Friday 26 February 2010

Craig's Top 100 wrestlers of 2009

Well, the WKO100 is complete, so I thought I'd put my ballot up here as well. I'm posting numbers 21 to 100 here now, and will put up a seperate list of the top twenty with some attempted justification and matches to check out. Please feel free to leave your thoughts.

21. Solar
22. Bryan Danielson
23. Daisuke Ikeda
24. Freelance
25. Austin Aries
26. Goldust
27. Dick Togo
28. Takeshi Sasaki
29. Sami Callihan
30. Big Show
31. Toro Bill
32. John Cena
33. Yuko Miyamoto
34. Chris Jericho
35. Koji Kanemoto
36. Osamu Nishimura
37. Mark Henry
38. Blue Panther
39. Bill Dundee
40. Takeshi Ono
41. Necro Butcher
42. Randy Orton
43. Jack Swagger
44. Undertaker
45. Jon Moxley
46. Tamon Honda
47. Zatura
48. Ricky Marvin
49. Oficial 911
50. Giant Bernard
51. Jigsaw
52. Mitch Ryder
53. Toshiaki Kawada
54. Cassandro
55. Trauma I
56. Jerry Lawler
57. Oficial Fierro
58. Manabu Suruga
59. Shinsuke Nakamura
60. Averno
61. Isami Kodaka
62. Stuka Jr
63. Bull Pain
64. Matt Hardy
65. Ted Dibiase
66. Mashashi Takeda
67. Mitsuharu Misawa
68. Loco Max
69. Ikuto Hidaka
70. KENTA
71. Shuji Ishikawa
72. Ou Kobushi
73. Pirata Morgan Jr
74. Negro Casas
75. Jeff Daniels
76. Cerebro Negro
77. Yuji Hino
78. Tiger Mask I
79. Jun Akiyama
80. Eddie Kingston
81. Yoshihiro Fujiwara
82. Munenori Sawa
83. El Hijo Del Santo
84. Avisman
85. Danny Havoc
86. Jeff Hardy
87. Evan Bourne
88. Chris Hero
89. Hirooki Goto
90. Hooligan
91. Espiritu Maligno
92. Sangre Azteca
93. Shinjiro Ohtani
94. Primo Colon
95. Ricky Steamboat
96. Shu El Guererro
97. Dragon Rojo Jr
98. Euforia
99. Tiger Shark
100. Zach Ryder

Tuesday 23 February 2010

How Great is Sasuke (part six of thank you, eclectic mix of matches from DVDVR message board matches folder)

Sanshiro Takagi and Great Sasuke vs. Yasu Urano and KUDO, DDT, 23rd September 2009

This match alternated between boring indie-ish tag match and parody WWF hardcore brawl, with a couple of ridiculous spots thrown in along the way. This didn't work as well as the Weapons Rumble, because it wasn't a consistently ludicrous in a way that made it a self-contained piece of absurdist theatre. I didn't think the silly spots were as impressive looking as that earlier match, and the only thing that kept me entertained for the twenty or so minutes is the fact that Sasuke's earnest (yet incredibly wrong-headed) risk-taker act never seems to get old to me. I laughed when he crashes over the barrier inside the barrel, then when Takagi signals they try one more time, he nods and agrees immediately.

Great Sasuke and Yuki Ishikawa vs. Gulliver X and Gulliver XX, BattlArts, 26th December 1996

First of all, Gullivers X and XX do a pirate gimmick replete with an eyepatched manager wielding a rifle and a megaphone, so already they have scored the maximum points (thirty) in the category 'Does this match feature wrestling pirates?'. They are perfectly solid rudos here, which I guess leads me into my main talking point that the match is a real hybrid of lucha and Battlarts. A little weird, maybe, but it worked well, and only lost momentum a couple of times nearer the end with odd manager run-ins. Ishikawa didn't have as much in ring time as Sasuke, but when he was in he was fun working a submission section around the smaller Gulliver. Gullivers were a fun team, they did plenty of cutoffs, the smaller one launched himself into the ringpost near the end and the larger one threw a surprising dropkick. Sasuke leaping into some headbutts was unexpectedly stiff, he followed up with a perfectly aimed spinkick to the head, and he pulls out his no hands somersault tope near the end, which is always impressive. Oh, and the smaller of the Gullivers also has a great tope, followed by Ishikawa immediately jumping off the apron and putting the boots in, in my favourite moment of the match. So, loads of nice moments and generally flowing tag match made this very enjoyable.

Tiger Mask IV & Hiromi Yagi vs Great Sasuke & Chapparita Asari, M-Pro, June 24th 2000

This was a well worked little mixed gender tag match, with the novelty of the male-female interactions providing most of the fun stuff. Both guys, but especially Sasuke, were good at giving the women plenty of offence without it looking contrived or unbelievable. Yagi is one of the smallest wrestlers I can remember seeing, but her stuff looked good - she had some fun sequences leading to her armbar submission with Asari at the beginning, and all her armdrags and counters against Sasuke were nice, as was her top rope plancha. I thought they probably went back to the Yagi-outwrestles-Sasuke well a couple of times too many as it got a little repetitive, but overall this was very worthwhile, with a little comedy and plenty of entertaining action.

Hayabusa vs. Great Sasuke, FMW, December 11th 1996

This, to me, is how you do a spotfest. They open up with a couple of minutes of feeling out matwork, but really everyone is waiting for the high spots. From then its high impact moves all the way down the line. First half is all of Hayabusa's big stuff - somersault dive, quebrada, 450, brainbuster. I liked him cutting off Sasuke's quebrada with a chair to the face, as he set it up early so everyone could see what was going to happen except Sasuke, who was facing away. Second half was pretty much all Sasuke's doing big stuff - handspring somesault dive, tiger suplex, thunder fire bomb - before the final cut off and the top rope Falcon Arrow. This works for me for two reasons. Firstly, there are distinct segments of control, which tells a simple yet effective story. There are small fightbacks in between so it seems competitive, but no ridiculous back-and-forth, so it doesn't seem overly contrived. Secondly, each high spot has impact. Flicking back through the match, there was quite a bit of downtime after each big move. There is a real sense of fatigue and damage at the end of what is a reasonably short match. Ah, simpler times.

Sunday 21 February 2010

Michinoku Pro: 24th July 1993

The opener between Terry Boy and Jinsei Shinzaki was completely great and seems to me to be a match more people should talk about. It had the feel and the structure of a Southern grudge match, although still set in the context of a 90s lucharesu promotion.. Before the bell, Terry Boy planchas off the top buckle taking out Shinzaki and his manager (whose name I am yet to learn and can't find anywhere). Then there's some mic work, from which I understand Terry Boy saying 'Sleeper Hold' several times, leading to him putting a sleeper hold on the manager and I love the response that gets. He puts one on Shinzaki who makes the save and they spill to the outside, then Shinzaki takes over throwing Terry recklessly into the chairs while the front row audience members move as quick as possible.

The match is naturally built around longer periods of Shinzaki in control, leading to Terry Boy taking a pretty huge beating, plenty of stomping and big slams, a chair assisted double foot stomp, culminating in Shinzaki carving open his head with something metal. Terry Boy has a couple of short comebacks: one short one as he dodged a charging Shinzaki (who is not afraid to launch himself into the ringpost), only to be caught running back along the apron, another after kicking Shinzaki in the head to break a pinfall and then the final one at the end with Terry Boy throwing great punches and Shinzaki falling all over the place as it looks like he might lose. I really liked the finish, as Terry Boy gets himself disqualified in his momentum, but still takes the moral victory as Shinzaki goes crazy after the bell, knowing he'd been shown up and tearing up the seating area. Bloody, heated, strong characters and a great underdog story that makes you want to see more. I raised the question in the last review, and based on this one match alone, Jinsei Shinzaki was a tremendous wrestler in 1993.

The main event was the first UWA title match between Sasuke and Delfin. This was a fun match, in two main areas. Firstly, Delfin's rudo act dominated most of the first two thirds of the match, his cheating and thumbs up to the crowd riling everyone up for the Sasuke comeback. Secondly, the final third, while not overly long, was filled with all the trademark Sasuke highspots (and a huge Delfin plancha), culminating in the always exciting space flying tiger drop, a moonsault press and a pinning hurricanrana. As well as being spectacular to watch, I felt they fitted nicely into the overall structure of the match, first as desperation comeback moves, then as match winners. The near-countouts added to the impact and importance of these moves. There were a couple of odd moments in this - some quick mat exchanges and takedowns seemed a little out of place following a Delfin control segment (you were think these were more opening gambits that the usual response to being stomped in the groin) - but this was a highly enjoyable showcase match.

Thursday 18 February 2010

Michinoku Pro: 19th June 1993

As part of my ongoing Sasuke watching project, I plan to go through as much 90s Michinoku Pro as possible. I ordered a bunch of DVDs from the heroic WrestlingDVD.net, and I'll be reviewing them here.

The opener is a brief squash Jinsei Shinzaki squash, followed by him being attacked by Shiryu leading into a second match, which was also distinctly squashish in nature, although the opening minute or so featuring Shiryu's tope was pretty impressive looking. It's a constant irritation to me that current junior wrestlers, however much they bring impressive highspots, have such awful topes, where the diver comes through the ropes and then kind of grabs the person they are diving onto and pushes them down. A great tope is a no-hands head-first dive. If you don't look like you are risking some neck damage, I don't want to know. It's going to be interesting as this project continues to get a feel for Shinzaki. He's obviously the only real heavyweight in a promotion of lightweights, which gives him a certain role and pretty favourable booking. However, I've no sense going in if he's actually any good. Terry Boy comes out at the end, setting up a match between the two at the next show.

Super Delfin is another guy I have no real sense of, as I don't really watch Osaka Pro, and in terms of New Japan juniors, he was always more on an also-ran. However, his match with TAKA Michinoku showed a deeply villanous heel persona I was previously unaware of. The match was pretty fun, starting off with TAKA matching up well against Delfin, a TAKA dive, before Delfin takes over leading to a pretty conclusive finishing section. The Delfin Clutch finisher is one I also considered pretty dumb in, say, the 1994 Super J Cup, but as a heel move (complete with evil laugh), it makes a lot more sense. Post match brawl sets up Sasuke vs. Delfin on the next show.

The main event was Sasuke and Kendo against Villanos IV and V. This was a really enjoyable match. They opening pairings have some nice mat exchanges, and everything starts off respectful and competitive, but as Sasuke and Kendo increasingly come out on top of the exchanges, the Villanos drop right into rudo mode. It was hard to say whether Sasuke or Kendo were the more impressive here - both have their share of really graceful flying. Sasuke has one really beautiful sequence of takedowns leading to a headscissors. I really like a well-executed headscissors where it doesn't look like the opponent is just flipping themselves over contrary to actual physics of the move. As far as I'm concerned, Santo does the best headscissor takedowns in the world, but Sasuke's here was really good. I loved the sequence where Kendo got knocked down, kips up only to be blasted in the chest again, leading to this glorious Whack-a-Mole spot where he kips up and down so quickly that he baffles Villano, and spins away with a flourish.

This all leads to a section with both Villanos just beating on their opponents. The Villanos are large, powerful-looking luchadores, and they do a convincing beatdown. Then, just as Sasuke's comeback starts the match ends, I guess running out of TV time. This was a shame because I think as a complete match this would have been really good. Did Kendo become someone else afterwards? He's not on much on my pile of DVDs, but I was really impressed with his performance here.

Tuesday 16 February 2010

NECW: Episode 4

Episode four's opener is the first time I've seen DC Dillinger in action. He is played, I believe, by Brad Garrett. As a lean big guy, I didn't get the sense of him being actively great, but his generic offence (big boot, sidewalk slam) looked OK, he didn't move awkwardly, and Scott Levesque's brief minutes in control didn't look implausible. Basically, he'd be the best guy in Kronic but the worst in the Outsiders. This was nearly a squash, I'd be sort of interested to see how he'd do a real match.

The main event between Brandon Locke and Little Guido was one I was semi-looking forward to, and it was a little disappointing, but generally OK. I was kind of hoping submission fighting James Maritato was going to show up, but the opening matwork was indieish to say the least. Locke is a decent bumper and sells offence nicely, but his control sections relied heavily on restholds and he doesn't have the heel schtick to make that particularly compelling. Guido's no Mysterio when it comes to outsized babyfaces, but the match was structured simply enough, and the Guido comeback, when it came, was plenty spirited. The finish was, I guess, the result of the fact they could neither job their number one contender nor their visiting recognised name, but I'm not sure a walk-off countout victory was any really better.

You are missing nothing by not seeing this episode. Yes, I missed the womens tag. I've got to get on with this life.

Wednesday 10 February 2010

How Great is Sasuke? (part five of some matches from 2009)

Aside from the final M-Pro show of the year, the TAKA title match and some tag from Osaka Pro, I think I've managed to track down all the 2009 taped Sasuke. Will accept corrections on that point, of course. Stick through the first few matches, there is "gold" (really great wrestling) in them "hills" (list of wrestling matches)

Great Sasuke and Bambi vs. Handsome JOE and Yuu Yamagata, K-Dojo, April 12th 2009

Six minute match clipped down to a bunch of Sasuke mashochism comedy spots. Given those parameters, this was fine, and completely missable.

Great Sasuke vs. Toshiaki Kawada, HUSTLE, May 4th 2009

Mostly, this match is a squash, but kind of a fun one, as Kawada kicks Sasuke around and Sasuke looks anguished in his mouth and eyes. Would have been better had he not botched his comeback, falling off the rope on a handspring elbow, meaning he never really had a hot minute or so of offence. Still, this was less than six minutes and did not feature a particularly motivated Kawada, so I recommend taking enjoyment from the little things, such as the pervasive thought, “how bizarre a match up is this?”

Sasuke vs. Ultimo Dragon vs. Super Crazy, NOSAWA Produce, July 9th

Not much to say for this. The most entertaining thing they did was the spot where every time Ultimo held Super Crazy, Sasuke hit Super Crazy, but Sasuke held Super Crazy, he ducked so Ultimo hit Sasuke instead. In fact, the match seemed to be built around the flaky alliance of Sasuke and Ultimo, leading to some mask ripping and talk afterwards of a mask match, though I think we can safely say that will never happen. Maybe they could have a match where the loser has to have their photo taken, in a mask, in public?

Great Sasuke vs. Fujita "Jr" Hayato, M-Pro, November 8th

This is the decider is a best of seven series between the heel Kowloon stable, and the M-Pro Seikigun, and it is definitely one of my favourite matches of the year, as well as a match that cement both mens’ places in my top 20 workers for 2009. This is worked a lot more evenly than the June match, which was more dominant champion vs. veteran underdog. First of all, this match is a reminder that Sasuke is really good on the mat. The opening section was a lengthy exchange of well worked holds with really believeable transitions between them, and there’s also a bit in the middle where Sasuke goes from one arm submission to another as Hayato escapes each one. There’s some other really nice spots, like the capture suplex with Hayato’s leg fully extended on Sasukes shoulder, or his pinpoint accurate top rope dropkick to Hayato’s head as he lay on the mat.

It’s also a showcase of great Sasuke selling – there are parts of this where he actually seems to be holding his myriad injured bodyparts together with his hands. Hayato is no slouch with the selling, of course. Even as a youthful junior, his transitions to offence never feel like a guy who has decided its now his turn – there’s pause after a surprise counter attack. Also, having watched a bunch of Sasuke matches where his opponents barely move from Sasuke’s forearms and elbows, it is gratifying to see someone make them look really good.

They build to the inevitable Sasuke highspots, while Hayato steps up the stiffness of his kicks and knees. I really felt myself getting into the nearfalls at the end, which is curious given the relative unimportance of a victory. The nearfalls never even approached overkill, which is remarkable for a 30 minute match. Instead, the match has a natural buildup to the biggest moves, and a pacing that suggested the right level of physical toll. Finish is simple, and really vicious, with Hayato again capitalising on a missed highspot, and launching into a series of big kicks and running knees. In a year where junior epics have lost all sense of proportion, Michinoku Pro have produced several long matches done absolutely the right way.

Minoru Suzuki and Super Tiger II vs. Great Sasuke and Kuniyoshi Wada, Real Japan, December 10th

Super Tiger II is by far my least favourite of the wrestlers who are liked or have been liked by people in the parts of the wrestling internet fandom I frequent. He’s someone that gain attention in some of the better Battlarts matches in 2008, but the more I see him since then, the more I think he gets exposed. His kicks, which were clearly his biggest selling point, have been weak and aimless in a lot of what I’ve seen him in. There’s plenty in this match to distract me as well, an awful elbow drop, a terrible posting bump that misses by inches, and a general inability to even flinch when hit. There’s a point in the middle where Wada is chopping Tiger, and Sasuke is being chopped by Suzuki, and the camera changes between the two, showing two completely different approaches to selling.

Aside from this, this match wasn’t very good. Sasuke is at a point in his career where he does not have the hardest strikes by quite some measure, and when up against two guys that really aren’t interested giving much, it really doesn’t look all that impressive. Suzuki especially, the disrespectful jerk character he works often comes off as more than just a gimmick, like he’s completely aloof to the idea of wrestling as a contrived performance. His idea of eating offence is more like something to tolerate before he can have another go. Even at the end, he makes every effort to show he has not participated in a physical contest recently. I scowl and curse at him, safe in the knowledge that the distance between us is how ever far it is from my flat to the road outside, and then from the road to Japan.

Tuesday 9 February 2010

NECW: Episode 3

Opening tag was between Rican Havoc - Ryan Bisbal and Don Vega - the Russian gimmicked he Red Devil Fight Team. Rican Havoc is a fun name, the sort of thing that if I came up with I would down tools and call it a good day. This opened with some decent matwork. The first couple of exchanges between Bisbal and Chekov were quite intense battles over position, before it settled into more simple headlock stuff. The blind tag leading to the transition to the heat section was clumsy, but ended with the highlight of the match - an insane over the top rope bump by Bisbal, with his legs crashing into the guardrail. The end felt like the Letts Notes version of the southern tag formula, with a couple of minutes working on the leg, a hot tag and a finish. It needed a bit more time, and it seemed like they wasted a pretty heroic bump. Bisbal seems more than decent, his selling couldn't be faulted here, his mat work is solid and he's not adverse to an impressive bump. Not sure Vega is up to much, however, as his hot tag was pretty lacklustre.

The main event was between TJ Richter and the Blue Meanie. Total comedy match, as you would expect. Richter is entertaining as the overly serious guy constantly getting his humiliated - they run almost every possible variation of sidekick interference backfiring on heel. The interactions between the midget and Richter are enough to keep this enjoyable, as is Richter overselling for Meanie's comedy offence in tried and tested routines (the classic eye poke, cover eyes, nipple poke, arms jolt away in surprise, another eye poke). I'd happily watch Richter again.

Overall, not a bad episode at all, both matches, ignoring the Scott Levesque squash, doing essentially what they set out to achieve. Shall continue to stick with it.