Here are some more random match reviews from my effort to familiarize myself with more wrestling from around the world and the indie scene...
Stan Hansen vs. Terry Funk (4/14/1983, AJPW): Hansen has the clear size advantage, but Funk is tougher than leather. Hansen controls after an initial Funk flurry, hitting the Funker with a series of chops and then ramming him into the corner. To the floor they go and Funk hits a dropkick that sends Hansen into the guardrail. Funk struggles a bit but hits a bodyslam and then a series of headbutts. Funk goes for a piledriver but Hansen back body drops him and then continues the assault. When Hansen applies a headlock, Funk back suplexes his way out and then goes after Hansen’s leg. Hansen’s facial expressions and selling are terrific as Funk tries to apply the spinning toe hold. Hansen punches and kicks his way out and Funk hits the mat so he can blade. Funk is now a bloody mess but Hansen shows no mercy, booting and kneeing him in the face. Funk continues to go after Hansen’s leg, though, applying the spinning toe hold. Hansen kicks his way out again. Hansen and Funk trade blows on the ropes with Funk taking a ton of punches to the head. Hansen goes for the Lariat but Funk ducks it and goes for the toe hold. Hansen kicks him off and this one is getting out of control as Hansen dumps Funk over the top rope. Hansen grabs his bull rope and he drags Funk back into the ring with the rope tied around his neck! Holy cow that is vicious. Hansen stomps on Funk’s face and then wraps the rope around Funk’s mouth too. This is like watching a murder. Hansen continues to beat on the Funker with big right hands and knees to the throat. Dory Funk runs in to make the save and puts the boots to Hansen. He goes for the drop toe hold but can’t get it. Hansen fights back but Dory sends him to the outside and this one is over. What a story. Brilliant performances by both men. The only knock against it might be that we don’t get a real satisfying ending, but the post-match scene is tremendous as Funk exits the ring a bloody mess. (4.5/5)
Randy Savage vs. Jim Duggan (WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, 1/27/90): Duggan dumps Savage out of his throne to start the match. After Duggan controls early, Savage manages to gain the upperhand and hits a huge axehandle off the top and then sends Duggan into the post with a flying knee. If I’m not mistaken, those highlights were used in some commercials over the years. Savage hits another axehandle back in the ring, simple but effective. Savage does one of his trademark moves, bringing Duggan’s neck over the top rope as he hops out. Savage goes for a knee on the ropes but Duggan dodges it. Duggan misses an elbow drop but connects with a right hand and then back body drops Savage over the top rope and to the floor. Sherri is screaming on the outside and then hops onto the apron. Duggan nails Savage with a clothesline that might’ve been intended for Sherri. The referee checks on Savage on the floor before Duggan brings him back inside the ring. Duggan hits a bodyslam and then a fist drop, but Sherri distracts the ref before he can make the pin. Duggan gets another two count when Savage gets his foot on the rope. Duggan hits a series of clotheslines and then a haymaker that sends Macho to the floor. Duggan rolls him back in but gets into it with Sherri, chasing her into the ring as well. Eventually we get a nifty false finish when Sherri slips Savage an international object (the ol’ brick-in-a-purse) and Savage knocks Duggan with it, but Hacksaw kicks out at 2. Unfortunately, the actual finish is an uninventive and poorly executed one (Sherri’s interference is happening mere inches from the ref’s unimpeded view), a lesser version of the exact same ending to Warrior/Rude from a couple years before this. Some people really dislike seeing Savage bumping and selling for Duggan so much, but in this era, switching heel and face usually did mean you went from being a fearless, ass-kicking hero to a cheating, cowardly heel. It just so happens that Savage is incredible in both roles. One of the better Duggan matches I’ve ever seen, though I’m not super familiar with his Midsouth work. (3/5)
Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli vs Akira Taue & Jun Izumida (NOAH, 3/2/2008): A very fun comedy match, which was not what I was expecting coming into it. Then again, I’ve seen very few Kings of Wrestling matches and even fewer from Taue and Izumida. I’m not usually a big fan of comedy matches, but the silliness here was all really fun and the crowd clearly loved it. Claudio and Hero looked like they were having a blast working with two well-respected Japanese veterans, but it’s not like they were half-assing it or letting the vets steamroll them; the Kings get plenty of their offense in, including the Giant Swing from Claudio and a nifty double front-roll-into-a-spear thingamajig that I’m surprised more teams haven’t ripped off. I wouldn’t call this “must see,” but then again, how many comedy matches are actually at this level? If you’re looking for a fun, short match to watch or to show to a younger fan, this is absolutely what you’d be looking for. (3.5/5)
The Rockers vs. The Powers of Pain (WWE, 1/15/1990): This match is highly praised among the wrestling intelligentsia and for good reason. This is a “perfect” tag team match in terms of structure and storytelling as we get the two quick pretty boys taking on the big, tough monsters. The crowd is super hot for this too, which means every big dropkick or slam gets a noticeable pop. Watching a match like this, you can really understand the argument that The Rockers were under-pushed in the WWE considering how fluid their in-ring work was. They really could’ve had a huge run as the tag team champions fending off various heel teams. The Barbarian and The Warlord are not known for their in-ring prowess as much as their undeniable looks, but they have great chemistry with The Rockers. Love the timing throughout this match and even Mr. Fuji’s interference in terms of putting heat on heat. I’ve seen some people call this the best WWE match of the year, others name it as among their favorite matches ever, and I’ve even seem some dare to call this a Top 10 WWE tag match of all time. To me, that’s a bit much. This is a very, very good match and would absolutely be appreciated by anyone who is a fan of tag wrestling and the fundamentals of pro-wrestling…but I’m not sure that is enough to make it one of the top 50, let alone top 10, WWE matches of all time. Undeniably great, but not necessarily essential viewing. (3.5/5)
The Rockers vs. Greg Valentine and Dino Bravo (WWE, 7/3/1989): Like the previous match and the Duggan/Savage match I reviewed, this is another one from Supertape #2. I’m not exactly sure why this was included because it is a noticeable step down from the other matches featured. The Rockers are still in good form here, but there is much less chemistry with Valentine and Bravo, who were briefly known as “The New Dream Team.” The structure is similar to the last one, but it’s just not as good, even if the crowd is - again - pretty hot for the Rockers. Valentine and Bravo are just not very interesting workers, even less than Warlord and Barbarian. Plus, while the last one built to a fun finish, this one is more sour as Valentine and Bravo get a relatively clean-ish win and then Ron Garvin, who was now a referee, comes out and reverses the decision just so the crowd can cheer at the end. (2/5)
Hercules vs. Akeem (10/30/1989, WWE): I couldn’t track down when this match took place, but it doesn’t really matter, it’s not very good. Shit finish as Slick causes Hercules to spill out of the ring and this is considered a disqualification even though it’s a bit of light interference. Akeem was the better-looking worker in this match, though I am a sucker for his dancing and his cartoonish bumping style. (0.5/5)
Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jumbo Tsuruta (AJPW, 6/8/1990): A brilliant war that, based on my research, put Misawa on the map as “The Man” (or at least close to it). Not knowing the history of Japanese wrestling, I’m definitely missing some of the context, but this match can still be thoroughly enjoyed even if only the names of the participants are familiar and you don’t necessarily understand the magnitude of the match (as I didn’t). So many cool moments here: loved Misawa’s missile dropkick from the apron to the floor that sent Jumbo into the guardrail, Jumbo hip-tossing Misawa out of the ring and then delivering a gorgeous release butterfly suplex back in the ring, Misawa delivering a frog splash a good 7-8 years before I even knew the move existed, and Jumbo countering a crossbody by dropping Misawa neck-first across the top rope. Everything in this match was a struggle and felt like it had to be earned with both guys really selling the exhaustion from their efforts. The nearfalls in the second half of the match were uniformly fantastic and had the crowd popping huge. There were two somewhat confusing moments, though - first, Misawa crumbling after delivering a forearm felt like a little bit of an oversell and, second, Tsuruta delivering a back suplex that somehow ended up hurting Jumbo more than Misawa. Not sure if I missed what was intended with that. Anyway, these are minor criticisms of a match that is full of tremendous moments. (4/5)
Atsushi Onita vs Tarzan Goto (FMW, 2/26/1991): A collar-and-elbow tie-up to start things off before Onita starts dishing out the headbutts and Goto is busted open. Onita follows up with a dive through the middle ropes but Goto is up first and grabs a chair. After a chairshot to the head, Onita is on the floor and (most likely) blading. Goto brings a table into the ring and throws it right at Onita in the corner. Even for a No DQ match, these two wasted no time bringing out the furniture. Goto is in full control at this point and Onita has to roll out to the floor to try to recover. Back in the ring, Goto continues to dish out the punishment, including a back suplex and then a leglock-into-a-half-crab combo. Once Onita is back on his feet, they trade bloody headbutts before Onita finally overtakes him and delivers a DDT. Back to the outside they go where Goto hits a dropkick, but Onita is right back up to bodyslam Tarzan into some chairs. Onita sets up Goto and piledrives him through a table, but Goto barely sells it. Back in the ring, Goto unloads on Onita with devastating right hands but only gets 2. Goto with a bodyslam and then a Vader Bomb in the corner for another nearfall. Goto follows it up with a powerslam and then goes to the top rope to hit a giant splash for another 2 count. Onita makes a comeback with a stungun and then a powerbomb but only gets 2. After a brief flurry of offense by Goto, Onita nails him with a big clothesline and then an additional - and even more brutal - powerbomb. Onita with a DDT and then another nasty powerbomb. Goto kicks out, though! He lifts him up for a third one and barely pulls it off to end the match, Goto thoroughly beaten but Onita barely looking any better. Onita was known for really filling his matches and, often his post-match speeches, with emotion, and this is no different as he is a crying, bloody mess. Despite tearing into each other and nearly maiming one another, Goto and Onita - mentee and mentor based on my limited knowledge - celebrate the match together, reunited. If you’re at all into hardcore wrestling, this would be something definitely worth checking out…but mileage does vary with this sort of stuff, especially when it came to a couple huge spots that were barely sold. (3.5/5)
Terry Funk vs. Tarzan Goto (5/21/1998, Japanese Indie): Terry Funk is in his Chainsaw Charlie outfit for this, which is puzzling to me, but whatever. This match ebbs-and-flows between standing/walking around aimlessly and some really horrific spots. Based on the amount of barbwire around the ring, I’m guessing this was billed as a “Barbwire Death Match” of some sort. Funk gets bloodied first, but its not long before Goto also ends up cut. Serious ultraviolence at one point as Funk tosses chairs at Goto, who bats them away using another chair. Funk buries Goto under a whole bunch of barbwire boards and then goes after someone at ringside, giving Goto time to recover. Goto breaks a beer bottle against the post and then jams it into Funk’s head and arm. Goto slams a barbwire board onto the referee. The match devolves into utter chaos at the end instead of ending with an actual finish. If you’re into really hardcore wrestling, this provides plenty of it and I’ve read some reviews that consider this a masterpiece, but my personal tastes don’t tend to skew that way. (2.5/5)
Bunkhouse Buck vs. “The Z-Man” Tom Zenk (3/26/1994, WCW): I’m a sucker for Bunkhouse Buck so when this popped up on my YouTube feed, I knew I needed to check it out (as The Z-Man was also one of my favorites when I was a youngster). I was surprised to see that Zenk was still working in WCW in March of 94’ as I would’ve sworn he was gone at least a year earlier. I looked it up and he was out just a couple months after this match. Before the match begins, we get a video showing how it came to be and Buck looks like a lunatic. He charges Z-Man but Zenk is ready for him and hits him with a back body drop. I love how over-the-top all of Buck’s movements are. Extra half-point for Z-Man delivering a really old school headlock where he just repeatedly cranks on Buck’s neck. Man, absolutely nobody works a headlock like this today and they really should. Buck escapes by turning it into a kneebreaker, but Z-Man reapplies the hold. Colonel Parker chews on his cigar on the outside as Buck tries to escape with a back suplex and Z-Man keeps the headlock on! Holy cow, this is kind of incredible. Buck tries to escape by putting his foot on the ropes and yanking on Zenk’s hair, but the babyface won’t let go until he is rammed into the corner. He sends Z-Man into the corner and Zenk comes flying back with a crossbody that Buck dodges. Back to a headlock but Buck shoves him off. Roll-up by Z-Man but he only gets 2. Parker is on the apron and he distracts Z-Man long enough for Buck to wrap something around his fist and level him with it for a cheap victory. This was a really fun “sprint” of a match that really got a ton of mileage out of a very basic story and minimal moves, but that’s sort of the brilliance of it. I dug it. (3/5)
Austin Idol vs. Jimmy Golden (6/15/1985, CCW): This match is from Continental Championship Wrestling, a Tennessee promotion run by his cousin Ron Fuller (aka Colonel Robert Parker) and was for Golden’s Southeastern Title. Unlike when he worked as Bunkhouse Buck, Golden is clean-looking and presented as much of just your typical cocky heel wrestler, but we still get the over-the-top selling that I’ve always enjoyed out of him. Austin idol looks like a smaller “Superstar” Billy Graham but moves much quicker and is very over with the crowd. Idol controls early and Golden repeatedly tries to avoid actually wrestling his opponent. Again, there’s a ton of “shtick” here out of Golden but when there needs to be action, he flies and bumps incredibly well. He takes a great fall to the outside and grabs his neck and the ref won’t allow Idol to follow it up by going to the floor. Golden finally comes back into the ring and Idol reapplies a headlock but Golden shoves him off and hits him with a big knee to the head. Golden connects with a big right hand, a scoop slam, and then tosses Idol to the floor. He levels him with another great right hand and then drops him neck-first on the guard rail. Idol’s selling of the neck damage is as over-the-top as anything Golden does, but it’s not as charming. When Idol gets on the apron, Golden pulls him neck-first onto the top rope. Again, I just love how he mixes undeniably comedic, over-the-top bumping and selling with great-looking, vicious offense. Idol makes a comeback and starts setting him up for his finisher - a figure-four - applying it as the crowd goes wild. Golden is able to reach the ropes, though, and Idol has to release the hold. Golden tries to cheat to get the W by using the ropes but the ref catches him. Idol almost wins with a roll-up but Golden kicks out. Atomic drop by Idol and now he’s got him in the center of the ring with a Boston Crab. The finish is a little sloppy as Idol manages to get a weird cradle-lick pinfall but half of Golden’s body was clearly underneath the ropes. I guess it didn’t really matter but it certainly wouldn’t fly today. (2.5/5)
Kenta Kobashi vs Stan Hansen (AJPW, 7/29/1993): Hansen comes running in like a wildman, as was his nature, while Kobashi almost looks like a Japanese John Cena with his size and clean cut look. Hansen goes after a cameraman which allows Kobashi to strike and this fight is on. Kobashi with a bunch of slaps and then a DDT on the outside. Hot damn. Kobashi is bringing this fight to Hansen, who has no answer for it aside from a couple of fists and slaps of his own. Kobashi works on Hansen’s arm and then clobbers him with a clothesline and a leg drop for 2. He applies a facelock, but Hansen is resisting it as best he can. Hansen brings him up and down with a back suplex but Kobashi will not release the hold. He goes for another cover but gets 2. Hansen rolls to the outside and Kobashi boots him almost over the guardrail. Back in the ring, Kobashi hits him with a stiff kick to the back and then delivers a very impressive vertical suplex considering Stan’s size. This is just an ass-kicking, but because of how physical and non-stop it is, Hansen looks deadly just because of how much effort Kobashi has to put forth to keep the pressure on. A back body drop leads to another nearfall and Kobashi reapplies the headlock/facelock. Hansen gets some body shots in to break the hold but Kobashi follows it up with a bulldog. Leaping stomp by Kobashi and then a series of chops. Hansen strikes back with a right hand but Kobashi keeps the pressure on with some of his own. Kobashi goes for something in the corner but runs into a big boot and Hansen finally has a chance to breathe. Kobashi goes to the floor and Hansen dives on top of him from the apron. Great desperation move. Hansen pulls him up by his hair, knees him in the head, and powerbombs him on the floor! Wow. Kobashi is on all fours trying to get up and Hansen drops an elbow right to his back and then rolls him back into the ring for a 2 count. That elbow looked even deadlier than the powerbomb somehow. Hansen with a knee for another nearfall. Hansen with another sharp elbow for 2. Both men get back on their feet and Hansen just paints him with a slap to the face and then goes back to kneeing him in the back. Kobashi gets a second win and slaps Hansen a bunch before kicking him in the face and collapsing before he can make a cover. Kobashi goes for a missile dropkick but Hansen sidesteps and gets a two count. Hansen goes to the middle rope and comes down with a splash for another nearfall. Kobashi comes back with some more strikes, including some brilliant knees in the corner. Kobashi hits some rapid fire chops and then climbs to the second rope only to get shoved off by Hansen. The war continues with both guys slapping the hell out of each other, Hansen delivering a headbutt, and then Kobashi knocking him down with a big clothesline. DDT by Kobashi for 2. Kobashi continues to go for the headlock but Hansen fights his way to the ropes. Kobashi with a running knee to the back for another nearfall. Shoulder block by Hansen but he gives Kobashi too much time to recover and Kobashi rallies yet again with a series of big leg drops, including a huge one from the top rope. He can still only get 2, though, despite repeated covers. Kobashi with a scoop slam and then another leg drop. He goes to the top and hits a moonsault for 2, pulling out everything he can to try to get the W. Hansen fights back and lands an enziguiri! I did not know he had that in his arsenal at all. Kenta tries to get to his feet but Hansen pulls him by the foot. Kobashi breaks free and hits a sling blade and then a sunset flip for 2. A roll-up and a series of small packages are not enough and Kobashi hits another big clothesline for 2. Hansen just will not die. Another scoop slam, but Hansen catches Kobashi on the ropes, clubbing him in the back and pulling his hair. A strike exchange ensues and Hansen levels him with a clothesline that knocks him to the mat! That looked vicious. Hansen gets an incredibly hard-earned W with a very stiff finish that is expertly sold by Kobashi. Wow. This is a masterpiece of a match where you do not need to go into it knowing very much about either guy or their history or stature but the presentation, the layout, the pacing, and the incredible finish tell you everything you need to know. Flawless match. (5/5)
Nick Bockwinkel vs. Jimmy Doo (4/10/1983): This is a squash match from AWA TV so I’m not expecting much greatness in terms of back-and-forth, but I’m also very unschooled in Bockwinkel and felt like I show dip my toe in slowly before watching his more acclaimed (and often lengthy) matches. Bockwinkel looks confident and cocky from beginning to end, almost playing with the somewhat sloppy and overweight Jimmy Doo, smiling wide until Doo finally gets some offense in. Bockwinkel strikes back with some body blows and then sends him into the corner. Snap mare by Bockwinkel followed by a headscissors. Bockwinkel has to break the hold when he sits back on the bottom rope but then steps on Doo’s neck. Bockwinkel comes back with even more body blows and is upset that the ref won’t just let him beat the shit out of his opponent. Doo whips Bock into the corner but then eats the turnbuckle. Bock with a series of knees to the back of the neck and then a pair of running ones in the corner. Big scoop slam by Bockwinkel and then a piledriver to end things. This wasn’t anything special but it was kind of fun to watch Bockwinkel dominate a jobber. (2/5)
Nick Bockwinkel vs. Curt Hennig (AWA SuperClash II, 5/2/1987): This one is for Bockwinkel’s AWA World Championship and is a return match from their previous one hour encounter. Lots of good wrestling to start things off with Hennig taking control with a headlock. This sort of sequence repeats a few times with Hennig until Hennig goes barrelling into the ring post and out of the ring to the floor. Bockwinkel won’t allow him back in the ring, kicking and punching him off the apron and then going after his wrist and arm. With Larry Zybysko watching from the outside, in a tuxedo, Bockwinkel applies an arm bar. Hennig whips him to the ropes and then lands a scoop slam, but Bockwinkel retakes control with the arm. Hennig escapes by dropping a knee onto Bockwinkel’s leg and then continues to go after his leg, working a toe hold into a figure four for a big pop. The Champ is able to reach the ropes to break the submission but Hennig continues to go after his leg. Bockwinkel fights his way out of another bad predicament, momentarily taking control of the match with knees, punches, and whips into the corner. Hennig attempts a sunset flip but only gets 2. Hennig has Bockwinkel staggering and hits him with an atomic drop and then a crossbody a few seconds later. Hennig connects with his “axe” forearm, but Bockwinkel is able to reach the ropes to break the count. Hennig hits a piledriver and then a jumping dropkick, but again Bockwinkel kicks out. Hennig whips him into the corner, but Bockwinkel charges back with a clothesline. A back suplex by Bockwinkel is followed by Hennig going for a facelock and both men crashing to the mat and into the ropes. Hennig with another big right hand and Bockwinkel sells it by landing flat on his back…and that’s the finish? Wow, I did not see that coming…A bunch of refs and officials make their way down to the ring and it seems that Hennig had used a roll of quarters. The post-match story would’ve undoubtedly made more sense to me if I understood the characters and the story coming into this match, but it comes across as messy and confusing without that intel and the commentary doesn’t paint the picture at all. The AWA Championship is held up because of the controversy and Bockwinkel and Hennig continue to argue. All in all, I’m not sure why this match is considered great. I’d almost liken it to a bad movie with still-great performances. Bockwinkel’s bumping and selling is great, Hennig’s execution is wonderful, but the crowd is obnoxious and audibly chanting “Boring” at times and, despite all the limb work, the finish is really flat and not captured well by the camera or even caught by the commentators. I am really surprised to read so many rave reviews for this as it did not do it for me at all. (2.5/5)
CM Punk vs. Alex Shelley (ROH, 2/25/2005): I haven’t seen a ton of CM Punk in Ring of Honor (or Alex Shelley for that matter), but both guys are among my favorites. I really liked the variety of submissions that Shelley and Punk busted out. I liked how the match started with a clear story of Punk wanting Shelley to prove that he was no longer a corner-cutting, cheating heel. I thought CM Punk’s athleticism was impressive considering that he’s often been labeled as a guy who is a great wrestler but not a “great athlete.” However, the match lost steam and didn’t quite escalate or live up to the promise of the initial moments. I would’ve liked to see Shelley come closer and closer to losing his cool and reverting back to his previous persona or show some internal conflict, though it is very possible that his character had already progressed past that point. Punk did a great job getting the crowd into things early but there weren’t enough “big moments” to keep me glued to the screen. This was good, but not great. (3/5)
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Samoa Joe (NOAH, 10/27/2007) - Misawa was the GHC World Champion at this time, which, based on my little bit of research into things, was its most prestigious championship. Misawa was 45 years young at this point, looking every bit of that age but still very tough. Joe works an armbar early, followed by a big boot, a dive to the floor, and then some chops and headbutts. He maintains control with a head scissors and some strikes in the corner before hitting a huge tope to the floor that sends Misawa into a table. Ouch. Joe maintains the pressure, chopping and headbutting Misawa on the floor. He rolls the champ into the ring and stomps on him before re-applying a head scissors. A running knee in the corner gets a nearfall but Misawa puts his foot on the rope. Misawa begins to strike back with forearms but gets dropped by an enziguiri. Joe with the big running boot from the corner! Man, this has been seriously one-sided.Joe attempts a dragon sleeper but can’t really lock it in too well, settling for something akin to a grounded abdominal stretch. He gets another nearfall, but Misawa is showing incredible resilience. Joe with some kicks, but Misawa strikes back again, walloping him with forearms that sent him to the mat. Misawa with a back elbow but it barely registers and Joe is back in control, hitting him with a hard kick to the chest and then an overhead suplex. Misawa counters with more strikes and is able to apply a headlock. Joe gets his foot to the rope but Misawa snap mares him and reapplies the hold. Having now watched considerably more Japanese wrestling, I’ve grown to appreciate the logic of reapplying holds and repeating offense as much more strategic than what we often get in the US, where matches tend to offer more “variety” but don’t follow as much logic in terms of strategy. For example, Joe reverses Misawa’s momentum with an armbar and while it makes for somewhat repetitive spots, it makes more sense for him to continue targeting Misawa’s arm rather than go for a Boston Crab or a leglock. Joe hits a string of big moves, including a senton for 2. He attempts a powerbomb but Misawa resists, forcing Joe to club him a few times with kicks before hitting hit. Joe then immediately applies a crossface, but again, Misawa really resists it, moving his legs to try to get closer to the ropes. He’s finally able to and the ref breaks the hold, frustrating Joe in the process. Joe is bleeding a little from the lip and Misawa connects with more strikes and another snap mare into an armbar of his own. Misawa grapevines Joe’s arm, a wristlock type I haven’t seen a ton of before. Back on their feet, Misawa connects with more forearms but Joe counters with yet another enziguiri. Joe hits the Muscle Buster but Misawa kicks out! Joe with another overhead suplex and then a ridiculous piledriver! Dang, that looked nasty. He only gets 2 with it, though. That was the type of move you just would never see in a US wrestling match. Misawa fights back with a series of huge forearms and elbows, letting loose with his last burst of energy. Misawa with another huge forearm for 2! Spinning back elbow in the corner and Misawa hoists Joe up in the corner and then brings him down with a powerslam of his own. Forearm to the back of the head and that does it. I’m a little split on this match as Joe controlled so much of it that I’m not sure I totally “buy” that Misawa was able to withstand all that punishment and still win the match. However, they did do a good job of showing that there was an element of rope-a-dope here as, for all that Joe threw at him, it ultimately came down to stamina, toughness, and endurance, and that Misawa was able to simply withstand more, allowing Joe to exhaust himself and then catching him with a series of big strikes to the head to put him out. Not a great match, but not as bad as some people say. Joe’s performance is terrific and enough to carry it into slightly above-average range. (3/5)
Nick Bockwinkel vs. Terry Funk (7/12/1983, AJPW): Bockwinkel was the AWA World Champion at the time (which was still a fairly big deal in 1983). I learned later that this was non-title. Funk was beloved by Japanese fans at this point and gets the tickertape welcome. There are some “missing” moments - I’m guessing these were commercial breaks - so the match “starts” in media res after the introductions with Bock and Funk trading holds on the mat. This is a way different Terry Funk than the hardcore legend I’m used to seeing. They perform a great series of pin attempts early. Moments later, Bockwinkel applies a very tight headlock, really cranking on Funk’s neck. Funk’s initial escape attempts are brilliant as he drives his knees into the back of Bockwinkel’s legs - not sure I’ve seen that before - but Bockwinkel is wise enough to jut his legs out and keep the hold locked in. On the mat they go and Funk repositions himself to get Bockwinkel’s shoulders on the mat despite still having his head cinched in. Back up on their feet, Funk tries for a back suplex but Bockwinkel resists and he has to settle for a drop toe hold instead. Funk now has control of the champ’s foot and applies a toe hold, which was a Funk speciality. It wouldn’t look like much if it weren’t for Bockwinkel’s expert selling, which is really dramatic. Funk grapevines Bockwinkel’s foot and drops back, cranking on it as the champ tries to fight his way out. Bockwinkel with a counter and a toehold of his own. Funk grabs his head and brings him back up, but Bockwinkel breaks it with a back suplex. Funk rolls out of the ring and then climbs back only for Bockwinkel to attack him in the ropes and Funk takes a nasty, nasty fall to the floor! The entire crowd jumps to their feet and so does Funk, though that could not have felt good. Bockwinkel rams him head-first into the apron and Funk keeps trying to collect his bearings on the outside. Funk is finally able to climb back in but Bockwinkel meets him with another series of punches and knees in the corner. Bockwinkel goes after Funk’s knee, wrapping it around the middle rope and driving his own knee into it repeatedly. Bockwinkel wrenches it around the middle rope and Funk can barely stand. Bockwinkel continues to target the knee and Funk’s selling is unsurprisingly awesome. I really like how brutal Bockwinkel is here as he hammers away on Funk’s knee. Funk counters with some right hands and then an elbow drop, but he sells the knee damage the whole time and Bockwinkel regains control with another leglock. Funk manages to hit a Russian Leg Sweep out of desperation and then drops a knee onto Bockwinkel’s knee! There’s a great struggle as each guy tries to lock up the other until Funk lands a back suplex for 2. Funk goes for a vertical suplex but his leg gives out on him and Bockwinkel lands on him for a 2 count. Funk with a headbutt and he grabs a hold of Bockwinkel. He goes for a cloverleaf but Bockwinkel is in the ropes! Funk thinks he has it won but he celebrates prematurely and Bockwinkel applies a figure four! Funk uses all of his strength to reverse the hold, screaming in agony. They roll to the ropes and the ref breaks the hold. Bockwinkel dives at Funk’s midsection and out to the floor they go! Bockwinkel goes after Funk’s knee again, this time on the apron, but Funk fights back and its Bockwinkel who takes a nasty fall to the concrete! Funk beats the count to win the match by countout. I would’ve really liked a more definitive ending, but I can understand the decision here. There were enough little moments to make this a really, really good match…but I’m not sure I’d necessarily consider it “must see” unless you are super super into “low boil” matches that start off with lots of limb work and submissions before becoming more heated and violent as they go. Had this gone maybe 2-3 more minutes, I think it would’ve had me convinced that it was worth it, but, unfortunately, by the time this turned into the wild, heated, intense brawl, it ended with a countout. (3.5/5)
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