My 8 Favorite Matches

[floyd]

I think I'm getting too old and jaded for wrestling. Nothing stood out for me this year so far.

 

Any suggestions to what I should check out is appreciated!

 

Here's what Ive seen so far!:

 

February 2009 (Since it's eligible in the voting)

 

KENTA Vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima (Kensuke Office - 2/11/09) - Saw this pimped as a high MOTYC but didn't love it as much. Epic feel with the long length for the Jr. title. Sometimes epic is 10 minutes too long. ***3/4

 

RAW Elimination Chamber (WWE - 2/15/09) - Final moments is what makes this match great with Cena getting eliminated right away. ***3/4

 

Yuji Nagata Vs. Hirooki Goto (NJ - 2/15/09) ***1/2

 

Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (NJ - 2/15/09) - Solid title match. Can Nakamura beat that punk Tanahasi again? ****

 

The Dynasty Vs. Paul London & The Young Bucks (PWG - 2/21/09) - Even Paul London blowing every 3rd move he tried didn't detract from this fun 6-man main event. ***3/4

 

Christian Vs. Jack Swagger (ECW - 2/24/09) - Great TV match but not the MOTYC I've heard. What the hells wrong with me? ***1/2

[floyd]

March 2009 (First couple of weeks)

 

Takashi Sugiura & Go Shiozaki Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Milano Collection AT (NOAH 3/1/09) - Hot crowd. I'm really digging these NJ VS. NOAH tags. ****

 

Katsuhiko Nakajima Vs. KENTA (NOAH - 3/1/09) - Awesome title match for free agent Nakajima's Jr. title. Can KENTA bring it home? ****1/2

 

Jay Briscoe Vs. Roderick Strong (ROH - 3/13/09) - Good short opener. ***1/2

 

Kaz Hayashi Vs. Minoru (AJ - 3/14/09) - Good ending but kinda dragged on for me and my Russo-like attention span. ***1/2

 

Ultimate X Match (TNA - 3/15/09) - Guys busted their ass but I didnt go crazy like I should've. I'm becoming numb To Ultimate X matches, not good. ***

 

Nigel McGuinness Vs. KENTA (ROH - 3/21/09) - Nigel was FUCKED with both arms out of action so they built the story around it. He refused to go down! Didn't hear much from this match but I really like it. ****

[floyd]

Been watching some more

 

El Generico Vs. Jigsaw Vs. Kota Ibushi Vs. Nick Jackson (Chikara - 3/28/09) - Short but really fun 4-way match. Spotfest spotfest spotfest. ***3/4

 

Mistico Vs. Negro Casas (CMLL 2/3 Falls - 3/28/09) - Mistico defends his title against old man Casas. I'm overrating this, but it was really fun with Casas pulling out all the stops and shocking the world! ****1/4

 

Roderick Strong Vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima (ROH - 4/3/09) - Great opener, maybe the best all year. ***3/4

 

KENTA Vs. Davey Richards (ROH - 4/3/09) - Hard hitting action to a super hot crowd. I liked this tons more on my replay. ****1/2

 

KENTA & Tyler Black Vs. Katushiko Nakajima & Austin Aries (ROH - 4/4/09) - Two feuds mix together in this dream tag team match-up. Last few minutes are awesome. ***3/4

 

Money In the Bank Ladder Match IV (WWE - 4/5/09) - OK MOTY match. Hornswoggle brought his own ladder. Shelton kills himself again and doesn't get a push. ***1/4

 

Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker (WWE - 4/5/09) - Awesome main event atmosphere. Will most likely win MOTY on most lists. ****1/4

 

Negro Casas Vs. Mistico (CMLL 2/3 Falls - 4/18/09) - The rematch! Featured 300% more Casas prancing. ****

 

American Wolves Vs. Bryan Danielson & Tyler Black (ROH - 4/18/09) - From Tag Title classic. And it's really good but I don't rate it as high as others have. ***3/4

 

Edge Vs. John Cena (WWE - Last Man Standing - 4/26/09) - Surprised how much I liked this. Lots of dramatic moments of people trying to get up to stop the count. ****

 

Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Hirooki Goto (NJ - 5/3/09) - Solid defense in their long awaited rematch. Both guys are exhausted at the end. ***3/4

 

Kensuke Sasaki & Morishima Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Go Shiozaki (NOAH - 5/6/09) - Finals of the tag league. Shiozaki basically gets killed but doesn't give up. Morishima & Sasaki are awesome as a tag team. ****1/4

[floyd]

Jumping around now:

 

Jerry Lynn Vs. Bryan Danielson Vs. Tyler Black Vs. Austin Aries (ROH - Taped: 4/12/09 - Aired: 6/6/09) - Fantastic 4-way match for the ROH World title. Best TV match of the year so far. ****1/4

 

Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega Vs. Dino & Yoshihiko (DDT - 5/4/09) - After Jack Evans gets hurt mid-match a famous WWE superstar takes his place. ***3/4

 

Shingo Vs. Yoshino Vs. KAGETORA Vs. Cyber Kong (DG Elimination Match - 5/5/09) - Fun 4-way elimination match with lots of spots and Cyber Kong throwing midgits around. ***3/4

 

Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada Vs. Takashi Sugiura & Atsushi Aoki (NJ - 5/5/09) - Yet another awesome NOAH Vs. NJ tag. A bit better than the 3/1 one. ****1/4

 

Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Chris Jericho (WWE Judgment Day - 5/17/09) - The feud begins in a good match. ***1/2

 

Edge Vs. Jeff Hardy (WWE Judgment Day - 5/17/09) - OK match for Edge's title. ***1/4

 

KENTA & Go Shiozaki Vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima (NOAH - 6/22/09) KENTA/Nakajima brings the kicks, Go/Sasaki brings the chops. ***3/4

 

The Young Bucks Vs. 2 Skinny Black Guys (PWG - 7/31/09) - A high MOTYC for alot of people I didn't get as into this. The final few minutes were awesome. ***1/2

[floyd]

Masato Yoshino Vs. CIMA (DG - 3/22/09) - GONNA SEE SOON

 

Naruki Doi Vs. Koji Kanemoto (DG - 3/22/09) - GONNA SEE SOON

 

Yuko Miyamoto & Takashi Sasaki Vs. Masashi Takeda & Isami Kodaka (BJ - 3/26/09) - GONNA SEE SOON

 

Taiji Ishimori Vs. Kota Ibushi (DDT - 4/5/09) ***1/2

 

Tomohiro Ishii Vs. Wataru Inoue (LOCK-UP - 4/12/09) - Stiff and exhausting back-and-forth battle. Kinda like Kobahsi Vs. Sasaki but smaller. ****1/4

 

John Morrison vs. Evan Bourne (ECW - 4/14/09) - Great ECW TV match. ***3/4

 

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Koji Kanemoto Vs. Takeshi Morishima & Kota Ibushi (NJ - 5/5/09) - Fun NJ Vs. NOAH tag, especially Ibushi. I would love to see a Tanahasi Vs. Morishima title match. ***1/2

 

American Wolves Vs. Kevin Steen & Bryan Danielson (ROH - 5/9/09) ***1/2

 

KENTA Vs. Jun Akiyama (NOAH - 5/17/09) OK match with Jr. champ taking on the World champion. People seemed to like this tons more than me. ***1/2

 

F.I.S.T. Vs. The Colony (Chikara Hair vs. Masks - 5/24/09) All the marbles are on the line! Oh no ref bump! ****

 

American Wolves Vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (ROH Tables match - 5/30/09) ***1/2

 

Milano Collection A.T. Vs. Prince Devitt (NJ - 5/30/09) - Short but muy excellante match in the BOSJ tourn! ****

 

Kota Ibushi Vs. Koji Kanemoto (NJ - 5/30/09) ***1/2

 

X-Division King of the Mountain (TNA - 6/21/09) I'm the only guy who actually likes the funky King of the Mountain rules. And this match ruled. ****

 

BxB Hulk Vs. Yamato (DG USA - 7/25/09, Aired: 9/4/09) - Great opener to probably the best show of the year. ***3/4

 

Hallowicked, Amasis, Gran Akuma & Icarus Vs. Fire Ant, Solider Ant, Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw (DG USA - 7/25/09, Aired: 9/4/09) - Chikarariffic! Great sampler platter. Non-stop action and antics. ****1/4

 

The Young Bucks Vs. Susumu Yokosuka & CIMA (DG USA - 7/25/09, Aired: 9/4/09) ****

 

Naruki Doi Vs. Singo Takagi (DG USA - 7/25/09, Aired: 9/4/09) ***3/4

[floyd]

KENTA Vs. Ricky Marvin (NOAH - 6/4/09) ***3/4

 

Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Chris Jericho (WWE Extreme Rules - 6/7/09) - No-DQ match and Rey looking for revenge! ***1/2

 

Edge Vs. Jeff Hardy (WWE Ladder match - 6/7/09) ***3/4

 

American Wolves Vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (ROH Submission match - 6/13/09) ***1/2

 

Koji Kanemoto Vs. Prince Devitt (NJ Jr. finals - 6/14/09) - BOSJ finals! ****

 

Manabu Nakanishi Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJ - 6/20/09)

American Wolves Vs. KENTA & Roderick Strong (ROH - 6/26/09)

Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Chris Jericho (WWE Mask Vs. Title - 6/28/09

 

CM Punk Vs. Jeff Hardy (WWE TLC match - 8/23/09) ****

[floyd]

Dragon Kid Vs. Masato Yoshino (DG USA - Taped 9/6/09, Aired: 11/6/09) ***3/4

 

Naruki Doi Vs. Bryan Danielson (DG USA - Taped 9/6/09, Aired: 11/6/09) - Great well paced match. Doi's getting really good. ****

 

Davey Richards Vs. Shingo (DG USA - Taped 9/6/09, Aired: 11/6/09) - Davey Richards is looking more like the Dynamite Kid every match (hopefully minus the social problems) ****1/4

 

Chris Hero Vs. Bryan Danielson (ROH - 9/18/09) - Dragon takes on that young Knock Out kid! (Part II) ***3/4

 

Austin Aries Vs. Bryan Danielson (ROH - 9/19/09) - His tour continues againt the World champ. ***1/2

 

Kurt Angle Vs. Desmond Wolfe (TNA - 11/5/09) - Kinda disappointed given the hype it got. Still a good match, these guys work well together. ***3/4

 

AJ Styles Vs. Samoa Joe Vs. Christopher Daniels (TNA - 11/5/09) - Not as good as their classic one but still a great match! All 3 guys looked great especially Samoa Joe who at times looked like his 2005 version. ****1/2

[floyd]

Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Chris Jericho (WWE Mask Vs. Title - 6/28/09) - Im in the minority but I still like this better than the Taker/HBK match. The mask is on the line and the nearfalls are dramatic. Maybe the best babayface and heel in the WWE (IMO). ****1/4

 

El Generico Vs. Shingo Takagi (PWG - 9/4/09) - Awesome! A very nice surprise. ****1/4

 

Chris Hero Vs. Bryan Danielson (PWG - 9/4/09) - Danielson takes on that young Knock Out kid! (part I)

 

Davey Richards Vs. Bryan Danielson (ROH - 9/25/09) - I shouldve liked this more but dfidnt get into it. Near 40 minute back and forth match from 2 of the indys best in 2009. ****

 

The American Wolves Vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (ROH Ladder - 9/26/09)

 

Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuinness (ROH - 9/26/09)

[floyd]

Opps double-posted.

 

Kurt Angle Vs. Desmond Wolfe (TNA Final Resolution - 12/20/09) - Like it better than the more taunted 2st match, finish kinda dragged. The main problem was it was free Niquil-dose night at Orlando studios cause the audience was dead. ***3/4

 

AJ Styles Vs. Christopher Daniels (TNA Final Resolution - 12/20/09) - Great match for Styles World title. Neat counters and moves. Danielson looked like a main eventer. ****

[DocSarpolis]

I'm with you on the Mistico-Negro Casas matches. Criminally underrated in my opinion. Especially considering all of the deserved praise for the Mysterio-Jericho matches which borrowed more than a little from this rivalry. I ranked the one from March as Top 5 of the year.

[floyd]

Yeah sadly I havent seen too much lucha libre in well, this decade. But I am a fan of negro Casas and it's cool to see him in a feud against #1 guy Mistico. And both matches were really good. I heard they had a Mask Vs. Hair match on the 76th show (9/19/09), I've been hoping to check that out too.

[DocSarpolis]

Yeah sadly I havent seen too much lucha libre in well, this decade. But I am a fan of negro Casas and it's cool to see him in a feud against #1 guy Mistico. And both matches were really good. I heard they had a Mask Vs. Hair match on the 76th show (9/19/09), I've been hoping to check that out too.

It's not as great as the other two, but still good.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Those Mistico/Casas matches are awful.

[floyd]

Yeah sadly I havent seen too much lucha libre in well, this decade. But I am a fan of negro Casas and it's cool to see him in a feud against #1 guy Mistico. And both matches were really good. I heard they had a Mask Vs. Hair match on the 76th show (9/19/09), I've been hoping to check that out too.

It's not as great as the other two, but still good.

 

 

Cool thanks DocSarpolis! I'll try and check it out!

 

Those Mistico/Casas matches are awful.

Doh! Ohtani's jacket hates a match I thought was awesome. What a surprise! :-P I admit my lucha libre is 0.01% if not less than your knowledge but I still liked Casas in the 2000's gunning for the #1 Mistico's belt. Lots of unnecessary high spots especially in the 3rd fall but I still thought both matches were great.

 

What's your picks for Best match(es) of 2009 so I can check the out too?

 

******************************************************

Alexander Otsuka Vs. Yujiro Yamamoto (Battle Arts - 2/15/09) - I've been seeing MOTYC all over the place for this one. I just don't see it. But then again I don't think Mark Henry's all that either. Someone get me those glasses from "They Live" and maybe then I might. ***

 

Manabu Nakanishi Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJ - 5/6/09) - Yeah right! Like Nakanishi's got a chance in hell in winning the IWGP title! ***3/4

 

Yoshihiro Takayama Vs. Suwama (AJ - 8/30/09) - A manly match. With manly men doing manly things. Ending was AWESOME. But Takayama's getting to the Scott Hall/Misawa level where I feel bad seeing him in the ring. ***3/4

 

Randy Orton Vs. John Cena (WWE I-Quit match - 9/13/09) - You know the story was really great some of the time. Other times it was really boring. Cena just won't quit! ***1/2

 

American Wolves & Chris Hero Vs. Bryan Danielson, Roderick Strong & KENTA (ROH - 9/21/09) - Dream TV match. ***3/4

 

Hirooki Goto Vs. Masato Tanaka (NJ - 11/8/09) - Not as good as I expected, but still worth seeing. Tanaka's ripped lately! ***1/2

 

Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJ - 11/8/09) - Nah I liked their Feb match alot more. Nakamura brings those knees. ***1/4

 

Jun Kasai Vs. Ryuji Ito (BJW Razor Board - 11/20/09) - The Tokyo Sports MOTY. It was good but I dunno about MOTY. A rematch A long time coming. They had a cross shaped board with razor blades sticking out of it. Lots of cool moments. ***3/4

[DocSarpolis]

That 1st Casas-Mistico match from March was an instant classic for me. I loved that match. I had zero expectations going in and after it was over I was marking out like I was a kid at WrestleMania. Also, it was the match that convinced me that Negro Casas is on the short-list of best workers in the world.

 

And Floyd, I see your reviewed the Tanahashi-Nakanishi match where Nak wins the title. Did you see the 6/20/09 rematch? I didn't go back and check so you may have, but if you haven't be sure and check it out. It lacks the dramatic, feel-good moment of 2009 that was the surprise Nak title win, but I think it's the superior match.

[ohtani's jacket]

What's your picks for Best match(es) of 2009 so I can check the out too?

The only good lucha last year was from IWRG and Arena Puebla. Check out Zatura vs. Trauma II and the locals trios matches. The only good match I saw from Japan was the Futen mainevent. It was a bad year for wrestling.

[floyd]

I've given up on 2009 watching... for now.... :-P

 

Best of the Decade watchings:

 

Tomokai Honma Vs. Ryuji Yamakawa (Big Japan Barbed Wire Boards Spike Nail Boards Deathmatch - 1/2/00) - I'm not into Deathmatches but this was really good. As impressive as alot of the barbed wire moves were, the most amazing one was Tomokai Honma Barbed-wire-free running 360 dive to the outside! ****

 

CIMA Vs. Minoru Fujita (Mpro - 1/9/00) - Started off OK but got really good at the end. Both guys used that uppercut move from Streetfighter 2 alot. ****

 

Tajiri Vs. Super Crazy (ECW Mexican Deathmatch - 1/15/00) - One of my favs from late ECW. Anything goes. Both guys gets busted open and a few tables get bent. Best ECW match in TNN history? ****1/4

 

Kenta Kobashi Vs. Toshiaki Kawada (All Japan - 1/17/00) - Ok match. Started off good but tapered from then on. Kobashi took 3 headdrops here that should've ended his career. ***

 

Michael Modest Vs. Christopher Daniels (All Pro Wrestling - 1/22/00) - Pretty good match continuing their indy feud into 2000. This was for ALL the marbles, the prestigious Internet championship! Finishing move was NASTY. ***1/2

 

HHH Vs. Cactus Jack (WWF Streetfight - 1/23/00) - Voted #18 Best match in the PWT Top100. Mankind was getting his ass handed to him, so he left town and Cactus Jack's back! I love this match. Anything goes streetfight that helped cement Vince McMahon's favorite son's reign. ****3/4

 

Vader Vs. Jun Akiyama (All Japan - 1/23/00) - I think I'm the only one who likes Vader All-Japan run. Akiyama tries to take the Triple Crown early! ***3/4

 

DX & The Radicalz Vs. The Rock, Cactus Jack & 2 Cool (WWF - 2/7/00) - The Radicalz turncoats joined DX. So Rock and Cactus are looking for payback. The crowd heat for this RAW tag is OFF THE CHARTS. ****1/4

[floyd]

2009 Wrestling Observer Awards are out. Here's the Top 10:

 

WORKED MATCH OF THE YEAR

 

 

 

1. UNDERTAKER VS. SHAWN MICHAELS 4/5 HOUSTON (304) 2,110

 

2. Davey Richards vs. Shingo Takagi 9/6 Chicago (81)855

 

3. KENTA vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima 3/1 Tokyo (51)737

 

4. Bryan Danielson vs. Naruki Doi 9/6 Chicago (66)706

 

5. KENTA & Go Shiozaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima 6/22 Tokyo (63)517

 

6. Davey Richards vs. KENTA 4/3 Houston (29)432

 

7. Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho 6/28 Sacramento (19)322

 

8. Bryan Danielson vs. Davey Richards 9/25 Boston (19)199

 

9. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels vs. A.J. Styles 11/15 Orlando (4)187

 

10. KENTA vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima 2/11 Tokyo (2)143

 

HONORABLE MENTION: Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima 12/27/08 New York 143, Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe 11/15 Orlando, John Cena vs. Randy Orton 9/13 Montreal 112, C.M. Punk vs. Jeff Hardy 8/25 Phoenix 90, Rey Mysterio vs. John Morrison 9/1 Cleveland 82

[floyd]

Dang 2000's kickass so far.

 

******************************************

 

Naoki Sano Vs. Minoru Tanaka (Battle Arts - 2/13/00) - Shootystyle match. For some reason the commentators sound like Giant Baba and that other guy from 90's AJ. Battle Arts matches (or are they bouts) are always hit and miss for me. But this one was really good. Matwork and submission attempts to start then they finished like it was a NJ match. Very good stuff. ****

 

Aja Kong Vs. KAORU (GAEA - 2/13/00) - Hardcore match where pretty KAORU gets bloodied up :-( and Kong sells as good as any monster has ever done. Lots of plunder. ***1/2

 

Vader Vs. Toshiaki Kawada (All Japan - 2/17/00) - Short but good match. Kawada came in with a gameplan. Ending was neat with both guys almost out on their feet and slugging it out. ***1/2

 

Mike Awesome Vs. Masato Tanaka (ECW TNN - 2/18/00) - It's hard to rate all these Awesome/Tanaka matches cause they'll all the same. Same spots, same sequences, same chairs and brain cell loss {yawn}. But problem is the formula kicks so much ass. ***3/4

 

Abdullah Jr. Kobyashi Vs. Tomokai Honma (Big Japan Barbed Wire Boards Ladder Death Match - 2/22/00) - Before the match Abdullah Jr. invites Honma to his house (for a BBQ?) and freaks him out by putting his hand in white hot sand and breaking beer bottles with his chops. Some crazy spots (such as Honma's hurricanranna going bad and ending up being squshed from the top rope to the floor and board)... but never got into this one. **1/2

 

Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Jun Akiyama (All Japan - 2/27/00) - It's Akiyama's decade but first he has to put his loser ex-tag team partner out to pasture. Just an awesome match. Great moves and intensity from both guys and the crowd was hot. ****1/2

 

Vader Vs. Kenta Kobashi (All Japan - 2/27/00) - Vader defends the Triple Crown against Kobashi. Kobashi's got busted up ribs which Vader works over. But Kobashi won't stay down! ***1/2

 

HHH Vs. Cactus Jack (WWE Hell in the Cell - 2/27/00) - Voted #49 Best match in the PWT Top 100. Cactus gets another shot at the title, but this time if he loses he must retire! Jack's got the advantage though cause it's inside the diabolical cell. Great follow up to their MOTDC at the Rumble and has the drama of maybe being Cactus last match ever. ****1/4

[kjh]

It's Akiyama's decade but first he has to put his loser ex-tag team partner out to pasture.

Well, that may have been the plan at the time, but things really didn't turn out that way. Jun Akiyama was probably the underachiever of the decade and it was more Misawa's decade than Akiyama's.

[floyd]

Dick Togo vs. Super Delfin (Osaka Pro 1/4/00) - Long hard fought battle. Dick lives up to his name with help from his cronies and a chair. ***1/4

 

Daisuke Ikeda & Mitsu Nagai vs. Alexander Otsuka & Yuki Ishikawa (BattlARTS 2/13/00) - This was pretty much just a 20 minute squash with Nagai treating Otsuka and Ishikawa like 80's jobbers. Once again BattlARTS flies over my head. *1/2

 

Atlantis Vs. Villano III (EMLL Mask Vs. Mask - 3/17/00) - Wrestling Observer 2000 MOTY. Voted the 83rd Greatest Match of All time in the PWT Top 100. Only 1 Fall and both guys get wiped out and bloodied right off the bat by a dive. So the rest of the match is all drama as to which legend gets unmasked! ****1/4

 

HHH Vs. The Rock (WWF Backlash - 4/26/00) - This had alot of elements from the awesome Dude Love/Austin match in 98. Wasn't as good here but still lots of fun moments and many angles (Vince/Austin, Linda/Stephanie, Hebner 's return). HHH is defending the World title. Rock's looking for payback from WM. Best part was substitutes Brisco and Patterson both running out as refs and then stomping on the Rock in the middle of the ring. Rudo refs! ***3/4

 

Sugar Sato vs. KAORU (OZ 5/6/00) - Anything goes Garbage match. One spot had KAORU get stuffed in a barrel and Sato slammed it with a sledgehammer. ***

[floyd]

The Dudleyz Vs. Edge & Christian Vs. The Hardy Boyz (WWF Ladder Match - 4/2/00) - I think this match is forgotten but it really is the first TLC match of their series as all 3 plunders get involved. ****1/4

 

El Hijo Del Santo Vs. Blue Panther (Monterrey - 2/3 Falls - 4/9/00) - Awesome mat match with nifty counters and submissions. I actually liked this a bit more than Atlantis/Villano III. That ref must've been a Black Shadow fan. How is the Blue Panther not in the Hall of Fame? ****1/4

 

Dr. Cerebro Vs. Ultimo Vampiro (IWRG - 2/3 Falls - 5/11/00) - This match has everything going right but I just didn't get into it. Fans were asleep too which didn't help. ***1/2

 

The Rock Vs. Triple H (WWF Ironman - 5/21/00) - HHH goes one-on-one with the great one for sixty minutes. Voted the 66th Greatest Match of All time in the PWT Top 100. Smartly worked hour and a big change from the Bret/HBK no falls contest. ****1/4

 

Chris Benoit Vs. Steven Regal (WWF - 5/25/00) - From the Brian Pillman memorial. Short but great match. ****

 

El Hijo Del Santo Vs. Blue Panther (Monterrey - 2/3 Falls - 5/28/00) - At certain points this was even better than the 1st one, but the whole ref thing distracted and took away from the match. It was like Santo Jr. was the Rock from Backlash (with Stone Cold Super Porky!). ***3/4

 

Mitsuharu Misawa & Akira Taue Vs. Jun Akiyama & Kenta Kobashi (NOAH - 2/3 Falls - 8/5/00) - Debut show for NOAH brings out their big guns for the main event. Historical but OK match. Seeing the ref use CPR on Misawa was creepy. A stinky betrayal happens after the match! ***1/4

[floyd]

Tiger Mask IV & The Great Sasuke Vs. CIMA & Sumo Dandy Fuji 2000 (Toryumon - 6/4/00) - Losing team must face each other after the match in either a Hair Vs. Hair or Mask Vs. Mask. ***

 

CIMA Vs. Sumo Dandy Fuji 2000 (Toryumon Hair Vs. Hair - 6/4/00) - Spoiler: It's Hair Vs. Hair. Who are you to doubt Sumo Dandy Fuji 2000? **3/4

 

Shinjiro Ohtani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa Vs. Koji Kanemoto & Minoru Tanaka (NJ - 6/25/00) - Ohtyani & Takaiwa are defending the Jr. tag belts. Man too bad only the last 10 minutes was aired. This was awesome and had a white-hot crowd. ****1/4

 

HHH Vs. Chris Jericho (WWF Last Man Standing - 7/23/00) - HHH is looking for revenge after Jericho kissed his wife and kinda/sorta won the World title. Jericho's ribs are all jacked. HHH thinks it's a RAW jobber match but is surprised to find himself bloodied up at the end. ****

 

The Rock Vs. Chris Benoit (WWF - 7/23/00) - The Rock defends the World title against newcomer Chris Benoit. Special rule: If someone is DQ'ed the title can change hands. ***3/4

 

Psicosis Vs. Yoshiro Tajiri (ECW - 8/19/00) - Great ECW match. Tajiri was awesome in 2000. ****

 

Mitsu Nagai Vs. Alexander Otsuka (BattlArts 9/7/00) - Finals of a tournament. Kicks and things. ***1/4

 

Chiyako Nagashima Vs. Mayumi Ozaki (GAEA - 9/15/00) - Russo-like scenario where Ozaki comes out handcuffed with a female cop and they make out later on. ***

 

Toshiaki Kawada Vs. Kensuke Sasaki (NJ - 10/9/00) - Stiff war between New Japan and All Japan in the Dome. They just keep hitting each other until one guy cant get up. Don't think it's as kickass as some say but great atmosphere. ****

 

Toshiaki Kawada Vs. Genricho Tenryu (AJ - 10/28/00) - Great match for the vacant Triple Crown. ****1/4

 

Chiyako Nagashima & Toshie Uematsu Vs. Sugar Sato & Sonoko Kato (GAEA - 11/23/00) - Fun high-paced woman's tag! ***3/4

 

Steve Corino Vs. Cham Pain (OMEGA - 12/1/00) - It's ECW Vs. OMEGA World titles! Corino comes into town to put OMEGA out of business. ***1/2

 

Chigusa Nagayo Vs. KAORU (GAEA - 12/17/00) - I really liked this one. Garbage match with bats and stuff but old school Nagayo doesn't need all that stuff. Tables that weren't supposed to break do and tables that were do not. ****

 

Kenta Kobashi Vs. Jun Akiyama (NOAH - 12/23/00) - Revenge match Part 2. Slow at points (40 min.) but some great stuff too. Kobashi's eye is completely closed at the end like Rocky Balboa. ****

[floyd]

Toshiaki Kawada Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (AJ - 3/31/00) - From the Champions Carnival. But instead of their annual 30 min. draw, they go about 15 with a faster paced match. ***1/2

 

Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Kenta Kobashi (AJ - 4/11/00) - This never gets talked about but I think it's really great. Match in the Champions Carnival. Not as long as their late 90's epics. ****1/4

 

Toshiaki Kawada & Genichiru Tenryu Vs. Stan Hansen & Maunakea Mossman (AJ - 7/23/00) - Tenryu's back! Started off great kinda tapered off later. Fun to see Hansen and Tenryu against each other. Mossman plays Johnny Ace. Toshiaki Kawada plays Toshiaki Kawada. ***3/4

 

FBI Vs. Mikey Whipwreck & Yoshihiro Tajiri (ECW - 8/26/00) - If the FBI fails to win the ECW World Tag title they must break up! ***1/2

 

Scott Steiner Vs. Bill Goldberg (WCW - 9/17/00) - I really never got into this like alot of others have. The Hulk meets Superman. Why can't Russo ever get lost to the ring like Jericho? ***

 

6-Man Hell in the Cell (WWF - 12/10/00) - Angle's getting screwed! All 6 guys get busted open and that dumbass McMahon lets them loose from the cage! Not as great as some think, but the effort and uniqueness of the match makes it recommended. ***1/2

 

Yuji Nagata & Takashi Iizuka Vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Masa Fuchi (NJ - 12/14/00) - It's New Japan Vs. All Japan! Hot crowd for the PPV. The All Japan crew comes in and treats New Japan like the jobbers they are. Ending stretch is very good. ****1/2

 

Three Count Vs. The Jung Dragons (WCW Ladder match - 12/17/00) - These guys went all out, too bad WCW was going down the tubes. If only more of their roster had as much enthusiasm... ***3/4

 

El Hijo Del Santo Vs. Dr. Cerebro (IWRG - 2/3 Falls - 12/21/00) - Seems like I'm overrating this, might watch it again later. But it clicked for me at the time. Great match where Dr. Cerebro must have gotten his doctorate in awesome matwork. (Santo Jr.'s got tenure) ****1/4

 

El Hijo Del Santo Vs. Blue Panther (CMLL - 1/28/01) - Another great match this time in front of a quiet but respectful Japanese crowd. ****

 

El Hijo Del Santo Vs. Dr. Cerebro (IWRG - 2/3 Falls - 2/22/01) - This time round Dr. Cerebro's definitely a heel, attacking Santo Jr. before the bell and ripping at his mask. He gets his comeuppance though as his white mask turns completely red by the end. ***3/4

 

El Hijo Del Santo Vs. Dr. Cerebro (IWRG - Mask Vs. Mask 2/3 Falls - 3/1/01) - Their feud finally makes it to the ultimate: A Mask Vs. mask match! I don't think it's quite as great as their earlier ones, but lots of drama. ***3/4

[smkelly]

Scott Steiner Vs. Bill Goldberg (WCW - 9/17/00) - I really never got into this like alot of others have. The Hulk meets Superman. Why can't Russo ever get lost to the ring like Jericho? ***

If I recall correctly, Steiner went ballistic with his "lead" pipe, but it took numerous shots to subdue Goldberg.

To be honest, I miss the days of WCW. The undercard was routinely good with the cruisers and tag teams, but the main event scene was abysmal for a long, long time.

 

Good thread though, I really like reading your comments.