Joined
·
955 Posts
A bit different then the best match or angle of the year but as wrestling fans, what are the best discoveries that you made that you didn't know about before this year and knocked your socks off?
For me, it was discovering old promotions or gaining new appreciation to something that I didn't appreciate before.
Stan Hansen vs. Andre the Giant - Thanks to the New Japan 80s set, I found this match. Might possibly be the greatest and my most favorite match. This has everything I wanted in a wrestling match: molten hot crowds, two big guys slugging it out and out of control action. Even with a double DQ in the end, it still felt right as the action was so out of control, the ref couldn't do anything. Andre was amazing at this time and Hansen is too cool for school.
Memphis - This promotion, like Mid-South, had it all. Great brawls, title matches, feuds, tag team wrestling, juniors wrestling, Jerry Lawler being on the same level as Ric Flair and completely underrated wrestlers that changed my opinion of them. Watch Koko Ware's match with Ric Flair for proof.
Mid-South - Another amazing 80s southern promotion. Discovering these promotions made me realize how 'meh' WWF was in the 80s. A really great storyline driven promotion with some of the best booking around. No wonder Paul Heyman took as many ideas from this promotion as he did from FMW for ECW. Terry Taylor is still boring.
New Japan vs. UWF feud - Knew about this feud for years but didn't get to really watch it and discover it as I had this year. Their multi-man elimination matches are the best I've ever seen. These matches also disprove the idea that the Japanese crowds are stoic and silent.
These following are not discoveries but things I found a new appreciation for:
Lucha Libre - While I enjoyed lucha in small slices in the past, it wasn't anything I took too seriously. After really delving into tape trading again, I discovered that lucha is one of the best styles in wrestling. It's not just silly "flippity floppity" (coined from this forum) moves but there is some really great psychology, heat and storytelling that can't be matched anywhere. The El Hijo del Santo/***** Casas feud is one of the best I've ever seen. Lucha also seems to be the only thing keeping me from totally giving up on modern wrestling these days.
Dick Murdoch - A wrestler who I digged but never absolutely searched for when looking for wrestling. After discovering his matches in Mid-South and other places, he is just as great as Stan Hansen in my opinion. His style perfectly fits my taste in wrestling these days. He's a tough, mean old bastard who will knock your teeth out if you look at him sideways.
Shoot Style - Something that I really got into recently. I've watched it and enjoyed some matches in the past, but something I've never actively sought after. I think this is a perfect bridge between wrestling and MMA. These wrestlers are tough as nails.
For me, it was discovering old promotions or gaining new appreciation to something that I didn't appreciate before.
Stan Hansen vs. Andre the Giant - Thanks to the New Japan 80s set, I found this match. Might possibly be the greatest and my most favorite match. This has everything I wanted in a wrestling match: molten hot crowds, two big guys slugging it out and out of control action. Even with a double DQ in the end, it still felt right as the action was so out of control, the ref couldn't do anything. Andre was amazing at this time and Hansen is too cool for school.
Memphis - This promotion, like Mid-South, had it all. Great brawls, title matches, feuds, tag team wrestling, juniors wrestling, Jerry Lawler being on the same level as Ric Flair and completely underrated wrestlers that changed my opinion of them. Watch Koko Ware's match with Ric Flair for proof.
Mid-South - Another amazing 80s southern promotion. Discovering these promotions made me realize how 'meh' WWF was in the 80s. A really great storyline driven promotion with some of the best booking around. No wonder Paul Heyman took as many ideas from this promotion as he did from FMW for ECW. Terry Taylor is still boring.
New Japan vs. UWF feud - Knew about this feud for years but didn't get to really watch it and discover it as I had this year. Their multi-man elimination matches are the best I've ever seen. These matches also disprove the idea that the Japanese crowds are stoic and silent.
These following are not discoveries but things I found a new appreciation for:
Lucha Libre - While I enjoyed lucha in small slices in the past, it wasn't anything I took too seriously. After really delving into tape trading again, I discovered that lucha is one of the best styles in wrestling. It's not just silly "flippity floppity" (coined from this forum) moves but there is some really great psychology, heat and storytelling that can't be matched anywhere. The El Hijo del Santo/***** Casas feud is one of the best I've ever seen. Lucha also seems to be the only thing keeping me from totally giving up on modern wrestling these days.
Dick Murdoch - A wrestler who I digged but never absolutely searched for when looking for wrestling. After discovering his matches in Mid-South and other places, he is just as great as Stan Hansen in my opinion. His style perfectly fits my taste in wrestling these days. He's a tough, mean old bastard who will knock your teeth out if you look at him sideways.
Shoot Style - Something that I really got into recently. I've watched it and enjoyed some matches in the past, but something I've never actively sought after. I think this is a perfect bridge between wrestling and MMA. These wrestlers are tough as nails.
