repo stole a watch from a woman at ringside only for Piper to return it to her after the conclusion of the match The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) pinned Davey Boy Smith at 5:19 after dropping him throat-first across the top rope Prime Time Wrestling - 4/20/92: Rick Martel pinned the Big Bossman at 13:49 after hitting him with Bossman’s own nightstick behind the referee's back as the referee prevented Bossman from using Martel's atomizer can as a weapon Sid Justice won a 20-man battle royal by last eliminating Hulk Hogan at 16:37; Hogan originally elimiated Justice at 15:50 but the referee inside the ring had been knocked to the floor by Justice; moments later, Sid returned to the ring, hit Hogan with Harvey Wippleman's doctor's bag, rolled Hogan to the floor underneath the bottom rope, and woke the referee up to tell him he threw Hogan over the top; other participants included: WWF IC Champion Roddy Piper, Chris Walker, Rick Martel, WWF World Champion Ric Flair, the Big Bossman, Davey Boy Smith, the Berzerker, Hercules, the Bushwhackers, Skinner, Repo Man, the Warlord, Kato, Jim Brunzell, the Nasty Boys, and the Undertaker; order of elimination: Butch by the Nasty Boys (2:31); the Berzerker by Hogan (5:30); Skinner after Piper ducked a clothesline (5:49); Kato by Piper (6:00); Brunzell by Martel (6:38); Hercules by Hogan (7:09); Martel by Bossman (7:18); Saggs by Hogan (8:25); Luke by the Undertaker (8:36); Walker by the Warlord (8:48); Flair & Repo by Piper (9:45); Piper by Sid (10:06); Taker by Bossman (11:42); Smith by Sid (12:32); Knobbs by Hogan (13:10); Warlord by Hogan (13:33); Bossman by Sid (13:41); the Legion of Doom were to have competed in the match but were replaced

Firmly believe that both are relevant and could make a case for going with either. You can't replicate the suspense of not knowing a finish the first time around and popping for false finishes when the outcome is truly in doubt. Nor should it be held against a match that this isn't as big an asset on rewatch.

I go into every Hase match thinking its going to be a chore because of his look and the way he carries himself as someone who's about to deliver some weak sauce offense. Then the bell rings and for 15-25 minutes all is right with the world. Whether he's excelling on the mat, bringing the hate with blood and viciousness or shining on a hot tag I'm never left wanting with Hase. But, yeah, if you don't dig him then your mileage here will be limited.

This is one criticism I've yet to understand. The alternative to this "turn" theory is a squash. If one doesn't like the offense, the selling, the approach in a given match explain why it didn't work. The fact that both participants had ball control doesn't get there.