4.13.90 Hulk Hogan vs Stan Hansen

From a very full Tokyo Dome super show. Hansen knocks over the announcer when he gets into the ring. Crowd is vocal at the opening bell. Hansen goes after Hogan’s arm’ and Hogan counters by sitting in restholds that Hansen takes interesting by working out of. They brawl around the ring, neither selling much, and Hansen takes Hogan outside. Hansen blades after being smashed into the ring post. Hogan continues to try and open up the cut as we reach the five minute mark.

Hogan executes and abdominal stretch, and then chops in the corner. Hansen bails to the floor where Hogan continues to punch the cut open. Hogan actually breaks a table by throwing Hansen through it. Hogan then posts Hansen again. Hogan keeps him in the corner as he chops’ but Hansen gets a boot up on a charge, then shoulderblocks Hogan down. Hansen comes back with a chairshot on the outside, brutalizing Hogan with knees. They go back in the ring for more Hansen controlled work at the ten minute mark.

Hansen drops some of those great, thick knee drops. He teases the lariat, but catch hit it, Hogan teases the leg drop but misses it, and Hogan hits a crossbody for a near fall. Hogan hits a lariat after getting a big boot up, gaining the clean pin in 12:30 minutes.

Really slow pace where the story is how big these personalities colliding are, and then the blood of Hansen, followed by the Hansen comeback and control. Loved the late section where they tease their finishers and Hogan actually hits a running crossbody. Finish was decent, but way too abrupt. Still, this is the best Hogan match I think I’ve ever seen as far as a contest goes.

4 13.90 Tenryu vs Randy Savage

Savage is the Macho King at this point, accompanied by Sensational Queen Sherri. Tokyo Dome is excited for Tenryu to take on Savage.

There is shoving from the start, and Savage decides he’s not wearing a shirt during this match. Savage takes a few shots, but bails from the ring after being whippied into the ropes. Good crowd reaction as he stalls and gets back in. Macho reverses a suplex attempt, but ends up eating many chops. Dome crowd goes nuts as Tenryu is fired up. Sherri distracts up on the apron and Savage attacks from behind. Moments later, after Savage punches, Tenryu hits a solid lariat for a nearfall. Savage takes a big back drop over the ropes to the floor, and then Tenryu is out to dive on him. Sherri distracts to give Savage the advantage again. Tenryu gets worked over outside, then tossed back in. Five minutes gone.

Tenryu gets a big boot up in the corner, and then hits an enzuigiri, which Savage sells great. Savage stays in control though, choking and punching at Tenryu. Match slows slightly here, and we get several clotheslines. Savage does the double ax handle to the floor on Tenryu. Sherri also kicks Tenryu as he tries to get back in the ring. Tenryu kicks out of a near fall, popping the crowd, but Savage stays on him. Savage goes top rope again, but gets punched in the gut on the way down. They tease a Tenryu powerbomb, which gets a reaction. Savage gets out. Ten minutes gone.

Savage does a crossbody from the top, but comes up selling his knee. Tenryu pops up, hitting an enzuigiri and powerbomb for the pin in just over ten minutes.

Really great, tight little match. Loved the first five minutes with Savage’s antics. I thought Sherri added to the match overall. Tenryu showed fire and his hot moves and teases of moves really popped the crowd, but it was Savage who led the match and deserves a lot of credit. Not a classic, but for a supershow first meeting this was well worked and wasted little time.

I’m taking an extended holiday vacation until the first Monday of January and partly using it to enjoy a stack of wrestling DVDs I have. Plowing through my Chikara stack, I hit up a show from much earlier in the year dubbed “If the Airplane is Snowed In, Put Your Bloody Skis on and Get Going!” The venue is a small fire hall in Reading, PA that they used to run a lot more frequently than they do now. Tiny room with a low ceiling, but it has a charm to it, and the crowds at more recent Reading shows (2007-present) have been much larger and more electric than in the past (2005-06). One of the top matches on this show is F.I.S.T. (Icarus & Gran Akuma & Chuck Taylor) vs. The Colony (Soldier Ant & Fire Ant & Worker Ant) with the winners gaining entrance into the 2009 King of Trios tournament (if you remember that tournament’s outcome, you know the outcome here).

I’ve seen these two teams have a number of matches before this match (King of Trios 2008, a raucous match in Wallingford, CT in May 2008) and after (the great Hair vs. Mask match from May in Philadelphia), but this one is a major turning point in their storied history. On commentary was Louden Noxious and Mike Quackenbush. The match itself lasts 11-12 minutes and is wild from the start as F.I.S.T. jumped the Colony during their entrance. Worker Ant (well in his months-long tribute to Stan Hansen) was rammed head-first into the ring post, starting the real story from the match that gets enhanced by Quack’s commentary. Worker Ant was worked over and took some more shots to the head throughout (not in the dangerous Nigel McGuinness way, but you get the point), and Quack continually expressed his concern over these shots, speaking from experience. F.I.S.T. were all business. Later, as one of the other ants was in danger, Worker would come in for the save. Quack admired his bravery but questioned his condition, and either him or Louden acknowledged at one point how gingerly Worker got into the ring. Worker still soldiered on (not to take away from Soldier Ant) and delivered one of his Hansen lariats for a hope spot. In the end, as Worker had one of the heels in the Chikara Special, Icarus broke up the hold with a dropkick and scored the win with a Pedigree (or Wings of Icarus as it’s called here) that Worker sold like gangbusters. With a spot in King of Trios secured, Icarus gave Worker a kiss of death and Chuck Taylor gave him an Awful Waffle on the floor. A motionless Worker is carried to the back by his partners, refs, the doctor, and the debuting Green Ant (popping out of the back for the first time). At the end of the DVD is a promo by F.I.S.T. where they explained how the Colony were simply out there to win, but they had ulterior motives and in turn made themselves Chikara’s top trio by design. Shortly after this show, Worker announced his retirement from wrestling.

The match itself was good if not a little spotty here and there, and crowd stuck with it. From this I’m taking away Worker’s story and the part Quack’s commentary had in it the most. Obviously, concussions are serious business in wrestling and most other sports these days, and I give credit to Chikara for treating it as such with this storyline, coming off the real concussions suffered by Quack himself in IWA-MS’ 2007 TPI (Quack kept trudging on, adding emotion to the story already laid out there) and by Lince Dorado in Chikara’s own ring in November 2007. They’ve done similar stories in past years, with guys legitimately leaving wrestling and their characters getting written out when Icarus injured them, but Worker Ant’s story from this year has even more resonance.

The DVD of “Bloody Skis” can be found HERE. Also included is Claudio Castagnoli having a heavyweight battle in the main event with the Osirian Portal’s long-gone enforcer Escorpion Egipcio, young Frightmare putting on a brave face against Brodie Lee, Delirious vs. Sami Callihan, and Pinkie Sanchez teaming with the Order of the Neo-Solar Temple (a small piece in the current BDK storyline).

We’re out of my comfort zone. I’ve read about both these guys, but never seen them wrestle. This one’s for a belt, I’m guessing a smaller NWA title Mexico has adopted. Pirata is in great shape, and even has the eye patch for the pirate gimmick. Brazo is a puffy man, but in a water muscle way. He’s man enough to wear yellow. I have no idea who is the heel or face, but I have two thoughts on watching something like this. The first is that if the match is good enough it will have a story, and through the story I’ll know who plays what role or how to feel about the guys – especially because Mexico seems to have stronger heel/face dynamics. Second, one of the good ol’ heads at DVDVR once said if you got a match with two guys you don’t know, pick a guy and root for him. Good idea. I’m going with Oro.

Awesome. Before the bell Oro offers a hand and Morgan refuses, then Morgan offers it during the match as a heel trick. Lots of Lucha mat work on this one, and it’s snug enough that I don’t feel like this is a walk through like some of the “high spot Lucha” I’ve seen. The holds are tight. I’ll have to be excused if I seem surprised, but my introduction to Lucha was with Rey Jr. and Psicosis in ’95, and by the time I saw Lucha from Arena Mexico it was a lot of flyers using filler holds in between their spots. This is most definitely not high spot Lucha, and I’m encouraged by this.

Oro is finding a way to win on the mat and it’s frustrating the heel. This is progressing well with almost no striking. I’m curious to see where it will progress as they get into a second fall. I will say it’s a bit slower than I’d like, by a quarter of a step, but they don’t move enough in the first seven minutes for it to take you completely out of it. The holds make up for it with their intensity. Really good arm work and simple takeovers. Morgan gets blown up and manages to make it work for heel heat. I completely hate how slow the refs count in Lucha and this kinda kills the first fall for me, which is a basic roll up that the Morgan should have kicked out of at that point. The actual match story is fine. To stay positive I’ll add that Oro pulled out a pretty cool tilt-a-whirl back breaker in the first fall.

Second fall has me giving this match less slack. It’s not that it’s lazy, but guys fall awkwardly or lose their balance. There seems to be little urgency in the way Lucha is worked past the great mat holds and reversals, and guys seem to be walking around, late to the pin or standing near each other without striking, while the refs are just as slow to count a pin or even get to the floor. Morgan tries a Flair bump into the turnbuckle and ends up in the ring on his head and back. Ouch. Morgan seems to be selling by laying around, but there is no riving or facial selling that I can see that I equate with traditional selling. Morgan grabs control, but walks into a figure four attempt, and wins the fall quickly. No urgency. I’m not sure I’ll ever be a full fledged Lucha fan based on taste and conditioning.

Third fall starts out smart, with Morgan going right for the leg of Oro he injured in the last fall. I’m amazed the man has any depth perception with that pirate patch over his one eye. Crowd gets behind Oro, the first time I’ve heard a lot of noise out of them. Oro is working this great, selling the knee and trying to keep Morgan away from it. He goes to his knees to try to take it to the mat. Unfortunately, Oro’s leg selling ceases as he makes a diving cross body to the outside without a hint of pain. He’s running around now. This really does feel at times like two men practicing a match. Oro knocks Morgan around to the outside and he looks like he has all the energy in the world. The good guy – our guy – is winning.

Both guys miss top rope attempts and narrowly escape pin falls. Oro is back to selling the leg a bit. Morgan tries for a submission. For some reason a corner man just walks into the ring. I have no idea what is going on. The ref raises Pirata Morgan’s hand. I guess he won. I got very bored. Oro puts the belt on Morgan. There wasn’t even really a reaction to the finish. Why are all those people there?

Last night, I watched a match from this past September (much fresher in the public’s minds than everything else I’ve been watching) that I enjoyed so much, I wanted to implore other people to check it out. I know John usually does these What I Watched columns, but I probably wouldn’t have gotten a chance anyway to bring up this match publicly. It doesn’t quite fit in any of the current audios. I guess I could have dug up an old column title called Steal This Match, but a lot of (if not all) indy wrestling should be paid for and supported by fans, not stolen. This match especially.

This match took place on Chikara’s debut show in New Hampshire, “Hiding In Plain Sight,” which is a fantastic show overall (only major downfall here might be ring, but I’ve seen worse in IWA-MS) and has a large and lively crowd for a new market on a Sunday afternoon. Perhaps because Bryan Danielson stopped by – making his first appearance for Chikara since the big King of Trios weekend in March – as part of his Final Countdown tour on the independents. He teamed with Claudio Castagnoli, one of his teammates in Team Uppercut as part of that tournament, to take on Chikara flag-bearers Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw. Regular ROH ref Todd Sinclair officiated, while regular Chikara ref Bryce Remsburg and ring announcer Louden Noxious call the action (all three do a good job).

Lots of back and forth wrestling to start. When Danielson tagged in, Jigsaw openly said that he thinks Quack wants to wrestle him. Danielson and Quack have been really good together in the few matches I’ve seen them have with each other, and we also see Quack and Claudio show off more of their great history. The real meat and potatoes of the match is Jigsaw getting his leg worked over. He suffered a knee injury at the Dragon Gate USA show in Chicago the previous weekend; Bryce brought this up on commentary, and also how Danielson would know it from being at the same show and Claudio would know just from how fast word spreads. One amazing moment during Jigsaw’s deconstruction was Danielson unleashing a brief flurry of forearms like a madman as Jigsaw tried to break a submission attempt. Never a dull moment here, as the potential pain for Jigsaw oozed through his masked face and his knee was exposed and victimized by deep half crabs and the like. Claudio broke out a one-legged giant swing on the bad knee, and the crowd sold it big. It came to an end as a fed-up Quack simply came in and slapped Danielson across the face, with Jigsaw rolling out of the ring making it a legal lucha tag. A lot more greatness and a few high spots brought it home at nearly 22 minutes, with Quack scoring the pinfall on Danielson after a reversal of a reversal off the top. Right up there with the best of the banner year Chikara’s been having, as well as anything Danielson has had in ROH.

Afterward, Danielson gave the speech he’s given throughout his farewell tour: he shouldn’t have the title of Best in the World as other people have been having better matches than him. The fans cried foul and someone asks for an example. Danielson gives one from the last set of ROH tapings, saying how The American Wolves vs. The Young Bucks was a better match than his with Roderick Strong (I’d have to see them again, but I might beg to differ). He also brought up some more vague examples in which Claudio, Quack, and Jigsaw had better matches on cards he was on. He thanks Quacksaw for the match they just had, as well as Chikara in general, and he throws out the challenge for every other wrestler to become the Best in the World. Humble to the core, yet his back and ass are still in tact.

The entire Chikara show featuring this match, an important tag title match between the Osirian Portal and the Colony, storyline rifts between tag team partners, and an epic comedy match with Colt Cabana, can be purchased HERE.

I liked Brad Armstrong in his Mid South matches, and I was actually a bigger advocate for his title match on TV with Dibiase then the longer formed house show match. So I think Armstrong had talent and could go in a shorter TV match. Likewise, I like Muta, though I’m less of a fan of the Muta character than of Keiji Muto the worker. So going in I was excited about this match, especially since it was singled out by people I trust and spotlighted.

My problem with this match (it’s really the first fall because it’s 2/3 with TV time remaining) is that it is a wonderful display of holds and mat wrestling, but it barely ever gets out of first gear. You can make a case that at times they shift into second gear, but they shut it back down and head down roads they’ve already seemed to travel. There is no feeling of great struggle or urgency in what they do, it instead feels like they are treading water. And that’s okay. You can make a case that this is a different style of match that errors on the side of tactical and has the story of one man waiting for another’s mistake. But because it goes twenty minutes, it really wears on you and might have been more suited for audiences a decade or two earlier. Having said all that, the last twenty seconds was really good and exciting, and I liked the finish to the first fall. Then they head to the second fall and it feels like they go to second gear, but stay in a holding pattern. Maybe I was stunned by the first fall and I carried feelings over. It’s possible.

It doesn’t seem like I liked the match, but I did. Armstrong was a really strong “background” wrestler, and Muta was so smooth, his pace is simply to deliberate for me in this character. As always, depending upon the performer, I’m a hypocrite. I think I have a problem with Muta having the same mannerisms whether he’s selling or in control. I did like the way Muta closed out the match and shut the door for the definitive pin fall.

Also of note is Riki Rachtman, the host of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, on commentary. Now it seems kinda lame, but in 1990 it must have been cool to have a youth celebrity on a show like that. He doesn’t add much, but he’s careful not to detract from the wrestling going on, so I had no problem with it. Ratchman went on to host WCW Monday Nitro parties, a dream fulfilled I’m sure.

Jim Cornette and a more sports oriented, less hyperbolic Jim Ross on commentary. Talk about a dream team, and they helped paint the match’s picture completely for me. The first few minutes is as simple as punches and wrist locks, and the story works so perfectly. You can totally buy into Murdoch as this tough babyface who sells a punch like gold, but when he gets back up Luger better run – and does. Also dug the technical arm work of Murdoch and the way he’d wrench that thing while Luger kinda sells. Other than a body, Luger had no presence or believability to me. This match is Murdoch leading Luger through the paces.

I popped when Murdoch finally unleashed those big punches (with a great elbow beforehand). Ross promotes Dr. Death vs Sid Vicious on an upcoming Saturday show. This I must see on a comp some day. The crowd is really behind Murdoch, which is fun to see. Luger really sold he knee great there for a minute. As in, I’d really like to see more people sell a knee that well for a period of time. Murdoch’s block of a suplex using the ropes is another realistic thing I’d like to see more in modern day matches. Luger’s work on the back to build for the torture rack all made sense to me, and kinda gave him more of a dimension than he had later in his career. I’d definitely say Luger carried his end of this one. The ref seemed to be smarter as Luger tried to cheat, and the announcing was more informed, and it made me like this good, but not great match more than some “better” matches. The double-DQ finish was a bummer, but I’ll live.

My first foray into seriously watching a WWWF MSG match from the seventies. Lou Albano keeps yelling into the mic. I don’t quite get it, but the crowd gets riled up. This really is a time warp, because these tough NYC fans really seem to love the spiffy All-American Backland. He looks like he stole Doug Furnas’ legs and put them on his much shorter body. Koloff, who I’ve read about for years, but never seen, has a great heel look with a cape (shorter than I’d have thought). I get all these Russians mixed up no matter how hard I try, and Nikita Koloff is the only one that’s really jumped out to me. Probably the influence of watching too much 1985 Flair – and I’m realizing this was “Uncle Ivan”. I enjoyed the late 70s Vince McMahon commentary much more than the 90s version.

I surprised at how much fun the early sequences are. Easy to follow and logical, and not nearly as boring as I might have ignorantly stereotyped them to be (WWWF, 70s, slow, blah). It’s got almost an MMA/jiu-jitsu progression to the holds. Even the bridge sequence had some grit and charm. Sure, there are slow parts, but the crowd is hot, and as long as there’s some wrestling logic I like the formula. Backland has a wrestling answer to everything Koloff does. The only crappy part was Backland powering out of a test of strength – too hammed up for me.

Some random thoughts – Whenever the action would pick up in quick spurts after long holds it was surprisingly exciting. The holds were a bit long, but definitely worked well. Backland is so goofy as a face that the only modern day equivalent I can think of is Kenny Omega. The crowd back then had a lot more patience. Love the crowd chanting in rhythm as Backland pulls on the leg of Koloff. Koloff wasn’t horrible, but you get the sense that Backland is definitely leading this dance. I liked Backland’s attempts at leg work and the fact he was kicking out at one while gaining two count near falls on Koloff. Koloff’s control segments are pretty cool, as he keeps the heat on Backland, and the diving knee rules. I love how intense it gets after Backland comes up cut on until the stoppage finish. This was totally a finish you’d see in modern day MMA that would draw a larger house for the rematch (I know some people hate the MMA references, but it’s true).

This match is definitely too long (30 minutes), but I assume this was the typical style of MSG main event in length and structure (anyone more knowledgeable chime in). It’s not exactly what I want out of my wrestling, but it may have been close in 1978.

Early stuff is typical Tiger Mask, and Eddie Gilbert is agreeable. Odd seeing the young Gilbert here, as he reminds me of late 70s Ted Dibiase visually. Bizarre moment early when Tiger Mask got a leg lock and just stood there for a while. Even Gilbert was relaxed, looking back in the hold like, “are we going or what?”

Crowd is tentative at first, but they get won over, which is nice to see given that Philly would later bore ECW. Dick what’s-his-name is a great local bumpkin announcer, and Gorilla is typically middle of the road for my tastes. They blend fine together. The casual talk of the $200 masks from Mexico was gold. The running ropes portions with these two wrestlers are really great, and I definitely feel like Gilbert gave a lot to this match. Mask was so damn quick – I love it. Gilbert’s head scissors and the way he achieves a hold is nearly as impressive as Mask’s. I loved when Mask did a spin kick that didn’t fully land, Gilbert sold for a second, then got right up and stalked him with a clenched fist. There’s a lot of little things in this match I’m loving.

There are times when it feels a little empty (not quite slow, but there gaps where there seems to be miscommunication or a question as to where they are going), but it’s slight. The finish was so quick that it didn’t seem like the announcers were sure who won (Tiger Mask). Overall great stuff, and more importantly, a fun match.

Another match from the New Japan top 20 as voted on by the Death Valley Driver Message Board many moons ago. This was and still may be a much talked about match for the blood that Muta spills, the beginnings of the insider fan Muta blade job scale.

There was a point during this match where I was heavily leaning towards shutting the match off. I actually grabbed the remote and had it in my hands at the 16 minute mark, looking for something in this match to engage me. The first 15 minutes seemed plodding and disjointed. There was little flow for me, random moves, and Muta’s weirdo act got dull over time. Even when they introduced the spike there seemed to be little crowd reaction or drama in the moment. Muta was bleeding everywhere, but there seemed little at stake.

However, the match turned the corner as the “heel” Muta refused to stay down. They protected and teased his moonsault so that when he hit it, and he did at the end, you knew that was the finish. Muta showed a lot of heart and guts during the final five to eight minutes, and Hase threw suplex after suplex at Muta to keep him down. The finish and the last five to seven minutes made the match special, and a neat pick to see once in your life. I do caution, don’t watch this match if you can’t handle blood. It’s a scary amount that drenched Muta’s face and Hase’s body. It does create quite the visual, but this match does evolve into more than a spectacle or gore-fest.

Shingo Takagi & BXB Hulk vs. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori (Dragon Gate 3/20/08)

I watched these two back to back a few days ago and saw some similarities and differences. Thought I’d blog about it starting with the embarrassing fact that I have trouble telling the difference between Ibushi and Ishimori. Too many wrestlers in the world not on my TV every week. I apologize to the Japanses indy lovers.

I’ll start with the El Dorado match since I watched it first. In many ways the El Dorado and DDT promotions feel like developmental for Dragon Gate to my unfocused eyes. I’m not completely hip to the scene so I often rely on my pal MG to fill in gaps when I have questions or need context. But as that thought goes, I thought this match was high level for an indy and could certainly find a home in the mid to upper card at a now bigger time Dragon Gate show. That’s not to say this was worked as a mid card match, rather I felt that on this night the guys in the match were good enough to be higher on a Dragon Gate card as a comparison.

Ibushi is a lot of fun to watch, but a part of me enjoyed the work of KAGETORA more. One thing I came away with on both sides was that all the men had the athletic ability and training to be complete workers, even if they weren’t persona-wise or body-wise major league. Everyone had solid mat wrestling, good reversals, timing, and understood the buildup of the match. There were times I felt like less could be more, but that’s true of a lot of Japanese wrestling, and it’s a different mindset and taste, so that’s not a fault of the match. The match lost me a few times when they were going through the all out final section of the match, but English commentary or more context could have helped that. It’s a common theme that I tire on bigger moves not paced better, but I’m a hypocrite in that if I had seen this in ROH, having the comforts of context, language, and familiarity, I would have liked this match a lot. I do enjoy the tag formula when it breaks down like this, even if scaling back with rules has become more refreshing to me at this stage in the game.

A higher level version of this match is found in the Shingo Takagi & Hulk BXB vs. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori match up. On this day I enjoyed Ishimori more than Ibushi, though both are great. I liked KENTA is this environment, even if watching his matches begins to kill “shoot kicks” for me the way the Austin Era killed punch/kick brawling for me. The stories seemed more defined in the match for someone who doesn’t follow the promotion. KENTA was being a prick to Shingo, who wanted his hands on this invader. Hulk and Ishimori have a battle of one-upsmanship early. Hulk takes a beating and must get to Shingo for the hot tag to save his team’s chances. Lots of teased moves and counters that pay off later. The match up ends appropriately with KENTA and Shingo, where Shingo shows his fighting spirit to the end. Hulk is much of the same, but KENTA is too much. Of course, KENTA has to expend an awesome amount of energy to finally put Shingo away, and it’s kicks after the G2S that does it. I could argue it should have been the G2S finish, but perhaps the kicks with Shingo defiantly on his knees are more appropriate.

The work in the Dragon Gate match is tight as can be and triple speed, so if you’ve never seen the product, this is one you’d wanna jump all over. It’s a tad more refined with a big show atmosphere, while the El Dorado match is about developing talent.