Matt D

Semantic issue: I think maybe this match shouldn't have "five stars" in it. I don't give star ratings, but if I did, a match would have to hit in every area, or at least almost every, to get five stars. That's the highest mark. Plus, despite what was discussed, I think you can find matches from the 70s-back that have great finishes. It's not all that uncommon.

I am on my phone, so I will be be vague instead of using spoiler tags. I think the idea was to have a definitive pinfall while keeping both guys strong and because they would need to use Buzz as Rich's partner upcoming. There was a clear winner, both to the match and the feud, but at the end of the day it was about how evenly matched they were and how there was no shame in losing. Tonally, you have to factor in the match that followed too, which makes it less clean than it could have been.

Where I did absolutely love Buzz was in the pre-match where he kept shaking the top of the cage and came off like a trapped animal exploring his surroundings.

Off the top of my head, best use would be in the midst of a lot of other varied arm offense, maybe as connective tissue from one hold to another to rationalize why the other wrestler is allowing it without fighting back more or as part of a cut off of a hope spot (fighting out of a hold). Those are just quick thoughts, though.

1.) You're right. Control armwork by the heel in a five minute squash with a size discrepancy is very likely stupid. 2.) Let me toss out an example, and I realize that this is as far off from MMA as you can get. I really like old Edgar Rice Burroughs Sci Fi. Stuff from over a hundred years ago. The John Carter stories especially. They're fun and pulpy and brisk and hugely imaginative. They're imaginative because they have to be. We knew so little about the universe around us that he had to make leaps of faith or work off of bad science, or theories that have been long since disproven. We know a lot more about science now. Those stories were science fiction, sure, but they weren't, at the time, intended as science fantasy. They were intended as plausible to the extent that people could suspend their disbelief and immerse themselves into the story. If I were to look at them through the lens of modern astronomy and physics, I'd be miserable. Judge the storytelling and how the tools were used (in this case poorly), but don't judge the tools based on what they were never trying to be and what they simply couldn't know to be. You'll be miserable. Punching an arm is awesome, not because it would really work, but because it has a symbolic meaning. You just have to punch the arm at the right time, with the right selling, and to the right effect.

Can we have that show too, please? Since WWE is being so giving and all.

I'm not ready to put it into context yet. I do think it's innately different than something like Tully vs Magnum because Mad Dog being a crazy sadistic heel as opposed to a chickenshit one. This was very much what it should have been, with Rich outquicking and finessing Sawyer to begin, Sawyer getting an advantage due to Rich being overzealous. The armwork UNLOCKING the ability for Buzz to slam Rich into the cage, and then a lot of heat with some big comeback spots, and them going toe to toe for the finish. In general, I'll take a match, even a bloody cage match, which is heat-centric over one with a lot of even brawling. It's all the more appropriate considering who was in there. It's funny. I'm not sure people would have thought this lived up to the hype if it showed up ten-fifteen years ago, but after a bunch of 80s sets, I think it very much does.

Almost certain that babyfaces have been calling her that in promos since almost day one in NXT.

And there's the Moolah reference again.

Presumably, the issue, then, is Vince producing him.

My guess about the Bo thing is China.

They just did that a few days ago. It's up to Buzz vs Rich to beat Wahoo vs Race now. They should roll over and put up a Krupp vs Madril match or something.

Words to follow in the next week:

Pro wrestling comfort food. Sting vs Flair at ~10 minutes with a slightly shorter second act and a slightly more elaborate third act with a second bit of heat. The crowd was into it and ready to play along. Bayley was very over. There were some fun moments, mainly centered around Charlotte stooging (Flair Flop, trying to leave with the belt, some of her cut offs). A little bit of dissonance between how Bayley was portrayed in the match and how lightning and opportunistic the finish felt, but other than that, this was a nice bit of distilled pro wrestling.

And then there those goobers in the front row who spend the whole first fall waving.

I think the idea is that TNA offered to pay Storm a lot of money and then did not have said money to pay him with.

Yeah, Dick Kroll being there definitely made it feel more special too. I thought that Boesch (who I love on commentary) was a little more subdued given the situation as well. Glad you guys enjoyed it.

Quick thoughts: Every time they hit each other in any way, shape, or form. it was awesome. The repeated targeting of the stomach by Race to shape transitions and key moments in the match was awesome. Wahoo's selling was awesome. Wahoo's butterfly suplexes were awesome. The valuation of Race's vertical suplex was awesome. The fight that almost broke out in the front row towards the end was awesome. The holds, while well worked, were headlocks, and while they moved in and out of them sort of interestingly, it wasn't quite enough. Race, especially, really dropped a ball in the second fall by not using some sort of stomach hold. This was very much a NWA title match. It was very much a Race defense, though the two out of three structure meant that he took a little more than he might otherwise. It had all the pros and cons of that. Race stooged well and bled well. I just wish the holds were a little more interesting though they were absolutely well worked. There's a moment on a rope break where you can clearly see Wahoo call for a headbutt in the break. And you don't care. At all. Because the headbutt was that amazing. Just like every other headbutt Race threw in the match. I'm so glad we got to see this. I wish, even more, that we could have seen them in a non-title strap match, though.

Someone on DVDVR posted this as coming up this week: 05/30/1951 – Texas Rasslin’: Thesz vs Gunkel Journey back in time to see Lou Thesz defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ray Gunkel in a 2-Out-of-3 Falls Match. 09/23/1964 – Gagne-Metrics Learn a different way to get in shape and feel great with Gagne-Metrics, courtesy of the Verne Gagne Foundation for Physical Fitness. 03/16/1961 – Gino ‘Gorilla Monsoon’ Marella The dominance of the late Gorilla Monsoon is on display in this hidden gem, as Dave Ruhl tries to defeat Gino Marella for a monetary prize. 02/11/1969 – NWA Title: Funk, Jr. vs Kiniski Witness Dory Funk Jr. establish his legacy when he battles the legendary Gene Kiniski for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. 01/12/1976 – Andre The Giant Feat Of Strength Discover why Andre The Giant earned the moniker of The Eighth Wonder of The World through these impressive Feats of Strength. 06/12/1976 – McMahon Interviews Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali uses his extraordinary charisma to show his determination to dominate the wrestling world in an interview with Vince McMahon. 07/07/1982 – Roddy Piper vs Jack Brisco Will the dirty and underhanded tactics of Roddy Piper cost him when he challenges Jack Brisco for the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship? 09/22/1980 – Champs Collide: Race vs Backlund Styles clash when NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race collides with WWE Champion Bob Backlund to see who is the Undisputed Champion. 10/23/1983 – The Last Battle Of Atlanta In this historic confrontation, Buzz Sawyer and Tommy Rich battle inside a Steel Cage while Paul Ellering is confined to a cell of his own. 01/20/1987 – Ric Flair vs Barry Windham The allure of championship gold leads Barry Windham to push Ric Flair to the limit in this classic bout for the NWA World Heavyweight Title. 08/19/1995 – Brothers Of Destruction Before waging war with Kane in WWE, The Undertaker traveled to Smoky Mountain Wrestling to go one-on-one with Unabomb. 09/14/1996 – South Africa: Austin vs Bret Far from their battle at Survivor Series ’96, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart lock up in this rarely seen encounter from South Africa. 09/11/1997 – ECW: Bret Hart vs Terry Funk Go beyond the mat to relive the first of many ‘Retirement Matches’ for Terry Funk when he faces off against WWE Champion Bret Hart. 10/11/2000 – Samoa Joe vs William Regal In a sign of things to come, Triple H travels to Ultimate Pro Wrestling to witness William Regal face future NXT Champion, Samoa Joe. 04/29/2012 – FCW Champion: Seth Rollins Seth Rollins proves he has the heart of a champion early in his career by defending the Florida Heavyweight Title against Kassius Ohno. --- So uh.. Last Battle of Atlanta?

I'm looking forward to seeing 74 Lothario. That match sounds great. He was only 40. Any idea how long the Wahoo vs Harley match is, Bruce?

Join the Dave Musgrave-Steven Graham PWO Party Just add in Ivan Koloff and that's basically the Canadian Communist Party.

Fuji vs Morales was a hugely fun 7 minute sprint.

Fuji had pretty good timing when it came to interference, and his act was simple but effective when it came to mid-late 80s promos. It was nuts he won so many WON worst manager awards in a world with Frenchy Martin, Coach, and Big Daddy Dink. I think he was portrayed as more of a physical threat than most other managers and they got a lot of mileage out of that.

I hadn't seen that list before, actually. What it says is that it's very likely the two Slater vs Bock and the Rich vs Bock matches are there somewhere, which to me is great news.