Tim Cooke

Robinson did an interview on Japanese TV so Meltzer covered that as well as some background history. Robinson also said that Jumbo could have been the best ever but stopped learning in the early 80's. Add that to the list of "workers memories are jaded" Tim

Sad? Devistated is more like it. Russo's first run sucked but at least Benoit was in the main events. I was actually looking forward to three Benoit vs. Jarrett matches at Souled Out, even though I wouldn't see them until a few days later as I was in Florida at Disney World. With no PPV access, we turn on Nitro the next night and Kidman/Psicosis work a 15 minute match and then Sullivan/Rotunda/Chono come out and I know something is up. I had never bought a WWF PPV prior to the Rumble 2000, just in anticipation that Benoit & Co. would show up. Russo's 2nd run was made even lousier by the fact that he didn't have the workhorses of Benoit/Eddy plus Rey/Kidman/Juve knew they could let their valets do all the work. Tim

The one thing I want to add here is something touched on earlier. It is really weird how one week guys like Rey, Benoit, and Eddy would be way over, to the point that unless the main event had a fresh angle, they would be the most over people on the show. The next week, it could be dead silence until the guys would get the crowd into the match in ways that only they could. Talking about WCW sucks because now that they are dead and buried, the "what if's" only make me miss them more. Tim

For anyone with DVD burners, do the current models allow for the ability to copy one match from a DVD on to a burned DVD and then put another match from another DVD on to the same burned "compilation" DVD? Do you need to have a massive hardrive or can you put those together like you would in a VCR to VCR transfer? Thanks, Tim

It is more praised than a lot of stuff on this list, but Juvi/Rey/Kidman from Starrcade is probably my favorite three way ever (with the ROH debut show in second). It is the way a three, four, five, or six person match should go with clear heels and faces, faces helping each other with double teams early on, etc. It was also my first Starrcade ever so that holds a special spot as well. Tim

"He even sells the leg *while* running the ropes." Rey is the best seller in the WWE when Eddy is not champion and Benoit is stuck wrestling the exact same matches with the humps on Raw. Some other examples of Rey's great selling come from an early 2005 Smackdown match with Eddy against JBL/Orlando as Rey gets his back worked over and when he sets up the 619, he runs the ropes A LOT slower than normal. Eddy's equivilent to this is his vertical suplex spot against JBL at Judgement Day, doing the three amigos much slower than normal because of his back and JBL's bigger size. At No Way Out 2004, Rey gets his back worked over by Chavo and does some neat slower running spots as well. Rey/Chavo from GAB is a top 5 Rey Jr. match for me (though some who will remain nameless will argue against it). Tim

I can copy Eddy/Show for you. Friedlanders quality was VG- so it will probably only be Good quality on the dub but still very watchable. Now to read Rey/Chavo review from Loss... Tim

Start a thread for that here. I have to go cut the grass in a few minutes but with my VCR's working, I would be happy to volunteer (that is, after I send Helmet the DVD's I promised I have been wanting to do a southern brawl compilation for a long time. Well known matches plus lesser known, great matches. Tim

I thought I was crazy when I said to myself that this might be the best WWF/E match I have ever seen. Glad I am not the only one... It's a good match but don't go in with Judgement Day expectations. It has a lot of the same great aspects as the first match but the opening where both are getting used to the bullrope and the horrible finish hurt. But there is some unbreakable Memphis table action and lots of good story. BTW, watch Rey/Chavo too as it is a top 5 WWE 2004 match easily. Now you and Goodhelmet need to get Eddy/Big Show from Smackdown to see the most overlooked match of the last 5 years!!

After the 2004 ROH stuff, it just got surpassed by Joe/Punk, Danielson/Homicide for matches of the similiar style. Tim

2000 - I dunno. I like Kawada/Vader from Jan or Feb but I wouldn't call it a MOTYC but I can't think of anything else that really stands out. I think Sid vs. Benoit from Souled Out is a viable US MOTYC with WCW producing nothing but shit that year and Trips matches that don't age well (or never were good to begin with if you are me), this is a really solid match with Benoit being the glue and Sid looking as good as he ever has. Villano III vs. Atlantis from 3/17 is noteworthy though I wouldn't choose it personally. 2001 - Hokuto/Satamura from 4/19 is outstanding. So is Rock/Austin from WrestleMania. Haven't seen the Jericho/Rock matches, which I should before deciding. 2002 - London/Danielson from 12/7 is the first excellent ROH match. Xavier/London from 12/28 is the first ROH match to have sustained face/heel heat. 2003 - 2004 - Eddy/JBL from 5/16 in a heartbeat. This might be my Match of the Decade. The more older territory stuff I watch and the more current stuff I watch just makes this so much better. Punk/Joe II and III are incredible as well. I second Goodhelmet's thoughts on Joe/Punk II holding up to any match of the past 10 years from any promotion. Well, last 8 years because 1995 and 1996 have a few matches that might knock it down. 2005 - so far Joe/Danielson vs. Evans/Aries from 2/25 and Joe/Aries from 2/26. The first is ridiculous in its greatness as Jack Evans breaks out big time. The second is just another excellent Joe match. Tim

Jay Lethal vs. Low Ki from 10/2/04 ROH warrants a listing here. The best 'veteran' vs. 'younster' match of 2004. This is the direction I want to see ROH go towards in terms of storytelling and characters. Tim

Loss, your review was excellent. Every other review I have read today has sucked ass but this has me interested in seeing the Eddy/Rey and Ladder match. ANd the Angle/Michaels match, especially if he doesn't throw a german suplex. Tim

"* Mitsaharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada - 6/3/1994 This is another one of those matches that everyone went nuts over, but I didn't. It was good, but I never got the vibe that it was this *****+ classic. I enjoyed their July '95 and May '98 matches a lot more than this one. I may rewatch it again, though, and see if I change my mind." I can see the 7/95 being liked more as it is 20 minutes of bombs - the slow build. But the 5/98 match is horrible. Misawa is so hurt and it is anti-climatic. Give 6/94 another try. I have a hard time finding a singles match that puts everything together that well. Tim