Superstar Sleeze

Trying to get back on track with my promotion of these podcasts, this is Glam Metal Pt 2 with the incomparable @goodhelmet & the studly @victory! Released last Sunday so this gets me back on track. Really fun episode, we count down #20-#16. I think Will's rant against me for not including the Sleeze Beez' bonafide classic, "Stranger Than Paradise" is some of the funniest/most entertaining audio I have recorded! So check that out & much, much more! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-kakxr-107d8a2

Doing a killer road trip through DC, Baltimore, Harrisburg PA, Waynesboro VA and Wilmington, NC and just loving life! Had a blast talking to Stacey, but it is time to move on. While this might be Pro Wrestling Only, my show is not. One of my other passions is HEAVY METAL...specifically glam-sleaze-pop-hair metal, call it what you will, but I call it bitchin'! To give it a pro wrestling flair, we have the co-founder of PWO, @goodhelmet & a stud from Chicago @victory on to discuss our favorite songs of the genre! Click the link, download & rock out! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ihvqs-1074817

My bad habit continues as I am again one week behind, but this deserves serious love as it is the Grand Finale of my series with @JimmyRedman on the WWE 2010-2014! I had a blast doing this series and we each had a completely different top 5 so there are 10 matches discussed. We each went with ballsy picks for our numbers 1! Let us know what you think. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-untpz-106bdf6

Haystacks Calhoun does guest commentary on this and says the reason Khrushchev is getting one over on America in the Cold War is we have a chump US Champion like Buddy Rogers. Is it 1960 or 2020? You decide! I cant believe they were doing guest commentary to set up matches even back then. Nice little squash by Rogers like the finish a lot. The way he urgently punished the back en route to the Figure-4, wish we would see more of that nowadays.

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers vs Haystack Calhoun - Chicago 4/14/61 There are certain wrestlers my Dad & my uncles always bring up and Haystack Calhoun is one of them, so I have always wanted to see one of his matches. I do enjoy me some Buddy Rogers. I gotta agree with another reviewer when they say the Nature Boy looked a lot like the Nature Boy. This definitely felt like as close as we would get to Flair vs Haystacks. Calhound wrestles in overalls and barefeet and as horseshoe good luck charm. Was Haystacks the first wrestler not to wear traditional trunks to wrestle? Rogers makes a great go at this and Haystacks is quite mobile. He is no Jerry Blackwell, but his sit down splash and big splash towards the end are massive highspots. The early portion of the match puts over Haystacks size and that there is not much Roger can do against him. Great headlock work and Rogers cant even really choke him because his neck is too big. Rogers kicks at the leg and pulls the hair. They announce the Blackhawks are up 4-3 over the Red Wings to a big pop and then it is 5-3, which is funny to know. Haystacks bodyslams Roger and then hits his big aforementioned highspots. Rogers out of desperation starts to dropkick Haystacks with the second one sending him tumbling out of the ring, breaking the middle rope in the process! Terrific finish that a Big Show or Mark Henry should have cribbed. Clever way for Rogers to win and for Haystacks to be protected. Call me crazy but this was a lot of fun. ***1/2

Gorgeous George vs Cyclone Anaya - Chicago 5/23/50 It is amazing that we have The Human Orchid on tape and this is definitely something I have wanted to see for a while. I implore all wrestling fans to watch this as you can see Goregous George is a template heel. He is lustily booed upon introductions and he just has the mannerisms and accoutrements of the gimmick down pat that all the generations of those aping his style after the fact could have learned a thing or two from 'ol Georgie from his pre-match routine. First Fall: I have watched Cyclone against Thesz and Rogers and he had a couple humdingers with those two. So I am thinking I would lay the blame of this pedestrian start on Georgie. Just a lot of sitting in holds for 15 minutes. The best part of the first half by far was Anaya mussing up Georgie's immaculate hair that got a good rise out of George, the crowd and myself. I was hoping for a more gimmick-y match. George broke up a headlock with a closed fist to the gut, used the hair to maintain a hammerlock and worked a leglock using the ropes. Standard for our day, but dramatic cheating back then. In all honestly, I found Thesz's roughhousing against Ruffy to be far more engrossing and heated. The crowd did not like George. In the hammerlock, Russ gets a bit too clever for me wishing for a different view of George's "-terior" namely his "an- not pos-". It could have worked, but it was too cute. Russ definitely understood the George gimmick and did a good job playing it up. Russ days both men's legs are gimmicked so he sounds like a 21st century wrestling fan. Anaya worked a long Indian Deathlock and George worked a leg lock. As the first half came to a close Anaya was working the armstretcher as George was trying to kip out and bridge to avoid being pinned. Lets see if the second half of the first fall picks up...George does a very comical at an attempt to escape the armstretcher. Kayfabe died in 1950, folks, get over it. George's escape is pretty anti-climatic and reverses into his own armstretcher which does not last long. George goes for noogies. George does the headlock/closed fist gimmick. Anaya has had enough! He gives him a taste of his own medicine! Hell Yeah! Ref breaks it up. Great selling here by George perfect heel, crybaby selling while Anaya is fighting through the pain like a man. Anaya lays into George now, nice fire. Monkey Flip thats called a Monkey Rip by Russ, dig it. Like that spot here. After all this piss 'n' vinegar from Anaya, George takes the fall after two wicked headlock RIPS! He really did RIP him down. Got better down the stretch. Second Fall: Customarily in 2/3 Falls in the 70s/80s, the second fall is the shortest fall and they keep with tradition. Even though, George won the fall, he looks the worse for wear selling the damage from the long-armstretcher. That becomes the focus of Anaya who pounds on it and uses various armbars, wristlocks and hammerlocks on the bad wing of Georgie. George works a half-crab, but does not get much else in the way of offense. Anaya starts wringing Georgie's neck violently. George bumps & sells so well. George figures a good offense is a good defense and RIPS Anaya down, but Anaya will not be stopped. It is Anaya's famed Cobra Twist (aka Abdominal Stretch) with a neck wring for the submission victory. Red hot finish there. Third Fall: Short & sweet. Anaya CRACKS George with a slap due to all his posturing. George's response is take down into a front chancery. A little fight from ol Georgie. Anaya comes up with the Cobra Twist but George is in the ropes and it is a closed fist there. They do a little King of the Mountain with George shoving Anaya over the top and blasting him on the way in. Second time, Anaya snapmares George over the top rope to a big pop and it is the All Japan double countout finish. The first half is dry working holds, but they ratchet up the heat and intensity down the stretch, not as good as the Thesz or Rogers matches. Still it is Gorgeous George if you are a wrestling fan you simply must watch! ***1/4

Verne Gagne vs Billy Goelz - Chicago 6/21/50 Russ says Goelz is the Illinois Jr. Heavyweight Champion, I believe. This not hosted by the Chicago Film Archives, but apparently came out in 2009. It is a fantastic, single fall bout since this is NOT for the world heavyweight Championship. The quality on this is not the best, but young Verne looks nothing like old Verne in my opinion, if it didnt say Verne Gagne in the video I would not never have guessed it was him. The first ten minutes are a battle of the Goelz Hammerlock vs the Gagne headscissors. Verne only started wrestling in 1949 but not only has the technical/athletic part down pat, but even the theatrics. Verne gets two flashy takedowns out of some very competitive collar-elbow tieups. Goelz when he takes Gagne down with an armbar, he sticks with him and turn into a 4-5 minute tenacious hammerlock. They work the hammerlock fabulously. Verne is really good about his verbal selling and constantly trying to escape to keep this interesting. This takes an incredible gas tank to being working for the escape out of a hammerlock. It really shows how great of shape Verne is in. Goelz for his part is not only wrenching the Hammerlock, he is constantly trying to negotiate pinning predicaments with the hammerlock as his fulcrum. I really liked Verne going for the crotchhold (bodyslam) but Goelz disabuses him of this strategy by cranking the hammerlock more. Verne THROWS Goelz halfway across the ring on a snapmare that pops me. Goelz shows his dogged determination pouncing on the injured Gagne and going back to it. Verne goes back to the snapmare; Goelz hangs on but they are in the ropes. Goelz tries to get back to it and Verne uses the Bret Hart trick and bucks him off into the ropes. Verne applies a falling reverse headscissors and this begins his offensive run. Before we switch gears, I want to reiterate and emphasize how great Verne's verbal selling was during the hammerlock it really made that segment of the match special. Two things stood out about the headscissors, one on the first attempted break Goelz went right back to the bad arm, kneading with his knee only for Gagne to re-apply the headscissors. Excellent work. Goelz does this turtle tactic where he grabs his own knees and tucks them to his chin as if in the fetal position to render it impossible to apply a hold to him. I am sure that has been done in World Of Sport, but it was novel to me and if I was a pro wrestler I'd crib that. Verne switches to working a tight side headlock that Goelz slips out the back door occasionally. They trade big, meaty dropkicks. Goelz used a leg-vine version of a full nelson that I know I have seen once before but it is escaping me where. Goelz proves he is a proto-Anderson or proto-Murdoch by going back to the arm. He does the over the shoulder arm-breaker, the dropdown with all your weight arm breaker, the arm stretcher, all the staples of 80s arm work is being done in 1950. Gagne does the classic reversal of the arm stretcher rolling right up into a headlock. It is GRAND FINALE time...they work a super hot one minute stretch going into the draw, Verne gets this tremendous shoulder tackle and loses control trying to follow it up I loved his missed dropkick. Then it is a Goelz Boston Crab, flip out into a jackknife flipped into a cradle as time expired. Wild. That would not look out of place in the 80s at all and would be heralded as a red hot finish stretch. The Hammerlock vs Headscissors work was sublime and fantastic. Goelz would have fit right in as an Anderson or as a tag partner for Dick Murdoch. He was excellent at torturing the arm. Gagne was the best underneath 50s babyface I have seen so far. Technical clinic. ****1/2

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz vs Ruffy Silverstein - Chicago 3/17/50 This match is just as good as I remember it. It is from Russ Davis' call that I started incorporating "crowding" and " rips" into my reviews. First Fall: Thesz was relatively dry and played it straight in the Anaya match. Not so here at all. Thesz really ratcheted up the heeling with constant crowding on the ropes and a deluge of cheapshots. Slaps, elbows, punches in the headlock, you name it and Thesz took advantage. Hell at one point, he damn near pushed Silverstein over the rope. I loved the crowding tactic. It stymies any momentum, breaks all rhythm, and presses Thesz advantage. Silverstein doggedly returns the favor with rip after rip of a headlock takedown. There was one fan vociferously exhorting Ruffy "To give it to him" and Ruffy obliged finally in the corner as he could take it down no longer and he let Thesz have it. Again, it would happen on the ropes with some forearm sledges across the bow. What bailed Thesz out was a sudden, impactful dropkick that resulted in a three count. Terrific babyface vs heel wrestling. Thesz was relentless in his cheapshots, in every hold he was using roughhouse tactics to break the momentum. It gave the match a real, tense edgy feel to it. Ruffy could not never get his rhythm, but Thesz could not maintain either. Very interesting. I liked the finish to the fall. Good climax. Second Fall: They start off just as chippy into the ropes. There is a palpable hate between the two at this point. Ruffy applies a full nelson, which according to Russ is his trademark. Thesz backs him into the ropes and does NOT give him a clean break; he whips around and punches him hard in the breadbasket. Silverstein leaves his head exposed on an errant takedown attempt and Thesz BLASTS him with a straight, exposed knee to the face. Damn! Another one! Not quite as stiff, but this match is brutal. Ruffy is able to recover enough to apply a rolling butterfly cradle to take the second fall. I love how heated this is. Third Fall: Tremendous third fall. Thesz comes off a massive ornery prick. He was outright taunting the referee with his blatant, aggressive cheating. Ruffy starts the fall piefacing Thesz and this shit is on. Thesz adds cupping the ear to his asshole tactics. Silverstein dumps him over the top rope. EUROPEAN UPPERCUT ROCKS THESZ! Excellent sell by Thesz really puts that move over and sells the danger of him losing. Ref orders Thesz to give a clean break he places his elbow on Ruffy's jaw and then smacks his own hand driving the elbow into the jaw. God love him! More cheapshots in the headlock knocks Silverstein out of the ring. KNEELIFT as Ruffy tries to return. This is merciless. Thesz chokes Ruffy by placing his forearm across his throat and a Thesz Press puts Ruffy out of his misery. Thesz gives an absolute masterclass on being a roughhouse heel. If he was in there with a red hot fiery babyface this could have been an all-timer, but this was still a terrific match. ****1/4

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz vs Cyclone Anaya - Chicago 3/31/50 Lets see if I still remember how to do one of these. Kinda lost my smile there for two months, but I had a hankering to watch some wrestling lets lean into that. First Fall: Gorgeous, delectable wrestling. Beautiful takedowns. If you love a good takedown, this match is for you. Side headlock takeovers, double wristlock takedowns, some nice armdags. Very 1950s in how it is organic, competitive and feels earns. Loved Thesz on a headscissors doing a modified short piledriver. That was early and popped me. Anaya stays right with Thesz, nice stump puller at one point and Anaya gets the bigger highspots. His bodyslam is put over huge by Thesz and the ref starts counting as if it were boxing. Anaya gets a rip roaring drag, but this time it gets Thesz's dander up and Thesz counters with a SPLENDID, FORCEFUL double leg takedown. They started trading side headlocks. Thesz wins the first fall with a Thesz Press. Very solid meat & potatoes pro wrestling. Not much in the way of panache or flash, but something you can really sink your teeth into. Second Fall: They stick with brought them to the dance lots of strong, competitive wrestling. Anaya gets the first advantage with a standing split leg toehold, Thesz sweeps the leg beautifully. During the break, Russ informs us that Cyclone does have a finish it is called the Cobra Twist and this turns out to be a Abdominal Stretch. Anaya goes for it, but they end up in the ropes. Thesz takes control, but Cyclone hits a sudden bodyslam with an immediate vertical press which was a nearfall I bit on. They trade some wicked snapmares, but in the flurry of confusion, Anaya strikes and applies the Cobra Twist for the second fall. Nothing stands out from a character/narrative perspective, but from a work perspective this is sublime. Third Fall: Terrific final fall that moves the match from very good to great territory comfortably. Anaya goes for the Cobra Twist immediately and they do a little doe-see-doe. Anaya uses some wristlocks, headscissors and headlocks to control. There is a superb moment in the headscissor where out of nowhere Thesz KICKS ANAYA IN THE MOUTH to break a headscissors. That had me audibly "Ooooooo". Stupendous moment when Thesz throws Anaya off and immediately pounces with a drop toehold rolled right up into a calf slicer. Exquisite. Cobra Twist again but they tumble out of the ring. Anaya beats the count at 17, presumably he had until 20. Anaya visibly limping. Thesz executes a series of double leg takedowns only for Anaya to Kangaroo kick from off, yes I will be stealing that from Russ Davis in the future. Wicked Thesz dropkick quashes that defense and executes the Single LEG Crab on the injured leg for the victory. Pro wrestling in its purest competitive form. ****

Ugh! Sorry I am a week late again in advertising...a combination of night shift, podcast recording, dating, friends and family kept me preoccupied last week. This is the shortest episode of Pro Wrestling Love clocking in a brisk, efficient 45 minutes but there is stilly plenty of charm with @JimmyRedman on the show. Dont skip this one, but I promise we more than make up for it next week...erm I mean this week...I mean next episode...yeah thats it. I will be back later this week to advertise, this week's episode and grand finale! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zgv7v-10626e3

A week late, but hopefully not a dollar short! Hot Vax Summer is in full effect and I was insanely busy last week and couldnt even find the time to hype Episode #3 with Stacey @Jimmy Redman as we go through our #15-#11 of the Best WWE Matches of 2010-2014 and a favorite time period for the both of us. Lots of Mark Henry Love from the both of us! A Smorgasbord of NXT Matches! I turn heel at the very end and with a pick so audacious that I was not sure if Stacey & my friendship was going to survive it! Click the link, download and enjoy! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2awnz-104ae4d

@Jimmy Redman & I are back in action! With another fun-loving, ebullient episode of Pro Wrestling Love covering #20-#16 of our Top 25 Pro Wrestling Love countdown. Stacey goes to town about Beth Phoenix vs Kelly Kelly and we get some bonus love for Nattie vs Alicia Fox. My contribution in what will become a running gag is I cant figure out how to say Pyrrhic Victory. It is always good time on Pro Wrestling Love! Click the link, download, listen and tell us what you think! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-4uask-104ae49

I am so excited! I just cant hide it! I am about to lose control & I think I like it because I have my sista from another mista on with me for the next five shows, the one, the only @Jimmy Redman! I cannot possibly think of a better subject for me and Stacey to sink our teeth into then WWE 2010-2014! Stacey is a Superfan of this era and her Redman Report on the Top 100 WWE Matches of 2013 is the stuff of actual legend and has turned me on to so much great wrestling. https://www.cultofwhatever.com/2014/03/the-redman-report-top-100-wwe-matches-of-2013/ I always enjoy talking to Stacey and really glad we got to spend so much time together. This is part 1/5 and as anyone can expect between the two of us, we go long! I hope everyone has as much fun listening to this as we did recording it. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-afxz4-10444e2

Thanks Frankensteiner for listening & enjoying it! I have not watched the match yet. I have a zillion things I want to do and watch, but I will put it on the list. It is Grand Finale time! What is the best WWF Match between 1988-1997? Guess what Pete & I agree! Not only that, we agree on what the second best and the third best matches are! 1-2-3 are set in stone those the top 3 definitive matches in WWF between 1988-1997. I think this is the most discussed era ever, but I think it was important thing to do. It is the one touchstone that almost all fans can discuss and have opinions on. I really had a fun time with @PeteF3 and thank you for coming on with me! Let us know what you think...what's your #1, what did we have too high, too low, what did we whiff on? https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wgixy-1031b68

I know the longest stretch of road I think I have been down was about 2 miles of side road connecting Kilkenny to the highway. I ended up in the ditch at one point I was so worried about oncoming traffic demolishing me. Those high walls or high shrubs give you no play! Happy Belated Mother's Day! Is there really such a thing as a belated Mothers Day? After all, Mr. T says every day is Mother's Day! We are celebrating with @PeteF3's penultimate episode counting down the back half of our Top Ten of Best WWF matches between 1988-1997.We start getting into the canonical territory. I pulled up two curveballs in the beginning. Pete lays down a canon match that I dont have and we discuss that. A lot of famous matches that most everyone has watched so listen in to us weigh in on them! Click the link and enjoy! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-u528f-102fd13

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr vs Antonio Inoki - JWA 12/2/69 Two Out of Three Falls Junior has his dad and a very blond, dare I say handsome, Harley Race with him. I really enjoyed Inoki vs Jack from 1971 and I am excited to see how these two pair. First Fall: Great Championship Style Wrestling, which I think is my favorite style. Not as good as Jack vs Inoki, but few matches are. Jack vs Inoki had amazing takedowns and scrambles with unparalleled intensity and organic nature. This match does not have next level takedowns, but features really good action. I LOVED the early shouldertackles by Inoki. Watch how Junior fed those. He would charge and meet Inoki very close to the ropes maximizing how good they looked and the impact. He looked overly aggressive and not like a fool taking a bump in the middle of the ring with a thumb up his ass. Inoki worked a lot of great arm drags and arm bars. Nice Inoki reaction to the leapfrog to go back and get that arm drag. I liked how Junior finally combatted the shoulder tackles, he waited a little longer and met Inoki when he was in stride and dropped down into a wicked drop toehold and rolled right up into the calf slicer. Excellent psychology, he took more time for himself, let Inoki come to him and then executed the counter. Fundamentals. Junior works the calf-slicer, toehold really well, but eventually loses control. Upon stand up, he takes Inoki down and is thinking STF, he has the toehold applied and but as he looks to apply the facelock, Inoki grabs wrist control and is able to maneuver into a hammerlock when Junior tries to the alleviate the pressure. Nice chaining there. Some great hammerlock work, the staples, wrenching, trying to snapmare out, but Inoki maintains control, crotch hold, but Inoki maintains control, shit like that I just love. Junior finds most success with one of my favorite moves the drop toehold. He uses that twice to escape the hammerlock. Great moment when Senior is getting in Inoki's face about Junior scoring the Drop Toehold and the ref stomps at Senior's hand. There is a 30 second clip to a stand up after a bundle of leg locks happens, I applaud this editorial decision. :p They work an awesome test of strength sequence. Some great bridges by Inoki to avoid pinfalls and loved the body scissors counters. There is a great sequence where Junior gets the monkey flip out of the knucklelock after Inoki failed but then Inoki turns that into a body scissors. I love how a big deal is made out of Junior clenching his fist as he was struggling to escape the body scissor. He uses a double axehandle to break and turns it into a deep toehold. Inoki makes the ropes, but Junior drives the knee into the back of the thigh in an unclean break. I like that Junior is ratcheting up the heel behavior. A very strong first twenty minutes. We get a 30 second clip here. We come back to the hottest part of the match. Junior begins manipulating the fingers and the crowd goes apeshit. Throwing food and garbage into the ring as Inoki sells it for all its worth. Junior presents Inoki's hand for Harley to punch this really whips the crowd into a frenzy. Junior slams the head into the steel turnbuckle. All the while, Inoki is desperately trying to fight out with the great dramatic elbows to the head. He eventually breaks free and clamps on a headlock. They do my favorite headlock spot as Junior gets over the top rope onto the apron but Inoki yanks him back in. Some more good headlock tenacity spots until Junior nails a wicked back suplex. He stomps the bad hand, slams into hard, steel objects and works a good hammerlock. Inoki is able to stand up and reset the match. He finally goes for the abdominal stretch but they get tied up in the ropes. Junior tries for the Boston Crab, but Inoki uses his leg strength to send him flying. You have got to see the heat on Inoki's Boston Crab. The crowd was going wild. This being a 2/3 falls match I thought for sure this would be a finish. Junior scurried through the 5-hole and almost got a quick pin out of it. Inoki moved to another Sleeze favorite the short arm scissors. They end up in the ropes. Junior tries playing King of the Mountain. This time is just slamming Inoki's head into the steel. Inoki eventually breaks through his defense with a lunging shoulder tackle from the apron. A couple Irish Whips hard into the buckles and a pair of bodyslams. Inoki was rocking. Third Irish Whip, Senior does the ol Funk staple of laying out on the top rope to cushion the blow for his son. Here come the flying rotten tomatoes! 1960s Japanese crowds rule! Junior takes him down into a reverse chinlock. Lots of hair pulling and top wristlock tests of strength before Inoki wins the day with a top wristlock. I am continuing to love this. I think they had some really hot sequences especially the finger manipulation, Boston Crab and his Dad's interference. I still think the Jack match is better, but this is in my top handful of 1960s Japanese matches, 40 minutes in. Really strong stuff. Harley distracts the ref and Junior uses hair to get control of his own hammerlock. They go into the bomb throwing portion on an excellent criss cross. We see Junior eat an Inoki shouldertackle because he met Inoki too close to the ropes. On the next one, he lets Inoki come to him and BANG! Amazing jumping knee to the skull. That popped me. Great nearfall. They strung together some doozies. Junior got is mouth busted open hardway I believe on one of those criss cross noggin knocker spots. Inoki got a wicked hot backslide. Junior had hot nearfalls with the Butterfly Suplex and the Bombs Away Kneedrop. Inoki had a bodyslam and really hot nearfall on an Airplane Spin that worked me up into a lather. They did some great outside the ring brawling. At one point, Inoki ripped a phone off the hook and tried to nail Junior with it, but the ref intervened and Junior got a hold of it and nailed him with it. Sheer madness. Best spot of the entire match...Inoki floats over, down the back seamlessly into an ABDOMINAL STRETCH~! MARK OUT CITY! Crowd went nuts! Junior bucked him over the top rope. Inoki gets one more abdominal stretch on an whip into the ropes but Junior is saved by the bell. Sixty minute broadway with no falls but entertaining throughout. I think there is some editing I would do rearrange some of the spots but thats just picking nits this was a blast. The first twenty minutes is excellent grappling. The middle twenty minutes is really hot babyface/heel work that still maintains the sporting nature. I liked the bombing throwing finish stretch although I did think they ran out of things to do towards the end and they were just waiting for time to expire at points. The Japanese crowd was wild, throwing fruit and garbage when the heels cheated and popping like mad for all the Inoki nearfalls. This is an excellent Broadway. ****1/2

Between a post-vaccination vacation to Miami and a slew of night shifts, I have not gotten a chance to watch much wrestling, but looking to change that and picking up where I left off. NWA International Champion Giant Baba vs Fritz Von Erich - Olympic Auditorium 12/19/69 Two out of Three Falls This is too chopped up to rate, but it also too cool to pass up. Seeing LA footage from its heyday and seeing Baba work America is worth it. There is a one old lady who is a big Baba fan and she is always shouting "Get him back in the ring, Baba!" when Baba wins by DQ at the end, the crowd pops. Nice to see Baba over as a babyface! First Fall: Dont get much, Fritz is worse for wear on the apron. This was a staple of Fritz cowering heel strategy was too be on his back in the apron or in the ropes. He lures Baba to the outside and slams him into hard objects. Then he wins with a series of dropkicks. Nice Cowboy Kick after the fall. Second Fall: Baba beats the shit out of him with chops that Fritz sells well. You can see the difference between America and Japan here. In Japan, Fritz is much more aggressive because the Japanese has a natural inclination to dislike him. Here Fritz is more cowardly to ensure the American crowd does not root for him. I like this psychology. Fritz is near the bottom rope and the ref keeps breaking Baba. Eventually, Fritz takes advantage and single leg picks Baba and applies the Stomach Claw. Baba sells this incredibly well as that is Baba's strength above all else is his selling. They play a little King of the Mountain, but Baba chops his way back in. They do two ugly criss cross spots where I think Baba was wanted the Neckbreaker Drop but does not really get it, but thats the fall. Tied 1-1. Third Fall: We dont get much. Baba hits the Giant Chop for two. Goes for it again and this time Fritz evades and applies the IRON CLAW~! Baba starts bleeding from the headcrusher. Baba was in the ropes; Fritz pulls him back into the center, but will not break so the ref disqualifies Fritz. The crowd pops which is nice. I thought it was kinda lame, but 1969 was a simpler time. Good look at Baba in America and to see the differences between America and Japan.

Matt brutha, there is no such thing as too much Rockers love. :p I will watch it when I am not too busy not nearly dying in Miami. Holy shit, take a post-vaccination vacation to Miami to celebrate no one told me that Miami was the scariest place in the world to drive. I grew up driving in Boston, have driven in Manhattan, Queens, you name it, driven on the other side of the road in tiny teeny roads in Ireland and inner city Dublin never have I feared my life more than driving in Miami. The Everglades were bitchin' as hell...saw so many alligators, so fucking cool. So sorry for being a tardy to the party on this post to let everyone know episode #3 with @PeteF3 on the Best of WWF 1988-97 is here, but the aforementioned trip to Miami and then back to back night shifts drew my attention elsewhere. This kickass episode where are still talking about match off the beaten path before we get more canonical in the Top10. Give it spin and let us know what you think. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hifpf-100c9c0

None other than @PeteF3 is back for more on the Pro Wrestling Love! As we continue our continue down of the Best WWF Matches from 1993-1997. We have bust up laughing about the weirdest tangent on Bret Hart. We have a good time talking about Hulk Hogan vs Sgt. Slaughter and Bret Hart vs Bob Backlund. The Jumping Bomb Angels make my list and that leads to interesting tangents about St. Louis Wrestling and Powerbombs in America. This one is chock full of goodness so dont miss out! Click the link, download & enjoy! Let us know any feedback! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bx682-100c965

NWA International Champion Giant Baba vs Fritz Von Erich - JWA 12/3/66 Two Out of Three Falls I watched the first fall about a week ago late one night and I thought it was bitchin' I wanted to come back to it when I was more awake and after I had seen more Baba. The first fall is still bitchin' as all get out. First Fall: ***** first fall! Incredible! Fritz is rocking a turtleneck like it is 1966, daddy, oh shit, it is 1966! Fritz is trying to intimidate Baba during the ref going over the rules. When that does not work, he clobbers him! Then just repeatedly punts him really hard in the shoulder. It was fucking wicked. You can see where Kevin got his style from. Fritz was stiff as fuck. The bell had not even rung after all these cheapshots. Baba looked bad. After a watching a ton of Baba, I know he loves to sell and work underneath so this start does not surprise me in the least. Once the bell rings, Fritz slams his head into the turnbuckles repeatedly. He throws him to the floor and beats him up. He slaps on the Iron Claw while he is in the ring and Baba is outside. Fritz has Baba dead to rites but needs to finish him in the ring. Fritz has Baba prone on the mat and is about to slap on the Claw when BABA MOVES! Fritz slams his hand into the canvas. Baba stomps the hand! OH HELL YEAH! Baba unleashes HELL & FURY ON FRITZ! GIANT CHOPS TO THE HEAD! BIG BOOT! GIANT CHOP! I love how Fritz chooses to sell this. He doesnt take flat back bumps which look ridiculously especially after the Giant Chop. He does a great discombobulated falling forward sell. Baba pins him for the first fall. It is a little controversial because Fritz was squirming, which I liked. Fritz shoots him hand up and grabs the Iron Claw! He applies it for a minute, draws blood and it takes forever for the referee to pry him off. This looks like the ultimate Pyrrhic Victory for our hero, he is up a fall but looks the worse for wear due to the nefarious tactics for Fritz Von Erich! Second Fall: They are maintaining an insanely high level. Fritz's punts are insane. They are ferocious. Fritz goes for the Claw in the corner, but BABA BLOCKS! THE DRAMA! THE TENSION! I live for this! This is why pro wrestling is the best. They milk the work in the corner so well. Fritz slowly grinds Baba from a standing position to being slumped in the corner, but still he cant apply the dreaded Claw. Fritz takes a swipe at a photographer or official. Baba throws a wicked chop and Fritz just crumples. I think this is the key to the whole match. Fritz sells every Baba blow like the most painful thing he has ever experienced. He has to fight through all this pain. On top of that, it means the Giant is never out of it, if he can land just one blow that could be the blow that puts Fritz out. Baba throws more chops at Fritz from his back. This is glorious. Fritz regains control on the outside. There is another great shot by Baba on the outside where Fritz doubles over and really takes the match to the next level. Fritz tries to apply the Claw in the ring, but slams his head into the canvas again. Baba starts clawing at the ear; this is wicked! The struggle is so real and violent. These two are scratching and clawing at each to win. Baba finally regains his composure. On the outside, Fritz is in full back pedal mode away from the pissed off Giant Monster. He throws the official in the ring to stall the Giant. I love how Fritz is cowering after all the bullshit he has pulled. Just when it looks like Fritz is going to get his, he unleashes one of those wicked punts and then slams Baba's head into the apron and then the announce table. Fritz uses the Claw to SLING BABA ACROSS THE RING! Iron Claw puts our hero away! Fritz attacks this official again throwing him out of the ring and he loses his shoe. So he whips his shoe down across his back and it makes a great sound. I am excited to see what they have in the 3rd fall because this has ruled so far! Third Fall: They complete the cycle and this is officially a phenomenal match! Fritz comes in for the kill after hitting a home run at the end of the second fall. True to form once Baba gets in that first shot, Fritz sells it like he has been shot. Fritz is left slumped in the corner. Baba gives him the universal signal for "Get up and fight like a man!". Baba is clawing the ear a chopping it. Fritz takes a huge bump over the top rope and crashes to the floor. They come back into the ring for the big finish run. This is just as nasty and scrappy as it had been the whole match. They are on the ground near the ropes trying to claw the other into submission. Fritz gets the CLAW~! on the ground! Baba ends up on the outside. He is sick and tired of this Claw business, he grabs a chair and crushes Fritz's Claw hand with two chair shots. He tries to bring the chair into the ring, but Fritz gets a hold of it and CROWNS HIM for the DQ! Great finish! An arm has to hold Fritz back and in the fracas, that official who had been bullied by Fritz, twisted Fritz's bad ear! Fucking ***** just for that! Incredible heel performance from Fritz! If you could make a Top 100 Greatest Wrestler Ever list based off one match this is the performance. He crushed it on offense, those punts, the build to the Claw and just being a jerk. Then on the flip side, I dont think anyone has sold so well for Baba. He made Baba look like a total monster. The energy was off the charts. Great brawl! Baba was terrific as the come from behind hero and avenging monster. Best Baba Match I have ever seen! I thought the finish was very satisfying as it paid off the Claw angle and the unhinged brawling nature of the match. It was match that went off the rails before the bell even rang and was pretty hanging onto the track throughout. Kickass. *****

United States Champion Johnny Valentine vs "Wild" Bull Curry - Houston 6/20/69 Two Out of Three Falls Johnny Valentine is billed as United States Champion, but I dont know which version. Apparently, Valentine injured Bull's son, Fred, so shit is personal. Bull Curry is an ugly mutha from Connecticut who looks like he could be my great uncle. Bull Curry is already 56 years old at the time of this bout! I was watching some video apparently from 1972 where they interviewed some Houston Wrestling fans. One older lady said "If Bull Curry can love as good as he fights, I would like to take him home". After watching this match, I gotta say if that woman was right and got her wish, she would have a helluva time! First Fall: Bull Curry is basically good at one thing, punching Valentine in the face. If you are going to only be good at one thing in pro wrestling make it punching people in the face. Valentine crowds up against the ropes so Bull pops him right in the jaw and Valentine is so good at selling. Valentine goes for a wristlock, whats Bull's solution to punch him in the face. Valentine is so great at clutching his jaw and selling like he is in there with a wild man. Valentine decided to grind this out with one of the most brutal, painful chinlocks you would ever see. This takes some starch out of Bull. Eventually Bull sees an opening and punches him in the gut. STAND & BANG! Johnny tries to throw hands with Bull, bad idea! Bull whups him! Johnny heads for the hills and behind the referee. This is as great as advertised. Johnny plays King of the Mountain. I think this is smart. Bull got his shine. Johnny tried to grind, Bull shined in that so now they have progressed to something new. Johnny slams him into the table. He drops The Hammer right in the mush! He keeps cutting Bull off at the pass and knocking him off the apron. Great stuff all around thus far. FIST FIGHT BREAKS OUT! Bull grabs the hair and just pounds Valentine into submission. Valentine takes a hard left jab right in the nose/cheek bone. Here comes a right! Valentine rips Bull to the ground and wrestles him down for a three count. Love the sudden finish. Bull is clearly pissed and out for blood. Valentine is here to win and retain. He squeaks out the fall. Second Fall: Johnny Valentine tries to press his advantage by throwing hands with Wild Bull, bad idea Johnny. LEFT JAB SQUARE IN THE MUSH! Bull just fucking tees off for the rest of the fall. I love bumping as much as the next guy. I think we have swung the pendulum too far in everyone bumps for everything, all the time (although my girl, Jade Cargill didnt bump except for once against Red Velvet recently so I have hope that she will do well). We could just use stand & bang stuff. Johnny is registering and selling here. He is selling on his feet. He is letting Bull do his thing which is throw wild haymakers. The facial expressions from Johnny are pitch perfect. Bull rains down the punches and busts Johnny open! YES! YES! YES! The whole Bull beating the shit out of Johnny and the way Johnny was telling the story with his eyes and you know any moment he would bump and finally that big punch lands and TIMMMMMBBBBBAAAAAAHHHHHH! Even Paul Boesch makes a Timber reference. Johnny Valentine cant answer the ten count and he loses the fall by TKO. If youre a fan of Lawler/Dundee, you gotta watch this! Third Fall: HOCKEY FIGHT! Bull has him backed into the corner, got the hair and teeing off. Ref just to break it and Bull pops him for good measure. Luckily this is not the finish. They brawl on the outside! Bull has a chair and slams Valentine. Of course it is a double countout. Bull ends up punching Danny McShane and the ref as they try to break it up. This match is for those who just love great punching. This is definitely a Memphis classic that just doesnt happen to take place in Memphis. What really elevates for me was Johnny Valentine's selling. He really ratcheted up the entertainment factor. Bull Curry was a crushing the brawling game. The finish takes it down from the super high highs but this is still a stand & bang classic. ****1/2

"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers vs Cyclone Anaya - Chicago Wrestling 1/5/51 Two Out of Three Falls After a Baba/Kiniski was looking for something different. "Nature Boy Buddy "I am Repugnant" Rogers" - Russ Davis making his presence early and often. Ouija boards existed in 1951?!?! He uses the term "Hornswoggle". First Fall: Entertaining bout, great application of holds, lots of struggle, good movement. Anaya worked the top wristlock a lot early. Buddy opted for the headlock using side headlock takedowns. Loved how hard it was for Anaya to apply the headscissors. Anaya was really good at arm dragging from the collar-elbow tieup position. Good split leg from Anaya, Rogers picks him up like a sack of potatoes and gets out of it. Nice move by Rogers at one point to evade an Anaya move by grabbing the ropes and little Peacock strut there, put a smile on my face. Rogers is tempted to bodyslam Anaya over the top rope, but thinks better of it, Russ lets us know that would've cost him. Buddy takes Anaya down with an ugly ass headscissors, but Buddy makes up for it with a stupendous hammerlock. Buddy works a helluva hammerlock as we close in on the 15 minute mark when Anaya makes the ropes. Nature Boy rips Anaya over with two of the most ferocious snap mares you will ever see, but into all the chaos, Anaya grabs an abdominal stretch and makes the heavy favorite submit to win the first fall. Anaya 1-0. Second Fall: Is very strong, really good stuff. You can see Rogers is more offensive here being down a fall. He blocks multiple takedowns from Anaya. Anaya goes back to the well immediately going for the abdominal stretch, but Roger immediately takes him down and works a wristlock. Anaya tries to work an arm drag takedown from a collar-elbow and Rogers just deadweights him and clamps on a tight bodyscissors. Great work in the bodyscissor morphs into a crucifix. Anaya ties him in a stepover toehold looking for a pin, it looks like he might have in a standing figure-4 but Russ accurately predicts that Rogers will trip and regain control and that is what happens as he moves into a calf-slicer. Cyclone starts to pick up the pace with some shoulder blocks and Rogers powders. Roger throws a couple cheapshots up against the ropes. Russ points out that these are the first roughhousing tactics we have seen thus far. Rogers slaps Anaya. Anaya is pissed starts to punch Rogers in a headlock. Anaya looks to be running away with this when Rogers NAILS a dropkick and a beauty. Two vicious snapmares and a brutal piledriver take the fall for the Nature Boy! Tied 1-1! Bravo! Third Fall: Anaya cannot respond to start the third fall so Rogers takes the fall by TKO. Tremendous finish! Really puts over the piledriver! Love it! Really enjoyed the matwork in this. Rugged, forceful and organic. Loved the Rogers block of the arm-drag directly into a bodyscissors. Really stood out to me. Rogers felt like a big time star. Anaya seemed like a solid babyface mechanic. Rogers' snapmares were terrific. The piledriver finish was tremendous. ***3/4

NWA International Champion Giant Baba vs Gene Kiniski - JWA 12/3/70 Two Out of Three Falls Kiniski has since lost the World Championship to Dory Funk Jr and it has been about three years and some change. Kiniski is already over 40! Big Thunder still looks great. First Fall: We lose about 5 minutes at the beginning. Kiniski works a sitting crucifix that I didnt find all that interesting. Lots of similar stuff to what we saw in the 1967. Attacking the windpipe although not as much throttling. Some really good heavy hands. The footage quality of this a lot higher so the sound is crisp. Baba stands and bangs with him and that sends Kiniski scurrying although he doesnt leap over the top rope like last time. Like last time he uses a little assplay to get Baba down at one point. It is a lot of figure-4s around the head. Baba loves to work from underneath and he is a great seller. The crowd is all over Kiniski for using leverage and the ref is all over Baba when Baba breaks a hold applies his own but Big Thunder is already in the ropes. At about the 15 minute mark, business picks up as Baba starts to build momentum. He gets a really nice, forceful, organic headscissors that popped me. He has him tied up in that. Baba's second headscissors is even better and it pops the crowd too! He gets a third headscissors. This match is pretty fucking boring otherwise. I have a lot of patience and high tolerance for matwork but it is not really going anywhere and it doesnt look good. It is a lot of them 69'ing each other for lack of a better term and getting one counts. The ref is pretty frustrating in this match as there is a clear time Kiniski has Baba in a banana split but the ref never counts do they never get any heat on the hold. There was another time this happens but I forget the details. Around the 30 minute mark, shit picks up, Baba slaps the piss out of Kiniski. Kiniski slashes with some nice chops. This is pretty heated. Baba DROPKICK! One count! Baba dropkick 1-2-3! Pretty boring first fall. Lets see if they can salvage this. Baba 1-0. Second Fall: A marked improvement. Kiniski works the armbar to start, Baba morphs that into his own abdominal stretch. I love how Kiniski sold for Baba as Baba stomped a hole in him. He really looked like he wanted no more. Baba goes for the ab stretch again, but too close the ropes. Baba is pouring it on. He goes for the Giant Chop, but Kiniski holds onto the ropes. Baba says no one makes him look like a fool and he ties Kiniski up in the ropes. He comes charging in like he is a Big E, but Big Thunder moves and GIANT BABA BASICALLY SUICIDE DIVES TO THE FLOOR WITH NO ONE TO CATCH HIM! HOLY SHIT WHAT A BUMP! That woke my ass up! I thought he would just eat the countout finish. Big Thunder hits the Bombs Away kneedrop from the apron. Shockingly, Baba beats the count but succumbs to the backbreaker. Alright that was much better. Tied 1-1. Third Fall: Another very good fall. Forget to mention Kiniski has Johnny Valentine with him and a blond wrestler. They congratulate him as he continues to attack Baba in between falls. Baba is in really bad shape. He starts the third fall down and Kiniski is just beating the tar out of him. Another backbreaker for two. Baba is fighting from his back and knees, but Kiniski is in the driver's seat. As expected, the hero, Baba builds some momentum and even a Big Boot. It looks like he is going to vanquish another foreign foe. When out of nowhere, Kiniski gets behind Baba and DRILLS HIM WITH BACK DROP DRIVER! Baba sells this like a million bucks. 1-2-3! WHAT THE FUCK NEW CHAMPION?!?! Ok, I was spoiled on this as I was looking up the International Title history for the Bobo Brazil match and saw Kiniski had won it. Brazil and Kiniski are the only two men that beat Baba for the title so this was pretty crazy. This is like the end of a Nitro as the crowd is throwing all their garbage into the ring. Surprisingly they do not riot. They just pelt Kiniski with garbage. Last two falls are much better but that first fall is a snorefest. ***

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski vs NWA International Champion Giant Baba - JWA 8/14/67 Two Out of Three Falls Big Thunder won me over during Sam Muchnick's retirement ceremony. Quick-witted, funny man and ex-baseball star & announcer Joe Garagiola roasted Kiniski before having him come on. Kiniski said "Joe, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit" and then totally scorched for a couple minutes. That's when I became a fan of Big Thunder! First Fall: We are JIP 30 minutes maybe even 35 minutes in so I probably wont be able to rate this, but it looks like we have the back half of a 60 minute draw so I will check it out. This might be the only footage we have of Gene Kiniski as the World's Heavyweight Champion. Baba has a full nelson on Kiniski but he falls to his back and works a crucifix. great mat work. When Kiniski breaks free, awesome attacks on the knee and the windpipe. Really liked those stomps heeling it up. Immediately, Kiniski looks like a better athlete than Bruno in terms of coordination. Good strikes and moves well. GIANT CHOP! BIG BOOT! 1-2-3! Baba up I believe 1-0! That could have been the second fall. I'll update this if I am wrong. Second Fall: This was the Kiniski revenge fall. JIP to a Kiniski hammerlock. They stand up. Stand & Bang. Kiniski literally runs away and hops over the top rope. Kiniski goes for a little assplay, that cheeky devil, that brings Baba down to the mat. Kiniski goes full bore heel with a ton of choking, knee on the throat, figure-4 the head. Baba gets in his hope spots, but Kiniski is cutting him off with cheap shots. Kinski chucks him in the crowd. They dont do too much. I liked the finish a lot. BIG THUNDER GOES UP TOP! a pair of Bombs Away Kneedrops! As called by the announcer! Best part was before the second one a fan hopped on the apron and tried to shake the top rope! The heat! Kiniski takes the second fall! Tied 1-1. Third Fall: Here come the bombs! I love how organically Baba applies a reverse waistlock into an Atomic Drop. Then theres a proto-Dangerous Back Drop Driver by Kiniski! Kiniski works in a nice comedy spot getting table topped by Baba. Lots of strikes go flying. Kiniski is choking and cheating. Baba is pressing trying to win the World Championship. Curious finish as Kiniski hits a nice, nasty backbreaker on Baba. He goes for the Bombs Away Kneedrop again and has fight off a fan. Baba catches him coming off the top in a headlock. As time expires it is Kiniski beating down Baba. Weird usually the babyface is winning at the end of regulation and leaves you feeling robbed. WAIT! What's this? They are signaling for FIVE...MORE...MINUTES! Doesnt matter if it is 1967 or 2017 that shit is always over! Five More Minutes: Excellent! BABA DROPKICK! WHAT A SELL BY BIG THUNDER! BABA FELLS THE OAK WITH A GIANT CHOP! 1-2NOOOO! I AM LOSING MY MIND 55 YEARS AFTER THE FACT! KINISKI STARTS CROWDING IN THE APRON! BOOOOOO! BACKBREAKER! FUCK NO! NOT THIS WAY! SOME FAN GET UP THEIR STOP HIM! BOMBS AWAY! FUCK NO! CMON BABA! BIG THUNDER SCALES THE TOP ROPE! BOMBS AWAY! BABA MOVED! BABA MOVED! BABA MOVED! GO BABA GO! GET EM BABA! HE'S GOING FOR THE LEG! KINISKI IS ROLLING INTO A BALL! DONT GIVE UP! BOSTON CRAB! NO SINGLE LEG CRAB! THERE'S A NUCLEAR MELTDOWN GOING ON! WE ARE ALL COLLECTIVELY LOSING OUR SHIT! TAP! TAP! TAP! CMON BABA! THE BELL RINGS! SOME FAN JUMPS IN THE RING! THE REF HAS HIS FIST COCKED & LOADED! I FUCKING LOVE PRO WRESTLING! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! DAMN I CANT BELIEVE DIDNT WIN THE WORLD TITLE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FUCKING BITCHIN AS FUCK! ~**** too much cut out to rate it, but fuck watch this shit!

NWA International Champion Giant Baba vs WWWF Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino - JWA 8/7/68 Been about a year & half since these two hooked it up. They have good chemistry lets see what they got in store for us this year. First Fall: Bruno dominated on the mat for the first five or so minutes. Worked the arm, hammerlocks, wristlocks, you know the deal. Baba's has some serious fillings going on. As a man with many fillings due to the witch doctor as a teenager, I notice these things. Baba is such a great seller. Baba starts to target the leg. I have not seen the Kiniski or Fritz matches, but this is the first time I have seen serious long-term body part psychology in Japan. Bruno sold really well throughout the fall, hobbling and limping. Baba went back to it repeatedly, wrenching the knee across the apron. Big Boot! I thought for sure that was the finish, got me good. Bruno comes back attacks the arm. I love that Bruno is always moving forward. They trained their babyfaces well in New York back in the day. Baba attacks the leg again. It looked like Baba had all the momentum on his side when all of sudden Bruno literally whipped Baba from pillar to post. Then hung him up in a modified Argentine Backbreaker. I say modified because Baba is literally a Giant, he did not get the waistlock on properly instead it more like he had Baba hooked for a Backslide but didnt go for the backslide if that makes any sense. Fun little fall. Like Bruno's tenacity and Baba's selling. Bruno 1-0. Second Fall: Explosive Second Fall! Bruno immediately lunges for the Bearhug, but Baba retaliates with a GIANT CHOP~! Honestly, this is my favorite aspect of Baba vs Bruno, Giant Chop vs Bearhug! Baba is fighting from his back and throwing chops and kicks wildly to stave off the charging headlong Bruno who is going for the kill with the Bearhug. Giant Chop is a great false finish. Mega Dropkick! 1-2-3! It is all knotted up. This is shaping up to be my favorite of the trilogy. Lets see if they can take it home in grand fashion! Tied 1-1. Third Fall: YES THEY DID! Awesome fall to complete an awesome match! Baba goes back to the leg which I liked a lot. I think that explains Bruno's dogged determination for the Bearhug in the second fall. He knew he was hurt and wanted to go in for the kill and make it a clean sweep. Great offensive work from Baba. While Bruno's defense was great here with the bolo punches and the knees. What really put this over the top for me was the excellent King of the Mountain Bruno did here. Baba was surrounded by the young boys trying to get back in and Bruno keeps knocking back with those knees. Finally Baba CHOPS his way back in! We get the bitchin' finish! Baba dropkicks Bruno out of the ring! Remember the dropkick won the second fall so it is explosive move. They brawl into the crowd! Baba crowns him with a chair! YES! YES! YES! Countout victory for the national hero! I would say I'd like the Dick The Bruiser match just a frog's hair more just a little more violence but these two are neck & neck for 1968 match of the year. ****1/4