I watched a couple of matches today and thought I'd post some thoughts.
FIP Redefined - Roderick Strong vs Erick Stevens
This was a very good match. The opening chain mat wrestling was some of the best I've seen recently, though I felt it went on just a bit too long. Once the match was allowed to continue they really cranked up the pace. Psychology of Strong continuing to pick Stevens apart as soon as the ref let them was good and there was some real stiff aggression shown. Glad to see a solid chair shot having some impact for the finish and I'd look forward to a rematch. Negative points - I thought they could have sold the effects of the earlier mat stuff better later on and a couple of hand to hand exchanges looked a bit sloppy before the shot with the belt (which I wasn't a huge fan of - unique though). ****1/2
ROH Rising Above - Nigel McGuinness vs Austin Aries
This was a perfectly balanced match throughout. Loved Nigel's attitude taunting Aries and getting a rise out of the crowd. Their battle ebbed and flowed very nicely. There were some excellent spots and false finishes. Great finish exploding out of nowhere. The only faults I'd find were that they kicked out of each other's finishers too many times and it seemed to lack a little bit in the storytelling department. Still, McGuinness holding the title, covered in blood is an enduring image of a wrestling classic. ****1/2 - ****3/4, but just closer to ****1/2 I think.
IWA 500th Show - Jimmy Jacobs vs BJ Whitmer - I Quit Match
This match was fucking savage. Fucking savage. Whitmer was brutal and unyielding with the Kendo stick and they told a story of pure hatred and aggression, especially when [I didn't catch his name] insisted on the match continuing. I thought Jacobs sold his injuries and the story very well throughout and proved himself the better man. One criticism is that I didn't like them fighting with those spikes, I just don't think it feels right and Jacobs can use the cane as effectively. Side note, Jimmy Jacobs can cut one impressive promo. ****1/4 - ****1/2. I'm leaning towards ****1/2.
Right, i've had this for ages now but only just got round to watching it (Uni exams and all)
BJW 4/28/08
Masato Tanaka vs. Daisuke Sekimoto
ZERO 1 MAX World Heavyweight Title
F'N amazing and my new MOTY.
Tanaka goes after the arm and tries to block every single suplex, while Sekimoto just tries to beat the living daylights out of him.
Only bit that (sort of) hurts it is Sekimoto pretty much forgetting about his arm selling at some point when they were still in the story part.
You know, end of the story part, but before they went into the "lets hit everything we have and screw selling as long as we do it fast enough" bit which throws minor selling out the window by default.
That's the only minor complain.
Past that, finish is off the charts, and the look on Sekimoto's face after Tanaka kicks out of two back-to-back dead weight Germans is so priceless it should be in one of those Mastercard ads.
Punk, never read the last paragraph for fear of spoilers, but I should have that match watched pretty soon as I'm upto the beginning of April for Big Japan and, suffice to say, I'm super psyched for that match.
I'm with you one Aries/Nigel, Instant Classic, although once again I seem to be lower on the "I Quit" than most which I have at ****. I preferred their NRBW match to this one, but both prove Jimmy Jacobs is off his fucking head.
Working my way through 6th Anniversary show (I'd probably have it all watched by now if I didn't keep getting sidetracked by Bob Backlund awesomeness) and just got done with Aries/Go - top 5 so far for me this year for sure. I love the way Aries manages to avoid Go's chops as he knows they'll likely rip his chest apart, ducking and dodging them thinking he's got Go scouted, but then he gets caught with a fucking nailer as he chrges at him after all the aforementioned ducking and dodging. It's obvious that the chops are Shiozaki's main weapon in the match and he keeps going back to them when he needs to get out of any bad situation.
Overall I'd say the first half of the match was good, but the second half was full-blown awesome! I'll probably rewatch it again tomorrow to see if my rating sticks, but at this point I can't see even Nigel/Danilson topping this for MOTN.
All Japan Pro Wrestling (6/9/95)
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada - *****
I know this is the 2008 MOTYC Thread...but I just finished rewatching it for the billionth time and I can honestly say...this match transcends any concept of "time" and is the default match of the year EVERY YEAR.
Edit: I mean, if McQueen can post random crap in this thread...surely a non-mod has the same right.
All Japan Pro Wrestling (6/9/95)
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada - *****
I know this is the 2008 MOTYC Thread...but I just finished rewatching it for the billionth time and I can honestly say...this match transcends any concept of "time" and is the default match of the year EVERY YEAR.
Edit: I mean, if McQueen can post random crap in this thread...surely a non-mod has the same right.
Wrong.
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Just watched the Whitmer/Jacobs barbed wire match. Again it was a really brutal match. I felt the action was better than the "I Quit" but the storytelling wasn't as good. Probably the best barbed wire match I've seen (I've only seen about 4 so take that for what it's worth). It had a remarkable quality at times of being truly hard to watch yet impossible to look away from. Shame about the finish - I'd say it's just a whisper below their other match but both hovering near to the ****1/2 mark.
The 2008 MOTYC Thread
Re: The 2008 MOTYC Thread
