Rah

For sure, I agree here, and also read "deeper" into it than it was when I first heard the news. I'm glad it wasn't as dark as we possibly thought it would be (it's still not good) but, as you said, it's sad that that is where our minds go to with wrestling. Corgan got his free press coverage, I guess. Exactly, which is what makes this entire ordeal more baffling. Add in that it was the "Mildred Burke" invitational and it should have been about the matriarchal lineage and not Grizzly at all.

This

Can we please avoid what-aboutism? It muddies the current discussion and argues a point nobody is making. Also, the inference was that Grizzly fathered a great family and his lineage was of immense talent. She is the world's first third generational women's talent and they wanted to put that over. Fine. Mention Jake, Rocking Robin and the siblings. Let fans connect the dots. It was probably not a direct and intentional comment but it was flippant and gross.

Not sure how much I'm reading into things but @rovertalluded to plural suspensions a little bit back so this tracks, I guess?

Probably the closest we will get https://twitter.com/WrestlePurists/status/1562737951779717122

Anyone else seen the two Necro Butcher vs Abdullah the Butcher matches? Their first one is wild. Necro's like 2 years into his career if that (2000) and takes one of the worst beatings of his career. Glass, forks etc to the face. Unreal. Pity the video cuts before the post match brawl but the story goes it got so out of control that they were tripping all sorts of alarms with rescue services arriving to carnage. https://youtu.be/cbAI3aBjo28

Shocker is in that 'charismatic but not often very good' mold. He's like an actually competent Cien Caras. His best match is probably the hair match vs Rush but even then he's not lighting the world on fire. His stuff with Tarzan Boy is passable but not inspiring. If you've got nothing better to do then check it out. His other big mask/hair matches are also fine. They're all dramatic and have that build to the finish that would send you home happy if you're invested in either guy but the work inside leaves me cold. Basically, his apuesta are a poor man's Ultimo/Atlantis (which is already something I have no time for). Maybe he deserves consideration but I can't see him making the top 100. If we're basing this off charisma and post match dancing then he's top ten.

I recommending watching the Sangre Chicana vs Faraon handhelds. I believe there are three and the elusive hair match I've been hunting for a near decade. I've only ever found these highlights OtIGiVN.mp4

With them often being called one of the best American teams of the last 20+ years (and one of the best in WWE ever), would Usos be a good answer? Like, is there a match where you can go 'yep that's their definitive performance'?

Good question. I think a lot of the 'good matches' he's in are in spite of his performances. Example being the threeway with Parka and Wagner in 2013 or some throwaway trios in the mid-90s where Casas/Santo throw hands like they're Ikeda/Ishikawa. If you're focusing on his 'magnum opus' then I'd agree it's the Caras title match (02/02/92 UWA). I assume you're meaning Dos Caras and not Cien. I've actually really come around on Dos the past few years and that match stands out as more on him weaving the tapestry together than anything but Canek actually puts his work boots on for once. The Fujinami match is good until it isn't. I think if Canek was a little more cardio focused (and more adept on the mat) it might have been something memorable.

I wish I could find my gif but there's a match in the 90s where he just does it for ages as if it's a Roadrunner/Wile E. Coyote skit and it's glorious. It has its moments.

Every time I see this thread get bumped I get a little excited that the nominator has a case built and presented. Who nominated Canek? Why did they nominate Canek? This is my fountain of youth mystery. Until about 2016/2017, I had seen every single Canek match that we had access to. All of it. I always thought I had seen more Canek than anyone but, with each bump of this thread, there's hope someone out there shares my masochistic pleasure. Canek sucks. He's lethargic and largely apathetic. He always looks as if he's going to fall asleep in interviews and that's how it feels when he wrestles. His mule kick rivals Rayo's Tope en Reversa as the most unintentionally hilarious signature move. There's always a move he tries to pull off but can't. He's a charisma vacuum. But that's the novelty. He's a fish out of water and watching him struggle brings great joy to me (I need help, I know). At least he did better in Vale Tudo than Solar ever did, though Solar's trolling of Suzuki is legendary. If this was a list based on guys who are full of shit he's #1, no ifs, ands or buts. He's Hogan's tall stories amplified by ten. He's claimed ever since that slamming Andre broke his back and tore every ligament in his knees but he persevered through the pain. It took him over 20 years to heal his knees and he still struggles to lift things due to his back. He (and Andre) are the reason Arnold Schwarzenegger got over in Mexico. He's never taken drugs or steroids and doesn't even know what they look like. He predicts lucha extrema will lead to people cutting their opponent's heads off for pops and that his fighting/training in UWA was far more painful. The list goes on. He's a self-proclaimed badass with no idea how to play the role. While Santo is driving hot rods and fighting Dracula, Blue Demon is water skiing without hands, Rayo and Mil are riding Harley's in the desert, Canek is doing shit like this as metaphors for his life. When he had an entire promotion based around him (and Mascara 2000) and an unlimited budget from some money mark, this was his grand, badass entrance. He's as beautifully awful as Konan Big but on a much larger platform. I love Canek.

Have you seen the Alberto vs Kalisto LMS match from Smackdown? That's probably Del Rio's master performance.

Here's the missing title match from December 2000. I thought I had the Felino singles but it seems that show is not on these discs. Frustrating. I actually was making some recommendations in the GWE Discord just a couple days back. I'm not sure how high he'll go but he's been relatively good since like 1996. He's more in the Hechicero vein than Solar/Navarro and I appreciate that as he brings a certain novelty to his matwork that always makes you think 'huh, I've not seen that before!'. As a maestro he beats to his own drum, which is a pity as he's always played second fiddle to other guys on the card (and in niche, English speaking forums) who might not be as good as him. If I was to make a small (and in no way comprehensive) primer I'd suggest: Early Career matwork: Vs Ultimo Vampiro May 2000 Vs Felino Jan 2001 Vs Santo Dec 2000 w/ Cerebro Negro vs Virus y Mike Suicida 2005 Early bloodletting brawls Vs Santo Feb 2001 (Mano a Mano NOT the mask match) Carrying green workers to good matches: Vs Multifacitico 2011 Vs Deccnis 2010 He's a little long in the tooth but he'll still tie you up in pretzels Vs Comando Negro 2011 Vs Virus 2015 Vs Solar 2015 (?) Vs Hechicero 2016 Vs Bombero Infernal 2018

*laughs in CMLL*

I dunno. A lot of that seemed on Cody, too.

@KB8 I've been looking for that match for years - thank you! It's fucking fantastic. They have another whirlwind sprint in this one:

I dunno. Whenever I've had the (misfortunate) opportunity to see her wrestle I never come away thinking she's anything beyond passable at best and woeful at worst. Far more better women wrestlers not getting time enough time to shine. Tessa is zero loss, frankly.

What is this, 2016/2014/2011/2008/2001? We just need Konan to invade with a group now and the masterful Xerox booking is complete.

I have been waiting an umpteen number of years to finally see Rayo/Canek in a mask match. It's (almost) obviously going to be Psycho/Villano in the final but I won't ever give up this hope.

Not sure this is going to happen. It was announced that AAA is taking Tony K on in a creative role for their bigger shows. Now more than ever, the possibility of them doing business with CMLL is gone. If he can broker a deal, he'll do what nobody else ever could. I'm holding thumbs because there's so much possible footage that we can finally get our hands on. ONE DAY CHICANA/FARAON!

I now wonder back to all his matches in Monterrey where he'd punt kick a ref in the head to break a pin on him or chuck weapons into the ring "accidentally" hitting the referee. He's the original ingobernable that played all of this up for laughs, but I'm beginning to think he's a bit of an asshole.