Matches of the month

[Loss]

January:

#1 - El Hijo del Santo vs Brazo de Oro (UWA 01/13/91) ****1/2
#2 - Toshiaki Kawada vs Akira Taue (AJPW 01/15/91) ****1/4
#3 - Manami Toyota vs Akira Hokuto (AJW 01/11/91) ****
#4 - Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW 01/27/91) ****
#5 - La Fiera vs Jerry Estrada (Monterrey 1991) ****
#6 - Akira Hokuto vs Bull Nakano (AJW 01/04/91) ***3/4
#7 - Jeff Jarrett vs Eddie Gilbert (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 01/05/91) ***3/4
#8 - The Rockers vs Orient Express (WWF Royal Rumble 01/19/91) ***3/4
#9 - Jerry Lawler vs Terry Funk (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 01/05/91) ***1/2
#10 - Eric Embry vs Gary Young (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 01/18/91) ***1/2
#11 - Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Barry Windham & Sid Vicious vs Sting, Brian Pillman, Rick & Scott Steiner (WCW Saturday Night/WCW Main Event 01/20/91) ***1/2
#12 - Stan Hansen vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 01/02/91) ***1/2
#13 - Brian Pillman vs Rip Rogers (WCW Saturday Night 01/05/91) ***1/4
#14 - Vader vs Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW 01/07/91) ***
#15 - Kyoko Inoue vs Mika Takahashi (AJW 01/05/91) ***
#16 - Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs Bull Nakano & Kyoko Inoue (AJW 01/11/91) ***
#17 - Jumbo Tsuruta vs Stan Hansen (AJPW 01/19/91)
#18 - Ric Flair vs Scott Steiner (WCW Clash of the Champions XIV 01/30/91)
#19 - Bill Dundee vs John Tatum (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 01/25/91)
#20 - Eric Embry vs Gary Young (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 01/25/91)

[Loss]

February:

 

#1 - Ric Flair, Barry Windham, Larry Zbyszko & Sid Vicious vs Sting, Brian Pillman, Rick & Scott Steiner (WCW Wrestle War 02/24/91) ****1/2

#2 - Atsushi Onita vs Tarzan Goto (FMW 02/26/91) ****1/4

#3 - Barry Windham & Arn Anderson vs Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner (WCW Saturday Night 02/02/91) ***3/4

#4 - Barry Windham & Arn Anderson vs Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich (WCW Pro 02/02/91) ***1/2

#5 - Los Brazos vs Kato Kung Lee, Super Astro & Volador (CMLL 02/08/91) ***1/2

#6 - Eddie Gilbert vs Jeff Jarrett (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 02/22/91) ***1/2

#7 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 02/26/91) ***1/4

#8 - Vader vs Stan Hansen (WCW Wrestle War 02/24/91) ***1/4

#9 - Lex Luger vs Dan Spivey (WCW Wrestle War 02/24/91) ***

#10 - Bill Dundee vs Eric Embry (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 02/22/91) ***

#11 - Arn Anderson vs Bobby Eaton (WCW Power Hour 02/02/91)

#12 - Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett vs Steve Austin & Rod Price (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 02/08/91)

#13 - Jerry Lawler vs Eddie Gilbert (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 02/15/91)

#14 - Megumi Kudo vs Combat Toyoda (FMW 02/27/91)

 

Overall thoughts: A couple of great matches and lots of good ones. Hard to complain.

[Loss]

March:

 

#1 - Hulk Hogan & Genichiro Tenryu vs Legion of Doom (WWF/SWS Wrestlefest 03/30/91) ****1/4

#2 - Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior (WWF Wrestlemania VII 03/24/91) ****1/4

#3 - Naoki Sano vs Masakatsu Funaki (WWF/SWS Wrestlefest 03/30/91) ****

#4 - Jushin Liger vs Akira Nogami (WCW/NJPW Starrcade in Tokyo 03/21/91) ****

#5 - Jeff Jarrett vs Tom Pritchard (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 03/01/91) ****

#6 - Jeff Jarrett vs Tom Pritchard (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 03/22/91) ***3/4

#7 - El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (UWA 03/01/91) ***3/4

#8 - Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW 03/23/91) ***3/4

#9 - Rick & Scott Steiner vs Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (WCW/NJPW Starrcade in Tokyo 03/21/91) ***1/2

#10 - Steve Austin & Eric Embry vs Bill Dundee & Gary Young (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 03/08/91) ***1/2

#11 - Sting vs Larry Zbyszko (WCW Main Event 03/10/91) ***1/2

#12 - Ric Flair vs Tatsumi Fujinami (WCW/NJPW Starrcade in Tokyo 03/21/91) ***1/2

#13 - Jushin Liger vs Norio Honaga (NJPW 03/14/91) ***1/4

#14 - Tommy Rich vs Arn Anderson (WCW Saturday Night 03/30/91) ***1/4

#15 - Jeff Jarrett & Bill Dundee vs Eric Embry & Gary Young (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 03/01/91) ***

#16 - Perro Aguayo, Villano I, Villano III & Villano IV vs El Brazo, Brazo de Oro, Brazo de Plata & Super Brazo (Hamada's UWF 03/09/91) ***

#17 - Steve Austin vs Gary Young (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 03/15/91) ***

#18 - The Rockers vs Haku & Barbarian (WWF Wrestlemania VII 03/24/91) ***

#19 - Hulk Hogan vs Sgt Slaughter (WWF Wrestlemania VII 03/24/91) ***

#20 - Jerry Lawler vs Terry Funk (TWA Winter Challenge II 03/02/91)

#21 - Shawn Michaels vs Mr. Perfect (WWF World Tour 03/11/91)

#22 - Rick & Scott Steiner vs Fabulous Freebirds (WCW Pro 03/09/91)

#23 - Rick Martel vs Jake Roberts (WWF Wrestlemania VII 03/24/91)

#24 - Jeff Jarrett vs Tom Pritchard (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 03/29/91)

#25 - Sting vs Great Muta (WCW/NJPW Starrcade in Tokyo 03/21/91)

#26 - Jumbo Tsuruta vs Cactus Jack (AJPW 03/26/91)

#27 - Marty Jannetty vs Pat Tanaka (WWF MSG 03/15/91)

#28 - Eric Embry vs Bill Dundee (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 03/29/91)

#29 - Steve Austin vs Jeff Jarrett (USWA TV 03/09/91)

 

Overall thoughts: Quite a lot of matches. I had a long break in the middle so it's hard to really talk about overall themes of the month, but 1991 is definitely a really strong in-ring year so far.

[Loss]

April:

 

#1 - Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW 04/20/91) ****3/4

#2 - Akira Hokuto vs Suzuka Minami (AJW 04/29/91) ****1/2

#3 - Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs Manami Toyota & Esther Moreno (AJW 04/29/91) ****1/4

#4 - Jushin Liger vs Norio Honaga (NJPW 04/30/91) ****1/4

#5 - Ric Flair vs Brian Pillman (WCW Saturday Night 04/13/91) ****

#6 - Toshiaki Kawada vs Akira Taue (AJPW 04/18/91) ****

#7 - Jumbo Tsuruta vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 04/06/91) ****

#8 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jumbo Tsuruta (AJPW 04/18/91) ****

#9 - Jeff Jarrett vs Tom Pritchard (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 04/12/91) ****

#10 - Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey vs Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 04/18/91) ***3/4

#11 - Jushin Liger vs Owen Hart (NJPW 04/28/91) ***3/4

#12 - Barry Windham vs Brian Pillman (WCW Pro 04/06/91) ***3/4

#13 - Ric Flair & Barry Windham vs Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich (WCW Worldwide 04/06/91) ***1/2

#14 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 04/05/91) ***1/2

#15 - Kenta Kobashi vs Dan Kroffat (AJPW 04/18/91) ***1/4

#16 - Riki Choshu & Tatsumi Fujinami vs Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW 04/30/91) ***1/4

#17 - Jushin Liger vs Negro Casas (NJPW 04/30/91) ***

#18 - Bret Hart vs Ted DiBiase (WWF Saturday Night's Main Event 04/27/91) ***

#19 - Hulk Hogan vs Yoshiaki Yatsu (WWF/SWS Wrestlefest at the Tokyo Dome 04/01/91) ***

#20 - Barry Windham vs Brian Pillman (WCW Worldwide 04/27/91)

#21 - Jeff Jarrett vs Tom Pritchard (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 04/19/91)

#22 - Sgt. Slaughter vs Ultimate Warrior (WWF Saturday Night's Main Event 04/27/91)

#23 - Pegasus Kid vs Norio Honaga (NJPW 04/30/91)

#24 - Jerry Lawler vs Eric Embry (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 04/05/91)

#25 - Octagon vs Satanico (CMLL 04/12/91)

#26 - Eric Embry vs Bill Dundee (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 04/12/91)

#27 - Roddy Piper vs Ted DiBiase (WWF MSG Network 04/22/91)

[Loss]

May:

 

#1 - Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Wellington Wilkins Jr (PWFG 05/19/91) ****1/4

#2 - El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (WWA 05/17/91) ****1/4

#3 - Wayne Shamrock vs Naoki Sano (PWFG 05/19/91) ****1/4

#4 - Jushin Liger vs Norio Honaga (NJPW 05/31/91) ****1/4

#5 - Jushin Liger vs Hiroshi Hase (NJPW 05/06/91) ****

#6 - Jumbo Tsuruta vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 05/24/91) ****

#7 - Kiyoshi Tamura vs Masahito Kakihara (UWFI 05/10/91) ****

#8 - Rick & Scott Steiner vs Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW 05/31/91) ***3/4

#9 - Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller vs Steve Austin & Tom Pritchard (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 05/03/91) ***3/4

#10 - Eddie Gilbert & Brian Christopher vs Tom Pritchard & Dirty White Boy (USWA TV 05/18/91) ***3/4

#11 - Bill Dundee vs Eric Embry (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 05/24/91) ***3/4

#12 - Jeff Jarrett vs Tom Pritchard (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 05/24/91) ***3/4

#13 - Barry Windham vs Brian Pillman (WCW SuperBrawl I 05/19/91) ***1/2

#14 - Los Brazos vs Atlantis, Mascara Sagrada & Octagon (CMLL 05/17/91) ***1/2

#15 - Ric Flair vs Tatsumi Fujinami (WCW SuperBrawl I 05/19/91) ***1/2

#16 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 05/24/91) ***1/4

#17 - Sting & Lex Luger vs Rick & Scott Steiner (WCW SuperBrawl I 05/19/91) ***

#18 - Los Brazos vs El Dandy, Popitekus & Super Astro (CMLL 05/03/91) ***

#19 - Manami Toyota vs Aja Kong (AJW 05/26/91) ***

#20 - Akira Maeda vs Dick Vrij (RINGS 05/11/91)

#21 - Arn Anderson vs Bobby Eaton (WCW SuperBrawl I 05/19/91)

#22 - Atsushi Onita vs Mr. Pogo (FMW 05/06/91)

#23 - Yumiko Hotta vs Toshiyo Yamada (AJW 05/26/91)

#24 - Sid Vicious vs El Gigante (WCW SuperBrawl I 05/19/91)

[Loss]

June:

 

#1 - Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs Bull Nakano & Kyoko Inoue (AJW 06/18/91) ****1/4

#2 - Hulk Hogan vs Sgt Slaughter (WWF MSG Network 06/03/91) ****

#3 - Eric Embry vs Danny Davis (USWA Dallas Sportatorium 06/07/91) ***3/4

#4 - Steve Williams vs Bam Bam Bigelow (UWF Beach Brawl 06/09/91) ***1/2

#5 - Jushin Liger vs Norio Honaga (NJPW 06/12/91) ***1/2

#6 - Fabulous Freebirds & Badstreet vs Young Pistols & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Saturday Night 06/15/91) ***1/2

#7 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey (AJPW 06/27/91) ***1/2

#8 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Terry Gordy (AJPW 06/01/91) ***1/4

#9 - Ric Flair & Arn Anderson vs Brian Pillman & Bobby Eaton (WCW Main Event 06/09/91) ***

#10 - Steve Williams vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 06/01/91)

#11 - Ric Flair & Arn Anderson vs Bobby Eaton & Big Josh (WCW Power Hour 06/08/91)

#12 - Rick & Scott Steiner vs Masa Chono & Hiroshi Hase (WCW Clash of the Champions XIV 06/14/91)

#13 - Ric Flair vs Bobby Eaton (WCW Clash of the Champions XIV 06/14/91)

#14 - Chris Candido & Don Cha Mang vs Rob Zakowski & Danny Davis (USWA TV 06/22/91)

#15 - Arn Anderson & Terry Taylor vs Bobby Eaton & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Main Event 06/02/91)

#16 - Barry Windham & Arn Anderson vs Brian Pillman & El Gigante (WCW Clash of the Champions XIV 06/14/91)

#17 - Genichiro Tenryu & Ricky Fuyuki vs Yoshiaki Yatsu & Shinichi Nakano (SWS 06/26/91)

#18 - Tom Pritchard, Samu & Judge Dredd vs Danny Davis, Doug Gilbert & Dirty White Boy (USWA TV 06/29/91)

#19 - Jerry Lawler vs Ta-Gar, Lord of the Volcanoes (USWA TV 06/29/91)

[Loss]

July:

 

#1 - Keiji Muto & Masa Chono vs Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW 07/04/91) ****1/4

#2 - Naoki Sano vs Minoru Suzuki (PWFG 07/26/91) ****

#3 - Vader vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 07/19/91) ***3/4

#4 - Ricky Morton vs Robert Gibson (WCW Great American Bash 07/14/91) ***3/4

#5 - Lightning Kid vs Jerry Lynn (GWF 07/13/91) ***1/2

#6 - Keiji Muto & Masa Chono vs Vader & Bam Bam Bigelow (NJPW 07/29/91) ***1/2

#7 - Riki Choshu, Tatsumi Fuinami, Shinya Hashimoto, Keiji Muto & Masa Chono vs Vader, Bam Bam Bigelow, Samu, Great Kokina & TNT (NJPW 07/24/91) ***1/2

#8 - Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Masa Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa (AJPW 07/26/91) ***1/2

#9 - Los Brazos vs Eddy, Mando & Chavo Guerrero (CMLL 07/26/91) ***1/2

#10 - Lex Luger vs Barry Windham (WCW Great American Bash 07/14/91) ***

#11 - Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller vs Bar Room Brawlers (USWA 07/29/91) ***

#12 - Jushin Liger vs Pegasus Kid (NJPW 07/04/91) ***

#13 - Ultimate Warrior vs Undertaker (WWF MSG Network 07/01/91)

#14 - Sting, Lex Luger, Yellow Dog & El Gigante vs Barry Windham, Nikita Koloff, One Man Gang & Kevin Sullivan (WCW 07/03/91)

#15 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshinari Ogawa (AJPW 07/26/91)

#16 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 07/24/91)

#17 - Kazuo Yamazaki vs Billy Scott (UWFI 07/30/91)

#18 - Steve Austin vs Bobby Eaton (WCW Power Hour 07/06/91)

#19 - Steve Austin vs Yellow Dog (WCW Pro 07/27/91)

#20 - Jerry Lawler vs Eric Embry (USWA 07/22/91)

[Loss]

August:

 

#1 - Masa Chono vs Keiji Muto (NJPW 08/11/91) ****3/4

#2 - Masa Chono vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 08/09/91) ****1/4

#3 - Devil Masami vs Itsuki Yamazaki (JWP 08/30/91) ****

#4 - Atlantis vs Blue Panther (CMLL 08/09/91) ****

#5 - Cactus Jack vs Eddie Gilbert (TWA 08/03/91) ****

#6 - Blue Panther, Javier Cruz & Pierroth Jr vs El Dandy, Apolo Dantes & Black Magic (CMLL 08/16/91) ****

#7 - Fuerza Guerrera vs Negro Casas (WWA 1991) ****

#8 - Jushin Liger vs Akira Nogami (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/09/91) ****

#9 - Vader vs Keiji Muto (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/10/91) ****

#10 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue (AJPW 08/18/91) ***3/4

#11 - The Scorpion vs Cutie Suzuki (JWP 08/30/91) ***3/4

#12 - Bret Hart vs Mr. Perfect (WWF Summerslam 08/26/91) ***3/4

#13 - Riki Choshu vs Masa Chono (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/07/91) ***1/2

#14 - Ricky Morton vs Bobby Eaton (WCW Main Event 08/04/91) ***1/2

#15 - Barry Windham, Arn Anderson & Diamond Studd vs Bobby Eaton, Yellow Dog & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Power Hour 08/03/91) ***1/2

#16 - Chris Benoit vs Dave Finlay (CWA Vienna 08/18/91) ***1/2

#17 - Wayne Shamrock vs Masakazu Funaki (PWFG 08/23/91) ***1/2

#18 - Genichiro Tenryu, Ashura Hara & Takashi Ishikawa vs Yoshiaki Yatsu, Haku & Shinichi Nakano (SWS 08/05/91) ***1/2

#19 - Atlantis, Mascara Sagrada & Octagon vs Pirata Morgan, Pierroth & Kendo Nagasaki (CMLL 08/23/91) ***1/2

#20 - Masa Chono vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/11/91) ***1/4

#21 - Steve Austin vs Dustin Rhodes (WCW Saturday Night 08/17/91) ***1/4

#22 - Terry Funk vs Bob Backlund (WWA 08/17/91) ***1/4

#23 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue (AJPW 08/29/91) ***1/4

#24 - Chavo, Eddy & Mando Guerrero vs MS-1, El Satanico & Masakre (CMLL 08/23/91) ***

#25 - Vader vs Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/07/91)

#26 - Ted DiBiase vs Virgil (WWF Summerslam 08/26/91) ***

#27 - Stan Lane & Jim Cornette vs Jerry Lawler & Mark Curtis (WWA 08/17/91) ***

#28 - Keiji Muto vs Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/09/91)

#29 - Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Lato Kariwarik (PWFG 08/23/91)

#30 - The Patriot vs Buddy Landell (GWF TV 08/10/91)

#31 - Nobuhiko Takada & Billy Scott vs Kazuo Yamazaki & Tatsuo Nakano (UWFI 08/24/91)

#32 - Dynamite Kansai & Madusa Miceli vs Harley Saito & Rumi Kazama (JWP 08/30/91)

#33 - Big Boss Man vs The Mountie (WWF Summerslam 08/26/91)

#34 - Tom Pritchard vs Dirty White Boy (USWA TV 08/10/91)

#35 - Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara vs Road Warriors (SWS 08/09/91)

#36 - Headhunters vs Dos Caras & El Fantasma (W*ING 08/17/91)

#37 - Legion of Doom vs Nasty Boys (WWF Summerslam 08/26/91)

#38 - Hulk Hogan vs Sgt Slaughter (WWF Prime Time Wrestling 08/18/91)

#39 - Jake Roberts vs Typhoon (WWF Prime Time Wrestling 08/05/91)

 

From an in-ring perspective, the best month of the year so far, and also one with a crazy number of complete matches. They aren't all on here for match quality, but still, that's a lot of matches we kept in full for one month for sure.

[Loss]

September:

 

#1 - Stan Hansen vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 09/04/91) ****1/2

#2 - Los Ninja Turtles & Robin Hood vs Shu El Guerrero, Jose Luis Feliciano, El Texano, Black Terry & Ricky Boy (Hamada's UWF 09/12/91) ****

#3 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue (AJPW 09/04/91) ****

#4 - Bull Nakano vs Kyoko Inoue (AJW 09/07/91) ***3/4

#5 - Brian Pillman vs Badstreet (WCW Clash of the Champions XVI 09/05/91) ***1/2

#6 - Barry Windham vs Mr. Hughes (WCW Saturday Night 09/21/91) ***1/2

#7 - Mr. Pogo & TNT vs Iceman & Akitoshi Saito (W*ING 09/12/91) ***1/2

#8 - Dave Finlay vs Dave Taylor (CWA 09/15/91) ***1/2

#9 - Manami Toyota vs Toshiyo Yamada (AJW 09/07/91) ***1/4

#10 - Atsushi Onita vs Tarzan Goto (FMW 09/23/91) ***1/4

#11 - Heavy Metal, Rey Bucanero & Ray Richard vs Yoshinari Asai, La Pantera & Kendo (Hamada's UWF 09/05/91) ***

#12 - Hiroshi Hase vs Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW 09/10/91)

#13 - Terry Funk vs Kevin Sullivan (TWA 09/21/91)

#14 - Headhunter A & Tom Pritchard vs Headhunter B & Danny Davis (W*ING 09/07/91)

#15 - Kazuo Yamazaki vs Yoji Anjo (UWFI 09/26/91)

#16 - Ricky Morton vs Brian Pillman (WCW Saturday Night 09/28/91)

#17 - Konnan vs Perro Aguayo vs Cien Caras (CMLL 09/06/91)

#18 - The Enforcers vs The Hardliners (WCW Main Event 09/08/91)

#19 - Nobuhiko Takada vs Bob Backlund (UWFI 09/26/91)

#20 - Ricky Steamboat vs Ted DiBiase (WWF King of the Ring 09/07/91)

[Loss]

October:

 

#1 - Jumbo Tsuruta vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 10/24/91) ****1/4

#2 - Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW 10/15/91) ****1/4

#3 - The Scorpion vs Cutie Suzuki (JWP 10/10/91) ***1/2

#4 - Lex Luger vs Ron Simmons (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/27/91) ***1/2

#5 - Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Yoshinari Ogawa (AJPW 10/10/91) ***1/4

#6 - Steve Austin vs Dustin Rhodes (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/27/91) ***1/4

#7 - Genichiro Tenryu vs Yoshiaki Yatsu (SWS 10/29/91) ***

#8 - Ric Flair vs Tito Santana (WWF Albert Hall 10/03/91)

#9 - Undertaker vs Tito Santana (WWF Barcelona 10/05/91)

#10 - Masa Fuchi vs Dan Kroffat (AJPW 10/24/91)

#11 - Dave Finlay vs Steve Wright (CWA 10/21/91)

#12 - Sting, El Gigante, Rick & Scott Steiner vs Vader, Cactus Jack, Abdullah the Butcher & Diamond Studd (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/27/91)

#13 - Ric Flair vs Roddy Piper (WWF MSG Network 10/28/91)

#14 - Eddie Gilbert vs Kevin Sullivan (TWA 10/26/91)

#15 - Yoshinari Asai vs Bestia Salvaje (SWS 10/29/91)

#16 - Genichiro Tenryu vs George Takano (SWS 10/30/91)

[Loss]

November:

 

#1 - Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko vs Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Clash of the Champions XVII 11/19/91) ****3/4

#2 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue (AJPW 11/29/91) ****1/2

#3 - Fuerza Guerrera vs Octagon (CMLL 11/01/91) ****1/2

#4 - Los Brazos vs MS-1, Pirata Morgan & El Satanico (CMLL 11/22/91) ****1/4

#5 - Sting vs Cactus Jack (WCW Power Hour 11/23/91) ****

#6 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (AJPW 11/21/91) ***3/4

#7 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey (AJPW 11/16/91) ***3/4

#8 - Dynamite Kansai vs Harley Saito (JWP 11/02/91) ***3/4

#9 - Ric Flair vs Bret Hart (WWF Invasion 11/11/91) ***3/4

#10 - MS-1, El Satanico & Pirata Morgan vs Konnan, El Dandy & Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (CMLL 11/29/91) ***1/2

#11 - Jerry Flynn vs Wellington Wilkins Jr (PWFG 11/03/91) ***1/4

#12 - Genichiro Tenryu vs Ashura Hara (SWS 11/10/91) ***1/4

#13 - Sting vs Rick Rude (WCW Clash of the Champions XVII 11/19/91) ***

#14 - Keiji Muto & Hiroshi Hase vs Rick Steiner & Scott Norton (NJPW 11/05/91) ***

#15 - Manami Toyota & Akira Hokuto vs Toshiyo Yamada & Kyoko Inoue (AJW 11/15/91) ***

#16 - Eric Embry vs Tom Pritchard (USWA TV 11/09/91) ***

#17 - Los Brazos vs MS-1, Pirata Morgan & Emilio Charles Jr. (WWA 1991) ***

#18 - Riki Choshu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 11/05/91)

#19 - Nobuhiko Takada vs Bob Backlund (UWFI 11/07/91)

#20 - Ric Flair vs Hulk Hogan (WWF MSG Network 11/30/91)

#21 - Terrence Taylor, Richard Morton & Thomas Rich vs Big Josh, Dustin Rhodes & Tom Zenk (WCW Pro 11/16/91)

#22 - Yoji Anjo & Jim Boss vs Kiyoshi Tamura & Yuko Miyato (UWFI 11/07/91)

#23 - Terrence Taylor, Richard Morton & Thomas Rich vs Big Josh, Dustin Rhodes & Tom Zenk (WCW Main Event 11/10/91)

#24 - Terrence Taylor, Richard Morton & Thomas Rich vs Big Josh, Dustin Rhodes & Tom Zenk (WCW Main Event 11/03/91)

#25 - Steve Austin & Arn Anderson vs Bobby Eaton & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Worldwide 11/23/91)

[Loss]

December:

 

#1 - Trio Fantasia vs Los Thundercats (Monterrey 12/08/91) ****1/2

#2 - Hulk Hogan vs Genichiro Tenryu (SWS 12/12/91) ****1/4

#3 - El Hijo del Santo & Black Shadow Jr vs Fuerza Guerrera & Octagon (WWA 12/15/91) ****1/4

#4 - El Dandy vs El Satanico (CMLL 12/06/91) ****

#5 - Jushin Liger vs Brian Pillman (WCW Meadowlands 12/27/91) ****

#6 - Akira Maeda vs Volk Han (RINGS 12/07/91) ****

#7 - Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs Akira Hokuto & Bull Nakano (AJW 12/09/91) ****

#8 - Lightning Kid vs Jerry Lynn (GWF TV 12/27/91) ***3/4

#9 - Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs Toshiyo Yamada & Kyoko Inoue (AJW 12/09/91) ***1/2

#10 - Keiji Muto & Hiroshi Hase vs Shinya Hashimoto & Scott Norton (NJPW 12/16/91) ***1/2

#11 - Steve Austin vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW Saturday Night 12/21/91) ***1/2

#12 - Arn Anderson, Larry Zbyszko & Bobby Eaton vs Ricky Steamboat, Brian Pillman & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Pro 12/21/91) ***1/4

#13 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 12/06/91) ***1/4

#14 - Ricky Steamboat vs Bobby Eaton (WCW Saturday Night 12/14/91) ***

#15 - Steve Williams & Terry Gordy vs Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey (AJPW 12/04/91)

#16 - Jerry Lawler vs Kamala (USWA TV 12/07/91)

#17 - Young Pistols vs The Patriots (WCW Main Event 12/15/91)

#18 - Bret Hart vs Ted DiBiase (WWF MSG Network 12/29/91)

#19 - Eddie Gilbert vs Terrence Garvin (GWF TV 12/27/91)

#20 - Sting & Abdullah the Butcher vs Bobby Eaton & Brian Pillman (WCW Starrcade 12/29/91)

#21 - Ric Flair vs Hulk Hogan (WWF MSG Network 12/29/91)

#22 - Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels (WWF Invasion 12/02/91)

#23 - Nobuhiko Takada vs Trevor Berbick (UWFI 12/22/91)

[Vinnie B]

Aaaand we're back. Don't know if I'll be moving again soon so won't be able to complete the year, but hoping to keep going for as long as possible on another stellar yearbook. Like some of the music so far as well!

January 1991:

1. El Hijo del Santo vs. Brazo de Oro (UWA 1/13/91) **** ½
2. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue (AJPW 1/15/91) **** ½
3. Akira Hokuto vs. Bull Nakano (AJW 1/4/91) **** ½
4. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Masa Fuchi & Akira Taue (AJPW 1/27/91) **** ¼
5. The Rockers vs. Orient Express (Rumble 1/19/91) *** ¾
6. Manami Toyota vs. Akira Hokuto (AJW 1/11/91) *** ¾
7. Jeff Jarrett vs. Eddie Gilbert (USWA TX 1/5/91) *** ¾
8. Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 1/2/91) *** ¾
9. Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs. Bull Nakano & Kyoko Inoue (Hair vs. Hair) (AJW 1/11/91) *** ½
10. Jerry Lawler vs. Terry Funk (USWA TX 1/5/91) *** ½
11. La Fiera vs. Jerry Estrada (Chain Match) (Monterrey 1991) *** ½
12. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Barry Windham & Sid Vicious vs. Sting, Brian Pillman, Rick & Scott Steiner (WCWSN 1/19/91) *** ½
13. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Stan Hansen (AJPW 1/19/91) *** ½
14. Ric Flair vs. Scott Steiner (Clash 1/30/91) *** ¼
15. Vader vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW 1/7/91) *** ¼
16. Brian Pillman vs. Rip Rogers (WCWSN 1/5/91) *** ¼
17. Eric Embry vs. Gary Young (USWA Texas 1/18/91) ***
18. Kyoko Inoue vs. Mika Takahashi (AJW 1/5/91) ** ¾

Wow, really great start to the year match-wise. Felt like everyone picked up right where 1990 (or October and November, at least) left off, but also improved. I was all ready to be disappointed with the Brazo/Santo match like much of 1990’s Lucha, but it was a match that had a bit of everything and was really enjoyable. 3 promotions put forward MOTYC’s for me this month, and there was a lot of variety up and down the match list. Even if not great, nearly everything was entertaining, which helps to keep me glued for a few hours a day.

 

Angle-wise, the US promotions all had interesting feuds simmering nicely, and I really enjoyed Cornette and the Fabs in Memphis. It strung everything together quite nicely, but this was definitely a match-centred month. But when the matches were this good, who am I to complain?

[soup23]

Always like reading your lists Vinnie and comparing them to mine. Keep them up.

[Vinnie B]

February:

1. War Games (Wrestle War 2/24/91) **** 3/4
2. Atsushi Onita vs. Tarzan Goto (FMW 2/26/91) ****
3. Arn Anderson & Barry Windham vs. Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner (WCWSN 2/2/91) *** ¾
4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 2/26/91) *** ½
5. Lex Luger vs. Dan Spivey *** ½
6. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 2/26/91) *** ½
7. Arn Anderson & Barry Windham vs. Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich (Pro 2/2/91) *** ½
8. Vader vs. Stan Hansen (Wrestle War 2/24/91) *** ¼
9. Jeff Jarrett vs. Eddie Gilbert (USWA TX 2/22/91) *** ¼
10. Megumi Kudo vs. Combat Toyoda (FMW 2/27/91) *** ¼
11. Arn Anderson vs. Bobby Eaton (Power Hour 2/2/91) *** ¼
12. Bill Dundee vs. Eric Embry (USWA TX 2/22/91) ***
13. Los Brazos vs. Kato Kung Lee, Super Astro & Volador / El Santo Feature (CMLL 2/8/91) ***
14. Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett vs. Steve Austin & Rod Price (USWA TX 2/8/91) ** ¾

February wasn’t quite as hot as January, but there was still a lot to like. War Games is the first 5 star match I’ve given out so far on the Yearbooks. The 1992 games is very much my ‘I’ve never seen Star Wars’ match, but I watched this version a few years ago and thought it might be one of my favourite matches ever. It holds up perfectly as an incredible match with a bit of everything – blood, drama, athleticism. Just a superb match all round.

 

I have to say Memphis has been consistently good so far in 1991. Not just a good angle or promo here and there, but thoroughly enjoyable and exciting week on week. It’s unfair to attribute that all to Eddie Gilbert, but he’s probably my standout character this year.

 

As a history student who’s just done a lot of work on Vietnam, I’ve found the Hogan/Slaughter stuff to be...unsettling. Everyone plays their parts excellently, and I wouldn’t even use the word distasteful. Just unsettling.

[soup23]

wow, the full monty on the wargames in 1991. Just curious if you have seen the ones from 1987 or 1992 Vinnie?

[Vinnie B]

I haven't actually. I've always wanted to watch 1992 but now I might just wait for the 92 yearbook. Watching this made me want to go and watch the Wargames DVD for some of the earlier ones.

 

I think that as other people have said the match does have some flaws, but the good (obviously the first 5 minutes, but the intensity and brawling throughout) far outweighs the bad and hides the flaws unless you are looking for them. Also whilst he did botch the finish and messed a few spots, I thought Sid was pretty good in this. Throughout 1990, Pillman looked like a breakthrough star, and this was his magnus opus, demonstrating really what could have been.

[Vinnie B]

March:

1. Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior (Mania 3/24/91) ****
2. Hulk Hogan & Genichiro Tenryu vs. Legion of Doom (WWF/SWS 3/30/91) ****
3. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW 3/23/91) ****
4. Jushin Liger vs. Akira Nogami (NJPW/WCW 3/21/91) *** ¾
5. El Hijo Del Santo vs. Negro Casas (UWA 3/1/91) *** ¾
6. Eric Embry & Steve Austin vs. Bill Dundee & Gary Young (USWA TX 3/8/91) *** ¾
7. Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW/WCW 3/21/91) *** ¾
8. Ric Flair vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW/WCW 3/21/91) *** ½
9. Jushin Liger vs. Norio Honaga (NJPW 3/14/91) *** ½
10. Jeff Jarrett vs. Tom Pritchard (USWA TX 3/1/91) *** ½
11. Tommy Rich vs. Arn Anderson (WCWSN 3/30/91) *** ½
12. Sting vs. Larry Zbyszko (Main Event 3/10/91) *** ½
13. Jeff Jarrett vs. Tom Pritchard (USWA TX 3/22/91) *** ½
14. Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter (Mania 3/24/91) *** ½
15. The Rockers vs. Haku & Barbarian (Mania 3/24/91) *** ¼
16. Marty Jannetty vs. Pat Tanaka (MSG 3/15/91) *** ¼
17. Shawn Michaels vs. Mr. Perfect (World Tour 3/11/91) *** ¼
18. Jeff Jarrett & Bill Dundee vs. Eric Embry & Gary Young (USWA TX 3/1/91) *** ¼
19. Naoki Sano vs. Masakatsu Funaki (SWS 3/30/91) *** ¼
20. Perro Aguayo, Villano I, Villano III & Villano IV vs. El Brazo, Brazo de Oro, Brazo de Plata & Super Brazo (Hamada's UWF 3/9/91) *** ¼
21. Sting vs. Great Muta (NJPW/WCW 3/21/91) *** ¼
22. Jeff Jarrett vs. Tom Pritchard (Tennessee Street Fight) (USWA TX 3/29/91) ***
23. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Cactus Jack (AJPW 3/26/91) ***
24. Steve Austin vs. Gary Young (Coal Miner’s Glove Match) (USWA TX 3/15/91) ***
25. Eric Embry vs. Bill Dundee (USWA TX 3/29/91) ***

March was a month in which there were a large, large amount of matches I would definitely class as good/really good, but matches that were truly exceptional were a bit sparse. It probably wouldn’t have felt it at the time though, there were three supercards loaded with good matches. But sometimes with the yearbooks that doesn’t always translate. It was still enjoyable, especially with the consistently enjoyable matches, but in a way that was different to say January.

 

Having been born two years after Wrestlemania 7 happened (nearly to the day), and not really been that gripped by the build-up, I thought I wouldn’t be as into Warrior/Savage as other people. Yet I’m glad to say that all changed when the match began. I thought it had a big fight feel to it, which always benefits matches, and superb drama. It got a little silly at times, but as a whole it was a fantastic spectacle.

 

This was really Texas’ month to shine, with a string of really great matches. Although I wasn’t as into Jarrett/Pritchard as others (and I even watched it twice to see if I missed anything) there are still 7 matches at *** and above, which is impressive for any company.

 

I think it’s nice that nearly every promotion in the world has given us some really great matches so far, and maybe it’s me, but I think the first few months of 1991 has been far better than this period in 1990.

[Vinnie B]

April:

1. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW 4/20/91) **** ¾
2. Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs. Manami Toyota & Esther Moreno (AJW 4/29/91) **** ½
3. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (AJPW 4/18/91) **** ¼
4. Ric Flair vs. Brian Pillman (WCWSN 4/13/91) ****
5. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue (AJPW 4/18/91) ****
6. Akira Hokuto vs. Suzuka Minami (AJW 4/29/91) ****
7. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 4/6/91) ****
8. Jushin Liger vs. Norio Honaga (NJPW 4/30/91) ****
9. Barry Windham vs. Brian Pillman (Pro 4/6/91) *** ¾
10. Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey vs. Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 4/18/91) *** ¾
11. Jushin Liger vs. Owen Hart (NJPW 4/28/91) *** ¾
12. Ric Flair & Barry Windham vs. Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich (WWW 4/6/91) *** ¾
13. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 4/5/91) *** ¾
14. Jushin Liger vs. Negro Casas (NJPW 4/30/91) *** ½
15. Bret Hart vs. Ted DiBiase (SNME 4/27/91) *** ½
16. Kenta Kobashi vs. Dan Kroffat (AJPW 4/18/91) *** ½
17. Barry Windham vs. Brian Pillman *** ½
18. Pegasus Kid vs. Norio Honaga (NJPW 4/30/91) *** ¼
19. Jeff Jarrett vs. Tom Pritchard (USWA TX 4/12/91) *** ¼
20. Riki Choshu & Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW 4/30/91) ***
21. Roddy Piper vs. Ted DiBiase (MSG 4/22/91) ***
22. Hulk Hogan vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu (WWF/SWS 4/1/91) ***
23. Jeff Jarrett vs. Tom Pritchard (Chain Match) (USWA Texas 4/19/91) ***
24. Sgt. Slaughter vs. Ultimate Warrior (SNME 4/27/91) ** ¾

So I went on holiday for a week in the middle of watching April and just came back with no desire to watch wrestling. Not even burnt out, just not that interested. I mean, I could recognise that matches were great but I just wasn’t enjoying them as much as I was before. Whilst I’m sure I’ll get my passion back soon, I think I’m going to stop, or cut down for a little while at least, because there’s no point if I’m not enjoying myself fully.

 

That said, April is probably the best in-ring month of the yearbooks yet. If you take out my personal love for Wargames, then the 4/20 tag is probably the MOTY so far and just an epic. Loads of other great stuff from All Japan, two great Joshi matches, some strong NJ Junior stuff and several excellent WCW matches. Liger, Jumbo, Pillman and Misawa have all been great this month, but like a lot of 1991, it’s been consistently great/excellent across the board.

[Vinnie B]

May:

1. Jushin Liger vs. Norio Honaga (NJPW 5/31/91) **** 1/4
2. Ric Flair vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (SuperBrawl 5/19/91) **** 1/4
3. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 5/24/91) ****
4. El Hijo del Santo vs. Negro Casas (WWA 5/17/91) ****
5. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Masahito Kakihara (UWFI 5/10/91) ****
6. Jushin Liger vs. Hiroshi Hase (NJPW 5/6/91) *** 3/4
7. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs. Wellington Wilkins Jr. (PWFG 5/19/91) *** 3/4
8. Bill Dundee vs. Eric Embry (Cage Match) (USWA TX 5/24/91) *** 3/4
9. Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW 5/31/91) *** 3/4
10. Toshiyo Yamada vs. Yumiko Hotta (AJW 5/26/91) *** 3/4
11. Sting & Lex Luger vs. Rick & Scott Steiner (SuperBrawl 5/19/91) *** 1/2
12. Barry Windham vs. Brian Pillman (Taped Fist Match) (SuperBrawl 5/19/91) *** 1/2
13. Manami Toyota vs. Aja Kong (AJW 5/26/91) *** 1/2
14. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 5/24/91) *** 1/2
15. Jeff Jarrett vs. Tom Pritchard (Cage Match) (USWA TX 5/24/91) *** 1/2
16. Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller vs. Steve Austin & Tom Pritchard (Tennessee Street Fight) (USWA TX 5/3/91) *** 1/2
17. Atlantis, Mascara Sagrada & Octagon vs. Los Brazos (CMLL 5/17/91) *** 1/4
18. Eddie Gilbert & Brian Christopher vs. Tom Pritchard & Dirty White Boy (USWA 5/18/91) *** 1/4
19. Arn Anderson vs. Bobby Eaton (SuperBrawl 5/19/91) ***
20. El Dandy, Popitekus & Super Astro vs. Los Brazos (CMLL 5/3/91) ***
21. Akira Maeda vs. Dick Vrij (RINGS 5/11/91) ** 1/4
22. Atsushi Onita vs. Mr. Pogo (Death Match) (FMW 5/6/91) * 3/4

Can't say I have too many thoughts on May as there was nearly a year gap between me watching most of it and the last few matches this week. All I can say is that from those last few bouts, the Liger/Honaga match caught me very well - a great, bloody brawl. Don't think I'll be able to finish June 91 in the next few days, so maybe I'll provide an update in 2016?

[Vinnie B]

June:

1. Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs. Bull Nakano & Kyoko Inoue (AJW 6/18/91) **** 1/4
2. Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt Slaughter (Desert Storm Match) (MSG 6/3/91) ****
3. Jushin Liger vs. Norio Honaga (NJPW 6/12/91) *** 3/4
4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey (AJPW 6/27/91) *** 3/4
5. Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Masa Chono & Hiroshi Hase (Clash 6/14/91) *** 1/2
6. Eric Embry vs. Danny Davis (USWA TX 6/7/91) *** 1/2
7. Ric Flair vs. Bobby Eaton (Clash 6/14/91) *** 1/2
8. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Terry Gordy (AJPW 6/1/91) *** 1/2
9. Steve Williams vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (UWF 6/9/91) *** 1/2
10. Genichiro Tenryu & Ricky Fuyuki vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu & Shinichi Nakano (SWS 6/26/91) *** 1/4
11. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson vs. Brian Pillman & Bobby Eaton (Main Event 6/9/91) *** 1/4
12. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson vs. Bobby Eaton & Big Josh (Power Hour 6/8/91) *** 1/4
13. Terry Taylor & Arn Anderson vs. Bobby Eaton & Dustin Rhodes (Main Event 6/2/91) ***
14. Steve Williams vs. Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 6/1/91) ***
15. Freebirds & Badstreet vs. Young Pistols & Dustin Rhodes (WCWSN 6/15/91) ***
16. Six Man Tag (USWA 6/29/91) ** 3/4
17. Chris Candido & Don Cha Mang vs. Rob Zakowski & Danny Davis (USWA 6/22/91) ** 3/4

So I did manage to finish June, it's a shame I have to go away from the physical DVDs and player again now, as I was just getting back into watching a good deal of this.

 

June was generally very solid, and at the very least was pretty compact, so you never had to wait too long for something good. Memphis, and especially Embry, had a really strong month that kept the angles ticking along.

 

Quick word about Bull Nakano. I may have mentioned that before the yearbooks I didn't have that diverse a wrestling pallet outside of post-1996 US stuff and 90s All-Japan. The Joshi so far has been great, and Bull Nakano has definitely been the best wrestler I've found because of this project. Everything she does just comes across as so...badass. Another great match for Joshi!

[Vinnie B]

July:

1. Keiji Muto & Masa Chono vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW 7/4/91) **** 1/4
2. Tatsumi Fujinami, Riki Choshu, Shinya Hashimoto, Keiji Muto & Masa Chono vs. Vader, Bam Bam Bigelow, Wild Samoan, Great Kokina & TNT (NJPW 7/24/91) ****
3. Vader vs. Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 7/19/91) ****
4. Lightning Kid vs. Jerry Lynn (Tournament Finals) (GWF 7/13/91) *** 3/4
5. Keiji Muto & Masa Chono vs. Vader & Bam Bam Bigelow (NJPW 7/29/91) *** 3/4
6. Naoki Sano vs. Minoru Suzuki (PWFG 7/26/91) *** 3/4
7. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Masa Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa (AJPW 7/26/91) *** 3/4
8. Ricky Morton vs. Robert Gibson (GAB 7/14/91) *** 1/2
9. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshinari Ogawa (AJPW 7/6/91) *** 1/2
10. Eddy, Mando & Chavo Guerrero vs. Los Brazos (CMLL 7/26/91) *** 1/4
11. Jushin Liger vs. Pegasus Kid (Mask vs. Mask) (NJPW 7/4/91) *** 1/4
12. Lex Luger vs. Barry Windham (Cage Match) (GAB 7/14/91) ***
13. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (AJPW 7/24/91) ***
14. Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller vs. Bar Room Brawlers (Street Fight) (USWA HH 7/29/91) ***
15. War Games (Meadowlands 7/3/91) ***
16. Steve Austin vs. Bobby Eaton (Power Hour 7/6/91) ***
17. Steve Austin vs. Yellow Dog (Pro 7/27/91) ***
18. Ultimate Warrior vs. Undertaker (Finish Only) (Bodybag Match) (MSG 7/1/91) ***
19. Jerry Lawler vs. Eric Embry (USWA HH 7/22/91) ** 3/4
20. Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Billy Scott (UWFI 7/30/91) ** 3/4
21. Ron Garvin vs. Invader I (WWC 7/6/91) ** 3/4

So that is July, and roughly half the set completed. No question that the NJ heavyweights dominated the month for me. When I left the IWC kind of bubble (which, admittedly, was about 2007), it was really only the NJ Juniors who got the attention, and everything else they put out was sort of an afterthought except for a few people who loved Hashimoto etc. But in both '90 and '91 they have produced some seriously good matches and the feuds between Hash/Mutoh/Chono and Vader are really picking up. I wouldn't say that their peak matches that of the AJ Heavyweights, but they certainly have produced very consistent matches with high workrate. Boy that 10 man tag was hella fun.

 

Meanwhile Memphis continues to put out chaotic brawls, intertwined feuds involving half the roster (a personal favourite part of any promotion to me) and has become probably my favourite part of the Yearbooks. A complete 180 from the first few months of 1990 (which was clearly not a great time for the promotion) when I wanted to skip much of it.

 

Other than that, nothing tremendously outstanding, but like most of 1991, everything is consistently good or at least entertaining, and thoroughly watchable.

[Vinnie B]

August:

1. Masa Chono vs. Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 8/9/91) **** 1/2
2. Masa Chono vs. Keiji Muto (NJPW 8/11/91) **** 1/2
3. Devil Masami vs. Itsuki Yamazaki (JWP 8/30/91) **** 1/4
4. Vader vs. Keiji Muto (NJPW 8/10/91) **** 1/4
5. Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect (SSLAM 8/26/91) ****
6. Atlantis vs. Blue Panther (CMLL 8/9/91) ****
7. The Scorpion vs. Cutie Suzuki (JWP 8/30/91) *** 3/4
8. Cactus Jack vs. Eddie Gilbert (Falls Count Anywhere/Stretcher Match/Cage Match) (TWA 8/3/91) *** 3/4
9. Apolo Dantes, Black Magic & El Dandy vs. Blue Panther, Javier Cruz & Pierroth Jr (CMLL 8/16/91) *** 3/4
10. Dave Finlay vs. Chris Benoit (Vienna 8/18/91) *** 3/4
11. Jushin Liger vs. Akira Nogami (NJPW 8/9/91) *** 3/4
12. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 8/18/91) *** 3/4
13. Fuerza Guerrera vs. Negro Casas (WWA 1991) *** 3/4
14. Dynamite Kansai & Madusa Miceli vs. Harley Saito & Rumi Kazama (JWP 8/30/91) *** 3/4
15. Atlantis, Mascara Sagrada & Octagon vs. Pirata Morgan, Pierroth & Kendo Nagasaki (CMLL 8/23/91) *** 1/2
16. Masa Chono vs. Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 8/11/91) *** 1/2
17. Chavo, Mando & Eddie Guerrero vs. El Satanico, MS-1 & Masakre (CMLL 8/23/91) *** 1/2
18. Diamond Studd, Arn Anderson & Barry Windham vs. Yellow Dog, Bobby Eaton & Dustin Rhodes (Power Hour 8/3/91) *** 1/2
19. Mitsuharu Misawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue (AJPW 8/29/91) *** 1/2
20. Genichiro Tenryu, Ashura Hara & Takashi Ishikawa vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu, Haku & Shinichi Nakano (SWS 8/5/91) *** 1/4
21. Richard Morton vs. Bobby Eaton (Main Event 8/4/91) *** 1/4
22. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs. Lato Kirawarik (PWFG 8/23/91) *** 1/4
23. Legion of Doom vs. Nasty Boys (SSLAM 8/26/91) *** 1/4
24. Vader vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW 8/7/91) ***
25. Terry Funk vs. Bob Backlund (WWA 8/17/91) ***
26. Riki Choshu vs. Masa Chono (NJPW 8/7/91) ***
27. Keiji Muto vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW 8/9/91) ***
28. Steve Austin vs. Dustin Rhodes (WCWSN 8/17/91) ***
29. Wayne Shamrock vs. Masakatsu Funaki (PWFG 8/23/91) ***
30. Ted Dibiase vs. Virgil (SSLAM 8/26/91) ***
31. Headhunters vs. Dos Caras & El Fantasma (W*ING 8/17/91) ** 3/4
32. Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara vs. Road Warriors (SWS 8/9/91) ** 3/4
33. Big Boss Man vs. The Mountie (Jailhouse Match) (SSLAM 8/26/91) ** 1/2
34. Stan Lane & Jim Cornette vs. Jerry Lawler & Mark Curtis (WWA 8/17/91) ** 1/2

August was a lengthy month, but one stacked with great matches. I'm not sure if it was better than April, but certainly disc 17 was filled with a quality of wrestling unmatched by any of the 50 discs I have watched so far.

 

Continuing their strong year, the G1 delivered big time. Not every match, but some truly fantastic matches. I always thought of Chono as a mediocre wrestler pushed for his popularity, but he came out looking fantastic here. Was I the only one who liked the Chono/Hash 30 min draw better than the final? I thought it told a better story and had a better finish. But it was only by a small margin, on another day I could feel differently, and they were both terrific matches.

 

Summerslam was surely the most crowd-pleasing wrestling event ever. The Bret/Perfect match still felt great. Maybe not in a global, overall context, but in the WWF world? Superb. I may be hurt by not being around in 1991 to get the angles. The Liz/Savage wedding was deliriously cheesy, and the angles with Jake, Warrior and the post-wedding snake felt ludicrous.

 

The JWP show was also a surprisingly nice way to round off the month, with all 3 matches being great in different ways. Even the main event I thought was a tribute to everything 12 year-old me would have loved in wrestling, so I got a kick out of it.

 

Once more, its good to see so many different promotions putting out great matches. Variety is a strong attraction for me in wrestling. I'm always surprised (although perhaps shouldn't be) by how despite long absences, when I start watching the Yearbook again I become completely immersed and blast through a few hours a day.

[Vinnie B]

September:

1. Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 9/4/91) **** 1/2
2. Bull Nakano vs. Kyoko Inoue (AJW 9/7/91) **** 1/4
3. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 9/4/91) **** 1/4
4. Robin Hood & Los Ninja Turtles vs. Shu El Guerrero, Jose Luis Feliciano, El Texano, Black Terry & Ricky Boy (Hamada's UWF 9/12/91) *** 3/4
5. Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada (AJW 9/7/91) *** 3/4
6. Mr. Pogo & TNT vs. Iceman & Akitoshi Saito (Cage Match) (W*ING 9/12/91) *** 1/2
7. Barry Windham vs. Mr. Hughes (WCWSN 9/21/91) *** 1/2
8. Brian Pillman vs. Badstreet (Clash 9/5/91) *** 1/2
9. Dave Finlay vs. Dave Taylor (CWA 9/15/91) *** 1/4
10. Ricky Morton vs. Brian Pillman (WCWSN 9/28/91) ***
11. Dick Slater & Dick Murdoch vs. Enforcers (Main Event 9/8/91) ***
12. Hiroshi Hase vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW 9/10/91) ***
13. Atsushi Onita vs. Tarzan Goto (Barbed Wire Cage Bomb Match) (FMW 9/23/91) ***
14. Steve Austin vs. Big Josh (Main Event 9/29/91) ** 3/4
15. Headhunter A & Tom Pritchard vs. Headhunter B & Danny Davis (W*ING 9/9/91) ** 3/4
16. Terry Funk vs. Kevin Sullivan (TWA 9/21/91) ** 3/4
17. Konnan vs. Perro Aguayo vs. Cien Caras (Hair Match) (CMLL 9/6/91) ** 3/4
18. Ricky Steamboat vs. Ted DiBiase (KOR 9/7/91) ** 1/2

I'll be honest, I watched September a few weeks ago and just forgot to put my ratings in and up here. Probably a reason for me not to be so damn lazy and comment as I go in the threads. Anyway: Bull Nakano is having a career year, AJPW cracked out a strong return to form (it never really stopped being good, but just better), Memphis still brings the good TV, I'm loving Flair in WWF, but perhaps September began to drag a little. I'd like to move on to 1992 already, but I'm a committed man!

[Vinnie B]

October:

 

1) Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW 10/15/91) **** ½

2) Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 10/24/91) **** ¼

3) Steve Austin vs. Dustin Rhodes (Havoc 10/27/91) *** ¾

4) Lex Luger vs. Ron Simmons (2/3 Falls) (Havoc 10/27/91) *** ½

5) The Scorpion vs. Cutie Suzuki (JWP 10/10/91) *** ½

6) Akira Taue, Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, Mitsuharu Misawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (AJPW 10/10/91) *** ½

7) Ric Flair vs. Tito Santana (Albert Hall 10/3/91) *** ½

8) Ric Flair vs. Roddy Piper *** ¼

9) Dave Finlay vs. Steve Wright (CWA 10/21/91) *** ¼

10) Chamber of Horrors (Havoc 10/27/91) ***

11) Asai Yoshinari vs. Bestia Salvaje (SWS 10/29/91) ***

12) Genichiro Tenryu vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu (SWS 10/29/91) ** ¾

13) Eddie Gilbert vs. Kevin Sullivan (TWA 10/26/91) ** ¾

14) Undertaker vs. Tito Santana (Barcelona 10/5/91) ** ½

 

Planning to get through the rest of 1991 in the next few weeks. In brief: Halloween Havoc was better than expected, AJPW delivers including a stellar 6-man tag that I LOVED. USWA has been underwhelming, and I think I’m much higher on Flair’s debut in WWF than others are. Not the absolute best month, but some strong stuff and easy enough to get through.