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PeteF3

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  1. PeteF3
    A piece of ammo for the "Bret would dog it" crowd, as he works this like he's trying not to break a nail. Just an extended squash, with Prichard getting in basically no offense.
  2. PeteF3
    Fired this one up in full--thank you, WWE Network. Interesting wrinkle before the first Thundercage bout--Flair and Steamboat are interviewed together and Okerlund makes mention that Hulk Hogan is watching at home, and Flair discusses the possibility of a match with him. I think it almost had to be a done deal with Hogan at that point for them to go that far. Good highlight package of the build-up to this match, including the Clash, the press conference, and Vader and Race mauling Ricky Steamboat during a squash--nice booking there, coming out of Steamboat's involvement with the press conference--and it leads to Flair calling in from home and demanding that Bockwinkel put him back into the match at SuperBrawl. And that's what leads to the Boss as guest referee. Honestly, this whole set-up with doctor's releases and waivers and logical flow feels VERY Wattsian, and I never thought I'd say that about any Eric Bischoff product. On some level this was an overbooked clusterfuck that like the previous Thundercage match was too short, but on the other...it was pretty damned dramatic. Basically a sprint compared to Starrcade with Flair getting much more in the way of offense. The Boss turns in one of the most comically inept officiating performances since the Green Bay/Seattle replacement referees--he keeps getting distracted allowing Harley to interfere, and when he finally tries to put a stop to it he ends up getting handcuffed to the cage. I was conflicted for a lot of this--as a rule I don't like interference in cage matches which there's a ton of here, but as a separate rule I love babyfaces trapped outside a locked cage trying desperately to get in, which we also have. Boss completes his night of refereeing incompetence by assaulting Vader in the kneecap and pulling a Montreal once Flair puts the figure four on. I remember PWI absolutely hammering WCW and the Boss, the way a real-life sports official would get lambasted if he acted in such a manner. I honestly don't know what the fuck to feel about this. The action is good, the pre-match booking and set-up were great, and the transition to the Boss/Vader feud was done pretty well. But it doesn't pay off the great set-up in a satisfying way and there are some eye-rolling moments like Boss breaking the handcuffs. There needed to be a way for Boss to cost Vader the match in a more ambiguous manner, giving Flair a satisfying victory while giving Vader an out. Ultimately, I think they got a little too clever for their own good.
  3. PeteF3
    I thought this was pretty fucking great in spite of the obvious flaws--in the end the match felt rushed, and the two FIP segments felt abbreviated. And this was *mostly* a routine 6-man that happened to have a giant cage surrounding it. But...the in-ring action was really fucking good while it lasted, and Austin and Pillman in particular made awesome use of the cage, flinging themselves into it with reckless abandon. And I'm not a blading advocate, and in fact I'm almost ashamed to say this, but the blood from Brian and Orndorff was kind of nice and refreshing. Good quick post-match angle too, as Rude slams the door on Sting's head and then gives him the Rude Awakening on the floor, nicely re-igniting that feud.
  4. PeteF3
    Probably the best U.S. match of the year so far, though I really really liked that MSG tag title match. Really a total thinking-man's match, and I say this a lot and probably not even accurately, but this is a match that would probably never be done today, anywhere in the U.S. or Japan. Arn blowing off the taped leg in favor of the arm makes sense on some level--he's an Anderson, working the arm is what good Andersons do. But when the opening comes to go after Regal's back, he takes it. And then when he's running out of time, he's got the taped leg as an ace in the hole. Regal is all about keeping Arn immobilized and stalling as necessary--but it's the little touches when both guys are in holds that really make this. Every opportunity Regal gets, he's pounding away on Arn's nose or grinding his forearm across his face. Arn keeps inventing new ways to twist Regal's arm and later his leg into different directions--that sort of half-crab when Regal is on his side is truly cringe-worthy, and Heenan's comparison to Joe Theismann is spot on. And while it wasn't really set up by any of the work during the match, the ending worked because it was so unexpected and yet so in-character for Regal and William. This probably isn't a match for everyone, but they never once lost the crowd or invoked a "boring" chant. I'm on board with the others here, this was great--maybe the first truly great Regal match.
  5. PeteF3

    Other 1994 worth watching

    PeteF3 replied to jdw's topic in 1994

    Chigusa Nagayo vs. Plum Mariko, 2/11/94 This had everything that I should like about the older, slower-paced JWP style, but for whatever reason I had trouble keeping my attention on this one. Plum just brutalizes Nagayo with an opening barrage for the ages, busting Nagayo open, but she settles down afterward and is content to stick with her more traditional leglocks and such. Nagayo pays her back and then some, heeling it up for a crowd that's apparently backing Plum 100%. There wasn't anything wrong here, and I should really be more appreciative of a joshi match build around a sleeperhold, but in the end I didn't feel like the Yearbook was poorer for missing it. The best thing about viewing this was that the Youtube uploader added subtitles to the post-match talk. Chigusa cuts an angry-sounding promo that's really a motivational speech for Plum, then a pure-sports-build locker room interview follows, as she announces her desire for a match with Kansai and also discussing the booing.
  6. PeteF3
    They mercifully drop the canned cheering and just let Flair talk. "You're not the man, you just KNOW the man"--such an awesome line. Flair puts on a clinic in how to put over your opponent and yourself at the same time.
  7. PeteF3
    Totally awesome segment on all levels. Vader's promo is great, Harley talking about how everyone Vader sees is Ric Flair is great, and the squashing is great. Such a unique, fresh type of feud for Flair.
  8. PeteF3
    "One of the greatest teams of all-time," says Dr. Dutch Bobbitt, which is a little over-the-top. This is all nice and official-looking, but Storm in his white shirt and necktie looks about as "thrill seeking" as your average middle manager. Jericho is a long, long, long, long, LONG way away from having legions of Jerichoholics at his beck-and-call, but he's instantly more glib than Storm.
  9. PeteF3
    Pretty good, and I actually liked Akiyama more than Doc here, though Doc has definitely improved tremendously. Funny to see the exploder used as a routine transition move, getting little reaction. Something has always seemed "off" to me about the Patriot and the Eagle in AJPW. They have physical skills, but they work too loose in comparison to everyone else and sometimes I think they're proof that someone's moveset can be too big. Patriot has two over finishers, but they both tend to bust out a lot of high-end stuff that doesn't look high-impact, and as a result their offense on the whole isn't particularly over. There's a balance to be struck between the traditional WWF focus on a few key moves and what these guys are doing.
  10. PeteF3
    When I was watching AJPW TV years ago, there reached a point where I was almost more excited to see Sunny Beach or the State Patrol, just to see how they'd handle the setting, than to see another Jumbo-Misawa 6-man. So it is with the young boys in '93. As Asako matches go this isn't at the level of the Can-Ams match from '92 but he and Omori continue to show some promise, even if there are signs that the Four Corners aren't going to be replicated. Kawada fucking heaves Asako halfway across the ring with a unique-looking power bomb to finish him off.
  11. PeteF3
    So this *wasn't* for the title? Hash had the belt with him, which guys in Japan usually don't do unless it's at stake. Well, no matter--Hash kept it anyway. This was a fine blowoff to the feud and it seems that Hash is pretty much definitively established as the company ace with this. Chono's been very marginalized of late and he just took the title from Mutoh. The presence of Chono and the other top NJPW and WAR guys at ringside adds to the atmosphere of this, and Hash's win is treated by the Sumo Hall fans and his peers like a Stanley Cup or World Series victory--a definitive final win for the "home team."
  12. PeteF3
    Fun spotfest of a match. As with most Steiners matches, don't expect too much in the way of depth--and Liger falls victim as well, as he takes a pounding but is back up ready to go about two seconds after making the hot tag. I like Sasaki's intensity and the zip that he performs all of his moves with, but man, he should not be taking it to submissions if he's going to execute them that loosely and incongruously. That Strangle Hold Gamma really stood out in a match full of guys being thrown all over the place. Rick catches Liger with his counter-the-doomsday-device-with-a-powerslam spot that he likes to do and that spells the end.
  13. PeteF3
    TBS went to general MLB coverage and aside from that just shows comedies. TNT still has the NBA, and both networks are in on March Madness. Come playoff time that would doubtless be a conflict.
  14. PeteF3
    With Ric Flair ascending to the booker's spot in WCW by this point, Dusty Rhodes has apparently engineered a hostile takeover of the AAA office, because his fingerprints are all over this finish. I've been a defender of AAA's bullshit finishes in the past but this wasn't a good one. It could have been, but the execution of Santo tumbling into Tirantes was really contrived and sloppy. That said, I like the use of Tirantes better when his presence only comes into play with the finishes and he's not taking over the whole match. Anyway, before the unfortunate ending I think I liked this more than the other posters, even if Psicosis mostly felt along for the ride until he busted out the big dives. He really couldn't match Santo hold for hold in that lucha title match style, and only kept up with dives and high-impact moves. It didn't really feel like contrasting strategies, but moreso like two guys not on the same page. Still a masterful performance from Santo and even if working the mat isn't his strong point, said high-impact offense from Psicosis is pretty damn great.
  15. PeteF3
    PE are trying to find a contract or something in what is presumably Tod Gordon's office, so they can get a title shot. I admit it, Grunge making Rocco promise not to touch anything right before they both start swiping every petty object that's not nailed down was funny.
  16. PeteF3
    Not really a great match, not in comparison to the DWB/Smothers chain match or to Lee's performance as champ in general. But a highly satisfying payoff, as Ron Wright busts out the old loaded boot and kicks Lee's head in, allowing DWB to hit the fourth corner and take the SMW title.
  17. PeteF3
    Awesome match! Indy spotfest meets southern cooking--Candido can bust out the highspots and also stooge, bump, and sell. And Smothers can match him move for move. Both guys bust out all kinds of offense here and there are a number of false finishes, before Candido whips out a chain and clobbers Smothers with it to score the upset. Sort of a Tennessee-by-numbers finish to a non-Tennessee-type match, but Candido didn't break the chain out until he was on the ropes and desperate. Compare and contrast with Lawler and other Memphis heels.
  18. PeteF3
    Too much action to comprehend--the rudos jump the technicos before the fall and are disqualified in record time. By the time the "PRIMERA CAIDA" graphic goes on the screen the fall is already over. Santo has his mask ripped off and he retreats to the back, leaving Azteca to the wolves. Fuerza makes sure to boot him in the groin before pinning him, even though it's 2-on-1, just because. Glorious. Jesse Ventura would absolutely be frothing at the mouth about Santo leaving if he were on the call. Santo makes his way back for the third fall and the comeback brawl on Santo's part is one of the most heated lucha brawl exchanges you'll ever see. Psicosis absolutely gets slaughtered, and suffers the same fate as Santo re: his mask. Fuerza gets double-teamed and pinned, Psicosis gets counted out, and his post-match return proves futile. Santo makes noise about a mascara contra mascara afterward, but I don't think we'll be at that point for a long while. Basically impossible to rate as a match but an excellent angle and set-up for a feud. Santo could have used this, as the endless Heavy Metal series was beginning to stifle him.
  19. PeteF3
    Okerlund clarifies that the Flair/Vader title match is back on. Horrible production that does its best to mask yet another awesome promo from Ric. Too many incredible lines to recite. Flair's on such a roll that you're almost ready to feel sorry for Vader.
  20. PeteF3
    Man, if you could ditch the match itself and just go by the post-match promo, this WOULD seem like a classic. Funk spells out the ideal ECW philosophy and the point of difference between it and the Big Two. Paul E. and Sabu follow up, and Paul E. points out that the "referee was out for too long." No fucking shit. Paul E.'s final line is LOL-worthy--"Thank you very much, members of the media, you can all go to hell," delivered matter-of-factly. Douglas shows up and says "ass" a lot while Styles and Gordon make bad faces. This would be a good promo but the repeated swearing reeks of desperation, even if it seemed fresh at the time. Sabu actually seems fresh now, while Douglas' act doesn't. Funk comes back and puts him in his place, and the match is made for a one-on-one contest. Good back-and-forth here that didn't feel like guys reciting lines--both were reacting to each other.
  21. PeteF3
    I thought it sounded like the polite reaction Phil Mickelson would get for bogeying a par-5 on the 7th hole, but God, that's too perfect of a description. It was one of the most tepid "standing ovations" of all-time.
  22. PeteF3
    Holy Christ, this is embarrassing. Just fucking pathetic "brawling" and blown spots galore, even the spots that aren't that complicated. The referee has apparently been out cold for most of the match. Joey Styles sounds comatose, or like he's calling golf, and as awful as he's been I can't really blame him. Nobody is on the same page as anybody else. Funk suplexes Sherri just to class this segment up some more, then tries to put the spinning toe hold on her because he's apparently an idiot. Your hardcore hero, ladies and gentlemen. The video cuts out at one point and I have some hope, but my dreams are crushed as a few seconds later we're back. I couldn't be compelled to watch this in full if you paid me. A Worst Match of the Year candidate considering the talent involved. Styles suddenly wakes up and gushes about how we've just witnessed history and defies any other promotion on the planet to "sanction a match like that." Victor fucking Quinones isn't that sadistic, Joey. Styles' bloviating made Vince McMahon's slurping of Lex Luger sound restrained and understated.
  23. PeteF3
    Good TV bout, which these guys can have falling out of bed, but I don't know if "fall-out-of-bed good" is what you should be going for considering the personal nature and intensity of the Paul Morton angle. They could have milked this "injunction" angle for a week or two, with Cornette trying to goad Ricky Morton a la Jericho and Malenko.
  24. PeteF3
    Absolutely insane that Fytch was this good at age 19 or 20. She was given a terrific character to work with and went all the way with it.
  25. PeteF3
    Ron Wright has HAD HIS HIP IMPLANT, and is up and walking again! Wright cutting loose as a babyface is quite the sight to see. White Boy follows with an even better promo, practically Dusty-esque.
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