Superstar Sleeze

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Ken Patera - WWF, MSG 1/21/80 I have never seen this match before and it is really awesome classic Bob Backlund. Anybody who says Bob does not sell well or cant sell should watch this match because he does a masterful job in a bearhug and maybe the best selling of a bearhug of all time. Throughout the rest of the match, Backlund continues to sell the pain and exhaustion. Before that, it was classic Backlund showing up his opponent early. Patera tried to use strength (takedowns and shoulderblocks), but was thwarted by Backlund's wrestling acumen and speed. There were some really fun one-upping shots. Now Backlund could not get anything going because Patera kept continuing to retreat to the safety of ropes. Patera carries Backlund to a corner off a side headlock, damn, stealing Bob's spot, ballsy. Patera goes after arm and uses hair pulls to keep Backlund in the armbars. Patera uses an armstretcher. Backlund was pissed about all these hair pulls so he used a boot to the face to break the hold. Backlund is classic here because he is going to beat Patera at his own game by applying an armstretcher. The rowing of the armstretcher was super over with the MSG crowd. Patera does the classic roll up counter, but Backlund expertly wraps up a headscissors. Patera escapes, only to end up back in armstretcher. Patera stomps Backlund's head to get out. Patera bodyslam only gets one with Backlund military pressing him off and Patera suplex does not fare much better. Then Patera applies the bearhug. Wow, one of the best bearhugs sequences ever. Backlund struggles so hard to get out and finally pries the arms off and hiptoss. Only to have Patera drives elbows into the back and reapplies the bearhug. Backlund's selling was perfect in how he was limp and Patera gets his shoulders to the mat. Backlund fires up only to collapse again, really well done. I love the payoff being a quick inverted atomic drop. Patera's sell of this is fucking awesome. Backlund wins a suplex struggle, but eats knees on a splash attempt. Patera hits an axehandle off the middle rope. He is looking Full Nelson to put the staggered Backlund out. Backlund slipped out and hit a massive atomic drop for a super hot nearfall. It was the first fall to go to a two count with Patera only getting his foot on rope. Patera pushed Backlund into the ref, which would trigger a No Contest, but there was an awesome heated slugfest post-match. Backlund kicked some serious. Everyone talks about the Texas Death Match, but this is a classic in its own right. The awesome Backlund shine was so much fun, loved the armstretcher tit for tat, one of the best bearhug sequences of all time and a super hot finish run with both men totally staggered and exhausted makes for an awesome match. Patera was great at his bumping and selling to really get Backlund over. I consider this one of the all-time best Backlund performances. ****1/2

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig - AWA Showboat 3/7/86 In a lot of ways this is just the TV version of the St. Paul match so that the whole AWA territory understood the angle to setup Superclash II. There is a real feeling that both men want to prove to each other and the world who is the best. Again, Bockwinkel goes for the underhanded tactics early. On a rope break, he buries HUGE shoulderblocks into the midsection and then rams knees to send Hennig out of the ring. Hennig comes roaring back into the ring. Hennig slaps on an abdominal stretch and Rod Trongard very matter of factly calls it a Boston Crab twice, which made me laugh. Bock applies a figure-4 around the head and similar to the Inverted Indian Deathlock in the previous match, this was really well-executed. Hennig's selling was so good and perfect work to pry the legs open. He uses one knee to pin down one ankle and uses his arms to push off the other leg and delivers a thunderous knee to Bock's knee. Some really spirited work against the leg and Bock's selling is so damn good. Bockwinkel gouges the eyes to get out of a Indian Deathlock. Bock starts ramming Hennig's head into hard objects. They start teeing off each other. Hennig dropkick and piledriver for 2! Hennig is cooking with gas. BOCKWINKEL SLEEPER! They both topple over the top rope and this triggers a disqualification! Again, Hennig is ripshit and throws Bockwinkel back in and nails an AXE! Hennig is even more pissed by this bullshit ending going so far to kick Bockwinkel's ass. He was just as close as he was in the Christmas Day match, but again ripped off. I think this is clearly under the Christmas match. It is great and heated, but feels more like a Best Of. ****

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig - AWA Brawl in St. Paul 12/25/86 I really love the camerawork of the AWA. You can really hear the sound of flesh on flesh. It felt like you were actually in the ring with professional wrestlers. It was so gritty. It may be my favorite camerawork of all time. It really stood out to me during some of the badass tag team steel cage matches. I think this match is exemplary of the greatness of the AWA camerawork. You can hear Curt and Nick smack the shit out of each other. You can hear them yelling at each other and in pain. One of the hallmarks of the Bockwinkel vs. Henng feud is the progress of Hennig in these matches and his increasing disillusionment with the system. Hennig got the advantage early and the first cover. Bock freaks out and he takes a walk. He tries to psych Hennig out with a slap on a rope break. He wins a top wristlock battle with a hairpull. So we see Bock going to heel tactics a lot earlier. So he sees Hennig as a much bigger threat than he did at the 1 hour draw just a month ago. Hennig himself looks much more confident in the ring and really feels like a world championship contender. Bock and Hennig just start laying into each other way earlier. It was so fiery and really pumps you up. I really like Hennig's discombobulated selling, but always moving forward. Out of desperation, Bock grabs Hennig's ankle and wraps the knee around the post. There is some Holy Shit awesome leg selling. This is a serious candidate for Best Inverted Indian Deathlock ever. It was so gritty. You can hear the wrestlers barking at each other and smacking each other. The fans are awesome too. It feels so gritty. Hennig uses the hair to pull Bock closer enough to him to punch him in the head. Bock kicks Hennig's leg out from under him, which became a trademark Mr. Perfect spot and here it was expertly placed. Hennig fights from underneath with a big strikes and kneelifts. Hennig starts to work on the arm, but unfortunately we get a cut. Bock bounces Hennig's head off the table outside the ring in front of Verne Gagne and the crowd is red hot. Bock is in his element playing KIng of the Mountain. Hennig starts his comeback with a sunset flip then dropkick, BIG CHOPS and now the AXE!!! It should be mentioned that Billy Robinson is the referee. Bock runs over Robinson and they both fall to the outside. Hennig gets the visual fall. Bock wants the piledriver and Hennig back drops him over the top. Hennig nails a missile dropkick! Robinson calls for a DQ because of Bockwinkel's tumble over the top rope. Hennig audibly says Bullshit and a huge Bullshit chant from the Twin Cities crowd. Hennig was clearly established in Minnesota's home base as a strong challenger that was screwed. He really had the champion on the ropes and juts a couple unfortunate circumstances derailed him. So Hennig has improved in the ring, but also he got screwed planting the seeds of resentment. Bockwinkel was great at giving Hennig the match, but also building incredibly strong heat with the leg selling and the King of the Mountain. The cut hurts this a bit so I cant go above ****1/4.

You know what does not get enough play is how friggin good the camera work was in AWA. You really felt like you were in the ring. It was gritty and you could really hear those flesh on flesh sound effects. Really dig it.

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig - AWA, Showboat 11/21/86 What can I possibly say about not just possibly the greatest one hour draw of all time, but possibly the greatest match of all time? It was totally engrossing. I love professional wrestling, but my mind will always wander it is just natural for me. Now you take two men put them in a single bout that goes roughly 2-3x longer than the average match and I am going to lose focus at some point and have to rewind. I have watched this match multiple times and that has never ever happened to me. It is just as gripping to me now as when I bought the WWE Curt Hennig comp. I think there are two essential facets that help it. First and foremost, is their attention to detail. Everything is a struggle from the first lock up to Bockwinkel's agony in the figure-4 one hour later. Second was their unpredictability. I don't mind predictable. I think at some point in your wrestling fandom you enjoy the routine of the push off the side headlock, come off the ropes, shoulder tackle dropdown, block the hiptoss, reverse and the babyface hiptosses the heel. Now because this match went one hour, they did not need to follow the formula to a T to make sure that crowd was invested in Curt through the shine and then build sympathy and go to a hot finish run. They could switch up the rope running sequences in such a way that I did not know how they would end. At actually, furthermore and this does not get played up enough this is technically babyface vs babyface. Bockwinkel plays the de facto heel down the stretch, but this further allows the departure from face/heel dynamics to increase unpredictability. I think when you have two really top flight babyfaces both in terms of workrate and starpower that's when pro wrestling can really feel like a sporting contest and just jam packed with drama. The beauty of it being one hour is I never can remember everything about this. Going into this rewatch, I distinctly remember loving the short arm scissors work and blood down the stretch. That was it. So everytime, I watch it the unpredictability is still there. Nick Bockwinkel surprise dropkick and bodyslam for a quick pinfall at the start of what would be a one hour draw is one of the all-time great starts in pro wrestling history. I love a BANG BANG play like that at the beginning of a match to really jostle the crowd. Reminds me of Bock's crossbody right at the outset of his championship loss to Jumbo in AWA (another classic start). It tells the story of Bockwinkel leveraging his experience against the vim and vigor of young Curt Hennig. The beginning of the match is trying to tell the story that Hennig is Bock's equal on the mat that not only can he withstand the punishment, but keep up. They do some really interesting spots. Bock takes advantage of Curt's bumping abilities when Curt does a backroll into a standing position off a shouldertackle and Bock snaps him over with a side headlock takedown. It looks smooth as silk. Everything is earned in the early going. The headscissors work out of the headlock is just perfect pro wrestling. Hennig is just as detail-oriented as Bock. In an armabr, he places his knee on Bock's head both as a way to pin Bock down and use it as a fulcrum is awesome. Hennig keeps going back to the arm and ends up applying the short arm scissors one of my favorite holds. Bock is great at selling this slapping his hand from keeping going numb and working out of it. He works so hard just get into a toehold. He really has to pry it open. The way he is selling the arm even as he is working the toehold is masterful. When Hennig grabs the arm again, Bock lays in the first heavy blows of the match at 20 minutes deep. Up to this, it has just been riveting clean, technical matwork. Bock is starting to feel that pressure and is looking to change gears and see if he can shake up the young challenger. Hennig sticks with arm and now goes rolling short arm scissors. Bock pulls the tights and Hennig is forced to break the hold or be pinned. Bock now takes a walk to reset. Bock is going to try every trick in the book to rattle Curt. Hennig to his credit stays calm and collected. He is wrestling well beyond on his years. There is an intensity in his eyes and his motions that makes you feel this is the most important thing in the world to him right now. Bock executed a drop toe hold and rolls right up into a leg scissors crab. One of my all time favorite spots! He wrenches it and Hennig is writhing in pain. Hennig says two can play at this game and he yanks the hair to crossface Bock and then attack the arm. A perfect move by Hennig. Hennig kneedrops the arm, which further damages the knee. Bock pounces on this mistake. They roll to the apron and Bock starts burying knees into Hennig forcing him outside. It is no more Mr. Nice Guy. Bock pops him in the crowd with a nasty forearm. Hennig takes the Bret Bump into the Oriental Sleeper! They both tumble out with the ref. Hennig sends Bock flying with a chop in the ring (great bump by Bockwinkel), but there is no ref! Hennig again to his credit stays focused and wrenches the arm against the post while Bock is trying to work an angle into a figure-4. I don't have the time to describe how expertly they are transitioning between thus dueling limb psychology and also ramping up the heat from technical masterpiece to one now where you feel that is so much at stake and some shortcuts are being taken. At this point, Bockwinkel begins to use his favorite counteroffensive the quick jabs to the midsection to stun his opponent and set up pinning opportunities. Hennig trips up Bock up and wrenches his knee around the post. He is selling his own knee at the same time! Bockwinkel tries the bodyslamd, but his knee gives out. He is able to execute a piledriver, but it is too close to the ropes. He jumps back on Hennig's knee, but as he rears back Hennig applies a crossface and headbutts him off. Wow! Now we get the big Hennig bumrush of hot nearfalls that whips everyone into a frenzy, chop and piledriver! Bockwinkel looks totally overwhelmed by this hot rising star. Curt has wrestled a perfect match not giving way to any of Bockwinkel's tricks. He stayed with him on the mat. He found openings and now he his exploiting all the hard work by pouring on the offense. Just when it looks like Hennig may get the submission with the spinning toe hold, tragedy strikes. Bockwinkel shoves him off with his foot and Hennig is sent careening into post. He is dazed, confused and bloody. All that hard work looks like it went down the drain for one bad bump to the head. Bockwinkel assumes his traditional role as King of the Mountain using the high ground to attack the wound of Hennig. Bockwinkel is aggressively calling for time calls. Does it get more heelish than attacking an open wound of opponent and calling for time? Bock gets him back in the ring where his teeing off until THE AXE~! Hennig hits the AXE~! HUGE BUMP! Hennig is bleeding profusely, but he will not be denied. Multiple Axes now and it looks like Bock may have bladed hard to tell as Hennig is bleeding buckets. You really believe that Hennig may pull this out just because of how damn good Bockwinkel's performance is in this. Direct quote from my notes "Bock in the figure-4 is fucking the best thing in wrestling". He is in pain, he is struggling to get out and his facial expressions are so fucking pitch perfect. He knows time on his side, but GOD FUCKING DAMNIT THIS HURTS! The crowd is all standing and I am marking out all over again. There is a nice little carny touch at the end where the ring the bell prematurely of the official count to make the crowd believe Hennig had won, but it is ruled a draw. The story of the match is that Curt Hennig was ready. He could go toe to toe with Nick Bockwinkel. He pretty much took every single one of Bockwinkel's best shots and kept coming. If it was not for busting himself open, kayfabe-wise he had Bock on the ropes. He did make the ferocious ending in the figure-4, but he came up short of winning the title. You get a sense of pride and a sense of "not if, but when". The story of Curt Hennig's progression is he is getting better and he is able to get Bockwinkel on the ropes quicker and quicker into a match, but then these bullshit finish start to catch up to him. However, a draw is a respectable finish and Curt is a respectable man and he holds his head up high after this match. Nick Bockwinkel gives one of the most sublime performances in pro wrestling history. He gives so much of this match to Curt and he makes you believe Curt can win, but never once do you count him out and never once do you ever feel is any less of a mountain to climb. He has seen everything this wrestling world has to offer and he has a shortcut for anything. The Oriental Sleeper and the legwork were all moments that felt like gamechangers for Nick. The blow to Curt's head and the way Nick relished that and was calling for the time was proof of his expertise. 60 minutes is a long time and there was never a dull moment. *****

This was wicked awesome. Kris narrated the story well and guided the listener year by year, Dylan filled in with well-founded opinions and kHawk was straight cash money in one of the single greatest podcast appearances of all time. The perspective as a fan who grew up watching all this was completely invaluable. I just wrapped up the four major Bock/Hennig matches from 86/87 and one the major themes I was going to write about in my reviews was exactly what Dylan points out in how how much you see Hennig progress in each of these matches and how he gets closer and closer, but also becomes more and more disillusioned with the system. Ultimately, I am in love with the heel turn and I will explain that in that match review, but Bock/Hennig feud is an all-timer no doubt. Really great stuff!

I am going to do a WWF and JCP update soon, but I pretty much finished the AWA through 1987 so I figure I give an update since 1988/89 are being handled separately for all territories. I hope to get the Bock vs Hennig series reviews up by the end of Tuesday at the latest. What was watched: Bockwinkel vs Martel vs Jumbo (8), Best of Crusher Blackwell (7), Best of High Flyers (5), Rockers vs Rose & Somers (7, includes Adonis & Orton Bonus Match), Best of Nick Bockwinkel (4 matches), Best of Bock vs Hennig vs Hansen (7 matches) and AWA Classics (6 matches) for a total of 42 matches. What is left to watch: Jerry Lawler vs Curt Hennig (7/16/88), Jerry Lawler vs Kerry Von Erich (12/13/88), Nick Bockwinkel vs Larry Zbyszko (7/11/87) Is there anything I missed? 1. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig - Showboat 11/21/86 ***** 2. Blood in the Sand ***** 3. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel- Winnipeg 9/20/84 ****3/4 4. Brawl in St. Paul Steel Cage Match ****3/4 5. The Sheiks (Sheik Adnan & Crusher Blackwell) vs Da Crusher & Greg Gagne - AWA 3/25/84 Steel Cage Match ****3/4 6. Las Vegas Cage Match ****1/2 7. AWA World Tag Team Champions High Flyers vs Rick Martel & Tito Santana - AWA 8/29/82 - ****1/2 8. AWA World Tag Team Champions High Flyers vs Crusher Blackwell & Sheik Adnan - AWA Steel Cage Match 4/18/82 ****1/2 9. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Wahoo McDaniel - AWA ****1/2 10. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Jumbo Tsuruta - AWA 9/29/85 ****1/2 11. Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito vs Fabulous Ones - AWA 9/30/84 ****1/2 12. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig - AWA Superclash II 5/2/87 ****1/2 13. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs. Leon White ****1/4 14. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs. Curt Hennig - Brawl in St. Paul 12/25/86 ****1/4 15. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Curt Hennig - AWA TV 5/31/86 ****1/4 16. Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell vs Mad Vachon – AWA 5/22/83 Algerian Death Match ****1/4 17. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Nick Bockwinkel - AWA Wrestlerock '86 ****1/4 18. Crusher Blackwell & Sgt. Slaughter vs Sheik Adnan, Masked Superstar, King Tonga - AWA Starcage 4/21/85 Steel Cage Match ****1/4 19. High Flyers vs Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito - 3/7/85 ****1/4 20. Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan Al-Kaisse vs Mad Dog Vachon & Baron Von Raschke - AWA 3/13/83 ****1/4 21. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Mr. Saito - AWA Winnipeg 4/24/85 ****1/4 22. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Terry Gordy - 8/85 ****1/4 23. AWA World Tag Champions Midnight Rockers vs Adrian Adonis & Bob Orton - AWA January 1988 ****1/4 Notes: I missed Da Crusher, Mad Dog and Baron! They added so much color to the promotion. Stan Hansen had some badass matches. I really liked the Sarge series. I thought the Hennig & White matches are two of the best World Championship television style bouts. It definitely left me wanting more. I know a lot of people really dug that second Hennig studio bout and I thought it was a badass sprint, but it just did not have that next level for me. Stan Hansen in the AWA is definitely some great resume padding for The Lariat, but there was nothing hear that I thought would really boost Hansen's resume if you werent a Hansen fan. It was just Hansen being Hansen. I would say Bock vs Hennig definitely trumped Bock vs Martel as much as it pains me to say it as a huge Martel fan. Every match you can feel the intensity from the opening lockup. There was just such great conviction in every one of their movements and the way you could hear the sound of flesh on flesh was great. The psychology was always top notch and you could really feel Hennig grow with every match. Bock looking that good that late in his career is amazing. I will say their one hour draw is a contender in my mind for not just best match of the 80s, but the best match of all time. It was so, so, so awesome watching that one again.

Jushin Liger vs Great Sasuke - Super J Cup Semi-Finals 4/16/94 I believe this is the first ever Jushin Liger and Japanese Junior match I ever watched. So it holds quite a bit of nostalgia value in addition to the offensive clinic and great story they tell. It is Jushin Liger, the Ace Junior against the hottest commodity on the "minor league" circuit. I think the best way to describe this match is a sports analogy. I went to the University of Michigan and my first year was the fall of 2007. That year we were ranked #5 in the preseason polls and a contender for the National Championship. As with most college football teams, the first game is schedule against a cupcake opponent as a way to work out any kinks before the bigger games later on the season. The "cupcake" team that year was multiple time Division I-AA champion Appalachian State Mountaineers. I remember the first week of school everyone was excited for their first game in the Big House and the actual outcome of the game was a distant second. Michigan much like Jushin Liger great overly estimated their talented "minor league" opponent and ended up in their humiliating loss. Now unlike Michigan, Liger was not humiliated and disgraced. Instead, Great Sasuke became a made man and insta-star. I have always loved that story this match tells. This also reminds me of Rey Rey/Malenko from GAB '96. There is no babyface shine for Great Sasuke and Liger just opens up a can of whoop ass. Sasuke is able to actually get a Liger move on Liger with the inverted Indian Deathlock into a headlock then double wristlock. He rolls through this double wristlock and tries to go for cross armbreaker. Liger is able to scissor the leg from this position as a counter. Liger chains beautifully into an upside down surfboard. From there Liger gives an absolute shit-kicking: Kappo Kick, Palm Strike and some of the best arm work ever (Brock should watch Liger to see how you work an effective double wristlock, CROSSFACE CHICKENWING!). The ref is trying to hold Liger back because Sasuke is knocked the fuck out. Liger is in fucking GO MODE and is just in total asskicker mode and is looking to make a statement. It is almost too easy for Liger and he gets cocky. He takes his time going to top and Sasuke nails a dropkick as Liger comes off the top. He powders and as Taka Michinoku is cheering on, Sasuke hits an Asai Moonsault. Sasuke was down, but not out. He needs to play some catch up ball so here come the dives. They struggle over a suplex on the apron and Sasuke rams Liger's head into the post. He then hits one of his beautiful swandives from the top rope to the floor. Sasuke now puts on his own offensive clinic: piledriver, Crucifix Powerbomb, Tombstone Piledriver. Sasuke goes for swandive, but Liger moves and he rolls through and Liger nails him with the PALM STRIKE~! WICKED LIGER BOMB!!! TOP ROPE FRANKENSTEINER! SUPLEX OUT OF THE RING! I still remember marking out for that shit way back when. Big dive by Liger from top rope to the floor! Liger is totally overconfident now and it only grows when Sasuke botches his springboard hurricanarana. Liger points and laughs and signals that he is going to finish him off. Sasuke nabs a quick hurricanarana to get the flash pin on the arrogant Liger. I agree with everyone that the infamous finish plays really well into the story of the match. It feeds into Liger's overconfidence that Sasuke is a just a flashy, indy wrestler with no business in the ring with him. Sasuke is able to prove he has a never say die attitude. Sasuke did enough in the mid-match to ensure his place in the sun was cemented with his HUGE dives and kickass offense. I think this may be the best spotfest in history because it tells a clear overarching story, but there is no real struggle or transition. I was bit disappointed by that on rewatch. Sasuke and Liger just ragdolled for each other. They were just rattling off their spots until the transition and the next guy would rattle off his. It was an incredible, breath-taking offensive clinic. Plus on the macro they do tell a great story. It is just the match is missing the micro details. I cant go higher than ****1/2.

Yeah, a deadhead going after another music genre and their fashion is real rich. The eyeblack under the eyes is a tribute to Nikki Sixx's eyeblack from the early Crue days, which comes from Peter Criss' eyeblack in KISS. If I was ever to be a wrestler, I would actually dress very similar to Ziggler so I really want to like him, but God does he wrestle exactly the opposite of the way I think someone should.

WCW US Champion Rick Rude vs Dustin Rhodes - WCW Worldwide 5/30/92 Really fun rookie underdog vs veteran champion match that made Dustin look like a million bucks, but kept Rude strong. These matches are invaluable because heels can get the wins they need and the babyfaces look strong just by contending. Dustin works a nice hammerlock on Rude who elbows out in the corner and Dustin explodes out of the corner with a clothesline and the crowd is rocking. Dustin hits Rude with a suplex and Rude is just the best at selling the back. Dustin goes to work on the back eventually settling into the chinlock. Dustin mocking Rude hip swivel was pretty funny as was Jesse's quip that Madusa should get up on the apron and show a little leg because a youngster like Dustin would lose it for a mature, sexy woman. Rude of course eventually is able to reverse and get the knees up. Rude works the balls with inverted atomic drop and then works his own chinlock. The crowd is really behind Dustin. Rude hits an ok clothesline, but Dustin does a great sell. Dustin is working hard, Rude is reeling and Rude hits a low blow that horribly times because the ref looks right at it. Rude comes crashing down off the top, but can only get two. Dustin goes flying over the top rope, but is right back up gets a sunset flip. Big clothesline for 2! Madusa is up and BULLDOG ON RUDE! No ref! The guy in the zubaz in the front row loses his shit! Dustin goes to confront the situation, but Rude blasts him with the belt and hits the Rude Awakening to win the match. They worked too fast at the end, but the crowd was super into it and felt like a dramatic, high stakes match. ***3/4

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Curt Hennig - AWA TV 5/31/86 They run a hot angle with Hansen/Blackwell to set up that money feud. Blackwell says he is still injured and Hansen calls him a coward then attacks him with the belt. Hennig saves with red hot energy, great punches and an awesome dropkick. Hansen bumps to the outside. Hennig keeps up pressure, but Hansen sends him into post. Hansen takes this opportunity to attack Blackwell's injured ankle with a chair. Hansen throws Hennig in the ring. They have a badass sprint where they just go balls to wall with each other. Hennig looks great fighting fire with fire with Hansen. The transitions are a bit haphazard, but everything is so quick it fits with their sprint mentality, the sense of urgency and the fifteen minute time limit. Hennig is aware of the time limit and that's why he is keeping pace with Hansen. Hennig's punches look great and very credible. Hennig fighting Hansen in the corner and boot to throat. He is really going all out. Hansen is getting his licks in, but this is all Hennig so far. Hennig takes the Bret Bump and he starts crowding Hennig with some nasty knee smashes. I love Hansen's offense. Hennig blocks turnbuckle shot and sends Hansen into the steel buckle. HENNIG BODYSLAMS HANSEN INTO THE RING! Splash only 2! Hansen dumps Hennig on some chairs outside the ring. Hansen looks to grab Hennig by hair and Hennig unloads with some huge rights and rakes boots on eyes. Nice right! Hansen headbutts low on Hennig and back suplex. Finally it looks like Hansen may have quelled Hennig's fire. Hansen is great at selling as he looks fatigued and he is moving his jaw around after all those punches. Hansen piledriver, but too close to the ropes. Hennig backdrops out of the piledriver. Monkey slip seems so out of place, but it is enjoyable. Hansen fighting from his back and trying to preserve his reign. Hennig commits the cardinal sin trying the same move twice as Hansen hooks ropes. Hansen misses elbow and small package by Hennig, but too close to ropes. Hansen is doing great selling for Hennig and making him look like a credible opponent. Hansen is really giving a lot of this to Hennig and Hennig is playing the tenacious white meat babyface well. HENNIG CROSSBODY 2! Weak finish to the draw. This was just getting good! High octane match. Great performance from Hansen a very selfless and giving performance. He feels like a huge mountain to climb because he was always fighting back, but he was almost never successful so it made Hennig feel like a huge star. Really great TV match from both men. ****1/4

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Curt Hennig - AWA TV 2/1/86 Finally, it is time for some Curt Hennig in the AWA. I have seen the big match, which I am saving as a Thanksgiving treat for myself, but never seen any of the Hansen matches. Hennig is one half of the AWA tag champs. The beard helps a lot to hide his babyface youth, which I noticed when I watched the AWA way back when. He is a strong white meat babyface in this. He definitely not the overbumping Mr. Perfect. He has fine offense, but he definitely makes his money selling. Hansen has not been successful bumrushing his opponents in America. It usually backfires and leads directly to the shine, which is a nice way to start the match off hot. Hennig works a similar strategy as Leon White with a very strong headlock. This is a headlock reminiscent of Butch Reed and I was impressed with how tightly Hennig had it on. Hansen is great struggling against the headlock. The announcers left us know Hennig is coming into this match with a bad back. I love the speed Hansen takes Hennig up in a bodyslam. It is like he had no opportunity to fight it. Hennig is able to get him over the second try with a sunset flip and he unloads some nice punches. The transition is Hansen dumping Hennig balls-first onto the top rope in a very nasty spot. Hansen works over the stomach well with slams, stomach claw and the Boston Crab (he won the championship with this move). Hennig's head gets caught up in the ropes and Scott Hall saves before Hansen can do any really damage. Hall is able to run Hansen off! I know that's basic psychology. I was just surprised Hall was big enough to do that. Larry Nelson is obnoxious post-match, Hennig sounds like a whiny chump and Hall is actually pretty good on the mic, but a little shouty. I thought he was the best of the three. Good TV match to set up matches down the road. ***

I think the AWA has an unfair advantage over these other territories because Prince is the menu music on all of them! Gotta love that Minneapolis Sound! Not going to let the elevator bring us down UH OH Let's Go Crazy!

I am actually pretty shocked at how mediocre, lackluster, and milquetoast this show was given how great RAW has been this past month. The best RAW of the year happened about 4 weeks ago and the past two weeks have featured good to great matches up an down the card. There was nothing on this card that would even come close to the quality on RAW recently. Xavier Woods' hair was the most memorable thing. Selfishly, I am going to TLC next month and I am wicked pumped my favorite wrestler, Sheamus will be headlining. My personal dream scenario is Sheamus vs Roman at TLC and Brock vs Sheamus at Rumble. That would be the two top dream Sleeze matches that have. I also understand Sheamus as a character sucks and has absolutely no heat. That is a pretty lame way to end the PPV. Still, I am happy Sheamus did not fail as he would be permanently fucked. Given the booking, there was no good way to have him cash in MITB. He did not have the heat Rollins had last year. I wish he ran through the roster this summer to set this up. I predict his booking will be shit, but that wont change the fact that his matches are going to rock!

Rick Martel vs Harley Race - AWA Wrestlerock '86 4/20/86 This felt like a modern day WWE RAW match. Just willy-nilly transitions, kinda tepid, but at the same time lots of stuff happening so it is fun eye candy, but there is no real meat to sink your teeth into. Martel has such nice armdrags and Harley really is able to whip himself over quickly. Martel uses the arm as a base. Harley hits a high knee that looks great and Harley starts dropping the knee. Martel gets a crossbody after a top wristlock test of strength back to armbar. Harley uses headbutts instead of breaking cleanly. Harley goes from using his knees to using headbutts. Oklahoma slam by Harley. Harley suplex, but no Martel counters into sleeper. Harley drives Martel into turnbuckle and then swinging neckbreaker. Martel presslams Harley off top. This feels like Cena/Owens with each taking turns hitting moves on the other. Slugfest in the middle of the ring, I really like Martel's punches. Race misses his falling headbutt. Martel backbreaker into his launching splash and ONLY TWO!!! They are even kicking out of finishes! Is it 2015? Harley piledriver. This match is a ll over the place. Harley falling headbutt. They each have kicked out of finishers. Martel misses reverse crossbody. They are building some heat on Martel, wahooooo. Martel here comes with some blows. Harley takes his big bump over the corner where he hooks the rope, which is always a good looking bump. Martel suplexes him back in, but misses elbow. Nobody can gain any momentum. It is two moves for one guy then two moves for the other guy. They knock heads and Harley takes a tremendous bump over the top rope. Harley comes back is right back on offense of course. Martel back drops out of piledriver. Martel is not even as energized as usual. That's sad. Martel picks him up for a bodyslam, but they both tumble over the top rope for the double countout finish. People who like Cena/Owens will love this, it is fun for what it was. ***1/2

Bob Backlund vs Greg "The Hammer" Valentine - MSG 4/23/84 A lot of people say this is the least of their series, I am the polar opposite, I think it is the best match of their series. I pretty much love all Backlund/Valentine matches and I do need to rewatch the draw so it definitively, but I really, really love this match. This is my third time watching it and it has not lost any of its luster. Where it succeeds where so many matches fail is the natural transitions between limb work through the match and the sustain selling in and out of segments by both men. The commentators are going on that Backlund may have to hang it up if he loses this one. I think Backlund had no place in Vince's WWF and that commentary shows it, but I wish he stayed wrestling elsewhere full time because he was so damn good. The early part of the match is fun with Backlund doing single leg pickups to show up The Hammer and they have some fun amateur exchanges. Backlund gets into a forearm exchange with Valentine, which is a bad idea. Backlund has a lingering arm injury from when he lost the belt to Sheiky Baby and Valentine focuses his attack on it. It is very compelling arm work and it is nice to see Backlund on the defensive. Backlund does his bridging spots, but Valentine stays on the arm. Backlund cant backslide because of the bad arm. Huge clubbing blows to the arm. Valentine misses a second rope leg drop. Meaning his leg is susceptible to work and Backlund jumps on it. It becomes a massive struggle to see if Valentine can re-establish arm control or if Backlund can gain a foothold in the match by working the leg. Backlund does a great job selling the arm as he ties Valentine up. He can do a crossface. but he is able to use a deathlock to at least by himself time and then he picks Valentine up and throws him down. Valentine escapes to outside. He trips Backlund up and wrenches Backlun'ds leg against post and then throws a chair at it. AWESOME! Valentine was desperate he grabbed whatever limb he could get and it also sets up for figure-4. The Hammer keeps selling his own leg as he works Backlund's leg. Backlund is fighting from his back to attack Valentine's injured leg. This is so awesome. Valentine tries figure-4 multiple times, does get Boston Crab on onre, but Backlund powers out because he is a stud. Valentine is frustrated that he tried the figure-4 three times and no success. BACKLUNDZIGUIRI!!!! Valentine is dazed and pissed. He recovers and ties Backlund up. He wants the damn figure-4. He misses a second rope elbow. Backlund's knee gives out on an atomic drop. FIGURE-4!!!! Valentine is finally going to one over his archrival. Valentine uses ropes for leverage and ref breaks it up. Backlund O'Connor Roll for the win. As is his MO, Valentine is a sore loser. He decks the ref and puts Bob in the figure-4. Awesome match! Incredibly compelling loved the selling, the work and the transitions from body part to body part. I thought the finish was a little anti-climatic. I guess they were not exactly ready to put Bob out to pasture yet. ****3/4

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger - NJPW 2/24/94 Notice on how Liger did not wear a top for this match to show off his muscles to make it more believable he could go toe to toe with Hashimoto. Respect size and everything matters more. This match is a perfect example of how by respecting size differentials match drama can be greatly enhanced. Early on Liger tries to do his routine moves like the surfboard and Ligerbomb, but cant because Hashimoto is just too big. On the flips side, Hashimoto can chuck Liger around like wicked snap belly to belly and his thrunderdous suplex slam. You really feel bad for Liger going up against this asskicker, but at the same time Liger is such a great wrestler you believe he has it in him. Hashimoto kicks his ass in the beginning. Liger realizes if he does not start fighting back he is going to get killed. So he unleashes a fury of palm strikes and a couple kappo kicks. He tries to speed up tempo, but eats a huge Hashimoto dropkick. Hashimoto destroys Liger's arm with wristlocks and then kicks the fucking hell out of it. My biggest complaint of the match is that Liger does not sell it long term, but still a great match. Liger uses speed and hits a basement dropkick. After those stinging kicks, I would be looking to fuck up his legs too. Liger proves he is not one to be manhandled and slaps the fuck out of Hashimoto in an inverted deathlock. Hashimoto is a great bully and I love how Liger is not backing down. It becomes an arm vs leg psychology. Liger wins out hits a missile dropkick on the knee and then applies figure-4. You see from Hashimoto's selling that it hurts, but does not hurt as much because Liger cant apply as much pressure. Then Liger just rattles off HUGE SPOT AFTER HUGE SPOT! OMG LIGERBOMB~! TOP ROPE BRAINBUSTER~! TOP ROPE FRANKENSTEINER~! GERMAN!!! That top rope brainbuster was scary. Hashimoto lets him have his fun before trying to kick a hole in his body. Those were fierce kicks. When Liger tries a palm strike, Hashimoto wipes him the fuck out with a leg sweep from hell. Kicks his fucking head off and then BRAINBUSTER~! Awesome David vs Goliath match where this time you knew Goliath was going to win and it is cool because it is rockstar badass Goliath, but David put up one helluva fight. ****1/2

Shinya Hashimoto vs Keiji Mutoh - NJPW G-1 Climax '95 I periodically search for this match because of the glowing reviews on here and finally saw it up. The opening ground-based work was very effective and told a logical story.The stretch run was very dramatic and led to an exhilarating climax. Overall, I did think the match was uneven and disjointed. Mutoh is someone who always runs hot and cold with me. I thought he gave a very cold performance. He was motivated and executing fine. His selling was just not there for me. He was not in pain nor was he fighting through pain. His register was weird and his fire ups did not feel organic. I thought Hashimoto was his usual rockstar self. They basically switched gears half way through the match so I will not belabor the opening work even though it was fantastic. I really liked how Hashimoto grabbed Mutoh's foot on a kick to the head and had him ready for the anklelock, but Mutoh got the ropes. So Hashimoto puts his hands up to draw Mutoh's attention away from the leg, but his eyes told the story that he wanted the leg, Mutoh read that situation was able to catch the kick and turn it into a dragon leg screw. Awesome! Hashimoto eventually powdered and on his return tries to kick Mutoh's arm off, but Mutoh smartly kept going back to the leg. I really liked the double limb psychology, but they dropped it. If you go JIP about halfway in this match you never know about the double limb psychology and on top of that the transition was just Hashimoto deciding I am just going to chop Mutoh really hard. I am not too pissed because Hasimoto is a great asskicker. The second half of the match is a great escalating bombfest. Hashimoto ramps up to the Brainbuster, but Mutoh gets a crossarmbreaker. Mutoh hits his series of moves to get to the moonsault, but Hashimoto moves, he lands on his feet, but Hash sweeps the leg. Now Hash really kicks some ass, nearly takes his head off with a kick, HUGE DDT that bsust him open. He wants the brainbuster, but Mutoh starts wriggling and they are both jarred. In a strange move, Hash goes for the top rope splash and misses. Then Mutoh misses the moonsault. It is tit for tat. They are both down. You can really feel the drama. Whoever hits the next move wins basically. They are both on their feet. Hash moves forward and Mutoh hits a snap, flash Frankensteiner! That made me pop! Lightning moonsault! Kick out. Races back up and another snap moonsault to win the G-1 Climax. Match layout was not perfect, I did not love Mutoh's selling and there was some laying around in holds. That run up to the finish was picture perfect. It is a flawed match, but still a very entertaining one. ****1/4

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Terry Gordy - AWA 1985 OUI OUI, RICKY MARTEL!!! Gary Michael Capetta is the announcer and Dick Whirly is the ref so I am guessing this is in Philly, which you definitely dont think of as an AWA town. This went to a draw just when it was getting good. I thought this was a great championship bout. They did some fun nearfalls at the start to establish that both men were looking for the win, get the fans invested and put over both men's athleticism. Martel worked a strong headlock base. He was really wrenching at times ala Bob Backlund, getting himself over in a WWF stronghold. In fact, this reminds me very much of a Backlund WWF championship defense with Martel taking a lot of this and being generally superior in wrestling, strength and agility with Gordy bumping and selling well. I loved the headscissors work. Gordy would get bits of offense in, but nothing sustained with Martel finding different ways to get back to the headlock. They went for tit for tat on crossbodies. Gordy mistimed his reverse one, which Bock covered for expertly on commentary stating if Gordy hit it that way it would have been lights out for Ricky Martel. Bock was very good on commentary as expected. Every exchange leads Martel back into headlock. Gordy finally counters definitively with a big backdrop driver! Gordy starts throwing Martel around at will and using the chinlock to recover and sap Martel's energy. I thought this was a very effective heat segment. Trongard informs us there is one minute left and Martel flips out of a suplex and begins his comeback. OUI OUI, IT'S RICKY MARTEL TIME~! He was highstepping his way to victory with his usual awesome comeback. Unfortunately the bell rings. Martel clears the ring of the Freebirds. The best Gordy singles match I have seen in a long time. Ultimately feels incomplete, but a really cool watch. I wish we got a rematch that went longer and felt more climatic. ****1/4

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Nick Bockwinkel - AWA Wrestlerock '86 4/20/86 Nick Bockwinkel with the bullwhip is just the most awesome thing ever. He is pretty over at the Metrodome. Hansen bowls over Larry Nelson and kicks when he is down. New most awesome thing ever! I love Hansen charging around the ring during the ring introduction and Bock keeping him at bay with the bullwhip. Bockwinkel establishes early that he is not going to be bullied by Hansen. His fight fire with fire strategy is badass. Neither man gives an inch to the other and they just wail on each other the whole time. Hansen goes after the bullwhip at the outset, they tussle over it and Bock is able to start on top. Neither man really sells in this match, but it is ok because this match feels like a fight. Bock starts throwing really heavy blows at Hansen's body and arm almost in an attempt to force him to sell. Bock is a pretty snug wrestler, but he is punching Hansen pretty damn hard. Hansen would bully him, but Bock would always use some quickness or leverage to take him back down. He would keep him at bay in a hold and then unleashes some heavy blows onto the arm and body. There is one moment it feel like Bock loses his mind and just starts going to town on Hansen's arm. Hansen does not feel human. He is this crazed monster always moving forward. Bock is trying to use his superior wrestling to launch new offensives, but Hansen looks invulnerable. They are both yanking hair and clawing each other's face. BOCKWINKEL SLEEPER!!! This is Nick's best chance, but they both fall to the outside. It is during this match that realize how big Bockwinkel is. He is almost the size of Hansen. He throws Hansen around in a bodyslam that is pretty damn cool. Unfortunately this bumps the ref. He hits a crossbody and piledriver! But there is no ref! He actually looks like he may have phased the monster. By the time the ref gets up, Hansen dumps Bock over the top rope for the DQ. This was a great war, that felt closer to a shoot than work given how each guy would just randomly throw the other around and how they were clawing at each other. There were some times I did wish there was more selling and the transition did feel a little capricious. Overall, I think it added to the nature how they borderline uncooperative with each other. The finish was pretty damn lame. I really dug this. ****1/4

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Magnum TA - AWA Superclash 9/28/85 The definitive Flair/Magnum match actually comes in the AWA as Flair goes on tour, but instead of facing the local hero he brings along the Carolina's hero. I am glad this exists because there is a really good TV match between the two, but due to the injury there was never a long house show match between the two that made the tape. As much as I like Flair (which is a lot) and I have thought about his character and working style a lot, I am not sure when the Flair formula match was developed, refined and applied. Around this time, Flair was working with Nikita Koloff, which leads me to believe that Flair was getting more accustomed to developing a layout that would entertain the crowd and allow him to treat his opponents as interchangeable parts. That being said, there are plenty of instances after this point where Flair has badass matches, I just think it comes more prevalent. I say all this because this is the Flair broomstick match. I think what Magnum brings to this match is great punches and good babyface charisma, but this is not much different from the Sting match. The biggest deviation is how well Flair works the arm so it is Flair himself that is causing the biggest departure. They do the standard Flair chain wrestling with Mags getting the best of him. Magnum hits a dropkick and press slams Flair. Flair begs off and gets some rabbit punches in to break up an armbar. He throws Magnum out and he storms back in pissed about the rabbit punches. He rifles Flair with punches to face. He goes for a dropkick, but he misses. Flair is at his offensive best here. He really kicked some ass: kneedrop, butterfly suplex and ab stretch. Flair misses second kneedrop, which actually sets up the Magnum figure-4. I really like that Flair cant win the subsequent suplex struggle because of knee. Flair gouges the eye and rams Mags shoulder first into the post. Some really nice Flair arm work in this segment that feels really different. Magnum uses a sleeper as a hope spot. Flair gets worried at this sign of life and Flair hits a kneecrusher and applies the figure-4. Magnum is able to reverse the pressure. Time for Flair to get his ass kicked. Flair flip and face smashed into post. Flair blades to add some drama. Flair goes into full frenzy mode, but cant get anything going. Magnum hit belly 2 belly, but the ref gets bumped and only counts for two. They do an O'Connor Roll reversal and Flair gets the trunks. It is a very entertaining and strong Flair-based match. Flair gave a really strong performance. This made Magnum just look there. Flair fans will love this. Flair detractors probably will not. Does feel routine. ****

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Leon White - AWA 3/13/86 The first time I actually watched this match was in my dorm freshman year on ESPN Classic and for some reason, two or three dudes were watching with me. I remember describing Stan Hansen as such a sourpuss and how to watch because he will fucking hit the shit out of Vader (Leon White is Vader before he was Vader, it is just easier for me to type "Vader"). Much like the lone douche screaming "boring" they were not interested until the middle of the match and man did they all get behind Vader by the end of it. It was a pretty cool moment. I do disagree with my friends on one thing is that the whole match was awesome from beginning to end. The whole bout is dripping with struggle. They lock up with such force. Vader takes most of the beginning with a nice side headlock. They do some fun "in and out" spots from headlock base like Vader cartwheeling over a Hansen drop down back into headlock. Hansen is always struggling in the headlock, nice crossface and dropping some nasty knees. They start laying into each other and Hansen really rears back and hits him hard forearm. Hansen takes him down with an armbar and then he starts manipulating fingers. Vader is hollering. Some really nice selling from Vader. Hansen destroys the hand, stomps on it, snapping fingers and smashing hand against hard objects. The fight on the outside was wicked. Vader punches Hansen in the throat and some great selling. They tease double countout. Vader has a really nice offensive stretch late with tackles and body splashes. He charges into the turnbuckle hard and then Hansen TAKES HIS HEAD OFF WITH A LARIAT!!! AWESOME FINISH! Great, great veteran champion versus young, upcoming rookie. Perfect layout with strong execution, lots of struggle, brutal and the finish was badass. Great, great TV! ****1/4

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Sgt Slaughter - AWA 3/9/86 Bunkhouse Match If only this went on for like 5-10 more minutes, they were kicking some major league ass. Definitely one of the best 5-6 minute sprint brawls of all time. This was a rip-roaring slobberknocker. Slaughter was kicking so much ass at the beginning. I loved Hansen having his chaps on for like half the match. Slaughter was throwing and raking Hansen's face into every hard object he could find. Hansen had to use an eye gouge to get a respite and they he pulled out tape block put them on his fists and let Sarge have it. Slaughter nearly punted his head off. I really like Slaughter loading his boot before stomping on Hansen's balls. Hansen tries to whip him with a belt, but Slaughter ends up choking him. I like the finish is Hansen going over the top rope when he going for the bullrope killshot after all the Slaughter Canons gone awry. Slaughter takes advantage to pull his boot off. Hansen bullrushes him and gets control of the boot, but misses. SLAUGHTER CANON! Sarge has the boot! Slaughter blasts him with the boot and wins via countout! Awesome brawl, just too short! ****

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Sgt Slaughter - AWA 2/23/86 Slaughter's hair was really Bozo-ing out, dude, needs to get that in check. Alright, here we go Stan the Man, this is more what I was expecting. A really nice brawl for the AWA World Championship in front of a packed house. Hansen and Slaughter fight on the floor. Slaughter gets the best of it. Hansen feeds and bumps for Slaughter well. In AWA at least, Hansen is controlling more on the mat than I remember from his work in Japan. Hansen bounces Slaughter's head off the turnbuckle. On second attempt Slaughter blocks and retaliates, but Hansen goes after leg. Hansen goes a really good job grounding the heated Slaughter with leg work then escalating and really kicking it at the leg and wrenching against the post. Slaughter does a Hulk Up and the Bozoing out really happens. Wind up! Big punch! Hansen is able to use his weight to mess up Sarge's knee. The collide heads. Slaughter follows up with backbreakers so much for his knee. Slaughter actually has a pretty fun offensive sequence leading up to the Cobra Clutch ramming Hansen into the turnbuckles, dropping elbows and knees on a prone Hansen on the apron. Hansen is selling well for Slaughter. Cobra Clutch and a pretty big pop from the crowd, which I think was chanting "We Want Blood" earlier. Hansen makes ropes but charges into corner and goes flying on outside. Slaughter gives him no quarter and beats him up outside. He throws him back in and signalling for the Canon. Again, Hansen ducks sending Slaughter careening to the outside. The brawl really gets heated on the floor. Hansen swings chair into the post. The ref calls for a double countout. Hansen bails before Slaughter can hit, but then he comes back for more and Slaughter obliges by kicking his ass. They tussle over the chair and Slaughter nails him. Really fun, entertaining brawl. ****

Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito vs The Fabulous Ones - AWA 9/30/84 So I am bitching & moaning in the Rock N Roll Express matches that they are too long, well guess what this was way too short. Wow! This was a humdinger of a tag team match. I was absolutely loving every minute of this and did not want it to end. These four were just being absolute dicks to each other. This felt very Japanese. Yes, it was double face in peril with the Fabs playing FIP, Fabs were double teaming and being pricks right with Bock & Saito. Plus there was constant nonstop run ins from the partners and just a general sense of competition and struggle. I really enjoyed it. Bock jumpstarts the match and sets the tone by dragging Keirn over to their corner and they immediately start double teaming and choking Keirn. It was just nonstop asshole tactics. You can hear Lane shout to the ref to restore some order. He had his hands full with these four. Lane bites his tongue for a bit. Bock & Saito are looking for the win early by applying the sleeper repeatedly. Keirn keeps fighting back, but has really been double teamed hard. He has to fight his way over to Lane. Lane kicks some serious ass. Lots of karate and dropkicks. A hot tag that does not end in 30 seconds!!! Thank The Lord! I think the face shine after a short heat segment is a really great idea. I think that's my major malfunction with the RnR matches is the heat segment right into another heat segment it becomes like 80% heat segment. The Fabs just throw everything back in Bock's face in glorious fashion. There is choking, double teaming, teeing off on him and just steeping on his face. Bock is such a champ at selling all this. When Bock makes the ropes, Lane yanks him by the hair and then he puts on the SLEEPER! They paid him back in every way. Saito chop Lane on the sleeper so Keirn yanks Bock back over to their corner. Saito blasts Lane. Bock is able to crawl to get a cover for 2. He then drives his thumb into the throat so Saito can get tag in. Saito promptly goes for the Scorpion Deathlock so Keirn comes over and blasts him! This is fucking awesome! BACKDROP DRIVER! Saito back for the Scorpion Deathlock and Bock pushes on Saito's head and Keirn is exhorting Lane. Lane powers out. Lane tries to crawl over and Bock is right on it with figure-4. Keirn drops the elbow. That means he is not there for the tag! Saito double judo chop and Bock punches him in the gut. One angry women wonders where the ref who she calls a "fat fucker" got his license after that count. They continue to double team Lane in the corner. Lane ab stretch on Bock. Saito baits Keirn in, goes back and then comes crashing down on Lane with a chop. That was a bitchin sequence! They knock heads and Keirn pulls Lane out for the old switcheroo and small packages Bock for the win. The story of the match is The Fabs went toe to toe with Bock & Saito at their own game and beat them with those underhanded tactics. Sometimes you just got to fight fire with fire. I seriously believe with 5, maybe 10 more minutes this would be contender for best American straight (no gimmicks) tag match of all time. Incredible. I cant go much higher than ****1/2, but cant praise or recommend this enough.