GSR

Barry Horowitz is actually a great shout. I enjoyed both his shoot interview and the Enhancement Talent Round Table that he was part of, but can't see KC going for him. I have little doubt he'd do a far better job, and be a better interview, than Snuka and Putski.

I'd hardly class Jannetty as a disappointing wrestler.

I've done a search on Dan's 150+ disc AJW set and just found two matches for her, both from 1978. A singles match against Chino Sato and a two out of three falls tag with Yumi Ikeshita against the Golden Pair.

If that's the one from 05.26.76 that's probably my favourite WOS bout from the 70s so far, and as a note that was held on the same card as the Gwyn Davies vs Steve Veidor match that everyone on here was so high on. I've not seen the Faulkner match yet but can just picture the constant tantrums and incessant complaining to the ref, Kent Walton and anyone who'll listen!

What's the other Breaks match that you've seen apart from the Street and Grey ones?

What's personal about it? I haven't seen Memphis Mark give one reason why he rates Christopher as the worst wrestler ever, in fact his post comes across as though he doesn't like him and as a result that makes him automatically the worst wrestler. Christopher is worse than the Blade Runners? Mr Universe? the Harlem Knights? Colin Scott? Big Black Dog? the Star Riders? Tojo Yamamoto? Jim Steele? To name a handful who have all passed through Memphis. So just because no-one criticised those who named Orton, Bully Ray etc it's as though Memphis Mark is being picked on? Christ, I don't know what's up with this board recently? Carry on, I'm done with this thread. Wouldn't want to upset someone by having, heaven forbid, a different opinion.

Frankly for someone who calls himself 'Memphis Mark' and claims to have been watching since 1970, I find it ludicrous that he says Brian Christopher is the worst professional wrestler ever. So many talentless, green and clueless wrestlers have passed through the territory and Christopher is the worst of the lot? Rubbish.

His WCW run does him no favours, but I've seen Haystacks matches in my WOS viewing that I've enjoyed. He's not the world's best by any means, but he is better than Daddy without question.

An awful lot of those aren't even eligible yet so you may want to stick some reviews up and get nominating them. I've never seen him wrestle, but I totally don't get the Grado hype in the slightest.

Beat me to it Coffey. Khali can't wrestle, can't cut a promo and has been under contract for approximately eight years.

Brian Christopher is the worst suggestion that I've read in this thread. I haven't seen anything of him from the past few years, but have seen more than enough early to mid 90s USWA and his WWF run to say that he is nowhere near. The guy also had an abundance of charisma and could cut a promo. He wouldn't even make a worse 1,000 wrestlers ever list.

Probably the best thing I've read about this project.

Yeah, there were some dreadful, pointless posts in that thread that added nothing to the discussion.

The main thing that stood out about that Royals vs Black Knights tag I watched was that it was structurally all over the place. Seems like it's a common theme for them!

Not voting for him due to the absence of any real high end, must see stuff. I caught a highly enjoyable match he had with Cactus Jack from the 03.20.93 Saturday Night show recently, that I'm kinda surprised didn't make the Yearbook as it seems right up the folks on this boards' street.

No it doesn't. Neither comes anywhere near to the Worst Professional Wrestler ever.

The following two matches are from Satellite Wrestling on the short lived Screensport program Jim Breaks vs Johnny Saint (03.01.86) The Screensport shows were completely different to the traditional WOS ones and had more of an American feel to them; there were interviews, angles which would develop from show to show, backstage bits and you'd even get an added bout or two from the US airing which were supposedly nominated by a 'viewer'. Both wrestlers cut promos before the match and neither were very good (not surprisingly as they've never had any need for it in the past) with Saint being worse than Breaks. With this being on the Screensport channel, it means there is sadly no Kent Walton and commentary is provided by Maxton G. Beesley and Vince Miller, who to put it bluntly are diabolical. For two who say so much they are completely clueless when it comes to calling the moves, they would often talk over each other to the point you couldn't understand what they were saying , and even worse in my eyes, they'd proceed to talk over Breaks when he's doing his schtick with the crowd. If that isn't bad enough, you'd get adverts pop up over the action advising you of addresses to contact if you want to train to be a wrestler or purchase some even programs. This was standard Breaks fare (pleased with himself for rolling through when Saint tries to ram his head into the canvas only to then get caught the next time, bad mouthing the referee when Saint gets given a public warning only to see the ref reverse the warning and give it to Breaks), whilst he did get some great heat from the crowd. With better camera work and these two idiots on commentary keeping it to a minimum (in fact, someone else altogether calling it), this would have come across better. First fall saw Saint have a double arm stretch on Breaks, then Breaks starts waving and crossing his legs as if he is going for some wacky Saintesque escape, only for Saint to trap them and get the reverse folding press. Breaks equalizes with the Special after tying Saint's arm up in the ropes, and Saint gets the decisive fall rolling Breaks up much to the approval of the crowd who come to ringside and all want to shake his hand. Jim Breaks vs Max Hunter (06.28.86) Again Breaks cuts an interview before the match and is sporting a rather dashing yellow Pringle V-neck. This was better than his previous effort, but he spent most of the time knocking Johnny Saint to continue the rivalry between the two of them. The commentary was better too in the fact that at least they didn't talk over each other, though I was still expecting to hear 'whattamaneuvre' at some point. The crowd also were pretty dead for this match which isn't the norm when Breaks is involved. This was the first time I'd seen (or even heard of) Hunter who has a few nice spots (the Nigel McGuinness slingshot off the ropes, a variation on the double arm stretch where he puts one foot on Breaks head and pushes it up to apply pressure to the neck and a cool bridge escape), but despite the odd moment of advantage Breaks pretty much takes the entire match. It really should have gone five minutes less than it did with Breaks eventually winning getting the only fall that is required. Neither are must see and there are far, far better examples of Breaks' work on the WOS discs.

They did have some amazing foreign talent with the the likes of Fedor, the Nogueiras, Henderson and Arona as well as what would've been classed as second tier fighters in the Overeems and Yvel but they all left for Pride.

Some of those Chikara Ciberneticos maybe?

I was listening to an old IWA-MS Q&A session recently that was held during one of the TPI tournaments from some time in the mid 2000s. One of the questions was 'If you could work with anyone from any period who would it be?'. Claudio Castagnoli's answer was Jon Cortez (which brought silence from the room as I think no-one else there had heard of him).

Steve Grey vs Ritchie Brooks (05.14.86) Brooks is a 21 year old who has only been in the business a couple of years at this point. A side headlock and arm lever from him as he has some early dominance. Full nelson which Grey breaks and releases himself from and Brooks is back to working the side headlock which Grey handstands and flips his way out of. He tries to throw Brooks, but the youngster cartwheels through it. An arm lever which Brooks nicely escapes from before a back hammer and wristlock by Grey to close out the round. Round two and a quick schoolboy attempt from Grey. A cravat and headmare before a full nelson. Grey whips Brooks into the ropes, he ducks looking for the back body drop but Brooks goes over for a sunset flip, folding press by Grey and Brooks spins him out. Grey hooks the leg but Brooks sits down on him, reverse double leg nelson, countered with a folding press by Brooks but instead of going over he holds a headstand position for the first fall. Round three is cut from the broadcast, and Grey starts to work on Brooks' arm in the fourth. Backdrop and headmare from Grey but a quick roll up from Brooks gets him a two count. Brooks this time focusses his attention on Grey's left arm including throwing both a dropkick and head butt to it; he goes for a second dropkick but Grey steps out of the way. Boston crab by Grey but he gives up on the hold when it's clear to him that Brooks wont submit and with Brooks in pain from the crab attempt he looks for the surfboard submission, but the round ends before he can fully apply the hold. In to the next and a posting from Grey followed by a headmare and with Brooks clearly suffering with his back Grey again tries for the surfboard. This time he is in the centre of the ring and with plenty of time remaining is able to apply the hold getting the equalizing submission. The sixth and final round and Brooks is still selling his back. After his success in the previous round Grey goes for the surfboard, but Brooks struggles and fights the attempt to the point that Grey gives up on the hold. Over the shoulder backbreaker but he can't quite get Brooks up and he continues to concentrate his efforts on the weakened back of Brooks. Brooks gets a brief advantage returning his efforts to Grey's left arm even managing to execute a straight arm lift. He goes to post Grey but it's reversed and Brooks crashes into the turnbuckle. He fights off another surfboard attempt, but Grey grabs the double leg and turns it into a Boston crab. The timekeeper announces sixty seconds left and Grey decides to give up clear in his mind that Brooks wont submit to that hold. With the time limit expiring he goes for one last surfboard but no luck, and the bout is declared a draw. I thought Grey did a tremendous job on this one and Brooks more than played his part. Grey gave him enough early and made Brooks seem like a credible threat to the point that when he rolled Grey up in the fourth, I genuinely thought Brooks was winning 2-0. As the match wore on the experience of Grey showed, whilst Brooks still had his hope spots. Brooks selling of the back was really nice, although you could question the over reliance on going for the surfboard (though it is a Grey staple), whilst there was a sense of a real struggle and fight over the hold in the last round. It also made a change to see Grey in the role of the veteran here working with a young and up and coming wrestler. Good stuff.

Paul Diamond & Pat Tanaka in Memphis (TV listings) 04.18.87 vs David Haskins & John Paul 04.25.87 vs David Haskins & Benny Trailer 05.02.87 vs Jim Jamison & Ron Nations 05.09.87 vs Mark Starr 05.16.87 vs David Haskins & Ed Mattox 05.23.87 vs Midnight Rockers (MSC) 05.30.87 vs Jim Jamison & Freezer Thompson 05.30.87 vs Mark Starr & Billy Travis 06.13.87 vs Jeff Jarrett & Bill Dundee 06.20.87 & Mr Shima & Tojo Yamamoto vs Mark Starr & Billy Travis & Big Bubba & Rocky Johnson 07.04.87 vs John Paul & Randy Bryant 07.11.87 & Jack Hart vs Billy Travis & Mark Starr & Allen West 07.18.87 vs Bill Dundee & Rocky Johnson (no DQ, highlights, MSC) 07.18.87 vs George Barnes & Randy Bryant 07.25.87 vs Billy Travis & Mark Starr 08.01.87 vs Jeff Jarrett & Billy Travis (jip, Jackson, TN) 08.01.87 vs Allen West & John Paul 08.08.87 vs Freezer Thompson & Ed Mattox 08.15.87 vs Jeff Jarrett & Billy Travis (Jackson, TN) 08.22.87 & Don Bass & Goliath vs Billy Travis & Mark Starr & Allen West & John Paul 09.05.87 & Carl Fergie vs Jeff Jarrett & Billy Travis & Tracey Smothers 09.19.87 vs Nasty Boys 10.11.87 vs John Paul & Ed Mattox 10.25.87 & Carl Fergie & Don Bass vs Nasty Boys & John Paul & Tracey Smothers 11.07.87 & Carl Fergie & Don Bass vs Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee & Nasty Boys 11.22.87 & Midnight Rockers vs Executioners & Blue Knight & Keith Robertson

When I've a bit more time I'll put up listings for their complete run in Memphis. Don't know how much it will add to their case but some interesting looking matches against the likes of the Nasty Boys, Jarrett & Dundee, Jarrett & Travis and Dundee & Rocky Johnson.

Dave Finlay vs The Black Prince (02.05.85) I decided to give this one a watch on the back of OJ's write up. Finlay starts off with an armlock which Prince reverses and Fit picks him up in a fireman's carry, sits him on the top turnbuckle and gives him a backhander. That alone is the indicator that there is something up, as that just doesn't happen in WOS bouts. An arm lever, an arm wringer and he picks Prince up for a slam but just throws him down. He whips Prince into the ropes and meets him with an elbow to the jaw. Boston crab and Fit's sat down low and pulling the legs back, before giving Prince a punch after the bell for good measure. A chickenwing and Fit's tied him up putting pressure on the jaw. Prince goes to post Finlay but he blocks it, and when Prince tries to chop him he just steps out the way. Toe and ankle hold by Fit, Prince kicks him in the face to release the hold but he just leans backwards out of his reach. Single leg crab and the contorting of Prince continues. Prince breaks out of a nerve hold, whips Finlay into the ropes and meets him with a chop to the chest but Finlay just walks through it. Double leg takedown, folding press and Fit kicks out even before the one count. Finlay posts him twice with force to end the round and Prince has to be helped back to his corner. Straight arm lever against the joint and a leg trip attempt by Prince sees Finlay just stand there. Another careless bodyslam from Fit and Prince headbutts him in the stomach but it gets no sold. Finlay whips him at speed into the ropes and levels him with a super stiff forearm to the jaw. A neck crank, cover and Prince is struggling to get to his feet. Finlay continues to no sell Prince's attacks and offense before a reckless slam sees Prince land heels first. Uppercut and he picks Prince up as if for a slam, but just drops to his knees with Prince's rib's crashing into them for a variation of a stomach breaker. Prince looks in agony at this point, but there's no holding Finlay back and he follows straight up with another nasty looking Boston Crab. Prince tries to power out, but Fit just sits back down on him. Prince can't even get up off the canvas at the end of the round, and round five commences with him not having moved from the end of the previous one. More uppercuts, then Finlay whips him into the ropes, Prince ducks the back elbow but is met with a jumping knee. A final running powerslam and Prince is unable to beat the ten count giving Finlay the KO win. Kent Walton tells us that 'I'm sure we're going to see him (Prince) again', though I'm not sure on that as the broadcast goes off air with Prince still out of it on the canvas. I'd really like to know the back story to this one. At best Fit is being unprofessional, at worst he's being careless, a bully and taking advantage of someone who doesn't know if he can fight back (this was Prince's TV debut). Finlay took the whole match, no sold Prince's few offensive spots, stiffed him and did everything possible to make him look weak. I have no idea in the slightest what he was trying to achieve with this match.