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floyd

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  1. floyd

    WON MOTYC (1990-1999)

    By floyd,

    And just to keep them together here's the top Wrestling Observer MOTY voting for the 90's:
     
     
    1990
     
    1. Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (1-31) Osaka
    2. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (6-8) Tokyo
    3. Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane vs. Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong (7-8) Baltimore
    4. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior (4-1) Toronto
    5. Steiners vs. Nasty Boys (10-27) Chicago
    6. Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto vs Dragon Master & Masanobu Kurisu (4-1) Tokyo
    7. Keiji Muto vs. Hiroshi Hase (9-14) Hiroshima
    8. Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger (2-25) Greensboro
    9. Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton vs. Joe Malenko & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
    10. Yoshihiro Asai vs. Negro Casas (6-7) Tokyo
    11. Jushin Liger vs. Chris Benoit (8-19) Tokyo
     
    1991:
     
    1. Steiners vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (3-21) Tokyo
    2. Bull Nakano vs Akira Hokuto (1-4) Tokyo
    3. Ric Flair & Larry Zbyszko & Sid Vicious & Barry Windham vs. Steiners & Sting & Brian Pillman War Games (2-24) Phoenix
    4. Cactus Jack vs. Eddie Gilbert (8-3) Philadelphia
    5. Steiners vs. Sting & Lex Luger (5-19) St. Petersburg
    6. Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko vs. Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes (11-18) Savannah
    7. Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior (3-34) Los Angeles
    8. Curt Hennig vs. Bret Hart (8-27) New York
    9. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (4-20) Tokyo
    10. Jushin Liger vs. Hiroshi Hase (5-6) Tokyo
    11. Keiji Muto vs. Masahiro Chono (8-11) Tokyo
    12. Jushin Liger vs. Chris Benoit (10-18) Hiroshima
    13. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Kenta Kobashi (5-24) Osaka
    14. Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair (10-25) Oakland
    15. Jushin Liger vs. Owen Hart (4-27) Okinawa
    16. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada (10-24) Yokohama
    17. Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs. Esther Moreno & Manami Toyota (4-29) Tokyo
    18. Ric Flair vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (3-21) Tokyo
     
    1992:
     
    1. Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas vs. Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (5-25) Miyagi
    2. Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman (2-29) Milwaukee
    3. Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue (4-25) Yokohama
    4. Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai (4-30) Tokyo
    5. Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada (8-15) Tokyo
    6. El Hijo del Santo & Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto vs. Negro Casas & Tim Patterson & Horace Boulder (5-16) Los Angeles
    7. Sting & Nikita Koloff & Dustin Rhodes & Ricky Steamboat & Barry Windham vs. Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton & Steve Austin & Larry Zbyszko & Rick Rude War Games (5-17) Jacksonville
    8. Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog (8-29) London
    9. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Yumiko Hotta & Suzuka Minami (3-17) Tokyo
    10. Eddie Gilbert vs. Terry Funk (11-14) Wayne, NJ
    11. Royal Rumble (1-19) Albany, NY
    12. Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman (12-27) East Rutherford, NJ
    13. Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage (4-5) Indianapolis
    14. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (11-27) Richfield, OH
    15. Sting vs. Cactus Jack (6-20) Mobile
    16. Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Masa Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa (7-5) Tokyo
    17. Sting vs. Big Van Vader (7-18) Albany
    18. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue (4-20) Tokyo
    19. Rick Rude vs. Masahiro Chono (8-12) Tokyo
     
    1993:
     
    1. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki (4-11) Osaka
    2. Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi (8-31) Toyohashi
    3. Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori (4-2) Yokohama
    4. Cactus Jack vs. Vader (10-24) New Orleans
    5. Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi (7-29) Tokyo
    6. Hikari Fukuoka & Cuty Suzuki & Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki vs. Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue & Sakie Hasgewa (7-31) Yokohama
    7. Sting vs. Vader (2-21) Asheville
    8. Lightning Kid (X-Pac) vs. Sabu 4-17 Minneapolis
    9. Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (7-10) New York
    10. Stan Hansen vs. Toshiaki Kawasda (2-28) Tokyo
    11. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi (4-14) Nagoya
    12. El Hijo del Santo vs. Heavy Metal (1-29) Mexico City
    13. Winners (Abismo Negro) & Rey Misterio Jr. & Super Calo vs. Jerry Estrada & Heavy Metal & Psicosis (1-29) Mexico City
    14. Bret Hart vs. Curt Hennig (6-11) Dayton
    15. Mitsuhau Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (3-27) Kyoto
    16. Atsushi Onita vs. Terry Funk (5-5) Kawasaki
    17. Devil Masami vs. Bull Nakano (4-18) Tokyo
    18. Steiners vs. Tom Prichard & Jimmy Del Rey (8-30) Auburn Hills, MI
    19. Heavy Metal & Psicosis & Picudo vs. Winners & Serup Calo & Rey Misterio Jr. (2-14) Mexico City
     
    1994:
     
    1. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) (3-20) New York
    2. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (6-3) Tokyo
    3. Great Sasuke vs. Chris Benoit (4-16) Tokyo
    4. Love Machine & Eddy Guerrero vs. El Hijo del Santo & Octagon (11-6) Los Angeles
    5. Terry Funk vs. Shane Douglas vs. Sabu (2-5) Philadelphia
    6. Ric Flair vs Vader (12-27-93) Charlotte
    7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (5-21) Sapporo
    8. Nasty Boys vs. Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne (4-17) Chicago
    9. Jushin Luger vs. Great Sasuke (4-16) Tokyo
    10. Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan vs. Nasty Boys (5-22) Philadelphia
    11. Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota (11-20) Tokyo
    12. Akira Hokuto & Kyoko Inoue vs. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada (12-10-93) Tokyo
    13. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Steve Williams (7-28) Tokyo
    14. Great Sasuke vs. Jinsei Shinzaki (4-29) Tokyo
    15. Chris Benoit & Shinjiro Otani vs. Black Tiger (Eddy Guerrero) & Great Sasuke (10-18) Odawara
    16. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (8-29) Chicago
    17. Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi (9-3) Tokyo
    18. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (3-20) New York
     
    1995:
     
    1. Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue (5-7) Tokyo
    2. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (8-27) Pittsburgh
    3. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (10-7) Philadelphia
    4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada (1-24) Yamagata
    5. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi (1-19) Osaka
    6. Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (4-15) Philadelphia
    7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada (6-9) Tokyo
    8. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (9-22) Mexico City
    9. Ultimo Dragon vs. Chris Jericho (7-7) Tokyo
    10. Manami Toyota vs. Akira Hokuto (9-2) Tokyo
    11. Oleg Taktarov vs. Tank Abbott (9-8) Casper
    12. Cactus Jack & Head Hunters vs. Terry Funk & Shoji Nakamaki & Leatherface (Rick Patterson) (4-2) Tokyo
    13. Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa vs. Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue (8-30) Osaka
    14. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi & Stan Hansen vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada & Johnny Ace (4-2) Tokyo
    15. Shawn Michaels vs. Jeff Jarrett (7-23) Nashville
    16. Sabu vs. Devon Storm (10-28) Woodbury, NJ
    17. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (7-24) Tokyo
    18. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue 4-15 Tokyo
    19. Rey Misterio & Rey Misterio Jr. vs Fuerza & Juventud Guerrera (3-2) Xalapa
    20. Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (5-13) Philadelphia
    21. Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (8-26) Philadelphia
    22. Manami Toyota vs. Aja Kong (6-27 Sapporo
    23. Pit Bulls vs. Raven & Stevie Richards (9-16) Philadelphia
     
    1996:
     
    1. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams & Johnny Ace (6-7) Tokyo
    2. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera (3-9) Philadelphia
    3. Dick Togo & Mens Teioh & Shiryu (Kaz Hayashi) & Taka Michinoku & Shoichi Funaki vs. Gran Hamada & Super Delfin & Tiger Mask & Gran Naniwa & Masato Yakushiji (10-10) Tokyo
    4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (5-23) Sapporo
    5. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels 3-31 Anaheim
    6. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis 7-7 Daytona Beach
    7. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin 11-17 New York
    8. Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel (Kevin Nash) 4-28 Omaha
    9. Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Otani (8-4) Tokyo
    10. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (12-13-95) Tokyo
    11. Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind (9-22) Philadelphia
    12. Bas Rutten vs. Masakatsu Funaki (9-7) Tokyo
    13. Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (10-18) Tokyo
    14. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Ultimo Dragon (11-24) Norfolk
    15. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Dean Malenko (10-27) Las Vegas
    16. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams & Johnny Ace (9-5) Tokyo
    17. Don Frye vs. Amoury Bitetti (5-17) Detroit
    18. Antonio Inoki vs. Vader (1-4) Tokyo
    19. Manami Toyota & Mima Shimoda vs. Mariko Yoshida & Kaoru Ito (8-6) Hakata
    20. Sabu vs Rob Van Dam (4-20) Philadelphia
    21. Rey Misterio Jr. & Ultimo Dragon vs. Psicosis & Heavy Metal (6-1) Los Angeles
     
    1997:
     
    1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (3-23) Chicago
    2. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (1-20) Osaka
    3. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (10-5) St. Louis
    4. Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Misterio Jr. (10-26) Las Vegas
    5. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (6-6) Tokyo
    6. El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto (6-5) Tokyo
    7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (12-6-96) Tokyo
    8. Great Sasuke & Gran Hamada & Masato Yakushiji vs. Mens Teioh & Dick Togo & Taka Michinoku (4-13) Philadelphia
    9. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (10-21) Tokyo
    10. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Otani (2-9) Sapporo
    11. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (11-9) Montreal
    12. Bret & Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith & Jim Neidhart & Brian Pillman vs. Steve Austin & Ken Shamrock & Goldust & Legion of Doom (7-6) Calgary
    13. Ultimo Dragon vs. Dean Malenko (12-29-96) Nashville
    14. Hector Garza & Juventud Guerrera & Lizmark Jr. vs. La Parka & Psicosis & Villano IV (7-13) Daytona Beach
     
    1998:
     
    1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (10-31) Tokyo
    2. Undertaker vs. Mankind (6-28) Pittsburgh
    3. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (6-27) Yokohama
    4. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (5-1) Tokyo
    5. Steve Austin vs. Dude Love (5-31) Milwaukee
    6. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (12-5-97) Tokyo
    7. Juventud Guerrera vs. Billy Kidman (11-16) Wichita
    8. Rock vs. HHH (8-30) New York
    9. Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (6-12) Tokyo
    10. Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (7-25) Tokyo
    11. Koji Kanemoto vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. (6-3) Osaka
    12. Ric Flair vs. Bret Hart (1-25 Dayton
    13. Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (3-29) Boston
    14. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Koji Kanemoto & Dr. Wagner Jr. (8-8) Osaka
    15. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Jushin Liger & El Samurai (8-2) Tokyo
    16. Genichiro Tenryu vs. Shinya Hashimoto (8-1) Tokyo
     
    1999:
     
    1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (6-11) Tokyo
    2. Edge & Christian vs. Hardys (10-17) Cleveland
    3. Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit (10-4) Kansas City
    4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama (3-6) Tokyo
    5. Steve Austin vs. Rock (4-25) Hartford
    6. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (1-22) Osaka
    7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama (10-23) Nagoya
    8. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Minoru Tanaka & Koji Kanemoto (10-11) Tokyo
    9. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto (6-24) Tokyo
    10. Juventud Guerrera vs. Blitzkrieg (4-11) Tacoma
    11. Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn (3-21) Asbury Park
    12. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis vs. Blitzkrieg vs. Juventud Guerrera (4-19) Gainesville, FL
    13. Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn (5-16) Poughkeepsie
    14. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Vader (5-2) Tokyo
    15. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Vader (10-30) Tokyo
    16. Great Sasuke vs. Magnum Tokyo (2-7) Yokohama
    17. Masato Tanaka vs. Mike Awesome (11-7) Buffalo
    18. Jushin Liger vs. Koji Kanemoto (3-17) Hiroshima
    19. Rock vs. Mankind (1-24) Anaheim
  2. floyd

    Wrestlemania 25 review

    By floyd,

    Floyd’s Rant for Wrestlemania XXV
     
    Hell yeah WM back in Texas! Houston's less than an hour away but I'm such a poor bastard I didn't go. Should've at least gone to ROH. All well I'm a dumbass. :-( Poor Tazz got the ax right before this show. Released or fired? I doubt he'd choose losing a Wrestlemania paycheck. So were stuck with the JR/Lawler/Cole trifecta.
     
     
    1. Money-In-The-Bank Ladder Match V: (Kane Vs. Mark Henry Vs. Shelton Benjamin Vs. C.M. Punk Vs. MVP Vs. Kofi Kingston Vs. Fit Finlay Vs. Christian) - Should be a hot opener. Once again the winner gets a shot at a World title whenever he wants. Uh-oh Spanish announcers are here, I’d hate to be sitting at that table tonight. They talk about MVP’s 20 match losing streak, didn’t Kobashi lose like 80 straight? So I wouldn't worry. JR compares Finlay to the Quiet Man, I’d love to see John Wayne in a 50's ladder match. After tossing everyone around like garbage luchadores Kane and Henry square off early. Only 20 seconds in and Cole gets his stupid "Controlled Frenzy" line in. Everyone does dives including a dive bomb by Shelton who nearly kills himself:
     

     
    Due to peer pressure, even fatty Mark Henry tries a dive too but gets caught by Finlay. Hornswoggle brings in a step ladder and uses Henry as a platform for the tadpole splash!. Camera misses a kick-ass rolling senton onto the ladder by Finlay on Punk. Lotsa cool moves by Kofi. Christian hits an unprettier off the ladder. Shelton powerbomb/throws MVP to the outside! Wow his neck barely missed the guardrail. Christian and Shelton battle on the top, with Benjamin taking a nasty fall to the outside. Now Punk and Christian fight at the top. Crowd’s for Christian. Christian just about wins it all, but Kane chokeslams him off. Punk quickly recovers and gets the briefcase! Cool opener. Kingston was the man for the first half, Benjamin the second. Punk wins for the 2nd time in a row. ***1/2
     
    Kid Rock plays. Someone on the WWE payroll must have a hard-on for Kid Rock the last few years. Linda McMahon? On one hand he's pretty good here. On the other he plays on and on and on for about 10 minutes which is pretty much an average match length.
     
    2. 25 Women's Battle Royal - No entrance so Fuck trying to figure out the 25 participants. Apparently Sunny was hidden somewhere in there. I did see Molly Holly and I *think* Gail Kim. Pretty much a blur of diva bimbos except for one cutie who wins it all. It's Santina, Santino's twin sister! She cries with emotion upon winning Ms. Wrestlemania, then gives the coolest dance for the crowd. And the crowd loves it! Great start for that young talent. JR: "She must've competed in the Olympics for Eastern Europe in the 60's". DUD
     
    3. Chris Jericho Vs. Ricky Steamboat, Jimmy Snuka & Roddy Piper - Whoa is that Frank Shamrock next to Mickey Rourke? Flair comes out with the legends. For some reason Steamboat half baldness reminds me of Verne Gagne. Looks like it's an elimination match, meaning Jericho needs to defeat all three superstars. Piper demands to start the match. Holy crap Piper is a house of fire! He tries a bodypress then a sunset flip for 2! Kudos to Piper and his two artificial hips (as well as all his recent health problems) going all out. 55 year Steamboat with a chop off the top rope! JR gets to mark out with the Armdragon!!!! Snuka’s the first to go, submitting to the Walls of Jericho. Shining Wizard gets rid of Piper. Steamboat's the last man left and Flair's rooting for him from ringside. Steamboat with a crossbody off the top for a nearfall! With only a few minutes to work with, somehow Steamboat gets the fans behind him to break out of a headlock. Steamboat skins the cat (But the camera missed it!) Steamboat's with a slingshot plancha to the outside! Steamboat hits another chop off he top. Can he win it all? Jericho hits the bulldog but misses the Lionsault. Powerslam gets another close win for Steamboat. Steamboat with an awesome counter to the walls gets a 2.9, crowd thought that was it. Jericho hits the code breaker and gets the win. Steamboat was great. Flair's pissed and rushes the ring. He gets some chops in but ultimately becomes victim #4 to the legend killer. Nasty codebreaker to Flair’s face. Jericho kicks Flair out like garbage and stands tall in his ring. He calls out Mickey Rourke (who looks like a 60 year old Jeff Hardy). Jump those rails Shamrock! Finally after a half an hour of stalling Rourke comes in and knocks Jericho out with one punch. Flair and Rourke celebrate and embrace like the life-long friends they are. After defeating four legends Jericho jobs to the power of the punch. They should've gotten Sean Penn. Jericho/Steamboat ruled though. **1/2
     
    4. Matt Hardy Vs. Jeff Hardy – Problem here is I just don’t see Matt as strong a heel to pull this off. Plus this feud needed a few more months to simmer. This is a no-DQ match. It’s insinuated that Matt started the fire that burned Jeff’s house and dog. Classy. JR says how the Hardys grew up in Charlotte watching WWF religiously. If memory serve I believe that indy Crockett promotion had small present there too. Jeff breaks the ice by hitting Matt with a WM poster, who put that under the ring? Matt counters Jeff’s whisper-in-the-wind mid-air with a chairshot! Matt goes hunting and finds a vacuum cleaner under the ring to waffle Jeff with. My vendetta match would go about the same as this, except my brother would make snide remarks after every beatdown. Matt hits a side effect on a chair! Matt bends Jeff like he was Manami Toyota on the ringpost. Crowd murmurs as Matt gets a table out and sets it up. Matt goes for suplex but Jeff hits a twisting flying clothesline off the apron! Ouch for Jeff. Next up is crutches, then a trashcan. It’s the WWE Hardcore Division 1999. Swanton misses. Man the crowd isn’t into this. Matt signals for his own Swanton to show how's it done but Jeff catches him with a superplex! Jeff hits a chairshot and the crowd goes lukewarm!!!! Jeff puts Matt onto the table outside, then sets up another table on top of that. He hits a top rope splash through both tables and Matt! Damn Jeff nearly sailed right over that. They roll in and Jeff gets a 2 count. Jeff pulls out a huge-ass ladder from under the ring, how do they fit so much stuff down there? Jeff tries his trademark leapfrog off a tall ass ladder legdrop but misses! Matt jams Jeff’s head through a chair and hits a Twist of Fate! Matt beats his brother clean! ***
     
    Video game commercial. They show HHH bodyslamming Andre of course.
     
    5. INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP: JBL Vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. - Champ JBL cuts a kickass promo saying your about to see the most dominate victory in WM history and how he's our idol. Rey comes out like the Joker. Why does Rey ALWAYS have to fight bigger dudes? Couldn’t they have given us a 10 minutes Rey/Psychosis match? JBL kicks Rey right in da face before the bell. Match officially starts and before you can say Mamajuana, Rey pins JBL with a splash off he top. New I-C Champ! I expect him to lost to Mark Henry with a month. JBL ‘s shocked and embarrassed. JBL gets the mic and for the first time in his life is at a loss for words. He finally says. “I….I……. … I-Quit!!!” and leaves the ring! DUD
     
    6. Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker – HBK descends from a mini-elevator, Undertaker ascends from the floor. This is gonna be great. HBK avoids punches, feints moves and fires back chops when he can. Finally Undertaker catches HBK in the corner with punches. HBK cleverly fakes an injury to get back on top. Taker comes back with a press slam, then goes old school. Taker goes for a corner knee in the face, but HBK moves and Taker’s leg is hurt! HBK goes for a sharpshoorter (ala Bret), can’t get it, so he clamps on a Figure Four (ala Flair!). Taker gets out and goes back on the deadman offense with corner clotheslines then a snake eyes/big boot. Legdrop gets a 2 count. Taker signals for the early chokeslam win but HBK counters with the crossface! Taker's in trouble but finally gets out with a sidewalk slam. Lots of counters results in the Undertaker's "Hells Gate" MMA triangle choke. HBK barely makes the rope for the break. Both guys are outside now. Taker goes for the apron legdrop but Shawn rolls out of the way. HBK hits a baseball slide then climbs to the top. He tries a twisting moonsault to the outside but misses and just SPLATS on the floor!!! Christ it was like he was a 20 year Cactus Jack or something. Man Shawn should NOT be taking bumps like that at his age. Speaking of bumps you shouldn’t be taking, Taker soars with his now trademark zombie plancha and SHOULD HAVE DIED:
     

     
    He hits the camera man and how he didn’t end up in a wheelchair I'll never know. Man that was scary. HBK manages to get up and drag the ref back in. He gets the dazed ref to count. Could the streak end in a count out?!!! HBK prays and prays and bites his fingernails. Can HBK avenge his 98 Royal Rumble match? Finally Taker gets back in at the 9.9 count. Now I know they was no way Taker loses in a count out, but his dramatic selling getting back in was freaking awesome. Taker still fucked up though and the streaks in jeopardy. HBK goes for the sweet chin music but gets choked slammed instead! 1…2.… 2.9! Both get back up and this time HBK hits the sweet chin music! Another 2.9 count! More counters but Undertaker finally hits the Last ride for another close win. Looks like All-Japan is making a house call to Wrestlemania this year! After using two of his most devastating moves, Undertaker goes for Shawn’s own top rope elbow but misses! Shawn goes for a clothesline but misses and goes over the ropes. He hangs on and skins the cat, but falls right into he tombstone! Someone get the body bag it’s over! 1…2… 2.9999! That was cool. Taker is in disbelief but he drops the straps and signals it’s over. He goes for tombstone #2 but HBK counters into a DDT. HBK staggers up-top again and hits the elbow! He goes for sweet chin music #2nd and hits it! Taker somehow gets out at 2.999. Exhausted both guys get up and slug it out with everything they have left. Taker runs into a HBK boot. HBK goes for the moonsault but Taker catches him in midair for Tombstone #2!! 1,2,3. And that’s that. 17-0. ****1/2
     
    Great match but I don't see the 5 stars every talking about. But then again, who cares about my opinion? It's what you think that counts! In fact in what's the funniest thing all year over at the F4W boards, Brian Alverez is getting yelled at in 1,000 threads for not giving it a perfect rating. Awesome.
     
    7. SMACKDOWN WORLD TITLE: Edge Vs. John Cena Vs. Big Show - This is for the... Ummmm.. I dunno anymore. The two world title have been switched so many times I've given up. The belt's not important though. What IS important is whoever wins gets Vickie Guerrero's love.
     

     
    OH NO! Vickie's hurt and in a wheelchair. Chavo rolls her down to ringside. Cena pulls an Eminem and has a whole clone army of Cena’s in his entrance. With the emerging cloning technology on the horizon, I imagine this being Stephanie McMahon's vision of the 2020 roster. You know since Howard Finkel got in the Hall of Fame and all, it would’be been cool to have him do the World title matches. Big Show quickly show his dominance with both Edge and Cena bouncing them around like pinballs. Edge tries to make a deal but Show slams him nutts first on the ring ropes! Show boots Edge out of the ring and works over Cena. Edge dropkicks the ringsteps into big shows knees, then Cena hits top rope legdrop thingy to the floor! Ouch. That could've been BAD for Cena. Back in the ring and FU attempt is countered into a downward spiral for 2. Edge gets dumped and Big Show hits a sidewalk slam on Cena for 2. Chavo earns his WM paycheck by getting Fu’ed on the floor! Big show gets tied in the ropes like ala Andre.
     
    Cena hits the 5-knuckle shuffle. He goes for the FU but Vickie distracts him. Edge goes for the spear but hits Vickie instead! He's sleeping on the couch tonight. Double clothesline and both guys are down. Big Show finally wiggled his way free. Big Show chokeslams Edge out of the ring. Cena goes for the FU on Show but gets thumped on the head instead. Ha Cena just collapsed out of the ring like a rag doll. This whole match has been nothing but people getting dumped out of the ring. Show goes for a chokeslam outside but Edge counters into a DDT on the floor! Edge maneuvers the ring steps for something evil. Edge Stinger Splashes Big Show through the ringside barrier. Now it's just Cena Vs. Edge which is what this match should’ve have been all along. Edge signals for the spear, but Cena catches him into the STFU! They steal from WM 20 with Big Show preventing Edge from tapping. Show goes for the Vader top rope splash but misses. Edge and Cena suplexes Show then clotheslines him out. Cena picks up both guys for an FU but Edge squirms out. Show does gets FU'ed, then Cena Fu's Edge onto Show! Cena pins the Big show for the title! Edge wasn't pinned but loses the title! Rematch next PPV? ***
     
    Hall of Fame time. Austin rides around the ring and gets maybe the biggest pop of the night. Way to make those new stars WWE!
     
    TO THE BACK! Vince and Shane-O meet HHH on the way to the ring but don't follow. Looks like this is HHH fight to avenge Stephanie and the McMahon family name.
     
    8. RAW WORLD TITLE: HHH Vs. Randy Orton – Orton comes out in a T-Shirt with “Stack on dimes” written on it. OK not really. HHH smashes a mirror with his sledgehammer to signify he's a different man for this match and that sledgehammers can break things. HHH attacks Orton and the crowd… ummmm, doesn’t care. Uh-oh, it's HHH/Jericho all over again. Seems if HHH gets DQ’ed he loses the title!. Whoa Orton hit the RKO right out of the gate! Orton goes for the punt but HHH hits the pedigree! Outside HHH splashes water on his face to revive. Back in and HHH risks a DQ with punches. Orton throws HHH into the steps outside. Man the crowd is DEAD. Wait looks like a count-out will give HHH the title too. The rules are all new to me. HHH makes it back in so Orton works the ribs. This is like an empty arena match. Crowd’s coming alive for Orton. No wait I think they’re trying to start the wave. Holy shit that AWESOME! They're so bored for a WM MAIN EVENT they're starting a wave. For gods sake someone get Stone Cold back out here. Or Steamboat. Orton senses they’re losing the crowd so he ups the excitement with a long headlock!
     
    Cole hasn’t said anything for awhile, think his mic got messed up, so I should be enjoying this more. Back and forth punches. HHH with the knee based offense then hits a stinger splash. Watch those quads, Trips! Orton catches HHH coming of the top with a sweet dropkick. Both guys are down. Orton goes for the 50 yard field goal but HHH catches the leg. HHH almost willingly gives up his title to smash Orton with a TV monitor but decides not too. Orton backdrops HHH onto the announcer table. Orton his the Stephanie McMahon DDT on the floor. HHH is out! Remember if he can’t get back in, Orton's the new champ. HHH gets in at the 11 count. Not a typo. Orton is stunned and starts kicking in HHH's ribs. Ref gets bumped. RKO to HHH! Orton rolls out and gets the sledgehammer the Hardy's left under the ring. Run-in time? HHH’s punts Orton in the noggin coming back in!! Revenge! HHH illegally uses the sledgehammer while he ref is still down. Crowd boos that. Where is Legacy?!?! HHH hits the pedigree and retains the title! Revenge is his and he won it on his own. Match went just under an hour. I await CM Punk’s music but he never comes out. Instead WM ends with JR saying “And the Game plays on….” **
     
     
    OK Wrestlemania. Taker/HBK was awesome, MITB really good and seeing Steamboat was fun. Everything else was just kinda there.
     
    How about you. What did you think of the show?
     
     
    WM 25 Grade:
    Total star rating: 18.50
    Total matches: 8
    Show Average: **1/4
  3. floyd

    WON 2000-2009 MOTYC

    By floyd,

    I'm running a Best of the 2000's (00-09) poll over on another forum so I'm watching as much 2000s matches as I can. I'm trying to watch all the majorly suggested ones but also following the Wrestling Observer's yearly best match awards and trying to watch them all. For anyone else interested in the results from the last 10 years and maybe something to watch here ya go:
     
     
    Wrestling Observer Checklist ho:
     
    2000
    1.) Atlantis vs. Villano III (3/17 - Arena Mexico)
    2.) Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (1/23 - Madison Square Garden)
    3.) Dudley Boys vs. Edge & Christian vs. Hardy Boys (8/27 - Raleigh)
    4.) Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kensuke Sasaki (10/9 - Tokyo Dome)
    5.) Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Koji Kanemoto & Minoru Tanaka (6/25 - Tokyo)
    6.) Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (2/27 – Hartford)
    7.) Triple H vs. Chris Jericho (7/23 – Dallas)
    8.) Triple H vs. Rock (5/21 – Louisville)
    9.) Chris Benoit vs. Steven Regal (5/25 – Cincinnati)
    10.) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (4/11 – Kanazawa)
    11.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (1/17 – Osaka)
    12.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Takao Omori (4/15 – Tokyo)
    13.) Dudleys vs. Edge & Christian vs. Hardys (4/2 – Anaheim)
    14.) FBI vs. Mikey Whipwreck & Yoshihiro Tajiri (8/26 – New York)
    15. Rock vs. Chris Benoit (7/23 – Dallas)
     
    2001
    1.) Keiji Muto vs. Genichiro Tenryu (6/8 - Tokyo Nippon Budokan)
    2.) Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho vs. Steve Austin & Triple H (5/21 - San Jose)
    3.) Toshiaki Kawada & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Yuji Nagata & Takashi Iizuka (12/14/00 - Osaka)
    4.) Minoru Tanaka vs. Takehiro Murahama (4/20 - Tokyo Korakuen Hall)
    5.) Triple H vs. Steve Austin (2/25 - Las Vegas)
    6.) Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho (1/21 – New Orleans)
    7.) Rock vs. Steve Austin (4/1 – Houston)
    8.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (12/23/00 – Tokyo)
    9.) Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit (5/29 – Edmonton)
    10.) Akira Hokuto vs. Meiko Satomura (4/29 – Kawasaki)
    11.) Rock vs. Chris Jericho (10/21 – St. Louis)
    12.) Keiji Muto vs. Yuji Nagata (8/12 – Tokyo)
    13.) El Hijo del Santo & Negro Casas vs. Rey Bucanero & Ultimo Guerrero (11/2 – Mexico City)
    14.) Momoe Nakanishi vs. Kumiko Maekawa (5/4 – Kawasaki)
    15.) Edge & Christian vs. Dudleys vs. Hardys TLC (4/1 – Houston)
    16.) Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle (8/19 – San Jose)
    17.) Momoe Nakanishi vs. Kumiko Maekawa (10/24 – Tokyo)
    18.) Keiji Muto vs Toshiaki Kawada (4/14 – Tokyo)
    19.) Yuji Nagata vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (6/6 – Tokyo)
    20.) Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Shinya Hashimoto & Yuji Nagata (3/2 – Tokyo)
     
    2002
    1.) Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle vs. Edge & Rey Mysterio (10/20 - Little Rock)
    2.) Genichiro Tenryu vs. Satoshi Kojima (7/17 - Osaka)
    3.) Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (8/25 - Madison Square Garden)
    4.) Keiji Muto vs. Toshiaki Kawada (2/24 - Tokyo Nippon Budokan)
    5.) American Dragon vs. Low Ki (3/30 - Philadelphia)
    6.) Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama & Yuji Nagata (2/17 - Tokyo Nippon Budokan)
    7.) Spanky vs. Low Ki vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Doug Williams (7/27 - Philadelphia)
    8.) Naomichi Marufuji vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa (12/9/01 - Tokyo)
    9.) Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle (9/22 - Los Angeles)
    10.) Eddie Guerrero vs. Edge (9/24 - San Diego)
    11.) Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Osamu Nishimura (6/5 – Osaka)
    12.) Low Ki vs. American Dragon vs. Christopher Daniels (2/23 – Philadelphia)
    13.) Hulk Hogan vs. Rock (3/17 – Toronto)
    14.) Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Jushin Liger & Minoru Tanaka (4/7 – Tokyo)
    15.) Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Mike Barton & Jim Steele (12/11/01 – Osaka)
    16.) Manami Toyota vs. Kaoru Ito (2/24 – Yokohama)
    17.) Kurt Angle vs. Edge (5/19 – Nashville)
    18.) Yuji Nagata vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (5/2 – Tokyo)
    19.) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (9/23 – Tokyo)
    20.) Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Jushin Liger & Wataru Inoue (2/17 – Tokyo)
    21.) Momoe Nakanishi vs. Kumiko Maekawa (2/24 – Yokohama)
    22.) Low Ki vs. AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn ladder match (8/21 – Nashville)
     
    2003
    1.) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (3/1 – Tokyo)
    2.) Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (1/19 – Boston)
    3.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Yoshinobu Kanemuru& Makoto Hashi (9/12 – Tokyo)
    4.) Chris Jerchio vs. Shawn Michaels (3/30 – Seattle)
    5.) Bryan Danielson vs. Paul London (4/12 – Philly)
    6.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Jushin Liger & Takehiro Murahama (7/16 – Osaka)
    7.) Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (3/30 – Seattle)
    8.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Yuji Nagata (9/12 – Tokyo)
    9.) Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Jun Akiyama (8/17 – Tokyo)
    10.) Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (9/16 – Raleigh)
    11.) Juventud Guerrera vs. Chris Sabin (8/27 – Nashville)
    12.) Chris Harris & James Storm vs. Christopher Daniels & Elix Skipper (6/25 – Nashville)
    13.) Low Ki vs. AJ Styles (1/5 – Tokyo)
    14.) Homicide vs. Steve Corino (8/16 – Fairfield, CT)
    15.) Randy Orton & Chris Jericho & Christian & Scott Steiner & Mark Henry vs. Shawn Michaels & Rob Van Dam & Dudleys & Booker T (11/16 – Dallas)
     
    2004
    1.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (7/10 – Tokyo Dome)
    2.) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (3/14 –Madison Square Garden)
    3.) Samoa Joe vs. C.M. Punk (10/16 – Chicago Ridge)
    4.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (4/25 – Tokyo)
    5.) Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley (4/18 – Edmonton)
    6.) Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar (2/15 – San Francisco)
    7.) Samoa Joe vs. C.M. Punk (6/12 – Dayton)
    8.) Kensuke Sasaki vs. Yoshihiro Takyama (8/8 – Osaka)
    9.) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels (12/30/03 – San Antonio)
    10.) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (4/18 – Edmonton)
    11.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa (4/25 – Tokyo)
    12.) Kensuke Sasaki vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (11/3 – Tokyo)
     
    2005
    1.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Samoa Joe 10/1 New York
    2.) Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels 4/3 Los Angeles
    3.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Kensuke Sasaki 7/18 Tokyo Dome
    4.) Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles 9/11 Orlando
    5.) Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiosaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima 11/5 Budokan Hall
    6.) AMW vs. XXX 12/5-04 Orlando
    7.) Satoshi Kojima vs. Toshiaki Kawada 2/16 Tokyo Gym
    8.) Mistico vs. Ultimo Guerrero 2/15 Arena Mexico
    9.) AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels 2/13 Orlando
    10.) KENTA vs. SUWA 9/18 Budokan Hall
    11.) Mistico vs. Perro Aguayo Jr. 5/13 Arena Mexico
    12.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Takashi Sugiura 6/5 Sapporo
    13.) Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiozaki vs. Jun Akiyama & Doug Williams 11/12 Coventry, England
    14.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Ikuto Hidaka & Minoru Fujita 5/8 Tokyo Differ Ariake
    15.) KENTA vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru 7/18 Tokyo Dome
    16.) Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe 12/26/04 Philadelphia
     
    2006
    1.) Do Fixer vs Blood Gen. (ROH 3/31/06)
    2.) KENTA vs Marufuji (NOAH 10/29/06)
    3.) Bryan Danielson vs KENTA (ROH 9/16/06)
    4.) Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuiness (ROH 8/12/06)
    5.) Samoa Joe vs AJ Styles (TNA 12/11/05)
    6.) KENTA vs Low Ki (ROH 12/17/05)
    7.) Chris Benoit vs Finlay (WWE 5/21/06)
    8.) Cage of Death: CZW vs ROH (ROH/CZW 7/15/06)
    9.) Rikio/Morishima vs KENTA/Marufuji (NOAH 7/6/06)
    10.) Kurt Angle vs The Undertaker (WWE 2/19/06)
    11.) Averno & Mephisto vs. El Hijo del Santo & Negro Casas 12/16/05 Mexico City
    12.) Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels
    13.) Ikuto Hidaka & Minoru Fujita vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Takashi Sugiura (3/5 Tokyo, NOAH Budokan)
    14.) Bryan Danielson vs. Roderick Strong 3/31 Chicago Ridge (ROH)
    15.) Edge vs. Mick Foley 4/2 Chicago (WWE WM22)
    16.) Chris Hero & Super Dragon & Necro Butcher vs. Samoa Joe & Adam Pearce & B.J. Whitmer 4/22 Philadelphia
    17.) Edge vs. John Cena 9/17 Toronto
    18.) Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe 11/19 Orlando
     
    2007
    1. Bryan Danielson Vs. Takeshi Morishima (8/25/07)
    2. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori Vs. Kota Ibushi & Naomichi marufuji (7/15/07)
    3. Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuiness (6/9/07)
    4. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels (4/23/07) (74)
    5. John Cena Vs. Umaga (1/28/07) (46)
    6. Briscoes Vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (9/15/07)
    7. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels Vs. Edge Vs. Randy Orton (4/29/07)
    8. Cima, Shingo Takagi & Susuma Yokosuka Vs. Dragon Kid, Ryo Saito & Masaaki Mochizuki (3/31/07)
    9. Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Hirooki Goto (11/11/07)
    10. Hiroshi Tanahasi Vs. Yuji Nagata (4/13/07)
    11. Bryan Danielson Vs. Takeshi Morishima (9/15/07)
    12. Undertaker Vs. Batista (4/1/07)
    13. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels (4/1/07)
    14. BJ Whitmer Vs. Jimmy Jacobs (3/31/07)
    15. Briscoes Vs. Ricky marvin & Kotaro Suzuki (1/21/07)
    16. Takeshi Morishima Vs. Claudio Castragnoli (8/10/07)
    17. Chris Harris Vs. James Storm (5/13/07)
    18. Briscoes Vs. Claudio Castragnoli & Matt Sydal (5/12/07)
    19. Kurt Angle Vs. Samoa Joe (12/10/06)
     
    2008
    1. SHAWN MICHAELS VS. CHRIS JERICHO 10/5 PORTLAND
    2. Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels 3/30 Orlando
    3. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe 4/13 Lowell
    4. Blue Panther vs. Villano V 9/19 Mexico City
    5. Kenta Kobashi & Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama 12/2/07 Tokyo
    6. Nigel McGuinness vs. Austin Aries 12/29/07 New York
    7. Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson 2/23 New York
    8. Undertaker vs. Edge 3/30 Orlando
    9. Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. KENTA & Kota Ibushi 9/14 Tokyo
    10. Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino & Genki Horiguchi vs. Cima & Ryo Saito & Dragon Kid 3/29 Orlando
    11. KENTA vs. Naomichi Marufuji 10/25
    12. Undertaker vs Edge 8/17 Indianapolis
    13. Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black 3/16 Philadelphia
    14. Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black 7/26 Detroit
    15. Naomichi Marufuji vs. Shuji Kondo 11/3 Tokyo
    16. Kenta Kobashi & KENTA vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima 6/14 Tokyo
    17. Volador Jr. & Sagrado & La Sombra vs. El Hijo del Fantasma & La Mascara & Valiente 4/30 Mexico City
    18. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Kotaro Suzuki 9/6 Tokyo
    19. Kurt Angle vs. A.J. Styles 8/10 Trenton
    20. HHH vs. Jeff Hardy 10/5 Portland
    21. Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Masato Yoshino & Naruki Doi 3/28 Orlando
    22. Kurt Angle vs. Yuji Nagata 1/4 Tokyo
    23. Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Tyler Black & Jimmy Jacobs 9/19 Boston
    24. Takeshi Morishima vs. Naomichi Marufuji 12/2/07 Tokyo
     
    2009
    1. UNDERTAKER VS. SHAWN MICHAELS 4/5 HOUSTON
    2. Davey Richards vs. Shingo Takagi 9/6 Chicago
    3. KENTA vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima 3/1 Tokyo
    4. Bryan Danielson vs. Naruki Doi 9/6 Chicago
    5. KENTA & Go Shiozaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima 6/22 Tokyo
    6. Davey Richards vs. KENTA 4/3 Houston
    7. Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho 6/28 Sacramento
    8. Bryan Danielson vs. Davey Richards 9/25 Boston
    9. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels vs. A.J. Styles 11/15 Orlando
    10. KENTA vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima 2/11 Tokyo
    11. Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima 12/27/08 New York
    12. Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe 11/15 Orlando
    13. John Cena vs. Randy Orton 9/13 Montreal
    14. C.M. Punk vs. Jeff Hardy 8/25 Phoenix
    15. Rey Mysterio vs. John Morrison 9/1 Cleveland
  5. floyd
    Ric Flair Vs. Jake Roberts (Mid-South - 11/24/85)
     
     
    Match history:
     
    Not much that I know about. Ric Flair was the perennial NWA World champ throughout the 80’s and he traveled from territory to defending the belt against all comers. Here he takes on the up and coming Jake the Snake Roberts in Mid-South.
     
     
     
    The Match:
     
    Jake's the clear fan favorite here. Before the match Flair makes fun of Jake’s trailer-park-trash hand-me-down outfit. What is this XPW? This is a NWA World title match goddamit, you gotta dress in style. Flair bends down to mock Jake’s ghetto pants he must’ve picked up from the Salvation Army's Wrestling gear donation box, when suddenly Jake DDT’s him! Ric Flair is out! And I mean OUT. This is all before the bell has sounded! Flair stayed on his back for a super long ass time, about 5 minutes, until he weakly and very gingerly rolls out. The sell job by Flair is just incredible. Flair’s obviously in no shape to wrestle so he says “I’m outta here baby” and makes for the dressing room. What a jype! The crowd is booing unmercifully. DUD
     
    Wait! The ref says that Flair MUST defend the NWA World title. He gives him until the 20 count to return or else Jake is declared the winner! Huge pop for that. The ref starts to count and Flair barely makes it back in time.
     
    Crowd’s hot now, chanting “DDT”. And with that move’s devastation already shown to the crowd, just one more DDT and Jake’s the new champ. Jake immediately goes for the DDT but Flair takes him down like it’s MMA. Flair scoots to the corner and begs for time. See just a few moments in and Robert’s has been established as a threat to winning the World title tonight. Man, Flair is the master. After a Flair flop, Jake goes for the DDT again but Flairs quickly drops to his belly. Jake works a facelock for a few 2 counts until Flair gets a ball-shot in and stuns him. Now Flair goes on the offense with his usual bag of tricks including a Low-Ki-lite foot stomp. Flairs works him over and hits the sleeper. Jake’s losing consciousness and he hasn’t even hit the bars yet!
     
    Jake manages to get out but Flair's not done yet. Flair goes for his patented knee drop but Jake catches Flair’s knee in mid-move and clamps on his own Figure-Four leglock! Flair nearly gives up the World title by losing but then suddenly regaining consciousness right at 2.9 counts. Flair escapes and gets some near wins due to cheating then starts knocking Jake around with punches and chops. “DDT DDT DDT!” chant’s the Mid-South crowd. Flairs with more chops but suddenly Jake feel’s no pain! He even asks Flair to hit him with all he’s got. Now Jake starts in with the punches. It’s Drunken boxing, and Jake’s the Drunken master! Jake gets a sleeper, but Flair belly-to-back suplexes out. Flair goes top rope and of course gets slammed down. Jake hit a hits a running knee lift. He goes for another but Flair moves and Jake's knee hits the turnbuckle. Flair reverses a small package and uses the ropes for leverage to score the pin!
     
    Flair is the man. He was the master at coming into a territory and putting the local guy over. Not satisfied by this shaky verdict, after the match Flair and Jake decide to have round 2. Then round 3. Then round 4, And so on until someone passes out from the alcohol. (17:43) ***3/4
  6. floyd
    Kerry Von Erich Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All-Japan – 5/22/84)
     
    Match history:
    Two weeks ago Kerry Von Erich stunned the world by defeating Rc Flair for the NWA World title. One week ago Jumbo Tsuruta lost the AWA World title to Rick Martel. For years Jumbo Tsuruta has been wrestling Ric Flair for the NWA World title, always coming close but never winning. More experienced than Von Erich, now Jumbo gets the chance to get another World title for Japan.
     
    Fall #1:
    Crowds hot right away. Tie up and a clean break from Von Erich. Stalemate to start. They spend the opening minutes testing each other out.. Von Erich tries to be cute with an arm-bar so Jumbo lifts him right over his head into a fireman’s carry and gently places him sitting down on the turnbuckle and walks away. Sign of respect or disrespect? Dory Funk Jr. quantum leaps in Jumbo’s body and brings the pain with the Texas European uppercups. He channels Dory again with a double arm suplex attempt to BIG POP! Kerry’s stunned!
     
    Kerry comes back with a Von Erich claw attempt!! Jumbo protects his head for all he’s worth so Kerry instead clamps in on Jumbo’s mid-section. Kerry picks up Jumbo and this time it’s him gently placing Jumbo on the turnbuckle, but he adds a shove to Jumbo’s chest while backing away. Tempers are flaring! Tie-up in the ropes, Kerry gives a clean break, but Jumbo gives a return shove! It’s on now! Jumbo with the big knee and Kerry tumbles like a drunk to the outside. Kerry gets a sunset flip back in for a 2 count. A Tentative tie up but it’s all a sham cause Jumbo stuns Kerry with an enzugiri and gets the 3 count!!!!!
     
    Fall #2:
    Only one more fall and Jumbo’s the champ! Jumbo smells blood and lays in punches. Actually he really does smell blood cause Von Erich’s busted open! The NWA World title’s at stake! If Kerry comes back to the states without the title he may be getting a visit from Harley Race with some pliers and a blow torch. Kerry comes back with punches and kneesdrops but he’s staggering around having trouble standing (nothing new for him). Kerry gets a sleeper on Jumbo! Jumbo nearly goes out but the power of the Puro fans gives him the strength to get out.
     
    Jumbo goes all monkey-ape-crazy on Von Erich in the corner, the ref has to pull him back. Jumbo gets a crazy close nearfall and nearly wins the title. Both guys run off the ropes and knock heads. The ref begins the count but they both make it up. Jumbo with the piledriver! Another close 2 count, the crowd senses victory. Kerry with a discus punch. CLAW!!!!!!!!!! IRON CLAW!!!! This time even the fans shouts aren’t enough, Jumbo fights but to no avail. Kerry pins an unconscious Jumbo for the 2nd fall. But Kerry refuses to release the hold! The ref manages to pry him off before a riot breaks out.
     
    Fall #3:
    Jumbo’s posse try to regroup him but Jumbo on dream street. Last fall for the title. Kerry goes for the claw again right away but Jumbo fights it. Jumbo gets a knee and starts working on Kerry’s hand! Jumbo keeps up on the hands for a few minutes including stomps and posting it on the outside. Kerry in incredible pain, he won’t be opening up pickle jars anytime soon. If his iron Claw is nullified, what is Kerry’s plan B? Jumbo with a Fujiwara armbar. Kerry gets out and hits a pile driver but misses a reverse elbow drop off the top rope, injuring his hand further! Jumbo knee #3! Jumbo clamps on a Boston crab. Kerry gets out and they exchange a series of near-falls like their were Lynn vs. RVD or something. Both guys tumble out. They keep each other from reentering the ring. Belly to back suplex onto the concrete floor by Jumbo! Jumbo makes it back in! Jumbo raises his hand up in triumph but no! They both didn’t make it back in, a double count out. Henceforth, still your NWA World champ, Kerry Von Erich! Awesome match. (27:38) ****3/4
  7. floyd
    I've been watching alot of 80's matches lately and went ahead and made my own personal Top 100. I know some of picks may be weird so feel free to comment on them, or even better, other matches that I haven't seen and you think should be in there. Here it is:
     
    Floyd's Top 100 matches of the 80's
     
    I'd like to add these matches would've made my list but my copies were too clipped to rate. I recommend to check them out too!:
     
    Tiger Mask I Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (New Japan - 11/4/82)
    Tiger Mask I Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (New Japan - 6/2/83)
    Owen Hart Vs. Keiichi Yamada (NJ - 6/10/88 )
    Owen Hart Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (NJ - 6/24/88 )
     
    **********************************************
     
    100. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Rockers (WWF - 2/16/89) - Short but exciting match from SNME. Both teams were relatively new to the WWF and introduced themselves to the TV audience in a fun fast-paced match.
     
    99. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (New Japan - 2/5/87) - Koshinaka was defending the IWGP Jr. title against the former champ here. These guys had an awesome feud throughout the 80's in New Japan's Jr. division. Known as the "Broken fingers" match.
     
    98. Ric Flair & Barry Windham Vs. The Midnight Express (NWA - 12/7/88 ) - Kind of like Michael Jordan was famous for his dunks and drives to the basket but everyone forgot his near perfect jump shooting, everyone forgets what an awesome tag team wrestler Flair is. The NWA World champ teams up with U.S. champ Windham to take on the Midnight Express in a dream match up at the Clash of Champions IV.
     
    97. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Mil Mascaras (All Japan - 7/30/82) - Tsuruta defends the NWA United National Championship against Mascaras. Of all the early 80's matches I saw on All-Japan Classics, this one stood out for some reason. I dunno I guess cause I didn't expect a bloody brawl from these two. They start off all nice-like with some scientific mat wrestling but when that goes nowhere they head to the floor and start brawling like Brody Vs. Abdullah. It gets so bad that the ref stops the match and trainees come out of the woodwork to get them apart, but a bloody Tsuruta calls on the fans support so they restart the match.
     
    96. Randy Savage Vs. Hulk Hogan (WWF - 4/1/89) - Savage was always a jealous psycho. But after paranoia gripped him with the thought of Hogan's "lusting" of Elizabeth and his title, Savage snapped and attacked his former friend. Now they settle it in the ring in a long awaited match for the WWF World Championship at Wrestlemania V. It's Jesse Ventura's classic commentary that knocked this match into my Top 100.
     
    95. Jaguar Yokota Vs. La Galacta (AJW Hair vs. Mask - 5/7/83) - Great feud in the 80's from these two. This was one of their first matches with La Galacta putting up her mask Vs. Yokota's hair. La Galacta had lots of help from her posse, can Yokota win on her own?
     
    94. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 4/18/85) - Brody was a huge name in All-Japan but made the jump to New Japan and immediately started this dream match up against the Japanese legend. Playing by his dirty American rules, Brody injures Inoki's arm right before the match. Crowd was red hot for this one.
     
    93. Ric Flair Vs. Rick Martel (All Japan - 10/21/85) - I remember reading about all those cool "unification" matches that happened in the old Apter mags, but never thought I'd see any, but years later I got to see this one. AWA World Champion Martel takes on NWA World Champ Flair in a huge match set in neutral Japan. This is title Vs. title, so whoever wins gets it all!
     
    92. Team New Japan (Seiji Sakaguchi, Tatsumi Fujinami, Keiichi Yamada (Jushin Liger), Kengo Kimura & Shiro Koshinaka) Vs. Team UWF (Akira Maeda, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Osamu Kido, Nobuhiko Takada & Kazuo Yamazaki) (New Japan - 5/1/86) - The New Japan Vs. UWF promotional feud had alot of great Elimination matches. This one was a gauntlet type elimination match meaning it starts as a one-on-one singles match. Then whoever loses that leaves and the next guy on his team comes to the ring to face the winner. This continues until one team in completely eliminated. This resulted in a 70 minute marathon match with some fresh matchups, and the one-on-one matches helped showcase the UWF guys to the New Japan crowd. The highlight of the match was a dramatic finish involving Fujinami which sets up one of the best matches of the 80's one month later.
     
    91. Ricky Steamboat Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 2/23/84) - This match showcased their great technical skills but also added a fast pace and exciting ending sequence. This was for the vacated NWA United National Championship (After former champ David Von Erich died). Which Hemisphere Gets the title?
     
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    90. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Bob Backlund (UWF - 12/22/88 ) - UWF got a big foreign name in Bob Backlund, who was still remembered in Japan for his classic matches against Inoki in the late 70's. Backlund seems stunned and out of his element in the early goings of the match getting the crap kicked out of him, but manages to come back with his scientific and amateur wrestling skills.
     
    89. The Crush Gals (Lioness Asuka & Chigusa Nagayo) Vs. Jaguar Yokota & Devil Masami (AJW - 6/28/84) - Exciting dream match-up from four of the more popular wrestlers in All Japan Women's.
     
    88. Ted DiBiase & Stan Hansen Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/12/85) - It's the last day and both teams were so close in points that the winner of this match would win the annual tournament. Once again it was Japan Vs. USA.
     
    87. Bob Backlund Vs. Adrian Adonis (WWF - 1/18/82) - Hard fought 40 minute match with Backlund getting bloodied at the end but making a great comeback with the fans help.
     
    86. Riki Choshu, Animal Hamaguchi & Yoshiaki Yatsu Vs. Akira Maeda, Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura (NJ - 12/8/83) - Great 6-man tag with Choshu's Ishingun Army clashing against his 1983 nemesis Tatsumi Fujinami & the Inoki gang. A real feel of hatred in this match and the fans picked up on it.
     
    85. Terry Funk & Dory Funk Jr. Vs. Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/13/82) - While the 81 RWTL finals is considered the classic, I like the 82 one better. Stan Hansen caused the Funks the lose the 81 finals. Their feud would kept going throughout the year finally culminating in this great match.
     
    84. The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask I (NJ - 4/23/81) - Considered the weaker of their series, I really like the debut here of Tiger Mask with Dynamite Kid bewildered at all the incredible moves Tiger Mask was throwing at him. The whole DK/TM series was awesome and the moves used here in their first match set the stage for their future bouts.
     
    83. Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka & Keiji Muto (New Japan - 3/20/87) - This was for the vacated IWGP World Tag Team titles. Maeda & Takada represented UWF while Koshinaka & Muto New Japan. Exciting match and a clash of styles with the UWF guys doing their strikes/submissions thing and the New Japan guys going new school with quicker, flashier moves
     
    82. Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - 8/29/88 ) - This was the main event of the Bruiser Brody Memorial card. The Tsuruta/Tenryu feud was heating up and both teams didn't want to be the ones to lose this one.
     
    81. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Hiro Hase (NJ - 3/11/88 ) - Olympian Hase made a huge splash right out of the gate, winning the IWGP Jr. title in his first year. Here he has to prove it wasn't a fluke defending it against ex champ Takada. Both guys had a double countout when they brawled on the outside in the Top of the Super Juniors tournament a month earlier, so this match should prove who's the better wrestler.
     
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    80. Footloose (Toshiaki Kawada & Ricky Fuyuki) Vs. The Can-Am Express (Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat) (All Japan - 6/5/89) - Fast and exciting tag team match featuring the future talent of All-Japan. Kawada & Fuyuki were defending the All Asia Tag Team titles here.
     
    79. The Sekigun Army (Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Nobuhiko Takada, Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kengo Kimura)
    Vs. The Ishingun Army (Riki Choshu, Yoshiaki Yatsu, Animal Hamaguchi, Isamu Teranishi & Kuniaki Kobayashi) (New Japan - 4/19/84) - Yup another elimination match. Once again it's a gauntlet match featuring one-on-one matchups. Match went almost 90 minutes with (I'm not making this up) a super hot crowd throughout. The big feature match up are leaders Inoki and Choshu.
     
    78. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Hart Foundation (WWF - 8/28/89) - The Brainbusters stunned the world, ending Demolition's year-and-a-half reign as WWF Tag champs. The titles are not on the line here as the contract was drawn up before the switch, but a Hart Foundation win would give them a shot in the future.
     
    77. Team New Japan (Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura & Umanosuke Ueda & Kantaro Hoshino) Vs. Team UWF (Akira Maeda, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Osamu Kido, Nobuhiko Takada & Kazuo Yamazaki) (New Japan - 3/26/86) - This was the inaugural UWF Vs. New Japan elimination match and many people feel is the best of the bunch. It's a Survival Series type match where when your eliminated your team continues on without you. Inoki's looking for revenge against Maeda's cheap shots after his match against Fujiwara. The usually docile Japanese crowd may have been the hottest ever. The crowd was so insane the building looked like it was shaking. Which promotion's cuisine will reign supreme?
     
    76. The Cobra Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (New Japan - 8/2/84) - Short match but super high paced. The Cobra attacks Kobayashi right away and both guys start trading big moves and end up brawling on the outside.
     
    75. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 9/16/86) - One of the last matches in their long running feud, this match went the full hour with Brody going soft and trying to prove he's more than a brawler, keeping up with Inoki's old school 70's style.
     
    74. Roddy Piper Vs. Greg Valentine (NWA Dog Collar match - 11/24/83) - Although he was cautioned not to wrestler after his ear injury, Piper seeks revenge against Valentine at Starrcade 83. A bloody and dangerous match where both guys are connected to each other by a metal chain around their neck.
     
    73. Riki Choshu Vs. Killer Khan (All Japan - 7/31/86) - Both guys had a hard hitting match and a surprisingly dramatic finish with both guys showing their toughness.
     
    72. Andre the Giant Vs. Stan Hansen (New Japan - 9/23/81) - Big match up (literally) with Hansen and the Giant brawling to a molten hot crowd.
     
    71. Tiger Mask II Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (All Japan - 6/12/85) - Kobayashi had a famous feud against Tiger Mask I in New Japan. Here he's in All Japan and him and Tiger Mask II continue the feud in a great match with some of the best aerial stuff Misawa ever tried under the hood.
     
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    70. Bob Backlund Vs. Sgt Slaughter (WWF Cage - 3/21/81) - Awesome escape-rules cage match where Backlund defends the WWF World title. At first it seems Backlund is the one whose in trouble, but instead it's Slaughter whose getting bounced around and is trying to escape Backund's fury.
     
    69. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (New Japan - 8/5/86) - My favorite of their series. As the first ever IWGP Jr. champ, Koshinaka wants to win it back from UWF's Takada.
     
    68. Dynamite Kid Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 2/15/80) - Fujinami defends the WWF Jr. Championship against up-and-comer The Dynamite Kid. Two of the pillar stones to New Japan's emerging Jr. division.
     
    67. Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (NWA - 7/23/89) - After months of career-threatening injuries, Flair finally gets his chance for revenge against the wild Terry Funk at the Great American Bash.
     
    66. Antonio Inoki Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 9/19/85) - Inoki and his protege Fujinami kick it old school in a scientific showcase. In fact this was called the "Basic of New Japan" match which I guess meant no face paint or flaming ladders in barbed-wire. Winner gets Karl Gotch's belt, Lou Thesz is the special referee.
     
    65. Jushin Liger Vs. Naoki Sano (New Japan - 7/13/89) - Some insane spots here like Liger doing a top rope senton onto Sano ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR. Both guys couldn't continue and it was ruled a draw but their feud was only just beginning.
     
    64. Pat Patterson Vs. Sgt. Slaughter (WWF - 4/21/81) - This was a no-DQ Alleyfight where Slaughter got his head rammed into the ringpost and bleed so bad they had to stop it. Think about how much blood was needed for them to stop a No-DQ Alleyfight!
     
    63. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 10/28/88 ) - Their feud keeps going in this main event matchup. Tenryu gets DQ'ed for not listening to the ref and continues beating up Tsuruta in the corner only adding more fuel to the fire in future matches.
     
    62. Sangre Chicana Vs. MS-1 (EMLL 2/3 Falls Hair Vs. Hair - 9/23/83) - MS-1 thinks outside the box, ambushing Chicana on his way to the ring and beating the crap out of him to win (and lose) the first falls. Now Chicana is practically dead and all MS-1 has to do is win the 3rd fall. By the end of the match the ring was covered in crimson from both men in one of the bloodiest matches of the decade.
     
    61. Ric Flair Vs. Butch Reed (Mid-South - 8/10/85) - NWA World champ Flair travels down to the Superdome to take on Butch Reed. Tremendous near hour long match with Reed being inches from winning the title.
     
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    60. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers Vs. The Midnight Rockers (AWA - 9/2/86) - One of the hottest AWA feuds in the 80's, Rose & Summers defended the AWA World tag titles once again and by the end of the match all four guys were bleeding all over the ring. The Rockers refused to lose this night.
     
    59. Dick Murdoch Vs. Butch Reed (Mid-South - 9/22/85) - Both guys were fan favorites so it started as a friendly but competitive match over Murdoch's North American Championship. 60 minutes later both guys are slugging it out and people are trying to hold them apart. Anyone who need proof of what's the big deal about Murdoch needs the watch this match. In fact, all heels need to watch his performance in this match.
     
    58. Lioness Asuka & Chigusa Nagayo Vs. Jumping Bomb Angels (AJW 2/3 Falls - 3/20/86) - The Crush gals are defending the WWWA Tag Titles. Super fast paced tag team match where there was constant action throughout. The fans didn't know who to cheer so they cheered for both.
     
    57. Lex Luger Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 7/23/89) - After being sick of all the fans cheering for Steamboat him rather than him, U.S. champ Luger turned on him. This was scheduled as a No-DQ grudge match but right before the bell Luger refused to wrestle unless it's changed to a regular match.
     
    56. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan - 2/3 Falls - 10/9/81) - Two of the best in the world, these guys always had classics matches against each other. Flair defends his NWA World title in a great 2/3 Falls match on Tsuruta's home turf.
     
    55. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Kazuo Yamazaki (UWF - 8/13/88 ) - One of my favorite UWF matches. Takada and Yamazaki have some of the fastest and stiffiest kicks ever seen in a wrestling ring and they go all out in this match.
     
    54. The British Bulldogs Vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake (WWF - 4/7/86) - After months of chasing the titles, the Bulldogs get their big match up at Wrestlemania II, this time with an outside referee to keep the Dream Team from their usual cheating ways.
     
    53. Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch Vs. Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami (NJ - 12/5/84) - The MSG finals of 1984 featured the rulebreaking WWF duo against the fan favorites Inoki & Fujinami. Murdoch & Adonis unload their bag of tag team chicanery but the hometown Japanese stars wouldn't stay down for the 3 count.
     
    52. Tiger Mask I Vs. Black Tiger (New Japan - 5/26/82) - Black Tiger was Mark "Rollerball" Rocco of the British World of Sports fame. Here he plays the Anti-Tiger and keeps up with Sayama's technical and aerial skills.
     
    51. Jaguar Yokota Vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW - 8/22/85) - Considered by many the greatest Women's match of the 80's, Yokota defends the WWWA World Heavyweight Championship against Asuka.
     
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    50. Dynamite Kid Vs. The Cobra Vs. Davey Boy Smith (New Japan - WWF Jr. tournament - 2/7/84) - Actually this was a 3 match round-robin tournament, the guy with the most wins gets the vacated WWF Jr. title. There's no pause in between as the winner has to fight the next guy right after. All 3 matches were great.
     
    49. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (St. Louis - 1/25/85) - Great match where Flair defends the NWA World title to a hot St. Louis crowd.
     
    48. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 10/11/89) - This was different from their other fights cause it was a brawl all up and down the ring. Probably the hottest match of theirs because of the hatred and fire from each other.
     
    47. El Hjio del Santo Vs. Negro Casas (EMLL Mask Vs. Hair 2/3 Falls - 7/18/87) - El Hijo Del Santo puts on his mask on the line (and his father's reputation) for a chance to humiliate Casas. Casas gets the first fall on a quick pin stunning the crowd. Now El Hijo Del Santo has to pull it together to get the win.
     
    46. Jerry Lawler Vs. Bill Dundee (Memphis - No-DQ - Title/Loser-Leaves-Town Vs. Hair(s) - 12/30/85) - Not only does Bill Dundee put his hair on the line, but his wife's too! Lawler is coming into this match blinded in one eye after a heinous attack earlier on. But you can never count out Lawler's Memphis super hero skills.
     
    45. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Akira Maeda (UWF - 11/10/88 ) - My pick for the best UWF match of the 80's. Maeda takes the early advantage, continuously getting the better of the younger Takada. Just when it seems it's over Takada starts to make a dramatic comeback with the fans cheering him on. They also made excellent use here of UWF's newer rules (Like limited knockdowns and rope breaks).
     
    44. Ric Flair Vs. Lex Luger (NWA - 12/26/88 ) - After Luger lost their big title match due to a trickle of blood, this is the Starrcade rematch. Typically awesome Flair match that has Luger's fired up not to miss his 2nd chance.
     
    43. Jushin Liger Vs. Naoki Sano (New Japan - 8/10/89) - Tremendous match to close the decade out as Sano goes for the IWGP Jr. title.
     
    42. The Midnight Express Vs. The Fantastics (NWA - 4/26/88 ) - The Fantastics get another shot at the U.S. Tag titles in a great 40 minute match.
     
    41. Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Terry & Dory Funk Jr. (All-Japan RWTL finals - 12/11/80) - 45 minute RWTL finals featuring some of the biggest names from the 70's for All-Japan. Not as slow a match as you'd think with plenty of action going on.
     
    *****************************
     
    40. Ricky Morton & Eddie Gilbert Vs. Masa Fuchi & Atsushi Onita (Memphis Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl - 2/14/81) - There was a match, but the reason this is on the list is what happened afterward. All 4 guys brawled throughout the concession stand breaking mustard jars and
    planks over their heads, bleeding all over the floor. A promoter tried to break it up and got beat up, so his mark wife bravely went in to help and go the Tojo Yamamoto pimp slap for her trouble.
     
    39. Randy Savage Vs. Bret Hart (WWF - 11/11/87) - My favorite SNME match ever. Bret Hart was primarily a tag team wrestler and this was his chance to show the world how good he was on his own. Savage was turning face so he had to watch Elizabeth as well as doing the best injured leg sell of all time.
     
    38. The Cobra Vs. Nobuhiko Takada (New Japan - 6/17/86) - Takada defends the IWGP Jr. title against the aerial Cobra. One of the most exciting Jr. bouts of the 80's with a great ending sequence.
     
    37. Ric Flair Vs. Barry Windham (NWA - 4/11/87) - From the Crockett Cup for Flair's NWA World title. Another great match from these two. The clipped version I have is awesome, I can only imagine how good the full match is.
     
    36. Team Choshu (Riki Choshu, Tatsumi Fujinami, Akira Maeda, Kengo Kimura & Super Strong Machine) Vs. Team Noki (Antonio Inoki, Seiji Sakaguchi, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Kantaro Hoshino, Keiji Muto) (New Japan Elimination match - 8/19/87) - Awesome 10-man Elimination match that had super crowd heat. The fun thing was the mixing of all the UWF and New Japan guys. Future star Keiji Muto really got a big boost in this match as the fans were going crazy for him for his gutsy performance.
     
    35. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Morton (NWA Cage - 7/5/86) - From the Bash Tour. All those rumors I heard of how great Morton/Flair matches were was proved in this match. Morton's wearing a face mask to protect his broken nose but doesn't let that deter him from putting on one of the best cage matches of the decade.
     
    34. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (World Class 2/3 Falls - 8/15/82) - The return cage match gets all the praise, but I think this was the better bout. Flair goes to Texas to defend the NWA World title against Von Erich.
     
    33. The Midnight Express Vs. The Fantastics (NWA - 3/27/88 ) - From the Clash of Champions I. They knew they only had 10 minutes and they used every minute of it to put on an exciting fast paced match. Some big time brawling from teams not known for it.
     
    32. Tully Blanchard Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 11/22/84) - From Starrcade 84. Steamboat's been chasing after that T.V. title but has busted up ribs. These two were respectively possibly the greatest heel and babyface of the 80's.
     
    31. Ric Flair Vs. Ted Dibiase (Mid-South - 11/6/85) - Flair was in Watts country and was scheduled to take on Butch Reed, but he got injured so DiBiase got the shot. Before the match Dick Murodoch came out mad saying he's the #1 contender. Harsh words were spoken and before you knew it DiBiase was brainbusted on the concrete floor and bleeding heavy. Still bleeding profusely, the heel DiBiase wouldn't quit and came out for the title match to the fans cheers. Can DiBiase pull off the miracle?
     
    *****************************
     
    30. Kuniaki Kobayashi Vs. Tiger Mask I (New Japan - 1/6/83) - Exciting fast paced Jr. match. The Kobayashi/Tiger Mask series was just as good as the Dynamite Kid one.
     
    29. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan 2/3 Falls - 6/8/83) - Another awesome match from these two. Match went to an hour draw with Tsuruta only one fall away from winning the NWA title from a bloody Flair.
     
    28. Akira Maeda Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 6/12/86) - Fujinami had a gutsy performance in an elimination match a month earlier, but tired and bloody, he was easy prey at the end for Maeda. This time it's one and one between what most people consider the two best guys from each team in the inter-promotional feud.
     
    27. Dump Matsumoto Vs. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - Hair Vs. Hair - 8/28/85) - Overmatched big time in weight and size, Nagayo makes up for it with her heart and rage. This is actually 2 matches, the one inside the ring with chains, scissors and blood, and the one outside with each girls army's brawling around the ring. Who will be humilated with the haircut?
     
    26. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 5/29/84) - From the "Night of the Champions" card. Only days after regaining the NWA World title in Japan, Flair has to defend it again against his old rival Steamboat.
     
    25. Bob Backlund Vs. Ken Patera (WWF Texas Deathmatch - 5/19/80) - After their January match went to a DQ and people had to pull them apart, this Texas Deathmatch was set up for the WWF title. No DQ, No Count Out. Can Backlund put his amateur wrestling aside and brawl against the Strongman?
     
    24. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan - 6/8/82) - Usually the big World title matches were 2 out of 3 Falls, but only 1 fall here. Flair defends the NWA World title here. A bit of a quicker pace then the rest of their classic matches. Two legends.
     
    23. Devil Masami Vs. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 8/22/85) - Masami was defending her All Pacific Championship here. The famous Jaguar/Asuka main event gets the most praise, but I actually thought this match was better. A 40 minute match that had everything, mat wrestling, brawling and big moves. Like Steamboat/Flair it was more of a chess match and an effort not to make a mistake that your opponent could take advantage of.
     
    22. Tiger Mask I Vs The Dynamite Kid (New Japan - 8/5/82) - I really would've added 2 or 3 more TM/DK matches on this list but only focused on the most important ones. This was their best from 82 with back-and-forth action and exciting moves.
     
    21. Team Horsemen (Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger & J.J. Dillion) Vs. Team Kick-the-Horsemens-Ass (Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, The Road Warriors and Paul Ellering) (NWA Wargames - 7/4/87) - A massive two ring cage is set up for the Horsemen to finally get what's coming to them. Thought up by Dusty Rhodes probably while drunk, the rules are 2 men start off. Then after 5 minutes a coin is tossed and the winning team sends in a member for a 2-on-1 advantage. Every few minutes thereafter the opposing team gets the send a member from their team in. The match can only by stopped by submission after everyone's inside the cage. The crowd was so loud you could barely hear Jim Ross's screaming out his commentary.
     
    *****************************
     
    20. Antonio Inoki Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 8/8/88 ) - Super Saiyan scientific match that went an hour. Inoki was being phased down but still was going to make it hard for his protege Fujinami to get the big one here.
     
    19. Kerry Von Erich Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (NWA 2/3 Falls - 5/22/84) - A mere week after losing the AWA World title, Jumbo gets a chance at the NWA World belt against new champ Von Erich. A fantastic and criminally underrated 2/3 falls match.
     
    18. Ted DiBiase Vs. Jim Duggan (Mid-South Coal miners glove on a pole, Tuxedo, Loser-leaves town, Cage match - 3/22/85) - Most likely Vince Russo's favorite match. Former friends, DiBiase turned on him and they've been brawling all throughout the year. This is the big finale though inside a steel cage with a coal miner's glove hanging on a pole to put the other guy away. Short but bloody match. Crowd was going nuts.
     
    17. Barry Windham Vs. Ric Flair (NWA - 1/20/87) - Awesome free TV match that went 45 minutes. It seemed at every moment Windham was going to win and the title against the Nature Boy.
     
    16. Tully Blanchard Vs. Magnum T.A. (NWA - I-Quit cage match - 11/28/85) - Barbaric match where the only way to lose is to quit. Magnum has been chasing the U.S. title but Blanchard always manages to escape with the title. There is no escape from the cage. You heard of those method actor that get so into a role they believe it? Look at these guys faces at the end of the match. More of a felony than a match here.
     
    15. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - 1/28/86) - Choshu and Tsurta went to a 60:00 draw a few months back so their feud wasn't settled yet. These 2 teams had some great matches but this was the best with Tsuruta/Tenryu defending the tag titles. All four guys looked great especially the underrated Yatsu and the crowd was super into it.
     
    14. Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Curt Hennig (AWA - 12/31/86) - This match lasted to an hour draw and was shown New Years night on ESPN. Bockwinkle was defending the AWA World title against the younger contender Curt Hennig.
     
    13. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (Hawaii - 10/12/85) - These guys always had tremendous matches and this was the best of them. Flair defends the NWA World title in a fantastic hour long draw.
     
    12. Randy Savage Vs. Ricky Steamboat (WWF - 3/29/87) - After having to almost retire from wrestling, Steamboat makes an incredible recovery from a crushed larynx to get revenge in front of the largest audience up to that point. Savage was also defending his Intercontinental championship.
     
    11. Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (NWA I-Quit match - 11/15/89) - Defintily one of the hottest feud in the 80's was the insane Funk targeting Flair which included piledriving him through a table, smacking him around with a branding iron and even trying to suffocate him with a plastic bag. Now this is it. The final match. Both men's pride is on the line and both have vowed to retire and shake the other man's hand if they have to admit defeat. Match can only be stopped by verbally saying "I Quit" on a microphone in front of a national T.V. audence.
     
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    10. Sgt. Slaughter Vs. The Iron Sheik (WWF Bootcamp - 6/16/84) - Exhausting, bloody and brutal. Both guy hate each other so much they put everything on the line in a dangerous No-DQ Bootcamp Streetfight where anything goes. Will the dreaded loaded boot come into play?
     
    9. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 2/20/89) - The first and fastest paced match of the 89 Steamboat/Flair trilogy. Steamboat came out of nowhere to challenge his old foe. Flair defends the belt in a great back and forth match.
     
    8. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy Vs. Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/16/88 ) - The 1988 RWTL finals. Tenryu and the youngster Kawada take on the two tough American dudes. Kawada wants to make a name for himself and goes all out but his inexperience oveshadows his enthusiasm and soon he's injured. Can Tenryu put on a big T on his shirt and pull of the superhero finish?
     
    7. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 5/7/89) - Part 3 of their trilogy with Steamboat defending the NWA World title again against Flair. In case of an hour draw or disputed finish there are three judges at ringside.
     
    6. Chigusa Nagoya Vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW - 2/26/87) - Tag team partners collide for a chance at the WWWA World title. Awesome match that went the exhausting 30 minute distance but with all the fans screaming for a finish they restarted the match. There must be a winner!
     
    5. Ric Flair Vs. Barry Windham (Florida - 2/14/86) - Flair travels to sunny Florida to defend the NWA World title at the Battle of the Belts II. If there was anyone who really was in Flair elitle league inside the ring, I'd have to say either Steamboat, Tsuruta or Windham. Windham tried his best here to get the title but feel just short in 45 minutes.
     
    4. Ric Flair Vs. Sting (NWA - 3/27/88 ) - Often called the most overrated match of all time, I'm still a mark for it. Flair turns a face painted newbie wrestler into the future of WCW in 45 minutes. I'm a huge Sting fan but I still think Sting should've given 10% of his wrestling earnings to Flair after this career defining performance.
     
    3. Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask (New Japan - 4/21/83) - The final match and thr culmination of the tremendous Tiger Mask/Dynamite feud. After all their many famous matches, Dynamite Kid has never beaten Tiger Mask. Dynamite knew this and put everythig he could into this match to get that elusive pin. The great thing about this series is if you see if from start to finish, you'll see various moves in one match being repeated, then counterd in the next, then Those ones countered into the next and so on. Both guys knew each other so well at this point that you needed somethig extra to get that first mistake whether it's some insane highrisk aerial move or Dynamite Kid breaking a bottle n the ringpost and demanding the match be restarted.
     
    2. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 6/5/89) - Tsuruta had just unified 3 Champioships belts into the famous "Triple-Crown" of All-Japan. One of his first defenses was against long time ex-tag team partner and long time nemesis Tenryu. Outstanding match from start to finish especially the near-falls at the end harkening to the future 90's All-Japan main events. Tenryu was actually getting the better of Tsuruta in recent bouts but this time Jumbo wasn't going to lose his new legacy so easily.
     
    1. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA 2/3 Falls - 4/2/89) - I still remember as a kid watching this on free TV with my jaw to the floor, wondering how a match could be so long but be so... awesome. No mistakes can be made here. Their first match was a quicker pace and Flair doesn't want to make a slip up here. Amazing match that went just a shade under an hour and went back and forth throughout. The 55 minutes flew by like 15. At this time in their careers these guys were about as even in the ring as you can be.
     
     
     
    Wrestlers with most matches on the list
    ---------------------------------------------
    Ric Flair - 23
    Nobuhiko Takada - 11
    Jumbo Tsuruta - 11
    Tatsumi Fujinami - 10
    Ricky Steamboat - 8
    Antonio Inoki - 8
  8. floyd
    Floyd's Rewatching Ratings (Your Mileage May Vary)
    Last updated: 2:00 AM - 7/7/08
     
    1980:
     
    1. Rimi (Jaguar) Yokota Vs. Chino Sato (All-Japan Women - 1/4/80) - [****]
    2. Jackie Sato Vs. Tommy Aoyama (All-Japan Women - 1/4/80) - [***3/4]
    3. Dynamite Kid Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 2/15/80) - [****]
    4. Bruno Sammartino Vs. Larry Zbyszko (WWF - 3/24/80) - [***1/2]
    5. Ken Patera Vs. Pat Patterson (WWF - 4/21/80 MSG) - [***1/4]
    6. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Dick Slater (All Japan - CC finals - 5/1/80) - [***3/4]
    7. Bob Backlund Vs. Ken Patera (WWF - 5/19/80) - [****1/2]
    8. Bob Backlund Vs. Dusty Rhodes (New Japan - 5/27/80) - [***1/2]
    9. Bruno Sammartino Vs. Larry Zbyszko (WWF - Cage match - 9/8/80) - [***]
    10. Harley Race Vs. Mil Mascaras (All-Japan - 9/12/80) - [***3/4]
    11. Bob Backlund Vs. Stan Hansen (New Japan - 9/30/80) - [***1/2]
    12. Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Terry & Dory Funk Jr. (All-Japan RWTL finals - 12/11/80) - [****1/2]
    13. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Ricky Steamboat (All-Japan - 12/1/80) - [***3/4]
    14. Ricky Steamboat Vs. The Sheik (All-Japan - 12/9/80) - [***1/2]
    15. Antonio Inoki & Bob Backlund Vs. Stan Hansen & Hulk Hogan (New Japan - MSG Finals - 12/10/80) - [***1/2]
     
     
    1981:
     
    16. Ricky Morton & Eddie Gilbert Vs. Masa Fuchi & Atsushi Onita (Memphis - Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl - 2/14/81) - [****1/4]
    17. Abdullah The Butcher Vs. Bruiser Brody (All-Japan CC Finals - 4/10/81) - [**]
    18. Bob Backlund Vs. Sgt Slaughter (WWF Cage - 3/21/81) - [****]
    19. Pat Patterson Vs. Sgt. Slaughter (WWF - 4/21/81) - [****1/4]
    20. The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask I (NJ - 4/23/81) - [****]
    21. Terry Funk Vs. Dory Funk Jr. (AJ - 4/30/81) - [***1/2]
    22. Ricky Steamboat Vs. Jimmy Snuka (All Japan - 6/3/81) - [***3/4]
    23. Jerry Lawler Vs. Terry Funk (CWA Memphis - [****]
    24. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bad News Allen (New Japan - 8/2/81) - [***1/2]
    25. Bob Backlund Vs. Don Muraco (WWF - Texas Death Match - 9/21/81) - [***3/4]
    26. Andre the Giant Vs. Stan Hansen (New Japan - 9/23/81) - [****]
    27. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan - 2/3 Falls - 10/9/81) - [****1/4]
    28. Bruiser Brody Vs. Terry Funk (All Japan - 11/3/81) - [***1/2]
    29. Tiger Mask I Vs. Gran Hamada (New Japan - 11/5/81) - [***3/4]
    30. Bob Backlund Vs. Greg Valentine (MSG 11/23/81) - [***1/4]
    31. Bruiser Brody & Jimmy Snuka Vs. Terry & Dory Funk Jr. (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/12/81) - [***1/2]
     
     
    1982:
     
    31b. Bob Backlund Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 1/1/82) - [***3/4]
    32. Marc Rocco Vs. The Dynamite Kid (British World of Sport - 1/16/82) - [****]
    33. Bob Backlund Vs. Adrian Adonis (WWF - 1/18/82) - [***3/4]
    34. Giant Baba vs. Stan Hansen (All-Japan - 2/4/82) - [***1/2]
    35. Dave "Fit" Finlay Vs. Davey Boy Smith (British World of Sport - 3/12/82) - [***3/4]
    36. Giant Baba Vs. Bruiser Brody (All Japan - 4/16/82) - [***]
    37. Harley Race Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan - 4/22/82) - [***3/4]
    38. Les Thornton Vs. Tiger Mask I (New Japan - 5/25/82) - [***]
    39. Tiger Mask I Vs. Black Tiger (New Japan - 5/26/82) - [****1/4]
    40. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (All Japan - 6/4/82) - [****]
    41. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (AJ - 6/8/82) - [****1/2]
    42. Bob Backlund Vs. Jimmy Snuka (WWF Cage - 6/28/82) - [***1/2]
    43. The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask I (New Japan - 7/23/82) - [****]
    44. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Mil Mascaras (All Japan - 7/30/82) - [***3/4]
    45. Tiger Mask I Vs The Dynamite Kid (New Japan - 8/5/82) - [****1/2]
    46. Bob Backlund Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 8/5/82) - [***1/2]
    47. Ric Flair Vs. Jerry Lawler (Memphis - NWA World Title - 8/14/82) - [***1/2]
    48. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (World Class 2/3 Falls - 8/15/82) - [****1/2]
    49. Stan Hansen Vs. Terry Funk (All Japan - 9/11/82) - [***]
    50. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted Dibiase & Matt Borne (Loser Leaves Town) (10/27/82) - [***3/4]
    51. Tiger Mask I Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (New Japan - 11/4/82) - [My copies to clipped to rate, looks ****+ though!]
    52. Antonio Inoki Vs. Rusher Kimura, Animal Hamaguchi, & Isamu Teranishi (New Japan - 11/4/82) - [****]
    53. Harley Race Vs. Ricky Steamboat (All Japan - 12/7/82) - [***1/2]
    54. Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Harley Race & Dick Slater (All Japan RWTL - 12/13/82) - [***3/4]
    55. Terry Funk & Dory Funk Jr. Vs. Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/13/82) - [****]
    56. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (World Class Cage match - 12/25/82) - [***3/4]
     
     
    1983:
     
     
    57. Kuniaki Kobayashi Vs. Tiger Mask I (New Japan - 1/6/83) - [****1/2]
    58. Tiger Mask I Vs. Gran Hamada (New Japan - 2/3/83) - [***3/4]
    59. Marty Jones Vs. The Dynamite Kid (British World of Sport - 2/5/83) - [***3/4]
    60. Ric Flair Vs Bruiser Brody (St. Louis - 2/3 Falls - 2/11/83) - [****]
    61. Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood Vs. Don Kernodle & Sgt. Slaughter (NWA Cage match - 3/12/83) - [***3/4]
    62. Tatsumi Fujinami Vs. Riki Choshu (New Japan - 4/3/83) - [***3/4]
    63. Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask (New Japan - 4/21/83) - [*****]
    64. Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Hulk Hogan (AWA - 4/24/83) - [***1/4]
    65. Jaguar Yokoto Vs. La Galacta (AJW Hair vs. Mask - 5/7/83) - [****]
    66. Adrian Adonis Vs. Bob Orton Jr. (Southwest - 5/26/83) - [***1/2]
    67. Antonio Inoki Vs. Akira Maeda (New Japan - 5/27/83) - [***1/2]
    68. Antonio Inoki Vs. Hulk Hogan (New Japan - 6/2/83) - [***3/4]
    69. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan 2/3 Falls - 6/8/83) - [****1/2]
    70. Dory & Terry Funk Vs. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy (8/31/83) - [***1/2]
    71. Sangre Chicana Vs. MS-1 (EMLL - 2/3 Falls Hair Vs. Hair- 9/23/83) - [****1/4]
    72. Don Muraco Vs. Jimmy Snuka (WWF Cage match - 10/17/83) - [**1/4]
     
    73. Sekigun vs. Ishingun 4-bout battle (New Japan - 11/3/83)
    a) Seiji Sakaguchi Vs. Animal Hamaguchi (***)
    b ) Akira Maeda Vs. Riki Choshu
    c) Tatsumi Fujinami Vs. Killer Khan
    d) Antonio Inoki Vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu
     
    74. Roddy Piper Vs. Greg Valentine (NWA - Dog Collar match - 11/24/83) - [****]
    75. Ric Flair Vs. Harley Race (NWA Cage match - 11/24/83) - [***3/4]
    76. Jerry Lawler Vs. Randy Savage (Memphis Cage match - 12/3/83) - [***1/4]
    77. Riki Choshu, Animal Hamaguchi & Yoshiaki Yatsu Vs. Akira Maeda, Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura (NJ - 12/8/83) - [***3/4]
    78. Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu (AJ RWTL finals - 12/12/83) - [***1/2]
     
     
    1984:
     
    79. Dynamite Kid Vs. The Cobra Vs. Davey Boy Smith (New Japan - WWF Jr. tournament - 2/7/84) - [****1/4]
    MATCH 1: Davey Boy Smith Vs. Cobra. (***3/4)
    MATCH 2: Dynamite Kid Vs. Davey Boy Smith. (***1/2)
    MATCH 3: Dynamite kid Vs. The Cobra. (***3/4)
     
    80. El Canek Vs. Andre the Giant (EMLL - 2/12/84) - [My copies to clipped to rate, looks ***1/4 or so though]
    81. Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (AWA World title in All Japan - 2/22/84)
    82. Ricky Steamboat Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 2/23/84)
    83. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Nick Bockwinkle (AWA World title in All Japan - 2/26/84)
     
    84. Sekigun Vs. Ishingun 10-Man Elimination match (NJ - 4/19/84):
    The Sekigun Army (Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Nobuhiko Takada, Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kengo Kimura)
    Vs.
    The Ishingun Army (Riki Choshu, Yoshiaki Yatsu, Animal Hamaguchi, Isamu Teranishi & Kuniaki Kobayashi)
     
    85. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (World Class - 5/6/84)
    86. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Rick Martel (AWA - 5/13/84)
    87. Ric Flair Vs. Harley Race (All Japan - 5/22/84) - [***3/4]
    88. Kerry Von Erich Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (NWA 2/3 Falls - 5/22/84) - [****3/4]
    89. Kerry Von Erich Vs. Ric Flair (NWA 2/3 Falls - 5/24/84) - [****]
    90. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 5/29/84) - [****3/4]
    91. Antonio Inoki Vs. Hulk Hogan (New Japan - 6/14/84)
    92. Sgt. Slaughter Vs. The Iron Sheik (WWF Bootcamp - 6/16/84) - [****3/4]
    93. Randy Savage & Lanny Poffo Vs. The Rock n' Roll Express (Memphis - 6/25/84) - [***1/2]
    94. The Crush Gals (Lioness Asuka & Chigusa Nagayo) Vs. Jaguar Yokota & Devil Masami
    95. The British Bulldogs & Dr. D David Schultz Vs. Antonio Inoki, The Cobra & Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 7/1/84) - [***1/4]
    96. The Freebirds Vs. The Von Erichs (World Class - 7/4/84) - [***1/2]
    97. The Dynamite Kid Vs. The Cobra (New Japan - 7/5/84) - [***1/2]
    98. Satoru Sayama (Tiger Mask I) & Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Akira Maeda & Yoshiaki Fujiwara (UWF - 7/23/84)
    98b. El Satanico vs Shiro Koshinaka (EMLL - Hair Vs. Hair - 7/30/84)
    99. The Cobra Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (NJ - 8/2/84) - - [My copies to clipped to rate, looks **** though!]
    100. Antonio Inoki Vs. Riki Choshu (NJ - 8/2/84)
    101. Tiger Mask II Vs. La Fiera (AJ - 8/26/84) - [****]
    102. Tully Blanchard Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA Starcade - 11/22/84) - [****1/4]
    103. Kazuo Yamazaki Vs. Nobuhiko Takada (UWF - 12/5/84)
    104. Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch Vs. Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami (NJ - 12/5/84)
    105. Tiger Mask II Vs. Pirata Morgan (AJ - 12/8/84) - [***1/2]
    106. Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch Vs. Jack & Jerry Brisco (WWF - 12/28/84)
     
    1985:
     
     
    107. Jaguar Yokota Vs. La Galactica (All Japan Women - 1/5/85) - [****]
    108. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (St. Louis - 1/25/85) - [****1/4]
    109. Jumbo Tsurura & Genichiro Tenryu Vs. Riki Choshu & Masa Saito (All Japan - 2/5/85) - [***3/4]
    110. Jaguar Yokota Vs. La Galactica (All Japan Women - 2/27/85) - [***3/4]
    111. Tiger Mask II Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (All Japan - 3/9/85) - [***1/2]
    112. Ted DiBiase Vs. Jim Duggan (Mid-South Coal miners glove on a pole, Tuxedo, Loser-leaves town, Cage match - 3/22/85) - [****3/4]
    113. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T Vs. Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff (WWF - 3/31/85) - [***3/4]
    114. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 4/18/85) - [****]
    115. Ric Flair Vs. Terry Taylor (Mid-South - 6/1/85) - [***3/4]
    116. Tiger Mask II Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (All Japan - 6/12/85) - [****]
    117. Antonio Inoki Vs. Hulk Hogan (New Japan - 6/13/85) - [***1/2]
    118. The Cobra Vs. Hiro Saito match (6/28/85) - [***1/2]
    119. Ric Flair Vs. Nikita Koloff (NWA - 7/6/85) - [***]
    120. Yoshiaki Fujiwara Vs. Super Tiger (UWF - 7/17/85) - [***3/4]
    121. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 8/1/85) - [***3/4]
    122. Ric Flair Vs. Butch Reed (Mid-South - 8/10/85) - [****1/4]
    123. Devil Masami Vs. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 8/22/85) - [****1/2]
    124. Jaguar Yokota Vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW - 8/22/85) - [****1/4]
    125. Dump Matsumoto Vs. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - Hair Vs. Hair - 8/28/85) - [****3/4]
    126. Bret Hart Vs. The Dynamite Kid (WWF - 9/14/85)
    127. Antonio Inoki Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 9/19/85)
    128. Dick Murdoch Vs. Butch Reed (Mid-South - 9/22/85) - [****]
    129. Roddy Piper Vs. Paul Ordorff (WWF SNME - 10/5/85) - [***1/2]
    130. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (Hawaii - 10/12/85) - [****3/4]
    131. Jerry Lawler Vs. Bill Dundee (Memphis - 10/19/85)
    132. Ric Flair Vs. Rick Martel (All Japan - 10/21/85)
    133. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genchiro Tenryu Vs. Ric Flair & Rick Martel (All Japan - 10/31/85)
    134. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Riki Choshu (All Japan - 11/4/85)
    135. Ric Flair Vs. Ted Dibiase (Mid-South - 11/6/85) - [****1/2]
    136. The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask II (All Japan - 11/27/85)
    137. Jim Duggan Vs. Buzz Sawyer (Mid-South - 11/11/85) - [***3/4]
    138. Ivan & Nikita Koloff Vs. The Rock n Roll Express (NWA - Cage match - 11/28/85)
    139. Tully Blanchard Vs. Magnum T.A. (NWA - I-Quit cage match - 11/28/85) - [****3/4]
    140. Ted DiBiase & Stan Hansen Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - RWTL finals - 12/12/85)
    141. Jerry Lawler Vs. Bill Dundee (Memphis - No-DQ - Title/Loser-Leaves-Town Vs. Hair(s) - 12/30/85)
     
    1986:
     
     
    142. Hulk Hogan Vs. Randy Savage (WWF - 1/27/86) - [***1/4]
    143. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - 1/28/86) - [****3/4]
    144. Ric Flair Vs. Ron Garvin (NWA - 2/2/86)
    145. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - 2/5/86) - [****]
    146. Antonio Inoki Vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara (New Japan - 2/6/86) - [***1/2]
    147. Ric Flair Vs. Barry Windham (Florida - 2/14/86) - [*****]
    148. Bret Hart Vs. Ricky Steamboat (WWF - 3/8/86) - [***1/2]
    149. Lioness Asuka & Chigusa Nagayo Vs. Jumping Bomb Angels (AJW 2/3 Falls - 3/20/86) - [****1/4]
    150. New Japan Vs. UWF 10-Man Tag Elimination (New Japan - 3/26/86) - [****]
    151. The British Bulldogs Vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake (WWF - 4/7/8 ) - [****1/4]
    151b. The Funks Vs. Tito Santana & JYD - [***3/4]
    152. The Fantastics Vs. The Sheephearders (NWA - 4/19/86) - [**1/2, too clipped]
    153. Randy Savage Vs. Tito Santana (WWF - 4/22/86) - [***3/4]
    154. New Japan Vs. UWF 10-Man Elimination Tournament (New Japan - 5/1/86) - [***3/4]
    155. The Funks Vs. Hulk Hogan & JYD (WWF - 5/1/86) - [***3/4]
    156. Akira Maede Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 6/12/86) - [****1/2]
    157. The Cobra Vs. Nobuhiko Takada (New Japan - 6/17/86) - [****1/4]
    158. Antonio Inoki Vs. Andre the Giant (New Japan - 6/17/86) -[**1/2]
    159. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Morton (NWA - 7/5/86) - [****1/2]
    160. Ric Flair Vs. Dusty Rhodes (NWA Cage match - 7/26/86) - [***3/4]
    161. Riki Choshu Vs. Killer Khan (All Japan - 7/31/86) - [****]
    162. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (New Japan - 8/5/86) - [****]
    163. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Kazuo Yamazaki (New Japan - 8/7/86) - [***1/2]
    164. Midnight Rockers vs. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers (AWA - 9/2/86) - [****1/4]
    165. New Japan Vs. UWF 10-Man Tag Elimination II (New Japan - 9/16/86) - [****]
    166. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 9/16/86) - [****]
    167. Shiro Koshinaka Vs. Nobuhiko Takada (New Japan - 9/19/86) - [***1/2]
    168. Akira Maeda Vs. Don Nakaya Nielsen (New Japan - 10/9/86) - [***1/2]
    169. Chigusa Nagayo vs. Dump Matsumoto (AJW - Hair Vs. Hair - 11/7/86) - [***1/2]
    170. The Rock N Roll Express Vs. Ole & Arn Anderson (NWA - 11/27/86) - [***1/2]
    171. Ric Flair Vs. Nikita Koloff (NWA - 11/27/86) - [***3/4}
    172. Hulk Hogan Vs. Paul Orndorff (WWF Cage match - 12/14/86) - [***3/4]
    173. Midnight Rockers vs. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers (AWA Cage match - 12/25/86) - [***3/4]
    174. Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Curt Hennig (AWA - 12/31/86) - [****3/4]
     
    1987:
     
     
    175. Barry Windham Vs. Ric Flair (NWA - 1/20/87) - [****3/4]
    176. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (NJ - 2/5/87)
    177. Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat & JYD Vs. Adrian Adonis, Randy Savage & Harley Race (WWF - 2/23/87) - [***3/4]
    178. Chigusa Nagoya Vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW - 2/26/87)
    179. Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka & Keiji Muto (NJ - 3/20/87) - [****]
    180. Randy Savage Vs. Ricky Steamboat (WWF - 3/29/87) - [****3/4]
    181. Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant (WWF - 3/29/87) - [***1/2]
    182. Ric Flair Vs. Barry Windham (NWA - 4/11/87) - [****1/2]
    183. Nick Bockwinkel Vs. Curt Hennig (AWA - 5/2/87)
    184. Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Kazuo Yamazaki & Toshiaki Fujiwara (NJ - 5/25/87)
    185. Wargames (NWA - 7/4/87) - [****3/4]
    186. Midnight Express Vs. The Rock N Roll Express (NWA - 7/4/87)
    187. Wargames (NWA - 7/31/87)
    188. El Hjio del Santo Vs. Negro Casas (EMLL Mask Vs. Hair - 7-18-87) - [****1/2]
    189. NJ Vs. UWF 10-man Elimination Match (NJ - 8/19/87)
    190. The Crush Gals Vs. The Jumping Bomb Angels (AJW - 9/14/87)
    191. Tatsumi Fujinami Vs. Riki Choshu (NJ - 10/5/87)
    192. Chigusa Nagayo Vs. Yukari Omori (AJW - 10/20/87)
    193. Randy Savage Vs. Bret hart (WWF - 11/11/87) - [****1/4]
    194. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Road Warriors (NWA - 11/26/87)
    195. Ronnie Garvin Vs. Ric Flair (NWA Cage match - 11/26/87)
    196. 10-Tag Team Elimination match (WWF - 11/26/87) - [***3/4]
     
    1988:
     
     
    197. Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant (2/5/88) - [***1/2]
    198. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Tiger Mask II (AJ - 3/9/88) - [***1/2]
    199. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Hiro Hase (NJ - 3/11/88) - [****]
    200. The Midnight Express Vs. The Fantastics (NWA - 3/27/88) - [****1/2]
    201. Lex Luger & Barry Windham Vs. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (NWA - 3/27/88) - [***1/2]
    202. Ric Flair Vs. Sting (NWA - 3/27/88) - [*****]
    203. Lex Luger & Barry Windham Vs. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (NWA - 4/20/88) - [****]
    204. The Midnight Express Vs. The Fantastics (NWA - 4/26/88) - [****1/2]
    205. Owen Hart Vs. Keiichi Yamada (NJ - 6/10/88) - [My copies to clipped to rate, looks ***3/4+ though!]
    206. Wargames (NWA - 7/16/88)
    207. Tower of Doom - [***]
    208. Randy Savage Vs. Ted DiBiase (WWF Cage match - 7/22/88) - [***3/4]
    209. Yoshiaki Fujiwara Vs. Don Nakaya Neilsen (NJ - 7/31/88) - [****]
    210. Antonio Inoki Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (AJ - 8/8/88)
    211. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Kazuo Yamaxaki (UWF - 8/13/88) - [****1/4]
    212. Genichiru Tenryu & Ashura Hara Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu (AJ - 8/29/88) - [****]
    213. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (AJ - 10/28/88) - [****1/4]
    214. Nobuhiko Takada vs Akira Maeda (UWF - 11/10/88) - [****1/4]
    215. Jerry Lawler Vs. Kerry Von Erich (AWA - 12/13/88)
    216. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy Vs. Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada (AJ - 12/16/88) - [*****]
    217. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Bob Backlund (UWF - 12/22/88) - [***3/4]
    218. Ric Flair Vs. Lex Luger (NWA - 12/26/88)
     
     
    COMING UP:
    --------------
     
    Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Rockers (WWF - 2/16/89)
    Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 2/20/89)
    Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - Landover - 3/18/89) - [****1/2]
    Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 4/2/89) - [*****]
    Randy Savage Vs. Hulk Hogan (WWF - 4/2/89)
    Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 5/7/89)
    Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat Vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Ricky Fuyuki (AJ - 6/5/89)
    Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (AJ - 6/5/89)
    Jushin Liger Vs. Naoki Sano (NJ - 7/13/89)
    Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (NWA - 7/23/89)
    Demolition Vs. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson (WWF 2/3 Falls - 7/29/89)
    Jushin Liger Vs. Naoki Sano (NJ - 8/10/89)
    Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Hart Foundation (WWF - 8/28/89)
    Bret Hart Vs. Curt Hennig (10/2/89)
    Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (NWA - 11/15/89) - [****3/4]
  9. floyd
    Floyd’s Rant for Wrestlemania XXIV
     
     
    1. NO-DQ BELFAST BRAWL: J.B.L. Vs. Fit Finlay (w/ Hornwoggle) - I haven’t kept up with WWE in a while so bear with me, but I think the story goes like this: Midget Hornswoggle was discovered to be Vince McMahon’s illegitimate son. So of course Vince McMahon showed his affection by beating the shit out of him as much as possible. Then JBL, using his A.P.A. detective skills, dropped the bomb that Hornswoggle is really Finlay’s son! JBL also went dwarf tossing by mauling Hornswoggle inside a cage. If I was booking I’d have the entire locker-room tested and have JBL be the father next. Then book Jerry Springer (That show still on?) This is a Belfast brawl, No-DQ. They shoulda used one of those old British World Sport rules instead. My pre-match prediction, JBL bleeds.
     
    JBL attacks Finlay right at the bell and they brawl outside. Back in and Finlay hits a reverse Earthquake splash for 2. Finlay rolls out and finds all kinds of stuff under the ring to play with. Why do the ring crews always leave their kendo sticks under there? JBL ups the ante by tossing the ring steps in the ring! He should grab Horsnwoggle and us him like a bat. JBL tries to pildrive Finaly on the steps but is backdropped instead. Cookie-sheet damage follows. JBL comes back though and treats Finlay like he’s a ROH guy caught alone in the shower. But then Hornswoggle saves his dad with a kendo shoot! Finlay props up a table in the corner. JBL roll outside and slaps that midget out cold! While JBL’s still outside, Finlay does the Chris Benoit spot where he dives like a torpedo outside, only to be hit but a trashcan lid! More midget violence ensues:
     

     
    JBL goes for Hansen’s lariat, but see he’s not Hansen cause Finlay ducks and throws JBL thought the propped up table for a 2 count. Finlay tries to press slams the steps onto JBL, but it’s all goes horribly wrong, and JBL ends up hitting the Wall Street lariat for the 3. Too much Sports entertainment-ness, but still a fun opening match. I was hoping for a mini-JBL (Spanky?) to roll out from under the ring, but no dice. **3/4
     
    TO THE BACK! Diva flunkie #34 talks about the MITB ladder match when Ken Kennedy starts yelling right in her face, then leaves.
     
    2. Money-In-The-Bank Ladder Match IV: (John Morrison Vs. Carlito Cool Vs. Shelton Benjamin Vs. C.M. Punk Vs. Ken Kennedy Vs. MVP Vs. Chris Jericho) - You know, it would’ve been great if they put all the guys who failed the Wellness policy during that big bust last year, and then the winner gets one strike taken off their record. Speaking of Wellness Policy, Jeff hardy isn’t in this match.
     
    Right at the bell everyone but MVP rolls out and starts picking up ladders. Carlito brings in a ladder but MVP steals it and then boots him out. MVP starts knocking everyone out of the ring like it’s a game of King of the Mountain. In a Russo/Freudian moment Jericho brings in a bigger ladder. It’s a ladder joust! That was awesome. Morrison climbs to the top with a ladder and while holding the ladder FUCKING MOONSAULTS OFF THE TOP ROPE TO THE OUTSIDE!!! That was insane. He didn’t land pretty either. Kennedy tries to sneak in but Jericho stops him. He tries the Liontamer but can’t get it, so settles on sling-shooting him into the ladder. Kennedy lands right on the ladder however and quickly starts climbing. Morrison jumps on the ladder next. Shelton climbs up too and ends up hitting a flip-powerbomb on Kennedy, who at the same time suplexes Morrison!! Punk hit’s the Go to Sleep on Benjamin and climbs, but Kenney with a rolling firemans carry onto the ladder! Now Carlito and MVP fight at the top, Carlito gets dumped. Carlito works MVP’s leg, MITB psychology? There's no time for that here, it's spot-spot-spot - rinse-repeat. Carlito climbs up for the win, but come on dude, you ain’t going to win. Shoulda went to TNA. Shelton does that One Night Stand bump again and breaks/bends a ladder/his spine in half on the way down. That was scary. Camera work for this is tremendous by the way. It's a shame Benjamin is Mr. MITB once again but will soon be again regulated only to house shows and Most Underrated year-end awards. That'll teach him to play video games in the locker room.
     
    Morrison climbs but becomes a Walls of Jericho victim on the ladder. Kennedy again tries to sneak a win but no dice. A bunch of bodies start flying and then dropping. The ring is cleared. But as the smoke clears MVP is the only man standing. He starts climbing with a smirk on his face. Suddenly Matt hardy jumps the rail! Security! Twist of Fate off the ladder!!! He doesn’t mention ROH on his way out this time. Two ladders are propped up in a V shape, and it ends up hurting people. Jericho climbs up but gets apple spit in his face and he goes flying. Apple bump!! Everyone’s down again except Jericho who climb. C.M. Punk meets him and they both fight for the briefcase. I think the finish went awry somewhere, but it doesn’t matter as C.M. Punk grabs the suitcase and wins! 10$ says this is just a ploy and McMahon will somehow get the briefcase onto straight-edger Kennedy somehow. ***1/2
     
    Hall of fame is shown. I’m surprised Mike Graham didn’t get more of an ovation, it being Florida and all. Mae Young’s hopped up on drugs again.
     
    3. Umanga Vs. Batista - Looks like this is a Smackdown Vs. RAW match. Umanga shows his athleticism early with spins kicks. Fatty Samoan Splash gets 2. Umanga’s works on Batista back., knowing that senior citizens bones are brittle, and their muscles can’t be too great after years of steriods use. See Umanga does his homework. I must be a in a great mood tonight cause this isn’t too bad. Umanga goes lucha and tries a middle rope headbutt but misses! Batista goes for a slam but his back buckles, nearly losing on a near 3 count. Umanga with loud kicks to the back, then it’s back to the Samoan spike. This portion is begging for the crowd to cheer for Batista, but there not into the match. Actually it sounds like their on Umanga’s side. Ha now the crowds booing Batisa in his comeback, this is awesome. Batista gets a (falling on his ass) Demonbomb out of nowhere and gets the 3 count. *1/2
     
    In the back Merryweather is with his posse. There’s got to be at least 20 people there, were talking 0.8 on the Master P scale. Looks like there was a battle royal on Heat before the show. The winner gets a shot at the ECW World title. Luckily the WWE used this to elevate one of their newer superstars, you know that young Kane guy they just brought up from developmental.
     
    4. ECW WORLD TITLE: Chavo Guerrero Vs. Kane – Man Chavo looks like so much like my neighbor it’s scary. Kane with the chokeslam.1..2..3!?!?!? WTF?!?! Look, I know the ECW title doesn’t mean shit Vince. I GET IT! You can STOP trying to prove it now. Didn’t Kane go like 2 hours in a Royal Rumble or something, he couldn’t been winded. Ughhh. DUD
     
    In a commercial Carlito gets attacked by seagulls at a restaurant. I just got the idea of the WWE doing a bunch of skits based on Alfred Hitchcock movies. Like a wheelchair-bound HHH watching the Undertaker carry bodies from his apartment, or the entire crusierweight division replaying “Lifeboat”. Then I remembered the WWE writing team and slapped myself harshly for being so dumb.
     
    That girl from the Disney channel is in the ring and demands everyone STAND up for the make-a-wish foundation. Right at that moment they get a shot of the wheelchair kids, DOH! Well the thought was nice. And now we come to the match I’m looking forward to:
     
    5. Ric Flair Vs. Shawn Michaels - If Flair loses he’s gotta retire! Flair comes out with a Blue Blazer robe. Mind games to start, HBK slaps old man Flair so hard he’s busted hardway. “First blood, brother” says Flair. CHOP FEST!!! HBK gets the advantage and goes uptop, but gets Flair-slammed out! Flair quickly goes top rope too but uh-oh, HBK catches him. No wait, he pokes Shawn in the eye. Flair hits the flying bodypress for 2! Yes, Flair finally got that top rope move off after about 15 years of trying (I think Harley Race voodoo cursed him at Starrcade). Flair gets dumped out and HBK with his Wrestlemania-sized Asai moosault. Flair dives away at the last minute though and HBK hits sternum first on the announcers tables HARD. I mean HARD. HBK’s fucked up, yo. Little Naitch starts the count, come on give him some time. HBK makes it back in and Flairs working the ribs. Back suplex gets a 2 for Flair. Flair goes old school with a double arm suplex for another 2. HBK comes back with a neckbreaker, then dropkicks Flair out. HBK hits a top rope moonsault to the Floor, but slammed himself more into the concrete than on Flair. HBK beating the crap out of himself up.
     
    Back in the ring and CHOP FEST #2 ends with an HBK flying Jalapeno. He manages to painfully kip up then starts his comeback. He hits the top rope elbow! Shawn’s looks really fucked up, legit. He starts tuning up the band. He goes to Superkick, but pauses!?!?! Flair quickly gets a takedown and clamps on the figure-four!!! The crowd’s going crazy! Ya snooze you lose Shawn. HBK manages to reverse it and Flair gets the ropes. They do that Steamboat pinning sequence thing but HBK couldn’t bridge out, he’s hurting bad. Flair goes to work the leg but HBK sunsets flips for a close 2. Flair whips HBK who does a 1/2 Flair flip in the corner. Flair chop-block. Wooooooo! Time to go to school! Figure-four reversed into a small package by HBK.. Only a 2 count! Flair gets the figure four again! HBK finally managed to reverse it but Flair reverses it right back again! Finally HBK makes the ropes. Flair struts cause everything going his way. HE EATS SWEET CHIN MUSIC!! Both guys are down. HBK crawls towards Flair and pins. Only 2! HBK’s having trouble standing. He tunes up the band again. But Flair can’t stand up. Finally HBK goes to pick Flair up. BALL-SHOT BY FLAIR! The ref didn’t see it either cause Flair’s the dirtiest player in the game. Flair crawls over… Only a 2 count!! Out of nowhere HBK gets a figure four! Flair makes the corner and while grabbing for the ropes the turnbuckle falls off. The ref goes to fix it so Flair hits the thumb-to-the-eye on HBK. Roll up gets another super close 2.99 for Flair. CHOP-FEST #3 begins on their knees. Out of nowhere HBK gets another sweet chin music. HBK tunes up the band. Wait he hesitates again. There is a hush in the crowd. Flair gets up and groggily but is ready to fight. HBK says “I’m sorry. I love you….” SWEET CHIN MUSIC #3!!!!!!!! This time there was no hesitation. 1…2…..3. Flair’s career it over.
     

     
    Like at the end of “Lost in Translation”, HBK whispers something we’ll ever know, kisses Flair’s forehead then leaves. The commentators go all ROH and don’t speak for awhile. And with tears in his eyes Ric Flair stands for the last time in the ring, to 75,000 fans applauding him. With the Sport Entertainment style the only monopoly in town, it is truly and end of an era for wrestling. Thank you Ric Flair, you will forever be THE MAN! ****
     
    6. Playboy Bunny Lumberjill match: Beth Phoenix and Melina (w/ Santino Marella) Vs. Maria and Ashley - I thought they said Bundy-mania for a minute. Snoop Dogg in the house. Hope he serenades the Divas with the song "Bitches Ain’t Shit But Ho’s and Tricks” with Giant Khali taking Dr. Dre’s place. It takes Snoop’s golf cart (Well it IS Florida) about 20 minutes to get to the ring. Snoop gives props to Ric Flair.. Uh-oh Snoop-talk. Dang. I’m too white for this. The Divas surround the ring. If there was ever a time for the TNA Women’s division to jump the rails, now’s the time Awesome Kong. Snoop gets a pimp King of the Ring Chair at ringside.
     
    Anyway, stuff happened in the match. Nothing bad, in fact some good moves, but it doesn’t matter cause there’s no heat. And how could there be after the Flair/HBK match? Suddenly the lights go out! TNA sabotage? Marella interferes and causes Maria the match, but not before receiving a Memphis punch from Lawler. His humiliation continues when Snoop hits him with a clothesline Straight Outta Compton, by gawd! Good one too, at least better than Rodman ever threw. *
     
    7. RAW WORLDS CHAMPIONSHIP: Randy Orton Vs. John Cena (v 2.0) HHH (v 3.0) - Wait, this isn’t the main event? Hmmmm. Heel turn coming up? HHH’s entrance takes 3 ½ minutes. Orton wisely takes out HHH right at the start with a belt shot and it’s 1 on 1 in the ring. HHH comes back though and dumps the other 2 out. HHH and Orton tumble like lovers all over the ECW table. Back in and John Cena picks up BOTH guys up for an FU, but doesn’t get it. Impressive attempt though. Orton grounds both guy and starts stomping away while a “Cena Sucks” chant starts. Lots of boos for Cena already, I’m sure there’s already a topic on DVDVR with someone weeping and gnashing their teeth about it. People don’t like him, accept it and move on with your life. Orton gets that funky middle rope DDT on both guys! He nabs a 3 counts on each. Orton attempts a RKO but Cena dumps him like trash right onto HHH. Cena with the top rope legdrop! Orton says fuck it and tries to leave, but Cena gives chase. Orton manages to use Cena momentum during the run to post him in a neat spot. Cena’s layed out seeing stars. Back in and HHH works on Orton’s leg. Wait Orton with an RKO on HHH! A knocked out HHH rolls out. Orton staggers around and falls right into the STFU!! They steal from WM 20 as HHH prevents Orton’s hand from tapping out. HHH pulls Cena out and slams him against the ring steps. HHH with a neat-looking Indian deathlock kind of thing on Orton but Cena breaks it up. Cena dumps HHH and reapplies the STFU! WM 20 is re-visited again as HHH applies the Crippler Crossface on Cena! Cena makes the ropes, then starts making a comeback. Orlando’s boo’s seem to give him more strength! Both guys counter each other’s big move, until HHH hits the Pedigree! It’s ovah! 1…..2………Suddenly running out from stage right, Orton soccer kicks HHH right in da head! The pin is broken up. Orton collapses on Cena, for the 1,2,3! Orton retains! Wow, big props to WWE letting Orton retain. Another 10$ says they’ll re-do this main event next PPV. Solid match. ***1/2
     
    8. NO-DQ MATCH: The Big Show Vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - Ha! I haven’t been watching Raw lately, but the package they play of the build-up for this match is just phenomenal, one of the best I’ve ever seen. Mayweather's supposedly got like 4 billion dollars for this fight but I must dispute that. Big Show’s got a small size advantage here.
     
    Mayweather uses his speed to avoid the Big Show’s soupbones and gets some body shots in. Stick, and move. Stick and move. Just got a flashback from Butterbean/Gunn. Mayweather all cocky and takes a breather in the corner where he sips from a diamond-encrusted chalice. Seriously the thing's like 20 pounds and looks like the Holy Grail. Big Show rushes at him and managed to quickly maul one of his handlers. There’s suddenly fear in Mayweather’s eyes. Uh-oh, Big Show catches on of Mayweather’s punches! He goes to stomp it into confetti but luckily Mayweathers gets free. Damn, if Mayweather loses his hands, he’s only got his Krav Maga and Wing Chun experiences to fall back on. Oh No! Mayweather’s cornered!! No he manages to punches his way out, then clamps a sleeper off the top rope! Big Show’s going out! Big Show managed to flip him over, and Garvin stomps the hand!!! The handlers outside all shit their pant and Mayweather sells his hand better than 60% of the WWE lockerroom. Big Show with the silent chops in the corner! Big Show stands on Mayeather’s back while the manager protests. Mayweather tries some kicks he saw in a Kawada match but it does nothing. Big Show hits a side-walk slam. Finally Mayfeather’s handlers pull his dead carcass out of the ring and signal it’s over. Big Show gives chase and knocks everyone around and drags Mayweather back. Big Show goes for the choke slam but a handler runs in and hits a chairshot! That guy gets chokeslammed but Mayweather picks up the chair and starts raining down chairshots. Somewhere Chris Nowinski slowly shakes his head. Now Mayweather rips off a gold chain from the unconscious handler. It’s got brass knucks! POW!!!!!!!!! Big Show it out! Power of the punch! Mayweather’s been training with Regal! The ref starts the count and Big Show can’t get up in time, it’s ovah!. Mayweather wins!! Mayfeather’s undefeated in boxing AND wrestling! Next stop, MMA. Pretty fun for what it was. Mayweather was great in his role. **1/2
     
    Ahhh shit Coach and Michael Cole’s calling the main event, I hit the mute button. The guest ring announcer is some girl from “Keeping Up with the Cardassians” a show about Star Trek or something.. She announces the attendance as 74,635. Hey I just realized neither tag titles were defended tonight.
     
    9. SMACKDOWN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Edge Vs. The Undertaker – Taker’s entrance last 6 minutes, actually much less than I thought. Edge gets a good-luck kiss from the crippled Vickie Guerrero. Both guys are touted as being undefeated at Wrestlemania. Edge has also never lost to the undertaker. Edge isn’t intimated and starts with punches. But he musta forgot that the Undertaker’s the “Best pure striker in the WWE!!” Taker hits a flying clothesline for 2. Taker works the arm and tries old school early but get arm dragged off. Taker chokes Edge and refuses to break, then intimidates the ref. Taker went for a flying knee in the corner but it turned into a Stinger Splash and Taker tumbles all the way to the floor. Edge hits him while he’s on the apron and Taker flies into the barricade! Outside Edge works the ribs. Taker makes it back in and Edge with corner tackles. Edge goes top rope and decides to channel Manami Toyota cause he gets Flair slammed from the top TO THE FLOOR!!! Crap that was nasty! Not to be outdone, Taker follows with the zombie WM plancha!! Crazy.
     

     
    Taker with the legdrop on the apron. Last Ride attempt! No wait, he couldn’t pick him up cause of his back. Back outside and Edge back suplexes Undertaker on the rail! Taker’s dumped in the front row. Back inside Edge works the back more with a half-Boson crab. Edge with the monster face!
     
    Taker gets out and a slugfest akin to Takayama/Frye breaks out. Well not quite. Taker hits the ho’ train in the corner then snake eyes! Taker goes for his boot follow-up but Edge hits a surprise dropkick for 2! Edge has done his homework it seems. Taker goes for a chokeslam but Edge counters with a DDT!! Edge goes for the spear but loses some teeth hitting Taker’s boot. CHOKESLAM STRAIGHT TO HELL BY GAWD!!!!!!! Only 2!?!?!?? Taker goes old school again but gets crouched. Edge hits a suplerplex! Taker comes back and nearly gets the Last Ride but Edge squirms out and hits a neckbreaker! Only 2.
     
    Taker finally gets the Last Ride and collapses. Only 2?! Tombstone! No Edge counters it into the X-Factor. Only 2 again. Taker finally hits old-school. Taker goes for big boot but hits the ref. Edge talks shit so Taker zombies up, but Edge kicks him square in the balls. Edge wanders outside. He grabs a camera and smacks Taker. They should’ve done a reply with that camera's angle on. Edge paws at the dead ref. He slightly grazes the ref's arm, and the ref proceeds to do an unconscious bump to the outside. Taker gets up and hits the Tombstone! No ref! Wait! Charles Robinson sprints the quarter mile to the ring! He counts….. but only 2!?!? Here come Edge’s cronies. Taker quickly dispatches them with a chokeslam. But Edge hits the spear! Only 2!?? Edge cries. Spear #2. Wait Undertaker with the Triangle choke! No wait he’s got the head tucked down so I guess it’s the google-platta thing all the kids are talking about nowadays. Edge taps! Holy shit, he Nick Diazed him! Didn’t see that finish coming. And that’s that. 16-0. Taker celebrates while fireworks injure 40 fans. ***1/2
     
    Except for Flair/HBK nothing earth shattering. But I really enjoyed the show top-to-bottom!
     
     
    WM 24 Grade:
    Total star rating: 22.25
    Total matches: 9
    Show Average: **1/2
  10. floyd
    My thought on Disk #3 (Ranked in order of best-to-worst):
     
    Cream of the crop:
     
    1. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (No DQ, Loser Leaves Town, Coal Miner's Glove on a Poll, Tuxedo, Cage match ) (3/22/85) [bR-14] - Wow. A short but an awesome, brutal and bloody cage match to cap off their feud. it's bad enough to get your ass kicked but now they have to do it in their best clothes. This easily would've still been #1 for me even without all the history that DVDVR provided. But the inclusion of it made it that much better a finish to their feud.
     
    2. Ted DiBiase vs. Jim Duggan (No DQ) (3/8/85) [bR-13] - Great No-DQ match before the cage one. It was a regular match to begin with but was changed right before the bell. Gonna have to re-watch their streetfight from Disk #1 and compare, as both are great. Hacksaw Duggan is in 3 and-a-half matches of my Top 5, who would've thunk it?
     
    3. Ric Flair vs. Terry Taylor (4/28/85) [bR-17] - After all those 10 minutes lightening fast tag matches and energetic brawls, Flair brings it to a halt with this 30 minute match. I really liked it though with a slow NWA-title-defense-like beginning building up to an exciting ending. Can Taylor bring home the gold? Solid match.
     
     
    Very good too:
     
    4.Rock N Roll Express vs. Chavo & Hector Guerrero (2/13/85) [bR-11] - Great TV tag match with the Guerreros using all kinds of funky moves to try and win the belts.
     
    5. The Fantastics vs. Dr. Death & Jake Roberts (4/14/85) [bR-15] - I really liked this tag team match-up. Roberts and Dr. Death make a great heel tag team. The fantastics have the heart but are overpowered.
     
    6. Ted DiBiase vs. Brad Armstrong (2/10/85) [bR-10] - Really good match where Armstrong's trying to regain his title. Armstrong's really good here, but it's DiBiase who really shines.
     
     
    Good:
     
    7. Buddy Landel, Chavo & Hector Guerrero vs. Brickhouse Brown, Bill Dundee & Jose Lothario (Elimination Match) (11/16/84) [bR-2] - Neat elimination match with the Guerrero gang going after poor old Lothario.
     
    8. Ted DiBiase & Dr. Death vs. Hacksaw Duggan & Terry Gordy (Texas Tornado Match) (1/21/85) [bR-9] - Tornado tag match which means a No-DQ brawl without tags. Action went everywhere, in-and-out of the ring.
     
     
    Good to OK
     
    9. Ernie Ladd & Butch Reed vs. Magnum T.A. & Master G (Street Fight) (11/4/84) [bR-1] - Match turned from a Street Fight into a regular tag, good match.
     
    10. Rock N Roll Express vs. Midnight Express (1/21/85) [bR-8] - Typical and fun RNR/Midnights match.
     
     
    OK but ain't no Top 20 or nothin:
     
    11. Kevin Von Erich vs. Chris Adams (1/18/85) [bR-6] - World Class comes to Mid-South. I really liked this match but it was super-short (under 5 minutes). Just can't rate it too high because of that.
     
    12. Buddy Landel, Chavo & Hector Guerrero vs. Rock N Roll Express & Jose Lothario (1/18/85) [bR-7] [sDM-14] - This was listed as an elimination match but was actually a 6-man. Pretty fun match but nothing that made me want to rank it high.
     
    13. Brad Armstrong vs. Ted DiBiase (1/16/85) [bR-5] - Armstrong's defending the title. Good TV match. But I liked their rematch much more.
     
    14. Rock N Roll Express vs. Midnight Express (Scaffold Match) (12/2/84) [bR-3] - As far as scaffold matches it wasn't too bad, but I never really could rate those high for some reason. Think they play alot better live (and scarier!)
     
    15. Rock N Roll Express & Butch Reed vs. Dr. Death, Kamala & One Man Gang (2/25/85) [bR-12] - Somewhere along the way Reed turned good-guy! OK 6-man but nothing special. Reed's demands and chants for the Emancipation of Kamala was priceless.
     
    16. Rock N Roll Express vs. Dirty White Boys (4/15/85) [bR-16] - OK tag match but seemed too formulaic to me. The Dirty White Boys looked like good heels though. Maybe if it was longer..
     
    No Sir. I Didn't like it:
     
    17. Adrian Street vs. Terry Taylor (Loser Leaves Town) (12/7/84) [bR-4] - Never really got into this. Street wants revenge after Tayor started macking on his valet. "You don't mow another man' grass."
     
     
    ***********************
     
    Thought for Disk #3:
     
    - The Guerreros are an awesome tag team.
     
    - I really noticed how fantastic the camera/audio work is for aot of the house shows. You can hear every word of Dibiase and Jake Robert talking trash. And the video quality is great too.
     
    **********************
     
    Floyd's Ongoing Mid-South Top 10: (After three Disks)
     
    1. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (No DQ, Loser Leaves Town, Coal Miner's Glove on a Poll, Tuxedo, Cage match ) (3/22/85) [bR-14]
    2. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted Dibiase & Matt Borne (Loser Leaves Town) (10/27/82) [PTB-8]
    3. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (Street Fight) (7/29/83) [PTB-14]
    4. Mr. Olympia vs. Chavo Guerrerro (6/24/83) [PTB-13]
    5. Ted DiBiase vs. Jim Duggan (No DQ) (3/8/85) [bR-13]
    6. Rock N Roll Express & Hacksaw Duggan vs. Midnight Express & Ernie Ladd (6/8/84) [sDM-3][/b]
    7. Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum T.A. vs. Midnight Express (2/10/84) [PTB-16]
    8. Ric Flair vs. Terry Taylor (4/28/85) [bR-17]
    9. Magnum T.A. vs. Ted DiBiase (No DQ) (Tulsa 5/27/84) [sDM-2]
    10. Magnum T.A. vs. Ted DiBiase (No DQ) (OKC 5/27/84) [sDM-1]
     
    ***********************
     
    Your thought on Disks #3? Or any of the Mid South matches? Onto #4 and all the Flair that comes with it. Whoooo!
  11. floyd
    My thought on Disk #2 (Ranked in order of best-to-worst):
     
    Cream of the crop:
     
    1. Rock N Roll Express & Hacksaw Duggan vs. Midnight Express & Ernie Ladd (6/8/84) [sDM-3] - Really surprised this was my favorite match of the set but it was really fun. Ladd just towered over everybody and the Midnights and Cornette brought their shenanigans to the party. Ricky Morton plays Ricky Morton here. A molten crowd always helps too.
     
    2. Magnum T.A. vs. Ted DiBiase (No DQ) (Tulsa 5/27/84) [sDM-2] - Hard to pick this or their same day match, but I liked this one a bit better. It seemed a bit more heated and Magnum's come-back a bit more dramatic. Both guys brawled all over the place over Magnum's N.American title with DiBiase using the No-DQ rule to cheat it up. I heard the Motorcity machine guns got heat for refusing to blade while Magnum bladed twice in one day. The times.... they are a changin''
     
    3. Magnum T.A. vs. Ted DiBiase (No DQ) (OKC 5/27/84) [sDM-1] - Same greatness. Different city. .
     
     
    Very good too:
     
    4.The Fantastics vs. Chavo & Hector Guerrero (10/12/84) [sDM-13] - Great little tag match showing what a fun heel team the Guerreros were.
     
    5. Magnum T.A. vs. Ted DiBiase (7/6/84) [sDM-5] - I actually had this higher than the two No-DQ matches initially, but after rewatching all three again (and yet again), I rated this 3rd. Still a very good match with magnum yet again having to make a dramatic come-back to retain the belt.
     
    6. Rock N Roll Express & Hacksaw Duggan vs. Midnight Express & Ernie Ladd (7/2/84) [sDM-4] - Not as great as the first encounter, but still really fun.
     
     
    Good:
     
    7. The Fantastics & Hacksaw Duggan vs. Midnight Express & Jim Cornette (7/20/84) [sDM-6] - While not their best match-up, the great thing about this match is comedy involved with Cornette. Red hot crowd.
     
    8. The Fantastics vs. Midnight Express (No DQ) (9/28/84) [sDM-11] - Started out as an amazing anything goes No-Dq brawl but slowed up as it turned into a tag team match. Still really good. Hey where's Cornette? All I see is some masked dude outside the ring. ;-)
     
    9. The Fantastics vs. Midnight Express (OKC 8/9/84) [sDM-7]) - Typical Midnight Express formula which as DDT says is not a bad thing but a good thing..
     
     
    Good to OK
     
    10. Killer Khan vs. Chris Adams (9/9/84) [sDM-9]) - Killer Khan gets alot of hate but I really enjoyed this short but fun match. Khan seems flabbergasted by Adams getting the better of him early on but soon him and his manager take over.
     
    11. Dusty Rhodes & Jim Duggan vs. Butch Reed & Hercules Hernandez (8/19/84) [sDM-8] - More proof just how awesome Reed was. Another red hot crowd making an average match so much better.
     
    OK but ain't no Top 20 or nothin:
     
    12. Brickhouse Brown & Master G vs. Butch Reed & Ernie Ladd (10/21/84) [sDM-14] - Another really fun tag match but too slow in some parts.
     
    13. Butch Reed vs. Skip Young (9/23/84) [sDM-10] - Both guys played their parts well but I dunno. Nothing stood out as memorable.
     
    14. Adrian Street vs. Chris Adams (10/10/84) [sDM-12] - Expected a better technical match then this. Short TV match. Adrian Street. Woman beater!!
     
     
    ***********************
     
    Thought fo' Disk #2:
     
    - Was harder for me to get through, and needed lots of re-watches. I guess cause of the repeats of match-ups and the fact that while nothing jumped out as super-mega-awesome, nothing was bad either. Good stuff all 'round on this disk.
     
    - First time I saw Ernie Ladd. He had to be pretty broken down from his football and wrestling career at this stage, but was alot more spry then what I would've figured. For some reason he reminded me of a black Giant Baba. Baba should've turned heel and teamed with Ladd in the 70's....
     
    - Butch Reed is an awesome heel.
     
    - The Fantastics stock went up a bit for me.
     
    - I saw some future Eddie Guerrero heel stuff while watching his brothers perform.
     
    - The Bonus stuff is really fun for it's history and is a very welcome addition.
     
    **********************
     
    Floyd's Ongoing Mid-South Top 10: (After two Disks)
     
    1. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted Dibiase & Matt Borne (Loser Leaves Town) (10/27/82) [PTB-8]
    2. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (Street Fight) (7/29/83) [PTB-14]
    3. Mr. Olympia vs. Chavo Guerrerro (6/24/83) [PTB-13]
    4. Rock N Roll Express & Hacksaw Duggan vs. Midnight Express & Ernie Ladd (6/8/84) [sDM-3]
    5. Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum T.A. vs. Midnight Express (2/10/84) [PTB-16]
    6. Magnum T.A. vs. Ted DiBiase (No DQ) (Tulsa 5/27/84) [sDM-2]
    7. Magnum T.A. vs. Ted DiBiase (No DQ) (OKC 5/27/84) [sDM-1]
    8. The Fantastics vs. Chavo & Hector Guerrero (10/12/84) [sDM-13]
    9. Mr. Olympia vs. Bob Roop (7/15/82) [PTB-5]
    10. Mr. Wrestling II & Junkyard Dog vs. Matt Borne & Ted DiBiase (2/16/83) [PTB-10]
     
    ***********************
     
    Your thought on Disk#2? Or any of the Mid South matches?
  12. floyd
    Floyd’s Rant for Wrestemania IV
     
    To be honest I wasn’t looking forward to this show for 2 reasons:
     
    1) It’s not really that good.
    2) It’s loooonnngggggggggggggggg (~4 hrs.)
     
    This year after Hogan was pinned cleanly by Andre (fuck you Hogan, you lost, the ref counted 3… live with it), Andre gave/sold the World title belt to Ted Dibiase. The WWF wouldn’t allow it so they declared the title vacant and set up a tournament for the title. I thought the tournament was a great idea but unfortunately all the matches were way to short to be any good.
     
    Show opens and Ventura says how excited he is is for this event and how happy he is to be calling the show with Monsoon rather than Vince McMahon (who he always argued with in SNME). Bob Uecker is here! Awesome, let the jokes begin! He gives a glare to Ventura. Ventura responds by silently holding his fist in front of the Uke’s face.
     
    0. 20-Man Battle Royal – Participants: Sika, Danny Davis, The Killer Bees, Bad News Brown, Sam Houston, The Rougeau’s, The hart Foundation, The Young Stallions, Ken Patera, Outlaw Ron Bass, Junkyard Dog, The Bolsheviks, Hillbilly Jim, Harley Race and George Steele.
     
    Bob Uecker is guest commentator for this match, and he’s pretty hilarious with Ventura. For some reason George “the Animal” Steele starts the match outside the ring and apparently he’s eliminated without even being in the match!?! Maybe he couldn’t take a bump over the ropes ala Iron Sheik in WM 17. Uke says he’s got a date with Vanna White but Ventura says she’s in love with him. It’s weird seeing Ken Patera without blonde/white hair. Final 5: JYD, Harley Race, Bad News Allen, Bret Hart, Paul Roma. Harley takes a 360 bump to be eliminated. Bad News takes care of Roma. Stampede buddies Bad News and Bret Hart team up and after awhile they eventually eliminates JYD. They shake hands and celebrate, looks like their gonna split the win-money and trophy. BUT IT’S A SWERVE!!!! Bad news with a ghetto-blaster to Bret and he dumps him for the win. Bad news receives the trophy and looks pleased until Hart comes back in and smashes the trophy to pieces!! *
     
    I heard this was the beginning of Hart’s singles push, but after discovering they were getting rid of Neidheart, he opted to stay tag teaming for 3 more years. Uke leaves to find Vanna White. After he leaves Ventura says he knows right where she is.
     
    ROUND ONE
    1. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan Vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase (w/ servant Virgil and Andre the Giant) – Although I’ve never seen one, I’ve heard these two had some tremendous matches in their Mid-South feud. Let’s see how this one turns out. Funny story, Virgil was named that because it was the first name of their competition’s head booker Dusty Rhodes. Years later Virgil went to WCW and was renamed Vincent, after Vince McMahon. There’s also an interesting rumor on how Virgil got his job but I don’t believe it and good taste prevents me from telling it. Dibiase starts slow but then they start brawling and Duggan wins that, DiBiase takes a nasty bump to the outside. Dibiase’s awesome, he gets better every time I see his matches. Back and forth and Dibiase gets the advantage. Duggan gets a sunset-flip and Ventura is amazed that dumb-ass Duggan actually pulled a move like that out of his ass. Ventura: “Only at Wrestlemania can I be amazed….” Eventually Duggan comes back but Andre cheats and knocks Duggan out for the DiBiase pin. Andre earned his $$ from Ted that match. Wow tons better than I remember but still nothing special. *1/2
     
    2. Dino Bravo (w/ manager Frenchy Martin) Vs. “Da Rock” Don Muraco (w/ training-supplements-supplier “Superstar” Billy Graham) – Ha WTF is Muraco’s music from? It sounds like a 60’s Hercules movie theme that Mystery Science Theatre 3000 shows. 2 big dudes here. Muraco makes a few early mistakes but the commentators cover for him nicely. Once again Ventura tries to explain the Dino Bravo bench press record that he “helped” on. Bravo kicks Muraco off into the ropes.. into a freakin’ hangman’s noose!!! Whoa!… Bravo with a piledriver, nice once too! Ref bump!! Bravo hits his finishing move, the ref goes over and…….. it looks like Muraco won by DQ!?! WTF!?!?! Aha I didn’t notice it like the commentators but Bravo used the ref as a shield drawing the DQ. This match was also alot better than I remember too. But still only *
     
    Kickass promo where Jimmy Hart and Honkytonk put down Uke again. Ain’t no love for the Uke tonight?
     
    3. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine (w/ manager Jimmy Hart) Vs. Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat – This is a come-back of sort as Steamboat took a long time off from the WWF are being pissed at McMahon. He brings his son to the ring, Ventura says he’s got cheeks bigger than Bundy. This should be a good one. Steamboat starts off fast and gets his trademark arm drags. Lotsa quick pins for 2, with Steamboat reversing all of Valentine’s moves and we’re back on the arm. Ventura says his pal Barry Blaustein (Director of “Beyond The Mat”) thinks Steamboat’s gonna win the tournament. Valentine’s in the driver seat now and lays the hammer down. Monsoon says: “The external proximal protuberance”, Ventura asks: “What the fuck did you just say?” So Monsoon says “that lump on the back of your head”. Donald Trump is ringside. His wife looks thrilled to be there (not). If I was Steamboat or Valentine I’d take a backdrop over the railing on ‘em. Hammer’s beating the crap out of Steamboat. Chopfest! Back and forth action until Steamboat hits a high cross body, which Valentine’s reverses it for the pin and a small upset! Really good match for the short time allocated. *** Steamboat thanks the fans before he leaves. About 9 months later Steamboat is the NWA World Champion and putting on some of the greatest matches of all-time with Ric Flair.
     
    4. :”The Natural” Butch Reed (w/ manager “Da Doctor O’ Style” Slick) Vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage (w/ luggage Elizabeth) – Da Slickster dance! Much like Dynamite Kid and Terry Funk, Slick was ahead of his time baby!
     

     
    Ventura’s glad (as am I) that McMahon isn’t doing commentary as he’s worse than Jerry Lawler when it comes to Elizabeth. Seriously it’s no wonder Savage used to be super over-protective with her with Vince’s horny-ass hanging around. Savage tries to use his quickness but Reed uses his power to get the edge. Reed takes smack to Elizabeth, enabling Savage to hit the Flair-slam from the top! Quicker than you can blink he’s on the top rope and gets the elbow drop for the win! 1/2*
     
    Back to the Uke with Bobby Heenan & The Islanders. Heenan puts him down. Yet more Uker hate is unleashed on this show
     
    5. The One man gang (w /manger Slick) Vs. “Bam Bam” Bigalow (w/ Lord Oliver Humperfink)– One Man Gang had a nice run in World Class against the Von Erichs (Hope I thinking of the right guy). He went on too become Akeem the Dream. Bam Bam is a incredibly underrated wrestler. I think the only due he got in the U.S. was a brief run in ECW. One Man Gang starts off quick until Bigalow comes back. High cross body by 350+ Bam Bam! Bam Bam goes to the ropes and Slick accidentally slightly touched the ropes and Bigalow went flying out. Bigalow, what a clumsy Ox. Bell rings? Uhhhh.. Count out win by One Man Gang? Hmmmmm.. That would be fine except Bam Bam got back into the ring in ohhh in about 2 seconds??? Ah well whatever, One Man Gang advances. 1/2*
     
    6. “Ravishing” Ric Rude Vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts (w/ drinking buddy “Damian”) – This is a great opening round match because they were startinjg the feud. Rude’s gimmick was kissing women in the audience. Well one time he kissed Roberts wife so Roberts went ballistic. Rude responded by spray painting Jake’s wife ion his tights. Pretty intense and innovative stuff for its day. Ventura says Rude is the winner of the Jesse “the Body” award. Monsoon asks “What about Ultimate Warrior?” Ventura says: ”His face is too ugly. Looks count too..” Rude’s pretty awesome, he started off terrible but every year he got better and better in every facet of wrestling until he was a great bumper and probably WCW’s best heel until his career-ending injury.
     
    Hmmmmm… actually I guess that feud was after this match. Forget everything I wrote..:-) Jake gets the advantage and works da arm. Roberts goes for the DDT and Rude scurries out of the ring. Heenan hugs him. Rude back in and he takes control after a screwed up Robert’s knee drop. Lonnnnngggggggg wear-down sequence, lasting pretty much the entire match. Roberts finally gets out and they trade moves until the bell rings? Time limit draw! That means neither man advances. Nice start and good ending but really boring in the middle. * Jake tries to ram his snake in Rude’s face, but he escape beforehand. Mean gene asks Vanna White’s opinion on Bob Ukear. Vanna White: “Who?”
     
    7. Non-Tournament match: Herculez Hernandez Vs. The Ultimate Warrior – Monsoons says the retard Warrior breaks the 220 record when he runs to the ring. Staredown and although I never see homophopic stuff in wrestling (like a lot of non-fans), I swear I thought Warrior was gonna give Herc an open mouthed kiss. But see queering don’t make the world work. Warrior tries to skin the cat on the ropes, but he ain’t no Steamboat. Both guys brawl outside the ring. Hercules is completely carrying this match. Herc with the full nelson, Warrior in desperation does the Bret Hart/Steve Austin sleeper-escape thingy in the corner and it ends up with Herc shoulder’s down for the 3 count!! Really not much here. ½*
     
    ROUND 2
    8. Hulk “I won’t job to my best friend Andre cleanly” Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant (w/ bodyguard Virgil and executive consultant Ted DiBiase) – These guys received a bye from the first round because of the SNME controversy. Nice video package of the feud is shown. Anyway for those who don’t know here’s what went down. Andre/Hogan II took place at SNME in early 88. Andre had the Hulkster’s pinned, Hogan got his shoulder up, but the ref counted to 3 and Andre won the title!!!!!!! It seemed the ref was the “evil” twin brother of Earl Hepner, of Dave or I dunno whichever.. Anyway he was paid off and Andre gave the title to Ted Dibiase. GM Jack Tunney said no way and the title was vacated. That SNME match was voted PWI’s Best match of 1988 and although it was a horrendous match quality wise, the sheer markout value of seeing Hogan cry like a bitch (seriously it was hilarious!) in front of the largest TV audience ever for a wrestling match was well worth any awards given to it.
     
    Hogan tries to cheapshot right away but Andre’s too quick for him. For absolutely no reason Hogan starts illegally attacking DiBaise and Virgil, jezz what a role model. Maybe it’s roid-rage and he has to beat up people smaller than him. Andre get’s tied upin the ropes, giving Hogan time to rip off his shirt and pose. Hogan gets some shots in but Andre stops him and starts to choke. Andre with the super slow-mo offense. Finally the “training-enhancers” kick in and Hulkster Hulks up!! He punches Andre in the corner and goes for the slam.. But DiBiase with the chairshot to his back! Hehe money , money, money.. Hogan hits Andre with the chair, Andre grabs it and hits Hogan as well (makes a nice “ding” sound off his skull too!). Bell rings. DOUBLE-DQ!!! Wow that was a HUGE upset for this. Hogan runs after DiBiase and Vigil eats a suplex in the floor from Hogan. A very sloppy, lazy and dangerous suplex too. Both guys are eliminated!! Well Andre certainly earned his money again tonight, he got rid of Hogan and took one for the team. That smart strategist DiBiase, his evil plan is working perfectly I tells yeah! Hogan poses for the fans, which lasts longer than the match. ½*
     
    9. Ted DiBiase (w/ out Virgil) Vs. Don Muraco (w/ “Superstah” Bully Graham) – Muraco starts off fast and tries to get a quick pin to advance. Ventura says he taught former WWF Champ Billy Graham everything he knows. DiBiase reverses a move and Muraco is slingshot into the corner post. Now it’s all Dibiase until he misses a reverse top rope elbow. Back and forth and DiBiase gets a nice hotshot which gives him a clean win. Good match **
     
    10. Randy “Macho man” Savage Vs. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine (w/ manager Jimmy “Da Mouth of the South” Hart). - Dang you know if Steamboat had won, this would’ve been Savage/Steamboat II! All well…Savage starts quick but The Hammer lays the pain down soon. Big chops and Valentine rams Savage into the outside railing. Monsoon says Elizabeth looks worried but I swear every emotion she shows looks exactly the same… boredom.. Valentine goes for his finisher, the Figure-Four, but Savage gets to the ropes. Savage makes a good comeback but the hammer soon stops that. Figure-Four attempt, turned into a small package for a 3 count, Savage wins! Another good round 2 match. **
     
    11. INTER-CONTINENTAL TITLE: The Honkytonk Man (w/ manager Jimmy Hart and Peggy Sue) Vs. Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake – An enthusiastic Sherri Martel is Peggy Sue byteway, and is a good dancer too! Interesting story about this match: Honky was set to lose his I-C title to Savage at Wrestlemania 4. Honky somehow convined McMahon/refused-to-job-the-title, so Mcmahon instead put Savage in the World title tournament. For the tragic end to this story read the last match in this review.
     
    One of Brutus’s offensive moves is messing up Honky’s hair. You know I never really got Brutus’s barber gimmick. I mean I’d freak out and run too if a roided-up shirtless psycho was running after me with a pair of hedge-trimmers. But I mean what’s next? A plumber? A garbage man? A… Oh wait…Maybe prima donna Brutus thinks a haircut is the worst thing you an do to a person.… Anyway the match is pretty much all Brutus and eventually he gets the sleeper hold! Honky’s out! But Jimmy Hart knocks out the ref!!!! Hehehehe, that’s pretty smart. Brutus signals for a Honky haircut but Jimmy grabs the bag and runs off until Bruti catches him. He cuts some hair offa him! Peggy Sue throws water on Honky to wake him up, and they all flee the ring, Honky’s the loser but still da champ. * Hey I bet Bad News, Koko and Butch Reed had fun calling Honkytonk man “Honky” in the locker room. :-)
     
    Andre says he doesn’t matter he lost cause Hogan’s out, DiBiase’s in, and that’s all that matters. Andre put his hand on Uke’s shoulder. Uke asks Andre to take his foot off his shoulder please. Andre chokes Uke awhile then leaves.
     
    12. The Islanders (Haku & Tama) & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan Vs. The British Bulldogs & Koko B. Ware (w /managers Matlida the dog and Frankie the bird) – Heenan comes out in an attack-dog uniform to protect himself, pretty smart. I think Heenan dog napped Matlida to set up this feud. And whatever he did to the dog in his house, … stays in his house.. I always thought the Islanders were a good team, with Tama (The Tonga Kid) being a great bumper. But the WWF’s tag division was so deep at this time they were regulated as a B and C team along with other decent teams like the Young Stallions and The Killer Bees. Anyway expect these last few match reviews to be short as I’m getting burned out by this show.. Back and forth action with all the guys minus Heenan. Once AGAIN crippled Dynamite is the face in peril, which makes no sense to me. Heenan gets some cheap shots ala Danny Davis from last year, then bails. Hot tag to Koko and he cleans house until a Haku crescent kick to da jaw. Heenan gets some rib shots on Koko. But Heenan gets posted! Now all 6 guys get in the ring and with some illegal double-teaming, an unconscious Heenan gets the pin on Koko!! Hennan’s undefeated at Wrestlemania!! Davey boy sicks Cujo-like Matlida on Heenan, but the dog just playfully licks him, and you can see Davey boy laughing at it all. *1/2.
     
    Round 3
    13. The One Man Gang (w/ manager Slickstah) Vs. Randy “Macho man” Savage (w/ manager Elizabeth) - One Man Gang got a bye so he’s only wrestled once while Savage has twice. The gang has a huge weight/power advantage. It’s all One man Gang as he kills Savage until Savage with a top rope axe handle. Savage tries to bodyslam Gang, dumb move.. My man Slick gives the bad mouth to Elizabeth, treating her like one of his ho’s who owe him money. One man gang tries to cheat using Slick’s pimp-stick cane, but the ref sees it and DQ’s him! * Gang breaks the cane over Savages head after the match. But Macho gets pay back, dropping an axe handle on gang who splashes poor Slick into a stain on the ring.
     
    14. TAG TEAM TITLES: Strike Force (Chico Santana & Rick Martel) Vs. Demolition (Axe & Smash w/ manager Mr. Fuji) – Demolition started off as a pathetic Road-Warrior’s rip-off, but managed to make their own reputation with their hard work and turned out to be a pretty decent tag team. Demolition proves to be too powerful so Strike Force uses their quickness. Big illegal clothesline give Demolition the advantage and Chico’s getting mauled! Ventura says “I bet Chico wished he was back in Tijuana selling tacos right now”. Classic smart heel wrestling by Demolition. Flying Jalapeno out of nowhere!!!!! Chico makes the hot-tag to Martel who’s a Canadian House O’ fire! He knocks Ax out of the ring and clamps on his dreaded Stan-Hansen Boston Crab on Smash! The ref is busy with Fuji-san and Ax wallops Martel with Fuji’s Cane of Instant Death. 1,2,3 Demolition are the new tag team champs! **1/2
     
    Round 4 – Da Finals
    MAIN EVENT TIME!!!!!
     
    Celeb watch:
    World title security guard: Robin Leech (he used to have a show snooping in rich people’s houses)
    Front-seat warmer: Donald Trump (Rich dude and adulterer)
    Guest announcer and Mr. Baseball: Bob Uker
    Guest time-keeper and In Ekcellant spellar: Vanna White
     
    15. WORLD TITLE MATCH: Randy “Macho Man” Savage (w/ manager and lover Elizabeth) Vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (w/ insurance policy Andre the Giant) – Vanna White gives Donald Trump a kiss right in front of his wife. Hehe. Uke gets a kiss too and starts shaking like Hulk Hogan. He’s Hulking up! No wait, he’s fainting… Ted DiBiase got a bye while Savage has fought 3 times so far.
     
    Right off the bat Andre grabs Savage’s leg. Andre does it again, and is pretty good at hiding it. The odds are stacked against Savage!! Savage tries the outside top-rope axe-handle but Andre stands between them. Savage tells Elizabeth it’s too dangerous out here so he sends her to the back. Eventually DiBiase gets the advantage and wears down the already exhausted Savage.. Elizabeth returns with … Hulk Hogan!! Actually I’m pretty sure Elizabeth was going to get George Steele but Hogan laid him out in the back so he could be in another Wrestlemania main event. Andre tries another illegal move but this time Hogan stops him
     
    Meanwhile DiBiase gets the Million-Dollar Dream on!! (Sleeper –hold) It’s over! Ring the bell!! Savage is asleep!! New champ!…………… And then when the ref’s back is turned with Andre, Hogan illegally comes in and waffles DiBiase with the chair!!!!!!!!! DiBiase’s out! Savage goes up, hits the elbow, NEW CHAMP! These guys are perfect opponents but there was no time to have a good match here, plus the emphasis was switched to Hogan/Andre. ** Now here’s the end to the Honkytonk story: since he refused to lose the title, Savage was put into the tournament to win the World title. If Honky had jobbed the title to Savage as originally planned, DiBiase was set to win the World title from Hogan. Instead, because of Honky, DiBiase never became a World Champion.:-(
     

     
    Thank God this is over. I love seeing these old Wrestlemania’s and all but this show was loooongggg and didn’t have any stand out matches. I’m going to take 2 aspirins and go outside to get some sun.
     
    WM 4 Grade:
    Total star rating: 21.5
    Total matches: 16
    Show Average: *1/2
     
  13. floyd
    Floyd’s Rant for Wrestlemania III
     

     
    Attendance for this show is listed at an astonishing 93,173. Most experts place it more around 78,000 nowadays, but the actual number isn’t as important as the fact that a SHITLOAD of people came to see Wrestlemania this year.
     
    Vince McMahon opens the show by welcoming the people. You can practically see the dollar signs in Vince’s eyes. He had to have had a week-long orgasm after seeing the gate and buy rate numbers. America the Beautiful is sung by Aretha Franklin. Pretty voice and very well done, but I prefer when Franklin is rocking and rollin’..
     
    Commentators: Gov. Jesse “the Body Ventura” & Dr. Gorilla Monsoon
    Two Guest celebrators: Mary Hart (Entertainment Tonight host) and my all-time favorite Wrestlemania celebrity ever: Bob “I Can’t catch a ball” Uecker.
     
    1. The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel & Tom Zenk) Vs. “Ace Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr. & Fuji Vice (“Magificant” Muraco w/ manager Mr. Fuji) – Tom Zenk is infamous for having a column during the early Internet days where he always seemed pissed off at wrestling and his misuse. Haven’t seen the page for awhile, maybe Vince sent Mark Henry to shut him up. Martel was a great wrestler who was AWA World Champion right before it’s dying days. Both Can-Am guys are a step ahead and use their speed to throw the bigger heels around early. Orton and Muraco try the old “OK I’ll hold the guy and you hit him but please don’t hit me” routine that only works 1 time out of 100. It doesn’t work here. Heels get control briefly but soon the faces use illegal double-team moves (yes that right, illegal) and get the pin on Muraco. Pretty decent opener, establishing the Can-Am. **
     
    2. Herculez Hernandez (w/ manager Bobby Heenan) Vs. Billy Jack Haynes - Replay of Billy Jack Haynes trying to get out of Herc’s full nelson challenge, yup just like Chris Masters. Jack is an asshole though and attacks Heenan beforehand so Herc clotheslines him and puts the full nelson on, hurting Jack’s feelings. I watched Wrestlemania 2 just yesterday and Herc looks a lot more ripped here. Heenan corrects Mean Gene and calls him Billy “Jerk” Haynes. I never really seen Haynes except for this but he was a big star in Portland I believe. Herc gets a shot out of a corner break and gets the advantage. Wow Hayes with a press slam! Damn... Haynes goes for the full nelson so Herc quickly goes to the ropes. Irish whip and Herc explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. Herc whips Jack a bunch of times in the corner. Hayes makes a comeback and goes for a suplex, but his back is too hurt. smell the psychology. More backwork and Herc gets the full nelson on! But as the commentators point out the fingers aren’t locked. With the crowds help Hayes powers out, but Herc gives him a headshot before he does. Hayes with a comeback, but he’s still hurt. He asks the crowd for more cheers which gives him super powers. Now Hayes with the full nelson!! And this ones hooked on good. Herc gets to the ropes and both guys tumble out. Hayes puts it back on outside! 8….9….10…. Double Count out! Afterwards Heenan distracts Hayes while Herc nails him with a chain-wrapped fist. He keeps hitting him and Hayes blades a good one. Good way to continue a feud but I don’t remember much of them wrestling ever again, which is shame cause I liked this match **1/2
     
    3. King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo & Lord Littlebrook Vs. Hillbilly Jim, The Haiti Kid & Little Beaver - The Bundy trilogy comes full circle as he’s now tagging with midgets in the 3rd match of the show after main eventing last year. By the way Little Tokyo is my favorite midget if anyone is keeping track of stuff like dat. He’s like the straight man of a comic routine when he always screws things up and apologizes while Littlebrook gets madder and madder. But of course like all guys I like a little Beaver now and then. The rules are only the big guys can be in the ring and only the little guys at the same time. Let’s see how long that’ll last.. Criss cross action into a row-boat move. Ahhh the classic midget moves. Typical midget stuff until Little beaver gets a cheapshot at Bundy so Bundy forces Tokyo to tag him in. UH-OH. MIDGIT THRASHING! Nope Hillybilly Jim gets tagged in. Hillbilly Jim AND both midgets pin Bundy, but he still kicks them all off. Hillybilly gets into trouble and Little Beaver gets another cheap shot. Remember these cheapshots, they’ll come important later. Bundy slaps Hillybilly Jim around some more so Beaver comes in for another cheapshot and this time Bundy’s had enough. In an INSANE visual King Kong Bundy bodyslam then elbowsdrops Little beaver!!!!
     
    Another squash match for Bundy ->
     
    Mean old Bundy goes for the Big Bundy splash but all 3 other midgets team up and drag Little Beaver out before. Bundy is DQ'ed. Not even a match but pretty fun for the midget’s poor pain. Ventura says you can throw out Little Beaver in a garbage bag cause he’s done. *1/2 Mart Hart interviews Macho Man who gives a bad ass promo.
     
    4. JYD Vs. "The King" Harley Race (w/ manager Bobby Heenan) - Uhhh I forgot about this match. But I remember how much I HATE it. It’s a whoever loses must bow to the other. Harley Race has a raspy voice you can only get from 20 years of straight Whisky drinking. For some reason The Uke has a hard on for Moolah (who’s holding the crown.) They start off and JYD quickly knocks Race out of the ring. Harley Race with a kick-ass flying headbutt from the apron to the floor (which JYD avoids)!!!!. Damn I don’t remember that! Anyway it goes back and forth until Harley hits a belly-to-belly and pins JYD clean! ¼* Definitely an upset, with the clean pin and all, but then JYD, after stalling, finally does a half-assed bow and then when Race is looking the other way…. CROWNS HIM WITH A METAL CHAIR!!!???!!! Man! Even as a 8 yrs old JYD fan back then I thought that was a pretty crappy thing to do. JYD steals all of the King’s paraphernalia and dances to the crowd. But Harley Race is still listed as the King in my record books.
     
    5. The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques & Raymond) Vs. The Dream team (Greg “The Hammer” Valentine & Brutus Beefcake w/ manager “Luscious” Johnny Valiant) – The Rougeau were a pretty awesome team, but never got to the top with teams like the Hart Foundation, Bulldogs and Demolition hanging around. The Dream Team has a new guy in their stable, Canadian strong man Dino Bravo. Raymond with a hammerlock escape and it just dawned on me, that bad ass bump Davey boy did at Wrestlemania II was probably just a really bad fuck-up on Beefacake’s part. My hate for Beefcake goes up a notch. Dream Team has the advantage and Bobby the Brain Heenan join the commentary and proclaims he’s “Two For Two tonight! And Andre’ll make it 3!” Monsoon reminds him that Bundy lost, but Heenan says that don’t count as he wasn’t out there cause he doesn’t mess with midgets. Meanwhile the match continues as Jacques has Valentine pinned, but behind the ref’s back, Dino hits a top rope bomb to give the Dream Team the win. For some reason Beefcake doesn’t like the cheap win, so his manager/partners leave him. Way too short. ½*
     
    6. “Adorable” Adrian Adonis (w/ manager Jimmy Hart) Vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (Hair Vs. Hair match) – Replay of Adonis kicking Roddy’s ass on his own show, so Hot Rod tears up Adonis show “The Flower Shop” in revenge. This is Roddy’s retirement match and whoever loses this gets his hair cut. The crowd gives hPiper huge roar before the match. Piper and Adonis trade belt shots. Adonis with the Flair flip to the outside! Piper drags both Adonis AND Jimmy Hart back in and kicks their ass right back to the outside. Back in and Piper Flair-slams Hart like a projectile onto Adonis. Jesse says Hart is tougher than Uker. Adonis regains control and smacks Piper all round the ring and outside, Hart gets some shots in too. Hart blinds Piper with the Atomizer and Adonis with the sleeper (his finisher) ! Piper fights but it’s no use. Piper’s arm goes down once.. twice and thr.. no it didn’t go down, but Adonis released the hold thinking it did. Meanwhile Beefcake runs in and revives Piper, who puts the sleeper onto Adonis and he’s out! Piper wins. *1/2 Damn ANOTHER terribly unfair win. Now Beefcake helps shave an unconscious Adonis, setting up his “Barber” gimmick that went on for about 3 years. Piper throws Adrian’s hair out to the fans. A fan runs into the ring and Piper shakes his hand, then as he leaves security tackles and handcuffs him.
     
    7. The Hart Foundation & “Dangerous” Danny Davis (w/ manager Jimmy Hart) Vs. The British Bulldogs & Chico Santana – Unfortunately this is after Dynamite’s injury, but I thought he was still awesome considering the severity of it. Danny Davis was a referee who supposedly screwed the Bulldogs and Chico Santana out of their titles. So now this is the revenge/kick-his-ass match. The Harts are the tag team champs here bytheway. The faces start quick (even their dog Matilda!) and clear the ring. Back and forth action until the Harts get the advantage and Dynamite is the face in peril. Man, why on earth have nearly-crippled Dynamite take the punishment? Danny Davis comes in, gets one cheap shot, then tags out. Oooooooooooooooooo the crowd doesn’t like him at all. He’s gonna get beat up real bad real soon.. Eventually Davis make a mistake and the thrashing begins. Ahhhhhhh, OK, now I get why Dynamite was in there, so the other more- healthy two guy can KILL Davis in the tags. All the big moves are used on him, you name it.. Flying Jalapeno…. Figure-Four leglock… Crazy jumping piledriver…. Big ass running powerslam… Somewhere behind the ref’s back Daveyboy gets creamed by the megaphone and Davis gets the pin! Hehehehe. Davis better grow a goatee and change his name before the Bulldogs/Chico find him. Short but fun match. ***
     
    8. “The Natural” Butch Reed (w/ manager “The Doctor of Style” Slick) Vs. Koko B. Ware (w/ manager Frankie) – Hmmmm looking at the size of Reed’s arms, I wonder if he’s really that natural. Koko brings in the 2nd animal to the ring tonight, unless you count Little Beaver. The Doctor of Style is decked out in some sweet threads tonight baby. Unfashionably Moonsoon says there’s not 35$ worth of stuff on him. Koko was pretty good in Memphis but like most good athletes, was misused in the WWF. Didn’t see much of Butch Reed before this, but I heard he was good, he went on later to be half of the NWA tag team Doom with Ron Simmons. Koko uses his speed to get an early advantage but Reed cheats and takes over. Jesse says he remembers when Monsoon cheated against Jack Dempsey in 1926. Koko with a quick comeback but Reed cheats again and gets the pin! Cheating rules! * Koko Pearl Harbors Reed out of the ring, so the heroic Slick defends his wrestler by hitting him with the Cane. Then OUT OF NOWHERE Chico runs out, beats him up, and leaves the poor Slickster running with all his cool threads torn up. Chico should be suspended and fined for such terrible behavior… Same for Buttcake and the JYD…
     
    9. INTER-CONTINENTAL TITLE: Randy “Macho” Man Savage (w/ manager “The Lovely” Elizabeth) Vs. Ricky Steamboat (w/ George “the Animal” Steele in his corner distracting Savage and trying to steal Elizabeth like a date rapist cause he tried it 1,000 times before) – Savage’s double ax-handle off the top rope to the outside was considered so devastating back then that it was almost banned So anyway, Savage hits a double ax-handle to Steamboat, crushing his larynx on the railing!! Steamboat’s career was considered over, but the Dragon made a miraculous comeback and is now back for revenge!! Macho’s I-C reign is well over a year by this point and he even gets a nice ovation from the crowd even though he’s the despicable heel. These two guys are ridiculously fast, especially when compared with the rest of the roster. Steamboat starts quick in his rage but Savage outsmarts him and immediate starts working on the throat. Steamboat comebacks and works on the right arm (the flying elbow arm) in some innovative ways. Savage tosses Steamboat out and keeps kicking his ass and then throwing him back out. More nasty larynx-crushing stuff including an elbow and knee. Back and forth with both guys not keeping the advantage for too long. Lots quick pins and arm drags by the Armdragon, and the ref looks tired. Savage tosses Steamboat out again. It looks like Savage is going for a Count Out win. Top-rope axe handle to the floor!!!!! Savage throws Steamboat back into the ring? Why? Ohh I see, Top rope axe handle! WTF, Only 2? Awesome top-rope slingshot throat umm… thingy that gets a 2. More moves and Steamboat barely keeps getting his arm up at 2.
     
    Steamboat starts a comeback but Savage goes to the eyes, gets a gut wrench, only 2. Savage rushes… HOLY CRAPP!!!! Savage takes a HUGE Shawn Michaels-type backdrop to the floor years before Shawn Michaels was drugged up enough to try it. Now Steamboat goes outside and throws him in for punishment! Steamboat flies over the ref to hit a karate chop for .. 3!!!! Steamboat wins!!! OMG I.. No wait Savage’s leg was on the rope.. The crowd is really getting into this now. Savage tries the same “run back into the ring and nail him coming in” trick he used early but this time Steamboat is ready for it and gets a 2 count. Steamboat tries about 20,000 pin attempts in like 30 sec, always getting a close 2.9999 count every time. How is Savage kicking out these? Savage reverses an irish whip and posts Steamboat. Another irish whip and a ref bump. Dang. Savage to the top, flying elbow drop!!!!! It’s ovah!!!! It’s… Wait…. The ref’s out!!! Dammit! Savage tries to slap the ref awake but no dice. Savage goes out to get the ring bell to nail Steamboat with, but Steele pushes Savage off the top and Savage’s head hits the bell!! (Well not really, he missed, but let’s pretend he did) A semi-conscious Savage picks up the dead Steamboat who suddenly reverse a slam for a 3 count!!!!!!! After 14 months, A New Intercontinental champ!! If I was reviewing this match for the first time I’d give it 4-1/2 stars but I remember seeing it live (on closed circuit) so: ***** Like Steamboat said years ago, Hogan/Andre sold the show. But this match stole the show. I agree though that Steele should join JYD, Beefcrap and Chico in the suspensions.
     
    10. Jake Roberts (w/ snake-handler Alice Cooper) Vs. The Honkytonk man (w/manager Jimmy Hart) – In Robert’s talk show “The Snake Pit” Honkytonk hit him with the guitar. Unlike Jeff Jarrett’s guitars made of powder, back then it was a REAL guitar and Jake was super hurt for real by it. Both Jesse and Monsoon put over Steamboat’s match, I bet Hogan loved hearing that.. The Honkytonk man: A bad wrestler, but a fantastic heel and good seller. The thing I loved about him is that he really thought the fans loved him and thought he was the greatest wrestler in the world, despite how much they booed him. Jake starts quick and slams Honky outside the ring. Ouch. Honky gets the advantage back. Actually Honky isn’t looking as terrible as I remember. Jake gets a clothesline and signals for the DDT. Honky quickly bails. Jake stupidly comes out so Honky rams him in the post and railing. Back in and Honky uses his cousin (Jerry Lawler’s) top-rope fist-drop move. More beating and Jake doesn’t know here he is. Honky goes for the Shake-Rattle-and-Roll (his finishing move) but Jake reverses it in a backdrop! Honky with the top-rope corner fists but Jake reverse it into an inverted atomic drop. Jake’s making a comeback! Honky pleads for mercy! Honky with the Harley Race rocking-horse in the ropes sell. Jake goes for the DDT! But Jimmy Hart distracts him, Honky cheats and… wins!!??!!?? Wow, a lot better than I remembered. **1/2 What a huge upset this was back then, but who knew that joke wrestler Honkytonk would actually defeat Steamboat and go on to become an 18-month Intercontinental champion? Jake Roberts holds Jimmy Hart while Alice Copper brings the snake out (the reptile, not his trouser snake…) and Jimmy Hart shits his pants.
     
    11. The Killer Bees (Jim Brunzell & B. Brian Blair) Vs. The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff (w/ manager Slick) – Poor Slick. He comes out in his tattered rags but still hold his head up high. Slick demands that everyone stands up and respects the Russian anthem. Nikolai starts singing and Jim Duggan runs out to stop him and clears the ring. C’mon Vince that should be another suspension right there, where’s security? Ventura says Gorilla was standing for the anthem, but Monsoon denies it. The foreigners start right before the bell but the Bees get the advantage and use some nice double team moves. Duggan is patrolling the ring. Heels with the advantage now and they use their power to soften up Brunzell. The Bees make the hot-tag but the ref didn’t see it so it didn’t stand and Brunzell gets beaten more. Monsoon agrees with Ventura that the ref shouldn’t allow it. See that’s what I liked about Ventura/Monsoon, they’d play good guy/bad guy but agree on stuff like Ventura admitted all the cheating early in the show. Today Coach acts like he doesn’t see shit happening. Sheik with a camel clutch and Duggan runs in and wallops him with a 2X4. Sheik and Nikolai win by DQ. ** Man… If I was the Bees I’d turn heel and beat the living snot out of him. That match was also a lot better than I remembered.
     
    MAIN EVENT TIME!
    Celeb watch:
    Guest Announcer: Da Uke (w/ jokes galore at his expense by Ventura)
    Guest Time keeper: Mary Hart (but can see ring a bell?)
     
    12. WWF WORLD TITLE MATCH: Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant (w/ manager Bobby “the Brain” Heenan) – Here we go! This is the match! Andre was billed as being undefeated for his entire career (not true). Replay on Piper’s Pit of Andre demanding a title shot after Hogan was “ducking him all these years”. Andre at this time was in REALLY bad shape and needed back surgery, but still toughed it out cause he’s a bad ass. In fact much like Hennig/Bret Hart in 91 and Lesnar/Angle in 03, the loser was the real winner in my eyes for gutting it out like a pimp.
     
    The match starts with the fans GOING CRAZY and a stare-down.Well.. stare-up for Hogan. Push by Andre. Return push by Hogan! Hogan gets the fists in and bodyslams Andre.. No Andre falls on him!! 1.2.3….it’s over!!!! It’s.. and in an infamous moment that’ll come back next year, ref Joey Marella (Monsoon’s real-life son for those interested) only signals 2!!! Wow was that close! Hogan’s hurt! I mean REALLY hurt…. he can’t even stand up. Someone call Life Alert.
     
    Andre methodically (aka slowly) starts beating him up. Andre stands on Hogan’s back!! Andre picks him up and starts beating him up in the corner while Hennan cheers him on. Andre’s dominating. Hogan finds some daylight and makes a comeback, the crowd is going insane!! But he can’t knock the giant off his feet. Hogan goes for a corner clothesline, big Andre with a size 26 boot to da face. It’s Bear hug time!!! The fans are cheering on for Hogan to power out. But… it’s not working… Is Hulkamania over? His arm goes down once.. twice… three time!!!!! WTF?, it was three times ref, he should be out. Bah! Anyway on the fourth time Hogan keeps his arm up. Hogan punches his way out, hurting his hand but still punching. The comeback ends with an Andre chop. One big boot later and Hogan’s on the floor. Andre goes after him. He goes to headbutt Hogan, but misses and headbutts the post!! Doh! Then in one of the most disgusting, despicable moves I’ve ever seen before, Hogan takes the padding off the floor and actually tries to piledrive a crippled man on concrete!!!?!!!! Luckily Karma bites Hogan right in the ass and Andre backdrops him. Back in and Hogan finally drops Andre with a clothesline. Andre gets up and Hogan body slams him! The crowds gone insane!! Hogan with a legdrop. 1,2,3! Damn, looks like Heenan’s been foiled again!… Hogan you were lucky tonight dude. **. Hogan starts posing. I stop the DVD.
     
    Anyone seen the show? What did you think of it?
     
  14. floyd
    Floyd’s Rant for Wrestlemania II
     
    Wrestlemania 2 has always been a childhood favorite of mine. IN fact, it’s easily the Wrestlemania event I’ve seen the most times. This year Vince McMahon wanted to do what Jim Crockett did for Starcade and stage a big card in more than one venue. He chose Three, the first being in:
     
    New York:
    Ray Charles sings the national anthem. Despite some feedback, does a awesome job on it. Ray Charles > Limp Bisquick any day. Roddy Piper cuts a promo saying if Mr. T knocks him out he will quit wrestling. He also adds a creepy line about saying he “will quit dating girls”, then puts his arm around Orton and says “I’ll stick with you”.
     
    New York commentators: Vince McMahon and Susan Saint James. I still don’t know who the fuck Susan Saint James is and why she’s here, and don’t feel like looking it up after hearing her awful commentary. Seriously I wish I had a Spanish track or something instead of McMahon/James.
     
    1. Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff Vs. “The Magnificent” Muraco (w/manager Mr. Fuji) – I remember seeing some old pre-Hogan-days Muraco and he looked pretty awesome, but he went waaayyyyyy downhill after he had to get big for WWF 80’s day IMO. Orndorff was also really good until his injury. Muraco gets an early slam but Orndorff gets a slam right back for a huge crowd pop. Muraco stomps Orndorff in the corner but Mr. Wonderful quickly gets the advantage and works on da arm. He works the arm for awhile until Muraco gets a Samoan Drop to break the hold. Both guys start slugging it out until they both tumble out of the ring. The ref separates them and someone RINGS THE BELL! THEY RINGS THE F*^#%&ING BELL!… The crowd starts yelling “Bullshit Bullshit!” and without meaning too I am as well. That’s crap. Super short match which is the sad norm for this show, not even a real match DUD
     
    Mr. T cuts a promo and holy crap he reminds me more of Eddie Murphy imitating Mr. T rather than the real deal. You know, I’m not sure what the end of Orndorff/Muracos was, I’m guessing a Double DQ.
     
    2. INTER-CONTINENTAL TITLE: “Macho Man” Randy Savage (w/ manager Elizabeth) Vs. George “The Animal” Steele – Savage comes out to the High School graduation theme. Steele was a big player who I think wrestled both Bruno Sammartino and Bob backlund. Steele has a hard-on for Elizabeth. Savage was just awesome here. He was seriously ahead of the curve with just about anybody else in the promotion. One thing I remember about Savage is how fast he was in his matches. George starts running around like a loony so Savage bails. Savage goes in and out of the ring until Steele finally goes after him. Steele catches him and starts biting Savage'sleg! Savage unwisely goes after Steele so George uses his monster ape-like strength to toss him around. Steele goes after Elizabeth to proclaim his undying love, so Savage gets him tied up in the ropes and puts da boots to him. Flying bodypress gets 2 but on the kickout Steele kicks Savage right out of the ring. Back in and back out. Back in and back out. Jesus Christ Savage is spending more time outside then in. Hey wait.. Where’d he go? Savage goes under the ring and Pearl Harbors Steele from behind. Brains over Brawn. Steele simply bites him in the arm. WTF ref!?? Savage takes a bouquet of flowers that was for Elizabeth and slaps the taste out of Steele, so Steele bites his arm again and tries to stuff the flowers down Macho’s mouth! Steele goes to celebrate by eating a turnbuckle. He uses the stuffing as a weapon somehow to blind and suffocate Savage. Macho’s out…. again…. Steele professes his love to Elizabeth which enables Macho to get a top rope axe handle Hehe hell yeah!! Back in and Macho hits a Top-Rope elbow!! 1,2,3 it’s over Macho wins and… wait…..WTF!!!?? Steele kicked out? That’s crap. Anyway Macho cheats with his feet on the ropes and gets the real pin. Steele doesn’t care and keeps eating the turnbuckle to drown his sorrow. I like Steele and all but Savage was completely wasted here, he should’ve fought Santana, or Steamboat or someone who could’ve kept up with him. *1/4
     
    3. Jake ‘the Snake” Roberts Vs. George Wells – Wells and I share the same last name so I automatically thought he was cool, which is a shame cause I never saw him ever again. Anyway Ex-football player Wells (who looks like a roided up Virgil/Vincent) comes out fast and starts pounding Roberts in and out of the ring. Flying football tackle and head butt puts Jake facedown. Flying headscissors by Wells and Jake calls for a time out. Jake is selling really good. Powerslam gets 2. Jezz, Jake is getting mauled. But Roberts get the old Greco-Roman eye-poke. Wells is swinging blindly and walks right into a knee lift and then….. DDT!!!! It’s ovah! Go ahead and bring the casket down and sprinkle Wells’s ashes cause NO ONE gets out of the DDT back then. Jake brings Damian out of the bag and wraps it around George Wells, who foams/pukes at it. This match showed that no matter what happens, one DDT and it’s all over. *
     
    4. Roddy Piper (w/ Bob Orton & Lou Duva) Vs. Mr. T (w/ Haiti Kid & Smoking Joe Frasier) – Replay shows how stupid Mr. T was at SNME where he was outsmarted by Piper and Orton and was whipped like a dog in the middle of the ring. Piper also shaved the Haiti Kid on Piper’s Pit to make him look like Mr. T. Joan Rivers is a guest ring announcer, I bet she pulls a Lillian Garcia and forgets who the wrestlers are.
     
    Guest Judges: Basketball Glass Breaker: Darry Dawkins (cool), Scat-man Cab Calloway (awesome), Judge G. Gordon Lilddy (whatever) , Guest ring announcer……………Herb.. Herb?? Who the crap was Herb!?!?!?! He prances around like a hairdresser and I don’t remember any of these B and C-celebs in the orginal clipped version. This is a boxing match by the way.
     
    Piper starts talking trash that Mr. T tries to ignore. Suddenly they goes nose-to-nose. Ah hell yeah!!! It’s on now biyatch! I’m not going to lie, I love this match. A lot of people call this one of the worst embarresments for wrestling and consistantly give it a negative million stars galore, but when I think of John Cena’s reign, it’s nowhere near as bad.
     
    [Round 1]
    They go right at and Piper gets a cheap shot out of out of a break. Mr. T with a Jack Lamotta peek-a-boo defense avoiding Piper who’s swinging like crazy. Round ends with both guys still going at it and the seconds around the ring have to break them up. Pretty even round. Piper walks over between the round and talks more trash..
     
    [Round 2]
    Early on the ref and Mr. T notice Piper has a lot of grease on his forhead. Hehehehehehe. Cheater! It’s wiped off and Piper starts getting some combos in. Mr. T gets stuck in the corner and is wailed upon. Mr. T is hurt! He on wobbly legs. He’s knocked down and falls like a tree!!! Rocky II my ass. A-Team huh? Mr. T gets up but Piper keeps up the onslaught, and in fact the crowd starts chanting “Roddy! Roddy!” Mr. T collapses at the bell and gets a standing 8 count. Mr. T is hurt. Roddy dances in victory!
    In between the round Orton throws water at Mr. T. This is awesome! It’s like a clown sketch at the circus.
     
    [Round 3]
    I laugh again when Roddy starts shuffling around like Piper Ali. Mr. T throws some bombs and Piper gets knocked on his ass in the corner. He looks knocked out!! He gets up by 8. A dazed Piper calls out Mr. T. Now the crowd chants “T! T! T!” Turncoats! Big ass left jab Frasier must’ve taught him, and Piper gets knocked right out of the ring!! Orton’s practically shoving Piper’s semi-conscious carcass back into the ring by 9. Piper somehow lasts the round but is beat up. In between the round and now Mr. T comes over and talks trash to Piper.
     

    [Round 4]
    Piper throws a chair at Mr. T to start the round. Both guys are weary and start trading shots at each other. Mr. T’s mouthpiece is knocked out by one. Piper’s getting the advantage! No.. Now Mr. T is!.. Both men are exhausted. What tha..? Piper shoves the ref down.. and bodyslams Mr. T! 10,000 people run into the ring to separate them. Mr. T gets his arm raised in victory so Piper jumps him. The melee continues like a Jerry Springer episode. I was hoping for the Haiti kid to be flung like a discus into the crowd.
    Smark rating: *, Fun rating: ****
    Overall: **1/2
     
    Chicago:
    Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Mean Gene Oakerlund, Guest Celebrity Cathy Lee Crosby.
     
    5.WOMEN’S TITLE: “The Fabulous” Moolah Vs. Velvet McIntyre. Yeshh talk about a squash. Moolah gets some hair tosses. McIntyre comes back with some one-footed dropkicks, then goes for a Snuka splash only to belly-flop for the Mollah 1,2,3 pin. DUD
     
    6. Corporal Kirchner Vs. Nikolai Volkoff (w/ manager “Classy” Freddie Blassie) – This is a flag match. Corporal Kirchner is infamous for a bad reason. After leaving the WWF he went to Japan as Leatherface and was jailed for destroying some guys face in a fight, then was blacklisted for nearly killing poor Shoji Nakamaki by legdropping and powerbombing him into a bed of nails. When you gets kicked out of IWA for being TOO violent, you got problems. Nikolai sings the Russian anthem again. I think this is a re-match from a SNME flag match where in a BIG upset Nikolai won. Another ridiculously short match. Corp blades early which is a big deal in Vince McMahon's 80’s WWF, although it’s only a paper-cut sized trickle. The ref gets bumped and Blassie throws in the Deadly Cane of Doom, only for Corp to intercept it and waffle Nikoli for the win! I guess cheating's OK. USA! USA! USA! DUD
     
    7. Football Vs. Wrestlers Battle Royal. This has a lot of NFL football players, capitalizing on the Chicago bears popular 86 Superbowl run. Anyone remember the Superbowl shuffle? HAHAHA that old lady who used to do the “Where’s the Beef” line in Wendy’s commercials had her mic turned off. That was money well spent Vince… Special outside refs: Dick Butt-kiss and “Too Tall” Jones (ex football players/manager). Looks like Ernie Ladd (ex-football and wrestler) is a guest commentator who does a good job. According to Gorilla, the combined weight of all the participants is 5,612 lbs, which is about the same weight as Two King Mabel’s and a side order of Rikishi.
     
    Participants: Pedro Morales, Tony Atlas, Ted Arcidi, Dan Spivey, Hillbilly Jim, King Tonga, The Iron Sheik, The Killer Bees, The Hart Foundation, Big John Studd, Bill Fralic, Jimbo Covert, William “Refrigerator” Perry, Harvey Martin, Ernie Holmes, Russ Francis, Bruno Sammartino, and Andre the Giant. - Hard to review this match. Refrigerator Perry and Big John Studd go at it. Last 10 or so: Shiek eliminated 3 guys right away. Bill Fralic gets tossed. Bruno backdrops da evil Shiek out. Studd eliminates 180 yr old Bruno Sammartino. Perry tackles BOTH Hart Foundation guys over the top to a huge pop, but they stay in. Perry goes for another tackle but Studd sidesteps him like a matador. Ole! So Perry goes right over the top rope. HAHA But then he gives Studd a congradulary handshake and Studd gets pulled out! STUDD YOU DUMBASS! Four guys left. The Hart Foundation, Russ Francis, and Andre. Double dropkick gets Andre tied up in the ropes. Francis tries to run but the Harts soften him up and toss him. Double team on Andre including a slingshot tackle. They try to toss him but Andre kicks them off. Another slingshot tackle but Bret Hart eats a mouthful of Andre’s boot. Double noggin knocker! And in one of the crazier looking bumps ever, Andre lightly kicks Neidhart, who proceeds to backpedal about 20 steps and eliminate himself! Bret Hart tries to be sneaky and climb to top but gets caught and tossed over the top rope (one-handed too!) by Andre onto Neidhart. Andre wins! Really fun Battle Royal. **
     
    Piper gives another cool promo about Mr. T’s hair and cheating. “I don’t have to shave my head like an Indian and I don’t have to paint myself black”. Hmmmm. Hey Piper. Did you forget that when you fought Bad News at WM 6? Football player Jumbo Covert cries like a little schoolgirl at being thrown out. Sheik gives another undecipherable promo.
     
    8. TAG TAM CHAMPIONSHIP – The Dream Team (Greg “The Hammer” Valentine & Brutus Beefcake w/”Luscious” Johnny Valiant) Vs. The British Bulldogs (Davey boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid w/manager Captain Lou Albano) – Just to start off, this is my MOTY for 1986. Now there were a lot of better matches this year, Windham/Flair and Fujinami/Maeda quickly come to mind, but this is a big mark-out moment for myself as the Bulldogs finally get their chance at the champs at the biggest show of the year, this time with an outside ref to watch out for the Dream team’s chicanery. For some reason Ozzy Osbourn is ringside. I’m hoping he isn’t too coked up at ringside, as he’s about to see a great match.
     
    Davey Boy and The Hammer start off. Davey quickly tosses Greg 10 ft in the air right on his ass. Slugfest back and forth and I suddenly feel bad for Valentine cause he’s tough and it’ll be him taking the hard shots from the Bulldogs whereas Beefcake hates to get his hair messed up. Dynamite is tagged in and he hits a 65mph shoulderblock on Greg. Super intense snap suplex and the Hammer is seeing stars. Davey boy comes in and hits a vertical suplex for 2. Valentine goes outside to takes a powder (not from Ozzy) from the Bulldog onslaught. Stiff forearms by Valentine and a headbutt into Daveyboy’s chestnutts and now he’s a soprano (Not the gangster). Beefcake enters the ring and the match automatically goes down 2 stars. Beefcake works on the arm, Daveyboy counters by hitting a NASTY military press. I mean Davey bounced about 4 feet off the canvas after slamming Beefcake. Dynamite comes back in and chops the shit out of Brutus. Davey boy back in and he hits a perfect-plex for 2. Standing front facelock and Beefcake makes a smart move by backing up, tagging Valentine and holding Davey boy for a Hammer shot from the top-rope.
     
    Valentine takes over. Monsoon and Gene put over Valentine’s Hall-of-Fame father. Valentine with a headlock but this time Davey returns the favor, backs up and gets a tag while Valentine is stuck. Dynamite and Greg trade stiff shots like they were back in Japan or something. That’s the thing with Dynamite. He would kill himself for his opponent, but he would also KILL his opponent to get a great match. Side back breaker and Dynamite almost gets the 3 but Beefcake makes the save. Lotsa quick double team moves that you never see nowadays. Valentine hits a sit-down piledriver for a close 2. Dynamite’s hurt!! Somehow Dynamite recovers and now all Four men get involved. Davey boy presses Dynamite over his head to throw at Valentine but he recovers and bails from the ring at the last minute. Tag to Davey and a big time Running Powerslam. Man Greg’s getting killed here, what the hell is Beefcake doing? Valentine reverses an irish whip and Davey gets his arm posted. Hammerlock and Beefcake gets a tag and top rope fist drop. Beefcake takes over the hammerlock and in a NASTYASS bump does THIS:
     
    JESUS CHRIST!! ->
     
    They keep working on Davey boy’s arm and Valentine gets a running shoulder breaker. For 1..2.. He pulls him back up!!? What’s he thinking? Ahhh..I think he just wants to punish him some more. Davey boy in desperation whips Valentine into the corner where he hits head to head with Dynamite, who flies off the top right onto the floor (Looked nasty too, shame the camera didn’t get a shot if it). Valentine stumbles backwards and falls on his back, Davey collapses on him for the 1…2… 3!!! Wow that came out of nowhere! Beefcake tried to make the save but the outside ref grabbed his leg. There were better Bulldog/Dream team matches but this was just awesome as the Bulldogs finally got the titles after months of chasing and getting screwed. Dynamite blades just for fun outside. ****1/4
     
    Los Angles:
    Commentators: Gov. Jesse da Body Ventura, Lord Alfred Hayes and Elvira and Elvira’s boobs.
     
    9. Hercules Hernandez Vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat – Rumor has it that Steamboat was going to take on Bret Hart here, but they switched to Hercules at the last minute. {Sigh}…Herc attacks right away and starts beating the stuffing out of the dragon. Bunch of reversals and the ArmDragon gets his first 2 armdrags. Herc powers out but Steamboat runs around until he gets the arm again and works more on it. Elvira and Jesse mock Steamboat and call him a wuss for wearing a bandanna on his leg. Hey who’s the one wearing the boa here Jesse? Herc gets out again but Steamboat’s way to fast for him and Steamer gets a suplex on the big man. Herc powers out again and this time clothesline the crap out of Steamboat. Herc starts putting the knees to Steamboat’s skull, gets a bearhug, then drops him throat first onto the top rope. Crowd chants “Steamboat! Steamboat!” Steamboat draws power from the fans and tries a desperation powerslam, but Hercules is too fat and almost gets a 3 when he falls on him. Steamboat’s stumbling around the ring like Floyd on one Dollar margarita night. Hercules looks a bit like Eugene to me. Steamboat gets some big time chops in but Herc stops that nonsense with another clothesline, and gets 2. Press slam by Hercules and he didn’t just toss him, but really rammed Steamboat hard into the mat full force. Another press slam and Herc makes dumb heel mistake #24 by going to the top rope. He tries a Herc splash but Steamboat gets the knees up! Steamboat shows him how it’s done and hits a flying bodypress for the 3 count. Alfred Hayes and Jesse argue about the ref’s count speed. **1/2
     
    10.“Adorable” Adrian Adonis (w/ manager Jimmy hart) Vs. Uncle Elmer – This may come to a huge shock to a lot of people, but Adonis was an AWESOME worker back in the day. He was a fat guy but was ridiculously fast and agile, and could sell like a mofo. I’m not sure why Vince punished him, I’ve heard it was either cause he refused to job to people or wouldn’t lose weight. Anyway, he got stuck with the “gay” gimmick but like Repo man and Dusty Rhodes, took a shitty gimmick and actually got over with it. Ughh, but it’s heart-breaking to see Adonis dressed up and acting like this. As for Uncle Elmer, Vince just had a hard-on for Hillbilly wrestlers, maybe he thought he was making fun of Ted Turner of something I dunno..
     
    Elmer starts with a cheapshot and 300lb Adonis hits a freaking Flair flip in the corner! Crazy stuff, it’s like seeing Mark Henry doing Curt Henning-like selling. More crazy-ass bumping by Adonis and he’s flopping around like Rey Mysterio Jr. Adonis is thrown to the outside and Jimmy Hart argues with the ref. Back in and Uncle Elmer starts undressing Adonis. Elmer with a stomach-block or whatever and Adonis flips over the top ropes and gets caught in the ropes. Adonis gets out only to get a huge Avalanche from Elmer! Uncle Elmer Splash attempt misses and Adonis goes to the top rope for a top rope headbutt, Benoit eat your heart out. Adonis and Hart prance around the ring a few times. That bumping was CRAZY but pretty much a squash. *
     
    11. Tito Santana & JYD Vs. Terry & Dory Funk Jr. – Terry and JYD had been feuding for months and this is the blowoff. Hogan gets his 2nd interview of the card. Terry Funk starts shoving the ref around before the match. Funk was a youngster, only 40 yrs old or so for this match. If you didn’t know that both Terry and Dory are two of the GREATEST wrestlers in history, you need to seriously stop reading this and go find some of their matches….. RIGHT NOW….. JYD starts attacking the Funks so Terry starts throwing chairs into the ring. Terry’s completely insane and Dory has to calm him down. Dory and JYD start off. Dory goes for an irish whip, JYD reverses it, and Dory hits his brother who for some reason falls into the ring like a drunk madman. 5 sec in and this is already awesome. JYD starts bodyslamming both Funks out of the ring. Terry jaws with the fans. Dory gets a cheapshot on Chico, who gets tagged in. So Dory tags in Terry. Terry with some chops but Chico whips him into the ropes. Terry hits the ropes front first and nearly goes over them. It’s hard to describe what’s going on but Funk’s selling is pretty funny/awesome. Funks gets clotheslined right outtra da ring and Chico starts dropkicking Dory who tried to sneak in. Both Funks are out again and Terry’stumbling and punching at ghosts outside. Back in and Terry Funk tries to out punch JYD but ends up being spun around like a top. JYD rams Funk’s head into the turnbuckle 10 times and Terry having trouble standing up. So what does JYD do? He grabs him and rams him 10 more times into the turnbuckle. Another crazy bump to the outside and Terry Funk’s in trouble….. again…
     
    Now it’s Dory Funk Vs. Chico. Dory Funk with European uppercuts. Back and forth on the ropes and Santana hits the Flying Jalapeno!! Terry Funk makes the save but of course gets wailed on some more. They do the Funk’s cool double criss-cross thing, which surprisingly works this time as Santana get a Terry Funk knee in the back. Terry tosses Chico outside where Jimmy Harts gets some boots in. Terry gets a suplex for a long 3 and a pissed-off Funk pushes the ref around, who pushes him back. Another suplex attempt but Chico reverses it. They hit head to head and Terry falls luckily right into his corner where Dory tags in. Dory with a butterfly suplex for 2. Chico tries to get the his corner.. almost there….Nope not quite. More Chico beatdown and Terry goes for a legdrop but misses. Chico’s crawling…. almost there again… almost…there…. Nope not quite. Terry mocks Chico by offering him his hand for a tag, but Chico uses his West Texas football evasion moves and gets the hot tag for JYD!! Terry wraps a chain around JYD when the ref is busy, but JYD is inhuman and no sells it! Terry charges and gets backdropped to the concrete floor! Ouch! JYD slams Terry Funk onto a table.. which breaks.! ECW! ECW! ECW! ECW! ECW! This is crazy stuff for the WWF in it’s day. I think Harley Race had the next WWF table bump (which sadly didn’t go so well), and then it was 10 yrs until Bret Hart did the next one. Uh-oh Terry’s leg is hurt! Jimmy Hart is on the apron and JYD pops him in the mouth. All 4 guys in the ring. Suddenly from stage left a megaphone is thrown into the ring, Terry catches and knock out JYD for the 3! That was an awesomely fun match. If you liked this check out the JYD, Hogan VS. Funks SNME match too. ****
     
    MAIN EVENT TIME!!
     
    12. WORLD TITLE MATCH - Hulk Hogan Vs. King Kong Bundy (w/ manager Bobby Heenan) – This is a Cage match. King Kong Bundy (with Don Muraco’s help) broke Hogan’s ribs at SNME and now the Hulkster gets his revenge inside the confines of the steel cage.
     
    Celeb watch:
    Guest Ring announcer: Tommy Lasorda (fat Dodgers coach)
    Guest Timekeeper: Ricky Schroeder (B-list actor in Silver Spoons)
    Guest referee: Robert Conrad (another TV B-celeb, I hope Bundy squashes him)
     
    Bundy is awesome. His body is shaped like a Milk Dud or a M & M, and looks like he could legitimately snap you in half. Hmmmm just noticed all the security guys around the ring are fat, must be a Union. Hogan enters the ring with his ribs still taped. I’m so glad Ventura is calling this Hogan match. They slug it out and Hogan gets the advantage. Chops and then a big stink Hulkster boot to the head. Because Hogan is such a role model, he uses Bundy’s straps on his outfit to choke him. It’s all Hogan, but he can’t knock the big man off his feet. Bundy gets some rib shots and now Hogan’s hurt! New World Champ in the making? More Rib work and Hogan is in terrible pain. And he’s locked in a cage, so there is no escape! Hogan’s on his back and Bundy goes for the door. Hogan dives and stops him at the last minute. Bundy picks up Hogan and rams Hogan’s back -first into the cage. Bundy tries to escape again but Hogan dives and stops him. Heenan is having a heart attack outside at all these near escapes. Bundy unwraps the ribs and turn-about-is-fair-play as he chokes out Hogan with the bandages. In a smart move Bundy ties up Hogan to the cage and goes to the door! Bundy’s nearly out! But Hogan stops him at the last minute. Now Hogan is making a comeback. He rams Bundy into the cage and Bundy blades! A decent one too for the WWF at the time. Hogan works on the cut and Bundy bleeds more. Hogan throws Bundy around the cage like a pinball. Hogan picks up Bundy, but Bundy falls right onto Hogan with his 400lb + body weight.
     
    Bundy goes for the door! Hogan grabs the tape and chokes Bundy. Bundy goes to the eyes and whips him into the corner. AVALANCE!!! Not only that but big Bundy splash!! It’s over! New champ!! He goes for the door. He’s almost there!! Another dive and Hogan stops him. Bundy lays the shots in and Hulkster starts Hulking up! DAMMIT! F*&$^! Hogan whips Bundy and bodyslams Bundy on the rebound. He hits his silly legdrop and now Hogan climbs the cage. Bundy climbs the turnbuckle to stop him at the last minute. Heenan is trying to stop him from the outside too. Hogan kicks Bundy down and continues climbing. Heenan’s trying to stop him. Bundy crawls to the door. Who will win the race? Hogan drops down and wins at the last minute! Somehow a part of me knows that match wasn’t good but I still liked it. **1/2
     
    After the match Hogan the big mean bully he is whips poor 70lb Heenan (who may or may not have had his nasty neck injury at this time) into the cage. Heenan takes a bump better than Hogan would EVER take, even while dreaming. One atomic Drop later and Heenan bumps right out of the cage. Thankfully they didn’t include an extra DVD just for Hogan’s pose down.
     
  15. floyd
    I used to do reviews of shows long ago. Since it's a few months before Wrestlemania I'd figure I'd do a review for every Wrestlemania for those who haven't seen the shows.
     
    ****************************************************
     
    Floyd’s Rant for Wrestlemania I
     
    Show starts off with Mean Gene Oakerlund singing the national anthem. Gov. Jessee da Body says Mean Gene rates right up there with Robert Goulet.
     
    1. Chico Santana Vs. The Executioner – The Executioner is Buddy Rose, which means .. damn! He’s super skinny compared to Rose 2.0 in a few years. In the interview Executioner says he’s going after Chico’s leg that was hurt by Greg the hammer valentine and needed surgery.
     
    By the way, Chico Sanata is one of my all-time favorites. Being Hispanic myself probably scores him points, but he was an awesome worker and even during his 90’s job days always put out a great match for his opponents. Chico starts with a Taco House O’ fire! And dropkicks Executioner outside. Chico works a headlock Man… I miss Gorilla Monsoon’s and Jesse’s commentary… L Chico makes a dumbass good guy mistake and gets beat on for awhile. Executioner works on the leg but Chico counters into a cool pinning move. Chico’s Tacoing up!! Executioner pleads like a bitch but them outsmarts that dumbass Chico again. Executioner goes to the top rope!! Chico catches him! Flair slam off the top! But AGAIN Chico makes a dumbass mistake and Executioner works on da leg. Chico kicks Executioner all the way out where he lands sitting down on a chair. Back in and Chico hits the Flying Jalapeno! Chico uses his nemesis Greg Valentine’s finishing move, the Figure-Four leglock, gets the submission! Really fun opener. **1/2
     
    2. King Kong Bundy (w/ manager Jimmy Hart) Vs. S.D. Jones – S.D. stands for Special Deliver and he was a really good jobber in the days. Hey cool, the original I used watch as a kid was clipped and never had these interviews Both Jones and Bundy are pretty good. Shame the interview’s lasted twice as long as the match!! For years afterwards they would say it was a record time of 9 sec. It was more like 20 but still an impressive start to Bundy’s year-long push to next year’s Wrestlemania, as this isn’t the last time we’ll see Bundy. A spatula and mop bucket is brought out for S.D. Jones. DUD
     
    3. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat Vs. Matt Borne – Matt Borne would be known more famously as… Doink the Clown I. He was a pretty good wrestler too though back in his Portland and Mid-South days. Both Jesse and Monsoon put over Borne’s father. Steamboat starts quick and gets a headlock. And in a move I haven’t seen in years because today’s wrestlers are too “primma donna” to take it: AN ATOMIC DROP!!!! Borne’s on rubber-legs. Steamboat mocks poor Borne’s pain. So Borne takes over and stomps on the Dragon for awhile. Steamboat goes into “sympathetic sell-mode” AHHAHAHA YES!. Dr. Monsoon gets his first medical analysis in. I had to rewind it 5 times but it was something like this: “What we call an External pertipal octuberance on the back of your head there” instead of just saying “A Karate Chop”.. More fast paced action and counters by Steamboat until hits a flying body press for the win. Another good match. **
     
    4. David Sammartino (w/ Father Bruno Sammartino) Vs. Brutus Beefcake (w/ manager “Luscious” Johnny Valient) – Johnny Valiant looks and talks like that guy Andy Kaufman used to do, Tony Clifton, except with Blond hair:
     

     
    Bruno looks about 80 here but looks like he could kick both guys asses as well as Beefcake’s lover, Hogan... Big pop from the MSG for big Bruno. Tie up and Brutus shows he’s stronger. Brutus stalls, another tie up and David gets the advantage with smarts and good wrestling. Brutus cries like a whiny runt bitch outside. Back in and more amateur stuff into a front face lock. Ahh..slow 80’s wrestling. If it was Wrestlemania 22 they’d be a top-rope vertebreaker and two broken Spanish announce tables by now. More 20min headlocks, this time by Brutus. David gets out and keeps Beefcake grounded with more restholds, working on the leg/knee. 40min later and Beefcake gets out and starts kicking Bruno’s son’s ass. David waits for the crowd to cheer and he makes a surprise backdrop comeback! He starts laying into Bruti so Brutus throws him outside in desperation where Valiant, in a particularly diabolical move for it’s day, bodyslams him on the floor. 120 year old Mummy Bruno comes around and, to the biggest pop of the night so far, kicks both their asses to earn a Double-DQ. *
     
    5. INTER-CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine Vs. The Junkyard Dog – JYD is an awful wrestler, but I always really liked him for some reason. JYD swings his chain around and the Hammer bails. Greg Valentine is the son of the legendary Johnny Valentine for those interested, but he was a pretty bad ass wrestler on his own. JYD was a HUGE star in Lousiana before moving to the WWF. JYD thumps him around the ring. WTF, this isn’t boxing ref, stop him or DQ him! The Hammer misses an elbow and JYD does his headbutting routine, knocking Greg out of the ring. Greg works the arm and lays da hammer down with hard forearms before working on the legs. JYD powers out and starts headbutting Valentine so bad he does a Flair flop. Jimmy Hart sticks his nose in and is grabbed by the JYD. This enables Hammer to cheat and get the pin! Chico Santana runs and tells the ref he cheated. The ref buys it and counts The hammer out. JYD wins by Count-Out! That’s CRAP. Greg loses the [kayfabe] winner’s money purse [/kayfabe] cause Chico stuck his nose in, but that’s good fodder for their future feud. Hmmmm, not as good as I remembered. 1/2*
     
    6. TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: The U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham w/ manager Capt. Lou Albano) Vs. The Foreign Evil Dudes (Iron Shiek & Nikoli Volkoff w/manager Ayatolla Freddie Blassie) – Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham are both two *extremely* underrated wrestlers. Particularly Windham who may have been the Top 4 or 3 workers in the World from 86-88 or so. Nikoli sings the Soviet National Anthem. Sings pretty good too. So good that the fans throw spitballs into the ring. USA USA USA! The U.S. Express gets a huge pop, but I swear the monkeys in the back jacked up the volume for it. Rotundo and Sheik start off. All-American Mike Rotundo hits a dropkick 10 feet away from Sheik’s face, but Shiek sells it. Quick double-team moves by U.S. Express with the bad guys acting like the Three Stooges and making dumb mistakes and hitting each other. More quick tags and they work on Nikoli’s arm. Nikoli rams Rotundo into Sheiks curley, deadly shoes to get the advantage. Rotundo reverses a vertical suplex but is so beat up he can’t make the tag. The Rotundo beatdown continues. USA USA USA Chant! Monsoon claims there’s 25,000 at MSG tonight. Hehehe I kinda doubt it, but it sure sounds like it, MSG always rocked. Rotundo gets free, lunges, and makes the hot tag! Windham’s clearing house! Bulldog to Nikoli but Sheik makes the save. Rotundo knocks Sheik to the outside. The ref throws Rotundo out while the Shiek sneaks up and hits Windham with the dreaded Cane of Death! (Breaks it too) Windham is knocked the FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFfuck out! 1,2,3,. NEW CHAMPS!!! WTF? Where’s Chico? Why doesn’t he come out and tell the ref what happened? The evil foreigner dudes steal the belts! Fun match but too short. **1/2
     
    Gene Mene asked Blassie where’s your Cane? Blassie: “What Cane!?! I didn’t have no Cane.”…
     
    7. Andre the Giant Vs. Big John Studd (w/ manager Bobbie “The Brain” Heenan) – This is a 15,000$ bodyslam match. If Andre can slam Studd he gets 15,000. If he can’t Andre must retire. Scheme Gene tries to steal some bills from the bag but gets his hand slapped by Studd and Heenan. Typical Andre match from those days. I’ve heard that Andre didn’t like Studd and used to stiff him in the matches. Studd gets a low blow and tries to slam Andre, but hurts his back. Studd you moron. The fans start chanting “Slam Slam Slam!” Slow match with Andre dominating. Andre softens up the leg and GETS DA SLAM!! Andre is awarded the money and starts throwing it to the fans!!! So Heenan sprints in the ring like Carl Lewis and grabs the bag! Fun match cause Andre was in it. but Slooooowwwwwwwwww and Boooooooooooooooring.. 1/4*
     
    8. WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: Leilani Kai (w/ Fabulous Moolah) Vs. Wendi Richter (w/ International Superstar Cyndi Lauper) – Ummm do you have enough makeup there Richter? Jezz you even make Sherri Martel go “GODAMN Girl, that’s a lot!” Sting too. Nice mat work by both girls, especially Kai. Lotsa hair pulling throughout the match. Kai distracts the ref and Moolah grabs Richter’s hair. 40 lb soaking-wet Lauper knocks Moolah on her ass. Kei goes for a Steamboat Flying Bodypress but Richter reverses it (although she screwed it up).. Surprisingly good match. I mean if they did this same match in Japan, Aja Kong would beat their asses up for being so crappy and leave them broken and bleeding in the alleyway, but compared to today’s WWF Women’s matches it was like Flair/Steamboat. **
     
    MAIN EVENT TIME!
     
    The Celebraties are introduced:
    Guest Referee: Womanizing Pat Patterson
    Guest Ring Annoucner: All around nice guy baseball manager: Billy Martin
    Guest Time Keeper: Man’s Man and Pat Patterson’s favorite celeb: Liberace (with the Rockettes watching his back)
    Guest Outside Referee: Boxing legend Muhammed Ali
     
    10. World Champ Hulk Hogan & Mr. T (w/ Jimmy Snuka in their corner) Vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper & Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff (w/ "Ace Cowboy" Bob Orton in their corner) – Big pops for the celebs. Piper and friends come out first with a Bag-pipe band playing for them. Ha pretty cool!.. Hogan and T come out to a nuclear pop. Got my money on the heels here. Legit tough guy Liberace rings a super-gay looking bell. Only Manly-man Liberace could get away with sometime so fruity. This match won PWI’s MOTY for 1985, let’s see if it’s any good.
     
    Hogan and Orndorff start off. The crowd is super hot for this. They circle and Piper is jumping up and down for the tag. A tag and now Piper’s in. They circle and now Mr. T’s jumping up and down, screaming for a tag in. WTF is he thinking? He’s not a real wrestler?… Hogan asks the crowd and obliges with a tag to T. . Piper… looks… pissed…. They go nose to nose. Slap by Piper! Slap by Mr .T! Slapfest continues until Piper gets a quick boot and takes that wussy celeb wanna be to the mat. But Mr. T escapes! Piper’s embarresed. Tie –up and Mr. T wins. Piper’s embarrassed again! And… is… MORE… pissed.. He rushes in and Mr. T with a firearms carry into a bodyslam!
     

     
    Piper rushes again suddenly all six guys jump into the ring for a brawl. Ali comes and around AND TAKES A SWING AT PIPER!!! THEN RUNS AFTER ORTON AND TAKES A SWING AT HIM! THE CROWD IS GOING CRAZY!!! Billy Martin’s laughing at all this crazy shit. The heels are scared at Ali and stay on the outside. Piper then says “Fuck it”, flips off the crowd and they start walking to the back to a chorus of boos..
     
    Referee pat Patterson starts counting them out. Hogan stops him and begs the heels to come back, which they do. They slowly enter the ring and then suddenly charge Hogan only to get a double-noggin knocker. Super Atomic-Drop by Hogan to Piper! Piper’s nutts be all like broken! .. Hogan bounces Pipers head off the mat a bunch of times and they both slug it out until Mr. T is tagged in for a double clothesline to Piper. Mr. T bodyslams and hip tossed both heels. Hogan back in and Piper looks out on his feet. Big boot to Piper and he’s out of the ring. Orndorff sneaks a clotheline to Hogan, knocking him out of the ring too. Outside and Piper hits a chairshot on him!!! This is equivalent to a DDT on broken glass back then. Piper runs when Ali comes over but the damage is already done. Piper looks very pleased with himself and starts getting payback to the Hulkster in the ring. The heels cut the ring in half and taunt Mr .T which lets them double team Hogan. Double-Atomic Drop on Hogan and then a cool Steve Austin looking elbow by Orndorff. Both the heels continue to maul Hogan with quick tags and nice moves. Orndorff goes for a top rope elbow..AND MISSES! Orndorff you dumbass! The crowd is going bananas! Hogan crawls over to Mr. T while a hurt Orndorff goes to tag Piper. Can he make it? Mr. T is tagged in!!!!! But the heels smartly cut him off short and Orndorff and Piper keep him grounded with amateur moves to wear him down. Uh-oh…. Now Mr. T is in for da beating. Mr. T draws power from the fans and explodes for a tags in to the Hulkster! Another double noggin knocker but Orndorff hits a back suplex to end that shit. Orton runs in only to get headbutted out by Snuka. All six guys are in the ring again for a melee! Orndorff has Hogan in a full-nelson! Piper runs after him but is intercepted by Mr. T. The ref(s) try to break up Piper and T, meanwhile Orton sneaks to the top rope for a match and possible career-ending “arm-caste shot” to Hogan. But Hogan moves and he hits Orndorff instead!!!!!!! Snuka knocks Orton outta da ring and Hogan gets the 3 count on Orndorff!! Piper is so pissed and knocks out the ref before leaving. Him and Orton leave an unconscious Orndorff in the ring. He wakes up and looks for Piper and Orton, but they’re gone. This’ll set up their feud including a great SNME match. Yes I’m definitely overrating this main event, and although it wasn’t an Guerrero/Benoit technical clinic, it was a really fun match to watch. ****
     
    **********************************************
    Anyone see the show? If so what did you think of it? Not the best Wrestlemania obviously, but better than any card the WWF had done so far.
  16. floyd
    My thought on Disk #1 (Ranked in order of best-to-worst):
     
    Cream of the crop:
     
    1. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted Dibiase & Matt Borne (Loser Leaves Town) (10/27/82) - Whoever loses the fall must leave town. This was supposed to be Hacksaw defending the belts but he couldn't make it so Portland Matt Bourne took his place. DiBiase/Bourne make a good heel tag team. Really fun tag match with an ending so awesome if made it my #1 for the set.
     
    2. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (Street Fight) (7/29/83) - Super Awesome. Don't know how the feud started but apparently these guys really didn't like each other.
     
    3. Mr. Olympia vs. Chavo Guerrerro (6/24/83) - Somehow Mr. Olympia had turned heel and apparently screwed over Chavo as this is the grudge match. Great match with Mr. Olympia being a bastard heel and Chavo doing good moves to a hot crowd.
     
     
    Very good too:
     
    4. Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum T.A. vs. Midnight Express (2/10/84) - If anyone wanted to know what the Midnight Expresses was all about, this might be the match to show them. Nothing mid blowing but sheer brilliance in working the crowd. How Jim Cornette was never beaten to death in a fan riot I'll never know.
     
    5. Mr. Olympia vs. Bob Roop (7/15/82) - Sweet match here. Almost like the stereotypical heel Vs. the stereotypical babyface. Both guys stock goes up for me in this match, especially Mr. Olympia who does a running dive to the outside on the concrete. Good stuff, but again since it's TV too short to really place high for me.
     
    6. Mr. Wrestling II & Junkyard Dog vs. Matt Borne & Ted DiBiase (2/16/83) - The revenge match with Mr. Wrestling II taking the gone Mr. Olympia's place. Good tag match.
     
    Good:
     
    7. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted DiBiase & Hacksaw Duggan (8/18/82) - Fun tag match. I like the DiBiase/Duggan team and Mr. Olympia continues to be great, reminding me of classic babyfaces like Tito Santana.
     
    8. One Man Gang vs. Buck Robley (Lumberjack Match) (9/15/82) - Never seen Buck Robley before but he looks like a mix of Necro butcher and 70's George Carlin. I'm also guessing Robley didn't have to have testosteroe theory in his later years like everyone else. OMG is a pimp sized bump-master here! For a guy who weighs 8,000 pounds, man he was thowing his body all around the ring and to the outside. Also the entire match the commentators keep saying how much they like Robley and how sad it is that there's no way he can win. They basically start making funeral preperations for him. Which makes his comeback so much better at the end. Just a fantastic small guy/big fat guy story. Lumberjack Dick Murdoch was standing with his back to the camera with a "All japan" T-shirt on which was pretty neat.
     
    9. Midnight Express vs. Bill Watts & Stagger Lee (4/22/84) - You wanna talk about fucking crowd heat? Jesus Christ the crowd shaking the entire building during this match. After getting tarred and feathered by the Midnights, Bill Watts brings in a ringer. The dangerous shooter, the masked Stagger Lee. In the unlikely event of his team losing, Jim Cornette has to wear a diaper after the match.
     
    10. Bob Roop vs. Mike George (12/16/81) - pretty cool opening match on the set between two guys i've never seen before. Mike George played a good heel and Bob Roop was awesome with his heel-ishness.
     
    11. Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum T.A. vs. Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart (Cage Match) (12/25/83) - I've seen this match highly praised by everyone over at DVDVR but I can't understand why, and not just best on Disk #1 but a top pick for the entire set. It's a really good match but I dunno, nothing amazing to me. Both Magnum and Mr. Wrestling II have to make big comebacks in an attempt to win the tag titles. Reed looked good here.
     
    Good to OK
     
    12. Mr. Olympia vs. Paul Orndorff (2/3/82) - Never seen Mr. Olympia before. He's the Mississippi Champ here. Mr. Wonderful looks alot more mobile and quick here than in the WWF. Good match, wished it had been longer.
     
    13. Midnight Express vs. Bill Dundee & Porkchop Cash (4/6/84) - ha I liked the team of Porkchop Cash and Dundee. Formulaic Midnight Express match, which means it's good.
     
    14. Stagger Lee & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted DiBiase & Matt Borne (12/18/82) - Sadly Mr. Olympia's partner couldn't be here, so he got a great replacement in the masked Stagger Lee.
     
    15. Butch Reed v. Iron Sheik (4/8/83) - It's almost weird seeing how unbroken and mobile Sheik was here, doing neck bridges and taking bumps around the ring. There's one memorable part where the ring crew really should've tightened the ropes/turnbuckle more. Plus Shiek was a master at evil heel cliches.
     
    16. Bob Roop vs. Ted DiBiase (4/2/82) - Cool Roop again with his old school heel work. Roop defends his N.A. title. The plus here was some really great mat work you don't see anymore.
     
    OK but ain't no Top 20 or nothin:
     
    17. Midnight Express vs. Rock N Roll Express (No DQ: Tag Titles vs. $50,000) (5/23/84) - Dream match between the soon to be long-time rivals. R N R Expess put up the belts against Jim Cornette's momma's $50,000. Good match but nothing fantastic.
     
    18. Nick Bockwinkel vs. Dusty Rhodes (5/20/83) - Bockwinkle defends the AWA World title here. Pretty OK match, nothing special.
     
    19. Buddy Landel & Butch Reed vs. Rock N Roll Express (3/28/84) - I'm guessing the R n R Express was new here, as it seemed to be a spotlight for their team. Jim Cornette is at ringside taking notes.
     
    No Sir. I Didn't like it:
     
    20. Junkyard Dog vs. Nick Bockwinkel (6/11/82) - Gah! Didnt like this one at all. And this from a JYD fan growing up, plus Bockwinkle/Heenan are one of the greatest twosome ever. If Bockwinkle wins he get's JYD's crown. If the JYD wins this one he gets bump master Heenan in the ring after the match. Too slow here.
     
    ***********************
     
    Thought fo' Disk #1:
     
    - Bob Roop was pretty good. A classic heel but who also had a nice technical background.
     
    - Mr. Olympia was awesome, either as a good guy or heel. How come I never of him?
     
    - Hacksaw Duggan's spear is to be feared.
     
    - The tag team matches in Mid-South are great.
     
    - One should not worship false idols. But as far as wrestling goes, Cornette IS a demi-God.
     
    - How the FUCK aren't the Midnight Express in the Hall-of-Fame!?!??
     
    **********************
    Floyd's Ongoing Mid-South Top 10:
     
    1. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted Dibiase & Matt Borne (Loser Leaves Town) (10/27/82)
    2. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (Street Fight) (7/29/83)
    3. Mr. Olympia vs. Chavo Guerrerro (6/24/83)
    4. Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum T.A. vs. Midnight Express (2/10/84)
    5. Mr. Olympia vs. Bob Roop (7/15/82)
    6. Mr. Wrestling II & Junkyard Dog vs. Matt Borne & Ted DiBiase (2/16/83)
    7. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted DiBiase & Hacksaw Duggan (8/18/82)
    8. One Man Gang vs. Buck Robley (Lumberjack Match) (9/15/82)
    9. Midnight Express vs. Bill Watts & Stagger Lee (4/22/84)
    10. Bob Roop vs. Mike George (12/16/81)
     
    ***********************
     
    Your thought on Disk#1? Or any of the Mid South matches? Feel free to flame any of picks as long as you discuss why first. ;-)
  17. floyd
    Just got the Observer in the mail here's the results. Forgive any mispellings, I can't type very well..:
     
    Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year):
     
    1. John Cena (437 #1 votes) - 2,459 pts
    2. Bryan Danielson (77) - 928
    3. Hiroshi Tanahashi (42) - 728
    4. Shawn Michaels (32) - 579
    5. Takeshi Morishima (41) - 565
    6. Mistico (6) - 510
    7. Mitsuharu Misawa (33)
    8. Cibernetico (28) - 290
    9. Kurt Angle (7) - 202
    10.Edge (16) - 196
     
     
    MMA MVP
     
    1. Randy Couture (334) - 2,254
    2. Quinton Jackson (105) - 1,446
    3. Chuck Lidell (116) - 1,209
    4. Frank Shamrock (3) - 353
    5. Anderson Silva
    6. Geirge St. Pierre
    7. Kid Yamamoto
    8. Forrest Griffin
    9. Yoshihiro Akiyama
    10. Masato
     
     
    Most Outstanding Wrestler
     
    1. Bryan Danielson (434) - 2,646
    2. Shawn Michaels (46) - 468
    3. Hiroshi Tanahashi (62) - 642
    4. Naomichi Marufuji
    5. Nigel McGuiness
    6. Samoa Joe
    7. KENTA
    8. Takeshi Morishima
    9. Edge
    10. John Cena
     
     
    Most Oustanding MMA Fighter
     
    1. Quinton Jackson (157) - 1,554
    2. Anderson Silva (151) - 1,508
    3. Randy Couture (131) - 1,235
    4. Urijah Faber
    5. Tyson Griffin
    6. Clay Guida
    7. George St. Pierre
    8. Fedor Emelianenko
    9. Matt Serra
    10. Kid Yamamote
     
     
    Best Box office Draw
     
    1. John Cena (331) - 2,299
    2. Chuck Lidell (267) - 2,192
    3. Mistico (133) - 1,603
    4. Randy Couture
    5. Quinton Jackson
    6. Tito Ortiz
    7. Cibernetico
    8. Kid Yamanoto
    9. Perro Aguayo jr.
    10. HHH
     
     
    Feud of the Year
     
    1. Undertaker Vs. Batista (148) -1,160
    2. Bryan Danielson Vs. Takeshi Morishima (89) - 1,119
    3. Briscoes Vs. Steen & El Generico (121) - 1,045
    4. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels
    5. Matt Hardy Vs. MVP
    6. Frank Shamrock Vs. Phil Baroni
    7. Matt Hughes Vs. Matt Serra
    8. Tito rotiz Vs. Chuck Lidell
    9. Gran Apache Vs. Billy Boy
    10. Vince McMahon Vs. Donald Trump
     
     
    Tag Team of the year
     
    1. Mark & Jay briscoe (474) - 2,641
    2. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelly (58) - 1,132
    3. Kevin Steen & El Generico (0) - 690
    4. Giant bernard & Travis Tomko
    5. Matt & Jeff Hardy
    6. Paul London & Brian Kendrick
    7. Lance Cade & trevor Murdoch
    8. Masato Yoshino & Naruki Dio
    9. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori
    10. Ricky Marvin & Kotaro Suzaki
     
     
    Most Improved
     
    1. MVP (305) - 1,966
    2. Claudio Castagnoli (34) - 564
    3. Tomko
    4. Takeshi Morishiam
    5. Candice Michelle
    6. Jeff Hardy
    7. Umaga
    8. John Cena
    9. Hirooki Goto
    10. Batista
     
     
    Best on Interviews
     
    1. John Cena (151) - 1,243
    2. Santino Marella (133) - 1,208
    3. Edge
    4. Quinton jackson
    5. Larry Sweeny
    6. Christian Cage
    7. Frank Shamrock
    8. Tito Ortiz
    9. Mr. kennedy
    10. Ric Flair
     
     
    Most Charismatic
     
    1. John Cena (358) - 2,447
    2. Quinton Jacklson (158) - 1,491
    3. Ciberetico
    4. Randy Couture
    5. Shawn Michaels
    6. Tito Ortiz
    7. Mistico
    8. Edge
    9. Jeff hardy
    10. Forrest Griffin
     
     
    best Technical Wrestler
     
    1. Bryan Danielson (529) - 2,928
    2. Nigel McGuiness (15) - 784
    3. Yuji Nagata
    4. Fit Finlay
    5. KENTA
    6. Kurt Angle
    7. Naomichi Marufuji
    8. Mike Quackenbush
    9. Shawn Michaels
    10. Samoa Joe
     
     
    Brusier Brody Best Brawler Award
     
    1. Takeshi Morishima (157) - 1,464
    2. Umaga (101) - 1,199
    3. Samoa Joe (115) - 1,129
    4. Fit Finlay
    5. Necro Butcher
    6. Togi Makabe
    7. John Cena
    8. Abyss
    9. Undertaker
    10. Rhyno
     
     
    Best Flying Wrestler
     
    1. Mistico (162) - 1,394
    2. Ricky Marvin
    3. jack Evans
    4. AJ Styles
    5. Pac
    6. Matt Sydal
    7. Jeff Hardy
    8. Matt Cross
    9. Dragon Kid
    10. Rey Mysterio jr.
     
     
    Most Overrated
     
    1. Giant Khali (187) - 1,210
    2. Mr. Kennedy (80) - 586
    3. HHH
    4. Bobby Lashley
    5. Batista
    6. Big Daddy V
    7. Randy Orton
    8. Kurt Angle
    9. Kevin Nash
    10. Mistuharu Misawa
     
     
    Most Underrated
     
    1. Shelton Benjamin (98) - 735
    2. Jamie Noble
    3. Paul London
    4. Alex Shelly
    5. William Regal
    6. Brian Kendrick
    7. Matt Hardy
    8. Go Shiozaki
    9. AJ Styles
    10. Christopher Daniels
     
     
    Promotion of the Year
     
    1. UFC (280) - 2,479
    2. ROH
    3. WWE
    4. NOAH
    5. AAA
    6. CMLL
    7. New Japan
    8. Dragon Gate
    9. Strikeforce
    10. TNA
     
     
    Best Weekly TV Show
     
    1. The Ultimate Fighter (390) - 2,463
    2. WWE RAW
    3. WWE Smackdown
    4. AAA
    5. CMLL
    6. Wrestling Society X
    7. NOAH
    8. Inside MMA
    9 & 10. Bodog Fight Costa Rica & TNA Impact (tie)
     
     
    Worked Match of the year
     
    1. Bryan Danielson Vs. Takeshi Morishima (8/25) (118) - 1,199
    2. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori Vs. Kota Ibushi & Naomichi marufuji (7/15) (131) - 1,108
    3. Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuiness (6/9) - (146) - 1,061
    4. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels (4/23)
    5. John Cena Vs. Umaga (1/28)
    6. Briscoes Vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (9/15)
    7. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels Vs. Edge Vs. Randy Orton (4/29)
    8. Cima, Shingo Takagi & Susuma Mochizuki Vs. Dragon Kid, Ryo Saito & Masaaki Mochizuki (No Date given, ROH match?)
    9. Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Hirooki Goto (11/11)
    10. Hiroshi Tanahasi Vs. Yuji Nagata (4/13)
     
     
    Shoot Match of the year
     
    1. Randy Couture Vs. Tim Silvia (3/3) (202) - 1,453
    2. Nick Diaz Vs. Takanori Gomi (2/24)
    3. Tyson Griffin Vs. Clay Guida (6/16)
    4. Frank Shamrock Vs. Phil Baroni (6/22)
    5. Frank Edgar Vs. Tyson Griffin (2/3)
    6. Chris Horodecki Vs. Shad Lierley (6/1)
    7. Forrest Griffin Vs. Maruricio Rua (9/22)
    8. Quinton Jackson Vs. Chuck Lidell (5/26)
    9. Quinton Jackson Vs. Dan Henderson (9/8)
    10. Steve berger Vs. Piotr Jackacynski (No date Given, Costa Rica)
     
     
    Rookie of the year
     
    1. Eric Stevens (106) - 756
    2. Joe Doering (88) - 752
    3. Tim Donst
    4. La Sombra
    5. Cyber Kong
    6. Ted DiBiase Jr.
    7. Ted McNailer
    8. Lince Dorado
    9. Seiya Sanada
    10. Bobby Dempsey
     
     
    Best Non-Wrestler
     
    1. Larry Sweeney (382) - 2,269
    2. Vince mcMahon (97) - 847
    3. Jim Cornette
    4. Jim Mitchell
    5. William Regal
    6. Sharmell
    7. Karen Angle
    8. Lacey
    9. Armando Estrada
    10. Generalissimo Takada
     
     
    Best Television Announcer
     
    1. Jim Ross (325) - 2,257
    2. JBL (184) - 1,609
    3. Joe Rogan
    4. Mauro Ranallo
    5. Mike Goldberg
    6. Dave Prazak
    7. Frank Mir
    8. Mike Teney
    9. Joey Styles
    10. Kenny Bolin
     
     
    Worst Television Announcer
     
    1. Don West (269) - 2,204
    2. Micheal Cole (116) - 1,130
    3. Johnathan Coachman
    4. Todd Grisham
    5. Mike Teney
    6. Jerry Lawler
    7. Col. Bob Sheridan
    8. Joey Styles
    9. Taz
    10. Leticia Cline
     
     
    Best Major Wrestling Show
     
    1. ROH Man Up (188) - 1,296
    2. WWE Wrestlemania (133) - 1,138
    3. Pride 2nd Coming
    4. ROH Driven
    5. Pride Otoko Matsuri
    6. Strikeforce/EXC Judgement Day
    7. WWE Backlash
    8. UFC 68
    9. UFC 66
    10. UFC 76
     
    Worst Major Wrestling Show
     
    1. WWE/ECW December to Disremember (12/3/06) - 298 pts.
    2. TNA Lockdown
    3. WWE Unforgiven
    4. TNA Hard Justice
    5. UFC 78
    6. TNA Victory Road
    7. TNA Final Resolution
    8. WWE Jugement Day
     
     
    Best Wrestling Maneuver
     
    1. KENTA's Go To Sleep - 98 pts.
    2. Randy Orton's running soccer kick
    3. Petey Williams Canadian Destroyer
    4. Bryan Danielson's Cattle Mutilation
    5. Matt Sydal's shooting Star press
    6. Bryan Danielson's elbows
    7. Samoa Joe's muscle buster
    8. Takeshi Morishima's backdrop driver
    9. CM Punks Go To Sleep
    10. Shawn Michaels' superkick
     
     
    Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic
     
    1. TNA Signing Pacman Jones/Making it Rain - 317 pts.
    2. Vince mcMahon's death
    3. WWE's entire handling of post-benoit re: Steriods
    4. Hornswoggle as Vince's illegitament son
    5. Giant Khali as World Champion
    6. WWE doing Benoit tribute show
     
     
    Worst Television Show
     
    1. TNA Impact - 476 pts
    2. WWE/ECW - 122
    3. WWE RAW
    4. Wrestling Society X
    5. WWE Heat
    6. IFL Battleground
     
     
    Worst Feud of the Year
     
    1. Kane Vs. Big Daddy V - 204 pts
    2. VKM Vs. Christy Hemme - 121
    3. Eric Young Vs. Robert Roode
    4. Batista Vs. Giant Khali
    5. Vince McMahon Vs. Bobby Lashley
    6. Layla Vs. Kelly kelly
    7. Kane Vs. Giant Khali
    8. Cody Rhodes Vs. Bob Holly
    9. Abyss Vs. Black Reign
    10. WWE Vs. Honesty & John Cena Vs. Giant Khali (TIE)
     
     
    Worst Match of the Year
     
    1. Chris Harris Vs. James Storm (Blindfold match - 4/15) - 149 pts
    2. Fake Donald Trump Vs. Fake Rosie O'Donell (1/8) - 119
    3. Giant Khali Vs. Kane (4/1)
    4. Giant Khali Vs. Horsnwoggle (11/17)
    5. Layla Vs. Kelly Kelly (11/27)
    6. Monsters Battle Royal Kane Vs. Giant Khali Vs. Mark henry (10/30)
    7. Big Daddy V. Vs. Boogyman (9/18)
    8. Kane Vs. Mark henry (6/3)
    9. Chrsity Hemme Vs. Fat Oily Guy (2/11)
    10. Giant Khali Vs. Batista (10/7)
     
     
    Worst Promotion of the year
     
    1. TNA - 520 pts
    2. WWE - 42 pts
    3. IFL
    4. All-Japan
    5. AAA
    6. IWA Puerto Rico
     
     
    Best Booker
     
    1. Gabe Sapolsky - 495 pts.
    2. Joe Silva - 128
    3. Riki Choshu
    4. Michael Hayes
    5. Dorian Roidan
    6. Vince McMahon
     
     
    Promoter of the year
     
    1. Dana White - 412 pts
    2. Vince mcMahon - 113
    3. Cary Siikin
    4. Joachim Roldan
    5. Paco Alonso
     
     
    Best Gimmick
     
    1. Santino Marella - 344 pts.
    2. Black Machismo Jay Lethal - 52
    3. MVP
    4. Fetus
    5. Takeshi Morishima
    6. Matt Classic
    7. Delirious
    8. King Booker
    9. Chris Hero
    10. Awesome Kong
     
     
    Worst Gimmick
     
    1. Black Reign - 203 pts
    2. Horswoggle McMahon - 88
    3. Pacman Jones
    4. Big Daddy V
    5. Jillian Hall singing
    6. VKM
    7. Abyss
    8. Fat Oiley Guy
    9. Boogyman
    10. HG & Giant Khali (TIE)
     
     
    Best Pro Wrestling Book
     
    1. Hitman by Bret Hart - 266 pts
    2. A Lion's Tale by Chris Jericho - 237
    3. Brody Vs. Larry Matysik
    4. Hardcore Diaries by Mick Foley
    5. NWA by Tim Hornbacker
    6. Lucha Loco by Malcom Venville
    7. Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels by Oliver/Johnson
     
     
    Best Pro Wrestling DVD
     
    1. Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen - 332 pts
    2. History of the AWA - 73
    3. The Ladder matches
    4. Shawn Michaels: heartbreak & Triumph
    5. The New and Improved DX
     
  18. floyd

    Top 10 matches of 2007

    By floyd,

    Except for some ROH shows, I think Ive seen most of what I wanted to, so here's my picks for the Top 25 matches of 2007!
     
    ********************************************
     
    25. Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Takuma Sano (NOAH Spring Navigation - 4/28) - Misawa gets in trouble quickly and has to regroup or else he'll lose his GHC World title.
     
    24. Mschif Vs. Awesome Kong (Shimmer Vol. 9 - 4/7/07) - The Awesome Kong invasion continues when she takes on NWA Women's champ Mschif (Non-title match)
     
    23. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels Vs. Edge Vs. Randy Orton (WWE Backlash - 4/29) - Fun 4-way for the RAW World title with a great finish.
     
    22. Mistico Vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. (CMLL 2/3 Falls - 7/27) - Wagner beats the crap out of Mistico and even steals his mask after winning the 1st fall! Now Mistico must make the comeback.
     
    21. Takeshi Morishima Vs. Samoa Joe (ROH Fifth Year Festival: NYC - 2/16) - Two fat bruisers pound each other around during Samoa Joe's last ROH tour.
     
    20. The Briscoe Brothers Vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (Death Before Dishonor V: Night 1 - Street fight - 8/10) - Insane Streetfight that goes all over the arena with career threatening bumps.
     
    19. CMLL Cage of death (Mistico Vs. Hijo del Perro Aguayo Vs. Villano V Vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. Vs. Ultimo Guerrero Vs. Hijo de Lizmark Vs. Blue Panther Vs. Atlantis) (CMLL 74th Anniversary Show - 9/28) - Cage match where the goal is to escape the cage until two wrestlers remain. Those two then have a regular match with the loser getting unmasked or head shaven!
     
    18. Jun Akiyama & Takeshi Rikio Vs. Yoshihiro Takayama & Takashi Sugiura (NOAH Spring Navigation - 4/28) - Akiyama & Rikio defend the GHC Tag titles in a great match.
     
    17. KENTA & Taiji Ishomiri Vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Kota Ibushi (NOAH Summer Navigation - 7/15) - NTV Cup finals between two spot-tastic Jr. tag teams.
     
    16. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama Vs. Kenta Kobashi & Yoshihiro Takayama (NOAH Winter Navigation - 12/2) - Kobashi dramatically return after 18-months and he gives it his all in this emotional tag team match.
     
    15. The Briscoe Brothers Vs. The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelly & Chris Sabin) (ROH Good Times, Great Memories - 4/28) - TNA invades ROH with the Machine Guns using evil heel tactics to combat the Briscoes double-teaming-ness. If you want to see the two top tag teams of 2007 go at it, here it is.
     
    14. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels (WWE RAW - 4/23) - After Randy Orton got kicked from the show, it gave Cena and Michaels more time to work a match, 57 minutes actually. A hot crowd and a back and forth match.
     
    13. Takashi Sasaki Vs. Yuko Miyamoto (Big Japan - Fluorescent Lighttubes Construction Site Scaffold Death Match - 3/14) - Cool deathmatch where both guys take insane punishment but refuse to stay down.
     
    12. Bryan Danielson vs. KENTA (ROH Driven - 6/9) - Danielson/KENTA III is the rubber match and as it never aired on the PPV, could this be considered as the greatest dark match ever?
     
    11. The Briscoe Brothers Vs. Castagnoli & Matt Sydal (ROH Respect is Earned - 5/12) - Awesome tag team match with non-stop perfectly timed spots and hot near-falls.
     
     
    TOP 10!
     
    10. Bryan Danielson Vs. Go Shiozaki (ROH Live in Tokyo – 7/16) - A tremendous sleeper match of the year as ROH visits Japan for the 1st time.
     
    9. John Cena Vs. Umaga (WWE Royal Rumble - Last Man Standing match - 1/28) - Despite broken ribs Cena still defends the WWE World title against the Barbaric Umaga.
     
    8. The Briscoe Brothers Vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (ROH Man Up Ladder match) - The ladder match was banned in ROH after this match. So yeah it's pretty bad.
     
    7. Takeshi Morishima Vs. Bryan Danielson (ROH Manhattan Mayhem II - 8/25) - Danielson finally gets his shot at the unstoppable monster Morishima.
     
    6. Jimmy Jacobs Vs. BJ Whitmer (Supercard of Honor - Cagematch - 3/31) - Hellacious cage match that will settle the feud once and for all!
     
    5. Chris Harris Vs. James Storm (TNA Sacrifice - Texas Death match - 5/13) - Another nasty feud-ending match. An anything goes match between former tag team partners.
     
    4. Yuji Nagata Vs. Togi Makabe (New Japan - 7/6) - Nagata defends his IWGP World title here and Makabe out for revenge from their first match. Makabe's all confident coming in and has no respect for Nagata. He dominates the early portions and inflects ghetto scissors damage. This isn't your grandma's New Japan! The tables turn however as Nagata shows he's tough and both guys end up bleeding all over the place but refusing to lose.
     
    3. Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuinness (ROH Driven 6/23) - Whoever wins this match gets a shot at Morishma's ROH World title. Both guys are driven to win.
     
    2. Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Hirooki Goto (New Japan - 11/11) - Tanahasi defends the IWGP title. Tremendous match that went back and forth with Goto getting his knee jacked-up throughout and Tanahasi nearly dying off a move.
     

     
    1. The Briscoe Brothers Vs. Ricky Marvin & Kotaro Suzuki (NOAH - 1/21) - The Briscoes were defending their newly won GHC Jr. tag titles here to a hot crowd. It's a near constant spotfest for over 25 minutes with the Briscoes trying to retain their title in their first defense and Marvin/Suzuki desperatly trying to keep the titles in Japan.
  19. floyd
    Since I have time off I've been trying to catch-up with some recommended matches for 2007. In the meantime here's my Top 10 from 2006.
     

     
    10. Akira Taue Vs. Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH - Tokyo Nippon Budokan Show – 3/5/06) – This was big man (and recent GHC World Champion) Akira Taue thumping on little Marufiji. Marifuji was on a roll so far in the year but he needed a big win over one of the established stars. While maybe not a blow-away match, this one had some awesome spots and Taue was extremely game in allowing Marufuji on offense rather than going the usual NOAH big-guy Vs. little-guy route.
     
    ********************************************************************************
     

     
    9. Edge Vs. Mic Foley (WWE Wrestlemania - Falls Count Anywhere match – 5/2/06) – Despite WWE having a less-than-steller year for wrestling, Wrestlemania still has an aura about it as the biggest show of the year, and this was the best show on the card by far. After having a great match against that useless turd Randy Orton in 04, Foley returned again and had a disappointing match against Carlito Cool. So here at Wrestlemania Foley seems determined to appease the salivating sicko fans who want to see him beaten and bloodied just one more time. He brings in the usual WWE diet-hardcore fair like fire, barbed-wire bats and thumbtacks! Thumbtacks by gawd! Edge is my pick for the best WWE Wrestler of the year and he gamely keeps up with Foley by taking some big bumps. Lita’s also here for a beating, perhaps fulfilling a contract stipulation for Matt Hardys return.. A typical Foley hardcore match but it always delivers and had some original stuff in it like a barbed-wired Mr. Sock and Foley outsmarting the Spear. The Flair/Foley I-Quit match may have been more brutal than this but this one was paced better and was more memorable on the bigger stage.
     
    ********************************************************************************
     
    8. Takeshi Morishima & Takeshi Rikio Vs. KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH - Summer Navigation 2006 - 7/16/06) – This was the David Vs. Goliath tag match where the two Jr. guys have to survive against the big dudes. Rikio and Morishma dominate portions of the match with the power of their fat but KENTA & Marufuji counter using their quickness and tag teams moves. KENTA and Takeshi Morisihma, two of the future stars for NOAH, especially want to beat the crap out of each other. For such a long match there is not too much of a slow down and the crowd is screaming at the end with all the near-falls and big moves.
     
    ********************************************************************************
     
    7. Austin Aries & Roderick Strong Vs. The Briscoes (ROH – Unified – 8/12/06) – ROH had a tremendous run of tag team matches in 2006 proving that the art isn’t quite dead yet. (You reading this Vince?) Out of all the great tag matches this is probably my favorite with Strong & Aries defending the straps against ROH’s prodigal sons the Briscoes. The U.K. crowd was red-hot for the match and both teams hit on all cylinders with incredible timing and tag team moves. Lots of brain-killing finishers and near falls made this a match to remember for 2006.
     
    ********************************************************************************
     
    6. Do Fixer (Dragon Kid, Genki Horiguchi & Ryo Saito) Vs. Blood Generation (Cima, Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino) (ROH Supercard of Honor - 3/31/06) – While a very exciting match, I thought this was very overrated and I doubted it would make my final Top 10. But Dammit! Here we are and sadly I can’t deny it as it comes in at #6. :-( All six guys are from the Japanese-based Dragon’s Gate promotion and brought their exhibition match stateside for the ROH fans. The first half of the match was one of the good guy getting beat up with 6-man moves, but this was just a prelude to the quick-as-lightening finish where big spots were popping let and right with near-falls galore. This was like a TLC match, but without Ladder’s and stuff.
     
    ********************************************************************************
     
    5. Kurt Angle Vs. The Undertaker (WWE– No Way Out – 2/19/06) - It was built up as a MMA “grappler” Vs. “striker” match and while imagining The Undertaker as a supreme-fighting-machine striker is pretty funny, the match exceeded ALL possible expectations for it. Undertaker was incredibly game here selling left and right and taking big bumps including a nasty looking top rope belly-to-belly torpedo driver that he almost died taking. And despite being a shadow of his former self, Angle is still awesome. Lots of counters and reversals here with Taker busting out his big moves and using a triangle-choke as a counter. Angle’s thirsty for blood as he works on the ankle and is going for the tap-out win like a rapid dog. (He even had a chance to retain by count-out but demanded the match to continue so he could submit the phenom) Whoever wins the match gets the Smackdown World title and a main event slot at Wrestlemania.
     
    ********************************************************************************
     
    4. Bryan Danielson Vs. Roderick Strong (ROH – Supercard of Honor - 3/31/06) – Bryan Danielson always put out great defenses for his title, but it seems like he’s always one step ahead of the other guy and is controlling the match even when he’s losing, ala Ric Flair. Roderick Strong however, comes off as the Anti-American Dragon and gives the true sense that he CAN beat him for the title. It’s simply a matter of time. Danielson’s pasty white skin has a hard time against Strong’s hella-nasty Flair-chops, which loosen fans teeth fillings as they reverberate shockwaves throughout the arena. Also all those goddamn backbreakers can’t be good for his lower lumbar region. Another long match that may bore some fans with its long mat work and wear-down sequences. But if you get into it, it’s an incredible back-and-forth contest with an exciting finale. At the end Danielson almost seems to be buying time to get to another 60:00 minute draw and retain his title.
     
    ********************************************************************************
     
    3. KENTA Vs. Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH – Autumn Navigation - 10/29/06) – A lot of people didn’t like this match and I think I’ve figured out why. NOAH fans are so accustomed to seeing big guys thump and chop each other around for the World title while the Jr. Heavyweights waste time in the mid-card. 2006 was supposed to be the year of KENTA, but surprisingly it was Marufuji who kicked ass all year long slowly gaining steam until upsetting Jun Akiyama for the GHC World Championship. His second defense was against his tag team partner KENTA. KENTA has history on his side as he scored a big win over Marufuji in their January match. Some nasty big moves like an Asai moonsault over the railing (nearly killing Marufuji) and a slingshot Doublestomp OVER the ropes ONTO THE CONCRETE!! Nasty stiff kicks and concussion-inducing suplexes also litter the 40 minute match. Luckily they both no-sell paralysis and keep on going, throwing everything at each other until both guys are exhausted. These two guys knew each other so well it seems they were thinking 2 or 3 moves ahead with all the counters and reversals. Although the Marufuji experiment only lasted a few month before Misawa won the title, it was a good test run for NOAH putting their Jr. guys on top, and this was the pristine match for perhaps the future of the promotion.
     
    ********************************************************************************
     
    2. Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuinness (ROH – Unified – 8/12/06) – Danielson is the ROH World Champion. Nigel McGuinness is the ROH Pure champion. This was a unification match where the winner would take both belts. The rules were modified so they MUST be a winner (No Count-out or Double DQ crap like that). Also the match is contested under “Pure rules”, meaning if you get in trouble and make the ropes the ref breaks up the move. Each wrestler only has 3 rope breaks though, so after that the ref can’t break the hold. Nigel has a huge home crowd advantage as the match takes place in Great Britain. McGuinness has been close to defeating the American Dragon in previous matches, and now that his Pure title is on the line he has more incentive to win. Could this be the night? Danielson’s beat them all but McGuinness has that “There's NO way I’m going to lose tonight” look in his eyes going into the match.
     
    ********************************************************************************
     
    Floyd’s 2006 MATCH OF THE YEAR:
     
    Team ROH (Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe, Adam Pearce, B.J. Whitmer & Ace Steel )
    Vs.
    Team CZW (Necro Butcher, Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, Nate Webb & Mystery partner)
     
    (ROH – Death before Dishonor 4 – Cage of Death – 7/15/06)
     

     
    - After lots of soul searching I still couldn’t find a reason why not. Yup. This is it. The best match of 2006 despite it being a garbage match filled with trashcans, barbed-wire and thumbtacks. All the 70’s mat masters are turning over in their graves right now. The ROH Vs. CZW feud of 2006 was incredible booked. It benefited both promotions giving fans a taste of each new talent and it helped elevate some mid-card guys (Adam Pearce, B.J. Whitmer, Nate Webb, etc…) Throughout the feud CZW seemed to have an edge, winning most of the matches or at least coming out ahead at the end, including out-brawling and winning the big 6-man fight at “The 100th Show” and performing the Passion of B.J. Whitmer at “Arena Warfare”. So this match was made to be the end-all finish for the feud. ROH had the home court advantage, but CZW had the advantage inside their original type of match……. The dreaded…. CAGE OF DEATH!!! The rules are the same as the Wargames, a huge ass cage where two guys from each team start out. After a while a coin is tossed and the winning teams sends in another wrestler for a 2-1 advantage. This continues until all the wrestlers are in the cage and then, and only then, can the match end by pinfall or submission.
     
    The booking of this match was a thing of beauty. Get rid of all the plunder and trashcan shots and we have a great story unfolding that Shakespeare himself would’ve booked. I respect you bookerman! It’s a story of tragedy, betrayal, determination, heroes, villainy and ghetto forks. I don’t want to spoil too much of this match cause I want everyone to watch it, but it had more memorable moments than I can possible remember and despite getting wild at moments, was paced perfectly to tell the story and keep the crowd into it. The match was about 50 minutes long but I swear you don’t even notice it. Also I thought it was pretty cool some of the wrestlers had signature weapons they used in the match (MO’ COWBELL!). A couple of storylines managed to pop out of this too like the B.J. Whitmer/Necro Butcher match and what Cornette does afterwards. Props to all the wrestlers and people involved in the whole ROH Vs. CZW feud which kicked all kinds of ass and culminated in this outstanding Match of the Year for 2006.
     
     
    .. And that's that! Sorry to TNA fans. I actually saw every PPV they had this year but didn't feel they had a match better than my #10 pick. Maybe I'll do a separate Top 10 TNA matches for 2006 list.
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