If you could time travel, what wrestling would you watch?

[Cap]

I had this thought the other day and thought it would be fun to ask here, hoping it hasn't been done and beaten to death. I have been thinking this over a bit as a dork-exercise.

 

If you could time travel – after of course you kill the superbowl and bet on hitler or whatever - what matches or events would you move across time and space to see? Of course there are infinite ways to go about this, so I will just organize mine around 10 matches. Feel free to follow along or organize it in whatever way you want, obviously; you don’t need my permission. I’m just curious how people would prioritize live wrestling if they had every event at their disposal. I am choosing 10 because it a nice round number, gives me lots of matches to bullshit about, and is still really challenging

 

Mine is more or less organized around getting to see my favorites at their peak. All of these matches are elite in my eyes, but more to the point I chose them because I wanted to see my favorite wrestlers ever at the top of their game so I spread my choices out a bit.

 

Sangre Chicana vs MS-1 (9/23/1983): The first match that came to mind when I asked myself this was Sangre Chicana vs MS-1. It is a “remember where you were” kind of match to me. It is absolute art. Sangre Chicana is one of my all time favorites and this match is more or less the biggest reason. I love his matches with Satanico and Aguayo, but this is another level. To see his comeback haymakers live… to see the drama of this unfold… to see the early beatdown with Chicana’s mom trying to take are of him… electric. This is just such a top tier match and it would be atop my list of matches to see live if in this situation.

 

Shinobu Kandori vs Akira Hokuto (4/2/1993): This is another match that immediately came to mind, and another just absolute masterpiece. I feel like most people really focus on Hokuto in this feud and she is undeniably great, but Kandori is my favorite female wrestler ever and it may not be close. She has a handful of matches that I consider absolutely elite. She is one of the most balanced Joshi wrestlers I have ever seen. Her range is off the charts. This match speaks for itself and is 100% drama. I love it.

 

Eddie Guerrero vs JBL (5/16/2004): I know I am the high vote on this match in every way, but I think it is absolutely one of the most perfect and stunning performances I have ever seen. Eddie Guerrero is absolutely fire the second he appears on screen to the second he goes off. I could pontificate about why I love this match forever (more time than I want to take here), but I will just leave it at this: this match transcendent to me. It blurred the lines between real and staged in a way you can’t buy or plan and the blood bath only helped play up the race/class politics of the narrative. This is one of my absolute favorite matches and an all-time performance from Eddie

 

Stan Hansen/Terry Gordy vs Genichiro Tenryu/Toshiaki Kawada (12/16/1988): There are just so many All Japan matches I was considering and this made the cut for two main reasons. 1. It is one of my favorite tag team matches ever and 2. It includes four guys I would really like to see perform. I could/maybe should have made the move to include HDA vs Kobashi/Misawa match, but I loved the Hansen/Gordy team so much and this was their finest hour against two all time greats. Plus, this is a pretty top shelf performance from Kawada on the whole. I almost included Tenryu vs Jumbo from 5/6/89 here – a match I probably like better on the whole – but I am not sure I would have found room for Kawada or Gordy if that were the case.

 

Kenta Kobashi vs Mitsuharu Misawa (1/20/1997): Kenta Kobashi is one of my absolute favorites and I suspect would be one of the most enjoyable live wrestlers to ever walk God’s green. This is my favorite match of theirs; it just absolutely electric and fun from start to finish. The big fight feel, the mythos of Misawa, the connection Kobashi had with the crowd, I had to include something high profile from here and this was it. This might be my favorite feud ever and I had to include one of these matches.

 

Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig (11/21/1986): God I love Nick Bockwinkel and God I love this match. This is probably my favorite time limit match, just a masterpiece that builds layers and nuance with the best of them. When I was a kid I always had a high opinion of Hennig as well so to see him here (at probably his best) would also be a lot of fun. This is one that gets extra points for really being probably a top 10 match of all time to me too. I just cant speak highly enough of it.

 

Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuinness (8/12/2006): I have droned on elsewhere about why Danielson is my favorite ever, so I will save it. I have had the good fortune to see quite a few times in some awesome matches, but this is in my opinion his absolute best. I know it gets mixed reviews, but this was – in my mind – just a wonderful match, where just about everything was done right. Plus, the crowd during this match is melt-your-face hot and I would love to be part of that, especially to be one of the few dissenting Dragon supporters.

 

El Dandy vs El Satanico (12/14/1990): I really wanted to include Dandy/Santo/Casas here, but Satanico has become one of my favorite wrestlers over the last few years. I also really wanted to include the Satanico/Cochise match, but early ‘90s El Dandy might just be the best performer ever. This wasn’t really a “compromise” as much as it was a realization that I not only love this match, but it was perfect for this list. This is probably my second or third favorite lucha match, just electric drama.

 

Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (4/2/1989): My list wouldn’t be complete without a match from this trilogy and the 2/3 falls match is ultimately my favorite. I really love and am somewhat tempted by some of their earlier matches, but I have to go with this one. I am not going to say anything that hasn’t been said before so I will just leave it at “this is art – I love it – I want to see it”

 

Stan Hansen vs Kenta Kobashi (7/29/1993): Ok… for my 10^th match I cheated my own layout a little. There are plenty of reasons for me to not pick this match. I probably should put one of the Lawler/Dundee matches or Robinson/Baba or Funk/Tsuruta or Hart/Austin or any number of matches with people I have left out. Hell, I might even like the Kawada/Hansen match a little better, but these aren’t just two of the best wrestlers ever and not just two of my favorite… they have to be two of the most high energy fun wrestlers and this is the kind of match that makes you forget you aren’t a kid wrestling fan. It isn’t my favorite match ever, but it is a match I could watch 100 times and never tire of and I can’t imagine many matches would be more pure-wrestling-kid-in-a-candy-store-fun to watch live.

[Troy]

Megumi Kudo vs. Combat Toyoda 5/5/96

[Migs]

Would love to have been live for Punk-Cena at Money in the Bank 2011.

[G. Badger]

I would want to travel back in time to be able to catch a great feud build or a notable string of shows... sort of to be a "regular" for a month or two.

 

I would like to go back for any of the NJ vs UWF stuff in '86. Fujiwara or Maeda vs Fujinami in singles, tag, or elimination would be a must.

 

In that same vein, I love to be able to have witnessed Riki Choshu & co. vs Jumbo & Tenryu from the mid 80s. Even the 01/86 match by itself would suffice! I remember being surprised by this match, which is odd since its considered a classic. I never thought much of Choshu so, my expectations were low. This match totally changed my views.

 

My top pick would be to see the Jumbo vs Misawa feud. It would be great to see stuff from 06/90 up to the final tag league match of the year. That was just an great string of matches they put on. If I had to pick one, I'd go with their 10/19 6-man match. I was spellbound. I felt like I could have watched that match forever because the pacing and intensity was near perfect for the stage of the feud and the length of the contest.

[Jetlag]

I'd watch stuff that wasn't taped, I guess. Pre-2010 Futen, old european tournaments, untaped/clippeded BattlARTS, 70s joshi, UWA and indy lucha. Territory-wise basically anything that was hyped with a picture of a bloodbath in the mags.

[Phil Austin]

For me it would be 1989-1990. Fun times in the NWA and WWF, plus some good times in Japan too. (I'd obviously have to be able to travel geographically!)

[khawk20]

Lots of AWA matches that weren't taped or were but are lost to time.

 

Some Hennig/Race, Bock winning the title from Gagne in 1975, the Mad Dog-Verne feud, the Kalmikoffs, stuff like that.

[soup23]

I think being a Japanese diehard fan in the mid 1980's would have been incredible from a live perspective. You would have Choshu invading All Japan, New Japan vs. UWF and the emotional attachment of the AJW events like Dump vs. Chigusa.

[JKWebb]

I would love to experience Memphis back in the day. I think being part of that crowd would be a blast.

 

1. Lalwer/Dundee 6/6/83

2. Fabs/Moondogs 5/2/83

 

I would have to hit up some NWA/WCW - catch some Flair in his prime, one of the most violent matches ever, and an all-time fun classic.

3. Flair Funk 7/23/89

4. Magnum/Tully 11/28/85

5. Sting/Vader 12/28/92

 

Then I would head to Japan.

6. Misawa vs. Kobashi 1/20/97

 

I have to see Bock. I love Hennig too, so I'll go with the same.

7. Bock/Hennig 11/21/86

 

The most recent match I'd check out, is one of the most fun nights I've had watching wrestling with friends... I'd take us all to the arena for:

8. Cena/Punk MITB 2011

 

I want a good ol' Mania moment in there. I also want to see Piper, so adding:

9. Piper/Hart Mania 8 (watching the Portland set now, would love to have been apart of Piper's live reactions there)

 

I only have one left based on the ten idea. I'll then give my time machine to the Shockmaster so he can go back and time and save his career.

 

Gotta go for the moment - Savage/Warrior Mania 7.

 

Now that I think about it, I might have to remove Fabs/Moondogs for Royal Rumble 1992... that would be too much fun. For some reason I really want to see the Stan Hansen/Sting matches that didn't make tape. I have it in my head they are wild brawls like the Vader/Sting feud, and that I would love them... who knows...

[Matt D]

I'd want to see all of those Tuesday night shows when Portland was hot.

[JerryvonKramer]

If I could time travel, the main thing I would do is take my TARDIS to each and every one of the TV studios, and ensure that every single one of them had 100s of reels rather than just taping over the same stuff.

 

I'd make a visit to Sam Muchnick's office appearing like Zodd in Superman II, and would say these words:

 

"Mr. Muchnick, I am from the future. I am from the year 2016 with technology at my command beyond your wildest dreams. Future generations of wrestling fans will come to lament the hours of lost footage from this era. We from the future would like you to call an NWA meeting -- be sure to invite all of the major family heads, especially Eddie Graham and Dory Funk Sr, and stress the vital importance of preserving matches. Lest your vision of this great sport will be lost ... forever."

 

And then I'd stick around to ensure that he does it while asking loads of questions.

[victory]

Late 70's Crockett era for me. To be able to see some of those matches would be phenomenal. They had so much talent on that roster during those years.My second choice would be mid 80's AJPW. Love that era and style.

[LowBlowPodcast]

Summer of 1980 in the Mid South Territory to watch the feud with the JYD vs the Freebirds go and then head to the Superdome for the blow off and to see some undercard match between Andre and some Hogan guy...

[C.S.]

What if time travel already exists and that's how WWE was able to get the Last Battle of Atlanta footage?

 

I'd go back in time to see Abraham Lincoln wrestle and live through a fascinating historical period on top of that. Why not, right?

[NintendoLogic]

6/3/94 so I can dance in the stands with that one guy.

[Al]

I'd love to revisit a time and a place that presented pro wrestling live on a weekly basis. That's something we can't duplicate with technology today.

[Cap]

I would also have to go watch as many 80s early 90s lucha shows as I could.

 

I'd also go watch lots of live PR wrestling... especially that Hansen/Colon feud.

[stro]

I'd definitely go chill in Japan in about 1975-1979 and watch AJPW. Jumbo's meteoric rise. Baba when he could still go. All the gaijin who would come and be so much better there than in the states. 1970s AJPW is pretty much the best wrestling ever, imo. Just a wonderful time for grappling.

 

Then I'd bounce to about 1984, check out Memphis/Mid South/JCP when they were about as hot as they'd ever get. I'd also make sure I was at Beach Blast 1992.

[ohtani's jacket]

I'd want to go back to England in the 60s to see some of the British legends we don't have on tape. Or Mexico City in the early 80s.

[Matt D]

Even the UK in the 70s where there were so many matches that absolutely would never make TV all around the country on any given night. It's an element of British wrestling I feel like we don't have the least bit sense of. We're the blind man touching the elephant with WoS.

[elliott]

6/3/94 so I can dance in the stands with that one guy.

 

This is the best answer!

 

As for my picks, I'd basically go back and forth between being a Terry Funk & Sangre Chicana deadhead. I'd follow Terry around the Amarillo territory & through his days as NWA champ before finally moving to Mexico City in 77 or so to watch all of Sangre Chicana.

[joeg]

I'd want to go see something of huge historical signifigance. No wrestlers that I saw in person multiple times. Gotch Hackenschmidt. El Santo vs Cavernario. Or El Santo vs Black Shadow Mask vs Mask. El Santo vs Perro Mask vs Hair. Rikidozan and Kimura vs the Sharpe Brothers. World Class at the height of the Freebirds vs Von Erichs. I'd want to see Lawler and Funk. I'd want to see the everything Funks vs Sheik and Abdullah as that became my favorite feud ever while doing the best of the 70s project. I'd want to see the spectacle of an Onita era FMW Anniversary show. I'd want to see the Battle of Atlanta. I'd want to see the first 3 Starcades.

[Microstatistics]

My pick would be Jumbo vs. Tenryu 6/89. Not only is it maybe the best singles match ever (IMO), it might be the most influential match in the history of pro wrestling. Incredible atmosphere as well.

[Cap]

My pick would be Jumbo vs. Tenryu 6/89. Not only is it maybe the best singles match ever (IMO), it might be the most influential match in the history of pro wrestling. Incredible atmosphere as well.

I really thought about that one too.

 

 

I also like the idea of being a Chicana and Funk Deadhead.

 

 

I would definitely also go back and get the early Bockwinkel stuff we don't have on tape.

[ohtani's jacket]

Even the UK in the 70s where there were so many matches that absolutely would never make TV all around the country on any given night. It's an element of British wrestling I feel like we don't have the least bit sense of. We're the blind man touching the elephant with WoS.

The Wrestling Heritage site is a good place to visit to get a sense of what wrestling was like in the halls. And the old British Wrestling Archive site.

 

There's a lot of stuff that WOS didn't capture. Most of the title switches were untapped, for example, and even the title matches that did air were heavily clipped since the bouts would go anywhere between 12-15 rounds. Then there's the gimmick matches and blood they couldn't air on television. The famous mask matches, etc. WOS mostly aired Dale Martin shows and occasionally shows from the other Joint Promotions members, so there was stuff going on all the time within Joint that didn't make tape not to mention Paul Lincoln Promotions and the other independents. .

 

I imagine a lot of the stuff in the halls was like your typical house show fare in the States (the house show footage I've seen certainly has been), but there was likely a lot of great stuff too. Heritage members often share memories about the best matches they saw live.