Tim Cooke

I recently re-watched the Beach Blast match. Watching it right next to the Cactus/Dustin Rhodes Falls Count Anywhere 9/6/92 TV match, the Beach Blast match really pales. Sting takes a few more bumps than Dustin (mainly because it is 12 minutes to the 7 they worked for TV) but Dustin's selling was better. I like Foley better in the Dustin match as well. Tim

"God, what happened?" Selling out to the corporate WWE philosophy. Take the 2/20/90 MX vs. RnR Express match. Ross would constantly make gay jokes at Cornette, talk about how fat he was, and how he hoped the top rope wouldn't break when Cornette was on it, yet he would always manage to throw in how good of a scout Cornette is and how he is always prepared. He always mentioned that no matter how much cheating the MX were doing, when they hit a great move or some athletic sequence, he would go out of his way to put it over. Same with Caudle. Today, if it isn't Rock, Trips, Foley, Benoit, or Austin, he doesn't care. His lacks emotion and passion and tries to make it up by screaming his loudest during special occasions. He almost ruined Benoit's post match celebration with Eddy at WM 20. Tim

Anyone who knows me knows my liking of Jim Ross from 1986-1993 as the greatest mainstream announcer ever. I still think this though after hearing Lance Russel so much recently, he is close to Ross in delivering the same greatness in getting over characters and stories. Ross probably had more emotion (Russel wasn't dry but he also didn't go over the top like Ross woul occasionally when the crowd was going nuts). Bob Caudle was a great side kick for Ross, in being able to put over moves while Ross put over everything else. Gordon Solie is over rated for me. I'm bored with straight announcing of moves. Solie did that well but he could never match the atmosphere, passion, and emotion that guys like Ross and Russell bring. I like David Crockett more than most. He is quirky but he was also a great foil for the heels during interviews. Tim

Oh and what I would do for that 1967 Carnival final to somehow find its way on to a tape.... Tim

"I have never heard of Toyonobori before. Is he of any significance, or just a case of being the best available in a dead period?" He was #2 native to Baba's #1 in the 60's. He stunk. There is a full 1 hour draw from 1965 against Destroyer where the Destroyer literally does the work of 2 as Toyonobori is content with laying on the mat the whole match where as modern day slugs at least bring something to their matches. Worth seeing if your a 1960's fan, a wrestling history fan, or a Destroyer fan. Tim

I need to watch Ultimo/Rey again. After watching Vader/Sting strap match and Eddy/Rey havoc last night, I am pretty positive I would have those ahead of the WWIII match, as well as the MX/Fantastics Clash, 4/26/88 MX/Fans, and maybe 1-2 more things. Tim

The WAR match from 10/13/96 has the same finish at World War III but not as good of a body, from what I remember in one viewing a few years back. Tim

Jumbo Tsuruta - the only wrestler where I can watch matches from three different decades that are all incredible. Mitsuharu Misawa - The Misawa from 1993-1996 is the best "man" and babyface I have ever seen. Toshiaki Kawada - The smartest wrestler I have ever seen. After watching his 7/24/95 match with Misawa about 4 times in the past 2 weeks, it amazes me how fast they can work and how they can throw out so many moves but still sell everything almost perfectly. Eddy Guerrero - this is the first different pick from the above three. Jumbo, Misawa, and Kawada have a resume of great matches pages long. Eddy is very hit and miss with me sometimes (particularly some older work) but when he hits, he hits. He is in my top 5 if just for 6/11/96 vs. Benoit, 10/26/97 vs. Rey Jr., 4/15/04 vs. Big Show, and 5/16/04 vs. JBL. I am torn on #5 so I will list a few guys that depending on the day can be in this spot. - Jerry Lawler: I still haven't seen enough but what I have seen has been US wrestling as great as I have seen it. - Rey Misterio Jr: The best flyer ever. Tim

Alfredo is ALL DVD now. He only has 430 DVD's listed as he has been converting EVERYTHING. Tim

His Lucha stuff is in excellent shape though Lynch has a lot of the 1990's stuff in just as good shape (for a little cheaper with the 8 hr packages). Tim

I have your address in my PM box. I am slow this time around with the new job. I promise to mail by the weekend. Tim

I think Matt will fit in. I think if Jeff didn't debut during the Feinstein era and instead debuted end of 2004 or early 2005, it would have been a totally different reaction. Matt already has many positives going for him such as getting fired from the WWE for something that was unfair where as Jeff got fired because of drugs. Matt stating he likes ROH and wants to adapt his style to work there says he is willing to learn says a lot as well. The Hardy's in Omega were very good Southern tag team babyfaces and there is no reason he won't fit in. Tim

Thanks Helmet. That is just what I was looking for. Looks like I am not going to be able to hold out on purchasing a DVD recorder much longer. Tim

My brother and I are on opposite ends when it comes to Flair/Funk. I think the match is okay but it doesn't have the same hate that the GAB match has as well as the no blood aspect. Piledrivers on the floor, not being sold as total death, at thevery least deserve some blood. I understand the WTBS factor but it still annoys me. Not every brawl needs blood but when the feud started with blood, then had Funk trying to kill Flair with a paperbag over his head, I expect more. I need to rewatch the GAB match because I haven't seen that in forever but the Clash match just doesn't do it for me. Maybe the Funk/Flair 1981 AJ Handheld will shed some more light on how good or bad the Clash match is. Tim

Meltzer points out that Robinson stopped touring in 1985 so he didn't see anything after that for the most part. Robinson also says Inoki was the greatest Japanese wrestler he eve worked against. Tim