Superstar Sleeze

With all eyes focused on NOAH in 2003-2004, what the hell was going on New Japan? Shoot fights on pro wrestling cards, 10 champions and 2 vacancies in two years, Chono vs Chyna and then Hogan and Bob Sapp as champion. BOM-BA-YE! That is dying days of WCW levels of batshit insanity, but still there a handful of good matches. I enjoyed the change of pace from the NOAH epics with all but one match (that match featuring a NOAH wrestler) clocking in at a tidy 15 minutes. The matches featured hard-hitting strike exchanges that led to payoff of one or two bombs and were a great representation of Strong Style. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2014/04/inoki-bom-ba-ye-new-japan-2003-2004.html Rankings getting out of control, I will post top ten and new additions from now on. 1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama - Budokan 02/27/00 2. GHC Heavyweight Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi - Budokan 03/01/03 3. All Japan Triple Crown Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Yoshihiro Takayama - All Japan 05/26/00 4. All Japan Triple Crown Champion Genichiro Tenryu vs Keiji Mutoh - Budokan 6/8/01 5. Toshiaki Kawada & Masa Fuchi vs Yuji Nagata & Takashi Iizuka - NJ PPV 12/14/00 6. Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama - Budokan 12/23/00 7. IWGP Jr Hvywt Tag Champs Ohtani & Takaiwa vs Kanemoto & Minoru - NJPW 6/25/00 8. IWGP Champion Kensuke Sasaki vs Toshiaki Kawada - 10/00 Tokyo Dome Non-Title 9. Keiji Mutoh vs Toshiaki Kawada - Champions Carnival 04/01 10. IWGP Jr Heavyweight Champion Minoru Tanaka vs Takehiro Murahama - NJPW 4/20/01 23. Yoshihiro Takayama vs Kensuke Sasaki - G-1 Climax '04 26. Genichiro Tenryu vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan - Vacant IWGP Championship 02/15/04 30. U-30 Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuyuki Fujita - Vacant IWGP Championship 6/5/04 33. All Japan Triple Crown Champ Toshiaki Kawada vs Katsuyori Shibata - NJPW 11/03/04 Non-Title 36. Jun Akiyama vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan - G-1 Climax Finals 08/17/03

The key to this match is right from the outset Mutoh rocked Tenryu with the knee and everything follows in place. It is probably slowest worked of the MOTDC I have seen, but it is so well-executed both from a layout and action perspective that it is hard to deny. It is definitely one of my favorite matches.

I agree wholeheartedly the beginning of the match was really, really good. There is this strange dynamic with Kojima that first 5 minutes are worked really well and then it is just all down hill especially when it is time for him to make his comeback. Kojima doing the leg stretches was boss, best thing I think he has ever done.

While I personally did not rate their 2004 encounter as a MOTYC, I could see someone making the case that was MOTYC (of course in a year when Kobashi was killing it that is a tall task). Sasaki and Takayama do have tremendous chemistry.

I have some sort of hang-up with big match tags. They just feel like they are there to me. Almost like they are just exhibitions for the fans look at this cool dream match rather than titanic struggles. This is a perfectly good match, but much like the dream Hash/Misawa tag on the debut Zero-One show I felt underwhelmed.

It is weird I feel that the April match is a level above the February and August NJPW vs NOAH matches, but it seems that I am the one who has them flipped flopped. I have the April match as my MOTY for 2002, but 2002 was a very weak year in my opinion for puroresu.

WWE World Tag Champs The Shield vs The Brothers Rhodes - RAW 10/14/13 No DQ Tremendous finish, but a pedestrian beginning make this too uneven of an affair to be considered a MOTYC for me. Even though this was a NO DQ match, it was wrestled as a normal mid-show RAW match (it was the main event of RAW). Where was all that energy and urgency that they showed at the PPV? Yes, the finish made for a very memorable moment, but I felt there was too much of a disconnect from the beginning until the finish. For instance, the shine sequence was perfectly adequate with Rollins bumping around until Ambrose trips up Cody and the Shield takes over. It just did not have me popping out of my seat. Rollins seemed subdued bumping and the Rhodes were just hitting their spots. Reigns was awesome asking Rollins if he wanted to get some payback and yanking Cody's nose while Rollins kicked him. They tease the Alabama Slamma, but Rollins rolls through and Cody jumps over him to tag big brother. Goldust lights up me and the crowd moving around like he was 20 years younger. Gotta love the Shattered Dreams/Bulldog combo, the best of Dustin Rhodes and Goldust in one combo. Dustin takes his favorite the missed cross body crashing to the outside to send us to commercial. Goldust is a great FIP really keeping the crowd into it with well-timed hope spots and awesome selling. Since WWE feels like it has turned the clock back, Goldust's use of backslides and atomic drops dont feel out of place at all. Goldust springboard back elbow, but Seth sends Cody flying off the apron. Rollins mocks the Bizarre One and eats a powerslam for his insolence. Tag to Cody and once again he rocks the hot tag pretty well. I love the moment where Reigns does his howl and Cody just fuckin punches in the face, perfect response. At this point, if Cody finished the Shield with the CrossRhodes I would have called this an above average match that was enjoyable, but of course here come the fireworks. Ambrose is in and just attacks Cody. Finally, No DQ! They are preparing for the Triple Powerbomb, but Goldust wreaks havoc with a steel chair. However, as Roman Reigns eloquently points out, he is an idiot and drops the chair and you NEVER drop the chair. Amateur hour from Goldy. But Reigns does not turn it sideways and stick straight up his bizarre candy ass. In fact, he eats a cross-body with it on his chest, great sell by Reigns. Outside the ring, Cody goes for the Disaster Kick, but Rollins catches him and powerbombs him into barricade. Ok, that was awesome, go ahead and chant it. Thank you, St. Louis. It is atomic drop-palooza and Reigns sells it the best since the heyday of the Ravishing One. We end up outside and Goldust is near the timekeeper's table. Ruh roh. REIGNS WIPES OUT GOLDUST! The Shield looks to retain, but here comes THE BIG SHOW! Knocks out Ambrose and Rollins. Reigns duck the Disaster Kick, but eats the Big Show's knuckle sandwhich and the Brother Rhodes win the titles in St. Louis! In October of 2013, WWE was at the top of their game in terms of intersecting storylines and delivering hot payoffs. They would return to the norm of linear storytelling with limited interactions, but for a couple months it was very interesting. Unfortunately, there were a couple miscasts. I think Big Show was a very sympathetic babyface and for him to help The Rhodes win and knock out HHH were great payoffs. However, his main event against Orton was a misfire because at the end of the day it is 2013 and people just dont want to see him in the main event any more. Unfortunately too, after this the Brothers Rhodes became an afterthought even though they would still have great matches at Hell In A Cell and TLC. They were not given any promo time or storyline direction. Regardless, the Authority/Shield storyline was badass and gave two great babyface moments and great matches. ****

Antonio Cesaro w/Zeb Colter & Jack Swagger vs Dolph Ziggler - Superstars 8/30/13 If Antonio Cesaro was the NWA traveling champion, I believe this is how the match would look. Ever since Ziggler turned babyface, he seemed content to wrestle the mid-90s Savage formula take heat for most of the match and then hit the finish. Beside the fact Mr. Livingston recommended this match, I knew something was up because the commentators were saying Ziggler was boasting that he was about to deliver a Mania Main Event level performance. Ziggler all of sudden remembered he had a shit ton of offense that Cesaro gladly bumped and sold for in this match. Cesaro establishes he has the strength advantage early, but Ziggler has the speed when he snaps off a quick dropkick (Ziggler's usual one early offensive move). Thanks to some Swagger distraction, Cesaro throws Ziggler with a gutwrench and when Ziggler tries catch him with a roll-up he double stomps him in a great spot. This is when the match departs from the Savage formula as Ziggler starts rattling off moves like cross-body, roll-up, a facebuster and climaxing with a tornado DDT out of a back body drop attempt. Ziggler's speeds seems to be overwhelming Cesaro. However, Ziggler cant seem to find a way to neutralize Swagger as another distraction allows Cesaro to shake the ropes. Then in the spot of match and maybe spot of the year. Cesaro hits a delayed superplex after grabbing Ziggler from the apron. WOW! Cesaro nonchalantly covers and Ziggler reverses. Ziggler goes around the world to grab a sleeper. Swagger looks to interfere and Ziggler dropkicks him off the apron. Great Payoff! Ziggler gets a fameasser for two. (Why has that not been renamed?) Cesaro shrugs off Zig Zag attempt and true to form Ziggler rushed right back in, but this time ate "throw him up, catch him with a Euro uppercut" and the nastiest Neutralizer I have seen to lose to Cesaro. I don't think is a Match of the Year Candidate, but definitely one of the best free TV matches of the year. I loved the use of Swagger as he was key in both Cesaro's transitions and finally he was knocked out. This was Ziggler's best match of the year as he was just relentless. He knew speed and willpower was all he had. He just kept coming and coming. He pressed every advantage. It felt like a full court press in basketball, but that ultimately cost him because he ran into a huge European Uppercut to set up the Neutralizer. ***1/2

WWE World Tag Champs The Shield vs The Brothers Rhodes w/Dusty Rhodes - WWE Battleground Non-Title Unless he gives an even better performance on the following night, this has to be Cody's career performance. I have nothing against Cody. He is a solid worker. He is a bit bland. He is a bit mechanical. He thinks too much. On this night with teaming with his big brother for the first time, with his father in his corner and fighting for his career and the Rhodes family legacy, he let it all hang out and left it all in the ring in an awesome emotional performance. A lot of the focus of this match, I feel was given to Goldust and his incredible comeback story. I don't want to take away for that. For Goldust to comeback and be the best hot tag in wrestling and one of best workers in the world at the end of year is nothing short of miraculous. This match belonged to Cody and his urgency. The match starts how it should start with the Rhodes ripshit about their treatment at the hands of The Authority and opening a can of whoop-ass on The Shield. For those not up to speed, The Authority threw their weight around and got Cody fired because he could not beat WWE Champion Randy Orton and then Dustin failed to win Cody's job back. So now they have one last shot to win their jobs back against the Tag Champs and the most dominant faction in wrestling, The Shield. Rollins actually pulls Reigns out of the ring to regroup and reset the match by challenging Dusty to a fight. This gives us that great visual of the Three Rhodeses squaring off against The Shield. The battlelines are drawn the best damn three man team in the WWE against one of the most proud wrestling families. Give Cole credit, when he pointed out the Rhodes cant let the emotions get carried away and thus get DQ'd, which really establishes the gravity of this match. However, it was that emotion that cost Cody the advantage because Rollins was able to suddenly drop him on his head into the middle turnbuckle (that move really needs a name). I love The Shield take after Mark Henry and love to lay the badmouth on their opponents during a match. Dean Ambrose was excellent with "Make his dad feel it! Make his sister feel it! Make his mother feel it!" and here come the "We Want Goldust". It is hot in Buffalo tonight! Cody moonsault! Hot tag to Goldust and he moves around better than 90% than the roster, which he is 15-20 years older than. In another shocking twist to this match, Reigns actually out-bumped Rollins in this match. He was making Goldust look like a million bucks. However, in a classic Dustin bump, he whiffs on the cross body and crashes to the outside.Wait are we in St. Paul in 1982 tonight? Because get ready for a double face in peril muthafuckas! They tease a countout loss and the Shield and the commentary team were so great at milking this. One of the best countout teases by the WWE in a long time. Rollins busts out the old Eddie splash over the ropes for two. Buffalo loves them some Goldust and I cant blame them he is kicking some ass selling for the Shield. Powerslam from Goldie and here comes Cody. Cody is a house of fire. Springboard dropkick. Spinning Alabama Slamma. MuscleBuster. He is pissed and kicking ass who is this Cody Rhodes!?!?!?!??!?! Then in the segment we were all waiting for: Dusty takes off his belt whips Ambrose and the delivers the Bionic Elbow. The crowd pops huge! Reigns looks to crush the American Dream, but Goldust tackles him outta nowhere. Cody grabs Rollins and hit CROSSRHODES! 1! 2! 3! The Rhodes family celebrates as the crowd goes wild. How bitchin' was that whole affair. Proof positive that fundamental, badass pro wrestling transcends time. You noticed how there were "This is Awesome" chants that is because people were not popping for moves or the matches. They were chanting for the babyfaces who had been wronged and were getting their retribution. That is how wrestling should be. When you deliver a story people can actually sink their teeth into they wont worry about Flying Space Tiger Drops and Miracle Ecstasy Bombs they will invest themselves in the characters, their motivations, and their actions. Cody and Goldust wrestled like they were fighting for their livelihoods and the crowd returned in kind. Too often in wrestling, there is a disconnect between the story and the match, but here everyone understood their role and kicked ass. Goldust delivered a performance that is the reason he is still on the roster to this day. They highlighted Cody by giving that last hot tag spot taking us home to the finish and he delivered in spades. But wait they might have won back their jobs, but the Shield still has the Tag Titles...****1/2

Not to be a dick, but Gran Hamada is in this match not Naniwa. Michinoku Pro is not style I have delved into too much, but I have watched enough to know this is not the best match of the style. I was just listening to a Steve Austin show where he was talking about rings and how the footage and feel of the ring can cause mishaps until you get adjusted. So I would imagine the uncharacteristic blown spots are due to not being comfortable with the new setting. If I ever met a big time Japanese pro wrestler, the first thing I am asking them (after thanking them for being fucking awesome unless it is Tenzan then I am just skipping to straight to the question), what do you think of the American style and American crowds like? Because based on Ultimo Dragon's performances in WCW and this performance they must think all we care about is spots, spots, spots. I guess following the Eliminators that only reinforced their view of America. I just feel Dragon and M-Pro really dumbed down their style because in their mind American crowds only pop for highspots. I wonder if I am right is all. Also, it was pretty cool of the ECW crowd to throw streamers in the ring. For such an "irreverent" audience, they tended to cheer faces, boo heels, respect other styles of wrestling. I feel like fans of wrestling nowadays are just plain rude and spoiled. At this point in my life, I am not embarrassed by the product, I am more embarrassed by the current fans (not you guys of course. You guys are the bestest!).

So my brain is fried from work and puroresu does not do well with a fried brain. Then I remembered the best wrestling for a fatigued person. E-C-DUB! Never see Barely Legal and courtesy of the Network, here we go! This was a TOTAL SQUASH~! Outside of a couple moves at the very good, it was all Eliminators. I enjoyed how much Eliminators tried to do moves in stereo and together, but it was total overkill. There were literally no transitions. It was a gymnastics exhibition. If they had better teachers, could have been a great team. Joey Styles is as brutal as this match. Name the move by substituting Saturn in move name -> pause -> name the move. I can't believe it, but there is actually such a thing as a spot monkey announcer and it is Joey Styles.

I have been slacking on updating this. The latest post looks at a half dozen matches from the first half of the SHield's run last year. Big ups to Jimmy Redman for posting that Top 100 WWE matches from 2013 helped me immensely in culling together a good match listing. Watched the TLC debut match for first time and absolutely gave it 5 stars based on how unique it was, well laid-out and just great action. Best debut match in promotion I can think of. Thought the Elimination Chamber 2013 match was a high end match, but below a MOTYC. Thought overall they had some very good TV matches with Daniel Bryan. Believe The Hype and Believe in the Shield! http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2014/04/believe-hype-shield-wwe-2012-2013.html

Navigation With Breeze is the greatest tour title ever! Yuji Nagata vs Akira Taue - NOAH Budokan 6/6/03 This is one of the best establish a challenger matches I have ever seen. You have New Japan badass, Yuji Nagata coming off breaking the IWGP Title Defense record looking to prove he is best wrestler in Japan by taking on Kobashi, but first he has to get through a Four Corner of Heaven, Akira Taue. This match is all about setting up the Kobashi match, which oddly is not as good as this match. Nagata repeatedly takes Taue's best shot and will not be denied. Early on, he takes three Nodowas including one on the floor (but not off the apron gotta protect the gimmick ), but Taue cant negotiate the pinfall. He is able to mount a mini-comeback by going after Taue's arm to setup his unbreakable NagataLock III, but Taue scores a DDT to turn the tide. Taue hits two big boots to set up the top rope Nodowa, a Nodowa and then a DYNAMIC BOMB~! Nagata still kicks out. You have established he can take a lickin', but keep on tickin'. From there, it is clear that Nagata is going to mow down Taue and showcase his offense, which means exploders, enziguiris and back drop drivers. Credit to Nagata as he starts the finish run with a kick to the bad arm and applying a Crippler Crossface. He works to get the vaunted Nagatalock III on, but has to hit his other moves first to weaken Taue to apply the hold. True to form, he secures the victory and earned the right to face Kobashi at the next Budokan with the Nagatalock III. In a tidy 16 minutes, this match accomplishes that Nagata can take the best shots of one of Kobashi's biggest rivals and that he will be targeting the arm (a huge source of Kobashi's offense) and Kobashi is in trouble if the Nagatalock III is applied. Mix in this is New Japan's hottest star versus NOAH's hottest star and you have yourself some serious box office. ****

Six years!?!?!??!?!?! I will be surprised if we get six months. It is surprising you bring this up, Parv because I was getting ready to make the statement that Bryan wrestles a lot like Backlund, but wanted to watch a couple more matches from 2013 before I said that. In the ring, there are rarely extended heat segments in his matches. He is always struggling. He is always hitting hope spots. He sells, but it is not really his forte. He will occasionally drop selling so he can hit his moves. He wrestles a lot of the match on top. It is very reminiscent of Backlund's scrappiness. The HHH match was the first match in a long time that I remember him taking a lot of offense at once from an opponent and even then it was still a very even match. I think it just standard smart wrestling booking to put the finish in doubt. You have a monster face like Cena or Hogan you have him take heat a lot because it runs counter to their character (during the Wyatt six man tag on RAW, is when I really noticed how much better Cena was at selling than Bryan). If you have a plucky underdog face, you have him work on top to counter the "stigma" that he does not belong. I am more interested in comparing their in-ring work. I actually think John Cena is the Modern Day Bob Backlund in terms of character work even though their in-ring work is night and day. So I do want to expound on this at some point once I have watched more matches.

That makes sense. Whats the deal with Tenzan & Kojima vs Barton & Steele? Looks like a shitty match on paper, but ranked 3rd in 2001. Is worth time to watch it? I have never seen Jungle Jim Steele and he might be my favorite wrestler out of the four (fine Kojima is not that bad, but annoying). Do they really put on career performances?

I have seen them get panned but I am curious to rewatch Mutoh/Kawada and Mutoh/Tenryu from 2002. I cant believe that one year could make that much difference. How the fuck did Akiyama & Saito vs Wild II make the top ten? That has been far away the worst match I have seen. It has been the only bad match yet/ People got the Liger vs NOAH tags mixed up. It is the April tag that rocks! TESTICULAR PSYCHOLOGY~! I feel like I might have short changed Takayama/Nagata and Tenryu/Kojima. I am going to rewatch those. I like my position for Takayama/Misawa. I just dont like that match up. I really liked Sterness vs Kobashi & Shiga. Helluva performance from Shiga. Again, another big all-star tag match that just fell flat for me in the form of Kobashi's return tag, It was perfectly good match, but did nothing for me. 1. New Japan (Liger & Minoru ) vs. NOAH (Kikuchi & Kanemaru) - NOAH 4/7/02 2. GHC Tag Champions Akiyama & Saito vs Kobashi & Shiga - NOAH 10/19/02 3. GHC Champion Yoshihiro Takayama vs Mitsuharu Misawa - Budokan 09/23/02 4. Genichiro Tenryu vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 07/07/02 5. IWGP Champion Yuji Nagata vs. Yoshihiro Takayama - Tokyo Dome 05/02

Definitely a dropoff in quality, but not as much as into 2002 from my viewing, which I thought was truly an abysmal year. Each of my top 5 matches from 2001 outranks the best match from 2001. From the stuff that didnt make the spreadsheet, I would be curious to see Mutoh/Doc, Ohtani/Tanaka, and Fujita/Nagata. I should watch Kanemoto/Tanaka vs Wagner/Silver King, Misawa/Taue and Kawada/Sasaki from the list. Should I actually watch Tenzan & Kojima vs Mike Barton & Jungle Fuckin Jim Steele. That seems like the stuff of nightmares, but people voted it over the awesome, awesome Tenryu/Mutoh match? Wow, was not expecting such a big disconnect between my list and the consensus. I thought Tenryu/Mutoh was head and shoulders above the rest of the 2001 output that was not even really close. I know I am really low on the Hashimoto/Misawa tag, but it relies way too much on star power in my eyes. I did not find the work compelling, the layout, how it made Akiyama look. To be fair, I have not liked any of these big tags (Ak&Nagata vs Misawa/Kobashi or Ak/Nagata vs Mutoh/Hase) just dont do anything for me. Misawa/Takayama, I liked, but it feels overrated at the number two position and I am a Takayama mark. I have it at #6 for the year. It was kinda lethargic. Takayama works a lot better with Kobashi. Someone needs to explain the Kawada/Kojima match to me. Outside of Kojima mocking Kawada with the hammy stretches it was just Ace Crushers and bombs. I dug two high profile Mutoh matches a lot, really good work. Tanaka/Murahama was incredible work and really paid off all the work on the cross-armbreaker. That stretch when Tanaka is in it is just so exciting. 1. All Japan Triple Crown Champion Genichiro Tenryu vs Keiji Mutoh - Budokan 6/8/01 2. Keiji Mutoh vs Toshiaki Kawada - Champions Carnival 04/01 3. IWGP Jr Heavyweight Champion Minoru Tanaka vs Takehiro Murahama - NJPW 4/20/01 4. Genichiro Tenryu & Masa Fuchi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Nobutaka Araya - AJPW 6/30/01 5. GHC Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama - Budokan 07/27/01

What a fuckin year 200 was and from the looks of it I just scratched the surface. I should watch Ishikawa vs Murakami at some point to include it on my rankings. I do not get love at all for Tanaka/Sano. I like the placement of Vader/Kobashi. I thought SUWA/Dragon Kid & NJ/Osaka were overrated, the former all over the place and the latter lacked heat. I feel like I missed something with Tenryu/Kawada and really need to rewatch it, but the heat segment was really off for me. I think Tenryu/Sasaki is actually underrated by that poll and me. That was a really good star making/torch passing match. I am surprised at how well NJPW did that year. I have the matches that went #1/#2 at #3/#6 so not far off, but maybe it was the Kawada effect to get that consensus to put two NJ matches over Misawa/Akiyama. I know Im a lot higher than most on Kobashi/Takayama, but the heat segment and comeback are really off the charts. Both are friggin awesome. I think Ohtani&Takiwa vs Tanaka/Kanemoto is missing. I would be curious to see where that placed. I would hope a lock for top ten for the year. 1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama - Budokan 02/27/00 2. All Japan Triple Crown Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Yoshihiro Takayama - All Japan 05/26/00 3. Toshiaki Kawada & Masa Fuchi vs Yuji Nagata & Takashi Iizuka - NJ PPV 12/14/00 4. Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama - Budokan 12/23/00 5. IWGP Jr Hvywt Tag Champs Ohtani & Takaiwa vs Kanemoto & Minoru - NJPW 6/25/00 6. IWGP Champion Kensuke Sasaki vs Toshiaki Kawada - 10/00 Tokyo Dome Non-Title 7. Shinya Hashimoto & Takashi Iizuka vs Naoya Ogawa & Kazunari Murkami - Tokyo Dome 01/04/00 8. Kenta Kobashi vs Takao Omori - Champions Carnival Final '00 9. Toshiaki Kawada & Genichiro Tenryu vs Stan Hansen & Taiyo Kea - Budokan 07/23/00 10. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Genichiro Tenryu vs Kensuke Sasaki - 01/04/00

You know you are a wrestling fan when you have RAW on (Best Heyman promo since his return) and are watching Takayama/Sasaki '04 on your laptop. So how come in Japan the refs count in English?

Yoshihiro Takayama vs Kensuke Sasaki - G-1 Climax '04 WAR! What is it good for? Well my entertainment of course! Takayama continues his reign as the top freelancer in Japan. Sasaki has had quiet years since his explosive 2000. Of the interim generation between Three Musketeers and Tanahashi/Nakamura etc..., Sasaki is my favorite by a good margin over Nagata, Tenzan and Kojima. He is hard hitting and explosive. He is not a thinking man's wrestler. He is just a bulldozer. The winner of this match is the one was going to hit the other harder, no frills, just really stiff strikes. They start off with tests of strength that shows how even this is with Takayama winning one with a fireman's carry and Sasaki winning a top wristlock battle. Takayama scores first with a big knee lift. Takayama throws his weight around to control the short and stout Sasaki. Sasaki fires back the only way he knows how with some vicious lariats. His strategy throw Takayama into something hard and lariat the shit out of him. The eventual strike exchange happens, but this one is especially stiff. Holy fuck those lariats and Takayama takes them like a man. Each men ends up on one knee from the ferocity of these strikes. With slobber dripping from his face, the Bleach Blond & Bad Giant of Japan kicks Sasaki's head off, but the subsequent knee lift did not get the job done. The Power Warrior hits an enziguiri and an awesome cross body from the top to the floor to the retreating Takayama. The crowd is pumped and Sasaki calls for the Northern Lights Bomb and hits it. BUT KICK OUT!!! I totally bought that false finish. Takayama big knee lift in the corner, dragon suplex and Everest German gives Takayama his only win of this G-1 Climax. I have enjoyed how different New Japan has been than NOAH in this time with their short, but impactful matches. I thought this one really exemplified Strong Style with his no frills, straight forward badass match. Who ever hit who hardest was going to win? The Bleach Blond & Bad Giant of Japan hit just that much harder on this night. ****

Of course, this is the Wrestlemania I do not go to. That's what happens when Orton/Bastista was the advertised main event up until a few weeks ago. "Silverdome" was hilarious. Hogan was real cool about it. Austin is the man. The Rock gave his best promo since returning. Bryan/HHH was fuckin awesome. I need to see more of the hyped matches, but definitely my MOTY so far. I don't want to debate semantics, but I am 100% with 'ol Timbo Slice that was HHH's match and he was the MVP. I am not saying he carried Bryan. I am saying people who may say Bryan carried HHH are delusional and seeing what they want to see. Best. Squash. EVER. Crowd seemed kinda dead for it, but understandably so. Best. Battle Royale. EVER. I loved the finish sequence. Tons of great spots. I was marking out for tons of stuff. Kofi should only wrestle in Battle Royals/Royal Rumbles. Cesaro winning was awesome. Cena/Wyatt was the match I thought would be match of the night. It felt way too cinematic to me. The narrative seemed a bit all over the place. I am just tired of these "Cena Embrace The Hate" angles. At least, Cena sold like he might be tempted to go to the dark side in this match. I was surprised Cena won. I don't really dig the Wyatts. The Extreme Rules street fight between these two may be a MOTYC, but this was not. Brock/Taker this was a match I expected I would like, but the internet would pan. I don't it is as bad people are making it out to be. I think it is by far the worst Lesnar match since his comeback, but I enjoyed it more than Cena/Wyatt. I thought Lesnar has absolutely zero chance to break the streak. I was totally shocked. I don't think you could have Cena break the streak because that would only intensify the Cena hate. It would have to be someone that unified the crowd like Punk, Bryan or potentially Reigns. Otherwise, it had to be a heel. I love Brock. I think he is a badass athlete and am a total mark for his matches. That said, I think WWE vastly overvalues him as their Ace Monster Heel. His matches are usually to silence ala this match. I think Brock/Bryan is going to tear down the house and Bryan should keep it from being silent. Divas were pretty good. Alicia Fox delivered the most badass kick to the midsection I ever did see. The Triple Threat greatly exceeded expectations. Part of me was rooting for a non-Bryan win just to see if they would riot, but by the end I was totally 100% behind Bryan. Once HHH/Stephanie came out, this was just an excellent piece of booking. From Scott Armstrong to wiping out the Authority to the badass RKO/Powerbomb to the best sequence of false finishes they ever had. I think the Taker loss reinforced that anything could happen and I was biting on the false finishes. I thought the false finishes killed Mania last year especially Rock/Cena II, but this year it made the main event awesome. I really think it was the best string of false finishes they ever had. The visual of Bryan with both belts on the announce table with the fireworks and Wrestlemania XXX was bitchin ending to a crazy Wrestlemania.

When you say Tenzan legitmately KO'd Nagata in the semis fucking up the plan does that mean Nagata would have won the title here? Genichiro Tenryu vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan - Vacant IWGP Championship 02/15/04 Incidentally, Tenzan and Kojima both have their best singles matches against Tenryu. Leave it to Mr. Puroresu to get even better match out of Tenzan than Akiyama by keeping it short and staying on offense. Tenryu starts the match with a terrific kappo kick and digging his nails so deep into Tenzan's forehead that he bleeds (most likely a bladejob, but great way to set it up). Immediately, I am already more into this match than the Akiyama match. There are too many chopfests overall, but as far as chopfests go they are pretty entertaining because Tenryu and Tenzan are different than most wrestlers who engage in this macho behavior. Tenryu has his nasty high chop and punch. Tenzan has his Zinedien Zidane headbutt and double chop. Tenryu bodyslams Tenzan off the apron and here comes the onslaught: Spider German, Enziguiri, Norther Lights Bomb and the worst powerbomb ever. That is up there with the Hashimoto wipe out as the funniest botch. Tenzan meets Tenryu with a big lariat triggering another strike exchange. I have to say I was digging the Zidane headbutts. Tenzan wraps him up in the Anaconda Vice, which won him the G-1 Climax, but Tenryu gets the ropes. One last Tenryu hope spot in the form of a backslide before Tenzan headbutt to midsection -> spikes him with a scoop piledriver -> a diving headbutt secures him his second IWGP Championship. Short, bloody and action-packed now that is a recipe for success for any match. I never expect blood in NJPW/NOAH matches so when it happens it is always a nice treat. Tenryu came out early and just pressed his advantage and eventually Tenzan weathered the storm turned the tide in a strike exchange and unloaded his arsenal to win. It may have just been the blood, but Tenzan's performance seemed way more passionate. So far the best non-NOAH match from 2003 & 2004. ***3/4

Jun Akiyama vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan - G-1 Climax Finals 08/17/03 This is the tale of two performances: the cold, mechanical Tenzan and the expressive selling of Akiyama. I really thought this was the one of the best individual performances from Akiyama in basically carrying Tenzan to a great match through selling and bringing Tenzan's offense alive. Tenzan reminded me a lot of Demolition in this match. Everything made sense, but it was delivered so mechanically and without passion (there were brief moments of fire) that I was often disinterested. Nonetheless, the crowd was really 100% behind Tenzan and given that they had run through Nagata and Sasaki, you might as well give Tenzan a shot. The beginning of the match was brutally boring and I really was fearing for the worst. As much as I bitch about Kojima, I was like give me a Kojima trainwreck over the incessant chops and stomps. There really was no sense of struggle. It felt like Akiyama was just letting him do offense to him. The test of strength was the spot of the beginning. The match finally picks up when Akiyama hits a jumping knee and the announcer name drops Jumbo Tsuruta, which was cool. Akiyama does his textbook neck work with a barrage of knees to the neck, which always enjoyable and interesting even if Tenzan is the most boring wrestler ever. Akiyama hits a delayed piledriver, but only gets two. Akiyama goes for the Exploder on the apron to mercy kill this match, but Tenzan backdrops him so his upper back catches the apron. OW! This was at the halfway mark of the match and at this point I was ready to shit all over this, but the second half really salvaged the match and I can appreciate why it is highly recommended. Tenzan is laser focused on the midsection of Akiyama with stomps, chops, diving headbutts, backbreaker, suplexs. What really makes this all special is how Akiyama is selling and really writhing in pain. You put someone else in this role and this match would be the most boring fucking thing ever. Akiyama is making Tenzan look way better than he is. Give Tenzan credit he is building towards his moonsault, which Akiyama musters up enough strength to powerbomb him. Akiyama is able to get a knee lift and a Exploder, but Tenzan backdrops out of a second to put on this ugly as fuck half-nelson/chinlock that looks painless. He hits a gutbuster and then his moonsault. I cant describe how awesome Akiyama's sell is. He is visibly in so much pain while being covered, but still kicks out. I hate to be the asshole that fantasy books, but this match would be so much better if Tenzan had just went up top and hit another moonsault and won. Of course, this being early 00s Japan, Akiyama hits two Exploders to level the playing field and now we hit the home stretch where we depart from the first 3/4 of the match. Akiyama gets the guillotine choke and the elbow to the back of the head. However, the wrist-clutch can not polish off Tenzan. Tenzan hits a Back Drop Driver and a headbutt to the midsection (WAHOO! Callback) to set up the top rope diving headbutt for two. Lame late match chopfest ends with Tenzan spiking Akiyama on his head via scoop piledriver. Tenzan locks in the Anacoda Vice (as called by the announcers) and when Akiyama gets up he throws him down in it to a big pop. The ref calls it awarding Tenzan his first G-1 Climax. The biggest problem with this match was length. Length is not Tenzan's strength. The whole home stretch killed the great story they were telling just hit on the usual Japanes tropes before finishing. They could have run the midsection story early -> run through Akiyama's offense, but he cant hit the Exploder because he is so much pain -> big finish with two moonsaults as the finish. Instead, we get a boring as hell and perfunctory 18 minute, an interesting Tenzan control segment because Akiyama is a wrestling god and a NOAH home stretch. I recommend it for the Akiyama selling clinic and not much else. ***1/2

"I think Mr. T is inducting his mother into the Hall of Fame" - My Brother, absolutely lost my shit and spit out my soda and started crying. I have not laughed so hard in a long, long time. When he was running through the Holidays and ended with fuckin Father's Day that was glorious. Austin and I had the same reaction. Lita's was interesting, but she has a kinda dry presentation so it was not too engaging. DDP was fuckin awesome as usual, I love that snake story. He tells it even better on the Steve Austin Show. Jake's was a tough reminder of the pitfalls of a pro wrestling lifestyle, but he brought us up at the end. Mr. T was bitchin' as all hell. The drawback was that it sucked that it cut into others times. I love Scott Hall and the Kliq in this type of atmosphere. So I have seen like hours and hours of shoots so it was not the end of the world they did not get to talk plus they will be inducted as the nWo so I'll let it slide. I am glad Hall looks as good as he does. Carlito was good, but I thought Primo was pretty damn good on the mic get this boy talking, Vince. Who is this Linda and what did she do with the potted plant I am used to. The Warrior had some real shining moments putting over the enhancement and trainers who helped and pushing for a Crew Wing of the Hall and spotlighting Jimmy Miranda. Then he would get dragged down into the DVD and would repeat himself. It was too long, but better than expected.

Daniel Bryan vs Roman Reigns w/ The Shield & Randy Orton - RAW 9/16/13 First off, this bothered me then and it still bothers me now was the incessant whining of the babyface commentators this or the Big Show match was a punishment match. If Bryan was the A+ player these people thought he was he would have to defend the title against challengers bigger than him. Handicap match, one arm tied behind his back, blindfold matches those are punishment matches. This is just a tough challenge for the undersized, but firey Bryan. That all being said this is a great match and I think the best Bryan singles performance of this project on Free TV (I have the Orton street fight ahead of this overall in 2013). They establish Bryan's quickness and tenacity as the keys to success. He hones in on Reigns' leg and never really gives up on it and Reigns to his credit sells for the majority of the match. All you had to do was throw in a Shining Wizard and I would have thought this was a Mutoh match from 2001. Bryan was great with his barrage of Dragon Leg screws and kicks. I especially loved the inverted Indian deathlock (think Liger) and then him coming down to reign elbows on Reigns. It showed his focus on strategy, but also his intensity. Reigns takes over at this point with a huge Axe Bomber, which is a perfect heel transition because you are hitting from behind and it is violently wicked. When Bryan hits a knee lift, it is right back to the leg and when Reigns tries to stymie Bryan with a knee lift it is immediately a chop block to a leg lace. That is the type of struggle missing from a lot of matches. Great stuff. Bryan gets another of offense with a drop toehold into the middle turnbuckle and a missile dropkick, but Reigns catches him on his diving elbow driving him into the apron and throwing him into barricade in a very nice bump. Bryan crashes and burns on diving headbutt, but kicks out at 2. Bryan's hope spots feel more like he is struggling through pain rather than turning it off. It is his best FIP so far, but again still much better on offense. "You go where I tell you. This is A+. You are just B+" - Roman Reigns, Da Man! Here comes Bryan flying off with a clotheslines and YES! kicks before Reigns quashes that with a true Samoan Drop. REIGNS HOWLS~! Bryan evades and a roll-up, no. Big kick to head, nada. Bryan WIPES ROLLINS OUT WITH A HUGE DROPKICK. The back of Rollins' head cracked against the announce table. Nasty. Dropkick to Reigns and dropkick to Ambrose. Big clothesline by Reigns only to fall prey to the YESLOCK. Orton in and triggers DQ. They beat down Bryan until the locker room makes the save, which is a big deal at this point in the story arc because the locker room had since feared for their jobs from The Authority and this was the first time they rallied around Bryan. The more I watch Bryan the more I see a throwback to old WWF style of booking babyfaces very strong in the ring. There is very little time where Bryan is selling for extended periods of time. He is always peppering in hope spots and he always feels like he is on offense. Whereas, Cena builds his matches around selling and now extended comebacks. I need to watch more Bryan, but off hand I prefer Cena. Reigns was awesome in this as a badass monster. It was a little too back & forth at times, but I liked the leg psychology and thought Reigns gave a strong performance. ***3/4