Makai Club #1

PROGRESS Title No Disqualification Match: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Marty Scurll - PROGRESS Chapter 25: Chat Shit Get Banged 24/01/2016 Nothing says British Wrestling than every American style finish you can think of packed into one match. And you'll find that it's not an exaggeration either. There is a ref bump in the middle of the match, Scrull almost makes Ospreay pass out via the Chicken Wing twice, surprising roll ups, a big babyface comeback following a beat down and handcuffs are used. It was quite excessive but they never lost the crowd or their heat for the match. The action was always moving along and these two know each other well enough to come up with incredibly tricked out counters that came off as fluid despite their complexity. The early parts of the match were mostly brawling on the outside and they were surprisingly able to make it work despite your first impressions. They made great use of the environment, using the balcony, with Ospreay hitting a lovely moonsault off the balcony after Scrull tried to faceplant him into the wall, the stage, with Scurll putting Ospreay through the announcers table and the crowd itself. There was a lot to talk about in this match as it was very dense and filled with moment creating spots. It could be too much for some people but I thought the match itself was big enough, by British Wrestling standards, to warrant such an epic layout. ****1/4

He was a solid wrestler most of the time. Lacking real crowd connection hurt his run a ton, especially when he was a babyface. He had some cool matches against Christian, Big Show , Rey Mysterio, etc. He peaked real high with Dolph Ziggler of all people, having one of the better WWE matches of the 2010s but there isn't much else. Not fit for a Top 100 but he's more appreciable when you look beyond that.

I'm sure if I look at my match spreadsheets, I'll find a few really good (sometimes great) Randy Savage matches against Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, Ricky Steamboat, Warrior, etc but when I think of Randy Savage, I don't have much emotion towards him. I don't hate him or love him. He's just there for me - a permanent fixture of that era of wrestling. Obviously he's insanely talented but he's never someone I've connected with outside of his promos which aren't really a factor here, and that's only because his voice is funny to imitate. Compared to Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Rick Rude and other wrestlers of his time period, I have concrete thoughts and love/dislike for them. With Savage, there is nothing. So I'm not entirely sure where I stand with Savage.

His serious matches with Takeshita and HARASHIMA have been really good. I have really enjoyed the comedy matches myself, but they are usually never going to win points with the mass majority.

This is where my problems with Austin heel turn comes. In the closing stretch, Austin tapped out to the Sharpshooter while Vince had the referee distracted. No way do I buy Austin tapping out. All that's changed is that he's a heel and now he's someone who'd tap in the same submission move that he famously passed out to? That's not plausible. All they had to do is make Austin way more violent. Not weaker. That's the type of thing that bundled the heel turn entirely. The match wasn't all that great either once the match got into the Cage. The brawl on the outside was fun with Austin ping balling himself about like it's 1992 all over again and Rock showing all kinds of spit and fire. Once the match went in the ring, it felt very restrictive. I don't think these two really work together when they are stuck in the ring. Some spots looked awkward to me, like the float over DDT, because of the cage. Vince constantly interferes in the match, giving Austin a steel chair, Austin gets thwarted at first but eventually Austin gets the advantage and then out comes HHH. He teases going against Austin but then he attacks The Rock along with Austin and Vince and he Power Trip debuts. Yay. Thoroughly disappointing match with a fine but uncreative angle. **3/4

It depends on the wrestler. Maki Itoh had the idol (anti idol, really) character to draw people in despite not being very good most of the time outside of a few carry jobs. But people like Mayu Iwatani, Miyu Yamashita and Takumi Iroha are genuinely good wrestlers. STARDOM to their credit has used foreign wrestlers, like Toni Storm, really well to draw in the western based fans who recognise the name and then keep and expand that audience with good wrestling even among the idol-y presentation.

I checked earlier to see if she had a thread and I was stunned that she didn't, so I'm glad that she has one now. She probably won't be in my top 100 because there are so many great wrestlers, but she was awesome in her own right. She was great in the JBA, being the clear better of the two (not to knock Tateno, and she was fun in all the singles matches I've seen of her too. Her JWP run has some cool matches like the Dynamite Kansai match.

Awesome match. Yamazaki isolates Kansai’s leg and works on it, wrapping it around the ring post and then proceeding to elbow the knee joints. It was really cool, skillful work on the part of Yamazaki. And Kansai’s selling was rock solid as well. Kansai had to rely on pure power to get her out of trouble, leading to a simple but exciting finish. ***3/4

This was really good. Once the match peaked, they slowed down but then they peaked again. Impressie. The first half of the match is built around Honma and the question of “can he hit the kokeshi”. After many attempts, he did it and the crowd popped. There were a lot of elbow exchanges in this which can be a turn off but it was done in a competitive way that kept the match going instead of stopping it to a crawl. A cool match. Holds up well. ****

Their past is one of the more notable stories of the time period. Tana and Shibata still have a bit of heat of Shibata leaving New Japan years ago (think Nagata vs Sasaki when Sasaki left New Japan briefly). The stylistic differences are clear. Even aesthetically, these two are polar opposites. So there was some lure in that regard. Tanahashi was willing to fly around a bit more to create a wider contrast. But there wasn't much that really stood out as great to me. The strike exchanges are probably necessary for the story they were going for but I found them entirely uncompelling and unconvincing. Shibata should be killing Tanahashi and Tana is going toe to toe with him. Compare this to Suzuki vs Okada strike exchanges where Suuzki is clearly winning every strike and Okada is only still on his feet through stubbornness. Here, it's presented as equal. When Shibita was throwing more strike combos and working the leg, the match worked much better for me. The crowd carried the emotion of the match, as did Tanahashi. But there was something very lacking in this match. Consider me underwhelmed. **3/4

That Saito/Kandori match is amazing. Definitely check it out if you like Kandori's work. Kandori is my #1 Joshi, I'd say. There was something evidently special about her. Her aura of legit toughness is hard to match, and that's something that'll always get me on someone's side. She was quite charismatic as well. She's not just great submission and throws. The Brock Lesnar comparison is interesting as he's similar. There is a massive personality underlying there that doesn't necessarily get captured on first look and when it comes out, it's amazing. Kandori is quite adaptable as well. The Hokuto matches come off like dramatic fights (they are also my #1 & #2 Joshi matches), the Kudo matches are weapon brawls, the Hotta is more shooty based. And she somehow keeps her style and who she is alive despite the type of match she is wrestling in.

I knew this was coming as they are all well regarded. I mean the Dec 1990 match. I watched the Super Libre match that they had already. I've been putting off watching this one .

I'm puzzled when it comes to Becky. She is the most likeable when it comes to the Horsewomen but I think she is by far the worst of the four and is flat-out average on her own. During her hot run, none of her matches or individual pefrormances stood out as impressive to me - those Charlotte matches consistently underwhelmed me. Something was there but it wasn't connecting with me in a way that I connect with Sasha or Charlotte, who is the most flawed out of the 4. I really like the Sasha match in NXT and maybe the Natalya match at I think Summerslam, but it's slim pickings otherwise.

My #1 Luchador. Sensational wrestler. His peaks are among the best Lucha has to offer. And I haven't gotten around to watching the El Dandy match that everyone raves about yet. I'm not sure where I'll rank him but it's going to be high.

I love that he does that. The fact that he can make a compelling match doing very little and prolonging the match by struggling to put on the Scorpion Hold or a simple suplex is a plus.

NWA World Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Steel Cage Match: AJ Styles vs. Abyss This was incredible. I personally think that the match should've ended after the Styles Clash into the tacks but the actual finish is also excellent. Masterful even. The crowd brawl was excellent with AJ exploding out the blocks and hitting a great looking forearm smash from the crowd. Abyss has probably at his peak as the monster act in this. He complimented AJ wonderfully. The aforementioned inish was great. Abyss throws the re into the cage, causing AJ, who is on the top, to almost all and in prime position to be hung. AJ is in desperation mode and starts biting and goes all out to hit a sunset lip to score the win. ****1/2

Lance Russell did a great job explaining why the Piledriver is legal for this match. This was a great showcase for Nick Bockwinkle. He schools Lawler on the mat with his insistent holds that manipulates Lawler’s movements. Lawler does show some shine of skill but Lawler's best out is his punches which were as great as they usually were. Lawler’s hope spots and Bockwinkel’s subsequent cutoffs were well done. The drama raised high once the straps came down and then it grew even more when Bockwinkel sent Lawler crashing to the outside floor. Bockwinkel cheats to win, keeping his title safe for another week and protecting Lawler who’s pissed. ***3/4

Just days after losing to Jinsei Shinzaki, Gannosuke is ready! (I’m so bitter about this and it happened 23 years ago lol. It’s only right to be upset about painfully stupid decisions). And again, this pairing doesn’t captivate me. This was just another Poor man’s King Road match with some quality but not nearly enough to interest you in such a way that they intended. Gannosuke had some sparks of quality but he wasn’t that great on offence either. His strong points in the match were his selling. **3/4

ROH World Title Match: Austin Aries (c) vs. James Gibson I’m not a fan of the finish. It’s not inconceivable, but something about Aries collapsing into Gibson while in a Trailer Hitch, fluking his way to the win rubs me the wrong way. But still, these two are so good together. Gibson’s back is near enough fully healed so he’s more of a threat this time around so Aries attacks his arm to create that weakness himself and the match goes on from there. I thought Gibson’s selling was excellent as well. His defensive body language is something that really stood out to me. As soon as Aries trapped his arm in the barricade, he went into defense mode and I love that. Aries crafted some excellent counters out of Gibson's signature moves due to the weak arm in return. This was yet another awesome match between the two. I’d put the Stalemate match ahead of this though. Just on a gut feeling. ****

ROH World Title Match: Austin Aries (c) vs. James Gibson Austin Aries is a gorgeous wrestler to watch. Aries is so slick - he embodies the word - with his offence. It’s like poetry in motion in the way he seemingly glides across the ring. And he does it in a way that helps his wrestling look more solid and grounded than a lot of people who are aesthetically pleasing but it's more of a dance and it perhaps works against them. A wonderful wrestler. I sometimes think that I’m way too high on him but then I’ll watch him in a match, like this one, and think “no, he’s just as incredible as I think”. Enough of the Austin Aries gushing as the match was superb. Not flawless, but I can see what the attempt was. James Gibson, fresh off coming in from WWE, is a hot little indie act and he’s been on a hot streak in Ring Of Honor in particular. So he had a ton of momentum coming in against Aries as a challenger but unfortunately, he’s carrying an injury inflicted by Generation Next member, Roderick Strong at the previous show and Aries knows this. So naturally, Aries zeros in on Gibson's back with a series of strikes and moves that target the area. Aries doesn’t even have to change his arsenal too much - hitting a wicked heat seeking missile bottom rope tope to Gison while he was turned towards the crowd. Gibson to his credit sells his back and makes Aries look great in the process, but he still is fighting, returning with some small work on the neck as well. This was looking to be a really excellent competitive match but, like I said, the match isn’t flawless. I disliked how the rainusters were used towards the end. It’s a signature move for Aries and they trade back and forth - while still being locked in together, retaining some semblance of a struggle - eore ending the match with a double pin. It was a very peculiar way to end a match. Scott Sinclair was sneaking though. He raised Gibson's hand, saying he was the winner, first, which the fans went nuts for, and waited to raise Aries hand as well. So I wonder if this was Gabe trying to gauge how the fans would react for a Gibson title win. They like it, Gabe. ****

There isn't that many matches, sure. But it's something that really defines his title reign for me. It's something that comes to mind immediately which is why people like myself and Micro mention those matches over the majority of matches that are way shorter. And while they usually aren't bad, but like Micro said, there isn't much there and can leave something to be desired. I certainly don't have a wish to rewatch them anytime soon. Rewatchability is a key aspect in a wrestler for me. How much do I actively want to seek out a match or a period of wrestling for a certain wrestling. I really want to watch a lot of Jerry Lawler's matches in Memphis, for example. I don't really want to seek out more Bryan Danielson during his title reign. And I've watched the lot of it already so it's not just me presuming based on match time alone or anything superficial like that. It's only a small part of his career though. Something that would only take him down a few places in the top 100.

It's definitely something that ROH wanted with Gabe famously trying to make the ROH Title into the new NWA Heavyweight Title with the classic 60 draws. WWE rarely goes past 30 minutes unless it's an Iron man match. It's definitely noticeable when the matches go long, outside of modern NXT.

I'm not in love with his ROH run honestly. Those 30 minute matches are exhausting and are something that I never really want to seek out again with some exceptions. I'll watch the Nigel matches but fuck watching those Roderick Strong matches that never end. I'd much prefer watching Austin Aries who works in a brisker pace at a similar quality level, even if Bryan is way more smarter and talented. Bryan has a lengthy run sheet of great matches against plenty of opponents despite some of the flaws of the style in Ring Of Honor. He was also able to adapt and help change the style in WWE somewhat. He turned into a more traditional make comeback guy and turned into one of the best babyaces in wrestling. An excellent wrestler. It's just little things that keep him in that 50-40.

This is risky territory. There are plenty of matches that "could've had anyone other wrestler" in. The facts are that it didn't have any other wrestler in, the match had Okada in.

I loved Jeet’s entrance. It's magnificent. And by far my favourite thing about him. Firstly, he stands in the entrance way for ages with a half smiley and menacing look upon his face with a sword in his mouth. That's all he does to rile the crowd up to the point where he almost has a fight with a fan coming to the ring. The Young Lions and other assistants have to seperate the fan and move him far away to avoid escalating. If there is one thing that I like, it's entrance fights. Then he walks around the ring stalling and threatening the crowd with his fist. Great character work. Inoki walks out with nothing but business on his mind. He is ready and Jeet Singh isn't having it. The match is rather simple; for example, Inoki would try to attack and Jeet Singh would pound on him, drag Inoki around the ring and throw anything that was in his grasp at Inoki. Whether it be a table, a chair or a sword. Inoki is cut open and does his best to sell the beat down. The match is under ⅔ falls, as it was the norm back then, so the double count out threw me a little. However it makes the structure of the match easier to follow. Both lost/won the fall so it's a simple fight to the finish. Singh tones down his wild brawling for more simple stomach claws and chokes, which do look good on a bloody Inoki, to be fair, but is unable to ramp it back up as Inoki is able to make a great comeback, stomping and punching the shit out of Jeet. Then Inoki tears Jeet’s arm out of its socket with some gruesome arm pulls and that's it. Inoki made the comeback and won the match. Inoki Bombaye. ***