TheBean

October '87 Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Shinichi Nakano & Isamu Teranishi (8:35 complete)All Japan TV (October 2nd, 1987): Man, it's not hard to do a good action tag match but for the past 25 years people just over complicate the fuck out of it. This is a great example of how to do a under 10 minute action packed match. Run the ropes, tag in and out, keep your shit simple but it look like it hurts, give the match some ebbs and flows, some believable near falls and get a cool looking finish if you can. If you're following Kawada's progress, this is the best he's looked so far. Definitely junior star material at the very least 😋 Shout out to Shinichi Nakano & Isamu Teranishi...too many folks are sleeping on them still. They might not be flashy but they do it right. Jumbo Tsuruta, Tiger Mask & Giant Baba vs Genichiro Tenryu, Ashura Hara & Toshiaki Kawada (10/03/87): Last 6 minutes and lots of action. Hara is just blasting guys with his lariat. This definitely is priming me for 1988!

Loved the European Championship back in the day...

AAA 04/21/09 Mascarita Sagrada, Octagoncito & Mascarita Divina vs. Minis Abismo Negro, Psicosis & Histeria: An absolute moves filled blast! I see Triple A minis, I watch them. Rarely do they disappoint! Aero Star, Súper Fly, Argenis vs. Tigre Cota, Río Bravo, Tito Santana: More spectacular high speed lucha action. Aero Star & Super Fly continue to "wow!" Pimpinela Escarlata, Gato Eveready & Crazy Boy vs. El Brazo, Decnnis & Black Abyss: Another really entertaining match. This has a bit of comedy but plenty of action. This card/show is shaping up to be a very good one! Classic UK wrestling Ian McGregor vs Bernie Wright: This is from an England vs Scotland tournament. It's edited down to 10 minutes or so. Technical bout as I had hoped. Really like how Wright was rolling through the snap mares. Ian does a wonderful counter move where he applies the headscissor from a back breaker, rolls Wright over (flying headscissors) and goes for the pin! Good stuff! ECW Terry Funk & Stan Hansen vs Abdullah the Butcher & Kevin Sullivan (09/18/93) Ultra Clash '93. This was a lot of fun. Not so much a match as a brawl and no real direction as the "match" actually got better after the bell rang to declare the winners. It's hurt by just the one fixed camera angle but Joey Styles does a great job keeping us in the action even though this style really benefits from up close shots. Tempted to explore more ECW '93 after this one 🙂 Natural Born Killaz (08/24/96) Mikey Whipwreck vs Little Guido: I didn't remember them meeting this early but boy this was a lot of fun. Mikey gets hurt as some giant lug who was part of the Full Blooded Italians blew one of Whipwreck's spots...I think he was supposed to catch his diving frankensteiner to the floor and uh...maybe Mikey over shot him but the crazy tee shirt wearing junior hit the guy in the head and dived from the top right into the crowd. It's ECW so I'm not sure what was supposed to happen! 😄 Terry Gordy vs Brian Lee: A fun, quick big man brawl. They went outside, busted a few tables, hit some clotheslines and yeah nothing to complain about 👍 Rob Van Dam vs Doug Furnas: Good stuff...rough around the edges even by '96 ECW standards at times but Furnas' raw strength saved it...like turning a god knows what move from RVD into a kneeling pile driver on a chair! This would have been better as a straight match between the two with chair shots sprinkled in but still cool to see. I probably should look for more RVD in All Japan one day? NJPW Vader vs Shinya Hashimoto (08/08/89): Two bovine sized brawlers bashing about for 12 minutes. This is the best period for Vader and Hashimoto might be his best opponent. Size, chemistry, intensity... it's all there. This is a very good-great match with a great, wild finish. RECOMMENDED 1992 Shinya Hashimoto vs Shiro Koshinaka (08/06): joined in progress but really good stuff. 8 of 12 punishing minutes. And a bit of post match melee as well! All hail Hashimoto! Jumping elbow drop of death! +-+-+-+-+ Jushin Liger & Tatsumi Fujinami vs Pegasus Kid & Jim Neidhart (08/06): Very fun, all action tag match. The teams were excellent pairings and everything felt really good although I can't recall if they teamed before or since. Liger was in the ring for his team a majority of the time so, you can't go wrong there. 10 minutes of excellent tag wrestling 🙂 Shinya Hashimoto & Osamu Kido vs Shiro Koshinaka & Kengo Kimura (08/11): 10 minutes of chaotic wrestling goodness. Akitoshi Saito & Aoyagi are at ringside and are jacking Hash & Kido up! Dusty Rhodes is in the stands (in official context) and is enjoying this one. Super Strong Machine vs Arn Anderson (08/12): Good meat & potatoes wrestling by two of the best big enforcer type wrestlers, in my opinion. Big impact moves at the end. Nice stuff at 8 minutes.

Highspots posted this:

Highspots' YouTube has been posting some PWG Good Shit recently: AJ Styles vs Roderick Strong BOLA 2014 Zack Sabre Jr VS Kyle O'Reilly BOLA 2014 Young Bucks & Adam Cole VS Matt Sydal, Ricochet, & Will Ospreay BOLA 2016

"This community always had a hipster edge to it. So now it's cool to state the fucking obvious that Stone Cold was awesome." I think PWO has had a wrestling nerd edge to it. Just look at the 2016 GWE project or the Yearbooks of the 1990's/DVDVR 80's projects. That is hardcore nerding. That's not hipster-trendy shit. Maybe retrospectively it appears that way??? I've read & re-read your point so maybe your referring to the Internet Wrestling community at large? Regardless, the obvious thing about Stone Cold has been stated on both 2006 & 2016 GWEs. He's been in the top 25 all 3 polls. #16 in 06 & #24 in 16. So if you're being serious or sarcastic with your point, the numbers tell a different story. Stone Cold has done well whether it was cool or not...for better or worse.

08/07/11 Ikuto Hidaka & Takafumi Ito vs Takuya Sugawara & Kaijin Habu Otoko: Fun, fun match! Suwa is out there as the guest official NWA referee looking like Joe Higuchi in his all red outfit & white belt. Unlike the venerable Joe, Suwa is a heel ref 😄 So he's making trouble for Hidaka & Ito (who is new to me). But it doesn't detract from the in ring action. Everyone looked great but Hidaka put on a show but I am partial. 14 minutes of enjoyment. Shinjiro Otani & Yuichiro Jienotsu Nagashima & Daichi Hashimoto vs Ryoji Sai & Kamikaze & Munenori Sawa: OK 6-man match. Nagashima didn't do much for me but I looked him up & he's a kick boxer & cosplayer...and has some backstory with Hashimoto & Otani so...it makes sense. The team of Sai, Kamikaze & Sawa was much more entertaining. Masato Tanaka vs Daisuke Sekimoto: Great-Near Classic. Remember the phrase "subverting expectations?" It was that kind of bullshit that ruined the Game of Thrones TV show. But here it's not some ploy. Here they actively (and actually) surprised me for more than shock value. I can say that because they similarly did "what you expected" ... lots of beastly stiff chops, elbows & lariats... macho stuff and so forth. But they added twists and even when I thought I figured the twist out... those sneaky two would add something else. It's not a clever match though. This the equivalent of a gorilla fight...but that's what you want. Here in 2011, Tanaka is showing his age (I was watching '08 Zero One last) so Daisuke Sekimoto definitely seems at an advantage. It's up to Dangan to hang in there. As an old time Masato Tanaka fan there's a few moments that got me jazzed - pulling out old moves and/or reminding me of his battles with Mike Awesome. I'm going on, aren't I? Anyhow, RECOMMENDED stuff especially if you like these two. Glad I got this on DVD but it's on the web, I bet. +-+-+-+-+-+ Daisuke Sekimoto vs Kohei Sato: Fire Festival Finals. This was definitely hard fought as it was hard hitting AND the second match of the night for both. I didn't like the pacing on this...it's that deliberate strike trading where they just take too long between hits. It just feels like killing time. And a lot of the match felt like that...hit me then I hit you...we do that for 8 times then do a move or two then we reset to hitting each other. This would be OK for a lower match in the tournament but this couldn't hold a fucking candle to Sekimoto vs Tanaka earlier tonight. THAT match was the finale in my book. It felt epic like a finale should. One other thought: Sekimoto doesn't have a ton on tricks up his sleeve so this match just felt "less" in simple comparison. Sato, I like as a tag wrestler but, he doesn't bring much to the table as a singles wrestler. This was his opportunity to instill some character, variation, intensity etc. but he did little... I think other people like Hidaka, Otani, Kamikaze & Munenori Sawa would have had more inspired & interesting matches...even if they would have been "underdogs." I just think this was a bland final.

W*ing Kanemura vs Masato Tanaka (FMW 08/02/97): Electrified Barb wire match. 13 minutes of death match wrestling done right! They had a great match and worked in some nice spots with the gimmick. They weren't crazy with most just being whipped or knocked back into the stuff. Personally, I think taking the turn buckles away from these two hurt what could have been... you're taking away Tanaka's Frog splash & tornado DDT as well as W*ing's senton splash. A minor quibble... Still great stuff and Recommend it to fans of either!

BJW YouTube has posted the 12/24 Abby Jr. vs Ito match:

Classic UK wrestling Ritchie Brooks vs Ian McGregor (08/27/88): Not familiar with either guy but this was a scrappy contest. A single pin or submission match so the near falls went a long way. I REALLY LIKED this one. Going to keep an eye out for both. FMW W*ing Kanemura vs Masato Tanaka (08/02/97): Electrified Barb wire match. 13 minutes of death match wrestling done right! They had a great match and worked in some nice spots with the gimmick. They weren't crazy with most just being whipped or knocked back into the stuff. Personally, I think taking the turn buckles away from these two hurt what could have been... you're taking away Tanaka's Frog splash & tornado DDT as well as W*ing's senton splash. Still great stuff and Recommend it to fans of either! Monterrey Damian 666/Nicho el Milionario vs Pierroth Jr/Veneno (Monterrey August 4th, 2002): Fun, janky barb wire, weapons & light tubes death match 😋 NJPW Tatsumi Fujinami vs Greg Valentine (08/13/82): Fujinami vs Valentine in '82? Hot damn! Sign me up! And this absolutely delivered! Both guys were beating the sweat off of each other. The Dragon used his drop kicks but Greg was definitely "The Hammer." He was pounding Fujinami with elbows, over hand chops & clubbing fists to the sternum. To make matters worse, Dick Murdoch was his ring second. The Texas red neck wasn't shy about interfering (but not too much). I LOVED this match. A near classic battle! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for fans of either. Steven Regal vs Satoshi Kojima (08/01/97): Oh yeah! Where's this match been!? Regal and Kojima actually wrestling 80% of this bout. Regal isn't messing around either so many palm strikes and forearms pressed against Kojima's nose. It's fantastic. Cozy can hang in there with Lord Steven but you know he wants to lariat. The Brit is down like a pound and eats some nasty clotheslines to the side of the head. And that Regalplex...🤕🤘 10 minutes of awesome. Really Recommend this one! Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Prince Devitt (08/12/10): G1 match. Wow! Holy cow, that was a great little match! Nice wrestling to start. Tanahashi works Devitt's leg which they actually come back to later (although wish they would have revisited in the final third). Great finishing stretch nonetheless and an excellent wrestling match. RECOMMENDED

2010 In my normal fashion, I have cherry picked matches from my DVD collection and a few online to get a decent sampling of the year. I'll post official ROH YouTube videos if I have them 🙂 • El Generico vs Davey Richards (02/13/10 8th Anniversary): Great match that played off of 2009's top feud (Wolves vs Steenerico). They showed a lot of intensity. These two were on fire in the ring at this point of their career. Great start! • Kenny Omega vs Davey Richards (03/20/10 Epic Encounter III): These guys worked their asses off ALL MATCH. I appreciate the aggressive Richards hunting Omega throughout. He kept lighting the Canadian up with kicks. He wanted the Cloverleaf hold early but switches to his arm. Kenny is fighting to stay in this one. He's got to use his big moves to even this up. And damn, Kenny's got plenty of those in his arsenal. This match had a great pace, providing top notch action for a little bit under 25 minutes. I think what hooked me were the surprises and counter moves. This absolutely is worthy of the 'Epic Encounter' title and is a classic in the full speed ahead junior style. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED • Davey Richards vs Kenny King (Big Bang - April): This was the opening match and damn! this was very good - great. ROH gave them time to work. This had some nice touches, big moves and believable near falls... plus a great post match. • Steen & Corino vs Colt & Generico (Big Bang): A good match but a great segment overall. This awakens the Generico that fought the Age of the Fall & Briscoes. Plus Steen & Corino are made out to be dastardly heels. An appetizer. • Kings of Wrestling vs The Briscoe Brothers (Big Bang): Both teams have truly come into their own by 2010. True professionals who paced this out excellently. The action was there but that steady handed pacing is what made this a classic tag match. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (plus stick around for Jay puking after the match. Not sure why we get that filmed but...it's there!). • Austin Aries vs Tyler Black vs Roderick Strong (Big Bang): This is what you want! All kinds of cool spots and fierce strikes. I do think there's some excess but it's well established that everyone hates each other so I'll make an exception...especially when some of the moves breaking up pins/submissions are so neat. Aries and Roddy are better than Tyler Black. Chalk it up to experience and familiarity. Near classic gimmick title fight - RECOMMENDED

Regal vs Kojima (08/01/97): G1 match. Oh yeah! Where's this match been!? Regal and Kojima actually wrestling 80% of this bout. Regal isn't messing around either... so many palm strikes and forearms pressed against Kojima's nose. It's fantastic. Cozy can hang in there with Lord Steven but you know he wants to lariat. The Brit takes some nasty clotheslines to the side of the head. And that Regalplex...🤕🤘 10 minutes of awesome. Really Recommend this one!

If AEW/ROH is gonna keep posting classic shows then, I'm gonna keep sharing them:

Found this one while looking for Kotaro Suzuki recs: Ikuto Hidaka & Masao Orihara vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Yoshihito Sasaki (02/08/03): In a NOAH ring but this is a Zero-one match. And that is pretty cool. The familiarity is there and they were able to do some really good stuff. Hidaka never ceases to amaze me with some move or sequence. Orihara (who I hadn't seen much at this time other than Fire Pro Returns) can still go. This was all action and a great match. Yoshihito Sasaki looks good even this early.

More Kotaro recommendations! KENTA & Takuma Sano vs Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki (07/26/02): Nice junior offense to open up with! I don't know if this is the first instance of surly KENTA vs veterans but it's a damn good one. Akiyama is so good in knowing when to no sell and when to sell here...he's probably the best of the big guys from AJPW in working with younger guys. Sano doesn't make a giant impression here because he knows that's not what the match is about. He does his job well in neutralizing Akiyama and,putting the hurt on he & Suzuki when he needs to. This is a great tag match. We really get to see the KENTA we come to know here both in attitude and move set. Suzuki really shined here as well. Kotaro Suzuki, Mitsuharu Misawa, Takuma Sano & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Akira Taue, Daisuke Ikeda, Masashi Aoyagi & Takashi Sugiura (10/19/02): Oh man this was a lot of fun! The last few minutes were especially good. Not top tier but there's some really exciting sequences that had me cheering. I liked the early focus on Aoyagi and by the end everyone was going off. I really dug this one. KENTA & Kotaro Suzuki vs Great Takeru & Kappa Kozou (02/08/03): Was going to skip this since I'd never heard of the IWA Japan team. But then I thought - I'm going to end up watching the whole event (mostly) so I should just check it out. So glad I did! Its shown in full as it features the home NOAH team and frankly it is a great opening bout! Both teams were smooth and exciting which surprised me. Perhaps it's a case of low expectations but I thought the teams gelled well enough that the IWA-J team would be invited back for under card jobs at the very least. Not thinking they were though...