Superstar Sleeze Posted January 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Damnit, I never finished that 1998 WCW main event in review. New Year's Resolution tie up loose strings! Staring the New Year off with a six part series looking back on the WWE 2014. The 25 matches come from me scouring the internet's top ten and top 25 such as Wrestling Culture's 2014 Year in Review (all three seemed to be unanimous that Shield/Wyatts from Elimination Chamber was the top WWE match of the year). I am starting the series off looking at the straw that stirs the drink, John Cena. In my opinion, I thought Cena has a bit of a down year. Only Cena could win the title and arguably have the two biggest matches of the year and have it feel like a down year. Seriously, I think Cena usually has more quality gems throughout his year. This year he had the Lesnar matches and the Cesaro TV match and everything sort of falls off a cliff quality wise. That being said I loved, loved the Brock matches. Here are the short match reviews and for the longer match reviews click the link. Match Listing: John Cena vs Cesaro w/Real Americans - RAW 2/17/14 ****1/4 Cesaro strength showcase, but Cena fights from underneath to give this a sense of struggle. John Cena vs Bray Wyatt - WWE Payback 2014 Last Man Standing ***1/2 Fun summer blockbuster, but not enough hate and transitions too capricious, forgettable WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs Brock Lesnar - WWE Summerslam 2014 Lopsided destruction. Amazing Brock heel performance, Cena's selling off the charts good WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar vs John Cena WWE Night of Champions 2014 ****1/2 Cena avoids early F-5 & just keeps coming. His unbreakable will carries him. Brock's reactions are perfect. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/01/do-you-see-what-i-see-john-cenas-2014.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 Fuck, I have already fallen behind again. Here are two new blog entries: The first looks back at the four most prominent matches involving the Shield from 2014. I have updated my rating to Shield vs Wyatt Elimination Chamber because I think it is a great storyline-driven match that also has hard-hitting action with a sense of struggle to it. It is my current match of the year for the WWE. Having seen Styles vs Suzuki, as much of a Styles as I am, I think it does not have a hook quite as good as this match. Plenty of matches left to watch, but I think Shield/Wyatts passed its biggest test: Match Listing: The Shield vs Wyatt Family - WWE Elimination Chamber 2014 ****1/2 Front-runner for MOTY. Wyatts exploit chaos and numbers to fight with fire The Shield vs Wyatt Family - WWE RAW 3/3/14 ****1/4 Urgency and hatred. Feels like a nasty All-Japan six-man from the 90s The Shield vs Evolution - WWE Extreme Rules 2014 **** Ambrose Swarms, Rollins Dives, and Superman Punches Dean Ambrose vs Seth Rollins - WWE RAW 8/18/14 Falls Count Anywhere ****1/4 Disappointing feud delivers one great, heated brawl between WWE's top young talent http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/01/do-you-believe-in-life-after-shield.html So I wrote all those reviews for Ditch's project 00s Japan project, but I never complied them into my blog. So this look at the junior heavyweight matches from 2005-2006 with a special spotlight on KENTA from a positive perspective sinces these were the years he had really great matches with SUWA and Danielson. Match Listing: Gedo & Jado vs Koji Kanemoto & Wataru Inoue - NJPW 3/4/05 Bloodbath. The beating on Wataru is the hook, but goes too long and hot tag is not satisfying. NOAH (Mitsuharu Misawa & Kotaro Suzuki) vs. Z-1 (Shinjiro Otani & Tatushito Takaiwa) Honestly don't remember one memorable spot. Boring. GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion KENTA vs SUWA - Budokan 09/18/05 ****1/2 Classic, classic babyface versus heel match. Master class in heel heat and babyface comeback. #16 out of 100 - Must Watch AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shuji Kondo vs AKIRA - AJPW 1/8/06 Fun American-style bullshit with interference and cool spots. Kondo is a great powerhouse AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shuji Kondo vs. Kaz Hayashi - Sumo Hall 8/27/06 ***3/4 Flawless, marvelous offensive execution. Weak on selling, transitions and story. KENTA vs Bryan Danielson - NOAH 12/02/06 ****1/2 Home Run Blows against slow & steady offense, makes for a cool clash of strategies. #24 of 100 -Must Watch http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2014/08/kenta-speeds-at-night-kenta-suwa-daniel.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted January 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 Saw AJ Styles last night at XWA in Rhode Island and he delivered a badass performance. It never once felt like he was going through the motions and the match offered way more twists and turns than expected. Shoutouts also to Paul London for giving a ton of effort and looking great and Biff Busick executing one of the best damn fired up comebacks I have seen live in quite some time. Busick seems like the real deal. I hope to have a full review up on the XWA show soon. Here are two blogs looking back at 2014 aka the Year of AJ: First one focuses on AJ's indy work. Match Listing: AJ Styles vs Chris Hero - ROH 3/22/14 Slobberknocker. Hero's head shots against AJ's survival tactics. Match of the Year Candidate AJ Styles vs Kyle O' Reilly - ROH 8/22/14 O'Reilly tries to bring AJ's arm home with him. AJ builds to Styles Clash perfectly. GREAT finish! AJ Styles vs Kevin Steen - House of Hardcore V August 2014 A Steen comedy match. Avoid. HOG Heavyweight Champion Ricochet vs AJ Styles - HOG 12/19/14 A little all over the place, but really good home stretch until bullshit finish. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/01/aj-styles-alive-aj-styles-us-indies-2014.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second one focuses on his Phenomenal G-1 Climax Match Listing: IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles vs Kazuchika Okada - G-1 Climax Day 1 2014 **** AJ as a awesome trash talking heel. Does Okada have a counter for Styles Clash? IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles vs Tetsuya Naito - G-1 Climax 2014 Day 2 ****1/4 AJ as a sadistic heel as Naito bleeds for our enjoyment IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles vs Minoru Suzuki - G-1 Climax Day 7 ****3/4 Best match of the year? AJ Styles proves himself to New Japan fans and fans worldwide IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles vs Hiroshi Tanahashi G-1 Climax 2014 Consolation Prize Good first encounter that sets up the big championship bout up really well http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/01/year-of-aj-aj-styles-njpw-2014.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted January 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Finally PWO, you get original content by clicking on the Riding Space Mountain Blog. I review XWA's Xtreme Rumble 2015 from January 17, 2015 in West Warwick, RI, which I attended in living color. Inside, you get the scoop that Pro Wrestling is being Saved!!! Callooh! Callay! By JT Dunn??? Who? He uses a Canadian Destroyer. Trying to keep an open mind. Paul London still has it. Damn, I want to see an AJ Styles vs Paul London match sometime this year. Tommaso Ciampa should be on The Bachelor. AJ Styles does not care whether it the Tokyo Dome or the West Warwick Civic Center. He is going to tear the house down!http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/01/xwa-xtreme-rumble-15-aj-styles-rules.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted January 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Due to the winter storm, I have been delayed in getting to Philly, but I will be there tomorrow BABY live in living color! Here are three blogs looking at my viewings of Best of Japan 2000s project: Best of All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2005-2009: Match Listing: AJPW Triple Crown Champion Toshiaki Kawada vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 02/16/05 ***1/2 Kawada chokes huge. The Kojima Era begins. Pretty good "epic" title change AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shuji Kondo vs AKIRA - AJPW 1/8/06 Fun American-style bullshit with interference and cool spots. Kondo is a great powerhouse AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shuji Kondo vs. Kaz Hayashi - Sumo Hall 8/27/06 ***3/4 Flawless, marvelous offensive execution. Weak on selling, transitions and story. All Japan Jr. Hvywt Champion Shuji Kondo vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - AJPW 2/17/07 ****1/2 #47 out of 100 - Must Watch Awesome chess battle it is Kondo's strength against Nakajima's strategy. Nakajima battles neck injury. AJPW TRIPLE Crown Champion Minoru Suzuki vs Keiji Mutoh - AJPW 07/01/07 ****1/4 #68 out of 100 - Recommended A flawed match, but a terrific Minoru Suzuki performance carries the day. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Suwama - AJPW Champions Carnival 2008 ****1/4 #60 out 100 - Recommended Hiroshi Flair vs Lex Suwama is tons of fun AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion Naomichi Marufuji vs Shuji Kondo - AJPW 11/03/08 Waste of time, which is a shame since I like Kondo a lot AJPW TRIPLE Crown Champion Yoshihiro Takayama vs Suwama - AJPW 08/30/09 **** #90 out 100 - Recommended Two big muthafuckas kicking each other's faces in. Sign me up! AJPW Triple Crown Champ Yoshihiro Takayama vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 09/26/06 It is the Suwama match except with Kojima, so it is mediocre. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/01/best-of-all-japan-yoshihiro-takayama.html-------------------------------------------------------------- Best of Kenta Kobashi's Return to Pro Wrestling NOAH (2007-2008) Match Listing: GHC Tag Team Champions Akiyama & Rikio vs. Takayama & Sugiura - Budokan 4/28/07 ***1/2 Don't remember much about this match. It was a pretty good standard NOAH tag match. GHC Heavyweight Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Takuma Sano - Budokan 4/28/07 **** #94 out of 100 Roundhouse Kick vs Emerald Elbow and it is one helluva fight. Last great Misawa match Kobashi & Takayama vs Misawa & Akiyama - Budokan 12/02/07 ****1/2 #29 out of 100 Most emotional match of the decade. Throwback to 90s All Japan. Great Kobashi performance Kobashi, Honda, Taniguchi vs. Morishima, Marufuji, Sugiura - NOAH 2/21/08 ****1/4 #42 of 100 Great chippy young upstart vs veteran tag. Felt like Jumbo & Co. vs Misawa & Co. Kobashi, Honda, KENTA vs Takayama, Sano, Aoki Budokan 3/2/08 ***3/4 Kobashi looks vulnerable as KENTA bats clean up. Needed stronger heel work. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/01/noah-is-burning-for-kobashi-kenta.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Best of New Japan Pro Wrestling, 2000-2002 Part 2 Match Listing: Masahiro Chono vs Masanobu Fuchi - AJPW 9/02/00 Two old bastards trying to out cheat each other, but emphasis is on "old", unfortunately Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Yuji Nagata & Takahashi Iizuka This sucked. Toshiaki Kawada vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan - IWGP Championship Semi-Finals Tokyo Dome 01/04/01 Kawada drags a good match out of Tenzan Kensuke Sasaki vs Toshiaki Kawada - IWGP Championship FINALS Tokyo Dome 01/04/01**** #85 out of 100 Awesome, power sprint. These guys had awesome chemistry with each other. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Mike Barton & Jim Steele - G-1 Tag Climax FINALS '01 Basic, fundamental tag team match. Very average. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yuji Nagata vs Kensuke Sasaki - NJPW 6/7/02 Power vs submission. Disappointing. Masahiro Chono vs Yoshihiro Takayama - 2002 G-1 Climax Finals Takayama dragged a great, dramatic match out of old man Chono. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yuji Nagata vs Kazunari Murakami - NJPW 12/12/02 ****3/4 #15 out of 100 Amazing, exciting shoot-style fight. Badass Murakami heel performance. Badass Nagata face performance http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/01/war-ensemble-satoshi-kojima-hiroyoshi.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted February 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Slacking again. I write these posts, but if no one reads them what is the point? Well I do play to that Audience of One! The winner of the first ever pro wrestling internet podcast trivia challenger, BRAINBUSTER!, presents the following two blogs: In Owner of the Biggest Heart, I like at Daniel Bryan's unfortunately abbreviated 2014 campaign and just how emotionally moving I found it. It is an incredible story of hope that is inspiring and it is tough to think of anything that emotionally moving as the moment of Bryan winning the title at Wrestlemania since Eddie won at No Way Out 2004. Match Listing: Daniel Bryan vs Bray Wyatt - Royal Rumble 2014 **** Great Bray Wyatt performance. Action-packed. Lacking interesting story or hook. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs John Cena vs Daniel Bryan vs Cesaro vs Sheamus vs Christian - WWE Elimination Chamber 2014 **** Great beginning and work by the mid-carders especially Christian. Finish stretch was pretty lame. Daniel Bryan vs Triple H w/Stephanie McMahon - Wrestlemania XXX ***** Ultimate feel-good story. Both of them made each other work for every inch. Flawless. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs Batista vs Daniel Bryan Wrestlemania XXX **** The Happy Ending. Fun Attitude Era style brawl with great crazy hijinx. Awesome finish. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/01/owner-of-biggest-heart-daniel-bryan-wwe.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- In Rabbit Fighter: A Look At The State of Japanese Junior Heavyweights in 2007, I begin with in depth review of my experience at Beyond Wrestling in Providence, RI featuring Chris Hero/JT Dunn against BIff Busick/Drew Gulak on top. Believe the hype! Biff Busick is the real deal! BIFF! BIFF! BIFF! BIFF! BIFF! BIFF! BIFF! BIFF! BIFF! Match Listing: GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champions Briscoes vs. Kotaro Suzuki & Ricky Marvin - NOAH 1/21/07 Worst Japanese match of the decade and one of the worst matches I have ever seen. All Japan Jr. Hvywt Champion Shuji Kondo vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - AJPW 2/17/07 ****1/2 #48 out of 100 - Must Watch Incredible strategical wrestling. Nakajima attacks arm, but injures his neck. Switches gears to use headshots to stay in the match. Kondo is the best junior powerhouse of the decade. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Minoru Tanaka vs Ryusuke Taguchi - NJPW 07/06/07 ***1/4 Minoru Tanaka is a great arrogant heel. The Funky Weapon is pretty bland. They drop arm psychology. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori vs Naomichi Marufuji & Kota Ibushi - Budokan 7/15/07 **** #91 out of 100 Great juniors spotfest. Better than most Dragon Gate/Toryumon matches. Great eye-candy Bryan Danielson vs Go Shiozaki - ROH In Tokyo 7/16/07 ***1/2 Exhibition of what makes Danielson great offensively. Shiozaki is bland in this contest. Great Sasuke vs Ultimo Dragon - M-Pro 8/30/07 ***3/4 Sasuke wrestling at a high level, but Dragon is too spotty in this great junior bout. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/02/rabbit-fighter-shuji-kondo-katsuhiko.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted February 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 I have a pair of blogs continuing my look at 2014 pro wrestling centering on All Japan's recent resurgence in high-end match quality and Kazuchika Okada's run in 2014. In the 2014 All Japan, you get a bonus review and thoughts on the career of the smoking hot and very talented Charli XCX before I dive into some roster analysis and finally match analysis. Main conclusions: Akiyama is still freakishly awesome at wrestling, was the best offensive wrestler in the world last year and as long as everything is run through him they be no worse than good. I think Miyahara is a really bright young prospect maybe the best in all of Japan, but Go Shiozaki leaves a lot to be desired. Match Lisitng: Jun Akiyama vs Takao Omori - AJPW 6/15/2014 Vacant Triple Crown Championship ***1/2 Kawada/Kojima II. Cant believe Akiyama choked. Akiyama offense great. Omori Jun Akiyama vs Kento Miyahara - AJPW 9/15/14 **** Superb finish. Great veteran vs rookie match. Too many momentum shifts Go Shiozaki vs Suwama - AJPW 9/15/14 Royal Road Tournament ****1/4 Best use of the sleeper. Suwama on point with cutoff and selling. Go Shiozaki needs to add emotion Wild Burning (Akiyama & Omori) vs. Xceed (Shiozaki & Miyahara) -AJPW 12/6/14 ****1/2 Akiyama/Miyahara story rules all. Feels like Jumbo/Misawa of this generation. Exciting AJPW Triple Crown Champion Joe Doering vs Go Shiozaki - AJPW 01/03/15 **** Doering's urgency engages while Shiozaki's disinterest hurts this. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/02/break-rules-jun-akiyama-go-shiozaki-all.html -------------------------------------------------------------In It's Raining Dropkicks, Kazuchika Okada is bringing the dropkick back and really started to dig how he worked into matches like a more high-risk, but just as impactful version of the Misawa's elbow. I still think he needs to demonstrate that he is actually invested in the match outcome, but he is an enjoyable worker when he is making that connection and his actions seem urgent. He does have a tenedency to coast by on his natural athleticism and just let great workers be great around him rather than adding to the match. Match Listing: IWGP Champion Okada vs NEVER Champion Tetsuya Naito - NJPW 01/04/14 Tokyo Dome Boring. Dropkicks galore. Just does not seem to go anywhere. Avoid IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada vs IWGP Jr Hvywt Champion Kota Ibushi - NJPW 3/6/14 Ibushi the overachieving underdog up against the increasingly frustrated Okada. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs AJ Styles - NJPW 5/3/14 Great AJ heel performance switching from outside interference to knee psychology. BULLET CLUB! IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles vs Kazuchika Okada - G-1 Climax Day 1 2014 AJ as a awesome trash talking heel. Does Okada have a counter for Styles Clash? Kazuchika Okada vs Minoru Suzuki - NJPW G-1 Climax 8/8/14 Minoru Suzuki rules the school, while Okada just doesn't meet him at that level. Kazuchika Okada vs Shinsuke Nakamura - NJPW G-1 Climax Finals 8/10/14 Okada's dropkicks & heart vs. Nakamura's counterwrestling & knees. Epic War! http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/02/its-raining-dropkicks-kazuchika-okada.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted February 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Now, I am all caught up on advertising my blog pieces: The first looks at the Best of Pro Wrestling NOAH from 2000-2002 with links to all major matches during the years even if they are not in the main blog. I love Kobashi's run on top, but these may be my favorite years from NOAH. It felt fresh from All Japan with a different look, some new characters and some wrinkles in match length here and there. The Akiyama push out of the gate beating Misawa and Taue on the same night and then drilling Kobashi after match and then the following match choking Kobashi out just set the tone. Ultimately, it grew lethargic, but those first couple years were just plain awesome. Kenta Kobashi, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Takeshi Rikio vs. Jun Akiyama, Yoshihiro Takayama, Kentaro Shiga - NOAH 9/25/00 ***1/4 Standard fun NOAH six-man. Kikuchi stands out from the pack. Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa vs Hashimoto & Alexander Otsuka - NOAH 1/13/01 ***1/2 It is Hashimoto vs Misawa. If that is not must-see, I don't know what is. Rat Boy is badass per usual. Kenta Kobashi & Akira Taue vs Jun Akiyama & Vader - NOAH 1/13/01 **** #88 of 100 Huge Vader Lariats and even bigger NODOWAS~! Scariest Vadersault ever. Great tag team match. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama - GHC Hvywt Championship SemiFinals 04/11/01 ***3/4 Sprint! Super fun, NOAH just kept getting longer and longer. Love these early shorties. GHC Heavyweight Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Akira Taue - NOAH 05/18/01 ****1/2 #34 of 100 It is Taue so efficient and compact at no expense to a great story. Taue delivers a great full court press. Tamon Honda vs Daisuke Ikeda - NOAH 09/01/01 ***1/2 Wrestler vs striker. Fun NOAH mid-card bouts back when those used to happen. GHC Heavyweight Champion Yoshinari Ogawa vs Yoshihiro Takayama - NOAH 9/7/02 ****1/2 #21 of 100, 2002 NOAH Match of the Year Best heel vs heel match ever? Bully vs Rat Boy. So different but both epitomize why I love wrestling. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/02/defenders-of-faith-akira-taue-mitsuharu.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WWE NXT is something I have heard so much about, but I never had time to really invest in the project. I finally took the time to watch all 4 specials of 2014 and really loved how fun, different and breezy the product was. I really thought the first couple episodes epitomized pro wrestling with the focus on wins & losses, pride & respect and fun & outrageous characters. I have become a huge Sami Zayn and women's wrestling fan because of NXT. Nothing better than Sasha Banks winning the Women's title last week! Well-deserved! Match Listing: Cesaro vs Sami Zayn - NXT Arrival 2/14 ****1/2 Cesaro best heel performance. Zayn rocks as the never say die face. A Matter of Respect. MOTYC. NXT Women's Champion Paige vs Emma - NXT Arrival 2/27/14 FIGHT! Paige was vicious, just gnarly kicks. Emma is underrated. Best women's match of the year. Charlotte vs Natayla - NXT Takeover 5/29/14 Vacant NXT Women's Championship ***1/2 A statement on what the division could be. Felt too much like an exhibition. NXT Champion Neville vs Zayn vs Kidd vs Tyler Breeze - NXT Takeover 9/14 Decent action, but loved the finish. Finish sets up Zayn vs Neville perfectly. NXT Women's Champion Charlotte vs Sasha Banks -NXT Takeover REvolution 12/11/14 ***1/2 Sasha Banks is Da Boss! Great heel performance early. Finish stretch went too long. NXT Champion Adrian Neville vs Sami Zayn - NXT Takeover REvolution 12/11/14 Sami finally wins the big one in grand fashion with an incredibly dramatic finish. NXT on fire with finishes! http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-flair-for-inzayn-sami-zayn-charlotte.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 This weekend posted twice. One looking at Dolph Ziggler his limitations from a layout, execution and character perspective, but how it looks like he has been improving recently coinciding with his renewed push. I really like the Harper ladder match, which I think was a bit underrated and thought it was a contender for a top ten match of the year. Match Listing: WWE Intercontinental Champion Bad News Barrett vs Dolph Ziggler - WWE RAW 6/23/14 Disposable RAW mid-card match. Ultimately forgettable. Crowd worked the workers. WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler vs Cesaro vs Tyson Kidd ***3/4 Fun Spotfest. Tyson Kidd got to shine. Cesaro great strength spots. Ziggler looked strong as champ. Team Cena (John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, The Big Show, Ryback, Rowan) vs The Authority (Seth Rollins, Luke Harper, Rusev, Kane and Mark Henry) WWE Survivor Series 2014 ****1/4 Big match feel. Great use of characters. Exciting narrative. Logical, cool swerve. Great Ziggler run. WWE IC Champion Luke Harper vs Dolph Ziggler WWE TLC 2014 Ladder Match ****1/2 Awesome sadistic performance by Harper. Great heroics by Ziggler. Felt like a BIG win! http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/02/kid-ego-dolph-ziggler-wwe-2014.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The other is the written companion piece to the Tag Teams Back Again Podcast with Ricky Jackson: http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/02/1985-tag-team-wrestling.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted March 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2015 Last week, I posted my blog looking at all the great post-split All Japan matches from 2000-2004, when coupled with 2005-2009 and 2014 blogs means I am just missing 2010-2013, which I hope to remedy by the end of the year. Post-Split All Japan was great in the short-term but destined to not be sustainable when it relied heavily on Tenryu, Mutoh and Kawada. Kojima just was not enough especially by himself to ever carry the promotion into the future. Match Listing for first-run matches in this blog: Genichiro Tenryu & Nobutaka Araya vs Taiyo Kea & Kazushi Miyamoto - AJPW 4/27/02 **** #61 of 100 One of the best Prick Heels vs Main Event Face & Young Lion tag match. Miyamoto was incredible. Genichiro Tenryu & Nobukazu Hirai vs. Satoshi Kojima & Kaza Hayashi - AJPW 10/06/02 *** Good version of the previous which I am a sucker for, but did not hit the same levels. AJPW Triple Crown Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 6/13/03 ****1/4 #54 of 100 Hashimoto The Destroyer in all his glory. He punches the fuck out of Kojima's lariat, so awesome! Satoshi Kojima vs Shinjiro Ohtani - Budokan 9/06/03 Good match but they go overkill on Ohtani only to have win the match. Never liked that. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 7/18/04 Depressing match. AJPW Triple Crown Champion Toshiaki Kawada vs Takao Omori - AJPW 7/18/04 Really great Kawada selling and offensive performance almost carries bland Omori to Top 100. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/03/chop-chop-chop-toshiaki-kawada.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also I threw up a blog on the best matches of 1995 WCW, which is a pretty barren landscape, but does feature my favorite match of all time Randy Savage vs Ric Flair in a incredible, chaotic and hate-filled brawl at the Great American Bash. I thought to myself that match which I think is wildly underrated as a crack at top ten best matches of the 90s in WCW and of course this has now led me down the path of reviewing all the usual suspects of great WCW matches to see where it would place just the beginning of that road. Match Listing: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan vs WCW US Heavyweight Vader **** Superbrawl V Great Hogan vs Monster match where Hogan actually adapts to the situation. Vader is a beast. “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs “Nature Boy” Ric Flair - Great American Bash 1995 ****1/2 Think shoot, but work and I am not even sure they were working. Hate-filled fight. WATCH IT! Brian Pillman vs Johnny B. Badd - Fall Brawl '95 **** Japanese-influenced bombfest that was a harbinger of wrestling to come. Highly influential Ric Flair vs Arn Anderson - WCW Fall Brawl 1995 **** AA proves he is Flair's equal. Flair cheats only for AA to out-Flair Flair with a little help from a friend. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/03/fathers-day-fracas-randy-savage-ric.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I have been posting blogs, but I am not liking how the matches are arranged so until I get them in a final form I will be holding off on some. Here is a look at Starrcade 1996, which is a remarkably consistent PPV. Every match is at the very least good, but not match is great, which is why I understand it is not discussed more as an all-time great show. In terms of consistency it is hard to beat. It is interesting also that every match seemed to start in a pretty hot direction, but one way or another they did not follow it to a logical conclusion. It was almost like they all were restraining themselves from going balls out. Well except the main event, which I think cut such a strong pace that Hogan and Piper actually blew up by the time of the finish run. I thought the best match was Luger vs Giant, which worked a smart, heated Clash of the Titans match. They built to Luger taking The Giant off his feet tremendously, which earned them a huge pop and Sting actually added a lot of drama in how he interfered in the match. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/03/finish-what-ya-started-wcw-starrcade.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted April 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 In March and April of 1999, WCW had one last gasp of compelling television. Yes, the Hogan/Flair double turn would the final nail in the coffin, but with the return of DDP & Sting, a renewed focus on tag team wrestling and the crusierweight good for a match, WCW was quite the entertaining TV show. Benoit & Malenko anchored a hot tag team division that featured a ton of fun matches with Kidman & Mysterio and Raven & Saturn. Sting came back with renewed passion was wrestling like it was 1992. That awful, shitty wrestler was left in 1998 and 1999 Sting was out to rock a million faces. I can't say enough about DDP in this time period. Quite simply, he was the best wrestler in America in 1998 and 1999. He deserved this World Championship victory in fact he deserved a lot longer run, but in his short run he managed to have great matches with Steiner and Goldberg and the very last classic match in the history of WCW against Sting in Fargo, ND on April 26, 1999 when you would have never known that WCW was a very sick promotion. For the duration of that match, everything was right in world of World Championship Wrestling and in pro wrestling in general. In WCW's Time of Dying: Hollywood Hogan, Ric Flair, Rey Mysterio (WCW March 1999): Match Lisiting: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan vs Ric Flair - Superbrawl IX *** Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit - WCW Nitro 3/1/99 *** Ric Flair vs Goldberg - Nitro 3/8/98 *** WCW Crusierweight Champion Billy Kidman vs Rey Mysterio - Nitro 3/15/99 ***1/2 Hollywood Hogan & Kevin Nash vs. Ric Flair & Goldberg - WCW Nitro 3/15/99 WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Rey Mysterio Jr. - WCW Nitro 3/22/99 WCW World Tag Team Champions Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs. Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman - WCW Nitro 3/29/99 ***1/2 Hollywood Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page - WCW Nitro 3/29/99 ***1/2 http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/03/in-wcws-time-of-dying-hollywood-hogan.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BANG!: Diamond Dallas Page, Sting, Goldberg (WCW April 1999) Match Listing: WCW World Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio & Kidman vs Raven & Saturn WCW Nitro 4/5/99 WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Hollywood Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page vs Goldberg - WCW Nitro 4/5/99 Juventud Guerrera vs Blitzkreig - Spring Stampede 1999 ***3/4 Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs Raven & Perry Saturn - Spring Stampede 1999 ***3/4 Kevin Nash vs Goldberg - WCW Spring Stampede 1999 WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Hollywood Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page vs Sting - WCW Spring Stampede 1999 ***1/2 WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs Scott Steiner - WCW Nitro 4/12/99 ***3/4 WCW World Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman vs Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko - WCW Saturday Night 4/17/99 ***1/2 WCW Crusierweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Blitzkreig vs Psychosis vs Juventud Gurrera WCW Nitro 4/19/99 ***1/2 WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs Goldberg - WCW Nitro 4/19/99 ***1/2 WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs Sting - WCW Nitro 4/26/99 ****1/2 Gorgeous George vs Lil' Naitch - WCW Slamboree 1999 *** http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/03/bang-diamond-dallas-page-sting-goldberg.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 I have gotten two comments in the history of Riding Space Mountain and the most recent one was because I never spelt "crusierweight" correctly in my life and never really noticed. So thanks Alexei Beuadet for pointing that out to me. I kept telling myself I was going to write proper intros for these, but that ain't happening with my schedule. The first looks at the cruiserweight scene in 1997, obviously the first match that jumps to mind is Eddie vs Rey Title vs Mask, which is indeed the best WCW match of the late 90s. Jericho had his matches in this time period against a familiar opponent in Dragon and against Guerrero, who was on a hot streak. I looked at the overrated Malenko vs Dragon match and also a fun Rey vs Syxx TV bout. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-most-violent-poem-eddy-guerrero-rey.html The second also looks at 1997, but this time it is from the standpoint on the heavyweights. The strongest match and the greatest match in NWO history is Slamboree 1997 Ric Flair return match in Charlotte where he is joined by his best friend, Piper and by Panthers linebacker, Kevin Greene to take on the Wolfpac of Nash, Hall and Syxx who were the ultimate heels in this match. One of the best feel-good, pure babyface vs heel matches of all time. There is a ton of fun Nitro shit ranging from Guerrero/Jericho doing their best Rockers impression to DDP and Hollywood Hogan just absolutely ripping it up. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/04/1997-wcw.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted April 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 More WCW cruiserweight goodness: This blog looks at the short-lived 1998 resurgence in the cruiserweight division with fresh faces of Juvy Juice and Billy Kidman. Juvytud is one of the best offensive wrestlers of the late 90s and it is a shame he did not get a push the size of Rey Rey. Kidman was actually a really smart counter-wrestler and was much better than I remembered. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-juice-runs-nitro-juventud-guerrera.html The following blog looks at the tres bitchin Rey vs Malenko 1996 series that featured two WCW MOTYCs and also the badass Mysterio/Psychosis, which I thought was their best match outside of Mexico. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-mysterious-king-rey-misterio-jr-dean.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted April 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2015 Here are the final three blogs from the WCW 1995-2001 viewing project. The first blog looks at the end of WCW from Russo taking over in October to the final PPV, Greed. In 2000, there seems to exactly ONE match worth looking at. Think about that in one calendar year there was only one match worth watching. I hate Russo. On its last PPV, WCW does the most WCW thing possible and debuts a brand new title (Cruiserweight Tag Team Title) and it is the last great WCW match. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-fall-of-wcw-scott-steiner-goldberg.html The second one looks at Steven Regal's fun 1996 resurgence after a year facing the Nasty Boys and Harlem Heat. On paper, a Regal and Eaton tag team has me drooling but without competition, I can't say I am going to go out of my way to watch anything. Regal vs Finlay series is one of those series that I just had never seen and was tremendous. That Uncensored match was Ishikawa/Ikeda levels of violence. The Sting and Psychosis matches were fun, it is too bad WCW did not push Regal and that his personal demons derailed him for years. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-lord-said-let-there-be-fight-steven.htmlOne last blog looks at WCW in 1999 and features matches with Chris Benoit, who I thought was the second best American wrestler behind only DDP in 1998-99. His match with Flair is the last good WCW Flair match. His match with DDP is the best Thunder match in history. The Sting World Title bout was tremendous and was great beyond just the novelty of seeing Sting wrestle heel. It was a very dramatic encounter that made Benoit look like main event star in the match. The final match is the Owen Hart Tribute tainted by the Benoit murders, but still a powerful statement and tribute. In the wake of Russo's arrival, it turned out to be WCW's final goodbye to pro wrestling. With that, we say goodbye to WCW for now... http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/04/goodbye-wcw-bret-hart-sting-ddp-wcw-1999.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted May 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2015 I wanted to wrap up my impromptu WCW late 90s project with a big Best Of List, which has been complete for weeks, but I am suffering from writer's fatigue to write a decent introduction for it that will put a nice bow on the whole thing, hopefully this Tuesday. In the interim, I have headed back to the greatest decade this world has ever seen, the 80s! I began in World Class looking at Flair vs the Von Erichs and in Memphis specifically at Jerry Lawler's quest to become World Champion and fighting off the outsiders from the AWA. Ric Flair vs The Von Erichs: NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich 8/15/82 ****3/4 NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs David Von Erich 10/11/82 ****1/2 NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich Christmas Star Wars 12/25/82 Steel Cage match, Michael Hayes Special Guest Referee ****1/2 NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kevin Von Erich - WCCW 4/1/83 ****1/4 NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich - Parade of Champions 5/6/84 **** NWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich vs Ric Flair - WCCW 5/11/84 **** NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kevin Von Erich - Parade of Champions 5/5/85 ****1/2 http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/05/ric-flair-vs-von-erichs-wccw-1982-1985.html --------------------------------------------------- When the AWA Comes to Memphis: Jerry Lawler vs Crusher Blackwell - Mid-South Coliseum 5/4/81 ***1/2 NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Jerry Lawler - Memphis Wrestling 8/14/82 *** (Wicked fun angle and some of the best promos ever, watch this segment!) AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Jerry Lawler Mid-South Coliseum 10/18/82 **** AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Jerry Lawler Mid-South Coliseum 11/8/82 Title vs Hair No DQ match ****1/2 AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Jerry Lawler Mid-South Coliseum 1/1/84 ***1/2 (One of the best comebacks ever!) AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Jerry Lawler - Nashville 10/12/85 ****1/2 AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Jeff Jarrett Mid-South Coliseum 5/4/87 ***3/4 http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/05/when-awa-comes-to-mempho-jerry-lawler.html --------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted July 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 What better way to celebrate the Fourth of July then to watch awesome bloody brawls with HACKSAW JIM DUGGAN! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! In addition, to Hacksaw Duggan, there is also a blog chronicling the history of Magnum TA in Mid-South. If You Want Blood, You've Got It: Magnum TA in Mid-South Mid-South Tag Team Champions Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart vs Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum TA -Mid-South 12/25/83 Steel Cage **** Mid-South Tag Team Champions Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum TA vs Midnight Express - Mid-South 2/10/84 **** North American Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA vs Ted DiBiase - Mid-South OKC 5/27/84 ****1/4 North American Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA vs Ted DiBiase - Mid-South Tulsa 5/27/84 ****1/2 North American Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA vs Ted DiBiase - Mid-South 7/6/84 **** http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/05/if-you-want-blood-youve-got-it-magnum.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO: Hacksaw Jim Duggan in Mid-South Mid-South Tag Team Champions Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs Ted DiBiase & Matt Bourne Mid-South 10/27/82, No DQ, Loser Leaves Town **** “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs Ted DiBiase – Mid-South, Houston 7/29/83, Street Fight ****1/4 Hacksaw Duggan & Rock N Roll Express vs Ernie Ladd & Midnight Express - Mid-South 6/8/84 ****1/4 Mid-South North American Champion Ted DiBiase vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan - Mid-South 3/8/85 No DQ ****1/4 Hacksaw Duggan vs Buzz Sawyer - Mid-South 11/11/85 ***** Hacksaw Duggan vs Buzz Sawyer - Mid-South 12/27/85 Dog Collar Match ****1/2 UWF Heavyweight Champion Terry Gordy vs Hacksaw Duggan - UWF TV 8/3/86 **** http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/07/hhhhooooooooooooooooo-hacksaw-jim.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted September 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 I fell behind again, ugh! I have so many reviews to organize! Here is the first half of the War of 1983! It is Georgia vs Texas! Freebird vs La Grange! Piledriver vs Claw! It is the best sustained crowd heat I have ever heard. I analyze Buddy Jack Roberts underappreciated role in the Freebirds and draw conclusions based on his in ring work. The match listing and link is below: Match Listing: Michael Hayes vs. Kerry Von Erich (2/7/83) ***1/2 Great first match in a feud. Does not give too much a way and leaves you wanting more. Fabulous Freebirds vs Von Erichs - WCCW 2/18/83 Lumberjack Match **** This was a Von Erich revenge match through and through. Long and hot shine. Fabulous Freebirds/Jimmy Garvin vs Von Erichs/Iceman Parsons 5/27/83 Elimination Match ****1/4 Mayhem. Awesome finish stretch with Kerry/Kevin vs Hayes/Buddy Jack Six-Man Tag Team Champions Fabulous Freebirds vs Von Erichs - WCCW 7/4/83 2 Out of 3 Falls ****3/4 Insane crowd heat! Probably the best match in World Class history! Watch it! American Heavyweight Champion Kevin Von Erich vs Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin - WCCW 7/18/83 ****1/2 Great championship style 2 out of 3 falls match. Perfect ending that suits all THREE characters. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.pt/2015/09/war-of-1983-vol-1-freebirds-on-my-mind.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted September 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 Second half of the War of 1983: Go Home Freebirds! Kerry Von Erich & Michael Hayes rip it up in a perfectly booked blowoff match! Match Listing: Six-Man Tag Team Champions Von Erichs vs Fabulous Freebirds - WCCW 8/12/83 ****1/4 Epitome of struggle in the early going. Awesome fuck finish. Buddy Roberts is the consummate heel. Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin & Terry Gordy vs Kevin & David Von Erich ****1/2 Total war as Kevin seeks vengeance. Garvin is at his obnoxious best. One of Kevin's best performances. Six-Man Tag Team Champions Fabulous Freebirds vs Von Erichs - 9/5/83 ****1/4 Best Freebird heat segment of the War of 1983. Action packed sprint Fabulous Freebirds vs Von Erichs - WCCW 11/21/83 Elimination Match ***1/2 Got plenty of time, but doesnt feel like much happened. Too start/stop. Great finish run. David at his best. Kerry Von Erich vs Michael Hayes - 11/24/83 Loser Leaves Town Steel Cage Match ****3/4 THIS IS HOW YOU BOOK A BLOWOFF!!! Violent and perfectly paid off! Watch This! http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.pt/2015/09/war-of-1983-vol-2-go-home-freebirds.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted September 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Was watching a bit of WWE 2000s and All Japan 1970s finally got it up in blog form. First looks at WWE 2002 and second Jack Brisco against Baba and Jumbo. 2002 WWE Match of the Year Rankings ****1/2 1. WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs Undertaker - No Mercy 2002 Hell In A Cell ****1/4 2. Shawn Michaels vs Triple H - Summerslam 2002 3. Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle vs Edge & Rey Mysterio - No Mecy 2002 WWE Tag Team Titles 4. The Rock vs Hollywood Hulk Hogan - Wrestlemania XVIII **** Chris Benoit vs Rey Mysterio - Smackdown! 10/3/02 Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio - Summerslam 2002 Other matches watched: Eddie Guerrero vs Edge No DQ Smackdown! and Rock vs Brock Lesnar Summerslam 2002 http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/09/no-mercy-brock-lesnar-undertaker-rock.html and Jack Brisco I watched and ranked all at ****1/2 NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Brisco vs Jumbo Tsuruta -AJPW 1/30/74 2 out of 3 Falls NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Brisco vs Giant Baba - AJPW 12/2/74 2 out of 3 Falls NWA World Heavyweight Champion Giant Baba vs Jack Brisco - AJPW 12/5/74 2 out of 3 Falls. Jumbo Tsuruta vs Jack Brisco - AJPW 8/28/76 NWA United National Heavyweight Tournament Final http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2015/08/okie-dokie-best-of-jack-brisco-in-japan.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted January 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2017 Wow it has been a while. New Years Resolution...to write more. Here we go. Kicking New Year off with a Countdown of the Best Pro Wrestling Matches in Japan from 2003-2007. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2017/01/ablaze-once-more-13-kenta-kobashi.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted January 2, 2017 Report Share Posted January 2, 2017 Awesome, very much looking forward to this. Crashing for the night shortly but popping this open to dive into in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted January 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2017 I freely admit this is a bit of retread of the Best of Japan project, but this is part of a larger project I think you will like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted January 2, 2017 Report Share Posted January 2, 2017 Hey, nothing wrong with revisiting the greats. Looking forward to more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted January 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 The foreword for this blog piece is on commitment and how essential it is in victory and in life. The match in question is #12 in the countdown featuring KENTA vs Bryan Danielson from Pro Wrestling NOAH on December 2, 2006. http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2017/01/kenta-speeds-at-night-12-kenta-vs-bryan.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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