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soup23

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Everything posted by soup23

  1. soup23
    Rey's wheel looks in pretty rough shape. He takes an awkward bump coming from the ropes. The finish is nice with Jericho reversing a top rope hurricanarana attempt into the lion tamer for the tap out. I can't believe Jericho is a 3 time champion already. Jericho cuts a promo and gives the crowd a reason to boo by attacking Rey after the match and jamming the television box into the leg of Mysterio. Jericho apologizes as he walks to the back with Tony disgusted at his actions.
  2. soup23
    Best Raven match ever? He does some smart stuff in this match like attacking Benoit at the onset with The Flock barred from ringside. However, this match lives and dies by Benoit and he gives one of his better overall performances. He has a great uncanny ability to make these matches feel like a war and he does that here. The stuff with the one single chair was a brilliant minimization ploy that got over the emphasis of all the moves delivered on the chair. It can be jarring to watch Benoit get bulldogged and dive his headbutt right onto the chair, but just judging that off of this match, he made the spots count and had the crowd going nuts with Benoit chants as they sold the damage. The crippler being locked in and Raven smiling and passing out gave more depth to his character than numerous promos of him whining inside a nursery. After the match,The Flock attacks and Dean Malenko makes a save. Him and Benoit eye each other in acknowledgment and an alliance is formed. (****)
  3. soup23
    Fun opener with not a lot of substance but a ton of cool moves mixed in. I think what I appreciated most about this match was the antics of La Parka and the brutality and laying in of the strikes. Silver King was vicious with the chops he was giving. The dive sequence was great and played right into the finish of Chavo and Psychosis being the only two guys left. Chavo picks up the duke with a tornado ddt. Afterwards, La Parka lays out everyone, including his teammates with a chair. Now, i don't want to be that guy and this match was good, but I do feel if you have watched a lot of lucha, this is not groundbreaking stuff. I perused a lot of reviews for this show and was pretty surprised to see this match ranked ****. As an opener, it accomplished its task perfectly but I cant classify the match as great. (***1/4)
  4. soup23
    Hollywood is here two weeks in a row? Color me surprised. Him and Nash run down to the ring and Hogan gets in but Giant is able to fend off both him and Hall and locks them both in for a double chokeslam. Macho comes flying off the top rope to stop that but he is stunted by Luger. Luger locks him in the torture rack on the outside and Nash stands there and makes fun of Macho. Giant gets the chokeslam on Hall with Nash breaking up the pin. We then get a cool moment with Giant not being able to hit Nash, so instead he collapses the ring by pulling out one of the posts in an impressive looking visual as the credits come up.
  5. soup23
    Promos for The Giant, Flair, and Sting signature shirts. Sad story but I owned the Sting and Flair one of these. In fact, this will be my most heavy era of wrestling merch.
  6. soup23
    Mika starts out the match using his size to his advantage and taking Tamura down. Once Tamura gets back to his feet, he throws a flurry of kicks that Mika is barely able to avoid. This gives him all the warning that he needs to go after the leg to try to neutralize the strikes of Tamura. Mika is absolutely suffocating on top, not giving or letting up an inch. Mika locks in a rings of saturn headscissors submission that is treated like a finisher 5 minutes in. Mika gets another near submission with a arm bar. I really enjoy seeing Volk Han giving him pointers on the outside. Finally, Tamura is able to strike with a head kick and it is treated as a huge transition in the match. Mika looks like a wounded bear gathering his bearings as Tamura stalks him with leg kicks and body shots. Luckily for Mika, he is able to take Tamura down and into a leg lock which the crowd explodes on. There is a beautiful story being told here. Tamura blows through another rope break off an arm submission. We are at a standing base as the crowd chants Tamura. You hear an audible groan as Mika gets too close again and is able to lock a body lock on. Tamura uses his speed to transition into an armbar and eventually a leg lock and Mika is the one that needs to utilize the rope break. Suddenly, Mika is looking tentative and winded due to the quickness and fear of Tamura. This match has done a better job than any other I can recall in utilizing the reset spot as each new sequence is different and all sequences play into the overall narrative of the match. We get dueling leg locks and then Tamura gets one of his better flurries of the match with a lot of knees sending Mika down. A body shot, punch and knee to the head has Mika prime for the picking. Mika drops down but Tamura is able to lock on the cross armbreaker and Mika must tap. This was one of my favorite shoot style matches of all time. (****1/2)
  7. soup23
    First portion of the match is a lot of jockeying for position without anyone being able to dominate and some quick reversals. I must say this is not one of my favorite things when shoot style matches do this as one of things I really appreciate about most of the matches in RINGS is the heavy emphasis on everything that they do. Otsuka is able to control the match with his headbutts and he ties Ishikawa up in some nasty looking holds. Otsuka displays his athleticism by giving a standing hurricanrana without a running start. Ishi not to be outdone, lifts Alexander up deadlift style and powerbombs him. Check out the sly, sinister smile he gives after executing that move before he goes into the leg lock. The match seems to be a battle over who can lock in the one deadly leg submission. Ishikawa gets a beatuiful straight right cross when he is sitting on the top rope that stuns Otsuka and allows him to take over. Yuki focuses on the arms of Otsuka and sprinkles in some suplexes and nasty punches to maintain the advantage. Alex mounts a comeback and destroys Yuki with a series of suplexes giving him a 9 count. He then hits a Tiger Suplex and Yuki is barely able to reach his feet before the 10 count and he looks out of it. Alex goes for a german, but in mid-air, Yuki catches the arm in an armbar and wins the match by TKO. Great finish to a really good match. (***1/2)
  8. soup23
    Vince introduces Iron Mike Tyson and he comes down with his entourage. Mike says his favorites were Bruno and Nikolai Volkolff? Vince starts to announce Tyson's involvement at mania when the glass shatters. Austin gets a great reaction and this just feels like a big moments. Austin says he is sick and tired of Tyson shaking everyones hand and that he wants a piece of his ass. Funny moment where Shane shakes his head when Austin says he will knock Vince out too. Austin flicks Tyson off and we get the iconic shove that Tyson gives Austin. JR's call is of course great and the crowd is electric. I really enjoyed seeing Brisco finding a wrestling base to restrain Austin and how legit they made everything look. Vince starts berating Austin telling him that he ruined the moment and gets flicked off to a huge pop as a result. Vince almost kicks Austin. Honestly, probably a top ten moment in the history of the WWF.
  9. soup23
    Undertaker's music fires up and someone resembling Taker repels down from the ceiling. They have already said that Taker was not in the casket even though the PPV went off the air with it engulfed in flames. In the ring, "TAKER" asks the lights to be raised and in perfect unison, DX's music fires up to reveal Shawn. Who knows how bad Shawn was hurting here, but he is faking it well. Chyna and HHH come out with the grill and its time for the DX grill segment. HHH's suck the cook apron does make me chuckle. Chyna is bringing the biggest weinie to the BBQ. They make some fire jokes about last night. HHH cuts a pretty terrible promo on Owen calling him a boy which doesn't make a lot of sense. Shawn decides to stuff the salami down his pants. HHH says Space Mountain is old and broken. JR being a smart ass at HHH offering his services to all women is funny. Shawn in his delusion gimmick self says he beat Taker all on his own last night. HBK turns his attention to Austin and they start the road to Mania. Not a bad promo showing that Austin still has to beat HBK to be classified as the man.
  10. soup23
    Vic Venom asks us if we want to get nasty. $29.99 for 24 issues of a magazine is not a bad deal.
  11. soup23
    Jericho refuses to break the liontamer in a timely fashion and he swears it will never, ever happen again. We know what happens here, Juvy gets attacked. Rey comes down to make the save and him/Juvy team up to take it to Jericho in a cool sequence that makes you want to see them as a team.
  12. soup23
    More Flair vs. Bret? yes, please. Bret is really getting boo'd more and more with a big time USA chant coming out during his promo. Bret states that he has respect for Flair and thinks Flair is one of the greatest wrestler of all time. However, Bret grew up for wrestling his entire life. His whole life was waiting for this moment. Bret didn't disrespect THE WCW. Wait, this PPV was on a Saturday? I guess they didn't want to go against the conference championship football games. Bret gives a great promo saying Sunday morning Flair will feel the words, the best there is, was, and ever will be. Flair comes back firing of course and really builds up the ramifications of the match Saturday and how a loss will linger for days to come. Flair warns him with getting cocky and says he isn't going to ruin his night in the Big Easy. They did a great job of them having limited physical contact before this match. It really feels like a first time match in a lot of ways. Flair is one of the greatest of all times and this build is one of his unheralded accomplishments throughout his career.
  13. soup23
    Great video package to set the stage for this one. This matches features some stunning memorable visuals. The scared look Michaels has when Taker turns the lights back on. Shawn's piledriver on the steel steps with Takers head smacking off the steel. Shawn's career halting bump when he grazes the casket on the back body drop to the outside. Shawn being grabbed by the nutsack as he is straddling the casket. THE CASKET IS ON FIRE. That is a pretty good track record of memorable spots for one match and doesn't include the moonsault and elbow drop spots Gregor mentions before. The memorability along with the hatred helps push this match in the very good category for me. There was still something missing within the transitions though to push it into the great level. In the 1997 comments, I seemed to like Ground Zero more than anyone else based on the out of control feeling in portrayed. This match tried to split the difference between that and the stunt show that Hell in a Cell was for much of the duration. You cant find the match disappointing but those flaws do make it #3 in their PPV series for 1997 and 1998. (***1/2)
  14. soup23
    What a foregone conclusion the winner of this match was. Vader is #30 and the ring is full of midcarders. I honestly can't see who you could even make the case for in this match besides Austin. Maybe Dude Love as Mankind but that is a huge stretch. The Nation still has full core in. Goldust gets some revenge on earlier throwing out Vader. Goldust is wearing a different outfit too. Austin has a good many eliminations and the ring is cleaning out quickly. Chainz makes a brian Knobbs 1991 type run making it to the final 6. Our final four is Dude, Austin, Farooqq, and The Rock. Dude and Austin go at it and Farooqq eliminates Dude after an attack from Austin. Rock eliminates Farooqq continuing that dissension. Ausitn and The Rock are left and we get a quick two minute finishing sequence climaxing in a stunner and The Rock being thrown over. Tyson is shown in the press box cheering Austin on. This match helped make The Rock due to his endurance run and gave Austin another benchmark. Besides those two things and all 3 faces of Foley being in the match, this Rumble is forgettable overall.
  15. soup23
    I remember watching this match when the VHS came out and thinking it was just Goldust being weird (I was 11 in 1997 and still had a bedtime of 10:00 missing a lot of the second hour of Raw's). I am so thankful of the yearbook showing how it has actually been a well built up feud. Goldust's attire is actually kind of tame compared to other choices he has made lately. Goldust has the early going but Vader returns and throws Dust into Luna to a big pop from the crowd. This match overall has great crowd interaction actually. Goldust takes over and starts potatoing away at Vader and sends him stiffly in the steps. Luna is doing a good Sherri Martel impression of pretty constantly being involved in this match. Instead of ten punches in the corner, Dust gives 9 and then a kiss. Vader gets a desperation clothesline that allows Dustin to take his signature flipping bump. Dust can't slam Vader and has back troubles. Vader hits a nice suplex and a big splash for a nearfall. Vader tries to finish off Dust with a Vader Bomb but due to a distraction from Luna, Dust hits him in the balls. Vader sweeps Goldust off his feet, hits a stidown splash, and finishes him off with a Vader Bomb with Luna on Vader's back. Damn good opener for the PPV. (***)
  16. soup23
    Rey isnt going to let Juvy attack him at the onset here as he takes Juvy out and has a flurry of action climaxing into a somersault splash to the outside. It is a shame that Rey is really favoring his leg starting a trend of injuries with that limb throughout his career. Juvy catapults Rey out to the floor and then hits a beautiful dive to the outside. The commentary team of Tenay/Marshall/and Brain is so odd to hear. Juvy is relentless with high impact moves including a brainbuster. Juvy gets overzealous and hits the ring post and he comes to the floor favoring the knee. Juvy is still on top though and hits a leg drop from the ring all the way to the floor. It is shockingly nice to hear all three of these guys focused and getting over this match on commentary. Springboard dropkick gets a nearfall for Juvy. Rey is able to avoid some of Juvy's moves and makes his comeback. Juvy goes for a powerbomb but Rey is able to drop down on top of him. Rey sends Juvy off the top and goes for the hurricanarana. Juvy tries to capitalize with the 450 splash but is able to land on his feet. Unfortunately, Rey is there to catch him with a rana and we have a new cruiserweight champion. Rey will face Jericho at Souled Out. Glad to see Thunder being used as a platform at this point for long-form cruiser matches. (***1/4)
  17. soup23
    Hall and Buff are here to shill the NWO Rules and Bones shirt. This one is on the lower level of the power rankings of NWO merch.
  18. soup23
    A black and white video package with omnious music plays showing the history of Luger vs. Savage for their match at Souled Out. Good piece and production for a feud that is pretty forgotten.
  19. soup23
    The Giant says that Nash will feel the chokeslam at Souled Out. Raven's flock gets completely taken out by Giant. Nash comes out to goad Giant as they were unable to touch until their match at the PPV. Nash throws hot coffee in his face and continues to berate him as they head to the locker room.
  20. soup23
    LCO get ambushed at the start which is a change of pace. They come back quickly and start brawling throughout Korakuen. Highlights include a piledriver through the table to Kato. kato takes a brutal beating and is bleeding badly. Meiko gets the tag in and is going crazy but she is quickly beat down and bloody too. The plucky upstarts try to fight fire with fire vs. LCO but they get shut down at every corner. LCO is even picking them up on counts to inflict more punishment. A double stomp from LCO with a chair makes the ref refuse to count. LCO responds by beating the shit out of her. After watching my 1997 footage, I was waiting for LCO to interject the guardrail into the match and here it comes. Meiko was really good in this match I think and doing little bursts of hope. It happens in sucession with her armbar from the top rope and then her DVD that MIta has to make the save on. LCO starts taking this match more serious and realizes they are now in a legit fight. The final 5-6 minutes feature a lot of nearfalls and good combination moves. LCO is finally able to put the upstarts away with a moonsault from Shimoda. This match had a few lulls but I love pluckly upstarts and vicious heel tag teams so overall, the match worked for me on a lot of levels. (***3/4)
  21. soup23
    Probably not what you would expect if you just saw a M-Pro match listed but a match that is almost entirely consisted on the mat. Teioh takes most of the match and works over Funaki's arm. Good solid mat work with a lucha title match slant to it. The does escalate and I enjoyed that the work done on the limbs pays off later like Funaki going for a figure four but being unable to lock it in. We actually get a dueling leg lock spot that feels like a pretty big transition for dominance within the confines of this match. Teioh takes over and hits a snapmare with Funaki's leg ending up over the rope for added emphasis. A lion-tamer cloverleaf is applied by Teioh and he is really torquing on Funaki now and seems dominate in the match. Teioh heels it up a bit with a boot scrap and top rope assisted knee blast. The figure four is locked in and Funaki works to escape and reverse. After some failed attempts, he is eventually able to do so but he cant follow it up and Teioh again gets more dickish with a leg posting. He gets overconfident and sent face first to the post as a result. Funaki counteracts short cuts with short cuts as he posts Teioh in a good revenge spot and then he does the spot of 1997 and 1998, the ring post figure four. Teioh has a much greater sense of desperation now and is looking to finish but he cant but Funaki away. He gets his chokeslam for a nearfall but Funaki holds on with an armbar. Teioh again gets cokcy and his knee busts intot he turnbuckle. Funaki locks in a leg submission and this match is up for grabs now. The match ends with each going for a series of quick pinfalls and going for broke. Teioh is able to execute one and pick up the duke. This was a match I liked better and better as it went along. What some might see as boring and lifeless, I saw as focused work telling an overall story. Probably a fringe top 100 contender, but something I am glad made the set. (***1/2)
  22. soup23
    This may be the tubbiest I have seen Tenryu look. He wastes no time and pounds away with Araya from the onset. A big dive to the outside and some splash and chair shots. Tenryu climbs to the top again but gets hit with a dropkick from Araya with a chair to the face. An awkward moonsault is hit for a nearfall and Tenryu is bleeding. A kendo stick comes ina nd we get an almost exact replica attack of the one Gannosuke gave Tanaka a week earlier. Tenryu makes his comeback by throwing chairs and then climbs the top rope again for another dive. I don't know when Tenryu decided he was Hayabusa but this match has been fucking weird so far. Tenryu punches Araya some, sends him to the outside and does a crossbody from the ramp. Finally, back inside we are seeing the grumpy asshole Tenryu we love with peppering punches, short kicks, and stiff chops. Araya has been bloodied up what looks like hardway as a result of this dismantling. Araya musters up a bit of a comeback but it is shortlived as Tenryu hits a back suplex. Araya then wont back down and goes strike for strike with Tenryu before Tenryu gives an extremely stiff clothesline that Araya bumps oddly off of. After a clothesline battle, Tenryu hits one more and finishes Araya off. What a weird ass match with awkward spots abound, some straight lifting from the FMW match a week earlier, and Tenryu thinking he is a cruiserweight. (**)
  23. soup23
    Goldust has his third wadrobe change of the night. Shamrock comes down and gets into a brawl with Henry. Honky Tonk Man is in the Royal Rumble so the nostalgia acts for the Rumble have happened. JR makes a cousin joke about Honky. Austin's music fires up and he comes from behind and hits Phenas godwin with the drawing cage and stund Phineas. A big brawl erupts in the ring with all the competitors but the Nation and Savio attack Stone Cold on the stage area. This feels like the Rumble brawl ending angle that happens every year now but still feels somewhat fresh here.
  24. soup23
    Shawn announces Kane as the newest member of DX. Taker foregoes all the mind games with the casket and comes directly down the aisle to confront Michaels. Taker says Shawn shouldn't be concerned with his brother but him putting a 6 inch hole into his forehead. Taker teases chokeslamming Chyna to a huge pop but HHH uses the crutch to gain the advantage for Dx. Shawn hits the SCM and DX gives a big time beatdown. The crowd starts chanting we want Kane and the lights dim. Kane's music fires up to a big pop and Kane comes down to save his big brother. They do the iconic hand gesture to a huge pop from the crowd in an extremely powerful moment that JR calls with brilliance.
  25. soup23
    Tyson is a welcomed guest to Royal Rumble and he will be at Raw next Monday. Vince is starting to really get boo'd with every appearance now.
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