Superstar Sleeze

Ok this makes a lot more sense. Douglas does make a quick reference to being made look like a fool with Cornette. I did a quick Google search on just their two names and I thought it had something to do with the NWA Title fiasco but it makes a lot more sense that this has more to do with when he was a Dynamic Dude. Thanks guys for solving that life long mystery. Watched the match, classic WCW match ends with someone not in the match being pinned. Lol. Johnny Ace is definitely a better worker than Shane Douglas.

I just watched a 28 minute Shane Douglas promo in February 1995 (before there was Triple H, there was Shane Douglas. The similarities between the two are eerie. I do think HHH's redeeming quality is that he at least has a sense of humor. Douglas is so self-serious). It did give me a good review of Shane's career in ECW in 1993 & 1994. I dont think I had seen the famous throwing down of the NWA title, pretty crazy moment. Here's my question since I was a kid on the internet in the late 90s I would hear about how Shane Douglas hates Ric Flair and they eventually ran this as a part of the whole New Blood vs Millionaire's Club in 2000. I could never figure out why when I would search on the internet, I would just hear generic politics. Douglas makes a big point in this insanely long diatribe that he really hates Flair for politicking him out of a main event run in WCW. I checked Cagematch. Douglas left WCW in April of 1993 and I know they had to emergency replace him with Tom Zenk under hood for Slamboree in May. Flair was in WWF at the start of 1993 and returned what February 1993, MAYBE January 1993. You are telling me in three months Ric Flair rubbed Shane Douglas the wrong way so bad he left WCW? That seems bizarre to me. Here are my questions: Did Shane leave WCW in April of 1993? Or was he fired? I assume he left because he left them in quite the lurch. Why did he leave? Is there any merit to his claim that Flair politicked him out of a main event run in three months? Did Steamboat or anyone else push for a Douglas push? 1993 was the year of Vader, Douglas as a plucky white meat babyface, I could see him getting some mileage out of that, but hard to believe he was ready for primetime. Any thoughts on this would be great, always something I wanted to know. I think I heard Flair talk about it once with Austin or on his show claiming he didnt know what the Douglas heat was all about. Flair seems to have a clear memory of the 70s and 80s because he was having such a great time. The 90s seem really, really foggy for Flair and I think he has repressed a lot of those memories. So I dont think Flair can be trusted, but it really wouldnt surprise me if Flair was telling the truth and really no clue why Douglas was so pissed.

Thanks Pete for re-publishing this for posterity. Where did you find it? I knew there was one Sandman vs Cactus Jack match I thought was great but couldnt find which one and it was daunting prospect to slog through them all so I will avoid the rest, but was happy to re-watch this in all its glory. I co-sign everything I wrote above. I would add a couple things. It is very cool how Sandman does not bump at the beginning for all the garbage can shots. He is playing it like he is out on his feet. He does a great job selling he has had his bell rung on multiple occasions while on offense. Woman required multiple canings and some distraction to really earn that transition. She was also great on the outside and yes she was looking foxy. Awesome transition #2 is actually really well-time low blow. The hand psychology was excellent as was the post-match angle with the lit cigarette and Mikey's save. The one I disagree with it is my rating...way too low...**** one of the best ECW Matches of All Time.

Right on, El-P brutha! I got the classroom promo this time. I loved the swing set promo. The classroom promo was more basic. High school should be great, but it sucked, now I am going to make your adult life suck boo hoo. I thought the swing set promo had more interesting bells & whistles.

Before there was HHH, there was Shane Douglas a blowhard who thought he was way better than he actually was and his reach usually exceeded his grasp. At least HHH had the decency to be funny every once and a while. There is a dreadful alternative universe where Shane Douglas marries Stephanie and WWE 2003 is really fucking terrible. This is during Heyman's big push to legitimize ECW World Championship after the NWA double cross. It makes sense to put it on Shane because he was a former WCW Tag Champion and was the "best traditional wrestler" on the roster. They brought in people like Ron Simmons, Marty Jannetty and Tully Blanchard to do the J-O-B for Shane. The Tully Blanchard of Old line that Joey kept prattling. I believe comes from the fact that Blanchard had wrestled a "60 minute draw" previously that was supposedly the "new" Tully who was here to wrestle and be a babyface. Now Tully was not here to wrestle, he was here to fight, which goes along with the bravado of the Horsemen being a tough gang even if Tully was the coward/bumper of the group. The match at Double Tables is under 10 minutes I see so I imagine that was more of a brawl. Tully never was one for offense in the 80s fuck man why the hell were you holding out on us! The dude can fucking fight and bring the offense. I wish we got more of this Tully in the 80s.

According to the Network, I got the empty swing set. Raven character is so much better than all the trite shit that came after it. Bray Wyatt would kill to cut a promo this good. Great poetry with the empty swing set moving back n forth squeaking to form the rhythm section of Raven's poetry. There are Jim Morrison, Cobain influences here that are great. He has singled out Dreamer.

I know I am on an island but I am an unabashed Public Enemy mark. Their street-wise guido hoodie gimmick is a riot. "Rocco where did you get that nice coat" "Johnny the store told me to put it on so the store gave it to me!". I am dying. All the SHOUTOUTS! were funny. Thanks Vince at one point was wicked funny even though the lead up made no sense. They can a good serious promo but they were great comedy. "Joey Pots & Pans" had me rolling. "La de da de, we likes to party!" Johnny is proud of cashier's checks and especially his travellers checks because we's travelling Rocco! As the Irish would say, Public Enemy is good craic!

I didnt see this thread but I covered my thoughts on this segment in the thread before this. The one thing that I didnt cover thats gets mentioned in this thread is how the ECW mutants took the gimmick immediately. I am surprised the "too cool for school" fans werent chanting "Johnny Polo" or heckling him with "Flamingo" insults. I think its because the look was just so cool, so hip, so spot on and so different they were gobsmacked and shellshocked. I think the entire aesthetic dissuaded that from happening.

I love the Raven character. Grew up with him in WCW. I think he was my parents' first favorite wrestler. They loved the "What about me? What about Raven?". My Dad will still quote out of the blue but change "Raven" to "Dad". Yes he actually would have been because the Jericho heel turn was not until January 1998 and thats when my parents loved him. My parents were heel fans all the way. This is a great Alternative meets black metal music video with Raven in his combat boots walking snowy suburban streets with his breath showing. The promo was pretty good quoting Cobain sets the tone that the character was not someone that fit in with the mainstream. Hurt people hurt. He has a lot of pain and he was going to lash out. I dont think it covered on the Yearbook based on the threads but having Stevie Richards as John The Baptist to Raven's Christ, you know there is "One greater than I coming" was a really cool way to introduce the character. It has been years since I was watched 1995 ECW I forgot Stevie was impersonating previous Scott Levy gimmicks. He won two matches but on the third match as Stevie Polo he lost to Tommy Dreamer (genius!). I forgot Joey Styles calls him Johnny Polo at first. Raven gets pissed at Stevie for losing but in reality it is more that he had to Dreamer specifically than just losing. AT this time, we dont know how deep the grudge runs. Raven doesnt quite have the sardonic tone down. Anyone who has heard a Raven shoot he has an upbeat cadence to the way he talks and it kinda comes through a little in the initial interview with Joey and Stevie. He did have the sadistic tendencies down and it is clear that Raven intimidates and is abusive to Stevie. They have also set up Stevie as a lost soul with no identity of his own so that how he gets deluded to becoming a lap dog for this charismatic figure even though it is toxic for Stevie. This persists with Stevie as the continues with the impersonation gimmick right through to the BWO. It is peak Heyman and Raven no doubt. The best part of 1995 ECW were the main eventers were fleshed out characters not gimmicks. I think thats what missing from wrestling today among other things. I mean so many stories are the same, I was a wrestling fan growing up so I became a wrestler. They need to latch onto the other things that make them unique. Cactus Jack stopped being a wild man from New Mexico and became a fully fleshed out human with interesting thoughts and beliefs. Raven had become psychologically traumatized and was taking all his shit out on others. Tommy Dreamer may have sucked at executing it but as John McClane the regular average Joe wrestler that gets thrust into these violent situations because he is at the wrong place at the wrong time but he doesnt back down and he dies hard is a real character. The tag team division was filled with gimmicks like Public Enemy (who I find highly entertaining) and The Gangstas thats ok. Having too many characters would dilute the impact. I think you need 6-8 fully fleshed out main event characters supported by gimmicks in the 4-5 undercard matches.

Comparing DDTing Tommy Dreamer in ECW Arena to the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagaski is some pretty crazy shit. He goes after George Washington for holding slaves. It is kinda amazing how little things have changed since 1995. Dreamer's response to all this, "We are Politically Incorrect and damn proud of it.". Tommy Dreamer, you are such a dweeb. It is amazing people have been railing against Political Correctness for at least 25 years what may be 30-35 years? Here's what Politically Correct means being a considerate, empathetic human being you obsequious prick. I dont know why Raven & Cactus wasted their time trying save that asshole.

I dont think I have seen this Cactus promo before. Really strong, he would really knock it out of the park next week with Cane Dewey never look back. The war against the fans was on. This promo started triggering memories of Cactus turning on Dreamer in a match with a DDT. I remember Raven saying Cactus "I feel your pain". ECW '95 was so good, its a shame what it became.

This does a great job of being cathartic therapy who I am sure was shooting when he talking about how pissed he was about the "Cane Dewey" and taking the shoot and turning into a work. That's what makes pro wrestling is great. Take reality-based emotions and transform into working. Cactus sees Dreamer as the chief disciple of this moment and sees that he is throwing his life away to drink the kool-aid. He is not going to let Dreamer go down the same path. I am interested to see how Cactus links up with Raven and how Cactus turned on Dreamer. Dont ask me why but I am watching this all backwards.

Tommy Dreamer is so lame. Trying to wax philosophic about the Hardcore lifestyle, doing the worst bit of fake crying ever, complete with asking the cameraman to cut and what the what the fuck with that bang bang and then looking at his hands saying "Damn". Raven carried his lame ass to greatness.

The war between wrestlers and fans has been waging for 25 years now. It really feels like it has intensified this past year. I like how Cactus refuses to let this become a puppet show and that he is the worker and he will work the crowd and not the other way around. I have heard this promo 8 bajillion times since I got the Cactus DVD. The "Welcoming Arms" line I stole or sometimes modify to "Welcoming Bosom" when I am messing with my friends about joining some sort of dark side. We learn what has driven Cactus' Masochistic Theatre of Pain to try to legitimize wrestling. I really like how ECW at the time really got into the psychology of the characters. I still like the one with Raven a little better, but these are all all-time great promos.

Greatest promo of all time! Well maybe Mark Henry's fake retirement, but this is amazing. Raven explains he and Cactus are the best friends because Tommy wouldnt be either of their friend so they have bonded with each other. Then Cactus goes from there and just cuts an incredible promo. I have ripped off so many parts of this promo over the course of my life. The idea of WCW being magical fantasy world where dreams come true and truly can be anything you want to be and citing the examples is incredible. The ten word conversation with Mikey Whipwreck is both funny and sad. The salvation of WCW being time-constrained because they will create their own Dreamer. The sadness of Cactus not being able to go back so he has to save Dreamer. All incredible shit! I have loved this promo for 15 years, still awesome!

Awesome promo! Best promo he would have until King of the Ring! Great inflection and cadence. Great dynamics, loud-soft, fast-slow, it is amazing that someone who never really was a promo guy could cut such a high level promo.

Cactus talking about how his legacy has been forever cemented because he is a former WCW tag team champions which means he will talked in the same breath as Patterson/Stevens, the Funks, Midnight Express and the American Males was hilarious. Tommy Dreamer was so lame. I know he was supposed to be the John McClane of ECW but he is so uncool.

I am so happy I watched this! Finally a complete Dudley Family genealogy. Is Dudley Dudley the wrestler named after an American politician who became Dudley Dudley after she married a Dudley for a shoot?

I liked the Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge stuff the best here. Cactus' straight edge promo was really good, but he had done so many incredible promos in 1995 this seemed more in the good category. Rock & Grunge was pretty funny. The best part is Rocco doesnt want beat up Mikey for the World Title. Then him and Johnny realize all three belts is a lot of gold, hos, and dough, the assonance cracked me up. "You hold him, Ill hit him. I never liked him that much anyways" - Rocco Rock popped me pretty big.

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 57: Best of All Japan Pro Wrestling 1993-1994 vol. 1 I was first introduced to the existence of Japanese Pro Wrestling through the 1998 edition of PWI 500. Stone Cold and Goldberg topped the list as 9-year old Martin expected, but who is this "Mitsuharu Misawa" that is third? I was immediately intrigued at this idea that pro wrestling existed outside of America. In the PWI Almanac 1997, I learned more about All Japan and New Japan Pro Wrestling, the wrestlers, titles and matches. I found websites like ProWrestlingHistory.com and Great Hisa's Wrestling-Titles.com (both of which are still in existence today) and I learned all I could about the vaunted All Japan Pro Wrestling. In my learning, I found out that All Japan in the 90s was praised as the greatest pro wrestling that has ever existed. I had no clue as a child how the hell to go about procuring a tape of wrestling from Japan and I was not about to ask my Dad either. So I was content reading reviews about the Misawa/Kawada rivalry or Kobashi's legendary matches with Stan Hansen and dreaming in my head of what it must be like. Then it happened, the greatest thing ever: Youtube unlocking the floodgates of Japanese Pro Wrestling goodness. I was watching 6/3/94 and 6/9/95 without any primary source context but in complete child-like wonderment of these gods among men. By college, I started to flesh out my understanding of the vaunted 90s All Japan catalog, which widely remains what most wrestling fans consider the greatest wrestling of all time. I sat down watched 37 matches from 1993-1994, the heart of era, and it was such a moving experience and unlike previous viewings I think I was finally ready to truly appreciate the greatness of the storytelling and character work by the major wrestlers of All Japan Pro Wrestling: Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, Akira Taue, Stan Hansen and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, domo arigato. All Japan ICHIBAN~! https://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2020/05/pro-wrestling-love-vol-57-best-of-all.html

Rey Misterio Jr vs Juventud Guerrera - ECW Big Apple Blizzard 2/3/96 The last of the "classic" ECW Workrate matches that I have yet to see. The bar is pretty high as I often compare these to Rey vs Psicosis. I thought the Big Ass Extreme Bash match is a big improvement on this. This is very spot-heavy with weak transitions. They try to bring the hate with the Middle Fingers, Spitting and Slapping, they do the famous upside down slap exchange. Still I dont feel the hate as much as the aestheticism, which is not a problem per se as their execution is flawless and breath-taking. I liked how each sequence was really punctuated by a big Rey spot like the Rana off the apron or the Top Rope Slingshot Somersault Splash. Juventud did hit the most insane spot. He deadlifts Rey into a Military Press holds it, drops him back down, catches and hits a bridging fallaway slam...little dude is fucking strong! Holy shit! Rey just came up chopping and basically said my turn. Thats an example of a shitty transition. Juvy goes for Splash Mountain and Rey counters with the Rana for the win. They sure did love that spot! Has anyone ever hit Splash Mountain ever? After the match Taz and Fonzie gloat about roughing up 911 and Rey who guess is buds with 911 defends his honor. Rey lasts longer than I expect with Taz. I just do not like Taz as a wrestler. There is nothing organic about how he bumps or feeds. Finally he makes Rey go splat. Check out the Big Ass Extreme Bash. This is fine just to see some cool spots...that Juvy strength spot is worth it. ***1/2

Terry Funk vs Tommy Rich - ECW 2/1/97 I am pretty sure I have seen this before as this is a pretty famous match both because it is great and because it is TERRY FUNK VS TOMMY RICH in ECW of all places! Funk was in the last Showdown in the OK Corral phase of his ECW career to make a big push for him winning the Title at Barely Legal one last time. Tommy Rich was actually getting a bit of a push at the start of his ECW career before settling in as a comedy role in the Full-Blooded Italians. Rich was in full heat-seeking mode. He goes out into the crowd to jaw with the fans and Funk gives chase and decks him right in the crowd drawing blood. There's no confusion what this match was going to be. It was a Southern-fried, bloody brawl between two old men. I liked that because they were so old, they didnt bump a lot. It gave more of a barroom brawl feel. Funk works the leg, but the best part is he sits down in a chair and lectures Rich while giving him a shellacking. The transition to Rich's heat segment could have been better. He just started punching Funk and brawling on the outside to bust him open. It was DDTs galore as Rich DDT Funk and the ref twice. Rich works the leg with a chair to set up the Spinning Toe Hold, Funk's own move! How dastardly! Funk makes his comeback, knees him in the balls and makes him submit to the Spinning Toe Hold. Simple, violent pro wrestling. This will always get over. ***1/2

In fairness, he did create the "Fuck The World" title. So it was pretty on brand for Taz. Fun fact: I thought the acronym FTW (For The Win) which was popular in the Mid-00s stood for Fuck The World because of Taz and I was confused for a good couple months.

Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Steve Williams & Johnny Ace - AJPW RWTL 12/10/94 Between this and the July match, I don't know guys, I am starting to think Johnny Ace is pretty damn good at this wrestling thing. I was coming in expecting him to be Brutus Beefcake but he can keep up with the workrate and on top of that adds some nice American heel touches. The crowd doesnt bite but if he was in the South this would have killed. The Scorpion Deathlock, Kobashi comes to break it up, Higuchi sends him out so Doc kicks Misawa in the head while he is in the Deathlock is the most Southern thing I have ever seen in a Japanese ring. On top of that, we get Ace laying in shots while Misawa is stradling the ropes, we get a double team on the outside, Ace is the first to knock Kobashi off the apron then Doc follows suit and we get Ace setting up a Tree of Woe so he can go outside the ring and choke Misawa. It is top notch heel stuff. Like I said he can definitely keep up with the workrate and stiffness (at least in his chops) so definitely a worthy addition to these main event matches. Early on, they were really trying to push Doc/Misawa as a hot feud. Slapping the shit out of each other. They end up pulling each other's hair. They let Kobashi in for a minute and then it is Misawa vs Ace which seems like the biggest mismatch on paper but Ace gets a boot up and next thing you know we get like a 12 minute Misawa face in peril. I covered most of the heel shit they did to Misawa. Doc got some nice nearfalls on him with a Spinebuster and a top rope shoulder tackle. They were working holds and cheating for the most part. It was very Southern and very appreciated. Kobashi is great on apron. Kobashi is the most suited for American style wrestling because he is the most emotional. So he won't take any shit lying down and keeps coming over to protect Misawa even if it ends up hurting Misawa. He is very active and I like that. I feel like Kobashi was an easy sell on Doc/Ace calling an American style match even if the Japanese crowd is not reacting as strongly to this. JOHNNY ACE STOLE KOBASHI'S MOONSAULT SPOT COMPLETE WITH FIST PUMP!!! ALL THE STARS! LET THE SNOWFLAKES FALL! IT'S A BLIZZARD! I have long thought the Kobashi fist-pump->moonsault is the ultimate in babyface spots. I never thought someone should steal it for heel heat because that's just not how Japan works, BUT Ace doing that was so fucking awesome! I popped huge and was pissed at the same time. It was so perfect. He does connect (it is a damn good moonsault, not a sidesault), Kobashi kicks out. Amazing sequence! It is official Johnny Ace is my new favorite wrestler. There is a great sequence prior to this when Misawa fights out of being double team with WICKED Elbows! He was just nailing people. In the fracas, he grabs Ace into a Tiger Driver, Doc bowls him over. Kobashi comes in does his business, as he turns his back to go to his corner, Doc just SPLASH him with all his body weight and then chucks him with a WICKED GERMAN! WOW! Great stuff. Then Ace/Doc do a Double Team Back Drop Driver! Misawa is fucking insane. These Back Drop Drivers he is taking are disgusting. We all know what happens so it is hard to watch. Misawa does kick out. Kobashi shows us shades of 6/9/95 then way he desperately tries to save Misawa from the Oklahoma Stampede and the Second Back Drop Driver by grabbing Dr. Death's leg. I lap that stuff up with a spoon. After what I think was 20 minutes, Misawa finally tags out to Kobashi. I love that Kobashi's first thing is to measure Doc up for a HELLACIOUS LARIAT! The Lariat is approaching Burning. Then he immediately goes for the Moonsault. Fucking smart to start throwing bombs and red hot. Doc is not beat up enough to stay down and he bullies Kobashi in the corner. He tags out to Ace. ACE CRUSHER~! How do I know the move name because Ace is a Hip Hop OG and shouts out the name at the top of his lungs! Which is great marketing! This is when Ace does the Kobashi moonsault steal. Rocker Dropper and a DoctorBomb by Ace. Lost Super Worker of the 90s, Johnny Fucking Ace! Misawa saves. Kobashi hits his moonsault and Johnny Ace kicks out because he is a stud. Ace has kicked out of the Tiger Driver in July and the Moonsault now. Kobashi tags out. I smell Misawa smoking Ace en route to win. Ace teases Ace Crusher on Misawa after Doc interferes. Kobashi looks like he really rings Doc's bell with a Spinning Back Chop. The fans bite hard on Misawa German nearfall, Frogsplash + Tiger Driver win it for the good guys! I was thinking I liked the July match a little more because it was more upbeat and then the Moonsault spot happened. I will give a nod to this match, but both matches are awesome and underrated. The July is more the standard great All Japan workrate tag. This one has more Southern elements, Kobashi desperately trying to save Misawa showing shades of 6/9/95, wicked hot finish stretch especially the Ace moonsault and the final hurrah! Dont sleep on this! ****1/2

Triple Crown Champion Steve Williams vs Toshiaki Kawada - AJPW 10/22/94 Much to my surprise, I have seen this before! I have zero recollection of that. Not to my surprise, I pretty much agree with what I wrote back in 2012. I liked this match more than most people and I thought it was a good change of pace from the usual Triple Crown Budokan King's Road main event style. I appreciated the opening 5 minutes of chain wrestlers. Lots of good takedowns. Kawada gets a good kick square in the knee early. They keep wrestling, I feel like Kawada is showing up the Champ a little which makes sense as Kawada is the native babyface. Dropkick to the knee sends us into the next phase. Doc sells the knee really well on the powder. Tells the ref to get the challenger back as he re-enters but Kawada pounces. Great knee work by Kawada here, punishing. Again great selling on the outside by Doc taking off the knee pad and inspecting his knee. I will echo my comments from 2012 that Dr. Death's Dangerous Back Drop Driver is so well-booked. He is able to counter a Facelock by getting to his feet and then teasing the Back Drop Driver which whips the crowd into a frenzy. This freaks Kawada out and makes him make a mistake. Nothing has changed since 2012, I am still a mark for a mean drop toehold and Doc has a beauty here. He starts working the knee. This turns into the classic All Japan Surfboard spot which has been absent from recent matches. Amazing test of strength. Kawada does a great job vocally selling. Doc ends up winning and throwing Kawada with a Tiger Suplex. Great sell by Kawada who acts like he is going to no-sell only for it to take effect and drops out of the ring. First big bomb goes to Doc. I enjoyed the first 15 minutes. Lets see how the match progresses but this has been a good change of pace thus far. Doc works a great heat segment here very explosive. That Military Press Onto The Top Rope! BATSHIT INSANE! He fucking Javelin Threw Kawada! It was scary. Loved the rushing behind an Irish Whip Clothesline in Corner ala the Hulkster and then his version of the Stinger Splash. On the Brainbuster his knee gives out a little. We get a Dr. Death Back Drop Driver, this causes the scramble and in the chaos...BANG! Spinning Heel Kick! Kawada's trademark transition. Now from there, we do get a really stand up fight, lots of intensity and stiffness. I really like how Doc sells his own dropkicks. You can see he is in a lot of pain from his knee and he guts through it to hit the dropkick.I dont need someone to necessarily sell the knee the whole time pain ebbs and flows, but it was clear after Brainbuster something was up and I am glad he started to sell it on his own moves. He goes for Oklahoma Stampede hits both ring posts, but his knee gives out before he finish the execution. Great stuff! Kawada dropkicks him out. Doc tries to come back in with a Flying Shoulder Tackle, Kawada hits a Jumping High Kick. Better in theory than execution. Kawada TRUCKS him with a Lariat and draws blood (more likely from the previous kick). Kawada hits his own Dangerous Back Drop Driver but it is not quite as Dangerous as Dr. Death's. Only gets two. Lots of Stretch Plumming going on. There is a great moment when Kawda goes for his second Back Drop Driver, Dr. Death breaks free and tries running by starts hobbling and Kawada catches him in a sleeper. Kawada ever the cheating prick turns this into a choke twice. I liked that touch of heel vs heel. Kawada cant get him up for the Powerbomb yet. Dr. Death powers up and throws him down with a vicious double leg takedown. Tiger Suplex! Great sell by Kawada ass in the air! Doc snatches him into the Doctoromb for the first really hot nearfall. My big complaint thus far is that there has been a lot of inconsequential punching by both men, moreso Dr. Death. Closed fists are illegal and when used sparingly can draw a big reaction and be meaningful turning points. They were throwing them out like candy. Much like the Doc/Kobashi '94 criticism of this being long, I think is overstated. This has been moving throughout and is entertaining. Dr. Death hits a quick, snap Dangerous Back Drop Driver. I liked how he hit it through Kawada's struggle and defense. Made it feel sudden and earned. Kawada had an amazing sell of this. On the outside, Kawada countered a Dangerous Back Drop Driver on the floor by pushing off the railing so they both took a nasty bump against the railing with the back of their heads. Doc did hit a wicked snap powerslam as his last nearfall. Kawada threw a couple kicks from his back to Williams' head. Then stood up and bowed up. Crowd reacted big. It felt like it was Kawada's turn. I wish there was a better transition. KAPPO KICK~! (Great callback to the Carny Finals) He smoked with his heel to the temple. Kawada looked poised for victory of course this being All Japan it takes a bit longer than necessary but he gets there. The Powebomb almost ends up being a Ganso Bomb. There is a great moment when Doc is mounting a comeback and Kawada is holding onto the rope for dear life. He lets go with his right and turns it into a THUNDEROUS Back Fist to the face. I loved Doc showing some Fighting Spirit until the end...blocking the Jumping High Kick and blocking the Kappo Kick, but finally Kawada broke through nailing a Jumping High Kick, Axe Bomber and a Jumping High Kick under the chin to win his first Triple Crown! I wish that Thunderous Back Fist to the face was the transition to a Kappo Kick and the final Kick barrage to win the match but beggars cant be choosers. Lots of great stuff here. Transitions could have been tighter and the action more efficient but there are more hits than misses. Dr. Death has the decided power advantage. Kawada negates that with the attack on the knee. Doc overcomes because he is a freak superhuman and unleashes some really badass offense. When it comes times, Kawada just goes back to the basics and what brought him to the dance kicking people's heads off. Underrated match. ****