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!
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| 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. ****
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