The Nomination Thread

[concrete1992]

Kaz Hayashi

http://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-favorite-wrestling-wcw-saturday_27.html (v. Scotty Riggs)

http://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-favorite-wrestling-wcw-worldwide_23.html (v. Raven)

https://wrestlereviewvill.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/shuji-kondo-c-vs-kaz-hayashi/ (v. Shuji Kondo)

[Dylan Waco]

Nominating

 

Mike Bailey

 

http://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2015/05/2014-ongoing-match-of-year-list_16.html

http://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2015/04/2014-ongoing-match-of-year-list.html

http://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2015/05/2015-ongoing-match-of-year-list_19.html

 

Drew Gulak

 

Drew Gulak vs. Timothy Thatcher- AWO 4/4

This started off as a good, but extremely one sided Thatcher performance, and evolved into a legitimately great match, with a generally strong performance from Gulak and an excellent one from Thatcher. Gulak was working sort of flat and light early, but once Thatcher hit the floatover suplex/Fujiwara armbar to take the first fall I think things turned up and continued to get better and better from that point forward. I really loved several of the throws, counters and exchanges in this, but I also thought they did a good job of building to the big strikes, particularly Thatcher's knees to the gut. Thatcher working simple stuff like double underhooks gets me every time, but I have to give it to Gulak who was really wrenching in the ankle subs and did a good job with simple holds to make them look extremely violent. Thatcher's selling was outstanding throughout and I loved the way he got more and more frustrated, culminating with him freaking out when Gulak was saved by the bell at the end of a late round. Gulak's win really felt like this was building to another match, but who knows if we'll see it. Honestly if the FIP match is better than this, I don't see how it could be anything less than a top three match this year.

 

Drew Gulak v. Biff Busick - CZW 4/27

This was one mildly annoying "fighting spirit" spot right before the finish away from being my clear cut MOTY. Even with it, it still feels like it should be in the conversation, and this is definitely the match that has made me come completely around on Gulak. I am a little nervous about heaping a ton of praise on this without others watching it first because I don't want to set the bar too high, but Gulak had a Jim Breaks-like vibe to him here, and the close quarters night club setting only added to that. In fact this whole match felt like a modern version of a late 70's WOS match. I absolutely loved all of the grappling in this. Some of it was just really simple stuff that looked violent, while some of it was flashier, but the key is that it all featured the sort of struggle you want out of this kind of matwork. I thought what they were able to do with the various headlock throws, and operating from that base, was really impressive, and the way they would come up for highspots and then go back to the ground felt really organic and added to both the groundwork and the big moments. There were tons of little things I loved in this that I could point to, but what I liked the most is that Gulak was a champ who was in control for the bulk of the match. The tired "your turn, my turn" staples of "big time" indie wrestling were practically non-existent here. Busick got his runs, but everytime he made one, Gulak would find a way to cut him back down to size. You could argue that Gulak changed up the body part attacks too much, and that Busick's leg selling was weak down the stretch, but it's not like Busick was on his feet a ton after the big leg attack, and I actually liked the idea that in a long match Gulak was forced to change tactics to stay alive. I thought Gulak taking over with a blind side lariat after Busick tried to get nasty with a chop was brilliant, loved all of Gulak's offensive attack, thought the Gulak jackhammer variation as a cutoff spot was awesome, marked out for the Busick hilo hope spot, and thought the curbstomp, followed by an elbow drop near fall from Gulak was the sort of low key near fall that indie wrestling matches drastically under utilize. I was also really happy they didn't go with the senseless head drop suplex off the top they teased, and in fact they went back to Busick's injured ribs as a bit of a counter to stop it. Again, the aforementioned Busick fighting spirit spot right before the finish irked me a bit, but even that was not nearly as bad as it could have been, particularly because Gulak put it to a quick rest and then killed him off with the Gotch Piledriver he'd been desperate to hit all match. This was an excellent, excellent match.

 

Biff Busick v. Drew Gulak - CZW 5/10

This wasn't anywhere near as good as the previous match, but I will say that I was really impressed at how much they changed it up. This was a different building and they could have easily worked the exact same match and/or a heavily condensed version of it, instead they built this match around Gulak as the easily frustrated, sniveling shithead, who tries to take shortcuts to gain an advantage and is forced to man up at the end. I thought Gulak came across as really Jim Breaksish again, though this match was really about putting Busick over. Busick took some nasty bumps on the floor for a guy his size, and Gulak bladed off of a sick post shot which added a lot to the finishing stretch. I was pleased again by the tease of the top rope head drop rather than the execution of it, though Gulak took an insane head bump on the planted one Busick delivered. I also thought it was cool that they teased a fighting spirit hulk up, only for Gulak to get completely decimated by a blindside lariat. This also had an outstanding finishing as Gulak fought to his feet on a rear naked choke, but then got absolutely destroyed with a crazy one arm, backwards, takedown, straight into a brutal choke.

 

Derrick King

 

Derrick King v. Johnny Bandana - SAW

This is set up by a Cory Melton v. Drew Haskins loser leave town from the previous week which is actually a really fun match, though loaded with bullshit and run-ins (I mean that in a good way, but it keeps it from being a nomination). Haskins ended up losing because of Bandana who was a "Derrick King Enterprises" understudy. So King is seeking redemption for the loss of "teen excitement." And this is totally the Derrick King show. Bandana comes across as a half trained guy who stumbled into the building to have a match with King effectively telling him "I'll handle this kid." King's heeling and facial expressions are just brilliant here, his punches look great, there is an excellent near fall off of a chain shot, et. Bandana makes his comeback and King takes a really great looking backslide near fall that was far slicker looking than it had any right to be. King ends up fucking KILLING him with a nasty superkick but Bandana barely kicks out. Finish is of course a flash pin on an inside cradle for Bandana to further the feud and post-match is attacked by the new King protege. Not a great match, but a really good showcase for King v. a broom. King is King.

 

Derrick King/TD v. Cody Melton/Johnny Bandana - SAW

Good fucking lord King is great. I will say flat out that everyone in this match was perfectly suitable in their role, with Bandana as the punching bag who sold really well, Melton as the flashy babyface and TD as the cocky athlete and new addition to DKE. Still King was just on another level. His punches look brutal, his timing on cut off spots is great and man the little things. When he spit on Melton I wanted to hit him, and his laying across the ropes in the corner while Bandana laid out half dead in the ring was a great taunt. There was also a great spot with Bandana going for the hot tag, falling a hair short and King running over and punting Melton's outstretched hand. Hot tag comes off of a crazy bump from King on a double head collision and the heels end up cheating to win. To his credit TD hits a fucking FUTEN level kick to the face of Bandana on the floor during the heat section, but this was another case of King being King.

Nominating Derrick King/Frankie Tucker/Jerry Lawler v. Pokerface/LA Hustlers - MCW 3/2/12

Really awesome match enhanced a lot by the setting. This is the same place that ran Lawler v. Doug Gilbert last year, which looked to be really good though it was heavily clipped. This match had a cool vibe to it as it looked to be a totally packed crowd, presumably because they were working around a Pokerface retirement stip. Before the match even starts you know it's going to be a hell of a lot of fun as the LA Hustlers literally take some fan jawing with them ringside and physically place them in his seat. The match itself is very much a less is more match but it absolutely works. Everyone in this match throws some shotgun like punches. Lawler has an awesome entry as Pokerface attempts to sucker him with a kick to the gut and Jerry turns it around into a string of Kawada style kicks to his mid section. Lawler is really great hamming it up for the crowd throughout and really getting a kick out of his role as the hired hand brought in to put Pokerface in his place. King ends up as the FIP and takes some really good bumps, gets in some nice hope spots, et. His dropkick to set up the hot tag also looked great. Finishing sequence ends up in a bit of a brawl with Pokerface saving one of the Hustlers from a piledriver, only to take one himself losing the fall and his career in the process. Post-match the fans surround the ring, while Pokerface shakes hands with the babyfaces. Lawler tells him he understands if he wants to go back on his word and he doesn't have to leave the business, but he grabs the mic and says that as a man his word means everything, that was his last match, and if someone had to put him out the King was the one to do it. Really cool match that got you invested in the storyline they were working on top of being well executed.

May as well nominate Biff Busick too as he shows up in those Gulak reviews twice, and in the SC Mike Bailey review.

[Loss]

Tetsuhiro Kuroda has 13 matches here:

 

http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/tags/forums/Tetsuhiro%2BKuroda/

 

I should apologize. It turns out I listed and ranked matches featuring most of those guys on my old master list of match ratings, but I never actually reviewed them. So they don't have three matches for anyone else, just three match ratings for most of them. If anyone has reviewed the Rikidozan-Thesz matches or any other Rikidozan, please list it here. He is the one I'd most like to see at least nominated.

[Jimmy Redman]

Kofi Kingston (oh yes)

 

Kofi & Bourne vs Colons - TLC 2011

 

Yay a tag title match after all! Opening was good, good spot work, culminating in Kofi’s awesome monkey flip reversal. Loved the sh*t out of that. Bourne getting tossed outside was cool. But even cooler was the Colons’ thing where they do stereo rope jumps when they tag out. That is great, they need to keep that. I like Epico’s Three Amigos suplexes. Liked Bourne rolling out of the Gory Special and hitting the knees to get the hot tag. I also like how Kofi had to run around all over the place to finally knock the guy on the outside out – these guys really made him work for his comeback, if that makes sense. And the fun babyface finish with Bourne’s Leap and Kofi’s ricochet Trouble in Paradise. I’m glad AB didnt just lose the belts here, there’s life in them yet. Good stuff.

 

Kofi & Truth vs Hunico & Camacho - SD 4.5.12

 

Two Medium Sized Black Guys vs Mexican America. You gotta love it dawg. Seriously, this was a super cool tag team sprint. Kofi and Hunico brought the MOVEZ. Camacho threw a good Lariat on the floor. I love how they keep him away from doing any offense, but have him tag in to eat the entire hot tag, like thats easier than throwing stomps. Truth tossing Kofi into the ‘rana here was awesome though, and again, super fun tag sprint.

 

Kofi & Truth vs Dolph & Swagger - Over the Limit 2012

 

Two Medium Sized Black Guys vs DolphSwag turned out to be a HELL of a tag match. I really enjoyed it a hell of a lot, commentary notwithstanding. Anytime Kofi and Swags lock up is a win in my book, I’ll never forget 2010. Loved how much time they got and how the match developed, Truth making the first hot tag before being taken over again, and the heels looked good on offense. I LOVED the moment where Dolph got surprisingly rolled up and he jumped up and immdiately went around by way of the babyface corner, to prevent any attempt at a tag. Really great detail. Loved the entire hot tag sequence as well – the big ass Tornado DDT to lead into it, Dolph hopping the ropes and Kofi springboarding and immediately hitting him all the way across the ring. LOVED the way he did the crossbody, and really I loved the entire stretch and the finish. Really great tag team match.

[Dylan Waco]

Again, I've been pretty liberal about the three match rule, so I will be here too.

 

This page has two reviews of Rikidozan matches

 

http://www.legitshook.com/strobogos-wrasslin-potpourri-reviews/jwa-collection

 

If someone post one more I'll start the thread.

[El Boricua]

Again, I've been pretty liberal about the three match rule, so I will be here too.

 

This page has two reviews of Rikidozan matches

 

http://www.legitshook.com/strobogos-wrasslin-potpourri-reviews/jwa-collection

 

If someone post one more I'll start the thread.

This link has three reviews for Rikidozan.

 

https://pdw2kx.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/best-of-rikidozan/

[Dylan Waco]

Thanks! Now I ask you to post in the Glamour Boy Shane, Super Medico, and other PR guys threads so I don't look nuts or nominating them

[Dylan Waco]

Will error on the side of inclusion and nominate Bobby Jaggers.

[NotJayTabb]

Thought Alex Shelley was already nominated. Think he's worth a look:

 

Vs Austin Aries (TNA Against All Odd 2012)

When Get Cape video stars collide. Shelley attacks Aries as he reclines in the corner to get this thing started. There is a nice spot early on where Shelley throws Aries out of the ring and prepares for a dive, only for Aries to crawl under the ring and attack him from behind. Aries starts hitting knees to the shoulders of Shelley as the commentary team wisely bring up Shelley being sidelined with a shoulder injury. Aries follows this up with a 2nd rope elbow to the back of a seated Shelley. Shelley takes over after A Double takes ages setting up the Pendullum Elbow. Aries tries to crawl under the ring again, but this time gets cut off by Shelley, who hits a suicide dive successfully. Aries takes over and this time hits the Pendullum Elbow with no build up, which Tenay highlights. Aries hits a sick Death Valley Driver on the ring apron but misses the 450 splash. Shelley hits Sliced Bread, only for Aries to get his foot on the rope. Aries rolls through a roll-up attempt and goes back to Shelley’s neck with a series of knees before the brainbuster only gets a two. Shelley gets another nearfall from a series of kicks to the head, but A Double blocks another Sliced Bread attempt and hits another brainbuster, before locking in the Last Chancery for the tapout win. Really good match, with Aries concentrating on Shelley’s injured shoulder, which also softened Alex up for the submission.

 

Vs Joey Ryan (PWG Guitarmaggedon 2005)

Alex Shelley vs Joey Ryan
Ryan is introduced as the “Technical Wizard”, so naturally Shelley totally schools him on the mat from the get-go. Shelley is working face, and throws in some wonderfully wankerish moves, grabbing Ryan in a wristlock to clap his hand, then manipulating Ryan’s fingers so he’s flipping himself the bird. After a few minutes of humiliation, Ryan finally gets an advantage by kicking the ropes into Shelley’s groin on a rope break, but this merely fires Shelley up more, wrapping Ryan up like a pretzel. I love the dynamic of Shelley being so arrogant on the mat as a face, doing some push-ups while having Ryan trapped in a headscissors. The fans are really into laughing at Ryan, to the extent that even a small child at ringside gives him shit (earning the child a chant). Ryan finally gets on offence by avoiding a Shelley charge into the ringpost, giving Ryan an opening to work over Shelley’s shoulder, hitting a nasty hammerlock slam on the floor before bringing him back in for a Divorce Court. Ryan dominates for a good spell and Shelley’s selling is terrific, constantly shaking his hand to get feeling back and frantically trying to keep Ryan away from his injury. Shelley finally makes his comeback and gets two from a Flatliner. Shelley goes back to the mat with a few pinfall attempts, but gets caught up when trying La Majistral as Ryan grabs the ropes and holds on for a controversial win. Great match, really well structured and it kept both men looking strong.

 

Vs Eric Young (TNA Against All Odds 2009)

Alex Shelley vs Eric Young
This was the evolution of a smarter, non-cowardly version of EY, and he looks good in the opening stages, outsmarting Shelley and hitting a big dive. Shelley is great as a smug dick here, and after EY hits the guard rail on a failed top rope dive, Shelley zones in on the ribs of his opponent, which is logical strategy on a larger guy. It also gives him an edge, in that he has an area to aim for to abruptly stop Young gaining momentum. I love the big bump EY takes, diving into, then over, the ringpost from the apron. Even when locking on a cobra clutch, Shelley holds Young over his knee to also impact the ribs. I don't think EY looks quite as crisp as he does nowadays, as he's clearly one of the elite performers in TNA today, but his selling adds to the match, with just little subtle winces as he feels the ribs hurt. EY gets to kick out of a lot here, but it feels consistent with the new confidence he's showing. This more confident side costs him however, as he gets into a row with the ref and rolled up for the win. Fun match.

[MoS]

I wish I could nominate Dara Singh, since he is by far the most iconic post-war Indian wrestler, is in the WON HoF, and generated crowds of 50k+ back in the 50s when it was really rare. Unfortunately, I cannot find any footage of him that gives a clear idea of how he was as a wrestler. I will post my thoughts on what I saw.

Dara Singh v. KingKong

 

A 5-minute clipped version of what looks like a really heated match. The first thing you notice is how physically energetic Dara Singh is. He jumps into every move, every hold, and gives off a real physical charisma that is like proto-Goldberg. It also seems to be a relatively fast-paced match for its times, and I love the grunts of attrition Singh makes every time he makes a move. It is deep, it is dirty, it is gritty, and it is really good. While he is no Jim Breaks when it comes to fluidity of holds, there is a real snap to it that is nice to watch. Again, too short to understand the finer attributes, but he sells exhaustion and weariness really well - most probably because he is exhausted and weary - and it adds another layer to his fiery comebacks. All in all, I can see why he became a huge icon here, and make no mistake, his mainstream penetration and popularity here far surpasses any American in their home country, although there are obvious cultural differences there that also play their part.

 

I will try to find more footage. I do know that he had matches with Thesz in India and England and Rikidozan in Japan that are considered legendary and memorable, but I haven't been able to find any footage of them.

[Matt D]

Judy Martin from my microscope thread.

 

"No Class" Bobby Bass per various old Wrestling Cultures, this post on DVDVR, and something Dylan will add in to fill in the gap.

[floyd]

Hey I just realized was Konnan ever nominated. dont think he wouldlve made my 100, but forgot about him completely

 

edit: my apologies shoulve put this post in another topic and can't figure out how to delete it..