Ayiiia Elizarraras, Real World: Cancun

Fucking Crazy. (Hopefully) former cutter. Won’t be a strong competitor, but will be involved in straight/lesbian hook ups and drinking. Good defiant character (are most of them:)

Camila Nakagawa, Spring Break Challenge

No recollection of who the hell this person is.

Cara Maria Sorbello, Fresh Meat II

Knocked out way to early on the newer Fresh Meat, but she has potential for in-house fun. Reality TV Czar David Jacoby is high on her, so I have to be.

Emilee Fitzpatrick, Real World: Cancun

This girl is a dumb bimbo and will probably be off in the first week. She will be friends with the Ayiiia girl, also from Cancun.

Emily Schromm, Real World: DC

The first half of the double I’ve been touting from RW:DC. I’m very high on her. She’s going to give Laural a run for her money.

Jenn Grijalva, Real World: Denver

We know all about Jenn with two Ns. good times.

Katie Doyle, Road Rules: The Quest

I’m a sucker for her, but she really needs to retire. What’s the sports equivalent for a serviceable, but never very good player who holds on into their 40s? Paul says Dikembe Mutumbo. Steve says Jamie Moyer.

Laurel Stucky, Fresh Meat II

Interesting to see what she’ll do without Kenny. She’s really good, but as I recall she wasn’t well-liked.

Mandi Moyer, Fresh Meat II

We need a bimbo if Casey isn’t going to be around (and Emilee from Cancun is going home early.) I thought she was reasonably enjoyable on Fresh Meat. I liked that they’ve made new stars of of the Nexus-like Fresh Meat 2.

Melinda Jamieson Stolp, Real World: Austin

Melinda w/o Danny? Interesting. Maybe friendships will keep her on for a few weeks, but it seems like there’s a big youth movement now, so young alliances are the new Alliances. Who is keeping her in this game?

Paula Meronek, Real World: Key West

Paula Walnuts and Johnny Bananas. It’s like a retarded and drunk Burns and Allen. I can’t wait. Oh, and Dunbar is there too? should be fun.

Sarah Rice, Real World: Brooklyn

Sarah is the tattoo chick that likes to play the lovable victim, right? I like rooting for her. She’s going to make waves this season. I see her becoming a major alliance former with this new regime.

Shauvon Torres, Real World: Sydney

Do I need to ever really say anything here? Gold.

Theresa Gonzalez, Fresh Meat II

Got in-between Kenny and Wes to make her name. Needs to do something to stay interesting because she’s a non-factor in the physical challenges.

Tori Fiorenza, Road Rules: Viewer’s Revenge

Tori and Brad.When she isn’t nagging him, she’ll probably have a problem with another woman. Cool.

Abram Boise, Road Rules: South Pacific

I loved immature, hot-headed young Abram. After the Island, I’m fearing we get a mature, level-headed Abram with no edge. Still, I like familiar faces.

Brad Fiorenza, Real World: San Diego

Hope for his sake he doesn’t get in any more fights. Should be fun to watch him and Tori squabble and make up.

Brandon Nelson, Fresh Meat II

Don’t remember this joker. Don’t care.

Chet Cannon, Real World: Brooklyn

I can’t believe this dumby came back. Seems like a decent guy who is not cut out for this game emotionally, socially, strategically, and physically.

Dan Walsh, Road Rules: Viewer’s Revenge

I don’t remember Dan. Looks like a strong meathead though.

Derek Chavez, Real World: Cancun

The gay guy from Cancun. Three RW:Cancun members and CJ the punter isn’t here? What a lame replacement.

Derrick Kosinski, Road Rules: X-Treme

Who doesn’t love the Randy Couture of RW/RR:Challenge? He’s weak minded at times, but he’s a decent guy and a good competitor who keeps it interesting. I say he’s got one more good run in him, especially if this incarnation of the show is a team concept.

Dunbar Merrill, Real World: Sydney

Has there ever been a bigger bust in Challenge history? I mean, CT had mental problems to fall back on. Bananas piggybacked his way to winning. What’s Dunbar’s excuse? He’ll bang some jezabel and at least be in funny arguments. He’ll flop in eliminations.

Eric Banks, Fresh Meat

They brought back the team mascot, Easy E. He’s kind of like Katie Doyle, kept around for drinking and fun, while not being as destructive as someone like Tanya. There’s still nothing more fascinating to me than Easy E almost dying during the final mission years back while his “Bad Guy” teammates yelled nasty things at his pale limp body.

JD Ordonez, Real World: Brooklyn

I watch this entire season of RW and I have no memory of this clown. I guess it’s better than them throwing on the combative tranny from the same year.

Johnny Devenanzio, Real World: Key West

Johnny Bananas, how I love thee. How the hell is Bananas going to prosper in a house with all these young buck and no Suck Yeah friends to back him up? Is there any chance of a new Bananas Alliance (of convenience) forming with old heads like Dunbar and Derrick? That’s like Flair getting a makeshift Horseman together and calling them Fortune (ugh.) I see bad things for this go around.

Luke Wolfe, Fresh Meat II

Eve’s punching bag from Fresh Meat 2. He doesn’t have the heart to play this game well. I’m more interested in him and Landon finally coming out on the show.

Ty Ruff, Real World: DC

Hell yes. The second half of the blue-chippers from DC. He’s got the potential to be the new Alton. Plus, he’s had a past with the girl from DC, they’ll both be good, and their combustable together. This will help carry the season because they’re new, and unless Cancun and DC form a newbie alliance, Ty and Emily will have to deal with each other. It’s the whole “Two American strangers in Paris” thing.

Tyler Duckworth, Real World: Key West

You got to love the snooty gay guy. He’ll cause good gossip/trouble, if nothing else.

Vinny Foti, Fresh Meat II

Well, we end on a thud. Vinny made no impression on me what-so-ever during Fresh Meat 2. Hopefully he’ll do something interesting or stay out of the way.

# 132. Riki Choshu vs. Salman Hashimikov (7/12/89)

I’m shocked by how low this finished. I was fascinated by the Russian shooter stuff after the Hash match at the Dome, so I when I saw this on the same disk I made a point to watch it. It’s not that it’s a top 20 match or anything, but it’s a solid eight minutes, an appropriate length given the story, and didn’t come apart in the body for me like so many other 20 minute matches on this set. Everything meant something here. A decent technical battle to start out, Choshu bringing the presence and fire while allowing the bigger Hashimikov to show off a few holds and colorful suplexes. These Russians don;t really understand selling at a high level, but they were scary good in big match situations with what I assume was very little training. The odd thing about this match is the native babyface Choshu starts taking a beating (vicious overhead suplex on the outside), and begins his comeback with an illegal kick to the groin. He sells, while at the same time bringing some strong, dramatic lariats, and Choshu takes the clean three count. I know some would argue you can’t go over three stars for an eight minutes story, but this would have been higher on my ballot than # 132. I’d think it’s between 40 and 55.

I’m stepping away from my top 25 goal again, but I saw this on match on the menu and had to see how it held up…

44. Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (7/13/89)

They have a match voted into the top ten from a month later, so this will serve as a primer. I’ve seen more 1990s Liger than early Liger, but I remember great word of mouth about this match up. This is juniors action, for those who don’t know. Just the opening series of exchanges alone – a point, counterpoint of reversals and holds – is way ahead of its time. It’s the precursor of “demonstration/standoff” wrestling that we still see today in workrate-based matches and promotions. I knew Liger was great, but it’s important to mention how much Sano holds up is end of this match. Its fast and crisp stuff that gradually gets meaner as the contest wears on.Even the lariats are stiff, well-timed, and compact. A body slam in this match gets my attention. Sano’s control segment flows well, and there’s a spot where Liger gives Sano back a surfboard he had suffered a minute before.

Liger does a diving elbow that would make Randy Savage proud. I think what I’m digging so much about this match is that it doesn’t need a million punches, elbow shivers, or shoot kicks. It’s a wrestling contest without a wasted moment or sense of hyperbole that pulls me away from the agreed upon illusion. As I write that last line Liger gives Sano a snap suplex to the floor, followed by a senton dive. I’ll let it slide. The crowd, and I, are invested in this one. My only minus is the selling doesn’t feel dramatic enough, but it makes up for it with urgency and a real sense of drama that develops.

This has built to all out crazy move insanity. They are slowing down to sell, but at fast moments it’s dizzying. Sano’s advantage produces a few near falls, which lead to Liger hope spots. They get somewhat sloppy, but in a realistic way that actually adds to the match. It ends around fourteen minutes, as both men can’t make the refs count to ten in the ring. They lay there, selling for a while. Only nitpick I have is the ref was so anxious to get to the finish that there was no drama in the fast count. It made it obvious he was getting to the finish when he started counting the minute they hit the mat.

A very good match that serves as a great primer for the eventual top ten rematch.

I can not help myself. I wanted to get to match # 24, but the next match on the DVD has Vader coming out in his crazy smoke-shooting head dress, and a Russian shooter. Main Event heavyweights. So we’ll do…

# 63. Big Van Vader vs. Salman Hashimikov (7/13/89)

Vader has so much charisma here, getting the crowd involved and yet scaring them at the same time. I’m watching the opening Vader beatdown of Hashimikov for the Russian’s selling, and I’ve got to say it’s very acceptable stuff. Awesome moment where Hash comes back with a huge lariat that Vader sells perfectly, and then rolls to the outside. He sells a whip into the barricade, and the place is alive for Hashimikov. Very good start.

The way Vader uses his aggression and size the bully a good-sized Hash around is one heck of an image. Hashimikov won’t back down, and there’s a moment where he’s sent to the outside and hops back over the top rope. It pops the crowd, and I’m into this match myself. Hash’s amatuer technique for getting Vader off his feet are always enjoyable and have an epic, big feel to them. Vader keeps coming. He has a big back drop driver spot in there. Hash comes back with a German suplex (you’d have to see it to believe it), a moment later picking Vader up over his shoulder and carrying him around before dropping him back for a good nearfall.

Vader comes back with a huge lariat (great realistic bump by Hash), a splash, and then a powerslam, all for some credible nearfalls. Hash is playing a great underdog in an MMA sense. He’s not playing to the crowd with spirit, but you can see it in his movements and on his face. Vader finally finishes him with a huge belly-to-belly suplex at 8:46. What a monster. Hashimikov runs from the ring, perhaps in embarrassment, I don’t know, while Vader goes into the crowd to scare people.

I love this match — it’s big man power wrestling done tight and stiff — and I’m shocked at how low this finished. I guess the field was just too great, but all these Russian wrestler matches from ’89 are gold.

Let’s go one more and finally do one form the top 25 list…

24. Akira Maeda vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara (2/5/86)

There are opinion makers at DVDVR that will try to sell you Fujiwara as the greatest of all time, and while I wouldn’t go that far (It’s all very subjective), I like him more now than I did a year before. He definitely has something that you can’t deny, in the same way I feel that for Fujinami and to a greater extent Choshu. Maeda is a famous name who didn’t do anything for me early in the set, but yu could tell his training and work ethic was solid. So I go into this one with question marks and unsure expectations.

I am partial to the hold exchanges and escapes they present early. It’s not like Liger/Sano where it came off as a display, as this felt like more of a contest, but unfortunately at a run-through speed. It didn’t feel lazy, just not intense. Another thing hurting for me is that this is the first match in a while without the big atmosphere, so the work is going to have to carry everything. In alot of ways this has the feel of a second match on the PPV card modern UFC bout. Both guys are looking for an opening, but know a finish probably isn’t coming early.

This is pretty much a complete style change form the 1989 stuff I was watching. Ground-based submission stuff with shoot-style kicks and punches when they do stand. No rope running in the first few minutes, and it doesn’t quite feel like wrestling until Fujiwara pulls out his great headbutts. Maeda seems to dominate the standing against the more reserved Fujiwara. On the ground Fujiwara seems to have the advantage.

This match, so far, is exactly why I dropped out of doing the entire set. Very slow to develop without a clear storyline. Alot of stuff that doesn’t build, and though there is a story, it feels more like they are trying to mimic shoot stuff than tell a wrestling story. It’s not bad, and there is a story for sure, but I loved Vader or Hashimoto versus the Russians much more. This match, so far, is not my style.

So they roll outside in dueling leg locks and the bell rings. They are separated and then the match seems to restart. The language barrier prevents me from knowing what is going on. Perhaps this is a multi-falls match. Maeda continues to dominate standing up, so Fujiwara takes the match to the ground. That’s a good story element to follow. I think Fujiwara is bleeding from the mouth too. Fujiwara takes a beating standing, escapes a German suplex attempt, and gets a flash armbar. His facials are great, as are his quick, desperate transitions into submissions. While Fujiwara is very good, this match continues to lay under the surface for me. Close to breaking through, but not there yet ten minutes plus in. Fujiwara gets caught in a rear naked choke, and his facials while going unconscious are fantastic. Still, I wasn’t that into the struggle. This is bad — again, it’s just not the right blend of style for me. I do think I could like a hybrid of this with Fujiwara though. I do like more modern pro wrestling adaptations.

Had this match been picked out of 1981 and plotted into today’s wrestling, especially WWE or TNA, I’d be in love with it and herald it as a great little compact match. As it stands in the context of early 80s New Japan, it’s a mat based match in a sea of juniors mat work on this set. That doesn’t nullify or discredit it’s effectiveness, but it doesn’t help it in my overall standing.

Takano was fun, and a very capable worker I’m more than willing to see more of. Lane was very surprising in this ground-based war, and more than kept up. Most of the time I thought he led. The mat work, holds, and transitions were great. I actually didn’t like when Lane eventually transitioned into punching and kicking. I liked Takano’s head spear to the gut. It’s a simple ten minute match with Lane going over clean, and a perfectly fine little match, but it will get lost in the shuffle for me. 3 and 6/10.

Not sure how I feel about another go ‘round from the chin and the Lariat, but it’s on the set, so I’m watching it.

A live band plays Inoki’s theme as he comes out to a laser light show. That’s pretty cool. And they say Vince McMahon created Sports Entertainment. Ha. Hansen gets the same treatment. We get the national anthems being played. This certainly has the stage befitting a big match. The crowd is chanting for Inoki early. He stays a step ahead of Hansen for a moment, but Hansen grounds Inoki, and for lack of a better term, pounds Inoki. Hansen’s clubbing blows have an effect, and Inoki has to reassess is game plan. The utilization of chin locks and head scissors in this series is astounding in number.

Hansen pulls out the thick knee drops and forces Inoki to sell a bit (I’ve got beef with Inoki’s lack of selling, and if you’ve read these diaries, you are sick of hearing about it). The big move of the first six minutes is a Hansen pile driver, forcing Inoki to the outside. If this was Memphis there would be dire ramifications. It really was not used as a finishing move in any of the matches I’ve seen. Inoki’s comeback is a quick arm bar submission attempt. Hansen stops it with knees. He even throws in one ugly drop kick, and gets a near fall. I desperation Inoki chops the big man down with kicks to the knee, and grabs the leg for a wear down submission.

This is my favorite Inoki/Hansen match so far for consistency of psychology and story telling. Maybe the other ones just didn’t catch me and there was depth there too. It’s in the eye of the beholder sometimes. Inoki manages to stay on step ahead using his feet, and they create some movement here too, which is nice on the eyes. Hansen is narrowly escaping Inoki just past ten minutes, as the smaller guy is really giving him a run for his money. Finally Hansen sends him into the ropes for the big lariat. 1-2-kickout! The place erupts. This rules.

A great spot slightly smudged: Hansen goes for a short lariat, misses, and Inoki goes for a kick to the back of the head – miss. He does it again quick and it seems fine. Glad he fixed it quickly, though some may argue you don’t redo spots. Inoki comes off the top and nails him. He comes off the top again with a knee to the body. 1-2-3. Hansen kicks out a second too late. In a way it ended at the right time, but at 13 minutes, it kinda didn’t have a second act where Hansen destroyed him. Hansen’s offer of a handshake after the match was a great moment that I’m glad I saw after the series. They run through a zillion highlights of Inoki’s career as he’s given the belt. In a lot of ways I liked this the most of the series they had. 3 ¼ and 6.5/10.

#25. Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Vader (4/24/89)

The match was good and had a flow to it, though it’s still odd seeing the way they bumped back then as opposed to now. The bumping takes time to get used to. Not as “beautiful” in that sense, but perhaps more realistic. Damn modern wrestling influences. Anyway, Vader plays a great monster, but I don’t think he was as good here as he would become in WCW. He bumped more than I thought he would, but then this was a big show match against the # 2 native of the decade, babyface underdog extraordinaire, Fujinami. Fujinami is really good on this set, but there’s something that holds me back with him and makes me see Choshu as a greater performer. I think it’s move selection, the timing of when to use moves, and the atmosphere they create. I can’t explain it concisely, but suffice to say this was my favorite Fujinami match that didn’t involve Choshu. Fujinami goes for arm submissions (which I bought), Vader is great when he’s in trouble, and we get some drama. Vader squashes him by sitting down on his chest, does what by today’s standards looks like a silly jumping splash, then gets the clean pin. Crowd is really quiet after that one, but it was a satisfying ending that build up Vader even more. I liked the match.

I kept the DVD rolling, saw a young Hashimoto in the Tokyo Dome, and had to sit through it once I saw that his opponent was some Soviet shooter named Victor Zangiev. Which led into…

#27. Shinya Hashimoto vs. Victor Zangiev (4/24/89)

This match was all kinds of awesome. You had a hot Tokyo Dome crowd that was into the MMA aspect of the match, Hash being a native doughy tough guy and Zangiev being an Olympic wrestler that has the feel of a decade-early Kurt Angle when he was in a match with Benoit. Very simple seven minute contest that I hesitate to call a sprint because it was paced so well. The Russian did cool suplexes and Hash showed the charisma and poised I’ve always heard about but never seen (I have watched criminally little of his career.) Arm bars and heel hooks in this one, and the Russian taps to a Hash ankle submission that was done at the perfect time. Reminded me of the famed Kawada vs Gary Albright match from the mid-nineties, though I might like this one more because they don’t try to do to much. They use the styles clash and the outsider aspect to work a quick, impact-filled, match. Highly recommended.

I took a day, sat on that one, then watched this…

#15. Shinya Hashimoto vs. Vader (4/24/89)

This from the same night as the prior two matches. What a sick show that April ’89 New Japan Dome show was. Vader’s big aura is evident here. Liked that he brought out the the giant head gear that shoots out pressurized air when he commands it. This was neat because Vader has the feel of a monster, while Hash is young-but-not-little-guy. He wasn’t a big fatty here, but thick around the middle. Surprisingly strong holds and wrestling in this one. Really strong style stuff, and that doesn’t mean a million stiff kicks or head drops. Think holds involving struggle and decent slap boxing from big men. Vader pulled off a spinning backfist that looked good. Vader beats the crap out of Hash with lariats (they actually mean something still), but can’t keep Hash down for the three. Vader finally throws another lariat that takes out Hash, but the three count gets screwed up by special ref Lou Thesz (i think that’s him), who didn’t think it was the finish and hesitated huge on the three count. Vader goes over to everyone’s shock, and man is that a way to make a monster heel in one night. This was really good, but I might have enjoyed the first two matches a little more.

rolling on…

19. Riki Choshu vs. Big Van Vader (6/27/89)

I love Choshu, plain and simple. I love his punches, his psychology, his presence, and his charisma. Vader was on a roll, as you can see from the matches above, and this clicked because Choshu was willing to get beat up and then fire back in the body of the match. It starts out hot with Choshu taking and beating and then coming on strong. Choshu rips the mask and Vader BLEEDS. Epic stuff here, especially because both men came off as tough. Great match with an average finish. Vader destroys Choshu on the outside, bleeds on him for a minute, and then gets the count out win. Extra points for his Bloody-Brody-storming-through-the-audience bit after the match. Recommended, just be prepared for the finish.

I’m writing now because I think I’m starting to find a spark. With Up North Radio hitting episode 100, and BS With Honor faithfully chugging along while delivering the best ROH coverage on the net, I figure it’s time to contribute again. I’m thinking about taking the top 20-25 from the DVDVR New Japan ballot results and doing a review for each. I’ve written up probably 8 of them for my own ballot, but apparently alot of great matches happened after I stopped watching around the 1985 disks. So those will hopefully be enjoyable make-goods for my 8 month absence.

The big news is that DVDVR, thanks to great people like my friend Goodhelmet, have just released the World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) 1980s set. So it looks like I’m going to make the attempt at watching and ranking 150 World Class matches through the Diaries series I’ve done for this site. If you are interested in finding the greatest matches from the promotions of the 80s, I highly recommend looking up tags for my Memphis Diaries or Mid South Diaries. I’m not someone who thinks that nothing good happened post ’95, but the top ten to twenty from each of those Diaries ballots is worth a fan of any age or era going out of their way to see. Dundee vs Lawler, Hacksaw vs Dibiase, Butch Reed vs Dick Murdoch. I could go on for along time. They transcend styles if you really love the ART in pro wrestling.

If you want to see my thoughts on the greatest WCW Nitro matches of all times, look up the Nitro Diaries. The top thirty is all must-see stuff. And starting in about a month, look for the World Class Diaries. See you soon. Support our radio shows at the CHRON in the meantime.

This is from the 8th Anniversary show for IWA-Mid South and stands as a great display of what CM Punk can do in the ring with the right opponent. Punk is a solid worker carrying too much weight in the WWE to live up to their standards. He was never a “work rate guy” or a “mat & hold specialist”. Thing is, he’s better with good workers working with him, and he’s better when he has more freedom to work away from WWE’s ring style.

Enter AJ Styles, who is an excellent worker. Styles can do a lot of high flying high spot stuff, but he doesn’t hear. Most of what you see in this match you could see ten to fifteen years ago. Put Punk in with a talented opponent and you get a very good to great match.

The early part of the match, about six-eight minutes, is very smart and subtlety brilliant hold exchanges. Lots of reversal stuff that makes the segment as its smooth. Just as smart, Punk seems to adjust to how Styles responds, which is a true catch wrestling style that’s come back with the MMA shoot wrestling style. These guys aren’t MMA practitioners, but they understand those influences in pro wrestling. Punk shortens up while working on the arm/shoulder of Styles to avoid strikes, so Styles finds a new way to strike. Styles is constantly cut off as Punk wears on the arm.
The match begins to evolve as Styles gains a foothold and both men take a high spot risk to the outside. Crash and burn on both accounts.

From here Styles takes the advantage as he plays subtle heel. Lots of good submission holds. Punk is a good underdog in the right settings. If HBK cared he could work with him and make him great since WWE seems to want him to be an underdog size wise. Here he’s just selling, coming back, and getting cut off. It’s done in a very solid and back and forth way though. Fun stuff.

We move to the final act when Styles hits the springboard inverted DDT on the floor. Punk beats the twenty count as the crowd goes nuts, having drawn them in after a quieter early segment. They won over the crowd, but they should have had them from the first minute. Crowds loss on that one.

Punk then kicks out of nearfall after nearfall. We have teases of finishing moves, one being the Shining Wizard getting caught and turned into the Styles Clash, but being shaken off. Very well paced stuff that maximized the drama while selling the early damage. Punk gains the advantage and gets the Anaconda Vice on for about the third time for the tap out. Punk wins the match and the title, telling one heckler, “yeah, but you’ll still be paying to see me in 8 more years.” Well, 4 years later and the 200 fans there are 10,000 these days, so he’s winning that one too. A great match that you should go out of your way to see. And if you’d like to see Punk’s mic work, try his turn after the Aries ROH title match in June ’05, or his pre-Terry Funk match promo in Sept. ’03 in ROH. Then tell me there’s no more that can be done to maximize the Punker in WWE.

Jerry Jarrett took over the Memphis territory in the late 70s, using Jarrett Promotions to run the CWA (Memphis wrestling). His centerpiece was Jerry “The King” Lawler, who modern fans will know from is announcing of WWE’s RAW program. But there were many great stars, like Bill Dundee and Dutch Mantell to name two, who modern fans like myself should be introduced to. I’ll attempt to give young fans a gateway to these wrestlers once again, and give older fans a chance to relive glory days through my eyes. Of course, these are my eyes, opinions, and thoughts. This 27-year-old is admittedly a product 0f the 1990s, with my glory days being 90s ECW, this decade’s ROH, and a love for All Japan’s 90s run. I love and thirst for wrestling history, but my eyes have been tainted by my own experiences and views. You have been warned.

So starting this weekend, prepare for new Diaries. Last time we had revelations like Hector and Chavo, John Tatum, The greatness of Ted Dibiase as a lead heel, the fully realized potential of Jim Duggan as a babyface, Freebird dominance, and so much more from the mind of Bill Watts/Mid South Wrestling. Prepare yourself to follow my own journey through 125 Memphis matches from the 1980s, and hundreds of angles/storylines.

The first stop on my look at any possible Match of the Year Candidates (MOTYC from here on out).This match didn’t get huge buzz, but for almost the first two months of the year this was considered a pace setter. Besides, anything over 3 ½ stars or considered Very Good by most is worth seeing, after all.

This match is done at the ol’ bowling alley, North Star Lanes. KENTA has his young protégé in Ishimori, who he works well with, and KENTA’s most famous partner is across the ring, Marufuji. Marufuji is packing the even greener by experience Aoki, who hasn’t even had his 10 match trial series yet. Thing is, Aoki is a scary good talent, and Ishimori is a hell of a spot performer; Though there’s more to him as well.
Marufuji and KENTA start out doing there fast and furious “I know you. No, I know you” counter move stuff. Always awesome no matter how much I’ve seen it already. They won’t end up being the story though. Marufuji finishes with the advantage and they each tag in their junior members.

Ishimori has some great acrobatic head scissors and fake out moves. He frustrates Aoki, who is really technically solid, and KENTA comes in for the stiff stuff. Aoki sells a lot these days, as the old All Japan/NOAH system brings up it’s top young boys in this way.

Nevermind. They duck out of that without much heat. Odd, since KENTA looked to beat his ass and just let him tag out. Then Marufuji takes control of KENTA.

Aoki can’t keep the advantage, and he starts to sell again. KENTA and Aoki have some nice stiff forearm exchanges, but mostly KENTA just stiffs the crap out of him. Good tags in and out from KENTA/Ishimori. They don’t work on any one thing, just beat the crap out of Aoki.

Great hope spots from Aoki and being cut off. Marufuji has a subtle talent as the partner in the corner waiting for the hot tag. Not in getting the crowd going, but in being concerned and trying for the tag. Sadly, Ishimori isn’t as urgent once tagged in.

Everyone in this match throws a beautiful dropkick. Aoki comes back and makes the tag to no reaction or drama, and Marufuji runs wild. His dragon screw leg whip and the majority of his offense is amazing too. Having seen him live several times in ROH I’ve have to say Marufuji is extremely undervalued.

Okay, no selling has finally gotten to me. He super kick is a transitional move used often in these matches, and Ishimori shrugs off big stiff moves to little effect. It’s a desensitization I’m very opposed to. Big moves need consequences, and only some NOAH matches have those consequences.

By the way, Ishimori hit a hurrancanrana that has to be seen it was so beautiful. Moments like that make me worry less about these matches as it was a great nearfall. KENTA once tagged in is so motivated he fills several quotas for fiery babyfaces.

Marufuji takes all the escalating KENTA offense, shakes out of the Go To Sleep, and hits a Sliced Bread # 2 for a nearfall. We’re into the all out nearfall big finish.

This one is a lot slower moving. So is the crowd heat. Aoki has a great double overhead suplex move that reminds me of Eddie’s 3 Amigos the way he floats over.

Everyone gets to hit some moves and/or submission attempts, but Aoki’s reversals for pins were my favorite. I really enjoy this kid’s work. KENTA finally gets him with the GTS in a very good match.
Not MOTY quality, but a very good fifteen minutes or so. I’d say 3 ½ stars and 7/10.