BillThompson Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Got this idea from the Matches you must love, but don't topic. Basically, we all have matches we love that others don't seem to care much for. What are some of yours? I'll start things off with Lord Steven Regal versus Ricky Steamboat from WCW Fall Brawl '93. It's not a famous match or anything, but I thought it was a really great match. Yet, the overwhelming majority I read about it pins it as disappointing, or at the very best merely good. It has its fans, but we seem to be very few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduardo Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Cena-Umaga from New Years Revolution 2007. Almost everyone just talks about their match a few weeks later, but I think this is on the same level of greatness as that "I Quit" match. I think fans of Lawler-Blackwell would probably dig it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Royal Rumble '92 is rightly thought of as the best one ever, but I have a soft spot for the ones in 89-91, 93 and 94. Probably just out of nostalgia but I like how the matches were set up those years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I’ve always had a soft spot for the Triple H vs. Big Show match from the Feb 13th 2006 episode of Raw. Show is the size of a house and looks to be in a pretty bad way, but gives a great performance as the surly giant chucking HHH around like a rag-doll and then working over his hand. Hunter barely gets any offence in for the first third of the match before pushing Show face first into the ring post, resulting in a crimson mask. From there he just works him over with knees and punches to the forehead. After awhile the match breaks down into a brawl on the outside which results in a double count out, after which Show spears Triple H through the barricade leaving him folded over in an horrendous looking position. I remember loving this match when I first saw it, I revisit it every now and again half expecting it to not live up to my memories, but it always hits the spot. I think it’s a fun little brawl, and one I never see anyone else talk about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Waco Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I like pretty much every Rufus Jones match I've ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoe Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Got this idea from the Matches you must love, but don't topic. Basically, we all have matches we love that others don't seem to care much for. What are some of yours? I'll start things off with Lord Steven Regal versus Ricky Steamboat from WCW Fall Brawl '93. It's not a famous match or anything, but I thought it was a really great match. Yet, the overwhelming majority I read about it pins it as disappointing, or at the very best merely good. It has its fans, but we seem to be very few. I'm one. I dig that match. The story telling mixed in with the execution of work. Plus we get a pretty kick ass finish that's very satisfying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I can't even get anyone to watch Zenk/Martel vs the Funks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(BP) Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I've seen that. Funk going almost completely vertical upside down for the leverage pin was awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kazushi Sakuraba at Wrestle Kingdom 7. Most of my fellow Puro fans aren't keen on it. A lot of that might have to do with their staunch aversion to non-wrestlers having a presence on cards in exhibition matches. The recent hate for the Gracie's has been unreal, although that's to be expected, since they are incapable of performing a wrestling match! Sakuraba on the other hand is excellent, the crowd through his contest with Nakamura at 7 were on fire. Every submission attempt, every time Sakuraba got the advantage, people were cheering. They really bought into his MMA history and disbelief was suspended, because on more than one occasion, it seemed Nakamura might actually lose. The respect shown by Nakamura in that match, his incredible selling for a non-wrestler was magnificent. On this side of the globe, I'm partial to Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show at Survivor Series 2002. Even though the match was pretty sucky and ended screwy, it gave Lesnar an opportunity to show just how strong he really is. The sight of Lesnar suplexing the very, very heavy (he was easily over 500lbs at this time) Big Show over his head, catching him with German's and executing the F5 was one hell of a showcase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anarchistxx Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 The Rock vs Rikishi from Survivor Series 2000. Rikishi is just a nasty fucker, relentlessly working over a body part all match with The Rock selling it brilliantly. Such a smartly worked, well paced match, only goes about twelve minutes but is emotional, hate filled and non stop, lots of heat as well. Easily the best match Rikishi ever had. Kenta Kobasi/Makoto Hashi vs Jun Akiyama/Yoshinobu Kanemaru from NOAH in 2005 is another match I love as well, which doesn't get talked about much. Akiyama is in full on grumpy bully mode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kazushi Sakuraba at Wrestle Kingdom 7. Most of my fellow Puro fans aren't keen on it. A lot of that might have to do with their staunch aversion to non-wrestlers having a presence on cards in exhibition matches. The recent hate for the Gracie's has been unreal, although that's to be expected, since they are incapable of performing a wrestling match! Sakuraba on the other hand is excellent, the crowd through his contest with Nakamura at 7 were on fire. Every submission attempt, every time Sakuraba got the advantage, people were cheering. They really bought into his MMA history and disbelief was suspended, because on more than one occasion, it seemed Nakamura might actually lose. The respect shown by Nakamura in that match, his incredible selling for a non-wrestler was magnificent. On this side of the globe, I'm partial to Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show at Survivor Series 2002. Even though the match was pretty sucky and ended screwy, it gave Lesnar an opportunity to show just how strong he really is. The sight of Lesnar suplexing the very, very heavy (he was easily over 500lbs at this time) Big Show over his head, catching him with German's and executing the F5 was one hell of a showcase. Man I LOVED this one. At the end of the year it was kind of overshadowed by some of the IWGP title and G1 matches, but last January this was so exciting and different from anything going on in the Tanahashi/Okada realm that I was sure it'd be a top MOTY finisher. No complaints that it didn't get there, but this built incredibly well and was so smartly laid out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I feel like if Nakamura is going to work matches like that, he needs to change his look -- get rid of the long hair, put on some kick pads, etc. It's an aesthetic thing I can't get past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Childs Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I don't think love for that match is an outsider opinion on this board, however. And Sakuraba is totally a pro wrestler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I feel like if Nakamura is going to work matches like that, he needs to change his look -- get rid of the long hair, put on some kick pads, etc. It's an aesthetic thing I can't get past. I can't argue with that point, but I love the way Nakamura rocks the look, the MJ pants and the whole gimmick. Absolutely mark for his gimmick all of the time. It doesn't exactly jibe with how he worked the Sakuraba match, but I think he's pretty consistent in his style and approach once the bell rings every time out that it doesn't take away from the overall presentation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeCampbell Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Bret vs. Undertaker from the 1996 Royal Rumble was pretty much panned, I don't even think it made the Yearbook in full. But I thought it was really well done. UT found a way to work in Bret's no nonsense wrestling approach into his tried and true formula that he'd been using for years against giant monsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Nakamura/Sakuraba strikes me as a rather odd choice. From what I've seen, that match has received close to universal praise. As for me, I'm one of the few who rates the Savage/Warrior Summerslam match above their WM7 match. And I'm probably the only person who rates Hogan/Andre at least as highly as Hansen/Andre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(BP) Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Savage/ Warrior at Summerslam rocks. I have a lot of love for the WM7 match too, but Summerslam is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I think Summerslam is the better match right up until the finish. Mania is vastly superior on that note as well as for storyline purposes that I can can see why some may think of it more highly because of that. Finishing counts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victory Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 One for me would be The Steiners vs. Money Inc. in a cage from August of 93. I know most dislike the lack of blood, for me it works great without it. Using the cage as a choking device at times really delivers the message that both teams will do whatever it takes to win. They have a lot of fun escape spots throughout along with a great finish spot. DiBiase is probably the weakest guy in the match which tells you how hard the others work. Great match IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Nakamura/Sakuraba strikes me as a rather odd choice. From what I've seen, that match has received close to universal praise. I know some rather 'purist' Puro aficionados who despise most of the guys who came in from MMA and pan their matches for the shoot style elements... ... Seriously, there's people out there like this. They mocked me for rating it as my favorite match of the card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zenjo Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kazushi Sakuraba at Wrestle Kingdom 7. Most of my fellow Puro fans aren't keen on it. A lot of that might have to do with their staunch aversion to non-wrestlers having a presence on cards in exhibition matches. The recent hate for the Gracie's has been unreal, although that's to be expected, since they are incapable of performing a wrestling match! Sakuraba on the other hand is excellent, the crowd through his contest with Nakamura at 7 were on fire. Every submission attempt, every time Sakuraba got the advantage, people were cheering. They really bought into his MMA history and disbelief was suspended, because on more than one occasion, it seemed Nakamura might actually lose. The respect shown by Nakamura in that match, his incredible selling for a non-wrestler was magnificent. Sakuraba was a UWFI wrestler from 93-96. The reasoning here makes no sense at all. Why would the fans not believe an MMA legend could defeat a pro-wrestler? In the 00's multiple MMA stars held the IWGP title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidebottom Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 The Rock vs Rikishi from Survivor Series 2000. Rikishi is just a nasty fucker, relentlessly working over a body part all match with The Rock selling it brilliantly. Such a smartly worked, well paced match, only goes about twelve minutes but is emotional, hate filled and non stop, lots of heat as well. Easily the best match Rikishi ever had. A lot of people rate this match. I do highly. It stole the show, nobody thought that would be happening at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Childs Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Nakamura/Sakuraba strikes me as a rather odd choice. From what I've seen, that match has received close to universal praise. I know some rather 'purist' Puro aficionados who despise most of the guys who came in from MMA and pan their matches for the shoot style elements... ... Seriously, there's people out there like this. They mocked me for rating it as my favorite match of the card. I love the idea of "purists" who have no understanding of New Japan's history or that of Sakuraba. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Every big Raven match, I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Another one for me would be the 8/23/85 Funk/Hansen match. It finished in the middle of the pack in DVDVR voting, but I thought it was the best of their matches together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.