Papa Shango vs. Jim Duggan

Papa Shango vs. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan - WWF Wrestling Challenge 5/9/93 - 3

This was a King of the Ring qualifying match. There's more smoke coming out of the skull Shango wields while walking to the ring than out of Seth Rogen's trailer on the set of This Is the End. Duggan didn't talk about this match in his book -- I guess we'll see why. It takes three big clotheslines to get Shango off his feet. It's nice to look back and see when Jim had some heft and momentum behind his work. Papa drops a headbutt right into the grapefruits. Speaking of grapefruit, one adorns the cover of Saves the Day's new self-titled album which comes out today. Wonder if Hogan ever confronted Duggan about doing his whole "Hulking Up" routine ad nauseam. This had the sophistication and substance of a Chikara opener but before he became a lumbering dolt working for $80 paydays on the independent scene almost thirty years past his prime Duggan wasn't all bad to watch in the ring, he bumped big for some early Shango punches, was whipping his hair all around while selling, and even ate a kneelift with panache.

Grand Masters of Wrestling Vol. 1

To read Brian's take on this same show from '08 click here!

This is a DVD series that Brian found in the bargain bin of Walmart years and years ago. The intro music for this is completely cheesy, right out of a 90s syndicated TV show and the building this was filmed in is probably a high school gym somewhere. Immediately, I know this isn't going to be good.

1. Ace Darling vs. Dangerous Devon Storm - 3

Storm looks like the typical high school jock in a lot of 90s teen movies with the blond hair and shades. If you're trying to envision someone, think of the character "Wade" from Halloween 4. Yeah, I know that was an obscure cinema reference but it's the best I could do. I’m not sure if this is the same Devon Storm that’s known as Crowbar so if someone could clue me in on that, it’d be appreciated. Some nice high risk moves, including a somersault plancha from Storm that the play-by-play guy erroneously called a “moonsault”. Darling looks and feels very generic and would make a good TV jobber with his basic design tights. Storm hit a nice springboard leg lariat and a moonsault, which I should note was correctly called by the announcer. I should note that Ken Patera is on color and seems totally bored. A very basic top rope frankensteiner fro Ace ends this. A fairly good match but nothing too outstanding.

2. Iron Mike Sharpe vs. King Kong Bundy - 1

Sharpe looks about fifty pounds heavier than his WWF run and, as my wife noted, “looks like a really bloated Jerry Lawler”. A FUCKING HUGE King Kong Bundy replaces Kamala, who was originally supposed to be in the match, and immediately my expectations went higher. There wasn’t a lot to see except for both guys pounding on each other. Bundy nailed Sharpe with a nice big splash in the corner. I’m noticing a trend here, none of these legends seem are taking bumps at all. Match ends in a double count-out and Bundy yells “what the hell, man” to the referee and then just walks away. My thoughts exactly.

3. Superfly Jimmy Snuka vs. The Metal Maniac - 3

With a name like Metal Maniac, I expected someone to come out clad in armor or at least something somewhat resembling the Silver Surfer. Instead, we get a guy who looks like a Kona Crush rip-off with Ultimate Warrior facepaint, about a hundred extra pounds, and a MASSIVE mullet. Surprised to see Snuka on this DVD but I guess he’ll take whatever bookings he can get. I’ll admit it, I never really was a big Jimmy Snuka fan so this match is really doing nothing for me, however this was a little better than I expected it to be, mostly thanks to the Maniac. These guys work a headlock spot for what seems like forever and Maniac took a wild bump off the top rope. Snuka didn’t deviate from his moveset any, doing his typical assortment of chops and high flying.

UWF Fury Hour - 10/1/90

UWF Fury Hour
Taped September 24, 1990 in Reseda, CA
Announcers: Herb Abrams and Bruno Sammartino

1. Steve “Dr. Death” Williams vs. Davey Meltzer - 2

Meltzer’s contributions to this match were nothing more than being a pudgy punching bag for the good doctor. Only thing even worth remembering was seeing Meltzer get destroyed with two smashes into the buckle and then a hard powerslam. Nothing you haven’t seen before in a squash match.

2. Cactus Jack vs. David Sammartino - 5

No way this can be the same David Sammartino. He looks completely different than he does on the first WrestleMania. There he was pudgy and looked exactly like his dad. Here, he’s completely ripped with short blond hair and about 50-60 pounds lighter. Lots of punching and mat work from David. I found it funny how he had Cactus in a hammerlock and was working it like he was trying to tighten a bolt with a wrench. Foley did not look too enthused to be there and let David lay his shoddy offense in like crazy during the first half. Things turned though when Cactus dropped David throat first on the railing. Foley got in all in trademark stuff like the Cactus Clothesline and the elbow from the apron. Not sure what was up with the finish where Cactus randomly gave the referee a headbutt.

3. Billy Jack Haynes vs. Spitball Patterson - 2

Spitball Patterson has to be one of the best jobber names ever. I mean this is a guy who should come out dressed in baseball pants with shoes that look like cleats and carrying a bat to the ring. Instead he’s a generic guy with no personality who managed to do less than very little in a match where he had very little to do to begin with. Haynes hit a really awkward spot from the second rope where the gave Patterson this wild faceplant. Don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that, nor will I probably ever see it again.

4. Col. DeBeers vs. Michael Allen - 2

What is it with DeBeers popping up in these random feds during the late 80s and early 90s? First he was in the AWA during it’s dying years and now he popped up again here. This felt very much like a WWF squash match in that is was very, very one-sided with DeBeers gaining the win with a knee to the back and a faceplant DDT. Allen, to his credit, did manage to break out a rather swank flying headscissor takedown.

5. Paul Orndorff vs. Ricky Ataki - 3

Ataki came to impress and bumped his ass off for the rather bland Orndorff, who I’ve never really been a big fan of. Herb Abrams says on commentary that Ataki’s hometown is “Japan”. Ummm … since when is/was Japan a town? Does Herbie need to repeat elementary school geography? Anyway, Orndorff won with one of the sickest piledrivers you’ve ever seen and then has a staredown with Dr. Death for seemingly no reason.

6. Dan Spivey vs. B. Brian Blair - 3

It’s been about 24 hours since I watched this show and I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out why someone decided it was a good idea to put these guys in the main event spot. More ridiculous Abrams commentary regarding Blair: “He’s a fan favorite who’s a favorite of the fans”. Ok, Herb. Whatever you say. Spivey looks ridiculous in the neon yellow and black funky striped pants with dark red boots. Blair never got out of the gate and was just dominated by Spivey, who kept the same crazed look on his face the whole match. Double DQ finish was lame.

TNA One Night Only: Hardcore Justice 2

1. New Church vs. Latin American Xchange - Street Fight - 3
2. Jackie Moore vs. ODB - No DQ Match - 2
3. Gen ME vs. Bad Influence - Ladder Match - 7
4. 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Shark Boy vs. Funaki vs. Guido vs. Crowbar vs. Sam Shaw vs. Crimson vs. Gunner vs. Johnny Swinger - Hardcore Gauntlet Match - 4
5. Aces and 8's vs. James Storm, Magnus, and Bob Holly - Elimination Match - 5
6. Messias vs. Joseph Park - Monster's Ball Match - 3
7. Jeff Hardy and Brother Runt vs. Bully Ray and Devon - Tables Match - 4

Ordering this show on PPV was akin to discovering a bowler hat full of fetid feces on your front porch. A shocking and revolting proposition. Show starts with a literally six-minute long music video of "highlights" set to some real bad rap metal. Opening street fight was comparable to the 6th best Da Baldies match. Watching it was like watching a basketball game go to 100-0 using nothing but foul shots. Billed as the two toughest Knockouts in TNA history Jackie and ODB were set to make a bigger splash than Tony Scott off the Vincent Thomas Bridge. Looked like a bar brawl save for people don't run ropes in those. There was a shaving cream in the butthole gag that surely misted up Russo's eyes somewhere. Jackie's bosom should have a choking hazard printed on it.

Ladder match was a spectacular stunt show from four of PWG's finest exports. I would have loved to have seen this in Reseda getting 45 min. but I'm not complaining. You may label me contentious but I'm calling the Young Bucks a better team than the Road Warriors. Kazarian took some career-shortening bumps. I'd be totally cool with Kaz getting the TNA world title one day although don't see it happening -- maybe in a parallel universe. One in which the Red Dawn remake didn't suck giant dong. Too bad Gen ME burnt their bridges as them versus Tons of Funk getting 6 min. on WWE Main Event would brighten my Wednesday evening.

They then aired a painfully long video recap of the show thus far. Now, if it's a TV show I can understand the occasional quick recap to catch up viewers late to the program, but this is PPV, anyone watching it has been from the start presumably. Sometimes when you've watched as much wrestling as me a match that's "odd" is just as fun as one that's "good".  That was the case with the gauntlet. An odd hodgepodge of talent beating each other with all manner of objects. Never really thought of Guido as a bump freak but he earned his check here. Crowbar's tits are almost as big as Daffney's now. Funaki wasn't advertised in TNA's official listings so that was a pleasant surprise. Too bad he didn't bring Yamaguchi-San's samurai steel and lopped off Sam Shaw's balls. Always a treat seeing Scorpio who looked great here as always. Guy would be TNA world champ if I had the book. I'd have him and Austin Aries do a Best of 7 that'd make people Benoit and Booker's. Oh, wait, you'd already forgotten it? Damn kids. Go watch your best of Johnny Gargano.

I really like the Aces and 8's match which surprises me quite a bit as on paper it was one I glanced over with little interest. It wasn't advertised as an elimination match but it was cool that it was. Allowed the guys to take their time. I mean, it was pretty much just people punching each other, and selling punches, then more punching, etc. It wasn't slick or sleek or state of the art. But sometimes I like just kicking back watching people faux-grimace after being faux-punched for 20 min. Holly's punches had more snap than Jorge Masvidal's but if I can be frank he was shit. Should have brought in Molly Holly (or hell even Crash would have popped the Impact Zone and Messias could have used his coffin later). The rapid fire elimination sequence at the end is a lousy trope.

Messias has built quite the resume in Mexico and is a legit Top 50 worker in the world in many peoples' eyes but there was no saving this load. The pacing was just off. I get the idea Park is unfamiliar in a hardcore setting and is unsure, it's a cute bit, but they just slowly meandered from spot to next and it felt dryer than sandpaper. Messias got good air on his chokeslam bump but this was forgettable. Main event on paper looked like one Hermie Sadler would have had on an UWF show in some armory in Maryland. Was worked as such also. Very much by the numbers shuffling through the routine stuff. Runt looks legit old so that leant an extra sense of depth to his selling as it really seemed like an old social studies teacher getting dropped hard repeatedly on a hard wooden ring. Hardy felt like he wasn't even in the match. The guys definitely sleepwalked through this gig which is disappointing but not surprising. Should have booked Scorpio vs. Sabu in a TLC Match as the main and let Hardy and Shannon Moore do a Pain Pills on a Pole match in the mid-card.

NHO TV projects

Here's an updated list of all of our various wrestling TV marathon viewing/rankings projects -- enjoy!:

- Top 53 Matches of WCW Main Event '91

- NWA/WCW Power Hour 1990
- Brian's Power Hour '90 ballot

- WWF Superstars 1996

- Brian's ballot

- Jessie's ballot

- AWF Warriors of Wrestling
- Jessie's AWF ballot

- WWE SmackDown! 1999
- Brian's SD! '99 ballot
- Jessie's SD! '99 ballot

- Best of WCW Monday Nitro #200-151
- Best of WCW Monday Nitro #150-101
- Best of WCW Monday Nitro #100-51
- Best of WCW Monday Nitro #50-11
- Best of WCW Monday Nitro #10-1

- WCW WorldWide 1994

- WCW WorldWide '97

BxB Hulk vs. Masato Yoshino

BxB Hulk vs. Masato Yoshino - DGUSA Uprising - 7

Recently watched DGUSA Uprising from 2010 couldn't get the BxB Hulk vs. Masato Yoshino main event out of my head. When you get past that this is a collaboration and not a competition (in terms of mode of story not the narrative therein) I found it strangely haunting. Hulk's ability at demonstrating the determination he has at retaining his championship is crystalline and for his part Yoshino's speed and pluck make him an excellent challenger. Masato hit what easily now ranks in my top three missile dropkicks of all-time. Such height, so compact. By the time BxB did the "H Thunder" scoop side piledriver (his homage to Hayabusa) off the top rope and Yoshino kicked out I was officially enthralled and raptured like I was during the hotel scene in Before Midnight. The crowd at the Mississauga International Centre that night were in for a special treat.

WWE Payback '13

WWE changed up their PPV line-up for 2013 and I'd hoped with the empty slot we'd finally get Halloween Havoc (or hell I'd have gladly settled for Fall Brawl too or even Bash at the Beach given its summer) but instead we get: Payback. Sounds like the title of a bad Mel Gibson movie. They only announced a few matches for the event in advance but it does have the fact it's in-front of a super hot Chicago crowd going for it.

1. The Miz vs. Curtis Axel vs. Wade Barrett - 4

2. AJ vs. Kaitlyn - 5

First match on paper was sort of a jumble but that sort of worked for it. No real rhyme or reason -- just a few guys clubbing the hell out of each other and looking for the win. Miz's defensive work was on display, lots of dodging, ducking, and countering of attacks. He actually looked pretty slick in the early stages. Axel winning the IC title on Father's Day (he's the son of Mr. Perfect who was one of that championship's foremost holders) was a nice touch. Match wasn't bad at all just needed more time to earn higher cred. Women's match had a grudge aspect so started chaotic with AJ taking a great bump over the Spanish announcer's table. I think Kaitlyn has a great look, personality, etc. but one thing I've noticed in a lot of her TV work is sometimes she'll be in a hold, like locked in a headlock, and apparently finds it hard to conceal a smile, which is great if you love your job, but when you're supposed to be selling having your oxygen cut off it's probably not a good time to crack wise. The "Spear" is one of the most watered down, overused moves of the last 15 years but Kaitlyn hit one here that had momentum on its side and really looked like it killed AJ. Like she was crossing the street to Circle K to get some Mountain Dew Voltage on tap from the fountain (a Circle K exclusive!) and a Dodge caravan knocked her 5 ft. into the gutter. Finish was slick as AJ went back to her "Black Widow" submission which she'd previously had locked in for quite a spell so it was nice to see some actual game plan-based psych in a Diva's bout, even more so that it lead to a believable finish. One of the better Diva's matches of 2013 but nothing that'd blow you away, understatedly solid.

3. Kane vs. Dean Ambrose - 4

Surreal seeing Brodie Lee in a vignette on WWE pay-per-view. The Wyatt Family stuff is promising. Kane's a guy who's act and in-ring work ethic (or lack thereof) wore thin on me, oh, about twelve years prior. But Ambrose is so damn captivating and impossible to take your eyes off of that he's capable of making me excited to see the Big Red Machine in action. Moxley (Ambrose) is the first guy to come close to capturing that unhinged quality of Pillman at his best. The irony they're both Cincinnati guys isn't lost on me. Dean will also bust out stuff right out of the RF Video back catalogue randomly like a Keiji Mutoh elbow drop to a grounded opponent, etc. I'll try not to devolve into fan boy gushing every time I analyze his stuff I promise. The way Ambrose bumped to the floor off of a big boot recalled a moment in his stellar bout winning the FIP World Heavyweight title versus Roderick Strong back at Southern Stampede in 2010 (you can tell I've been catching up on my FIP lately). Countout finish was a little wonky (and I docked it a point accordingly) but I liked that it all began with Dean slapping Kane right across the face with a big swipe. Credit to Kane for eating that DDT on the floor right on his noggin.

4. Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio - 7

RVD returns at Money in the Bank vignette? I'd heard rumors awhile back but that's news to me. Hopefully he doesn't get busted smoking weed and doing Quaaludes with Tamina Snuka en route to a house show in Tacoma. Weird a major championship bout is taking place in the mid-card. My son who's 3 loves to say "Albertooooooo Del Rioooooo!" Can't feel good for the guys working the World Heavyweight championship match to have their efforts drowned out by raucous "RVD! RVD!" chants. I guess these fans didn't see Van Dam's recent TNA run where he looked 2-3 steps slower and perpetually winded. Sorry got temp. distracted contacting Time Warner our Nick Jr. disappeared this morning and that's akin to a sin to my boy. Back to the action, ADR and Dolph may not have the larger than life presence that made title matches of yesteryear (say Bret Hart vs. Undertaker, or even Booker T vs. Scott Steiner) really pop but there's a frenetic physicality here that you've certainly got to tip your hat too. Kudos again to Chicago as ADR vs. Swagger at WrestleMania was floppier than your 2nd grade teacher's swinging utters but this feels appropriately heated. For a a guy coming back from a serious concussion Dolph is sure getting his head smashed plenty. Match ends suddenly with one of multiple straight savate kicks to the skull that the match saw. Sort of a surprising finish, more pseudo MMA psych than typical pro wres theatrics, plus it's the third title change already on this PPV. Not to mention Ziggler's run was still in its infancy. Grappled between a 6-7 on its score but the unpredictable route it took earns it extra consideration. After some pandering ads we cut back to the entrance aisle where ADR cuts a promo asking for the crowd's support but in doing so turns them completely against him which may/may not have been by design.

5. CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho - 5

I'm a Paul Heyman guy? More like I'm a Paul Pfeiffer guy. This should be tasty. Why did I just visualize Kidman doing a run-in? Jericho has range and got good matches out of Batista so he's about as capable a hand as the industry has these days and Punk has been terrific of late. I know Punk attends several live UFC events each year -- wonder if he was in Winnipeg for that stinker UFC 161 the night prior? As long as he doesn't turn in a Ryan Jimmo performance here we'll be fine. Maybe CM has been spending too much time with Lita -- he's starting to run the ropes like her. Which is still friendlier than anything I can say about Matt Hardy's current ROH run. I like when Y2J shows some aggression. Kicking Punk in the spine screaming "Come on, Punk!" If Punk gets near this support outside of Chicago it'll be hard to keep him away from the main events for long. Nice to see them kill the "Go 2 Sleep" as a finish by having Jericho kick out of it. Punk hits a Zema Ion-level dive to the outside. I wouldn't say he's exhibiting rust but he has looked a little stodgy in there. Less Pepsi more gym would be a good call. A couple more G2S' end it. Of their trilogy their Extreme Rules '12 match is the leader of the pack by a fairly large margin. 

6. Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins - 6

I just watched AIW's Best of Tyler Black (Seth Rollins) DVD "Heart Of A Champion" the other night. That kid was making me sit on the edge of my seat, well, couch, riveted in matches with less than stellar cats like Nobutaka Moribe, Shane Hollister, Josh Prohibition, etc. so to see him working semi-main on the biggest wrestling stage on planet Earth in the WWE is a treat. Daniel Bryan has been on fire on TV lately putting in some really superb performances. Anyone watch Randy in 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded yet? I didn't think so. Orton is duller than the husk of a pot pie. This is making the last third of Man of Steel look like child's play. Speaking of Kal-El I totally dig Reigns' "Superman Punch" being a regular part of his arsenal. #BITW is trending according to Cole. That's strange Hiroshi Tanahashi is trending during a WWE broadcast. The Shield have been involved in so many really quality TV traditional and six-men tags that it's hard to supersede that on PPV. Ugly spot where Orton was suppose to suplex Seth into Reigns in the corner but Rollins didn't quite make it that far landing on his brains. Hot tag to Daniel makes him seem like the best fit for a fiery tag team since Bobby Eaton. Double-underhook superplex off the top by DB on Rollins! Unreal. Great violent "Curb Stomp" finish. Nice that out out of five title matches only Shield members have retained tonight. If TNA would have booked Aces & 8's half as strong maybe they'd be taken more seriously. 

7. Ryback vs. John Cena - 3 Stages of Hell (Lumberjack, Tables, and Ambulance Matches) - 4

This group of lumberjacks is quite the odd-looking gang. Not even 25 min. left of the the broadcast remaining so they're going to have to put their foot on the gas to get through three matches. HHH/Austin went 39, HHH/HBK went 38, and HHH/Orton, well, let's not even talk about that one. When was the last time somebody this untalented was in the main event scene? Was it Sid? Just about every lumberjack deserves the spot more. Yes, even Sin Cara, Darren Young, JTG, both Colons', Giant Bernard, etc. But probably not Ted DiBiase Jr. or Curt Hawkins. Ryback was like the sixth best guy on his season of NXT. McMahon just loves that roided up look. Okay rant over. Cena does a dive off of the top onto like 25 dudes. Great chaos outside the ring. Ryback with a real Vin Gerard-level Samoan Drop. Wait, no shitting? That was the finish of the Lumberjack match? Excuse me while I clean up this pink lemonade I just spit all over myself.

Cena with his back against the wall. A trope we know (and mostly) love. Ryback's "Spear" makes me yearn for Kaitlyn's. Even Edge's (shudder). It's not quite on the Jimmy Jacobs end of the scale but it's not far off! Ironically love the way Cena sells being thrown into the ring steps by pushing them away like he's working through a corn maze. Table match ended quickly and forgettably. Ambulance match can only truly work if we get Kane vs. Shane McMahon levels of stupid, potentially dangerous bumps. Ryback powerbombs Cena onto the announcer's table which came off pretty wild and nasty. Plus it probably spilled Lawler's diet soda so kudos on that. I'd lose my mind if Viscera was inside the ambulance. Just saying. What if the ambulance suddenly became sentient and grew eyes and a mouth and started saying shit? Now that'd be interesting stuff. Oh, sorry, I'm daydreaming again. And sadly this isn't a Pixar presentation. If you're going to brawl go the Nasty Boys route and make it dumb and painful and disgusting. This tepid walking from shoddy spot to the next is cumbersome. "This looks like something out of a Bond movie!" quips Michael Cole. The finish sees Cena give Ryback the "Attitude Adjustment" through the roof of the ambulance. Decent visual but the journey to get there wasn't a joyride.

John Cena is one of the best champs of this or any era. He's been in many of my favorite WWE matches of the past decade. But this was weak sauce. To put it in perspective I'd rather re-watch that Danny Doring and Roadkill vs. Bilvis Wesley and Prodigy match off of Highspots' complete ECW on TNN set I recently sat through. Yuck.