Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,
Sing Hallelujah! For the great weather has returned to God's Country, the Boston Metro Area and the smiles will be wider, the eyes bigger and the juice will flow down her leg like never before!
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| THE JUICE IS LOOSE! |
Speaking of the Juice, hot damn, but Juventud Guerrera was badass pro wrestler in WCW with some really tremendous high end offense. If Rey was the underdog that could sell his ass of and Psicosis was the big bumping clown, then Juventud was the stiff striking, bomb-throwing badass of the WCW luchadores. I have not watched any of his high end AAA work from the 90s, but it is definitely something I will be looking to check out sooner rather than later. In WCW, while his offense was superb was he was rarely put in positions to have really great matches. For instance, Rey Mysterio and Juvy never even had a PPV match. It really is such a shame because their Thunder match in 1998 was such a great TV match. Think about this, Rey Mysterio was just weeks away from going on the shelf for six months for a knee injury and even with that huge brace on his knee, they still managed to put together one of the best Thunder matches in history (not much competition, for the record DDP vs Benoit from May 1999 is my choice for best Thunder match). One of Juventud's most high profile matches happened shortly after as he faced the heat-seeking Chris Jericho at SuperBrawl VIII in a title vs mask match. Juventud became the first luchador to lose his mask in WCW, which did add to Jericho's heat quite a bit before Jericho really hit that next level in the Malenko feud. However, the match, which I saw a couple years ago is really nothing that special, which is really the lone issue with Jericho's amazing cruiserweight title reign in 1998.
The Jericho title reign in 1998 is probably one of the most fondly remembered late 90s WCW characters for good reason. As a child, I hated that whiny, spoiled brat. In fact, the first time I ever swore was to declare that Jericho sucks and my mom was none too happy about that! The Jericho heel promos whether as a sore loser, attacking Malenko's family or as conspiracy victim are among the best work of his career and some of the best promos in wrestling history. What was missing from this time period were the great matches. Jericho just was never able to have that true classic needed to make this run one of the all-time best. While Malenko was his main adversary, Malenko never did get his final victory instead it was the man Jericho first wronged, the Youth Warrior. Juventud Guerrera that got the last laugh. Before Rey got the Giant Killer run, Juvy did a similar angle against the Flock's Big Man, the former YET-EH! Juvy was able to survive his dry humping tactics to win the match and as Juvy continued his feud against the Flock, he won the Cruiserweight Championship from Chris Jericho at Road Wild 1998 (a show my family purchased, I do not know why!).
Thus we enter the main meat of this blog, the unheralded but very fun Juvytud vs Kidman cruiserweight championship feud. Saturn had freed the the Flock from Raven's control at Fall Brawl 1998 with Kidman playing a crucial role in doing so. Following that hot angle, Kidman was super over and WCW capitalized on this with some rare good booking promptly putting him over Juvy for the title the next night on Nitro. That's how you keep someone hot. They would continue their feud over the course of the next weeks with Disco Inferno intervening at times. They had their best match on an episode of Nitro in November where Juventud's high-end offense was on full display and Billy Kidman exhibited his excellent counterwrestling ability. I was really impressed with Kidman in this run. He was laying in his offense and had no trouble keeping up with Juventud. I thought he timed his counters perfectly and he felt like he really had an answer for everything Juvy was throwing at him. The finish run is one of the best I have seen in late 90s WCW and really should be checked out.
At the World War III match, Juventud had just joined Eddie Guerrero's LWO and seemed to be getting used to his newfound heeldom or was just having an off night. I thought Kidman more than picked up the slack with some really snug offense, great selling and some big bumps. Check that one out for Kidman's performance, might be the best of his career. However, Rey Mysterio was not a fan of Eddy's LWO tactics and came out to cost Juvy the match. This led to a triple threat match between the three for the cruiserweights at WCW's biggest show of the year, Starrcade. Normally, I hate multi-man matches, but they did a really great job in this match to include all three men at all times. That means creative spots for the three of them plus they utilized third man to constantly save that afforded a means to protect finishers, but still build drama. I really liked the finish a lot with Rey trying to break up a pin, but in fact allowing Kidman to win the match, reverse Eddy's interference and he could not doing anything about due to his knee. After the match, Eddy just cuts an absolutely scathing promo and calls Kidman out. Yes, please to more cruiserweight goodness. Eddy had a rough 1998 after amazing heel run in late 1997 working as the overzealous uncle of Chavo Guerrero Jr. In the LWO, it looked like Eddie was finding his stride all over again, before a horrible car accident almost cost him his life. Here at Starrcade 1998, Eddie showed why he is one of the greatest of all time mixing in awesome offense with incredible heeling. God, what I would give to have one heel that was half as good as Eddie at heeling. Then to top it, he wrestled half of the match in one workman's boot and a sock. Now he is just showing off. It was a great underdog match from Kidman with some fun extracurriculars from Juvy and Rey Rey. Would have loved to see what these guys could do with a fresh Kidman at the next PPV.
While late 1998, did not feature the classics of 1996 and 1997, Juventud Guerrera and Kidman showed promise to be the new standard-bearers of the division and that could have delighted fans into next year, but it was not be. By May, WCW was fucked up by administration and booking standpoint that it was hard for anybody to get over or have a great match. It was not just WCW in disarray as Juvy was a known heavy partier and his personal demons pretty much ruined the rest of his career, a career showed all the promise to be Rey Mysterio's equal in USA or Mexico. But for us fans, we will always have his 1998 run to remember the hard-chopping, brainbuster-dropping Juventud Guerrera.
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| SING HALLELUJAH! |
WCW Crusierweight Champion Juventud Guerrera vs Rey Mysterio Jr - WCW Thunder 1/15/98
Juventud Guerrera, had just beaten Ultimo Dragon for the title, who had just beaten Eddie Guerrero for the title. It was hard to have a long reign with the Crusierweight Championship. Rewatching these crusierweight matches, I forgot how awesome Juventud was. I was always a big fan of Psychosis, La Parka, and Rey Mysterio, but my memories of Juventud were that he was good, but just not one of my favorites. He was been a total offensive dynamo. Rey Mysterio has great offense, but his bread and butter is his selling, just like Psychosis' is his bumping. Juventud may have the best offense from an asskicking perspective. Once he got control with a crazy catapult over the top rope (incredible Rey bump on a legitimately hurt knee), it did not look he was ever going to let up with chops, brainbuster, springboard legdrop and an incredible top rope suicide dive. Even when Rey gets a desperation monkey flip to send him into the post. He jumps keeps coming like the Creature from the Black Lagoon. I love that lucha spot where you get kicked in the back of the leg as your running and you run ass first into the top rope. I loved the heat strike exchange between the two. Damn, I forgot how hard the luchadores hit. Rey makes his comeback, which is sort-lived from a Juvy powerbomb. Juvy looks to polish him off with 450 Splash, but Rey moves and nabs the title on a hurricanrana. This match was perfect for what it needed to be. Rey was alreadye established as a star and in order to make Juventud still look a big shot, Juventud gets to kick ass for the majority of the match. Rey is able to sell and make Juvy look great. Then when it comes time to get the booking right for Jericho Rey makes a quick comeback to win. You get the Rey/Jericho match you want for Souled Out and Juventud still looks strong for a future title defense. ***1/2
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WCW Cruiserweright Champion Juventud Guerrera vs Kidman - WCW Nitro 9/14/98
Gotta commend the WCW booking team on this one, exactly how you build on a hot babyface turn. They parlay the heat of Kidman's face turn and give him a run with the cruiserweight title and it gets a lot of fanfare. The match itself is a good match, but to me this one is more about the evolution of the Kidman character from misguided junkie to cleaned-up babyface making the most of his second chance. The crowd responded in turn by cheering him throughout and popping huge for his victory. It was a little weird that Kidman took most of the offense when he really did not have enough offense to carry a match at this point and plus as a sympathetic, underdog character you think getting some heat on him would make sense. I really liked Juvy's offense in other matches and would have him to get a couple more memorable spots in. Overall, it was paced as an even back and forth bout with Kidman in charge for the most of it and did not really kick in until Kidman reversed some Juvy's aerial moves into some sick suplexes. The reverse suplex out of the Juvy Driver was a great nearfall. I thought the finish was good shit, but did not really much else to support it. Still a great victory for Kidman and strong booking by WCW. They mentioned Juvy had a match with Silver King the night before at Fall Brawl and that piqued my interest. Is it any good?
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WCW Crusierweight Champion Billy Kidman vs Juventud Guerrera - WCW Nitro 11/16/98
Billy Kidman, intelligent counterwrestler, was not the style I was expecting, but it definitely well-received by me. Almost at every turn, Kidman had an answer for Juvy's high-octane and aggressive offense. His ability to transition defense into offense was a really neat stylistic touch. Early on, he was able to take Juvy's movement transfer into a spinebuster then later dropkicking him off the apron leading to him hitting a plancha. What made this match even more special was Juvy really taking the time to sell all of Kidman's big moves and his own. You really got a sense of how high-risk these moves were when Juvy was selling his ass after a hard springboard legdrop. That was the story of the match, Juvy was dictating the pace of the match, but he was going to live and die by his moves. If he landed them, he was in the driver's seat, but Kidman's patience and counterwrestling ability like the facebuster out of the powerbomb or wheelbarrow suplex to avoid the bulldog was stymieing Juvy Juice. Before I get to the finish, I really liked Juvy playing to the crowd with the chops and the ten count punches in the corner. It really feels like Juvy has matured as an American wrestler. Juventud finally nails his big move the Juvy Driver, BUT he pulls back to hard on the cover and Kidman slips out. Again, Juventud's overzealousness costs him. He looks frustrated but tries to follow up with a top rope Frankensteiner. Kidman hits a low blow (WOW was not expecting that) and hit a slam off the top. 1-2-NO! Woah! I totally bit on that false finish. Kidman looks to seal the deal with a Shooting Star Press, but Juvy blocks and hits the 450 for the win. I really liked the story of Kidman's counterwrestling versus Juventud's high-risk offense. Kidman stooping to a low blow was a cool touch. I wish that Juvy did not just pop out to knock Kidman off his perch, but that's a small quibble. ****
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WCW Cruiserweight Champion Juventud Guerrera vs Billy Kidman - WCW World War III '98
Juvytud is LWO 4 life and gives a very uneven performance. I have really liked what I have seen so far from Juvy, but he is missing that classic and I was hoping this may be it, but between the botches and the boring stalling, it was not to be. On the other hand, Kidman gave the best performance I have ever seen from him. He was so crisp on offense and everything was hit with intensity. You could feel him fighting hard to regain the Cruiserweight Championship. I loved the opening strike exchange between Kidman's forearms and Juvy's chops. It felt like they were fighting through each other. Juvy throws a mean chop and you get plenty of them in this match. However, now that he is a heel, he does a lot of stalling and it is just not good stalling. Kidman, being an expert counterwrestler, was able to cut Juvy off with moves like the BK Bomb, the whip into the corner with a follow up lariat with great velocity and fabulous, snug dropkick to catch Juvy off the top. Juventud finally consolidates an advantage with a slightly botched rana off the apron not exactly the easiest move. I liked the Brainbuster, but then he hits the chinlock. Juvy has two awesome short dropkicks to keep Kidman at bay. Kidman does a really nice job modulating his selling. Juventud is not able to pull of the difficult double jump dropkick between the rings. Kidman for his money hits a nice cross body from one ring to the other and takes a wicked bump from one ring to the ring's ropes. They do a great reversal exchange between Juvy Driver and the Reverse Suplex. Juventud's nearfall is a hurricanarana, but when he can't negotiate the pinfall, it is back to stalling. He tries to powerbomb Kidman and Kidman follows that up with an excellent wheelbarrow suplex. Instead of Kidman getting the clean win, Rey blocks Kidman from taking a top rope Frankensteiner so Kidman hits the Shooting Star Press to regain the title. the Rey interference furthers the Rey/LWO issue and Kidman still got a big pop for his victory. Kidman crushed it on this night, but Juvy was still getting used to being a pure American heel and was having a bit of an off night. The Nitro match is their best match in my opinion, but definitely check this out for a strong Kidman performance. ***1/2
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WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman vs Juventud Guerrera vs Rey Mysterio
WCW Starrcade 1998
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| But does he love the Juice back? |
Juventud Guerrera LOVES Dave Penzer. How do I know this? On his way to the ring, he points to Dave and exclaims "I LOVE YOU!". I have many wants in this world, add partying with Juvy Juice to them. I really liked this triple threat when I almost always hate them, but they definitely went past their expiration point. The heat was just rapidly dissipating towards the end. They could have been gassed. Rey was wearing a huge brace and years of partying may have caught up to Juvytud. I was little worried for the next match with Kidman since he looked fatigued here, but who am I to doubt Kidman? For a little background, Juvy is LWO 4 Life, Kidman is a gringo with their belt and Rey is begrudgingly in the LWO, but undermines Uncle Eddy at every turn.
Rey Rey & Kidman foreshadowing their team that would last until the end of WCW team up to take it to The Juice. Juvy is such a funny stooge. Rey hits the nastiest Bronco Buster ever on Juvy. However, when he accidentally forearms Kidman it is on. Juvy is in the background egging them on so they deck him again. Awesome! My favorite spot was probably Rey on Kidman's shoulders ducking a Juvy top rope crossbody and then Kidmamn slamming Rey on Juvy with Rey getting a two count before Kidman yanks him off. JUVY CHOPS WOOOOOOO!!! This match needed more badass Juvy offense. Juventud hits a monster springboard splash to the outside. Two things really separate this from a normal triple threat. First is that everything is organic and sensible. All three men are almost always involved and there are a ton of saves and rhythm breaks. I loved how everyone was going for covers and they using the third man to make all these saves. It stayed true to the spirit of pro wrestling. There are no elaborate spots, it is just people trying to execute their own shit, but then a third man comes and fucks it up. The other is that there is actually a progression of selling by all three men rather than weird I sell for a stretch then I am fine, rinse, lather, repeat.
Tony has this badass line, "In essence every man is wrestling a handicap match." I have never thought about a triple threat match like that, but it is so true. I miss Tony! Mike Tenay, on the other hand, is such a putz as he totally falls for Bobby's "Bill is here" joke with an exasperated "BILL WHO?" I had a good laugh.
The finish has all the makings of a hot one, but just felt flat the way it was executed. Everyone gets a chance to shine Rey (Top Rope Asai Moonsault, Springboard Rana), Juvy (Juvy Driver) and Kidman (Shooting Star Press to the outside). Eddy wanders down to ringside to ensure a Juvy win and flips the cradle position. Rey dropkicks Juvy, but instead of breaking it up Kidman ends up on top and Rey just does not have strength for another save. Eddy's reaction at ringside is priceless with a great NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I really the liked the finish and this was a very fun match that is a departure from the usual triple threat bullshit. ****
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WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman vs Eddy Guerrero - WCW Starrcade 1998
Eddy cuts a scathing promo berating Juventud and Rey for their loss to a "sissy boy" and that they are morons. Eddy says when you want something done you have to do it yourself and challenges Kidman. However, when Kidman is ready to accept challenge right there and then, Eddy begs off and Kidman calls him a sissy. Eddy was so fucking awesome! "Eddy sucks!" fills the arena. Juventud is in Eddy's leather jacket and is still totally LWO 4 Life, Love it! STOP THE PRESSES! EDDY POWERBOMBED KIDMAN! They work a killer heat segment with Kidman peppering in hope spots and Eddy just bringing the violence (chops) and dickishness (ab stretch with some help from Juvy, but Rey breaks it up twice). Eddy shoves Rey, but then shoves Juvy too, great dynamic. Juvy still holds Kidman for Eddy to punch now that is sickening unwavering loyalty. Kidman starts to really mount a comeback, which leads to an awkward exchange in the corner eventually Eddy gets his workman's boot (steel-toed of course) and wallops Kidman. Eddy tries to put his boot back on and thinks better of it and chucks it at Rey. Eddy then wrestles quarter of the match in one boot and a sock, so badass! Eddy dropkicks the knee in a sock! On a bridging toehold, Rey bops Juvy on the top of the head with the boot and then hits Eddy. Too funny. I notice towards the end of this there is no heat, but I can't figure out why. Eddy has been stellar. The finish much like the last one features some great symmetry between Juvy and Rey crotching their respective enemies. Shooting Star Press and Kidman pulls the improbable task of beating the three best cruiserweights in two straight matches on the same night, quite the feather in the cap. Kidman was fine in his role of selling and hope spots, but this was the Eddy show and we were just on the ride. He was spectacular in this. ***3/4
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