Collar And Elbow Compilation – Volume 2
Right, I’m getting real twitchy waiting for my latest ROH delivery (Reborn: Completion and the Death Before Dishonor 2 weekend) so I had to review something to fill the time. I thought about revisiting some WWF, but didn’t have the strength. Instead I’ve plumped for this, a fine comp tape demonstrating the best of US indy and Japanese puroresu in the late 2002-early 2003 period. I’ve got Volume 3 as well, although it’s cut short halfway through and I’m still waiting on a replacement. I’ve never seen Volume 1, but if anyone actually has it, feel free to e-mail me, I’d like to come to some sort of arrangement to get that tape. Anyway, the list of talent in this thing is unreal, all the top stars you’ve seen in ROH, Misawa, Kobashi, Liger, Kanemoto, Takayama, Ohtani…the Toryumon chaps. Plus lots of other US indy talent. Enough chit-chat, lets rock and or roll.
Samoa Joe vs American Dragon
09/29/02 – EPIC Pro Wrestling. So this is quite an auspicious way to kick things off. This is the match that first demonstrated Joe’s colossal ability to any great length on the US indy circuit outside of UPW. Obviously it helped that a week later he and Low Ki beat the sh*t out of each other and stole the show at ROH’s Glory By Honor. However, here he faces another ROH standout, American Dragon. EPIC is a California indy which I believe has since closed down.
They trade kicks to start to the delight of some wise ass surfer dude in the crowd. Neck crank from Dragon, before he mounts Joe and looks to strike him. Crossfaces from Joe, into the Choke but Dragon is right next to the ropes. Fans couldn’t care less about this, coming up with strokes of “genius” shouts like ‘GI Joe’ and ‘be Low Ki, Joe’…morons. Abdominal stretch from Dragon and Joe has to grab the ropes. Shoulder block from Dragon knocks Joe down, and he goes back to the headlock. Joe improvises a slam to escape and looks for a cross armbreaker. No dice, so he grabs a leg and Dragon flees to the ropes again. BIG chops from Joe and now the crowd are paying attention. Chop/kick combo knocks Dragon down for 2. Rear chinlock from Joe before they take it in turns to chop each other. Joe gets the better of that then cranks Dragon’s neck. HEAD KICKS from Dragon and now Joe is flat on his face. Danielson goes to Joe’s arm, drilling it over his own shoulder then dropping him with a back suplex. Dragon works a headlock with palm strikes then wraps the arm up in a shortarm scissors. Joe just POWERS Dragon into a suplex to escape that. I’m sorry but these fans are f*cking disgraceful. Dragon tries to nail the arm again so Joe forearms him in the neck. Dragon blocks a lariat…ENZI KICK knocks him down anyway. Joe kicks Dragon down in the corner then BOOTSCRAPES THE SH*T out of him. Onto the apron and Dragon gets SUPLEXED TO THE FLOOR. SPLASH OFF THE APRON FROM JOE! KICKS TO THE SPINE whilst Dragon is down on the floor. In the ring again where Joe hammers Dragon down with chops and jabs. He looks for a German but Dragon spins in mid-air to give him an enziguri kick. Dragon unloads with chops and forearms, then a running elbow in the corner. Dropkick from Dragon…NO SOLD. Joe ducks an enzi attempt then nails a German suplex for 2. LARIAT SCORES…FOR 2. LARIAT TO THE NECK…but Dragon ducks another lariat attempt and almost gets 3 with a backslide. Joe goes for a back suplex, but Dragon turns into a crossbody for 2. Dragon sends Joe to the ringpost and he goes all the way to the floor, much to the amusement of the dicks in the crowd…TOPE FROM DRAGON! He pulls Joe back inside and hits the Judo DDT. To the top rope – DIVING HEADBUTT NAILED. Joe avoids a running forearm from Dragon then plants him a powerbomb…2 count…STF! Joe takes it into a Crippler Crossface…but somehow Dragon makes the ropes. ELBOWS…HEADBUTTS…Dragon blocks the Island Driver – CATTLE MUTILATION! The bell rings at 21:22 (although I did mess up my timing seriously, so they may be right) for a time limit draw.
Rating - *** - As good as their ROH matches (from Revenge On The Prophecy and the First Anniversary Show) but no better. Rather than just beat the crap out of each other, they really built up to the high impact stuff at the end which was good. However, the lack of a finish and hideous crowd let this one down. Not a lot of people knew who Joe was, so rather than take an interest, they ripped the piss out of him for pretty much the whole match…assholes. Luckily…it’s Dragon vs Joe so it’s always gonna be good, even in front of stoned surfer retards in California. I’d love to see them go at it now in 2004, since they’ve both improved enormously (particularly Dragon) since this one. The fans somewhat make amends by giving this a standing ovation.
CIMA/SUWA/Don Fuji vs Curryman/Dragon Kid/Tiger Mask IV
11/08/02 – Michinoku Pro. M-Pro is one of the smaller promotions in Japan…and it is particularly good for multi-man tags like this. However, oddly enough, most of the talent in this are Toryumon guys. CIMA, SUWA, Don Fuji and Dragon Kid are all workers who I’ve only ever seen in Toryumon before, so yeah. Curryman is Christopher Daniels with a crazy gimmick, crazier mask and funky dance moves. He has since gone to New Japan. Tiger Mask is also in NJPW now. I can’t keep up with the pbp if I type CIMA and SUWA in capitals all the time, so I won’t be.
Cima and Tiger Mask exchange pleasantries on the mic before the match even starts. Curryman and Cima start out and run some nice exchanges. Suwa and Kid in next, and Dragon Kid is like lightning folks. Flying hurricanrana sends Suwa to the outside, and it’s time for Tiger Mask to get his hands on Cima. Moonsault kick from Tiger, then a crossbody. He sends Cima to the floor with a dropkick. Curryman and Fuji now…E HONDA SLAPFEST! Fuji is a fatty so tries to get Daniels to shoulder block him. Daniels doesn’t want to be leapfrogged so dropkicks him to the outside. Tiger and Cima again and Tiger floors Cima with a series of kicks. Double underhook suplex gets 2. Curryman in with a stalling vertical suplex for 2. Dragon Kid flies in and they run some standing switches until Suwa comes in and KICKS KID ACROSS THE RING! Fuji squashes Dragon with an elbow drop. Cima chokes Dragon Kid and gets shoved over by the ref (who looks like Ikuto Hidaka) for that. Guillotine into a facebuster from Cima and Suwa as Dragon Kid has been isolated here. All three of the heels hit running offence on him in the corner, before Suwa comes off the top with an ELBOW DROP TO THE GROIN! Headscissors from Kid and he tags out to Curryman. Stepping enzi sends Fuji outside FOR THE ARABIAN PRESS! Tilta-whirl backbreaker on Cima from Tiger Mask before he NAILS A TOPE! Fuji misses a fatty splash in the corner and gets kicked over for 2. Powerslam takes Tiger Mask down in reply. Curryman slides in and he back suplexes Fuji into a clothesline from Tiger Mask. DIVING LARIAT from Suwa on Curryman, then a flapjack for 2. Curryman gives him a Blue Thunder Driver for that. Suwa is clotheslined out and in flies Cima – right into an STO. Cima takes over on Dragon Kid…UNTIL HE GETS A SLINGSHOT BLOCKBUSTER! Tilta-whirl octopus stretch from Dragon Kid and Suwa has to save. Urinage slam from Curryman on Cima…DOUBLE JUMP MOONSAULT gets 2. Curryman to the top but Taru (the corner man of the heels) blasts him with a chair. ICONOCLASM FROM CIMA…FROG SPLASH finishes Curryman off at 11:33.
Rating - *** - Well that was lots of fun. They wrestled it at a hundred miles an hour, threw in lots of fun spots, but at 11 minutes, it didn’t go long enough for my money. Still, we saw lots of Curryman, Dragon Kid and CIMA, and that’s always good. Just like a Toryumon match with Daniels and Tiger Mask thrown in for kicks. Good stuff…
Leonardo Spanky vs Low Ki
09/16/02 – Zero-ONE. Since Japanese people are such big Titanic marks, in Spanky has his hair cut like Leonardo DiCaprio and adds Leonardo onto his name in one of the oddest gimmicks ever. He also comes out to a techno remix of ‘My Heart Will Go On’…only in Japan. He’s defending the NWA/UPW/Z-1 International Jr. Heavyweight belt here against Ki, who is making a big name for himself in Z-1, his style going down a treat with the Japanese fans.
Spanky’s entrance includes getting a girl from the crowd and doing the ‘king of the world’ pose in the corner of the ring. Brian Kendrick you legend. Spanky starts out quickly but takes a kick to the face to put a stop to that. Ki keeps Spanky down with a knucklelock until he gets taken over into a headscissors. The referee sounds like Tazz – random thought. Headscissors from Low Ki. He tries to go for the Dragon Clutch and the Ki Krusher, but can’t get either. Spanky rolls out of a hiptoss but takes a flurry of kicks instead. Running forearm in the corner scores, and Low Ki is in control. Headscissors takedown, then a dropkick from Spanky, before he sends Ki to the floor with another headscissors. He teases a dive but moonsaults back into the ring instead. Low Ki gets blown a kiss, and is so impressed he kicks Spanky in the face. Onto the apron where Spanky scores with a superkick. Spanky to the top rope…JUMPING ENZI KICK FROM KI! Spanky somehow stays on SO KI KNOCKS HIM OFF WITH THE TIDAL WAVE!
Mutoh elbow drop gets Ki a 2 count, as does a bridging vertical suplex. Spanky looks to fight back so Ki chops lumps out of him. Spanky goes to the top rope again but gets crotched. HANGING DRAGON from Ki. Spanky positions himself for a back body drop so Ki BOOTS him in the face then hits a springboard high knee for 2.
Spanky avoids the Tidal Wave – SLICED BREAD #2! But he’s too beaten up to cover right away, and only gets 2 when he finally does. Spinning forearm from Spanky and both men are down. Spanky avoids a German suplex then scores with a back suplex to buy him still more time. Ki throws Spanky out by the skins the cat. QUEBRADA PRESS from Spanky gets 2. He hits a facebuster then dropkicks Ki out of the ring to the entrance ramp. SOMERSAULT PLANCHA from Spanky. He goes to the top rope to score with the tornado double underhook DDT for 2. CAPO KICK from Ki. He goes to the top now and gets crotched. Ki hammers on Spanky on the top rope…and finally both men take a tumble to the floor. Spanky goes for Sliced Bread #2 on the ramp…blocked…RUNNING KI KRUSH THROW BACK INTO THE RING! Ki goes to the top rope – PHOENIX SPLASH MISSES! Slingshot Oklahoma roll from Spanky gets 2. He goes for the tornado double underhook DDT again, but Ki counters with an Alabamaslam. DRAGON CLUTCH…Spanky tries to counter with Sliced Bread #2, and manages to roll Ki up for 2. Ki nails a superkick, then blocks a headscissors attempt WITH THE KI KRUSHER! Ki takes the belt at 16:52.
Rating - *** - Good but I expected way more from them. It was good, and some of that stuff was really cool (like the Ki Krush throw from the ramp) but when it comes down it, that was nothing more than a spotfest. Spanky plays the underdog well, but I thought he was made to look a little too much like a jobber (for a defending champion) in the early going…which hurt the drama in the later stages. I’m nitpicking because I know these two are capable of far better. Again this is 2 years ago now, so I’m sure they’d do far better now with the improvements they’ve made.
Bobby Quance/B-Boy vs Super Dragon/Jardi Frantz
12/28/02 – BAW. These for are like the posterboys for the SoCal wrestling scene in this time period. They’ve wrestled each other countless times, in tags with various different combinations of these four, fourways etc. This should be an interesting taster of that, from BAW (Bay Area Wrestling) which I’ve never heard of before this match. We’re in a tiny building with an odd wall of lights on one side…and the hard camera is literally right on top of the ring. This is part of the Golden Gate Invitational Tournament apparently, and we’re at the semi-final stage, or so says Nick somebody, the commentator. The winning team faces each other in the final. Unique concept…
Quance and Frantz start, and BAW’s editing is particularly poor (black screen as they cut between cameras) which I notice right away. To the mat where Frantz works a front facelock, then a bodyscissors. Armbar from Quance to counter. Cross armbreaker applied and Frantz has to hook the ropes. They trade armdrags and nip up at the same time for some applause. Dragon and B-Boy in now, and the fans like Dragon apparently…all 23 of them. They run some mat exchanges as well, before Dragon peppers B-Boy with slaps. Leglock from B-Boy…and they slap each other in the meantime. Quance back in and he forearms Dragon down. Dragon comes back with some forearms and slaps before he gets caught in a camel clutch. B-Boy in again with a knee drop off the top. Wristlock/bodyscissors submission from B-Boy, and Dragon has to squirm to the ropes. Double dropkick from Quance and B-Boy, and that brings Frantz in to try and help out. Dragon blocks a reverse heel kick from Quance and stomps him down. Jardi in with a rolling headscissors out of the corner for 2.
Giant swing from Frantz before they trade chops. B-Boy tries to come in, but this allows Frantz to tag Dragon in to work a headscissors. Rolling butterfly stretch from Dragon. B-Boy breaks that up, so Frantz drags Quance into his team’s corner to retaliate. Hurricanrana from Quance, but Frantz cuts off the tag and Dragon flies across the ring to forearm B-Boy off the apron – no tag. Back suplex fron Frantz for 2. Dragon tags in and hits a front dropkick, then a PILEDRIVER for 2. Quance rolls through a German suplex attempt – CORKSCREW ENZI SCORES! Frantz again blocks a tag, then ducks a corkscrew enzi kick. Jumping heel kick from Quance, and this time he makes the tag to B-Boy.
SPINEBUSTER on Frantz, then a sitout gourdbuster. He goes to the top rope and jumps OVER Super Dragon into a guillotine leg drop. Quance kicks Dragon in the face with a dropkick…and B-Boy follows suit. B-Boy runs across the ring but gets cut down by a SUPER CLOTHESLINE from Dragon. SPRINGBOARD DROPKICK from Frantz, and in comes Quance. SUPER CLOTHESLINE ON QUANCE…B-BOY WITH A LARIAT ON DRAGON! B-Boy hits a big clothesline on Frantz for 2. Quance tagged in and he HALF NELSON SUPLEXES Frantz for 2. Brisco roll up from Frantz gets 2. MICHINOKU DRIVER from Frantz…450 SCORES. B-Boy saves Quance, but gets thrown out by Super Dragon. Dragon tagged in now and he hits a SENTON BOMB. B-Boy saves again, and this time gets thrown out by Frantz.
Dragon looks for the Psycho Driver, but Quance blocks and dropkicks Dragon into the corner. Quance goes upstairs – MOONSAULT INTO A DDT! AWESOME! He covers, and Frantz has to save. Quance to the top again. He goes for a shooting star press…COUNTERED IN MID-AIR WITH A SUPER CLOTHESLINE! PSYCHO DRIVER FROM DRAGON…B-BOY SAVES! Tags all round, and Frantz springboards INTO A POWERBOMB FROM B-BOY. EMERALD FUSION from B-Boy…and he wins it at 23:48.
Rating - **** - Hell yeah, that was great. The first 10 minutes was a fun exhibition of tag wrestling, with Quance getting isolated and beaten down. Once he’d made the hot tag to B-Boy all four threw out some awesome stuff, which was particularly enjoyable because by and large, they kept the legal men making the pins all the time. Kudos to BAW for letting these two go long and put this cracker on.
Yoshihiro Takayama vs Mitsuharu Misawa
09/23/02 – NOAH. GHC Heavyweight Title is on the line here…I think Takayama is defending but I’m not entirely sure (editing note – yes, he is defending). NOAH is the company Misawa founded when he left AJPW after a dispute with Giant Baba’s wife after his death. He took a great deal of the AJPW talent with him, and All Japan hasn’t been the same since. NOAH, meanwhile, has established himself as one of the major puro promotions. Expect a review of their July 10th Tokyo Dome show (Departure 2004) soon, as it’s on the way.
Misawa looks old as they stare down…which of course looks like Britney Spears next to Takayama. ELBOW STRIKES traded to open up, before Misawa double legs Takayama and hammers away. Takayama backs Misawa to the ropes AND ELBOWS THE SH*T OUT OF HIM! KNEE STRIKE knocks Misawa to the outside. Back in the ring Misawa goes to Tak’s legs, cloverleafing them to keep him down. Greco-Roman knucklelock applied, with Takayama easily out-muscling Misawa then firing off a couple more knee strikes. He grinds in a facelock with Misawa trapped in the middle of the ring. Misawa kicks Takayama in the quad which is a mistake, because Tak just opens up with a flurry of VIOLENT kicks, booting him right in the eye as Misawa backs into the corner. Elbows from Misawa, and he goes to the second rope. YAKUZA KICK from Takayama sends Misawa to the floor. Misawa gets whipped into the guardrail then booted over it.
Takayama tags Misawa with another big kick as he re-enters the ring, then a grounded dropkick. Poor Misawa just can’t cope with Takayama’s size and strength advantage right now. Northern lights suplex from Misawa, and he clings valiantly onto a side headlock, if only to gather some respite after all those hard kicks. To the rear chinlock at the 10 minute mark. Takayama knee strikes his way out of that, but Misawa blindsides him with knees to the head. More knees from Misawa keep Takayama down…but he gets to close and gets DUMPED onto the entrance ramp as punishment. Takayama follows him out with a slingshot stomp.
Misawa fires back with an elbow, then brings the fight back inside with a RUNNING ELBOW over the ropes. Misawa hits a dropkick which sends Takayama to the outside…FOR THE ELBOW SUICIDAAAAAA! Misawa climbs back onto the apron FOR A DIVING ELBOW! Takayama back into the ring as Misawa goes to the top rope. He goes for another diving elbow BUT TAKAYAMA GETS A KNEE UP! Takayama hooks the arms – TIGER SUPLEX for 2. He starts booting Misawa in the face, but finally Misawa catches a boot. He goes for elbows but Takayama rolls him into an armbar – AWESOME counter. Misawa ducks a running kick to the face, then catches a second attempt to trip Takayama down. ROARING ELBOW SCORES…GERMAN SUPLEX NAILED – FOR 2! TIGER DRIVER CONNECTS…BUT TAKAYAMA KICKS OUT!
Misawa to the top rope – FROG SPLASH! Facelock applied as Misawa looks to choke Takayama out since he couldn’t pin him. Tak escapes, then powers out of a Tiger suplex attempt. YAKUZA KICK FROM TAK…ELBOWS FROM MISAWA. MISAWA ELBOWS THE LEG TO BLOCK A YAKUZA KICK…RUNNING ELBOW! Misawa’s feeling it, UNTIL TAKAYAMA KICKS HIM IN THE HEAD! MISAWA KICKS OUT AT 2! Takayama drives knees into Misawa’s chest…THEN HIS FACE! Misawa is a mess in the corner now. RUNNING DROPKICK scores, and Misawa checks his face is still there. A big running knee almost puts Misawa away at 20 minutes. BRIDGING GERMAN FROM TAK…FOR 2!! Takayama goes behind again but Misawa blocks and hits an inverted Tiger suplex. More elbows score…Takayama blocks Emerald Fusion and drags Misawa over with an upside down belly to belly. Misawa ducks a roundhouse kick…ELBOW…ELBOW…ROOOOAAAARING ELBOW…TAKAYAMA KICKS OUT AGAIN! Leglock from Takayama, but Misawa finds the ropes. ELBOWS…ELBOWS…RUNNING ELBOW KNOCKS TAKAYAMA DOWN AGAIN…3 COUNT!!! Misawa wins the GHC Heavyweight Title at 23:49.
Rating - ****1/2 - It’s basic, but it’s a demonstration of why Takayama is such a fantastic wrestler. He’s a huge man and batters the crap out of opponents – meaning every match has a pre-written underdog storyline. Misawa rides the early storm and throws out all his big moves to beat Tak, but it’s still not enough. Then with both men battered it’s down to who wants it more – with Misawa unloading everything he has, and Takayama still coming back. This is some of the most vicious striking you’ll ever see in a wrestling ring, as both men leave this bleeding (Tak from the nose, Misawa from the mouth). Low Ki and Spanky should take a look at this, they wish they could work the underdog comeback storyline this well.
Jay Briscoe vs Homicide
12/08/2002 – PWF. I think PWF is the promotion Steve Corino was booking for a time, but no guarantees. 2002 was a real breakout year for both these guys, as was demonstrated by their rise in ROH. Homicide was showcased as a legitimate solo star for the first time outside of JAPW, whilst the Briscoes (particularly Jay) continued to build upon the reputation they earned themselves by exploding onto the scene at the 2001 CZW Best of the Best tournament. They meet one-on-one in this one…and they’re still feuding at this point (August 2004) in ROH. They’re both way better wrestles now than they were in December ’02 I assure you.
This one comes about as Jay issues an open challenge of some form – which Homicide answers. This is his PWF debut apparently. I think I hear Rob Feinstein on commentary. Homicide hits an early back body drop. Rolling snap suplexes from Jay, then a sitout gourdbuster for 2. Running elbow then the running knee in the corner from Homicide for 2. STF applied and Jay has to fight to the ropes. Back suplex from Jay but he’s slow to capitalise. Jumping heel kick in the corner scores, but Homicide heaves him into a flapjack. Jay goes for a tornado DDT but it’s blocked. SUPER RANA from Homicide, then the LARIAT for 2. Jay rolls through a suplex attempt and BLASTS Homicide with a sitout powerbomb for 2. Homicide blocks the Jay Driller – HEAD DROP BACK SUPLEX! BRAINBUSTER for 2. Jay escapes the Cop Killa and Yakuza kicks Homicide. He comes off the ropes but Homicide fires off a Yakuza kick of his own for 2. Fisherman’s buster from Jay gets 2. PILEDRIVER nailed…JAY DRILLER! Jay wins at 06:45.
Rating - ** - Well it was entertaining, but in less than 7 minutes, these two were never going to do anything more than run through some violent spots. I liked how both men targeted the neck and heads for their finishes (Cop Killa or the Jay Driller)…nice way to come down after Misawa/Takayama.
Amazing Red vs AJ Styles
10/19/02 – USA-Pro. We’re in the Elk’s Lodge in NYC (where USA-Pro run most of their shows…quite how they afford to do so, I don’t know) for this one. These are probably the two premier spot-workers in the American indy scene at this point in time, so this one has some potential. They worked great as a team in ROH (actually, Red works great in a lot of teams, I just watched him team up with Jerry Lynn in TNA for a decent little match against Triple X), lets see how they work out as opponents. Fans chant ‘TNA’ for some obscure reason. I found that irritating. Some smart ass fans chant ‘Fuego’ at Red which I find funnier…gotta love New York crowds.
They go after each other’s arms in flippy floppy fashion to kick off, until AJ floors Red with an enzi kick. Near-miss sequence on the mat, before AJ scores with his perfect dropkick. Oklahoma roll gets 2. More nearfalls ensue, and this time Red scores the knockdown with a corkscrew enziguri. Red flips out of a German attempt but DROPKICKS AJ OUT OF THE RING as he goes for a quebrada. RUNNING SOMERSAULT PLANCHA CONNECTS! Red takes AJ inside and covers for 2. Styles misses a forearm in the corner and gets the stepping dropkick then a spinning heel kick as punishment. SWINGING Ace crusher from AJ takes Red down for 2. STALLING BRAINBUSTER SCORES!
Styles blocks the Code Red and goes for another brainbuster. Red crawls down AJ’s body – CODE RED NAILED! Styles blocks a rana attempt but can’t hook in the Styles Clash so HITS RED WITH A SPIRALBOMB FOR 2. RED STAR PRESS SCORES…FOR 2! QUEBRADA INVERTED DDT FROM STYLES! Now he wants the Styles Clash, but Red counters with a hurricanrana for 2. Red goes for a swinging DDT, but AJ drags him back over with a northern lights suplex. Styles to the top rope but Red crotches him and hangs him in the ropes with a corkscrew enzi. He goes for a super hurricanrana…blocked…SUPER STYLES CLASH! AJ wins it at 09:38.
Rating - *** - It’s a spotfest so I can’t really go any higher, but what a rush! Red isn’t that good anymore thanks to the knee surgery and his rushed recovery, but he was on top of his game there, nailing absolutely everything. AJ always looks great, and it was no surprise he performed well in this environment. He can mat-wrestle with guys like American Dragon fine and dandy, but he’s still truly the best spot-worker on the indy scene. Great spots, hit scintillatingly cleanly. Total sprint, but what the hell.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jushin Liger/Minoru Tanaka
08/29/02 – NJPW. This is the NJPW vs NOAH Jr. Heavyweight feud which produced some stunning matches in this time period. As we’re in NJPW it’s Liger and Tanaka (who I believe wrestles more often as Heat these days) who are the faces, with NOAH’s Kanemaru and Kikuchi in from Misawa’s company to play the heels. Tanaka is IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion at this point in time. LIGER’S COMING TO ROH IN NOVEMBER…MARK MARK MARK.
The NOAH boys jump the NJPW team ahead of the bell and quickly we spill onto the floor. Kikuchi clobbers away on Tanaka as Kanemaru works over Liger. Tanaka and Kikuchi into the ring, where they both miss kicks. Finally they trade strikes, with Kikuchi kicking hard then rolling Tanaka into a hammerlock as Kanemaru keeps Liger out of the ring. Liger finally gets in the ring and stamps at Kikuchi, who is not breaking that hammerlock. Kick to Tanaka’s spine, then a headscissors submission, which Liger again tries to break but can’t…until he slams Kanemaru ONTO Kikuchi. Even then it took three attempts to break the hold. Kanemaru hangs Tanaka in the tree of woe then baseball slides his face. Kikuchi hangs Tanaka over the apron – SLINGSHOT LEG DROP over the neck from Kanemaru. Kikuchi in with rolling snap suplexes for 2. Sidewalk slam with Liger taunting from Kikuchi.
Double clothesline from the NOAH chaps, before Kanemaru goes to the top rope for a FROG SPLASH! Camel clutch with Tanaka facing Liger for added insult value. Kikuchi drags Tanaka into Liger’s corner to taunt him…THEN BOOTS LIGER OFF THE APRON! Tanaka with a snap suplex out of nowhere, before he clamps onto a cross armbreaker. Liger tries to come in but Kanemaru throws him out and Kikuchi rolls Tanaka up. BACK to the armbreaker from Minoru, and Kikuchi has to use the ropes. Liger is tagged to a big pop, but he promptly takes Kikuchi to the outside AND POWERBOMBS HIM ON THE EXPOSED CONCRETE! Tanaka pulls him up and dumps him against the ringpost as Team NJPW crank up the aggression. Kikuchi is set up over the ring apron and Liger DROPS A KNEE over his neck. Kanemaru gets whipped into the guardrail as Liger stretches Kikuchi out with a camel clutch. Tanaka gets boo’d for grinding his boot into Kikuchi’s face. Kikuchi even gets his own chant…come on NJPW fans – play ball here!
Tanaka stomps on Kikuchi’s back, then kicks him there for good measure. Liger in – JUMPING PILEDRIVER for 2. More stomping on the back and neck, before Tanaka comes back in. He kicks Kikuchi down then goes back to the cross armbreaker, which makes no sense since they’ve been working over the neck for the last 7 minutes. Liger’s back, and Kikuchi BLOCKS a palm strike and elbows Liger down. Kanemaru in – QUEBRADA PRESS for 2. He goes to the top rope and goes for a moonsault. Liger moves but he lands on his feet – CAPO KICK. Anklelock from Tanaka, but Kikuchi breaks. Tanaka rolls through a German attempt but takes a knee to the gut. Crotch-grab facebuster then a second rope DDT from Kanemaru…Liger has to save.
Kanemaru to the top rope again…MOONSAULT NAILED – TANAKA KCKS OUT AT 2! CROSS ARMBREAKER ON KANEMARU! Liger is holding Kikuchi back…but Kanemaru makes the ropes anyway. Low blow from Tanaka…LOW BLOW FROM KANEMARU! Kikuchi in to batter Liger with elbows. Liger fires back with palm strikes. LIGERBOMB…KANEMARU SAVES AT 2. Tanaka with a HEAD DROP GERMAN ON KANEMARU. KIKUCHI SCORES WITH A JUMPING HEEL KICK. Palm strike from Liger…NO SOLD…ELBOW FROM KIKUCHI! Kikuchi rolls Liger up for 2. Running palm strike from Liger and he lifts Kikuchi to the top rope – SUPER BRAINBUSTER…KIKUCHI KICKS OUT! BRAINBUSTER AGAIN…and this time Kanemaru has to save. Kikuchi ducks a palm strike and ALMOST puts Liger away with a bridging German. ROLLING GERMANS FROM KIKUCHI…TANAKA SAVES! BLUE THUNDER DRIVER ON LIGER…KIKUCHI WINS IT! 22:19 is your match time. Naomichi Marufuji, KENTA and Jun Akiyama are all there to applaud their NOAH brethren for their success.
Rating - ****1/2 – WOOO! What an absolute blinder…even with occasional bouts of Tanaka lameness. His kicks aren’t up to much, and that lax cross armbreaker after all the neck work from Liger cost this match a little, but aside from that it totally rocked the Casbah. Kikuchi was an absolute trooper in this, taking all kinds of abuse before just unloading at the end to take the win. Solid performances from Liger and Kanemaru too, but for me this was Kikuchi’s match and he was a deserving winner. The climax to this was just unreal – classic modern day Jr. Heavyweight tag action.
To XPW in the Viking Hall (ECW Arena)…and Juventud Guerrera’s ‘Juice Bar’. This is pretty funny, as he rips off The Rock…but everyone pretends they can’t understand him for his silly Mexican accent. He gets the ‘WHAT’ treatment, and it’s all ‘subtitled for obvious reasons’. The Philadelphia/Juvi ‘WHAT’ vs ‘F*CK YOU’ war kicks ass. Absolutely pointless but it made me laugh…WWE should sign Juvi for this schtick alone. He’s still got it in the ring as well…I’d take him over Rey Mysterio folks. Chris Chetti comes out and they brawl…yadda yadda yadda.
Jonny Storm vs Jerry Lynn
01/17/03 – XPW. Still in Rob Black’s pitiful ECW impersonation sadly…but it’s these two so it’s not all bad. I really have no respect for XPW and am truly glad it is now defunct. I’m not going to go into the reasons why here and now, that’s a column waiting to happen. As is, I’ll forget we’re in XPW, and enjoy Storm and Lynn, since they’re capable of putting on a real show. Winner gets a TV Title shot since they pinned each other in a fourway #1 contenders match previously.
Lots of counters to start, and Lynn is naturally pretty good at that. Storm awesomely bridges out of a headlock into a headlock of his own. Now they go to the near miss sequences and this is pretty much clean as a whistle. Commentator refers to the Viking Hall as the XPW arena…I suppress my rage. Knucklelock and Lynn gets the advantage. Storm almost lands on his head springboarding out of it into an armdrag. Abdominal stretch, then a chinlock since the abdominal stretch wasn’t getting it done. Satellite headscissors from Storm, then a hurricanrana. Tilta-whirl (with extra whirl) backbreaker from Lynn. He looks to continue the attack on the back with a Lion Tamer. Storm onto the apron and he gets the leg drop in the ropes, then a baseball slide kick to the back of the head. Storm goes for a swinging DDT, countered with a northern lights suplex for 2.
Chinlock from Lynn, which Storm fights free of and dropkicks Lynn to the floor. DOUBLE JUMP SOMERSAULT PLANCHA FROM STORM! In the ring they run more near miss stuff, then lightning fast near fall exchanges. Bridging German from Jerry gets 2. Storm dives off the rope…but gets caught by Lynn. Kryptonite neckbreaker blocked SO LYNN TURNS IT INTO A FINAL CUT! Storm launched into the turnbuckles…BUT HE BOUNCES RIGHT BACK WITH THE RANA for 2. Storm to the second rope…CAUGHT WITH A SUPER SIDEWALK SLAM from Lynn. Lynn goes to the top…DOUBLE JUMP SUPER RANA NAILED BY STORM! Storm blocks the springboard sunset flip from Lynn…but Lynn blocks the springboard reverse rana again…TKO SCORES…FOR 2. Storm ducks a shortarm clothesline and hits a superkick for 2. RYDIEN BOMB from Storm…Lynn still kicks out. Wheelbarrow into a DDT from Storm, and that finishes Lynn at last at 15:06.
Rating - *** - I really enjoyed that peeps. Lynn reminded me a lot of the Jerry Lynn we used to see in ECW, as he reigned in the spottier guy and strung a really well paced little match out of it. The finish felt flat after everything that had gone before, but what can you do.
Satoshi Kojima vs Shinjiro Ohtani
12/15/02 – Zero-ONE. Is that the MLW Title round Kojima’s waist? Kojima has really broken out in the last few years, first in NJPW, now in Z-1 and then All Japan. I’ve never seen him put on an absolute classic, but I’ve never seen a bad Koji match either. Ohtani you should know all about. He started out as one of NJPW’s thrilling Jr. Heavyweights…but in his later years has piled on some weight and is generally found in the heavyweight scene. I really rate Ohtani’s heavyweight work highly, more so than some. Most will tell you his Jr. Heavyweight days far exceed his work these days…but I still find myself really enjoying his modern stuff. Different strokes folks.
Headlock from Kojima, before he runs clean through Ohtani with a shoulder tackle. Ohtani looks for a spinning kick but Koji avoids the contact. Chinlock from Ohtani, then a headscissors. Head crank from Ohtani, and Kojima gets a foot across the ropes. Ohtani with some harsh stomps, but Kojima gets to his feet and they decide it’s time to start stiffing the bejebus out of each other with elbows and slaps. Ohtani rakes Kojima’s face in the ropes for wearing a sissy Robbie Fowler nose-breathing thing. Elbow drops from Kojima. He kicks Ohtani down – BOOTSCRAPES ON OHTANI! The insolence! Running forearm…NO SOLD BY OHTANI! He dropkicks Kojima down in the corner…FAAAACE WAAAASH! That learns Koji good. Ohtani goes for it a second time, but Kojima blocks it and scores with a couple of dragon screws. They fight to the apron – KOJI CUTTER TO THE FLOOR! Because that was violent enough Kojima gets back into the ring BUT MISSES A PESCADO! SOMERSAULT SENTON from Ohtani. Running Mafia boot in the corner from Ohtani, then a big powerbomb for 2.
LO DOWN FROM KOJIMA! He continues the WWF offence with the Regal neckbreaker. To the top rope - SAVAGE ELBOW DROP…ONLY FOR 2! Koji rocks. CHOPS TRADED…ELBOW/YAKUZA KICK DUEL…SPINNING HEEL KICK FROM OHTANI! Missile dropkick is nailed, THEN A HEAD DROP DRAGON SUPLEX FOR 2! Michinoku Driver from Kojima for 2. Ohtani dropkicks Kojima…THEN DELIVERS THE SPIRALBOMB! Kojima kicks out, so Ohtani puts him into the Cobra Clutch. Koji makes the ropes…KOJI CUTTER! He doesn’t pin, instead opting to hit a flurry of elbows. He sets up for the Lariat…Ohtani ducks…LARIAT FROM THE OTHER SIDE FROM KOJIMA! OHTANI KICKS OUT AT 2. Koji goes for the Lariat again…ducked…DRAGON SUPLEX from Ohtani for another 2. KOJIMA SCORES WITH THE LARIAT AGAIN…SO OHTANI JUST KICKS OUT AGAIN. He’s back up…LARIAT NAILED ONE MORE TIME! Ohtani finally stays down at 16:33.
Rating - **** - The first 10 minutes were quite slow, but once they picked up the pace they went nuts. Kojima is so agile for a big guy and he does so many entertaining things that he’s one of the few puro heavyweights I could actually see in the WWE one day. He would need two new finishers though, since Orton has one and Bradshaw has the other. On second thoughts, he should never go there. Bottom line, great, stiff, hard fought contest…with the thrilling climax you come to expect from matches like this. I’m really skimming down on these summaries for this tape since…there are so many matches.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz vs SAT
01/17/03 – USA-Pro. Sigh…I don’t like the SAT, and from the little I’ve seen of the DRS, I don’t like them either. Still, it should be fun to watch the battle of the fatties as KC Blade and Joel Maximo will surely go at it at one point. Why is it that it has to be these two teams that have two of the coolest finishers in tag wrestling? The Spanish Fly and the Dirty Rotten Driver rule…give them to good teams why don’t you. Yes I’m struggling for an intro…once again we’re in the Elk’s Lodge by the way. DRS appear to be defending tag gold here.
I get my wish right away as Joel and Blade start off, or at least attempt to before stalling because the crowd are split over which team they want to chant for. They run some basics but look inept at doing that so Joel opts instead to kick at Blade’s leg. Negro and Jose in now and it’s Maximo that takes the upper hand. Bulldog connects, and he follows it up with a dropkick which sends Negro to the floor. Russian legsweep into the guardrail as in the ring Joel and Blade trundle through a rope-run sequence. Why do they go out of their way to blow themselves up? Enziguri kick from Joel sends Blade to the outside. Brawling on the floor, and I’ve found something nice to say about Joel Maximo – his facepaint in this match is bad ASS. Jose comes into the ring and they break out the double teams on Blade. Double Mafia kick in the corner connects. Joel (who is already slowing down and sucking air) NAILS A SWANTON for 2.
Baseball slide dropkick to the back of Blade’s head, and Joel tags out at last. Dropkick from Blade and Negro has to save before the three. Joel tags back and he back suplexes Blade into position for a moonsault. Negro has to make the save again. Jose back as the SAT are moving through the gears in their isolation of KC Blade. Negro cheap shots Jose as he runs the ropes, and this allows Blade to hit a clothesline and tag out.
Knee drops from Negro after a vertical suplex. Backbreaker scores, but he doesn’t get to work a submission long before Joel kicks him in the back of the head. Edge-O-Matic over the knee from Negro, then a top rope senton splash for 2. Blade in and he swings Jose into a regular Edge-O-Matic by Negro. Delayed suplex hangs Jose gets Blade a 2 count. Sitout bulldog from the DRS on Jose, then a Cobra clutch slam from Negro. He brainbusters Jose to keep him down again then tags Blade back in. Over the shoulder gutbuster/Ace crusher combo from the DRS.
Jose makes the hot tag and Joel wipes Negro out with a missile dropkick. Blue Thunder Driver on Blade gets 2 before Negro saves. SWINGING Cobra clutch slam from Negro on Joel, and Jose has to intervene this time. Jose back suplexes Negro and pins him despite not being legal. Blade is there to save though. Backbreaker, rolled into an Abdominal stretching crossface from Blade. Joel battles through Negro and makes the save. Duelling ‘SAT’ and ‘DRS’ chants…FATTY FOREARM WAR between Joel and Blade! ENZI FROM Joel…powerbomb…FISHERMAN’S BUSTER…NEGRO SAVES! Jose and Negro start stiffing each other, but they’re not as brutal as Joel and Blade. They break out some chops…peel off their shirts AND START CHOPPING AGAIN! Both guys are out on their feet and both go down…and suddenly this match has got interesting after 15 minutes of tedium. Joel powerbombs Negro and puts him into an EXTREME stretch Boston crab. The SAT take the win and become new USA-Pro Tag champions at 19:59.
Rating - ** - It was poor for the first five minutes or so, got boring, and after 15 minutes, it suddenly got a mildly epic feel about it as all four guys started beating the crap out of each other. Neither team is really equipped to go 20 minutes with each other, but they made it work, and this is probably the best straight up tag match I’ve seen from either team. It’s a shame the SAT couldn’t pull this kind of performance out against Christopher Daniels and Donovan Morgan in their 2/3 Falls ROH Tag Title Match at Final Battle 2002…where the SAT blew it. For an SAT vs DRS match…I’d consider this wildly successful.
Tito Ortiz vs Ken Shamrock
11/22/02 – UFC. Right, to the realm of Ultimate Fighting, and this should be a challenge to do pbp on. This was one of the most anticipated matches in UFC history, as the bitter war of words between UFC legend Ken Shamrock and modern day sensation Tito Ortiz would finally be settled. Tito Ortiz was the guy that got me into UFC and the world of MMA before this, and I grabbed this DVD off the shelf at HMV the moment it came out. Ortiz was my favourite going into this…but did anyone really expect what went down to be quite so dramatic? Watch and find out folks. UFC has crazy huge entrances with lasers and pyro and rock music for both guys…I wish MMA was so huge in the UK. Ortiz defends the UFC Light Heavyweight title here. Bout is scheduled to go 5 five minute rounds…
Tale of the Tape - Shamrock is 11 years older, 2 inches shorter and 4lbs lighter. Doesn’t bode well for him does it? He does have experience on his side at least. Shamrock’s record is 8-4-2…Ortiz’s is 10-2.
ROUND 1 – Crowd are so jacked for this it’s unreal. Ortiz flies out of the blocks and fires off some right hands and knee strikes. Shamrock CONNECTS with a swing, but Ortiz recovers and looks to capture Shamrock with more knee strikes. Shamrock manages to break free. Ortiz goes low and takes Shamrock down by the legs. Ortiz mounts him but Shamrock tries to close him out. Tito gets in a few shots to the head, as he’s done all round. Shamrock looks gassed as the commentators point out, and it’s taking everything he has to keep Ortiz at bay. Ortiz is just wearing Shamrock down all the time he’s in the mount here, and he continues to pepper Shamrock with blows as we slip to under a minute to go. Shamrock is cut over the eye, and looks like he’s holding on for the end of the round. He does so, but has taken so much abuse he needs direction to his corner. It’s fair to say Ortiz got the upper hand in that one. TV coverage has it scored at 10-9 in Ortiz’s favour.
ROUND 2 – Shamrock looks to fight a smarter fight here, keeping some distance and looking for a few punches. Ortiz traps Shamrock and mounts him again. Shamrock keeps his guard up as Ortiz jostles for position. Shamrock covers up, but is taking more shots to the head. Every so often he gets a shot in, but it’s nothing compared to the barrage of strikes that is coming back at him. Forearms from Ortiz and Shamrock’s face is swelling. Halfway through the round and Ortiz mounts Shamrock from the side, grinding his face and driving knees into the ribs. This is a beating folks, as Ortiz is just controlling this bout. Shamrock is trapped against the cage with Ortiz firing in elbows and knees. Under a minute to go as Ortiz continues to beat on a bloody Shamrock. SHAMROCK ROLLS FREE! He gets a couple of shots in before Ortiz grabs him again. The round ends with Shamrock on his feet, but he’s messed up good. He swings at the air more to keep Ortiz back than anything else…and that’s the end of round 2. TV coverage has the round at 10-8 to Tito. The opposing corners tell a profound story. Shamrock’s eyes are glazed over as guys try to patch up his mangled face. Meanwhile Ortiz has barely broken a sweat and looks desperate for more.
ROUND 3 – Shamrock looks no more confident at the start of the third, and quickly gets caught with some more shots from Tito. Shamrock slips, showing just how beaten up he is. Ortiz is playing Shamrock’s game at the moment, allowing Ken some time and ducking in with hard shots when he sees an opening. KNEE STRIKES…RIGHT HAND FROM ORTIZ! DOUBLE LEG TAKEDOWN…Shamrock’s eyes are frighteningly glazed. Ortiz is mauling him, but Shamrock is still thinking. Commentary rightly points out he’s looking for an armbar, but Ortiz has no problem dealing with it. HUGE punches from Ortiz. Shamrock tries to reassert himself offensively, but Ortiz gleefully leaps into a side mount. SHAMROCK FIGHTS FREE AGAIN! Shamrock is a standing target now, just trying to avoid Ortiz now. Tito throws kicks and punches at him with less than 30 to go. Shamrock looks hideous as Ortiz backs him against the cage. That’s the end of round 3, and it’s another 10-8 round in Ortiz’s favour. He doesn’t have a mark on his face…whilst Shamrock’s is swollen almost beyond appreciation. That’s all she wrote by the way, Shamrock is pulled out of the fight after all that abuse…and Ortiz takes a near flawless victory.
Rating - *** - It’s really tough to rate actually. As a performance, Ortiz’s victory here is undoubtedly impressive. As an Ultimate Fighting match, I’ve seen better. A one sided battering means the same in UFC as it does in wrestling – not a five star classic. I think 3* represents the brilliance of Tito’s performance and the match as a whole. The crowd were electric throughout which helps…and the match referee said it best with his quiet word in Shamrock’s ear after the fight – ‘you are one tough motherf*cker’. Shamrock got his ass kicked but kept coming back for more…the dude is courageous beyond belief. I could recommend better UFC fights…but if you only want to see one, this isn't bad. Ortiz and Shamrock embrace at the end of it all, which is fantastic to see.
Ultimo Guerrero/Rey Bucanero vs Ultimo Dragon/Kaz Hayashi.
01/19/03 – WRESTLE-1. This is at Z-1’s WRESTLE-1 ppv, and I believe this is one of Ultimo’s first matches back in wrestling, en-route to the WWE. I’ve not seen a lot of Ultimo Guerrero before, and I’ve seen no Bucanero before…I think they compete mostly in Mexico which would explain a lot. Hayashi is the same Hayashi of Jung Dragon WCW fame…with dashing bleached hair in this instance. On the subject of Ultimo Dragon, I have a comp tape of him in now. I’ll get round to reviewing that eventually…it’s not too shabby.
Hayashi and Bucanero start and Hayashi busts out the armdrags. Bucanero dumps him on his face out of the corner to block a headscissors. Dragon and Guerrero in now, and Guerrero goes right for Dragon’s injured elbow. No dice there, so Guerrero goes to a standing leglock, which Dragon headscissors out of. They trade monkey flips out of a knucklelock to some nice applause. Back come Bucanero and Hayashi, and they’re all fired up. Bucanero gets launched over the top rope to the floor, but he pulls Kaz out and they trade chops. Into the ring for more open hands, before Hayashi drops Rey with a PERFECT spinning heel kick. Strykerlock from Hayashi, and Dragon plays to the crowd teasing the ref and trying to cheat an advantage. Dragon and Guerrero in again, with Dragon breaking out the pace and SCORING with a handspring elbow. He looks for the Asai moonsault but gets dragged off the ropes by Guerrero.
Bucanero flies off the apron with a dropkick on Hayashi. Before the Mexicans take Dragon and drive him groin-first into the ringpost. They wrap his surgically damaged elbow in a chair THEN SLAM ANOTHER CHAIR ONTO IT! Back in the ring they drill Hayashi with a double facebuster for 2. Criss-crossing Goku Raku on Kaz before Ultimo Dragon staggers back in to save. Arm wrenches on Dragon as his arm continues to take some abuse. ‘Viva Mexico’ – Bucanero’s attempts to get over in Japan. Oddball chanting/taunting from the Mexicans gets a pop in fairness. Gory special from Guerrero, into a lariat from Bucanero. SOMERSAULT SENTON over on Hayashi OVER Guerrero’s knees. OUCH.
Ultimo Dragon with a dropkick to Guerrero’s knee, before he sends Rey to the floor with a monkey flip. Hayashi sends Guerrero out with a dropkick. HAYASHI WIPES OUT BUCANERO (and a camera man) WITH A TOPE CON HILO! Guerrero is on the apron…SO DRAGON DIVES OFF THE TOP ROPE WITH A FLYING HEADSCISSORS ONTO THE RAMP! In the ring Bucanero and Hayashi are chopping each other again. A lariat from Rey knocks Hayashi down for 2. Tilta-whirl from Bucanero, but his Razor’s Edge attempt is countered with a hurricanrana. Cool little spot. He takes Hayashi onto the apron and looks for a powerbomb but gets back dropped to the floor. ULTIMO FLIES THROUGH THE ROPES WITH A TOPE! Handspring heel kick from Hayashi to Guerrero, and Guerrero gets rolled up out of a rana for 2.
Guerrero to the top rope, where he blocks a springboard super rana attempt from Hayashi. SUPER POWERBOMB from Guerrero gets 2. Bucanero keeps Dragon on the outside…AS GUERRERO TAKES HAYASHI UPSTAIRS FOR A REVERSE SUPERPLEX! Dragon counters a powerbomb attempt from Guerrero into a facebuster. He looks for a dragon sleeper but Bucanero saves. Dragon lifted to the top, but Hayashi dropkicks Bucanero to the floor. Guerrero scales the ropes with Dragon...super gourdbuster from Dragon! LA MAGISTRAL gets 2 before Bucanero saves. Tilta-whirl backbreaker on him, but he avoids a moonsault and delivers a lariat for 2. Tilta-whirl armdrag from Hayashi sends Guerrero to the floor…FOR A TWISTING MOONSAULT PRESS! Bucanero lifts Dragon up for a Razor’s Edge. No dice, but he blocks an Asai moonsault press. Kicks from Dragon, and he traps Rey in the dragon sleeper. Bucanero taps out at 17:40.
Rating - *** - Somewhat odd match – as in it felt completely out of place in Japan. It was more like a lucha tag than anything (I guess that makes sense given three of them all work extensively in Mexico, and Kaz has experience there too), with loads of sports-entertainment stuff thrown in. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad thing…just weird. The finish felt pretty flat, but I enjoyed Dragon’s stuff before that, as he looked to shake of the ring rust from so many years out. I wasn’t overly impressed with Bucanero, but he and Guerrero tried hard so you can’t argue.
Jamie Noble vs Bryan Danielson
14/01/03 – WWE. Yep, we’re off to good ol’ Velocity now as Jamie Noble meets with some jobber called American Dragon. I’ll tell you now it’s pretty much standard fare for a Velocity superstar vs jobber match…however, Dragon does throw some nice stuff in. It’s also made particularly interesting given Noble just got released by the WWE and would be a nice fit in ROH. Could we see a rematch on a far more even keel in future? Personally I hope so. Hosts are Josh Matthews and Ernest Miller, who are content chatting about the Royal Rumble.
STF from Dragon, rolled into a pin. Northern lights throw from Danielson, and Nidia looks on in awe of Dragon’s superiority to the majority of the ROH roster. They fight over a knucklelock, which Noble can’t break even after a northern lights suplex. Dragon throws Noble across the ring and kicks him in the spine! ‘For a newcomer he’s pretty good’ – Miller. Noble GUILLOTINES Danielson over the ropes…then nails a HEAD DROP BACK SUPLEX! Dragon gets choked over the rope again, first by Noble, then by Nidia. Goku Raku stretch from Noble. They trade nearfalls, then battle over a backslide. Noble floors Danielson again with a knee to the gut. EUROPEAN UPPERCUTS FROM DRAGON! I’m marking out because they are way too stiff for the WWE. The fans are actually into this! Running elbow in the corner from Danielson, but he gets dragged over in a powerslam right away. MOONSAULT out of the corner from Dragon. ROARING ELBOW TO THE NECK…GERMAN SUPLEX FOR 2! Noble ducks a kick…Danielson escapes the Tiger Driver! Danielson goes for the Roaring Elbow again…Noble blocks and hits a swinging neckbreaker for the win at 06:51.
Rating - *** - Best…Velocity match…EVER. Dragon was a random jobber to the majority of the fans in the crowd but they were way into this match by the end. To anyone that says he wouldn’t get over in the WWE – stick that in your pipe. Dragon’s stiffness is just not what you expect from a Velocity jobber, and when he unloads with those uppercuts the fans are just like WHAT (in a non-Steve Austin way of course). Plus the moonsault over Noble out of the corner – I haven’t seen Dragon do that since his TWA days. In case you didn’t get it from the raving…I totally dug this match.
Low Ki vs AJ Styles
01/05/03 – Zero-ONE. I think to get technical we’re in Z-1 USA for this one…given that that’s what it says on the canvas and Bobby Cruise is the ring announcer. Ki, who we saw win the NWA/UPW/Z-1 International Jr. Heavyweight title from Spanky earlier in the tape, is defending now against Styles. This is regarded by many as the best Styles/Ki match ever. I have the ROH Honor Invades Boston match at ****1/2 so it’ll take some beating.
Styles doesn’t make it to Japan very often because he’s a main eventer in TNA, so that makes this a tad more special. They take it to the mat and jostle for an advantage right away, with Ki managing to snatch a hammerlock. They trade arm wrenches until Ki decides to kick AJ in the face. Triangle choke from Ki, rolled into a facelock from Styles. More chaining before Styles rolls away to break it. Styles hits his dropkick and sends Low Ki to the floor. AJ goes for a tope – BLOCKED BY A KICK THROUGH THE ROPES FROM KI! Styles gets whipped but jumps the guardrail to murmurs of admiration from the fans. Back in the ring where they kick each other sh*tless…CAPO KICK from Ki sends AJ to the floor. Ki again whips Styles to the rail and again AJ jumps it. He starts to taunt…AND KI JUMPS THE RAIL TO BOOT HIM IN THE FACE! Inside again and Ki gets 2 with the Muta elbow drop. BITE OF THE DRAGON on Styles. Ki dropkicks AJ in the knee…KRUSH COMBO…BUT STYLES SWEEPS THE LEG ON THE LAST KICK! STYLES COMBO…AND KI BOOTS HIM IN THE HEAD FROM THE LAST KICK! They run the ropes and AJ dropkicks Ki in the groin then hits him with the nip up rana. Backbreaker/gutbuster combo from Styles for 2. He applies the MutaLock, and Ki starts raking AJ’s face to break that. They fight over the submission in an upright position, taking it in turn to crank each other’s necks. ‘SHUT UP’ – AJ at a fan. That’s right AJ, you teach them Japs. He goes for the Styles Clash…COUNTERED INTO THE CRUCIFIX STRETCH. Styles has to make the ropes. QUEBRADA INVERTED DDT NAILED…FOR 2. HEAD DROP TIGER SUPLEX FROM KI! He signals for the Ki Krusher (which he comically calls for in a Japanese accent)…AJ COUNTERS WITH THE THUNDERFIRE DRIVER! Forearm flurry from Styles, but Ki catches him leapfrogging and POWERBOMBS him for 2. KAWADA KICKS OF TOTAL DEATH…AJ kicks out at 2. So much for total death. KRUUUUSH RUUUUUSH! Ki goes to the top for the Phoenix Splash…but AJ is getting up. He goes for it anyway…AJ CATCHES HIM…STYYYYYLES CLAAAASH! That’s gotta be it…KI KICKS OUT! SPIRAL TAP ATTEMPT – KI MOVES ASIDE! TIDAL KRUSH…KI KRUSHER NAILED! AJ KICKS OUT THIS TIME! More Kawada kicks…HEAD DROP GERMAN/sit out facebuster combo from AJ – only gets 2 though. Styles takes Ki to the corner, but Ki blocks the Super Styles Clash. RUNNING KI KRUSHER! DRAGON CLUTCH!! Styles taps at 16:57!
Rating - **** - Oooooh it’s a real close call. I think the HIB still scrapes this…it just feels more epic and far more like a fight than the Z-1 encounter. This one is based far more around brutal spots than beating the crap out of each other, and personally I prefer a sh*tkicking contest than a spottier one. Personal preference purely. Honestly though, this is all types, colours and shades of great, as they bust out absolutely crazy spots to thrill the eager Japanese fans. I really liked AJ’s heel stylings (forgive the pun) as he started yelling down the respectful Japanese hee hee. This match has the best finish of any Ki/Styles match I’ve seen. You need to see this…
Backseat Boyz vs Lost Boyz
02/11/03 – NWA-Wildside. Right, I don’t watch Wildside, so I have no idea who the Lost Boyz are. It’s nothing personal (any promotion that has Caprice Coleman can’t be too bad), but I’m a poor student, I only have so much time, energy and money to spend watching wrestling, and Wildside just doesn’t do anything to pull me in. Maybe this will do something to change my mind…Lost Boyz are Gabriel and Azreal by the way (not the same Azrieal as seen in JAPW, who’s also ROH’s Angeldust).
Backseatz are the heels here since they’re in from CZW and are acting like jerks. The commentators are really ragging on CZW considering they’re supposed to be putting it over. Backseatz break out the dance moves and throw the Lost Boyz to the floor. They spend a little too long posing and get inverted atomic drops. Gay humour spots ensue, getting ‘Backdoor Boyz’ chants from the fans. Acid and Kashmere bail to avoid more gayness. They try to leave but get cut off on the ramp. Gabriel fights with Acid in the back then brings him to the ring. Kashmere takes a double superkick…Timewarp (double swinging facebuster) on Acid. ARABIAN PRESS from Gabriel to Kashmere. Acid drops Azreal with the Yakuza kick. Dream Sequence on Gabriel. Double bulldog into Azreal which tags Gabriel with a double dropkick – nice. Azreal saves Gabriel from the T-Gimmick…everyone clotheslines everyone, and everyone kicks out just before the three.
Kashmere clotheslines Azreal to the floor. He goes for a baseball slide but gets caught. FACEBUSTER/LEG DROP OFF THE APRON COMBO ON THE FLOOR BY THE LOST BOYZ! Acid and Gabriel fight in the ring…REVERSE SUPER RANA FROM ACID! Azreal hangs Acid in the tree of woe and neckbreakers him in that position – ouch. Lost Boyz get themselves some chairs and pile them up in the aisle. They try to double suplex Acid off the apron to them…BUT KASHMERE SPEARS THEM THROUGH THE ROPES AND THROUGH THE CHAIRS! Acid tries to pin Gabriel out of that, but he kicks out. Kashmere uses the ref to crotch Azreal on the ropes…SUPER T-GIMMICK ON GABRIEL! The Backseatz win it at 09:25.
Rating - ** - Lots of stalling and comedy in the first five minutes, but they through some nasty looking spots in at the end. Azreal and Gabriel looked pretty green in my opinion. Still, nice working of the sports-entertainment style from the Backseatz. They really are a clever tag team. They’re not the best wrestlers but they play off and work crowds so well.
Deranged vs Insane Dragon
01/18/03 – JAPW. Into JAP now, where they showcase a whole bunch of the Special K guys as singles talents in their cruiserweight division. Deranged is the heel (and has Dixie in his corner), and insults the fans before the match starts. Dragon (Izzy in ROH) is everyone’s heroic babyface. He’s also the fifth different ‘Dragon’ showcased in this compilation (after American Dragon, Dragon Kid, Super Dragon and Ultimo Dragon). These are two of the most talented guys in Special K, so I’m quietly optimistic.
Izzy hits an early dropkick and Deranged flees to complain about it. Headlock from Deranged, Dragon escapes though, and kicks him in the head. Deranged hangs around on the outside again for that. Back in, and he sends Dragon to the floor with a corkscrew enzi. Dixie gets in a cheap shot…SPRINGBOARD MOONSAULT from Deranged! 619 fake to piss off the crowd, but Izzy pulls him out and hammers away. Dragon gets whipped stomach first into the ring apron then sent back inside. Dixie tries to get involved but can’t, as Deranged is kicking Izzy in the back. Armdrag from Izzy, then another kick rolls Deranged up the turnbuckles and he gets dumped on the floor. RUNNING MOONSAULT PRESS FROM IZZY! Dixie cheap shots him again, but unperturbed he brings Deranged back inside. Running knee from Deranged, but Izzy catches him in an armbar. Low blow from Deranged, then the Figure 4. Deranged uses the ropes to gain extra leverage with the ref’s back turned. He finally gets caught and Dragon rolls it over. Deranged continues the focus on the legs with a leglock, then an anklelock with the leg grapevined. Deranged runs at Izzy but gets back dropped over the ropes onto Dixie. Moonsault kick from Dragon gets 2. He actually sells the leg a little as he swings Deranged into a Gory Driver. Dragon sleeper, into a reverse DDT, but the ref got bumped somewhere in there. Dixie runs in with a cheap shot…MAD SCIENTIST BOMB CONNECTS! Deranged wins at 11:34.
Rating - ** - They worked hard so I’m probably going a little high on the ratings. Ultimately I don’t think these guys are particularly good workers, so the match was never going to be that special. I liked Deranged’s comedic heel routine, it was as entertaining here as it was in Special K. I can’t say the same for Izzy’s ‘Insane Dragon’ babyface schtick, which was kinda meh. I guess I was having a hard time buying into him as a serious babyface after watching so much of him in K, and the fact that he looks like a backyarder. Some nice spots in there in fairness, but I need more from my matches.
Kenta Kobashi/Akira Taue vs Mitsuharu Misawa/Masahiro Chono
01/10/03 – NOAH. I think this is Kobashi’s comeback match from some pretty drastic knee surgery (the guys knees are absolute wrecks) so naturally he’s over huge. NOAH are building this towards Misawa vs Kobashi (which eventually took place in March – it’s a great match), and in the spirit of mid-90’s All Japan, they’ve brought partners to back them up. Kobashi has Taue, who Misawa should be pretty used to by now. He’s spent at least 13 years wrestling Taue in tags by this point, if not longer. Misawa has Chono, which is random since he’s an NJPW guy. I assume Chono might bring a little more to the table than Misawa’s standard little b*tch tag partners (see Akiyama, Jun or Ogawa, Yoshinari). I suddenly realise in the staredowns that…these four really are getting on aren’t they. Taue looks particularly ancient.
Kobashi and Chono start, and Kobashi brings Chono to his knees with one chop. Right hands, knees and stomps in the corner from Chono, but Kobashi fights out with more chops. Dropkick to the stomach from Chono, before he foolishly tries to go chop for chop with Kobashi. He eventually rakes the eyes then boots Kobashi down…NO SOLD! Kobashi came right back up and right into a lock up. Chono tags out, and the crowd are buzzing as Misawa and Kobashi prepare to do battle. Kobashi fires in a chop, but Misawa fires right back with an elbow. He elbows Kobashi down in fact, and in lumbers Taue. They trade elbows before Taue enziguri’s Misawa down. Big boot knocks him down again, and that’s followed with the snake eyes. Springboard something from Misawa, and he tags out to Chono. Taue SPIKES him with a DDT then brings Kobashi back. STALLING vertical suplex from Kobashi, then a chinlock.
Taue in again with a front facelock. Double shoulder tackle from Kobashi and Taue puts Chono down for 2. Chono again boots Kobashi in the face, but again it’s no sold. Kobashi wants the half nelson suplex…but Chono LOW BLOWS him. Heeey, that’s not cool! Cyclone lariat from Misawa, then the senton splash for 2. Chinlock from Misawa…is it rest hold day in Japan? Neckbreaker from Chono gets 2, then he brings himself to the chinlock party. Double elbow on Kobashi…DOUBLE YAKUZA KICK ON TAUE! Both of them fall to the floor…ELBOW SUICIDA FROM MISAWA TO KOBASHI! TOPE FROM CHONO TO TAUE!
Misawa goes for the frog splash but Taue grabs him on the top. Misawa fights free, but his diving elbow attempt is met by an elbow from Kobashi. Tag to Taue who brings the boots. CHOKESLAM ON MISAWA! TOPE ON CHONO! Spinning back suplex gets 2. He hits a second choekeslam…before Misawa counters a powerbomb with a hurricanrana. Chono in – MAFIA KICK DUEL! JUMPING ENZI from Chono! JUMPING ENZI FROM TAUE! They trade abdominal stretches before Taue boots him down again. Kobashi in with CHOPS! Neckbreaker drop from Kobashi gets 2. He again wants the half nelson suplex but this time Misawa saves. Mafia kick from Chono gets 2. Misawa and Taue rumble on the floor…STF ON KOBASHI! Taue sends Misawa into the rails and saves. Facelock from Misawa to Taue AS CHONO GOES BACK TO THE STF! Kobashi makes the ropes, but in tags Misawa. He whips Kobashi into a boot from Chono. FROG SPLASH for 2. SPINNING NECK CHOP BLOCKED…ROARING ELBOW NAILED! TIGER DRIVER…Kobashi kicks out at 2.
Misawa goes for Emerald Fusion but Taue saves. KOBASHI WITH THE HALF NELSON SUPLEX! TAUE WITH A CHOKESLAM ON CHONO! Taue goes to the top rope and Kobashi feeds Misawa to him CHOKESLAM/POWERBOMB COMBO! Chono flies in to save at the last second. Elbows from Misawa…BURNING LARIAT FROM KOBASHI…FOR 2! LARIAT SCORES AGAIN…and this time Chono has to save. Taue drags him back out…SPINNING NECK CHOPS FROM KOBASHI! BRAAAAIIINBUSTER! Kobashi pins Misawa at 22:27.
Rating - **** - For 10 minutes I wondered what I was watching. Chono looked terrible, Taue looked old, with Misawa and Kobashi looking like having an off day. Thankfully from the moment Misawa and Chono broke out the dives to the floor things picked up. Chono did look out of place, and this whole match reeked of ‘would’ve been great 5 years ago’ but it’s a lot of fun. Kobashi was well protected but looked pretty decent, and the last 5 minutes were so reminiscent of mid-90’s AJPW tags. Really cool finish as Kobashi pins the GHC Champion to put himself right in line for a title shot upon his return.
Amazing Red vs Christopher Daniels vs Bryan Danielson vs Low Ki vs Mike Kruel
01/18/03 – ECWA. To Jim Kettner’s fine little promotion which I’ll confess to not having seen a lot of outside of the annual Super 8 tournaments (on that note, the 2004 Super 8 is really good) so this should be good. This is a star-studded five-way for Red’s ECWA Title…too many cooks anybody?
Dragon demands that he starts out with poor little Red. Whoever booked this match really doesn’t like him huh? Knucklelock contested, which Danielson doesn’t have a lot of problems controlling. He goes for a wristlock, but Red flips out and dropkicks him out of the ring. Daniels blind tags in with Danielson and knocks him down with a shoulder block. Daniels actually controls Dragon on the mat before eventually taking a hiptoss. Ki tags in with Daniels and gives him an atomic drop. Chinlock applied, and Daniels breaks by locking one of Ki’s legs. Muta elbow scores and Daniels wants to tag out but Kruel runs away. Daniels with a back body drop, and now Kruel tags in to hammer on Ki. Ki mounts him with strikes and Kruel flees from the ring and tags in Dragon, who looks disgusted at his cowardice. Ki and Dragon tie up…then grapevine each other’s legs…HEADSTAND SLAPFEST! Abdominal stretch from Danielson, then a camel clutch, both with added face-raking for extra violence.
Red and Daniels now. Daniels slings Red about then puts him in a chinlock, trying to ground the high-flier. Red goes for a hammerlock but gets put into an armbar. Wristlock from Daniels, and he drives his knee down onto the hold. Red dropkicks his knee and gets 2 with La Magistral. Kruel sneaks in again with Red down and suplexes him. Dragon tags Red to go at it with Kruel. Kruel avoids the running elbow in the corner and sends Danielson crashing into the ringpost. Armbar from Kruel, isolating the arm and shoulder that just hit the post. Fujiwara armbar, but Dragon gets the ropes. Northern lights suplex, rolled into a wristlock. Daniels-Dragon, and Daniels works the injury with an armbar too. Dragon rolls Daniels up out of desperation and finds time to tag out to Ki.
Ki and Daniels battle over a suplex, with Ki eventually winning. Red in and they give Daniels a double dropkick. It’s an awfully courteous battle, as nobody is stopping the pinfalls, even with the title on the line. STO from Daniels, and he tags in Danielson. He’s fighting one-armed so uses headbutts instead off strikes. Double underhook suplex (with arm selling) gets 2. Kruel launches Red across the ring with a belly to belly. Gutwrench suplex repeats the same feat. Stepping enzi from Daniels almost puts Red away. URINAGE SLAM has Red’s body bouncing up and down off the canvas, but Danielson tags in and almost steals the win. Northern light suplex gets 2…I like Dragon’s selling, but why does he keep doing suplexes that use the bad arm? Ki is breaking pinfalls now. Kruel winds the crowd up then starts suplexing Red all over the shop. Ki tries to tag Red out, but Kruel pulls him to Dragon’s corner, which is cool since Dragon doesn’t want to be in the ring with his injured arm. Daniels into the ring and he Russian legsweeps Red then puts him in the headscissors crossface. Ki breaks that as well, so Dragon proposes he and Daniels team up on Red. They are a team in Japan after all. Red dropkicks both of them then hits a tilta-whirl DDT on Kruel.
Low Ki finally tags in and Kruel’s first in line for some beatings. TIDAL KRUSH MISSES…SPRINGBOARD ENZI CONNECTS! Daniels saves and gets a capo kick. DRAGON WITH A TOPE ON RED! Ki goes to the top rope but gets nailed with a palm strike from Daniels. ARABIAN PRESS TO THE FLOOR! Red’s in the ring…SPRINGBOARD SWANTON BOMB! Red takes Kruel into the ring and hits the stepping dropkick to the back. RED STAR PRESS gets 2 before Dragon saves. Running elbow on Red…then a huge Yakuza kick. Judo DDT scores, and Danielson heads upstairs – DIVING HEADBUTT…FOR 2. Red avoids another running elbow by tagging out to Ki. Dragon blocks the Ki Krusher but gets Tiger suplexed, doing more damage to the arm. Daniels tags – BLUE THUNDER DRIVER on Ki. Red drop toehold’s Daniels over the ropes. Daniels blocks the 718…SO KI 718’S RED! Bite of the Dragon blocked by Daniels…FALL FROM GRACE off the ropes for 2. Dragon hangs Daniels over the ropes – ROARING ELBOW on Kruel. CATTLE MUTILATION locked in but he can’t keep it on because of the injured arm. CROSS ARMBREAKER from Kruel! DANIELS BREAKS IT WITH THE DOUBLE JUMP MOONSAULT! Flatliner on Kruel, then the headscissors crossface which Red breaks. Ki boots Daniels over. REVERSE SHINING WIZARD on Kruel. KRUSH COMBO for Daniels, before he kicks Kruel off the apron. DRAGON CLUTCH! Daniels counters…LAST RITES…BLOCKED AND BACK TO THE DRAGON CLUTCH! Kruel bundles in and Red missile dropkicks Daniels. Hurricanrana almost puts the Fallen Angel away. Corkscrew enzi knocks him down again. Red heads to the top but Kruel knocks him off with a chair. LAST RITES…and Daniels is the new ECWA Champion at 30:30. The locker room empties to applaud Daniels, who shakes Red’s hand and hugs him. Touching scene, if a little weird for a guy who’s become accustomed to seeing Daniels do anything to avoid shaking hands in ROH.
Rating - **** - First the bad, five men of this calibre is far too much for one match. Nobody gets enough time to really perform to the best of their abilities, and rather than being a showcase of great wrestling talent, it’s a showcase of how well five guys can organise one match and avoid it becoming a big clusterf*ck. Until the last 10 minutes, it was also pretty slow, and almost devoid of any kind of emotion you’d associate with a title match. People weren’t breaking up falls, nobody (including Ki and Dragon) looked particularly aggressive, it was almost like they were going through the motions. Now the good…it’s all solid stuff. The isolation of Red by Kruel, Daniels and Dragon is a cool little storyline, as is the assault on Dragon’s arm – which had a great pay off in that he couldn’t keep the Cattle Mutilation on Kruel. Credit must go to Daniels, who as the climax came and there were five guys flying around in the ring, he maintained the flow and pace supremely, and prevented the finish becoming a horrible mess. I had my doubts going in and it wasn’t perfect…but I enjoyed it.
Steve Corino/CW Anderson vs Shinjiro Ohtani/Masato Tanaka
11/10/02 – PWF. Ohtani and Tanaka are still in town after making ROH appearances two days earlier. Corino and Anderson are defending the PWF Tag Titles here in this big ol’ Zero-ONE love-fest. I don’t like Anderson too much, but to his credit I never find myself overly disappointed by him in tag matches. I just find his singles competition to be duller than dirt. Stall…rest hold…clubbering away…random submission with no relevance to the match…SPINEBUSTER. Where was I…Samoa Joe is on the floor.
Corino and Ohtani start…apparently Ohtani is only 29 wow, he looks older. Ohtani goes after Corino’s leg before Corino goes to a chinlock. Ohtani bites Corino’s hand to break that. Tags all round so it’s Tanaka and Anderson now. Tanaka knocks CW down with a dropkick then slaps him into a chinlock. Ohtani in again and he holds Anderson in a camel clutch as Ohtani picks up speed for a dropkick to the face. Anderson hung in a tree of woe so Ohtani can baseball slide him in the face. Harsh chops from CW, and he gets 2 with a reverse elbow. Corino with a legscissors on Ohtani, who grabs Corino’s legs again then tags in Tanaka for a wishbone split. Anklelock from Tanaka, then a knee drop over Corino’s knee. Figure 4 applied by Tanaka. Corino gets the ropes but can’t even stand on his injured leg so tags out to Anderson.
CW completely defies my pre-match description of his match style…by clubbering away on Tanaka then putting him in the devastating resthold of doom (well a headscissors).
Corino trades open hands with Tanaka and comes out on top, choking him in the corner. Corino tags out (remembering he should probably sell the knee injury on the way out) and Anderson comes in with more hammering blows. Corino takes Tanaka to the floor and shoves him into the ringpost, then brings him inside to apply an abdominal stretch. Tanaka breaks with a hiptoss, but Corino holds his leg and tags CW back in.
Sunset flip from Tanaka gets 2, but he still can’t find a tag out. Double underhook from Anderson, then a chinlock. Corino in with a jumping heel kick because that’s selling the leg. STUNGUN/DDT COMBO ON THE EXTREME HORSEMEN! Ohtani tagged in…BOOTSCRAPES ON CORINO! ‘Shades of Corino’ – moron PWF commentator. BIG BOOT in the corner, but Anderson saves by smacking Ohtani in the back of the head. Brainbuster from Corino and he tags out to Anderson. Fisherman’s buster from CW for 2. ARM STUNNER drops Ohtani. CW gets a drop toehold into the middle turnbuckle, and Tanaka is tagged back in with a missile dropkick. TORNADO DDT on CW! Anderson and Corino try to double team Tanaka, but get double DDT’d for that. Ferris wheel suplex from CW gets 2. Tanaka drops Anderson with a lariat. CW slingshots Tanaka into a superkick from Corino for 2.
SPINEBUSTER ON TANAKA…for 2. Ohtani pauses on the apron…SPRINGBOARD DROPKICK ON ANDERSON! Corino charges in but inadvertently elbows CW. TANAKA NAILS HIM WITH DIAMOND DUST. Anderson no sells and Mafia kicks Tanaka…ROARING ELBOW! Tanaka pins it and takes the titles back to Japan at 16:07. Ohtani celebrates with his sword…how does he get it through customs?
Rating - *** - I wanted to go lower for CW’s general performance and Corino’s no sell of the leg injuries from earlier in the match, but I marked out too much for Tanaka and Ohtani and that saved this from dipping below 3*. It’s a decent match, but it’s all Tanaka and Ohtani I’m afraid. Incidentally, they put in about as much effort here as they did in ROH…which surprises me since I thought they were tight with Corino.
CIMA/SUWA/Don Fuji vs Milano Collection AT/Yossino/Brother Yassini
11/27/02 – Toryumon. Toryumon is the promotion Ultimo Dragon opened to showcase the unique abilities of his students. Much like Ultimo himself, they bring elements of the Japanese Jr. Heavyweight and Lucha-Libre styles to the table, with crazy spots and wacky submissions. Toryumon also features some oddball gimmicks and storylines, and it’s generally real fun to watch. HOWEVER, it’s a nightmare to do pbp on. Yossino and Yassini are impossible to tell apart, and they go at a thousand miles an hour, innovating moves that you have no idea how to call as they do. Sigh…lets rock…I think CIMA’s crew are defending the Trios title here…but I’m not sure. I’m awful on my Toryumon storylines. I’ve seen a jumble of matches from all over the companies history and still have no idea what goes on most of the time.
Yossino takes Cima into the crowd before joining Yassini to beat on Fuji. Milano helps out with the beat down. Yassini gets knocked off the apron, and Fuji brings the palm strikes to AT. Milano gets thrown across the ring but comes back with dropkicks. Suwa charges the ring but gets out quickened by Yossino. A little midget ninja inexplicably charges in to dropkick Suwa. HEADSCISSORS over the ropes on Suwa which Cima breaks. He goes at it with Yassin and drops him in his head with a back suplex. Standing cloverleaf from Yassini and Fuji saves. Milano is in with Fuji again…I’m so confused. Slingshot elbow drop from Suwa, then the TOP ROPE ELBOW TO THE GROIN! Suwa and Yossino now, but Yassini comes in from behind and chops away. Fuji batters Yossino and throws him out. Double knee strike on AT. Yossino comes back in with stomps and a leg drop. Yassini wrenches Fuji’s arm then stretches it out with an armbreaker. The little midget runs in again and starts hitting Fuji in the face.
Yossino hammerlocks Fuji in the ropes then brings Milano (who has cool hair) back in. PALM STRIKES from Fuji, but Yossino stops him making the tag and stomps on his balls. Fuji floors Milano with a lariat, and Cima and Suwa knock Yossino and Yassini off the apron. Charging offence on Milano in the corner. Cima kicks at Yassini’s knee then puts him in a standing figure 4. SIX WAY SUBMISSION CHAOS…SENTON BOMB FROM THE MIDGET. Suwa gets pissed off and chases him out…what’s the deal with that midget…and damnit why don’t the WWE do it. Suwa piefaces the ninja midget on the floor. Yossino gets crotched on the top by Cima then PALM STRIKED. ICONOCLASM SCORES! Yossino blocks the superkick then tilta-whirls’ all over the place with a headscissors. Arm crossing submission WHICH SUWA BREAKS WITH AN ELBOW DROP FROM THE TOP! SIT OUT FACEBUSTER from Suwa for 2. MIDGET OFF THE TOP WITH A BROOMSTICK for Suwa. ASAI MOONSAULT from Yassini. HEAD DROP GERMAN FROM AT! DOUBLE PRESS SLAM INTO AN ACE CRUSHER from AT, Yossino and Yassini. Someone hits Milano in the back with a crutch and he gets dropkicked across the ring by Suwa. DOUBLE UNDERHOOK FACEBUSTER wins it at 12:42.
Rating - ** - It’s Toryumon so it’s fun, but they can do far better than this. It’s an average spotfest with added midget hilarity which, whilst good, doesn’t exactly contribute ratings wise. I recommend you check Toryumon out, but I don’t recommend this match at all. I also don’t recommend ever doing play-by-play on a Toryumon match, my fingers hurt. Midget ninja’s should really do run ins during every wrestling match…ever.
Rainman vs Jason Cross
01/04/03 – NWA-Wildside. Back to Wildside for the penultimate match on this excellent compilation. Wildside is where Jason Cross is a real player, so hopefully he’ll do something to impress me. I’ve always liked him in the lower midcard matches I’ve seen him in on TNA’s ppvs and a few other indy shows. Rainman is Homicide on a budget IMO, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Rainman is defending the Wildside TV Title.
Someone Bailey distracts Cross before the match starts and Rainman hits a dropkick. Kicks from Cross knock Rainman down. Hurricanrana does so again, and Cross clotheslines Rainman to the floor. Misawa rope roll fake from Cross – SOMERSAULT PESCADO SCORES! Somersault leg drop on the floor from Cross. Rainman back inside and Bailey again distracts Cross. Rainman kicks him off the apron, then lays into him with right hands on the floor. Rainman misses a second rope moonsault, but counters a brainbuster attempt with an Edge-O-Matic for 2. Double underhook suplex from Rainman, then more right hands. Chinlock on Cross, who breaks it and gets 2 with a sunset flip. Spinning heel kick knocks Cross down once more. RYDIEN BOMB NAILED…but Cross kicks out at 2. Sit-out atomic drop from Rainman.
Cross misses an enzi but back kicks out of the predicament RVD-style. SWINGING sidewalk slam from Rainman. He tosses Cross to the outside then distracts the ref as that Bailey guy, who I assume is a manager of some kind, drives home some boots.
Dragon suplex from Jason Cross and both men are down. Back from commercials with Cross rolling Rainman up with a couple of nearfalls. Clothesline from Rainman, then the inverted cloverleaf. Bailey pulls the bottom rope away from Jason, but he still grabs it. Rainman to the top rope but Cross manages to crotch him. Cross blocks a tornado DDT – BRAINBUSTER. Rainman gets his foot on the rope before the three. Cross to the top rope but this time he gets crotched. DOUBLE UNDERHOOK DIAMOND DUST from Cross. CROSSFIRE NAILED! Cross has it won, and with some horrible choreography, Bailey pulls the ref out before the three. Another ref comes in but this time Rainman kicks out. Cross goes back to the top rope but gets shoved off. Iceberg does a run in (I use that term loosely, he must weigh about as much as my car) and powerbombs Cross. SWINGING CAPTURE STUNNER from Rainman and Bailey counts a pinfall…but Cross has already won by DQ. The beat down continues with the Ground Zero Splash (aka generic fatman splash) from Iceberg…and thankfully this is over.
Rating – DUD – Rainman has some nice spots, but in between them there was no transition at all. Punch punch punch SPOT punch punch punch SPOT etc etc etc. Sh*tty finish, and seeing Iceberg was an unpleasant surprise. Thankfully he doesn’t have a match on this compilation. The two Wildside matches on this tape haven’t done a lot to inspire me to watch the promotion…even though I could see it for free on TWC. Fast forward this crap.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jushin Liger/Koji Kanemoto
01/26/03 – NOAH. More NOAH vs New Japan juniors here, except this time we’re in NOAH, meaning we get Liger in full on asshole mode (which rocks). He’s also partnered by Koji for this one, and it’s good to see the familiar sight of those two teaming, since Minoru Tanaka was the weak link in the last match. Kanemaru is GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion here, with Kanemaru and Kikuchi apparenty being IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Champions…was that what the last match was for? I think the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight tag straps are on the line.
This is pretty intense before the match even start, as they almost brawl repeatedly. Kikuchi appears terrified by his own streamers. Finally we start, and it’ll be Liger and Kikuchi. PALM STRIKES from Liger but Kikuchi hits a jumping heel kick. Liger throws him out and demands Kanemaru. Kikuchi in from behind, and Kanemoto follows…they’re brawling again. Liger and Kikuchi go to the floor where Kikuchi no sells a guardrail shot to elbow Liger. Kanemaru does the same on the other side to Kanemoto. Liger and Kikuchi are sensible enough to end their scrap on the outside before they’re counted out. Koji and Kanemaru in now – DUELLING DROPKICKS! ELBOW DUEL…Kanemoto floors Kanemaru with a spinning heel kick. SPRINGBOARD CORKSCREW SENTON by Kanemoto, before he goes to a half crab. Kikuchi elbows him hard to break that. Liger is preoccupying the ref so the NOAH boys team up on Koji in their corner. Belly to belly on Kanemaru. Liger and Kikuchi are fighting on the floor again so Kanemaru goes out to help his partner. Kanemoto dives on top with an elbow and we have more brawling on the floor.
Kanemoto tastes guardrail…THEN KANEMARU SPRINGBOARDS OFF IT WITH A LEG DROP OVER IT! Make sense? No? C’est la vie…Kikuchi gives Kanemoto a swinging sidewalk slam once they’re back in the ring. Kanemoto stares Kikuchi down…SO KIKUCHI GIVES HIM THE STIFF HEADBUTT OF TOTAL DEATH! Incredible Koji pops right back up and kicks him back, but he’s out on his feet. Kanemaru puts Koji in a camel clutch…and closer inspection reveals Kanemoto is bleeding thanks to that headbutt. Chinlock to squeeze more blood out of the head, and Kanemoto is facing Liger for extra insult points. Desperation suplex from Kanemoto but he gets cut off before he can tag out. Kanemaru measures him with a series of kicks to the face, then brings Kikuchi back. Rolling snap suplexes, but Liger has had enough. He throws Kanemaru over the top to the floor and hangs Kikuchi in the tree of woe. Kikuchi somehow avoids a baseball slide from Liger and crotches him around the ringpost.
But the tide of the match has turned, as when order is restored it’s Kanemoto kicking away at Kikuchi. Kanemaru runs in but gets thrown out by Liger again. Liger tagged in and he’s CHOKING Kikuchi. Heel Liger kicks ass. STALL JUMPING PILEDRIVER on Kikuchi, then back to the choke. HEADBUTT WAR between Liger and Kikuchi, but Liger ends it with a DDT. Face grinds with Koji’s boot then some stiff kicks to the chest. Kikuchi isn’t feeling them though…ha ha, Kanemoto just axe kicks him in the neck for such insolence. Liger comes in to BITE Kikuchi who is being massacred at the moment. Koji teases Kanemaru by offering a tag. He starts kneeing Kikuchi in the face. Again Kikuchi tries to no sell it, so he takes a jumping knee. Camel clutch from Kanemoto, which holds Kikuchi primed for Liger’s running dropkick. Kanemaru has finally had enough, but he gets beaten down by Kanemoto as Liger camel clutches his partner. Koji adds a surfboard to Liger’s camel clutch – OUCH!
Kanemoto tags in and unloads more kicks on the unfortunate Kikuchi who’s eyes are all glazed. Koji goes for the corkscrew senton again but misses…and now Kanemaru is tagged back. It’s 20 minutes deep at this point. QUEBRADA PRESS on Kanemoto for 2. MOONSAULT MISSES! Kanemoto dropkicks his knee right away then dragon screws it to follow up. Falcon arrow nailed, but now Koji misses a moonsault. ANKLELOCK ON KANEMARU! Kikuchi tries to save but Liger holds him back! Liger puts Kikuchi in the abdominal stretch, but Kanemaru somehow drags himself to the ropes. ROLLING BRAINBUSTERS FROM KANEMARU! Kanemoto blocks the third and spin kicks him in the back of the head. Bridging Tiger suplex almost puts Kanemaru away. SLAPS…both men down. Liger tagged but he almost gets rolled up right away. Kikuchi back in and he gives Liger the rolling snap suplexes. ELBOW ON KANEMOTO! BLUE THUNDER ON LIGER........ONLY FOR 2! I bought that as the finish so the timing is now screwed…LIGERBOMB ON KANEMARU…FOR 2! Kanemaru rolls out so Koji gives him a pescado. LIGER GIVES KIKUCHI THE LIGERBOMB…still only 2! SUUUUPER BRAAAAAAAIIIINBUSTER ON KIKUCHI! He’s still not dead incredibly…SO LIGER DULY MURDERS HIM WITH A PALM STRIKE! This time it is over…and the NJPW guys return the favour from the earlier match by going to NOAH and winning back the New Japan belts.
Rating - **** - Not as good as the first match, because as good as the plot was, it doesn’t compensate for the superior wrestling of the first. The heat for this is unreal, but it leads to lots of brawling segments which hold it back. Again, however, there was a really cool story around Kikuchi. Last time around he overcame the odds to win…this time round they just beat on him till he couldn’t take anymore. Kanemaru could’ve been anyone and the rating probably wouldn’t have suffered. This match was all about the isolation and destruction of his partner and it worked. This is probably the worst match of the NOAH/NJPW Jr. Heavyweight’s series I’ve seen…which should tell you how good this whole idea is.
Koji and Liger get on the stick after the match and make that point. Liger appears to call out Marufuji and KENTA…and Shinya Hashimoto is somehow in the ring. I wish I understood Japanese. They brawl…Kanemaru and Kikuchi have to help pull them apart…and now Marufuji and KENTA are out there as well. We close the tape with Liger’s music playing…lige-Lige-LIGEEEEEER…bla bla bla Jushin Ligeeeeeeeer. He’ll be in ROH in November you know…
Tape Rating - ****1/2 – I appreciate only a couple of matches actually reach this high a rating by themselves, but the standard on this tape is so consistently good that I honestly find it hard to fault. There’s a 20 minute SAT vs DRS match on here, and even that didn’t make me want to lower the ratings…take from that what you will. The only bad thing on this whole like 8 hour comp is the Rainman/Cross match, and that’s quick and painless. Not forgetting the best Velocity match ever! Actually, that match and the UFC match make this tape pretty hard to track down now, since the WWE and UFC are really cracking down on illegal use of their footage. If you can find this, get it, you won’t regret it.
Top 3 Matches
3) Low Ki vs AJ Styles (****)
2) Mitsuharu Misawa vs Yoshihiro Takayama (****1/2)
1) Yoshinobu Kanemaru/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jushin Liger/Minoru Tanaka (****1/2)