Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 46: Steve Regal vs. Psicosis (Nitro 12/16/96)

Psicosis is out in a great white costume. Regal is the TV champ. A hot crowd there. Bischoff and Ted Dibiase are doing NWO heel commentary for this one. This is either going to be a complete train wreck or a neat meshing of styles. With Regal I expect a great match.

Right off the bat I’m struck by Regal being a good enough heel to work the crowd into a frenzy of cheering the non-English speaking Psicosis. Good job.

One thing that I enjoy about a Regal match is how he muscles guys into holds and reversals. Even when things doing go smoothly, he finds a way to make it look good in the context of pro wrestling fights. Psicosis is following along fine, which is what you do in a Regal match. When they reverse Regal sells the heck out of the arm for a moment. Psicosis gets to hit one of his dives (and sells after). This crowd is really hot for Psicosis and his big spots. His top rope leg drop (Alabama Jam to old Eaton fans. is beautiful.

Regal reverses with a belly-to-back suplex and they sell for a while. Both guys condensed the struggle down for TV time even better than earlier Benoit/Guerrero matches people rave about from thus set.
Really nice little match here. Regal slows it down for some of his offense, while still selling the accumulative damage. Good throws and strikes. This isn’t running through moves just because you can do them. There is space between stuff to give it drama. Intelligently designed.

Final stretch sees some Psicosis near falls, but gets caught, and Regal stretches him for the tap out victory. 3 ½ and 7/10.