Matches of the month

[Exposer]

September

 

1. War Games (Fall Brawl 9/18/94)

2. Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi (AJ 9/3/94)

3. Vader vs. Sting (Fall Brawl 9/18/94)

4. Jushin Liger vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara (NJPW 9/23/94)

5. Vader vs. Brad Armstrong (WWW 9/10/94)

6. Al Snow vs. Sabu (9/11/94)

7. Cactus Jack vs. Sabu (ECW 9/30/94)

8. Ricky Steamboat/Dustin Rhodes/Sting vs. Arn Anderson/Bunkhouse Buck/Terry Funk (Main Event 9/11/94)

9. Brian Christopher vs. Doug Gilbert (Hair vs. Hair) (USWA 9/24/94)

10. Arn Anderson/Bunkhouse Buck vs. Ricky Steamboat/Dustin Rhodes (Main Event 9/4/94)

11. Tommy Rich/Buddy Landell vs. PG-13 (USWA 9/17/94)

12. Jerry Lawler vs. Doug Gilbert (USWA 9/24/94)

13. Atsushi Onita/Katsutoshi Niiyama/Mr. Gannosuke vs. Mr. Pogo/The Gladiator/Hosaka (No Rope Barbed Wire Electrified Dynamite Pool Hell Death Match) (FMW 9/25/94)

14. Rock N Roll Express vs. The Gangstas (SMW 9/3/94)

15. Rock N Roll Express vs. The Gangstas (SMW 9/16/94)

 

September was another disappointing month and might be worse than August but it has my number one WCW match of all-time so I can't complain about it too much.

[Loss]

December:

 

#1 - Volk Han vs Mitsuya Nagai (RINGS 12/24/94) ****1/2

#2 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Steve Williams & Johnny Ace (AJPW 12/10/94) ****

#3 - Hiroshi Hase vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 12/13/94) ****

#4 - Pantera vs Felino (AAA 12/27/94) ****

#5 - Cactus Jack & Tracy Smothers vs Chris Candido & Boo Bradley (SMW Christmas Chaos 12/25/94) ****

#6 - Mitsuya Nagai vs Masayuki Naruse (RINGS 12/17/94) ****

#7 - Manami Toyota & Takako Inoue vs Aja Kong & Reggie Bennett (AJW 12/10/94) ***3/4

#8 - Dave Finlay vs Doink the Clown (Germany 12/17/94) ***3/4

#9 - Cactus Jack vs Chris Candido (SMW 12/26/94) ***3/4

#10 - Akira Maeda vs Yoshihisa Yammamoto (RINGS 12/17/94) ***1/2

#11 - Vader vs Hacksaw Duggan (WCW Starrcade 12/27/94) ***1/2

#12 - Cactus Jack vs Chris Candido (SMW TV 12/03/94) ***1/2

#13 - Jerry Estrada, Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 vs Perro Aguayo, La Parka & Octagon (AAA 12/05/94) ***1/4

#14 - Manami Toyota & Takako Inoue vs Kyoko Inoue & Sakie Hasegawa (AJW 12/10/94) ***

#15 - Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Stan Hansen & Giant Baba (AJPW 12/10/94)

#16 - Rick & Scott Steiner vs Keiji Muto & Hiroshi Hase (NJPW 12/12/94)

#17 - Buddy Landell vs Dirty White Boy (SMW 12/30/94)

#18 - Cactus Jack vs Boo Bradley (SMW TV 12/17/94)

#19 - Tommy Rich vs Bill Dundee (USWA TV 12/24/94)

#20 - Cactus Jack vs Chris Candido (SMW 12/30/94)

#21 - Great Nita & Tarzan Goto vs Mr. Pogo & Hisakatsu Oya (FMW 12/01/94)

[Exposer]

October

 

1. Great Sasuke/Black Tiger vs. Wild Pegasus/Shinjiro Otani (NJ 10/16/94)

2. Blue Panther vs. El Mariachi (AAA 10/30/94)

3. Shawn Michaels/Diesel vs. Razor Ramon/1-2-3 Kid (Action Zone 10/30/94)

4. Gary Albright/Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Vader/John Tenta (UWFI 10/8/94)

5. Manami Toyota/Toshiyo Yamada vs. Kyoko Inoue/Takako Inoue (AJW 10/9/94)

6. Nobuhiko Takada vs. Naoki Sano (UWFI 10/14/94)

7. Hiromitsu Kanehara vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (UWFI 10/8/94)

8. Daisuke Ikeda vs. Yuji Nagata (PWFG 10/31/94)

9. Emilio Charles Jr. vs. Miguel Perez Jr. (Hair Match) (CMLL 10/14/94)

10. Cactus Jack vs. Sabu (Falls Count Anywhere) (NWC 10/30/94)

11. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi/Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue/Yoshinari Ogawa (AJPW 10/7/94)

12. Arn Anderson vs. Dustin Rhodes (Havoc 10/23/94)

13. Manami Toyota vs. Takako Inoue (AJW 10/22/94)

14. Steve Williams vs. Toshiaki Kawada (AJ 10/22/94)

15. Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan (Cage Match) (Havoc 10/23/94)

16. Genichiro Tenryu vs. Ashura Hara (WAR 10/3/94)

 

The wrestling is back to tremendous quality but things have turned disappointing in places like WCW.

[Exposer]

November

 

1. El Hijo Del Santo/Octagon vs. Eddy Guerrero/Love Machine (AAA 11/6/94)

2. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera (AAA 11/30/94)

3. Manami Toyota vs. Aja Kong (AJW 11/20/94)

4. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue (AJ 11/25/94)

5. Bret Hart vs. Bob Backlund (Series 11/23/94)

6. Vader vs. Dustin Rhodes (Clash 11/16/94)

7. Masahito Kakihara vs. Kazuo Yamazaki (UWFI 11/30/94)

8. Aja Kong vs. Dynamite Kansai (AJW 11/20/94)

9. Chris Candido vs. Tracy Smothers (NWA 11/19/94)

10. Genichiro Tenryu vs. Tatsumi Kitahara (WAR 11/29/94)

11. Eddie Gilbert vs. Tracy Smothers (NWA 11/19/94)

12. Great Sasuke/SATO/Shiryu vs. Super Delphin/Jinsei Shinzaki/Gran Naniwa (AJW 11/20/94)

13. Al Snow vs. Chris Candido (NWA 11/19/94)

14. Dynamite Kansai vs. Kyoko Inoue (AJW 11/20/94)

15. Bret Hart/Davey Boy Smith vs. Owen Hart/Jim Neidhart (RAW 11/7/94)

16. Nobuhiko Takada vs. Gary Albright (UWFI 11/30/94)

17. Combat Toyota vs. Yumiko Hotta (AJW 11/20/94)

18. Gangstas vs. Rock N Roll Express (Street Fight) (SMW HH 11/26/94)

19. Gangstas vs. Brian Lee/Lance Storm (SMW 11/26/94)

20. Diesel vs. Bob Backlund (MSG 11/26/94)

 

The match quality has been extremely good and consistent since October but WCW is rapidly plummeting in quality.

[JKWebb]

Ok, hopping into 1994 now after finishing up 1993 back in July.  I think I'd rank the years like this thus far:  1991, 1990, 1992, & fourth 1993.  I think Austin continues into 1994 looking really strong, and you can see the charisma of what is to become already there.  I think Jan. is full of good to really good matches, but there probably aren't any favorites or classics for me that really stand out.  Not so much with promos, but in the ring, I really enjoyed 123 Kid this month.  My favorite matches in Jan., and the ones that stood out the most to me, were: from MSG on 1/17/1994 (Kid/Marty vs. Quebecers), The Steiners Tokyo Dome match and their match vs. the Harts.  I also really liked the Razor/HBK ladder match.  It was pretty neat to see Sting and Austin early on in the month.  I don't think I had seen them one-on-one before from what I can recall.  Liger was a really big standout in Feb., and I do think during the early stretch of the year New Japan is probably my favorite promotion overall. 

Here are my favorite matches from Feb. 1994:

1.  Genichiro Tenryu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 02/17/94)

2.  Sting, Dustin Rhodes & Brian Pillman vs Rick Rude, Steve Austin & Paul Orndorff (WCW SuperBrawl IV 02/20/94)

3.  Jushin Liger vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 02/24/94)

4.  Jushin Liger & Power Warrior vs Rick & Scott Steiner (NJPW 02/17/94)

I still have the last week of Feb. to go at this point.  I remember liking Vader/Steamboat and I see Funk/Sabu has some good reviews.  However, I don't think I'll be into the Sabu match.  At this juncture, I haven't thought that any of the ECW matches have been very good at all.  I will say, I loved the Terry Funk post-match (Douglas/Sabu/Funk) interview segment though.  That has probably been my favorite interview portion of the YB so far.  It's amazing that even then, in 1994, there was a segment of the fan base already thinking that wrestling had gotten away form a more sports approach (in comparison to what we have now).  Really cool interview/segment from ECW.  Arn/Regal from SB was really great too. 

At this point, I'm in early May, and I haven't been able to really take notes on everything I've watched from March and April.  I will say I guess that I still prefer the Razor/HBK ladder match to Bret vs. Owen.  I know that is a topic of discussion from time-to-time, and I'm sure most of the PWO community would prefer Bret/Owen, but I have never really connected with that match on the same level as others.  As crazy as it may sound to some, I would actually prefer Steamboat/Flair from Stampede over that match.  I think it is great, but from March and April my top two were the ladder match and Flair/Steamboat.  I just love how snug Steamboat is and how logical he is with his wrestling and bumping and selling, he's incredible.  I liked the Dustin Rhodes and Bunkhouse match, and I also enjoyed the run Steve Williams is having in All Japan (and, the Kobashi/Hansen match).  I would say that up to this point, I've been enjoying WCW the most overall.  Flair has really been stellar all year and building to Hogan has been great. Spring Stampede is fantastic - Vader/Boss was awesome too.  Thrillseekers have been fun. 

I just wrapped up on ECW and SM post-WCW Slamboree 94.  The first half of 1994 is rolling on like a steam engine.  ECW is becoming the ECW that I remember, still eastern and before my time, but it is starting to have that feel.  Jake Roberts looks awful, but his angle in SM is at least compelling.  WCW and All Japan are truly kicking on all cylinders.  I honestly think the Steamboat/Flair match from Saturday Night might be a little underrated.  I think it might be my MOTY at this point.  There was just something truly special about it.  Every moment and move counted for something special in meaningful throughout the match.  Steamboat is truly the perfect opponent for Flair.  He always takes him outside the formula and his selling is just GOAT.  Still loving the Dustin/Bunkhouse stuff, and I have always loved the pacing of that hardcore tag between the Nasty's and Cactus/Sullivan.  But, May cannot be talked about with talking that All Japan tag - Taue/Kawada vs. Misawa/Kobashi - yeesh - just incredible.  My favorite two matches of the year so far, and both of MOTYCs to date (between the tag and flair/steamboat).  WCW still kicking on as my favorite promotion - the Hogan build is great. 

Man - the Regal/Larry Z stuff has been great!  I loved their match at the Clash in June and Regal's reaction after pulling off the cheating victory was simply priceless.  KOTR 94 had some great moments with the legendary Owen Hart/Kid sprint and what I think is a decently underrated Kevin Nash vs. Bret Hart match.  Jake and DWB continue to deliver the promo goods in SMW.  I thought it was great that Jake had his head shaved in AAA for an angle, but in SMW said he did it on his own to intimidate the DWB.  I don't think there is any doubt that I'll end up choosing the MIsawa/Kawada classic as the match of the year, but we shall see.  Also, I loved when Hogan debuted in WCW -- how Flair showed up in the background on the screen like an evil villain straight from a comic book throwing threats at Hogan.  His promo and facial expressions are incredible.  I know it gets terrible, but so far so good on Hogan.  I thought the Flair vs. Sting match was a ton of fun at the Clash in June as well.  The crowd was super hot, and if you have two guys combining a title in WCW, you'd want it to be those two.  It's better having one champion.  Trying to explain the three world champions mess in WWE today to someone who doesn't follow the product closely... usually, it doesn't make much sense to them. 

I had forgotten how truly great the Bret Hart vs. 123 Kid match is on Raw.  I always had it noted in my mind as a classic, but I think as I am about to hit August, it is in my top 3 matches of the year.  1994 might be the best year of Waltman's career.  He is delivering on TV week in and week out.  Ricky Streamboat continues to be the best US babyface in 1994 in my eyes.  He truly brings out a higher level of intensity from Flair every time they meet, which was more times in 1994 than I realized.  Really enjoying his feud with Austin as well.  The Hulk Hogan vs. Flair match totally delivered.  I do feel like I remember that WCW will soon start going downhill for a bit, but we shall see.  So far, WCW has probably been my favorite brand of the year in 1994.  No surprise, but I'm pretty certain that the Kawada/Misawa CLASSIC will likely be my MOTY.  I think Mysterio is really coming into his own at this point as well.  Liger and Sasuke and Dragon/Sasuke were a lot of fun.  ECW has been interesting, but I haven't really enjoyed the matches.  Sabu is currently my lowest wrestler of the year in the 1994 YB.  I enjoyed him when I was younger, but I just can't get interested in his matches these days.   The Bret Hart/Diesel KOTR match seem to be a little underrated IMO. Misawa vs. Williams on 7/28 is so so good.  Misawa is the front runner WOTY to this point.  I have a few matches left, but about to hit August.

That's a wrap on July, and I haven't had much time to actually rank matches, but I'm going to go ahead and lay out my matches of the month through July.  The promo of the year award is in lock with the Dustin/Dusty moment from WCW at the end of July.  So cool how you can connect that promo to the moment from Double or Nothing earlier this year with Cody and Dustin.  Both so emotional - Both will go down as one of the best promos in each promotions history and landmarks for the Rhodes Family.

Matches of the Month:

Jan. - Rick & Scott Steiner vs Keiji Muto & Hiroshi Hase (NJPW Tokyo Dome 01/04/94)

Feb. - Genichiro Tenryu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 02/17/94)

Mar. - Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon (WWF Wrestlemania X 03/20/94)

April - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW Spring Stampede 04/17/94)

May - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW Saturday Night 05/14/94) & Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 05/21/94)

June:  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 06/03/94)

July:  Bret Hart vs 1-2-3 Kid (WWF Monday Night RAW 07/11/94)

I didn't anticipate coming into 1994 that it would end up being a top 2 YB for me out of the first 5, but here I am.  August really blew me away, and I do think that this year will rank right under 1991 as my favorite as I journey through the 90s to this point. 

August MOTM:  Vader vs. Takada - 08/18/1994

I thought going into this year that Misawa vs. Kawada would be an EASY MOTY choice for me.  It's not so easy, as Vader vs. Takada truly just knocked my socks off.  I had seen it before, but as I've always noticed in going through a year chronologically.  It really is different when you watch things in context and in the mindset of all that is going on that year.  New Jack is incredible.  This is the most I've enjoyed SMW to this point, and his material here is pretty legendary.  I just wrapped up with what will probably be my September MOTM in Kobashi vs. Williams on 09/03/1994.  So, I just saw the newly formed Extreme Championship Wrestling as well.  I didn't realize that the "Thank you sir, may I have another" Tommy Dreamer angle and Shane Douglas tossing the NWA Championship angle both happened on the same night.  I can't say much for the matches themselves yet, but highlights of ECW are definitely getting better and better.  August was loaded with angles and entertaining promos.  I really enjoyed the HBK/Razor match from RAW, Blayze vs. Nakano on Summerslam, and I'm still digging all the Dustin Rhodes stuff.  I think I'm the outlier here on Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan on 08/24/1994, but seriously LOVED this match.  The angle was perfect and the crowd was super hot.  The match itself may have been worked a little stiffer, and possibly more entertaining than the BATB match!  I also just want to throw in I loved seeing Yatsu on 08/05/1994 vs. Fujiwara. 

My September MOTM is actually going to be Vader vs. Sting from Fall Brawl.  I'll slot Kobashi and Williams behind it due to the extended length of that match.  I don't know if it gets more ferocious than some of the punches Sting are throwing out at each other in exhaustion towards the end of that Fall Brawl match.  Honestly, I think if it weren't for the booking, I would probably roll with it as MOTY.  Not surprising for me, as Vader/Sting is probably my favorite matchup, and 1992 Starrcade might be my favorite match, but the booking and finish will knock it out of contention in the end.   I loved everything about Flair/Hogan up through the Clash,  I thought it was super entertaining and the crowd was really hot.  Great Clash.  But, since the Clash, Hogan's promos have seemed really phoned in.  Hogan putting his career on the line to get Flair back is kind of hokey, but I guess it adds the stakes that the match needs. The phone call at Fall Brawl was just terrible.  I did really enjoy the Flair portion of the press conference.  New Jack is still killing the promo game.  The War Games watch was a ton of fun too!

Yikes, as I round out September - the Dave Sullivan worked into Hogan/Flair angle.... I guess this is when Hogan/WCW ship starts to sink until the nWo… I had taken a break from wrestling during this time in Middle School, I came back with the nWo angle... I have seen the PPVs from this era, but this is probably the first time I have seen the actual TV...

Building into Halloween Havoc, I thought the they turned the Flair/Hogan angle back around a little.  I liked the segment at Hogan's home with his parents, his promo the night before the PPV, the stuff outside Joe Louis arena w/ Flair highlights, and Hogan looks pretty ripped for the steel cage match.  I'm still loving the Gangstas/RnR feud in SMW.  It has carried the promotion since Jake's departure.  Ricky Morton is on his promo game as well.  It was nice to see Kawada take back the Triple Crown - I have enjoyed Dr. Death's run though.  Memphis has been okay with Buddy L., and it was nice to see them pull a big crowd for Undertaker/Sid.... now, onto Halloween Havoc!

I LOVED the Halloween Havoc main event.  Sherri was insane/insanely awesome!  Hogan and Flair really had a pretty stiff match up until the point of all the craziness.  Sure, it was an over booked finish, but man was it fun.  It's not as much of a classic, but I relate it to the Over the Edge Dude Love/Austin match.  If you don't think of it as knowing the Dungeon of Doom storyline that lies ahead, and just enjoy the ride, it's super entertaining.  To this point I think Hogan in WCW has been a success, and it was nice to see Sting coming out to help him to place him back in the main event picture now that Hogan has "retired" Flair. From what I've seen over the years, I think WCW may be going downhill pretty soon with the DOD stuff, but looking at 1994 alone.  I think WCW is surprisingly my favorite promotion.  I really thought I'd be going with All Japan again. 

October MOTM:  Kliq Action Zone Tag, best WWF Tag match until June 2016, however runner-up Blue Panther vs. El Mariachi (AAA 10/30/94) was a killer match!!!  I had seen it before, it's CLASSIC.  I'm on an island with this, but I just don't think Great Sasuke/Black Tiger vs. Wild Pegasus/Shinjiro Otani (NJ 10/16/94) is very good.  EG was great in it though.  I didn't think the transitions were good, and there were some pretty obvious botches... anyway, lot's of great stuff in October!

November MOTM:  Dustin Rhodes vs. Vader from COTC XXIX

Vader may be the WOTY in 1994.  They guy has the most compelling matches on any card he is on from Japan to America.  I wish they had just put Hogan and Sting over at the Clash, and that would have been a fine ending to the Butcher and DOD angle... oh well...

 It's a bummer Vince didn't see what Randy had left in the tank, as I do think we really could have had something special with a Shawn Michaels/Savage Angle.  Based on the footage, it seemed as though Vince was actually sad Savage left, and he seemed very genuine in his on air message.  I think later on Randy was probably offended by the Nacho Man stuff, and between the two of them, and how close Prichard notes in his podcast they were, they just hurt each others feelings and never got the chance (I'm assuming) to patch it up.  I think we would have seen them patch it up for the Hall of the Fame if Savage were still with us.  He is the GOAT.  I truly think he is the best to ever lace them up.

I'm nearing the end of 1994, so that is 5 out of 10 YBs complete.  To date I have:

1990:  MOTY - Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger - WW90; WOTY:  Misawa; POTY:  All Japan

1991:  MOTY - Savage vs. Warrior WM7; WOTY:  Savage; POTY:  WWF

1992:  MOTY - Sting vs. Vader Starrcade 92;  WOTY:  Savage; POTY:  WWF

1993:  MOTY - Hansen vs. Kobashi 7/29/93 - WOTY:  Kobashi; POTY:  All Japan

I would rank the years:  1991, 90, 92 then 93.... 94 is shaping up to make the top 3 of 5...

I’m rolling on into December now.  New Jack is the best promo in 94, and holy shit what an awesome moment that was Diesel beating Backlund @ msg - what a pop! Not sure how I had not seen that before.  He’s the right guy for them at this time.  Super over.  Also, good lord, how long did Backlund hold Bret in that CFCW ha....

I didn't really dig the Diesel/Backlund promos coming out the Diesel win.  Backlund looking like Pee Wee Herman, and if you flip to WCW Savage is making his debut.  Hogan joining WCW was the big time, but I do think the production in WCW has looked better than WWF the entire year.  Also, WCW has felt more big time than the WWF in 1994.  There is just also something special about Randy Savage that just feels like a nail in the coffin of brand superiority over the WWF, he's a pros pro.  I know WWF is pushing the new gen thing, but Savage and Hogan and company still look great.  Couple WCW talent with Mean Gene, and it just has a bigger feel.  The main thing I have missed in WCW towards the end of the year is Ricky Steamboat.  I think 1994 was an amazing year for him, WOTYC kind of year.  
I’m close to wrapping up 1994.  I have really enjoyed the RnR feeling like they need to team w/ JC to get on the gangstas level and win the SMW belts.  It has been a really good angle.  December of 1994 feels like a new year already across the board.  The silly portion of the Hogan/WCW era has begun, Buddy Landell is the new main heel in SMW, JC is teaming up w/ RnR, ECW is extreme, Nash is champ... a lot has changed here at the end of the year. Dec may have been the weakest overall month of the YB for me...

[JKWebb]

I just finished up 1994.  My favorite match from December is Vader vs. Jim Duggan @ Starrcade (loved the Hogan/Vader angle at the end of the show).   The runner-up would be the Volk Han/Nagai match.  I have to mention the Buddy Landell match vs. DWB @ the end of the year.  Just classic cheating from Buddy - I LOVED it.  This leads into my wrestler of the year.  IMO Vader was in the most compelling knock down drag out brawls and matches of 1994 from Japan to US....

WOTY:  Vader

MOTY:  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 06/03/94)

Runner-up:  Vader vs. Takada - 08/18/1994

Honorable mentions:  WMX Ladder Match, Kliq Action Zone Tag & Hart vs 123 Kid from Raw (oh, & I thought New Jack was dropping the best promos in 1994)

Promotion of the Year: WCW 

Through 5 years 1991 is still my favorite.  I do think 1994 easily topped 1993 for me.  Possibly topped 1992 overall... Either way, great year! I had a ton of fun going through the YB and ready to roll on in to 1995 before too long.  Some of my other favorites from 1994 that I don't think were included in the YB, or I just forgot to comment on are Slamboree 1994 and WCW Saturday Night 10/15/1994 -- Both Sting vs. Vader Matches -- and additional reasons why this was Vader's year.  Great stuff. Really great year for Sting too of course.