dawho5

Bravo in Montreal is such a smart move. I wonder if Heenan and Hennig would be a good fit. Seems like a reach.

John Studd and Buddy Rose as contenders for the NWA Champ are really, really good. They don't necessarily fit the bill but bring things to the table that make for very interesting match-ups.

Holy dream team, Dusty and Sarge!! How did this never happen? Would have liked to see Mando vs. Scorpio.

I agree, you use run-ins and match results very well to move angles along instead of only using promos. Very effective. I am a fan of Embry's heel work, so I dig the way you use him.

Original Airdate: January 5th, 1986 (Originally airing in Spanish on WAPA Channel 4 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This broadcast is translated to English where applicable.) The opening montage featuring highlights of Carlos Colon, Chicky Starr, Invader 1, Invader 2, Invader 3, Abdullah the Butcher, Hercules Ayala, Bam Bam and Dutch Mantell plays. Carlos Colon doing a cartwheel and coming up fists at the ready leads to the WWC logo as the music ends. NWA and Capitol Sports Presenta Los Campeones De La Lucha Libre Con Tus Luchadores Favoritos De Fama Mundial Rickin Sanchez and Hugo Savinovich sit smiling at the commentary desk in Coliseo Municipal Pedro Rodriguez Gaya De Catano. Rickin: Welcome to another great week of lucha libre action from the WWC. I'm Rickin Sanchez and I am joined by my colleague Hugo Savinovich. Hugo: Three Kings Day is TOMORROW! Are you ready for it Rickin?!? Rickin: I don't know that I am, but it's almost here regardless. We have some more big matches to announce for that show tonight fans. Hugo: One of them is VERY BIG!! Rickin: I know which one you are talking about and yes, it is a match that will be hard for Roberto Clemente Coliseum to contain. Tonight we will see the debut of the Rock'n'Roll RPMs, our newest tag team in the WWC. Hugo: So many tag teams!! That tournament is going to be something else!! Rickin: Yes, it will feature all of our regular tag teams including los Super Medicos, who also have a match tonight. Ricky Santana will be in singles action, as will the Latin Lover Al Madril. Hugo: We won't be talking to Al?!? Rickin: Thankfully we will not. Gama Singh will have a singles match as well. Chicky Starr's Sports Shop will feature none other than Abdullah the Butcher. Hugo: The monster! The machine! Rickin: Commissioner Pedro Castillo has sent in some pre-recorded comments from his office. Barrabas will be checking in from the road with the NWA 6-man Tag Team Champions. Hugo: He had a lot to say last week! Rickin: He always has a lot to say. We have an interview with Carlitos Colon before our main event, a 6-man tag team match featuring los Invaders. Hugo: Colon has a tough test ahead of him tomorrow night! Rickin: Yes, Bruiser Brody is a wildman, as much a maniac as your former protege Abdullah the Butcher. Hugo: How Chicky is going to manage keeping those two from tearing one another apart is beyond me! Rickin: Chicky Starr very often overreaches in his endeavors. I hope he learns from his mistakes sooner rather than later. Hugo: You never get any better if you don't test your limits! Rickin: This is true, but pushing too far usually ends in disaster. Our first match is close to starting. The Rock and Roll RPMs are on their way to the ring. Hugo: Their names are Mike Davis and Tommy Lane! And they look so similar! Rickin: The crowd is a little tentative, they aren't sure what to make of these Americans. Hugo: They'll boo them soon enough! Rickin: Judging from the way the two young men are trying to bring the crowd to their feet, I disagree. Hugo: Wasting their time! Just take your opponents apart and don't worry about the fans! Rickin: That philosophy has worked so well in the past hasn't it Hugo? Here are los Mercenarios on what seems to be another scouting mission. There is the bell. Mr. W & X vs. The Rock 'n' Roll RPMs The RPMs use basic wrestling to control the match. A clothesline by Lane stops Mr. W from gaining momentum. Lane grabs a gutwrench on W and Davis gets in position for a neckbreaker. Davis falls into the neckbreaker as Lane drops into a side slam. Davis covers for the 3 count. Rock 'n' Roll RPMs by pinfall in 5:17 with a side slam/neckbreaker combo. Rickin: The Rock and Roll RPMs are off to a good start in the WWC. Hugo: What a move! Rickin: This is a team that could go far in the tournament, if they show the same level of teamwork and skill they did here. Hugo: Not if they keep paying so much attention to the fans! Rickin: I will admit, it does take some focus off the match and your opponents. We'll be back with comments from commissioner Pedro Castillo and a match featuring Ricky Santana. Don't go anywhere fans. (Commerical Break) 0-8:30 Rickin: We're back fans and taking you right to our pre-recorded comments from commissioner Pedro Castillo. Cut to a basic looking office with very few decorations. There are several WWC-oriented objects in the room. The commissioner sits at an official-looking desk. Castillo: First and foremost the WWC would like to recognize Jonathan Boyd, the Crusher and Bam Bam for their achievement in winning the NWA 6-Man Tag Team championships. We are very proud that three of our wrestlers were able to gain such a prestigious title. Our hope is that these three men will represent the WWC respectfully as they travel around the NWA. It is a shame that Barrabas, their manager, has chosen to not defend the titles here in Puerto Rico. sadly there is little we at the World Wrestling Council can do to force his hand in this matter. As long as the titles are defended once every 30 days somewhere Barrabas is well within his legal rights. However, we have begun discussions with some of the more friendly promotions that make up the NWA to not bring in the 6-Man titles so that he is forced to sign his team for a title defense here in Puerto Rico. It is not a tactic we like, but one that we feel is necessary. Castillo stops to take a drink of water. Castillo: Chicky Starr recently was on the losing side of a match with the stipulation that he would get his hair cut if his team lost. Chicky Starr needs to be reminded that he signed a legally binding document, regardless of if the stipulation was in place when he signed it. There is a clause in every one of our contracts that allows us to add in stipulations as we see fit, even if the document has already been signed by all parties. What that means in layman's terms is that if Chicky Starr does not have his hair cut by the end of tomorrow night's card, he will be suspended indefinitely. While we are not thrilled with Chicky Starr's actions, we don't like these kinds of punishments. We feel that it is best to let the wrestlers sort these things out until they get out of hand. Castillo pauses. Castillo: Chicky Starr made a very generous offer prior to his match. He stated he would let me personally cut his hair, which we all know now is a lie. It's no surprise that Chicky Starr lied, but perhaps it is for the best. As commissioner I have a responsibility to not take one side or the other, but to see that the rules are enforced as much as possible. After talking with Invader 1 I will allow him to be the man that cuts Chicky Starr's hair. Thank you all for your time and I now send it back to Hugo and Rickin. Cut back to the desk. Rickin: There you have it. Invader 1 will be cutting Chicky Starr's hair tomorrow night. Hugo: Hardly fair! But if Chicky is okay with it so am I! Rickin: It's a shame there is not much to be done about Barrabas keeping the NWA 6-Man titles out of Puerto Rico. Hugo: Serves the fans right if you ask me!! Rickin: Right now we have the first announcement for tomorrow night's card. Abdullah Tamba and Abdullah the Butcher, with Chicky Starr in their corner, will be taking on the Crusher and Bam Bam, with Barrabas in their corner. Hugo: HUGE! Rickin: It will be a match that tells us a lot about Bam Bam and how he matches up with Abdullah the Butcher. Interesting that Chicky Starr is openly opposing barrabas. Hugo: Chicky can't stand to see Barrabas or Carlitos Colon get more acclaim than he gets! Rickin: That's...probably true Hugo. Here comes Ricky Santana and the crowd is on their feet. Hugo: After what he did on December 23rd I don't know WHY! Rickin: Dutch Mantell may not have deserved his help, but Ricky wasn't going to stand by and watch los Mercenarios hurt him. That shows a lot of character. Hugo: Or lack of intelligence! What if los Mercenarios had started going to work on Ricky too?!? Rickin: That is a risk, but sometimes doing what's right is risky. Hugo: You think I don't know that?!? My philosophy is that you have to do what is right for YOU! Rickin: Perhaps that is why you and the fans have never seen eye to eye. The referee has called for the bell, here we go. Isaac Rosario vs. Ricky Santana Santana with standard babyface offense, chops, punches, armdrags. Rosario misses a dropkick after a few punches and Santana catches him with a dropkick that sends Rosario to the floor. Santana hits a pescado and rolls Rosario back in the ring. A trip to the top from the apron by santana leads to the flying crossbody for the win. Ricky Santana by pinfall in 4:39 after a top rope crossbody Hugo: He is very impressive in the ring! Rickin: He's got a bright future ahead of him in the WWC. Hugo: As much as I don't like saying it, yes he does! He shows a lot of heart and determination! Even if he's taking the long way... Rickin: Sometimes that's the best way Hugo. Up next we'll be visiting Chicky's Sports Shop. Hugo: Abdullah! The Monster! the Machine!! Rickin: And Gama Singh will be in singles action. We'll be right back. (Commercial Break) 8:30-17:30 Hugo: Heeeeey, Let's go to the SPORTS SHOP! Cut to the intro for Chicky's Sports Shop. Chicky is already seated next to Abdullah the Butcher, who absently stares into the camera as he sloppily eats. Victor the Bodyguard is in his usual place. Chicky: I'm sure by now we've heard from Don Pedro Castillo about me cutting my hair. You can trust me when I say that by the end of tomorrow night all of this (Chicky tousles his own hair) will be gone. But I will promise you again that you won't like it! The camera cuts to a close-up of Abdullah eating (cue discomfort in anyone viewing). Chicky: This is Abdullah the Butcher, well known to anyone who has followed the WWC. He is the Madman from the Sudan. He is a machine and a monster as my friend has told us many times! He is also MY solution to the problem of Bam Bam. Barrabas thinks he can bring in this big American and lord him over the rest of us! Guess what Barrabas. I have a bigger man, and while he may not be as agile as yours, he is far more dangerous! Chicky pauses and the camera goes to a wider shot. Chicky: Abdullah the Butcher has been terrorizing the wrestling world for years. Your flying behemoth is very impressive, no doubt. But will he go to the great lengths that this animal sitting beside me does? Will he carve up a man's forehead until his face is barely recognizeable? Will he try to permanently injure a man just because he's in the same ring? Cut to Abdullah eating again. Chicky: I'm guessing you don't know the answers to these questions yourself. We're going to find out on Three Kings Day. And because you've chosen to try and humiliate him, I'm bringing along my own flying behemoth. Abdullah Tamba and Abdullah the Butcher are a team that cannot be matched in terms of power, ferocity and agility. With my brain and their brawn we will show you and the WWC that Bam Bam is nothing more than a pretender! Abdullah the Butcher is the real terror of Puerto Rico! Abdullah continues eating and staring blankly into the camera. Cut to a wider shot. Chicky: That's it for another edition of Chicky's Sports Shop. Next week I'll be talking to Huracan Castillo Jr. and Miguelito Perez. As boring as that sounds, be sure to tune in! Chicky puts down the mic and tries to coerce Abdullah to his feet. Abdullah keeps staring blankly into the camera and eating. Cut to the desk. Rickin: Is that how it was managing Abdullah? Hugo: Often enough, yes. It's almost a little scarier than when he's in the ring! I don't think I ever saw him using a fork while eating.... Rickin: ......I....see. Gama Singh has made his way to the entrance and is walking down to the ring. Hugo: ....Sorry, just thinking back to when I managed Abdullah. He is the maniac you think he is, I promise! Rickin: I don't doubt it. Gama Singh is getting a good reaction as he slaps some hands in the crowd. Hugo: He seems like he's happy to be back! Rickin: I imagine he is, the fans have welcomed him back. Gama Singh is ready to go and the match is starting. El Vikingo vs. Gama Singh Singh works over Vikingo's back with clubbing blows and an abdominal stretch. A Vikingo comeback is cut off with punches and a slam. Singh with an elbow drop for two. He locks in the camel clutch for the submission victory. Gama Singh by submission in 4:23 with a camel clutch Rickin: Gama Singh is stringing together some wins. He'll be looking at wrestling for gold soon if he continues. Hugo: If, yes! Momentum can be derailed very quickly!! Rickin: This is very true, and sometimes other things come up. I have seen men give up title matches for more personal challenges. Hugo: That's where letting your emotions get the better of you can get in your own way! Rickin: Sometimes, yes, but there are times when it is better to settle an issue. We'll be back with some more news about tomorrow night and an interview with los Super Medicos before their tag team match. Don't touch that dial. (Commercial Break) 17:30-27:00 Rickin: We're back and it's time to reveal two more matches that will take place tomorrow night in the Roberto Clemente Coliseum. First, Ricky Santana will be taking on newcomer Owen Hart. Both are junior heavyweights with exciting wrestling styles. Hugo: Should be fun to watch! Rickin: Gama Singh will be taking on Super Medico 1 in singles action as well. Both are fan favorites, so I doubt you will be very interested Hugo. Hugo: I'm sure one of them will cross a line, that should be fun to see! Rickin: Or I could be wrong. Los Super Medicos were interviewed earlier today and we're going to show that to you. Cut to the same locker room as last week with three Super Medicos standing next to Rickin. Rickin: Los Super Medicos are another team that will be in the now-confirmed tournament to crown new NWA WWC Carribean Tag Team champions. They have been a top tag team in Puerto Rico for some time. How is it there is a third Super Medico? Super Medico 1: I have 11 men I can call upon to be Super Medicos Rickin. Bad things happen in a wrestling ring and you have to be prepared. Rickin: Which man will be your partner in the tournament? Medico 1: Super Medico 2, who has been with me for some time, will be my partner for the tournament. We will have Super Medico 3 to watch our backs. That has becaome necessary with los Mercenarios around. Rickin: Yes, they are involved in this tournament as well. We can't be entirely sure why. Medico 1: I think we can. They are here to make sure somebody wins. That means every team has to be on their toes wherever they go. Rickin: I like your chances in the tournament and I think you'll go far. You have a singles match with Gama Singh, who has just recently returned to Puerto Rico, tomorrow night. Do you think you're ready for a big singles match like that? Medico 1: I've gotten used to tag team matches, but I have spent just as much time in my career in singles matches. Gama Singh is a very good wrestler and it will be a challenge. Rickin: Do you worry that he might return to his former ways and resort to illegal tactics to win? Medico 1: I don't expect it, but I'll be ready for it. Won't be the first time I've had to deal with that in the ring. I know he wants to make a big impact in his first big match back, so he'll be coming at me full bore. I'll be giving it my all too. Let's just hope we can keep it clean. Cut back to the arena. Rickin: That is how a veteran handles himself Hugo. He isn't cocky or arrogant, just knows what he has to do and prepares to do it. Hugo: He's still wasting time playing to the fans! Rickin: The fans are supportive because of that Hugo. And I doubt los Super Medicos think it is a waste of their time. Hugo: They can be wrong if they want to! Rickin: I don't think they are wrong, but I'm glad you can agree to disagree. Hugo: If we couldn't these broadcasts would get very long! Rickin: ....very true Hugo. Los Super Medicos have reached the ring and there is the bell. Mr. Y & Z vs. Los Super Medicos Medicos use teamwork to control the opening moments. A short comeback is cut off by a vertical suplex from Super Medico 2 to Mr. Z. Medico 2 tags in Medico 1 and hits the ropes. A dropkick by Super Medico 2 sends Z right into a schoolboy from Medico 1 for the 3 count. Los Super Medicos by pinfall in 5:28 with a dropkick/schoolboy combo Rickin: Los Super Medicos continue their success. We'll see how Super Medico 1 fares in his singles match tomorrow night. Hugo: It'll be difficult for him without a tag partner to bring in when he gets tired! Rickin: Perhaps, but overcoming difficulty is a part of wrestling. He's a veteran and has shown us the ability to do so before. Hugo: He's getting older though! How long has he been around?!? We can't see him beneath thta mask, so you don't know! Rickin: He could also be a younger man than we think. Hugo: True! Maybe he started young and needed to wear a mask to hide it! We'll have to wait and see tomorrow night! Rickin: Yes we will. We'll be back with our last announcement of a match for tomorrow night. Barrabas has sent us another video and we'll be seeing that. Al Madril will have a match and hopefully not go out of his way to cripple his opponent. We'll return shortly fans. (Commercial Break) 27:00-36:00 Rickin: Welcome back fans. We have one more match to announce for tomorrow's big Roberto Clemente Coliseum show. Miguelito Perez, without his father, will be taking on Jonathan Boyd, who will have Barrabas in his corner. Hugo: Without Miguel?!? Rickin: That's right. Miguel feels his son is ready to do this on his own. Hugo: They have guts at least! We'll see how long that lasts! Rickin: It isn't something either is doing lightly, I spoke with both about it. As well as Huracan Castillo Jr. All of them see the positive and negative aspects of it and have agreed it is the best course of action. Right now we have some taped comments from Barrabas. Cut to a different locker room than last week. Barrabas is standing with Jonathan Boyd, the Crusher and Bam Bam around him. Barrabas: Last week we were so busy celebrating our capturing the NWA 6-Man Tag Team Titles that we forgot to celebrate something else. Bam Bam, of course, was victorious against Abdullah Tamba. Jonathan Boyd and the Crusher, of course, were victorious against Castillo and Perez. Not that either of those is a surprise. There is a reason these men are in my employ! They are the best! Barrabas pauses. Barrabas: Now we have one half of the team that got beat, Miguelito Perez, going up against Jonathan Boyd one on one. And without Papa Perez, hah! Jonathan Boyd is more experienced. He is tougher and hits harder! You're going to wish you had daddy around before this match is over, I gaurantee it Miguelito! Another pause. Barrabas: And little Chicky Starr has gotten jealous. He knows that very soon Bam Bam here will be the NWA WWC Universal champion and he can't stand it. Bruiser Brody will fail to take the title from Colon. Bam Bam will beat Abdullah the Butcher. He is younger, more agile, stronger! Bam Bam was instrumental in us winning the NWA 6-Man Titles, yet Chicky Starr believes he will crumble when faced with a monster like Abdullah. Bam Bam. Is. A. Monster. After Three Kings Day everyone will know that! Barrabas again pauses. Barrabas: I've heard rumblings from the WWC about my announcement last week. I want to assure you there is absolutely nothing that anyone in the WWC can do to make me defend these titles in Puerto Rico. None of the fans in Puerto Rico will ever see a NWA 6-Man Tag Team Title match and that's a promise! Cut back to the desk. Rickin: Barrabas doesn't seem to think much of the competition here in the World Wrestling council. Hugo: Should he?!? Rickin: Even with a man like Bam Bam in your corner it's a bad idea to get too cocky. You know this as well as I do. Hugo: Yeah... Rickin: I'm wondering whose side you take in this war between Chicky Starr and Barrabas as well. Hugo: I have to pick a SIDE?!? Rickin: *chuckles* I imagine you will. Right now the boos tell me that Al Madril is on his way out. Hugo: Aaaand here comes the garbage. Rickin: We have fans who will show the wrestlers exactly how they feel Hugo. Hugo: And fans who lack any kind of respect! Rickin: As I've said before, respect is earned. Al Madril hasn't exactly done anything to earn himself much besides contempt. Hugo: Maybe if they had the first idea... Rickin: I'm sure there are fans out there that understand the justification that goes on after things like putting Victor Jovica out. But not the majority. Madril hits the ring and immediately attacks Armandito Salgado. Hugo: Referee is a little behind tonight!! The bell sounds after the match starts! Armandito Salgado vs. Al Madril Madril is merciless, beating Salgado down with elbows to the back of the neck. Salgado mounts a short comeback but is cut off when Madril casually tosses him out between the second and third ropes. A piledriver on the floor and Madril rolls back into the ring. He casually leans against the corner as the referee counts salgado out and the crowd throws garbage at Madril. Al Madril by countout in 3:46 after a piledriver on the floor Rickin: He could have permanently injured Salgado like that. Why not just pin the man in the ring for the three count? Hugo: At least he's not continuing the attack after the bell? Rickin: There is that. You have to admit that some of his methods go beyond what is required to win. Hugo: Yes. Sometimes men feel the need to send a message to their future opponents. It just seems like Al feels that need more often than not. Rickin: I'm guessing I know exactly who that message was for. Hercules Ayala will be back in action next week, but his neck is still recovering from that beating it took. Hugo: So it works! Rickin: I.....we have recorded comments from Carlitos Colon up next, as well as our main event. All three Invaders will be in six-man tag team action. We'll be back after these messages. (Commercial Break) 36:00-44:00 Rickin: We've returned fans and it's time to hear from Carlitos Colon. Cut to Carlitos Colon in again the same locker room, standing next to Rickin Sanchez. Rickin: Carlitos, we are all thrilled that you and los Invaders were able to send los Infernales packing by winning your match on December 23rd. Did you feel like it would be a win going into the match? Colon: We had more momentum than we had at any point before, so I felt like there was a good chance. Even after los Infernales had won the NWA WWC Carribean Tag Team Titles I felt like we had a good chance. Rickin: Chicky Starr still has his hair though. Colon: Something that will be remedied tomorrow night. Or else he'll have to find a new home with his friends los Infernales! Rickin: I get the feeling Chicky won't allow himself to be suspended. He has signed both Bruiser Brody and Abdullah the Butcher to management contracts in order to attack you, as well as Bam Bam. Colon: First, I'm not sure that he will be able to keep both under control if they know the other is there. I'm not sure I would want to be in the middle of that fight. Rickin: That makes two of us. Colon: Bam Bam is something I will have to deal with. Probably Abdullah too. But right now I have Bruiser Brody in a match. He's always been a very tough man and very unpredictable. I expect I'll be pushed to my limits, but I will find a way to keep the NWA WWC Universal Championship! Rickin: You'll also have to deal with Chicky Starr at ringside. Colon: I doubt Chicky will have much opportunity to help while Brody and I are outside the ring. One thing I know for sure is that anytime you fight Bruiser Brody you are outside the ring as often as you are in the ring. The real challenge for both myself and Chicky Starr will be to make sure there isn't a countout. I know Chicky wants to take my belt, and he can't do it with a countout. And I want to beat Bruiser Brody right in the middle of the ring to let Chicky Starr know that whatever he throws at me, I'll come out on top! Cut back to the desk. Rickin: Carlitos Colon seems to know the difficult road he has ahead of him. Hugo: He has taken a few difficult roads! Rickin: Yes, and that's why he is such a great champion. Here come los Invaders. The crowd is roaring their approval as they come down to the ring. Hugo: Always.... Rickin: It sounds like you are starting to come around Hugo. Hugo: No, not that! They had a big win and they...might...deserve....this... Rickin: You're right Hugo, they might. They are enjoying the reactions from the crowd on their way to the ring and playing back to them. Hugo: Don't get cocky just because you got a win! Rickin: There's the Hugo I know. We're ready for action as the referee signals for the bell. Los Tejanos vs. Los Invaders Invaders are smooth with the teamwork between all 3. They hit double and triple teams within the 5 count to keep in control. Invader 2 & 3 hit a double dropkick for a three count. Los Invaders by pinfall in 5:33 with a double dropkick Rickin: Los Invaders are on a roll since that loss of the NWA WWC Carribean Tag Team Titles. Hugo: Maybe they should lose more often! Rickin: Often times when we lose we come out of it better than we went in. It's not always that way with a win. We're almost out of time. As we leave you there will be a rundown of all of the matches on the card for tomorrow night's Three Kings Day show. Main Event: Bruiser Brody w/Chicky Starr vs. Carlitos Colon© for the NWA WWC Universal Championship The Crusher/Bam Bam Bigelow with Barrabas vs. Abdullah Tamba/Abdullah the Butcher with Chicky Starr Al Madril, Ron Starr & Chicky Starr vs. Los Invaders Miguel Perez vs. Jonathan Boyd w/Barrabas Gama Singh vs. Super Medico 1 Ricky Santana vs. Owen Hart Making his debut: TNT w/El Profe

I liked Foley's shorter promo better. And Sting's really. The finish to Austin/Sting was pretty dreadful and I'm pretty sure we could have missed seeing it. Paul E. has gotten a lot better in the last month or 2.

Luger looking more and more like a real heel. And the crowd seem to care. Curious how that works.

Foley's promo was easily the highlight here. Stinger does fine, he just can't compete with Foley cutting a great, creepily insane promo.

BJT is back! Embry using the guitar handle as a weapon was great. The studio brawl was so incredible. Memphis studio brawls always get me. Lawler's promo on Hickerson after the brawl is one of the better Lawler promos I've ever seen. Dutch making fun of that ridiculous WCW schtick AND hotlines? Some of the funniest deadpan delivery I've ever seen and Dutch is so great. Can he stay???

After the hotline bullshit I though Hulk cut a great promo. The way he put a lot of his success on the fans was, for sure, deliberately pandering but rings true. How is it the guy who is the biggest asshole of his era about protecting his spot is putting Flair over better than the rest of the WWF combined not named Bobby Heenan? Awesome that Hogan puts him over as I think it does way more positive for Flair than everyone else's negative hype could bury.

Yeah, I expected to not like this and it kept getting better. The action builds up as the match goes in a very organic way. I thought they could have done with more awareness of what was going on with the other two fighting at times, but overall very very good.

I'm gonna be the lone dissenting vote on this one. Not into it. I'll agree the rudos didn't bring a lot to the table. They should have cut off their 5 on one stuff in less than half the time they took. Robin Hood did take a ridiculous floor bump after being crotched on the turnbuckle after the second fall though. Really nasty looking. Dive train was pretty incredible, but I just wasn't into the rest of the match. I do respect that they did what they did in the costumes. May have to revisit this.

Hase did really well as the aggressor here. I didn't think he was going to win, but once Fujinami kicked out of those three ridiculously brutal uranages I was damn sure Hase didn't have anything to put him away. I honestly thought Fujinami looked better in the 2007 match I saw him wrestle than here.

Great show and the team of Footloose & Fuchi is just too damn good. Even in 85. Tenryu vs. Flair is one to look forward to for sure.

I wonder what the IRS did to Vince to warrant all of this. I mean, he's going REALLY far to make it seem like they are massive pricks. Some of that tax advice seems pretty sound actually.

Paul E. already has the phone, good stuff. Bobby Fulton is a favorite as well. Armand is really doing well, good to see the youngest Rougeau succeeding.

As a Kabuki fan I appreciate that he's getting a good run here. The guy was better than people give him credit for.

Flair cuts a great promo and seems like he's enjoying himself, but it's just...not there. I don't know if garretta is right about the WWF wanting to bury Flair from the start, but it sure seems accurate with the evidence we have so far.

Such a strange match. They are in the Japanese version of the WMC studio I think. It just seemed so fitting that Davis and Pritchard would be in that setting. And I am again very underwhelmed by the Headhunters. Good thing the majority of the match was Davis and Pritchard. I'll compare it to the tag match I just watched (Enforcers vs. Hardliners). It's not a match where the structure is going to blow you away, just like that one. It has 2 guys who are good to great at what they do and motivated, where the other had 4. And both have aspects to them that are fun and worth watching. Davis and Pritchard beat the shit out of each other and put on a good show. It ultimately gets little to no response, but I enjoyed watching them and wish they had a program in Memphis. Danny Davis is really good when he gets the chance to go, it'd be fun to see what he could do with an actual feud that got airtime and matches we saw.

I was excited to see these 4 guys work. Some miscommunication and no crowd heat, but it's heel vs heel in a cold promotion. The work on Arn's arm was really good and I loved the stiff shots they gave each other throughout. I'll go with this as a fun, pointless match, but one that gives you what you would expect from 4 solid pros in the ring.

I thought Sting and Heyman were really good at playing off of one another. More box shenanigans, but this time it's something Sting would want? It seemed odd that the woman was very pro-Sting while she was delivering a note from Cactus. Wouldn't that normally be some kind of set-up or are we just trying to say that Sting has a way with the ladies?

Ted gives a pretty good promo, didn't think much of Beefcake here. I liked Sherri better with Savage.

Boring match that had me wondering why they even bothered.

So what happened to the whole "open contract" thing? Shouldn't Jerry be talking to Eddie Marlin about this? I'm curious as to how awful the Dragon Master was myself. Jackie allowing herself to be shaved bald is pretty impressive. She shows a pretty good grasp of the idea that heels have to take their lumps. Embry has beaten DWB 872,000 times! How did he keep track? I would agree that this promo seems like a guy who is caught in a bit of a trap and doesn't know the way out yet. But he kind of is, so it makes sense. Or maybe he and Pritchard aren't really fighting and he just wants us to think that? Who knows?

Kyoko really shines here. She doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of winning this, but she puts up enough fight for any two challengers. I loved Bull breaking out the cartwheel, 180 roundouse off the second rope and the moonsault. Really puts Kyoko over for having the toughness and skill to threaten her enough to warrant those risks. Even if I never once believed Kyoko was going to win, it's more like the Kobashi vs. Jumbo matches. One of the better joshi matches I've ever seen and I'd say both contributed a lot to that.