[Yeah1993]

I liked Trip in the match on last watch. Thought he sold his arm well and when it stopped him from being able to use the pedigree it was great. The problem with the match is, yeah, it doesn't feel hateful enough. HHH tried to run Austin over with a god-damn car not long before that and they were still in that mindset. A grudge match doesn't need more than 20 minutes let alone 50; I've seen 10-12 minute ones that are pretty much perfect. I don't think HHH and Austin ever really had the match they should have. I like how Steve just forgets Hunter tried to kill him and they team up two months later.

[Jack Evans 187]

World Heavyweight Championship
Ric Flair (c) vs. Barry Windham
NWA Worldwide 1/20/87

Have NWA Battle of the Belts 2 on the way so I decided I should probably see this Flair/Windham match before I watch the other. Heard great things about this, never gotten through it fully before. Gotta say I loved the pacing right off the bat. Never much of a dull moment. Flair's arm work was well done, brought out some of that amateur background. It didn't really go anywhere in the match but I think it was just basic instinct to attack a body part and see where it leads you. The biggest things I think I loved in this match were small things Windham did. His reactions to Flair's heel tactics and cheating (which were awesome as always by the way) were a blast to watch and I loved it when he gets pissed at the ref. His overall athleticism was amazing for a guy his size, the bumps he took on the floor were good and everything he did was so smooth, plus the guy throws some damn good punches.Honestly my favorite part of the entire match is when Flair has Windham in the sleeper hold and Barry slips out from the bottom because of all the sweat and hits him with a kick from the mat. Idk why that just looked so fucking good.

As we all know the match goes to a 45 minute TV time limit, but it doesn't feel anywhere near that long. Absolute breeze to sit through. The final 5 minutes are so great with Windham just throwing everything he can at Flair in desperation and Ric either trying to get away or escaping out of a pinfall. I also loved how after the match Windham just simply grabs the belt and a mic and tells Flair his time is comin and he'll beat him another day, then lays the belt on an exhausted Nature Boy. Didn't beg for more time or complain about anything, just made the title seem so important. Great match, excited to see their other encounters now.

****1/2

[Yeah1993]

That's pretty much a classic, and probably only Windham's third best match...... of 1987. Guy was TREMENDOUS.

[The Lady Killer]

Originally Posted by Segunda Caida

Finally tracked down the review, when I came across it at first I too was thinking whether he'd watched the same match. Then I watched it and a lot of the things he discussed I couldn't defend, a good example of an in depth review making me question a favourite of mine. Plus the older and more wrestling I've watched my tastes have differed and evolved. I'd rank the match a bit higher than him, but I agree with near enough everything he says:



A follow up argument from him on WWF/E brawls which I also whole-heartedly agree with:



I wish that guy still posted around here, he seemed to have a great grasp of old school territories wrestling as well as the current product.

Interesting points. I'll have to watch the match again while keeping these aspects in mind. Thanks man.

[Hohenheim of Light]

Austin/Hunter NWO: **1/2

Agreed with whoever that was.

[Razor King]

If you like Michaels/Ramon Ladder match (X; SS '95 isn't good) and then don't like Hunter/Austin, I won't give it much weight. If you dislike both matches, it's appropriate.

Also, Michaels/Hunter from SS '02 doesn't need Michaels selling his back. Why? Because THIS is the show-stoppa, the main event, the headliner who is returning as an in-ring competitor to prove to that Hunter SOB that he is and shall forever remain better than Triple H and bad back or NOT--nothing can stop him. That is why the selling, or lack thereof doesn't bother me at all. Michaels went on to prove in all his future matches that his back wouldn't stop him and he has overcome the back issues. The entire story of Michaels' return from 2002 to his retirement in 2010 is completely elaborated in the SummerSlam match against Hunter and concluded in the Undertaker match at 'Mania XXVI. The two matches have a deep link if you really look beyond the obvious, which is also why I believe those are two of Michaels' very best matches.

I could go on and on about SummerSlam 2002, but yeah. My point.

[Hohenheim of Light]

How is the Mania X match anything like the 3SOH?

And yeah, SS isn't good.

[JoeRulz]

Originally Posted by Jack Evans 187

World Heavyweight Championship
Ric Flair (c) vs. Barry Windham
NWA Worldwide 1/20/87

Have NWA Battle of the Belts 2 on the way so I decided I should probably see this Flair/Windham match before I watch the other. Heard great things about this, never gotten through it fully before. Gotta say I loved the pacing right off the bat. Never much of a dull moment. Flair's arm work was well done, brought out some of that amateur background. It didn't really go anywhere in the match but I think it was just basic instinct to attack a body part and see where it leads you. The biggest things I think I loved in this match were small things Windham did. His reactions to Flair's heel tactics and cheating (which were awesome as always by the way) were a blast to watch and I loved it when he gets pissed at the ref. His overall athleticism was amazing for a guy his size, the bumps he took on the floor were good and everything he did was so smooth, plus the guy throws some damn good punches.Honestly my favorite part of the entire match is when Flair has Windham in the sleeper hold and Barry slips out from the bottom because of all the sweat and hits him with a kick from the mat. Idk why that just looked so fucking good.

As we all know the match goes to a 45 minute TV time limit, but it doesn't feel anywhere near that long. Absolute breeze to sit through. The final 5 minutes are so great with Windham just throwing everything he can at Flair in desperation and Ric either trying to get away or escaping out of a pinfall. I also loved how after the match Windham just simply grabs the belt and a mic and tells Flair his time is comin and he'll beat him another day, then lays the belt on an exhausted Nature Boy. Didn't beg for more time or complain about anything, just made the title seem so important. Great match, excited to see their other encounters now.

****1/2

Five stars all the way, it was a rollercoaster of a match.

[BANKSY]

Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus, Two out of Three Falls Match for the World Heavyweight Championship, WWE Extreme Rules

This fantastic match saw Daniel Bryan pushed hard as an aggressive, intelligent, submissions expert, with Sheamus showcased as a die hard, determined babyface champion who wouldn’t give up. I think Sheamus is one of the most underated workers in the WWE despite some questions over his selling ability and stamina but he has shown that he can have a good match with near anyone , so when parnered with someone the calibre of Bryan you know you will see something awesome.

Bryan utilizes a mix of technical moves with sheer viciousness in his kicks and use of the ring post, this in combination of good selling and a look of delusion of pain in the face of Sheamus blurs the line of fake/reality which is when you know pro rasslin is at its best. Bryan plays a great arrogant sort of weasel like character , the epitome of this is a great conducting of the choir during the suspensful gap between the end of the 2nd and start of the 3rd fall. This match was a magnificent melding of exciting, technically sound wrestling and a story of a valiant babyface champion. I this match would have happend at Wresltemania it could have made Sheamus a much bigger star instead of the backlash which followed his 18 second victory.

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

[jomo17]

Wild Wednesday offer: year review of 1993 and 1994 (tagged classic) and 1995/96 also tagged classic. Gonna be a pass from me. ..