Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,
The MartMan is scheduled to become MartDad on March 5th of the New Year, but we all know about the best laid plans of mice & men, so plus or minus a couple weeks on that there date. Very exciting and something looked forward to my whole life and glad I am doing with my loving wife.
I am going to dispense with the long preamble and just get down to business. This was my most prolific reviewing year since 2020-2021. I far exceeded my goal of 150 matches and am at 168 by my count. I am hoping to squeeze in a couple more before the end of the year up here in Quebec, Canada, but we will see family and life throws at me. Next year I am shooting for 50 matches reviewed by the end of the year, we shall see.
These are not the best matches to take place in 2025 which I thought was a dire year for professional wrestling, but rather the best matches I watched and reviewed in 2025. I had 14 matches listed at 4.25 (B+) or better and those reviews will be included in full here. I have the four star honorable mentions preceding them. Enjoy and Happy New Year!
Four Star Honorable Mentions
Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Kensuke Sasaki & Hiroshi Hase. - NJPW 3/7/95
Keiji Mutoh vs Masahiro Chono - NJPW 8/12/95
Arn Anderson & Brian Pillman vs Sting & "Ric Flair" - WCW Halloween Havoc 1995
Yoji Anjoh & Yoshihiro Takayama vs Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan - UWFI 11/25/95
Keiji Mutoh vs Masahiro Chono - NJPW 1/4/00
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kensuke Sasaki vs Takahashi Iizuka - NJPW 7/20/00
Masahiro Chono vs Keiji Mutoh - NJPW DOME QUAKE 7/20/01
Genichiro Tenryu vs Taiyo Kea - AJPW 10/27/01
Keiji Muto vs Toshiaki Kawada - AJPW 7/13/03 - #1 Contender's Match
All Japan Triple Crown Champion Toshiaki Kawada vs Kensuke Sasaki - AJPW 1/16/05
Toshiaki Kawada vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan- NJPW 8/4/05
AJPW Triple Crown Champion Satoshi Kojima vs Kensuke Sasaki – AJPW 11/19/05
Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker - WWE Hell In A Cell 2015
WWE Universal Champion Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar - WrestleMania XXXIII
Four & A Quarter Star Matches
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan vs Ric Flair
WCW Clash of the Champions August 1994
I watched this about 2-3 years ago and loved it. But I didnt have time to review after I watched it. I watched it back today and boy oh boy did I love it. I actually think this is a Top 10-20 Hulk Hogan match of all time and does not get nearly enough love.
The Tonya Harding angle gets a lot of shit, but I think it was brilliant on two levels. The most obvious was giving Flair the knee to work on and Hogan to sell. This was the hook of the match when would Flair get to the knee. It was looming the entire match. The less obvious but more important it was the reason for Hogan's rage. Hogan just beat Flair at the Bash at the Beach. What reason did he have to do anything different than Bash? Flair trying not just to take his title away but his career away with a nefarious, dastardly attack that will piss him off. Way too much is made of Hogan not selling enough to begin with. That's hogwash. Hogan was full of piss & vinegar because he was enraged. He saw red, brutha. This is was the appropriate reaction to such an attack.
This is a perfect "How" match. It is a very simple layout, but it is all about Hogan's charisma and Flair's charisma that take this simple layout makes it so engrossing and thrilling. The simple layout is the babyface shine of Hogan exacting his revenge on Flair and just kicking all sorts of ass. Flair eventually gets a hold of the knee and then we get the finish. Each of these three segments come off pitch perfect.
Hogan's babyface shine is one of the all-time great babyface shines. He really lets it fly. He is pissed off and aint afraid to show it. He is throwing everything at Flair. Punches, pulling the robe over his head, stuffing his bandana in his mouth, kicking his ass on the outside. It is just a thrilling beating. Flair is a master of selling this for Hogan and making him look like a million bucks. This is one of the most enraged Hogan performances youll see and the way he does it is so entertaining. I love the two Flair hope spots: eyerake that leads to the Press Slam and then delayed vertical suplex into the Hogan no-sell was such a fist-pumping, chest-pounding highspot.
Man when it came time for Flair to get his heat, he absolutely ripped into the knee. He worked it like a champ. Every stomp, crashing down with all his weight. It looked awesome. Just as Flair sold his ass off for Hogan, Hogan returned in kind for Flair. I loved the struggle over the first figure-4, but it was just a matter of time. The Hulk-Up out of the first Figure-4 is just money. This is Kobashi fighting Takayama with one arm in the year 2000 levels of awesomeness. The Hobbling Hulk-Up is one of the most badass Hulk-Ups of all time. He is fighting through the pain and just barely gets the leg up for the Big Boot as it buckles on him after impact. The Leg Drop is nuclear! It felt like he overcame all the pain in the world to jump as high as he ever did, crushed Flair, but is totally spent. Then Flair puts the Figure-4 back on! HIGH DRAMA! God Almighty this is so fucking awesome! I get the finish you cant really put the belt back on Flair and Hogan winning doesnt make sense. I like a countout more than DQ so Hogan getting attacked by Sherri and crumpling to the floor for the ten count was a serviceable finish. The Mystery Man who is clearly Arn Anderson, but it seems like they might be trying to sell it as Curt Hennig, comes out to help Flair beatdown Hulkster, but because Savage is not in the territory yet, we get the Stinger making the save. I dont like Beefcake but this was a perfect angle to retrocon him in as the mystery assailant.
This match felt like a Hogan Street Fight match on order of his other classic brawls with Kamala, Harley Race and Sgt. Slaughter. First I am a sucker for a street fight, but especially like when a "normal" match breaks down into a brawl and the ref just lets it all fly. This felt hot and like Hogan was out for blood. Hogan selling the knee through the comeback was a chef's kiss. Flair is the GOAT and just knocked it out the park. LOVE This Match!
Yoshihisa Yamamoto vs Dick Vrij - RINGS 7/18/95
Imagine instead of being a lame spooky ass Aleister Black was a Dutch Kickboxing Badass like Dick Vrij! I’d be his biggest fan.
This fucking ruled so hard. Dick Vrij is allergic to the mat. As soon as Yamamoto grabs a leg; he grabs the ropes. There is literally no grappling or submission work because Vrij is scared shitless of it. His whole strategy is to swing for the fences and knock out Yamamoto. In RINGS you charged for rope escapes so Yamamoto just needs to get 10 to win the match. There is one Shoot Knee that is BRUTAL~! Yamamoto shoots for the takedown BANG~! Knee Right to the Face! I don’t know how he was not legit knocked out. RED CARD~! Damn never seen that before charged a Down! Yamamoto tags Vrij pretty good causing a mouse under the eye which eventually opens up a the blood trickle adds so much. Besides one Down by Vrij, Yamamoto is just running up the score. I love Vrij’s selling down the stress. He looks like a worn down Terminator just hell bent on knocking out Yamamoto but knows he doesn’t have it in him. A yellow card and one last rope break wins the day for Yamamoto. Wicked entertaining match! Wish more wrestling was like this!
Keiji Mutoh vs Ric Flair - NJPW 8/13/95 G-1 Climax
Been watching a lot of Shining Wizard Mutoh rewinding back to Friar Tuck Mutoh. Within a couple minutes, you just know this will be good. Then the match keeps going and im like this is really damn good. By the end I am like this is fucking excellent why does no one talk about this match? I am loving finding a Flair performance I haven’t seen before that still gets me jazzed up.
Flair encroaching on Mutoh’s space early and Mutoh taking time to hit three sides of the Ring before locking up was great psychology. Flair going down to the Knucklelock like he was facing the Hulkster did scare me BUT when Flair started working that all my fears & anxieties were allayed. We were all getting the Nature Boy! WOOOOOO! This is what all the Flair haters want a dominant Flair on top that works his opponent tough. Watch this match. He takes the majority of the match. The arm work is stellar. He works three different wrist locks, a hammerlock and some really good arm wringers. It is just beautiful NWA Championship style wrestling.
He paces the match wonderfully letting Mutoh pop the crowd with uptempo offense, selling that he is overwhelmed but then finding ways to come back. After the Arm work they work a great rope running sequence where Flair sets way too early on a monkey flip and Mutoh evades and dropkicks Flair out the Ring. Flair switches gears and just starts punching Mutoh in the corner crowding him suffocating him. Mutoh is able to rally and the Flair Flip bump to the floor really sends Flair into desperation mode. I LOVE that Flair reaction to this is putting Mutoh into figure-4. No frills. Just go for the kill shot. I love that instead of being climax that just leads to more leg work At this point, as a big Flair fan I am just gobbling this up. He is working more in control than usual, he is feeding hope spots at the right time. Mutoh who is very mercurial wrestler is wrestling like a great White meat babyface and showing fire and vulnerability each in the right moments.
Man after the super plex when all of sudden there is blood streaming down Mutoh’s face and he goes into Stinger in Greensboro mode the match elevates to excellent. He runs through his big offense you think he is going to win with a Backbreaker moonsault BUT he crashes & burns! SO FLAIR WORKS THE CUT! MUTOH IS SPORTING A FULL CRIMSON MASK! Flair turns into like best boxer in the world some amazing punches! Flair re-applies Figure-4 on the bloody Mutoh and the visual is insane! I was losing my mind. Mutoh goes full Great Muta but if Great Muta was a babyface. His Hulk Up with all the blood is like he is fucking Terminator. I wish he really tore into Flair there but Moonsault win was still awesome!
Honestly if it was anyone else we would be ranting and raving about this match but it is Flair and it is such an embarrassment of riches still like this gets overlooked. It is a very good match that becomes a blood-soaked, fist-pumping triumph. Excellent Flair performance and Mutoh shines at the end.
Wild Pegasus vs Lord Steven Regal - NJPW 9/23/95
A skill vs will match. That is not to say Benoit does not have mat skills or Regal did not have the will to win BUT it was Regal’s mat skills that allowed him to press his advantage and it was Benoit’s rabid wolverine tenacity that kept him in it. I was surprised this match happened in Japan as there was a rather strict hierarchy between heavyweights and juniors. I don’t know why it was apparent to me in this match but how much bigger Regal was both height and width than Benoit. That size advantage also played a role in Regal’s strategy but also in the story of Benoit’s pugnacity overcoming the size disadvantage.
I am very much a narrative driven fan of pro wrestling. This is my favorite type of wrestling that is not narrative driven. It is very much a BattlArts ground based match. Both wrestlers especially Regal would have excelled in BatBat. Even for Benoit, having him work the mat for 12 minutes is unique. I would argue he looks better than Bret would in this setting. What keeps this compelling without the trappings of hooks and plot points is how much struggle and competitive it all is. I had the pleasure of watching Thatcher and Gulak do their thing in Lowell in October of this year thats what this was. There’s not as much to review from a beat to beat but is sporting competitive feel that wrestling promoters claim they are presenting and wrestling fans claim they want but so rarely do we actually get. As a fan of character-based and narrative-driven pro wrestling, I’d only want see one or two matches like this a card not every match.
The grappling was really high quality. So much struggle and urgency. The short palm strikes by Regal. The desperation he held onto wrist control from Benoit’s counters. Benoit really cool entry into the Short Arn Scissors. It is a very Lo-fi match and I’d argue there are no high spots for about 12 minutes. Benoit flips Regal over the top on a monkey flip exchange. Benoit draws blood from Regal’s ear bashing it against the post. The chops and the Headbutts to the ear ensue. We get some high impact suplexes the swan dive Headbutt. Great Regal selling of the ear but is it great selling if it hurts? 1995 Benoit loved the Tombstone but only two. Regal sits down on tops rope sunset flip anti-climatic for most matches but perfect for this Lo-fi classic.
A very cool unique match that really gets better with the blood. If it wasn’t for Benoit I’d give it a fullthroated recommendation but if you can stomach Benoit and love Lo-fi BatBat check this out.
Genichiro Tenryu vs Keiji Mutoh - AJPW 4/1/02
Just when you think you’ve seen all the Tenryu/Mutoh another one pops up on your radar. I thought this was a killer match not quite as good as the Classic 6/8/01 encounter or the WAR brawl but still an awesome match much better than their AJPW Triple Crown Match just 12 days later.
The 6/8/01 starts off with a bang with the Shining Wizard that puts Tenryu in a deep hole. Here they lock up and Mutoh trips Tenryu on a rope break. Tenryu doesn’t take well to this slight and just starts lighting Mutoh up. Tenryu overcommits and leaves himself vulnerable to the counterattack. Dropkick to the Knee! BANG~! SHINING WIZARD! They got me hook, line and sinker.
Tenryu powders. Mutoh goes for the kill shot a second Shining Wizard BUT WATS THE POST! Holy Shit! I fucking love it! He comes up bleeding so Tenryu pulls the timekeeper table over and blasts Mutoh in the head with it and he is really bleeding now.
Tenryu works the cut and drops him on his head with a brainbuster. How have never seen this match before?!?
Mutoh tries some dropkicks to the knee. Tenryu clobbers with a clothesline and tries to reassert control with a Cravat. I love a Bloody Mutoh just ripping Dragon Leg Screws and throwing Dropkicks to the knee like his life depends on it. Mutoh eats a Potato. Tenryu tries desperately to end the match. Mutoh turns the clock back to the 90s with a back handspring elbow and Backbreaker. He absolutely blasted him with a Shining Wizard in there as well. Can Mutoh get the Moonsault. Nope Powerbomb! Mutoh roars back with a Kappou Kick. Tenryu looks discombobulated. He blocks a Shining Wizard. Lariat and Brainbuster! Tenryu wins!
The major plot points of this match hit so hard and they play off the 6/8/01 match so well. Mutoh is so committed to weakening the knee to set up Shining Wizard and also just rocking the head of Tenryu. Tenryu is the ornery old bastard working the cut, throwing tables and potatoes. Tenryu gets a crucial block and the Brainbuster. Two well-defined characters with key emphatic, consequential turning points that’s great pro wrestling.
Four & A Half Star Matches
All Japan Triple Crown Champion Toshiaki Kawada vs Genichiro Tenryu - AJPW 1/18/04
I am surprised this match is so overlooked. You can chalk it up to post-split All Japan put they pulled in 10k+ at the Budokan for Kawada’s title defenses against Frye and Hashimoto. It feels like after the Hashimoto match that the gap between All Japan the big two of New Japan and NOAH widens to the point of no return but they were still doing healthy numbers at this point. This match features Two of the Big Three of Post-Split All Japan (Muto being the other of course). Their 2000 Triple Crown decision match is considered the classic but man I loved This one a whole lot. I need to rewatch that 2000 match because I think I am going crazy high on this.
I don’t know if it is because I haven’t seen a match worked like this in a while but fucking loved this. It was like a 90s All Japan match but with a ton of hate. They waste no time getting right to it. On a rope break lights Kawada up with a chop and it is off to the races. Tenryu being the fucking prick that he is starts chopping high to the throat so Kawada responds with a fully loaded potato and trying to kick his idol’s head off with some absolutely savage kicks. Nobody sells having their bell ring better than Tenryu (maybe Brock). They fight over a suplex on the apron after a Tenryu powder when that doesn’t go Kawada’s way, he rears back and blasts Tenryu with another kick to the head. The last focus of Kawada just blasting Tenryu in the head with kicks was awesome. Tenryu starts throwing chairs in the Ring out frustration.
I loved the transition. Kawada comes charging in for another head rocking kick but Tenryu swings around with an Enziguri to send the champion reeling. Tenryu rattles off three big bombs: Spider German, Mack Truck Lariat and a Powerbomb. Then there’s a cool wrinkle we get some inverted psychology. Normally you do Limb work to set up the bombs bur after his bombs dont get the job done, rather than panicking Tenryu reasserts control with some wicked awesome leg work on Kawada. Appreciated the Mutoh style dragon leg screws, he sure wrestled him enough over the last two years. Loved Kawada fighting off his back so Tenryu just lets him get up so he can light up with chops and potatoes. Kawada’s comeback is full of piss & vinegar. This isn’t like today strike exchanges, the is feels like a fight and they driving demolish the other. Kawada looks like he has Tenryu reeling but runs into a Brick Wall Lariat. He powders. In the spot of the match, Tenryu whips a chair at a young boy trying to help Kawada. Tenryu lariat and Brainbuster only get two. Powerbomb nothing doing. Kawada rolls through a DDT AND KICKS TENRYUS HEAD OFF! Jumping High Kick! DANGEROUS BACK DROP DRIVER! 1-2-No! I thought that should have been the finish. We get the Stretch Plum. Kawada rifling Tenryu with kicks. Tenryu showing dogged old man ornery resistance bur Kawada just keeps blasting him in the head and Brainbuster wins it.
God Bless Tenryu for taking head kick after head kick. I loved that constant focus of Kawada’s offensive strategy to just kick Tenryu’s head off. There was a real piss & vinegar to this match. Both men were energized. The last 5 minutes were electric. Loved Tenryu’s control segment. Transitions were tight. This one never let up from jump. Loved it
Kiyoshi Tamura vs Josh Barnett - U-Style 11/23/05
Man this is the best I have ever seen Barnett look in a pro wrestling ring. Tamura looked like it was 1995, shredded and a million bucks.
This match is definitely a match that rewards the viewer for going on the entire journey with them. The opening matwork was solid. They played into Barnett having the size advantage and because he is technically well rounded posed a real threat to Tamura. The selling on the wrist lock and then how Tamura fought like hell to maintain the clasp on the cross arm breaker attempt was awesome. Tamura burns a rope break there. It looks like Tamura is outgunned but in a standing scrum while Barnett was looking for a takedown…Tamura knees him in the head and the whole complexion of the match changes.
All of sudden this accelerates into a classic territory. Barnetts response to suplex shit out of him was great. The second throw which was a German needs to be seen to be believed. Great selling and struggling from Tamura. This half of the match is all about Barnett either throwing Tamura and stuffing him with sick double leg takedowns. Tamura did a great job finding ways to grab a double wrist lock coming out of waist locks. Barnett was not just about throws too, he was using the takedowns to set up holds like toeholds and chokes. There were some great round kick battles as well. Barnett dumps Tamura on his head with Human Capture Suplex. It looks like Barnett’s size and technique would win but Tamura’s guile and quickness comes back and he gets the flash cross arm breaker for win.
Terrific match! Instant classic! It was style that was almost dead at this point but this was killer. Really loved everything after the Tamura knee to the head! I love shoot-style
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar vs John Cena vs Seth Rollins
Royal Rumble 2015
I was there live for this bad boy with my brother in Philly. I remember there’s a blizzard on Friday in Boston but we braved the elements driving down to see two of all-time favorites: Brock and Cena kick some ass in their prime. I have never watched the match back until now ten years later. Does it hold up or should I have left the memories alone?
Hell Yeah it holds up brutha! Probably the best Triple Threat of all time! Each wrestler stays true to their unique character. Brock Lesnar is the Horror Movie Monster. The Creature from the Black Lagoon, always stalking, always rising. John Cena is the valiant hero trying to slay the Beast by any means necessary. Seth Rollins is the coward using sneak attacks to insert himself. It is awesome.
The reason why the match works isn’t because they changed the formula it is because of the characters. Yes they work at a break-neck pace and everything feels hot. It is still a spot fest just a very well-done one. It is the characters that enhance the viewing experience and take this from Eye candy to emotionally stirring.
Brock Lesnar had a fucking Bitchin’ 2015! He starts off ROARING! The Horror Movie Monster is getting the babyface shine and the Philly crowd is loving it. Cena is still very much disliked and Rollins has some ROH street cred bur his cowardly character keep the fans from being full-throated in their support.
Brock is Unstoppable just trucking Rollins and throwing Cena around. The high spot of this segment is CHUCKING Noble & Mercury like they were nothing. I like the first big chink on the armor. Brock applies the Kimura. Cena being the valiant hero that he is Bob Backlund his way out. However Seth Rollins LEAPS onto the Pile with a knee bowling everyone over. That is the perfect microcosm of the match.
Cena snaps off an FU on a weakened Lesnar but Rollins that little fucking sneak throws Cena out and only gets a one. Perfect character work.
Through some outside work, Cena and Rollins end up alone. Cena works through his finish stretch. Another reasons the match works well is that it feels like one long finish stretch from beginning to end. When Cena goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle we get the first of the Horror Movie Monster popping up from behind and demolishing someone with a suplex.
The next big high spot and the one burned in my memory because out seats were looking over the bottom right turnbuckle (hard cam perspective) was Brock plucking Rollins out of the air into a F-5. Saying I was able to see Brock Lesnar live multiple times in my life is a blessing.
Another thing that worked well in this Triple Threat was the use of saves to protect the finishers. Very expertly timed.
It is time slay the Beast or so we think. Three FUs and a Curb Stomp. Brock is loopy. CENA TACKLES BROCK THROUGH THE BARRICADE! SICK! Brock keeps getting up. Cena throws him into steps and Rollins DRIVES AN ELBOW THROUGH THE HEART OF TYE BEAT FROM THE TOP ROPE THROUGH THE ANNOUNCER TABLE! KILLER!
So what stops this from being a 5 star classic is the Cena/Rollins solo stretch. It is very standard 21st Century main event wrestling. My turn, your turn big bombs. It wasn’t bad but it took something unique and made it feel ordinary. Liked the use of Mercury and Noble. Cena having to expend energy neutralizing them with a stacked FU gives Rollins the time make a serious push for victory. Busting out the Phoenix Splash here was genius. GOD could Lesnar’s timing be any better. One of the best Horror Movie Monster pop up and decimations. It was electric. I liked sneaking in the one hope spot of Rollins using the MITB Case stomp but Brock plucks him again for the F5 win. From Brock return to the F5 was maybe two minutes but absolutely electric 2 minutes.
Maybe the best 21st Century-style match ever. I want emphasize the word STYLE. Plenty of matches in 21st Century are better but they are 20th Century style matches. This kicked some serious ass. Bravo to each man playing their character to perfection.
NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks vs Bayley - NXT Takeover 8/22/15
What a fucking moment! It is funny watching this ten years later when ice I am fucking cold on Bayley and Mercedes has only clicked again for me recently but man as soon as the video package rolled, I was transported back in time and fuck I got a little misty when Bayley came out with the polka dots. It was definitely Dusty in the room just now.
Bayley was tailor made for a SuperIndy. I am not surprised the character didnt translate on the main roster but who gives a fuck. It worked like gangbusters here and it is crowning glory of her work as a character. The characters are so well-established, so relatable and so well-done by each woman that it is fucking money.
To me Bayley has the way tougher job. Anybody can be an asshole. In the hands of a lesser character actor, the Bayley character would be lame and cringing. Bayley commits to the bit and the match and the world are all better for it.
Let’s just get this out the way early, the beginning of the match is the weakest part of the match. Bayley is not a great athlete or an offensive dynamo which is fine some of the best wrestlers ever are unathletic. This shine definitely leaves a something to be desired. It’s a short shine and the match is a classic but it is the one ding.
Bayley uses a Lucha style arm drag to discombobulate Sasha but Sasha uses her own momentum to get out the Ring and created a timeout. The genius here is that boundary conditions are a heel’s paradise. You’re setting yourself up for success for a meaningful transition here.
Sasha goes for the double knees way too early. Bayley to her credit cuts her off but in the tumult in the corner in a boundary condition where the heels feast Sasha is able to knock Bayley off the top careening to the floor. BANG excellent transition.
Another genius element of this match is how they split the heat segment in two. The first part is more about the character work of Sasha. Being that dick heel bitch to the loveable underdog Bayley. Mocking the Wacky Arm Inflatable Tube Man to deliver a WICKED SMACK was awesome! The Top Rope Double Knees actually doesn’t look as good as the Middle Rope but I understand what they were going off given the setting and circumstances. It paid off Sasha finally hitting her signature. Then she just lays a verbal beat down that would make Mark Henry proud. Bayley Cant take anymore and gives her a STIFF kick to the mush. Brilliant.
Whats even more Brilliant and what takes this match from Great to Classic status is that Sasha immediately cuts Bayley off with the hand psychology. They could have let Bayley run roughshod and do a full-blown comeback but they went right back to heat which was genius. They did it on the outside. They had Sasha tear off American Dream Polka Dot wrist band and just crush that hand with the steps. It was brilliant work.
I love the escalation the first half of the match is establishing the characters and because both characters are so over and the crowd is so invested it is such an easy watch. At the same time that’s a lot of faith in Sasha and Bayley to deliver on character work.
Thats Whats missing in today’s wrestling which is crazy because this is only ten years apart. No one takes time to establish the character; it is just Bing Bang Boom nowadays. It is because establishing the characters is scary. Silence is scary. If you just run through a bunch of moves and never take a rest you’ll never be able to hear the silence. It is an insecurity problem. You gotta believe in yourself that you can get your gimmick over and become comfortable with the uncomfortable.
The hand psychology is when the plot of the match kicks in. They go from a character-driven match to a plot-driven match. I was a little cool on this match when it first happened. I thought it was great but not a classic. Watching it back in it is the incorporation of both these driving forces that makes this a classic.
One thing about Sasha even though she is a heel he is a risk taker. She can’t help herself. She’s just got too much Eddie in her. She does the Rey MYSTERIO Summerslam 2002 you can argue whether or not a heel should successfully execute that spot BUT it works because just like when LeBron makes his his first three (you know the feeling LeBron fans you just hope the rest aren’t laser beam bricks) Sash is feeling it. So she goes for another one. This time Bayley knocks her off the springboard and now we have the leveling the playing field spot.
There are really strong parts of the finishing stretch, Sasha’s stomping on the injured hand is iconic, the first Bayley 2 Belly and ultimate win. There’s the bad 21st Century excesses of the reversed Bank Statement and the DragonRana and the ugly Bayley nearly pile driving herself on top rope flip. Overall it does leave you fist-pumping. Even if I wish they reined it in a bit more. I get it too. This was the first time the women were billed as co-main event so they wanted the DragonRana to show they were on the level of the Men. To give that crowd a little extra something something because this was their WrestleMania. I’d argue you didn’t need to do that but I also concede that I get where they are coming from.
Four Horsewoman Curtain Call I would have been against especially Sasha coming out to join and hug them. This was not a babyface vs babyface match. Sasha was a real asshole and she should be a sore loser. It was a very post-modern finish. I also understand how significant the match was and how they knew it would be instantly significant so I see that side as Well.
I think Sasha vs Becky is the better match but that match just showed the women could do it. This match proved they were main event. Even at the time many said that this should main event over Owen’s/Balor and it should have. There was still a little doubt. This effaced all doubt. The women were just as good and just as over as the men. It is not a perfect match BUT if it was somebody’s favorite match I wouldn’t bay any eye. It is such a meaningful, significant FEEL-GOOD match man thats what pro wrestling is missing FEEL-GOOD matches. Meaningful to women’s wrestling, these two women’s career but also to NXT and the Culture at the time. It was the climax of a specific time and place and it fucking hits and it hits hard.
Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker - Summerslam 2015
This far surpassed my recollection of this match as I have it on par with the Roman WrestleMania match from the year. Holy fuck, Brock Lesnar is a phenomenal wrestler. I am really interested in seeing how this compares to their 2015 Hell In A Cell. I might have to rewatch their 2002 Hell In A Cell to see what is the best match they have together.
Big Fight Feel is an understatement. I hate to harp on this point, but ten years later I am struggling to think of a match that felt like this match. This was a true blue heavyweight bout, who is the biggest dog in the yard. It is not an overly choreographed dance routine they are stand and bang and throwing bombs.
Brock Lesnar is the best at setting that tone. The way he bumrushes Takes and he forces Taker to fight through that offense and dump him. That was a fist-pumping shine. The haymakers they were throwing early were great. Brock wrestles him to the ground and Taker just NAILS him with these VICIOUS straight rights on the ground. That shit started them at 5 stars, fuck we need more of that in wrestling pronto. I liked each teasing their finisher because these are heavyweights that dont get paid by the hour. They want the KO victory immediately. Just when it looked like Taker was going to run away with it, Brock dumps with the first suplex (belly to bell) coming out of the corner. The issue with Suplex City was less the multitude in my opinion but the way it was sold. Here I do think it was oversold, but it was a way for Brock to stem the bleeding. It is established as Brock's Ace in the Hole, even if Taker is pouring it on, all it takes is one suplex to turn the tide. In later matches, it was just a way to get a cheap pop.
I liked after the second suplex, Brock gets cocky with "Suplex City Bitch" and Takes is able to dive into a turnbuckle to knock Brock for a loop and then hit some standard Taker offense (Snake Eyes, Big Boot, Leg drop across the apron) all the while Brock has a nice steady, stream of blook trickling down his face for the remainder of the match. I am not a vampire, but that is the perfect amount of blood for this moment. I loved the counter to Chokeslam. It was the perfect time for Taker to go for the chokeslam, but the way Brock did mid-air and with force was so credible and then BANG~! Suplex. Just like that Brock has that puncher's chance to totally turn a match on a dime because of his raw power and strength.
The F-5 on the table was a sick spot and ensured the 21st Century crowd would be on their side because they are also delivering highspots. We get a little Cinematic here as Taker rolls back in at a count of 9, but it is good shit. Brock says "Ill Kill You" and Taker says "Youll have to" as he gozzles Brock from his knees and delivers an emphatic Chokeslam. It is always a case by case basis and this one worked. It set up the great Tombstone.
Now we get to iconic part of the match as Brock sits up after the Tombstone first laughing and Taker does his Zombie Situp and mocks him back with laughter then trade heavy bombs. It was fucking sick! Again it is a case by case basis with a different twosome this could be lame and cringe-inducing but here it is just BADASS!
Brock gets the Kimura in the corner, but Taker counters with Last Ride. This is when the match goes from ***** OMG to MOTYC. Without much transition, Brock gets two F-5s and kick outs. The epic selling starts to take hold and it feels more my turn, your turn as Taker gets Hell's Gate. No real transition between Last Ride and F-5s or the F-5s and Hells Gate hurt the stretch. The counter into the Kimura is also pretty flimsy.
I actually kinda liked the finish upon replay. Taker taps in the view of the timekeeper but not the ref because Lil Naitch is watching Brock's shoulders on the Kimura and Brock is really wriggling to keep his shoulders off the mat. This is the beauty of pro wrestling is the added dimension of the pin that MMA does not have. By forcing the ref to watch the shoulders and Brock to keep his shoulders off the mat, it opens up this dimension as well as making submission holds like the Kimura and Hells Gate and Triangle Choke disadvantageous in pro wrestling. Heyman jumps for joy and into the ring that Brock has one-upped his Mania victory by making Taker tap. Lil Naitch is indignant that the Timekeeper went rogue calling for the bell on his own. Lil Naitch says the match is not over. Taker gives Brock a ballshot! Hells Gate! Brock gives him the Finger and passes out to give Taker the win by TKO.
Fantastic Heavyweight Slugfest! Just two big uglies throwing haymakers and dropping each other on their heads. Like I said I didnt hate the finish as you needed a little sumthin sumthin to set up the third match because you knew Taker had to go over here to avenge his loss at Mania. If was really the section between Dueling Sit-Ups and the finish that dropped the match from a Top 100 Candidate to just one of the best matches of 2010s. Definitely check it out.
Four & Three Quarters Star Matches
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Keiji Mutoh vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan - NJPW 6/14/95
Leave it to Hirata to make Tenzan look like Stone Cold in terms of charisma. This is in the Budokan, typically the domain of All Japan. Tenzan is tag team champion and Chono is out with him.
Woke up in the middle of the night in the Azores and call me crazy but this is FUCKING AWESOME!
Even though Mutoh looks a little taller and wider than Tenzan, they stick to script that Tenzan is big bruising goon and Mutoh needs to use speed.
The match works so well because Tenzan gives Mutoh fucking NOTHING at the beginning of the match. He is this torrential force of nature. He has the Champion reeling and wrestling off his back foot. This is basically Tenzan’s rookie year on the main roster so to speak and he is showing great poise. He felt like a bull in a China shop but in a different way than Stab Hansen. Hansen is frenetic and chaotic. Tenzan is straight ahead smash mouth. Mutoh was throwing desperation kicks just to get a moment of respite from Tenzan’s suffocating offense. Mutoh would clamp down on a hold after the kick but Tenzan would keep coming. I loved Mutoh’s response to a loss In a shoulder block battle to apply drop toehold but Tenzan kept coming. When Tenzan went for a cross arm breaker it looked like Mutoh was going to wake up lest he be steamrolled. We get the Mutoh Elbow but when Mutoh went for a single leg crab Tenzan was having none of it and just fucking stuffed his attempt. That’s when I knew I watching something special. Nothing was given everything was earned.
Tenzan Ramps it up here and honestly it looked like it was going to a blow out. Mongolian Chops. Headbutt rain down from the sky. We were one Tenzansault from a shocking upset. Mutoh hits a Dropkick to Tenzan’s ass who brains himself on the top of the Ring post and takes a nasty tumble to the floor. It is official this match is fucking great. Mutoh Bulldog on the floor. Mutoh has wounded the bull and needs to finish him off. Spring board Dropkick. Mutoh goes for a moonsault. TENZAN ELECTRIC CHAIR DROP! The Symmetry! The Hook! The hook is who can hit the Moonsault first. This is Marty Sleeze fucking wrestling here. They are throwing bombs trying to get this moonsault. Tenzan eats nothing but canvas. Mutoh tries his backbreaker moonsault combo twice comes up empty both times. Then the match gets even better! Tenzan in the pursuit of giving Mutoh absolutely fucking nothing plucks Mutoh out of his customary back handspring and MANHANDLES him tossing him into the floor. It is a gnarly bump. Fucking Mutoh is PISSED! He comes in fists balled and cocked. He UNLOADS on Tenzan until he bleeds! I wanted blood on the Ring post shot and we got here. Mutoh rips up the protective mat and bulldogs Tenzan on the exposed concrete. If you didn’t know already this match FUCKING RULES! Mutoh back inside working the cut with punches when Tenzan let’s out a PRIMAL ROAR! OMFG LETS FUCKING GO! Tenzan spinning wheel kick wipes out Mutoh. Tenzan FINALLY HITS THE MOONSAULT 1-2-NO! YES! Tenzan undeterred goes for his Top Rope Headbutt but no one is home and he eats a face full canvas. As you can expect it is off the to the races for Mutoh who uses his Springboard Dropkick, Top Rope Frankensteiner , backbreaker and Moonsault to finish off the very game Tenzan as a challenger. This exceeded all expectations and was the best IWGP Title Match of 1995! Fuck it! This rocked so damn hard!
Keiji Mutoh & Taiyo Kea vs Toshiaki Kawada & Mitsuya Nagai - AJPW 12/7/01 RWTL Finals
THIS FUCKING RULED!
Keiji Mutoh super push is still going full bore. He main evented every All Japan Budokan show in 2001. He has been the Triple Crown Champion since June and won the Tag Team Titles with Kea in October from Tenryu & Anjoh. Now here he is in Real World Tag League Final with Kea in the last Budokan main event of the year. I definitely think Mutoh earned the push both in terms of box office and quality matches as his 2001 is one of the best calendar years any wrestler has ever produced. It was not just his reinvention but Post-Split All Japan was the perfect platform for the reinvention. Inoki really started pushing the shooters hard in April of 2001 with Fujita winning IWGP title and NOAH was just a continuation of 90s All Japan. Mutoh did not fit any scene. In the 90s he always played second fiddle to Hashimoto. Post-Split All Japan have him the perfect place to finally play a leading role and with main event level opponents in Kawada and Tenryu he knocked it out of the park. It was a perfect symbiotic relationship. All Japan needed him just as bad as he needed them.
Due to some urgent needs at work, was not able to immediately review this match after watching it so going back and watching for a second time because this match is so badass and I want to make sure I capture every badass detail.
Mutoh sure loved going to the Early Shining Wizard well a lot in 2001, but man outside that Chono match, it works so well. Kawada drills him with a Back Drop Driver. SHINING WIZARD~! BANG~! Mutoh is head rocked so he tags in Kea. Kea does not do anything super crazy, but he throws a nice kick. Nagai bails Kawada out enough that Kawada hits his famous kick and then a GREAT LEG SWEEP~! Kea is good at one thing and thats throwing round kicks so him and Nagai are peanut butter jelly throwing kicks. Nagai BURIES a knee in the breadbasket and Nagai is on fire. Mutoh tries to help out but eats a knee of his own. Nagai has Kea reeling with all the kicks. Kea hits a dropkick to stymie Nagai long enough to tag out which is wise.
Mutoh immediately dropkicks the knee. The Boo Birds are out for that. I LOVE how Nagai tries to fight through the ONSLAUGHT of Dropkicks to the Knee but eventually succumbs to a series of Dragon Leg Screws. He successfully wards off a Figure-4 with kicks to the head. I love how Nagai was fighting for his life. Each dropkick, Dragon Leg Screw he made it seem so important that he keep fighting and culminated in great struggle over the Figure-4. Like Kea, he wisely tagged out to Kawada.
Kawada and Mutoh have this badass exchange. That just feels like two Aces vying for supremacy. Classic Kawada Kicks. Mutoh throws a potato. Mutoh Kappou Kick! Back Handspring Elbow. Bulldog. SHINING WIZARD BLOCK~! KAWADA LARIAT! Every move in this match feels existential. Mutoh BLOCKS Enziguiri. DROPKICK TO THE KNEE! BOOS! Kawada gets the enziguiri on the Dragon Leg Screw attempt. NAGAI KICKS THE HAMMIES AND DRAGON LEG SCREWS MUTOH! I LOVE WHEN OPPONENTS THROW MUTOH'S OFFENSE BACK AT HIM! This match is MARK OUT CITY! These are great Dragon Leg Screws!
MUTOH DRAGON LEG SCREWS NAGAI! He gets the Figure-4 with Kea playing guard dog. Drama off the charts! Mutoh dropkicks the knee of the fallen Nagai after the rope break to big boos. Kea has some impressive high spots like the Vaderbomb and Superfly Splash. He is just missing that IT factor. He is a fine wrestler, but he just doesnt have IT. It does not drag this particular match down, but he is clearly #4 in there.
Springboard dropkick by Mutoh! Backbreaker -> Moonsault! 1-2-Kawada Saves! Kawada High Kick! Mutoh is OUT~! Kawada Kneedrop. Top Rope Nagai Flying Knee! 1-2-NO! Kawada Yakuza Kick! Mutoh BLASTS Nagai with an Elbow...Dragon Leg Screw on Kawada. Dont be bringing that in my house! Kea dropkicks Nagai's knees to boos. This is the most heel heat I have heard from a Japanese crowd. TKO but Kawada saves. Nagai desperation German on Nagai. Kawada is in the wrong fucking corner because this match is so chaotic I love it. Kawada is reaching out for the tag and Nagai is desperate for it. BANG~! SHINING WIZARD~! GOD BLESS THESE FOUR! Kea German 1-2-NO! Kawada saves on the TKO attempt.
Here comes the best part of the match. Mutoh and Kea like a pack of hyenas just nonstop dropkick Kawada's knees. It is so fucking awesome! Kawada's selling is so fucking good! Crowd booing so heavily! Mutoh doing his Pro Wrestling Love pose to boos is incredible! DOUBLE SHINING WIZARD~! THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FINISH! I would have gone 5 if it was GODDAMN! TKO! 1-2-3! THIS MATCH FUCKING RULES!
I watched this twice! Totally holds up! This is fucking awesome!
NXT Women's Champion Sasha Banks vs Becky Lynch - NXT Takeover 5/20/15
Almost ten years to the day it happened, I am rewatching this. I remember watching this ten years ago and being blown away. It was the day I adopted Becky as my favorite Horsewomen. I remember traveling all over New England in 2016-17 watching her and my boy, AJ wrestle on Smackdown. It is still my belief that this is the best women’s match in North American history (I will continue to revisit that claim in the next decade).
What may be most impressive about this match is the context of which I watched it in. I am disillusioned with 2025 pro wrestling. Until the Harley Cameron feud, I was really down on Sasha/Mercedes this past year. And as much as I did like Becky/Lyra, but Becky’s character has grown long in the tooth. Coming off Robinson vs Inoki 1975 last night, there was a part of me that though would the match still hold up. Would it feel too 21st Century?
I am here to emphatically declare WHO AM I TO DOUBT BECKY LYNCH AND SASHA BANKS BABY!
This match rules no matter the context or mood! The easiest comp is Ohtani versus Samurai from January 1996 with the dueling limb psychology and the attention to detail. This match is wrestled like high-end, mat-based juniors wrestling. Look how much time they spend in contact with each other. They are wrestling, struggling for position. It is NOT a track meet. NOT a gymnastics routine. It is a fucking pro wrestling match. God bless them.
I remember immediately why I was instantly enamored with this match: Becky came out firing. Using a drop-down into a trip! Ankle pick out of a cross cross! I would say this if they were men so I’ll say it here, that shit gives me a pro wrestling boner! Wrinkles to an otherwise ordinary exchange and then consolidating the advantage with a hold or pinning combination. I remember being lucky enough to go live to see Becky vs Belair at RAW in Providence in 2021 if memory serves me right Becky busted out similar moves that night :)
Becky was targeting the arm but Sasha was really judicious here. She didn’t oversell anything. Becky had a strategy but Sasha kept her cool. I love the use of the apron to give the heel an advantage. Becky was overwhelming the Champ early with the full court press but Sasha catching the kick and wrenching Becky down by the wrist shoulder first onto apron was a killer transition. They sold it in such a way that it felt consequential.
Aaaaahhh the days when Sasha would mock and taunt her opponents. Becky debuted her steampunk look that night as Corey Graves makes sure to capture for posterity with all his snide remarks.
Sasha works the arm really well. The Double Knees to the bad arm is the crown Jewel and gives Otani/Sammy vibes! Short Arm Scissors is a favorite of mine and we get the Backlund hulk up from Becky. My favorite paying homage to another favorite.
I love how Sasha uses a Lucha style arm drag to discombobulate Becky but also put her in position for the Double Knees!
Becky does a good job as a one arm woman making her comeback firing back. She is able to pull Sasha shoulder first into the post to give her big opportunity to torture Sasha and set her up for he patented Disarm-Her. The torture of using her feet to hyperextend her elbow sealed the deal as one of the best Becky offensive performances of her career. I love the use of a blocked vertical suplex into a takedown leading to the Disarm-Her near fall.
Sasha does a nice suicide dive to the floor but Becky kinda sorta catches her and once she recovers it is not clear where she wants to deposit her and it led to Becky kinda slamming her against the steps. It was one weak spot. It was made even weirder because they pretty much go into the finish immediately after with Sasha winning with the Bank Statement.
Absolutely terrific pro wrestling. Duel limb psychology. Minimalist. Ground-based. Body on body. Everything was consequential. Efficient at ~15 minutes. It was Becky’s coming out party solidifying her as a Four Horsewomen. For Sasha it began discussions of her being the American Female GOAT. For American Women’s Wrestling, this is the match was the turning point when all the sliding scales were thrown out and women proved they were every bit as good as the men sometimes better! Still my pick for best US women’s wrestling match of all time! We will see if it changes as I watch the last decade over again.
Five Star Match
NWF Heavyweight Champion Antonio Inoki vs Billy Robinson - NJPW 12/11/75 2/3 Falls
Greatest Match Ever voting is on June 30th at https://gweproject.freeforums.net/ and I am in hotel room in Minnesota (taking a class at the University, Go Gophers!) and I figured it has been a long time since I have had some time to sit down and watch an hour long match. Lets watch one of my favorites Antonio Inoki go up against somebody have not seen nearly enough of, Billy Robinson. This match is coming up on its 50 year anniversary.
First Fall: I can see why a lot of people who dont usually like Inoki like this as Inoki is far more "subdued" for lack of a better term. Robinson is really in charge and takes the meat of the first 20 minutes. As someone who likes Inoki it was a bit jarring to watch his opponent take so much of the match, but variety is the spice of life. Robinson wins the majority of the early exchanges: headlock, armdrag takedown, a brilliant gutwrench out of an Inoki facelock. Inoki works a long, tight cravat. There's a nice full nelson exchange which ends with an Inoki mule kick so Inoki is starting to win. Things get chippy when Inoki has Robinson's legs tied up and he keeps swiping the arm out from Robinson as he is trying to hold himself up. Robinson gets frustrated and breaks free and gives Inoki a stiff slap. Next thing you know they both take a massive tumble over the top to the floor courtesy of a Robinson belly to belly suplex. I like how tempers flared and Robinson's instinct was just to chuck Inoki over the top rope, his own well-being be damned. Back in Robinson wants a butterfly suplex, but Inoki blocks and he settles for a cross-armbreaker. The work on the cross-armbreaker is exquisite. The pop for Inoki countering into an Indian Deathlock is huge! They end up in the ropes. Robinson gets a Robinson Backbreaker out of an Inoki headlock which was sick. People bit on that nearfall as did given this 2/3 falls. Greta Inoki sell. Robinson Boston Crab. The drama is high! Great Inoki sell of how hard it was to reverse. Inoki attempts his own but settles for a leg lace as 20 minutes elapses. Started slow, but picked up in a big way once tempers started to flare.
Love that at the 20 minute mark Inoki is trying to put on a Boston Crab and at the 40 minute mark he finally applies it. What a tremendous 20 minutes of grappling. The struggle is real. Coming out of the leg lace at 20 minute mark, Robinson has to work hard to break free and goes into the bodyscissors, but that leaves him open to one of my all-time favorite counters: The Ankle Cross, 20 years before Volk Han baby! I was pop pop POPPING here in Minnesota 50 years later. Then they out do themselves by working the best damn headscissors I have ever seen in my life. It was so damn good I had to take 10 second video clip send it to my wife with the caption "What happened to the game I loved" because this shit is the shit, whereas as the shit today is the shits. I will not do the struggle justice. Watch the struggle not just to escape the hold by Robinson but the struggle of Inoki to maintain the hold. That's pro wrestling, baby. I love that Robinson's first instinct out the headscissors is to get a pinfall and second is to stretch the neck. The crowd popped when he finally got out of the headscissors. Thats pro wrestling, baby. They trade dropkicks and Inoki's looked fucking great. There were so many Butterfly Suplex attempts. Tokyo and me are ready to lose our shit when someone finally snaps off a Butterfly. Best Damn Reverse Neckbreaker youll ever see in your life by Robinson here coming out of the Cravat. Really nifty Tombstone Piledriver that feels so organic the way he falls forward but is too close to the ropes for a pin. Theres an Inoki abdominal stretch somewhere in this stretch that gets over as a nearfall because it is Inoki. They battle over a bodyslam that turns into a Full Nelson by Robinson, but Inoki pulls the stump and applies Boston Crab. This is how pro wrestling should be. 40 minutes in and still no fall.
Inoki falls in love with the Boston Crab to his detriment. Robinson breaks free but Inoki still wants it. Robinson takes a hard Whip to the buckles and sells it like a million bucks. Inoki sees blood and wants to finish weakened Robinson with the Boston Crab, but Robinson musters up all his strength stands on his head, twists and sends Inoki flying. Watch the time they take to set this up and really milk the struggle. Robinson scrambles for a backslide 1-2-3! Just like that around 43 minute mark he goes up 1-0! What a fall!
Second Fall: Unless, we have 100% proof that something is a shoot, my default position is that it is a work. I can see how this fall feels like a shoot with how uncooperative Robinson is being with his stalling and you do get the feeling from Inoki's disposition that he seems anxious he might get the tying fall in time leading to some serious egg on his face, but at the same time I think that's just really good selling on their part. Typically the second fall is a very short fall in these type of matches (<5 minutes) and the drama is in if someone can break the time and goes the full 60. I actually liked this a lot more. I kinda figured it would go 1-1, BUT given how long it was taking to get there, I started to worry. As an Inoki fan, I was concerned and it was egging me on. I was feeling emotionally moved. Maybe Robinson went off script, but I dont think so. I think the fan was to put the heat on could Inoki tie it. Then everyone knows it was going 60. If Inoki tied it with ten minutes to go, yes there would still be heat, but not as much as Inoki tying it with a minute left on the clock.
The fall was very interesting. Robinson opened with a backslide the move that gained him the first fall, which I liked. Inoki BLASTED him with a hard back elbow that sent him careening over the top rope to the floor. Robinson sells it like his bell is rung. Inoki gets two easy suplexes: vertical and belly to back as he looks like he is going to cruise to a tie. Then a curious thing happens Robinson in his stupor keeps falling into the ropes. Is he selling having his bell rung? Is he parking the bus? Taking that 1-0 lead to the time limit and claim the World Title? Is he shooting and making Inoki sweat? That's the magic of pro wrestling. Regardless of the actual motivations and it is uber compelling television. Inoki goes for the Argentine Backbreaker and they get into a tremendous tussle over a backslide. Robinson pops off the Butterfly Suplex for two. He has stopped selling having his bell rung and it becomes apparent that he is stalling on purpose to try to milk the clock for victory. Inoki and the crowd are pissed! There is a great Robinson German Suplex that you think might even seal the deal 2-zip. He is getting under Inoki's skin and exploiting it. In an insane feat of strength like 55 minutes in, Inoki bridge with Robinson's full weight on him with no hands and then Robinson slams his body weight onto Inoki twice and Inoki holds like the muthafuckin man. What a stud. Inoki really starts firing up and smacking Robinson around trying to goad him into fighting. Excellent finish stretch. Inoki Dropkick. Pin. No. Baba-esque chop. Pin. No. Finally the Butterfly! Pin. No. Bodyslam! Pin. No. Robinson comes back with European Uppercuts and a Butterfly Suplex of his own! Holy shit! It is coming down to the wire. Robinson misses on a chop. OCTOPUS STRETCH! ROBINSON GIVES! CROWD GOES APESHIT! 50 YEARS LATER IN MINNESOTA I LOST MY MIND!
Third Fall: THREE INOKI DROPKICKS! MISSED THE FOURTH! Robinson 1-2-NO! THEY ARE THROWING ELBOWS! IT IS A STREET FIGHT! TIME EXPIRES!
Damn what a great match. This is pitch perfect sporting pro wrestling. I love narrative-based wrestling, but this is one of the best matches I have seen where pro wrestling models sport. They are both always looking for the win and always looking for the advantage. Robinson's stalling down the stretch and making me believe that he might fuck Inoki over seals the deal for me. ***** one of the top 100 best matches of all time.
