Jump to content
Pro Wrestling Only

TonyPulis'Cap

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    481

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by TonyPulis'Cap

  1. TonyPulis'Cap
    I’ve been enjoying ROH TV these past few weeks, and feel like it’s started to get back on track after a largely off year in 2016. In 2014/2015 I really enjoyed their TV each week, but this year, what with random best of show’s at odd times, shows from Japan being shown months after they were filmed, fallout of PPV’s not being followed up on for weeks after the event and a lot of cold matches with no storylines it hasn’t been very compelling. However the last month or so I feel like there has been something of a return to form and the build to Death Before Dishonor has been much better. I know the timeline/chronology between PPV’s, TV and VOD/DVD live events has been an issue for ROH for years, basically ever since they got weekly TV, but feel that link between them is starting to become a bit more coherent through the insertion of clips and developments from some of the live events into the TV show. Obviously things could improve – I think they could add more profiles on some of the personalities in between the matches, and I think that having one storyline development/angle advancement segment – although maybe not ones involving Steve Corino and Kevin Sullivan having a picnic – works well, and better than just 3 to 4 matches with no angles attached to them. The production with the video screens is good, but I think being careful about where they run their TV is also important. The artist formerly known as the ECW Arena always looks good, as it’s intimate and looks full, but the place in Concord they did the previous few weeks was awful – with huge numbers of empty seats in the upper tiers, and big gaps on the floor. Often buildings that are smaller, but more unique come across much better on screen. As someone from the UK, check out NGW for example which is the promotion that British Wrestling Weekly on the Fight Network is based. They run the Hull City Hall – which is the old Town Hall. It’s Victorian looking and has a balcony and looks really good. Jay Lethal going full face is a much better fit, and the haircut angle was pretty heated and I like where they are heading to the showdown with Cole. I also enjoyed the title match with Cabana last week. So while it can still be hit and miss, and some of their booking is still very much open to question, from a weekly wrestling standpoint, I do feel like the product is back to being pretty decent again.
  2. TonyPulis'Cap
    I really enjoyed this one. At the beginning Marufuji tries his high flying but his drop kicks are largely ineffectual and then Taue nails him with one of his own, as if to to say, "if that's your game, I'm still better at it than you". The sunset flip another example. It's not until Marufuji goes to the leg and grinds things down he can get some control. But then he wants to go back to the flying, and that's his downfall. As soon as he gives Taue space and goes to dive to the outside, he gets caught and slammed into the ring post. I didn't think the kick outs were too unbelievable and enjoyed the escape of the chokeslams. The one off the top was beautifully timed. If you held a gun to my head on star ratings I would say a smidge under ****, but I enjoyed it as a rather reigned in NOAH contest not just full of bomb throwing.
  3. TonyPulis'Cap
    Sort of - it's just a selection, about 15 or so shows I think. Andy Quildan, who is the promoter of RPW used to do the same role at IPW:UK until he split off and wanted to do his own thing. IPW:UK stopped running for a little bit before the owner restarted it a couple of years ago. Basically, it's not the entire IPW:UK archive on RPW on demand, just a small selection, but Quildan must have some ownership of some the footage. They are in the 'Before the Revolution' section from I think 2009-2011/12 period. I'd recommend dipping into it at some point. It's the not the scale/production of the RPW stuff but some hidden gems like a really good Danielson/PAC match, Leaders of the New School tags and some Dave Mastiff vs NOAH guys. As for the IPW:UK demand service, not sure if it doubles up with what's on RPW on demand but think they'll have stuff that predates that - the 2006-2009 shows and then all the modern releases. I don't have that service, but presume that's where the majority of the back catalogue is.
  4. TonyPulis'Cap
    Yeah agreed, was very shocked when Samuels went over but as you say might as well get the rub off a win over Moose in the very limited time he was around. I've long been annoyed at UK companies in the past putting over the imports all the time so was good to see the reverse even if it was with a character who hasn't done anything at all as a single recently! As for Redman and Garrett, haven't seen them too much live but I wouldn't say they are massively over, mainly as Garrett is quite unknown. I think their rather bland WWE developmental circa 2008 look doesn't help with their perception. Indeed I think it was Pete who said they came across as gym bunnies but Redman is actually a really good technical wrestler when given a chance. If you have the RPW on demand service and go into the old IPW:UK section, he has a hell of a world of sport style match with James mason that you wouldn't think he was capable of. In general I think the tag team division hasn't been booked well and that the revolutionists had the belts way too long. I think Redman and Garrett can get over on their athleticism but if they are going to be faces, then they need to be able to have more defined and relateable personalities. For most of his time Redman, because of his look has been a heel when he has the potential to be a Chris masters style face ie someone that has a bodybuilder look that screams heel but can wrestle well as a face.
  5. TonyPulis'Cap
    Yeah agreed, was very shocked when Samuels went over but as you say might as well get the rub off a win over Moose in the very limited time he was around. I've long been annoyed at UK companies in the past putting over the imports all the time so was good to see the reverse even if it was with a character who hasn't done anything at all as a single recently! As for Redman and Garrett, haven't seen them too much live but I wouldn't say they are massively over, mainly as Garrett is quite unknown. I think their rather bland WWE developmental circa 2008 look doesn't help with their perception. Indeed I think it was Pete who said they came across as gym bunnies but Redman is actually a really good technical wrestler when given a chance. If you have the RPW on demand service and go into the old IPW:UK section, he has a hell of a world of sport style match with James mason that you wouldn't think he was capable of. In general I think the tag team division hasn't been booked well and that the revolutionists had the belts way too long. I think Redman and Garrett can get over on their athleticism but if they are going to be faces, then they need to be able to have more defined and relateable personalities. For most of his time Redman, because of his look has been a heel when he has the potential to be a Chris masters style face ie someone that has a bodybuilder look that screams heel but can wrestle well as a face.
  6. TonyPulis'Cap
    Very enjoyable show as ever this week gentlemen and was good to hear your thoughts on Rev Pro's Summer Sizzler, as I was in attendance two weeks ago. While U was higher on the show than you both - being there live obviously bringing with it an inbuilt bias - I do agree that it wasn't quite up to the standards of the usual big Rev Pro shows that they have at the York Hall. In part I think it's due to them squeezing in an extra show at the venue this year and also moving the High Stakes -card forward to August, whereas in the past it has been later in the year. I think a slight over saturation, but it's still - and again, home country bias coning in - one of my favourite promotions to follow. It's interesting to hear you now adding CWF Atlantic to your review pile - something I might have to check out - and your hopes for it as a good old school wrestling TV show when I think about the fact that last year I really enjoyed the weekly Rev Pro TV show on Youtube, and felt that I enjoyed the product a lot more with this connecting the dots between the big shows. It would e good if they refocussed on putting a weekly show out there again to help storylines along and some of the home grown UK guys get more visibility. On that note, was definitely on Pete's way of thinking with Sha Samuels going over Moose. Live this match was pretty fun, and given the amount of complaints for when big imports go over local guys, it was good that Samuels went over as he's the guy who is the regular. Likewise in the main event, great that they were able to work out with New Japan to where Sabre could go over. You were fearing a ROH style, NJPW win the big matches vibe otherwise. Anyway, keep up the good work guys, get's me through the commute to work every week!
  7. TonyPulis'Cap
    Funny, I would reverse that statement! To me, the long (never ending) chop sequence is bad stupid, while the rest, in a way could quite nicely be summed up as fun stupid. I think it's Superstar Sleeze who sums this up as a dick waving contest, and that's pretty accurate - it's just the two of them throwing all finesse out of the window and going to hit each hard. Really hard. This has a number of moments that I really like - I totally bought the teased count out where Kobashi drops to the floor at 16 but the chop battle was just damned long. There's no denying they were absolutely laying into each other and while the waves of sweat flying everywhere makes for an interesting visual, at around 2 and half minutes in, I was fighting it amusing, like I was watching a GIF on a never ending loop. All the other bits of the match I like though, and I'm a sucker for the old rope a dope Kobashi routine of take punishment in the knowledge he has the artillery to outgun his opponent. It's like a summer blockbuster of a match; not much subtlety in the plot but plenty of bangs and explosions and the crowd are pretty molten the whole way. I'm in the hovering just below **** range.
  8. TonyPulis'Cap
    Not just with this video alone, but Wrestlemania XIV, is arguably the best built up Mania up and down the card of all time. Pretty much every match has at least 2 to 3 months of storyline built in and a reason for everything happen. So many of the characters have been on a logical and well defined trajectory to where the audience wants to see the matches. Compare and contrast with one year later when all the long term planning is thrown out of the window for last minute 'shocking' swerves.
  9. TonyPulis'Cap
    Another example of the WWF at this point having great continuity and still maintaining a 'logic' to why things happen. Rather than a harness randomly being in the arena with no explanation for how it could have been set up to be used in a trap, earlier in the show, they'd shown the Gorilla mascot entering on the zip wire and giving a reason for it to be able to be used. I fear for 1999 and the emergence of the breaking the fourth wall 'magic camera' and random weapons being under the ring.
  10. TonyPulis'Cap
    Sums things up perfectly. I still get goose bumps watching this video - it absolutely definitively sums up Shawn in a 5 minute package, really getting to the bottom of the characters motivation and personality. The HBK of the build to Wrestlemania XIV is so strong, with a lot of the more juvenile DX antics getting dropped for a serious, egotistical but also desparate champion, that in every sense can see a new era coming and that is clinging onto his spot with everything in his power. Brilliant stuff.
  11. TonyPulis'Cap
    Really enjoyed the chaotic nature of this scene but what was also striking was the reason for Cole and the camera crew to be there. While somewhat hokey in terms of Cole's "I'm a real news reporter" delivery, I liked that he then said to the director/camera crew to cut just before the attack from Cactus and Funk starts so there is a reason for camera's to be rolling and not just 'magically' trained on the car park on the off chance that something might happen. So far in 1998, the WWF was good at giving a reason for cameras to be there and it will be interesting to see when the first 'magic camera' that the people speaking backstage can't see starts to come into effect. Going back to Cole, I did in fact enjoy the investigative style of questioning rather than the trend from the late 2000's up until someone like Renee Young came along of the interviewer just asking for someone's thoughts and then having no other form of dialogue with them.
  12. TonyPulis'Cap
    Totally with you on the Italy/Belgium front - loved that classic Italian performance and Belgium are basically England circa 2006 - 08 - much vaunted individual reputations basically built on the fact they play in the Premier League. Was impressed by Wales in the main on Sat, although I thought after Slovakia scored, they looked the more likely. The fact Slovakia have just beaten Russia shows what a good result that was. I agree, thought Ramsey was arguably the worst performer which is saying something about the standards some of the others performed at. As a Crystal Palace fan, was really happy to see Jonny Williams play so well, given he's barely been given a game for us in the past two years. With three Palace players in the Welsh squad I'm looking out for them, although hoping that Hennessey brings his Palace form for much of this season into the game with England tomorrow! Oh, and the Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko would make a brilliant heel manager for Rusev.
  13. TonyPulis'Cap
    Often remembered as the "and the mystery partner...Savio Vega" to the sound of general apathy match, this is fun and chaotic, if somewhat lacking in substance. The funny thing is, looking at the roster, Savio Vega is the highly logical choice, given the Boricuas have been somewhat loosely aligned with DX over the past couple of months, interfering at the Rumble, and been facing off with Owen Hart in the weeks preceding this... but it still comes off as a massive damp squib, given that at this point in wrestling history a 'mystery partner' had people presuming someone was jumping from the other company. Onto the match, and it starts with terrific energy, with Austin just hitting everything that moves, and the crowd is molten hot for everything he does. At this stage, the cliched hardcore brawl had not been over done in the WWF and so the stack of weapons and plunder was still very novel and entertaining. Some don't like that it starts off as an out of control brawl and then settles down into a tag match, but I don't mind that, as after the initial skirmishes, you've got the official exerting control - although it would perhaps have worked better if a whole load of ref's had come out to help do that, or even some sort of special enforcer that people would buy as being able to wrestle control. The problem with that part of the match is that none of the heel side has particularly exciting offence to work on top, meaning that part does drag a little, but there is one brilliant spot where Billy Gunn enters the ring and Austin just launches a dustbin at his face. The closing stretch picks things up again nicely though and Austin mows his way through everyone on route to the win that sets him up nicely for Mania. In a way, it's good that Shawn wasn't there, meaning that they don't touch before the big match, but not sure the people who paid for it back in 98 under the impression HBK would be there might have agreed.
  14. TonyPulis'Cap
    It's hard to look at this segment in isolation, when you know what happens in the main event at the end of the night, and you get the sight of Cactus and Funk charging out with drips in their arms, but looking at just the dumpster angle, and while you can debate the tastelessness of a big shoot/fake injury angle, this is an incredibly well done, and fairly nuanced piece of wrestling television. From the announcing, to the melee and confusion that then follows, this does feel at times incredibly real - although Sunny's soap opera acting does take you out of the moment - and even watching 18 years later, I was still sucked in. With the match, the stunt and then the aftermath, all told this takes up at least half the show, not to mention the constant replays and the cut in's from the hospital. Those bits, with the lines about Foley "slipping in and out of consciousness" are when it starts to get a little too much though. I'm a huge sucker for a show long angle, and while I can see why they might have wanted to bring Foley and Funk out at the end again to complete the episodes circle, or perhaps to not have people/sponsors worried that they were going too far with playing up how real the whole thing was, it really did lessen the impact, and feel that the two returning at No Way Out - even if that would've still been a very quick recovery - would've been so much more gratifying and perhaps softened the blow of "mystery partner - Savio Vega". As has been pointed out above, the whole thing is played very well, and is very effective at creating drama through the little touches. Heels and babyfaces together, no-one (Sunny accepted) going too over the top, the initial remorse from the NAO, Scorpio going off on one and having to be restrained, the brawl with everyone trying to get to Road Dogg and Billy Gunn. A very captivating piece of wrestling television, but one that's legacy it's hard to detach from the victims coming back three quarters of an hour later.
  15. TonyPulis'Cap

    NXT talk

    TonyPulis'Cap replied to Woof's topic in WWE

    Definitely looking forward to that match. When I heard Aries was coming into NXT I was super excited, as I've always been a big fan since ROH and thought that in his run in TNA he was consistently the best thing in the company - not hard I know, but thought his title win and reign and were excellent. So far in NXT he's not been bad, but a little underwhelming, so looking forward to the match at Takeover really kicking things off for him.
  16. TonyPulis'Cap

    NXT talk

    TonyPulis'Cap replied to Woof's topic in WWE

    Really enjoyed the vignette for what I presume is the newly renamed La Sombra. Loved the old school luchador film reel that made it look like you were watching TV from Mexico City in the 1970's. Incredibly atmospheric and has me pumped for his debut. Thought it was one of the best intro pieces I've seen in a long time, something which, particularly on the main roster, has been missing when debuting new guys.
  17. TonyPulis'Cap
    Hard to disagree, you can really tell that Shawn is using this opportunity to show everyone that he should be the man and the guy who deserves the title, and in fact it sort of starts the momentum that gets him there one year later. The odd/competitive friendship the Kliq seems to have, means that Nash probably wasn't even that pissed off; they all knew it was just business and he might have even been proud in a way - "that's my boy!" As for the match, despite all that, and Shawn throwing various camera men out of the way at different times - just look at the bemused look on the face of the guy he drags along on his arse at one point - I enjoyed it and think that Shawn trying to show off meant that Nash was forced to up his level and I thought the champ has some pretty good intensity and fire that wasn't there in much of the rest of this title reign (outside the Bret matches). It's always hard for a small man to work heel on a much larger guy, so again, Shawn using his stamina and speed actually made sense as a strategy and helped to explain how he was able to get control at certain points to build some heat. I also thought that the little rib injury part was quite good and helped Diesel to appear more vulnerable. The finish is pretty awful - both in the execution of the power bomb and also in the fact that it's quite flat and sort of out of nowhere (and not in the RKO/Diamond Cutter sense). Overall I thought it was decent if a little uninspiring at times, and thought for a Nash match it was good, but it's no surprise that this is the title match for one of the least regarded Mania's of all time.
  18. TonyPulis'Cap
    The Rock and Roll Express in 1998 WWF was incredibly surreal, although I think the point of the NWA invasion angle was for them to deliberately look out of place. Kevin Nash post WCW never seemed a comfortable fit in WWE on TV either - none of his runs really clicked. The 2003 face run against Triple H was pretty much a disaster on every level, but even when he comes back in 2002 with the nWo there doesn't seem to be much of a reaction. The weird feud with Punk that then transitions back to Triple H again is also very awkward and out of place to what else was being presented on screen at the time.
  19. TonyPulis'Cap
    Having just gone through the whole of the WWF in 1997, Crush is so sloppy and boring in every single match. Despite being in the ring with someone of the talents of Dustin Rhodes, the King of the Ring 97 match between Crush and Goldust still makes me wake up in a cold sweat at how dreadful it is. I remember when Kronik first became a team in WCW in 2000 and thinking that at first they looked 'OK' and they were kind of getting over as ass kicking babyfaces against the likes of the Mamalukes and Palumbo and Stasiak, but then they became this crappy rip off of the APA where they would get hired to be hitmen or something that for some reason included a skit of them in a sauna at one point (have tried to blank out that memory). They were also part of an awful 5 minute PPV main event against Goldberg when it was clear WCW had basically thrown in the towel. And having seen it within the last couple of years, yes, that Unforgiven match against Taker and Kane is every bit as bad as its reputation.
  20. TonyPulis'Cap
    I think I remember Raven using it for a spell, towards the end of his WWE run and during his initial time in TNA in 2003/04, you know, when he was in the physical condition to go to the top rope like. Agree though, awesome manoeuvre. Owen Hart's belly to belly when he just snapped them over at an insane speed was always pretty slick.
  21. TonyPulis'Cap
    Loved this match. Suzuki is such an unbelievable dick (in the best possible way), but he’s a dick with a strategy, and it’s to get in Kobashi’s head and take him off his game at every opportunity. The opening moments with Suzuki dodging the chops and scoring with some disrespectful slaps is glorious, his tongue out facials just begging for a punch in the face. It announces right from the start that he’s going to fight this battle on his terms. At any opportunity, any opening, he goes right for the arm and is able to get at it from so many different angles that it leaves Kobashi constantly second guessing. As Superstar Sleeze says, Kobashi knows he has the strength though and he wrenches in a headlock tight and leaves it on. And on. And gradually takes back some control. But just when KK thinks he has the match in hand and can move onto to dishing out the punishment, Suzuki sis able to strike back. He’s like a football (soccer) team actually wanting the opposition to attack and come onto them so he can respond with rapid fire counter attacks when they leave themselves open. Kobashi has two key strengths, his ability to take punishment and survive and then the weapons to get him out of a hole, and in the end, despite his arm being shot and Suzuki’s efforts, he is able to hit a barrage of lariats and backdrop suplexes that his opponent just can’t stand up to. Suzuki tries the fighting spirit comeback after one suplex, but he can’t quite absorb the abuse like Kobashi and that his undoing. He had the strategy, he took Kobashi out of his comfort zone and had him on the back foot, but when the opening came, he just couldn’t quite stand up to the steamroller. I maybe rating this way too high, but absolutely loved this. It can have **** ½ and like it.
  22. TonyPulis'Cap
    This match is all about survival for Kobashi. At this point in his reign, the tank is running dry and you can feel the title slipping from his grasp. He's just hanging in there and surviving. Taue getting that last shot at glory is an awesome backdrop, and as has been highlighted, the crowd is all in on the old gun slinger having one last run. Kobashi is on the back foot for much of the match and such is the punishment that whenever he hits a big move like the powerbomb he can't follow up. He gets very few near falls, and wrestles most of the match defensively, scoring with chops but with little else. With all the wear and tear from his lengthy title reign, he's vulnerable while Taue is inspired, hitting moves out of the blue like a rana, plancha to the outside and a massive gangly looking frog splash that looked like a giant octopus falling out of the sky. In the end Kobashi has just enough to see it over the line and has that big move in his arsenal, but you can sense the end is near and the challengers are getting closer.
  23. TonyPulis'Cap
    For all the craziness of the vignettes and the bits with people having their hearts ripped out/time travelling/flying into space etc. it has some of the best booking and most logical (in a building storyline's way rather than the aforementioned paranormal activity) week to week wrestling television I've seen in a long time. In that sense it's positively old school at times...
  24. TonyPulis'Cap
    Definitely. The One Night Only match from the UK PPV in 1997 is fantastic, and shows what they could do together, but this one is so plodding and boring, coming just before the Mankind Series in 96, where Taker was able to progress to do more than choke, punch and sit up. The fact it ends in a DQ I think also doesn't help this one.
  25. TonyPulis'Cap
    For those who are into Progress and the like, it might seem a bit tame, but for the last year or so I’ve really been enjoying NGW, the promotion that forms the basis for British Wrestling Weekly. Because of being filmed for TV, the production values are really top notch and the Hull City Hall where they run some of their big shows looks fantastic on screen with big crowds. They also run the Liverpool Olympia, which is such a cool building – loved being there to watch ROH Unified back in the day – and through that they are sort of an RPW but for the North, although they don’t really use the big US or Japanese imports at all (which I do like as it gives the UK guys more time to shine). As I said, the presentation and storylines might be a bit cheesy or basic for some, but it’s just good old fashioned storytelling, and you can tell from the large numbers of kids and families at the shows that they are going for a different market than the likes of Progress or ICW, which is why I like them in a way, everything’s really simple. Typically their title holders have nice long runs with the belt with long term build, with I think the last three champions each having reigns of around a year. Their streaming service is not as good as the others, run through the British Wrestling TV site that does all the Wrestletalk TV stuff, but it’s pretty cheap – think £3.99 a month – and if you catch up on some of their old shows you’ll see some good storytelling and some pretty decent matches. The weekly TV show is which is on Youtube is also a really breezy 45 minute watch. Particular recommendations would be the excellent Rampage Brown vs El. Ligero 30 min Iron Man match from their Eternal Glory 2014, or any of the matches from the Davey Boy Smith Cup in 2015, which was a round robin tournament that involved Nathan Cruz, Zack Gibson, Mike Hitchman and Bubblegum. A qualifying match for that tournament, also from Eternal Glory 2014, involving Gibson and Will Ospreay built around Gibson dismantling his arm is also very good. Sort of like a precursor to the Ospreay/Kushida match in a way.
×
×
  • Create New...