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The 2012 MOTYC thread

340K views 3K replies 192 participants last post by  Alan4L 
#1 ·
#1,611 ·
Apologies for the long paragraphs, I like to ramble.

Yup, that would be the match. The best of the bunch I just watched IMO and only behind Lesnar/Cena for worldwide MOTY. Granted I haven't seen Finlay/Callihan EVOLVE and WXW yet but I can't see either of those matches being better than the TXT tag and Lesnar/Cena.

Watched both Okada matches that people loved, vs Naito and vs Tanahashi. Preferred the bulk of the Naito match but thought the finishing stretch in the Tanahashi bout was better, but despite both matches being infinitely better than some of the dross I've seen from Puro recently I wouldn't think of either as a surefire MOTYC. Put it down to my tastes preferring Lesnar/Cena and bloody Lucha brawls instead of Puro title matches in 2012 rather than the Okada matches not being 'good'. Can totally see why anyone who regularly enjoys Puro would love them as much as I've seen, Okada definitely made an impression on me with how everything in his offence seems to ultimately matter and feel part of a strategy, but its going to take something almighty good for a Puro match which isn't FUTEN or Takayama abusing someone to get me fully invested these days.
 
#1,612 ·
Two ref bumps almost killed Lesnar/Cena for me. It's still a damn good match, but I wouldn't consider it MOTYC just because something like that was unseen in WWE. Lesnar/Cena is all about people getting caught in the moment, if you ask me. ***3/4 for that match.

I belive that me, Sean Radican and Cactus are the only guys who love Finlay/Callihan III to death, in fact, we all rated it the same (****1/2). I simply love the style they wretle, where every fucking move mattered, with some bajesus stiff strikes and painful submissions.

And Okada/Naito is a beautiful match. ***** all the way, it's a clear Puro MOTY so far, and No. 2 in the world, right behind Bucks/SSB from Death To All But Metal.
 
#1,613 ·
Oh I don't doubt I'll really adore Callihan/Finlay, but I do have to question if it could grip me as much as the top matches I've seen this year. You seen Tajiri/Finlay from SMASH Joe? Superbly worked title match built around Finlay selling Tajiri's kicks as well as anyone I've seen and trying to create distance between them and ground him. Tajiri's really good as the hometown babyface trying to win the title in the company's final show, and his comeback is superb with the continuous teases that his strikes have Finlay's number, and the question that slowly dominates the match is whether Tajiri's kicks can win him the match before Finlay finds a counter.

Lesnar/Cena for me is all about Cena's babyface performance and Lesnar's incredible beating. I don't doubt the initial live viewing can explain why it stuck with me, given it was unlike anything WWE has ever put out in a grudge feud, and honestly came off like a BattlARTS/Hashimoto vs Tenryu hybrid of real violence. I loved all the teases to Cena's comeback, thought he bumped and sold his ass off and teased his big spots and timed them to perfection (Deadweight slam out of the Kimura is one of the best spots I've seen this year) and thought Lesnar complimented him superbly as the fearsome monster who took some scary bumps and also had some killer facial expressions, particularly after the Backlund deadweight spot and the Steel Chain shot which had Lesnar conveying this brilliant shocked emotion at being momentarily stunned and having little to answer on how Cena hadn't been killed yet.

Okada/Naito was a good match, though it just didn't scream MOTYC to me. As I said that's more to do with the Puro Main Event title formula just not really doing much for me these days, though this was a far better title match formula to me than anything I've seen for a good few years in Puro. I'm just far more conditioned to loving FUTEN and the occasional Takayama slugfest these days, than an admittedly good title match. Okada definitely comes across as someone I'll keep my eye on, but as I said, he's more one of the better guys of a style that right now doesn't grab me, than someone I'm compelled to check out the minute I hear another match of his has made air (e.g Ishikawa).
 
#1,624 ·
You seen Tajiri/Finlay from SMASH Joe?
Very good shit, but the lack of drama prevents it from being a **** match, IMO. The work was bloody great, a lot of smart and calculate wrestling (which is something I adore) and I appreciate it, but the match needed that one HOLY SHIT or SHEEEEEIT moment to deserve the "great match" label. My rating: ***3/4

Again, there's nothing really wrong with the match, I just can't go any higher.
 
#1,614 ·
Watched the ladder match from pwg. really fun match and pretty good. it was insanity but with insanity comes bad camera work which really showed when steen and whoever commentated with him talked about action that wasn't happening on camera. loved the ending. haven't seen much of any of the 6 guys involved but the bucks and player uno are def. people i want to watch again. don't care to rate it but def. recommended.
 
#1,616 ·
Really am still undecided on how to rate Lesnar/Cena until I watch it again. Fucking loved it though. I know people will say something like 'if you loved it then rate it *****', but that match is different imo, and I haven't added it on to my MOTYC list despite loving it.
 
#1,618 ·
Vordell Walker vs 2 Cold Scorpio, (PWE 1/28/12)

Very good match, though this would probably be a top 15-20 match rather than an outright MOTYC. Matwork to begin wasn't Navarro/Solar esque but served its purpose and accentuated nicely to Walker losing his cool and attacking Scorpio when he finally came on top in an exchange. Scorpio countering a headstand by Walker into some Haas of Pain esque hold was incredibly nifty though. Scorpio sells well and eats a decent beating thereafter, but its really everything after Scorpio's wonderful punch combo comeback where the match really shifts into another gear. Everything Scorpio does has this Tenryu esque execution which looks deadly, especially this pele/enziguri kick which Walker sells like it crippled his upper body. Thought both men's strikes were appropriately stiff as the match progressed and things broke down a little, Walker's dazed/feeble crawl selling of Scorpio's strikes was especially unique and impressive. Couple of strong nearfalls which I bought as the finish, though if I could complain it would be that Scorpio's offence looked really excellent in comparison to Walker's and I think Walker could have done with some more nearfalls insteaf of what came off as a mini upset by the end.


Dean Allmark & Finlay vs Robbie Dynamite & Rampage Brown, (ASW 6/7/12)

Maybe one of the most purely fun matches of the year, but also a damn good match to boot and another feather in Finlay's cap of strong matches since his Indy return. Pure STF match with a really fun opening with Allmark and Finlay looking unbeatable and some fun comedy spots from the heels, particularly with the crowd getting on their backs and taunting their every bump. Transition spot was really super with Allmark getting caught in the moment and taking a nasty gut-buster out of a vertical suplex. Next few minutes are pure FIP with Allmark getting double teamed behind the ref's back and Finlay being taunted with the heels dragging Allmark close to the corner and baiting the hot tag. Finlay's a super apron worker throughout and emulates Steamboat by almost falling into the ring he's leaning out for the tag that much. Awesome sleeper spot where Allmark threatens to make the tag only to be caught in a sleeper takedown, looked really crisp and was timed to perfection. Hot tag has Finlay clearing house and looking damn near invincible, finish is a fine 'send the crowd home happy' moment with Finlay tagging Allmark in to hit a moonsault for the win.


Derrick King vs Frankie Tucker Last Man Standing, (5/25/12)

Really great LMS match, without the pitfalls of recent WWE style LMS's with all the stoppages in between counts and over reliance on weapons instead of out and out brawling. Pretty much every moment of offence here is a ridiculously stiff punch, with both men clearly having learnt from the Dundee's and Lawler's of the Memphis era. King using a fan's boot and a lady's walking stick as weapons is the sort of cartoony shit I really dig in these run down, back alley indy feds and I loved their use of the surrounding to brawl and beat the piss out of each other. Finish was truly excellent with King hitting a desperation superkick, and with both men down Tucker's right hand man drops underneath the apron and holds King's legs down to stop him answering the count. There were some really unique and well layed out spots here, and I loved Tucker resorting to choking King with a chain to try and force a victory. Just a straight out and out fight that resembled a less chaotic version of Jacobs/Whitmer from FYF.
 
#1,623 ·
Haha thanks Bubz. I'm trying to be a little less of a dick around here this time around. You can imagine how well that is working for me, lol.

The big UnMOTY is obviously Taker/Trips, for me. Honestly, I don't actually think there have been that many criminally overrated matches this year. If there have been I just avoid it. I haven't seen Any Edwards match at all this year, I just assume I will hate it. I haven't watched Davey/Elgin yet either, but I can only imagine that would slot in just based on most of the objections to it. ROH is the number one company I need to catch up on, as I haven't seen Steen/Davey yet, which sounded pretty meh. I've seen all the WWE and New Japan that I wanted, so maybe the next step is seeing those two matches.
 
#1,625 ·
I really liked Davey/Elgin. There's still flaws obviously but there's ton's of great stuff in it. It's the best match Davey has had for probably the last two years in ROH.

Steen/Davey from Border Wars (Steen winning the belt) was just your back and forth ROH main event but with Steen being great as he always is. There's also some really nice character touches from Davey throughout the match becoming more and more frustrated etc with some great facial expressions. I loved it on first watch but drastically lowered my rating on a re-watch because there just wasn't enough substance in it, it didn't go into overkill mode though and was quite short which reduced the annoyance factor of the style for me.

The BITW no DQ match was a lot of fun just because it was so chaotic with shit happening everywhere and Corino being hilarious on commentary.

Good to see you liked the Naito/Okada match as much as you did though. Fantastic match.

Very good shit, but the lack of drama prevents it from being a **** match, IMO. The work was bloody great, a lot of smart and calculate wrestling (which is something I adore) and I appreciate it, but the match needed that one HOLY SHIT or SHEEEEEIT moment to deserve the "great match" label. My rating: ***3/4

Again, there's nothing really wrong with the match, I just can't go any higher.
I agree with this really. The actual wrestling was bloody fantastic but there just wasn't that atmosphere for me or that stretch to really make the match a true MOTYC, this is another match I reduced my rating on a re-watch this year.
 
#1,636 ·
Damn, Bubz, you sound so fucking serious and legit with Tony MOTHERFUCKING Soprano in your avatar. Don't change it. :p
 
#1,639 ·
  1. Kazuchika Okada vs Tetsuya Naito - IWGP Heavyweight Championship - NJPW 04.03.2012
  2. Yuji Hino vs Kota Ibushi - KO-D Openweight Championship - DDT 24.06.2012
  3. Super Smash Brothers vs Young Bucks - No DQ - PWG Death To All But Metal
  4. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada - IWGP Heavyweight Championship - NJPW 16.06.2012
  5. Kenny Omega vs Hiroshi Yamato - AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship - AJPW 03.01.2012
  6. Suwama vs Daisuke Sekimoto - AJPW 02.01.2012
  7. Big Van Walter, Daisuke Sekimoto, 2-Face & Kim Ray vs Axeman, Yoshihito Sasaki, Karsten Beck & Robert Dreissker - 8 Man Elimination Tag - wXw 16 Carat Gold Tournament 2012 Day 3
  8. Sami Callihan vs El Generico - EVOLVE 13
  9. Hirooki Goto vs Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW 20.05.2012
  10. Daisuke Sekimoto, Yuji Okabayashi & Kazuki Hashimoto vs Akebono, Ryuto Hama & Yasufumi Nakanoue - BJW 02.02.2012
  11. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Minoru Suzuki - IWGP Heavyweight Championship - NJPW Wrestle Kingdom VI
  12. Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs Masayuki Kono & Minoru - AJPW 03.02.2012
  13. Prince Devitt vs PAC - NJPW 06.06.2012
  14. Yoshihito Sasaki vs Daisuke Sekimoto - BJW 26.03.2012
  15. John Cena vs Brock Lesnar - Extreme Rules Match - Extreme Rules 2012
  16. CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan - WWE Championship - Over The Limit 2012
  17. Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask IV vs TAKA Michinoku & Taichi - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championships - NJPW 16.06.2012
  18. Big Van Walter vs Daisuke Sekimoto - wXw 16 Carat Gold Tournament 2012 Day 2
  19. Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus - 2/3 Falls - World Heavyweight Championship - Extreme Rules 2012
  20. William Regal vs Dean Ambrose - FCW 15.07.2012
  21. Luke Gallows vs Charlie Dreamer - OSF 07.04.2012
  22. Jerry Lawler, Derrick King & Frankie Tucker vs Pokerface & LA Hustlers - MCW 03.03.2012
  23. Max Angelus vs Nick Riley vs Robbie X - SWE 4everevolution
  24. Finlay vs Johnny Kidd - wXw 16 Carat Gold Tournament 2012 Day 3
  25. Dean Allmark vs Nathan Cruz - ASW:UK 24.03.2012
  26. Bobby Roode vs AJ Styles - TNA World Championship - TNA iMPACT 24.05.2012
  27. Shinjiro Otani & Daichi Hashimoto vs Takeshi Morishima & Katsuhiko Nakajima - NOAH 29.04.2012
  28. Davey Richards vs Michael Elgin - ROH World Championship - ROH Showdown In The Sun Night 2
  29. El Generico vs Ricochet - PWG Death To All But Metal
  30. Kevin Steen vs Brian Cage-Taylor - PWG Death To All But Metal
  31. Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano vs Go Shiozaki & Naomichi Marufuji - NJPW Wrestle Kingdom VI
  32. AJ Styles & Kurt Angle vs Daniels & Kazarian - TNA Slammiversary X
  33. Finlay vs Martin Kirby - SWE 4everevolution
  34. Damien Wayne vs Chris Escobar - VCW 02.06.2012
  35. Dean Allmark & James Mason vs Rampage Brown & Robbie Dynamite - ASW:UK 17.03.2012
  36. Ricky Marvin vs Tommy End - wXw 16 Carat Gold Tournament 2012 Day 2
  37. Daisuke Sekimoto vs Yuji Okabayashi - BJW 26.02.2012
  38. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada - NJPW 12.02.2012
  39. Austin Aries vs Alex Shelley - TNA Against All Odds 2012
That's my current list in order.
 
#1,641 ·
Kevin Steen vs Willie Mack - PWG World Championship - PWG Threemendous 3
Thought this was largely a great run of the Kevin Steen show. Mack's fine but he doesn't really offer much to the match. Steen starting off hot after their last match was great I thought. Absolutely kills Mack from the go and sets the tone for the match perfectly right away with Steen as the dominant champ and Mack as the big underdog working from behind. Thought Steen got the level between intensity and "Steen-ness" bang on. Cage run in at first I thought sucked but then he killed Mack as well and I went from being deflated to the run to it actually enhancing my enjoyment. Cage just comes in to fuck shit up, get his shit in and get himself over at their expense. Knox takes an amazing ref bump prior to it. I absolutely adored Knox rushing to the back straight after the 3 count holding the back of his neck. Psycho Driver finish was cool. Steen's finishes weren't enough to put Mack away so he stepped up to another level of insanity to finish him off. Nice callback not only to their brief run but also on an anniversary show to a PWG pioneer.

****

Super Smash Brothers vs Young Bucks vs Future Shock - Ladder Match - PWG World Tag Team Championships - PWG Threemendous 3
Yeah this ruled. For anyone who reads this and reads "6 Indy guys in a ladder match on an Indy show", don't go into with that thought process. This isn't your multi man ladder match that's just built around spots to get cheap pops. Obviously it is filled with big spots to get big pops but they get the complimentary stuff to the spots in as well which polishes it up really nicely. Bucks are back to being fabulous again. I was getting annoyed with them for a brief spell where they were just fucking around spoofing legends too much but with the SSB feud they're back to the more serious side with awesome heel shtick. They would have ruled the 80's as either heels or babyfaces. Thought you probably could have took Cole and O'Reilly out of this and the match wouldn't have changed much. Cole was good in it but they were just extras to the SSB/Bucks war. O'Reilly I thought kinda sucked in it actually but he was in passing enough to not really notice. Loved the spot where Cole gets stuck in the ladder in the corner to eliminate him from the match. Could have looked really goofy but Cole made it look like a super struggle to get free. Brawling on the outside to kick off was awesome and set the tone perfectly for WILD CHAOS. Nick being pushed off the ladder only to jump into a springboard senton to the outside had me flipping out all over the place. Supafly getting super kicked in mid air by Matt on the ladder was incredible too. Loads of awesome spots, far too many to name. I liked how they never went overboard though with the spots. Match is pretty short for a 6 person ladder match but in a good way. Match never dragged. If there was a big spot then there were always 2 other guys to pick up the pieces and do something crazy themselves. Nick Jackson is an absolute lunatic in the best way possible. There wasn't any tedious slow ladder climbing and taking ages to set a spot up when you could be climbing the ladder. Knox sub story was awesome and delivered the most satisfying ending possible. Finished at it's peak. Wonderful. Knox fucking blading to get the angle over touched me in a special place. The Knox/Bucks feud has been really subtly built for so long now that anytime Knox flips on them it feels warranted and not a parody like the start of the show with Joey was. THAT dive made me shoot a bird with a rifle from my window. The rifle wasn't even mine.

Probably just ahead of the Bucks/SSB No DQ match and Ibushi/Hino on my list. Think I'd give Naito/Okada the edge still as #1 but I'd really have to rewatch all 4 come the end of the year to decide unless something pops up that eclipses all of them.


****1/2
 
#1,642 · (Edited)
Super excited to see that ladder match now.

This is my MOTYC list currently. Everything **** or over...

Kazuchika Okada vs Tetsuya Naito (NJPW 04/03) ****1/2
Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJPW Dominion) ****1/2
CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan (WWE Over The Limit) ****1/2
Suwama vs Yuji Nagata (AJPW 05/05) ****1/4
Daisuke Sekimoto vs Suwama (AJPW 02/01) ****1/4
Davey Richards vs Michael Elgin (ROH SITS Night Two) ****1/4
Bobby Roode vs Austin Aries (TNA Destination X) ****1/4
Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus (WWE Extreme Rules) ****1/4
Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito vs Masato Tanaka & Shinsuke Nakamura (NJPW Dominion) ****1/4
Kazuchika Okada vs Hirooki Goto (NJPW Dontaku) ****1/4
Katsuhiko Nakajima vs SHINGO (D-Ring 11/02) ****1/4
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Minoru Suzuki (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom VI) ****1/4
Daisuke Sekimoto vs Yoshihito Sasaki (BJW 26/03) ****1/4
Adam Cole vs Kyle O'Reilly (ROH Best In The World) ****1/4
CM Punk vs Chris Jericho (WWE Extreme Rules) ****1/4
Prince Devitt vs Pac (NJPW 06/06) ****1/4
Suwama vs Seiya Sanada (AJPW 04/03) ****1/4
El Generico vs Ricochet (PWG Death To All But Metal) ****1/4
Go Shiozaki vs Takeshi Morishima (NOAH 22/01) ****1/4
Jun Akiyama vs Keiji Mutoh (AJPW 20/03) ****
Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs Taichi & TAKA Michinoku (NJPW Dominion) ****
Horishi Tanahashi vs Togi Makabe (NJPW/AJPW 01/07) ****
CM Punk vs Chris Jericho (WWE Wrestlemania 28) ****
Austin Aries vs Samoa Joe (TNA Slammiversary) ****
The Young Bucks vs The Super Smash Brothers (PWG Death To All But Metal) ****
Yoshihito Sasaki & Yuji Okabayashi vs Daisuke Sekimoto & Big Van Walter (BJW 28/4) ****
Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi vs Suwama & Takumi Soya (AJPW 20/03) ****
Daisuke Sekimoto & Yoshihito Sasaki vs Akebono & Ryuto Hama (BJW 02/01) ****
Lowki vs Prince Devitt (NJPW Dontaku) ****
CM Punk vs Mark Henry (WWE RAW 16/04) ****
NRC vs Apollo 55 (NJPW The New Beginning) ****
Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi vs Akebono & Ryuto Hama (AJPW 03/01) ****
Daniel Bryan vs CM Punk (WWE Smackdown 21/02) ****
Daniel Bryan vs CM Punk (WWE RAW 30/01) ****
HHH vs Brock Lesnar (WWE Summerslam) ****
Chris Hero vs Michael Elgin (ROH Homecoming) ****
Daisuke Sekimoto vs Yuji Okabayashi (BJW 26/02) ****
Minoru Suzuki vs Togi Makabe (NJPW Dominion) ****
Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs Masayuki Kono & Minoru (AJPW 03/02) ****

Plan on re-watching a lot of the higher stuff, so some might be lower on rewatches. I'm thinking something like Aries/Roode will drop in rating once I see it again with knowing the result and all.

Also, @ JoeRulz, Thanks lol. Tony's staying for the foreseeable future :D.
 
#1,647 · (Edited)
Watched that match before Rah. One of the most purely fun and entertaining matches of the year, and each King vs Lawler interactions were outstanding. Precious was also superb working the comedy spots and getting the crowd riled up whenever he was in the ring, but I'd stop short of calling it a MOTYC. Its definitely something that should be watched by everyone, since its got comedy, some superb punches and bumping and a very good screwjob finish, but I don't think its got enough meat to it to properly call it a MOTYC. There's a followup Precious vs Brian Christopher Cage Match however which looks really fucking good.

You seen the King/Tucker 5/25 LMS match btw? I'd call that the best Memphis indy bout I've seen this year, tremendously worked with both guys plastering one another with stiff as hell punches and just using anything to hurt the other (e.g King using a boot and a lady's walking stick). Better than any WWE LMS match since probably Orton/HHH No Mercy, what with them focusing on establishing hatred rather than relying on an assortment of weapons and cute spots. Finish is also tremendous.
 
#1,648 ·
At this point I've pretty much decided Lucha isn't my thing for a while, until I try it again at some point in the future. Tried to watch one of the ***** Casas matches that got pimped earlier this year but just didn't find much in it that I enjoyed. Something about the style I just can't seem to get in to.

Managaed to get a hold of Threemendous III...

Kevin Steen vs Willie Mack - PWG World Championship
Yeah, this was great. Steen just owning Mack constantly with Mack trying to make comebacks but getting cut off. What's not to like there? Steen just goes after Mack any way he can really, and those whips to the turnbuckle were just nasty. Steen is just great in this. I really liked the Brian Cage run-in a lot, it got him over HUGE and also produced an amazing nearfall. The package piledriver was an even better nearfall and when Mack hit the moonsault I thought there was a new champ. Great match and I loved the finish too. ****

SSB vs Young Bucks vs Future Shock - PWG Tag Team Championships Ladder Match
Seabs basically said everything I would about this. CHAOS! Loved this so much, balls awesome but not just in a spotty way. No stupid ladder climbing, just an all out war with everyone apart from O'Reilly looking great. O'Reilly dropkicking the ladder into Uno and the fans from the apron was ridiculous though! INSANE dive from Nick Jackson off the ropes after he got pushed off the ladder! Shit that was nutty as fuck. There was other crazy spots but yeah, it wasn't overkill and I loved the all out brawling at the start before the ladders got involved. Really innovative stuff in this too. The Knox stuff made me flip my fucking lid like nothing else this year. Brilliant. Not quite as good as the Steen/Generico ladder match from last year, but still as awesome as a stripper with a machine gun. ****1/2
 
#1,649 ·
I maintain anyone who loves Jerry Lawler and Memphis brawls would adore the best Lucha brawls, since they're really an extension of that style only replaced with a 2/3 falls format. Sangre Chicana vs MS-1 for example is up there with the best Lawler brawl, and anyone who knows my feelings on Jerry Lawler should recognise that as no small praise.

The co-operation in the matwork can prove distracting for some, which is understandable. But to me again, I'd really struggle to see how Atlantis/Panther 1991, El Dandy vs ***** Casas 1992 and El Dandy vs Javier Llanes which are all matwork based wouldn't appeal to a lot of people on here who dig good matwork.

Damiancito El Guerrero vs Cicloncito Ramirez 1997 is also pretty much a Lucha/Juniors hybrid match worked at a ridiculous pace. Again anyone who digs peak New Japan/Michinoku Pro when it comes to junior matches would really love that match IMO, the pace is so frantic they don't fall into cutely swapping holds with little struggle (something that seems to be a frequent criticism of Lucha matwork) and there's some incredible spots which are built to and sold as difference makers. Its got all the things people adore in Junior matches, but the 2/3 falls format and Lucha style means they avoid some of the pitfalls that plague the junior style, e.g questionable selling, moving from matwork to rope running etc.

This isn't me trying to force anyone to watch Lucha btw, since I can understand why some matches really don't paint the style in a watchable way to a new watcher. I do believe however that those matches I listed really should do a better job at highlighting the best Lucha has to offer, rather than other matches which have some good moments but also have some of the problems that new watchers of Lucha struggle to overcome.
 
#1,651 · (Edited)
not a fan of elgin vs richards either.


just didn't find it convincing at all. there is actual art to no selling (so in a literal sense, you are still selling), which i didn't think the match did a good job of portraying. it had its moments like when elign would spit and make it seem like he was too mad to get hurt, but often times it was over done or just too wacky considering the moves that had just been done for there to be any real drama.





Young Bucks vs Super Smash Bros - Death to all but metal

Surprisingly, I had fun watching this match. The first 10 mins I was pretty much cringing at how corny the match started out. But eventually a lot of good light hearted wrestling starts leaking out. I enjoy the Chikara-esq comedy side more of PWG more. A lot of spots that were athletically impressive as well as well thought out, like a punchline. The commentary added to the match as well, giving it a very casual vibe. Still think the Young Bucks have terrible body language, and there was practically no heat to the match at all. But all and all, I enjoyed the majority of it, and really thought the ref spots were great. Best PWG match I've seen.

Young Bucks vs Super Smash Bros vs Future Shock - Threemendous III

Kind of the same as before, but more crazy spots. Like someone else mentioned, PWG has terrible camera work. The spots were more wild than the previous match I talked about, but I don't think they were as well thought out "plot" wise. I rate this a little bit below the Death to All But Metal tag match. The false finish was very convincing, but I thought the ref spot was better in the previous one in the case of less being more.
 
#1,653 ·
Just got done watching Bucks vs SSB vs FS. I really enjoyed it and I thought it was an awesome match but I didn't seem to enjoy it as much as others on here. There were some amazing spots that had me marking out (Nick Jackson landing on the rope after getting pushed off the ladder for example), however there were a couple things that bothered me.
I'm a big fan of spotfests and don't care much for psychology or anything like that, as mentioned before the camera work was pretty bad occasionally (mostly in the beginning, they picked up nearly all the other big spots after the first couple minutes). There were also some stupid things that I didn't like. One was when Nick Jackson was rotating the ladder on his neck and Matt started applauding him and walked into the ladder not once, but twice. That was imo stupid and just bothered me.

Overal it was a really fun match, especially the last 5 or so minutes when the ref got involved was alot of fun. I'd definitely recommend watching this match as the good things greatly outweigh the bad.
 
#1,658 ·
Comedy or not, I thought it was stupid. I haven't seen that many Young Bucks matches so sorry if I don't know all their antics.

They shoot with multiple camera's right? There was one point where there wasn't really anything happening on the screen yet you could hear the crowd go nuts over a spot, or the commentary talking about how Player Uno just Fall Away Slam'd a fan into someone else. But you were there live? Since you know they didn't miss anything of note?
 
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