dawho5

I liked this one a lot. A lot of these 6 mans on the Yearbooks haven't had the rudos just being pricks from before the bell to after, but this one has that covered and more. I also liked that everyone got their chance to shine both dishing it out and taking it.

I liked the first 2 caidas, but the third fell short for me. Can't say exactly what about it disappointed me, but it lost me. They had a really good thing going through the first two though.

This was a fun shootstyle squash. Would that make it a poorly booked fight then? Also, as somebody who has been trained to throw kicks, you don't ever want Fujiwara kicking you. His form is really, really good and I'm guessing Lato was hurting more than a little after this.

And he always knew what that character was and stuck to it. I really love that Jake wasn't willing to sacrifice that just to get booked.

So much going on in the new year. Can Lawler and Rich coexist? Luger working for Baby Doll is a good pairing if you ask me. And yeah, Ron Wright is definitely going to be a big time heel. Not sure if that angle would have been nixed by TV in 86 but I don't care.

Muto is a strange case. The more I see of him the more I think it's really hard to judge him on the same criteria as anyone else. He just seems like he exists in his own separate universe the way he does just about everything. Watching young Muto work is such a trip because he runs different, he does even basic moves with this extra little snap to them that is executed in his own inimitable way. And yeah, he has some really inexplicable stuff to go along with it. The match he loses to Kawada in, I think, 2001 where Kawada is still in the ring selling the match by the time Muto is off the arena floor and in the locker rooms...and Kawada WON. Stuff like that is really going to stand out to somebody who is on the detractor side of the fence. I will say that whatever your opinion of Muto, he's really one of the true innovators of pro wrestling in the early 90s. There is so much stuff that just isn't as prevalent now if he's not around then.

I also thought that Smiley vs. Blue Panther on the mat was a really good exchange in addition to the above mentioned match-ups. Cruz avoiding Dantes right away made me think they'd do more with those two. Did Smiley legit hurt his arm when it got tied up in the ropes like that? Good action all the way through and some superb exchanges. I am still partial to the los Brazos matches, mainly due to Super Porky, but I'd put this at that level for 6 mans.

Luger really needs something to say that isn't the same as the last 4 promos. I get that we're supposed to not like him now, but give us a better reason.

Jake's promo was really, really good. The rest was...well, the rest.

I would agree that this entire tournament puts the 3 Musketeers right where their All Japan peers are. This match was incredible. I was engaged by the matwork despite the lack of struggle. I thought there was a certain intensity to it that worked very well. I think the thing that made it more of an All Japan match was the piledriver on the floor. It struck me as out of place in this setting (NJPW) but it works for this match and what is up for grabs. Chono looks like the most resilient guy on the planet with the 2 Hash matches and this one coming the same night as the second. He also looks like a smart wrestler who knows his opponents' moves well enough to use that against them. Although I will admit the spot that made me pop biggest was Muto jumping over Chono's dropkick as Muto came off the turnbuckle. Never seen that before and it was in a heavyweight match. I had never seen Chono's highly regarded work before the injury and now I get it. The guy had a future in front of him that we'd still be arguing about where it sat in relation to Misawa. Oh yeah, and that crowd was like Puerto-Rico-fans-for-Carlos-Colon rabid for both of these guys. Amazing stuff. I will say though that this tournament being over is a happy thing. It's been pretty draining with all of these emotionally charged matches one after another.

Yeah, the draw was better as far as work. But this had better structure and really puts over Chono big time while not deflating Hash in any way. I wish Hash had sold more of the leg work (that Chono was doing all match) throughout. Chono does such a great job selling his shit I don't mind though. I also loved Chono's dedication to the gameplan. He knew he couldn't get Hash in 30 minutes the way he already tried, and it was risky at best anyways. So hit the leg early and often to set yourself up for the STF. Great match.

It's that time of year and I think it's one of the most important times of the year to really accentuate the positive. I know it can be difficult with the way the Holidays go, but it's important. I started celebrating by watching one of my two favorite matches of all time, Magnum vs. Tully, Starrcade 85. And it is every bit as glorious as it was the last 8 times I watched it! I had never seen the match before I started posting here and that is something that will forever endear PWO to me. I also would have never discovered the joys of Puerto Rico or Buddy Rose or...you know, the list goes on forever. No matter how often we may disagree on what constitutes good wrestling, I think we can agree that this here is an awesome place to be a part of. It steers you directions you never meant to go. Often enough, you find out that you damn sure should have been going there because it's way better than you thought it would be. Thanks a ton to bradhindsight, shoe, soup23, dylan Waco, Childs, goodhelmet and Loss for keeping this wonderful place up and running and always trying to make it better. I hope you guys know we appreciate it.

If it's not the greatest, it's top 5 of all time. I mean matches, not brawls. Tully instinctively going for a cover and realizing his mistake is such an awesome spot. I LOVE how both guys are just gone after 4 minutes. They have beaten the shit out of each other and both are on fumes. I love how they construct this too, with Tully putting over how tough Magnum is just by the sheer frustration he shows and Magnum really making Tully look good despite being a weaselly heel. And you know, for the ending I'm just not buying that Tully has anything to be ashamed of. After all that to have a wooden shard put into your head and moved around would be a tough one. You know that one Mission Impossible movie with the knife like 1/4 inch away from Tom Cruise's eye? These guys did that in real time in front of a crowd on the first take after beating each other up for 10 minutes. And people say wrestling is fake. I also love how Tully's frustration leads to hubris. He brings in the weapon that causes his own demise. Perfect ending to an almost perfect match.

Did AJPW do a lot of touring outside of Tokyo? I thought most of the big time promotions clustered around there.

That will be taken care of next week.

I think it's just the culture in general. If somebody thinks differently they have to be wrong. Therefore an argument like this has to be about sides and not personal preferences.

So you ARE bad at promoting. Sinclair is a better babyface for sure. I do love Street as the de-facto babyface against Jimmy Breaks though.

Such a HUGE card. There's just so much going on that it's hard to really pick anything out. I loved the King Tonga match, but anything with him I usually mark out for. Such an underused talent in his time. I like that you didn't go full copy on the 1985 Starrcade match with Tully/Magnum. Which reminds me that it's the right time of year for a rewatch.

Gary Hart vs. Percy is a very interesting feud. One thing I always liked about WCCW was the face/heel structure changing around depending on who was against who. Bad News Allen is coming off like a real badass and I like it. The guy should have been at least a midcard gatekeeper-type of a star for the later half of his career.

Great SNME, I liked how Heenan was not afraid to call out Savage even though they are both heels. Heenan is set for a big 1986.

Happy Holidays to all! Hope you get what you want.

Jake is awesome so far. Great promo there. I'll second Bock and Orndorff being a great matchup.

Sad to see Mad Dog go. He really was a wrestler I thought a lot of once I watched enough of him.

Yeah you captured Ole so well. Makes me really want ole to cut a promo on some of Lawler's Memphis opponents now...Great build to Starrcade!

WWC Roberto Clemente Coliseum Show December 23rd, 1985 Mr. Z vs. Rambo The masked American Rambo took Mr. Z apart before hitting the brainbuster DDT for the pin in 4:22. He was cheered post-match. Mr. X & Y vs. Los Mercenarios Los Mercenarios were their usual brawling selves in an easy victory. A big splash from Mercenario 2 ended the match at 5:31. Ricky Santana vs. Dutch Mantell Santana again put up a spirited fight, but looked like he was on his way to another loss. Los Mercenarios stormed the ring and sent Santana out before working Dutch over. They put a lot of focus on Dutch's left arm, eventually using the narrow end of a chair on the shoulder. Ricky Santana showed fire in making several attempts to run them off. Huracan Castillo Jr. & Miguelito Perez vs. Jonathan Boyd & the Crusher w/Barrabas Castillo and Perez had the better of things early, with Barrabas distracting Perez to give his team the advantage. A tag to Castillo looked like it would net the Puerto Rican team the win, but Barrabas tripped Castillo up running the ropes to set up a three point clothesline by Boyd for the three count at 11:54. Abdullah Tamba vs. Bam Bam w/Barrabas Tamba looked good early, but the size difference caught up with him as the match progressed. He nearly took Bam bam off his feet with a dropkick, but the big man went to the outside over the ropes instead. Tamba hit his signature tope, btu Bam Bam was able to make it back to the ring in time. Bam Bam had seemingly had enough and started using big man spots to run over Tamba, setting up the slingshot splash. Tamba barely kicked out, but the top rope splash from Bam Bam put him away at 7:08. Abdullah the Butcher was seen watching intently from the entrance. Hercules Ayala vs. NWA WWC Carribean Champion Al Madril in a Taped Fist Match for the belt Madril was able to take early advantage of the injury (back of the head/neck) he had inflicted on Ayala early. Ayala with a heavy-fisted comeback, Madril covering up in the corner. Ayala peppers Madril with jabs to no effect until a big body blow gives him an opening for some big shots. Madril looks to be fading when Chicky Starr comes out and distracts Ayala. Starr and Madril are pelted with garbage. Madril nails Ayala in the back of the head, but can't get the piledriver to go. A few more axehandles by Madril and he hits the piledriver for the win at 13:25. Colon and the Invaders are out to stop any post-match attacks by Madril and Starr. The crowd is pelting Madril and Starr with garbage on their way out, Madril is pointing at the belt and grinning. Bruiser Brody vs. Abdullah the Butcher Exactly what you would expect, a straight up brawl that went all around ringside with both men bleeding within 2 minutes. No wrestling moves were attempted outside of the always there Abby headlock to disguise the fork. Abby's fork, a few chairs, the railing, the ring bell and even one of the security guard's batons came into play. The match ended in a double countout at 9:48. Barrabas and Bam Bam are seen watching this from the entrance, even distracting Abdullah at one point. Los Infernales & Chicky Starr vs. Los Invaders & Carlitos Colon There is about 6 feet between the cage and ringside. All of the available space is used as the match is a wild, bloody brawl. MS-1 and Invader 3 both hit topes that drive Invader 1 and Pirata Morgan into the cage (sequentially for both.) Invader 1, Starr and Colon bleed buckets. Things look dark for Colon & co. when Satanico gets his finishing hold on Invader 2. Invader 1 makes the save with a big running double throat chop as Invader 2 holds out. Colon gets the figure 4 on Starr, but Satanico is there to stop that early. Invader 3 and Invader 1 isolate Pirata Morgan in the ring after Starr is repeatedly rammed into the cage and out on the dirt. They hit a double backdrop and Invader 3 runs the ropes. Invader 1 backdrops 3 into a somersault senton onto a prone Morgan for the win at 22:37. Post-match Chicky Starr fights going to the chair for his haircut. Al Madril runs out and Chicky gets closer to the entrance before Ricky Santana stops him. The brawl is going back and forth when Rambo comes out and helps Santana with Starr. Then Rambo turns and decks Santana with a few big forearms before using his big running kneelift. Starr is able to escape as the crowd pelts him and Rambo with garbage. Los Infernales make their escape as well, los Invaders and Colon more interested in regrouping than continuing the fight now that Starr is gone.