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I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too amped up for this month’s theme. I think masked wrestlers and I immediately think of Lucha stuff which I enjoy in small packages. However, the Classics.com guys generally pick some good things and I hope this month will be as enjoyable as previous months have been.
---Week One---
-Ultimo Dragon(c) vs. Juventud Guerrera for the Cruiserweight Title-
This is from the very first episode of WCW Thunder which aired on January 8th, 1998. This is for the Cruiserweight title, though we have no introductions so I have no idea who the champ actually is as the match starts. We start off with the usual lucha offense, including a kip-up and tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Juvie hits a springboard dropkick for two and he chops away at the Dragon. Juvie misses a splash in the corner and Dragon just kicks away at him. Both wrestlers’ have their masks still. I don’t know if Ultimo ever unmasked but I know that Juvie did. He was an ugly mother. Ultimo Dragon misses a handspring elbow in the corner and Juvie seats him on the top. Juvie gets crotched and dumped and Ultimo follows with a moonsault off the top. Ultimo looks to be favoring his knees. We head to the ring and we get German suplex reversals out the wazoo until Ultimo catches him with a release German suplex. Juvie blocks Ultimo on the top and shoves him off. He leaps off but is met by an Ultimo dropkick. Ultimo tries a powerbomb which Juvie counters with a DDT. Juvie hits a brainbuster and connects with the 450 splash for the pinfall and the title at 4:12. (** - It was short, the spots hit, and even though the psychology was the usual lucha back and forth stuff, it wasn’t as bad as other matches I’ve seen). For what it’s worth, this was the second Thunder match from the debut episode that Classics has shown; the other being a DDP/Nash match from WCW month.
-The Spider Lady vs. Wenonah Little Heart-
Yeah, I just skipped a Liger match for this. This was only three minutes though and easy enough to sit through even if it sucks. This is from All-Star Wrestling and aired on July 6th, 1985. Spider Lady was the Fabulous Moolah for awhile and she was wearing that outfit when she beat Wendi Richter for the title in what many call a shoot. I don’t know if this Spider Lady here is Moolah. I think Moolah had a different body-type than the Lady we see here. Of course I could be completely wrong. Remember when I said I could watch this even if it sucks? Well, that theory is really being tested here. Spider Lady goes to work right away with choking. I’m having a lot of trouble writing Spider Lady without the hyphen, like I am used to when I talk about Spider-Man. We get a bodyslam at the 100-second mark, and Wenonah throws in a punch at the 110-second mark. A crossbody for Wenonah doesn’t work out as she planned. Spider sets up Wenonah like a piledriver and then falls backwards and tosses Wenonah in a reverse back body drop type of move. Wenonah took a hard fall on her knees. That’s a decent finisher that looks painful. That finishes things at 2:25. Yeah, this was bad. (1/2* - because I liked the finisher).
-Psychosis & Juventud Guerrera vs. Galaxy &
Ciclope-
This is a very short offering from WCW Pro (I’ve never heard of that show) from December 1st, 1996. I’m guessing it is their version of Heat? Galaxy and Ciclope start early, double-teaming Juvie and Psychosis and double-dropkicking Juvie for two. Psychosis comes back with a missile dropkick off the top to Galaxy and a springboard dropkick from Juvie. Psychosis hits a moonsault for two. Psychosis is whipped to the ropes where Ciclope attacks from behind. Ciclope seems a bit paunchy to be a masked wrestler. He is moving pretty slow, too. Galaxy is in and he’s back-body dropped. Psychosis sets Galaxy on his shoulders and Juvie hits a springboard frankensteiner for the pinfall at 1:56. The final move wasn’t well-executed. (* - this was really too short to be worth anything, especially considering the final move was blown and the other masked guys were really slow).
-Sid Justice & Dan Spivey vs. Ding Dongs-
This is another WCW Pro offering and this time it’s from July 26th, 1989. It’s a show I never heard of that ran for at least 7 years (1989-1996). Well, I was never that big of a WCW fan, what can I say? As WWE Classics.com states, you can’t have a masked month without the Ding Dongs. Teddy Long is the manager of Spivey and Sid and he’s rocking the Geri curls. Ding starts with Sid and he’s clotheslined down. Wow, how cute, the Ding Dongs have a bell in their corner that they ring. Who in WCW thought this would be a good gimmick? That they would sell at all. Norman the Lunatic comes down eating food (I think he became Bastian Booger) and talk about WCW loser-dom here. Ding is getting killed in the ring and Dong tries to ward off Norman. He’s clotheslined down by Sid as Spivey works on Ding in the ring. A spike powerbomb from Spivey and Sid ends this at 1:26. Best. Match. Ever. (1/4* - for the novelty of the match).
-Mil Mascaras vs. Sgt. Slaughter-
This is a Landover, Maryland bout from June 27th, 1981. I don’t know why I’m watching it but the fact that it took place in Landover made it impossible to pass up. This video definitely looks like it was from 1981. Mascaras starts with a drop toe-hold and we head right for the side headlock. I’m sure we’ll see a bunch of those tonight. Slaughter bodyslams Mascaras and Mascaras tries one of his own and after failing the first time finally hits and he covers for two. Slaughter fights back and drops a knee for two. The two battle it out in the corner, with Mascaras getting the best of that duel and Mascaras slugs down Slaughter. Mascaras backdrops Slaughter and dropkicks him for two. Mascaras arm-drags Slaughter and goes with a grapevine before rolling him over for a one-count. Slaughter calls for a time-out but that just enables him to cheap-shot Mascaras. Slaughter gets a backbreaker over the knee for two. Slaughter keeps on the back but Mascaras blocks a back-drop with a kick to the face and dropkicks Slaughter for two. He back drops Slaughter coming out of the corner and heads upstairs. A cross-body ends this for Mascaras at 10:13 after a very quick count from the referee and that was a surprising victory. I thought Slaughter was pretty over at the time but what do I know? (**1/4 - your standard 1981 style match, although it had a bit quicker pace than other matches from this time I’ve seen)
-Bob Backlund vs. Masked Superstar-
This is a Philly Spectrum match from January 21st, 1984. Arnold Skaaland is in the corner of Bob Backlund. Bob actually got a smattering of boos from the fans due to his losing the title to Iron Sheik a few weeks before. The two battle over some lock-ups which result in clean breaks to start. Both guys do a headlock takeover that is broken by a headscissors and they square off. The ECW fans would’ve cheered for that one. Backlund goes to the side headlock. Masked Superstar tries to break but Backlund elbows him down and goes back to the side headlock. Masked Superstar breaks with a kidney shot and he starts working over the arm of Backlund. See, back in the 80’s we saw the wrestler’s try and wear down their opponents using holds like these which we now call rest-holds. Backlund slugs out of it and tries pulling the mask of the Superstar but Superstar responds with a big right of his own to prevent his unmasking. Backlund tries to unmask him again but he continues to fail. Masked Superstar misses a flying headbutt after an Irish whip and Backlund again goes for the mask. Superstar bails to the outside and Backlund follows. Backlund rolls him back in the ring but ref calls for the bell at 17:20 for an ultra-lame count-out. Backlund continues trying to rip off that mask but Masked Superstar eventually escapes and we won’t know his identity this night. This was a slow-paced match with probably about 15 minutes of it being a _____-lock of some sort. **1/4.
-Shawn Michaels vs. Kato-
This Primetime Wrestling match from March 26th, 1991 came at the height of the Rockers/Orient Express feud. Kato comes out with Tanaka and Mr. Fuji. Shawn comes out on his own and realizing how he’s down 3 to 1 he goes back and brings out Marty Jannetty. Kato corners Michaels after a lock-up and surprise, he doesn’t break clean. He monkey flips Michaels out of the corner. Michaels counters another attempt from Kato out of the corner by arm-dragging Kato down off the top rope. Michaels keeps on the armbar until Kato sends him headfirst into the corner. Shawn hiptosses Kato only to get his face planted into the mat. Kato elbows down Michaels and hits a running knee to the midsection for two. Kato crossbodies Michaels off the top but Shawn rolls through for two. Shawn sneaks in a victory roll for two. Kato’s really controlling a lot of the offense here. Kato locks on a nerve hold that almost puts Michaels out. Jannetty looks worried at ringside and announcer Alfred Hayes announces that the two (Michaels and Jannetty) are more than brothers. What the hell does that mean? How can they be more than brothers? What’s the next step after being brothers. Kato fires away with educated feet at Michaels in the corner. Michaels gets a second wind and elbows Kato down before super-kicking him. Michaels heads up and does his best Macho Man impression with the flying elbow drop; but it only gets two. Michaels rolls-up Kato for two but Kato reverses and uses the tights. Luckily Shawn kicks out. Shawn comes off the ropes and Fuji trips him up. Shawn rolls-up Kato and gets the visual pin but the ref is distracted by Jannetty and Fuji. Tanaka grabs the cane and whacks Michaels with it. Kato backslides Michaels for the pinfall and the victory at 12:52. This was a fast-paced match and so far the best match of the month. ***.
-Chris Jericho vs. Mr. JL-
This is a WCW Saturday Night battle from August 31st, 1997 and was Jericho’s first ever match in WCW. Mr. JL was none-other than Jerry Lynn. I know what you’re thinking, Mr. JL was just a great, original, name. Jericho starts with a go-behind that is reversed by JL that is reversed by Jericho to an arm-bar. Jericho follows with a dropkick and then a weird submission that looks like a fisherman’s suplex on the mat. We take a break and we return with JL head-scissoring Jericho down. Jericho pops back up with a clothesline for two. Jericho follows with a suplex but JL powers down Jericho for two. Jericho ducks a chop in the corner and ducks a JL charge, dumping him to the apron. This leads to Jericho doing his springboard elbow onto JL. The announcers don’t care, instead talking about the New World Order. JL re-enters the ring and he just takes a back suplex. Jericho heads upstairs but JL dropkicks him off to the outside. JL crossbodies Jericho from off the top and both guys are down outside the ring. JL connects with a missile dropkick inside the ring for two. Jericho responds with a suplex and his springboard moonsault for the finish at 6:52. (**1/2 – This was a good TV match).
-Rey Misterio vs. Juventud Guerrera-
This would be the THIRD WCW Pro match highlighted on the service this month. This time it’s from November 3rd, 1996. The two start with some mat-wrestling (mostly head-scissors) that results in Juvie elbow dropping Rey in the back. Juvie chops away and clotheslines Misterio down. Juvie misses a second dropkick so Rey head-scissors him to the outside. No highspot follows, though. Juvie reenters and immediately hits a T-Bone suplex. Juvie tries a 360 legdrop but ends up sitting on Rey’s face. Nice aim, Juvie. That only gets two. Juvie heads up but Rey is quickly up after him. Juvie tries a top-rope powerbomb but Rey rana’s him down and he covers for the pinfall at 3:21. Rey is favoring his leg afterwards. (* - what can you really expect from a 3-minute match? Especially when Juvie looked to be phoning it in).
---Week Two---
-Funaki vs. Diamondback-
This is a Velocity match-up from January 11th, 2003, and I am sure I’ve seen this match before. Basically the masked man would go around working the B-shows wearing a mask and calling himself by whatever the local team was in the arena he worked. I think it was Brian Kendrick under the mask? DB hiptosses Funaki and works in a La Majestral roll-up for two. Funaki responds with a crossbody off the top for two. Funaki avoids a dropkick but walks into a small package for two. Funaki calmly clotheslines DB down and locks him in a headlock. Diamondback breaks but runs right into a knee to the gut. Diamondback tries a springboard something or other but flies into a dropkick. Funaki tries a German suplex but DB lands on his feet and connects with an enzuigiri for two. Diamondback is sent to the corner but explodes out with a flying shoulderblock and hits Funaki with another wicked kick to the head for two. Funaki bulldogs Diamondback for two. He tries a tornado DDT but Diamondback blocks it and does a reverse bulldog off the top for the pinfall at 4:53. That was a surprise victory for the upstart. (** - This was an exciting 5-minute match that highlights a B-show like Velocity).
-Max Moon, Owen Hart & Koko B. Ware vs. The Beverly Brothers & The Genius-
This was probably a main event of Primetime when it aired on December 7th, 1992. The masked guy here is Max Moon. The Beverly’s are Beau and Blake and I never knew which was which and I never cared enough to find out. The Genius has a poem for us, too! Max Moon was a futuristic wrestler gimmick. I remember he had a jet pack when he was first introduced. He was quickly downgraded to wrist-cannons that shot confetti. Owen starts with Beau (thanks Alfred for the tip on who it was!) and Beau quickly dons the side-headlock. Owen breaks and dropkicks him down. Owen is sent to the corner and he rebounds into a Beau backbreaker. Beau tries it a second time and this time Owen counters with a backslide. A small package gets two. Beau tags in Blake (he has the moustache) sp Owen tags in Max Moon who does a “high-flying” hiplock according to Gorilla. He head-scissors Blake down as the announcers gush over how fast he is. Max was getting a pretty good reaction from the fans. Max cleans house after Beau is tagged in and Genius is laid out as well. Koko is tagged in and he’s really working the hair tonight. It’s like a foot off the top of his head. Blake quickly beats on Koko but Koko schoolboys Blake for two. Koko dropkicks him down but Beau hits a double axe-handle while Koko’s back is turned and Koko is the face in peril. I don’t want to say it but, why is the only black guy in the match the one who takes the extended beat-down sequence? The Genius is tagged in only after Koko is worn down enough and he slaps at Koko in the corner. Koko slugs back and Genius runs like a little girl back to Beau. He clotheslines Koko down for two. Koko is caught in a bear-hug and the fans, bless them, are staying interested in this match. Koko is bodyslammed down but he blocks a back body attempt with a DDT. Koko is able to make the hot tag to Owen and the fans boo that Max wasn’t tagged in based on the reaction. Owen cleans house with a back drop and a spinning heel kick. He gets caught in a powerslam and the Genius is tagged in since he’s the only one fresh. Max Moon is tagged in and he slams the Genius’ head into the corner a good 10 times before hitting a crossbody off the top for the pinfall at 9:43. (*** The ending was anti-climactic and the face in peril section was dull, but the crowd was hot and the good parts were definitely more overwhelming than the bad).
-Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff vs. Brian Pillman & Jushin Liger-
The WWE Classics.com folks say that the Liger match was the most watched match last week so we get another Liger match, this one coming from the 1992 Great American Bash held on July 12th. Nikita shows off the power game early on, tossing Pillman down out of a lock-up and shoulderblocking Pillman down. Pillman asks for a test of strength before getting a drop toe-hold and going for a front face lock. Koloff powers out and seats Pillman on the top rope. Pillman escapes and dropkicks Koloff into the corner. Pillman tries heading up to punch his lights out but he gets atomic dropped out of the corner. Koloff misses a splash and Pillman rolls him up for two. Liger is tagged in and he axe-handles Koloff off the top and the two high-flyers start working on the arm of Koloff. Liger dropkicks Koloff before Pillman is tagged in. Koloff powers Pillman down and tags in Steamboat. Steamboat brings Liger in for a double noggin knocker and Pillman and Liger are both sent outside where they recuperate. Pillman heads back in and walks right into a Steamboat arm-bar. Pillman takes another atomic drop but casually clotheslines Steamboat down out of an armbar. Liger is tagged in and they double-drop kick Steamboat. He covers but the ref was distracted by Pillman. Steamboat trips up Liger and tags in Koloff, who bodyslams Liger down. He elbows Liger into Pillman’s corner and Pillman is tagged in. Steamboat goes for a side headlock takeover which Pillman fights out of. He dropkicks Steamboat for two before going to his own side headlock take-over. Liger is tagged in and he hits a backbreaker before hitting a moonsault for two. Liger tombstones Steamboat for two. He hits a senton splash for two. Liger tries a headlock but Steamboat back suplexes out of it and tags in Koloff. Koloff hits a series of elbow drops for two. Steamboat comes in and does three backbreakers in a row before powerslamming Liger down for two, a pin that was broken up by Pillman. Koloff wears Liger down with a reverse chinlock Steamboat is tagged in and he comes off the top with a fist to the face of Liger and a roll-up for two. Steamboat telegraphs a back drop and Liger boots him in the face and tags in Pillman. Pillman back drops Steamboat and dropkicks Koloff off the apron. A bodyslam for Pillman gets two. Pillman tries wearing Steamboat down with a side headlock, which Steamboat tries to turn into his own pinning situation. Liger comes in with a missile dropkick and a handspring crossbody for two. Steamboat fires back with rights before tagging in Koloff. He shoulderblocks down Liger and hits a flying shoulder tackle before bodyslamming Liger down. Koloff poses and Pillman dropkicks him from behind before being tagged in. Pillman dropkicks Koloff a pair of time (with the first one missing by a mile) for two. He tries a crossbody but Koloff catches him. So Liger dropkicks Pillman onto Koloff. Koloff tosses Pillman but he skins the cat and comes in with a springboard clothesline before connecting on a missile dropkick for two. Koloff sends Pillman to the corner but misses a blindcharge. Pillman tries a sleeper but he falls off Koloff so he goes back to the sleeper. Koloff stuns Pillman out of it and he makes the tag to Steamboat. Liger gets an enzuigiri for two and a backslide for two. Steamboat sends Liger to the ropes where Pillman is tagged in. He comes in with a slingshot shoulderblock the second time Liger is sent to the ropes because he apparently forgot the first time. Pillman covers Steamboat and Steamboat bridges out of it, losing his grip in the process. Pillman heads upstairs but Steamboat falls back and Pillman is crotched. Liger comes in and he’s warded off by Koloff. Pillman tries his crossbody from the top but Steamboat rolls through for the pinfall and the victory at 19:25. (*** This was a lot of fun but there were a ton of missed moves that prevents me from going that high in good conscience.)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Shinobi-
This is a cool bout from Superstars which aired on February 24th, 1996. Shinobi is none other than Al Snow in disguise as martial arts expert. He immediately attacks Shawn from behind. So Shawn pulls down the “pig tail thing” of Shinobi before sending him to the outside. Shinobi has Owen Hart and Jim Cornette in his corner. Michaels pulls Shinobi to the apron in a sequence that didn’t lead to anything. Michaels goes off the ropes and Owen pulls down the top rope and Michaels takes a wicked bump to the outside. Shinobi follows up with a somersault pescado before Owen rolls Shawn back into the ring. Shinobi bodyslams Michaels and does a somersault elbow that looks pretty cool before covering for two. Shinobi headlocks Michaels and Cornette manages to sneak in a cheap shot as we head to a commercial break. We return with Michaels still under the power of Shinobi. Shinobi tries a moonsault that Michaels rolled out of the way of. Michaels kips up and pounds away at Shinobi. He hits his flying forearm and bodyslams Shinobi down. Michaels goes upstairs and does his best Macho Man-esque flying elbow drop. Michaels showboats so Shinobi tosses him outside into the arms of Owen.. He tries a pescado but he hits Owen instead. Cornette gets involved and this allows Owen to interfere. Instead, Owen is clotheslined by Shinobi and Michaels superkicks Shinobi for the pinfall and the victory at 6:10. Both Owen and Cornette attack Shawn afterwards and he covers both of them for three counts. (**1/4 – this was short, entertaining, and had some decent high-spots and bumping).
-Mr. America, Kurt Angle & Brock Lesnar vs. Charlie Haas, Shelton Benjamin & The Big Show-
This is a SmackDown battle from June 26th, 2003. Kurt gets a good face pop (though the fans still chant You Suck during his intro). Mr. America is Hulk Hogan and Brock Lesnar is the current UFC champ. Kurt and Charlie start, with Angle pushing Haas into the corner after a lock-up and breaking clean. Angle does a go-behind into a side headlock which Haas turns into a wrist lock which Angle turns into a hammerlock and a side headlock takeover. Angle hiptosses Haas and armdrags him down. He has one for a charging Benjamin, too. Haas is sent to the corner and backdropped on the rebound, but Haas lures Angle into his own corner where Benjamin comes in and they do a double drop-kick. Angle back Benjamin into the corner but Benjamin has a clever way to get out, a thumb rake. Angle comes back with a cross body. Mr. America is tagged in and the MSG fans enjoy it. Brock is tagged in and he and Mr. America do a double clothesline. Lesnar clotheslines Benjamin down for two. Benjamin breaks away to his corner and tags in Haas. Haas is press-slammed and Lesnar made it look effortless. This guy is a beast. Mr. America is tagged in and he does the usual Hogan offense. Lesnar is tagged in and he suplexes Haas. We head to commercial break and return with Haas getting kneed by Lesnar. Big Show still hasn’t been in yet. Haas takes a spinebuster and tosses a charging Benjamin. Lesnar sets up the F5 and jaws with Show, which allows Benjamin to dropkick him in the back. The WGTT do a leapfrog onto the back of Lesnar and Big Show is tagged in (finally). Big Show works over Lesnar while doing nothing notable until getting back suplexed . Lesnar makes the hot tag to Angle who has release German suplexes for both Benjamin and Haas. Haas boots Angle in the face, but misses by a mile and Angle catches Haas in the ankle lock. Big Show boots him down and so Lesnar takes him down. The WGTT try a double-team but Haas is superkicked in the face by mistake and Benjamin is laid out with a Russian legsweep. Hogan is tagged in and he slugs away at the Big Show. The WGTT interfere so Lesnar and Angle fell the Giant before Haas is F5’ed and Benjamin is Angle-Slammed. Big Show returns with a double choke-slam to Angle and Lesnar. We’re left with Show and Mr. America. America catches Show with a big boot but out comes Mr. McMahon. He has Zack Gowen (the one-legged guy) and he assaults him. This allows Big Show to attack America from behind. He chokeslams him to end this match at 14:04. (***1/2 – This was a lot better than I thought it would be, considering Hogan and Show were in here. This was just an electric match that the crowd was feeling and I was really getting into. Of course, Vince had to go and ruin it at the end.)
-Hulk Machine, Big Machine & Super Machine vs. King Kong Bundy, Big John Studd & Bobby Heenan-
This is an epic MSG match-up from September 22nd, 1986. I am actually looking forward to this since I’ve heard of this match before. Hulk Machine bodyslams Bundy very early into the match. Big Machine comes in and battles Studd. He almost bodyslams him but Studd wiggles free and tags in Bundy. Who is the Big Machine? Super Machine is tagged in and I don’t know who Super Machine is, either. Super crossbodies Studd for one. Things really slow down as BM is worked over by Bundy and Studd until he boots Studd in the face and tags in SM. He’s quickly overpowered, too. Heenan is tagged in (once the faces are down) but Hulk Machine is tagged in and Heenan is quickly pummeled. For some reason Hulk Machine tags out and Heenan escapes to the corner. Super Machine is tagged in and we see a variety of punches thrown. SM tries bodyslamming Studd but Studd falls on top for two. The referee is distracted by the heels and this allows Hulk Machine to take the place of Super Machine, who was knocked out. Hulk is up and he bodyslams Studd, clears the apron and hits the legdrop for the pinfall at 8:56. (* - It was fun, but it was tough to sit through at times. There were way too many punches in this match).
-Sting(c) vs. Black Scorpion for the WCW Title-
This is from Clash of the Champions and aired on September 5th, 1990. I think the Black Scorpion thing was something that was completely overbooked and was a total mess, but I never watched WCW at the time so I can’t tell you the different nuances of this angle. The Black Scorpion goes right after Sting and it looks like the Black Scorpion is actually black. Scorpion chokes at Sting before booting him to the outside. Scorpion wails away with clubbing right hands but Sting counters by dropping Scorpion on the railing. That has no real effect on him, and Scorpion is back to work pounding Sting inside the ring. Sting boots back and bodyslams Scorpion and goes after the mask. They continue with brawling before Sting connects with a top rope crossbody for two. Sting hits the Stinger Splash to end this at 8:11. Sting unmasks the Black Scorpion only to find he has another mask on. He tries unmasking him a second time but another Black Scorpion shows up at the entry-way. (*1/2 – This was a really pathetic match. The Black Scorpion’s offense was punching and kicking, which is what Sting did until the end. I wasn’t impressed with this at all.)
-20-Man Battle Royal-
This is from Shotgun Saturday Night and it aired on August 9th, 1997. We have Henry and Phineas Godwinn, Brooklyn Brawler, Triple H (w/Chyna), Mosh and Thrasher (who were known as the Headbangers), Rockabilly (Billy Gunn with Honky Tonk Man as his manager), Kurt Angle? No, it’s just the Patriot. It’s funny to hear Patriot using that music. The British Bulldog, Mankind, Vader and Ken Shamrock are also in the match. We skipped over some of the introductions for some reason. It looks like two of Los Boricuas are in there, as well as D’Lo Brown and Crush. As usual, the early moments of this match with 20 people in here gets way too cluttered and we have just punching and kicking. The Sultan looks to be in the ring, too. The Sultan is better known now as Rikishi. I see Farrooq in the ring, too. Is that all 20? There’s a guy in pink in there I can’t determine. Bulldog and Shamrock eliminate each other at 1:33. I thought those guys would last a bit longer than that. Oh that guy in pink is Salvatore Sincere (thanks announcer). Sal Sincere is dumped at 2:43 at the hands of Patriot. D’Lo slugs away at Mankind in the corner but Mankind casually drops him out at 3:18. Triple H almost tosses Thrasher but he can’t quite do it. Can you imaging that happening now? The Brooklyn Brawler is gone at 3:52, and Miguel Perez quickly follows at 4:07. Chainz tosses both Savio Vega and Crush at 4:32. We take a break and we have only Mankind, Vader, Sultan, Triple H and the Patriot left. Mankind catches both Vader and Triple H with the Mandible Claw but the heels fight him off. The odds of a masked man winning this is pretty good right now (80% to be exact). Patriot takes a short-arm clothesline courtesy of Vader. Wow, even with five people in the ring this is incredibly boring. Mankind connects with a double-arm DDT on HHH, before putting him over the top and onto the apron. Chyna is waiting but nothing really comes of that. Sultan superkicks Vader as both Patriot and Mankind try to eliminate Trips. Patriot charges Sultan but gets low-blowed for his efforts. Sultan catches Patriot with a sleeper hold, which seems to be about as useful in a battle royale as a pinfall. A Cactus clothesline sends HHH out at 10:41. Mankind holds onto the ropes but Vader charges him and Mankind is done at 10:47. So it is Patriot vs. Vader and Sultan. He fights out of the corner but it’s two against one and his fight doesn’t last long. Patriot ducks a clothesline attempt from the heels and follows with a double clothesline of his own. Sultan charges and is backdropped out at 11:56 and Vader is clotheslined out at 12:00 to end this. (*1/2 – This wasn’t a good rumble by any means. There was just way too much standing around throughout the whole thing.)
---Week Three---
-Black Blood vs. Big Josh-
This is a Great American Bash battle from July 14th, 1991. This is a Lumberjack match, too. Well, that is just dandy. Big Josh is tossed out and the heels immediately beat up on him before throwing him back in. I have no idea who these people are on the outside. I hate Lumberjack matches. Josh fights back with a hiptoss and a dropkick. The usual Lumberjack chicanery occurs here, as the heel Lumberjacks beat up on the face and nurse the heel and the face lumberjacks do the opposite and they end up fighting amongst themselves. Meanwhile, the match in the ring is sputtering to a standstill, with Black Blood working over Big Josh with an assortment of punches and kicks. When Big Josh decides to make his comeback he counters with punches and kicks of his own. Black Blood hits a German suplex before bringing in his axe. Dustin Rhodes whacks at Blood’s knee from ringside and Josh small packages Blood for the pinfall and the victory at 5:40. I gotta give it to the fans, they were actually getting into the match. (1/2* - this was just all sorts of bad, with the action outside the ring drawing attention away from the match, although that’s a good thing since this was just punching and kicking).
-Charlie Haas vs. Super Crazy-
This is a Heat match-up from January 25th, 2008. I didn’t know Heat ran that long, actually. Super Crazy is an ECW reject and he looks a lot fatter than when he was in ECW. Haas has some sort of angle running where he is wearing a mask, but he hasn’t donned it yet. Haas does a take-down which Crazy knuckles out of. Crazy does a weak arm-drag before doing a springboard arm-drag, too. Super Crazy hits a crossbody off the top rope for only one. A seated dropkick follows and he heads upstairs for a moonsault, only to have Haas bail to the outside and crawl underneath the ring. He comes out with a mask and a completely different uniform. Haas is back-dropped upon his return to the ring but quickly follows with a rana. Crazy tries a rana while hanging onto the ropes but Haas just slams him down. Haas suplexes Crazy for two and follows that up with a dreading abdominal stretch. That goes on way too long until he armdrags out of it. Haas catches Crazy in a full-nelson and I wonder if we can fit any other rest-holds into a lucha match. Seriously, if you saw Super Crazy you’d think he had one too many burritos, too. Super Crazy breaks and connects with a spinning heel kick before dropkicking the legs of Haas. A standing moonsault follows for two. Haas tries a powerbomb but Crazy takes off his mask which is a counter I’ve never seen before. Haas puts Crazy in the Haas of Pain to end this at 6:47. (*1/4 – way too many restholds, which was undoubtedly due to Crazy’s paunchiness than anything else.)
-Checkmate vs. David Von Erich-
It’s a rare WCCW match on here, and even more rare, a date is attached! This is from January 26th, 1983. Von Erich charges right away with a pair of armdrags and Checkmate has immediately booked it to the outside. Von Erich works the arm when Checkmate re-enters the ring and again Checkmate bails. The fans are chanting We Want Flair. I’m surprised he hasn’t made an appearance on Masked Month. Checkmate takes a back drop that was so exciting it is shown on replay. Checkmate returns and works the knee and leg of Von Erich. David tries to pull the mask off to counter but he’s unsuccessful in his attempts. Von Erich sends Checkmate to the corner but Von Erich is tripped up and Checkmate posts his leg. Von Erich fights right back and grabs Checkmate with (possibly the worst looking) sleeper hold I’ve ever seen and that actually ends this at 8:44. The excitement of the fans was nice to see. (** – This wasn’t a terrible match and aside from the horrible looking sleeper it was entertaining and told a decent story).
-Battle Kat vs. Boris Zhukov-
These two faced off on Primetime Wrestling way back on December 3rd, 1990. Zhukov sings the Russian National Anthem before the match until Battle Kat interrupts him. Battle Kat is dancing around. I wonder who Battle Kat was? Zhukov trips up Kat and then goes slowly off the ropes after being kicked off and he’s monkey flipped over. That took about 25 seconds and looked terrible. Kat blows a leapfrog and connects with a very weak superkick. A handspring elbow was extremely loose as well. These guys are barely touching each other. Boris forearms Kat down after Kat telegraphed a back drop and we go to the restholds. Kat sneaks in a sunset flip and a small package for two. Zhukov tries a chop that is so terrible that the announcers call him out on it. Kat tries a blind charge and runs right into the boot of Zhukov. Kat crossbodies Zhukov for two before driving both knees into Zhukov and falling on top of him for the pinfall at 5:00. (DUD – This was easily one of the worst matches I’ve ever seen. It was something you’d see out of 10-year-olds trying to do a wrestling match. Slow execution with moves missing by a mile. This was just bad).
-Undertaker vs. Who-
This Superstars battle occurred on August 17th, 1996. Undertaker’s opponent was there just so our announcers (Perfect, Ross and McMahon) can do an Abbot & Costello like routine. Who attacks from behind and pounds away. He whips Taker to the corner and charges right into a boot. Taker misses an elbow drop but responds with a flying clothesline. The tombstone finishes this at 1:09. DUD, but it’s cool to have a Who match on here.
-”Chris Jericho(c)” vs. Dean Malenko for the Cruiserweight Title-
Why is Jericho’s name in quotes? I guess I’ll watch this Thunder bout from March 13th, 1998 to find out. Jericho attacks from behind. I guess there was a reason Jericho was wearing a mask here. This was during their feud where Jericho would try and one-up Malenko, the man of 1000 holds, by claiming he was the man of 1004 holds. Jericho suplexes Malenko in the ring before doing the arrogant cover for two. Jericho is wearing the mask of Juventud, after winning the mask from him. Jericho misses a blind charge and Malenko fires back with a heel kick for two. Malenko back suplexes Jericho before locking him in the Texas Clover Leaf. Jericho quickly taps at 2:07 to give Dean Malenko the Cruiserweight Title. Malenko unmasks Jericho and it is actually Lennie Lane. So Malenko doesn’t win the title. Jericho attacks from behind and puts Malenko in the Liontamer. Ahhh, WCW. (* - This was exciting for the two minutes it ran).
---Week Four---
-El Falcon vs. Hiro Saito-
I’m watching this because this is a Stampede Match from August 17th, 1984. This one is JIP at five minutes in according to our announcer. Saito is controlling and drops a knee to the back of Falcon. Falcon rolls out of a second and dropkicks Saito while Saito is down. Falcon does a butt-splash for two. Saito is bodyslammed but he fights back with punches to the gut. Falcon is dumped but when he makes his return the two exchange chops. Falcon wins that exchange and does a body-scissor for one before rolling on top of him for one. Falcon boots Saito in the back. Saito comes back with a legdrop for two. Saito shoulderblocks Falcon down but runs into an armdrag. Falcon bodyslams Saito and heads upstairs. A flying senton finishes this at 6:34. (** – After a string of disappointing matches we finally get something decent. This didn’t set the world on fire but it was a well paced match).
-Cobra vs. Black Tiger for the Vacant Junior Heavyweight Title-
We go way back to Primetime Wrestling from February 19th, 1985 for this match-up from MSG. It is for the Junior Heavyweight Title, or the WWE’s first foray into Cruiserweight matches, which like all their other foray’s didn’t last too long. Cobra starts things off with an arm-wringer. WWE really missed their chance to have Cobra battle Sgt. Slaughter back in the day. Tiger quickly trips up Cobra and goes to a reverse chinlock but Cobra just as quickly breaks with an arm-drag into an armbar. Tiger comes back with a big clothesline and a senton splash for not even a one-count. Tiger is backdropped coming off the ropes. He tries for a second rope splash but there’s some miscommunication between the workers. So Cobra hits a spinning heel kick and a knee drop off the second rope. A bodyslam gets two. Cobra headscissors Tiger but Tiger kips out of it. Cobra puts up Tiger in an airplane spin but then just drops him chest-first over his knee. Cobra goes for a Boston Crab before going for a surfboard. Tiger makes the ropes and suplexes out of a facelock. We head to commercial and return with Cobra caught in a chinlock. Cobra breaks but misses a splash and Tiger starts hooking the legs and pulling them back. Tiger backdrops Cobra and drops an elbow for two. Tiger hits a senton splash for two. It’s funny to hear Gorilla Monsoon describe the move. Tiger misses a slingshot splash and Cobra drops a knee right onto Tiger’s head for two. Tiger is back quickly with a full nelson but Cobra powers out and dropkicks him to ringside. Tiger heads upstairs to re-enter but he’s press slammed off. Tiger responds with an elbow to the face for two. A pair of swinging neckbreakers get two for Tiger. Tiger piledrives Cobra and tries a reverse elbow off the top only to miss. The fans are really starting to get into this one now. Cobra hits a nice looking spinning heel kick for two. Cobra hits another backdrop and dropkicks Tiger to the outside where he proceeds to follow with a tope suicida. It seemed to hurt Cobra more as Tiger hits a splash off the top rope when they re-enter the ring. A suplex gets two for Tiger. Tiger hits another tombstone for two. He tries a third one but Cobra counters with a piledriver of his own. Cobra hits a sick splash off the top (his back falling on Tiger) for the pinfall and the victory at 12:26. Tiger attacks Cobra after the match. Dude, you lost fair and square. (***1/2 – This was an excellent that was well before its time. These two won the fans over with non-stop action. Of course, the moves were back and forth with neither guy controlling for long, or wearing their competitor down, but seeing Cobra finally reverse the tombstone was a nice use of psychology).
-The Executioner on Piper’s Pit-
This is from way back on Championship Wrestling from October 13th, 1984. The Tonga Kid comes out, pissed at what Roddy did to Snuka with the coconut. Tonga wants to fight Piper, who’s just trying to conduct an interview with the Executioner. Piper says he’s too high-profile to fight Tonga but he’ll fight him only if he beats the Executioner next week.
-The Executioner vs. Tonga Kid-
This is from the next week on Championship Wrestling (10/20/84). Tonga is shoulderblocked down and he tries a leapfrog (although Executioner’s head hits his ground and the move is a bit blown). Tonga side kicks Executioner and the Executioner takes a powder on the outside. He makes it to the apron where Tonga slingshots him in. Tonga makes very quick work of the Executioner after this, finishing off with a splash off the top rope for the pinfall at 3:09. This was just an extended squash. *1/4.
-Rey Misterio(c) vs. Mr. JL for the Cruiserweight Title-
This was a Nitro match from August 26th, 1996. They talk about the influx of wrestler’s from Mexico and actually note that JL is not from Mexico. I’m surprised they didn’t lie. Both guys work the arm in the early goings of the match. Oh, we take a break from this match to show Hulk Hogan stealing a light. They go to a TBS truck and spray-paint NWO on it. We head back to the match with JL getting counted out and as soon as he comes back in, guess what happens, it’s back to the New World Order. We head to a commercial and we return with Rey hitting a springboard dropkick on JL. He follows with a senton splash over the top to the outside. Dean Malenko gets to ringside to scout the match. JL hits a sit-down powerbomb for two. JL bodyslams Rey for two as the countdown to Hour Two of Nitro begins. The announcers run down the card, with a name edited out. Was it Benoit’s? JL suplexes Rey for two as we head to new announcers and another cut away from the action. The pyro goes off mid-match and it’s like the show just started again. Man, WCW is a mess. Rey headscissors JL to the outside but misses the follow-up baseball slide. JL sends him into the barricade and the ringpost, but he couldn’t complete the trifecta with the steps. Rey hops on to block and rana’s JL down. We head back inside and Rey hits a springboard ‘rana, with JL hitting his freaking neck on the mat, to end this at 11:03. (** - The cutting away really hurt the quality of the match).
-Rey Misterio vs. Kurt Angle-
This is from the October 28th, 2004 edition of SmackDown. Kurt is definitely one of my favorite wrestlers ever, so this was one I had to see. Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak are barred from ringside, and those are two names I thought I’d never hear again. Angle starts off by shoving Rey to the corner and sits him on the ropes before backing off. He’s getting into the head of the Lilliputian superstar. Angle shoulderblocks Rey down as the announcers mention another name from the past: Heidenreich. Ha, I’m so happy I don’t watch the current stuff anymore. Rey actually sidesteps a shoulderblock and Angle talks smack to him. It’s funny to see the 6’2 Angle looking down at someone. Rey stomps the foot of Angle, leading to a chase. Angle charges at the ropes but Rey 619’s out of it and Angle is sent flying to the outside. Angle’s pissed now. Angle slugs away and sends Rey to the corner but his charge is countered with a headscissors. Rey runs into Angle and Angle does and overhead belly to belly suplex that sends Rey over to the outside. Crazy. We head to commercial and Angle tries another belly to belly but he headbutts out of it. So the idiot runs right into Angle and gets belly to bellied yet again. Well, Rey was never known for his mental prowess I guess. Angle hits a backbreaker for two. Angle bodyslams Rey down for two. Wow, Tazz just mentioned Tough Enough. Remember that show? Angle locks Rey in a bearhug and Rey breaks with elbows to the face. Angle catches Rey again and German Suplexes him for two. Angle goes to a body scissors on Rey but Rey is able to break and counters Angle’s tilt-a-whirl slam with a tornado DDT for two. Rey hits a seated senton before going to a headscissors and a bulldog for two. Angle tries for the Ankle Lock but Rey kicks out of it. Rey tries for the 619 but Angle evades. Rey tries a springboard forearm but he hits the ref instead. Rey sets up for the 619, but Reigns and Jindrak run out. Misterio takes a backbreaker from Reigns so RVD runs out to even the score and take out those two bums. Angle connects with an Angle Slam but Eddie Guerrero runs out and hits a Frog Splash. He puts Rey on top of Angle and Rey gets the pinfall victory at 10:26. (**3/4 – This was really developing into a good David vs. Goliath match until all the run-ins started. That ground the match to a halt and storylines took over and it lowered the rating).
-Rey Misterio vs. Evan Bourne-
This is from the SmackDown that aired four years after the match above, almost to the day. This one is from October 27th, 2008. I wasn’t planning on watching it but the WWEClassics.com crew labeled this an “instant classic” and I know the WWE hype committee would never lie to us fans. This must be one of the most recent matches that will be shown on WWEClassics.com. Bourne is an ECW competitor according to Lillian Garcia. Evan “Air” Bourne and Rey Misterio start a little slowly, leading to Bourne headscissoring Rey down. Rey claps it out in the corner as they do the whole stand-off. Rey responds with a headsiccors of his own. Bourne does a springboard arm-drag that sends Rey to the outside. Evan misses a baseball sliding kick but they end up in the ring and a standoff as we go to break already? We missed two highspots during the commercial which we see while Rey is in a headlock. Rey tries to headscissor Bourne to the outside but Bourne hits the ropes awkwardly before going outside. Rey follows with a seated senton from the apron. Rey rolls him into the ring and covers for two. Bourne catches a charging Rey with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. Evan has a big following in the crowd. Evan boots Rey in the back for two. Bourne does a crossbow of sorts, stretching the back of Rey across his back. All the schoolgirls start chanting 619. At least they sound like schoolgirls. Bourne tries a springboard splash but Rey dropkicks him out of the air. Both guys are down, necessitating the double count. Rey is up first but blows a move pretty badly (he tried a springboard off the second rope and missed) but he tried to play it off like it was planned and he holds his hamstring. Rey dropkicks Bourne in the face and proceeds to hit a springboard seated senton. Rey gets up and charges but runs into an enzuigiri. Bourne tries a powerbomb but Rey counters out of it. Bourne knocks him down and does a standing moonsault for two. That’s impressive. Bourne heads upstairs but is warded off by Rey. Bourne knocks him off and tries a sunset flip off the top but Rey rolls through and sets up Bourne for the 619, which he hits. Bourne ducks out of a springboard rana and tries a victory roll which is ironically countered by Rey for the pinfall at 8:09. (*** - good match? Yes. Instant Classic? Not really).
-The Bottom Line-
I said it at the beginning of the month that I wasn’t digging the theme this month. It was probably the first time I was disappointed with the theme of the month. That being said, there’s some really cool, vintage things on here that you’d never see collected on any DVD’s. I mean, there’s a WCCW match thrown in, some classic action from the Hulk Machine, a very cool Jr. Title match, the Ding Dongs and Shinobi. This is just a great service and even if there’s a month that doesn’t pique my interest, they can still deliver some great content. My favorite match of the month has to be the Tiger/Cobra match, though the SmackDown 6-man was oddly enjoyable as well.
Here’s a rundown of matches I didn’t watch this month. Yes, there’s a lot of matches I skipped this month.
--Jushin Thunder Liger/Bill Kazmaier vs. Diamond Dallas Page/Mike Graham (Starrcade 1991)
I just wasn’t interested in this Lethal Lottery match. It may have to do with my unfamiliarity with Kazmaier and Graham or my general disinterest with DDP. I know that Scott Keith rated this at **1/4 so I don’t feel I am missing much.
--Johnny B. Badd & Arachnaman vs. Scott Steiner & Firebreaker (Starrcade 1991)
This is a second match from Starrcade 1991. Johnny B. Badd is better known as Marc Mero while Arachnaman was a Spider-Man rip-off. This is another one I just had no interest in (maybe I’ll review it if WWE ever releases a Starrcade Anthology). This was a **1/2 match according to the aforementioned Keith.
--Tag Team Turmoil (Backlash 2005)
How sad is it that this was 4 years ago and I have no idea if I even watched it. I think I stopped watching in 2003 so my gut instinct tells me no, I’ve never seen this. Nor do I want to. It’s a series of tag teams competing in 3-minute matches.
--Ultimo Dragon vs. Psychosis (WCW Uncensored 1997)
I just didn’t have an interest in watching this one, basically because I wasn’t impressed with either of their two matches I’ve seen already this month.
--Captain Charisma vs. Shelton Benjamin (Raw 12/6/04)
I don’t care for Raw past the time I stopped watching so this was an easy omit.
--Rey Misterio, Super Calo & Hector Garza vs. Psychosis, La Parka & Silver King (WCW Saturday Night 01/17/98)
This looked like a fun match but it was one I never had time to watch.
--Russian Assassin vs. The Koloffs (WCW World Wide 11/12/88)
This one just didn’t hold any interest for me.
--Eddie Guerrero & Love Machine vs. Octagon & El Hijo Santo (When Worlds Collide 1994)
When I only know a quarter of the competitors in the ring, and they are lucha guys, it’s an easy pass.
--Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, Lizmark Jr. & Chavo Guerrero vs. La Parka, Psychosis, Silver King & El Dandy (WCW Souled Out 1998)
When I only know a third of the competitors in the ring, and they are lucha guys, it’s an easy pass.
--Terry Funk vs. Mr. Wrestling II (MSG 11/25/85)
This was an interesting one but I just wasn’t amped up to watch it so it falls by the wayside.
--British Bulldogs vs. Conquistadors (Boston 1/9/88)
This is probably one I would’ve watched if I had more time, so I may possibly catch up on it in the future.
--Hollywood Blondes vs. Dos Hombres (WCW Slamboree 1993)
This is another one that I was on the fence about watching but when I ran out of time it was nixed.
--Rey Misterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (SmackDown 11/9/05)
I saw this match when it happened and I don’t remember much of it, but these two have had tons of matches and I wanted to watch things I’ve never seen before. It seems this was Steel Cage match for those interested.
--Chris Jericho vs. Kane (Armageddon 2000)
I’ve seen this one before and had no interest in seeing it again.
--Taka Michinoku vs. Aguila (Wrestlemania XIV)
Well, this will be reviewed if you want to wait a few years!
--Steiner Brothers vs. Minnesota Wrecking Crew (WCW Main Event 03/25/90)
I was never a big Steiners fan and I don’t know who the Wrecking Crew are, so I don’t feel bad skipping this one.
--Killer Bees/JYD/George Steele vs. Conquistadors/Bolsheviks (Primetime Wrestling 01/18/88)
It had JYD, Steele and the Bolsheviks in the match and you’re wondering why I’m skipping it?
--Psychosis/Silver King/Damien 666 vs. Juventud Guerrera/Ultimo Dragon/Super Calo (WCW Saturday Night 06/14/97)
I’ve mentioned before that this style of match doesn’t do much for me, so it’s an easy miss.
--Steiner Brothers vs. Doom (WCW Clash of the Champions 02/06/90)
See my previous comments about the Steiners.
--Rey Misterio vs. John Bradshaw Leyfield (SmackDown 05/26/06)
Yeah, like I’m gonna watch a Bradshaw match.
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