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Once again, a melancholy match to watch knowing what is directly looming. Putting aside those emotions, this was another fun encounter. This was probably the most seemless and best Ikeda has looked in an AJ ring and him and Kawada especially have a lot of beef in this match. Check out the lariat that Kawada gives him in the latter stages that is absolutely brutal. Misawa and Kawada have a good bit of interaction and it is always fun to watch these two mix it up between the wrestling, strikes and some of their signature bombs. Taue also takes it Misawa quite a bit and is really grumpy in this one. Final even ends up with Inoue and Ogawa which is two junior members but it felt like they had mixed it up well enough that a pin could be costly. Ogawa ends up putting him away with a back suplex. ***1/2

This was a fun match to watch. Kobashi and Hanson go after each other in the early going and it is typically good stuff from them but a bit restrained. That played into the narrative of the match as things were going along smoothly until Shiga goes after Stan on the apron. Stan loses his shit and then just waylays on him with chairs and an offensive onslaught. The match is set from that point forward. We know the history of Shiga and he was never the cant miss prospect Kobashi was in 1988 but it is heartwarming seeing a red trunked, over zealous young lion go after the pissed off cowboy much in a way the now iconic guy in orange standing on the apron used to. The match from that point forward is all about if Shiga can be saved from Kobashi. He does come in at one point, but Kobashi gets taken out and it is Shiga alone vs. Smith and Hanson. He can’t be saved that time and goes down to the lariat. This is the last we see of one of the best feuds of the 90’s in Kobashi and Hanson. Truly an end of the era moment. ***1/4

Jaguar gets knocked out of the way at first allowing Scoot and Blade to do some chain wrestling that looked pretty good. Jet then jumps in and Scott gets double teamed. It looks like they are wrestling in a barn. The three way spots work pretty well here with all the guys executing their indy riffic spots cleanly and in some innovative ways. Some of the more clichéd moves include an assisted suplex and powerbombs. This is the most crisp Blade’s striking has looked. The valet for Jaguar jumps on Blade and then Blade’s valet gets in the ring for a catfight in the lamest portion of the match. Scoot’s finisher still looks insane as he wastes Jet with it. A table gets inserted again providing some of the worst tropes of early 2000’s indy wrestling. A run in continues that with the referee looking right at it. That puts Scoot on the table and then Blade from the legit roof comes flying into the screen. Jaguar sneaks the pin and wins. Pretty fun 3 way. **1/2

A lot going on here. Canek and Cibernetico do a fine brawl using the chain but there is of course a ton going on outside because this is AAA. My man Oscar Sevilla is really getting his ass kicked. I did think for someone that is usually dreadful, Canek is passable here. Finish features fires and is mainly a vehicle for the Los Vipers to come out and attack Cibernetico including using fire. This allows Canek to win. **1/4

They did filter in a lot here and it was a good teaser for the Royal Rumble match that was upcoming. Jeff has been more graceful and contained in 2000 overall in tags besides the big spot but since he was in a singles showcase here, he stretched things out a bit more. *3/4

The rudos are in more militant gear tonight. Bestia gives some hellcious punches to Negro Casas as they pop it off really strong in the first fall. Second fall starts with Niebla flying around all over the place performing great moves. Shocker continues to fake getting fouled but no one is buying it. Casas gives a receipt in the second fall to Scorpio by kicking him right in the dome as the tecnicos take that fall easily. We keep cutting to a kid in the Villano mask and Rugrats Tee shirt that is mugging hardcore for the camera. Third fall was really quick but had Tarzan Boy and Niebla flying around all over the place. A la magistral cradle is done by Negro for the pin. A quick sprint but a blast to watch. ***

A pretty boss cowboy hat and leather coat combo for Ano 2000. This is really like the old pissed off lads of CMLL battling each other. Villano still seems to be the focal point of the whole promotion in a lot of ways as he gets a promo on his way to the ring. Perro does as well and we see just how awful his forehead looks from a career of blading. Right on cue, Perro is busted open 1 minute into this match. He gets beat on for a while until Villano bails him out. Villano comes in with a fury and they take the first fall. Second fall is more of the same until the ref gets bumped and Perro gets fouled by Ano. That looks like a win for the rudos but the referee that was knocked out saw the foul and the tecnicos are awarded the match. The battle continues after the match as Perro gets slammed into the chairs and beat up on. I have really enjoyed the old legends of CMLL battling it out. ***

Pretty glaring gaffe in this weeks issue with Dave claiming Asuka was Stardom's biggest star at one point.

Another non match of sorts as Rock and Dudley Boyz battle for about two minutes and then go after the lumberjacks. Test gets put through a table. It doesn’t look like Rock can overtake the odds when he puts Bull through a table. HHH is able to regain the advantage with an assist from X-Pac and they Rock Bottom Rock through the table as our final signoff before Judgment Day. ½*

I guess they are trying to mix up more people into the IC title mix with Hardcore and Val out there. This is the second time in six months they have tried to insert Holly into this position and it just doesn’t ever work. There wasn’t much to the match at all before Hardcore Holly brings in a chair and hammers first Jericho and then Benoit. He works over Benoit’s leg heavily and that is something to look for in the Judgment Day match for continuity. 1/2*

A pretty awesome video package showing the history of these two so far. It starts with Aja getting pinned in the 4/4 match and then her revenge in the fantastic 9/15/99 match I watched earlier. We then get the clip from the emotional end of the 4/23 tag with Aja making Meiko get up only to be spinning back fisted back down. If you go on the narrative that 7/95 Misawa vs Kawada is a compact version of 6/3/94, that is essentially the successor of this match too. Great stiff action starting out and I loved Meiko refusing to break the headlock despite the anger and violence of Aja. Aja blocks a back kick and the Aja just wastes him on a back suplex. Aja misses a kick and then Meiko German suplexes her to oblivion. These are just violent matches. Meiko refuses to back down but man Aja is such a monster and just keeps coming forward. Meiko catches an elbow drop and hooks on an arm submissions. She is relentless with that and Aja senses she is in trouble because she starts locking on a choke hold. Aja also grabs her trash can which Meiko is able to kick away in a great timed spot and then avoid the spinning back fist with a really close submission attempt. Meiko is feeling it and hits a DVD for a nearfall. She shrugs off a desperation German from Aja but then Aja is able to land the spinning back fist although not to maximum effect. The spinning back fist from Aja has probably been the best built to move of 2000 so far. The match devolves into a battle between the Pele kick of Meiko and the back fist of Aja. At one point, Meiko even Pele’s the arm but Aja is too strong and comes back with her fourth of fifth back fist a few moments later. Aja takes off her pad and slaps Meiko awake before delivering the knock out blow to pin her. GAEA is so great when they focus on these violent and story driven matches that it really makes me question why they didn’t go exclusively this route instead of the other brawling and interference stuff. Meiko and Aja have had two classic matches in two years and they aren’t close to being done with each other. ****1/4

Really good 10 minute match. Kansai in 2000 has certainly lost a step more compared to someone like Aja but she still can bring the goods in certain moments and these compact matches help go a long way. This had a template of Kansai wanting to bully around Azumi based off her size advantage and Azumi running around to prove her toughness. The way Kansai gets the crowd to pop as she kicks Azumi to regain the advantage is great. Azumi also does a beautiful roll up for a nearfall in the latter stages. Kansai ends up winning with the splash mountain. Azumi shoves away Ran Yu Yu in the ring after the match. ***1/2

Pimpinela Escarlata starts with a promo and looks lovely today in her robe. Panther is working as a tecnico here. Escarlata and villano IV start things off with some great wrestling overall. Pimpinela really wrenches back on the submission attempts. Panther is in next with villano V and they have another great sequence. Panther’s mat work in 2000 has been awe inspiring with him lifting Villano up and holding him there using one arm for strength for 30 seconds or so. Villano III vs Enterrador is our last pairing. Enterrador is someone I am not familiar with so it is up to him to keep the momentum going. He is a bigger guy and III works on taking him down and grinding him out with leg work. Things open up a bit more and we get Pimpinela kissing the referee. We also get a bit of Panther and Villano which just wets the appetite. The Villanos are able to take the first fall in just over 15 minutes. Second and third falls are quicker but also provides a good many highlights including Pimpinela getting beat up and doing some excellent dives, Panther throwing these short kicks to a Villano in the corner and III and Panther interacting more. Nice win overall for the Villanos and their rep as a trios unit is getting raised throughout 2000 much in the same way Satanico is as an individual worker. ***3/4

It is nice that with Toryumon taking a break, we are still getting to see CIMA do some great work in Mexico. Here he is a strict rudo like in Crazy Max and leads his team IMO from a cheating and overall work stand point. Cool to see Super Calo as I have always liked his look. Ciclon showed he still had a little left in the tank in the second fall as he really went after Cerebro perhaps setting up a singles match down the road. I don’t believe I have seen Black Dragon before but he was fine here if not too spectacular. Bombero just wastes Calo with a clothesline after he dances around in a funny moment. Finish is fun with CIMA in a surfboard and when he gets released from that, he slams his neck over the top rope. We get a crowd shot of someone holding a baby in almost the exact same manner as I was holding my newborn son while watching this match. Third fall has more brawling and things opening up. They have done a good job sustaining the heat and the finale occurs with a race back to the ring with the tecnicos making it for the countout win. Sort of a cheap win but one you don’t see often so it worked. Good, longform lucha trios. ***1/4

An awesome, awesome match that is my #2 MOTY so far. Aja took it to Meiko but I think the combinations of Meiko's selling as well as being able to have violent exchanges is what raises this from a great match to an iconic one and what makes these two women's feud work so well overall. It was also a possibility that Meiko could win but make no mistake Aja was the favorite and the queen of the ring. Just brutal exchange after brutal exchange with believable transitions. One of the better joshi matches I have seen in history. ****3/4

Flair comes out for his promo and gives credit to Jarrett reminding him that he came from the old school mentality. Flair then moves onto Russo. He talks about Russo growing up admiring Bruno Sammartino as a kid. Flair does a great promo and he still has it when he can sink his teeth into something. Jarrett has had enough and comes out to brawl with Flair along with Crowbar and David Flair. This brings out Arn with a lead pipe to scurry off the David/Crowbar/Jarrett contingent. Arn challenges them to a match. We come back to Flair’s entrance and Arn gets laid out by Crowbar and David in the back. Flair gets jumped by Jarrett on the aisle. A 3-1 attack happens to Flair. I know I harp on it every time and I do like Hulk’s FUNB gear and see the merit in making them look different but Flair in his golf attire wrestling just strikes me as odd every time. Nash comes out and he continues to get big pops every time he saves the old guys and clean houses. Flair puts the figure four on Daphney and Nash no sells a chair shot from Jarrett. They tease that Flair has something physically wrong with them. New Blood loads up into their bus and Millionaires Club tips the bus over as the Goldberg monster truck screeches through the parking lot. Silliness there aside for 2000 WCW tv standards, this week was good for them. NR

Here comes Hulk for what I think is his final Thunder match but we will see if I remember that correctly. The in fighting with the New Blood over Torrie is really grating as Horace punches out Kidman before coming out and taking it to Hulk. At least Torrie with Kidman or Horace is more believable than her hanging arm and arm with Bischoff. A quick brawl and Torrie gives Horace some appreciation which brings out Kidman. He and Horace go after each other again. Hulk hiptosses Kidman through the table and then pins Horace. Afterwards, Hulk kisses Torrie and she likes that as well. ¾*

The Filthy Animals stalk to the ring. They play up the gimmick that Disco doesn’t fit along with the rest of the group but I think it is a detractor. Konnan calls out anybody and MIA answers the challenge. Major Gunns is brand new and she never had any charisma at all as a performer. The action here is good while it lasts with Major Stash (Van Hammer) shockingly looking good. Shawn Stasiak comes out and takes out Chavo. Booker T comes out as a result and he goes after Stasiak. This unfortunately made the Animals and MIA look secondary and they were able to have an entertaining match. Major Gunns gives Chavo mouth to mouth to revive him. **

Flair is in the ring demanding stuff when we cut to Russo at the Flair house with David and Daphney. They tour Flair’s house and Russo puts on one of his robes. They refer to Reid throughout this as champ. David’s room consists of a cot on the basement floor that is unfinished. Beth, Reid and Ashley (Charlotte) come into the house and David berates them until Beth kicks them out. Flair in the ring looks shell shocked. David comes out and gets some legit heel heat calling him Ric instead of Dad. He then says his Dad (Russo) is in the back right now. Ric invites him to the ring. Daphney continues to make faces at Ric during his promo. Ric wants to become the champion tonight and face Jarrett right then and there. Ric challenges David to a match at Great American Bash. This hit a little too close to home. Ric can still cut a compelling promo and as groan inducing as some of this stuff is, most of it hits. Jarrett comes in and slams a guitar over Flair’s head. Main event starts with Flair brawling after Jeff in his street clothes. Russo is out on commentary in Flair’s robe. These two have a decent amount of chemistry together and do a good brawl around the ringside area. Inside the ring, Jarrett locks on the figure four as Flair is in pain. Madden being so against Flair now continues to feel odd considering how much of a drum beater he was up to this point. Jarrett has some good heat from the Biloxi crowd. Flair goes low to start his comeback. A good call by Tony stating he is using his heartbreak from tonight to motivate him. Flair gets a quick inside cradle and wins the title with Russo saying holy shit on commentary. The pop is good for this moment. Charles Robinson gets smashed with the guitar and they attack Flair making his title celebration short lived. Russo runs off with the belt. The wolfpak music starts and here comes the personal bodyguard of WCW, Kevin Nash. Nash takes the belt from Russo and hits Jarrett with it. Powerbomb for Jeff with the ring collapsing. Nash hands the belt to Flair as the show goes off the air. As far as telling an overall story that was pretty compelling, this is probably the peak of the Russo/Bischoff regime. **1/4

A handicap match that was set up for one reason and that is Horace to make his decision. The action is fine with some back and forth until Horace seemingly helps his uncle by decking Bischoff. The filthy animals run in and get taken out as well. Torrie Wilson comes out in a short cheetah print dress and suddenly Horace has a change of heart. He hits Hulk with a chair and puts on the New Blood shirt. *1/4

Even though this is a feud I have no use for, this is a pretty big opening match to Nitro and the video package beforehand is well done in trying to make sense of it. The cage match itself is their best effort as they convey the violence without drifting too far into cartoon territory. Sting shows a good bit of aggression handcuffing Vamp and then delivering the Stinger splash. A little bit of magic ends the segment as the cage lifts up with the lights going out and when they come back on, Vamp is gone. **

HBK starts off Raw with a promo. He talks about his promotion and even name drops TWA. He says however the thing he is most proud of is his wife Rebecca and son Cameron. As a result of not being able to fully invest in his duties, he is resigning as Commissioner. He does however want to be the referee Sunday for the iron man match. We get a clip of him screwing the Rock on SmackDown in August and out comes Vince. They do a good bit of recon ensuring Shawn is a face by Vince getting in his face and getting shoved down. HBK leaves as the rest of the regime arrives. We get another long form promo. The promo from HHH was fine but this felt too much like the traditional 20 minute open of Raw that we are used to and burned out on now. I did think Rock’s promo was one of the better ones he has done this year in being about the match and the build instead of joking with the crowd. The match is interesting. These two don’t really mix up all that much and after this I am really looking forward to Fully Loaded. Rocks busts out a cross armbreaker and a figure four to really show versatility that your aren’t used to. Benoit is great as usual at leading the pace and keeping things going along when he is on offense. HHH drags Benoit to the ropes on the figure four and Benoit locks on the crossface and Vince reinacts Montreal in a move that is getting too played out already. If they let this go, why not do it for the championship. Jericho comes out and I think it is a really smart move that they still have untraditional pairings of Jericho and HHH and Rock and Benoit. Rock gives Benoit a Rock Bottom as Jericho has the walls on HHH. DX runs in but here are the Dudley’s to even it back up. Now we have Rock and HHH going at it and HHH gets Rock Bottomed through the table. Great go home segment. ***

I liked the gimmick of Sabu and it is easy to see the aura of him but man what a mess of a match that was all about creating chaos and visuals instead of having any structure. I can appreciate the way this feels unique and different but watching it back now, it just seemed like an intriguing gimmick that is doing a big performance art piece. **1/2

A really good battle royal and I say that as someone that typically dislikes them. This had some fun wrinkles like Mabel and Diesel fighting two years before their SummerSlam match. I also thought Macho and Hennig had a really good sequence in the middle portions of this. It takes four guys to take out Savage and Razor overcomes the odds by eliminating both Quebeccers. Good heat for the pull apart between him and Martel. ***