Superstar Sleeze

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

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.

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

The Great Muta vs Jinsei Shinzaki - NJPW 4/29/96 The perfect big, dumb match to watch when youre jetlagged to fuck in Cologne. The less you think about this match the better it. Perfect rebound match from Muta after losing the IWGP Title to Takada at 1/4 Dome show, instead he is here in the Dream Match role. This has to be the high water mark of Shinzaki's career. The Railing Bump! Piledriver on the Table! Broken Wooden Stake! Hakushi Bleeding! Writing in Hakushi's Blood on Hakushi's Stake! Whatever Kanji he wrote got a big pop! Hakushi Flying Space Tiger Drop! MUTA MIST~! Moonsault! This is a WrestleMania match before that was really a thing. Big Moments that stick with you, no connective tissue. Just the stare down during Introductions, these two look cool as fuck. Muta spews Mist to let the crowd now the wrestling will begin. Muta hits a couple of famous spots early. Hakushi's Rope Walk looked awesome as did his Vaderbomb. He peters out. This actually feels like an extended Muta squash. The railing bump, Pildedriver on the table and Wooden stake all happen here. Hakushi taps a gusher. Looks great with the white pants. Muta lets him get in a hope spot of missing his Top Rope Headbutt. Muta hits a pretty sick Frankensteiner but cant get the Moonsault. Hakushi finally gets in a modicum of offense after Muta telegraphs the Mist and Hakushi ducks it. Hakushi goes crazy with the steel chair and Flying Space Tiger Drop! He hits he Top Rope Headbutt but Muta kicks out pretty easily. Hakushi Powerbomb...NOPE...MIST~! Moonsault! 1-2-3 I have watched so much Greta Muta this past year and it is not a tippy top performance but a pretty good one. He definitely nails the Horror Movie Villain here very menacing, but you could also tell he kinda thought Hakushi was behind him and his disinterest would occasionally spill over. Besides the Rope Walk at the beginning and the Flying Space Tiger Drop they really gave Hakushi nothing, but who cares? The high spots kick ass. This is perfect Dome/WrestleMania wrestling...Blood Kanji kicks this up a couple notches. *** 3/4

Volk Han vs Masayuki Naruse - RINGS 4/28/95 Volk Han looks like a giant compared to Naruse, who I don’t think I have ever seen. This is a very entertaining Volk Han match who is basically able to throw Naruse around at will even drawing laughs from the Japanese as he drags Naruse on his ass to the middle of the Ring. But Han ever the showman gives Naruse just enough to make you think he has a shot. My favorite moment is at the beginning of the match. After manhandling Naruse with Double Wristlock Rips and basically hogtie picking up the little man, Han goes for a single leg crab but he is a bit sloppy and Naruse wriggles into a heel hook. The way Han crumples to the mat he sells both pain and embarrassment how he fucked that up. Volk Han is on another level. There are couple other cool moments. I liked Han catching the Axe Kick and dropping into a legbar. Han’s own Axe Kick clipping Naruse’s head was nasty. Han pays off the Single Leg Crab down the stretch where he pays extra care to trap the free leg and rotate safely into position. Naruse at one point unloads with strikes but Han stifles that with a Double Wristlock. Classic Han Finish….Han sells like he is going to tap to the flash submission, wriggles for the ropes, can’t find them instead finds his own submission a half crab with a head scissors. The Soviet Wizard strikes again with a magical performance what a joy to watch. *** 1/2

Akira Maeda vs Volk Han - RINGS 1/25/95 The annual biggest RINGS show of the year the finals of the Mega Battle Tournament in the Budokan. It might be my anti-Maeda bias but this didnt do a lot for me. It felt too pro-style and cooperative. It seemed to me that Volk Han was wrestling down to Maeda. Han had a pretty serious single leg crab and watch how organically he applies it but he kinda just lets Maeda reverse it. You can feel how deflated the crowd was. There was more downtime on the mat than normal. Maeda’s best stuff is his stand up but not exactly where Han excels. Maeda tags him pretty good early to earn a down. Han rips off a Double Wristlock, Legbar and another heel hook to start racking up points. He almost pisses it all away attacking stand up and getting rocked again. Even the finish was not that cool as they end up in the bundle of leg locks but Han was able to slip in the submission. A lot of people hype up Maeda and I truly went in with an open mind but this was pretty flat. ***

Volk Han vs Andrei Kopylov - RINGS 11/16/95 It has been a long time, a long lonely lonely lonely lonely time since I have rocked and rolled with Volk Han. Woke up early in Cologne and then fell back asleep but snuck this in between. This is apart of Mega Battle Tournament. Volk Han opening gambit is his double wrist lock takedown but Kopylov ain’t going nowhere. God I love RINGS! Everything is a struggle. They trade rope breaks with some absolutely fabulous mat work especially leg work. They make leg locks fun that’s how good they are. Han even throws a punch in frustration. Kopylov protests and Han apologizes. Later stand up is a fun wrinkle. These two use their legs on the mat so well. Dexterous and flexible. The way they bridge and flatten so good. There is a real sense of weight and balance to each move. Both had about 2-2.5 Downs when Han gets a leg bar and straightens that leg in a way wasn’t supposed to be and audibly said “That’s it” waking up my pregnant wife but it is ok we both fell asleep for another 3.5hours. Lunch time then Cologne Cathedral! Great match *** 3/4

Yoshihisa Yamamoto vs Dick Vrij - RINGS 7/18/95 Imagine instead of being a lame spooky ass Aleister Black was a Dutch Kickboxing Badass like Dick Vrij! I’d be his biggest fan. This fucking ruled so hard. Dick Vrij is allergic to the mat. As soon as Yamamoto grabs a leg; he grabs the ropes. There is literally no grappling or submission work because Vrij is scared shitless of it. His whole strategy is to swing for the fences and knock out Yamamoto. In RINGS you charged for rope escapes so Yamamoto just needs to get 10 to win the match. There is one Shoot Knee that is BRUTAL~! Yamamoto shoots for the takedown BANG~! Knee Right to the Face! I don’t know how he was not legit knocked out. RED CARD~! Damn never seen that before charged a Down! Yamamoto tags Vrij pretty good causing a mouse under the eye which eventually opens up a the blood trickle adds so much. Besides one Down by Vrij, Yamamoto is just running up the score. I love Vrij’s selling down the stress. He looks like a worn down Terminator just hell bent on knocking out Yamamoto but knows he doesn’t have it in him. A yellow card and one last rope break wins the day for Yamamoto. Wicked entertaining match! Wish more wrestling was like this! **** 1/4

Keiji Mutoh vs Masahiro Chono - NJPW 8/12/95 These two have amazing chemistry. Watched a bunch of their 2000-2001 shit earlier this year and I came away impressed how they consistently have great matches especially because I don’t like Chono. 1995 is probably Chono’s peak year with the heel turn and novelty of his American style cheating heel persona. Mutoh is also surging this year having won the IWGP title and have some spectacular matches this year. This G1 Climax alone is incredible with both Flair and Hashimoto matches being excellent. I heard the Koshinaka match is as well (if anyone has a copy of that hit me up). I thought this was another feather in the cap of both men for their 1995 campaigns. Even before their shenanigans that put the match over the top, they do their New Japan chain wrestling really well, great urgency and grit to it. When Mutoh is clearly getting the better of Chono, Chono goes for not one but two ball shots but doesn’t really get all of it…based on the selling of Mutoh, but you never know with him. It serves to piss off Mutoh who gets scuffle with Hiro Saito. In the chaos, Chono bashes Mutoh’s head into the post which results in busting him open. Hiro Saito does get ejected but the damage has been done. I like how Mutoh has one last burst of energy in the form of a back handspring elbow but after that last gasp Chono just works the cut. Lots of bashing into the exposed turnbuckles and punches & kicks to the cut. Chono gives Mutoh too much space and he begins his rally BUT crashes and burns on the Moonsault. A spooked Chono goes for STF but the first one is a choke so broken up but second is a proper version but Mutoh makes the ropes. Chono goes Yakuza Kicks but Mutoh snaps off a Frankensteiner for the win. Chono attacks after the bell but a bloody Mutoh runs him down in the aisle way in classic Mutoh fashion. I actually like the flash pin here because Mutoh was clearly in a big hole and has missed his Moonsault. After surviving Chono’s cheating and STF’s, it felt like a proper way for him to escape. It protects Chono as well. Very entertaining like 12 minute match. ****

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Koji Kanemoto vs Wild Pegasus - NJPW 9/25/95 If anyone has Kanemoto’s title defenses against Benoit, 3/13/95 and Ohtani, 4/16/95 please dm me. I plan on watching at least one of the two Sabu championship matches from this year. It seems like 1995 is important year to understand Kanemoto. Benoit had a wicked good match with Regal two days prior to this. I thought this was very good and not as good as Regal/Benoit match. This is a Benoit spot fest but what I like about a Benoit spot fest is at least the spots have snap and do not feel overly cooperative. There is just no connective tissue. Customary 5 minutes of New Japan wrestling to open. Benoit applies the surfboard really nice Kanemoto drop toehold escape into a heel hook. Benoit does his standard knuckle lock monkey flip sequence which always looks cool. The match picks up when Benoit catapults Kanemoto to the outside through the middle rope which looked cool as did his dive. Kanemoto quashed Benoit opening onslaught with leg kicks and leg lace. Kanemoto seemed to want to stymie Benoit who is an offensive dynamo by working holds. Kanemoto suplexed Benoit over the top rope to the floor in a sick spot. Kanemoto get his patented twisting senton but misses moonsault and this leads to Benoit finally opening up. We get the snap suplex. Top rope belly to back. He missed the first Diving Headbutt but scored with the second. He hits Mutha of All Powerbombs man when he busts that out against Juniors always looked wicked. Kanemoto snaps off some Frankensteiners and his moonsault but nothing doing. German Suplex and Dragon Suplex are Benoit’s last gasp. The Dragon Suplex got a lot of heat. Kanemoto hot a top rope twisting Senton and Tiger Suplex for the anti-climatic win. I have seen a smattering of Kanemoto I think he is solid but not special. I think that was the case here. It was missing that urgency and desperation down the stretch. All the moves looked tight but I was not emotionally stirred. *** 1/2

IWGP Tag Team Champions Shinya Hashimoto & Junji Hirata vs Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan - NJPW 9/23/95 Yes Chono & Tenzan won the vacant belts on 6/12 but according to everything I read had to vacate them because Chono’s Dad which might be true but I think this was to play into NJPW company screwing over Chono. Hashimoto & Hirata defeat Scott Norton & Mike Enos for the titles on 7/13 and then successfully defend against Chono & Tenzan on the 18th. Youre telling me they couldn’t wait 5 days. Definitely a booking move. After Hashimoto dropped the title to Mutoh in May and until he became the Defender of NJPW against UWFI this was his main feud. Four major matches against the Wolves…three of which I found, this is the 3rd chronologically. I think this was a clear step down from 6/12. This was more disjointed. Each segment didnt really depend on the last. The work within segment was right and looked good but never seemed to serve a higher purpose. Also I find Chono & Hirata to be pretty bland and I like Tenzan in a very specific environment so it led to very little investment in the characters. The work did not feel heated. There was only so much Hashimoto could do. Pre-bell the Wolves steal the belts and open a Can of whoop ass on the babyfaces on the outside but Hashimoto & Hirata are able to reverse the tide in the Ring and nothing really happens. The fun shine where Hashimoto double stomps Tenzan and Hirata sentons is done again. Chono is able to take over on Hirata with Yakuza Kicks. Hirata is not Chono-stopper like he was on 6/12. Hirata wins a pretty intense Headbutt battle with Tenzan. Chono needs help from Tenzan to get one over on Hashimoto. Honestly I just watched this match and I am blanking on the middle portion. There was not a lot that was sticky. It was just solid work. They gain control of Hirata and I know he tags out to Hashimoto who goes into full Destroyer mode. He is on a tear when Chono ball shots him. This is when the match picks up. Chono hits top rope shoulder block. STF with falling Tenzan headbutts to the back. Glorious. Love Hirata saving Hashimoto with his own top rope Headbutt. Hashimoto makes his comeback! All the Hashimoto staples knocks Hiro Saito off the apron. Then Brainbuster Chono while Hirata restrains Tenzan for the win. Last 5 minutes or so get this on the right side of the Mendoza Line but I don’t know the body of match really didnt much for me. *** 1/4

Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Masahiro Chono & Hiro Saito vs Riki Choshu, Shinya Hashimoto & Junji Hirata - NJPW 2/12/95 Some dude on Reddit: Tenzan/Chono/Saito vs Choshu/Hashimoto/Hirata absolutely killed it with this excellent history of how the Wolves were formed. Tenzan was back from excursion and being recruited by various stables. Chono/Saito and Sabu were a team; I had no idea that Sabu was in the Wolves. Tenzan chose them and apparently Choshu was pissed. In this short 5 minute match which in this video is clipped, Tenzan gets his ass absolutely beat especially by Chosu. Unfortunately theres a clip in the transition and Tenzan is able to get the shock win after a Spike Piledriver and a Tenzan Headbutt on Choshu! Found the full video: definitely track down the full video...Choshu singles Tenzan out right as he is making his entrance. He makes a beeline for him and just kicks ass from pillar to post. Great pre-match brawl. The whole match is just three of them wrecking Tenzan's shit. That spike DDT by Hashimoto and those Lariats by Choshu. The missing piece is Chono has enough and Yakuza Kicks Choshu a bunch, not the most creative way and Hiro Saito takes out Hashimoto & Hirata with a chair. Tenzan pummels Choshu with headbutts and Mongolian Chops. Then aforementioned badass finish of a Spike Piledriver and top rope headbutt. 5 star angle! This is how you get a new stable over! There is a big melee! Crowd brawling! Lots of chairs Sabu comes out and starts swinging like a madman. Tenzan ends up doing a top rope Senton onto Hashimoto through a table while the Wolves stand tall. Very effective heel beatdown. Like the rest of the nascent Wolves angle, this all felt very Southern-Fried, Crockett style wrestling. The locker room brawl was also a great touch. I highly recommend watching the video and reading the poster's comments very interesting.

Tsuyoshi Kohsaka vs Grom Zaza RINGS 12/19/95 Zaza is a Georgian badass who represented Georgia in the Olympics the next year. Watched this because it got hyped pretty hard. I love Shoot-Style and I did enjoy this a lot but didn’t quite knock my socks off. It mostly stood out in the back drop of all the 2025 wrestling I watch. Seeing how competitive wrestling can be and how organic. It felt sporting. I am a fan of the points system in Shoot-Style but the confusing is depending on the year and which promotion it is hard to say what is going on. This is two rope breaks equals one knockdown. You have five knock downs before the match ends dont quote me on that though Kohsaka was at four and there were no more circles left so I believe if he got knocked down again he would have lost. A good amount of stand up in this RINGS match. Some wicked knees that lead to knockdowns. I would say every pass led to a point. Pretty much each grappling exchange ended in a rope break or before they got to the mat there was a knock down by knee. The wrist lock takedowns looked great. I loved some of the comebacks by Zaza who looked trapped a couple times but came out with some wicked leg locks especially that Arm Figure-4 on Koshaka’s legs. Kohsaka always has great energy and they really keep this one moving. Pretty definitive Zaza win as he gets a wrist lock takedown into the Rings of Saturn plus he was up 3.5 Downs to Kohsaka’s 4 so pretty clear cut victory for the Georgian. Very breezy, engaging shoot-style match but not a classic in my opinion. *** 1/2

Toshiaki Kawada vs Jun Akiyama - AJPW 3/21/95 Championship Carnival The 1995 Championship Carnival was already my favorite tournament of all time so it was a joy to watch something I have never seen. I don’t think I have seen an Akiyama match from before 1996 actually. Terrific plucky young upstart against the ornery veteran. Akiyama was not to be denied early. He just kept moving forward. Every roadblock Kawada threw up. Every setback. Akiyama kept moving forward like a young lion should. He blitzes Kawada to start. I love how Kawada dumps on his ass on a knee or throws him into railing but Akiyama just keeps on coming with splashes and strikes. He is hurling his body headlong. The best defense is a good offense says Akiyama. Akiyama first mistake is slowing down the tempo and trading strikes with Kawada who clocks with an overhand right that sends the young lion reeling. Kawada can get into his groove now. The Senton. I loved the use of bodyslam, Cowboy Kick, Akiyama fires up get it again. It really tells the story of the match. One of best Kawada’s best spinning heel kicks is in this match. Akiyama now throws Kawada on his ass. They go out to the floor where Akiyama tries to suplex Kawada on the parquet but Akiyama eats it. Now Kawada is really grooving back in the Ring. The Single Leg Crab. Kawada is ready to put this away at 10 minute mark with a Powerbomb but Akiyama just keeps coming back. I LOVED The Northern Lights Suplex with Kawada sitting on the top someone needs to crib that. Most organic Northern Lights Suplex I have ever seen. Kawadas turn to block the Exploder but Akiyama rips a a couple inverted ones. Kawada Spinning Back Chop! Stretch Plum! Powerbomb but Kawada sells an incidental eye poke which I love. Second Powerbomb he LAUNCHES Akiyama! Stretch Plum For The Win! You don’t see that too often. It is a tale as old as time the young lion versus lion king and this is another excellent installment in the genre. *** 3/4

WCW World TV Champion Arn Anderson vs Randy Savage - WCW Saturday Night 1/28/95 Savage’s debut in Center Stage and his second match in WCW based on TV Schedule after the Clash Tag with Hogan. Studd Stable is in effect with Parker & Meng at ringside. This is a Lo-fi, anti-work rate match that a lot of fans that type of work would love. You get more wrestling out of Savage at the beginning than normal… grabbing holds and working for a win. Two all-time great punchers and there were some fabulous ones. I loved the transition to heat as Double A tries to sneak behind Savage off of Colonel distraction but Savage has eyes in the back of his head and clocks him with an elbow but then Savage gets rammed into the post. I love the double fake out. There are so few high spots. Just gritty work. Savage is working against the clock. He only has 15 minutes to win the title. They do Anderson double noggin knocker. They work the Ring post a lot and the sleeper. At the two minute mark Savage is galvanized. High Knee to the back. Double axehandle to the floor. Blocks the DDT by holding onto the ropes. That was a good fake out to think he might win. Parker distraction costs him the title as the time limit expires but not the match as he throws Anderson off the top rope and hits the Big Elbow for the win! Buck, Slater and the Blacktop Bully hit the win but Sting and Dustin save. What a trio of babyfaces! An entertaining throwback match. *** 1/4

Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Shinya Hashimoto & Junji Hirata - NJPW 6/12/95 Vacant IWGP Tag Team Titles I have had this match earmarked for a decade. It feels like people consider the high water mark of ChoTen run. I am glad I watched the Sasaki/Hase match from 3/7 first because it showed the type of heat they can generate. I actually preferred that match but this being for tag titles I can see why this is more famous. Two main reasons are felt the Hashimoto/Hirata shine had a lid on it. They were building pressure but it never boiled over. You wanted them to let it rip and go balls out. You get flashes of Hashimoto the Destroyer but he never gets there. I like Hirata as the Chono Stopper. Chono big times Hirata and says he wants the big boy but Hirata more than holds his own against Chono. There was one sequence in shine I loved Hashimoto Double Stomp, Hirata splash, Hashimoto Denton all on Tenzan. My other issue and bigger one the match hinges on Hirata being incapacitated and Hashimoto going it two on one. But the heat segment on Hirata lasts literally 2 minutes and in any other match would be blown off by any other wrestler. Plus he takes ChoTen double Powerbomb finish. No sells that, Powerbomb Chono multiple body slams and a top rope Headbutt which I guess hurts the knee. Sorry hit I am not buying it. It needs to be more emphatic and such a key plot point it needs to be felt more intensely. i will say the last like 7 minutes are fucking awesome. Hashimoto going it on his own. The Wolves trying to take down the Ace 2 on 1 with Hirata saving was epic. Loved the Hashimoto roar to start climaxing with the Brainbuster! I was rocking! In the fracas, Chono slips in a ball shot. Then it is just Yakuza Kicks, STFs and Powerbombs. Tenzan stretch of Tenzan Headbutt and Moonsault was electric with each Hirata save. Hiro Saito pulling Hirata off the apron when Hashimoto went for the tag also awesome. Hashimoto bleeding from nose and mouth on the second STF epic. Love Hashimoto defiant last stand with the chops and the LEGSWEEP~! Tenzan whacking him and the Yakuza Kick which I don’t love as a finish was a bit anticlimatic. It is a pretty easy thumbs up and that Hashimoto finish stretch is epic but the finish was anticlimatic and I didn’t love the first half. The Hirata injury not being more emphatic is my major bug bear. *** 3/4

Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Kensuke Sasaki & Hiroshi Hase. - NJPW 3/7/95 We were some powder and a fireball away from me jizzing my pants. Raucous mayhem! Before Team 2000, Before NWO Japan, there were Wolves based on Cagematch, Chono started running with Tenzan and Hiro Saito in February so this has only been going on a month but the heat Is off the charts. Arena brawling, clearing the audience chairs, exposed turnbuckle, choking with the shirt, choking with the tag rope, steel chairs, announce table throws. This is just in the babyface shine. Hiro Saito beat Hirats in the match prior and the Wolves were laying a beat down so Hase & Sasaki and kick their asses. Chono gets an eye rake to stop red hot babyface shine. Saito & Tenzan double team Hase with a chair. Lots of cheating and double teams from the Wolves. Chono STF but Sasaki breaks it up. Sasaki gets the hot tag rips off powerslam. Hase urnages! Giant Swing! Sasaki gets distracted by Saito. Double team Powerbomb on Hase! They tie up Sasaki in the ropes. Saito chair shots to Sasaki. Yakuza Kick wins it! Molten hot brawl! There was some weird selling and transitions but fuck it it was so fun! The Saito chair shots in plain view of the ref was a little much. Sounds like I need to watch 2/17! Great shit ****