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PeteF3

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  1. PeteF3
    What an oddball heel team, the Wyoming cowboy teaming with the Taylor-Made Man. Did Steve get shitcanned or was he hurt? It's a meaningless tag match with two teams completely thrown together, but you have two elite workers in Pillman and Tracey, a perfectly serviceable worker in Taylor, and Bagwell...well, he's kept out of the way. What you get is a fucking awesome tag match. In a way it's just as much of a spotfest as the opener, but instead of big bombs it's based on high-flying, strikes, and great intricate tag sequences. The chain of moves from Pillman's spinning headscissors to the double dive to the floor is absolutely goddamn gorgeous tag wrestling, from all four guys. Bagwell shows some fire but also blows a few things--still, he's definitely someone with potential and I don't think he was overpushed at this point. This is as good as Taylor has looked since the Arn series, working in a completely different style.
  2. PeteF3
    Yes, I am a sucker for the Steiners throwing people around the ring. Even if it's spotty, and even if it's counterproductive to have two big monsters flying through the air. In fact, I'm just as much of a fan of two big beefy guys like Vader and Hughes taking big bumps. Vader goes up easily for most of the Steiner suplexes but Hughes, with one move, puts himself into contention for that "Best taker of backdrops" thread. Great choice for an opener.
  3. PeteF3
    This is probably my favorite of the Jumbo/Kawada series, because this is the first match where it feels like there's a real possibility that Kawada can win. Kawada asserts himself from the beginning, both with his opening kicks and not backing down after almost being slapped into unconsciousness, and the big German suplex kicks off an incredible stretch run. There's a palpable feeling that if Kawada could have just hit that power bomb, he would have taken the match. Kawada fights mercilessly to apply a Stretch Plum and Masa Fuchi is awesome on the outside selling this, teasing that he's just this close to throwing the towel in. Unfortunately Jumbo counters and despite a few comeback teases, that power bomb never comes. But Kawada had Jumbo on the ropes and also got to kick out of the first backdrop suplex--I have a feeling, however misguided, that Kawada would have gotten that pinfall on Jumbo not too long after Jumbo's illness aborted his career.
  4. PeteF3
    I'd say this is easily the best of the pre-00s Rumbles. Ric cuts a much more low-key Coliseum Video promo before the match, which was a pleasant addition. Meanwhile we get a montage of other promos, and Repo Man hilariously sticks out like a sore thumb in-between shots from Undertaker, Jake, Savage, Sid, et al. It's an historic performance from Flair, who probably has never had a 60-minute broadway like this--no chance to work armbars or chinlocks for 5 minutes at a time. Literally every two minutes a new guy was coming out who was going to toss Flair around. On top of that, you had a few other subplots like the big Jake/Savage showdown and Hogan more or less blowing off the Undertaker program. And afterward, the first major crack in Hulkamania appears, as Hogan is roundly booed during his confrontation with Sid--and for good reason. Sid only played by the rules and Hogan threw a fit the same way he always did whenever he lost. Is this the Rumble with the most potential favorites, at least from a kayfabe standpoint? It wasn't inconceivable for any one of Hogan, Flair, Savage, Sid, or Undertaker to walk out with the title, which seems like a lot. Not to mention other dark horses like DiBiase, Piper, and Jake. I even love Monsoon going nuts for Martel's draw, getting a number in the 20's after going 53 minutes the previous year. I miss things like that.
  5. PeteF3
    Rare footage of the Mountie's title victory, which I believe only appeared on the Coliseum Video version of the Royal Rumble and on the Anthology. Piper's pre-match promo is one of my favorites of his, one of his few outwardly comedic promos that's actually funny. Nothing match, but Piper's victory celebration (and Fink's announcement, of course) is a legitimate chill scene.
  6. PeteF3
    I'm somewhere in-between here and everyone else. A lot of the opening was good but not spectacular, and I actually thought Kid, for the first time, looked like a 20-year old rather than the PWA/Global guy who looked experienced way beyond his years. His matwork with Silver King (or was it Texano?) was quite good. Still, once the mask-ripping started this went into a fucking awesome finishing stretch. Lynn worked a long sequence with Los Cowboys where he looked awesome, doing the Kato Kung Lee ropewalk spot and climaxing with a great Lightning Kid dive onto all three guys.
  7. PeteF3
    I honestly think this holds up as a very good gateway match for lucha novices, at least if they're willing to watch a Benoit match. Lots of hate between Santo and Casas, and it's based more around that and big dives rather than matwork or their exhibitiony UWF stuff. Plus there's some Southern-style cut-offs and FIP work sprinkled in. Benoit looked fine, and looking back on it now I think he stood out more than Villano III did. Villano's big contribution was biting and clawing at Casas as Santo held him up in the surfboard, which was cool but about the only thing he did that I can remember.
  8. PeteF3
    Yet another strong match, with even Bagwell looking good. Rude of course gets in his atomic drop sell but also does a little Lord of the Dance jig when trapped in a wristlock that's pretty amusing. Great build to the Rude/Sting confrontation, with tremendous heat for Paul E. and Eaton holding Rude back when Sting tags in. Standard DA finish, but the Alliance is looking strong having gone over in a majority of their matches so far.
  9. PeteF3
    I don't think Schiavone would have gotten my vote for an '80s announcer, but he was SO clearly better than Ross in 1991 that I have absolutely no issues with thinking that way. I liked the dog collar finish, too. Valentine was about to drop an elbow from the second turnbuckle, and for 1983 that's a perfectly high-end "big" move for the time, before Piper yanked him off and cradled him up with the chain.
  10. PeteF3
    Another crazy match, even though it starts off almost like a note-for-note remake of the previous Monday's match. Still some crazy weapons shots and the ringside area is torn to shreds. Cheapo finish as Richard Lee trips up Fuller and holds his leg down for the pin, which is something you'd probably see early in the series rather than the swan song for the Jarrett/Fuller team. Now it's Lawler & Jarrett against the Moondogs. Ricky Hutchens' back is completely fucked as a result of a Moondogs squash earlier in the show. Jarrett is still pretty spotty (hah) on the mic, but Lawler is as great as usual.
  11. PeteF3
    The Warrior has been Stalinized from history, but I'm surprised to see acknowledgment of the MegaPowers explosion considering Savage was a babyface now. Even the Slaughter footage sort of undermines what they were trying to do with him. Still a very cool little historical piece that the WWF didn't typically go for. Hogan whines about that nearsighted Jack Tunney, ignores Ric Flair, and calls out Savage and Sid Justice instead.
  12. PeteF3
    Horrifically geeky addendum: two publicity photos of the Mountie with the Intercontinental belt. But he's carrying his souped-up, "Great American Scream Machine" shock stick that didn't make an appearance until later this year for the Slaughter feud. Were they seriously planning to have the Mountie regain the title at Survivor Series, where he was originally scheduled to challenge Davey Boy? I can't believe that they'd put him back in serious title consideration when he'd been sliding down the cards, but it's a pretty odd photographic choice otherwise.
  13. PeteF3
    Reading through the Observers of the time, here's how this whole weird situation went down, according to Meltzer: WCW did make a play to sign away Bret Hart and have him appear with the Intercontinental title on television or on a Clash, as payback for Ric Flair bringing the NWA World belt to WWF TV. However--the decision had already been made that the belt was going off Bret, and probably going to Piper somehow. Piper's Funeral Parlor appearance at the tail end of '91 bears that out. If anything, this strengthened Bret's desire to jump (which was real). But as it turned out, Bret's contract contained a rollover clause, and by the time Bret and WCW had reached an agreement, the rollover had already taken effect. As a result, this Update sort of hedges its bets with regard to Bret--it could be taken as a Hart burial or he could be seen as being protected due to the fever angle. Okerlund recounts Mountie's post-match attack and Piper's rescue. Piper now becomes the first man to receive shots at the Intercontinental and WWF titles in the same night. As Matt said, this concept really seemed like the biggest thing in the world--it wouldn't mean a thing today.
  14. PeteF3
    Lawler has now interjected himself into the Moondogs feud, and one of the craziest brawls ever results, with trash cans thrown all over the place and Lawler whipping brooms around like they're oversized ninja stars. Between the food and drinks getting spilled and the cuts, this brawl seemed like a rash of broken ankles and infections waiting to happen. One of my great wrestling regrets is never seeing anything like this in a live setting.
  15. PeteF3
    If you like kicking, then this is the match for you. Flynn goes high, Sano goes low. There are a few suplexes and some other broad spots that bely these guys' pro-style background, with Flynn attempting one enzuigiri too many in the end. Not really a high-end shootstyle match but one I liked more than some others I've seen on the Yearbooks.
  16. PeteF3
    Who's Next The best of--oh come on, how did it take this long for this one to get mentioned? In a Silent Way A compendium of promos from Bobby Eaton, The Missing Link, Dean Malenko, pre-Barber Brutus Beefcake, and The Sheik. 3 Feet High and Rising The best high-flying matches of Mascarita Sagrada. Power, Corruption, and Lies Documentary-style footage of NWA board meetings. After the Gold Rush Compendium of 1987 World Class, 1986-91 AWA, 2000 All-Japan, and '90s Memphis and Portland. Bee Thousand Eight 2-hour discs of the Killer Bees, with a 40-minute bonus disc.
  17. PeteF3
    Maybe the biggest thing ever to happen on Wrestling Challenge. I try not to get too worked up over Flair constantly wearing his robe, but the Rockers of all people get to wear street clothes here?? This is an excellent segment on almost all levels, with Shawn starting as a disingenuous babyface ("As the captain of this team...") and building to yet another dark, intense payoff. Heenan is spectacular, too.
  18. PeteF3
    Good teaser of what's to come. This is very heel-in-peril WWF-style in its layout but the heels are such great stooges and the babyfaces have such good-looking offense that it doesn't matter. The finish is inventive and absolutely awesome--the idea that Zbyszko would possibly throw a match if it means taking out Dustin Rhodes really makes sense for both the character and the Alliance itself. They're going all out to get Zbyszko's brainbuster over as a killer finisher, as he was winning matches by ref stoppage, Brock Lesnar-style, and Dustin sells this one like he's dead. Simmons looked good here, but injury issues notwithstanding he's a guy who really seems to have been spinning his wheels since the big Halloween Havoc main event. I can't help but think this had a major effect on his run as WCW Champion.
  19. PeteF3
    More crazy action from the Mid-South Coliseum--I really dig how intense the brawling is but also how structured the matches are. There are still comebacks, payback spots, and FIP work even amidst the chaos. No finish shown but it's presumably a DQ, setting up a no-DQ rematch for this coming Monday. Now wait a minute, didn't Richard Lee put "Moondog rules" into effect for every match? Even their squashes were filled with weapons shots and the referees didn't do anything about it. The first half of this match was nothing but chairs, tables, and bones. Regardless, I could see these two teams go at it quite a bit more. Robert Fuller has GOT YER GOPHER HOLE RIGHT HERE, SON. Another great Fuller interview.
  20. PeteF3
    Paul Bearer refers to Flair as the "self-proclaimed" Real World Champion--a difference from his last introduction of Flair which Vince points out. And Perfect has words for the Undertaker regarding the Royal Rumble. "Every man for himself" hype or foreshadowing? Or both? Flair goes nuts and promises to ruin the legacy of Hulkamania, which is of primary importance over winning the Royal Rumble and the WWF title.
  21. PeteF3
    "U-S-A" chants. But of course. This is interesting to see from a historical standpoint but man is this tough to get through. Two notable things that jump out: Lawler does a mid-match mic spot and actually puts Backlund over, talking about how he came to face against a great technical wrestler only to deal with hair-pulling. And as Lawler and Backlund sat in an armbar and the "BORING" chants started and I was tuning out, Lawler yells out, "It IS pretty boring, he can't get away!" That made me LOL. Still, this is a surprisingly dry scientific match and that is SO not Lawler's forte. There are some okay spots here and the finish is refreshingly clean, if anticlimactic, but this is a far cry from what these two could have done in MSG circa 1980.
  22. PeteF3
    Only halfway through myself, but I appreciated the shout-out. And that Slaughter/Hansen match was rated where it was mostly because of the editing.
  23. PeteF3
    I'm flabbergasted that you're willing to go back on your word to take a break...and for this. At the same time, I was really looking forward to your reviews on the Russo/Bischoff return up through at least the Arquette title victory, so I'm glad to see that we're going to get them.
  24. PeteF3
    Gilbert talks of all the great wrestling armies, while keeping it Texas-centered. He's reforming the greatest group of all, the First Family--and Barry Horowitz is shocked to find out that he's the first new member! Gilbert presents Horowitz with the "Winner's Belt," which looks like a piece of velcro with a button taped on the front and some glitter on it. Horowitz barely gets to say anything but his reactions and dumb confusion are good.
  25. PeteF3
    Considering they were each Army's respective #3 guys I never seemed to get a vibe that Kobashi vs. Fuchi was a major feud or issue. There are card placement and style match-up issues getting in the way of that, for one thing. But we get plenty of it here, with Fuchi blindsiding Kobashi with a dropkick to the knee and then Kobashi getting his knee torn apart again. Misawa works very little here as he has been for the past few AJ 6-mans. Jumbo works more but is still in less than Ogawa. Good hot finishing stretch that ends with Jumbo getting neutralized by the facelock while Kawada camel clutches Ogawa for the submission. A real good showcase of the Armies' lower-ranked guys, but yeah, no way this is ****1/2. Ogawa looked good but he's still not anywhere near the level of the others, in terms of either push or working ability. Plus his presence in any given tag match that doesn't also have Kikuchi pretty much telegraphs the finish.
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