Superstar Sleeze

AJPW World Tag Team Champions Stan Hansen & Gary Albright vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue - AJPW 2/20/96 Been awhile since I did one of these Middle of the night Cant sleep reviews. All Japan 1996 is mostly known for the epic three-way tag team rivalry of Misawa/Akiyama, Kawada/Taue and Doc/Ace but before that we got a rivalry between the Holy Demon Army against the Texan Cowboy Stan Hansen & Nebraska Cornhusker Gary Albright. Hansen/Albright won the tag titles from the Holy Demon Army in January in a match I couldn’t find. This is the rematch and the title switch back. Wish the Hansen/Albright team got more play later on in the year. I enjoyed this match a lot we get 17:30 of a 21 minutes match and the clip is towards the beginning. I love how un-flashy this is theres isn’t a lot of high spots or MOVEZ But there is a lot of grit and struggle. You don’t get to see the Holy Demon Army play babyface very often But they do here. One of my favorite psychological angles in wrestling is when the heels wrestle to contain and the babyfaces wrestle to explode. We see that early on from Albright and Hansen how they work to contain Taue with headlocks and front chancery. Kawada comes in with piss & vinegar and rolls on the mat with Albright. Everything is close contact body on body. Hansen and Kawada is a war. Hansen trying to contain but Kawada getting wrist control and yanking Hansen to Taue to tag out. I love that struggle. Hansen taking back over with the bodyslam and Cowboy Kick. The clip is around here which if there was going to be a clip was a good time because they set the tone and we still get to see the most important part of the match but I would love to see this in full. Albright has Taue in a chinkock and a body scissors when we come back. Kawada breaks it up. Kawada explodes into SPINNING HEEL KICK! You finally feel like Kawada is finally going to rip the lid off. BUT Albright HURLS Kawada with German suplex which leads to one of the best heat segments I have seen in quite some time. Hansen and Albright work this heat segment as a full court press just suffocating Kawada. Kawada is able to sell in the holds and in the little gasps. I know this is sacrilegious but I prefer this to the really long stretches a Morton or a Steamboat would use to sell. There’s a time and a place for Morton-style Southern selling But I think it can be overdone. This is understated and to me more impactful. The heat segment starts as a consolidation. Hansen coming in and just going bone one bone…knees and elbows, Cowboy Kicks. Albright is the one who starts working holds that lead to progression. Albright is taking what Kawada gives him he sort of finds his way to STF. Then on his next tag follows up with the heel hook. I love how Hansen tags in and makes sure handoff of Kawada’s ankle is smooth like a baton pass in a relay race But he does not have the technical skills of Albright so his leg work is ugly and leaves him open to head kicks from Kawada but he comes back with a Single Leg Crab. All while this going on, Kawada selling pitch perfectly how much pain and agony he is in. Albright RIPS a great Belly to Belly. I loved how he went for a suplex pinning combo there keeps Kawada and the viewer off their feet. He hits a desperation enziguiri on Albright I believe. HOT TAG! Taue comes in with a Big Boot. Just when you think you’re going to get Taue House a Fire but Albright rips a suplex and goes for the cross arm breaker. Kawada can barely walk but crashes down on Albright with all his weight to break it up, Hansen and Albright start double teaming trucking Kawada. Hansen DDT and Powerbomb on Taue. It looks like it will be an easy win for the Americans. Hansen is loading up for the Lariat. Big Boot by Taue! Miss by Hansen! Kawada Kick to Albright! Hansen pinballs for Taue and Kawada…NODOWA~! FUCK YEAH! 1-2-3! HELL YEAH! Kawada & Taue as the babyfaces who are in a hole against Hansen and Albright finding a way to win even though they were overwhelmed excellent story. Hansen and Albright really complement each other well… the rough & tumble Cowboy and the Collegiate Wrestler. After Hansen and Albright guzzled them, just love short & sweet Hansen Pinball into the NODOWA~! Mid-90s All Japan still surprises and titillates after all these years. ****

Does this exist in full? I can’t seem to find it.

I can’t believe Hawk and Animal were not nominated in 2016 and that no one considered to throw them a vote. I wouldn’t vote for either but they are big names. Hawk always got the bigger singles opportunities than Animal. There’s a couple Flair vs Hawk singles matches but I can’t think of any Animal. Hawk got a title shot against Mutoh and has the run with Sasaki. I agree that Animal was the better in the Ring and had a good powerslam but Hawk had more presence and charisma.

Thanks so much for keeping me in the loop. How do I submit a ballot? Discord aint my thing so I appreciate you keeping me updated.

Vader vs Sid - WWF Buried Alive Maybe the shortest match line to write is Vader vs Sid. With the December PPV called It’s Time the smart money is on Vader. I love both these big mugs Vader is a Top 25 wrestler in my opinion but going with Sid was the right call he had way more heat and Survivor Series match is definitely better than the Summerslam match. Masters of Powerbomb explode and I love that video package is all about who the True Master of Powerbomb is! Starrcade 1993 main event final comes to us about three years later and the match and build feels very WCW. Sid playing the role of high flying plucky underdog is fun to watch. The match had a rep if exceeding expectations and this is definitely a Top Ten Sid match which is a feather in Vader’s cap. Sid doing and outside in Sunset Flip only for Vader to do the big butt splash and Sid coming off the top rope to get caught and slammed were two stand out moments. This also featured some of the best Sid striking as the early shine clothesline mowed down the Mastodon and he threw a couple great punches. I liked that early body slam attempt led to the heat segment with a racquet shot. I liked they paid that off later. It wasnt your classic Vader performance either where he just mauls his opponent very WWF in how it was paced which was a boon for Sid and a bust for Vader in the long run. The finish bummed me out. Vader splashes Sid a bunch but knees up on the Vaderbomb. Great! Sid teases the Powerbomb but first needs to crotch Cornette which is fun. Ok now Powerbomb the big Muthafucka. Then they do Vader can’t get Sid up for the Powerbomb. Ok nice touch. Now Powerbomb Vader. He chokeslams him for the win. It is still cool but the crowd was frothing at the mouth for the Powerbomb so it took some wind out the sail. Fun 8 minute super heavyweight clash definitely one of the best Sid matches I have ever seen and I love me some Sid! *** 1/2

Undertaker vs Mankind - WWF King of the Ring 1996 With Goldust feud put to bed it is time to start the iconic Mankind feud. This is actually a five match series if you include the RAW match I often forget about the Survivor Series match. Mankind is probably the first star Taker made. I thought this was a step up from the Goldust feud but still in the very good camp. I like Taker enjoy his offense and his selling and I have watched a lot of this month but something keeps all his matches stuck on second gear. The beginning felt a little off to me. They were working a uptempo shine but Mankind isn’t a bump & run cowering heel like Goldust so it wasn’t as effective. I thought the transition to heat was lame. Like all of sudden Mankind took over but didn’t really earn his commanding position and Taker was overselling given Mankind’s offense. Lots of Cactus based offense like the Cactus elbow and the Discus lariat on the foot catch. It is a crutch but the chair work definitely woke me up. The Big Boot to the chair and the chair to back added some heat. Again a Swinging neck breaker as transition back to heat just doesn’t do it for me nor does a long nerve hold. Back on the outside, Cactus Elbow on to the Chair and Taker waffling him with an unprotected chair shot was sick. Taker comeback But then there was a lot of fucking around with the Urn. The whole match was predicated on how the Mandible Claw put down the Undertaker three times including the previous month in the Goldust casket match. We finally get it on and in the tussle Bearer strikes Undertaker “inadvertently” with the Urn and the Mandible Claw puts him down for a HUGE win for Mankind. All the years of Taker vanquishing the heel monster of the season really made this win by Mankind feel huge like Mankind was someone who was here to stay in the main event scene. To me this was basically the same level as Taker/Goldust except the Chair stuff and the Bearer finish notch it up. Did Bearer hit Taker by accident we will have to tune into Summerslam to find out? *** 1/2

Undertaker vs Goldust - WWF Mind Games Pretty cold in Boston and hand already freezing so this will be quick. First Taker PPV Match since the Paul Bearer turn at Summerslam. This is a tie off a loose end from this side quest which Taker failed to beat Goldust in last two matches and to build to Buried Alive next month. Very similar to Beware of Dog casket match but this is a Final Curtain match…pin fall no DQ. Upbeat shine Deadman Walking Tall running through all of Goldust cut offs. Goldust glitter bombs Taker better heat segment focused on the eyes. Standard Taker comeback: punches in the corner big clothesline oooo the one wrinkle is SUPER NODOWA~! Tombstone. These are good matches but given who is in them they are disappointing. That’s a wrap on the trilogy and really Goldust as a main event heel. *** 1/4

So when is the deadline for voting? And how does one vote?

Undertaker vs Goldust - WWF International Incident Weird to go from a Casket Match to a regular match. Not much to this one but at 12 minutes it didnt drag as much as there wasn’t much meat on the bone. Goldust played it more like he normally does cowering behind the ref and the taunts. Taker took two losses in a row to Goldust and Mankind. This was Deadman Walking Tall. Taking no shit. Chokeslam on steps could have been cool but it was more tepid than what we are used to nowadays as Goldust took it on the ass. I liked Marlena throwing her body on Goldust to protect him from the steel steps. Rings were so much noisier in 1996 makes for a better presentation. To be honest I don’t think much happened until Goldust rammed Takers back into the exposed turnbuckle and rammed steps on his back. Goldust had no qualms. Goldust didnt really get to build any heat from there. Taker made a short comeback and nailed the Tombstone when MANKIND erupted from the Ring and sucked the Undertaker to HELL! Goldust wins by DQ But Taker rips the ring from the other side and sends Mankind packing. This is the Apex of the Goldust-Mankind alliance that I wish went on way longer as there were so many cool possibilities with them, step down from Beware of Dog but not horrible more of a backdrop for Mankind angle.

WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust vs Undertaker - WWF Beware of Dog Casket Watched their series 15 years ago and remembering thinking it was disappointing But this wasn’t half-bad. 1996 Goldust run is one of my all-time favorite runs. I love that on odd number months Undertaker wrestled Goldust and even number months he wrestles Mankind. It keeps both feuds fresh. I believe it is in the up run to this match That Goldust asks “Is that Embalming Fluid No 5 I smell” on RAW an all time great line. Goldust was moving around pretty well in this match and I enjoyed the high energy shine. Bump & run from Goldust feeding Taker. Taker moving at a good clip kicking ass. Transition to heat was messy. The Goldust tombstone should have been a big deal but wasn’t. Me and the crowd just didn’t pop for it. Cant explain why. Liked Goldust using the cord. Couple casket attempts, good cutoff on the chair shot by Goldust and powerslam. Goldust got a lot and Undertaker sold well. One too many flying clothesline attempts and Taker press slam. Tombstone! But Whats this MANKIND is in the Casket and a Mandible Claw leads to Taker being locked in the Casket and Goldust retaining. Good screw job finish they leads into Taker/Mankind feud and leads to cult favorite short lived Mankind/Goldust alliance. A good match but nothing next level *** 1/4

Diesel vs The Undertaker - WWF WrestleMania XII This match has a little bit of rep because it outperforms on paper what the typical smark would think would be a plodding snore fest. But those in the know, know both these guys can go and that I think I was actually underwhelmed. The rep on Taker is he doesn’t get good until 97. Hogwash. Watched plenty of 93 & 94, he is already great and he is a very underrated mover and seller. He may have the worst collection of opponents in history between 92-95. 96 he finally got to wrestle credible challengers. Nash acquitted himself to be a motivated big man throughout 94 and 95. This match easily exceeds the matches both men had with the esteemed Bret Hart in the prior two months. I would say this is firmly very good instead of great. I really liked the beginning of the match, high energy slug fest felt the urgency. Undertaker constantly cutting off Nash. I liked how both men were constantly moving forward. Taker sitting up on the missed elbow and landing on his feet over the top to the floor were great choices. So many moments where you think Nash would take over but the Deadman just kept coming. I liked the transition to heat missed chair shot to the post, use of the post and railing. Taker sold the ribs well. Match lost steam after that. They didn’t do too much in the heat segment. They all of sudden went from heated brawl to Clash of Titans. Double big boot. Standing 10. Saito Suplex. Standing 10. It killed the momentum and took what was a heated match and made it feel stilted. Diesel is going out the door…100% the Jacknife should have been kicked out of. They shouldn’t have let Nash protect the move. This is what they should have done. He should have went for the cover immediately and the pop would have been killer. Second Jacknife but now Diesel get cocky then a Zombie Sit-up. Third Jacknife and Nash is even cockier and then you do the Death Grip. The way they did it with Nash farting around killed the Heat of the Moment. After the second one with the Death Grip, at least let Taker into him But again another Level The Playing Field spot. Finally we get a Chokeslam and a Tombstone. it is a very good match But after the transition to heat it is like they wrestled with lid on the match instead of going all out. *** 1/2

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart vs Diesel - WWF In Your House VI Steel Cage Trying to squeeze this in before dinner with in-laws so this will be short. The forgotten fourth match in their rivalry and clearly their worst. Survivor Series 95 which was only three months prior is a stone cold classic and I really like Royal Rumble 95 and KOTR 94 is very good as well, but this is just wrestled in slow motion and they just didnt seem to care at all. The crowd cared even less. It was clear that Diesel was going heel by this point, but not sure he had cemented his heel turn yet. For whatever reason, Bret doesnt really wrestle as a babyface instead he chooses to wrestle like a subtle heel again which served him well before against Diesel, but with Diesel clearly having more heel heat than babyface heat except one notable exception this made the match feel like it was heel vs heel. Bret was the first to use the cage to counteract Diesel's clubbering and crowding in the corner. Standard Bret chop the big man down with attacks to the knee. There is no one I like watching more grind on top than Bret but that works if his opponent is over as a babyface. It was the wrong strategy for this crowd. I think we needed Bret to provide the uptempo babyface energy whereas Diesel could play the heel role more effectively. Also I just think Bret isnt very good at cage match. Another example of this is Bret needed to crotch Diesel on the top rope to transition again a subtle heel move. For Diesel, he was using high impact slams like sidewalk slam or press slam so it felt very heelish from both. A particularly hard Bret Bump wakes up me and the crowd. Bret starts getting some babyface heat and Diesel sucks starts happening until Diesel uses a thumb to the eye and we get Diesel chants. Thats not on the wrestlers that was just fucking weird. The finish is not great either but better than the Royal Rumble finish...Diesel low blows Bret as he is trying to escape. Undertaker emerges up through ring and drags DIESEL STRAIGHT TO HELL and Bret escapes to win. The reason why it is better is because at least Undertaker is justifiably pissed that Diesel screwed him at Royal Rumble. Diesel emerges from HELL disheleved and escapes to set up their WrestleMania match. Now the top two WrestleMania matches are set and on paper a pretty damn good card. Heatless match, weirdly worked, strange low tempo, both felt like they were working heel. It also didnt seem like they were working towards something. They match did not have a feel of progression. They wrestled for like 19 minutes and then out came the Undertaker and it felt like the whole point of the match was out came the Undertaker and the match just a backdrop to that. Pretty lame match no need to watch this.

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart vs Undertaker - WWF Royal Rumble 1996 Two big names on a Big Four PPV and it is never talked about…hidden gem or a stinker? I thought it was on pace to be a stinker but they didn’t enough in the last half that I will rate it good but I disliked the finish as well. At 28 mins and change you need to be better than good for me to watch it again. Their 1997 matches are better. The first 1/3rd and s brutally boring. Undertaker works a control segment where he tries to smother Bret with a claw around the mouth. For like 5-6 minutes not much happens. Oh I should mention this is babyface vs babyface I consider Bret the king of the babyface vs babyface match. Bret is an excellent traveling world champ who can play the subtle heel. Ultimately he does heel himself in this match but I think they tried to trade off the role of heel in the match to detriment of the match. Rather than both play subtle heel if Bret was only one to do it the match would have been better for it. Bret finally picks up the tempo and clotheslines Taker over the top rope and he lands on his feet cool spot. Taker is able to counter a couple of Bret moves before behind whipped into the steps knees first a hellacious bump that always looks like a million bucks. This changes the complexion of the match. Bret zeroes in on the leg. He is the best grinder in wrestling history. He works a great control segment. Figure-4 is a good climax. We start hearing the Rest In Peace chants. Bret goes for the protective mask or as Vince awkwardly calls it the facial appliance classic Vince call there. So Bret is playing that subtle heel well. Taker gets out using the heel of the boot. He chokes Bret with the cord and jabs him with a steel chair. They are setting up why it is ok for Bret to cheat later to justify it but it feels weird because the crowd has chosen Taker. Just when Taker has all the momentum, Bret attacks the leg again. The boo birds are out. Bret is so good in this subtle heel traveling champ role. That being said both in the first heat and second heat there is one too many leg laces. With about 5 minutes to go they kick into gear. Bret gets DDT and other Moves of Doom but Taker keeps sitting up which gets great pops. Bret never really applies the Sharpshooter so they have that in their holster for a rematch. Taker hits a couple of the spots you expect big boot and leg drop. They do the double clothesline as the level the playing field spot. Frustrated Bret yanks off the turnbuckle pad But he needs to yank off the “facial appliance” as well to maximize the impact of the turnbuckle shot which he accomplishes. He rams Taker’s face into it and Taker sells it well but really doesn’t go anywhere. It was anti-climatic. The crowd is fully on Taker’s side now. Surprisingly to me who has never seen this match he nails the Tombstone! So I know something must be up because Bret ain’t kicking out of that. Diesel pulls out the ref triggering the DQ. Rationale is flimsy at best. Diesel was runner up in the Royal Rumble as he was making his exit grumpy he lost Undertaker was making his entrance. Two Alpha Males didnt want to step aside for each other so they came to blows but the scuffle was broken up. Was that really a reason to screw Taker out of the title? Especially when it was Bret who beat him. You can say he wanted to be the one who beats Bret. It doesn’t hold water with me. I think it was a very weak ending. There were more creative ways to get themselves out of this corner. Brutally boring start and shitting finish aside, Bret’s leg work and Undertaker’s selling (which was so good, he is a very underrated seller) was really good. The body was good and the finish stretch before Diesel was strong. ***

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels vs British Bulldog - WWF King of the Ring 1996 I have seen this match before recall it being quite boring. Bulldog is pretty chinlock-y in this match but it is better than I remember. In my opinion this was his last chance to show me he is more than serviceable hand in the Ring as I have seen and reviewed all his other major matches. I will still have a soft spot for him like I do all the other 90s wrestlers because that’s when I grew up But the ship has sailed on me thinking he is a great wrestler let alone a top 100 wrestler. I applaud them for having a very different match than their normal match as they just had a PPV main event a month ago so they needed to change it up. The whole two refs counting both shoulders down and now Mr. Perfect is the outside ref is such a Vince Sr - Bob Backlund angle and this match has a real throwback feel besides the he wad scissors takeover on the skin the car and the Frankensteiner on the floor the opening didnt feel like a shine but rather a heel in peril. Shawn worked the headlock and Arm in holds for a long time. The match picked up in a big way with a CRAZY BUMP from Shawn Press Slam drop to the floor. INSANE! Bulldog’s heat segment was very chinlock heavy. The work in and out of the chinlocks was fun But if he worked a body part could have brought the match up in a big way. When Shawn went for the Powerslam and then Bulldog did the reverse only for Shawn to slip out and attempt the Superkick. The match picked up in a big way. It felt like All Japan big fireworks spectacle. Missed top rope Headbutt by Bulldog. The Superplex. The Super Back Suplex weight shift by Shawn. I liked Bulldog stuffing Shawn’s second Frankensteiner attempt with a Powerbomb. The double head knocker was a good lead in to Shawn’s routine comeback. The Mr. Perfect angle was a big nothing burger. Sweet Chin Music wins it to put an end to Bulldog’s run as a main eventer from Summerslam 95 to KOTR 96 almost a year. Because WCW was red hot we don’t get Shawn celebrating we have to immediately run the angle to tell audience what they are getting in July which is the really fun 6-Man Camp Cornette Vader/Owen/Bulldog vs Shawn/Ahmed/Warrior BUT wait that doesn’t happen lol. Anyways the heel in peril and Bulldogs chinlocks mean this is sub-4 but there is a lot of fun work out of the holds even if the holds were boring and the finish stretch was good. *** 3/4

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs Satoshi Kojima - NJPW 6/11/96 BABY KOJIMA~! I have never seen Kojima this young. Tenzan got a monster push in 1995 so it looks like Kojima was the new young gun getting pushed but I’m not sure if there is more context. Hashimoto’s first title defense since vanquishing the invading Takada for the championship. This is such a good Lo-fi rookie challenging for the World Title Match. Kojima is full of piss & vinegar and ready to rock. Hashimoto has been there done that and is apt to let Kojima come at him and feel him out. Kojima drawing a stalemate on the knuckle lock was a big deal. Him felling the Champion with the first lariat felt huge. Hashimoto powders on the second. Hashimoto wrestles him down into an armbar. Hashimoto seemingly wakes up when Kojima starts going for the knee. He starts throwing the Hand of Hashimoto. Like how Kojima in his exuberance ends up in a bad hold so he rope breaks. Hashimoto guzzles him in a front chancery and spikes him with a DDT when get gets too feisty. Kojima’s home stretch is fun it is all Lariats because he has not learned the Ace Crusher. His Elbow Drop isn’t as over as it would become. He looked lost on his submission attempt. OMG THE MOONSAULT! I thought obliterated Hashimoto face with his knee. Ugly moonsault you can see why he stopped doing it. Not the first but the second HAND OF HASHIMOTO! He just CLOBBERS him on receipt! Hashimoto The Destroyer kicks ass and Brainbuster for the tidy win! Fun take on the Champion vs Young Lion match *** 1/4

WWF World Heavyweighg Champion Shawn Michaels vs British Bulldog - WWF Beware of Dog Shawn was in a MOOD on this night given all the chaos around the PPV going off air and his high-strung personality this is no surprise. I didn’t see the temper tantrum in the chinlock. I cut through post-match just to get to Gorilla announcement to set up the KOTR rematch which I know most ppl like more so I must have missed that one. I know I have seen this before and thought nothing happened. Now I can write about it and never watch it again. I like Shawn/Bulldog as a pairing they have great chemistry and good stock spots. I think their One Night Only match is a MOTYC and their RAW 95 match was fun and given a lot of time. Shawn’s entrance was less exuberant than normal you. Liked tell he was pissed and he didn’t really want to be there. The more I watch Bulldog the more I think he wasn’t very good. They start off with a pretty fun Shawn shine which is the best part of the match. Oh yeah Clarence Mason subpoenas Michaels in a dumb heatless angle involving Diana. Lame. Ok back to the match Shawn works a headlock and then grabs the lightest Arn bar. It feels like they don’t think they are on TV. They do their normal Short Arm Scissors spot. Bulldog works a tame heat segment…Argentine Backbreaker was cool. Shawn’s trip and bump to the floor was sick. Shawn took the bump to railing wicked cool like he melted into it. They do a double noggin knocker. Shawn comeback. Ref bump. Sweet Chin Music to Owen. Bulldog goes for the Powerslam But Shawn back suplex leads to a double pin. Draw with a rematch at KOTR. The match wasn’t boring per se But also nothing really happened. Like I thought the reviled IYH IV Diesel vs Bulldog match was better than this. This felt like a House Show match with a fun Shawn shine, a couple crazy bumps and a screwy finish. Like sub-3 and I will never watch again but it wasn’t horrible either.

Shawn Michaels vs Yokozuna - WWF RAW 1/29/96 First review of 2026, the goal is 52 reviews this year because the MartMan is becoming MartDad soon. It has been a year since Ive watched mid-90s WWF this is such an easy breezy watch. Loved this! RAW after Michaels won the Royal Rumble. Yoko is Camp Cornette 4 Life and they are promoting Shawn/Owen for the next PPV. Ladies get yourself a man that supports you like VinnyMac supports Shawn. Shawn is such a campy mutha. He would’ve killed in Memphis. He brings so much fun to wrestling. The whole point at Yoko Boo, point himself cheer is such good bullshit. These two had good chemistry in the IYH III main event so I was excited for this. The shine was good craic. Great cat & mouse. Strong punches by Michaels and big bump early by Yoko. Liked the Moonsault as the punctuation on the babyface shine. The Harley bump off a Yoko Irish Whip and Owen working the Back was awesome! The Yoko nerve pinch was the only lame part of the match. Missed Yoko Leg Drop and missed Shawn Top Rope Splash was so good. Two Flying Burritos to knock the big man off his feet. Yoko catches him coming off the top. But Owen accidentally smokes Yoko with a Spinning Heel Kick and Sweet Chin Music is all she wrote. There is dissension in the Camp and they set up Shawn/Diesel vs Bulldog/Yoko a IYHIII rematch let’s go! Fuck all the haters. Shawn rules and everyone else drools. *** 1/2

WWE US Champion John Cena vs Cesaro - WWE RAW 6/29/15 It is funny I went to go watch this match and for the first one in 11 years I was like hmmmmm how do I watch this? It used to be so easy. Turns out Google still rules. We are in the midst of Cena vs Owens feud but need to wait to the next PPV so let’s trot out Cesaro. I remember this and their matches next week being great let’s see how it holds up. It was definitely better than Cena vs Owens but that is damning with the faintest of praise. It was more very good than great But people like the rematch more so let’s see how that goes. As for this one, I liked the structure of Cesaro clamps on a hold to control Cena and when the time is right he hits a big move. I also like we never get the FU or the Five Knuckle Shuffle. You need to save Stuff for the rematch. The first match should leave you wanting more. Dont blow your was. Typical short Cena shine with a monkey flip. Great Cesaro powerslam and gut wrench to get them into heat. This was during the phase of Cena’s career where he had springs in his knees and was just jumping out of control. Cesaro is a great opponent for people who can jump high. They did some cool stuff with that. Also this is when Cena would get stymied at different parts of his comeback so I liked that. There were a couple cute But enjoyable sequences. Cena blocking the Swing into a Catapult so he could do his springboard stunner was good. As was the STF-> Sharpshooter which came out great. It got a little my turn your turn down the stretch and people just hopping out of each others moves. It is 2015 so we get Code Red by Cena and this terrible Downward Spiral type of move. Cesaro gets the Neutralizer for two and the Sharpshooter But Owens interferes because he wants to be the one to wrest the title from Cena. As far as 2015 work rate matches go, this was enjoyable more often than not the high spots made sense. I wish there was a bit more character work and a bit more urgency or I don’t know a will to win. Make me believe how badly you want to win or dont want to lose. It was bit hollow and could have used a little more soul. *** 1/2

Wild Pegasus vs Lionheart - WAR Super J Cup 12/13/95 Writing this while walking in a magical Christmas Eve snowstorm see how my phone and fingers hold up. Benoit must have thought to himself who is still fucking clown? Cmon Muthafucka Let’s Go Baby Cmon Baby Are You Ready? Jericho your Paul Stanley is showing. I have not seen a match with less psychology in quite some time. There was no sense of characters or plot. They just did some moves and Jericho HOLLERED a lot. His scream being dumped over the top was fun. It was interesting that Benoit did the Lion Tamer. Benoit’s offense looked great it was all the usual stuff. It is early Jericho so there’s always one death wish spot here he does like Flosbury Flop to the floor and almost piledrives himself. Benoit’s Powerbomb looked great. Missed top rope Headbutt great transition but didn’t really mean anything because they transitioned back to him. Awesome dive by Benoit’s he bulldozed him. Jericho gets Lionsault. Benoit hits his 1995 finish top rope Tombstone pretty ugly one for the win. Benoit won BOSJ in 95 but with Liger back it was full steam ahead on him winning here and getting his title back. I think 96 is Benoit last real year as a Japanese Junior. Jericho was a much better fit for America. *** for the effort

Great Sasuke vs Super Delfin - Michinoku Pro 8/12/95 Surprised there is no thread on this one as this seems to have a little bit of a rep. It is a Round Robin Tournament match. Delphin is more of a Praying Mantis than Mosquito mask I didn’t recognize him as first. I feel like this match is liked insofar that it is liked is because it has PSYCHOLOGY~! Before the fireworks spectacle at the end. Look I rather you fill out the body of your match with something that has a consistent through line than just gobbedly gook but it was so obvious they were just paying lip service to heat segment work on Great Sasuke’s side. It felt perfunctory and like a check the box exercise. That doesn’t really count. The match lives and dies on the high spots as you would expect then. Match almost feels JIP but it is not youre thrown into a torrent. Sasuke hits a beautiful Asai Moonsault But comes up clutching his side which seems like he reaggravated. Delphin is able to crash into side, Backbreaker and a single leg crab while stepping on the Bad side. Delphin attacks the side vigorously from there but Sasuke’s dead fish selling isn’t helping it. It just felt in the moment so cold, hollow and as expected totally did not matter. I liked Delphin eye rake and stomping on his balls before a Scorpion Deathlock. The moves done to the side looked good and well-selected But man it felt inconsequential. True to form Sasuke clutched his side a little and then said fuck it, it is go time about 6 minutes before the finish. FLYING SPACE TIGER DROP~! Lets Fucking Go! Delphin Super Splash to the outside. Delphin Brainbuster & Elbow Drop! Now the match feels like it is on. Delphin’s trick knee acts up and we get another ball shot. Nice anti-air dropkick by Delphin to stymie a spring boarding Sasuke. Lots of great suplexes by Delphin But it always feels like our hero will win. Sasuke super plex followed by Crucifix Powerbomb wins him the day. Very good match, fun fireworks spectacle and the heat segment was good but it was not great. It was very Indy-Riffic. *** 1/2

IWGP Tag Team Champions Shinya Hashimoto & Junji Hirata vs Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan - NJPW 12/11/95 Fourth Tag Team Title Match pitting these two teams in 1995 who have dominated and defined the tag team division in the second half of 1995. More subdued than the out of control, hate-filled atmosphere that permeates most Wolves matches of 1995. It is cold in New England and my hand is freezing so this going to be short. They work an 80s WWF style heel in peril on Tenzan enjoyed the double stomps and leg sweep by Hashimoto and throwing the bell at Tenzan. They work a face in peril on Hirata which is totally unmemorable except it starts with a totally illegal Chono tag, he was in the Ring and a reverse atomic drop sold like a nut shot. The finish stretch is worth a watch a great five minutes. Hashimoto in Destroyer Mode. Brainbuster! Hirata top rope Headbutt doesn’t get the duke. Chono Ballshot! STF!!! Hashimoto and Hiro Saito go at it. Tenzan accidentally levels Chono. Hirata sit out Powerbomb on nemesis Chono 1-2-3! Now that I know the story of Chono’s heel turn is that he thought teaming with Hirata was beneath him in 1994 giving Hirata the win over Chono was the right call in that context BUT! I do mean BUT! The UWFI invasion trumps that. Takada was going to beat Mutoh and Hashimoto was going to be the Defender of the Realm it would make sense to relieve him from these titles and give them to the hottest heel act in the company. I always forget the Wolves are NOT the Champs because they feel like the Champs and they should’ve gotten a run. Nice nod to Hirata and a one year story but there were others ways to honor that but also acknowledge times have changed! *** 1/4

Yoji Anjoh & Yoshihiro Takayama vs Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan - UWFI 11/25/95 The Wolves roll continues as they are the heel invaders of UWFi. Not great as defenders, but Wolves make perfect invaders. Takayama looks even more alien than normal as he has not filled out. He is such an ugly bastard God love him. Anjoh is great craic here mocking Tenzan with the bull horns and Chono with knuckle lock. This was a heated hate filled brawl. Stone Cold said you can always tell how intense match would based on the first lock up. This was a fucking 11. Tenzan and Takayama each with fistfuls of hair as threw nasty close range strikes. Wicked from behind shots in this match. Chono holding Takayama as Tenzan crashed down on him was nasty but Takayama’s receipt was brutal when Tenzan went for a tag and Takayama bulldozed him from behind. Lots of trapping in the corner double teams that were wicked stiff. Chono and Anjoh trade submission but the partners kept breaking it up. Ball shots galore. Chono Ballshot leads to the Iron Butterfly for the win didnt know he was doing that so early. Almost felt heel vs heel. Real nasty Lo-if fight as the Wolves 95 campaign continues to rock. ****

Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki - NJPW 2/17/95 This Wolves run is so good cant believe it took me until now to get to it. Five days on the heels of Tenzan’s heel turn the mega angle against Choshu and the lads. Sasaki & Hase are out for blood, A rip roaring brawl in the aisle way breaks out and all the heat is on Tenzan. They isolate and beat the piss out of Tenzan in the Ring. Really fun babyface shine but with some stank on it. Tenzan whips Hase into Tiger Hattori and all hell breaks loose. Tenzan pummels Hase with his Mongolian Chops and wipes him out with a spinning heel kick. Chono brings in a chair and kicks ass. He tells Hase to take a seat and Yakuza kicks him. Tenzan piledrives Hase on a table and then moonsaults him for the win. More brawling and heat is unreal. I wish I watched this shit in order but this only adds to why 3/7 rematch is so badass. This feels incomplete because there is no comeback but I wish wrestling did this more early in a storyline match one or two have the heels cheat and just massacre the babyfaces to build to the climatic match. Not every match has to tell a complete story let story feel complete as a collection of matches. *** 1/2

The 2/12 six man five days prior. Made a thread with a helpful Reddit link.

Agree with myself from 13 years ago for the most part. I was not doing ratings back the But it sounds like I would have rated this higher than back then. I usually cringe at my reviews from when I first started reviewing but this was well-measured. Justin Liger vs Ultimo Dragon - WAR Super J Cup 12/13/95 Went to a German Circus last night, highly recommend going to the Circus even if it is a bit passé there is something awe-inspiring watching human feats of strengths and coordination live in person especially in a increasingly digital world. The reason I bring this up is in this match there is the “Ta Da” spot that ends the opening chaining segment. We all know the spot all too well in today’s wrestling landscape that draws the Pavlovian polite applause in all but exceptional circumstances. Having seen multiple Circus Acts last night the “Ta Da”spot is critical it lets the audience know what they just saw is complete and to applaud if they want. It also shows how Pro Wrestling has evolved from a Carny strongman trick to an acrobatic performance. I think Pro Wrestling should exist encompass all Four Pillars of Circus Performances…Strongmen, Acrobats, Clowns and Oddities/Exotics but perhaps it has gone too far in one direction is what I am saying. As for the match, it is a very good Juniors match you know the formula…chaining…limb psychology that is dropped, some Dives and big bombs to round things off. Liger & Dragon are probably the two biggest stars of 90s Junior style but never had that definitive classic together. The chaining in the match is tight, well-worked But doesn’t advance a narrative. After “Ta-Da”, the match becomes very symmetrical. Liger dropkicks the knee of Dragon who sells well and applies the Figure-4. So Dragon does his hip swivel leg lock and own Figure-4 to hurt Liger’s leg. The dueling hobbling on one leg spot is unfortunate because they immediately go into their tumbling pass. Dragon’s Dives are pretty spectacular and look great to the modern eye because they have weight to them. Powerbomb and Tiger Suplex nope. Now it is Liger with the dive, Powerbomb and Brainbuster. Liger follows up with Tombstone and Top Rope Headbutt. Dragon gets two bombs on his own now with Northern Lights and the Top Rope Front Suplex into La Magistral. The Ligerbomb Nearfall gets a big nearfall and modern audiences would be compelled to “This Is Awesome” chants no doubt. I really liked Liger sitting down on a Second La Magistral Cradle to win. Some pairings just can’t live up to the hype. There was no glue or hook. It was just bombs. Pretty bombs. *** 1/2