Matches of the Month

[Loss]

January:

 

#1 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 01/20/97) *****

#2 - Volk Han vs Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 01/22/97) ****3/4

#3 - Megumi Kudo vs Shinobu Kandori (LLPW 01/05/97) ****1/4

#4 - Riki Choshu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW Tokyo Dome 01/04/97) ****

#5 - Cicloncito Ramirez vs Damiancito El Guerrero (CMLL 01/07/97) ****

#6 - Jun Akiyama vs Akira Taue (AJPW 01/20/97) ***1/2

#7 - Hiroumi Yagi vs Tomoko Kuzumi (JWP 01/12/97) ***1/2

#8 - Mayumi Ozaki, Sugar Sato & Chikayo Nagashima vs Chigusa Nagayo, Sonoko Kato & Meiko Satomura (GAEA 01/19/97) ***1/4

#9 - PG-13 vs Flash Flanagan & Steven Dunn (USWA TV 01/18/97) ***

#10 - Ultimo Dragon vs Dean Malenko (WCW Clash of the Champions XXXIV 01/21/97) ***

#11 - Chris Benoit vs Kevin Sullivan (WCW Clash of the Champions XXXIV 01/21/97)

#12 - Steven Regal vs Psicosis (WCW Saturday Night 01/18/97)

#13 - Eddy Guerrero vs Syxx (NWO Souled Out 01/25/97)

#14 - Jerry Lawler vs Shaquille Ali (USWA TV 01/25/97)

#15 - Steven Regal vs Psicosis (WCW Saturday Night 01/11/97)

#16 - Hulk Hogan vs The Giant (WCW Monday Nitro 01/27/97)

#17 - Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich vs The Gangstas (ECW TV 01/18/97)

#18 - Steve Austin vs Goldust (WWF Shotgun 01/18/97)

#19 - Shoji Nakamaki & Seiji Yamakawa vs Mitsuhiro Matsunaga & Great Kojika (BJPW 01/06/97)

 

Overall thoughts: The year started off with a bang, with what is quite likely MOTY and another match coming awfully close to hitting that level too. Kudo vs Kandori was fantastic as well. I like that even if it has been in passing, we've seen at least a glimpse of most of the promotions and wrestlers right away, with a few exceptions of course. The NWO definitely doesn't feel like overkill yet. They're pushed hard and they're getting lots of TV time, but they are not so dominant that WCW feels stale or boring. The WWF seems to be moving in the right direction, but very slowly. The RAW the night after the Rumble was really strong.

[Loss]

February:

 

#1 - Jushin Liger vs Shinjiro Otani (NJPW 02/09/97) *****

#2 - El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (CMLL Japan 02/06/97) ***3/4

#3 - Jushin Liger vs Koji Kanemoto (NJPW 02/16/97) ***3/4

#4 - Rey Misterio Jr vs El Hijo del Santo (Promo Azteca 02/23/97) ***3/4

#5 - Chigusa Nagayo vs Mayumi Ozaki (GAEA 02/23/97) ***3/4

#6 - Eddy Guerrero & Chris Jericho vs Meng & Barbarian (WCW Monday Nitro 02/24/97) ***1/2

#7 - Shinya Hashimoto vs Kazuo Yamazaki (NJPW 02/16/97) ***1/2

#8 - Bret Hart vs Sid (WWF Monday Night RAW 02/17/97) ***1/2

#9 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Alexander Otsuka (BattlARTS 02/28/97) ***1/2

#10 - Bret Hart vs Steve Austin vs Undertaker vs Vader (WWF Final Four 02/16/97) ***1/4

#11 - Jerry Lawler & Brian Christopher vs PG-13 (USWA TV 02/22/97) ***1/4

#12 - Tommy Rich vs Terry Funk (ECW Crossing The Line Again 02/01/97) ***

#13 - Undertaker vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley (WWF Shotgun Saturday Night 02/08/97)

#14 - Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee vs PG-13 (USWA TV 02/15/97)

#15 - Ace Darling vs Cheetah Master (ECWA Super 8 02/22/97)

#16 - Latin Lover vs Heavy Metal vs Octagon vs Hector Garza (AAA Rey de Reyes 02/21/97)

 

Overall thoughts: There have been two absolute MOTD candidates so far this year, which is pretty impressive at the end of February. Lots of good wrestling and good angles. WCW is still a better all around promotion than the WWF. I can't complain.

[Loss]

March:

 

#1 - Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF Wrestlemania XIII 03/23/97) ****1/2

#2 - Taka Michinoku, Mens Teoh, Masayoshi Motegi, Dick Togo & Shoichi Funaki vs Great Sasuke, Super Delphin, Gran Naniwa, Gran Hamada & Masato Yakushiji (Michinoku Pro 03/16/97) ****1/4

#3 - Megumi Kudo vs Shinobu Kandori (FMW 03/14/97) ****

#4 - El Hijo del Santo, Shocker, El Texano, Mr. Niebla, La Fiera, Dr. Wagner Jr. & Mascara Magica vs Negro Casas, Black Warrior, Felino, Mano Negra, El Dandy, Scorpio Jr. & Silver King (CMLL 03/18/97) ****

#5 - Ultimo Dragoncito & Cicloncito Ramirez vs Damiancito El Guerrero & Pierrotito (CMLL 03/14/97) ****

#6 - Owen Hart vs Davey Boy Smith (WWF Monday Night RAW 03/03/97) ****

#7 - Hiroumi Yagi vs Tomoko Kuzumi (JWP 03/09/97) ***3/4

#8 - Atlantis vs Black Warrior (CMLL 03/04/97) ***3/4

#9 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW Championship Carnival 03/30/97) ***3/4

#10 - Owen Hart vs Davey Boy Smith (WWF Monday Night RAW 03/31/97) ***1/2

#11 - Jushin Liger & Wild Pegasus vs Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa (NJPW 03/08/97) ***1/2

#12 - Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW Championship Carnival 03/30/97) ***1/2

#13 - Tarek the Great vs American Kickboxer (Gilbert Memorial 03/13/97) ***1/4

#14 - Eddy Guerrero vs Dean Malenko (WCW Uncensored 03/16/97) ***1/4

#15 - Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Gary Albright & Yoshihiro Takayama (AJPW 03/01/97) ***

#16 - Mini Goldust & Mascarita Sagrada vs Mini Mankind & Mini Vader (WWF Monday Night RAW 03/17/97)

#17 - Legion of Doom & Ahmed Johnson vs Faarooq, Savio Vega & Crush (WWF Wrestlemania XIII 03/23/97)

 

Final thoughts: No all time classic five-star match this month, which is a first for the year. Perish the thought! Still, there was more great wrestling in more places this month than in January or February. 1997 is trucking along, and now that the WWF is getting in an angle groove, things are just heating up.

[Frankensteiner]

Did you forget to rate Atlantis/Black Warrior from March? Or is that pending a re-watch?

[Loss]

It was an oversight. Thanks. I will edit it in.

[Loss]

April:

 

#1 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Daisuke Ikeda (BattlARTS 04/15/97) *****

#2 - El Hijo del Santo, Felino, Black Warrior, Silver King, Dr. Wagner Jr., Satanico, Kevin Quinn & Scorpio Jr. vs Ultimo Dragon, Atlantis, Negro Casas, El Dandy, Shocker, Mascara Magica, La Fiera & Brazo de Oro (CMLL 04/18/97) ****3/4

#3 - Yoshihisa Yammamoto vs Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (RINGS 04/04/97) ****1/2

#4 - Dynamite Kansai vs Hikari Fukuoka (JWP 04/08/97) ****1/4

#5 - Megumi Kudo, Shinobu Kandori, Michiko Omukai & Kaori Nakayama vs Shark Tsuchiya, Eagle Sawai, Sayori Okino & Miss Mongol (LLPW 04/07/97) ****1/4

#6 - Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF Revenge of the Taker 04/20/97) ****1/4

#7 - Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 04/19/97) ****

#8 - Megumi Kudo vs Mayumi Ozaki (FMW 04/18/97) ****

#9 - Akira Hokuto vs Kaoru (GAEA 04/12/97) ***3/4

#10 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 04/19/97) ***1/2

#11 - Taka Michinoku, Mens Teoh & Dick Togo vs Great Sasuke, Gran Naniwa & Masato Yakushiji (ECW Barely Legal 04/13/97) ***1/2

#12 - Sabu vs Taz (ECW Barely Legal 04/13/97) ***1/4

#13 - Rey Misterio Jr vs Syxx (WCW Monday Nitro 04/21/97) ***1/4

#14 - Atsushi Onita, Masato Tanaka & W*ING Kanemura vs Cactus Jack, The Gladiator & Terry Funk (FMW 04/29/97) ***1/4

#15 - Shinya Hashimoto vs Naoya Ogawa (NJPW Battle Formation 04/12/97) ***

#16 - Hayabusa vs Mr. Gannosuke (FMW 04/29/97) ***

#17 - Randy Savage vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Spring Stampede 04/06/97)

#18 - Manny Fernandez vs Robert Thompson (APW 04/19/97)

#19 - Dean Malenko vs Bobby Eaton (WCW Pro 04/27/97)

 

Overall thoughts: Easily the best month of the year so far, and one I don't expect to be topped for in-ring. Ishikawa/Ikeda completely snuck up on me, but I'm convinced it's one of the best matches I've ever seen. The Carnival matches were definitely good, but I was expecting more. Terry Funk continues to do something interesting and worth watching every time he shows up somewhere.

[Loss]

May:

 

#1 - Shinjiro Otani, Koji Kanemoto, Mens Teoh, Dick Togo & Hanzo Nakajima vs Great Sasuke, Super Delphin, El Samurai, Norio Honaga & Gran Hamada (NJPW 05/03/97) ****1/4

#2 - Koji Kanemoto vs Tatsuhito Takaiwa (NJPW 05/20/97) ****

#3 - Hayabusa, Ricky Fuji & Ricky Morton vs Mike Awesome, Hisakatsu Oya & Mr. Gannosuke (FMW 05/13/97) ****

#4 - The Eliminators vs Tracy Smothers & Little Guido (ECW Trenton, NJ 05/03/97) ***3/4

#5 - Ric Flair, Roddy Piper & Kevin Greene vs Scott Hall, Kevin Nash & Syxx (WCW Slamboree 05/18/97) ***3/4

#6 - Steven Regal vs Ultimo Dragon (WCW Slamboree 05/18/97) ***3/4

#7 - Shinya Hashimoto vs Naoya Ogawa (NJPW 05/03/97) ***1/2

#8 - Vader vs Ken Shamrock (WWF Cold Day In Hell 05/12/97) ***1/2

#9 - Shawn Michaels & Steve Austin vs Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith (WWF Monday Night RAW 05/26/97) ***1/2

#10 - Shinjiro Otani vs Yoshihiro Taijiri (NJPW 05/20/97) ***1/4

#11 - Atsushi Onita, W*ING Kanemura & Hido vs Masato Tanaka, Tetsuhiro Kuroda & Koji Nakagawa (FMW 05/25/97) ***1/4

#12 - La Parka, Damien & Ciclope vs Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo & Hector Garza (WCW Monday Nitro 05/26/97) ***

#13 - Legion of Doom vs PG-13 (WWF Monday Night RAW 05/12/97)

#14 - Ricky Morton vs Wolfie D (IWA Mid South 05/08/97)

#15 - Genichiro Tenryu, Koki Kitahara & Jun Kikuchi vs Abdullah The Butcher, Tarzan Goto & Ryo Miyake (WAR 05/05/97)

#16 - Jerry Lawler vs Goldust (WWF Monday Night RAW 05/26/97)

[Loss]

June:

 

#1 - Jushin Liger vs Koji Kanemoto (NJPW 06/01/97) ****1/2

#2 - Shawn Michaels vs Steve Austin (WWF King of the Ring 06/08/97) ****

#3 - El Hijo del Santo, Emilio Charles Jr. & Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Negro Casas, Felino & Ultimo Dragon (CMLL 06/20/97) ****

#4 - Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda vs Tomoko Watanabe & Kumiko Maekawa (AJW 06/18/97) ****

#5 - El Samurai vs Koji Kanemoto (NJPW 06/05/97) ***3/4

#6 - Gedo & Jado vs Yoshihiro Taijiri & Yuichi Tanaguchi vs Kengo Kimura & Takashi Ishikawa vs Shoji Nakamaki & Takashi Okano vs Kendo Nagasaki & Satoru Shiga (BJPW 06/03/97) ***3/4

#7 - Kiyoshi Tamura vs Nikolai Zouev (RINGS 06/21/97) ***1/2

#8 - El Hijo del Santo, Scorpio Jr. & Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Negro Casas, El Fiero & Ultimo Dragon (CMLL 06/13/97) ***1/2

#9 - PG-13 vs Mikey Whipwreck & Spike Dudley (ECW Waltham, MA 06/20/97) ***1/2

#10 - Heavy Metal vs Sangre Chicana (AAA 06/15/97) ***1/4

#11 - Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo & Ultimo Dragon vs La Parka, Psicosis & Silver King (WCW Monday Nitro 06/09/97) ***1/4

#12 - El Hijo del Santo, Scorpio Jr. & Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Negro Casas, El Fiero & Ultimo Dragon (CMLL 06/06/97) ***

#13 - Randy Savage vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Great American Bash 06/15/97) ***

#14 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW Super Power Series 06/06/97)

#15 - Shawn Michaels & Steve Austin vs Legion of Doom (WWF Monday Night RAW 06/02/97)

#16 - Hulk Hogan vs Lex Luger (WCW Monday Nitro 06/09/97)

#17 - Rey Misterio Jr vs Syxx (WCW Monday Nitro 06/16/97)

[soup23]

Was looking forward to your placement of Misawa vs. Kawada. Can't wait to get to that one as I havent seen it since I did my first watch through 90's AJPW around 2003.

[Loss]

Was looking forward to your placement of Misawa vs. Kawada. Can't wait to get to that one as I havent seen it since I did my first watch through 90's AJPW around 2003.

It's a sad match. It's one thing to be a step down from their best years, but it's another to have a match that wasn't even enjoyable at all.

[Loss]

July:

 

#1 - Yoshiko Tamura vs Toshie Uematsu (GAEA 07/19/97) *****

#2 - El Hijo del Santo vs Felino (CMLL 07/04/97) ****1/2

#3 - El Hijo del Santo vs Felino (CMLL 07/25/97) ****1/4

#4 - Kiyoshi Tamura vs Bitsadze Tariel (RINGS 07/22/97) ****

#5 - Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Jim Neidhart & Brian Pillman vs Steve Austin, Goldust, Ken Shamrock & Legion of Doom (WWF Canadian Stampede 07/06/97) ****

#6 - Genichiro Tenryu vs Yoji Anjo (WAR 07/06/97) ***1/2

#7 - Juventud Guerrera, Hector Garza & Lizmark Jr. vs Psicosis, La Parka & Villano IV (WCW Bash at the Beach 07/13/97) ***1/2

#8 - Glacier & Ernest Miller vs Wrath & Mortis (WCW Bash at the Beach 07/13/97) ***1/4

#9 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Akira Taue (AJPW 07/25/97) ***1/4

#10 - Hulk Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs Lex Luger & The Giant (WCW Bash at the Beach 07/13/97) ***

#11 - Toshiyo Yamada vs Kaoru (GAEA 07/21/97) ***

#12 - Ric Flair & Chris Benoit vs Scott Hall & Kevin Nash (WCW Monday Nitro 07/22/97) ***

#13 - Taka Michinoku vs Great Sasuke (WWF Monday Night RAW 07/07/97) ***

#14 - Taka Michinoku vs Great Sasuke (WWF Canadian Stampede 07/06/97)

#15 - Steve Austin vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley (WWF Monday Night RAW 07/07/97)

#16 - Masato Tanaka, Tetsuhiro Kuroda & Koji Nakagawa vs W*ING Kanemura, Hideki Hosaka & Hido (W*ING 07/13/97)

#17 - Chris Jericho vs Alex Wright (WCW Monday Nitro 07/28/97)

#18 - Gedo & Jado vs Yoshihiro Taijiri & Ryuji Yamakawa (BJPW 07/31/97)

#19 - Bret Hart, Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith vs Steve Austin, Undertaker & Dude Love (WWF Monday Night RAW 07/21/97)

#20 - Genichiro Tenryu vs Tarzan Goto (WAR 07/06/97)

#21 - Steve Austin & Dude Love vs Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith (WWF Monday Night RAW 07/21/97)

 

1997 has really been an excellent combination of good wrestling and angles.

[Loss]

August:

 

#1 - Great Sasuke, Oriental, Tiger Mask IV & Naohiro Hoshikawa vs Mens Teoh, Dick Togo, Hanzo Nakajima & Shoichi Funaki (Michinoku Pro 08/17/97) ****1/2

#2 - Kazayuki Fujita vs Don Frye (NJPW 08/02/97) ****1/4

#3 - Jerry Lawler vs Tommy Dreamer (ECW Hardcore Heaven 08/17/97) ****1/4

#4 - Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda vs Tomoko Watanabe & Kumiko Maekawa (AJW 08/20/97) ****1/4

#5 - Terry Funk vs Sabu (ECW Born To Be Wired 08/09/97) ****1/4

#6 - Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue vs Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda (AJW 08/09/97) ****

#7 - Kenta Kobashi vs Hiroshi Hase (AJPW 08/26/97) ****

#8 - Owen Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF Summerslam 08/03/97) ***3/4

#9 - Shawn Michaels vs Mankind (WWF Monday Night RAW 08/11/97) ***3/4

#10 - Great Sasuke vs Dick Togo (Michinoku Pro 08/31/97)

#11 - Masayuki Naruse vs Christopher Haseman (RINGS 08/13/97) ***1/2

#12 - Shinya Hashimoto vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan (NJPW 08/10/97) ***1/2

#13 - Shinya Hashimoto vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/03/97) ***1/2

#14 - Terry Funk vs Sabu (ECW 08/08/97) ***1/2

#15 - Masato Tanaka vs W*ING Kanemura (FMW 08/02/97) ***1/2

#16 - Shinya Hashimoto vs Kazuo Yamazaki (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/01/97) ***1/2

#17 - Shinya Hashimoto vs Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW 08/31/97) ***1/4

#18 - Manami Toyota vs Kaoru Ito (AJW 08/09/97) ***1/4

#19 - PG-13 vs Dudley Boys (ECW Hardcore Heaven 08/17/97) ***

#20 - Manami Toyota vs Aja Kong (AJW 08/20/97) ***

#21 - Undertaker & Mankind vs Shawn Michaels & Hunter Hearst Helmsley (WWF Monday Night RAW 08/18/97) ***

#22 - Heavy Metal vs Sangre Chicana (AAA 08/20/97)

#23 - Jeff Jarrett & Eddy Guerrero vs Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael (WCW Monday Nitro 08/18/97)

#24 - Hulk Hogan vs Lex Luger (WCW Monday Nitro 08/04/97)

#25 - Terry Funk vs Shane Douglas (ECW Monaca, PA 08/02/97)

#26 - Reckless Youth vs Devon Storm (NWA 08/02/97)

#27 - Surge vs Cham Pain (OMEGA 08/02/97)

[Loss]

September:

 

#1 - El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (CMLL 09/19/97) *****

#2 - Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda vs Kaoru Ito & Tomoko Watanabe (AJW Rage in the Cage 09/21/97) ****3/4

#3 - Bret Hart vs The Undertaker (WWF One Night Only 09/20/97) ****1/2

#4 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Daisuke Ikeda (BattlARTS 09/01/97) ****1/4

#5 - Volk Han vs Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 09/26/97) ****1/4

#6 - Masato Tanaka vs The Gladiator (FMW 09/28/97) ****1/4

#7 - Shawn Michaels vs Davey Boy Smith (WWF One Night Only 09/20/97) ****1/4

#8 - Bret Hart vs Terry Funk (Wrestlefest 09/11/97) ****

#9 - Eddy Guerrero vs Chris Jericho (WCW Fall Brawl 09/14/97) ***3/4

#10 - Ultimo Dragon vs Alex Wright (WCW Fall Brawl 09/14/97) ***3/4

#11 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama (AJPW 09/06/97) ***1/2

#12 - Vader vs Owen Hart (WWF One Night Only 09/20/97) ***1/2

#13 - Cactus Jack vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley (WWF Monday Night RAW 09/22/97) ***1/2

#14 - Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki vs Kenta Kobashi & Maunakea Mossman (FMW 09/28/97) ***1/2

#15 - Jushin Liger, El Samurai & Wild Pegasus vs Chris Jericho, Koji Kanemoto & Dr. Wagner Jr. (NJPW 09/23/97) ***

#16 - Erin O'Grady vs Michael Modest (APW 09/19/97) ***

#17 - Bill Alfonso vs Beulah McGillicutty (ECW As Good As It Gets 09/20/97)

#18 - Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (WWF Ground Zero 09/07/97)

#19 - Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WCW Monday Nitro 09/08/97)

 

September isn't usually a strong month for great wrestling. This is a huge exception. Some of the booking problems that would plague a lot of companies are starting to creep in around this time, but the in-ring was as great as ever.

[soup23]

#17 - Bill Alfonso vs Beulah McGillicutty (ECW As Good As It Gets 09/20/97)

#18 - Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (WWF Ground Zero 09/07/97)

#19 - Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WCW Monday Nitro 09/08/97)

 

These three matches ranked in that order given the participants is laugh out loud funny.

[Loss]

October:

 

#1 - Bracito de Oro, Cicloncito Ramirez & Mascarita Magica vs Damiancito El Guerrero, El Fierito & Pierrothito (CMLL 10/03/97) *****

#2 - Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/26/97) ****1/2

#3 - Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker (WWF Bad Blood 10/05/97) ****1/2

#4 - Taka Michinoku vs Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro 10/10/97) ****1/4

#5 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 10/21/97) ****1/4

#6 - El Hijo del Santo vs Psicosis (Promo Azteca 10/03/97) ****

#7 - Lioness Asuka vs Jaguar Yokota (Jd' 10/22/97) ****

#8 - Akira Taue vs Johnny Ace (AJPW 10/21/97) ****

#9 - Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace (AJPW 10/11/97) ***3/4

#10 - Eddy Guerrero vs Chris Benoit (WCW Monday Nitro 10/20/97) ***3/4

#11 - Randy Savage vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/26/97) ***1/2

#12 - Chris Benoit vs Fit Finlay (WCW Monday Nitro 10/27/97) ***1/2

#13 - Hulk Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro 10/27/97) ***1/4

#14 - Dick Togo, Mens Teoh & Shoichi Funaki vs Super Delphin, Naohiro Hoshikawa & Masato Yakushiji (Michinoku Pro 10/10/97) ***

#15 - Toshiaki Kawada vs Yoshihiro Takayama (AJPW 10/21/97)

#16 - Fit Finlay vs Barry Houston (WCW Saturday Night 10/25/97)

#17 - Ian Rotten vs Axl Rotten (IWA Mid South 10/21/97)

[Loss]

November:

 

#1 - Tsuyoshi Kohsaka vs Mikhail Ilioukhine (RINGS 11/20/97) ****3/4

#2 - Great Sasuke & Super Delphin vs Mens Teoh & Shoichi Funaki (Michinoku Pro 11/09/97) ****1/2

#3 - Great Sasuke & Super Delphin vs Mens Teoh & Shoichi Funaki (Michinoku Pro 11/02/97) ****1/4

#4 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW Real World Tag League 11/28/97) ****

#5 - Genichiro Tenryu vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara (WAR 11/24/97) ****

#6 - Daisuke Ikeda vs Alexander Otsuka (BattlARTS 11/05/97) ****

#7 - Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (WWF Survivor Series 11/09/97) ***1/2

#8 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace (AJPW Real World Tag League 11/15/97) ***1/2

#9 - Hayabusa & Masato Tanaka vs Mr. Gannosuke & Yukihiro Kanemura (FMW 11/28/97) ***1/2

#10 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki (AJPW Real World Tag League 11/27/97) ***1/2

#11 - Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki (AJPW Real World Tag League 11/23/97) ***1/4

#12 - Mayumi Ozaki & Sugar Sato vs Kaoru & Toshiyo Yamada (GAEA 11/30/97) ***

#13 - Mikey Whipwreck & Spike Dudley vs Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon (ECW Elizabeth, NJ 11/01/97)

#14 - Dean Malenko vs Norman Smiley (WCW Worldwide 11/23/97)

#15 - Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace (AJPW Real World Tag League 11/27/97)

#16 - Wolfie D vs Flash Flanagan (Music City 11/24/97)

#17 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs El Dandy (WCW Saturday Night 11/29/97)

#18 - Hulk Hogan vs The Giant (WCW Monday Nitro 11/24/97)

[Loss]

December:

 

#1 - Kazushi Sakuraba vs Hiromitsu Kanehara (Kingdom 12/02/97) ****1/4

#2 - Atlantis vs Blue Panther (CMLL 12/05/97) ****1/4

#3 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW Real World Tag League 12/05/97) ****

#4 - Kazushi Sakuraba vs Hiromitsu Kanehara (Kingdom 12/08/97) ***1/2

#5 - Shawn Michaels vs Owen Hart (WWF Monday Night RAW 12/29/97) ***1/2

#6 - Rey Misterio Jr. & Juventud Guerrera vs La Parka & Psicosis (WCW Monday Nitro 12/15/97) ***1/2

#7 - Taka Michinoku vs Shoichi Funaki (Michinoku Pro 12/18/97) ***1/2

#8 - Hayabusa, Jinsei Shinzaki & Masato Tanaka vs Atsushi Onita, Mr. Gannosuke & Yukihiro Kanemura (FMW 12/22/97) ***1/2

#9 - Wolfie D vs Flash Flanagan (Music City Wrestling 12/25/97) ***1/2

#10 - Akira Maeda vs Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 12/23/97) ***

#11 - Jushin Liger & El Samurai vs Koji Kanemoto & Tatsuhito Takaiwa (NJPW 12/08/97)

#12 - Steven Regal vs Fit Finlay (WCW Main Event 12/20/97)

#13 - Hulk Hogan vs Sting (WCW Monday Nitro 12/29/97)

#14 - Eric Bischoff vs Larry Zbyszko (WCW Starrcade 12/28/97)

#15 - Hulk Hogan vs Sting (WCW Starrcade 12/28/97)

#16 - Shawn Michaels vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley (WWF Monday Night RAW 12/22/97)

[JKWebb]

I am already rolling through 1997.  It's the year I remember that truly made me a wrestling fan for life.  I think I drifted away and only checked in from time to time after WM7 at some point, but by this point I was full force back into everything.  Like most everyone around me at the time, it was Nitro that was driving that fandom.  That really hasn't changed, as I have been enjoying WCW more than anything else on the YBs.  That being said, my first MOTM is:  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 01/20/97).  I'm sure it will be my MOTY as well, as I do think it is the GOAT contender along with Clash 6 and maybe a few others (Hennig/Bock & 6-9-95 come to mind). 

Jan. Favorites:

1.  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 01/20/97)

2.  Riki Choshu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW Tokyo Dome 01/04/97)

3.  Eddy Guerrero vs Syxx (NWO Souled Out 01/25/97)

4.  Ultimo Dragon vs Dean Malenko (WCW Clash of the Champions XXXIV 01/21/97)

Jan. is great -- You get the DDP/NWO angle, The Randy Savage Return, the Randy Anderson firing -- lots of great moments.  

I haven't completed Feb. yet.  I'm currently at the ECW Invasion of RAW and LOD just debuted. 

Feb . Favorites:

1.  I was higher on this than the Otani match:  Jushin Liger vs Koji Kanemoto (NJPW 02/16/97)

2.  Eddy Guerrero & Chris Jericho vs Meng & Barbarian (WCW Monday Nitro 02/24/97)

I'm up to April, and I haven't really been tracking my viewing or anything, but the best match in March is obviously Austin vs. Hart from 13.  Between Austin/Hart, Sting, the NWO, DDP/Savage & tons of great wrestling - as anticipated, the year that made me a fan for life will probably end up being my favorite Yearbook.  The Sting segments are my favorite thing in wrestling, and they truly are my fondest memories as a fan of wrestling period.  Austin is my favorite promo, but Bret Hart is really at his best here too.  I love the direction Hart has taken by this point.  I think my favorite feud at the moment as we get into April is DDP and Savage.  As anticipated -- really enjoying the cruiserweight action in WCW - the Dean/Eddie match is probably a little underrated.  Pumped to continue on through this year and on through 1999.

Austin & Hart are the best thing going in April.  Just incredible stuff.  My favorite matches in April:

1.  El Hijo del Santo, Felino, Black Warrior, Silver King, Dr. Wagner Jr., Satanico, Kevin Quinn & Scorpio Jr. vs Ultimo Dragon, Atlantis, Negro Casas, El Dandy, Shocker, Mascara Magica, La Fiera & Brazo de Oro (CMLL 04/18/97)

2.  Randy Savage vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Spring Stampede 04/06/97)

3.  Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF Revenge of the Taker 04/20/97

4.  Shinya Hashimoto vs Naoya Ogawa (NJPW Battle Formation 04/12/97)

I think Hashimoto is my favorite discovery from the yearbooks.  I just never really dove into Hash until I started going through the years.  Each year he rises on the charts as one of my favorites to watch.

May Favorites:

1.  Ric Flair, Roddy Piper & Kevin Greene vs Scott Hall, Kevin Nash & Syxx (WCW Slamboree 05/18/97) - This is a ton of fun

2.  Hidden Gem for me, because I don't think I had seen this before surprisingly:  Vader vs Ken Shamrock (WWF Cold Day In Hell 05/12/97)

3.  The Eliminators vs Tracy Smothers & Little Guido (ECW Trenton, NJ 05/03/97) - LOVE

4.  Hayabusa, Ricky Fuji & Ricky Morton vs Mike Awesome, Hisakatsu Oya & Mr. Gannosuke (FMW 05/13/97); so cool seeing Morton here

5.  Steven Regal vs Ultimo Dragon (WCW Slamboree 05/18/97)

6.  Shinya Hashimoto vs Naoya Ogawa (NJPW 05/03/97

June: 

It has been a while since I have watched some of this, and there may be some of it that I have never seen.  In 1997, I was definitely WCW first.  However, I typically did try to catch the West Coast RAW feed after Nitro ended.  Plus the many years of tape/DVD collecting, 24/7, and now the Network.... That being said, I don't think I realized how much I love Bret Hart in 1997.  I would say my peak Bret Hart fandom was probably around the time Wrestling with Shadows came out, and I was big into going back and watching his matches etc..., but he is just at his best by this point.  Heel Bret Hart 4-life.  I don't know if it is the matches, or if it is just me, but I'm not connecting with NJPW and All Japan by this point in the YB in the ways I have in the previous YBs.  Not sure what is up with that, but I do find I want to just get to the Nitro/Raw segments.  I prefer emotional investment in wrestling over anything else, which is why Randy Savage is my favorite (because I think he was the best at pulling you in to any match or moment).  By this point in 1997, I'm mostly getting that from WWF and WCW.  We'll see how it shakes out as the year goes on...

June MOTM:  Randy Savage vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Great American Bash 06/15/97)

July:

MOTM:  Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Jim Neidhart & Brian Pillman vs Steve Austin, Goldust, Ken Shamrock & Legion of Doom (WWF Canadian Stampede 07/06/97)

Runner-Up -- Glacier & Ernest Miller vs Wrath & Mortis (WCW Bash at the Beach 07/13/97) - This match really came at me out of nowhere!  What an awesome/fun tag match that I'd consider a Hidden Gem.  Go back and revisit this one if you haven't seen it years, or go see it for the first time.  Bash at the Beach 1997 is a super fun show. Canadian Stampede only had 2 matches on the YB, but I remember the last time I watched it thinking it was really good top-to-bottom.  The BATB and Stampede PPV combo from the big 2 make a really good one-two punch for the big two in July. 

Hulk Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs Lex Luger & The Giant (WCW Bash at the Beach 07/13/97) - Such a fun match.  Rodman really does well executing as a heel.  Luger and Hogan are fantastic in this.  One of the better celebrity type matches out there. 

August 1997:

I would say August is where Shawn Michaels really turns up his game from a character standpoint.  His first solo interaction with Slaughter just shows how obnoxious he could really be in an entreating way.  You get to see where DX and their attitude starts to come from.  This YB has been pretty interesting, because I'd say for the two major promotions, they are really on fire, but in comparison to 1996 I haven't been enjoying the other promotions as much.  We'll see how that goes as the year goes on.   This era of Sting is such a great memory for me as a fan.  JJ offer him Hogan! JJ is so funny acting like "Why doesn't he want to face Syxx?" ha - good stuff.  It was such a fun time and storyline that grabbed fans like no other.  Sting is WOTY contender without even ever wrestling.  Also, really cool that right at the time Shawn Michaels/DX stuff is starting to kick off, you are getting The Rock in the NOD.  Really looking forward to getting into this era again like this, as it has been a while since I watched the TV outside of highlights.

MOTM:  Hulk Hogan vs Lex Luger (WCW Monday Nitro 08/04/97)

Also, ECW is firing back up as far as my interest level too.  My second favorite match of the month would be the Dreamer/Lawler match. 

September 1997:

I love the 9/22/1997 Episode of Nitro.  It's really cool to see Goldberg's debut, and I remember watching it live.  I love how there was literally no hype and he just walked on as this bad ass and started destroying folks.  Great look - ended the match saying "there's number 1" (or something like that).  Is it crazy I enjoyed that match more than a match considered an all-timer at One Night Only? ha, probably - but, that's how I feel.  But, I did love the Bulldog/HBK match, but most memorably for the heat HBK gets at the end and the moments that close the show.  But, back to Nitro - the first survey - Hall was great during this time, this would become one of the most nostalgic routines of Nitro.  After he completes the survey he hands the mic over to Syxx to complete the 4-Life crowd interaction - much like the eventual DX would lift from them as far as some of the structure to how their routine would work too.  DX was great too, and it seems they did get a lot of their ideas from Scott Hall, Nash & Syxx.  I know I've heard them say they loved seeing each other on top on both channels having a ton of fun. NWO parodying the Horsemen is one of the funniest things in wrestling history.  Wrestling tried to duplicate it many times, but this was best of those IMO.  September is pretty huge with the Austin stunner on Vince too.  What a moment. 

Favorite September Matches:

1.  El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (CMLL 09/19/97)

2.  Bill Alfonso vs Beulah McGillicutty (ECW As Good As It Gets 09/20/97)/Tommy Dreamer/RVD/Sabu - all the craziness

3.  Eddy Guerrero vs Chris Jericho (WCW Fall Brawl 09/14/97)

4.  One Night Only:  HBK/Bulldog

5.  One Night Only:  Taker/Hart

6.  Cactus Jack vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley (WWF Monday Night RAW 09/22/97) - great moment

Honorable Mention to Goldberg's Debut which I thought was perfect.  September was loaded.  Oh, and New Jack was diving off balconies too. 

October of 1997 is insane.  In any other year, you would have two matches of the year with Undertaker/HBK HIAC and Rey vs. Eddie G...  The Halloween Havoc DDP/Savage match is my favorite of their three (which is one of my favorite feuds ever).. Sting/Hogan is building... DX debuts their name... You get ANOTHER Misawa/Kobashi classic... DDP & Hogan have a Nitro Classic... I don't think I have ever watched a month in a YB faster - true binge watching.  Shawn Michaels is has truly hit one of his best personas by this point, what a heel.  This will be a heard year to pick a wrestler of the year.  WCW will be the brand of the year, and I really don't think it's even close... but, oddly enough I think I'll be choosing between 3 WWF guys for WOTY.  Austin, Hart & HBK.  Sting is clearly the hottest thing in wrestling in 1997, but he hasn't wrestled any matches.  Hogan has been off the charts as a heel, but the three WWF guys have all upped their game and had some all-timer matches within the year.  Easy to see why 1997 is my favorite year in wrestling compounded with my nostalgia for this timeframe. 

October Favorite Matches:

1.  Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker (HIAC) - For my money, this is the Shawn Michaels career performance.  I go back and forth between this match and Sting vs. Vader @ Starrcade 1992 as my personal favorite matches of all time.  It might be this one just because of the nostalgia I hold to the era, but usually it's whichever I have watched most recently at the time.  It's hard for me to say Misawa and Kobashi is the MOTY with the love I have for this match, but that's kinda how it was for me in 90 with Luger/Flair vs. El Dandy/Satanico.  Anyways -

2.  Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Eddie Guerrero - Halloween Havoc - one of my favorite matches of all time as well, and a really great memory for me watching it live with tons of friends from High-School back in the day.  It's probably my most memorable WCW PPV event from the time, as so many of friends were so into it and it ended up being a better show than Starrcade.  This is also my son's favorite match of all-time and I get to watch him reenact weekly. 

3.  DDP vs. Randy Savage - This is my favorite of the Savage/DDP feud.  Spring Stampede has the best finish, GAB might be best all round because I like the match better than SS and the finish isn't as lame as the Halloween Havoc match, but DDP selling the ribs and the near falls towards the finish of the Havoc match simply make it the most enjoyable and exhilarating of the three. 

4.  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 10/21/97)

5.  Hulk Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro 10/27/97) - It's matches like this that make you wonder if Hogan is the WOTY in 1997.  This is one of the best matches in Nitro history and is in the conversation for best Hollywood Hogan match.  These guys GO.  Also, DDP is a WOTY contender too -- thinking of this match and his feud with Savage - 1997 is the best. 

I only saw the second half of the match, but that Steiners vs. Syxx/Hall match where Steiners win the tag titles was rocking!  I want to go back and watch it in full when I have time.   Oh, and Jeff Jarrett returning to WWF... not good... lame... awful.

November 1997

Bret Hart may end up my WOTY.  He had the greatest match in WWF history at WM, it's my favorite era of Bret Hart as far as promos/personality go, Canadian Stampede, his match with Shawn at Survivor Series, Wrestling with Shadows, then showing up to "save the day" in WCWs hottest angle ever.  Hogan has been the ultimate heel, while Sting has been the ultimate hero without even wrestling a match until December.  Austin is on fire, but he has also had some breaks from wrestling and earlier in the year was still going into his character some (would probably be my second choice).  I think DDP is also in the conversation because of his feud with Savage, match with Hogan, and overall year.  But, I think ultimately I think it could be Bret.  I mentioned matches and moments, but consistently in the ring he is one of the best in the world all year.  HBK had some breaks in wrestling too, but his second half of the year has been really great as well. Watching the footage from Wrestling with Shadows makes we want go back and watch the entire documentary.  I loved it when it was originally released.  Misawa is always a candidate...

Favorite Matches of Nov:

1.  Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW Real World Tag League 11/27/97) - MOTCY - Akiyama is sooo good in this match. 

2.  Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (WWF Survivor Series 11/09/97)

3.  Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki

4.  Rey Misterio Jr. vs El Dandy (WCW Saturday Night 11/29/97)

Watching the original footage from 1997 is key.  Especially for Hollywood Hogan and ECW.  Hendrix, Metallica, Ice Cube -- It's all such a huge part of the crowd reaction and feeling.  If you watch Hogan's intro on the Network, they typically play the generic NWO song and the crowd noise is muffled -- same in ECW - it's always generic.  I can't imagine watching One Night Stand on the Network when Sandman makes his entrance -- Honestly, I feel the same way about World Class and some of the other promotions - I just want the original music and crowd reaction.  Something going through all the footage outside the Network that has really been validated for me....Plus, some of the things on Raw I believe have been edited out of the Network versions...

December Favorites: 

1.  Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW Real World Tag League 12/05/97) - Akiyama has been so awesome to watch in 1997, one of my favorites -- really all of these guys.  Misawa is always a wrestler of the year contender, and as I look back throughout the year - He's the best in the world.  I thought I was going to go with Bret or Austin, and I do think one of them would be my US WOTY, but looking at the full year Misawa is the man.  WCW feels like the hottest promotion to me, and I think Hogan was the perfect heel for the time, DDP was the breakout star, Luger was fun, and Sting was the perfect face and best storyline, but they didn't have one person that was doing it all at the level of Misawa.  Austin would be most charismatic of the year, and I have a feeling he could be my choice for 1998. 

2.  Kazushi Sakuraba vs Hiromitsu Kanehara (Kingdom 12/08/97)

3.  Atlantis vs Blue Panther (CMLL 12/05/97)

4.  Rey Misterio Jr. & Juventud Guerrera vs La Parka & Psicosis (WCW Monday Nitro 12/15/97)

5.  Steve Austin vs. The Rock @ DX -- The crowd was on fire for Austin.  Was great to see these two in their first PPV meeting. 

6.  Steven Regal vs Fit Finlay (WCW Main Event 12/20/97)

7.  Kazushi Sakuraba vs Hiromitsu Kanehara (Kingdom 12/08/97)

8.  Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart - Raw 12/28

-- Shawn Michaels vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley (WWF Monday Night RAW 12/22/97) - Ha, I don't how to rank this.  It's more of segment than match, but it's still really funny to me.  This era of DX was really great.  Rock and Austin are both on fire by this point too. 

- This had more energy and was solid way to end Nitro had they just let Sting win and move on -- Hulk Hogan vs Sting (WCW Starrcade 12/28/97)

WCW had Starrcade 1997, their biggest PPV ever with over 700k PPV buys.  The main event is all that really mattered, and I remember watching it live.  That night, we were all just happy Sting won.  I remember celebrating with my friends at the time.  Nick Patrick says Hogan told him to do a "nice slow count," and Sting told him to do a "fast count."  He said there were both top guys so he didn't know what to do and decided to go with a "WWF Count" at the time, which he states is just little bit faster than the "WCW Count" ha.  Anyway, it didn't look like a fast count but Bret restarted and Sting got the belt. 

Bret gets to where he should be by the end of 97.  He started off in an odd way referring the EB match, but he corrects the "fast" count and cuts a promo on the following Nitro stating he's there to face Hogan and looks forward to wrestling pros like Sting etc...

1997 was a great year to be a wrestling fan.  The year holds up as my all-time favorite with great matches, moments, and tons of nostalgia. 

[JKWebb]

Here's how 1997 shook out for me as far as my favorites and in comparison to prior years:

YB Rankings:

1.  1997

2.  1996

3.  1991

4.  1990

5.  1992

6.  1995

7.  1994

8.  1993

Promotion of the Year 1997:  WCW

1996:  WCW

1995:  ECW

1994:  WCW

1993:  All Japan

1992.  WWF

1991:  WWF

1990:  All Japan

Wrestler of the Year 1997:   Mitsuharu Misawa

1996:  Rey Mysterio Jr.

1995:  Mitsuharu Misawa

1994:  Vader

1993:  Kenta Kobashi

1992:  Randy Savage

1991:  Randy Savage

1990:  Mitsuharu MIsawa

Match of the Year 1997:  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 01/20/97)

1996:  Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 12/06/96)

1995:  Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 06/09/95)

1994:  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 06/03/94)

1993:  Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi - 7-29-1993

1992:  Sting vs. Vader from Starrcade 1992

1991:  Warrior vs. Savage WM7

1990:  El Dandy vs. El Satanico - 12/14/1990

Top 7 of 1997:

1.  Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 01/20/97)

2.  Steve Austin vs.  Bret Hart (WM 13)

3.  Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker (1st Hell in a Cell)

4.  Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero - Halloween Havoc

5.  Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW Real World Tag League 11/27/97)

6.  Canadian Stampede Tag Main Event

7.  I loved the DDP/Savage Feud - Halloween Havoc is my personal favorite of the bunch...

Hulk Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro 10/27/97) was probably my favorite US TV match of the year between Raw and Nitro....That, or Luger/Hogan.