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Makai Club #1

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  1. Makai Club #1
    Ah, this was okay. Can't say that I enjoyed it a ton. Liked the entrances and the overall story but the match was lacking for me. Perhaps it's because I was never a Bray Wyatt fan or what but this wasn't good nor bad. **3/4
  2. Makai Club #1
    Easy contender for second best opener in WrestleMania history. Tons of story behind this, some say going all the way back to WrestleMania 28, all leading up to this moments. Tons of emotion and uncertainty going into this match mixed with the fans being disgruntled at the time. It all mixed together and created an intense atmosphere for this match. Loved the start with HHH offering a handshake to Bryan, only for Bryan to kick it away and one up him, sending him to the outside and then offering a hand shake back. Set the tone for the rest of this match. Some good back and forth before HHH spammed Bryan's already injured arm onto the announcers table. Triple H’s attack on the arm of Bryan was nasty and vicious. He adopted all his offence into working on the arm. Locking on the crossface and even hitting the tiger driver of all things. Appreciated that. Bryan sold it all excellently too imo - no noticeable no sells from him at all. His comebacks were awesome too. Very subdued as far as playing to the crowd. It was all focused and direct. Two great performances to kick off WM 30. ****1/2
  3. Makai Club #1
    Called this match happening after last years match, stipulation and all (Ah 11 year old self was pretty clever at the time, of course I predicted HHH would win. Can’t win them all, I’m afraid). The story of the match is pretty big and there was tons of stakes behind it. It was basically implied that it would be the last you would see either of these men. END OF AN ERA!! But that wouldn’t happen of course :P. Last time I watched the match, I really wasn’t fond of it at all. This time, I liked it a little more but not the point where I loved it and now consider it a classic. No, it has its moments and has its flaws. Shawn Michaels being all dramatic and stuff really isn’t my thing and was a big hindrance imo. The other two were fine. There was some nice brawling and a few good call backs to their previous match. The start was awesome with the match being very intense and having a hot start with Taker’s reveal of his new hair cut and the cell coming down to Metallica. Then the match got a little less awesome and it seemed to really drag for the most part. It was mostly Triple H beating Taker down and saying “FINISH IT” which begs to question of why he don’t just go for the pin. Idiot. Shawn doing DRAMA doesn’t help either. The finish was good but I didn’t buy into the pinfalls. The post match was cool too which helps but not a ton. Overall it’s a good, solid match that has two solid performances but it went a long time and wasn’t that interesting to warrant it. ***
  4. Makai Club #1
    Awesome match. Punk did some excellent work on the leg from the off. Figure four at the most. Indian deathlock in the ring. Tied it up in the topes. Everything he did was wonderful. Orton’s selling was fantastic, especially that sell when he went for the punt. And that RKO was top. ***3/4
  5. Makai Club #1
    This was a truly boring, boring match. Everything bad with a HHH epic and a Taker streak match. A nothing match with long, drawn out “brawling” with no heat behind them with the match devolving into them kicking out of each others moves. Sure HHH doing the tombstone and Taker pin was cool but that’s one of the few things that I’d consider that was good. HHH was bad. Taker was bad. It went way too long and wasn’t interesting nearly as enough to justify the near 30 minute time limit. *
  6. Makai Club #1
    Going into this expecting a big comedy match that goes 30 minutes. Both guys are prolific comedy guys, perhaps two of the most proflic comedy wrestlers of this century. And I certainly got some of that. Got some light comedy from both guys in the beginning, exchanging foot stomps. Honda trash talking with a mouth full of water. Stuff like that. It was very amusing but Honda also begun working on the arm of Dino with Dino selling it pretty well, now switching his punching arm to his left (with the right arm being worked on). Then the match flipped a switch when Honda got busted open off the turnbuckle. The match turned from very good to epic. Honda's face got covered pretty quick and the match turned into a slug fest with the two going ham on each other with wild punches, drawing more blood. It also lead to the great visual of Dino being sprayed with Honda's blood. Looked grim and like something you'd see Midsouth or Memphis. Dino still continued to sell the arm which is even better. Honda continues on with his arm work without dropping it like most brawls can do, and locks on the tightest lock looking Anaconda Vice I've seen in wrestling. The finish stretch is a good one with Dino hitting all his big offence, moonsault, shining hump (basically a double knee strike with his crotch) and Danshoku Driver. A great finale to an awesome match. Not exactly what I expected from this match but I came out of it enjoying it a whole lot more than I expected. Seeing a comedy match transition into a bloody slugfest so seamlessly is something to behold. It just shows that just because they are mainly comedy guys, it doesn't mean they can't work a lick because they had a great match with two amazing performances that would fit anywhere. ****1/2
  7. Makai Club #1
    Anticipation was high for this one in a while. Been searching for links, DL files and dvds containing this footage for a long time, and I resigned the possibility that I would never watch this, however I finally got hold of the match and it did not disappoint. The first 20 minutes was exceptional. It was built around great reversals, fantastic grappling and submission holds. All memorable spots like Backlund constantly locking Valentine in the full nelson after he escapes causing Valentine to head to the outside to tremendous heat. Not only that, Valentine did a great job in that regard too, as well as cutting off Backlund with his knees to the sternum. Then the match kinda hit a lull. Some good grappling, again but however, it really wasn't all that interesting. So the pacing in that regard suffered, slightly. However that last 20-15 minutes was utterly fantastic. Great urgency shown. Awesome counters and reversals. Backlund and Valentine hitting some big bombs like Backlund's sweet suplexes. It many ways, it has the flaws of Angle/Lesnar Iron Match - great first half, dull 20 minutes, great ending - but it exceeds it in many ways also. Great match. ****1/2
  8. Makai Club #1
    An emotional match of the highest. Obvious result. Flair was inducted the day before, the Flair result was going on for months. Biggest stage. No one else better to lose too. Perfect end, so this really isn't a match about quality. It had it's good moments and wasn't just pure emotion. HBK carried over his 2007 form to pull off a great performance here, hitting the moonsault, good timing, etc. Flair produced the greatest hits one last time and the rest is history. I'm even going to ignore HBK's melodramatic bullshit. ***1/2
  9. Makai Club #1
    Last time I sat down to watch this, I actually really liked it. Thought it was a carry job that made Edge somewhat interesting to watch but good nonetheless. Even rated it ***1/2 but this was a total bore fest, imo. I put all my focus on this match. Turned everything off. Laptop. Phone. No distractions and what happened? I was bored off my tits. I get what they were going for Edge holding his own against Taker, actually looking like he was going to beat Taker. But a few problems. Edge is an awful, dull and uninteresting wrestler with nothing compelling to him including his offence. His work on Taker's leg was really dull. It was basic, unengaging. Taker didn't sell it down the stretch and it was basically filler. Edge kept on doing his shitty facial expressions as a bonus too. Taker's comebacks were decent but not awe-inspiring. Bad match overall. *3/4
  10. Makai Club #1
    Always been a fan of this sort of wrestling since I first discovered it a few years back. Now AMBITION isn't fully shoot style in the mould of the likes of UWF, UWFi, RINGS or PWFG but it's got that certain atmosphere. When Yuki Ishikawa was announced for AMBITION and was taking on Timothy Thatcher, I was instantly pumped. Ishikawa did some training with Thatcher back when he was EVOLVE champion so not only was it great that he was taking on one of the best grapplers today, it was also a student/mentor story that gives this match that little more depth. I watched Ishikawa in the Inner Circle match a few days before this so I knew what to expect from this from that match and his single encounters with Thatcher. But this...now this blew me away even more than that match did. Started off slow, but both were alert. Constantly wriggling and adjusting for the advantage, a few slaps and kicks for extra measure here and there. Then Ishikawa began getting more of a foothold in the match and began suckering in Thatcher into different holds which looked great. Everything Ishikawa did had a certain awkwardness to it, which I don't consider a bad thing. None of the holds looked comfortable to be in, and I sure they weren't, and that's the point. Thatcher equally as great at the grappling but mostly sold the holds superbly with his little grunts and gasps for air. Another thing I enjoyed about this match was the moments of pure instincts. For example, Ishikawa had a hold on Thatcher and Thatcher looked to reach for the ropes with his legs and Ishikawa latched onto the leg and adapted the hold along with it. Moments like that are what made this match for me. Sensational match. ****1/4
  11. Makai Club #1
    Good match. Naito did some really nasty work on Ibushi’s neck including a nasty reverse piledriver on the apron. Ibushi’s comebacks were really energetic and brought a lot to the match, even if his selling towards the end wasn’t great. Awesome bombfest towards the end too. ****
  12. Makai Club #1
    I loved this match. I’ve heard some people say it’s basically a spot fest and no story which is clearly not the case here. Angle works on the ribs for most of the match. Lesnar sells really well too. A lot of his offence is respected as a result and all he can do is hit the F-5 but he can’t capitalise almost every time. Sure at the end, both were just hitting moves but it came across as desperation to me. Angle is flawed as a wrestler but he was great here. Honestly I think Brock is the more weaker of the two in this match. ****
  13. Makai Club #1
    Fantastic match. There was some pretty awesome mat wrestling in the vain of amateur wrestling to start of the match. Lesnar quickly realises he can not out-wrestle an Olympic gold medal so begins using his weight to dominate the match. Whenever Angle began to get a foothold into the match, Brock would show off his power, whether that was by a overhead suplex (In one case where he didn't even arch his back or bend his legs. He launches Angle using his arms. FUCKING BEAST MODE Brock is a best) or just punching him. Lesnar then did some brutal work on Angle's back. Brock was in his element working over someone as the dominant bully. His speed, intensity and power just make this all the better. Lesnar makes too many mistakes and hurts his shoulder in the meantime, allowing Angle to capitalize and start getting back into this match and begins going for Brock's leg for the ankle lock. Brock? s selling off this is amazing. Even selling it during an one legged F5 on Angle. Angle does this amazing bit where he does a sort of lucha-esc (Pretty sure I've seen it in lucha matches before) submission hold to wear down Brock for the Ankle lock. The McMahon interference was fine, didn't harm the match and it lead to the awesome vicious off Lesnar TAPPING OUT (!!!) whilst scream for Vince. Fuck me what a match. ****3/4
  14. Makai Club #1
    What a last match to out on. There was some awesome old school AE style brawling in the beginning before they got in the ring and had a good old fashioned back and forth battle. Rock being uber heel, stealing Austin’s moves and his jackets, Austin doing it right back. The finisher kick outs, whilst in excess, perfectly acceptable here and it made the match all the more better. ****1/4
  15. Makai Club #1
    Everytime I watched this in recent years, I honestly didn't like it at all. Thought it was way too boring and dragged way too long, however it clicked for me this time - unsure what’s so different but I saw the entire match in a whole new light. I didn’t like the first part and I thought it would be the same as the other times but Jericho got a big foothold and the match took off from there. His heel work was awesome. Trash talking w/ smart counters to everything HBK did. Doing the little things like emulate HBK trying to prove he was better. A few flaws though. I wasn’t totally into HBK’s offence - a few times there were a few times I popped but it was generally just there. He looked like he took a backseat and hardly did anything interesting, this was all Jericho, imo. If this had a better HBK performance with a better start, this could’ve been a bonafide MOTYC. ***3/4
  16. Makai Club #1
    Well what an amazing match this was. Heard conflicting stories on how good/bad the matches was, and I must say that it blew away the expectation I had for it. This wasn't the big move fest that usual NJ matches are, but it was filled with smart, great wrestling, along with fantastic selling from Ospreay (Yes. His selling made sense. He sold it with his facial expressions, he took time doing his offence due to his ribs. Sure he gradually stopped selling towards the end but that makes sense. Pain gradually wears off and it had been a while since Ospreay went on offence since then. People expect Ospreay to be on the floor writhing for 40 minutes when that's not realistic - which goes against the purpose of selling - but he sold it smartly, imo). Ospreay really shined in this match from all angles. So did White actually. I really wasn't impressed by White during the Tanahashi match at all. He was slow, plodding and ultimately uninteresting - big world of difference compared to here. His counter wrestling style was really compelling to watch. Any time Ospreay went for a big move, I was anticipating White to pull of some slick counter. Given that White and Ospreay are two of the most popularising wrestler in New Japan, stylistically, both worked extremely well together and had yet another awesome match despite being totally different from their ROH days. ****1/4
  17. Makai Club #1
    I think this far out does the match from the year before. The stunts are just as crazy and reach far more height than its predecessor. The spear off the ladder onto Jeff is rather legendary at this point. Not just that. The double table spot between Bubba and Matt. The interference was well done and it was done to maximum effect. Unbelievable match ****1/2
  18. Makai Club #1
    For one of the biggest drawing matches in WM history. One of the most remembered feuds of all time, this really didn’t have a lot of build. I even watched the Raw and SD’s coming up to this show and it’s mostly these two feuding with Angle and Rikishi. Oh well, we are here now. Unbelievable match. Some excellent, excellent storytelling. It’s not even subtle to the point of being annoying, Austin is clearly the aggressor throughout the match. He tries and does anything to get the win. There are clear face and heel roles in this match and it sets the tone for the finish. I liked that there was little hiding it because when it happens, it makes total sense in that regard. Perhaps not to the overarching feud with Vince going back to 1997 but still. Rock’s bumping was really good at times, in others you could argue it was silly but that’s just Rock and it doesn’t annoy me too much. The brawling was intense as you could get and the false finishes were done to near perfection. I don’t think the match peaked to the point where I was going absolutely crazy for everything for it to be that 5 Star classic level of classic but good god, is this a classic. ****3/4
  19. Makai Club #1
    These teams have been feuding for a while now. E & C and Hardyz had the ladder match at No Mercy. Hardyz and Dudleys had the tables match at the Rumble. Makes sense to put them all in this match. The match is really, really good from an entertaining standpoint. All the spot were crazy and popped both the crowd and myself huge. All the teams get times to shine in the match and stood out here. The big moments however did leave to lapses in logic at times but I really don’t care all that much. This was awesome to watch. ****
  20. Makai Club #1
    On paper this seemed like a great match. Sure I’m not a big fan of Angle (one of my more controversial opinions lol - well maybe not on here though) but he was a good wrestler at this point, coming into his own and the other two are Benoit and Jericho. BUT this just didn’t do it for me. It all felt clunky, the offence and the structure. It just didn’t work. They all have much better singles matches against each other, and I'm sure if this match would've been one fall, it also would've been better than this. **1/2
  21. Makai Club #1
    Really enjoyable match. great brawling in the early parts of the match. They took some nasty bumps which helped the match. It was overbooked though with the ref bumps but it did lead to Foley coming back which was a great moment. Good brawl with a great conclusion to a storyline... or so we though. ***1/2
  22. Makai Club #1
    This was more like Taker vs Vince but Vince can’t wrestle so he sends Bossman, which makes sense, however it doesn’t make for a great match. It was rather dull actually and very, very heatless. It’s just a match inside the cell really. And of course the post match angle. Sigh. The post match angle. The bossman hanging so silence. Russoooooooooo! DUD
  23. Makai Club #1
    Fantastic lucha~! Everything you want in Wrestling. Big spot. Great flow. Two awesome performances. Had it all. The caveman had another strong showing and Titán matches him all the way. Cavernario has an uncanny ability to make everything he does look impactful but graceful too. Titán was a neat underdog too. The urgency in his comebacks, the little tricks he has under his sleaves. The match worked between the falls really well. Even the first fall, which didn't last long built into the second fall superbly. The final fall was pretty epic too. Really loved everything that happened. The counters, the risks they took. Even Titán countering the splash that Cavernario used to pin him in the first fall. It all clicked for me - great stuff. ****1/2
  24. Makai Club #1
    The shoot stuff is beyond dumb. Ronda should know better and someone should say something, then again WWE basically tells you it's not real anyway. Becky is just obnoxious and doesn't help. WWE PR should control their accounts from now on.
  25. Makai Club #1
    SD last night was actually pretty fun. The opening segment sit all the notes. Kofi l's entrance, Bryan's facials, KO being added. It all hit superbly. The Hardys return was neat. Matt looks in great shape. The triple threat was wild. Really fast paced. Truth's promo before was hilarious - he definitely made John Cena proud. Almas vs Rey looks like the program going into WM. Charlotte's promo was forgettable but eh. The main event was pretty good. Was expected KO to attack Kofi at the end but they can do that some other time.
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