Matt Hardy vs. Edge - (WWE 9/18/05)
Just pure, unadulterated hatred and I love every second of it. This is quite comfortably both men's best match and that isn't a slight on anything else they've done, that's just a compliment on how fucking perfect this is. One thing I never noticed until this watch was how much of a dick attitude Edge had: When Matt was in control or was looking to build up some steam, Edge couldn't wait to get out of the door, yet when he (Edge) was in control, he was more than happy to be a DICK and beat the snot out of Hardy. I loved the focus on the head, especially given the beatdown Hardy suffered at Summerslam, and Matt's comeback was a thing of beauty - Some of the best punches I've ever seen and FIERY ATTITUDE that came off as some of the most captivating shit I've ever seen. Matt purposely throwing Edge in to the Steel brace of the cage was amazing, btw. Lita shenanigans were great and Hardy nailing her with the Twist of Fate must have been awesome to watch live and so relieving as a fan, and the Spear nearfall that followed was awesome. I don't know why it's taken me this long and this many watches to realise this, but this match is one of the greatest I have ever seen and nobody can tell me otherwise. SECOND ADDITION. *****
Magnum TA vs. Tully Blanchard - (JCP 11/28/85)
To people who I talk wrestling with, I often talk of matches that I have never seen before yet if I tell fans I've never seen them, they look at me as if I've just stabbed their neighbour and barbequed their cat - This is one of them. IMO, this is absolutely fantastic, phenomenal even. Just not quite *****. The hatred is their, the action is there... There's just something that isn't and I really can't quite put my finger on it and it's frustrating the hell out of me. Maybe I'll write some more on this when I can be arsed, but for now... I loved it, but it won't be making my list, however it certainly has the potential to in a few months/years time should I rewatch it. YEAH IT'S ONE OF THOSE.
Aja Kong vs. Bull Nakano - (AJW 11/13/90)
You wanna' talk about comfort zones and venturing thousands of miles outside of them? Well yeah... This. My Joshi viewing is extremely limited and the only matches I have watched are some Manami Toyoda matches and a Kana match. So going from that to this was a wee bit of a culture shock, and it shows, because I really, really disliked this. Was it impressive? Sure as shit. Was it captivating? Damn right. Did I enjoy it? No. What kept me going through this was my morbid curiosity or as I like to call it - "Car Crash Syndrome". Maybe because I don't understand the feud, the style of wrestling, whatever... I just really disliked it. Too many things just didn't make sense and it drew me out as a viewer. NO FUCKING THANKS.
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1. Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Misterio Jr. - WCW 10/26/97
2. Edge vs. Matt Hardy - WWE 9/18/05
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Monday, 7 July 2014
Thursday, 26 June 2014
Who said you had to be 260 pounds to have a good match?
Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Eddy Guerrero - (WCW 10/26/97)
It's been a good few years since I've seen this, and on last watch I thought it was absolutely amazing - Flawless, maybe. On this watch, my opinion stays exactly the same, if anything I think it's even greater. From the get go, the underdog story was created and emphasised with Guerrero having Rey's number and cutting his legs from underneath him before pummeling and punishing his midsection for the majority of the match. I loved how everything Eddy did was to either hurt the midsection or punk Rey out and although this match may not have the multi-layered progression of Eddy like the 6/23 match, the frustration and dickishness is as clear as day to be enjoyed. All of that on top of flawless execution of breathtaking maneuvers, I'd say this is a pretty damn good start to my five star match list. *****
Flyin' Brian vs. Jushin Liger - (WCW 2/29/92)
Is it bad that I've never seen this before? Well apparently it is, but anybody who knows me knows there's a whole bunch of classics even from the WWE/WCW that I've never seen before and I guess one of the perks of this project is that I get to put that straight. This match is okay at best in my opinion and is absolutely nowhere near five stars (I watched because it was touted as a five star match by someone who I generally share similar opinions with). It's just far too exhibitionist-y and whilst that is all well and good, it isn't good enough to be grouped with the cream of the crop. I'm also a firm believer of if it doesn't age well then it isn't a classic and this is a prime example. It may have been great and revolutionary back in the day, but not now. It just plodded along, Liger works the leg and then theres a finishing stretch and then... That's it. Not only was the legwork empty and did it seem forced, but it meant absolutely nothing. Very disappointed, tbh.
Eddy Guerrero vs. Chris Jericho (WCW 9/14/97)
This was fucking great. Absolutely smashing. It's the first of what I feel will be many during this project where it's just shy of making the cut and being listed. Just so many things I adored about this. Jericho's facials, Eddy's selling, Guerrero's lunatic bumping, the hot crowd... Just wow. Btw, Eddy takes one of the most ridiculous release german suplex bumps I have ever seen in my life. But yeah, whilst the midsection work on Jericho wasn't quite as captivating as the Rey HH match, it was done well. My only qualm would be not quite liking the finish, but that's just me. Fantastic.
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1. Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Misterio Jr. - WCW 10/26/97
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It's been a good few years since I've seen this, and on last watch I thought it was absolutely amazing - Flawless, maybe. On this watch, my opinion stays exactly the same, if anything I think it's even greater. From the get go, the underdog story was created and emphasised with Guerrero having Rey's number and cutting his legs from underneath him before pummeling and punishing his midsection for the majority of the match. I loved how everything Eddy did was to either hurt the midsection or punk Rey out and although this match may not have the multi-layered progression of Eddy like the 6/23 match, the frustration and dickishness is as clear as day to be enjoyed. All of that on top of flawless execution of breathtaking maneuvers, I'd say this is a pretty damn good start to my five star match list. *****
Flyin' Brian vs. Jushin Liger - (WCW 2/29/92)
Is it bad that I've never seen this before? Well apparently it is, but anybody who knows me knows there's a whole bunch of classics even from the WWE/WCW that I've never seen before and I guess one of the perks of this project is that I get to put that straight. This match is okay at best in my opinion and is absolutely nowhere near five stars (I watched because it was touted as a five star match by someone who I generally share similar opinions with). It's just far too exhibitionist-y and whilst that is all well and good, it isn't good enough to be grouped with the cream of the crop. I'm also a firm believer of if it doesn't age well then it isn't a classic and this is a prime example. It may have been great and revolutionary back in the day, but not now. It just plodded along, Liger works the leg and then theres a finishing stretch and then... That's it. Not only was the legwork empty and did it seem forced, but it meant absolutely nothing. Very disappointed, tbh.
Eddy Guerrero vs. Chris Jericho (WCW 9/14/97)
This was fucking great. Absolutely smashing. It's the first of what I feel will be many during this project where it's just shy of making the cut and being listed. Just so many things I adored about this. Jericho's facials, Eddy's selling, Guerrero's lunatic bumping, the hot crowd... Just wow. Btw, Eddy takes one of the most ridiculous release german suplex bumps I have ever seen in my life. But yeah, whilst the midsection work on Jericho wasn't quite as captivating as the Rey HH match, it was done well. My only qualm would be not quite liking the finish, but that's just me. Fantastic.
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1. Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Misterio Jr. - WCW 10/26/97
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So I finally grew a set and did it
So I finally grew a set of balls and decided to set up a blog. Hooray?
What this is is basically a platform for me to share all of my thoughts on whatever professional wrestling I watch. A lot of the time there will be very little rhyme or reason as to what I post but I guess as long as I am posting, that's all that matters... Right?
I have several things in mind in terms of what I'm going to be posting and whether they materialise or not is a completely different matter. The only thing for definite that I have planned is a never ending project if there ever is one - A personal, definitive five star match list. Yep, something I have never had in my life and something that will be forever changing but it gives me a reason to go out there, watch all the great shit, discover new matches and broaden my horizons as a wrestling fan as well as pimping and recommending matches to anybody who reads so that they can also expand their knowledge and just generally enjoy the art of pro graps.
So yeah. For now... Five star match list. I'll update in a bit with my first installment. Stay cool, stay hard, stay hungry.
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