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Makai Club #1

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Everything posted by Makai Club #1

  1. The match is great. Truly is. Choshu puts on a master class clinic. Choshu like he really does plays up the subtle heel role almost to perfection. His work over Inoki was so great, he can make the simplest moves look like the utmost difficult to execute, like his Sasori-Gatame submission hold. He spent 30 seconds trying to lock it in before it was fully on and when he did, it got a huge reaction. Which is what you want from a move like that. His cut offs are great too, he'll have you in a hold but whenever Inoki looks to be getting a foothold, he switches gears and regains control like that. Inoki can be lazy at times, and given he gets a big response doing nothing, you can get it but he earned his popularity here. His selling was exceptionally strong which put over Choshu big time and his comebacks were quick and effective. What else do you need? ****3/4
  2. Great main event. Brock had his first legitimately great match and got put over huge as a main eventer by The Rock no less. Brock's work on the ribs ruled. Probably the only guy who could work on the ribs in the way he did and make it compelling. You can buy it just looking at his arms. Rock solds it really well I thought. The match had some good brawling on the outside with Heyman getting took out but the bread and butter was when they were in the ring. The atmosphere was great too. Loved Brock and hated Rock. Made for an awesome dynamic and made Brock look even more of a star. ****1/4
  3. One of those matches that the majority of the fans praise but I don't. At least not to that extent. I didn't hate the match, quite the opposite as I enjoyed a chunk of it. I thought the early sections of the match with HHH beating down Shawn Michaels, working his injured back and heeling it up big time were pretty damn awesome. I love HHH but I hate HHH too as his matches can be so bad, but I really enjoyed what he brought to the table in the first part of the match. The match falls through after Shawn Michaels makes his comeback. Totally get why they structured the match in this way - HHH getting all the heat on HBK before HBK makes his comeback and hits all of his biggest moves - but it just felt so jarring to me. It never felt like Shawn was trying to win the match. Just show off, which, again, is understandable but it didn't connect with me. Michaels’ didn't sell the back at all once he did a kip up. The pacing was pretty bad in parts too and the match dragged as a result. Really tried to enjoy it but I didn't. Another thing I want to point out is that this is yet another HHH vs HBK match where HHH was the better of the two. Funny that. **1/2
  4. Pretty wild match. Angle was on top level here with his speed and intensity. Angle really suits these short sprints (which is basically what this was) that hide his flaws. Rey pulled out some of his best offence and was an excellent babyface. Bumped and sold excellently. ***3/4
  5. Yet another great match on this show. Great mix of STIFF striking and top notch grappling. Hideki throw some unholy forearm strikes that were pinpoint dangerous. Thatcher was excellent on the mat, as expected. Loved Thatcher’s body shots he’d throw when transitioning between holds whether it’s with his head or knee. Hideki was awesome on the defensive too - he kept calm when in danger and made it a struggle for Thatcher where is some cases it’d have been a breeze. Loved the Robinson suplex being the cause for the KO, puts Hideki and the move over perfectly. ****1/2
  6. I think this match is a perfect example of WWE big matches failing. The first two falls were so forgettable and mediocre. Small things like Gargano going down to the first Last Shot, but not the second. It just common sense really that would've helped the first parts of the match along the way, but nope, it didn't happen. Then the third fall happened, and the match turned from mediocre to awful at an alarming rate. I know that people will praise anything that has a long series of kick outs, even if the entire match is very mediocre. Just the way it is nowadays, people only care about a closing stretch without taking in account the build up to that spot. Even then, the finishing stretch was nothing but kick outs on an absolutely ridiculous scale. It was laughable at how many kick outs there actually was in the match. There was more than 10 kick outs, at least including, Gargano kicking out of chasing the dragon, a Panama Sunrise, tons of superkicks, a fairy tale ending on the table, absolutely EVERYTHING Cole has and he kicked out of all of it. A huge burial of Cole's offence, and I don't use burial lightly. This is the stuff people, rightly, criticised Roman vs Brock at WM 34 for. It's certainly way worse than what Cena did to the Nexus because at least it didn't have this amount of unnecessary excess that this match haf. Their selling was so awful too - both guys have no clue on when to no sell moves and when to sell. The no sell superkick into another superkick is one of the worst sequences in Wrestling and people should stop using it. This wouldn't be out of place in the worst of PWG which is saying a ton. There is literally nothing I thought that was enjoyable about this match barring a pretty nice spear on the apron. The rest was a true masterpiece of pure garbage. DUD
  7. Pretty good match. Both not as definited offensively but character wise, they got it down pat. Shiima will do anything to his body to hurt you, if that doesn't work, cheating is the way too go. Magnum is a fan favourite with his dance routines and loves to shake his hips. That with the constant struggle back and forth made for a good dynamic. ***3/4
  8. An awesome match, perfect main event to encapsulated the style and what direction they are going with. Magnum TOKYO with a great performance along with SHIIMA. I did think the match had some pacing flaws due to the length which may take away somewhat, but this was still a riot. ****
  9. I think we found a winner for the best match that ended in a DQ. This was nothing short than a mauling by Hansen. It really seems more like a segment than an actual match. Started out normal enough, then Funk got busted open and Hansen smells it like a shark and begun unleashing a barrage of stiff punches and nasty knee drops. The match really highlighted the strengths of both men. Funk sold his butt off for Hansen by bumping all over the place like only he could, making Hansen look like a beast in the match. Excellent babyface performance by Funk only matched by Hansen being the aggressor, a role which Hansen excells in. I loved the hope spots Funk had in the match too. Funk going for the knee and desperately trying to end the match with the spinning toe hold whilst dripping with blood, giving us an awesome visual in the process. Crowd was going mental from the entrances to the finish. The aftermath with Dory Jr coming out to save his brother was really good, and of course, Funk still crawling around the ring, selling the damage Hansen inflicted on him perfectly. It all connected really well to make it what it was. Great match. ****3/4
  10. This was an awesome match. And I'm watching this whilst falling asleep. Gonna rewatch this when I'm not knackered to give this a proper analysis because this was awesome and it deserves much more.
  11. But this is Roman's first singles match back since returning, you would think that Roman should get the win here. McIntyre wouldn't be harmed by a loss to Roman.
  12. Probably one of the more weaker additions to the feud but still a great match. The start is fine enough. The limb work is a bit paint by numbers and it's not all that interesting early on but the strikes and bombs are where their bread & butter lies so it's not a big surprise, and it doesn't lead to much. Kawada is in control for most of the match and does a hell of a job doing it. He is vicious and nasty with his strikes, constantly using the gamengiri to cut off a Misawa comeback. There are a few no sells spots that are very well done by Misawa (and Kawada - nice of him to show off his pearly white teeth; all two of them). The finishing stretch was really good but it was sort of hard to buy into the Tiger Drives and powerbombs until the end. Like I said. Great match but lacking somewhat. ****1/4
  13. Do I consider this match to be better than their previous match? Nah, I don't think it's better. I think the match was really good but lacked some of the drama and big fight atmosphere that the other match had. But that's not to take anything away from the match. I think the match is quite good. Loved the quick start with Devlin going right for WALTER with his punches, him being a bit overzealous with his offence and WALTER taking advantage, gaining control and working on the hand of Devlin. The selling of the hand wasn't great throughout the match. It wasn't bad but could have been much better. Loved Walter beating down Devlin and getting all the heat as it also meant the crowd got more behind Devlin as a result, if that was possible, allowing for a bigget reaction when he made his comebacks. And Devlin made some damn good ones too. The spot where he was relentlessly locking on the rare naked choke was fantastic. The finishing stretch was a bit of a disappointment which is the only major flaw I would have with the match. Really dislike the heel champion walking out of the ring spot as it's usually done in a clunky and awkward way; as it was done in this match. Sure it allowed Devlin to get his second wind for the finish but I feel that it could've been done much better. Nevertheless, this was great. ****1/4
  14. The match picked up after the slow start with meh grappling, which made sense given Okada was working on the neck of SANADA (which is weaked for the rainmaker) but it's mostly just used for padding, but that's par for the course with most Japanese wrestling MEs these days. This counts for not only NJ but All Japan as well. Loved the bomb heavy closing stretch as always though. Okada really knows how to get the most out of the nearfalls and SANADA is getting better at them too. Some really top reversals too but there was a few awkward reversals here and there but this is me mostly nitpicking. I know people role their eyes at things like Okada holding on to SANADA's leg because it can come across as being melodramatic but I felt like it worked here so much. Great spot and really good match - could've been a better one if the grappling was a bit more engaging. ***3/4
  15. Mixed bag. Kento as of late has been a bit of a downer for me and something about him just isn't clicking like he used to. I do appreciate that he switched it up from his last few title defences with him being the aggressor opposed to the underdog role that he has far outgrown by this point but still, it didn't have that compelling fire that he usually has. It didn't draw me into the match very much and it whilst he wasn't terrible, not by any means, it just wasn't totally interesting to me. Nomura was better though. He fit that underdog role and showed tons of fight and fire in his comeback offence. Those forearms were awesome and his selling was pretty good I'd say. Loved the finish with Nomura almost slipping out of the shutdown but Kento being alert, locked him back in it and put him away for the heartbreak. I could've done without the obligatory ten minute brawl that is dull as paint drying and does nothing but pad out the time too. **3/4
  16. As always these two bring out the best in each other. Really liked the constant pacing throughout. No part of the match felt slow or drawn out in any way. Hot start at the start with the two hitting each other with forearms and setting the tone for the rest of the match, soon picking up the pace and begun bringing out the great sequences. Some really slick counters which Okada always does well, and Ishii upping the violence with his nasty chops. The closing stretch was heart in mouth time and that's with me knowing the finals before hand. It was really that great. The rainmaker reversal into the armbar was awesome. Okada showed great urgency too with him hitting John Woo right after Ishii was seemingly getting up after the dropkick. Just one thing I want to mention, Okada's German suplex always looks great, looks impactful and he gets great height from it, just shame people over look it because it's usually a transition into the rainmaker. Great stuff from two of the best wrestlers in NJ. ****1/2
  17. Awesome match. Filled with drama and excitement. Some great, great wrestling too. Bryan fighting two on one, but enough time is given to Batista vs Orton too. So it helped the match structurally. I did think the pacing was off a bit which means it dragged but I really did love the match. ****1/4
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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. ***
  21. 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
  22. 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. *
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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
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