Another fantastic purchase from IVP Videos, this time a compilation of the awesome Reslo show that used to air on S4C in the late 80’s/early 90’s. Hosted by the ever-so suave Bryn Fon and Welsh wrestling legend Orig Williams, the Reslo broadcast would generally show two matches and featured a style of wrestling that is distinctly European, focusing on matwork and wrestler schtick to entertain the crowd. As a half-Welshman, I felt it was my patriotic duty to dive straight in...
Johnny South vs. Frank Lopez
First thing to notice is how much of the audience is made up of kids, which is great because all these kids are clearly into the matches. They react to everything, which really helps a match like this shine. As matches go, it’s pretty basic, but both guys do things purely designed to get the crowd reacting- Lopez, the face, chants and claps to rally the kids behind him, South begs off and pleads with the kids to be quiet. The result is that the whole match entertains without being that good. The ending confuses, South has control over Lopez, but then elects to whip him with a chain, drawing the DQ win for Lopez.
Robbie Brookside vs. Lee Thomas
Brookside is a wrestler I’m very familiar with, having seen him live in 2004 dragging a decent match out of Darren Walsh at an All Star show in Leamington. Brookside is again awesome here, and this match is far more fast-paced than the last, for sure. Brookside takes control of the match early doors and works in quite a few spots where he outsmarts Thomas, much to the delight of the child audience. Thomas looks like the love-child of Bobby Eaton and Chris Candido, and, while not up to the high standard of either, he does keep up pretty well with Brookside. Brookside hits a nasty looking backdrop suplex, then hits a springboard suplex for the win.
Franz Schuman vs. Salvatore Bellomo
This is from the CWA promotion in Austria, and works under a round system. To be honest, this is a really dull match. Bellomo brings nothing to the table except some chokes and tedious brawling, while Schuman may have the right look (imagine a third Young Stallion) but none of the in-ring chops to back it up. Schuman rolls through a crossbody for the win.
Giant Haystacks vs. Pat Roach
Another match fought under a round system, this time best 2 out of 3 falls. Here we get 2 legends of UK wrestling, with Roach being the only person bar Harrison Ford to appear in the original Indiana Jones trilogy. Sadly, the match is awful. Haystacks dominates most of the match, and his moveset is based entirely on restholds, be it chinlock or nerve hold, and Roach doesn’t help by making his first offensive move a bear hug. Haystacks wins the first fall with a sleeper, before Roach FINALLY fires into life with a series of running shoulder blocks to win the second fall. Roach continues where he left off for the final fall, but collides with the ref, allowing Haystacks to hit an elbowdrop for the win.
Dave Taylor vs. Drew MacDonald
Not just Dave Taylor, but “Dancing” Dave Taylor! So unusual to see the future Squire Dave as a happy, smiling babyface, but it actually works, with Taylor showing some great babyface fire. MacDonald dominates the early stages and, like Haystacks, uses a nerve hold to down Taylor. However, unlike Haystacks, MacDonald really works the hold, grinding a forearm into Taylor’s face at the same time. Taylor makes a neat face comeback, using moves like a flying forearm and a splash which are more likely to pop the crowd. He also still has a ridiculously good European uppercut. Dancing Dave gets the win with an anticlimactic suplex, but this is the best match on the disc so far.
Danny Boy Collins vs. Kid McCoy
Until now, that is. This is a fine junior heavyweight match between two guys who seemingly have no problems getting a little stiff with each other. Collins impresses more initially, with a nice snap to everything he does, including a swish floatover butterfly suplex. McCoy seems to take a bit longer to warm up, but soon gets into his stride until he’s confidently working Mexican surfboard reversals with the seemingly more-experienced Collins. For an early 90’s match in the UK, it seems very ahead of it’s time, and it’s a shame when it finishes with a time limit draw, could happily have watched more of this.
The Superflies (Jimmy Ocean and Ricky Knight) vs. Tony Stewart and Geraint Clewd
You only have to look at the Superflies to know they’re heels: with bleached blond mullets and garish multicoloured tights, they ooze scummy heat. Stewart and Clewd seem much younger and less experienced, but have a great babyface energy and swiftly win the first fall with a Clewd rollup on Ocean. The ‘Flies pull out all the stops from the “Heel Tagteam” playbook, with tag-rope chokes and ref distractions a-plenty. A handful of salt to the face of Stewart evens the score to 1-1. A pin in the corner with feet on ropes almost earns the Superflies the win before the ref spots it, before allowing the young faces a chance to make their comeback. At this point, the Superflies turn into stooges of the highest order, frantically grabbing the ropes to avoid submission holds and each taking huge bumps to the outside from face offence. Clewd and Stewart more than hold up their end of the bargain, and pick up the win when Ocean accidentally hits Knight with some barricade meant for Clewd, allowing the face to pin Ocean following a sunset flip. Good tag action made more enjoyable by the efforts of the heel team.
Kensuke Sasaki and Klaus Kauroff vs. Eddie Steinblock and Hercules Boyd
Back to Austria we got for this largely pointless tag match, again best 2 out of 3 falls. Boyd overpowers Sasaki to start before Steinblock gets the first fall for his team with a power slam. Orig namedrops Antonio Inoki while Sasaki is in the ring, though I can’t tell you what he said due to the fact I don’t speak much Welsh. Boyd and Steinblock continue to out power Sasaki, before Boyd pins Kauroff following a hiptoss. Too short and a not particularly fun squash.
Johnny Saint vs. Barry Douglas
Johnny Saint was one of my main lures behind buying the DVD, as he specialises in the fluid, clever and above-all, fun matwork that the UK scene was known for. Saint comes to the ring to Reslo’s rather excellent theme tune, which is another reason to like him. The overall feel of the mtch is that Saint is letting Douglas get him in holds just so he can try and work out some elaborate way of escaping, which he does time and again. The highlight of this is a swank escape from a headscissors into a Boston crab. Saint is always one step ahead of Douglas, and the end comes as Saint outmanoeuvres and confuses Douglas, allowing him to get a roll-up for 3. A good, fun exhibition of a style that is becoming a lost art.
There is a ladies match from the US next featuring Heidi Lee Morgan and another, unknown, wrestler, but it isn’t much cop and is pretty short, so I’ll move on to the last match, which is...
Col Brody vs. Boston Blackie
Brody looks like your stereotypical 1940’s military man, down to his thick moustache which Blackie threatens and pulls on to the delight of the crowd. Brody does a great job of keeping the crowd into the match, bumping huge for Blackie (including a big spill to the outside) and always allowing Blackie to stay one step ahead of him. A missed knee drop allows the Colonel to work over Blackie’s knee, including a pair of snapmares which send Blackie knee first into the ropes; After Blackie misses a top rope splash, Brody wins by ramming him chest first into an exposed turnbuckle and hitting a fireman’s carry roll for the three. Fun match made all the more enjoyable due to Brody’s antics and selling, and a good way to end an unique and entertaining collection.
Monday, 29 November 2010
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
NJPW TV 07/01/2009
As part of my mission to improve my Puro knowledge, I've been investing in some DVD's from IVP Videos to get a better view of the Puro scene. I'm starting to work my way through NJPW's 2009 so here's the first show of the year.
Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari
Aside from Yujiro and Naito’s brief TNA spell, I’m not at all familiar with any of the guys in the ring. It’s a solid little tag match, which opens nicely with Naito and Milano trying to work each other over on the mat, only for Ishikara and Yujiro to do the same with a little more stiffness. There is a nice early spot with Ishikari kicking Yujiro off the apron, then using Naito’s own limbs to tangle him up in the ropes. Milano and Ishikari have the early advantage and work in some nice double team manoeuvres to stretch Yujiro. After a brief flurry of offence from Team No Limit, Milano manages to capture both opponents in a two-man single-leg crab, which is just the right side of goofy for me to enjoy. Milano has a habit of tying his opponents up in knots, which is pretty cool. Naito fires back with a huge flying forearm, getting great air, before nailing a crisp moonsault for 2. The ending sprint sees all four men in the ring desperately trying to finish each other off, only for the bell to signal a time limit draw. A fun opener, I was particularly impressed with the team of Milano and Ishikari, who had nice chemistry and really cool snug offence.
Koji Kanemoto & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Minoru & Nobuo Yoshihari
This is essentially a competitive squash match, as Kanemoto and Taguchi take it in turns to beat up the rookie Yoshihari, especially Kanemoto, who reaches high levels of dickishness here, including a brutal face wash in the corner. After an extended heat session, Minoru finally gets the hot tag and works a far more competitive exchange with Kanemoto, leading to a nifty submission reversal sequence, which ends with Yoshihari saving Minoru from a heel hook. Minoru’s selling leaves a little to be desired -he seems to hit moves normally, before remembering afterwards that his ankel is supposed to hurt. Kanemoto takes Minoru out on the outside, allowing Taguchi to hit a cross-arm breaker on Yoshihari for the tap out. An entertaining squash made by Kanemoto’s nasty offence and wanker behaviour.
Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask & Kazuchika Okada vs. Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii
Super enjoyable sixman, with the larger Nakanishi being the wildcard here, who barely sells some Gedo chops before levelling him with one of his own. Okada, who is currently with TNA in an attempt to get some seasoning, has a load of fun, spunky face offence, but gets caught by a rookie mistake, and the heels take full advantage, neatly cutting off the ring while beating him down. Okada makes the hot tag following a crossbody on two men, and Nakanishi is a house of fire with some nice power offence, before Tiger Mask is equally effective, this time with some fun high flying moves, culminating with a suicide dive to the outside. Okada and even Nakanishi both follow with dives of their own. Back in the ring, Tiger Mask plants Gedo with a tombstone and a standing moonsault for the win. Short, simple and effective.
15 Man Battle Royal KOSHIGAYA: Tetsuya Naito, Yujiro, Milano Collection A.T., Taichi Ishikari, Koji Kanemoto, Ryusuke Taguchi, Minoru, Nobuo Yoshihashi, Tiger Mask, Kazuchika Okada, Manabu Nakanishi, Tomohiro Ishii, Jado, Gedo & Kuniyoshi Wada.
Just a fun little battle royal that features all the previous guys, plus Wada. Nothing amazing, but features some fun spots, including Minoru trying to double-cross Yoshihashi, only for the double cross to backfire. There is a comedy spot featuring Jado’s tights falling down, but the ending is really a showcase for Makanishi, who hits a double suplex on Jado and Ishii, before putting Jado in a torture rack for the win.
Yuji Nagata vs. Mitsuhide Hirasawa
This is very much a veteran vs. rookie match, with Nagata enjoying an early dominance on the mat. As the match progresses, Nagata continues to enjoy the majority of the offence, with Hirasawa having to settle for the occasional hope spot. Nagata does miss a yakuza kick in the corner, which allows Hirasawa to enjoy his main spot of dominance, hitting a belly-to-back suplex and locking Nagata in a crossface, which Nagata counters out of fairly easily. Hirasawa hits a nice looking spine buster on Nagata, but there is never any doubt as to the victor, Nagata locking in a crossface on Hirasawa for the win.
Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomoaki Honma
Some 8-man mayhem here, with the veterans playing face, and there is a noticeable divide between the slightly broken down legends and the evil younger wrestlers. A chaotic opening culminates with the faces working over Honma, giving me my first chance to see Liger in many a year, and it’s nice to report that he’s still aces. The heels finally get an advantage by singling out Tenzan on the outside and proceed to work him over, despite several failed attempts by AKIRA to save him. The heels work Tenzan over like a gang assault, with chokes and biting which keeps it looking vicious. A hot-tag is prevented by attacking Liger and AKIRA on the apron, but a second chance sees both men pre-empt the assault, allowing the hot-tag to Chono. STF to Yano, but the heels make the save. Yano receives a series of finishers (palm strike, Yakuza kick) but is saved once more. Tenzan is tagged back in too soon and falls prey to more heel chicanery, but Makabe hits Yano with a chain-lariat by accident, allowing Tenzan to hit the Tenzan Driver for 3. Solid match with both teams playing their roles well.
Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Wataru Inoue
This was the first time I’d really seen any of these guys, and I was pretty impressed as they worked a solid tag team encounter. After some back-and-forth action, the Tanahashi/Inoue combo took the advantage by working over the leg of Nakamura, with Tanahashi looking particularly good- not only did he get great air on an elbow and hit a sweet second-rope senton, he also gave Nakamura time to make his comeback before stopping him off with kicks to the injured leg. Inoue was certainly portrayed as the weaker link of his team as not only did he fare less well than his partner during the opening exchanges, it’s also his mistake that allows him to be caught by Goto in Shouten for the win. Nakamura and Goto looked more cohesive as a team, with Goto especially looking good.
Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari
Aside from Yujiro and Naito’s brief TNA spell, I’m not at all familiar with any of the guys in the ring. It’s a solid little tag match, which opens nicely with Naito and Milano trying to work each other over on the mat, only for Ishikara and Yujiro to do the same with a little more stiffness. There is a nice early spot with Ishikari kicking Yujiro off the apron, then using Naito’s own limbs to tangle him up in the ropes. Milano and Ishikari have the early advantage and work in some nice double team manoeuvres to stretch Yujiro. After a brief flurry of offence from Team No Limit, Milano manages to capture both opponents in a two-man single-leg crab, which is just the right side of goofy for me to enjoy. Milano has a habit of tying his opponents up in knots, which is pretty cool. Naito fires back with a huge flying forearm, getting great air, before nailing a crisp moonsault for 2. The ending sprint sees all four men in the ring desperately trying to finish each other off, only for the bell to signal a time limit draw. A fun opener, I was particularly impressed with the team of Milano and Ishikari, who had nice chemistry and really cool snug offence.
Koji Kanemoto & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Minoru & Nobuo Yoshihari
This is essentially a competitive squash match, as Kanemoto and Taguchi take it in turns to beat up the rookie Yoshihari, especially Kanemoto, who reaches high levels of dickishness here, including a brutal face wash in the corner. After an extended heat session, Minoru finally gets the hot tag and works a far more competitive exchange with Kanemoto, leading to a nifty submission reversal sequence, which ends with Yoshihari saving Minoru from a heel hook. Minoru’s selling leaves a little to be desired -he seems to hit moves normally, before remembering afterwards that his ankel is supposed to hurt. Kanemoto takes Minoru out on the outside, allowing Taguchi to hit a cross-arm breaker on Yoshihari for the tap out. An entertaining squash made by Kanemoto’s nasty offence and wanker behaviour.
Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask & Kazuchika Okada vs. Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii
Super enjoyable sixman, with the larger Nakanishi being the wildcard here, who barely sells some Gedo chops before levelling him with one of his own. Okada, who is currently with TNA in an attempt to get some seasoning, has a load of fun, spunky face offence, but gets caught by a rookie mistake, and the heels take full advantage, neatly cutting off the ring while beating him down. Okada makes the hot tag following a crossbody on two men, and Nakanishi is a house of fire with some nice power offence, before Tiger Mask is equally effective, this time with some fun high flying moves, culminating with a suicide dive to the outside. Okada and even Nakanishi both follow with dives of their own. Back in the ring, Tiger Mask plants Gedo with a tombstone and a standing moonsault for the win. Short, simple and effective.
15 Man Battle Royal KOSHIGAYA: Tetsuya Naito, Yujiro, Milano Collection A.T., Taichi Ishikari, Koji Kanemoto, Ryusuke Taguchi, Minoru, Nobuo Yoshihashi, Tiger Mask, Kazuchika Okada, Manabu Nakanishi, Tomohiro Ishii, Jado, Gedo & Kuniyoshi Wada.
Just a fun little battle royal that features all the previous guys, plus Wada. Nothing amazing, but features some fun spots, including Minoru trying to double-cross Yoshihashi, only for the double cross to backfire. There is a comedy spot featuring Jado’s tights falling down, but the ending is really a showcase for Makanishi, who hits a double suplex on Jado and Ishii, before putting Jado in a torture rack for the win.
Yuji Nagata vs. Mitsuhide Hirasawa
This is very much a veteran vs. rookie match, with Nagata enjoying an early dominance on the mat. As the match progresses, Nagata continues to enjoy the majority of the offence, with Hirasawa having to settle for the occasional hope spot. Nagata does miss a yakuza kick in the corner, which allows Hirasawa to enjoy his main spot of dominance, hitting a belly-to-back suplex and locking Nagata in a crossface, which Nagata counters out of fairly easily. Hirasawa hits a nice looking spine buster on Nagata, but there is never any doubt as to the victor, Nagata locking in a crossface on Hirasawa for the win.
Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomoaki Honma
Some 8-man mayhem here, with the veterans playing face, and there is a noticeable divide between the slightly broken down legends and the evil younger wrestlers. A chaotic opening culminates with the faces working over Honma, giving me my first chance to see Liger in many a year, and it’s nice to report that he’s still aces. The heels finally get an advantage by singling out Tenzan on the outside and proceed to work him over, despite several failed attempts by AKIRA to save him. The heels work Tenzan over like a gang assault, with chokes and biting which keeps it looking vicious. A hot-tag is prevented by attacking Liger and AKIRA on the apron, but a second chance sees both men pre-empt the assault, allowing the hot-tag to Chono. STF to Yano, but the heels make the save. Yano receives a series of finishers (palm strike, Yakuza kick) but is saved once more. Tenzan is tagged back in too soon and falls prey to more heel chicanery, but Makabe hits Yano with a chain-lariat by accident, allowing Tenzan to hit the Tenzan Driver for 3. Solid match with both teams playing their roles well.
Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Wataru Inoue
This was the first time I’d really seen any of these guys, and I was pretty impressed as they worked a solid tag team encounter. After some back-and-forth action, the Tanahashi/Inoue combo took the advantage by working over the leg of Nakamura, with Tanahashi looking particularly good- not only did he get great air on an elbow and hit a sweet second-rope senton, he also gave Nakamura time to make his comeback before stopping him off with kicks to the injured leg. Inoue was certainly portrayed as the weaker link of his team as not only did he fare less well than his partner during the opening exchanges, it’s also his mistake that allows him to be caught by Goto in Shouten for the win. Nakamura and Goto looked more cohesive as a team, with Goto especially looking good.
Friday, 5 November 2010
TNA Webmatches (Episodes 7-9)
Back after too long a delay. I've got a few shows/DVD's I'm halfway through writing about, but for now I'm going to look at a few more TNA webmatches.
Kiyoshi vs Shark Boy
This is “Stone Cold” era for Shark Boy. Kiyoshi is joined by No Limit on their brief excursion to TNA from NJPW, during which they jobbed repeatedly. Kiyoshi dominates after a brief exchange, though the big dumb grin on Shark Boy’s mask really undermines any trouble he is in. Less than two minutes in and Kiyoshi puts on a nervehold, seemingly to allow Shark Boy to break and hit all his Austin tribute spots. Shark Boy looks to be going for the Chummer, but No Limit interference allows Kiyoshi to hit a Widowmaker for 3. Not too much fun, it felt really brief and Shark Boy, fun as he is, has really soft looking offence.
Taylor Wilde vs Madison Rayne
Madison looks far more jobbery here than she does now, it’s quite impressive just how far she’s come in terms of looks and character, though she’s still good at playing the bitchy role here. Taylor is super-over with the crowd, who for once don’t bother with duelling chants. Rayne’s offence seems to mainly revolve around attacking Taylor’s face, which I hope is deliberate to fit in with her position in the Beautiful People. Madison still goes for multiple covers, which I’m on record as being a fan of. Madison looks to go for a bulldog, but gets shoved into the ropes, allowing Taylor to hit a German suplex for the win. Decent match, though Rayne would get better in later months.
ODB vs Sojo Bolt
I’m far less confident about this match being any good. Cody Deaner is with ODB, reminding me instantly why I was glad he left TNA. The match is awful: it lasts about three minutes, it’s barely got any structure and they keep cutting to Cody fucking Deaner at ringside. I know I said before that TNA missed a trick on ODB, especially with how over she was, but matches like this make me realise how little I miss her.
Kiyoshi vs Shark Boy
This is “Stone Cold” era for Shark Boy. Kiyoshi is joined by No Limit on their brief excursion to TNA from NJPW, during which they jobbed repeatedly. Kiyoshi dominates after a brief exchange, though the big dumb grin on Shark Boy’s mask really undermines any trouble he is in. Less than two minutes in and Kiyoshi puts on a nervehold, seemingly to allow Shark Boy to break and hit all his Austin tribute spots. Shark Boy looks to be going for the Chummer, but No Limit interference allows Kiyoshi to hit a Widowmaker for 3. Not too much fun, it felt really brief and Shark Boy, fun as he is, has really soft looking offence.
Taylor Wilde vs Madison Rayne
Madison looks far more jobbery here than she does now, it’s quite impressive just how far she’s come in terms of looks and character, though she’s still good at playing the bitchy role here. Taylor is super-over with the crowd, who for once don’t bother with duelling chants. Rayne’s offence seems to mainly revolve around attacking Taylor’s face, which I hope is deliberate to fit in with her position in the Beautiful People. Madison still goes for multiple covers, which I’m on record as being a fan of. Madison looks to go for a bulldog, but gets shoved into the ropes, allowing Taylor to hit a German suplex for the win. Decent match, though Rayne would get better in later months.
ODB vs Sojo Bolt
I’m far less confident about this match being any good. Cody Deaner is with ODB, reminding me instantly why I was glad he left TNA. The match is awful: it lasts about three minutes, it’s barely got any structure and they keep cutting to Cody fucking Deaner at ringside. I know I said before that TNA missed a trick on ODB, especially with how over she was, but matches like this make me realise how little I miss her.
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