1. Antwain Britt vs. Rafael Feijao - 4
2. Roger Gracie vs. Kevin Randleman - 3
3. Ronaldo Souza vs. Joey Villaseñor - 5
4. Andrei Arlovski vs. Antonio Silva - 4
5. Alistair Overeem vs. Brett Rogers - 6
Feijao, a training partner of Anderson Silva, connected on a nice flurry of punches to put Britt down in a good opener. It didn't even go 4 min. so not enough to warrant a recommendation. Next fight was a show low, Randleman is washed up, and Gracie is only 2-0 and showed inexperience as an accomplished fighter (especially with such a pedgree in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) would have made short work of Randleman. Really liked Jacaré (the alligator) and "Smokin' Joe" -- first round Souza dominated and it looked bleak but Joey fought back and made the next two rounds interesting in the most completive fight of the show. Arlovski and Silva kept it on the feet, but massive Antonio had superior counter-punching and bloodied Andrei's nose like he was a prostitute destitute on cocaine. I really dug the main event, I'm an Alistair fan, and if I was Dr. Frankenstein and wanted to build an MMA fighter he'd likely look remarkably like Overeem. I've been watching Alistair in K-1 and DREAM and it was nice for him to finally fight in the states again, showing a lot of people his skills for the first time smashing out Rogers and just liquifying him with brutal ground and pound.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
AWA Wrestling on ESPN Classics (1986?)
Jay York vs. Nick Bockwinkle - 4
Always nice to see a Bockwinkle match. I recall all of the great matches he's had (including my favorite match of his, a draw with Curt Hennig) and was pretty excited to see him opening the show. I'm not familiar with Jay York, but enjoyed what I saw. He had a unique way of making Bockwinkle look like Superman. I enjoyed how he bumped out of the ring and laid there, try to "catch his breath." York sold well in-ring too. He would pretty much just crumble every time he would get struck. This match was really to put over Bockwinkle, who won with a sleeper. Just another match for Bock. Great seeing Bock walk over to Jay to wake him up. When Nick slapped his head, York convulsed like he had been struck by lightning. Decent opener.
Alex Knight & Dennis Stamp vs. The Midnight Rockers (Michaels & Jannety) - 3
Going into the match I thought that Knight and Stamp would be doing the job to the Rockers, but the action went back-and-forth. Stamp looked pretty good here in that he seemed to legitimately question his teams' likelihood of winning against the young, brash Rockers. Knight took a sick suplex (especially for an 80s style match) and sold it to go into the finish. Kind of a match that was just there.
Brad Ringans vs. Pete Sanchez - 2
Bockwinkle was on commentary for this match putting over Rignans as a great Greco-Roman wrestler. Rignans did have good mat wrestling, but emotionally, I felt nothing. Sanchez's selling was nice. He would shake his whole body over a simple punch. Rignans gave a sick headbutt that looked really stiff, but the lack of emotion really held the match back.
Doug Summers & Col. DeBeers & Larry Zbyszko vs. Curt Hennig & Jimmy Snuka & Greg Gagne - 6
Ok, now this lineup, I can dig! Laughed my ass off when DeBeers said he wouldn't wrestle someone who wasn't 100% Caucasian. Just thought about how you couldn't say shit like that today. My Lord, Zbyszko is a selling god. My favorite thing about this match was the balance. Everyone had a good amount of time in the ring. Gagne played the face in peril, at one point so confused and disoriented he would go to the wrong side of the ring for the tag, only to be met with a barrage of punches. Hennig looked really well, too. Even before he went to the WWF, he was perfect. Good match. This is the quintessential 80s match with great selling and story-telling. Watch it, its good!
Always nice to see a Bockwinkle match. I recall all of the great matches he's had (including my favorite match of his, a draw with Curt Hennig) and was pretty excited to see him opening the show. I'm not familiar with Jay York, but enjoyed what I saw. He had a unique way of making Bockwinkle look like Superman. I enjoyed how he bumped out of the ring and laid there, try to "catch his breath." York sold well in-ring too. He would pretty much just crumble every time he would get struck. This match was really to put over Bockwinkle, who won with a sleeper. Just another match for Bock. Great seeing Bock walk over to Jay to wake him up. When Nick slapped his head, York convulsed like he had been struck by lightning. Decent opener.
Alex Knight & Dennis Stamp vs. The Midnight Rockers (Michaels & Jannety) - 3
Going into the match I thought that Knight and Stamp would be doing the job to the Rockers, but the action went back-and-forth. Stamp looked pretty good here in that he seemed to legitimately question his teams' likelihood of winning against the young, brash Rockers. Knight took a sick suplex (especially for an 80s style match) and sold it to go into the finish. Kind of a match that was just there.
Brad Ringans vs. Pete Sanchez - 2
Bockwinkle was on commentary for this match putting over Rignans as a great Greco-Roman wrestler. Rignans did have good mat wrestling, but emotionally, I felt nothing. Sanchez's selling was nice. He would shake his whole body over a simple punch. Rignans gave a sick headbutt that looked really stiff, but the lack of emotion really held the match back.
Doug Summers & Col. DeBeers & Larry Zbyszko vs. Curt Hennig & Jimmy Snuka & Greg Gagne - 6
Ok, now this lineup, I can dig! Laughed my ass off when DeBeers said he wouldn't wrestle someone who wasn't 100% Caucasian. Just thought about how you couldn't say shit like that today. My Lord, Zbyszko is a selling god. My favorite thing about this match was the balance. Everyone had a good amount of time in the ring. Gagne played the face in peril, at one point so confused and disoriented he would go to the wrong side of the ring for the tag, only to be met with a barrage of punches. Hennig looked really well, too. Even before he went to the WWF, he was perfect. Good match. This is the quintessential 80s match with great selling and story-telling. Watch it, its good!
WWE Wrestlemania 22
1) Carlito/ Chris Masters v. Big Show/Kane- 3
This was just a showcase of big man moves, as the heel offense basically got squashed,but they sold everything with zeal and pain. Can't say the same for Show; he hit his face on the exposed metal buckle and sold it with as much expression as if he had bought the wrong toothpaste. This statement should tell you all you need to know: Carlito & Masters both, on their 2nd offensive move each, hit their fins.
2) Money in the Bank Match featuring Matt Hardy, Finlay, Shelton Benjamin, Rob Van Dam, Bobby Lashley & Ric Flair - 5
This has highlights and lowlights, Finlay is selling everything just like his usual badass self, such as Matt's exploding punches and Flair's classic chops. Lashley seems the odd choice here, he has no clue how to set up a high spot and after being hit in the back with a Van Daminator, he falls off several seconds later off to the side, taming the laws of physics to suit his own needs. This has your usual array of crazy spots, namely by Shelton, Matt & RVD but Flair takes one of the most damndest superplexes you'll ever see, as JR points out "he's 57 years old!" on the way down; but dumbly they have a ref do that X sign towards the back, even though Flair's only gone for 3 minutes. Wasn't too much content in this one but a few solid moments that made this enjoyable.
3) JBL v. Chris Benoit - 5
You know a match is going to be good when the first move is an open hand bear paw to the face. Here's a shocking statement: Benoit worked really hard in this one! He sold huge on all of JBL's big boots and other stuff, also tried the Crossface numerous times and would really make it a struggle, it was like a one man show, like a puppeteer. Bradshaw would give this dumbfounded look every time Benoit made contact with a chop like he got shot with a "Stupid" ray invented by Dr. Horrible. Even on the Germans, the big lummox just fell backwards, looking even more pussy than Michael Cole as of late on NXT. Awesome swan dive and I genuinely miss seeing that weekly. Finish was creative, but like any good marriage, it takes two to make this work and the cowboy just wasn't bringing it.
4) Mick Foley v. Edge (Hardcore Match)- 6
I bumped this above the last match only because I think this will be the last great Foley performance ever, but was very similar in context as Edge was kind of on the backburner the whole match. Guy put way more into his maniacal facials than his selling at all, he really didn't even take any bumps till the last few minutes and the delayed arm blading was a joke. Foley though was on fire, taking everything to the side of the head and breaking out his nasty knees first shot into the stairs. Even him selling punches looked good; his punches didn't, but we can't ask for miracles. Loved Lita (of all people) taking a crazy flip over the top rope in the middle somewhere. The fire bump, visually worked, but the setup was contrived and I hated how Edge walked away selling the blood he got only in the minute or so before the match finished when so many other dudes do crazier stuff with their heads gaping the whole time; hell watch a Flair match from the 80's on to see how to strut that open forehead properly.
5) Boogeyman v. Booker T/ Sharmell- 0
To say this was a waste of Book's talents is a punchline. Boogey couldn't get off a lick of offense that looked decent and their miscommunication setting up the axe kick was remiscent of negotiations between George Bush Jr and any foreign diplomat.
6) Trish Stratus v. Mickie James- 6
One of the only women's matches in WWE history I can think of getting more than 10 minutes and able to tell a genuinely cohesive story. Trish was hurt early on by kicking the ringpost inadvertantly and played the face in peril well, James was a nutso and flaunted it. Her legwork was succint and didn't lose the crowd at all. Loved the Macho Man spot where she used the leg over the top on Trish. The ending was marred by some kind of editing trick as it didn't flow seemlessly but was as creative as any thing I"ve seen on a recent Mania with the knee kick that dropped Trish face first on Mickie's other knee and the Vag Grab. Good stuff
7) Undertaker v. Mark Henry (Casket Match)- 3
Will be one of the lesser Taker matches in his legacy. Taker took one big clothesline early on, I mean he sold the shit out of this thing and I think he was done after that. Henry just plodded along, they struggled with the casket spots for sure. Give the big man credit for taking that power bomb out of the corner though, that was by far the biggest spot of the match. Taker's giant plancha is quite a sight, but he tacked it on right before he went to the finish here, making it competely unnecessary to the match.
8) Shawn Michaels v. Vince McMahon (No Holds Barred) - 3
The only redeeming quality of this match was seeing a sickly tanned Vince take a beating from every weapon he's made midcarders and jobbers use for years in their Hardcore division. I, like most fans, tired of the Spirit Squad after their 1st or 2nd appearance and their inclusion here, more than anything on this show so far, felt like a rehearsed performance with all 5 being taken down with a plastic bullhorn then Kenny being sent over the top rope like he just recreationally dove from a plane. The ending spot was fine but it took over 7 minutes to set up; but someone should send a tape of Vince getting his skull cracked with a chair to the Sports Legacy Institute so Nowinski can sit back and examine that shit with some Tositos and Queso cheese to get to the crux of why Vince is such fucked up scumbag.
9) Kurt Angle v. Randy Orton v. Rey Mysterio- 4
This felt like a fast food meal, quick, eager to enjoy it, but ultimately unsatisfying. This was supposed to be Rey's big moment, his career highlight (nonetheless bastardized from Eddie Guerrero's memory) but it was delivered as a rushed Raw main event. Even ROH wouldn't have taken so much valuable time out of this as a midcard attraction. Orton provided some unique sells, as always, especially really trying to put over his knee and ankle hurt from the 20 second anklelock he endured. Rey was off and on, like a faulty lightswitch and this seemed to be the beginning of Angle's shortcut style of highspots only with no build. Finish was nice homage to Rey's WCW days though.
10) Torrie Wilson v. Candice Michelle (Playboy Pillow Fight)- 1
I can't believe this had more coherent spots than the Booker match earlier on. Not to mention the busty silicone products on display, but it was exactly what you would imagine at this point on the show.
11) John Cena v. HHH - 8
Say what you will about either main, but this was a MAIN EVENT. Chicago was one of the hottest crowds for a main event ever here. HHH showed a lot of poise and experience playing the crowd's love-hate for Cena with fervor and malice. This match proved one thing though: As Jim Ross repeated over and over again, this is old school wrestling. There were no chair shots, no tables, no backcrackers, no 18 finishers in a row to keep the fickle crowd engaged, just a lot of punches, kicks, hard clotheslines, and one hell of a swinging neckbreaker by Trips that was just awesome. The Pacific Ocean would have a hard time keeping with the ebbs and flows of this match, granted the crowd's rabidness played a major role in well this came off, I'd venture that for the size of the crowd (a modest 17,000) comparably this was one of the greatest crowds ever for a Mania Main. Between HHH's snarls and Cena's disbelief the emotion was so keyed into what each guy was doing physically this match just moved at a perfect pace and I loved the way it was wrapped up with the fans pretty much bowing down to the finish as they should have. Bravo gents.
XIX= 54%
XIII= 49%
XXI= 46%
XIV= 44%
VIII= 43%
II= 43%
XVII= 43%
X= 42%
XX= 40%
XII= 40%
XXII= 40%
III= 39%
XVIII= 39%
VII= 34%
IV= 34%
V= 34%
XI= 34%
IX= 33%
I= 32%
VI= 32%
XVI= 30%
XV= 29%
This was just a showcase of big man moves, as the heel offense basically got squashed,but they sold everything with zeal and pain. Can't say the same for Show; he hit his face on the exposed metal buckle and sold it with as much expression as if he had bought the wrong toothpaste. This statement should tell you all you need to know: Carlito & Masters both, on their 2nd offensive move each, hit their fins.
2) Money in the Bank Match featuring Matt Hardy, Finlay, Shelton Benjamin, Rob Van Dam, Bobby Lashley & Ric Flair - 5
This has highlights and lowlights, Finlay is selling everything just like his usual badass self, such as Matt's exploding punches and Flair's classic chops. Lashley seems the odd choice here, he has no clue how to set up a high spot and after being hit in the back with a Van Daminator, he falls off several seconds later off to the side, taming the laws of physics to suit his own needs. This has your usual array of crazy spots, namely by Shelton, Matt & RVD but Flair takes one of the most damndest superplexes you'll ever see, as JR points out "he's 57 years old!" on the way down; but dumbly they have a ref do that X sign towards the back, even though Flair's only gone for 3 minutes. Wasn't too much content in this one but a few solid moments that made this enjoyable.
3) JBL v. Chris Benoit - 5
You know a match is going to be good when the first move is an open hand bear paw to the face. Here's a shocking statement: Benoit worked really hard in this one! He sold huge on all of JBL's big boots and other stuff, also tried the Crossface numerous times and would really make it a struggle, it was like a one man show, like a puppeteer. Bradshaw would give this dumbfounded look every time Benoit made contact with a chop like he got shot with a "Stupid" ray invented by Dr. Horrible. Even on the Germans, the big lummox just fell backwards, looking even more pussy than Michael Cole as of late on NXT. Awesome swan dive and I genuinely miss seeing that weekly. Finish was creative, but like any good marriage, it takes two to make this work and the cowboy just wasn't bringing it.
4) Mick Foley v. Edge (Hardcore Match)- 6
I bumped this above the last match only because I think this will be the last great Foley performance ever, but was very similar in context as Edge was kind of on the backburner the whole match. Guy put way more into his maniacal facials than his selling at all, he really didn't even take any bumps till the last few minutes and the delayed arm blading was a joke. Foley though was on fire, taking everything to the side of the head and breaking out his nasty knees first shot into the stairs. Even him selling punches looked good; his punches didn't, but we can't ask for miracles. Loved Lita (of all people) taking a crazy flip over the top rope in the middle somewhere. The fire bump, visually worked, but the setup was contrived and I hated how Edge walked away selling the blood he got only in the minute or so before the match finished when so many other dudes do crazier stuff with their heads gaping the whole time; hell watch a Flair match from the 80's on to see how to strut that open forehead properly.
5) Boogeyman v. Booker T/ Sharmell- 0
To say this was a waste of Book's talents is a punchline. Boogey couldn't get off a lick of offense that looked decent and their miscommunication setting up the axe kick was remiscent of negotiations between George Bush Jr and any foreign diplomat.
6) Trish Stratus v. Mickie James- 6
One of the only women's matches in WWE history I can think of getting more than 10 minutes and able to tell a genuinely cohesive story. Trish was hurt early on by kicking the ringpost inadvertantly and played the face in peril well, James was a nutso and flaunted it. Her legwork was succint and didn't lose the crowd at all. Loved the Macho Man spot where she used the leg over the top on Trish. The ending was marred by some kind of editing trick as it didn't flow seemlessly but was as creative as any thing I"ve seen on a recent Mania with the knee kick that dropped Trish face first on Mickie's other knee and the Vag Grab. Good stuff
7) Undertaker v. Mark Henry (Casket Match)- 3
Will be one of the lesser Taker matches in his legacy. Taker took one big clothesline early on, I mean he sold the shit out of this thing and I think he was done after that. Henry just plodded along, they struggled with the casket spots for sure. Give the big man credit for taking that power bomb out of the corner though, that was by far the biggest spot of the match. Taker's giant plancha is quite a sight, but he tacked it on right before he went to the finish here, making it competely unnecessary to the match.
8) Shawn Michaels v. Vince McMahon (No Holds Barred) - 3
The only redeeming quality of this match was seeing a sickly tanned Vince take a beating from every weapon he's made midcarders and jobbers use for years in their Hardcore division. I, like most fans, tired of the Spirit Squad after their 1st or 2nd appearance and their inclusion here, more than anything on this show so far, felt like a rehearsed performance with all 5 being taken down with a plastic bullhorn then Kenny being sent over the top rope like he just recreationally dove from a plane. The ending spot was fine but it took over 7 minutes to set up; but someone should send a tape of Vince getting his skull cracked with a chair to the Sports Legacy Institute so Nowinski can sit back and examine that shit with some Tositos and Queso cheese to get to the crux of why Vince is such fucked up scumbag.
9) Kurt Angle v. Randy Orton v. Rey Mysterio- 4
This felt like a fast food meal, quick, eager to enjoy it, but ultimately unsatisfying. This was supposed to be Rey's big moment, his career highlight (nonetheless bastardized from Eddie Guerrero's memory) but it was delivered as a rushed Raw main event. Even ROH wouldn't have taken so much valuable time out of this as a midcard attraction. Orton provided some unique sells, as always, especially really trying to put over his knee and ankle hurt from the 20 second anklelock he endured. Rey was off and on, like a faulty lightswitch and this seemed to be the beginning of Angle's shortcut style of highspots only with no build. Finish was nice homage to Rey's WCW days though.
10) Torrie Wilson v. Candice Michelle (Playboy Pillow Fight)- 1
I can't believe this had more coherent spots than the Booker match earlier on. Not to mention the busty silicone products on display, but it was exactly what you would imagine at this point on the show.
11) John Cena v. HHH - 8
Say what you will about either main, but this was a MAIN EVENT. Chicago was one of the hottest crowds for a main event ever here. HHH showed a lot of poise and experience playing the crowd's love-hate for Cena with fervor and malice. This match proved one thing though: As Jim Ross repeated over and over again, this is old school wrestling. There were no chair shots, no tables, no backcrackers, no 18 finishers in a row to keep the fickle crowd engaged, just a lot of punches, kicks, hard clotheslines, and one hell of a swinging neckbreaker by Trips that was just awesome. The Pacific Ocean would have a hard time keeping with the ebbs and flows of this match, granted the crowd's rabidness played a major role in well this came off, I'd venture that for the size of the crowd (a modest 17,000) comparably this was one of the greatest crowds ever for a Mania Main. Between HHH's snarls and Cena's disbelief the emotion was so keyed into what each guy was doing physically this match just moved at a perfect pace and I loved the way it was wrapped up with the fans pretty much bowing down to the finish as they should have. Bravo gents.
XIX= 54%
XIII= 49%
XXI= 46%
XIV= 44%
VIII= 43%
II= 43%
XVII= 43%
X= 42%
XX= 40%
XII= 40%
XXII= 40%
III= 39%
XVIII= 39%
VII= 34%
IV= 34%
V= 34%
XI= 34%
IX= 33%
I= 32%
VI= 32%
XVI= 30%
XV= 29%
Saturday, May 29, 2010
CZW Walking On Pins & Needles
1. Azrieal vs. Egotistico Fantastico - 4
2. Karsten Beck & Big Van Walter vs. Tommy End & Zack Sabre Jr. - 5
3. Bandido Jr. vs. Scotty Vortekz - 3
4. Brain Damage & tHURTeen vs. Necro Butcher & Danny Havoc - 5
5. The Best Around vs. Irish Drive-By - 4
6. Sabian vs. Adam Cole - 4
7. Notorious, Inc. vs. Drake Younger & Eddie Kingston - 3
8. Sami Callihan vs. DJ Hyde - 3
9. Nick Gage vs. Jon Moxley - 6
10. JC Bailey vs. Thumbtack Jack - Barefoot Thumbtacks Match - 6
Azrieal pretty safely lives in the "4" zone. The wXw showcase match I probably liked a little too much. I blame Sabre Jr. who, although appearing to be a 120lbs. high school senior, was trying his damnedest to throw all kinds of nasty open-hand shots and kicks and I was into it. It was worked as your basic small, skinny fliers versus big brutes bout but that's an old trope that works and was just fine here. Bandido's blank facial expressions took me out of his shitty match.
I dug the hardcore tag, lots of blood, stiff weapon shots, brawling into the crowd, etc. It was a fairly basic story of barbaric bloodletting but what hurt it most was Brain Damage's shoddy execution on the "Package Piledriver" that beat Necro. TBA vs. Irish Drive-By was engaging, some decent double-teams, nothing too meaty or memorable. Sabian and Cole went far too fucking long, especially Sabian in control on offense, which exposed him for having nil.
The following tag and then singles (feat. company owner and resident slob Hyde) felt like the higher status guys taking a relatively easy night off. Moxley and Gage was great, lots of violence, Jon getting his head (and mouth!) cut up by Gage, and some big, nasty bumps like a spot onto a stack of tables blanketed by a barbwire board (what cretin built that at 4AM in their parents' den?). Main event was just a savage spectacle, both guys going barefoot, tons of sickness, Jack shoving syringes into JC's foot and throaht were cringeworthy to say the least. I liked the Moxley match better as its set-ups were less obvious, plus Bailey's blade job was as transparent as the plot to that awful Avatar movie sans the overt preachiness.
2. Karsten Beck & Big Van Walter vs. Tommy End & Zack Sabre Jr. - 5
3. Bandido Jr. vs. Scotty Vortekz - 3
4. Brain Damage & tHURTeen vs. Necro Butcher & Danny Havoc - 5
5. The Best Around vs. Irish Drive-By - 4
6. Sabian vs. Adam Cole - 4
7. Notorious, Inc. vs. Drake Younger & Eddie Kingston - 3
8. Sami Callihan vs. DJ Hyde - 3
9. Nick Gage vs. Jon Moxley - 6
10. JC Bailey vs. Thumbtack Jack - Barefoot Thumbtacks Match - 6
Azrieal pretty safely lives in the "4" zone. The wXw showcase match I probably liked a little too much. I blame Sabre Jr. who, although appearing to be a 120lbs. high school senior, was trying his damnedest to throw all kinds of nasty open-hand shots and kicks and I was into it. It was worked as your basic small, skinny fliers versus big brutes bout but that's an old trope that works and was just fine here. Bandido's blank facial expressions took me out of his shitty match.
I dug the hardcore tag, lots of blood, stiff weapon shots, brawling into the crowd, etc. It was a fairly basic story of barbaric bloodletting but what hurt it most was Brain Damage's shoddy execution on the "Package Piledriver" that beat Necro. TBA vs. Irish Drive-By was engaging, some decent double-teams, nothing too meaty or memorable. Sabian and Cole went far too fucking long, especially Sabian in control on offense, which exposed him for having nil.
The following tag and then singles (feat. company owner and resident slob Hyde) felt like the higher status guys taking a relatively easy night off. Moxley and Gage was great, lots of violence, Jon getting his head (and mouth!) cut up by Gage, and some big, nasty bumps like a spot onto a stack of tables blanketed by a barbwire board (what cretin built that at 4AM in their parents' den?). Main event was just a savage spectacle, both guys going barefoot, tons of sickness, Jack shoving syringes into JC's foot and throaht were cringeworthy to say the least. I liked the Moxley match better as its set-ups were less obvious, plus Bailey's blade job was as transparent as the plot to that awful Avatar movie sans the overt preachiness.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Bellator 18
1. Joe Warren vs. Georgi Karakhanyan - 6
2. Patricio Freire vs. Wilson Reis - 4
3. Hector Lombard vs. Jay Silva - 7
4. Prelim: Charlie Rader vs. Christian Fulgium - 3
Here's a riddle: What's got the amateur wrestling accumen of Matt Hughes, the intensity of Wanderlei Silva, and the conceitedness of Tito Ortiz? Your Answer: Joe Warren. Warren's an Olympic wrestler (keep an eye on him come 2012) who I saw debut in DREAM and against the odds defeated superstar Kid Yamamoto in only his second MMA bout. I don't know how Bellator got him signed for his US debut over Strikeforce and UFC, but he was fighting here to make it into the finals of the Featherweight tournament. It was a great war, Georgi had Warren in some truly dangerous spots that about 95% of fighters would have tapped in but somehow the hardheaded scrapper wouldn't quit. Karakhanyan even hit some powerful knees to split open Joe's head but he gutted it out for the victory.
Reis and Freire are both well-versed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the fight kind of ran into a stalemate. Both guys were fairly evenly matched and I don't like their odds in the tournament finals against Warren. Patricio squeaked out the win in a decision. Lombard is the Middleweight Champion and crushed late replacement and UFC veteran Silva with a Bellator record 6 second KO. Hector looked invincible, refusing to shake hands, and just bombarding Silva in a brutal beatdown. They threw on a preliminary bout, both guys looked green, but it was Rader that picked up the victory in the first round via TKO from punches. Rader was trying to impress, but I couldn't help of thinking of someone I know named Michael that shares the same last name, although the only thing he's ever fought for was another dick for his mouth. Shooter!
2. Patricio Freire vs. Wilson Reis - 4
3. Hector Lombard vs. Jay Silva - 7
4. Prelim: Charlie Rader vs. Christian Fulgium - 3
Here's a riddle: What's got the amateur wrestling accumen of Matt Hughes, the intensity of Wanderlei Silva, and the conceitedness of Tito Ortiz? Your Answer: Joe Warren. Warren's an Olympic wrestler (keep an eye on him come 2012) who I saw debut in DREAM and against the odds defeated superstar Kid Yamamoto in only his second MMA bout. I don't know how Bellator got him signed for his US debut over Strikeforce and UFC, but he was fighting here to make it into the finals of the Featherweight tournament. It was a great war, Georgi had Warren in some truly dangerous spots that about 95% of fighters would have tapped in but somehow the hardheaded scrapper wouldn't quit. Karakhanyan even hit some powerful knees to split open Joe's head but he gutted it out for the victory.
Reis and Freire are both well-versed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the fight kind of ran into a stalemate. Both guys were fairly evenly matched and I don't like their odds in the tournament finals against Warren. Patricio squeaked out the win in a decision. Lombard is the Middleweight Champion and crushed late replacement and UFC veteran Silva with a Bellator record 6 second KO. Hector looked invincible, refusing to shake hands, and just bombarding Silva in a brutal beatdown. They threw on a preliminary bout, both guys looked green, but it was Rader that picked up the victory in the first round via TKO from punches. Rader was trying to impress, but I couldn't help of thinking of someone I know named Michael that shares the same last name, although the only thing he's ever fought for was another dick for his mouth. Shooter!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
1/2 show here, 1/2 show there: TNA Lockdown 09/ CZW Cage of Death 11
Writer's note: i was unable to procure a working copy of this TNA show, but didn't want half a review to go wasted, so thought I'd finish the last half of this quite good show so far from the boys of CZDub.
Pre-show Match: Eric Young v. Danny Bounaduce- 1
Just the physique and backne all over Bonaduce were enough to make Eric Young look normal again. He took some gnarly bumps into the cage and I believe i got as much enjoyment out of Danny's schooling as Young did adminstering it. He "performed" a rolling somersault off the top rope that looked identical to a young kid tumbling in gym class in elementary school.
Main Show:
1) Suicide v. Consequences Creed v. Jay Lethal v. Kiyoshi v. Sheik Bashir (Escape the Cage)- 4
2) ODB v. Sojo Bolt v. Madison Rayne v. Daffney (Queen of the Cage)- 2
3) Motor City Machineguns v. LAX v. Team No Limit- 4
4) Matt Morgan v. Abyss (Doomsday Chamber of Blood)- 2
Our opener was not your usual X Division fare, didn't really feature any big spots or bumps, just plodding action until each elimination, which all of were pulled off nicely. Creed was hitting all marks and looked pretty good, as did Suicide, despite the awkward positioning he and Bashir did on the top of the cage leading to the end which resembled a first date hug.
The ladies match desperately needed a leader, as I would think Daffney could have provided, but she laid low after hitting her spots, which came off well. Liked her twisting perfect plex. Rayne was lost, as was Sojo, trying to hit a clean spot with ODB was as confusing and insipid as NBC's screwing of Conan. This was probably only 6 mins or so but could have been kept shorter and picked up the pace instead of people just milling about as if waiting in line at a KFC.
This 3 way tag was a lot like the opener, lot of guys running spots while others laid on their backs. Hernandez though was an eyesore, not adding a lot except a crazy tackle into Shelly. This was the Machineguns show, great timing, double team moves were spot on, guess this was a consolation for not being pushed...EVER.
This was a debacle of epic proportions, this feud was one of the worst of last year, in any promotion and this match solidified it. As ridiculous as the name of the match is, the action matched it. All their big moves unleashed very quickly, as well as sure hospital visits for their gaping bladejobs that meant nothing to the quiet, indifferent Philly crowd. Add to that movie glass and Abyss' upper arm tack bump and I've got a candidate for "Biggest waste of 14 minutes" awards (that felt very Dr. Cox)
CZW Cage of Death 11, 2nd half
1) The Best Around v. Blk Out- 4
2) Devon Moore v. Drake Younger - 3
3) Sami Callihan v. Danny Havoc - 7
Enjoyed the opening arm work by Sabian, throwing quick stuff at TJ to try and get a quick win (kneedrop on arm, schoolboy). The Blk Out double team as they ran by the guy several times made everyone look more foolish than the ref wearing a total Charlie Brown shirt. I like Sabian's instincts but he moves a little stiffly as if he's the Tin Man and needs a little oiling, both on offense and selling. Best Around play decent pathetic chicken shit heels but they are as pathetic in punching and anything physical as their characters. Kind of hard to believe they could beat anyone, just like the Reds but they did just win 5 in a row. Man, well I wanted to like this, had good tag dynamic, but too spotted out near end, people looked like they were on xxx2 slow mo, then you have the Best Around setting up a ladder only for Sabian to jump on it and hit 3 fans in the front row. But the finish was literally one of the nuttiest things i've seen lately (shooting star double foot stomp through a ladder on Ruckus) and I just saw a rogue racoon mate with a moose last Tuesday.
This match was the excess of everthing that i hate in wrestling. If you're going to do a hardcore match or a crazy fight, have at least some brawling as transition, not a vertebreaker or a shooting star press outside. Moore isn't a wrestler at all, he gave this smug look after obviously blading in front of the crowd then hitting a sloppy superkick into a chair. Younger seems game for most anything, but this match was shit from the beginning. The ridiculous looking setups where both guys are basically holding each other so they don't fall off the top of the table isn't doing a damn thing to make this review better or stimulate a young lady's libido. If they had built up to that ending with good hate filled fighting this would have been a great bout, but they didn't. CZW is a fed with awesome finishes but too much bullshit in between.
Our Main is the Cage of Death, a large Mid South style chicken wire structure filled with tables, barb wire and planes of glass with a scaffold overhead. The "New Horror" Sami Callihan has been one of the best discoveries of the last 4 years and Havoc seems to be your new DDP, crowd entrance and all with Willie Nelson playing him in. You have to enjoy Callihan's growling as he strikes over and over again, you can feel the hatred here, nasty crazy bumps into the barb wire, crushing glass everywhere. This feels like a Mad Max sequel. I love how the sides of the ring hang ominously over the floor crowd, it's like being on a roller coaster with dangerous circumstances surrounding you and you have no power to do anything about it. This match is being used to settle a kidnapping & torturing angle; think this would be way more fun than incareration, could charge people tix to come watch. God, I'm a sadistic fuck. Maybe I need to look at myself. but for now I'll watch Havoc get his back fried by a car battery. If a car drives through the ring and Callihan caps the driver with a .22, i'll know i'm in a Grand Theft Auto dream and not really seeing this. Havoc's back looked like a Wiradjuri cave painting. Callihan's body had more holes in it than the plot of Heroes Season 4. Glass is covering the whole mat, just insane spot one after the other, Callihan's piledriver from the 2nd rop through some more glass was one of the more deadly ones. Wow, a table seems like a wrist lock in this match, Sami is now pouring blood out of his head like the jet function on the spray nozzle for my hose. Fuck any torture movie ever made after seeing that finish, dear god, even if I hated this match for everything it stood for i'd have to recommend anyone who's into the sport of pro wrestling to see this.
Pre-show Match: Eric Young v. Danny Bounaduce- 1
Just the physique and backne all over Bonaduce were enough to make Eric Young look normal again. He took some gnarly bumps into the cage and I believe i got as much enjoyment out of Danny's schooling as Young did adminstering it. He "performed" a rolling somersault off the top rope that looked identical to a young kid tumbling in gym class in elementary school.
Main Show:
1) Suicide v. Consequences Creed v. Jay Lethal v. Kiyoshi v. Sheik Bashir (Escape the Cage)- 4
2) ODB v. Sojo Bolt v. Madison Rayne v. Daffney (Queen of the Cage)- 2
3) Motor City Machineguns v. LAX v. Team No Limit- 4
4) Matt Morgan v. Abyss (Doomsday Chamber of Blood)- 2
Our opener was not your usual X Division fare, didn't really feature any big spots or bumps, just plodding action until each elimination, which all of were pulled off nicely. Creed was hitting all marks and looked pretty good, as did Suicide, despite the awkward positioning he and Bashir did on the top of the cage leading to the end which resembled a first date hug.
The ladies match desperately needed a leader, as I would think Daffney could have provided, but she laid low after hitting her spots, which came off well. Liked her twisting perfect plex. Rayne was lost, as was Sojo, trying to hit a clean spot with ODB was as confusing and insipid as NBC's screwing of Conan. This was probably only 6 mins or so but could have been kept shorter and picked up the pace instead of people just milling about as if waiting in line at a KFC.
This 3 way tag was a lot like the opener, lot of guys running spots while others laid on their backs. Hernandez though was an eyesore, not adding a lot except a crazy tackle into Shelly. This was the Machineguns show, great timing, double team moves were spot on, guess this was a consolation for not being pushed...EVER.
This was a debacle of epic proportions, this feud was one of the worst of last year, in any promotion and this match solidified it. As ridiculous as the name of the match is, the action matched it. All their big moves unleashed very quickly, as well as sure hospital visits for their gaping bladejobs that meant nothing to the quiet, indifferent Philly crowd. Add to that movie glass and Abyss' upper arm tack bump and I've got a candidate for "Biggest waste of 14 minutes" awards (that felt very Dr. Cox)
CZW Cage of Death 11, 2nd half
1) The Best Around v. Blk Out- 4
2) Devon Moore v. Drake Younger - 3
3) Sami Callihan v. Danny Havoc - 7
Enjoyed the opening arm work by Sabian, throwing quick stuff at TJ to try and get a quick win (kneedrop on arm, schoolboy). The Blk Out double team as they ran by the guy several times made everyone look more foolish than the ref wearing a total Charlie Brown shirt. I like Sabian's instincts but he moves a little stiffly as if he's the Tin Man and needs a little oiling, both on offense and selling. Best Around play decent pathetic chicken shit heels but they are as pathetic in punching and anything physical as their characters. Kind of hard to believe they could beat anyone, just like the Reds but they did just win 5 in a row. Man, well I wanted to like this, had good tag dynamic, but too spotted out near end, people looked like they were on xxx2 slow mo, then you have the Best Around setting up a ladder only for Sabian to jump on it and hit 3 fans in the front row. But the finish was literally one of the nuttiest things i've seen lately (shooting star double foot stomp through a ladder on Ruckus) and I just saw a rogue racoon mate with a moose last Tuesday.
This match was the excess of everthing that i hate in wrestling. If you're going to do a hardcore match or a crazy fight, have at least some brawling as transition, not a vertebreaker or a shooting star press outside. Moore isn't a wrestler at all, he gave this smug look after obviously blading in front of the crowd then hitting a sloppy superkick into a chair. Younger seems game for most anything, but this match was shit from the beginning. The ridiculous looking setups where both guys are basically holding each other so they don't fall off the top of the table isn't doing a damn thing to make this review better or stimulate a young lady's libido. If they had built up to that ending with good hate filled fighting this would have been a great bout, but they didn't. CZW is a fed with awesome finishes but too much bullshit in between.
Our Main is the Cage of Death, a large Mid South style chicken wire structure filled with tables, barb wire and planes of glass with a scaffold overhead. The "New Horror" Sami Callihan has been one of the best discoveries of the last 4 years and Havoc seems to be your new DDP, crowd entrance and all with Willie Nelson playing him in. You have to enjoy Callihan's growling as he strikes over and over again, you can feel the hatred here, nasty crazy bumps into the barb wire, crushing glass everywhere. This feels like a Mad Max sequel. I love how the sides of the ring hang ominously over the floor crowd, it's like being on a roller coaster with dangerous circumstances surrounding you and you have no power to do anything about it. This match is being used to settle a kidnapping & torturing angle; think this would be way more fun than incareration, could charge people tix to come watch. God, I'm a sadistic fuck. Maybe I need to look at myself. but for now I'll watch Havoc get his back fried by a car battery. If a car drives through the ring and Callihan caps the driver with a .22, i'll know i'm in a Grand Theft Auto dream and not really seeing this. Havoc's back looked like a Wiradjuri cave painting. Callihan's body had more holes in it than the plot of Heroes Season 4. Glass is covering the whole mat, just insane spot one after the other, Callihan's piledriver from the 2nd rop through some more glass was one of the more deadly ones. Wow, a table seems like a wrist lock in this match, Sami is now pouring blood out of his head like the jet function on the spray nozzle for my hose. Fuck any torture movie ever made after seeing that finish, dear god, even if I hated this match for everything it stood for i'd have to recommend anyone who's into the sport of pro wrestling to see this.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Bellator 17
1. Toby Imada vs. Carey Vanier - 5
2. Pat Curran vs. Roger Huerta - 6
3. Josh Neer vs. Eddie Alvarez - 7
4. Cole Konrad vs. Pat Bennett - 3
Imada's relentless submissions attempts were great. Curran in a close decision won in the biggest upset in Bellator history. I love watching Alvarez fight, seen him in DREAM versus the likes of Aoki, Kawajiri, Hansen, Amade, and most recently Kikuno and am a big fan. It was nice seeing him smash UFC veteran Neer into oblivion and choke him unconscious. Konrad is Lesnar's ultra-chubby Minnesota meathead training partner who pretty much said in his pre-fight interview he was going to use his size to lay on Bennett and that's pretty much what we got save for some shoddy stand-up and Bennett eating all his tough guy bravado.
2. Pat Curran vs. Roger Huerta - 6
3. Josh Neer vs. Eddie Alvarez - 7
4. Cole Konrad vs. Pat Bennett - 3
Imada's relentless submissions attempts were great. Curran in a close decision won in the biggest upset in Bellator history. I love watching Alvarez fight, seen him in DREAM versus the likes of Aoki, Kawajiri, Hansen, Amade, and most recently Kikuno and am a big fan. It was nice seeing him smash UFC veteran Neer into oblivion and choke him unconscious. Konrad is Lesnar's ultra-chubby Minnesota meathead training partner who pretty much said in his pre-fight interview he was going to use his size to lay on Bennett and that's pretty much what we got save for some shoddy stand-up and Bennett eating all his tough guy bravado.
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