El-P

Matt posted a link to a Kevin Owens promo to show how he actually showed genuine heel character. Parv blew him off saying he wouldn't even watch it and rather watch 1990 WWF Superstars. Because the Boris Zhukov vs Nikolai Volkoff stuff was so compelling, you see. So yeah, I'd call it trolling under a disguise of "pro-wrestling analysis".

Gotta love that. "Hey, Owens, don't move, I'm winning the belt for you." I want a HHH vs Jeff Jarrett carny of all carny dream match at Mania.

I fiind it hilarious that people are all up in arms, not because it was a stupid as fuck finish that put HHH back in the saddle again, but because the title went to EVIL INDY GUY. And I'm the first one to dislike the indy mentality of spot-spot-spot (just read my TNA stuff). But really, at this point, give me Owens vs Zayn vs Joe in a Triple Threat at Mania, just so we have a smark mark collective orgasm and the biggest "THIS IS AWESOME" chant ever. After all, Matt, you were right. We indeed like in a *Post-Bryan* Workrate guilt era now.

You confused me with someone who gives a fuck. Like I said, Good for Owens, who from all acount is a really good guy, a huge pro-wrestling fan (like us) and doesn't have the traditionnal WWE look. More power to him and congratulation. (yes, I realize the angle was stootip and all about Triple H, but does anyone really think Trip is gonna be someone else than the asshole insecure egomaniac he's always been once he's got all the power over the company ?) And about the girls, yes, Becky and Sasha deserved to be pushed a lot more than Charlotte as they were better pro-wrestlers all around. The heel turn did Charlotte tons of good though, but she still ain't all that.

Yuu Yamagata is still working ? Wow. I would never have guessed.

Depend what you call AGAINST. Mark Henry's praises have been ridiculous at times. I remember the infamous OH MY GOD THIS IS SUCH A GREAT MATCH on Raw a few years ago against CM Punk. I remember watching it. It was like a good little TV match in which Henry was *good*. But the idea that Mark Henry was all of a sudden a superworker, yes, is pretty overstated. I still have nightmares (well, not really) of his match with Taker at Mania a few years back. And like I've stated before, I liked Mark Henry back in 1998 when he joined the Nation, way before he got good. So, it's not like waited for he became the new darling of post-Benoit workrate guilt crowd to enjoy that big load. Like I said in the G1 thread, I've always loved big working guys and legit feat of strenght. So, always enjoyed Mark Henry. Dunno why this post was so long winded though. Ah, the Big Show ? Yeah. Awful for most of his career.

AJ Styles vs Alex Shelley (TNA iMPACT! 09/17/04) iMPACT! really hasn't been a good or interesting show since its debut during the last months of the weekly PPV era. Lot of competitive squash which doens't work well when you have X-division guys or Jeff Jarrett. Not much in term of angle except regular "chaotic beatdown", which has been overused to death. The timer on the screen may have sounded like a neat and different idea, but it also expose of rush much of the matches are, including the competitive ones. Anyway. this was a good TV match, lets call it a good iMPACT! match which isn't as a good as a Nitro match because it more rushed. I always enjoyed Alex Shelley since he showed up as Goldylock's "Baby Bear". Although it took me weeks to figure out why that nickname. I never thought about the translation of "Goldylocks". Anyway, he's got a nice matwork style which is really refreshing, bumps well, works crisp, doesn't do contrived shit. So, good match against AJ Styles. And at some point, toward the end, I'm pretty sure, but I may be wrong, there's a timid "This is awesome" chant after an AJ Style kick out. It's repeated like two or three times only. I have no idea what was happening in ROH at the same time, but it must be one of the very forst occurence of the most famous chant of post 00's pro-wrestling on TV. Thus, it's quite interesting. And the match is really a good iMP.. screw that, Nitro match.

That's what we call a running gag. It's kinda like the old giant swing, it only gets really good when it's absurdly long.

So, Yokozuna was only one time WWF champ I guess. And Dean Douglas never got that IC belt. (More 90's references ! I live that gimmick, don't I ?)

Fun fact there has never been an American Universal Champion. Well, if you believe Stephy, Kevin Owens is the *first* Universal Champion. So I guess that Finn fella never won it. Like, a week ago.

You are all awful mysoginist pigs for not worshiping Stephy and her Steve Austin-like promo ability and character work. Shame, shame on you all. (can't wait until she taps Bailey on the shoulder after her biggest win ever)

Nash's answer about Greg Gagne is glorious. Levy's interview will probably will very interesting. He looks good for someone who should have been dead a long time ago. He doesn't for a guy who's basically only 12 years older than me. But hey, I love me some Raven and Sean will probably get the best out of him. Oh yeah. S : "Are you a genius ?" R : "Probably more of an idiot considering the stupid choices that I've made." S : "Do you have an IQ of 143 ?" R : "Yes. … Probably not anymore though." Maybe that's why I love Raven. I can relate. (not to the ability to get women naked though easily though, let's not be kidding. IQ a little bit lower too, although not that much)

I'm still frustrated about not getting that Reigns vs Rusev match at SS. He's good. He can have really good matches. He's certainly not a super worker.

Yes. It's the Contrarian-to-stupid-contrarian-meta-mainstream-WWE-fans-&-Evil-Meltzer-japaneseshit-workrate-culture attitude. That's the way now. Be in on it. #lolmovez.

Ok ok OK PEOPLE ! J'ai rien dit ! Putain… Well, he's still the first UNIVERSAL champion from Montreal. (and don't give me shit about Koloff being champ in WWC. Everybody knows this doesn't matter. The WWE Universal title is the only one, ever.) Do we need to say more about Stephy "This is a woman revolution" bullshit on Monday ? Or don't we ? (ah, beaten by a few seconds)

Day 5 A Block Ishii vs. Fale Fale as Samoan One Man Gang, I like. Fale trying to exchange a-la Vader, much less. Ishii's style can get repetitive and weary if you see too much of him, I can see that now. Don't mesh that well together, the two bullies. Fale looked plodding for the first time. Ended up decent. Disapointment. SANADA vs. Makabe Makabe more motivated it seems. Too much crappy elbow/punches exchange. Nice finishing stretch like with the Tanahashi match, but Makabe doesn't do a whole lot for me at this point. SANADA without a really worker doesn't deliver quite the same way. Yup yup, weakest G1 card yet, including the rather dismal undercard. What city were they in ? Tenzan vs. Marufuji Hey, the 00's guys are saving the day. Fuck, Marufuji knows how to chop. Kobashi-like brutal. Tenzan's skin is melting away. Niiiiiice. Tenzan's such an odd beast. He's not very good at anything, yet manages to have good matches with everyone, mostly. Maru is pushing the old vet, who doesn't give in. This is Strong Styletm. Counters and shit, hit me again and I'll headbutt you in the stomach, rat faced punk. Some of those kicks are safe like Lance Storm, but crowds eats it. Very good. Hell, maybe excellent after all. Yeah ! Respect match of sorts. Tonga vs. Tanahashi Tonga is doing the Stalker gimmick. I wish this was Windham. Dearding Tonga's match at this point. Well, Tanahashi does a Liger here, giving his opponent way more than he deserves. Tonga just isn't a good worker, sorry. Still his most watchable match, because Tanahashi looks like one of the best worker in the world, still. That upset didn't go over too well. Deflating actually. Goto vs. Okada I see some Rock influence on Okada. Which are not the best parts of his work. This feels like a routine my-turn your-turn 10's NJ match, from what I've seen. It's really good action but… something is missing for me. Crowd wakes up though. Dunno, this show was though to get through, so this was still a hot finishing stretch at least. Very good stuff, overall, but unengaging to me. Weakest G1 show, undercard & G1 matches. Isn't the G1 way too long these days ?

Trips acting like NXT's godfather and giving one of his babies the title is different. In some ways. Who cares. Give me Owens vs Zayn at Mania, and I'll be happy. Wait, is Owens the first WWE champ from Montreal ? He should speak French now and feud with Cesaro (who speaks a few words himself).

No idea who she is. But I'm all for it.

Well, actually, it is a great match. And Liger made my buy Gedo could get the absolute upset again. This man was brillant. And Gedo had the performance of his life, after three other matches. Nice, crisp matwork leading to one of the best nutshot I've seen. Build and timing goes a long way. Then : finishings stretch, the third amazing one for Liger in the same night, with callbacks to how Gedo won the other two big matches against Caras & Pegasus. Hence, it was believable even on Liger. Love the participants around the ring cheering for both guys, especially Fuyuki & Jericho cheering on Gedo. The finish looked brutal. Liger, yes. I had forgotten.

Final Jushin Liger vs Gedo Well, actually, it is a great match. And Liger made my buy Gedo could get the absolute upset again. This man was brillant. And Gedo had the performance of his life, after three other matches. Nice, crisp matwork leading to one of the best nutshot I've seen. Build and timing goes a long way. Then : finishings stretch, the third amazing one for Liger in the same night, with callbacks to how Gedo won the other two big matches against Caras & Pegasus. Hence, it was believable even on Liger. Love the participants around the ring cheering for both guys, especially Fuyuki & Jericho cheering on Gedo. The finish looked brutal. Liger, yes. I had forgotten. No classico, but on the whole, it was more balanced, with a better first and second round. The final did deliver because the Gedo rise was compelling and over as hell with this crowd. I'm really surprised how much I enjoyed this, although probably in a different, deeper way than I did 18 years ago. Above everything, these two cards, which were indeed awesome, were a showcase for Jushin Liger, mastermind and genius pro-wrestler, who got his hand on a bunch of guys from indy promotions, from the worst (Fuji) the great (Sasuke) and made them all look much bigger than they are and got the best of them inside the ring, without using a formula. I really ranked Liger from memory during the GWE, but if I had just watched this stuff again, I would have had him higher than I did (because I really had not watched much junior puro in the last 15 years). He was brillant. One of a kind for sure. The Man. Enough of the nostalgia, done looking back now.

Special attraction. The match that got them, Rey mostly, famous both in Japan and in ECW. I've seen this called a "touring match". Is that a nice way to say they were doing an exhibition ? Well, it is the Rey Jr. showcase, and it's amazing more than twenty years later. This guy was gonna be a star anywhere. Too bad he never got that nice sting in Japan somewhere. Would have been something. Psic(h?)osis plays basis rudo. Rey flies the fuck around and gets that crowd unglued. Terrific stuff. A bit too much "routine" maybe ? Well, their routine was **** minimum back then, so...

The Sasuke all-time classic it isn't. Dragon just isn't a very good babyface underdog, and he's much respected anyway to be an underdog at this point. I'd have him go heelish on Liger. Kidna useless (because didn't lead to anything) leg work, but no big deal, didn't last too long. Then they go into the finishing stretch, which is where a junior match makes its money. And it's really fucking good. Not enough exhaustion sense from Dragon though, so you don't get the epicness Sasuke would bring. The work around la majistral is terrific though, with a great finish. Great match maybe ? Of one Ultimo's best without a doubt.

Semi-finals Wild Pegasus vs Gedo Feels somewhat familiar. And Benoit does beat the shit out of Gedo again. Gedo is a terrific bumper. He can take a beating like no one's business. WAR crowd going crazy for Gedo resisting NJ outsider Pegasus makes sense this time. Nice match, as it shows the progress of Gedo both as a worker and a character. He does show more big time offense. Gedo Clutch = one of the best submission finisher. Looks so painful. Gedo's feet hits the top rope on a tope, and the fall looks brutal. Escalation to an major upset. Really good. Jushin Liger vs Ultimo Dragon The Sasuke all-time classic it isn't. Dragon just isn't a very good babyface underdog, and he's much respected anyway to be an underdog at this point. I'd have him go heelish on Liger. Kidna useless (because didn't lead to anything) leg work, but no big deal, didn't last too long. Then they go into the finishing stretch, which is where a junior match makes its money. And it's really fucking good. Not enough exhaustion sense from Dragon though, so you don't get the epicness Sasuke would bring. The work around la majistral is terrific though, with a great finish. Great match maybe ? Of one Ultimo's best without a doubt. Intermezzo Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Psychosis Special attraction. The match that got them, Rey mostly, famous both in Japan and in ECW. I've seen this called a "touring match". Is that a nice way to say they were doing an exhibition ? Well, it is the Rey Jr. showcase, and it's amazing more than twenty years later. This guy was gonna be a star anywhere. Too bad he never got that nice sting in Japan somewhere. Would have been something. Psic(h?)osis plays basis rudo. Rey flies the fuck around and gets that crowd unglued. Terrific stuff. A bit too much "routine" maybe ? Well, their routine was **** minimum back then, so... So yeah. No classico in the semi, but Benoit vs Gedo was better than last year. Of course Gedo can't keep upsetting everyone, so the final was a double giveaway, that Liger would win and that it wouldn't be the MOTYC the previous year was, as good as Gedo is.

Wild Pegasus vs Lionheart. That how they are actually introduced. Is this a Canadian version of Saint Seya now ? "Come on motherfucker !" Wow. That's no Gold Saint talk, Jericho. Mechanically not as slick and swift as that match with that non-Saint Tiger fellow, but the whole story of Jericho wanting to upstage Benoit and show off some amazing offensive move and getting frustrated in the process makes it better to me. More dynamic. And I admit I "Come on baby !" Jericho cracks me up. Benoit, well, is a machine. Very good match in a formative way. Oh, and of course, at the end, Seya wins.