BillThompson

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla: Mystery Vortex III: Rock and Shock the Nation (06-26-2015) Timothy Thatcher vs. Biff Busick This is the match that Thatcher and Busick have taken to various promotions, albeit slightly shortened. That means that all the regular bells and whistles are hit, but in an abbreviated fashion. More than anything this is a chance to see whether the Thatcher approach translates to a crowd that is notorious for being in love with the go, go, go style. To be honest Thatcher didn't change things up much at all, and neither did Busick. The main change was that instead of 15-20 the match was only 11 minutes. That was an important change as it allowed for the crowd to get a taste of Thatcher and for him, and the grappling heavy style, to not overstay its initial welcome. I'll say this much, the crowd seemed to really be digging what Thatcher was offering, going with intricate joint manipulation really played to the crowd methinks. The match itself is really good, just short of great. Most of my issues are with Thatcher's non-European Uppercut based striking and Busick's on again-off again selling of his injured hands. With Busick I didn't like him going to Knifehand Chops so often when Thatcher had spent most of the match working on both of Busick's hands. It popped the crowd sure, but it didn't make much sense. Thatcher's strikes are improving, but when he's throwing regular Punches, Kicks, and Forearm Shots there's a lightness, a sense that Thatcher either can't let go or is afraid to let go that is very noticeable. That's not the case with his European Uppercuts, and that's why he really should stick with those more often than not. Like I said, real good match, but a little creaky here and there. Still, seeing Thatcher is the Reseda environment was borderline surreal, and hearing the crowd eat up his act was a pleasant surprise.

I thought she did one versus LuFisto at the 2014 Mania weekend. Or maybe that was just a really long 2/3 falls, not completely sure...

If a guy who regularly throws strikes that miss my a foot or more is your bag, then yeah, sure. All kidding aside, he's barley a decent worker, let alone one of the best of all time. Unconvincing offense, terrible strikes, complete lack of consistency, and often times an outright terrible wrestler, Nope, not a chance.

If it's worked I'll count it, if it's a shoot it has no business being considered fro a pro wrestling list.

For me versatility is rising to the occasion. I know that sounds nebulous, but it's best seen in wrestlers who can stray from formula or what they know best when they need to. I'd argue a guy like Daniel Bryan is incredibly versatile not so much because he can wrestle a variety of styles but because he can adapt himself to what is required of him in a given moment. The same is true of a guy like Vader. He may wrestle a similar style, but when the success of the match is dependent on him taking a different bump, showing a moment of vulnerability, etc. he can do that and adapt to what is best for the match. That's versatility for me, taking what is given to you and making the absolute best out of it.

I would, but it's because of her entire body of work. The great matches are great, and a swell feather in her cap. But, it's her consistently high quality work in matches that aren't great that really puts her over the top for me.

Nope, though if she keeps up her current output for the next four or five years she'll definitely make the next list. She keeps it up for even longer then we're talking a potential top of the list candidate.

Bobby Eaton and Ricky Morton are the two who I immediately think of, and in the end I don't think there have ever been two better tag team wrestlers than those guys. Another guy I thought of that I'll probably be the only one to mention is Matt Hardy. His actual work is great, but his ability to layout straight tag matches and gimmick matches so that they are almost always different causes me to rate him very highly.

Yet I still have to argue with blockheads who say he isn't charismatic, isn't over, elicits little reaction, and is only capable of golf claps.

Well damn, I missed out on all the fun it seems. Pretty much every match I was going to nominate has been nominated already. Really though, you can't go wrong with Zangiev/Hashimoto, Joe/Necro, or Owen/Shamrock.

Late to the party like usual, but I'm with Matt here. I think there is a fair number of people who have changed the way they look at tools and such, or even the way they define workrate. I'm one of those people, Matt is, I'd wager someone like Dylan, Steven Graham, and a bunch of others might be as well.

What happened here? Thought Si was a good guy.

Not sure if it's still out there, but Sasha/Charlotte from Mania weekend was on YouTube for a while.

Gimmicks needs a refresh then, it's not over.

It's there at 8. I just have a thing for listing wrestlers from the home promotion first, which is why it's listed differently. Totally missed it on my initial glance, my bad.

Hikaru Shida & Syuri vs. Konami Takemoto & Kana from Kana Produce back in March is well worth seeking out for possible inclusion as I had it around ****.

Him, and there are some others I have heard are close as well. But, the door swings both ways and I've heard of a few Luchadors who are close to leaving CMLL.

You're not just imagining it, I've said the same thing for the past year or so. I still think Sabre is well below the likes of Thatcher, Gulak, and Gresham when it comes to the new wave of grappling based guys. But, he's up there now as I feel his work finally has more focus and tightness to it and he doesn't do shit just to do it as often anymore.

I'll be submitting a list. Have no problem whatsoever with their being gaps in my viewing. No matter how much you appreciate an artform chances are you will not see the majority of it produced, or even a number say above 50% for mass produced art like film, literature, TV, music, wrestling, etc. You go on what you have seen, that's the best you can do and it's all you can do.

The thing is though, even if all the old footage only accounts for a small number of subscribers; it's worth it to get it on the Network. Mainly because it adds variety, but also because they already own the rights so putting it on the Network would equate to pure profit even if all it does is say add/keep around a thousand or so subscribers.

Pretty sure the end of the Loser Gets 5 Lashes match is on Will's massive Express comp.

I loved Angle as a wrestler, and really liked Benjamin so I'd be okay with Gable following similar trajectory in-ring wise.

He is a fantastic talent, have no idea what Meltzer is going on about when he says he doesn't see much in him.

It's super puzzling, I mean it's clear as day from performance and crowd reaction that Sunny was the better performer. But, in the end Sable had bigger boobies and that's mainly what seems to drive Vince and Dunn.

Shots fired, but I agree, Positive Paula's are on the nail grating spectrum for me.