Rah

From the previous week Jetlag gave me Casas/Santo (01/12/1995) and I couldn't be happier that he did. http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/41219-negro-casas-vs-el-hijo-del-santo-emll-01121995/ Honestly, I'd go to bat that this is a lost classic. Perhaps not quite in the 5-star affair line but it definitely needs more play within Lucha circles. Every hold is fought hard for and doesn't come easy. Moreover. the match builds to a great climactic finish that incorporates a hot nearfall leading to the victor's exclamation point that they truly were the best that day. Great, great match.

Truth be told, I've not been as sold on this pairing's matches as others. I loved the build up, the chaotic brawls and blood spilled as their trios team mates looked on perplexed. It felt visceral, it felt hate-filled, it felt real. But, when it came to the highly lauded '87 match and the '97 match I've not quite seen them as all time affairs. Great matches, sure, but not quite to the level the general praise reaches. This match, though, resonates with me in some way. I felt more intrigued and more hooked than I did their '87 match - perhaps because it is so different to the Santo/Casas violence I've been accustomed to. For 30 minutes two pros go out and have a clinic of a wrestling match, matching each other hold for hold. Each man has a body part, a knee or an arm, and they stick to their strategies throughout. I can see argument that nothing here was as complex as say a Navarro or Dandy hold but they more than flair it up with their charisma and agility. It's the little touches that also puts more credit to their GOAT candidacy. Santo would find new ways to wrinkle Casas up or front roll/flip his own boy around to cinch a hold in further or create even more pain. Casas, too, would lie his entire body weight over Santo to ensure escape looked difficult or nigh impossible. Honestly, I'd go to bat that this is a lost classic. Perhaps not quite in the 5-star affair line but it definitely needs more play within Lucha circles. Every hold is fought hard for and doesn't come easy. Moreover. the match builds to a great climactic finish that incorporates a hot nearfall leading to the victor's exclamation point that they truly were the best that day. Great, great match.

Rob Bihari has been on an uploading frenzy the last few weeks with three "new" Casas/Santo matches being the obvious highlight. This was billed as a submission match yet this unfolded rather as the touring Casas/Santo show playing to a new, American audience. Plus this ended with a Dusty Finish pinfall/DQ but whatever. Still, these are two prime wrestlers whose touring act is still better than the majority of matches being put out by others. I wouldn't call this a must view nor lost classic but it was a great reminder of how charismatic Casas is and just how breathtakingly fluid Santo is/was in his offense.

Hell yeah, Buzz Lightyear vs Spongebob was freaking awesome.

For Jetlag Minoru Suzuki vs Masaakatsu Funaki (UWF 15/04/1990) https://youtu.be/-Xz0n0e2SIs I wished they took this to striking but I think you'll like the matwork here.

I got two matches this week, and so far I've got through one! Because I had to. It was Cesaro. Matt D you really know me! Cesaro vs Sheamus (22/05/2014 WWE Dublin Live Event)http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/41136-cesaro-vs-sheamus-22052014-wwe-dublin-live-event/

Rob Viper uploaded Casas/Santo 25/11 and ??/12/1995 to Youtube. Are these "new"? Rather, this is the first time they're easily accessible. The 25/11 show is a handheld.

Full disclosure, I must be the biggest Cesaro fan on the planet - and I'm quite close in terms of Sheamus so you'd think this pairing would excite me but it's never really produced the classics I'd have hoped. Some of that is booking and time constraints (Payback 2014) but a lot seemed to be that they didn't much click. Which is fine, as they make a great tag team. But this match...oh, boy, this match! This was smart pro-wrestling. I don't wish to sound reaching, but if this had happened on a recorded show, it might be right up there with some of the best TV stuff of the year. In a world where dreams are answered, this would be a 12 minute bomb-throwing sprint. However, we're left with a lengthy shine, enhanced by some terrific Cesaro stalling, that leads into a great Cesaro beatdown and grand finishing stretch. Why would I complain? If there's any reason as to why these two are the cream of WWE's crop, it's in how they layered this match, ensuring a simple powerslam nearfall erupted the crowd into a frenzy. You even hear an older women scream out "oh my god" at one point and it's just fantastic. I know it's one of Sheamus' signature moves, but it's still a powerslam. A lot of guys hit impressive high spots to crickets. What also works in their favour is that their signature spots have a logical progression into each other. The Brogue Kick/German suplex and Neutraliser/White Noise are so fluidly countered to and from. Of course that's what would play into their finish, then. Props to Sheamus on taking the first German suplex to the back of his skull. It added enough difference to how he played it off, when they did a recall in the finishing spot, that you could buy the fact he had learnt his lesson and rolled through with the power in order to make the running comeback. Like I said, smart pro-wrestling. I wish the camera was closer in, so we could see and, most importantly, hear the nasty strikes and uppercuts that littered this match, but finally seeing the uncut version of this more than makes up for it.

Kronos sent me a match via PM. I'll gladly take it on in the interrim.

@HeadCheese Kallisto vs Alberto Del Rio (14/01/2016 WWE Smackdown)

Bucky had me watch Atsushi Onita/Tarzan Goto vs. Dragonmaster/Masanobu Kurisu (Texas Street Fight)http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/17351-atsushi-onita-tarzan-goto-vs-masanobu-kurisu-dragon-master-fmw-texas-street-fight-040190/page-2&do=findComment&comment=5831565 All in all, a really good brawl with some nasty chair shots.

Yeah, this was a great brawl with some of the nasty FMW plundering you've come to expect. Dragon Master walloping a chair so hard that it shatters over an ankle was nasty - don't wish to know how the recipient felt the day after. I think my copy had some slight clipping as action seemed to randomly jump between the outside and the ring toward the end. Pity, as I was starting to really get into the blood-letting massacre that this was - though I do think the finish was overly choreographed by the sped up ref count (the wrestlers can't help the bell ringer fucking up). All in all, a really good brawl with some nasty chair shots.

Remember when current stars were over-shadowed by past their prime WWF stars? Now they're being over-shadowed by past their prime UFC stars. /half jest

That could be the reason why the other admin thought they would take it down. The archives do not keep material that is accessible via official streaming methods. Interested to see where things go from here.

From Real Hero himself

@Bucky ¿te gusta lucha?

I'm still in.

Murdoch/Gordy http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/32860-terry-gordy-vs-dick-murdoch-houston-wrestling-10882/ Enjoyable relaxed weekend take on a matchup between these two which includes one "holy shit" spot from Dick and not for the reason you think!

Yeah, this came across very different to my expectations but Murdoch delivering a delayed flying headscissors like a spry Juvie is unreal and something I'll put on the list of things I never expected to ever see. These guys finally unload with their shots about halfway in and its violent. Gordy threw some nasty punches but Dick had some scrappy ones of his own. Terry's overselling was comical and came across like he was doing the Hokey Pokey more than being punched in the face but it was entertaining stuff nonetheless Enjoyable relaxed weekend take on a matchup between these two which includes one "holy shit" spot from Dick and not for the reason you think!

The terms are a bit more deconstructible than the American face/heel dynamic. Tecnicos try to stay true to the traditions/rules of "pure" lucha libre through their athleticism and grace - generally this curries favour with the crowds. Rudos disregard this approach and rather focus on brawling or power moves to win. Yes, they can and generally do bend (!) rules in their favour but they don't necessarily need to break them. These run from direct breaches (Satanico faking fouls to win hair matches) right down to a guy like Pentagon Jr who doesn't necessarily bend the rules but typically acts like a badass mugger. So, perhaps Almas became more violent/cocky in his approach? I've not seen the match, yet, so I'm unsure of the differentiation Matt D is trying to make specifically. Just my 2c on the difference, in general, though.

It's on High Spots. Check your PM, I'll get it for ya.

@Southofheavy I was tempted to either give you Briscoes vs Ole Anderson/Hansen or Regal/Ambrose going by your likes but I thought I'd play left field with this Sami Callihan vs Brodie Lee (EVOLVE 8 Style Battle Round 1)

There's no reason why they wouldn't purposefully misdirect talent, as well, noting that dirtsheets have inside sources or such news would be bound to slip out. That is, if they wanted to build the narrative that Bryan was kept back and help push the backlash/fanfare behind him.

I watched NintendoLogic's recommendation and I came out with more questions than answers http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/19903-megumi-kudo-vs-shinobu-kandori-llpw-live-battle-010597-street-fight/

Reading this thread, I think the onus is upon me for not "getting" this match. It seems as if I have a disconnect when it comes to understanding Joshi and this match did little to waylay those beliefs. Unless it's AJA Kong punishing someone, I struggle to invest myself in matches. Those highly pimped Hokuta tags from the early 90s? Yeah, I don't get 'em. Much like those tags (and [contemporary?] Dragon Gate) I struggle with the basic structure in this match. To me, it appears as if Joshi is presented in separate arcs that are mutually exclusive of each other. The work within them can be (and usually is!) beautiful but the transitions feel forced or random and the next control feels like a hard reset on the action. The introduction of the chain is example of this. Kudo has Kandori's number - a powerbomb on piled chairs and a lengthy chain choke segment and you'd think this one would be a foregone conclusion to cue a shine/slow transition. However, Kandori kips up and takes over with fresh breath as if she's sustained no damage. There's not even a nod nor homage to Kudo's prior work. It's because of this that the matches feel too disjointed or, and I feel horrible to claim this (as I feel it must be a self-bias), that they're poor in quality. Help?