[1998-01-29-WCW-Thunder] Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs Chris Jericho & Eddy Guerrero

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[soup23]

About as good a 7 minute match as you can hope to have. We get nice pair offs of traditional feuds like Eddy vs. Benoit and Malenko and also some freshness with Jericho being interspersed in there. Malenko vs. Jericho have the first chapter in what will be one of the rivalries to look at in 1998. The finish is great as Benoit has the crossface on Jericho and Eddy completely eats the boots of Malenko coming from the top rope and takes a great bump. Would have liked to have seen these four get 18 minutes of PPV from around this time. (***)

[Zenjo]

Given the harsh time constraints they did a good job of producing an entertaining contest. No hot tag meant it was all action and they worked hard. There was unpredictability over what was going to happen at the finish. Like Chad I'd have loved to have seen this matchup be given full length.

[Loss]

Really good TV match. I like Jericho and Malenko, but Benoit and Eddy are so great and the difference between them and the other two is pretty clear here. Malenko doesn't seem to be as motivated as the other three. Nice finish to a short match. Remember guys, the 30-minute match from the Hildebrand tribute show involving these four is still to come!

[PeteF3]

A strong TV match with a lot of inventive team spots crammed into 7 minutes, including a teased double-pin foiled by Malenko blocking the frog splash with his feet. It is kind of telling that Lee rattles off all these Cruiserweight title reigns for 3 of the 4 guys, and Malenko and Eddie have a U.S. title apiece, and then Benoit can simply "contend for any title."

[TravJ1979]

Short match that was pretty average, but sure did pick up in the last minute and a half. I just know given more time these guys could do something better.

 

RATING: Nothing that needs to be revisited.