I cannot believe that I of all people am telling you to steal a match from CZW. First off, I’ve gone through my hardcore period with the original ECW and burned out on it. Second, I became more of a purist a few years back and only in the last two years have come back to the wrestling style center. I had always seen CZW as a garbage pretender to the throne, even if I loved the ROH/CZW feud.
What changed was the talent growing on me and growing elsewhere. It’s no mistake that IWA-MS helped grow this great generation of wrestlers I love even with their hardcore leanings. CZW should get the same benefit for what little I feel they do. Here is a great example: Kingston and Hero.

I could write a book about this feud and the promotions it’s crossed, but it would take this review in another direction. Just know the simple facts. They have feuded forever. They have both been heel and face. They have feuded the most in CZW. CZW is a hardcore promotion that also has some wrestling minds passing through. There. Let’s get to the match.

If nothing about the first ten minutes but the few moves they do was written, this would not look like much of a match. That would be missing the point. Essentially this is the final epic battle between the two (in the CZW mythos). They do the John Wayne stand-off tough guy stuff for close to ten minutes, which Hero eventually wins (for that part of the story), but it means so much more. They chop, kick, elbow, headbutt, and punch in such a dramatic fashion that you feel every solid shot the snuggly thrown. They space them out at times. They sell them as accumulated damage they have to push through. Hero is good, but Kingston is great here. The man just gets it! In this isolated match I’d argue those spots were worth more than what Kobashi and Sasaki did in their initial chop battle that they still play off to this day. It was cool once, bt now goes on forever, nothing sold, and doesn’t help the story any longer. This battle WAS the story and Did have an effect, so it furthered it.

There isn’t a pin attempt until ten minutes in, and it’s an urgent realization by Hero that he could finally win. It means something. It’s 12 minutes until we get anyone hitting a top rope move. It’s the only one I remember, a drop kick, and both men sell a ten count to get the crowd up after it. The second pin in after this, a one count, so that Kingston can start to begin a big comeback. Hero does the matches only dive at 15 minutes to show how far he’ll go to kill Kingston. Everything means something. The violence is played as serious with consequences. That hate is palpable.

The match is based around Eddie’s suplexes and Hero’s cravat, but it’s not who can wear down the neck so much as who can outlast the other man in the match and therefore in the promotion. The moves are there to tease the finishers. For Hero, he wants the Hero’s Welcome. For Kingston, the Spinning Backfist.

The last five minutes of the match are an all dead tired blitz of momentum and desperation as each man tries to finish the other. About 25 minutes in Hero hits the Hero’s Welcome, but Kingston kicks out. At about 28 minutes Kingston hits a progression of signature moves, shows the crowd the fist, and we all know its coming. He hits the Backfist to the Future so solid you think Hero was KOed. 1-2-3 Kingston wins. He and Hero lay on the mat for minutes soaking in the standing ovation.

This match IS wrestling psychology 101 much of the time. It’s got creativity too. About the only negative was a crowd that seemed uncaring and unappreciative at times, but that’s why I avoid the CZW crowds. Even they gave the men there due at the right times. And I am too. I recommend you go find this at Smartmarkvideo or from a friend. A true recommendation to Steal This Match!

A couple years back a bunch of people voted this match into the top 5 of all matches produced in the 1990s in the All Japan promotion. Just this year 14 people took a look back at the decade again, and this time the 6.9.95 Kawada/Taue vs Misawa/Kobashi tag match won the match of the decade honor. Tough title to live up to for any match, but especially in a promotion like All Japan that has so many great matches scattered throughout 1995, let alone the 90s. So I just had to take a look having never watched the match in it’s entirety.

Misawa/Kobashi vs Kawada/Taue (6/9/95)
Misawa is the ace by now. He’s been the singles champ and he’s your resident big man on campus. His partner is a pre-big time Kenta Kobashi, who is becoming big time in this period as we speak. He’s a semi-main event guy who has been an important part of the promotion for the last five years under Misawa. He was third in Misawa’s group, but has since replaced the man across the ring (Kawada) as Misawa’s tag partner.

Toshiaki Kawada was Misawa’s partner, and now his chief rival. Coming out of the Jumbo Tsuruta & friends vs Misawa & friends feud Kawada decided to make nice with his chief rival, Taue, in April 1993. They form a partnership and away they go. A few years pass and this is what we get.

Crowd at Budokon Hall is electric from the start. Kobashi has his leg (thigh) taped up. He and Taue start. Akira Taue is an acquired taste. He’s kinda like a better version of Giant Babba. Both were awkward but succeeded in this environment. Taue was a sumo wrestler before getting into pro wrerstling through the Baba family.

Taue wins the early exchange and tags out, having shown up Kobashi after stiff exchanges. Kawda in. He won’t cooperate. Stiff chop battle. Kawda says screw it and gives a Yakuza Kick to Misawa on the apron. Kawada was an awesome prick. He gets to play subtle heel, as they don’t really have heels as much as the guy who isn’t as over as Misawa. The story is that he wants at Misawa, who is the “quarterback” of the team. Kawada and Misawa came up together and were a unit together in JV, but once Misawa was firmly the star Kawada came calling many times to prove he could be the starting quarterback too. He went out on his own, apparently it got bitter, and started then Holy Demon Army (with Taue) as we see here.

Misawa immediately tags in, but still sells the kick to the face. He’s up to the challenge. They go toe to toe strong, with Misawa taking what Kawada gives and having the answer every time. So Kawada says all things equal, I’m Yakuza kicking Kobashi on the apron. Kawada has made it known he’s here for real, and the Misawa/Kobashi team better bring their A games. Both teams face off in the center but don’t touch. Crowd reacts. Kawada won’t back down.

Misawa and Taue. Misawa kills him with an elbow smash. Taue sells big. His team is making the elbow smash look like a death move tonight. Kobashi in. He brings it fierce too. Misawa/Kobashi tag in and out effectively. Looks like Taue is getting the punishment for Kawada throwing down the gauntlet. He tries to fight off Misawa, but can’t pin attempt gets a two count.

Kobashi in with a big suplex/Brain Buster. He works an ab stretch, his second short submission of the night. Misawa back in. Really well thought out hope spot for Taue. He ends up on the floor where Misawa fakes the tope suicida, and it’s Kobashi who shoulder block dives him off the apron. Good movement. Kawada tries to go after Misawa, but one big elbow smash sends him down. Elbow shivers of death tonight. The cherry on top is Misawa does hit the elbow suicida dive on Taue.

Back in a double suplex and pin gets a two count. They are really doing alot without doing big moves that should kill. Alot of thought goes into these matches and the subtle touches I like are all here. The circling, milking the crowd with looks, stares/glares at opponents, and focused confrontations that don’t destroy a guy because of frequent tags and good pacing. Match is headed down a great direction.

Kobashi misses a second rope shoulder block and poor Taue gets the hell out of there. Kawada comes in on a mission. Before Kobashi can fully stand he gets shoot kicks to the bad left leg/thigh. Ten minutes gone by. Kawada is using the Yakuza kick (the big boot to the face) as his death move tonight, as a counter wieght to Misawa’s elbow strikes. Kobashi tries one of his own but planting his foot hurts the leg and he goes down. Awesome. Kawada still sells being momentary stunned.

Kawada focuses on striking and stretching out Kobashi’s bad leg. Taue tags in and enjoys the same thing. sharpshooter on Kobashi and the fans are already hot, fearing a possible tap. Man, Kobashi is great as babyface in peril. Hopespot is a chop battle with Kawada, but he just gets annoyed and kicks the knee of Kobashi to ALOT of crowd heat. text book selling and “heel” ring control/tags.

Taue can’t get the knee breaker and Kobashi uses some flashy moves before making the hot tag. Misawa is in! Crowd pop! Do I have to tell you what this man does with his elbows? Good side show as Misawa goes after Kawada, who drops off the apron. A minute later Misawa hangs onto the ropes and hits an unsuspecting Kawada with an elbow smash, knocking him off the apron. The minute Kawada recovers he rushes into the ring and kicks Misawa right in the face, breaking his Boston Crab on Taue. Is it a Yokahama crab in Japan?

Kawada tags in while it’s Misawa’s turn to sell big. Now he’s gonna get it. HUGE Yakuza kick, followed by knees to the head. He even shoves the ref out of the way. Misawa takes the shots and starts to glare up. He rises. He takes one more shot, you think he’s going to make a comeback, but then the benches clear. Taue grabs Misawa while Kawada and Kobashi scrap. Taue face-choke slams Misawa (varation of his Nodowa, like a Rock Bottom), and kicks out Kobashi’s knee. Misawa comeback with a elbow strike, but Kawada cuts him off. Kawada ends up feeling harsh elbow strikes, but again Taue comes over to give him a Nodowa. Again Kobashi comes to the rescue, where his leg becomes his undoing. Misawa save? He gets slammed onto Kobashi’s knee in a strong spot, and then Kawada comes off the top to deliver his knee to Kobashi’s leg. That’s the end of the rally. Kobashi is on the floor selling big.

Kawada with he spin kick for two, then a submission more to annoy Misawa than anything else. Taue/Kawada in full control. Stiff work from Taue that looks great on Misawa. Good camera work as Kobashi is taping up the thigh again as Kawada face-washes Misawa in the ring on the canvas. Twenty minutes in and this is an amazing match.

I like the strategy that’s employed here. Taue does an impactful move and goes for a pin. Impactful and another pin attempt. Tag out. Kawada is mindful of Kobashi and sends him off the minute he tries to climb the apron. Misawa hope spot gets dashed by a lariat. Kawada goes for one of his finishers, the powerbomb, but Kobashi saves. Nope, Taue sends him out and Kawada hits it. Great nearfall people bought into.

This match is the shit. Kobashi strains and pains all the way back in while Kawada has his finisher submission (stretch plum) locked in, and Taue walks up to protect the hold in the middle. He nails Kobashi twice, but ‘boshi takes him out. Then grimacing in pain the throws punches as Kawada takes the beating to keep the hold on. Kawada lets go and starts punking the kid, and it ends in a double clothesline. Outstanding.

Kobashi ends up hot tagged in with Kawada, down selling a Misawa kick. Kawada is a demon tonight, as he takes the chops and just kicks Kobashi’s bad leg out. This whole match has been him as the leader saying, “is that all you got kid? I want Misawa” with a stoic Taue behind him maximizing his pros and cutting out his cons.

Place is electric for Kobashi’s comebacks and “hulk ups”. We’re 25 minutes in and Kobashi will not stop coming at a freshly tagged Taue. Taue keeps sending him off, but once Kobashi gets control it’s Taue who won’t stop coming at Kobashi. This is tough guy stuff done to maximize the stiff stuff as the moves they do to each other are similar and “one upping” to show dominance. Kobashi comes out the victor.

Misawa in to help with a big move that goes straight to a pin. nice. Kawada has to break it up. Then Kobashi teases his finisher move, the moonsault, but Kawada from the apron kicks hi in the head. They’ve teased alot of finisher stuff, which is great, and Misawa has kicked out of the powerbomb. Both men sell as the crowd comes alive.

Misawa in on Taue to a pop. Lariets and elbows. All of it works because it looks awesome and it’s sold big. Tiger Driver! Great false finish, so now Misawa has hit his finisher. Misawa puts his submission move on Taue while Kawada is detained by Kobashi. Kawada breaks it up, and in the 2-on-one, he hits Misawa with a back drop driver. Kobashi is smart here, as he takes out the tag opportunity of Taue tagging Kawada (these guys actually do go back to the corners after they interfere, so there are rules continuity), and then gets back in time to take a tag from Misawa.

Kobashi throws a belly-to-back suplex folding up Taue, but only gets two. He goes for the moonsault again, but Kawada is in to chokeslam him down. Kawada then is mindful himself, going back and getting Taue to tag him in, and immediate goes for the back drop driver again. Kobashi panics and hits elbows to stop Kawada, knowing that would destroy him. We’re over 30 minutes in at this point. Kawada goes for it anyway, but Kobashi reverses to land on Kawada. two count actually gets not buy in from the crowd. Not big enough I guess.

They climb to there feet. Kawada grabs the waste and Kobashi elbows to stop the backdrop. Off the ropes Kawada goes for it again, but it’s reversed and Kawada takes the back drop driver. What’s so great is Kobashi immediately grabs him leg as if planting it really hurt him. He slams down Kawda and goes for the moonsault a third or fourth time. This is clever – Taue stops him so Misawa comes in and places Kawada on the other side. He hits the frog splash, but he isn’t the legal man, so he can’t cover Kawada!

Kobashi goes up for the moonsault, Misawa sentons to keep Kawada hurt, and Kobashi FINALLY hits the moonsault! Huge nearfall. Misawa tagged in. Tries for a tiger suplex, Tiger Driver, before hitting a German suplex, Tiger suplex, and finally a Tiger driver. Taue breaks up the sure pin just in time. He then uses his chokeslam move on Misawa, and again from the top rope.

Taue and Kobashi get out of the ring, and at 35 minutes we have Misawa and Kawada down selling in the ring as the crowd goes nuts. Kawada blocks Misawa shots and bicycle kicks him to hell. On the apron Taue attempts a chokeslam, Kobashi saves, but Kawada takes his bad leg out. Taue chokeslams Misawa to the floor! Kobashi, already down, crawls over and covers Misaw to protect him from further harm or a pin in the ring. Taue takes him out, and rolls Misawa in. Awesome detail – Misawa keeps rolling as a desperate Kawada tries to pin him. He rolls out and when he’s brought back in kicks out at two. His instincts save him.

Kawada goes for the powerbomb but Misawa makes the ropes. Again, but Kobashi grabs his leg. A third time he hits, but can’t get the pin. 40 minutes in Kawada pulls him up again. Misawa back drops him to avoid a third powerbomb. Kawada is pissed, stomping on his face. Kobashi tries again to cover Misawa from a beating, but instead takes a chokeslam/Back Drop Driver from the opposition. Misawa mounts a comeback on Taue, but Kawada kicks him in the face. Near fall. Misawa throws desperation elbows. Kawada won’t be denied. He hits a back drop driver of death! Misawa kicks out at 2.999! Kawada pulls him up and kicks him in the face. They tease the powerbomb, and finally Kawada hits it for the pin in 42:37. Kawada/Taue win the belts! Kobashi was crawling to Misawa’s aid as Taue held his legs at the end.

Unbelievable match. I fact, see it and believe it happened. this may actually be 5 stars, but as it’s hard for me to ever say a match is perfect, it’s one of those 12-15 I’ve watched and thought “you are one of the best ever”. 4 3/4 stars. loved it to no end. So smart and so well layed out. Athletically and psychologically ahead of it’s time and yet old school. Timeless classic. Period!

I’ve only seen a couple matches of Nakamura. I’m just starting to get into the New Japan product again, after not really watching it much for the past few years. But, nothing I’ve ever seen of Nakamura has stood out as being anything special. And Mutoh? I grew up watching the Great Muta in the NWA and he is one of the main reasons, along with Jushin “Thunder” Liger, that when I started getting Japanese videos in the mid 90′s. But, I haven’t seen much of his work in the last few years, as I haven’t been a fan of the All Japan product in recent years and have only watched some of the matches I was told were must see. But, I definitely have a soft spot for Mutoh, which may show through in this review a little.

The match starts off with a 5 minute video package. Clips of both men’s IWGP victories and other career highlights are shown, with interviews with both men spliced in. A nice preview that gives this match that big match feel.

The first 3 or 4 minutes is just a feeling out process. Some exchanges on the mat, with nobody gaining a clear advantage, until Nakamura starts working on Mutoh’s arm. Mutoh gets frustrated and rolls to the outside a couple of times to shake it off and while trying to get into the ring the second time is caught with a dropkick and knocked back to the floor. Nakamura attempts the plancha, but Mutoh sidesteps it and dropkicks him in the knee. He follows it up by whipping Nakamura into the guardrail and hitting a Shining Wizard. Mutoh then dragon screw leg whips Nakamura onto the guard rail, kind of crotching Nakamura on the rail while extending the knee. And you just get the feeling that now it’s on!

Upon entering the ring, Mutoh catches Nakamura with another dragon screw and for the next couple of minutes works over the leg with a series of dragon screws and dropkicks to the knee before locking in a figure four leglock. Nakamura gets to the ropes to escape. Mutoh attempts to lock in the hold again, but Nakamura counters it, pulling Mutoh briefly into a choke and transitioning into a triangle armbar. Mutoh gets to the ropes to break. They get up and exchange blows, only for Nakamura to jump and pull Mutoh into a triangle again, this time skipping the arm and pulling down on the head for the extra effect. This is where MMA has spoiled things for me a bit, as I got the feeling that this was supposed to be a big moment in the match, but the triangle was so sloppy and loose that I just couldn’t buy into it. Mutoh makes it to the ropes again for the break.

Nakamura hits Mutoh with a couple of lariats for a nearfall. He then pulls out a moonsault, but doesn’t go for a pin. He gets up, goes over to the corner showing a lot of emotion and attempts to hit a second moonsault, but Mutoh gets his knees up. It’s times like this that I wish I spoke Japanese, as I wasn’t sure if the moonsault is part of Nakamura’s regular moveset or if this was done solely to show up the veteran who popularized the moonsault and used it as a finish for most of his New Japan career. I’m inclined to believe that even if he does use it regularly, that it was still the latter, but it’d be nice to know for sure!

Mutoh with more dropkicks to the knee and dragon screws before hooking in another figure four. Can anybody else get so much out of so few moves? Most of his offense has consisted of dragon screws and dropkicks to the knee, but it’s all been completely logical and he’s done a great job of working the leg.

Nakamura get to the ropes for the break and catches Mutoh with an enzugiri when he goes for the leg again. He hits a sloppy looking spin kick and follows it up with a trifecta of German Suplexes for a near fall. Mutoh attempts a comeback, but Nakamura cuts him off and hits a fireman’s carry into a sit out slam (I feel like I should know the proper name of this move, but it’s not coming to me) for another near fall. Nakamura double underhooks Mutoh, who counters with a back drop before hitting a dropkick to the knee and a Shining Wizard in the corner. Mutoh dragon screws Nakamura out of the corner and attempts another Shining Wizard, but Nakamura blocks it and get up and pulls Mutoh into a flying armbar attempt. Now, here’s where that damn MMA spoils things for me again, as this is a sloppy looking armbar. Another rope break saves Mutoh.

Nakamura attempts to lift Mutoh into another fireman’s carry, but gets caught with a knee to the head followed by a dropkick to the face. Nakamura rolls to the apron, but Mutoh pulls him back in, with his feet still draped on the top rope and hits him with what I guess is a dragon screw neckbreaker, as the commentators could be heard saying dragon screw after the move. Whatever it is, it was vicious looking! Mutoh hits 3 Shining Wizards for a great false finish.

Nakamura attempts a desperation flying armbar, but Mutoh counters it with a powerbomb and hits another Shinging Wizard for another near fall. Mutoh scoops up Nakamura and plants him with a backbreaker and goes up top and nails the moonsault for the finish and becomes the 49th IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

Overall, the work in this match was solid. I wish I understood Japanese, as I think understanding the commentary may have made it a little better. But, I go back and forth on that, as their commentary may not really live up to how animated and excited they sound throughout the show. For all I know they were shilling Just For Men hair color for Mutoh’s gray goatee the entire show!

I had a hard time buying into a lot of Nakamura’s offense. While I realize it’s not fair to compare pro wrestling and MMA, I’ve watched a lot of UWFi and other worked shoot style promotions and the work is normally strong enough to be believable. I just didn’t get that feeling from Nakamura. And, while Mutoh spent most of the match shaking out his arm and selling the arm, it seemed like Nakamura forgot about selling the leg for a good part of the match. It probably wouldn’t have seemed so bad to me, but pretty much everything Mutoh did, with the exception of about 4 moves, was working over Nakamura’s leg! Heck, with the way Mutoh was moving in the closing moments you would have thought it was his legs that were worked over the entire match. But, even with those bum knees, he can still go when motivated and I definitely recommend you Steal This Match!

4.3.05 Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels Wrestlemania 21
I have no earthly idea what the build up for this match was. I know Michaels was a babyface (because Jesus won’t allow him to be a heel, much the way his great rival Bret Hart claims Canada wouldn’t allow him to be a heel).I also know Angle was suppose to be the heel here, as he’s always is SUPPOSED to be, but as usual, he gets a large degree of cheers in most matches. Add to HBK’s natural penchant for irritating people, and those who know what he’s done, and I’ll assume we’ll have a split crowd. Then again, this is taking place in Lip Stick City (LA), and for all I know people could be asleep for most of this match, much like famous people showing up to be seen at Laker games. So, while I can’t remember this specific build up, I do know Angle had an awesome match with Benoit in this venue in Sept. of 2002 that everyone needs to see, and HBK had a famous match down the rode against that Hart guy at another Mania. Oh wait, Marty Jannetty! I’m remembering something in the build up about Jannetty!

No video package to start out. Not that they didn’t do one, I just don’t have it on this compliation tape. WWE has such a great sound mix for their shows, especially the big PPV events. JR and King sound great, prominent even, without being overbearing, because they blend just enough. Crowd mic is good, as is the in ring audio. The crowd is buzzing by the way, as we begin.

Stare down to start. Earl’s kid, Dave Hebner, is the ref. HBK slaps Angle, and Angle runs over him with mat work. They stand off again. Now Michaels grounds Angle with a side headlock. He keeps it tight. Suplex by Angle, but HBK holds onto the headlock. Escapes, running the ropes, and again HBK grabs the side headlock. He tries to flip him over for fun cheap pins ever few seconds. Angle is really being tenacious here, trying to fight out. He’s on his feet now, walking around and trying to push HBK off. They’re separated, but Michaels grabs… the HEADLOCK! I’m trying to figure out if HBK influenced protege Brian Danielson, or if HBK has been watching ROH tapes! Fun psychology and story for the first five minutes. A well booked strategy for HBK given the characters, and JR puts over Angle not being prepared for Michaels to approach him in this way.

Crowd starts out cheering and chanting for Angle, but then we get dueling chants. Michaels, after reversals, gets an awkward looking short arm scissors submission. They’ve managed to keep it in first gear and keep the strategy and intensity there. Great reversals in and out of a hold to pin attempts by Angle at times. A sequence of well timed reversals and nearfalls leads right back to Michaels with a side headlock taker in control. We’re 6 minutes in.

They’ve really handled the opening well. Michaels is believable as barely holding onto control of the ground, which is Angle’s world. They’ve made the “restholds” mean something with movement, which is something I love about high-end ROH wrestlers in past years like Low Ki and Brian Danielson.

Breaks into a very good slugfest and tie-up. Small detail, but done with the intensity of an MMA tie-up. Angle gives a rabbit punch to HBK and grabs the Ankle Lock! Michaels desperately wiggles free and clotheslines both over the top. HBK and Angle understand teasing finishers early and playing urgency, as all great workers do.

We’re done with the feeling out process. Outside, they set up an announce table spot, tease HBK going through it via suplex. Great reversals lead to a twisting Angle Slam into the ringpost. Awesome movement and instincts by both. They both sell, and HBK’s back history is now in play. Phase 2 of the match begins 9 minutes in.

Everything – EVERYTHING – from Angle at this point is done to Michael’s back. Forearms, kicks, a suplex, and a submission stretch. All done with purpose, and for a purpose. Excellent “heat” segment.

HBK gets up for a fiery babyface comeback. He’s best when playing beatdown babyface. At first angle was the fan favorite, but now they cheer the comeback. Eventually they’ll just cheer the match itself.

Belly-to-belly on HBK’s back. Then another. JR’s announcing in this match is what it was five years before, and hasn’t been since. Angle submission on back and great replays of the back-to-ringpost bump tell the story.

Michaels gets a hopespot 12 minutes in with chops. They’re paced is well for this point. They are both “warn down”. Kurt Angle ends it with a vicious clothesline after being slapped hard in the face. It’s getting personal. They take it to the next level.

Awesome Sequence Alert. Angle put HBK up to tease a top rope belly-to-belly. He’s fought off and falls back to the canvas. HBK, to a big pop, goes for his top rope elbow drop (not rushing it), but he misses, landing on his injured back. They both sell.

14 minutes in. Angle pulls the strap down!! Angle Slam. NOPE, counter arm drag. Angle charges like a bull, but takes a huge back body drop over the top rope. HBK, true to his character, hopes on the top rope and cross-bodies Angle on the outside. He killed him with his knee to the head. Only sloppiness in the first 15 minutes, if that even counts (high risk is high risk, not reckless).

Awesome Sequence Alert two. HBK tries to beat the ref’s ten count back in, but he’s grabbed on the apron getting back in by an angry Kurt Angle. Angle is obsessed with suplexing Michaels into the announce table (still teasing the table spot), which would cripple his back. He’s pulling back screaming, “Come on, Michaels! Come on! AHHHH!” a flurry of elbows by Michaels in desperation, and finally a back kick to the balls (AKA Flair special). Crowd boos, and HBK’s face sells exhaustion and the lengths he’ll go for self preservation.

Angle comeback and Michaels desperately kicks him off to the table, then does a springboard twisting cross-body putting both on and then over the table. The table didn’t break, so it looked sick. Crowd claps rhythmically as they sell, then counts along with the ref’s slow dramatic ten count. They both crawl in opposite sides of the ring, to a pop, then crawl towards each other. Angle is bleeding from the mouth. This is where you get the first true sense you’re seeing something really special. Something more then just as great match.

18 minute mark. HBK flying elbow and nip up. He’s selling the back, but he’s a (Dusty Rhode’s Certified) House of Fire babyface!! Elbow from the top hits! HBK gets the crowd going crazy with the foot stomp signaling Sweet Chin Music. The attempt… Angle catches it. Beautiful transition into the Ankle Lock. Brilliant. HBK is trying to roll through, but Angle holds on. Crowd is ballistic. Commentary is spot on. And the camera angles sell HBK in the hold. Michaels makes the ropes to a pop, followed by another segment of fans who boo.

It gets better. HBK pulls himself up. Angle Slam… no again. Sunset flip, but Angle grabs the Ankle Lock again! Another roll-through for an HBK nearfall. Sweet Chin Music? No, Angle finally hits the Angle Slam! Crowd counts along for a nearfall. We’re 21 minutes into the match.

Angle is pissed. Straps down again. But this time he pulls out his rarely used moonsault. No water in the pool. HBK milks the selling, pulls himself up to the top rope for what I assume is a big elbow drop, but Angle pops up for a top rope Angle Slam! Two count and the roof is coming off the building. 23 minutes in, and if the finish is right, it’s a classic.

Angle is stomping and pouting, grabbing Michaels by the face and screaming, “You tap out! You hear me, Michaels? You tap out!” Michaels shoves him away and nails a desperate (everything he does in this layout and character portrayal is) Sweet Chin Music! They both play dead. Wide shot of the crowd is amazing.

They’re still selling a minute later, right out of the HBK/HHH main event style playbook, and this time it’s working. HBK crawls and drapes the arm over Angle (think his win over Taker at H.I.T.C.) for a nearfall. Have I mentioned JR is back to the announcing form of the man who called Flair-Steamboat?

“Lets go Angle, lets go Shawn” dueling chants. Angle grabs the Ankle Lock and Michaels does the sell of a lifetime. He’s kicking Angle off, or trying, but Angle won’t let go. Angle drops down into a heel hook, and even my ankle starts breaking watching Michaels sell unbelievable pain. Dramatic reach for the ropes. He can’t make it. After two minutes HBK taps. Both fall to the ground and sell the epic encounter.

They’d have two more well known matches (actually 3), and all of them were great, but this is THE match. Often I get into a friendly debate (sometimes) with fellow staff member Paul Siegfried about the 2004 and 2005 W.O.N. Match of the year awards. In 2004 the HHH/HBK/Benoit Mania match beat out Joe-Punk 2, a result I still refuse to accept, and granted I love both matches. But in 2005, Joe-Kobashi beat out this Angle/HBK match for match of the year. It’s apples and oranges, and I did vote Joe-Kobashi (for the record, I was also their live, and not in LA for this match). All that said, I would gladly switch out Joe-Kobashi for Angle-HBK if something can be done about 2004, and I can not find fault in anyone who voted this as the 2005 match of the Year. In fact, barring the first 15 months of the decade (start the day after Mania 17) this is by far the match of the decade so far in terms of the WWE. It will probably hold up viewing it in ten years as well. Steal this match, and five for your friends while you’re at it. 4 ¾ stars.

Steal This Match: The Mania 3 pack. The next few days will bring two more classics to remind you of what can happen on this biggest show of the year. We’ll have a Steal This Match review of HBK vs Kurt Angle from Mania 21, and also of Austin vs Bret Hart from Mania 13. But right now, we take a look at the biggest of the big matches (unless you count Hogan-Andre, and this is the Internet, so we don’t!). It’s the PENULTIMATE
Austin/Rock match, as well as match of the era and style. enjoy.
4.1.01 Steve Austin vs. The Rock (WWE Championship Match)

Wow, I still have this match on VHS; original broadcast. I haven’t watched this match since a bus trip to Queens, NYC for ROH’s first Anniversary in Feb. of 2003. That was only two years removed and I remember thinking how different wrestling was already, post boom. Here we are, six years later, about to find out if we should still Steal This Match.

Austin and Rock matches, to me, are like bookmarks to the WWE during its second boom period (We’ll say 1997 to 2001). Their first match, at Mania 15 in 1999, was like a proclamation that the boom was on. It completely legitimized it and made official that wrestling was mainstream again (I know Tyson was the year before, these things take time). This event, and match, were like the parade pictures you see after V.E. Day, or when the U.S. troops came home in 1945-46. That match should be sound tracked with “Happy Days are Here Again”.

The second match, this match I’m about to review, was babyface vs. babyface, and defined the era. In many ways this event and in specific, this match, it WAS the climax to the boom. It is still, domestically speaking, the highest buyrate for any WWE PPV (Nearly 1 million bought the show in North America), and was the biggest U.S. supershow since Mania 3 (67,925 resulted in gross receipts of $3.5 million USD).

The third match was, fittingly, the epilogue. They went back to their familiar roles as Austin as babyface and Rock as heel, at least in action, that they are identified with throughout their feud. The match was underwhelming, as I recall, but well received by fans and media. Appropriately, it signaled the end of both men’s careers as regulars in wrestling.

Notes as we begin. A very well done hype package precedes this match which is more steak then sizzle. By that I mean Kevin Dunn and company have since done better video packages in terms of editing/visuals/audio/soundtracking, but the content of this one sold you on the big match. It made wanna call friends, loan them money, and hope they got the PPV signal in time for the match. I’d forgotten how great the build up for this match really was, and how amazing the face-to-face sit down interview between the two was. Austin foreshadows his turn very well without being overbearing, and it’s sad no one is allowed to do heavy non-scripted material anymore.

Heyman and J.R. announce this match. I loved these two ten times more then the J.R.-Lawler pairing, but realize I’m in the minority. The Fink (remember him?) announces a no-DQ stip which J.R. puts over big as an unannounced surprise that puzzles him.

God, this event was epic! There are so many people in the Astrodome and it’s a hot crowd. Austin is out with his Disturbed theme. J.R. is already putting over Austin’s journey back from neck surgery and this event being in his home state. He calls Austin a “folk hero”. Just awesome commentary and camera shots. This is the last of the Austin I fondly remember. He became the “What?” Austin that sadly everyone thinks was THE Austin right after this match. Rock is out next, as the Champion.

Austin jumps Rock at the bell and they go nuts in the first minute. Punch/ kick with intensity, bionic elbows, a Thesz press, multiple finisher teases, and Rock being sent over the top rope. As intense as these two get – in a great way – they are so into the moment that they basically miss moves at points and you don’t even care.

They push that Austin realizes its no-DQ as they brawl into the crowd. This crowd, by the way, is buzzing constantly. Great atmosphere. The brawling is basic – you’ve seen it so many times over the last decade – and yet you can tell watching it that somehow it means more. It holds up today, but to explain to someone whop didn’t go through it the first time, it would either be total buy in because they were taught it’s legendary, or total disconnect, because it doesn’t look nearly as great as the legend it’s become at some points.

Back inside the ring, Austin is just possessed and intense. Two count on Rock 3 minutes in. Austin just picks up Rock and superplexes him from the second rope. Austin takes off the turnbuckle as Heyman hard-sells how bad he wants the title. Flashbulbs everywhere during this match. What an amazing spectacle this was. Hogan vs. Rock the next year is the only other one I can think of from this decade with the same “feel”. I guess the negative version of this atmosphere would be the passionate reaction during Lensar vs. Goldberg from Wrestlemania 20. How’s that for clarity?

Rock comeback. God, Rock never landed anything clean, did he? Where as Austin is lovable for being haphazard and slapdash in his prime (the man was out of control movement much of the time), Rock many times just got by on the charisma of his movments. That is to say, for WWE, which is such patterned and practiced movement and often repetitive, he doesn’t execute the movements smoothly. Hey, it’s workin’ so far.

Austin’s selling is even crazier. Rock clotheslines him over the top and JR/Heyman try hard to make this story feel epic, which they accomplish, because it simply is. Stone Cold uses the ring bell to Rock’s face. Subtle heel, though the fans like him more in Houston. Rock juices and they break the announce table just stumbling around it. Very “WWE big show selling”, with obvious punches, kicks, chokes by Austin and bombastic selling by Rock.

Rock hope spot at 8 minutes in. They boo him and cheer the Austin neckbreaker that ends the sequence. Punch/kick onslaught continues, but they do need to breath at some point. They haven’t stopped moving since the bell. Austin is really trying to open up the cut and his heeling is becoming more evident. The story continues to be Austin’s intense violence and obsession with beating the Rock. “There can only be one” JR adds.

10 minutes in Rock comeback with a desperation clothesline. Rock uses slap punches I’m realizing years later he probably stole from Ali, and Austin even adds his own verbose/bombastic selling: The back bump into the flip backwards to the belly landing. No wonder his neck is so screwed. Rock gets his retribution with a ring bell shot and a strong “Earl Hebner special” (The slow dramatic count) is good for a great near fall. Austin is busted open real good, and Rock’s killing him with punches, but the crowd disagrees with the story. They boo Rock.

We’re 12 minutes in. It’s repetitive and simplistic WWE thinking, or should I say working. Punch/kick leads to outside brawl. Silly big selling. The Commentary has become hyperbole and overstating the obvious. YET, it’s all so good. Essentially, there are two factors that separate this match from so many others. First, Rock and Austin are in another league at pulling this simple stuff off. Second, it has layers and layers of subtext, and it’s booked to have little detail after simple little detail to show that. What this leads to is the realization that the story being told, and in some ways not on purpose, is the culmination of not only their glory period, but the promotion’s glory period, and this style of match. Rewatching it, you feel that, and you feel it, where it would certainly loose that if it were another walk around brawl.

Austin gets control of the brawl and sends Rock to the post for his second round of big selling (third if you count the opening). This might be a perverse comparison, but it reminds me of the WWE large scale version of ROH’s Joe-Kobashi match. If you don’t get the subtle nuances, you’re probably wondering why anyone would care, or how it could possibly hold up.

Monitor shot by Austin to the Rock. Crowd is dead when he’s dragged back into the ring for the pin. Austin goes for a stunner and ends up in a Rocky sharpshooter. Crowd is 75-25 Austin. The Visual is AWESOME! Bloody Rock holding him in the leglock for dear life, pulling back, as a bloody Austin reprises his famous gasps and face of pain from the Bret Hart Submission match at Mania 13. Hart, at this point in time, was thought to never do business with WWE again, and the move made a lot of people stand up and take notice. Thankfully, JR is allowed to draw us the parallel in matches. It was layered symbolism. There’s a lot to this match, in the ring, and for those who followed the business at the time. Austin reaches the ropes, gets pulled away, but reaches them again. Crowd loves it.

Rock smartly goes back to try the move again, but it’s Austin who this time applies the sharpshooter 17 minutes in. Heyman calls JR on his “Austin cheerleading”, furthering the depth of contempt JR will feel as the voice of outrage at the end of this match. Austin’s sharpshooter sucks, but he viciously goes to work on the knees. Again with the Austin Sharpshooter. Great touch. Austin smiles and won’t break the hold as Rock reaches the ropes. Then he pulls out the long forgotten Million Dollar Dream sleeper! More desperation is sold. They try to reprise the Austin-Hart Surv. Series ’96 finish. Sloppy as hell, but an effective nearfall and plot depth device. Great matches are about the intensity and urgency of winning, and that being turned into the journey we all follow them on. I really believe that.

20 minutes in they both sell in classic WWE “who will reach their feet first” style. Austin can’t believe he hasn’t put Rock away. Facial expressions and camera work sell it, and commentary does the rest. The Rock comeback/hopespot is a poorly executed stunner on Austin, slow roll, and dramatic nearfall.

Cue Vince McMahon walking to ring. Asshole chants. They sell to give him the focus and attention. Austin does a great spot where he hits a great spinebuster, then rushes back to make the cover as if he must win that second. Mini-fit as he doesn’t get the pin. Rock spinebuster of his own. He hits the People’s Elbow, but McMahon breaks up the cover at 23 minutes. GREAT MOMENT as the fans wonder why Vince would save his arch-nemesis. Great camera work of the facial expressions of Vince and Rock before Rock gives chance to the outside. So much of the WWE is production. Austin hits a Rock Bottom after catching the Rock running across the ring after McMahon. The nearfall is ELECTRIC!

A fevered pitch is killed by a ref bump and an Austin ballshot to the Rock. Austin motions to Vince. Vince with a chairshot on an Austin-held Rock, but Austin still can’t get the pin and the place pops for the Rock kick out. Austin is screaming, “shit!”

“We are witnessing something that will be talked about for years to come!” Heyman has no idea how right he was, and not in a good way.

Desperation Rock Bottom on Austin. Rock beats him down but walks right into the stunner. TWO!! The place goes crazy for Rock. Austin chairshot on the Rock. Two. This is silly now. Stop it. I remember thinking this went on way to long live too. Austin kills Rock with a chairshot for the pin and a babyface pop at 28 minutes. He shakes McMahon’s hand and hands him a beer.

I don’t know what to say. What could they have done? Honestly, they did every little thing from the build, to the match layout, to the sutble things in the match itself, to overkill of those things once they became obvious. Austin made huge steps to go back to his vicious heel character at the end of this match, but with the added negative (from storyline perspective) of selling out to his arch enemy for the gold. Ross even buried his friend hard on commentary. They did it all.

I’d say perhaps they should have done this in Miami, or anywhere else, but who knows if it would have worked long term? I thought it did work that night in 2001. I thought it worked rewatching it that night, pretending I didn’t know what was about to happen. The idea of Austin going heel for the first time in five years and siding with McMahon should have worked. Rock had already been the heel in this dynamic to many times. This was a great call, and yet… it wasn’t.

I’ll say that perhaps the follow-ups and second/third stories out of this were what killed it, because Austin really was a great crazy heel. I blame HHH for not going babyface, or perhaps it was just never meant to be.

The match is sloppy, but epic. It’s also historic, well told, and the story is legendary and infamous. If only to see the end of an era, I advise you to steal this match. 4 stars.

Before we begin, here is my personal scale. Other members of this site may have different ways of looking at match ratings. This is onl;y the opinion of John Philapavage, and not the entire staff of Wrestling Chronicle.com:

To me ***3/4 is a great match but missing something to get it to the next level.

*** = Good
***1/2 = Very Good
***3/4 = Great
**** = Excellent
****1/2 = Amazing
****3/4 = Near Perfect
***** = Perfect

Styles make fights, much like in boxing or MMA. And workrate or match length does not necessarily dictate a better match. Just because a match goes 60 minutes, that does not make it at least 4 stars.

Also, just because ALOT of holds are demonstrated does not mean it was the best match. That indicates it has the potential to be a great technical match, but the holds could mean nothing five minutes later to the story, and therefore make the sequence irrelevant.

Moving along, sub-genres should have there own scale. A match that really is the setting for a large angle (like a double turn, regular turn, forwarding or starting a major story) does get boasted in my rating beyond workrate. Comedy matches are not penalized for being about humor, and lucha isn’t penalized for being dance-like. If it’s over with the audience, that must be taken into account. Sometimes NOAH matches run for 20 minutes before overkill of finishers, and sometimes it looks like that, but makes alot more sense.

We strive to be worldly here on the site, so we watch ALOT of different styles from ALOT of different eras. This year’s Dragon Gate 6-man might be looked upon as 1997s Michunoku Pro Six Man in ECW. That is to say, great at the time, but just solid or a good little match now. But that’s okay, as readjustment reviews years later are fun too, and everything must be taken in context. Sgt. Slaughter vs Pat Patterson from 1983 would probably seem pedestrian now. Then again, so would Lou Thesz or some of the great World Class six man matches. But they ARE great for there time, and I’ll take into account the surroundings of the Pro Wrestling landscape.

Overall, I like to stress perspective in my reviews, make clear my tastes and how they do or don’t matter in the long run, and give details as to why I think and score the way I do. Lets move on to the matches…

This week I’m doing one of two that I think never get enough credit during the title run, the other being the 2.11.07 Alex Shelly vs Dragon match. But that’s next week, because this week we get one of the most bland promos in wrestling, and one of the greatest thinks and talkers on Figure Four Daily ever, Lance Storm. Oh yeah, and that American Dragon dude.

4.1.06 Dragon-Lance Storm: This match was the night after Danielson and Strong went 56 minutes, and it’s also the second night in Chicago in front of a huge crowd. Storm seems like time has been kind to him, both in his athletic ability and fan’s appreciation of his talents. I still remember going to see ECW shows in the late 90s and Storm having trouble breaking through. History has been good to him, and he’s the kind of guy that deserves it.
Build up for this match started in 12.3.05 in NYC when Storm met Danielson in the ring and they shook hands. Promos on DVDs from Storm came over the course of months, leading to this match. Very good build up and ROH fans were actually really excited to see Storm again (which is why you know it’s a niche product, and I say that as one of its big supporters).
The crowd is so firmly behind Lance Storm to the point that, for the most part, Danielson gets to be not only the heel in theory and presentation, but in practice. Storm coming out to his old ECW theme didn’t hurt. He gets the red and white streamer treatment from the Chicago faithful.
Danielson line of intro. Via Bobby Cruise: “… And really too good to wrestle in front of all these pricks.”
Danielson, it should be mentioned, is also carrying some heel heat from an in-ring confrontation earlier in the night with beloved ROH legend Samoa Joe (A feud which was carried out, mostly at the same building in Chicago, thru the rest of the year). In the body of the promo Danielson steals Storm’s tagline and remarks that he was trained by HBK while Storm was “dying up in Calgary”.
“Fuck you Dragon” chant. We start with the typical mat/hold variations exchange, this one being on the high end of those. Storm shows he’s scouted Dragon by side-stepping the dropkick at the end. Nice touch. More mat work and Lance really looks crisp. Danielson slaps him on a rope break for heat, and after another exchange Storm slaps him back. Danielson eventually gets the drop kick to take control.
Subtle strength: three pin attempts end up as one counts in the first seven or so minutes. A refreshing logical twist which has become a lost art in the false finish crazed era. During this, Danielson not hooking the leg is brought up by announcer Dave Prazak, which is a good point and enhances my viewing. Danielson sells well for Storm’s offense, which looked good, and he eventually takes the heel “powder to the floor”. Not only am I a fan of that routine, but he makes ref Todd Sinclair look at his teeth, which he claims are dislodged. Funny stuff.
The welts on Danielson’s chest from his match the night before with Rodrick Strong are put over on commentary, as well as Storm having “ten months” to train “specifically” for this match. ROH does a very good job of getting over details and how they influence a match from within their worked universe. It reminds me a lot of something I’d appreciate on a show like LOST, or takes fans back to a weekly TV presentation like 80s Mid South Wrestling. Act one, all seven minutes of it, is exactly what it needed to be.
Next, we get two minutes of crisp Danielson offense, and then a few equally solid minutes of “mid-match offense” from Storm. Nothing spectacular, just solid and well executed, which is what it needed to be. Danielson’s “I have till five, ref” is really over, and Storm’s brief tease of the half crab at 10 minutes in gets a big pop.
At this point, I feel it fair to say that it’s a little unfair to view a match just on workrate alone without considering the context of storylines or the total show. This match was sandwiched after a “state-of-the-art” (if not slightly overrated) Gen. Next – Blood Generation tag match, which was big move/no-sell heavy, and a main event street fight/blood feud culmination between Homicide and Cabana. Therefore, this match was layed out predominantly to avoid those things. For the most part, it’s a technical match, which I feel is to their strengths.
Storm takes it to Danielson for the short time they go to the floor, put over as “not letting Danielson dictate the pace of the match.” Again, I liked that, because earlier Danielson had collected himself on the outside while Storm waited. While Dave Prazak is good on commentary most matches, it’s Lenny Leonard who really adds to the action for me. Nothing crazy on the outside, but nothing bad either.
I like the layout of this match from the opening act to the pick up the pace back-and forth stuff. Storm is taking it to Danielson to the crowds delight before a big forearm smashes Storm off the top rope and down to the outside.
The second act really hits its stride with Danielson’s typical deliberate offensive display. Storm sells well, the crowds into the match, and I am too. The hope spots are more frequent, but well thought out, and add to the idea that Storm is a driven and focused man. The reversals and execution during these brief flurries might go under appreciated, but it’s really great stuff.
A lot of what they do throughout can be seen as (and I’m making up a term) delayed back and forth wrestling, which isn’t inaccurate, but it’s important to point out it’s clear who has the advantage and why during most points. I see it as the evolution of the heel Flair NWA title matches of the 80s, and there’s probably a precedent before then. I’m personally a fan of the style and it works well for Danielson title matches. It also keeps the fans emotionally involved.
During this period Danielson tries several pins and wear-down submissions mostly focused on the back. Right here they start to pick up steam, and I can’t tell if it was preplanned or whether they felt out the audience.
Storm comeback at the nineteen minute mark and I can’t believe I’m actually getting into Storm as a “house of fire” babyface! In the past I’ve found him to be overly choreographed, but he’s hitting his spots with purpose here. Danielson hits a powerbomb into a float over nearfall to cap a GREAT sequence.
Danielson again works on the back, which becomes a focused match storyline here, but Storm does get appropriate comebacks. I like that Storm makes Danielson fight to execute moves like the Regal-plex or chicken wing. When Danielson misses the diving headbutt, Storm hits a cradle piledriver in a nice nod to Jerry Lynn and the ECW days. This also marks the point at which the false finishes and submission attempts start getting heated reactions.
The third and final act is in full swing, as you sense a finish is coming and the pace is picked up. Storm gets the half crab at the 25 minute mark, and Danielson sells it facially to where you might buy a tap out, including getting pulled back to the center of the ring. Danielson twists and counters into a roll up. Prasak points out that’s how Danielson beat Strong the night before (Stronghold into a twisting rollup). Kick out and a Regal-plex for a nearfall. Awesome false finish follows as Storm rolls over on Cattle Mutilation for a nearfall. This final sequence is great as Danielson won’t let go of the arms (going for Cattle Mutilation), Storm continues to struggle, and Danielson executes several moves off trying to get Cattle Mutilation locked in. He finally does and Storm taps out at 26 minutes. I liked they changed it up and didn’t have a bunch of rope breaks in the final 3 minutes.
Even as a Danielson booster, this is a forgotten and less-pimped gem. Not the best match you’ll ever see, but better then a lot of the matches that people will tell you are M.O.T.Y.C. To me, this is on the level of the first two McGuinness matches in 2006. 25-30 minutes seems to be Danielson’s sweet spot for storytelling, because I’ve liked his shorter matches, and I’m a fan of his 60 minute matches, but the three matches mentioned are just right.
This also presents the problem of match ratings. I love to do them and discuss them, but context, story, and taste factor in so much at times it leads to useless arguments. The first two McGuinness matches and this one, to me, are all anywhere from 3 ½ stars to 4 stars. I’d say they were all 3 ¾ stars. The Joe and McGuinness hour draws I had both at 4 stars, but I actually enjoyed the 3 ¾ star matches better in many cases. I’d say I could just swap the ratings, but that’s not necessarily true. The truth is sometimes star ratings just contradict themselves, and you like matches for entirely different reasons. The stars are a fun way to gauge the over worth, and it’s a ballpark figure, but they really serve as an indicator for taste and encourage you to discuss them. I love wrestling!

Final thoughts: Storm said later this was one of his longest matches ever, as the longest was right around a half hour with Candido (I believe), and it also ranks up there as one of his favorites, but he stated this only two months after the match. Time will tell how it’s viewed. I think Storm wrestles smarter then a lot of Danielson’s regular opponents (not a knock on them), and while perhaps still shaking off the WWE-style of work, I also think the guy is an under-rated veteran and the pace added to the match. He was a very good opponent style and pacing-wise for Dragon, and his experience made him a much more knowledgeable participant. They didn’t try anything to crazy, and they didn’t need to. They didn’t go to long, because they told the whole story in 26 minutes. Storm knowing not to do to much was a nice contrast to the “NOAH-West” knock sometimes put on ROH (big move overkill with delayed/accumulative damage selling). This is especially true when you realize the Dragons Gate guys were on this card, and the big six-man match was the night before. Not only that, Danielson’s 4 ½ star match with Strong was also the night before, and this match got lost on many fan’s radars.
I liked that the match story was presented as Storm as the respected veteran babyface who was well researched when it came to the cocky heel champion. Even in taking his beating, especially to the back, he refused to make it easy for Danielson, which is something I’d like to see more of. The finish was well worked out and performed, and the match as a whole came across well on DVD. (3 ¾ stars)

I’m hoping this is better then the dull draw they had on the SEM show in December. It’s not that they don’t put great effort in, and those wonderfully dull “silent heat” Japanese crowds don’t help anything, but sometimes knowing the match won’t have a real nearfall until 15 finisher/kick outs and 20 minutes in grates on even a defender of the NOAH style. I know in ROH right now I’m begging Nigel McGuinness, BJ Whitmer, and a few other guys to lay out the matches a little more realistically. Especially you BJ, you aren’t that high on the card. I digress.

Crowd is as usual asleep for this main even to start. What happened to the days when they’d chant “MIS-AW-A” or “KAW-A-DA” or “KO-BASH-I” before the signature music even hit? I’ve got a theory. It’s not the MMA boom (even that’s getting old in Japan). It’s not the pageantry of network TV (though half the time I watch MMA coverage from Japan I forget there’s a fight about to break out at there wonderful circus/Dance/Entertainment events like Pride and Heroes). Nope, it’s the lack of three syllable words. Morishima – to hard to chant. KEN-TA. Well, we’re getting closer.

In December I was thinking how crazy it was to see Danielson wearing an ROH shirt to the ring in NOAH, or an ROH graphic on G+ TV. This show they have “ROH” on the electronic board showing the match up, and one of these guys actually has a belt I watched defended in front of maybe 400 people once. Amazing. Then again, no one mentions this, but can you name another group anywhere in the modern era (1984 onward) that’s worked with all 5 of the “major” offices in Japan? Regardless of what you think is major or isn’t, I think we can all agree All Japan, New Japan, NOAH, Dragon Gate, and Zero-One are pretty much the most known names for pro wrestling in Japan. ROH has done business with each one to varying degrees of success.

We start out very UWFI early 90s. I’m waiting for Takada or Maeda to appear on my screen and slap or kick one of these guys. KENTA comes with the shoot-style kicks and open-hand slaps. Morishima throws forearm slaps. Kenta out-stiffs him. KENTA even gets control early with a back drop driver. Credit to Morishima for getting up for it. Quick kick to the face and KENTA tries a quick pin for two. No one reacts, but I appreciated the guy playing like he realizes he needs a quick shocking pin.

Morishma gets the advantage after his lariat is cleverly blocked by KENTA with a kick. Sidewalk slam. Tease of the deadly back drop driver (I get the Terry Gordy references, and I agree, but does no one remember the deadly back drop drivers of Jumbo Tsurta? His finisher is totally shades of Jumbo. “OHHH!” chants, anyone?). KENTA’s not going up that early for the big move (thank god). Morishima to the outside. His throat meets a guard rail. Who’da thought?

I know it’s Meltzer-babble (Like cliché psycho-babble, we must now all argue on message boards about parroting Meltzer’s “word of God”, and then defending it with our own opinions so that we’re overly aware of Meltzer opinion and our place to the right or the left of it) As I was saying, it’s Meltzer-babble (TM), but Morishima really does sell credibly for smaller guys. It’s rarely mentioned though, that those smaller guys are KENTA and Marufuji, who just happen to be two of the best and most credible offensive wrestlers in the world today. Credit must be spread further around the locker room.

NOAH needs Gabe Sapolsky to book. All this talent and even the match layouts tend to be a little stale and formula for my taste. I say this, and yet it’s obvious NOAH and it’s predecessor, 90s All Japan, are big parts of the Sapolsky formula as well. He just has a way to tweak it. It’s called a DIRECTION!

OH my God. Watch this match to see KENTA do a springboard Warrior’s Way (Low Ki move probably taken from KENTA or a young Muta) all the way to a dead Morishima on the floor. This, much like the Kenta-‘Fuji 10/29 Falcon Arrow to the floor is amazing to watch. Then you’ll wonder why the match would keep going on. Welcome to post-90s pro wrestling, I guess. Morishima sells it like he’ll vomit and be counted out. Me too!

Back in, KENTA can’t get Morish. Up for Go 2 Sleep, but he does each a sick Hanson-esque lariat. Its part of the Morishima charm, that decapitation thing. Lovin’ it! Morish. Goes for that stupid flying butt smash that only he can pull off and make you go, “okay, I’ll um…yeah, bought it as credible”. Here’s the best part. KENTA catches it and German suplex him. Crowd is actually fired up this early. GO 2 SLEEP! Two count. Crowd can’t be bother. Idiots, all of them! KENTA pins like Flair would cover Vader in Starcade ’93. Actually, this match reminds me of that “chop down the big bad oak tree” theme. And as much crap as I earlier gave NOAH’s layout, this has been very well produced because they’re cutting out the predictable fifth through eighteenth minutes. This from a Danielson mark. How fical we all are.

Kenta has a strong sense of urgency, which is how this should be played. Knees and kicks from him. Morishima out of nowhere w/ a killer lariat-OOOOO and back drop driver for a two count. That time everyone liked it. Me too. Morishima proceeds to beat the shit out of KENTA to the point the ref tries to back him off, and gets tossed. Purists of Puro and frustrated WWE/TNA fans won’t like it at first glance, but this rarely happens in NOAH, so it has meaning. Like when people boo a double knockout in ROH because it’s “sports Entertainment Crap” or a non-finish. Think about the fact that it’s never booked in that territory, so it’s got value from a story telling aspect. Not everything is for us to dissect as work rate geeks.

More vicious Morishima big man beatdown. KENTA tries to no-sell a back drop driver, gets a lariat for thinking about it, and a second back drop driver. The ref must have forgiven Morishima for his disrespect (perhaps he has Yakuza connections), because he counts the three for the Morishima win.

People will bitch about this being to short to main event Budakon, or that Morishima’s matches are to one sided and squash like. There’s a reason guys. Again, not everything is about even-steven work rate marathons, though I love those, and NOAH respected Sapolsky’s booking decision to make Morishima into a monster. GOOD! He is, and it’s fun to watch. This was just under ten minutes and still gets 3 ¼ snowflakes of enjoyment (stars) from me. If I’m being obnoxious and not well rounded by still giving it a workrate score, fine. Then for that segment, I RECOMMEND you view this match, especially in the context of post Morishima beating Whitmer in Feb. and pre-Morishima coming back to ROH in April. I’d love to see these two meet up in an ROH ring in the U.S. Morishima needs Bill Alfonso. Who can stop the path of RAGE!!!???

One last piece of Meltzer babble. He gave a very good rating (4 ¼ I think) to Homicide/Danielson at Final Battle ’06. We’ll be reviewing that on the site soon. I’ve heard this was an awesome ending to the Homicide storyline and a fitting title change for the greatest run of any champ, Bryan Danielson (bias, I know). Also, he gave 4 ½ stars to Morishima vs. Joe from NYC on 2/16. I was there live. This is a definite “Steal this match” qualifier and best big man match I might have ever seen. We’ll have a review or two here when it hits.