ohtani's jacket

I was surprised by how much you liked this. I think their '98 match is the best of their series, but their '99 match is good as well.

This was a decent match. I never really liked Kaoru as I don't think she knew how to use her frame properly in wrestling, but Hokuto brought what was her A game at the time. I'm so used to seeing her in television commercials these days that it was a shock to her when her physique still resembled that of a fitness trainer. Kansai/Fukuoka blew this to smithereens, but for post false retirement, injury affected comeback Hokuto this was really good. It's a shame she couldn't really work like this all the time.

That is beautiful.

Not sure, I tend to avoid Estrada matches and AAA in general. I'm pretty sure he was still taking biggish bumps through '94-95.

Virus vs. Blue Panther, CMLL 5/12/13 Ten minutes? They were only getting warmed up. I don't have a problem with ten minute matches, but CMLL workers generally aren't that clever at working lightning matches and I don't really like the gimmick of an enforced time limit. Still, this was all about the matwork, which, while not life changing, was pretty at times. Virus is pretty clearly the best guy in the company, in my opinion, but I couldn't help but think if it was Demus against a mini it would have been more of a match and less of an exhibition. Terrible vs. Rush, CMLL 1/22/13 I liked this a lot. It strikes me as kind of being like WWE influenced CMLL main event wrestling, which usually I'd be against, but this is the most fun "CMLL is where the big boys play" wrestling since the Aguayos vs. Los Capos feud. It went on a bit too long and they stretched the limits of what they can do, but it was generally positive. Black Metal (Guadalajara), Pegasso, Triton vs. Barbaro Cavernario, Espiritu Maligno, Skandalo - CMLL Puebla 6/24/13 This was a fun match. It reminded me of the glory days of the Puebla locals, which like all good things in lucha was far too short. Cavernario, Maligno and Skandalo were an awesome rudos trio. They brought back memories of being a kid, having a couple of dollars in my pocket after doing a half-assed job cleaning my dad's car, and going down to the local bookshop to discover three of the coolest bad guys were taking on my favourite superhero that month. The great thing about the trio was that they brought a proper rudos structure to the match where you wanted to see the technicos clean house and there was the right balance of exchanges before the third fall dives. The third fall finish was badass and one for the bad guys. Really classic lucha and the best trios I've seen this year. Astral & Shockercito vs. Demus 3:16 & Pierrothito, CMLL 3/29/13 I always forget about the minis. How can I forget about the minis? This was awesome. Demus and Pierrothito are every bit the murder's row of Arkangel de la Muerte, Hooligan and Skandalo. The finishing stretch where they destroyed the technico minis prompted me to listen to Vince McMahon's theme music for some inexplicable reason, but it really was a devastating combo of finishers. Demus has always been great at putting the exclamation mark on matches and it was awesome seeing him tear up shit again. I really dug Shockercito too, more than I ever dug Shocker. He has the look down pat. It's kind of lame that he's aping Mascarita Dorada's spots, but I guess nothing's sacred in wrestling. Magnus, Starman & Stigma vs. Cancerbero, Raziel & Virus, CMLL 2/18/13 This had the best opening matwork fall of the year. And it wasn't simply because of Virus either, I thought each of the pairings were outstanding. They lost me after that and I didn't enjoy the next two falls that much, but it was a heck of an opening fall and something I haven't seen from CMLL for many years.

Yeah, South Africa has a big steroids problem, especially in their schools. Rugby in general isn't as clean as people would like to believe.

Well, fuck I'm glad we've got the straight story on how Dave eats in Japan.

I meant more in terms of being able to order than being adventurous. Even accounting for window displays and menus with pictures, choose and point limits your options pretty dramatically. "Funk sent some girls to pick me up from the hotel" isn't the way Dave told the story. It doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility that if they knew roughly where he was going to be then they could have found him. They could've gone around asking all the restaurant staff in the streets if they'd seen him, for example. The story must have stuck with Dave for all these years for a reason. #wemustgettothebottomofthis

I didn't realise Halfpenny was that big. Those Welsh boys sure like their gym work.

Does this make Bryan Danielson the Mike Phillips of professional wrestling?

Ken Joyce vs. Tony Costas (1/9/80) This was a really beautiful "Euro" style match. Ken Joyce was a veteran grappler who had retired and come back more times than Terry Funk and was a master at this style. He had a counter for practically every single hold and would feed his opponent a limb to counter into the hold he wanted, completely befuddling his man. And of course, he did a bunch of tricked out submissions and holds of which the closest equivalent is lucha. In fact, he was almost like the European version of Dos Caras. Costas for his part was game, though this was very much a Ken Joyce showcase. The match lost its shape a wee bit down the stretch, but not enough to sour me on it and I really loved how Joyce used open handed palm strikes. Never seen such an old man look so cool doing palm strikes, except for Fujiwara perhaps. The weakeners he dished out were nasty looking too. Personally, I like Joyce as a representation of this style much more than say Johnny Saint or Steve Wright. Tony Costas vs. Paul Britton (6/28/83) The previous bout made me want to see more of Costas. This was a short, one fall bout against a young man who was making his debut and who I don't think was ever on television again. Some really great action here. Costas could go, but unfortunately there's not that much footage of him. Steve Grey vs. Steve Speed (1/25/84) This was awesome. Steve Speed a lightweight with the physique of a Keith Haward and the skills to match. Grey never shied away from the physical stuff and this was a hell of a contest. Again, it was a shorter one fall bout, but the action was so fast and so snug that Speed got a busted nose and there were these cool visuals of both guys going for broke with Speed's blood smeared over him. Great sub-10 minute bout. I desperately wanted to see more Speed after this, but there's less footage of Speed than there is Tony Costas. Roy St. Clair vs. Tarzan Johnny Wilson (5/11/77) This was a really good heavyweight contest against two pretty big boys. Both guys used their frames to punishing effect and I felt sore just watching it at times. Roy St. Clair was the older brother of Tony; I haven't seen all that much of him so I was scouting him a bit to see whether I should grab a couple of his other matches and on the basis of this I will. This went to an DKO injury finish, but St. Clair sold that his neck had been dislocated and the referee Max Ward put it back in place to gasps from the audience, and I thought if you're going to do an injury finish at least they were creative with it. Good bout from the heavies.

Alan Kilby vs. John Elijah (9/11/84) A bit slower and more methodical than their first match from '84. Still plenty to like, but not as well contested as the Blackburn bout. Alan Kilby vs. Chic Cullen (7/25/84) This was all right, but disappointing by title match standards. The first time I watched it I thought it as a dull face vs. face bout and was down on Cullen. On re-watch, Cullen's grappling was better than I'd thought, but he controlled the bout a bit too much for my liking and consequently Kilby had a quiet match. I expected more from this because their earlier draw in June was very good. Alan Kilby vs. John Elijah (5/22/85) Alan Kilby vs. John Elijah (2/12/86) Well, these two had their match and they didn't stray very far away from it. I didn't really need to see these as the first match they had was the best and the subsequent matches didn't add much, plus they weren't feuding so the finish was usually the same with Kilby getting the rub from beating a heavyweight.

Fair enough, but it's flat and an actual grid not like Shinjuku or Ikebukuro, which would be impossible to find anyone. Mind you, unless Dave was with a Japanese person, he probably had dinner at some western style restaurant which would narrow it down.

When people talk about Nagoya, they really mean the central Nagoya area around the station. Most of the restaurants are street level and in a grid area, if in fact they went everywhere looking for him.

Alan Kilby vs. Ray Robinson (3/9/82) Robinson's television debut. Highlights of each pinfall was all that aired. Alan Kilby vs. John Elijah (4/4/84) This was a good match-up. It wasn't as exciting as Kilby's matches against the top heels, but it was a neat contest and a good showcase for Kilby's wrestling skills. Elijah was always a bit of a JTTS in his own weight class and even in these catch weight contests, but he always gave a decent account of himself and I'd happily watch any of his match-ups. This was wrestled in his typical style with plenty of strength holds and power spots. What impressed me was how well Kilby sold Elijah's offence and how much effort they put into the holds. Nothing came easy; there was a great spot towards the end of the bout that epitomised this: Elijah picked Kilby up for a gorilla press but Kilby hooked Elijah's arms and tried to take him over for a body press. Kilby was wriggling frantically, but Elijah lowered his centre of gravity, walked forward and slammed Kilby over his shoulder onto the mat. Like this they fought for every bit of advantage. Not a heated bout as I said, but I dug Kilby in this and his selling and reactions were great.

Late at night or early in the morning, but I nod off if I'm tired. I sometimes start a match in the evening and finish watching it in the morning. I do the same with movies. I just finished a 3 1/2 hour movie over four or five nights. Some of my friends can't understand watching things in parts, but I'd never finish anything otherwise.

Rocky Moran vs. Chic Cullen (4/11/84) This two matched up really well and I was glad to see another of their matches. There were some disadvantages in terms of rating it in that the footage as joined in progress and the crowd, while into the match, were not the most boisterous of audiences. It was also part of some sort of Ireland vs. Scotland Davis Cup style contest and tournament style matches tend to be less memorable than other styles of bouts. Keith Haward vs. John Elijah (7/31/85) I liked this a lot. I found it on the internet so I'm not sure if I saw all of what exists, but my main take away from it was that Elijah, even at this veteran stage of his career, was a really solid foil for his opponents. He didn't have great matches, but whenever I see his name on paper against a "worker" the results are undeniably good. Haward as a wrestling machine. He made Pete Roberts seem like an outgoing guy, but he was a wrestling machine. He does a double leg takedown move in this match that is killer. Good stuff. Johnny Saint vs. Mike Jordan (3/16/88) There was actually some decent action in this, but it was an ASW bout and the bullshit was never far away in their matches. A real Jordan/Saint match in the halls might have been pretty interesting but on TV in '88 it was doomed.

Dave Finlay vs. Clive Myers (aired 6/29/85) This had a bit more potential than the last bout as it as one of those 20 minute matches without rounds which are essentially best two-out-of-three falls matches. They did all their schtick which people are either going to like or dislike. I think it's bullshit, but I can see people disagreeing with me. One thing I'll say for Finlay during this era was that he was over and the whole Princess Paula thing drew heat. The crowd liked this. Dave Finlay vs. Clive Myers (5/21/86) It says something when you're glad this is only a 10 minute bout. I thought a lightening bout might focus them more, but I can't get behind either of these workers at this point. After the match, they had a best two-out-of-three arm wrestling competition. Myers was a legit arm wrestling champion and you're watching this thing and you expect it to go somewhere, maybe Finlay attacking Myers and beating the shit out of him or something, but no, Myers wins, Finlay's humiliated a bit and that's all that happens. Needless to say, angles weren't British wrestling's strong point. Dave Finlay vs. Ringo Rigby (7/15/86) The 80s weren't kind to Rigby. Hard to believe he's the same guy from those early 80s bouts. I actually enjoyed this more than the Myers feud as Finlay beat the crap out of Ringo in a pretty tight match. Serviceable late period TV match.

Marty Jones vs. Bobby Gaetano (11/9/82) This wasn't a truly great match, but it was a heck of a spectacle. It was a 15 round title bout for Mike Marino's vacant World Mid-heavyweight championship and there was a lot of emotion centred around Marino's death and the title being decided. Gaetano was a French worker who often worked the summer German tournaments and I thought Walton did him a disservice by questioning his wrestling a bit, but Walton seemed to do that with guys he didn't have a handle on. The matwork wasn't all that great in this, but the stand-up action was good and it basically hit enough right notes to be a satisfying bout. After the match, Marino's widow and an old-time referee came to the ring to present flowers and Marino's belt to the victor and there were a few speeches. Walton was a pro and let the audience at home soak in the moment instead of speaking. Gaetano couldn't speak English very well, but he gave a speech anyway after the presentations. Very similar to the Joshi retirement ceremonies in terms of impact.

I thought the Bridges match was big and dopey and fun the same way a Rayo/Caras match is fun. Can't see why anyone would hate it.

I haven't watched all that many Nagasaki matches, not because he was an awful worker (he was passable), but because he usually didn't wrestle guys I'm interested in seeing. I'll see what I can scrape up for you. EDIT: For some reason, a lot of his stuff has been taken down from YouTube. I'd go with the Wayne Bridges, Lee Bronson, Peter Stewart and Johnny Kincaid bouts from what's available.

Silver King and Fiera were feuding at the time and had a hair match a few days later.

Firstly, I'd say that a 12.0% on Sundays outside of prime time was a pretty good television rating. From 7/9/84 to 9/22/86, AJW had a Monday night slot from 19:00-19:30 right at the beginning of prime time. The only other time AJW was shown in prime time was a similar period from 7/15/77 to 9/28/79. Aside from the 1960s matches mentioned, I believe Inoki drew some pretty high 30%+ ratings in the 70s for his proto-MMA fights such as the ones against Ruska. I think it was the consistency of the Friday night ratings for World Pro Wrestling along with the fact it went toe-to-toe with the police drama Taiyō ni Hoero!, which did some monster ratings in the late 70s, that made it more impressive than some of the one-off fights mentioned. It's difficult to compare them to Hogan because Japan already had its Hogan in Inoki. There's no easy US equivalent for the Crush Girls.

I'm pushed for time, but here's a blog that explains a bit about Japanese television ratings -- http://rz-jocelyn.livejournal.com/27387.html

Dibiase worked face in the UWF towns while they were debuting the Million Dollar Man vignettes. I think he worked one match in Houston against One Man Gang before the first vignette. They later gave a kayfabe reason in Texas for his heel turn saying that he'd inherited a bunch of money from a dead relative.