Microstatistics

The best pure brawl of all time, IMO. One of the big reasons is that it is so different, completely rejecting the standard structure and themes of 2/3 Lucha brawls and 80s US bloodbaths. This was all about Satanico willing himself to stand up to master brawler Sangre Chicana. Satanico is working from underneath but he is still a rudo and doesn't hesitate to resort to dirty tricks including an awesome eye hook. Chicana uses cool psychological tactics to gain the advantage. Felt like an incredibly gritty yet strategic fight and where they are trying to claw and maim each other but remain somewhat cerebral in their approach even as the intensity ramps up. Includes the best punches ever thrown in wrestling, out of this world great selling from Satanico and the best use of a non-finish ever. Satanico is THE wrestling genius and Chicana is an all time great brawler and so they were able to construct something so unique and great. A breath of fresh air and a big middle finger to the formulaic American and Lucha brawls we keep seeing a millions times. ****5/8

I know people prefer their 98-99 stuff or their 4/2005 Futen bout but this for me is the best Ikeda-Ishikawa match and an all time classic. I also think it's the best 30 minute draw ever. Ikeda is pretty much perfect as the injured underdog trying to survive an aggressive Ishikawa using focused counterattacks. I always got the impression that Ishikawa was presented as the superior wrestler and Ikeda was always working from underneath in some ways (even when he was the heel) whenever these guys faced off but it was most obvious in this match. Unbelievable sense of struggle throughout the match, superb mix of intense matwork and crazy stiff strikes with classic pro wrestling counters and build. The pinnacle of the hybrid style. ****5/8

Wanted to create a thread for this because I personally think this is not only one of the best Satanico matches but one of the best of all time. Unique and brilliantly executed story of the Local anti-hero taking on the invading foreigner. Perfectly paced and structured. Amazing brawling and selling. Clever and poetic finish + an awesome post-match. This has it all. ****5/8

Definite contender for best <5 minute match of all time. ****1/8

If only this was called by Jim Ross instead of Matt Striker. I would have got rid of Michael Cole too since we are talking about it, just JR and Lawler would've been perfect. Shawn Michaels haters be damned, this is a masterclass in build and storytelling.

Yeah that is easily the biggest pro wrestling myth ever and still persists even though anyone who watches a major match from 80s-90s New Japan or All Japan will instantly realize that's BS. I never got the Brody-Hansen comparison for North-South. North-South are a million times more creative and skilled and a billion times more giving. This is their best performance. This match is terrific. North-South are vicious and use every trick in the book to gave the advantage all the while make the hometown guys look like a million bucks. Fujinami is amazing as usual and Inoki gives one of his finer performances. **** 3/8

Murakami and Sano in BattlARTS? Yes, please. Sano looked like a young Kawada here.Typically awesome matwork, striking, selling and character work. Otsuka and Murakami didn't go all out as heels but I liked the heelish touches they added at various points. Ishikawa's fiery comeback and his interaction with Murakami was probably my favorite part. ****

Because they are "so-called smart" fans and not actually intelligent. Yeah it proves "smart" fans are the biggests marks of them all and are keeping kayfabe alive. They ferociously boo the guy who retired their favorite but cheer the hell out of the guy who is actually responsible for that and all the other booking decisions and outcomes they supposedly hate so much.

I sadly have to agree. Their first match would make a top 10 WWE matches list for me but the story and way they had executed it felt like a unique, one time thing.

Yeah, that match was def bad because of ROMAN. I hope that's sarcasm because that's not even close to what I said.

I like Reigns quite a bit but let's face it, that was awful. The finishing stretch and Reign's expressions were kind of cool but the rest was pretty bad.

A little disappointed they are working a match instead of it being a squash.

If only the streak was alive, this would be the most heated match in US history. Also yes Jim Ross. I know people hate him but he is the best American commentator for me.

That leapfrog was one of the great transitions of all time.

Those are the mildest Goldberg chants ever.

Rollins leg selling was adequate. Match was bad though, Rollins can't construct a singles match to save his life and HHH isn't exactly the super worker to carry him to a good match.

I give him some credit for selling after every stupid thing he hits. I'd give him more credit if he was adapting his offense to the situation instead. I think El Dragon's point is harsh. You can't expect him to sell the knee for every second of the match like he is Kobashi or Liger or something. The second point would be ideal but even Misawa and Hashimoto didn't stop throwing elbows or kicks after having those limbs worked over. He did a RUNNING BUCKLE BOMB on a leg that came in significantly hurt before the match, and had multiple chair hots on it. At least adjust that into a "counter into a standing buckle bomb" sort of thing to mix it up. Also, Seth Rollins stealing the much more over Johnny Gargano's signature move. To be fair, he did two spots where his leg buckled after powerbomb attempts prior to it.

I give him some credit for selling after every stupid thing he hits. I'd give him more credit if he was adapting his offense to the situation instead. I think El Dragon's point is harsh. You can't expect him to sell the knee for every second of the match like he is Kobashi or Liger or something. The second point would be ideal but even Misawa and Hashimoto didn't stop throwing elbows or kicks after having those limbs worked over.

Anti-climactic

I feel bad for Cena having to sell his ass off through this shit.

And not surprisingly, the match with Charlotte and Sasha Banks is the match of the night. Around *** 3/4. Clever spots, strategy, etc.

You're crazy. Absolutely crazy. Fair enough. I thought the Rumble match was complete garbage so the bar isn't that high.

Call me crazy but that was better than Styles's series with Cena. Pretty decent, watchable match. ** 3/4 ish

So is Shane Liger, Takada and Sangre Chicana all rolled into one? Big dives, matwork, punches he can do it all apparently.

That is some high praise. Look forward to rewatching this after going through a lot of the stuff leading up to it. It's already been said but this truly has the highest stakes of any match, ever. And it is because of that, the back and forth nature of the match works so well because each nearfall and submission hold is treated like life or death. This generated genuine drama and suspense and is what makes this match unique and different from basically every match that is constructed in a similar manner.