[2017-12-16-ESW] Josh Barnett vs Timothy Thatcher

[superkix]

Nothing spectacular but a refreshing, simplistic exhibition with good struggle on the mat and suplexes that felt important. For a guy who doesn’t wrestle much, Barnett showed good agility, and his takedowns and transitions looked better than Thatcher, who was, more or less, on auto-pilot here. There wasn't much heat to this, the crowd was weird, and the selling was minimal but Barnett's strikes and suplexes looked great (poor Thatcher doesn't know how to throw a good kick) and the finish was cool, with Barnett laying into Thatcher with a stiff combo in the corner to set up the Capture Buster.

[Rah]

This was a little awkward at times due to their positioning in holds (accidentally causing rope-breaks and moving to prevent them) but I thought they delivered some nice moments on the mat. Thatcher dead-lift suplexing Barnett was crazy but I had wished they kept to the mat than go strike-for-strike as these two aren't really lighting the world on fire with their punches. I'm almost sure Thatcher had great offence in 2015 (a helluva uppercut, at any rate) but his boot and elbows looked a little weak here - Barnett even more so. I thought Barnett actively dragged this down with his control segments and finish. Thatcher crumpling after a kick that whiffed air was also a little jarring.

This newish rise in MMA guys doing pro wrestling is set to provide some really great opportunities and match-ups but it's definitely not happening with Barnett.

[Edwin]

Josh Barnett isn't new to pro-wrestling, he was on New Japan cards many years before Timothy Thatcher had even made his debut... Thatcher also trains Catch Wrestling under him. He also has worked many of Inoki's IGF tours in the past.

 

I really enjoyed this. The grappling exchanges were far better than the majority of the grappling exchanges you'll see in most matches as they are at least somewhat trying to lock in the proper technique on most of their sub attempts. Also there's a constant struggle on the ground and it just doesn't seem like they are allowing each other to freely transition. Barnett's strikes in the corner were fantastic, as was his capture suplex.

 

My biggest knock on this wast Barnett's head kick which barely grazed Thatcher and Thatcher's early body punches which looked really bad. Aside from that, I would also mention that silent crowd was annoying.

 

I don't get the lack of selling comment. There wasn't any extensive work on any particular body part or anything that I really felt required it. They did sell fatigue, but that may be more or so due to them being somewhat gassed.

 

Overall, I thought this was very good.

 

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