[2000-08-19-MCW-TV] American Dragon vs Spanky

[soup23]

It had been a couple of weeks so we were due for Spanky and Dragon to be matched up against each other. We get the notice that due to SEC football, MCW is moving to 10:00 AM so 1 hour earlier. This match was given more time than usual and had more busted out from both competitors. Spanky starts out really hot and hits a springboard dive and belly to back suplex within the first two minutes. Dragon takes over and is stiff hitting some chops and a kick before trying to fire up a USA chant. Dragon then starts working over the arm of Spanky and you can see the glimpses of what made Danielson one of the best workers of all time right here. He has a viciousness but technical precision that is unmatched. Dragon continues the onslaught with Spanky getting in hope spots. Cattle Mutilation is applied by Spanky is too close to the ropes. Even the putrid MCW crowd is rallying behind Spanky because of how good the work is. Dragon locks in a choke that Spanky fights from before hitting a lot of big bombs including a face first suplex before going up top for the frog splash. Spanky rolls through that but gets kicked right in the face. We get a couple of nice replays showing Spanky reversing it into the bulldog earlier and the German Spanky delivered. Spanky delivers another high impact move but again Dragon crotches him climbing to the top. Dragon goes for a superplex but the referee gets wiped out when Dragon is shoved down. Spanky hits the frog splash and gets the visual pin. Dragon then takes a short cut with a low blow and a Cop Killah for the pin. This was a great match that got nearly 10 minutes and told a wonderful story. The progression of both is clear since January but Dragon especially is forming into a wonderful wrestler. I would put this match as essential viewing for a Danielson connoisseur. **** (7.8)

[Migs]

Dragon is really starting to find his movement in the ring and is looking more like the worker we'd all get to know and love. The counter with the flip off the ropes was pretty great. He's also starting to use submissions in a more recognizable way.

 

Great way to break the Cattle Mutilation while keeping it strong.

 

The pacing here compared to the January matches is so much better. Fast but logical. Great build in the spots, to a finish that would have been good if not for the ubiquitous ref bump.

 

I'd have this a little shy of ****, but this is still pretty great.

[Edwin]

This was another solid TV match. Both guys worked really hard and you can really see their improvement from throughout the year here. Danielson working as heel with that ugly TARO like mask and trying to get the fans to chant USA was unique. Danielson's Kudo Driver doesn't look as brutal as Homicide's, but its still a brutal move. There's also this really brutal big boot he tattoos on Spanky's face at one point. Very good stuff.

 

***1/2

[AstroBoy]

These two are getting this down to a great pace of seamlessly building in and out of impressive spots while chaining the story of the match along and keeping the crowd with them. It feels like Dragon, in particular, is starting to shoot higher in these matches and try for some bigger things. Spanky is just really great at taking his offense and working with him all around. It's funny looking at this stuff in retrospect because my instinct is to say that Spanky is a little underappreciated for his role across from Dragon. But at the time I'm pretty sure it would have been the other way around.

 

***1/2

[ohtani's jacket]

What is this? Bryan Danielson in a mask? Spanky? Is this part of Danielson's Blue Blazer period or something? The match was pretty good but it seemed to carry weight because it was early Danielson than being a legitimately good match from 2000. 

[GSR]

It transpires that this is for the MCW Light Heayweight title, so it looks like Al K.’s statement saw him vacate the belt which was the best outcome possible as it means we don’t have to see him wrestle.  Slight heel tendencies from Dragon as he makes his entrance, drawing away his hand as the fans try to slap it.  In amongst the opening exchanges there is a beautiful arm drag by Spanky.  A headscissors takes Dragon over the top rope to the outside where, as soon as he’s up to his feet, Spanky nails him with a springboard crossbody to the floor.  Belly to back suplex for two and it’s nice to see Spanky actually drive Dragon into the canvas with this, as opposed to just releasing and letting him drop.  Dragon uses the ropes to escape a backslide and catches Spanky with a suplex of his own.  A vicious sounding knife edge chop, snap mare out of the corner followed by a stiff kick to the back.  He works over the left arm before applying a cross armbar and Spanky is forced to reach for the ropes with his feet for the break.  ‘Cattle mutilation’ and luckily for him he’s again close enough to the ropes.  After being backdropped over the ropes, Spanky lands on the apron and a cool little slingshot roll up back in for a two.  Slingshot senton, but Dragon gets his knees up.  Spanky counters the attempted backdrop into a bulldog, and when Danielson charges, a drop toe hold sends him crashing head first into the middle turnbuckle.  Dragon reverses position on the go behind and slaps on the shininomaki.  Spanky fights his way out and hits a release German.  Face first suplex and he heads upstairs for a Swanton.   Dragon moves out of the way and although Spanky manages to roll through, is met by an almighty boot to the face.  He takes to the floor to try and grab a breather but gets wiped out with a suicide dive.  Spanky escapes the ‘Cop Killa’ and hits a ‘Snow Plough’ before heading back to the top.  Dragon meets him up there however Spanky is able to fight off the attempted suicideplex attempt.  In shoving him backwards he accidentally falls into the referee knocking him out.  Frog splash but there’s no-one to count the cover.  Dragon blocks the German with a mule kick, lands the ‘Cop Killa’ at the second time of asking and the official comes back around as we have a new MCW Light Heavyweight champion.

If we are going to get a match like this every week then I’ve no problem with a few sub-five minute matches taking place on the same TV episode.  Dragon and Spanky are given over ten minutes here and show what they can do; stiff strikes, focused limb work, innovation, scientific mat work, submissions along with some flying before really ramping things up for the final three minutes.  I mentioned it in the write up but I really liked the way that Spanky executed that belly to back suplex, trying to maximise the impact it would have on his opponent.  I also liked how, despite acting heelish on his entrance, Dragon wrestled thing clean right up until that low blow at the finish, showing that he’ll do whatever it takes to win even if that involves breaking the rules.  Best Memphis match so far.