Superstar Sleeze

It is funny we are just a little out of sync. I have loved all the big Taue matches, but the singles matches you have ranked in top ten I have in the teens and this match you save Top 30 and I say Top Ten (currently number #7). Kenta Kobashi & Akira Taue vs Genichiro Tenryu & Jun Akiyama - Budokan 9/18/05 A dream tag team match that actually delivers in spades with a match of the decade contender. I have had an aversion to the big dream tag matches earlier in the decade (Hashimoto Z-1 and Kobashi's '02 return), but I thought this match was an action-packed, high-octane match that played off the the earlier Tenryu/Kobashi tag with excellent Taue/Akiyama interactions. It does say a lot that a dream tag featuring all 90s stars in 2005 was NOAH's best match in 2005. Yes, they did try harder to push the new generation into key roles the next year, but matches likes this showcase how unsustainable their current model was. As a fan though, let's rejoice and be glad because Akira Taue is fucking awesome. I loved, loved Tenryu's chickenshit act at the beginning. It is so rare for someone to actually have balls big enough to act like a coward in the FIGHTING SPIRIT~! dominated puroresu culture that it is very refreshing. If you recall, Tenryu's chest looked like a murder scene last match and is doing everything to avoid Kobashi's chops early. Frustrated Kobashi sics Taue on him, who has Tenryu and Akiyama reeling. Taue tags in Kobashi who is now licking his chops (pun fully intended), but Tenryu backpeddles and tags in Akiyama. Akiyama chops Taue off apron in retaliation. Taue DEMANDS to be tagged in to avenge this offense. Taue goes BEZERK on Akiyama whipping him into all sorts of railings. Crowd goes wild. TAUE! TAUE! TAUE! Akiyama hits a jumping knee and tags out to Tenryu. Kobashi/Taue conference and Kobashi tells Taue to stick with it. Taue controls Tenryu with an overhand chop and here comes Kobashi. CHOP WAR~! Chop wars are so much better with Tenryu because of his reactions. Sasaski is trying to be all tough and macho. Tenryu looks like this fucking hurts. Tenryu dropkicks Kobashi in the knee to end that. Akiyama knocks Taue off the apron again and dragon leg screw on Kobashi. Taue comes in and they do a runaround the ref. Taue cant get his hands on Akiyama, but Kobashi is able to tag out. Taue wins a suplex struggle over Akiyama and Kobashi hit a sleeper suplex that is actually consequential because it leads to the heat segment on Akiyama. Taue collects the Akiyama carcass to the outside and Kobashi whips him into repeated big boots. Akiyama selling of his neck is so good. I would say Akiyama rates behind only Kawada in terms of how well he sells out of the five. Everything is so chippy in this match as Kobashi is still jawing with Tenryu. Taue drops Akiyama throat-first on top rope. In one of my favorite spots of the match, Tenryu kicks Taue in the face when he has a chinlock on. Taue comes over makes him eat a big boot. Tenryu's face is like "What the fuck was that for" as he checks to make sure he still has a jaw. The transition to the home stretch is Nature Boy Kenta Kobashi vs. Total Package Jun Akiyama with Akiyama strengthening from every chop. In fact, he accidentally draws blood from Kobashi when he headbutt him on what should have been a nose-to-nose. Thats the intensity level right now baby! I am loving just how heated it is between these four. Tenryu is now licking his chops. Tenryu chop/punches in corner. He beats Kobashi down with double overhand fists. Kobashi comes back with spinning back chops and chops of his own. Kobashi instead of overstaying his welcome having turned the tide tags the fresh Taue in. That's what separates this from a lot of the big 00s tag is smart wrestling. Goes for Nodowa nothing doing. Tenryu scores a massive lariat. Tag to Akiyama and melee ensues. A rare Japanese miscommunication spot as Taue big boots Kobashi. Now Taue is double teamed. Exploder for two and here comes the guillotine choke. Kobashi saves and takes on both Tenryu and Akiyama at the same time. He eats an Exploder. Exploder on Taue! Taue pops up and Nodowa! TAUE! TAUE! TAUE! Taue looks to end it with the big splash. Akiyama meets him and looks for the Super Exploder. No! No! No! IT IS THE SUPER NODOWA~! HOLY SHIT! You can count to a million, Jess! 1-2-3! Match of the year! Everybody played their role so perfectly. Tenryu was the crotchey old man that picked his spots wisely. Akiyama was the firecracker and heavy hitter for his team, but doubled as a great seller for Kobashi and Taue's offense. Kobashi played this match perfectly. He was the big gun he turned the tide against Akiyama, but he never tried to play hero until the end. If he needed to tag out whether it was having his knee worked on or Tenryu's chops, he did. When Taue has been taken out by Akiyama, he sacrificed himself by trying to take on both and ended up eating an exploder for himself, but gave Taue that valuable recuperative time. Taue, Taue, Taue! What can be said about such a masterful performance other than just go watch it. He was being built for a GHC Heavyweight Title run and he looked like a million bucks here. The home stretch is one of the best built hom stretches in a while with a fantastic climax. Top ten match of the decade! ****3/4

I loved, loved Kobashi/Ogawa. I am surprised it didn't make the cut for you. Other than that I agree with your assessment. You seem a little higher on KENTAFuji than I am, but they do bust a barnburner next year against Misawa/Ogawa. 2003 was the best year since the year 2000 even if it was just one promotion doing all the heavy lifting. 1. GHC Heavyweight Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi - Budokan 03/01/03 2. GHC Heavyweight Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Yoshinari Ogawa – Budokan 11/01/03 3. Toshiaki Kawada vs Naoya Ogawa - Zero-One 12/14/03 4. KENTAFuji vs Jushin Liger & Takehiro Murahama - GHC Jr Heavyweight Tag Title Final 07/16/03 5. GHC Heavyweight Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Tamon Honda - NOAH 04/13/03 6. Akira Taue vs Yuji Nagata - NOAH 6/6/03 7. GHC Tag Team Champions Sterness (Akiyama & Saito) vs Burning (Kobashi & Honda) - Budokan 6/6/03 8. GHC Heavyweight Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Yuji Nagata - Budokan 9/12/03 9. AJ Styles vs Low-Ki - Z1 1/05/03 10. Jun Akiyama vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan - G-1 Climax Finals 08/17/03

Akira Taue vs Naomichi Marufuji - Budokan 3/6/04 Taue's specialty is reigning wrestlers in and there is no wrestler on the NOAH roster that needs to be reigned in more than Marufuji. Taue rises to the occasion and pulls out a pretty good match from Marufuji. It is a straightforward story if the veteran giant against the undersized, plucky young hotshot. Taue dominates early with his size throwing around Marufuji. Taue mocks Marufuji by doing his own moves and then teasing the big dive to the outside. The crowd and I were ready to pop big for the dive, but it was for naught. While Taue was on the apron, Marufuji wisely went after the giant's legs and getting into the ring to apply a figure-4. After tangling up in the ropes, Taue wins a suplex struggle and hits a hot shot. He is selling the knee, but fighting through the pain. On the outside, Nodowa into post and Taue's heat segment is pretty tame. The match picks up once Marufuji hits a Nodowa when he is on the turnbuckles calling back to how Taue was hitting his moves. Taue tries for a Nodowa, but Marufuji flips out and hit a basement dropkick and running kick to head. Marufuji hits a Human Capture Suplex and then a superkick/sliced bread combo. I hate Sliced Bread No. 2. TAUE COUNTERS SLICED BREAD WITH NODOWA!!!! If that was the finish, FIFTY BAZILLION STARS! Taue counters a schoolboy roll-up with a triangle choke. If that was the finish, FIFTY BAZILLION STARS! Taue Nodowa and Dynamic Bomb only get two! Oh Shit! Marufuji counters Backdrop Nodowa and Taue goes to town with chops on Marufuji. I love Taue! Marufuji blocks the back drop Nodowa with holding his hand and converting into a cross-armbreaker, which Taue breaks with overhand chops. They told a stupid Spanish Fly tease and Marufuji wins with a superkick and intricate cradle. The finish run was wicked hot, but I thought the body of the match was pretty tepid. Everything made sense, but Marufuji just is not that fiery compared to Kobashi or Akiyama so there is a lack of struggle. The finish was lots of fun with some really cool moments like Nodowa counter to Sliced Bread and Marufuji countering the Nodowa, but not enough to make this a classic match. On a night where the theme was old guard versus new guard, it seemed like the new guard just was not there yet. They split the matches 2-2 with the big guns, Misawa and Kobashi going 2-0. Probably the most telling statement was that Akiyama defended against an outsider (Minoru Suzuki) rather than Rikio, Maurufuji, Morishima, KENTAor Shiozaki. The new guard still needed more time to develop unfortunately for everyone involved there was not much time left. ***3/4

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Takeshi Morishima - Budokan 3/5/06 At a Budokan show that featured four old guard vs new guard matches, Takeshi Morishima looked to shine against the resilient Mistuharu Misawa. Early on, Morishima looked like an unstoppable force in the ring. His lariat was crisp and I wished that would his strike of choice. His elbows are fine, but Vader-esque forearms tends to leave a lot to be desired. Still he was showing great energy and mobility for a man his size. I have always loved Morishima's look and the Japanese commentators compare him to Terry Gordy. The match told the classic Misawa story of rope-a-dope with Misawa letting his opponent punch himself out and time his comebacks. Misawa hits a diving elbow, but takes more out of Misawa and Morishima hits a shoulder block from the top rope to the floor. While some of these spots looked impressive, Morishima felt like a plug-in-play wrestler in the Misawa formula and was not bringing that extra spark to separate himself from the pack of young guns. Morishima is bleeding from the nose for no apparent reason and hits a powerbomb. He looks for another on the ramp, but silly Morishima you can't powerbomb Misawa twice and Misawa-rana follows. Misawa goes offense with his usual aerial spots. He hits the Tiger Driver and then goes for the Tiger Driver off the apron, but Morishima throws him off the apron. Morishima is confident when hitting the lariat. Sometimes he look lethargic and indecisive in the ring. In the big spot of the match, Misawa hits a Tiger Driver off the apron onto the floor. So much JIGGLE~! on the slow-motion replay. The count is on, but Misawa rolls him in. Morishima hits him with a wild forearm. Morishima runs through his big offensive run: back drop driver, exploder, lariat and back drop driver. The final kick out gets a big pop and we all know it is over for Morishima. Misawa roocks him huge with a massive elbow in corner. Misawa relentless with elbows throwing the ref off. Morishima makes a final stand, but succumbs to the Elbow Onslaught. Misawa by the number is a great formula and produces enjoyable matches. Morishima went on offense early and Misawa peppered in his hope spots. Then Morishima got one big run before the eventual Misawa elbow barrage. It is up to the opponent to make them something special and memorable out of this well-designed formula. Morishima gave an uneven performance. There were some great spots, but there was something lacking in charisma and selling. Outside of the lariat, he did not seem to having anything he could fall back on. Morishima has the look and good fundamentals to build on. He just needed more time to mature. Unfortunately, 2006 was pretty much now or never for the NOAH young guard and no one was ready. Misawa pitched him a softball and Morishima hit a double. Aint nuthin wrong with a double except when you needed that home run. ***3/4

GHC Heavyweight Champion Akira Taue vs Jun Akiyama - Budokan 01/22/06 Wow, Akiyama looking like it is 2000 with his urgency and focus. Akiyama has looked great in certain instances since 2002, but here he was wrestling at the level that made him the preeminent puroresu star at the turn of the century. Everything was focused on Taue's head and neck. He was throwing knees like Misawa would throw elbow. Everything had a purpose and a sense of urgency behind. Taue is the King of Efficiency. There are no overwrought sequences. He is a straight-ahead wrestler. His goal was to Nodowa Akiayama to hell and retain his title. It did not feel like macho pissing contest, but two men struggling to win a championship. The bout starts off pretty even with Taue having a slight advantage. Akiyama looks to strike early ascending the ropes, but Taue big boots him to the outside. Taue consolidates with a great dive to the outside. Taue chucks him back first into the railing and then drops him neck first on railing. Taue looks to get the Nodowa setting up with hotshots, legdrops and big boots, but Akiyama is able back body drop him out. In the spot of the match, Akiyama absolutely wipes Taue out with a running knee from the apron from behind. Akiyama does the same move again, but this time with Taue on the railing. Akiyama is relentless with knees to the head and does his trademark top rope diving elbow to the back of the head. Taue makes a mini comeback with a back drop driver that sets up the Nodowa/Big Splash comb. In a sequence I loved, Akiyama dropkicked Taue's knee to be able to knee him in the head, but the knees only get two. He looks for the Exploder, but Taue knows to avoid it. Akiyama DDTs him on the ramp. Akiyama looks to seal the deal with a running knee, but eats a big boot. NODOWA OFF THE RAMP~! They tease the countout finish, but Taue rolls him back in to only get two. Taue hits Nodowa and holds onto throat to hit a Dynamic Bomb that looked dangerous, but only gets two. Backdrop Nodowa and cocky Taue covers with hand just on throat. Taue wants the Nodowa off the rope, but Akiiyama fights off. Akiyama jumping knee off the ropes. The Exploder gets two. They are really both showing much they want to win this with constant barrage of nearfalls. Akiyama goes for his guillotine choke, but still cant negotiate the pin. Another exploder still cant get the job done. "TAUE! TAUE! TAUE! TAUE! TAUE!" Now it's Akiyama going for the Top Rope Finish and it is SUPER NODOWA~! Taue can only get a arm on Akiyama and it is a kick out. Taue has an enziguiri left in him, but Akiyama unleashes knee after knee and eventually Taue succumbs to the onslaught. An absolutely terrific match with both wrestlers working hard to win the match, which should not be a novel concept. Akiyama's commitment to the knee and the attack on Taue's head and neck was tremendous to watch. Taue has enough tricks in his bag to work effective control segments and then surprise during the big finish run. Clocking in at around 20 minutes, the match felt fresh and energetic throughout with Akiyama in top form. ****1/4

Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Naohiro Hoshikawa vs Dick Togo & Ikuto Hidaka - Z-1 12/26/03 NWA Lightweight Tag Team Champions Am I the only one who is immediately annoyed by a wrestler wearing capris? It just screams I am a bland spot monkey. Based on this one match, Hidaka was just the typical 00s wrestler adding spins & flips to moves that just do not need spins & flips and overwrought finish sequences. Overall, he was not a critical wrestler in the match. In fact, I thought the match lived and died on the shoulders or in this case the knee of Hoshikawa. I had never heard of Hoshikawa, but he gave one helluva selling performance. His offense left a whole lot to be desired especially his weak jumping kicks. Takaiwa had some good spots, but I thought he took away from the flow of the match. Rather than coming in as the heavy hitter saving Hoshikawa, he was more interested in trading spots with his opponents. Within the first minute, Hoshikawa injured his knee on a dive to the outside. Togo and Hidaka went to town on the knee and started off looking like one of the best Junior matches of the decade. I liked Hoshikawa rallying near the opponent corner only to have Togo sweep the leg from outside. He wraps it around the post and the a chair around it. Hidaka applies a figure-four and Togo comes in & jams a chair into his knee. Takaiwa saves and CREAMS Togo busting him open with the chair that comes flying out and almost hits Hoshikawa. Takaiwa works the cut well, but eventuall Takaiwa and Togo trade teases of finishers before Takaiwa hits a powerbomb only for Togo to hit a top rope Pedigree and then a Pedigree and a pretty, pretty Senton Bomb. Takaiwa now big chops and a Top Rope Death Valley Driver. It has really devolved into spot-trading at this point. Takaiwa sets Togo up for some sort of Doomsday Device, but Hoshikawa whiffs on kick and Togo ranas out. Takaiwa finally wrangles Hidaka and powerbombs to tag out to Hoshikawa. Hoshikawa is not very good at offense, but the most interesting facet of the match is his knee. Hidaka and Hoshikawa work a really good sequence around his knee with Hidaka targetting it and Hoshikawa not being able to hold him on a first bridging German and on the scond bridged on one leg. Same Doomsday Device set up this time we see it leads to a Takaiwa double powerbomb into a Death Valley Driver. Now that was a wicked spot! I like that as a finish and the only reason not to use that as a finish would be if they were not winning. Of course, they follow it up with weakest, lamest jumping kick by Hoshikawa and Togo saves. Togo detains Hoshikawa and Hidaka gets powerbomb and Togo hits a beautiful Senton. Hoshikawa and Hidaka go back and forth, before Hidaka grabs a heel hook. Senton flying in by Togo. Togo dives onto Takaiwa on the floor and Hoshikawa taps out. Togo and Hidaka are the inaugral NWA Lightweight Tag Team Champions. When Hoshikawa was in the ring, it was an interesting match with Hoshikawa trying to overcome the early injury and Togo/Hidaka targetting it. Takaiwa would come in and just hit MOVEZ~! Yes, his double powerbomb/DVD was impressive, but would like to see more transition work. Togo has a really great Senton, but still not an outstanding performance. It is a good, heated junior tag, but a little uneven. ***1/2

This has to be the best U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! ALL THE WAY! type match. Just perfect for Independence Day. Slaughter is amazing selling the fatigue of this WAR~! He really puts over the match and Hogan with his selling and bumping. I forgot about the FIREBALL~! I don't know how I did, but I marked out all over again. Again great, great finish. I wish Hogan's feuds with Savage and others had more of this mid-80s street fight feels for blowoffs. AMERICA, FUCK YEAH!

Kenta Kobashi vs Kensuke Sasaki -Tokyo Dome 7/18/05 This is the double main event of a heavily stacked card, but the card is also a harbinger of things to come. GHC Champion Takeshi Rikio is ostensibly in the third most important match (fourth from the top), but against rising New Japan star, Hiroshi Tanahashi. The double main event of Misawa/Kawada and Kobashi/Sasaki features two outsiders and all four men are from the 90s. Yes, they were still able to draw 52k to the Dome, but from a quick glance at the card you can see how unhealthy the promotion is. Indeed, all five major heavyweight matches from NOAH in 2005 feature outsiders (Sasaki, Tenryu, or Kawada). The NOAH vs NOAH matches were stale, but instead of building from within they were bringing from the outside, which is not a sustainable solution to their woes of staleness. There are a couple handful of matches from this decade that have a lot of notoriety surrounding them as must see bouts. I would say up until this match all those matches held up. Whether it was Mutoh/Tenryu, Misawa/Kobashi, Kobashi/Takayama, these matches are hyped and you should believe the hype. By WON voting, this placed third overall in 2005 and number one in puroresu. In Ditch's DVDVR poll for the best puroresu match in 2005 it ranked second. It is (in)famous for the five minute EPIC CHOP WAR~! that takes fighting spirit to new lengths. However, for the first time in this project, I felt let down by a hyped match that felt very much like an exhibition of fighting spirit rather than a sporting contest. I want to watch this match and the Sasaki/Kawada Dome match back-to-back to solidify my opinions, but based on recollection the Sasaki/Kawada match blows this out of the water. That match is very much rooted in the same impetus as this match. It is about macho pride. If Kawada was the most suited All Japan wrestler to work New Japan then Sasaki was the most suited New Japan wrestler to work NOAH. Sasaki and Kawada have a hard-fought struggled to prove who is the best by challenging each other at every turn. Whereas, Kobashi/Sasaki came off as the biggest dick waving contest ever held in a wrestling ring. They were demonstrating their moves and proving how tough they were to each other rather than trying to claw for a victory. It is a very good exhibition of the NOAH fighting spirit style and has its entertaining parts, but as a wrestling match it is sorely bereft of the urgency and struggle necessary to making a match a true classic. I enjoyed the early bomb throwing leading to trash talking before the epic test of strength. There needs to be more trash talking in Japanese wrestling even if I dont understand it. Nothing of any real consequence happens before the chop war they just throw out some moves. Sasaki hits an awful lot of high-risk moves like a top rope Frankensteiner and a cross body from the top to the floor (which I really liked against Takayama), but it all looks well planned rather than heated. CHOP WAR~! I will say this they are committed to it and they go all out. The plums of sweat that comes off each man's chest and the color of chests are impressive. How could Kobashi's chest never turns that virulent shade of purple that his opponents do? They look to be hitting as hard as him. Kobashi wins the battle, but it is a Pyrrhic victory as he collapses. Sasaki is very good at selling the damage of the CHOP WAR~! in how moves throughout the rest of match, but he may not even be selling. My one favorite signature Kobashi spot from the mid-00s is the teased countout finish and this one comes courtesy of a sweet Northern Lights Bomb off the apron to the floor. Kobashi falling off the apron at 16 was a real nice touch. I don't like the Sasaki armdrag/armbar spot at all. They knock each other out with lariats signaling the reset for the big finish, which is Kobashi running through his shit and winning with a Burning Lariat. Taken as an exhibition of fighting spirit and macho pride, this is fun, but really outside of the countout finish tease there is not much in the way of drama, struggle or urgency. It is a must-watch because of how well it exemplifies the style of the time, but it is nothing I consider great. ***3/4

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada - Tokyo Dome 7/18/05 It is hard to declare one particular matchup or feud as my all-time favorite, but it asked to rattle a handful off, you best believe that Misawa/Kawada would be listed. It had been five years since their last match due to the All Japan/NOAH split of 2000. I could not think of a better way for them to go out then in front of 52,000 fans in the Dome. All Japan never even ran the Dome until 1998 and what was the feud that propelled them to believe they could pop a big number: Misawa/Kawada. In a full circle moment, this matchup headlined the last NOAH Dome show. Much like a big 70s/80s hard rock/heavy metal act touring on their big hits, Misawa and Kawada seek to deliver the best of Misawa/Kawada one last time. A nostalgia match really will never be an all-time classic, but when it is Misawa/Kawada you can't deny how good it makes you feel to watch them work on last time against each other. A long staredown between the old rivals is broken by Kawada's fear of the Almighty Elbow. In a change of pace, Misawa is the early aggressor and it is Kawada trying to weather the initial storm of elbows. There is a great moment where Kawada goes bezerk after a couple elbows by slapping the shit out of Misawa and kicking him in the face. Kawada knew he could dig himself into a hole early and it was like he woke up and just freaked out. It was relaly good stuff. He goes for the piledriver on the floor, but Misawa hits a Tiger Driver on concrete. Kawada collapses on the Irish Whip. After years of dominating Misawa early and not being able to put him away, it looks Kawada is being blown out by Misawa. Kawada's answer to Misawa's elbow has always been his feet and with some timely kicks begins to turn the tide. Misawa is looking for the Tiger Driver on the apron, but it settles for elbowing him off the apron. INCOMING! Kawada elbows Misawa out of the sky. Game-changer. Misawa misses his first big bomb and Kawada hits a powerbomb on the ramp. I didn't really care for this because the amount of walking done to get to the ramp and then Kawada having to walk Misawa back to the ring to avoid countout finish. Kawada survives an elbow war with a kick and wins a suplex struggle to be able to apply the Stretch Plum and get two. Kawada firmly in control even works in his bicycle kick counter to the German and it looks like the beginning of the match is long gone with Kawada rocking and rolling. Brainbuster gets two. Powerbomb gets two. Whiffs on the home run knee. You sense something big is coming and BANG! GANSO BOMB~! Tough to watch regardless what happened to Misawa later. You know once Misawa kicks out of the Ganso Bomb that this not going to end well for Wile E. Kawada. Misawa-rana right out of his own pants in a funny moment. Elbows reestablish his control and Emerald Flowsion onlyu gets two. Rolling kappo kick sets up the Tiger Suplex and Tiger Driver '91. It is the merciless onslaught of elbows and eventually Kawada can no longer resist. As a one last time, "Best of" match, this really hit the spot. You do get a curve ball early with Misawa being so domintant early and really setting the tone with his elbows and Tiger Driver. Kawada was really put on his backfoot, but made the most out of expoliting Misawa's mistake. In the story that is as old as time, Kawada try as he might could not put away the resilient Misawa even with the ultra-dangerous Ganso Bomb. Then it became 'ol reliable the best stretch in wrestling Kawada jelly leg feeding Misawa and Misawa elbowing him into obvilion. ****

X-Division Champion AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe Greatest AJ Styles Performance Ever? I am willing to hear arguments against, but I dont think I can be convinced. When Styles does a float-over off a Joe suplex attempt onto the apron instead of doing it fluidly he lands on the ropes to sell the exhaustion. I was in awe. Consequently instead of immediately following his forearm on the apron he sold more exhaustion before finally to trying to hit a springboard and ate a Joe powerbomb. Sublime. What I think stands out the most about this match compared to so many X-Division matches is the physicality. My biggest issue with a lot of the flippy guys is how light they work (Kofi, Morrison). This match was a fuckin war and AJ got a nice busted up lip for it. AJ did that sick bump off the apron onto the floor again and took Joe's offense like a champ. Unlike the previous match, AJ seemed game throughout the match and still made Joe work for all his moves. I loved the transition to AJ's comeback as it was Joe being overzealous and AJ having the presence of mind to back body drop outside the ring. Then he capitalized with a beautiful shooting star press dive. I love how after each move AJ was going after pins because he knew he was weak and this was his shot. It really sold the urgency, you could feel that his time was fleeting and if he didnt capitalize now everything was lost. I loved the cat and mouse game they did late in the match with AJ duckin and diving before Joe caught him in the corner with a couple bear paws. The busted lip happens here and it really had a big fight feel and that moment epitomized it. AJ follows that up with early kicks out off a wicked lariat and wicked Tiger Driver. FIGHTING SPIRIT~! The one flaw is the fact that AJ tried twice to setup Joe for moves on the top turnbuckle. The second time it led to an awkward sequence and a lame AJ powerbomb, which only existed to give AJ a way to hit the Styles Clash. It was a minor flaw. AJ goes for a victory roll, but Joe traps him in the clutch and it is Goodnight Irene for AJ. After the match, Joe beats up AJ and tries to give him a musclebuster on a chair, but Daniels saves. I liked this match a whole lot, but I think I liked AJ/Abyss a hair more, but both are neck and neck for Best TNA match ever at this point. I have no idea why the Unbreakable match is the more famous match. This match blows that match outta the water. Tremendous effort by both men, this is definitely one to watch.

Kenta Kobashi/Kensuke Sasaki vs. Genichiro Tenryu/Katsuhiko Nakajima - Kensuke Office 2/11/06 Kensuke Sasaki is out to teach his young protege, Katsuhiko Nakajima, some tough love at what I believe is the first Kensuke Office show. I believe Akira Hokuto, Kensuke Sasaki's wife is on commentary, and his children are shown in the crowd. I loved how everytime Sasaki lit up Nakajima there was an insert window that shown Hokuto's conflicted reaction. The beginning was great with Kobashi and Sasaki pumping each other by chopping each other and then giving out a bellow and shaking hands. If I was their opponent, it would be rubber pants time for me. Nakajima hits a spinwheel kick right off the bat to get a quick two and Sasaki bails. After that, it is all Sasaki who throws him half way cross the ring on a headlock and Sasaki is not taken off his feet by Nakajima's kicks. Kobashi wants Tenryu. Tenryu at first avoids the chop by ducking under ropes, but then instigates the chop war. Bad idea. This time Tenryu only has a trickle of blood come down his chest. Tenryu says enough of this bullshit and kicks his knee. DDT on the floor. Kobashi is all like WTF, MATE!?!?! Tenryu holds the ropes open, but then blasts Kobashi with an elbow and then grabs some woman's chair and blasts Kobashi with it. Tenryu and Nakajima are clearly outgunned by the dream team of Kobashi and Sasaki so they need to fight dirty. Nakajima can not contain Kobashi. Tenryu is in quickly to choke Kobashi with his tape. Kobashi is madder than a hornet and makes a beeline for Tenryu. Tenryu retreating into the crowd grabs a chair and jams into Kobashi's mouth. OW! Kobashi is bleeding profusely from the mouth. Nakajima takes a wicked bump off a Kobashi chop. He hits the back of his head hard. Kobashi has to tag out due to his mouth. The same Nakajima cant get the brickhouse down. Tenryu comes around the corner and whips a full water bottle at Kobashi. At the Sasaki family show, things are getting heated. It is the point of the match where they lose me. I was loving all the Tenryu's prick work and Nakajima as spunky underdog. Then the match just turns into a legalized mauling of Nakajima. This is not the heat segment where you are like I cant wait for the hot tag. It is more like I feel really bad for Nakajima and Tenryu please just end it because you are pricks for running the score up on them. At one point, Tenryu tries to save Nakajima, but Sasaki chops Tenryu down in the corner and he just seems so helpless. It is more hopeless and depressing. Again Tenryu tries to save, but Sasaki bulldozes him and puts him in an amrbar while Kobashi has Nakajima in a Texas Cloverleaf. All of sudden, Nakajima just out of self-perservation starts throwing big boots and avoids Sasaki, who bulldozes Kobashi! TAG TO TENRYU! Lariats for everyone. Enziguiri and punches to Kobashi. Tenryu gets a wicked abdominal stretch on Kobashi, but once Tenryu starts chopping it is all over. It is now the legalized mauling of Tenryu by the two powerhouses. Northern Lights Bomb Nakajima Saves! Tenryu blocks a Northern Lights Bomb and hits a Brainbuster. Tag to Nakajima! Give em hell, Nakajima! Nakajima finally takes Sasaki down with kicks. He elbows Kobashi off the apron. He ascends to the top. Can the kid do it? Missile dropkick for one? FUCK YOU KENSUKE! Sasaki blocks the Northern Lights Bomb so Tenryu punches him in the face. Nakajima Northern Lights Bomb gets two. Goes for his German, but Kobashi hits the half-nelson. Tenryu hits a lariat on Kobashi. Sasaki lariats Tenryu. Nakajima German for two on Sasaki. Again another "This is Awesome" chants moment. Nakajima controls Sasaki with kicks to head, but Sasaki catches axe-kick into powerbomb, which should have been the finish. Hey Masa Saito is there! That's cool. Kobashi and Sasaki do the Bash Brothers. Wicked lariat with Nakajima basically taking a headdrop off of it gives the win to the all-star team. In a cool moment after the match, there is a group picture with the likes of Keiji Mutoh, Takayama, Kojima and the M-Pro guys with Sasaki, Kobashi, Nakajima, Hokuto and Sasaki's kids front and center. As much, I really enjoyed the NOAH heavyweight tag team matches from 2005, this was a clear step down. This was more of an exhibition of how Kobashi and Sasaki are the baddest men that ever lived. The take away from this match was there could be an alien invasion in 2006, but they would have no chance because the human race has Kenta Fuckin Kobashi and Kensuke Fuckin Sasaki. There was enough from Tenryu and Nakajima that this was not a total squash. I loved the early heeling from Tenryu, but we really never got the heat segment on Kobashi to make you want to see Kobashi beat the living shit out of Nakajima. If you restructure the match with a Kobashi FIP segment, this had the potential to be a real classic. Instead, it may have been a feel-good match if you are a Kobashi or Sasaki fan. Nakajima was the MVP of the match with his crazy bumps and selling. By the end of the match, Nakajima was rocking and rolling, but just did not have enough firepower to compete with Sasaki. It is a very good match and worth the watch, but could have been so much more. ***3/4

Yes, Kobashi was the worst wrestler of the four, but still thought this was a badass match. Sasaki is really good as the powerhouse you cant get off his feet. Shiozaki is the best young lion in Japan in what seems like a decade. I just love everything about Nakajima. The ending is great with Shiozaki demanding into the match, but just is not there yet in terms of firepower to compete against Sasaki and Nakajima. Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiozaki vs Kensuke Sasaki/Katsuhiko Nakajima - NOAH 11/5/05 In 2009, there was no wrestler I was a bigger mark for than Katsuhiko Nakajima, who I just thought was a tremendous talent. I really can't wait to watch his series with KENTA again to see if it holds up. Of course, when I heard he was coming stateside courtesy of ROH to Detroit, I just had to go. It was one of the most awesome experiences seeing him wrestle and one of the best pure mark out moments. Even though, I always stayed a wrestling fan my last two years of undergrad were pretty heavy so puroresu was the hobby that got cut. Unfortunately, it seems like Nakajima never rose the ranks to reach the level of a Liger or a KENTA as a top junior heavyweight. I am proud to say that in 2009, I did have some semblance of good taste because Nakajima is still fucking awesome. Nakajima reminds me of a young Kobashi or Ohtani with his emotional selling and his never say die attitude. This time around Shiozaki has a peer in the match in the likes of Nakajima so that changes the heirarchial dynamic to showcase more of Go's offense. Nakajima and Shiozaki have a really energetic and hard-hitting sequence that establishes they are equals. Kobashi and Sasaki have the same equality sequence, but in the mold of their style playing off the Dome Chop War, trash talking and the test of strength. Shiozaki tags in and like all challenges in life, he meets them head on and gets slapped the fuck down on first pass. Nakajima lights him up, but Go hits a dropkick to get Kobashi in. Kobashi easily handles the undersized Nakajima. Sasaki chops Go off when he has the camel clutch in. A nice spot sees Go have Nakajima up in the surfboard and Kobashi chops Nakajima in the midsection. Nakajima uses a dropkick to get the powerhouse, Kensuke Sasaki into the match. Sasaki has a great intensity chopping and now lariats to Kobashi. It is always impressive to seem someone overwhelm Kobashi even if only lasts briefly. Here comes the Chop War! Sasaki chest turns a nasty shade of purple-red with these strange ripples. Sasaki hits a Back Drop Driver, but still engages in chopping. Thats just plain stupid. Kobashi chops Sasaki's chopping hand. Kobashi tags in Go. Shiozaki just cant get Kensuke off his feet, who swats him away. Sasaki ain't messing around and brutalizes him with fists. Nakajima roundhouse kick nearly KOs Go Shiozaki and Go does the fall on the Irish Whip, which I am a mark for. Shiozaki actually has a really good suplex struggle with Sasaki and gets him over in what looks like a deadlift. Given that Sasaki seems the worse for wear compared to Kobashi, I don't think Nakajima will be able to make up the difference. Kobashi hits two half-nelson suplexes, but Nakajima stops the bleeding with a timely German on Kobashi. Shiozaki hits the Back Drop Driver on Nakajima and Sasaki hits the Dragon Suplex on Sasaki. I am ready for "This Is Awesome" chants but thankfully we are in Japan in 2005. Sasaki armdrag and armbar combo just is not a very good spot for him to keep going back to. One of the best spots of the match is Kobashi blocking a Nakajima dropkick by chopping his legs mid-air. BEHOLD THE MIGHTY HAND OF KENTA KOBASHI! Kobashi follows up with a Texas Cloverleaf, you gotta love the psychology. Shiozaki wants in and he is a firecracker and he takes out both. GO GO GO! Missile Dropkick! Fisherman Buster! GO GO GO! Nakajima hits a ridiculous spinwheel kick to knock him off the top. Wicked high angle German by Nakajima, but Kobashi chops him on the bridge. Nakajima whiffs on the KO Kick to head and Shiozaki Germans him into the turnbuckles! Shiozaki goes for the kill with the moonsault, but eats knees. Tag to the Brickhouse, Sasaki. Go superkicks Sasaki. Sasaki blocks the Dragon Suplex. Shiozaki slaps him a whole bunch, but Sasaki gives him the "Dont Bring That Into My House" Lariat! Sasaki directing traffic slams Nakajima into Kobashi. Wicked high angle powerbomb only gets two?!?!?! Sasaki turns Shiozaki inside out with a lariat to give Kensuke Office the victory. Again, the opponents of the Kobashi/Shiozaki tag team, weather the Kobashi storm, isolate Shiozaki and pick up the victory. This time I thought with Sasaki coming out the worse for wear in the chop war that Nakajima would not be able to make up the difference like Akiyama would for Tenryu. Nakajima was able to hit a timely German just when Kobashi was about to get on roll and after that Kobashi was basically a non-factor. Shiozaki bit off more than he could chew when he demanded to get in. It was the right thing to do given Kobashi's state, but he stayed in against Sasaki when he should have tagged out, but pride got the best of him. We all want to prove ourselves to the veterans to earn their respect, but sometimes we try to do too much and in this case it was Shiozaki's downfall as Sasaki ate him up. Sasaki is a great powerhouse with a low center of gravity. He is not going to fall unless you earn it. Nakajima was so versatile in selling and bumping around for Kobashi/Shiozaki, but hitting timely spots to keep his team in it. ****1/4

I didn't feel that Kobashi stole the spotlight. He was there to be the heavy hitter. He was comes in red hot, but then overwhelmed. Shiozaki saves him and looks like he is going to start stringing things together, but Tenryu is too much for him. Shiozaki is spunky, but still biting off more than he can chew. Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiozaki vs Jun Akiyama & Genichiro Tenryu - Budokan 4/24/2005 I want a Revolution 2005 shirt too! After an over two year title reign as GHC Heavyweight Champion, Kenta Kobashi settled into a sort of legend's dream match role against the likes of Genichiro Tenryu (WAR/NJPW/AJPW) and Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW). He was still the big drawing card on the shows, but like Misawa in 2002/2003, it was clear that the title and the push would be going to the younger generation. This certainly did not pan out for Takeshi Rikio or any of the younger generation. There was no watershed 3/1/03 match for the younger generation in part because that generation did have a decade plus of backstory like Misawa/Kobashi did. I dislike fantasy booking, but it is clear to me that Akiyama who had history with Kobashi and still young enough to develop history with a Shiozaki or a Morishima could have been a great bridge champion. I think the Rikio victory over Kobashi could still work as it is blamed on sheer exhaustion of the two year reign, but then have Akiyama beat Rikio pretty much immediately and build to Kobashi/Akiyama II at the Dome in 2005 or 2006 with Akiyama going over. I believe Akiyama could have been salvaged after 2004, but the booking from 2005 onwards became very remscient of 2002 WWE or 2012 WWE where they are booking dream matches instead of progression. This match and the rest of the matches nominated from this time period prove this as the main focus is Kobashi/Tenryu or Kobashi/Sasaki and poor Akiyama takes a backseat. I have no idea what the hell Tenryu did to Kobashi back in 1989, but boy does Kobashi hold a grudge because he is madder than a hornet at Tenryu. It could just be that Tenryu is the biggest prick in wrestling history and pearl harbors Kobashi early and fucking just chucks a table at him like the edge of the table. 2005 NOAH you are alright. Kobashi is just ripshit at this point. Akiyama is controlling Shiozaki, but Tenryu comes around the corner and whips a full water bottle at Kobashi. Kobashi is all like "Who the fuck you think I am? Satoshi Koijma?I ain't no jabroni." Tenryu lets Shiozaki tag in Kobashi. Tenryu would never make that mistake. What unfolds is one of the most brutal and barbaric events in wrestling history. With each Kobashi match, I am forced to attempt to describe these chops in different fashions. I will leave the reader with the the end result, it looks like a murder scene and that Tenryu had just been shot in the chest. Go Shiozaki comes in with a missile dropkick. He gets derailed with a closed fist because Tenryu has had enough of this shit. Shiozaki does some fighting spirit bullshit to try to take down Akiyama who quashes him with a jumping knee. A melee ensues on the outside and Akiyama is able to DDT Kobashi on the floor. This leaves Go isolated and Akiyama hotshots him onto the railing and murders him with a jumping knee. The story of the match is pretty much Akiyama and Tenryu will win if they can isolate Go, but Kobashi is a weapon of mass destruction that they need to neutralize. Then add that Kobashi hates both Akiyama and Tenryu while Go Shiozaki is trying to prove his worth by taking out one of the big dogs and you have yourself a pretty neat story. Go is much better at selling and the fighting spirit bullshit than other "junior" tag partners I have seen. He is a pretty decent size, a little lean, but young so he will fill out. He is very scrappy, which is exactly what you want from him at this stage in his career. I have never watched any of his matches before I enjoyed him in this. Tenryu is now in and just hits some wicked stiff chops on Shiozaki. Taking out your anger on someone else is just wrong. Weirdly botched slingshot suplex from Tenryu and a piledriver from Akiyama only gets two. Go gets all fighting spirit-y, but focuses on Tenryu who is on the apron, which is not very smart. Akiyama hits an Exploder and Shiozaki powders and milks the countout. Kobashi exhorts Shiozaki to get up. Go wins a suplex struggle and AAAAHHHHHHH SHIIIIITTT, Kobashi is in! Akiyama tries to head Kobashi off at the pass, but eats a sleeper suplex and a Burning Lariat. Tenryu saves and wins a chop war with a closed fist. After teasing finishers, Tenryu hits an enziguiri and Akiyama knees Kobashi in the head and goes for the choke. Shiozaki saves! Shiozaki is hot against Tenryu, but does not have an answer for the closed fist. Kobashi helps out his buddy with a DDT. Go slaps Tenryu and goes for the moonsault, but Tenryu throws him down. No Spider German? Huge lariat with a great sell by Shiozaki gets two. Powerbomb polishes off the young whippersnapper. 2005 NOAH is off to a great start as Tenryu is a shot in the arm they needed. Kobashi is always at his best against a wrestler who is willing to heel like Ogawa or Takayama. Tenryu is such an asshole. I thought this was an effective use of Kobashi as the weapon of mass destruction. He came in, saw, and conquered, but he was never so overwhelming that the match became all about him. So I don't end this on a bad note, while Akiyama was effective, he was not a stand out. His role was just standard opponent that is a couple levels above Shiozaki. In such a pivotal period in his career, you would like to see Akiyama stand out more. Shiozaki knocked it out of the park as the plucky up and comer. He had his moments to shine, but most of the time he was getting the snot beat out of him, but he just kept coming until Tenryu finally overwhelmed him. After the Kobashi title reign, I don't know much about the heavyweight scene in NOAH, but this was a great start. ****1/4

I have been absolutely terrible at updating this thread. I finished and posted this blog on 2005-2007 New Japan Pro Wrestling a while ago. With Inoki being ousted, the company has a fresh, reinvigorated feel. Nagata seems more confident as the Ace and makes for a good interim Ace for Tanahashi to take over. Nagata versus Makabe was a really great bloodbath was the best New Japan match since 2000. I thought Tanahashi and Nakamura put together a pretty damn good bout in 2006. Things are looking up for New Japan. 1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama - Budokan 02/27/00 2. GHC Heavyweight Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi - Budokan 03/01/03 3. GHC Heavyweight Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Yoshihiro Takayama - Budokan 04/25/04 4. All Japan Triple Crown Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Yoshihiro Takayama - All Japan 05/26/00 5. All Japan Triple Crown Champion Genichiro Tenryu vs Keiji Mutoh - Budokan 6/8/01 6. Toshiaki Kawada & Masa Fuchi vs Yuji Nagata & Takashi Iizuka - NJ PPV 12/14/00 7. GHC Heavyweight Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama - Tokyo Dome 07/10/04 8. GHC Heavyweight Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Yoshinari Ogawa – Budokan 11/01/03 9. Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama - Budokan 12/23/00 10. IWGP Jr Hvywt Tag Champs Ohtani & Takaiwa vs Kanemoto & Minoru - NJPW 6/25/00 12. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yuji Nagata vs Togi Makabe - NJPW 07/06/07 22. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shinsuke Nakamura - NJPW 12/10/06 33. Yuji Nagata vs Koji Kanemoto - NJPW G-1 Climax 08/12/06 42. Yuji Nagata vs Giant Bernard - New Japan Cup Finals 04/30/06 56. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Giant Bernard - NJPW 06/18/06 Vacant IWGP Championshi 69. U-30 Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shinsuke Nakamura - Tokyo Dome 01/04/05 http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2014/06/new-japan-05-06.html 2005 Heavyweight NOAH Blog should be up soon!

Will re watch this match. I have this behind the Ogawa , Akiyama, Takayama, and Misawa matches for the Kobashi reign , but given comments this warrants the rewatch. Are there any good Honda matches before this to get a feel for him?

Will re watch this match. I have this behind the Ogawa , Akiyama, Takayama, and Misawa matches for the Kobashi reign , but given comments this warrants the rewatch. Are there any good Honda matches before this to get a feel for him?

1984 WWF bug has bit me. Going back to watch the Hammer/Santana matches I have not seen. WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana vs Greg "The Hammer" Valentine - Philly 3/31/84 I am pretty sure this is their first major encounter with each other. This bout did not have the "I want break your fucking leg because you broke mine" element to take it to the next level, but still this is physical as all hell. These two are just so different from the rest of the WWF roster and just had such great chemistry. Everything is such a struggle. Little things like Valentine swinging and actually missing because Tito moved. Unlike most wrestlers who will half-ass their misses, if Valentine connected he connected; if he did't he didn't. During some of the comebacks, it really felt like Valentine would just wrangle Tito and drop a vicious elbow. You really got the feeling how much the Intercontinental Championship meant to each competitor. Santana frustrates Valentine with speed like the armdrags, moving from elbows and dropkicks. Valentine catches him with a kneelift, which is one of my favorite transitions. He does some quick great work in the abdomen including hanging him out to dry on the top rope. Santana starts to mount a comeback and Valentine finally drops a huge elbow to quell him. It feels almost shooty. Valentine starts to work over the legs with Indian Deathlock and then attacking legs. Santana would grab a headlock and a kneecrusher would stop him. I loved stuff like Santana launching his body at Valenine just any thing he could do. Santana was selling so well, but always working hard from underneath. Valentine even took time to revel in his glory while Santana is crawling around the ring. Santana goes for the leg, but Valentine quashes that with a inverted atomic drop. Valentine of course misses his second rope elbow. Huge rights by Santana and slams his head into turnbuckle. TIMMMMBBBBBAAHHHHH! I love Valentine because he is an ornery, mean asshole during his control, but when it comes time for that comeback he is always game for bumping, stooging, and begging off for the babyface. Santana works some side headlocks pinfall attempts, but is always energetic. I love the spot where Santana does an atomic drop, but did it on the hurt knee and Tito sells it so well. HUGE ATOMIC DROP BY THE HAMMER! Wow, I don't think I ever seen a heel hit that move. Tito sells the fuck out of it and you really believe Valentine has a shot now. Valentine big butterfly suplex, repeated shots to abdomen and a toehold as the 20 minute time limit expire. What?!?!? Valentine delivers some heavy shots, but repeatedly misses elbows and Santana challenges to come back and finish it. The finish really threw me a loop because you expect the babyface to end the match on top before the time limit expires. It is also interesting that Santana was making his comeback and Valentine was actually able to surmount this surge in momentum and regain control. The whole finish was a real curveball. Add on top of that the whole match had a real anything could happen feel to it. You never knew who was going to take control at any point. There were no neat little segments where one guy who take control and then a nice little transition would cause the next control segment. Still it never felt back and forth because of how well Santana sold everything from the abs to the knee to fatigue and how Valentine sold he could be overwhelmed. I really enjoyed this match, but I think the next matches in their series benefit from having extracurricular heat. ****1/4

Still by any name he is a Dick. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka - Philly 7/7/84 Instead of Piper's Pit, it is Rudman's Rendezvous hosted by Killer Kal with Rowdy Roddy, who talks some good smack, but can he back it up? Snuka is ripshit and overwhelms Piper with chops and headbutts. He rams Piper's head into hard objects. How does your own medicine taste, Hot Rod? Piper calls for timeout, but Snuka drags him over the top rope by his hair and then throws him down face first into the mat. Snuka is a roll, but cracks heads with Roddy slowing him down. He goes for a Thesz Press, but he and Roddy go over the top and Superfly takes worst of it. Piper slams him into the steps and bites his forehead, but no blood. Piper only gets a one off his signature kneelift. Piper recognizing the match is getting away from him, drops Snuka on his coconuts on the top rope triggering the DQ and hightailing it out of there. This a great first match in the feud. You get over the hatred and the chaos. Snuka is not looking for a victory, he is looking for revenge. Piper is hoping to survive. It sets the tone for the rest of this blood feud. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs Tonga Kid - Championship Wrestling 10/84 YES! YES! YES! TAMA IS BACK, BABY! For those who don't know, after watching pretty much every Islanders match ever, Tama became my man, but before that he was the plucky young cousin of the Superfly looking to exact revenge on Rowdy Roddy. After Piper broke Snuka's neck at MSG, The Tonga Kid had been pleading for a crack at the Hot Rod and he was finally granted his opportunity on TV. At first, it looks like The Kid had bitten off more than he can chew as he gets to close to Piper and Piper trips him. Piper punches, chokes and spits on Tonga Kid, but then makes the mistake of trying to trying ram Tonga Kid's head into the turnbuckle. Here comes Tonga Kid with headbutts and a stomp to low, low, low abdominal region that triggers a big pop from the crowd. Piper in desperation sends Tonga Kid flying over the top crashing to floor. Just another big ass bump from one of the most underrated wrestlers of the 80s. Piper looks to break Tonga Kid's neck like he did The Superfly with a chair, but connects with the turnbuckle. Diving headbutt by Tonga Kid, but he does not go for the pinfall. This has gone way beyond pinfalls and submissions. He goes to town on Piper with the chair and would not let up until the heel locker room (Valentine, Sheik, Volkoff) restrain him. What a badass angle to reinvigorate the feud as Snuka was set to return and also create a brand-new red-hot babyface star in the Tonga Kid. Great, great TV!

Johnny Sorrow, I have seen the light, Dick Whirrly is the worst ref ever, but on this day he gets his comeuppance courtesy of the head of the Superfly. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka - Meadowlands 7/15/84 Holy shit what a friggin awesome brawl! You hear all about the Piper's Pit with the coconut-smashing, which is such a great angle from little details like Piper making sure to drop the coconuts on the table to prove they are legitimate to absolute obnoxious delivery. Piper is just so good at getting under your skin. We need a heat-seeking little fucker like him nowadays. However, I have never heard anyone talk about the consequent series that resulted from Coconut Pit. I was expecting a typically fun WWF match, but just did not hold enough water to be considered a classic. I would say this blood-filled, hate-dripping brawl stacks up pretty well during the time period. They both start off red-hot and Snuka overwhelms him early. Piper is begging off and Snuka is just relentless. Snuka is doing a great job keeping everything filled with hate and energy to pop the crowd. Piper gets his first break with an eye-rake. That does not last, but he crashes into the most hated referee in the universe, Dick Whirrly. The opportunity presents itself to crack the Superfly with a chair and of course he comes up sporting quite the gusher. Piper rams his head into the steel post and does a little King of the Mountain. Piper punches and bites the cut. Snuka is bleeding profusely. Both he and Piper are covered in Snuka's blood. Snuka finally realizes he is bleeding. He goes into that Coked Out Zone and it is rubber pants time for the Hot Rod. Snuka looks downright terrifying chasing Piper covered in his own blood, his shredded physique and crazy hair. Snuka beats the living shit out of Piper. Piper tries to escape outside the ring. Snuka follows him BY JUMPING CLEAR OVER THE TOP ROPE CRASHING RIGHT ON TOP OF HIM!!!!! Dick Whirrly lives up to his name and is a total dickwad and counts both men out. So Snuka headbutts Whirrly!!!! SNUKA IS THE GREAT WRESTLER EVER! Snuka continues to exact revenge on Piper until the JTTS crew restrain him. We get the official word that Piper actually won by countout. WHAT THE FUCK? Dick Whirrly is the worst ref ever. Piper sucker punches Snuka as he is being restrained and high tails it is out of here. Awesome, awesome heated brawl that sets up many more rematches. It eventually morphs into a tag feud with Snuka/Tama vs. Piper/Partner, but I hope there is an even better singles blowoff first. Given that is the 80s there probably isn't, but still this is a badass match. **** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka - MSG 8/25/84 The big return match for the hottest feud of the summer finally hits Madison Square Garden. 1984 had Sheik/Slaughter, Santana/Valentine and Piper/Snuka. That is not mention all the Hogan matches and Murdoch & Adonis tag match. 1984 WWF was stacked like a brick house. After digging a little deeper, turns out Snuka was having issues with the White Lightning and needed to head to rehab thus stalling out this red-hot feud until coming back for the tag iteration of it later in the year with the Tonga Kid (Tama). Snuka is ready to jump right on Piper, but Piper is cautious on the outside. Piper lets a yell and is ready to do combat, but is easily overwhelmed by the strength and determination of the Superfly. Snuka is definitely more methodical this time around, but Piper does such a great job selling and stooging for Snuka. Piper's only offense comes after the eyepoke, but Snuka is able to gain control with chops. In a scary moment, the ropes are so loose that when Snuka goes to shoot him in, Piper's head gets caught behind the top rope and is almost decapitated. Snuka applies the sleeper to the shock of Lord Alfred and Gorilla. Piper escapes by dragging him outside. Here Snuka sends him into the post and blasts with a chair. This time around Rowdy Roddy is the one bleeding. Until like Snuka, Piper does not enter the Coked Out Zone when he realizes he is bleeding. He just freaks out. Big headbutt by Snuka. Snuka goes up top for the Superfly Splash, but Piper standing directs him into a hotshot on the top rope in a nasty bump to the floor. The ref counts Snuka out, but Piper is not done there. After being bloodied, Piper wants to sends a message to the Superfly and rams a chair into his neck, which the announcers say may have broke Snuka's neck. This is all to write him out to go to rehab. I am loving this feud and as a huge Tama mark I can't wait for him to get involved. I thought the Meadowlands match was a better brawl, but this had a great finish and post-match angle. *** 1/4

Andre The Giant & Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka vs Roddy Piper & "Dr. D" David Schultz - MSG 3/25/84 "You don't throw rocks at a man with a machine gun" - "Rowdy" Roddy Piper after Andre humiliated him on Piper's Pit. Andre is highly amused at how terrified Piper is of him and how Piper keeps forcing Schultz to wrestle Andre. Andre does a drop-down on a criss-cross and gets up, sticks his ass out and Schultz runs into the "immovable object". Thanks, Gorilla. Fun spot. Andre turns his back and Schultz blasts him with an axe-handle. Piper seeing his opportunity comes in and starts throwing combinations in the corner, but the Giant is unphased. He wallops Piper with a right then sends him across the ring to a huge pop. Piper charges again and again. He realizes he ain't getting anywhere and here comes Schultz, who has the presence of mind to stick his knee up to connect with Andre's head. Piper busts the prone Andre open with the knuckledusters and they work Andre over. Eventually, the ref has to call it and send Andre to the back. Snuka is red hot and demands to take on Piper & Schultz himself. He kicks both their asses until Piper pokes him in the eye and his trademark knee lift. Here comes a steaming mad, out of control Giant. Andre sporting a huge bandage comes in and clears house. This is a really fun match that makes everyone look good. I loved the spot with Piper coming in all cocky and Andre sending halfway cross the ring. The brass knuckles was a great way to get that extra heat on the heels. Snuka got to shine a little too. This is the kind of match the WWF excelled at in the 80s fun, but still getting everyone over.

I would be really interested to hear Matt D's opinion on the following match. From a psychological/narrative perspective, it is flawless. It is boring as fuck though. Andre The French Giant vs Kamala The Ugandan Giant w/Friday - MLG 10/21/84 Steel Cage Match Andre and Kamala were in the midst of a blood feud at the Maple Leaf Gardens dating back to September. Andre won the first match by DQ, but lost the second by countout, but, but, but, Vince told me Andre was undefeated for 20 years in 1987. Skipping right the blowoff because I was oddly intrigued by the matchup even though my brain knew it would be very, very, very wicked sloooooooowwwwwww. The announcers loved calling Andre The French Giant maybe because it contrasted well with Ugandan Giant. I have only seen two Kamala matches in my life. You can say what you want about to the gimmick, but he was committed to all the facets of the gimmick. He was vicious, confused and scared all throughout the match. He clearly had no understanding of the concept of a cage match and established his apprehension of the cage early. Andre took advantage of this early and sat on him. After Kamala sort of chopped him off him, he realized he was trapped in a cage with this big fuckin' giant and freaked out. Now Andre was able to ram Kamala head into the cage. From a psychology perspective, the only lame part of the match was the transition as Andre set to early and Kamala knocked him down with the chop. Why would Andre go for a back body drop? Kamala splashes Andre twice and gets the visual pin, but you silly Ugandan Giant you cant win that way! Friday did not do a very good preparing his charge. Kamala rams Andre's head and busts him open. He is choking and biting Andre. It is vicious, but still pretty slow. In a brilliant move, pretty much always keeps his massive body between Kamala and the door. Even when Kamala had an open lane, Andre is so big, he can always grab a foot. Friday and the ref actually get into a lot about the door. Andre eventually starts chopping Kamala and a headbutt and then the big bodyslam. Andre sits on Kamala awkwardly. The French Giant goes way up top and does a seated senton on the Ugandan Giant. Kamala does his seizure-like selling and the bloodied and battered Andre walks out the door for the victory. From a layout perspective, this is pretty much flawless. Kamala is actually pretty multi-faceted for what looks like a really one-dimensional gimmick. He is apprehensive at first, which gets him beaten up. So he gets violent and bloodies Andre, but then is confused about winning. Andre plays excellent defense and outlasts him to make a big comeback. This looks great on paper, but they wrestle in ultra-slow-motion. It is a hard match to rate or recommend, but I think it is worth a look for novelty of the match.

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan vs Iron Shiek - Philly 6/84 Hogan excels in these type of extreme cartoony matches even if they are not my favorite type of match. You can't get more of a great cartoon villain in pro wrestling than mustachioed Iron Shiek with the loaded boot. Sheiky Baby informs us that of course Iran is Number 1! I like the Flock of Seagulls too, Shiek! Hogan comes out guns blazing and does not even let Shiek take off his attire instead Hogan chokes him with it. Hogan just kicks his ass sending him into the post, raking his body with his finger nails even gnawing at him. Hogan was always good for throwing it back in the heel's face. Hogan sets too early for a back body drop and in a counter I have never seen Shiek rakes his eyes. That's commitment to his heel character. Shiek wrestles a great heel heat section throwing Hogan into railings and tables, choking with the cables and his hands. He hits his great gutwrench suplex. Then with no Hulk Up. Hogan hits a clothesline and leg drop for the win. I have been liking the non-formulaic nature of the finish stretch, but that was too anticlimatic. Hulk Hogan is apparently still FABULOUS~! and has not transitioned to Immortal yet per the ring announcer. Shiek attacks him with the boot making me think I did not see the finale, but Hogan chases him off. No one will confuse this with excellently violent Shiek/Slaughter series, but still a fun, popcorn match. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan vs "Dr. D" David Schultz - Minny 6/84 McMahon invades the AWA Capital cites, The Twin Cities, with former AWA Ace, Hulk Hogan in the vanguard. Akin to Price Eugene of Savoy leading the armies of the Grand Alliance against The Sun King and his native France (Eugene was born and raised in the court of Louis XIV), Hogan is the main draw for the WWF to gain a foothold in AWA territory. He is running against an overlooked figure in pro wrestling, David Schultz. Schultz is more famous for his incident with 20/20 reporter, John Stossel, as he tried to protect the integrity of the business, but to many crossed the line in getting physical. I don't know all the details so I am not weighing in, but this did cause him to get blackballed. I had always known of Schultz for this, but thought he was a lower-tier wrestler. In actuality, he was one of the most frequent Hogan opponents of 1984 and a member of Roddy Piper's gang with Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff. Schultz from his most famous TV vignette is portrayed as a mean, nasty redneck. He comes off as one of more real Hogan opponents and I would say the one with widest mean streak. Orndorff is cocky and Piper is crazy, but Schultz was a mean-spirited individual. Can I say "mean" anymore? The match is the inverse of the Shiek match. Instead of the vast majority of the match, Hogan doing the ass kicking in this match Schultz jumps Hogan and chokes him with his bandana. Schultz grabs a chair on the outside and bust him out. The blood definitely helps this match a lot. Schultz hits his big second rope elbow, but parades around for too long. HULK UP! Hogan picks him up at 2 after an elbow to dish out more punishment. Hogan drops the leg. 1-2-Hogan picks him up. HAVE MERCY! Schultz actually turns the tide, but misses a top rope elbow and Hogan hits a big clothesline for the 3. I think if Schultz combined his mean streak with the physicality of a Valentine they may have had something special, but this was not much at all. Schultz attacks him after and tries get away with the belt, but Hogan rakes his eyes and gets his belt back. I liked elements of this match, but there was not enough struggle for me in this match.

Putting it watch later list (probably will watch in 10 years ) WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan vs Big John Studd w/ Bobby the Brain - Meadowlands 12/10/84 Best Big John Stud Match Ever! EVAH~! Ok, so that is not exactly high praise, but I am still pretty sure it is a true statement. My favorite part of the MSG match was the bodyslam psychology and it is like my comments traveled through electromagnetic cosmic worm hole to the ears of Big John Studd, who said to Hogan lets have an entire match worked around bodyslamming each other to please this 25 year old kid 30 years in the future. Hogan said Brutha, that's all well and good, but how are going to pay it off if the 24 inch pythons can not run wild on you because the Vin Man says Andre is going to slam you. I'll take care of it, Hulkster. I truly believe that's how the magic of this three star match was born. Capetta is still in WWF at this point and Fink is on commentary??!?!?!?!? I loved the psychology of this match. It was one giant macho pissing contest. Who could slam the other first? All these early spots were really energetic with great cutoffs and building tension to what I thought would be an anti-climax since the Big Slam moment was being saved for Andre. Hogan was so obsessed with this that eventually Studd was able to draw him outside and crack his head against the table. Studd stayed away from the bearhug and worked a solid King of the Mountain. Then he picked up Hogan like a sack of potatoes and slammed him. *GASP* It was pretty lame that Studd did not follow up this big moment and I thought they were going to lose men. When all of sudden, they end up on the outside and HULK UP-> BODYSLAM ON THE OUTSIDE!!! WHAT THE FUCK!!?!?! BATSHIT INSANITY!!!! Crowd goes bezerk and I lose it in 2014. However, since it did not happen inside the ring, he does not win the money and the slam challenge continues. BRILLIANT! I was planning to be disappointed because all that great bodyslam psychology was not going to get the proper climax and then BOOM Hogan slams him! Somebody needs to crib this Studd Slam Challenge gimmick as it is such a great hook for the matches. Then to top it all off Hogan picks up the most hated ref in history, Dick Whirrly, into a military press. That's almost worth an extra 1/2*, but alas he didn't slam him to pay that off. The match is about as basic as you can get but Hogan has so much energy and the build to the payoff and the payoff are excellent. ***

Should I track down the Philly Valentine match? Is it substantially different from the MSG match? WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan vs George "The Animal" Steele w/Mr. Fuji - St. Louis 8/10/84 The swooning was in full effect here from Vinny Mac: "Never has 300 lbs looked so good" and "He not only has to worry about his title, but the possible demise of his physique". Yes, Hogan's life is not worth living if he were to lose his physique. O, Vince! I liked how in 1984 when they invaded St. Louis they tried to run an angle for Hogan much like the three defense rule in MSG. It was a strong strategy to cement this new foothold deep in NWA territory and prove to the St. Louis audience that WWF promotion was treating the city on the level of NYC, Philly or Boston. They ran a strong Studd program early on and then Orndorff and have now moved to George Steele. I have never seen Steele as a heel so this piqued my interest. He is a very campy, horror film-esque character. I like cheeze as much as any wrestling fan, but the beginning was even too corny for me. However, once Steele took over with rakes to the eye the match was pretty decent actually. Steele was the consummate, vicious lunatic. He went after the eyes and choked Hogan. He played hide the foreign object from the ref, which he used to stab Hogan in the eye or throat. It was pretty effective heel work. Hulk-Up. I like the idea of left-hand backfist from Hogan, but the execution is not always there. Hogan goes for the Atomic Leg Drop, but Fuji trips him. Fuji takes his sweet fuckin time to get to the apron and throw salt into his eyes. Hogan reels from this and falls out the ring to lose by countout to set up the rematch. Weirdly, Hogan never seemed to get his win over Steele, but instead over Fuji. After the salt throw, the real heat was on Fuji as St. Louis crowd littered the ring with garbage. Hogan was fuckin over and including with the old timers who I am sure saw Thesz and O' Connor in their prime. It was a fun Hogan by the numbers match and Steele was a solid vicious heel. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan vs Big John Studd w/ Bobby The Brain Heenan - MSG 9/22/84 The debut of Bobby the Brain and thus the beginning of the feud that would carry the WWF through Wrestlemania IV Hogan versus Heenan's charges. This match reeks of AWA as Okerlund is on commentary and you have old foes Hogan and Heenan squaring off. Studd is a deceptively big guy. Everytime, I look at him, he does not look that big, but he is considerably larger than Hogan. I think it is because he is so well-proportioned. He just looks normal, but then when he locking up Hogan you realize how big he is. This is the worst Hogan match so far from '84 and it has nothing to do with Hogan. Studd is a terribly boring worker. The Bodyslam Challenge gimmick is a really good hook and is the only thing that makes his matches interesting. Hogan was trying his damndest with a terrific back elbow at the beginning, juicing and a hot lariat towards the end. Studd was content to just lock on the bearhug. I liked the transition of Hogan going for the bodyslam costing him and Studd bodyslamming Hogan. That really put over the gimmick and how much of a threat Studd was. The King of the Mountain stuff was boring and Hogan blading seemed forced just because Studd was kicking him. Meh. Hogan goes for the bodyslam after the Hulk-Up and the crowd is pumped. Studd is able to get tangled in the ropes. Hogan attempts on the outside. Studd rams him into the apron and Heenan pushes Studd in to get the countout victory. Studd and Heenan have the audacity to walk out with the title to set up the rematch. It was supposed to be Ventura in this spot, which probably would not have increase the match quality, but those would have been so great character work. The Studd/Heenan pairing makes sense and I can see why they would draw as a top heel act against Hogan and then against Andre even if I find Studd to be one of the most boring workers ever. You can blame this match on Hogan. Everything he is doing is just dripping with effort. Hulkamania is running wild!

Should I track down the Philly Valentine match? Is it substantially different from the MSG match? WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan vs George "The Animal" Steele w/Mr. Fuji - St. Louis 8/10/84 The swooning was in full effect here from Vinny Mac: "Never has 300 lbs looked so good" and "He not only has to worry about his title, but the possible demise of his physique". Yes, Hogan's life is not worth living if he were to lose his physique. O, Vince! I liked how in 1984 when they invaded St. Louis they tried to run an angle for Hogan much like the three defense rule in MSG. It was a strong strategy to cement this new foothold deep in NWA territory and prove to the St. Louis audience that WWF promotion was treating the city on the level of NYC, Philly or Boston. They ran a strong Studd program early on and then Orndorff and have now moved to George Steele. I have never seen Steele as a heel so this piqued my interest. He is a very campy, horror film-esque character. I like cheeze as much as any wrestling fan, but the beginning was even too corny for me. However, once Steele took over with rakes to the eye the match was pretty decent actually. Steele was the consummate, vicious lunatic. He went after the eyes and choked Hogan. He played hide the foreign object from the ref, which he used to stab Hogan in the eye or throat. It was pretty effective heel work. Hulk-Up. I like the idea of left-hand backfist from Hogan, but the execution is not always there. Hogan goes for the Atomic Leg Drop, but Fuji trips him. Fuji takes his sweet fuckin time to get to the apron and throw salt into his eyes. Hogan reels from this and falls out the ring to lose by countout to set up the rematch. Weirdly, Hogan never seemed to get his win over Steele, but instead over Fuji. After the salt throw, the real heat was on Fuji as St. Louis crowd littered the ring with garbage. Hogan was fuckin over and including with the old timers who I am sure saw Thesz and O' Connor in their prime. It was a fun Hogan by the numbers match and Steele was a solid vicious heel.