MikeCampbell

I'm a bit fuzzy on the whole Takayama deal. I know that NJPW brought him in to challenge Nagata on the strength of his PRIDE fights, so that Nagata could beat a "real fighter." It happened to coincide with Takayama becoming one of the best workers in Japan, but I don't specifically know if that's why they kept booking him and gave him the big push in the G1 in '02. Takayama got the GHC because there was such a buzz about him, and (to no surprise) Ogawa with the GHC was a disaster of almost Yasuda like proportions.

Not quite. Fujita had to forfeit the IWGP Title due to injury. Yasuda's fluke win was what caused him to get the nod to win the tournament. Again, not quite. Nagata wasn't IWGP Champion when Cro Cop KO'd him, although he was on the verge of it, I think he was supposed to beat Fujita on 1/4/02. Fujita got hurt and Nagata lost the 12/31 Cro Cop fight. In the end Akiyama defended the GHC against Nagata. Nagata won the IWGP from Yasuda the following April, because Yasuda was a disaster on pretty much all fronts. He wasn't any sort of discernible draw and the fans fucking DESPISED him.

The Road Warriors squash of PG-13 from RAW. Mostly for the reputation it has thanks to Jamie Dundee's shoot interview about all the drama and bullshit backstage concerning it, plus Dundee's kung fu stuff was hilarious!

I appreciated the effort from Cody to work smart, by taking out Show's knee. But the guys I was watching with all agreed that *THAT* was the match to have the quick pin on, especially with the angle of Cody dogging show nonstop. Bell rings, Cody runs into punch, pin. That's the perfect way to pay off that whole storyline. There were things I enjoyed about Hell in a Cell, like UT stepping on the sledge and laughing at HHH, but I didn't think it was great. I also think that Taker should have layed out Shawn afterwards for his part in that superkick to pedigree spot.

TNA sues for breach of contract, maybe? I dunno. But, Bix is right, WWE has mentioned TNA before anyway, on the Hardys' DVD when Jeff went there the first time, and Flair (ironically enough) took a shot at them on one of the legends shows.

Dave is reporting that, one of the terms of Flair's inclusion in the HOF ceremony for the Horsemen is that he has to mention TNA.

What's the deal with Sombra wearing the shirt and then taking it off late in the match? Is it some sort of homage to the Hardys, or is there a meaning behind it? Casas/Sombra is my 2012 MOTY for now (not saying much yet, I've seen barely anything from this year).

I watched Negro Casas vs. La Sombra after Phil pimped it in the Lucha thread. This really isn't saying much, since I've seen barely anything from this year (although AJPW seems to have quite the buzz), but this is easily my 2012 MOTY right now. I loved the fact that the first two falls didn't just zip right by, like so many other matches I've seen. The second fall is kinda quick, but the first one looks like most third fall lucha matches I've seen. They're pulling out all the stops and fighting tooth and nail. One thing I don't quite get. What is with Sombra wearing that shirt, and then taking it off late in the match? Is it supposed be like what the Hardys used to do, a sign of Sombra being fired up? Or does it have some other meaning?

Is there any talk at all about Foley? Specifically, the comments he made in "To Be the Man," Foley crying up a storm in response to them, or what made Foley and Flair bury the hatchet and work together in 2006?

How about virtually everyone in Raven's Flock in WCW. Totally agree on Jimmy Del Rey, he looks like Kenny's on South Park.

Steve Keirn says it's not true that they're shutting down and that the WWE will be making a statement saying as such today. I personally think it'd be funnier if it was true, and they just hadn't gotten around to telling the boys at FCW yet. Of course it's not the first time it's been reported that the WWE is dropping their developmental league. Keller said the same thing back in '03, that they were dumping OVW to start one in New England.

http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/...-Cold-Truth.htm

I've got DDP's back, if for no other reason, then the fact that he talked about bringing the various diamond dolls to the AWA, with several accompanying shots of them.

See the bolded portion From all accounts, Andy loved wrestling and had HUGE respect for the business.

What I'd read was that Austin wanted Owen to drop to his knees, but Owen insisted that he was sitting out with it. It's Owen, so Austin figures he's just ribbing him about it. Then they do the spot, and Owen really did sit out.

I love that the one about Southern Wrestling was started with Joey Styles saying "I really have no business talking about this."

Shane Douglas from mid to late '96 until early '97. At Barely Legal the fans were chanting "Break his neck!" during his match.

John, you make that sound like a bad thing. I'm hoping to check this out soon, because I'm a big fan of Naito. Right now I'm making my way through last year's champions carnival.

I didn't love this match, but I liked it. What really brought it down for me was Owen doing some good work on Shawn's back to set up the sharpshooter, and Shawn taking some big bumps (the corner bump and powerslam on the floor both spring to mind quickly), but Shawn never sold the back all that well. Even worse was that after Owen had to break the sharpshooter, Shawn's first spot was a jumping reverse prawn hold. But I liked everything else, Shawn's bumping was great, and he sold the enzuigiri perfectly. I also enjoyed their early crowd play, especially Owen rolling to the floor to try high five the fans and he gets met with boos, and Shawn's hair pulling stuff driving Cornette nuts was great fun. Overall, I thought it was good, but not great.

I just watched this in full to review for 411, I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised by this. I'd always heard this match get absolutely panned, but I thought it was actually quite good, once you get past the early portion of UT trying to smother Bret. This is basically Bret working his type of match (wrestling based) and Taker working his sort of match, but it actually comes off pretty well. Bret is great at working over UT's leg, and it's probably as much as UT had ever sold up to this point. Bret works in some nice heel touches, and even the FIVE MOVES OF DOOM works here, with Bret using them trying to keep UT down, but he keeps sitting back up. UT had spent almost four years stuck working with monster heels (Kamala, Gonzales, Yoko, Bundy, and Mabel) where all he had to do was let the heel work him over and work in his basic spots, which is what he does here, only Bret is wrestling him rather than Mabel or Yoko throwing their weight around.

Looking over Graham's '86 results, it looks like Owen only worked the house show circuit, mostly in Canada. He dd work the final All Star Wrestling taping, but Graham's page doesn't indicate that the match aired.

This has been the best SMW thing I've watched since I picked up and started the 1992 season.

I rather enjoyed the Stallions/Rougeaus match from the 5/88 MSG show.

The ten man tag that got axed from 'Mania (because the heels couldn't decide who the captain was) and wound up being on RAW a couple weeks later.