Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,
This will be a living blog post that details what I, Martin Boulevard (@superstarsleeze), believes are the best matches for World Championship Wrestling primarily focusing on 1995-1999, but a smattering of 92 & 93. As I finish 2000&2001 and then go back to the Turner Buyout, this list will be updated.
Matches will be grouped based on star rating level. Within a star rating level they will be list chronologically. Links to reviews will eventually be posted.
***** Matches
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting vs Vader - Great American Bash 1992
****3/4 Matches
Sting vs Vader - Starrcade 1992
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vader vs Sting - SuperBrawl III Strap Match
WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr.
Halloween Havoc 1997 Title vs. Mask
****1/2 Matches
Ric Flair vs Randy Savage - Great American Bash 1995
WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs Rey Misterio Jr.
Great American Bash 1996
Rey Misterio Jr. vs Psicosis - Bash At The Beach 1996
WCW United States Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs Chris Benoit - SuperBrawl VIII
*Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs Eddy Guerrero & Chris Jericho - Brian Hildebrand Tribute*
*Technically not a WCW promoted match, but featured all WCW talent*
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page vs Sting - WCW Nitro 4/26/99
Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit - WCW Nitro 10/4/99
Showing posts with label Eddy Guerrero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eddy Guerrero. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Homecoming: Ric Flair, Syxx, Scott Hall (WCW,1997)
Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,
Goddamnit Wisconsin! I watched zero minutes of college basketball and I make it all the way to the National Championship game and all you chumps need to do is win one little game so I could win $750 dollars. Fucking Badgers!
 |
| Hail Satan! |
The Faces of Fear are my boys! Faces or heels the tag team of Eddy Guerrero & Chris Jericho rules! This reminded me of a sprint version of the Rockers vs Powers of Pain only you just subbed the Warlord for fucking Meng! Jericho avoiding an early Kick of Fear and then hitting a nice dropkick to the knee. This is the best Jericho has looked in watching him in WCW. Yes, he flubbed one move, but everything was so explosive and urgent. Eddy goes into orbit thanks Barbarian. Meng crushes him with a powerbomb. I am a powerbomb mark. The Jericho face in peril is incredible. Barbarian hits a ridiculous OVERHEAD BELLY TO BELLY OFF THE TOP ROPE! HOLY SHIT! Meng backdrops Jericho into a powerbomb! True to WWF tag formula it takes three spots for Jericho to EARN the hot tag. First he uses the Lionsault to a standing Meng then an enziguiri and finally it is a missed elbow that brings the red hot Eddy. Guerrero and Jericho go all Rockers awesomeness by doubling up all their moves even busting out the double dropkick. They are looking Lionsault/Frogsplash combo on Barbie. Meng pulls the ropes down and Jericho flies out. Malenko pushes Eddy off the top right into the KICK OF FEAR!!! HOLY SHIT WHAT A FINISH!
The Faces of Fear in a different era with the proper push would be a greatest tag team of all time candidate. Guerrero & Jericho should have been a permanent tag team. So many missed opportunities. Why did not we see this match get 15 minutes on PPV? Oh WCW, you cocktease. Awesome TV match. ****
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WCW US Champion Eddy Guerrero vs Dean Malenko - WCW Uncensored 1997
There is an absolutely hilarious Dusty rambling session in the middle of the match where he is commending Schivaone for making an astute observation, but just keeps going on about it and climaxes with calling him delungent. I was dying throughout the whole thing. He really needs to do some guest commentary in NXT or something because he was gold around this time.
Guerrero was portrayed on commentary as having a bit of a rulebreaking edge to him, but he was still nowhere near the glorious levels of his late 1997. For whatever reason, WCW crowds loved Dean Malenko. They must have seen him as a stoic badass, I dunno, the late 90s were a strange time. They definitely go for more of a heated fight feel than technical masterpiece. I love how Guerrero takes a bump early on the shoulderblock it is not a quick flat back bump, but a more realistic stumble, knock back onto your keister. Dusty notes that both men have mudhole stomping on their mind and have commenced to mudhole stomping early. In his roundabout, Dusty-isms way, he picks up on a good point. There is a lot of good mirror psychology. It is not just a fight, but a fight between two rivals that know each other well and want to one up each other. Guerrero takes his big catapult face first into turbuckle bump to give Malenko the advantage. Malenko goes to work on the knee with a single leg crab while we find out that Rick Steiner has been laid out by the Wolfpac. Guerrero cuts Malenko off with a dropkick to the knee. Guerrero knows Malenko is a master of the mat so he is going to beat him at his own game by destroying Malenko's knee. Guerrero is just excellent with great springboard moves on the knee, good submission holds like the STF and the figure-4. Guerrero rocks him with European Uppercuts and looks to dive onto him on the outside, but eats steel in a really nasty spot. Malenko drops him on the railing and now he is going to work on the arm because the arm hit first. Tony notes this and that is what triggers the ridiculously hilarious Dusty ramble. They do go a little overkill on the finish with a couple extra moves. I thought the finish stealing was perfect for the theme of the match. The crowd and I also enjoyed Malenko's trick knee acting up into a ballshot and when Malenko crumpled to his balls met Eddie's knee in a violent fashion. Tighten up the finish stretch to really focus on those elements and it would be excellent. Syxx getting involved was pretty lame because he was already Crusierweight Champion, but at least it did fit with the mirror psychology of the match as Malenko lifted Guerrero's title due to Syxx just like Malenko lost his due to Eddy's interference. I presume Eddy/Syxx was in the cards, but Eddy got injured. It is too bad Syxx did not have more matches with the WCW midcard, it would have been interesting to see what he could do with a Benoit or Rey on a PPV. But I digress, I liked the heat on each move and how they told a cool interwoven story of mirror spots. It was two competitive rivals that not only wanted to beat their opponent bad, they wanted to humble them by beating them at their own game. Put a hotter finish on this and you have a really excellent match. ****
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WCW World Television Champion Ultimo Dragon vs Steven Regal - WCW Slamboree 1997
What a beautifully constructed, fundamentals-based match that starts off very lo-fi and builds perfectly to the high spots. God, I miss crowds like this. They are patient and hang on the action. They are rooting for Regal and eagerly wait chances to exhort him on or revel in his glory. The late 90s were not perfect and there were crowds that did chant "Boring" at WCW events, so I don't want it misconstrued that I have some naive picture of late 90s WCW crowds. We almost never a get a crowd like this anymore. The chain wrestling at the beginning is both beautiful and strenuous. Regal has the advantage being larger, but Dragon as a Japanese luchador is no slouch. They do a great job establishing equality through struggle like on the Regal gutwrench or Dragon drop toehold. There are some nice tit for tat moments like Regal stepping on Dragon's face only to have Dragon step on his face. Both men establish that they are looking to win early and often. It is a championship match with no hatred behind so the exact perfect strategy for the setting. Regal is looking for his Regal Stretch often, I counted him attempting four times with Dragon making the ropes each time. Every counter or move was working towards the finish and I just loved that strategy. That is how you put over and protect a submission finish. Dragon focused on using wicked stinging kicks to Regal's back to control the match. I loved Regal countering Dragon's cross-armbreaker by catching one foot into a leg scissors and then countering into a Regal Stretch attempt. Dragon responds by kicking Regal's back really hard. These two have amazing chemistry. Regal is the exact opposite of Malenko in that inhibits Dragon from indulging in his worst habits. Regal is also a lot more charismatic. I am disappointed Dragon did not do his hip swivel on the deathlock bridge. Regal chants and the announcers are in shock! Regal is on the outside and Onoo gets his licks in, but Dragon is not happy about that so he admonishes him to set up that angle. I can't tell if Regal was selling fatigue or if he was blown up. He was working hard. Dragon takes advantage and starts to rattle off his highspots. I love the escalation in this match. The Dragon moonsault misses, everybody repeat after me "Regal Stretch attempt", I fucking love it. Makes so much sense! Just when you think this match is all meat and potatoes, Dragon busts a crazy rana from a butterfly suplex position. Hot damn! At this point in the match, they are both selling fatigue and it is reasonable because they have been working over time. Regal blocks Dragon's Tiger Suplex finish. Dragon is able to hit the Asai Moonsault, but Onoo and him get into it and Regal is able to take advantage to finally apply the Regal Stretch to a massive pop. I loved the fans giving the peace symbol back to him, like everyone in the camera shot was doing it. So cool!
This is a just badass, old school match that features great wrestling from the early chaining to Regal desperately working from underneath to get the Regal Stretch while Dragon controlled with kicks. If they had a hotter, better finish, this would be talked about as one of the classic WCW matches as it I would hazard to say this is the best WCW Dragon match and the last great Regal WCW match. ****
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Ric Flair/Roddy Piper/Kevin Greene vs Wolfpack (Kevin Nash/Scott Hall/Syxx)
Slamboree 1997
I am a total sucker for feel-good matches like this. Flair in this is just a cure for any malady. From the entrance to the finish, I just had a huge smile on my feet. Hell, I was stamping them and watched the match standing for the most part. Hall and Syxx were just the best damn scuzzballs ever. I loved Hall mocking the Flair strut and Syxx, 220 lbs of disrespect, poking fun at Piper's injured hip. Those were three guys not trying to be cool. They were obnoxious pricks and you wanted to see them get beat up. How about that Charlotte, North Carolina crowd! THEY ARE JAAAAAAACCCCCKKKKEEED! The opening Flair segment was fucking electric. There are too many awesome moments to name. Flair chopping Syxx when Syxx was in mid-strut was badass. The strut, the chops and the pelvic thusts, what more could you want from a Flair shine. Kevin Greene as a Carolina Panther was just the perfect celebrity for this situation. You gotta love his enthusiasm. Greene and Nash actually work a pretty damn strong segment with Greene looking like a powerhouse. The double clothesline got a massive pop and sent the Wolfpack reeling. The NWO has to regroup because the hometown boys are on fire. Hell even fucking Piper was fine in this. I thought his heat segment would go longer since he had the injury, but this night was all about Flair. HOLY SHIT! What about Hall fucking catching Flair from the top and hitting the fallaway slam. That was crazy! I loved the chaos on the outside. It felt so real and organic with Greene tackling Syxx. Nash just hitting Flair with a nasty drive-by big boot to the face while Hall held his hair. I loved the Bronco Buster as the ultimate fuck you spot in front of this crowd. The finish stretch is bedlam and just the most awesome possible decisive, crowd-pleasing finish. Flair, you bring me up when I am down. Best NWO match ever! Hidden Treasure! Watch this! ****1/4
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WCW Cruiserweight Champion Eddy Guerrero vs Chris Benoit - WCW Nitro 10/20/97
Awesome sprint! The crowd hated Eddie so much and Benoit is the asskicker a crowd wants to get behind to serve Eddie his just desserts. I love Eddie avoiding the chop early. He goes flying up in the air a couple times but Goddamnit I am not taking that chop. When he does, what a great sell job with him digging his nails into the mat as Benoit drags him back in. Benoit just chops the fuck out of him to the pleasure of the audience. These two execution is just breath-taking. They are both so quick and crisp. It is incredible. Benoit's suicide dive was crazy. The way Benoit sprint across the ring and Eddie hit the drop toehold into the middle turnbuckle was a great, creative finish to give a heel a clean, but still underhanded finish. I loved Eddie hitting the Frogsplash for good measure and Mickey Jay not being happy with him "running up the score" so to speak on the unconscious Benoit. I wish they got a long match on PPV at this point both at peaks of their wrestling game. ***1/2
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Chris Benoit vs Fit Finlay - WCW Nitro 10/27/97
HOLY SHIT! DEM CHOPS! I love Tony describing Benoit as seemingly having a personal grudge with every single opponent. Benoit just blasts his way through Finlay early. Not even an eye poke is going to stop the Rabid Wolverine. Finaly BLASTS Benoit with a forearm on the outside. Holy fucking shit! Finlay drops him throat first across the railing. Benoit does not know how to quit starts throwing chops so Finlay responds with a double leg scissor takedown. Fierce! Finlay steps on Benoit's midsection to get to the top rope for the Vaderbomb and Benoit gets his foot on the ropes. They take it to the outside and Finaly WHACKS his hand hard against the post. FUCK! I was shaking my own hand in pain. Finlay is just going full steam ahead, but eats turnbuckle on the shoulder tackle. Benoit pounces with a German Suplex/Diving Headbutt for the win. The Eddie match had the better crowd (not by much, Benoit was over) and the better character work, but this match actually had selling and Benoit coming from underneath. I am taking the Eddie match for Eddie being in such a great heel groove, but it is damn close. ***1/2
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We have a winner, folks! The best Hollywood Hogan match of all time and of course who is it against, but my man, DDP! As awesome as DDP was in this match and he was pretty fucking awesome, Hogan absolutely crushed it! He showed a roller coaster of emotions as he was responding to how the match was progressing. Early on, he was cocky Hogan out to prove that the loss to Piper was a fluke. He busted out some great arm work and was trash talking DDP. DDP turned the arm work around on Hogan with short arm blocks, but Hogan escapes the Diamond Cutter. He retreats to the outside and tips over the stairs in a fit of frustration.There is a great spot where DDP gets Hogan down and he dives after him as Hogan rolls out to the floor. I love shit like that. Hogan is not going to fuck around anymore and he blasts DDP in the head with a punch. Hogan is busting out shit like a huge high knee that would make Jumbo Tsuruta proud. Getting away from Hogan let's talk about DDP for a hot minute. DDP's work in this is fantastic. He is selling the ribs running the ropes, on bodyslams, on just about everything and it is awesome. Then couple that with DDP's usual chippy, never say die full court press you have an all-time great performance. DDP takes a nasty tumble from the ring into railing. Hogan hits two huge chops! Hogan is now trash talking DDP and flexing. DDP is able to get an elbow drop and his selling afterwards is some the best you will ever see period. DDP wants that revenge from Hogan's bat shot to the ribs the previous night at Havoc that cost him the match to his archrival, Randy Savage. That sequence where DDP sells the ribs from being shot into the ropes only to eat a huge clothesline from Hogan is spectacular. DDP tries to fight back, but Hogan is pouring it on with the follow-up clothesline in the corner and a vertical suplex. DDP wont stay down and Hogan is now getting frustrated. DDP fight back from his knees, here he comes, he is overwhelming Hogan. Hogan tries to retreat, but DDP won't let him rest. HOGAN BIG BOOT OUT OF NOWHERE! Holy shit! He goes for the Legdrop he misses. DDP is calling for the Diamond Cutter and the crowd is on their feet. Unfortunately, they go the bullshit finish route with Fake Sting and DDP at least gets to hit the Cutter on him before Hogan whips him with his belt and the NWO hits the ring. Sting clears the ring. The fact that they went with this finish does show that WCW believed in DDP enough at this point to protect him. Still does hurt the match without the satisfying finish, but holy shit you will be hard-pressed to find a better gutsy babyface performance than the one here from DDP. Perfect combination of selling and fighting through the pain with a great sense of urgency was showcased here by DDP. Hogan was on fire, super motivated, busting out that sweet high knee, really energetic, and great heeling. Definitely one of the best Nitro matches of all time and another feather in the cap of DDP, who was just feeling it at this time and it seems impossible for him to have a bad match. ****
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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page
WCW Nitro 10/28/97
We have a winner, folks! The best Hollywood Hogan match of all time and of course who is it against, but my man, DDP! As awesome as DDP was in this match and he was pretty fucking awesome, Hogan absolutely crushed it! He showed a roller coaster of emotions as he was responding to how the match was progressing. Early on, he was cocky Hogan out to prove that the loss to Piper was a fluke. He busted out some great arm work and was trash talking DDP. DDP turned the arm work around on Hogan with short arm blocks, but Hogan escapes the Diamond Cutter. He retreats to the outside and tips over the stairs in a fit of frustration.There is a great spot where DDP gets Hogan down and he dives after him as Hogan rolls out to the floor. I love shit like that. Hogan is not going to fuck around anymore and he blasts DDP in the head with a punch. Hogan is busting out shit like a huge high knee that would make Jumbo Tsuruta proud. Getting away from Hogan let's talk about DDP for a hot minute. DDP's work in this is fantastic. He is selling the ribs running the ropes, on bodyslams, on just about everything and it is awesome. Then couple that with DDP's usual chippy, never say die full court press you have an all-time great performance. DDP takes a nasty tumble from the ring into railing. Hogan hits two huge chops! Hogan is now trash talking DDP and flexing. DDP is able to get an elbow drop and his selling afterwards is some the best you will ever see period. DDP wants that revenge from Hogan's bat shot to the ribs the previous night at Havoc that cost him the match to his archrival, Randy Savage. That sequence where DDP sells the ribs from being shot into the ropes only to eat a huge clothesline from Hogan is spectacular. DDP tries to fight back, but Hogan is pouring it on with the follow-up clothesline in the corner and a vertical suplex. DDP wont stay down and Hogan is now getting frustrated. DDP fight back from his knees, here he comes, he is overwhelming Hogan. Hogan tries to retreat, but DDP won't let him rest. HOGAN BIG BOOT OUT OF NOWHERE! Holy shit! He goes for the Legdrop he misses. DDP is calling for the Diamond Cutter and the crowd is on their feet. Unfortunately, they go the bullshit finish route with Fake Sting and DDP at least gets to hit the Cutter on him before Hogan whips him with his belt and the NWO hits the ring. Sting clears the ring. The fact that they went with this finish does show that WCW believed in DDP enough at this point to protect him. Still does hurt the match without the satisfying finish, but holy shit you will be hard-pressed to find a better gutsy babyface performance than the one here from DDP. Perfect combination of selling and fighting through the pain with a great sense of urgency was showcased here by DDP. Hogan was on fire, super motivated, busting out that sweet high knee, really energetic, and great heeling. Definitely one of the best Nitro matches of all time and another feather in the cap of DDP, who was just feeling it at this time and it seems impossible for him to have a bad match. ****
Monday, April 6, 2015
A Most Violent Poem: Eddy Guerrero, Rey Mysterio (WCW Cruiserweight 1997)
Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,
Hope all the members of the Sleeze Synod had a Happy Easter. Here is the most excellent hymn to celebrate the Paschal Mystery
Malenko will you come up from your leg bar and let the fans love you? You gotta let the fans love you before they fall asleep.
The fans at the Mecca in Milwaukee wanted desperately to cheer for Dean Malenko to kick some ass. Literally, every Malenko highspot gets a pop and they go wild for the finish. However, Malenko and Dragon seem committed to reversing the psychology much to the chagrin of the fans. Malenko vs Dragon is my least favorite cruiserweight/junior heavyweight match up of the 90s. Building an entire match around Ultimo Dragon selling the leg is a risky proposition and as expected he does not sell in the long run. Which makes the fact that Malenko won't work a hot sprint, fist-throwing sprint all the more frustrating. Instead, they settle for the worst indulgences of 90s NJPW Junior match meaning first 75% is perfunctory submission, limb psychology before kicking into high gear. The perfunctory submission was actually very well sold and Malenko worked over the knee really well, but I knew Dragon would be up hitting Asai Moonsaults and landing on his knees without pain so it was just a waste. It was doubly so because this was a crowd begging to cheer for Malenko. They popped for a kneecrusher for Christ Sake! Anytime, Malenko did anything besides a hold they were ready to cheer. You know what they did not want a Dragon comeback, but that was the only possible option after Malenko basically took a heat segment. I really enjoy Dragon's offense, but it is so frustrating because Malenko did such a stellar job working over the leg. Dragon's opponents should only work the arm. The finish run built to the climax of Malenko decking Sonny Onoo and applying Cloverleaf pretty well and the crowd popped huge for it. Deano Machino was over despite himself. Maybe he was playing hard to get? ***
After a prolific breakout year in America in 1996, Rey Mysterio had a bit of a sophomore slump. Yes, he would have the best WCW match of the late 90s in 1997, but there was a wide chasm between the Halloween Havoc classic and his next best match. That is what happens when you feud with Prince Iaukea and basically given shit in the summer. I did not think the Dragon match at Spring Stampede was all that special so I would hold this up as my second favorite Rey match of 1997. As for Syxx, depending on how the Eddy ladder match goes, I have this only behind the tremendous Slamboree Six-Man for his tenure in WCW. It is so disappointing they were given such a short time, but they sure packed in a lot of action. Syxx was great at feeding Rey so fun spots early to get the crowd invested. His transition was great using Rey's speed against him by tossing him up and throwing him down. After being in the land of the giants in WWF, it must have been so cool for Syxx to finally be the bigger man in a match. You kinda forget that Syxx is a normal size human when he is always wrestling these behemoths. Syxx kicked some serious ass, but also kept it heel with the Bronco Buster (never liked that as a face move) and the cheating on the ab stretch. Rey crawling away from Big Sexy was a great visual. Rey's comeback off Syxx's missed Bronco Buster was great, but left you wanting so much more, a beautiful rana followed by maybe his best somersault plancha ever. Just when Rey Rey looked poised to win, Nash came in quick as a cat to stick him with the Jacknife. I actually liked Nash's involvement as it made the Cruiserweight Title mean even more with the elite of the New World Order taking the time to be at ringside and ensure his buddy's victory. It would have been better if it set up for a kickass rematch on PPV. Imagine Flair/Rey vs Nash/Syxx on Nitro to build to it. WOW! I have said it before and I'll say it again, if only I could have been booker of WCW in 1996-97 what a talent pool! Awesome TV match! ***1/2
Jericho certainly had a penchant for biting off more than he could chew in this time period. The dropkick while on the top rope could have been disastrous and the Super-Rana on Gedo was. Jericho was trying to make a name for himself and I respect that. Hell, WCW was putting him in a position to succeed his WAR buddies and people like Eddie Guerrero. I liked this match warts and all. There are a lot of warts in the form of blown spots, but this dripped with effort and was very competitive something that has been missing from previous Dragon matches. I really felt the competitive rivalry in the form of the chippiness of some of the back elbows and the kicks. The opening babyface mirror matwork spots were fun until they got to the passe dropkick each other spot, which got them no applause. Good on on you Florida, don't encourage that bullshit. I was always a mark for the Dragon headstand in the corner and I liked it as the transition here. A lot of the work revolves around them knowing each other well so you get a lot of them going the extra mile to sucker their opponent in or using a dropkick as a counter. Dragon's kicks look great and he seems much more invested in winning this match than showing off. Jericho is here to win and make a statement and his double powerbomb is the perfect move to accomplish both goals. A great familiarity spot is Dragon does his usual floatover in the corner and Jericho keeps running to hit a quebrada off the turnbuckles. Jericho knew what was coming and leveraged it for the upper hand. They struggle on the top rope and Dragon bails before Jericho dropkicks him. I think that was pretty wise by Dragon and Tony & The Brain agree. Jericho follows that up by wiping him out with a springboard shouldertackle to the floor. Jericho was vanilla as fuck as a character, but he was trying his damnedest to get over with his in-ring work. It does get a little too move tradey down the stretch as everyone starts hitting dropkicks to counter and Dusty points out all these counters are great, but you got to get to the pay windah. I agree there is competitive and then there is is just oversaturation and the counters become inconsequential. The spot that really sticks out is when Jericho goes for the springboard shoudlerblock again and Drago side-steps him that was one helluva bump to set up the Asai Moonsault. Loved, loved Jericho doing a Lionsault when Dragon setting up a dropdown-run the ropes-tackle spot. That was the little shit that throws you off and makes me pop. Lionsault does not get it done. Jericho wriggles free of the Tiger Suplex and Dragon Sleeper. Dragon snaps off a quick hurricanarana, but his own momentum takes him over and Jericho scores the victory. There were too many cool, unique spots to not call this less than very good and it all worked in the context of two familiar, competitive rivals. Tighten up the match and connect with all the spots and this would have been a classic. As is, it is a very good unheralded WCW babyface vs babyface cruiserweight match. ***3/4
WOW! I have seen this match before a bunch of times since I have it on DVD and always thought it was good, but today it really clicked with me. Eddie was just on fire during this heel run. He was doing all the right things. He was a sniveling coward, a funny stooge and a sadistic muthafucka at all the right times. Jericho during this bland Lionheart babyface run is not too fondly remembered, but when he was kicking ass he came off as a badass. I loved his chops and late in the game he kept up with Eddie spot for spot. His top wristlock really needs to be tightened up especially when Jarrett later on the show works a way better one. I miss top and double wristlocks in wrestling.
Big Eddie Sucks chant early and Eddie hits the stall to milk it by covering his heel. On the first armdrag, Eddie claims his hair was pulled. Eddie makes all of Jericho matwork really fun. Eddie takes his first big bump when he goes flying into the top rope to set up the Lionsault. It is all Jericho early who looks like a runaway freight train. Eddie out of desperation on the apron snaps Jericho's neck across the top rope. Eddie goes to town on Jericho's back with a ton of cool surfboards even breaking out the Gory Special. Jericho reverses into his own and drops Eddie on his face. Jericho follows up with some weak clothesline. I like how Tony calls them as such because Jericho has taken a beating that's how you call what you are selling but give a good kayfabe justification. Jericho consolidates his advantage when he crotches Eddie on the top rope and sends him for the ride. That spot never gets old! Perfect timing for Jericho's springboard dropkick. In the gnarly spot, I always remember Jericho looks to powerbomb Eddie off the apron, but drops back with it hotshotting him. Eddie falls off the apron onto Jericho. It was a desperation play by Jericho to level the playing field, but not without cost to himself. They just start throwing bombs with reckless abandon and it is super fun. Everything is hitting so crisply. Jericho's release German sent Eddie flying halfway across the ring. Again, Tony covering for the kickout saying Jericho had to crawl so far cost him the pinfall. Jericho hits his double powerbomb spot and places Eddie on the top rope for the superplex. Eddie counters mid-move (Yes, it does look like Eddie took a Brainbuster) by reversing his weight. This leaves Jericho prone for the Frogsplash.
I really liked how this match built perfectly to the finish. You had Jericho dominate early, but get caught by a nefarious Eddie tactic. Eddie worked a tremendous heat segment with a wicked sneer. Then it just came down to a crazy wild finish of bombs with each going for the win. It made the Cruiserweight title feel really important. I loved the finish with Jericho looking to pull the trigger on a superplex, which could win him the match, but on this occasion he pays the price for this high risk move and Eddie capitalizes. Great stuff! ****1/4
When people talk about matches that you need to see before you die, this is near the top of the list. In fact, I think even non-wrestling fans could appreciate the athleticism and execution on display from these two high caliber wrestlers. From a pure execution standpoint, you will be hard-pressed to find a better match. It was two of the greatest wrestlers ever at their absolute peak just both having the night of their lives and coming together to make violent, yet graceful art. Rey was absolutely poetry in motion. Not one single flub in a performance that featured some of the most complicated moves you will ever see while not coming off as a forced spot. The springboard DDT counter and the somersault plancha into the hurricanrana are just mind-blowing. Then you have to remember, he had to do this having just taken a shit kicking from Eddy. Eddy was just at his violent best. Everything was just so crisp and nasty. His chops and strikes reverberated around the building. His backbreakers and whips into the steel were violent. His holds stretched Rey to his breaking point. Ripping at the mask, he was just adding insult to injury. The mask was attached to the bodysuit because of a previous incident where Eddy ripped off Rey's mask, which caused a Rey loss. The Las Vegas crowd was with them in lockstep. "Eddie Sucks!" filled the ring during every brutal hold on Rey's back. They bit on Rey's nearfalls desperately hoping he would win the title and keep the mask. Eddy never let the match get out of hand. For every breath-taking Rey counter, he literally had a breath-taking counter which would evacuate the air from Rey's lungs (wicked double leg whip or back suplex) or knock him senseless (violent dropkick to the back of the head and HOLY SHIT powerbomb). Rey, though he screamed in agony, never quit. At first his fancy footwork was his downfall because Eddy anticipated his movements and could counter at will, but slowly he was connecting with more and more. Finally as he pulled himself from the Tree of Woe and Eddy slid into post, Rey took control and the crowd was cheering him on with each incredible move, the hurricanrana out of the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker is one of the best false finishes of all time. Eddie still would get his when he turned a springboard hurricanarana into a backbreaker. Eddy was poised to win with a frogsplash, but Rey moved and Eddy rolled through. Eddy looked to polish him off with Splash Mountain and just when it looked like Rey ran out of escapes he pulled out his best the hurricanarana out of Splash Mountain. You know until I watched it this time with a critical eye, it was the first time I noticed with was sub-15 minutes. They pack so much action in there that feels like a 20 minute match, but it is still so well-paced that you never feel like it is tiring. It does feel slightly abbreviated and they never really get a chance to milk any one spot, minor quibble. Eddie is just the meanest man in this match. He may have the best sneer in wrestling history and to think he may also have the most charismatic smile makes me miss him all that much more. Rey is the ultimate underdog. That is it, he is the best underdog ever. You know how much the mask means to him and here is Eddy ripping it at and just being a total prick. They just could not fire a bad shot in this match. ****3/4
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Gotta love Larry Z marking the fuck out for the 450 Splash, which is a personal favorite move of mine. These guys went balls to the wall for this match and never let up. They win the crowd and the announcers over. Psicosis and La Parka were such great heels. it is a shame they never got pushed as a tag team. La Parka telling a fan to suck it was awesome. La Parka and Psicosis went off early with Psicosis hitting a nasty Guillotine Legdrop and La Parka with a wicked powerbomb. Rare misfire in a great match was when Juvy was shot into his own corner during the FIP. Once Rey gets in, they go all out to impress everyone. The stereo somersault planchas were awesome. I love when La Parka and Psicosis are shown up like when they kick La Parka leg out causing him to dropkick Psicosis. Juvy throws Rey into a hurricarna onto La Parka. WOW! Psicosis pulls Rey out. La Parka with a wicked chop, but Rey pays them back by tripping up La Parka. Juvy counters a top rope slam in mid-air and Tony loses his fucking mind. La Parka gets caught dancing one too many times and damn Rey's huricanrana game was off the charts as he nails him with a springboard hurricanrana to the floor on La Parka. 450 SPLASH! WOW! If only all spotfests were this good! ***3/4
Hope all the members of the Sleeze Synod had a Happy Easter. Here is the most excellent hymn to celebrate the Paschal Mystery
| NOW That is an Easter Bunny! |
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Ultimo Dragon vs Dean Malenko
WCW Clash of the Champions XXXIV
Malenko will you come up from your leg bar and let the fans love you? You gotta let the fans love you before they fall asleep.
The fans at the Mecca in Milwaukee wanted desperately to cheer for Dean Malenko to kick some ass. Literally, every Malenko highspot gets a pop and they go wild for the finish. However, Malenko and Dragon seem committed to reversing the psychology much to the chagrin of the fans. Malenko vs Dragon is my least favorite cruiserweight/junior heavyweight match up of the 90s. Building an entire match around Ultimo Dragon selling the leg is a risky proposition and as expected he does not sell in the long run. Which makes the fact that Malenko won't work a hot sprint, fist-throwing sprint all the more frustrating. Instead, they settle for the worst indulgences of 90s NJPW Junior match meaning first 75% is perfunctory submission, limb psychology before kicking into high gear. The perfunctory submission was actually very well sold and Malenko worked over the knee really well, but I knew Dragon would be up hitting Asai Moonsaults and landing on his knees without pain so it was just a waste. It was doubly so because this was a crowd begging to cheer for Malenko. They popped for a kneecrusher for Christ Sake! Anytime, Malenko did anything besides a hold they were ready to cheer. You know what they did not want a Dragon comeback, but that was the only possible option after Malenko basically took a heat segment. I really enjoy Dragon's offense, but it is so frustrating because Malenko did such a stellar job working over the leg. Dragon's opponents should only work the arm. The finish run built to the climax of Malenko decking Sonny Onoo and applying Cloverleaf pretty well and the crowd popped huge for it. Deano Machino was over despite himself. Maybe he was playing hard to get? ***
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Syxx w/Kevin Nash vs Rey Mysterio - WCW Nitro 4/21/97
After a prolific breakout year in America in 1996, Rey Mysterio had a bit of a sophomore slump. Yes, he would have the best WCW match of the late 90s in 1997, but there was a wide chasm between the Halloween Havoc classic and his next best match. That is what happens when you feud with Prince Iaukea and basically given shit in the summer. I did not think the Dragon match at Spring Stampede was all that special so I would hold this up as my second favorite Rey match of 1997. As for Syxx, depending on how the Eddy ladder match goes, I have this only behind the tremendous Slamboree Six-Man for his tenure in WCW. It is so disappointing they were given such a short time, but they sure packed in a lot of action. Syxx was great at feeding Rey so fun spots early to get the crowd invested. His transition was great using Rey's speed against him by tossing him up and throwing him down. After being in the land of the giants in WWF, it must have been so cool for Syxx to finally be the bigger man in a match. You kinda forget that Syxx is a normal size human when he is always wrestling these behemoths. Syxx kicked some serious ass, but also kept it heel with the Bronco Buster (never liked that as a face move) and the cheating on the ab stretch. Rey crawling away from Big Sexy was a great visual. Rey's comeback off Syxx's missed Bronco Buster was great, but left you wanting so much more, a beautiful rana followed by maybe his best somersault plancha ever. Just when Rey Rey looked poised to win, Nash came in quick as a cat to stick him with the Jacknife. I actually liked Nash's involvement as it made the Cruiserweight Title mean even more with the elite of the New World Order taking the time to be at ringside and ensure his buddy's victory. It would have been better if it set up for a kickass rematch on PPV. Imagine Flair/Rey vs Nash/Syxx on Nitro to build to it. WOW! I have said it before and I'll say it again, if only I could have been booker of WCW in 1996-97 what a talent pool! Awesome TV match! ***1/2
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho vs Ultimo Dragon
WCW Bash At The Beach 1997
Jericho certainly had a penchant for biting off more than he could chew in this time period. The dropkick while on the top rope could have been disastrous and the Super-Rana on Gedo was. Jericho was trying to make a name for himself and I respect that. Hell, WCW was putting him in a position to succeed his WAR buddies and people like Eddie Guerrero. I liked this match warts and all. There are a lot of warts in the form of blown spots, but this dripped with effort and was very competitive something that has been missing from previous Dragon matches. I really felt the competitive rivalry in the form of the chippiness of some of the back elbows and the kicks. The opening babyface mirror matwork spots were fun until they got to the passe dropkick each other spot, which got them no applause. Good on on you Florida, don't encourage that bullshit. I was always a mark for the Dragon headstand in the corner and I liked it as the transition here. A lot of the work revolves around them knowing each other well so you get a lot of them going the extra mile to sucker their opponent in or using a dropkick as a counter. Dragon's kicks look great and he seems much more invested in winning this match than showing off. Jericho is here to win and make a statement and his double powerbomb is the perfect move to accomplish both goals. A great familiarity spot is Dragon does his usual floatover in the corner and Jericho keeps running to hit a quebrada off the turnbuckles. Jericho knew what was coming and leveraged it for the upper hand. They struggle on the top rope and Dragon bails before Jericho dropkicks him. I think that was pretty wise by Dragon and Tony & The Brain agree. Jericho follows that up by wiping him out with a springboard shouldertackle to the floor. Jericho was vanilla as fuck as a character, but he was trying his damnedest to get over with his in-ring work. It does get a little too move tradey down the stretch as everyone starts hitting dropkicks to counter and Dusty points out all these counters are great, but you got to get to the pay windah. I agree there is competitive and then there is is just oversaturation and the counters become inconsequential. The spot that really sticks out is when Jericho goes for the springboard shoudlerblock again and Drago side-steps him that was one helluva bump to set up the Asai Moonsault. Loved, loved Jericho doing a Lionsault when Dragon setting up a dropdown-run the ropes-tackle spot. That was the little shit that throws you off and makes me pop. Lionsault does not get it done. Jericho wriggles free of the Tiger Suplex and Dragon Sleeper. Dragon snaps off a quick hurricanarana, but his own momentum takes him over and Jericho scores the victory. There were too many cool, unique spots to not call this less than very good and it all worked in the context of two familiar, competitive rivals. Tighten up the match and connect with all the spots and this would have been a classic. As is, it is a very good unheralded WCW babyface vs babyface cruiserweight match. ***3/4
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho vs Eddie Guerrero - Fall Brawl 1997
WOW! I have seen this match before a bunch of times since I have it on DVD and always thought it was good, but today it really clicked with me. Eddie was just on fire during this heel run. He was doing all the right things. He was a sniveling coward, a funny stooge and a sadistic muthafucka at all the right times. Jericho during this bland Lionheart babyface run is not too fondly remembered, but when he was kicking ass he came off as a badass. I loved his chops and late in the game he kept up with Eddie spot for spot. His top wristlock really needs to be tightened up especially when Jarrett later on the show works a way better one. I miss top and double wristlocks in wrestling.
Big Eddie Sucks chant early and Eddie hits the stall to milk it by covering his heel. On the first armdrag, Eddie claims his hair was pulled. Eddie makes all of Jericho matwork really fun. Eddie takes his first big bump when he goes flying into the top rope to set up the Lionsault. It is all Jericho early who looks like a runaway freight train. Eddie out of desperation on the apron snaps Jericho's neck across the top rope. Eddie goes to town on Jericho's back with a ton of cool surfboards even breaking out the Gory Special. Jericho reverses into his own and drops Eddie on his face. Jericho follows up with some weak clothesline. I like how Tony calls them as such because Jericho has taken a beating that's how you call what you are selling but give a good kayfabe justification. Jericho consolidates his advantage when he crotches Eddie on the top rope and sends him for the ride. That spot never gets old! Perfect timing for Jericho's springboard dropkick. In the gnarly spot, I always remember Jericho looks to powerbomb Eddie off the apron, but drops back with it hotshotting him. Eddie falls off the apron onto Jericho. It was a desperation play by Jericho to level the playing field, but not without cost to himself. They just start throwing bombs with reckless abandon and it is super fun. Everything is hitting so crisply. Jericho's release German sent Eddie flying halfway across the ring. Again, Tony covering for the kickout saying Jericho had to crawl so far cost him the pinfall. Jericho hits his double powerbomb spot and places Eddie on the top rope for the superplex. Eddie counters mid-move (Yes, it does look like Eddie took a Brainbuster) by reversing his weight. This leaves Jericho prone for the Frogsplash.
I really liked how this match built perfectly to the finish. You had Jericho dominate early, but get caught by a nefarious Eddie tactic. Eddie worked a tremendous heat segment with a wicked sneer. Then it just came down to a crazy wild finish of bombs with each going for the win. It made the Cruiserweight title feel really important. I loved the finish with Jericho looking to pull the trigger on a superplex, which could win him the match, but on this occasion he pays the price for this high risk move and Eddie capitalizes. Great stuff! ****1/4
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio - WCW Halloween Havoc 1997 Title Vs Mask
When people talk about matches that you need to see before you die, this is near the top of the list. In fact, I think even non-wrestling fans could appreciate the athleticism and execution on display from these two high caliber wrestlers. From a pure execution standpoint, you will be hard-pressed to find a better match. It was two of the greatest wrestlers ever at their absolute peak just both having the night of their lives and coming together to make violent, yet graceful art. Rey was absolutely poetry in motion. Not one single flub in a performance that featured some of the most complicated moves you will ever see while not coming off as a forced spot. The springboard DDT counter and the somersault plancha into the hurricanrana are just mind-blowing. Then you have to remember, he had to do this having just taken a shit kicking from Eddy. Eddy was just at his violent best. Everything was just so crisp and nasty. His chops and strikes reverberated around the building. His backbreakers and whips into the steel were violent. His holds stretched Rey to his breaking point. Ripping at the mask, he was just adding insult to injury. The mask was attached to the bodysuit because of a previous incident where Eddy ripped off Rey's mask, which caused a Rey loss. The Las Vegas crowd was with them in lockstep. "Eddie Sucks!" filled the ring during every brutal hold on Rey's back. They bit on Rey's nearfalls desperately hoping he would win the title and keep the mask. Eddy never let the match get out of hand. For every breath-taking Rey counter, he literally had a breath-taking counter which would evacuate the air from Rey's lungs (wicked double leg whip or back suplex) or knock him senseless (violent dropkick to the back of the head and HOLY SHIT powerbomb). Rey, though he screamed in agony, never quit. At first his fancy footwork was his downfall because Eddy anticipated his movements and could counter at will, but slowly he was connecting with more and more. Finally as he pulled himself from the Tree of Woe and Eddy slid into post, Rey took control and the crowd was cheering him on with each incredible move, the hurricanrana out of the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker is one of the best false finishes of all time. Eddie still would get his when he turned a springboard hurricanarana into a backbreaker. Eddy was poised to win with a frogsplash, but Rey moved and Eddy rolled through. Eddy looked to polish him off with Splash Mountain and just when it looked like Rey ran out of escapes he pulled out his best the hurricanarana out of Splash Mountain. You know until I watched it this time with a critical eye, it was the first time I noticed with was sub-15 minutes. They pack so much action in there that feels like a 20 minute match, but it is still so well-paced that you never feel like it is tiring. It does feel slightly abbreviated and they never really get a chance to milk any one spot, minor quibble. Eddie is just the meanest man in this match. He may have the best sneer in wrestling history and to think he may also have the most charismatic smile makes me miss him all that much more. Rey is the ultimate underdog. That is it, he is the best underdog ever. You know how much the mask means to him and here is Eddy ripping it at and just being a total prick. They just could not fire a bad shot in this match. ****3/4
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Rey Misterio Jr & Juventud Guerrera vs La Parka & Psicosis - Nitro 12/15/97
Gotta love Larry Z marking the fuck out for the 450 Splash, which is a personal favorite move of mine. These guys went balls to the wall for this match and never let up. They win the crowd and the announcers over. Psicosis and La Parka were such great heels. it is a shame they never got pushed as a tag team. La Parka telling a fan to suck it was awesome. La Parka and Psicosis went off early with Psicosis hitting a nasty Guillotine Legdrop and La Parka with a wicked powerbomb. Rare misfire in a great match was when Juvy was shot into his own corner during the FIP. Once Rey gets in, they go all out to impress everyone. The stereo somersault planchas were awesome. I love when La Parka and Psicosis are shown up like when they kick La Parka leg out causing him to dropkick Psicosis. Juvy throws Rey into a hurricarna onto La Parka. WOW! Psicosis pulls Rey out. La Parka with a wicked chop, but Rey pays them back by tripping up La Parka. Juvy counters a top rope slam in mid-air and Tony loses his fucking mind. La Parka gets caught dancing one too many times and damn Rey's huricanrana game was off the charts as he nails him with a springboard hurricanrana to the floor on La Parka. 450 SPLASH! WOW! If only all spotfests were this good! ***3/4
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