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Microstatistics

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  1. Microstatistics
    This is the tournament final. A total dream match for me that delivers. This has been described as a Tamura squash which I strongly disagree with. The grappling exchanges rule and establish Otsuka as Tamura's equal on the mat (or least someone who can stay competitive and grab an advantage). Tamura also displays great urgency, almost desperation, throughout the bout: both guys are hurting from their earlier matches and Tamura knows he needs to finish this quickly or he will be in trouble. Of course Tamura was going to win the tournament but those two things put over Otsuka as a serious contender. Otsuka does get killed during the stand up portion though as Tamura just repeatedly drills him with kicks and Otsuka does a terrific job selling the damage and the feeling of being overwhelmed. An excellent match. **** 1/4
  2. Microstatistics
    That Cena bump wasn't nearly as bad as some people are making it out to be. His neck bent inwards atleast so it was relatively "safe".
  3. Microstatistics
    Agree with ohtani's jacket here, this match was pretty mediocre. Though I will say I thought it featured an excellent Kobashi performance and a meh Hansen one (which I guess fits for me since I am a huge Kobashi fan and am so-so on Hansen). Kobashi attacking with tremendous focus in an attempt to prove himself while bumping huge for Hansen's offense was great. Those body shots (which he used in 1/20/97 as well) look amazing. I didn't think Hansen played the aging gunslinger role particularly well, he just did his usual stuff except at a slower pace. For the majority of the time, the match just plodded along. Ok thanks to Kobashi but super disappointing given the hype. ** 1/2
  4. Microstatistics
    I second this. Though this project does sound interesting.
  5. Microstatistics
    This is one of my favorite WWE matches ever and one I feel is really underrated. First of all, the hate is off the charts. I am talking almost Tully-Magnum levels. They really managed to convey the feeling that they wanted to kill each other. Secondly, the mic verbals were actually great. I usually hate when guys spend half the match on the mic telling the other guy to quit and constantly disrupt the flow. But stuff like "you're gonna suffer" and "I will tear out your heart" were fresh and incorporated at appropriate times in the match. So they turned what is usually the flaw of I Quit matches into something positive. The body of the match is excellent with incredible violence, creative and unique spots, limb psychology of all things (Foley's shoulder) and strong transitions. Finish is a little bit of a cop out but a smart way to protect Foley and get across the fact the intensity of the feud and match had caused Flair to snap and go to any lengths. JR and Lawler also did a brilliant job on commentary. **** 1/4
  6. Microstatistics
    Nice narrative with Takaiwa, in an attempt to assert himself, tries to out-prick Kanemoto from the get go but as you know that is no easy feat. Both guys are great offensive wrestlers and characters (Koji especially) but selling is not their strength so I was a little worried but the transitions and selling were strong here. Kanemoto's control segment was great with him trying to show who's boss and both guys were just teeing off on each other for most of the match. Great match. ****
  7. Microstatistics
    I have no idea why Satanico vs. Lizmark matches have a bad rep. Their 84 match is amazing while this is honestly a strong MOTYC for 1998. I disagree with elliot, Lizmark was great here (and is very good in general) and more than holds up his end. Awesome offensive performance and strong selling. That said, Satanico is on a different level with facial expressions, attention to detail and selling. While I agree Lizmark takes up a lot of their matches, they play that into the narrative here as Satanico has that "not this shit again" look during the first fall as Lizmark dominates him yet again. Typically excellent matwork in the first fall. His head selling in the second fall was amazing and the sneaky lowblow is a genius transition, creative and logical. Satanico was moments away from losing the title and needed something extra to turn it around. Loved Satanico's misguided arrogance in the third fall before Lizmark comes back and they go back and forth. Excellent, clever finish as Satanico puts one over on Lizmark by hooking his shoulders during a Lizmark cover, ensuring a double pin and a draw, meaning Satanico (the champion) would retain. **** 1/2
  8. Microstatistics
    This is amazing, surprised this never gets talked up. Excellent underdog vs. wily veteran story with classic Fujiwara facial expressions and mannerisms (watch his smug look as he reverses a Yamazaki hold and casually applies a knee bar), slick mat counters, super violent strike exchanges and a superb finish. Yamazaki's best singles match ever for me at this point and Top 5 for Fujiwara. I can't believe Fujiwara somehow fell out of my Top 10 for GWE. He should have been an easy lock. Anyways, **** 1/2 for the match.
  9. Microstatistics
    A wonderful match. It's long but never feels repetitive or bloated. Creative spots, lots of drama and struggle, a nice heel-face dynamic and violent strikes. **** 1/4
  10. Microstatistics
    While it is hard for me to call this a feel good match considering the beating Chigusa takes for most of the match, the ending and postmatch have such a satisfying overcoming the odds feel to them. This has a more commanding Matsumoto performance as compared to 8/85: strutting around arrogantly, beating up the referee, torturing Nagayo. Chigusa delivers yet another epic selling babyface performance. Her wandering around, dazed and half blinded by blood is quite the visual. The hope spots are great and the crowd reactions enhance everything. Great finish that works as the perfect payback spot. Dramatic and emotional. Must-see just like the first hair match. **** 1/4
  11. Microstatistics
    An excellent teacher vs. pupil bout. Ishikawa busting out ridiculous counters to Sawa's offense was really clever from a narrative standpoint because who knows Sawa's style and approach better than Ishikawa? At the same time though he sells a lot and puts Sawa over as a resilient and dangerous opponent. A great, complete performance. Lots of struggle and many intense, dramatic mat and strike exchanges. ****
  12. Microstatistics
    Is there a better teacher vs. pupil match is wrestling history than this? Just an outstanding mat clinic with intense exchanges, layered strategy, tons of struggle and neat details based on character dynamics. Probably Nishimura's career performance with Fujinami turning on the old magic just one more time. **** 1/2
  13. Microstatistics
    Great narrative of the outmatched veteran getting decimated by the younger, stronger wrestler and trying to find ways to survive. Rush's offense and rudoing were superb, Casas was as great as you would expect and the finish was awesome. Casas's resigned look in the postmatch was an amazing visual. This had all the pieces to be a MOTYC level match but the lackluster pacing and disjointed feel hinders this pretty badly and it just falls short of the great mark for me. Still, well worth checking out. *** 3/4.
  14. Microstatistics
    My favorite parts were probably the counters and callbacks to the January match, almost 6/3/94 ish in how they had prepared and had each other scouted. They continued the story of Omega throwing everything to take down the ace and superior wrestler Okada and Okada always finding a way to be on top. I liked the growth as well where Omega managed to make a comeback during the towel drama segment around the 45 minute mark and salvage a draw, unlike 1/4/17 where he was beat within 45 minutes. They managed to make the last 5-10 minutes shockingly dramatic, usually in these matches it is pretty obvious it is heading towards a draw but here they made me buy that Omega might not survive to the time limit or Okada might get caught out. ***1/4 (same rating I gave 1/4/17 but this match is slightly superior).
  15. Microstatistics
    Man, Foley was just the master at constructing this types of matches. Violent, creative, and filled with excellent storytelling. Great narrative here as the cocky and arrogant young champion quickly realizes he is way in over his head and has to adapt and match the violence level in order to survive. Best Orton match ever and probably Top 3 for Foley. Holds up as one of the best matches of 2000s WWE. **** 1/4
  16. Microstatistics
    Just a really great match which I like more and more with each viewing. Wonderful storytelling, hardhitting action, drama and an epic feel. The in his prime ace Hashimoto dominates as expected but old man Riki's resiliency keeps him in it. The knee injury transition was excellent and a believable way to get across the fact that the match had been turned on its head and Hashimoto was in trouble. "CHOSHU" is one of the great wrestling moments, just an awesome exclamation of pride, frustation and disappointment as, yet again, what should have been a comfortable G-1 Climax win for Hashimoto slipped away. Masterful performance by him, borderline carryjob to be honest. **** 1/4 This is probably an unpopular thing to say but the storytelling, in the finishing stretch especially, had a real Wrestlemania style theatrical element to it akin to something like HHH vs. Taker or Shawn vs. Flair (stuff people on the board don't exactly like) so I am surprised it connected so strongly with so many people.
  17. Microstatistics
    I think this clearly Flair's best match ever. Just a wonderfully violent, heated clash with a terrific story and an excellent finish. Superstar Sleeze's review is brilliant and covers the narrative portion perfectly so I won't even bother talking about that. **** 5/8
  18. Microstatistics
    The only title match they have on record during that time is 9th March 1994 in Arena Mexico. Where did we come on April? It is listed as April 1984 on the 80s lucha set. But it immediately follows the 3/9/84 trios mentioned above so that date is probably reliable.
  19. Microstatistics
    What a Tamura performance. The grappling was super intense and filled with a great sense of struggle but his character work was off the charts. He was just oozing arrogance the whole match. His body language and expression throughout suggested he was insulted by the mere fact that Kohsaka was trying to compete with him and hadn't rolled over yet, even though Tamura never actually had a foothold in the match because of Kohsaka's tenacity. When he finally secures a down near the end, he points at the ground as Kohsaka is falling as though to say "That's where you belong". This disdain and overconfidence costs him dearly as he is trying to finish the match and gets caught at the end. Yet another under the radar great Kiyoshi Tamura match. **** I used to think that, even though Tamura was the better worker, Volk Han had more personality and charisma but more I have watched from different periods in Tamura's career, I don't think that's true at all. Tamura's character work is seriously underrated.
  20. Microstatistics
    Anyone know the exact date of the El Satanico vs. Lizmark April 1984 NWA middleweight title bout?
  21. Microstatistics
    Probably should have done a review of this months ago but no matter. I did think this was a great match and I was really surprised at how much I liked this and how this was worked. When I saw the 6 star rating initially, I expected Davey vs. Elgin on steroids or something. Nothing but nonstop workrate action for 45 minutes. But this actually had a classic pro wrestling build and a clear narrative. Wild man Omega trying to topple the champion by targeting his back and neck but falling short because the ace was too resilient was a simple story but presented very effectively. I liked Omega's energy, it was effective in putting over his desperation and urgency and got across the fact that he was facing an uphill battle against the ace. Okada's selling was very good and reasonably consistent. Both guys took some nutty bumps. The first 20 minutes were slow yes but it's harsh to say they are filler. Nearly everything done had some sort of purpose and they built a solid foundation for the rest of the match. The escalation was really good. Finishing stretch was well done and exciting, though it did go overboard. Nowhere near GOAT match level but it hit the great mark nevertheless. ****1/4
  22. Microstatistics
    NOMINATING: Jushin Liger vs. Taichi (NJPW Best of the Super Jr. 24 05/31/17)
  23. Microstatistics
    Some under the radar ones: Megumi Kudo 1995-97 Hiroshi Hase 1990-94 Pirata Morgan 1987-90 Alexander Otsuka 1997-2001
  24. Microstatistics
    3 very good matches (Brock/Joe, Banks/Bliss, Tag team) so it definitely wasn't bad. That said, it wouldn't classify it as great. Miz/Ambrose was awful, Braun/Roman was alright but the post-match was stupid as hell and ridiculously long, Wyatt/Rollins was meh, Cass/Amore was nothing. Good show, not great.
  25. Microstatistics
    After thinking about it, I honestly wish Satanico had won the October match. That would have made this finish that much more poetic and satisfying.
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