Superstar Sleeze

The End is Nigh #25 - The three biggest names in Lucha of the 90s #24 - The rematch of the most important match in history. Misawa vs Jumbo II #23 - M-Pro cracks top 25 #22 - Takada takes his rightful place in top 25 against Fujiwara. This just became must see #21 - Forgot about this one. Wargames 92 is the best US match according to Charles. DISAGREE! I am all in on Bret/Austin. Ill have to rewatch Wargames '92. Nice to see the US make the Top 25 regardless. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! All the way! #20 - Sammy vs Otanu from 96 total clinic. Love it #19 - Joshi with Joshi ladies I don't know #18 - The classic All Japan six man that cant be denied #17 - DREAMSLAM II~! #16 Hell yeah! Still have not written my review but 98 Misawa/Kobashi is awesome. The transitions are perfect and it just makes total sense. Pitch perfect layout #15 - No Rope Explosive Barbed Wire Death Match with Women in FMW! #14 - A definite contender for best match of the 90s. This would be my second choice after Kobashi/Hansen. Taue is relentless on the eye and such great apron work. #13 - Santo vs Casas just miss out on Top ten #12 - Big time ranking for Kobashi/Akiyama loved this match too. Kobashi's 98 is insane #11 - Dandy Satanico 1990 I don't know lucha, but I know this would rule #10 - RINGS! Can RINGS unseat All Japan is the real question as we go down the list #9 - 12/6/96 some say the GOAT match, Id have 6/9/95 above this and so does Charles because he is a gentleman and a scholar. #8 - El Dandy cracks the top ten with Casas #7 - 6/3/94, My rankings are 7/29/93, 4/15/95, 6/9/95, 6/3/94, 1/20/97 #6 - 6/9/95 Everytime I watch this I fall in love with pro wrestling all over again. #5 - DREAMSLAM I~! #4 1/20/97 probably the greatest offensive match ever #3 - DREAM RUSH~! #2 RINGS FALLS SHORT, IT DOES NOT TAKE NUMBER ONE! I will be honest I love shoot-style. But this is pro wrestling goddamnit I was definitely rooting for pro wrestling to win just as always do when those shooters invade. I am glad pro wrestling prevailed. WAIT! If 7/29/93, 12/6/96, 4/15/95, 6/9/95, 1/20/97 and 6/3/94 appeared, what can be number one?!?!?! #1 - Furnas & Kroffat vs KOBASHI & KIKUCHI!!!! MARK OUT CITY!!!! CHARLES WINS! CHARLES WINS! CHARLES WINS!

#50 - I have seen the 96 match, which is a classic. Been looking for this one. #49 - Satan vs Pirate works for me #48 - 12/3/93 shows how deep the 90s are if this is #48 #47 - Monster rating for this. The problem with high end Shawn matches for me is the finish. Super match just an awesome asskicking of the most despicable wrestler on the roster. Height of 97 Shawn. Finish brings it down a bit. #46 - Need to see this AJPW tag #45 - I agree with Mind Games over Hell In A Cell, I would have it behind Bret/Owen is all. The nonconclusive finish takes it down. Great asskicking Shawn performance and Foley's second best match ever. #44 - WOW! I thought this was going to be higher AJPW style meets NJPW juniors. Loved Liger vs Otani when I saw it. #43 - Kong vs Dynamite #42 - Lots of luchadors #41 - G-1 Climax '91 Finals awesome match been far too long since Ive seen this #40 - LOVE THIS MATCH! Glad you have upgraded on this. Sano beats Liger like Liger owes him money. Liger makes a tremendous comeback. Probably my 1990 match of the year. #39 - Lots of Luchadors #38 - Lots of joshi workers #37 - Did Liger/Sasuke make the list three times by accident? Need to rewatch July match everyone always says it is better than Super J, but Ill see. #34 - Tamura in 98 & 99 is must watch #33 - 5/21/94 is terrific, again #33 shows how deep 90s is. I would have 12/3/93 over this off top of my head. What was the differentiating factor? #32 - Akira Hokuto is someone I want to watch #31 - The crown jewel o Dandy's 90, will have to watch #30 - Volk Han vs Tamura so good it is listed as a shoot a lot of places #29 - Hansen vs Kawada. Love this match! Total war, tons of urgency. Hansen/Kobashi is better in myopinion #28 - Best US match of the 90s comes in at #28, would liked to see it crack top 25. Bret/Austin deserve it. #27 - DOC/KOBASHI THIS HIGH!!!! WHAAAAAAATT?!?!?!?! I remember a big meathead spotfest that I loved, but not this much. EXPLAIN! Am I thinking of their 94 match??? #26 - '92 Misawa/Kawada I remember being great, but not this great. Will have to revisit.

WWE Champion John Cena vs John Bradshaw Layfield - WWE Judgement Day 2005 Classic booking of a white meat babyface proving his mettle in a bloody brawl. I do mean bloody. John Cena was wearing a full Crimson Mask, five alarm blade job here. Two JBL matches in a row at Judgement Day where buckets of blood were spilled. I forgotten how damn good a promo JBL was both in the pre-match package. He is such a good bully. Really puts over the gravity of I Quit really well in how you lose your dignity and manhood by uttering "I Quit". Cena was pretty good in standing up to the bully. Liked the clips of Bradshaw bullying Scotty 2 Hotty into saying I Quit. This match got kinda rep after one really glowing review. Did not hit that mark for me, but still thought this was awesome and was very effective in getting over John Cena's Never Give Up attitude. I think it kinda failed at getting over as an asskicker as they relied on too much crowd brawling and strange weapons. That is where my criticism lays. Really strange start very 1980s gimmick match start. They do a pin attempt just get over there is no pinfalls and lots of headlocks and shouldertackles. Cena even has a good armdrag. It was not bad, just strange. JBL was great at talking a ton of trash. Loved the hope spot with back drop on the table to stop powerbomb. Great cutoff with the chair leading to a ton of blood. JBL delivers on his pre-match promise to split Cena wide open. Cena's selling was great and Bradshaw was a great bully heel. Once they started brawling up the ramp, they lost me. A swinging neckbreaker on the car, suplex on the roof, really? That does not have feel like hate, more like being too cute The TV monitor spot to bust open JBL was good. JBL is bleeding. I don't know if I am putting over just how much Cena is bleeding. I really enjoyed Bradshaw going into the compressed gas cylinder since I work in a lab and that would be a major EHS (Environmental, Health, Safety) Violation. I like choking in these matches so Bradshaw is good at that. Liked the finish with Bradshaw too much of a coward to let Cena hit with a smokestack so he pussies out and says I Quit. So Cena hits him anyways. I think that or the jabbing someone is the best finishes to these. You cant KO your opponent so does reduce some of the typical finish options. I just was not feeling the hate at times. Strange opening. Took a little while to get going. Once it did, I was getting into that and then we up the ramp and it was a real mix bag. In getting over Cena's resilience and Never Give Up Attitude, this was ***** and blood helped a lot. Bradshaw was a great cocky bully and like most bullies turned out to be a coward. I thought it failed in being truly hate-filled and making Cena an asskicker. Great, but not a classic. ****

I feel like Parv just won post of the year. I am not going to say its perfect, but I think cool new style would be one that is focused on urgency and winning the match from the outset. I think matches should be sub-ten minutes and should be sprints. Only matches championship implications should go longer. Bringing back time limits of ten or fifteen minutes would create that sense of urgency. Booking would be greatly helped with more draws and less clean finishes. Then an hour time limit for wrestlers allow them to take their time. I think New Japan has it right with grappling at the base for the opening minutes, but more heated and the conclusion from that grappling should be an exciting transition. This transition should be the hook of the match. Putting one wrestler in a hole that he needs to comeback from. Momentum shifts need to be respected more. Everything needs a purpose. I am so sick of Rollins kick to gut, lazily hooks arms for a Pedigree but no effort at all and just gets backdropped. It is friggin' horrible. Mean it! Force your opponent to back drop you. The perfect style is that everything from the sound of the bell is earned.

Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio - WWE Judgement Day 2005 You want to see a violent Rey Mysterio check out this match. Definitely a side you don't see often from Rey Rey and kudos to Taz pointing this out. This was the height of my fandom as a teenager and I loved the original angle with Eddie getting more and more frustrated that he couldn't defeat Rey until he snapped. That beat down with the ripped mask and bloody face is just awesome. An all-time great heel turn and loved the promo afterwards. It was cold and remorseless. Unlike the great 1997 Eddie heel run, this was much colder. The Halloween Havoc is a great balls to the wall sprint, but this is a great fight. Rey sets the tone early just wailing away on Eddie in a manner uncharacteristic for him and not something you see too often. Eddie is forced to fire back targeting the injured ribs and taking head shots. The tide really turns on the outside where Eddie drives Rey's ribs hard into the announce table. Michael Cole is 8 million times better in 2005 than he is now. What follows is a total master class in executing a heat segment. Just absolutely perfect, dominant, violent heel wrestling. Of course, it helps you have Rey selling for you. The little touches on the Ab stretch, the force he uses on the back suplex, his demeanor just perfect. Great hope spots by Rey and better cut offs loved the reverse powerbomb. The enziguiri by Rey that gave him his first mini-comeback was perfectly sold. The other hope spots were flurries. He got a head kick and Eddie sold it big time. Then great monkey flip into a springboard headbutt, which was a hot nearfall. BOOM! Cutoff->sick Boston Crab and STF. Eddie cant get the submission so throws Rey out like garbage and Rey takes that awesome belly flop bump. If I cant beat him, I am going cripple him. He is going for that sick brainbuster again. Rey facing disaster drives Eddie hard into the post that's violence of Rey here. Nice 619 around the post. In the ring, they have an awesome slugfest that is just dripping with hate and it is so cool to see Rey being able to keep up in this setting and really thrive. Rey gets some nice nearfalls, but there is a MONSTER Superplex, which is sold beautifully by both. Eddie is deeply frustrated he cant get the pin. I love that Superplex was treated as such a highspot. Rey slips out of 3rd Amigo and comes back again. This time Chavo distracts the ref. Rey gets Eddie in position for 619 but takes out Chavo. As he is flying through the sky, he gets CLOBBERED BY A CHAIR BY EDDIE! That was a home run swing!!! Fantastic match that gets overshadowed by the even better Smackdown match a month later. Loved Rey's fight in this. Eddie was just fucking best sadistic heel in this. Torturing Rey, but knowing when to sell for him. Thought there may have been a bit too much back n forth at the end. I think the Brainbuster to the steps with Rey fighting back should have led to the finish. If they did the Superplex before that causing Eddie to get pissed transitioning to the Brainbuster because now he is like fuck it, Im just going to kill you. Rey blocks, mounts hot comeback, but Eddie blasts him with a chair in the plain view of the ref because he doesn't care about wins and losses anymore he is just that pissed off, I think you can make a strong case that would be a *****. That's not the match we got, but damn if this match was not awesome. Should be discussed more.. ****1/2

I am higher than you, but I agree with all your points that the front half was definitely more interesting than the back half Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle - WrestleMania XXI As with so many match from the 2000s, this is a tale of two match. I thought the first half showed 2000s Shawn at his best. He is tough, gritty and intense. He locking on headlocks with all his might. He is not backing down. He is crowding in the corner. He is throwing stiff chops. An excellent showcase of this Shawn is on a 2004 RAW against Benoit for World Title. I thought Angle was pretty good in early going too. I like the cheapshot from behind to set up first Angle lock, but Shawn quickly escapes and then Angleslam into the steel post. Basically from there, the match becomes your pretty standard Shawn Michaels Mania match. The heat segment on back is uninspired and Shawn sells pretty well and bumps on his back, but then it gets lost. They do some highspots on the outside with the Asai crossbody on the announce table being the leveling the playing field spot. It was your standard finish stretch. Better than today's because it was not just my turn your turn there were at least momentum shifts. Shawn went through his stuff. But Angle catches the foot into the Anglelock. Way too much Anglelock bullshit. Couple good Angleslam nearfalls, I admit liked the one from the top rope. Then we get all Shawn Michaels' cinematographic greatness with Angle telling him to stay and BANG SWEET CHIN MUSIC! Should have been the finish. Instead after eternity, Shawn makes the cover kick out. Angle comes to and Anglelock that lasts forever. I was begging Shawn to tap. It was the best of Shawn, it was the worst of Shawn. ***1/2

#75 - Wargames ;91 is fucking excellent. Opening 5 minutes is one of the best 5 minutes in wrestling history. My controversial take is that this is the best Wargames in history! BOOM! #74 - WAR! NJPW VS WAR! #73 - Muto & Hase vs Hash & Chono, don't remember much buzz about this. Need to check it out. #72 - Joshi is back and youre in trouble! Mid-Summer Typhoon! LOVE IT! #71 - Awesome draw, Parv is smoking something. Kobashi vs Kawada ruled! #70 - The one Lucha match I have seen over and over again. It is great! Los Gringos Locos vs Santo & Octagon #69 - Ishikawa and Ikeda, do I need to say more? #68 - Kobashi/Taue outshine Misawa/Kawada on this night! #67- Never seen an Anjo match #66 - Santo against Casas that makes sense & dollars! #65 - I could have sworn I commented on this match already did I fuck up. Was that the July match? Anyways love the finish of this Super J Cup match Liger vs Sasuke. Bit too exhibition-y. ragdoll-y for me at times. #64 - This is the crown jewel Lucha match I will start with Rey vs Psicosis. #63 - MY HEART BREAKS! Kobashi vs Hansen is my number #1! Sad! #62 - Not better than Kobashi vs Hansen, don't believe it # 61 - Not better than Kobashi vs Hansen, don't believe it #60 - Found this, will watch soon #59 - Damn! Loving this ranking. This is the match I have seen the most ever. Sting vs Vader Starrcade 92, used to be my favorite now like GAB 92 better. Still glad this may the top 100 #58 - THIS IS MY FAVORITE LUCHA MATCH! Charles, you turned me onto this and I loved it. My young cousins LOVE this! Best midget match ever #57 - YES! YES! YES! Flair vs Luger rules! Excellent, excellent #56 - Bit high on Bret vs Austin SSeries, thought it dragged at times #55 - Rude vs Steamboat at Beach Blast is really strong I like the placing near Flair vs Luger I have those two neck and neck #54 - The First Four Corners match. The pace is just incredible. Breathe-taking #53 - Wait! There are more midgets! #52 - I would say this is the second best WWF match of the 90s and a Top Five US match of the 90s #51 - RAGE IN THE CAGE JOSHI-STYLE!

Been so busy, almost there... #100 - What a lovely number 100. The height of Heel Eddie. Late 97 was a great time for US heels. Action-packed you forget how short this is because they really make every single second count. A worthy top 100 match. #99 - '97 US keeps on rolling with the hits. Bret/Taker is great. Def need a rewatch of this remember it being awesome. #98 - Ken Shamrock kicking it in Japan shoot-style against Sano. Shammy should have been huge in the US. #97 - M-Pro, Baby #96 - Greatest Benoit match ever? Either this or the one with Austin or one with Michaels? All very close. Is this the greatest Eddie match ever? I'd actually put Eddie/Rey from Havoc over this and probably Eddie/Brock. These are good questions. #95 - Santo & Casas on the same team?!?!?! #94 - This is going to sound weird I don't think I have ever really gotten this match. Always seemed great but not a classic. Love the MX, but thought their match with RnRs was better from that year. SWITCH! #93 - M-Pro with Inoki #92 - Joshi, but no fun names #91 - More Joshi without fun names #90 - RINGS! #89 - KONNAN! In a top 100 match of the 90s will wonders ever cease? #88 - Saw this recently liked it, didn't see the big deal. Standard great AJPW tag, but an upper echelon one for me. #87 - Joshi without the fun names is bumming me out, man #86 - RINGS! I feel like I don't watch enough wrestling #85 - Been ages since I have seen the classic '92 six man #84 - Already called Charles out on this rating for WM X Ladder match. Thought the rematch is superior. Great first match does not kick it into overdrive. Very influential! #83 - Lame Joshi card name...Joshi letting me down #82 - No Rope Barbed Wire Exploding Ring Time Bomb Death match thank you FMW for not letting me down #81 - The pinnacle of Vince McMahon's vision of pro wrestling. Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior. An incredible narrative and the post-match is the most moving piece in pro wrestling history. Great ranking! #80 - Joshi, pick it up! #79 - Doc in 94, his match with Kawada. Classic! #78 & # 77 - The exact same match twice? #76 - Dragon vs Otani I know I have seen this, I know I love this, I may even have written a review, but I can only remember snippets. Need to rectify that!

Chris Benoit vs William Regal - WWE No Mercy 2006 If it was anyone else, I would say this was a borderline disturbing match, but given what Benoit due in less than a year it crossed the line for me. This was very violent and JBL was having a damn orgasm over it. I love stiffness, but just seemed excessive at times. This match is a combination of the two previous Velocity matches. Benoit is back after a six month sabbatical and this is his return match. They are amazing at chain wrestling. Regal into the body scissors was a fun spot. Benoit lights up Regal with some wicked chops and those cracks wake up the crowd. That first fucking headbutt. Oh my fucking God! Benoit really rammed his head. Regal is busted wide open. Benoit's mouth is bleeding. Holy shit! Diving headbutt on the cut. Goddamnit! They move way too quickly into false German spot to set up apron DDT. It is weird that spot comes from the second Velocity match and the headbutts come from the first Velocity match. I think DDT on apron is a great transition, but they moved too quickly. This match also lacked that great Benoit selling of the first Velocity match. Regal was not nearly as good as in the this heat segment as the first Velocity match. Benoit's chop to the head as a hope spot is great. Regal's verbal selling is awesome. JBL is having a helluva time. Benoit's struggle to get the Dragon Suplex was great and quick finish with the Crossface leads to the sick visual of Regal bleeding from the head and Benoit bleeding from the mouth. Intense yes, but I thought the violence was gratuitous at times. Unlike the first Velocity match which felt like it was building to something and paid off well with Benoit overcoming the Regal onslaught to win. Here they pieced together their two Velocity matches ramped up the violence and Benoit's selling was not as good. I cant say part of me didn't enjoy this because there was great pro wrestling in here. Anything this intense is going to be gripping to watch, but I think the first Velocity match from 2005 is the classic from these two not this one. ***1/4

Chris Benoit vs William Regal - WWE Velocity 5/13/06 The Kings of Velocity! I love how these two can make chain wrestling so meaningful, not through just struggle but where it leads also. Benoit almost wrangles the Crossface, but Regal escapes, but in his haste gets nailed with an enziguiri. Benoit gets greedy looking for a German off the apron when he gave chase and takes a nasty DDT on the apron. Um guys it is Velocity, you don't have to go this hard, but if you insist. Creepy Benoit moment when Regal kicks his head up against the post and Benoit does glassy eyed sell. Regal is in control and is great with the nasty stretches. Benoit is great at peppering in hope spots like the chop to the head or the Sharpshooter and Regal is great at cut offs like the palm strikes to the head to avoid the Sharpshooter. Great struggle over suplexes down the line. Benoit counters the Butterfly Suplex and pounces with a Crossface. Just a great, short, heated TV match. ***1/2

Eddie Guerrero vs Kurt Angle - WWE Smackdown 4/14/05 I feel like I saw this at the time it was aired as I was a pretty big Smackdown fan at the time. Eddie is the babyface, but the slow burn is in effect. Angle is the heel coming off HBk program. Fantastically laid out match for the first 3/4s and Eddie's babyface charisma was in overdrive. I know the Rey stuff produced some legendary matches, but God Eddie was such a good babyface. Excellent shine with Eddie frustrating Angle with the basics. Angle is forced to powder just cant get anything going. Eddie parlays that into the Three Amigos and wants the Frogsplash but rolls through when Angle heads for the outside. Awesome climax to that segment. Angle is wary of the Frogsplash. Eddie is looking to win. Simple but effective. Back from commercial, Angle is racking up European Uppercuts. Eddie escapes a waistlock, Angle grabs the trunk, Where you think you are going, NOWHERE! Eddie escapes the Angle Slam. Excellent. Both men trying to win, but each has the other finish scouted. Fun Eddie comedy bit as the hope spot. Angle regains control with a German. He goes for a Super Angle slam, but Eddie knocks him off. Eddie is on the top rope so why not try the Frog Splash, but eats knees, Angle gets two as we roll into commercial. Again perfect timing. Eddie would win if he hits that has to go for it, but it is high risk. Some of Angle's restholds are boring, but only negative thus far. Eddie counters Angle Slam for a 3rd time (kudos to Cole for noticing) this time with a DDT. This match has all been about finishes and winning. Love it. Match goes off rails a little here. Angle gets up way too quick off that DDT. Strike exchange, ewwww. Three Amigos and on third vertical suplex, Angle slips out hits Angle Slam and kick out. WHAT!?!?! You take two Vertical Suplexes and now you are able to execute your finish. Poor psychology. On top of that , whole match was built to who could hit Frogsplash or Angle Slam first and we get a kick out. Bad! Eddie gets an armdrag out of another Angle Slam as the straps are down whats the point. He hits more vertical suplexes cmon gonna be another way. On third attempt, hits Frogsplash, but that is kicked out. What?!?!?! Whole match has been built around this and now you are just kicking out. Cheap pops at the expense of the ultimate finish. Angle does have the Angle lock that of course gets countered into a ref bump. I do commend them on the finish. Rey chases Angle off from using the chair. Angle then shoves Rey into Eddie with the chair to add fuel to that fire while getting cheap pin. First 3/4s is awesome, highly effective finish, but I thought that finish run was focused more on getting cheap pops than executing on the established story. That brings it down, but still a very entertaining match, ***3/4

Chris Benoit vs William Regal - Velocity 7/16/05 Details, details, details. Two of the best ever at paying attention to the details, just the way Benoit will step inside Regal's stance to block or how Regal grabs his own leg to block a full nelson, it is all about the details. Great escalation in this. Hard fought struggle early ends up with Regal getting worse for wear in a headbutt battle as he gets busted this open. You are on Velocity guys you don't have to go hard, but if you insist. Love Benoit selling the effect of his own nasty headbutt. He struggled to get a Dragon Suplex, but hits it. Josh Matthews is such a smarky announcer, don't like it. Like how Benoit still needs to consolidate the advantage because he is in just as rough shape as Regal. Chops the cut on Regal's forehead nasty. Didn't love the transition, Benoit hit a suplex, but Regal got up first and hit a knee. Loved the Regal heat segment. It was all nasty holds, which make sense because he is bleeding and messed up so he needs to recover but dish out pain so nasty holds make sense. What makes this better is how Benoit struggles against these holds (Regal Stretch, Crossface Chickenwing, Dragon Sleeper/Surfboard). So both men were active. Didn't like Sharpshooter as hope spot as Regal took control back too easily. Loved the struggle over the Butterfly Suplex, really well-done (loved the Benoit backdrop as a hope spot before the butterfly suplex that only scored after knees in the clinch). Taking an extra minute or two to hit a highspot really adds to the highspot. Look at all those tenacious covers by regal. Everything is about the win. Nice standing dropkick by Regal. Benoit is such an underrated seller. Loved the WCW TOMBSTONE REVERSAL SPOT!!! Marking out! Benoit applies the Crossface while Regal is on the ground needs to punch Regal in head and then an immediate tap out. Everything in that match was earned and urgent. Could have tightened up some of those transitions. The finish was logically built and great Tombstone reversal. Awesome match. ****1/4

I just bought tickets for Evolve 75! Anybody else going?

#125 - Shawn vs Razor II, awesome match. I have this as a Top Five WWF match of the decade. Finish is only thing holding it back. That's the problem in a lot of Shawn matches #124 - I need to rewatch this. I thought this was outstanding dripping with all the emotion of Flair as a babyface in Charlotte recapturing the magic of 1983 one more time against the Mastadon, Vader. But some people don't like it. Hmmmmph. #123 - Misawa/Kobashi pose a great question "What if Misawa had no elbow to make a comeback?" Unfortunately they don't answer it as it is business as usual down the stretch. A classic, but could have been so much more. #122 - I known I have seen Liger vs Benoit but it was pre-2007, need to rewatch #121 - M-Pro seems lke fun #120 - Loved this match. Rewatched it and it lost some luster. The finish is still one of the best finishes of all time, but I thought the match lacked struggle overall. #119 - LOVE THIS MATCH! I am like crazy super high on Doc/Misawa. I think this would make my top ten 90s AJPW matches if not my top 5. Misawa trying to contain the explosiveness of peak Doc is so dramatic and is a losing proposition. #118 - An AJPW six man I need to revisit #117 - Watched this recently definitely better than Kawada's first title victory. Kawada wrestles the majority of the match with a broken freakin arm after a freak accident off a routine Tiger Driver of all things. GANSO BOMB is still fucking crazy #116 - Kong & Bison vs Bull & Grizzly. I don't know Joshi, but I think that's all you need to know. This is like Creature from the Black Lagoon &The Mummy taking on Dracula & Frankenstein. #115 - THUNDERCATS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! #114 - Ishikawa vs Ikeda cant go wrong #113 - I wish Bischoff brought the RINGS guys to WCW. Dusty Rhodes calling this action I would have been a riot. Everything would be an "uncler". Human pretzel making. The first RINGS match I have ever seen and I want to see more! That figure-4 Han applies in the beginning is amazing, loved the counter to the rear naked choke and then Han gets Koshaka to tap in a pretzel of his own making. #112 - BatBat BayBay #111 - Carnival '95 is tremendous watch it #110 - So there is a good Hakushi match. I will need to check this out #109 - NJPW juniors prove they can still deliver classics late in the decade #108 - AJPW 1996 tag team action was so good. Need to revisit #107 - Han in 1992 is that beginning of his Reign of Terror? #106 - So close, yet so far! This would make my Top 100 greatest matches of all time and damn if it is not my favorite. Chicken soup for the Wrestling Fan's Soul. #105 - I saw this once. I don't remember much, should give it another chance #104 - I stopped my FMW exploration, need to give it another shot. #103 - Ooooooo I may be eating my words about Gannosuke & Tanaka as best use of heel ref because Vince McMahon in Austin/Dude Love is great. I have been watching all the RAWs and May was really the peak of Austin/McMahon. This might be the match that finally gets me to sit down and make a list because I don't think I would have it this high, but maybe I would. #102 - Atlantis vs Blue Panther in 91 didn't they just wrestle? Crazy. #101 - I was going to blow this match off, but now that you ranked it number 101 I gotta watch it!

#150 - One of the big finds of the Yearbook projects. Need to check out this Waltman match #149 - Once I get through the big AAA stuff, Im coming for you, El Dandy #148 - Mr. Gannosuke is awesome. He was great in one Hayabusa match, but Hayabusa was so-so. This is about a year after the one I saw, I'll check it out. #147- Volk Han gives us a badass match for a Christmas present against Mitsuya Nagai #146 - Ultimo Dragon is one of the rare wrestlers to have a Top 500 match in US, Japan and Mexico in the 90s #145 - It is the last hurrah in the RWTL for Jumbo as he and Taue take on Misawa and Kawada #144 - Hmmmmm maybe I should check out Santo before Dandy #143 - Great draw. I agree the '95 draw is a smidge better #142 - Lots of Luchadors. Hey Satanico in 1999! #141 - The greatest heavyweight vs junior heavyweight match in not a David vs Goliath sense, but in a real technical sense of the challenges Liger has to face against the much bigger Hashimoto. Love this match! #140 - Two luchadors I have never heard of. Need to educate myself #139 - Misawa/Kawada is known for 6/3/94, but there is a lot more meat to the rivalry. Kawada is laser focused on the injured eye and this a compelling action packed match. Tough to say, but I think this would be higher for me. #138 - Nice placement for Rumble '92. This is the only Rumble I have watched multiple times. A testament to Ric Flair's greatness and just how many wrestler's careers he has touched because with each entry, you are like oh shit that used to be Flair tag partner in Mid-Atlantic or Oh shit they sold out Dallas-Fort Worth area. Just a really cool match #137 - The only Misawa/Kobashi vs Holy Demon Army match I have not watched 10/15/95 #136 - Tamura's 98 and 99 I need to see #135 - Hey Octagon had a great match. Everybody seems to shit on him. Why? #134 - I saw this last week, but have not written a review. Probably the greatest use of a heel ref ever. Mr Gannosuke and Masato Tanaka tore it down in a really fun match #133 - WOAH! HOLY LOWBALL! Enforcers vs Steamboat/Dustin. What happened here? I would call this the perfect Southern tag. #132 - Oh Hell Yeah!!! DDP killed it in 1998 and 1999. People don't talk enough about it. This match with Sting was the perfect Clash of the Titans. Something I am very high. Happy with such a high ranking. # 131 - OH WHATTA DREAM RUSHHHHHHHHHHH!!! #130 - I found this online, should be able to get to it sometime this week #129 - MIDGET MADNESS! #128 - An all time great firework, summer blockbuster spotfest. I don't think I would go quite this high. Lacked that narrative and selling #127 - I honestly think the Sting/Vader trilogy would make my Top 100 of all time. #126 - Santo, Casas and Dandy!

I am confused in the run up to this Bart Gunn was working angles with Vader and Godfather. They seemed to be adapting to the idea Bart was going to win this tournament. The Bart/Godfather shoot fight was actually pretty good and Bart totally KO'd him. This match was fun to see Bradshaw humbled by Bart. Why did they not capitalize on Bart's victory? I mean even if it was not the person they wanted. He still had some momentum because at least he was KO'ing people so it was cooler than the other contests. I checked out his Cagematch and he was off to All Japan soon after. Weird.

Kane vs Mankind - WWF RAW 8/24/98 Hell In A Cell Match It has been a long, twisting, convoluted road to get here, but I will say destination was a good one so even if the journey could have been better handled it was worth it. Basically, Kane and Undertaker are aligned; Austin is fucked because now the Brothers of Destruction are together; Vince is happy to have these two monsters to finally vanquish Texas Rattlesnake. Mankind feels like he is twisting in the wind and completely betrayed. This is the catalyst for the super likeable Mankind character that trusts Vince and only Vince only to finally be betrayed by him at Survivor Series and finally launches Mankind into the feel good story of the Attitude Era. The match is actually really friggin good. Maybe this is the best singles Kane match ever??? It is a short list. Mankind is a man possessed and is pissed at being spiked Tombstone at the top of the show and being betrayed. He wants to start on top and has to deck some officials. He slams the cage door on Kane's face in a violent spot. He tries to get a chair up top but it keeps being rejected almost hits King. They do a smaller bump from the middle of the Cell with Taker chucking him off through a table. Damn! Kane has an excellent heat segment. Just really kicks Mankind's ass. I love the crazy SUICIDE DIVE OVER THE TOP BY KANE!!! Never seen that before. Totally wiped out Mankind. Some really strong hope spots from Mankind with chair, tacks and Claw and piledriver. Kane that really beats the shit out of Mankind with chairs, chokeslams and Tombstones. Now Austin comes from under the ring. The hook of the show is Austin promised to take out one of the Brothers of Destruction before the end of the show. He opens up a Can of Whoop Ass on Kane while Undertaker is forced to watch due to being locked out. So he does the reasonable thing and climbs the structure. He does manage to break through the ceiling OW! But Vince raises the Cell which is explained by him not wanting to hurt his Summerslam Main Event. Austin destroys Kane with Stunners and chair shots. After the commercial, Kane is bleeding at the hairline and Undertaker swears revenge before the night is over. Excellent segment. Best since about June. July and August has been overly convoluted and not much advancement and blurred motivations. This cemented the realignment and was great. I am excited going into Summerslam 1998. Kane and Mankind kicked ass just a violent hateful match between these and they are the TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! ***1/2

We roll on as DOA vs Farooq & Scorpio is on my screen. This is not making the Top 500 of the 90s #175 - Way overrated. Fun spotfest that Rey Rey, Psicosis, Dragon on the US Radar, but I did not think this was that super great. #174 - Aja Kong sounds like something Id like. #172 - NJPW vs M-Pro?!?!?! #172 - Surprisingly I don't think I have seen this #171 - Flair vs Bret 1 hour in Boston...how have I not seen this!!! #170 - Need to see SMW! #169 - You could argue this is the most important match ever. Misawa vs Jumbo. The match that started it all! #168 - Han/Tamura, definitely need to see this #167 - Atlantis vs Blue Panther sounds classic #166 - Was holding out for Hash/Tenryu to make Top 100, but 90s are just that deep #165 - Don't know who El Mariachi is #164 - Fujita vs Frye has to be the most overachieving match of the 90s based on paper expectations #163 - I have seen this Han/Tamura I, but didn't write up a review great match. #162 - Liked this (Misawa/Kobashi, 10/97) didn't love it. Thought it was lacking a strong narrative $161 - Boooooooo Joshi without a call Card Name #160 - Maeda in a great match as late as 1998 surprise me #159 - Have heard better Joshi card names. They are slipping #158 - Oooooooo love me some Minoru Tanaka and Taka Michino-clue (best Lawler 98 joke ever) in BatBat sounds interesting #157 - Rey Rey vs Juvy down in Mexico, def will be some of the first Lucha I check out. #156 - Good place probably me to start to see if Kanemoto is great #155 - More M-Pro. Kaientai is about to take on Val Venis is a gauntlet match. Wonder where that will land on the Top 500 countdown. #154 - Women I don't recognize #153 - Kobashi & Kikuchi vs Fuchi & Rat Boy, need to see this #152 - This is a work? #151 - Emilio Charles Jr is someone I have never watched, but I want to.

Top 200, BAYBAY!!! #200 - This sounds like the best ECW match ever! I want to see the angle that sets up Lawler/Dreamer #199 - One of two Volk Han matches I have seen. Great shoot-style selling from Volk Han. I will never forget that double wristlock RIP on Yamamoto by Han. Bart Gunn just KNOCKED Godfather THE FUCK OUT with some wicked shoot punches! Bart Gunn, greatest shoot-stylist ever? #198 - Never seen this. Definitely one of the first Lucha matches I would watch. #197 - Way overrated. Good, not even great. I don't see whats special about this. #196 - YES! Funk vs Sabu rules! Greatest ECW match ever, totally agree! #195 - Cool pick! Super underrated. Really liked this when I watched this. Havent seen it in a while. Austin/Bret, Revenge of Taker #194 - Bull in a chain match sounds good to me #193 - Was looking for this, cant find it #192 - Watching Gangrel's debut on RAW and damn that entrance is still cool as fuck. Toyota vs Kong sounds like a damn good match up to me. #191 - LOVE this match! My favorite of the Sting/Vader series. I would have this in my Top 100 Greatest matches of all time! Perfect layout and pacing #190 - Hyper Visual Fighting Tournament. Joshi promoters should name everything. I want to marry a Joshi wrestler just so she can name my child. Asuka, will you marry me? #189 - Midget mania!!! #188 - Never seen this AJPW six man that include my boy, Ogawa. Grandmaster Sexay in zebra print like Rat Boy just did the job to Gangrel. #187 - Love Mr. Gannosuke, will need to see this #186 - Like their WWF matches, I bet the matches in their home promotion would be even better. #185 - A great Gary Albright match? Takada is a miracle worker #184 - Ishikawa vs Greco was great in 2008 I would expect nothing less in 1998. #183 - Excellent crowd heat for Canadian Stampede. Don't know I would have this quite this high, but a great spectacle and feel good for the Hart Family. #182 - Fucking love this match. Kobashi's 1998 was amazing!!! Kobashi vs Taue crushed it this night. Not discussed enough. #181 - Johnny Ace is killing it #180 - Extreme J Night baby #179 - I have never seen a Koshinaka match. Don't even know what he looks like. #178 - Santo! #177 - JOHNNY ACE! He is like the Double J of this set #176- Never heard of these women.

Still working my way through this #225 - I have seen this a couple times. Thought it was great, not a classic. Just watched their horribly boring 2 out of three falls match from Fully Loaded. Working my way through 1998 RAWs, currently watching the one right before Summerslam 1998 so I am about to rewatch this. #224 - 1996, Doc's last great year. Taue sounds like a great opponent for him. #223 - Murakami is fucking great. I need to watch more Murakami. #222 - Tenryu vs Takada feud needs to become a top priority for me. #221 - I don't like Jazz, but a Jazz & Soul Street Fight could be good. #220 - I need to get over my Johnny Ace-phobia #219 - Has Ikeda taken Double J's place #218 - M-Pro, I should watch their stuff #217 - This is a match, Charles & I have always disagreed on. I think it is a fun offensive exhibition for Ultimo Dragon, but doesn't feel like a match. #216 - Joshi is the best at naming things #215 - Awesome, heat-seeking performance by HBK. Nice to see this, this high! Shawn was a heel's heel around this time. #214 - Great vet vs rookie match, Akiyama had it from the get-go #213 - See #216, Kawaski Crimson Conflict, so good #212 - Hash vs Choshu sounds like a perfect 80s vs 90s match. Two rockstar badasses #211 - Ishikawa vs Ikeda was awesome in 2005, would love to see them in the 90s. #210 -See #214 & 216, The First & Last Dream #209 - One of those great Baba tag league matches #208 - Ishikawa & Ikeda on the same team!?!?!??! #207 - One of those really unique All Japan matches that feels more 80s. Kawada and Taue kill each other in a bloody 80s style brawl. #206 - Whats the story that set up this match? NJPW 1990 Ten Man Tag #205 - Santo & Casas on the same team!??!?! #204 - Just saw this and this is great. Akiyama targets the knee and Kobashi has to over come. I thought they did a great job transitioning from Akiyama's heat into a finish run and gradually leveling the playing field. Good use of draw to elevate Akiyama #203 - Casas and Santo on opposite sides that makes sense #202 Don't recognize these women #201 - Chono's heel run is something I need to watch

Charles is still ducking me! I might have to challenge him to a Dress Up Wild Fight Texas Bullrope match if he keeps this up! #250 - Toyota is good #249 - I really need to see Tenryu against the Holy Trinity (Hogan, Savage, and Flair) #248 - Awesome match. I like it a slight bit better than the 99 Final so I agree with is. #247 - I feel like I am the only one left who still prefers the Spring Stampede match, BUT this is an excellent brawl. #246 - I know a Top 500 is a gargantuan undertaking but I feel like I would have really tried to get a Hash/Tenryu match in my Top 100. Still one left to go! Fingers crossed! #245 - Seen quite a few of the 91 G-1 Climax matches have not seen this one. #244 - I gave this match ***** when I just saw it. Push it to the moon. Definitely better than Bret vs Perfect #243 - I agree this is better than SSlam '91 and it is a top 500, just weird seeing it above a Misawa/Akiyama vs Holy Demon Army match I love #242 - UWFi vs NJPW baby! Need to see this. #241 - Have not watched this in forever. I wonder if I watched all the Misawa/Akiyama vs Holy Demon Army that I would downgrade 11/28/97, but damn if I did not love that match. The one ranked here is 5/23/96 #240 - Bull vs Devil sounds good to me #239 - There's Santo! He is like the Double J of the 200s #238 - Fucking love this tag match. Mutoh/Chono vs Hase/Sasaki kill it. God if this is 238 really shows how deep the 90s are! #237 - WAR vs UWFi need to see it #236 - Regal vs Larry Z ruled! #235 - Need to see more 90s BatBat, really enjoyed the 2008 revival #234 - Bret vs Funk has been on the hitlist for years #233 - Never seen this...on the road to the first Misawa babyface vs heel Kawada title defense #232 - Dress Up Wild Fight Texas Death Match, Officially the greatest gimmick match name in history. It will never ever be topped. ***** and I have never seen a joshi match #231 - Was looking for this, couldn't find it #230 - Aja Kong is a King Legend #229 - Tenryu vs Takada Oh Hell Yeah! #228 - Toyota is killing it #227 - Love All Japan to death, never seen a Johnny Ace match that needs to change #226 - Brian Hildebrand tag match is what tag wrestling should be. Cowardly, dastardly heels and badass babyfaces.

As I am always 50/50 on going to Mania, this thread will be useful. Styles/Cena is always alluring because I thought their June match was terrific and I think AJ is the best wrestler in the world and Cena can be awesome. But if they just do INDY WORKRATE~! CENA and throw out a bunch of MOVEZ~! I will be sad. I kinda hope they don't do it at Mania so then I don't get suckered into going and being disappointed. On the other hand, if they have the capability of having a genius match see the June match worked around Cena's loopy match, I would be really bummed about missing it.

Good I have time to catch up. I am still stunned by the Vader/Takada ranking. I want answers!

Watched it in full. Super fun! Way better than expected. Great Austin clothesline. Outlaws work a compelling heat segment on the freaking Undertaker!!! Will wonders ever cease? Short go home but a Stunner is always appetizing. *** Love this megastar main events!

Damnit didn't see the thread here