TNA Turning Point 2009

TNA Turning Point 2009

Orlando, FL - November 2009

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, AJ Styles was the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, the X-Division Champion was The Amazing Red, the TNA World Tag Team Champions were the British Invasion (Brutus Magnus and Doug Williams), the TNA Knockouts Champion was ODB, the TNA Global Champion was Eric Young, and the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions were Sarita and Taylor Wilde. 

Before the show begins, a video package highlights several of tonight's main event matches and, more historically significant, the arrival of Hulk Hogan (and Eric Bischoff) to TNA. I'm not sure if Hogan and Bischoff had "the book" yet, but I remember/think that they didn't take over the creative direction until a little bit later on. Anyway, we'll see if their involvement comes into play later on in the show, on-screen or off...

Amazing Red defends his TNA X-Division Championship against Homicide in the opening contest. They get plenty of time and they bust out lots and lots of impressive moods, but this didn't "grab" me the way I hoped it would. Homicide is a good heel, but not a great one, and there's no diversity to his crowd taunting, nothing "extra" that he does to really get the crowd being slightly engaged to fully enthralled. The best facet of this match were the nearfalls during the second half, some of which were absolutely incredible with both guys getting huge reactions for their 2-and-9-10ths kickouts. A good 10-minute match that felt a bit longer just because of how much action they jam-packed into it. (3/5)

Both the TNA Knockouts Championship and the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships were on the line as ODB, Sarita, and Taylor Wilde defended their gold (the former being the Knockouts Champion, the latter holding the tag gold) against The Beautiful People - Velvet Skye, Madison Rayne, and Lacey Von Erich. This wasn't as bad as it could've been considering the talent level of the heel side. Someone in the front row holds up a sign that says "Lacey Von Botch," but she's barely in the match so its not like she drags it down at any point. Taylor Wilde had noticeably improved and while I'm not an ODB fan, she kept her more obnoxious ring mannerisms to a minimum here (meaning we still had her plugging her nose before delivering a headbutt to Velvet Skye's crotch, but she didn't rub her breasts between every big spot for a cheap pop). Not good, but inoffensive and it didn't overstay its welcome. (1.5/5)

Things get much better in the next match as The Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money challenge The British Invasion for the TNA World Tag Team Championships. This match was excellent for the first eight or so minutes - lots of action, great teamwork out of the Guns and Beer Money, a fully-engaged crowd - but then goes off a cliff once the Guns are "eliminated" and basically disappear from the match so that Eric Young (who interferes on the Invasion's behalf) can have his moment with Kevin Nash (who inexplicably attacks Bobby Roode in the entranceway despite being in a feud with Young over the Legends Championship). Just a total shame that this match, which was on its way into 4-star territory, has to end with such a lame, overbooked finish designed to play into the impending Wolfpack Reunion storyline rather than just giving these guys the chance to shine on their own. (2.5/5)

Tara vs. Awesome Kong followed in a Six Sides of Steel match. This was really good and felt almost like a title match because of how over Kong was as an unbeatable monster. This was physical and spirited and Kong took some pretty big bumps off the top rope - a powerbomb and a missile dropkick - that were impressive. Again, the crowd was very much into this match, which is more than could often be said about the women's matches happening in the WWE at this time. They only got 8 minutes, but they used them well and Tara's victory felt earned (even if her overacting wasn't great during the post-match). Solid match. (3/5)

Team 3D teamed with Rhyno to take on "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero, Matt Morgan, and Hernandez. This was billed and built as a bit of a Old Generation vs. New Generation match. I'm not sure why the Tag Team Triple Threat got under 10 minutes, the Tara/Kong cage match got under 10 minutes, and this match ended up with close to 15. That being said, this was not as bad as I thought it would be considering the talent involved. Somehow, shockingly, the crowd doesn't chant for tables within the first 2 minutes, which is special for a Team 3D match. There are some real highlights to this match - Dinero double-legging Bubba early was a great spot that got a huge reaction and made him seem like a badass, Matt Morgan's elbows in the corner were over, and SuperMex's plancha was great too. I liked the heels having to cheat to get the W in the end as it was the right call to make against a less experienced trio that had clearly pushed the veterans to their limit. Smart, sensible booking there. This felt like a TV match but the crowd's reactions were there to make it feel special and like it actually mattered. Maybe not a "hidden gem," but not necessarily a match you'd just fast-forward through either. (2.5/5)

Bobby Lashley took on Scott Steiner in a Falls Count Anywhere/No DQ match next. This one started off hot with lots of physicality and brawling. I didn't watch the weekly TV building up to this but Steiner came off as a total psycho from the video packages and pre-match promo. Good stuff, at least in hindsight. The match dipped a bit when they went to the back as the table spot and Lashley's spear through a wooden-something-or-other were noticeably convoluted. Steiner's Frankensteiner may not have been the prettiest move on the show, but you gotta give the heavyweight credit for even doing it at his age. This was a fun 12 minutes with an underwhelming-but-still-surprising ending. (3/5)

Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe followed. Wolfe (formerly known as Nigel McGuinness) came into TNA and was immediately treated as a big deal, attacking Angle and putting him on the shelf during the build-up to this match. The crowd was hot for this. I would've liked a little more character work out of Wolfe to really establish what makes him "different," but some of the sequences were excellent and Angle was clearly in the "giving" mood, bumping and selling for Wolfe from beginning to end. Meltzer gave this more than 4-stars, which feels like maybe a bit much...but, then again, in 2009, this sort of contest wasn't happening on PPVs regularly and certainly not on weekly TV the way it seems to happen these days. Very, very good, but a hair short of "must see." (3.5/5)

Main event time - AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels for AJ's TNA World Heavyweight Championship. A match "four years in the making," these two put on one of the best matches in US pro-wrestling history at the Unbreakable PPV in 2005, a match that established what the X-Division was all about and put TNA on the map as a fan destination for cutting edge wrestling. Hitting that same peak was going to be impossible as you can only "break ground" one time. That being said, this is a fantastic match in its own right and it is wonderful to see Samoa Joe motivated again after a very uneven 2009. The MVP of this match, however, was AJ Styles, who executes everything he does flawlessly. They got a little bit "cutesy" with some of the three-man submission spots, but that's getting a bit nitpicky. I loved the psychology here too as, when someone did hang around the outside of the ring to give the spotlight to the remaining two, it did come off as strategic and not someone "overselling." No weapons, no chairs, no tables, no brawling in the crowd, I liked that they wrestled this match "straight up" and kept most of the action contained in the ring. There were some wonderful sequences, especially towards the end, and there were a couple of really nifty nearfalls to build towards a believable finish. I think the only "knock" against this match is that they probably had an additional 5 minutes in them to really move this into all-time classic territory as things never really went "beyond" in terms of emotional storytelling. (4/5)

Earning a very respectable Kwang Score of 2.88-out-of-5, Turning Point 2009 is an uneven show but Angle and Wolfe put on a great contest and the main event is arguably the TNA Match of the Year 2009 (only Jarrett/Angle from Genesis earned a score equal to it from me). With only one truly subpar match, the Knockouts tag, and some overachieving performances out of Scott Steiner, Team 3D, and Tara (Victoria), this was a good show with plenty on it worth recommending. 

FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand

Random Matches

Curt Hennig vs. Tiger Mask II (01/02/1988, AJPW) - Misawa, who was under the hood here, and Curt Hennig may be known as two of the best to ever lace the boots, but this match was too scientific and too dull for its first 2/3rds to keep my interest. When they actually start speeding things up and going for big moves - Hennig hitting the Perfectplex, Misawa's plancha - this is wonderful. Too bad that only lasts about 2-3 minutes before the match ends in a disappointing countout to protect both guys. (1.5/5)

Jun Akiyama vs. Katsuyori Shibata (08/04/2005, WRESTLE-1): I've really only seen Shibata's work in AEW (which I've mostly enjoyed), but this match is highly touted so I thought I'd check it out. Unbelievable opening minutes as Shibata nails Akiyama with a kick to the face that opens him up quickly. Out to the floor they go where Akiyama absolutely wails on Shibata with chairs ripped from the stands. The physicality continues from there, though I don't think any of the rest of the match - while plenty violent and certainly engaging - quite touches the early peaks in terms of attention-grabbing action. Loved the strike exchange towards the end and all of Akiyama's suplexes. Very "Japanese" ending with Akiyama lending a death blow that was really more about Shibata running out of gas than Akiyama's move being some super wild never-seen-before finisher. Maybe a hair short of "must see" in my eyes because it is a bit on the short side and I feel like it peaked too early. (3.5/5)

Go Shiozaki & Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Katsuyori Shibata & KENTA (12/04/2005, NOAH): This one starts off a little slow and the crowd doesn't seem as engaged as I'd have thought considering who is involved, but boy does it pick up in its second half. Shibata and KENTA are great as the cocky, young heels while Misawa, clearly at least a few years past his prime, is excellent as the grizzled veteran and isn't resting on his laurels at any point (even if he is moving slower than he was 10 years earlier). A very good match with good performances out of Misawa and Shibata especially and some of the best nearfalls I've seen in a hot minute. (3/5)

Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tomohiro Ishii (01/04/2016, NJPW): Based on some research, this is something of a sequel to a previous all-timer they had. This was an absolute war and began with Shibata and Ishii trading stiff kicks to each other's back. Incredibly stiff headbutts at one point too. I think what hurt my viewing of this match was that, aside from the stiffness, there wasn't that extra element that made me stand back and appreciate this match as anything more than just two badasses clobbering each other. Sometimes that's enough to create something magical, and sometimes you just have a really good match that isn't quite "must see." Shibata is such a "cool" wrestler that, at times, he's almost too mechanical and unemotional for me to really feel engaged by (at least by the limited number of matches I've seen from him). (3.5/5)

Alex Shelley vs. Kazuchika Okada (06/13/2011, TNA): More of a "curio" than a great match, which is why you'll find it listed as a "Hidden Gem" on TNA's YouTube page, this was a young Okada performing before he ascended to becoming one of the most talked-about wrestlers in Japan. Unfortunately, this match offers very little in terms of seeing Okada's potential. It's not a squash - in fact, a squash might've been more interesting - it's just a relatively even back-and-forth match where Okada looks a bit slow and shows none of the confidence or swagger that would become his signature. I like Shelley, but he doesn't dazzle here either and wrestles a bit too seriously to make this much fun. Disappointing. (2/5)

Chris Sabin vs. Kazuchika Okada (05/09/2014, BCW): This match happened at Border City Wrestling when Chris Sabin was released from TNA and Okada was more established as the Rainmaker (though still not as popular and well-known as he would become in the States over the next few years). The worst thing about this match is the absolutely awful production, which makes it a bit unfair to rate. There are sound issues. The commentary team are decent at best. The camera work is a step or two above fan-cam. The crowd is either mic'd terribly or generally indifferent. The action is good, but with some many critical elements of the presentation being poor, I found myself very bored and, at times, even frustrated. Okada is a guy I really need to see more of - especially his prime years - because nothing I've seen with him has really shouted Best Wrestler of the Decade the way he is touted on places like Cagematch and in the Observer. (2/5)

Chris Hero vs. Tomohiro Ishii (11/10/2016, RevPro): Chris Hero does not look good here in terms of "cosmetics," but he can still deliver the goods in terms of stiff strikes and slaps. I really liked Hero's attitude during the match as he came across as an arrogant bully even against someone with an incredible reputation for being super tough. I thought the second half of this match was much better than the first half, which saw Ishii getting dominated until he was able to fight back and land an impressive vertical suplex. The crowd was also super into this, which always helped. This has a 9.0 on Cagematch, which is a bit high to me, but hey, different strokes. (3.5/5)

Kenny Omega vs. Brian Cage (11/15/2025, AEW): I haven't watched/reviewed nearly as many Kenny Omega matches as I'd like so I figured I might as well review this one from Dynamite. This was Kenny's return to the ring in AEW after over 18 months of being on the injured list. I like Cage's look much more without the mohawk and with the more straight-up black tights. I read someone say that Kenny looked a little rusty here, which just goes to show how smooth Omega is in the ring because him on a "sub-average day" is still better than 90% of workers on the planet. This match was not designed to be a show-stealer, but it was solid enough and I really liked the simple story of Kenny using his speed and agility and high-flying to overtake the more powerful Cage. (3/5)

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb (06/09/2024, NJPW): I dug this one more than the Hero/Ishii match, though the story was arguably not as nuanced and more of just a back-and-forth war the younger Cobb, defending his NJPW TV Championship, and the veteran Stone Pitbull. Some people really dislike the "no selling" that Ishii does, but I don't find it to be too egregious. Everything feels high impact, but Ishii is so established as a badass that you don't really notice him shrugging off strikes or even suplexes. Dude's neck is like a coffee can. I also really liked Cobb here too. This was the kind of match that didn't necessarily hook me at its start, but that absolutely had my full attention by the end, especially with the added bonus of it being a 15-minute time limit and the added suspense that came around minute 12 or 13. Really, really good. (4/5)

Nigel McGuiness vs. Bryan Danielson (04/29/2006, ROH): This was a unification match with Danielson's Ring of Honor World Championship on the line as well as McGuiness's Ring of Honor Pure Championship. Electric atmosphere for this with lots of "big fight feel" as these two were the best of the best in the company at the time. Nigel was the babyface in front of the Liverpool crowd and they work the match to play to the crowd's bias in a terrific way. Danielson drew blood first, slapping Nigel in the face and applying a wristlock. Nigel countered with a big slap of his own a minute later. Really tight work between these two with some hold-trading to start before Danielson wears down Nigel's arm. I really liked Nigel's super realistic selling and how vicious Danielson was in his targeting of that damaged limb. Nigel comes back and hits a bunch of his signature moves before applying a choke. Danielson with a brilliant bit of heeling as teases a surfboard before mocking the crowd and just double stomping the back of Nigel's thighs. This is followed by a big superplex spot, a diving headbutt, and then a Cattle Mutilation (which the crowd reacts to by chanting "Please Don't Tap"). Because this is fought under Pure Wrestling rules, they keep a count of rope breaks and a wrestler only gets three (escaping the Mutilation cost Nigel his second). Nigel manages to hit a hangman neckbreaker and then apply a Mutilation of his own, which Danielson gets out of his with his own 2nd rope break. To the outside they go, where Danielson throws Nigel onto a table and then stomps on him on the floor before using the table edge to try to choke him out. Back in the ring, they trade forearms before McGuiness hits one of his trademark lariats. Danielson comes back with a spinning forearm and then applies a chickenwing ala Bob Backlund. McGuinness uses his 3rd rope break and Danielson taunts the crowd before hitting a German suplex. Danielson goes for another splash but Nigel gets his boot up. Not the most original transition there. Back on their feet, Nigel and Danielson slap the daylights out of each other with Danielson winning the contest. Nigel hoists him onto the top rope, though, and lands an awesome flying clothesline to knock him down! Nigel gets the cover, but Danielson uses his 3rd rope break at 2. Great nearfall there. Dueling chants as Nigel goes to the top rope. Danielson meets him up there but gets headbutted back to the mat. Danielson with a dropkick to Nigel and then applies a crossface on the top rope! Nigel gets his arm free and hits another hangman neckbreaker (Tower of London) for 2! We then get one of the ugliest spots in Ring of Honor history as they go to the outside and the men end up locking hands around a ring post. Nigel pulls Danielson a couple times before the Dragon reverses it and Nigel headbutts the post until he's opened up hardway. A basement dropkick from Danielson in the rings sends Nigel into the barricade and then Danielson launches himself with a springboard cannonball plancha into the crowd! Wow. Nigel is a bloody mess in the stands but he manages to make it back into the ring (though there's a brilliant bit where Danielson kicks him away as Nigel tries to prevent him from getting in the ring). The next several minutes are absolutely incredible too as Danielson is unable to put Nigel away with the Cattle Mutilation but eventually gets the W via a ref's decision when he repeatedly elbows Nigel in the face. This match is sometimes criticized for its dangerous use of headbutts - especially the ring post bit - but watching it, as physically violent as this is, I do think its fairly noticeable just how much this is pro-wrestling stiffness and not "shoot" stiffness. This is two pros "working" at a very high level and it is easily one of the best matches I've ever seen. This is thing is perfect. (5/5)

Chabela Romero & Mami Kumano vs. Jackie Sato & Maki Ueda (Spring/Summer 1978, AJW): I was hesitant to even "review" this match because the quality of the recording is so poor and begins "in progress" with the heels beating down on Maki Ueda. Maki and Jackie, known as The Beauty Pair, are a legendary tag team in Japan and were featured prominently in the Netflix show Queen of Villains. Anyway, as this went on, I felt like the action was so intense and incredible and featured so many awesome moments that I knew I needed to do at least a little bit of a write-up. Within the span of 13 minutes, these two teams have a match that wouldn't have been out of place in Midsouth or Memphis or Atlanta with a face-in-peril section followed by a hot tag followed by some of the best around-the-ring brawling you'll ever find. Amazing airplane spin spot during the 2nd fall. Insane hangman spot that is equally as nasty as the ones we see today in AEW. At 13 minutes, I could see the argument that this is too short, but they pack in so much action that it feels like an absolute war and that it doesn't really matter who "wins" because the vitriol and hatred is so real. Really great stuff that, if the video quality was better, I'd be more willing to recommend and consider "must see." (3.5/5)

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (02/05/2023): My Ishii watch continued with this match against the super technical Zack Sabre Jr., a guy who I haven't watched a ton of but have really enjoyed what I have seen from. Sabre was the NJPW Television Championship coming into this bout. Fun waistlock-trading to start before Ishii grabbed hold of ZSJ's ankle. Then it was wristlocks and counters with neither man able to maintain control for long. Ishii ducked and dodged some strike attempts before we got both guys landing kicks to the back and ZSJ managing to take some bit of control with a "headscissor twist" or whatever one calls it. ZSJ with European uppercuts in the corner and then a more traditional headscissors on the mat with an extra wristlock applied. Ishii got to the ropes and ZSJ took a poorly thought-out breather that allowed Ishii to regain his composure and counter a guillotine into an overhead suplex. Ishii dished out some stiff chops, including one that knocked Sabre to the mat. After a good sequence of counters and reversals, Ishii hit another suplex before Sabre went to work on his forearm, stomping it at an awkward angle. Brilliant armbar by Sabre moments later, but Ishii escaped by stomping on Sabre's head. Ishii went after Sabre's arm before we got an exchange of forearms and uppercuts and headbutts. Ishii hit a vertical suplex but Sabre sprung right back up. Sabre tried to rally but Ishii caught him with a lariat. Powerbomb by Ishii, but Sabre catches his arm in an armbar and is really wrenching it! Ishii manages to get his foot on the rope and both guys are selling exhaustion. Sabre with an armbreaker but Ishii applies a sleeper and then a tarantula which leads to a ridiculous Code Red. Ishii goes for another lariat but Sabre somehow turns it into a pin attempt and then both guys land German suplexes back to back! Lariat by Ishii and then a second one! Sabre kicks out at 2. Ishii tries for another suplex but Sabre counters it and we get another great nearfall from a creative pin. Ishii with some strikes and a headbutt, but Sabre manages to land a full nelson suplex for 2! Punt kick to the chest by Sabre! Enziguiri by Ishii! Ishii goes for the low clothesline but Sabre counters it into another nearfall. Heabdutt by Ishii, then the low lariat, but Sabre counters his brainbuster attempt into a cradle driver! Wow. This sort of match won't be everyone's cup of tea because it is crammed to the gills with counters and shifts in momentum and big spots and no-selling...but that pacing means there's never a dull minute from beginning to end and you do get a real sense of urgency as they near the 15-minute time limit. (4/5)

Stan Hansen vs. The Dynamite Kid (03/23/1991, AJPW): This goes less than 10 minutes and Dynamite is not as explosive or quick as he once was. Still, his "little things" are there and even if the match doesn't have any real "wow" moments, the crowd is very into it and Hansen is terrific as the bully. Dynamite hits the flying headbutt and is even able to get Hansen up for a suplex, which is impressive considering the size difference. The finish is ugly as sin as Hansen goes for the lariat but ends up basically tackling Dynamite full-force and landing on top of him for the win. Nothing super special here, but an interesting watch for what it is. (2.5/5)

Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota (06/27/1995, AJW): This was for Toyota's AJW World Championship and earned 5-stars in the Observer. This was really, really good, but I didn't think it was flawless. Some of the kickouts were a bit lazy with Kong doing the "indie-rific" thing where she shoves her opponent away at 2 instead of maintaining the count. There was also the usual "no selling" and go-go-go style that seems like something of a joshi trademark based on my viewing. That being said, boy is Toyota is impressive here. Watching some of her acrobatics is like watching early Rey Mysterio or current day Fenix 20+ years earlier. Her agility is absolutely incredible to witness and fits very well in this David vs. Goliath contest. Aja Kong is vicious here but more methodical. There's no blood. There's less piledrivers. There is one absolutely insane chairshot in the crowd, but they don't spend as much time there as one might think. I liked the finish too because it made sense that Toyota would eventually just crumble after taking so much punishment, though it did feel a little bit lackluster compared to the "big endings" that I'm used to in American pro-wrestling. Maybe a hair short of "must see," but I definitely want to see more Toyota after watching this match. (3.5/5)

Terry Funk vs. Jerry Lawler (03/23/1981, CWA): Considered to be one of the all-time greatest matches out of Memphis, this was a No Disqualification brawl in front of a wildly hot crowd featuring two of the best fist-throwers ever. That being said, if you're looking for great technical wrestling or any psychology beyond two guys slugging it out and trying to make each other bleed, look elsewhere. Considered by Jim Cornette to be the first "5-star match," I think context plays a huge factor in the enjoyment one might have watching this. You have to turn back the clock a little bit, listen to the crowd (who go absolutely bonkers from beginning to end but especially once Lawler starts getting some offense in), ignore the poor production quality, ignore everything we now know about Lawler's proclivity for underage girls, and watch this match in a "bubble" where we haven't seen bloody brawls done to death in every major promotion. But having to do that for this match - and not necessarily having to do it for other Terry Funk matches - tells me that as fun and wild and good as this is, it is still a bit of a "thin" viewing experience and not the all-time classic that it is touted as. (3.5/5)

Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima (08/25/2007, ROH): Just when I think I've seen enough Bryan Danielson and don't really need to see anymore, I get proven wrong again by one of his Ring of Honor matches. This is a really smartly-worked match with an absolutely heartbreaking finish as Danielson manages to survive so much of Morishima's offense, puts on an awesome babyface performance, but still comes up short. While there is a bit of a lull towards the 2/3rds mark as both Danielson and Morishima have to sell the damage, that's a small criticism of an otherwise action-packed, stiff, hellacious battle. I loved Danielson's splash into the crowd. I loved Morishima using his size advantage to crush Danielson against the guardrail. Loved Morishima's expertly-timed cut-off clotheslines. Absolutely great match. (4/5)

Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota (11/20/1994, AJW): This wasn't the first, or even the second, meeting between these two (according to Cagematch), but it is one of the most well-known of their battles. I watched their 1995 match before this, which I'll admit probably hurt my appreciation of this because some of the big spots from that match that blew me away were actually "callbacks." There are some spots in this match that are even crazier though, including Aja Kong hitting a running Dominator on Toyota on the ramp that looks like it should've scraped the skin off her face. Seeing this match also explained a bit why Kong was maybe a little less cocky than usual in the 95' bout as Toyota brings the fight to her and performs some incredible maneuevers, including a wild reverse hurricanrana bomb (I'm not sure what else I'd call it) from the top rope. Loved all her spring boards maneuvers. The finishing sequence wasn't an incredibly sequence of counters and reversals and nearfalls (or some sort of screwy thing) like we're used to here in the US, but it was still super effective and credible as Kong landed hard on Toyota and then delivered a brainbuster driver to retain the title. A stupendous, incredible match filled with insane moments and visuals and without any of the shifts and stops that the 95' match has. (5/5)

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (06/03/1994, AJPW): Considered by many pro-wrestling scholars to be the greatest match ever wrestled, I finally got around to watching this one and, though I don't think it would rank as my personal favorite match, it is an excellent match with some thrilling moments and incredible work. The atmosphere is uncanny. I honestly can't recall a crowd that sounds exactly like this one. Pretty much every suplex or powerbomb executed is brutal and the same goes for Kawada's kicks and Misawa's big elbows. Misawa's busted eardrum is plain ugly. I do think the spacing between the big throws gets to be a bit much, but will readily admit that decades of watching faster-paced matches is likely to blame for my impatience with the extended selling. Also, not knowing the full backstory between Misawa and Kawada does mean that I likely "missed" a ton of subtleties that longtime All Japan viewers would've appreciated (including Dave Meltzer). (4.5/5)

AEW World's End 2024

AEW Full Gear 2024

Newark, New Jersey - November 2024

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, Jon Moxley was the AEW World Champion, the Women's World Champion was Mariah May, the TNT Champion was Jack Perry, the International Champion was Takeshita, the Continental Champion was Kazuchika Okada, the TBS Champion was Mercedes Mone, the Trios Championships were held by The Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, and Wheeler Yuta), and the AEW World Tag Team Champions were Private Party.  

Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher was the night's opening contest and it was a doozy, though maybe just slightly lesser than their previous match. I really liked the first half of this match with Fletcher in control and Ospreay, who was bloodied earlier and continued to drip blood from his face like a faucet for the match's duration, bumping and selling and getting cut off. After Ospreay's comeback, the match became more 50/50, but that didn't hurt it as much as it made it a bit more like every other big Ospreay match. Of course, if you're going to have a "fireworks show" match on your card, Ospreay is the guy to deliver it and he once again delivered here. Countless insane spots and sequences - a front-flip cannoball to the floor, Fletcher's apron bomb and then the lawn dart into the guardrail that opened Ospreay up, a multitude of superkicks and Hidden Blades, a headbutt sequence that provided a brilliant visual of Fletcher "bloodying" himself, Fletcher's Last Ride Liger Bomb, and then the solid Styles Clash finish from Ospreay to end this one 100% clean. Ospreay has not missed in 2024. (4/5)

Kazuchika Okada vs. Ricochet, the finals of the Blue League of the Continental Cup was next. This one was different, slower, and more about Ricochet's new heel gimmick and Okada still being a jerk but getting cheered for it. I dug it, but this felt more like a "TV match" - which, for AEW, is barely an insult - than a "PPV match." Okada is not the flashiest worker, but his timing and pacing are so different than every other main eventer in the company that he's enjoyable to watch because of the contrast in styles he brings to the table. Here, Ricochet was flying and flipping, but Okada kept grinding him down and cutting him off with his big dropkicks and back elbows. The finish came a bit out of nowhere to me but I like that they kept the Rainmaker strong. After the match, Swerve Strickland showed up to mock Ricochet and ol' Rico ended up covered in toilet paper. Swerve/Ricochet should be a ton of a fun, but it feels kinda weird that Strickland isn't 100% focused on Lashley as there was a ton they left on the table there. Anyway, not a bad match, but nothing super special. (2.5/5)

The AEW Womens' World Champion, Mariah May, defended her title against Thunder Rosa in a Tijuana Street Fight next. As is often the case with matches like this, because AEW has featured so many unreal and wild death matches, the performers are often put in the unfortunate position of having to "top" what has been done before. This may have been the first and only real "hardcore" match on the card in terms of stipulation, but when your show starts off with Will Ospreay donning one of the most grotesque crimson mask in recent memory, it makes things extra difficult. They used every weapon they could find, including thumbtacks and a chain and Thunder Rosa's dad's cane, but this was still mildly disappointing and maybe a touch "undercooked." There wasn't much of a "story" to this match and I didn't get the feeling that the animosity between the two combatants had reached a point where they needed a gimmick match like this to settle things. The effort was there and the finishing spot was brutal, but this was just good, not great. (3/5)

MJF vs. Adam Cole followed. The Dynamite Diamond Ring was on the line, but this match was about more than a piece of jewelry as the storyline involving these two has been going on forever now and was derailed due to Cole's injury. Early on, the crowd wanted to cheer MJF, chanting "He's Our Scumbag," and MJF tried to shut it down by telling the audience to "Shut the fuck up." As MJF flipped the audience the bird, Cole bladed on the floor. Again, felt a little "been there, done that" after Ospreay's color earlier in the show. MJF's heel work was fun to watch - as usual - but his shtick suffers when he's up against a guy like Cole, who didn't have the audience behind him any more than MJF did. When Cole missed a Panama Sunrise, MJF went to work on his knee and ankle, the bloody forehead completely moved on from. Cole's selling was really good at first but then got completely forgotten once Cole was able to put even a little bit of offense together, hitting a Panama Sunrise with ease and then running the ropes just fine to hit his knee to the back of the head. MJF, now also busted open, attacked the knee again, but Cole's inconsistent selling continued, selling agony at one moment and then busting out superkicks the next. As much as this bothered me, there was more drama to this match than either of the two that came before it and MJF was highly entertaining throughout, including when he pretended to get attacked by Taven and Bennett, which drew more cheers than boos and allowed MJF to put on the diamond ring. This time when he attempted to use it, Cole caught him with a superkick and then put on the ring himself. He went for a right hand but MJF hit a low blow and then hit the Heatseeker piledriver to get the win. Very solid finish. It will be interesting to see where they go with MJF as, no matter what he does (including attempting to Pillmanize Cole), a large portion of the audience is going to continue to cheer him. During the post-match, Strong, Cole, and O'Reilly reunited and got some vengeance together, hopefully ending this storyline for good. The right guy won and the Undisputed Era reuniting was the right way to transition Cole into something else. (3/5)

Takeshita vs. Will Hobbs for Takeshita's AEW International Championship was up next. This was one that I was looking forward to because I'm a big Takeshita fan and Hobbs is another guy on the roster that stands out because of how different he is than everyone else. The crowd chanted either "beef" or "meat" as the two men tested each other with forearms and shoulder blocks. Hobbs controlled early and I loved his multiple slams on the apron. Takeshita cut him off with an eye rake and then delivered an absolutely devastating kneebreaker on the apron that I don't think I've seen before. Shit. That was sweet. Takeshita continued to work on the knee, targeting his attack for the next several minutes. Simple but effective. Takeshita hit a brilliant suplex that brought Hobbs into the ring from the apron, but Hobbs fought back with a slap and then some forearms only to get cut off by another eye rake. Hobbs blocked a lariat and hit a crossbody, but continued to sell the damage to his knee. He hit a running clothesline into the corner and then some more, just nailing Takeshita with as many as he could before hitting a classic powerslam for 2. Hobbs sold the knee damage after hitting the move, which allowed Takeshita to rally a bit, leading to an insane Takeshita piledriver that got 2.9! The crowd not biting on that as a potential finish is a surprise because that was one of the better false finishes of the night up till this point. Hobbs and Takeshita traded super stiff lariats, clubbing each other full force. Takeshita ducked one and hit a German Suplex and then went for his knee strike, but Hobbs blocked it. Takeshita ducked another clothesline to hit a forearm to the chin. Hobbs with a huge lariat out of the corner for 2. Dang, that was sick. Takeshita with a chop block and then the Blue Thunder Bomb, but Hobbs kicked out at 1 and hit a lariat! Hobbs with a big clothesline, but he only gets 2! Hobbs went to the top but Takeshita followed him up to seemingly attempt a superplex, but Hobbs stumbled and both men fell to the apron. The crowd chanted "Please Be Careful" as they went back to the top rope and Takeshita hit the superplex and then a huge senton. Takeshita went for the running knee but Hobbs caught him with a spinebuster for 2! A loud "AEW" chant erupted and Hobbs lowered the straps to signal for his finish, but Takeshita rolled to the apron. Hobbs caught up to him and they went to the top rope again. This time Hobbs hit a falling powerslam! Hobbs clutched the knee, though, and was unable to make the cover. Hobbs discarded his knee brace with help from the referee, which made it even easier for Takeshita to attack it and land a big running knee and then apply a front guillotine. Takeshita hit the Raging Fire to win a hard-hitting, excellent match that felt like a star-making performance for Hobbs. Really great match. (4/5)

Next up - Kris Statlander challenging Mercedes Mone for the TBS Championship. Their match at the previous show was good, arguably Mone's best since joining AEW, so expectations were high for this. Some of Statlander's movements look a little clunky to me as she's not the most graceful worker but does cartwheels anyway. When she shows off her strength, I'm a bigger fan and the variety of slams she utilized in the opening minutes was cool. I'll also give her a ton of credit for some of the bumps she took here, including a nasty powerbomb from the top rope onto the apron. Mone's presence and heeling in the first half was really good. This was the type of performance that shows why she was considered such a huge "get" for AEW and someone they could build the entire division around. Other highlights included Statlander countering double knees from the top into a powerbomb, a brilliant Rolling German Suplex from Stat moments later, Mone going bananas with a series of at least 6  suplexes in a row, and a wonderful tumble to the outside that felt like it could've led to a double countout. They maybe took a handful too many breaths between the big kickouts and the next spot, both women filling that time with some serious emoting, but it wasn't too distracting and it mostly felt "earned." I loved Mone's work on Stat's ankle late in the match as it looked brutal, felt fresh, and provided a great pay-off to them exposing the ring. I liked the twists that the match had in its final 5-10 minutes as Statlander, shoeless, threw everything she had left at Mone but ended up eating an absolutely insane sit-out tombstone piledriver on the apron when she tried to go to the top. I'm not sure that shouldn't have been the finish, to be honest, but Statlander somehow managing to beat the count was captured beautifully. From there, Mone applied her crossface, Statlander refused to tap, and we got a not-so-pretty final sequence filled with somewhat awkward counters and reversals and escapes. Again, Statlander does so many things well, but these elaborate sequences that require a lot of quickness, agility, and precision do not play to her strengths or experience level. This was arguably the Match of the Night up to this point. Terrific match, maybe a couple hairs short of being an all-time classic. (4/5)

The Continental Classic finals were next - Will Ospreay vs. Kazuchika Okada. JR joined in on commentary and seemed lost before the match even began. The story here was that Okada was competing to prove he is the best tournament wrestler of all time, a distinction that only really matters to the super wrestling nerds who followed wrestling in Japan in the 2010s. Ospreay came into this match with his head bandaged and dried blood streaked all over his face and the back of his neck. Ospreay sold fatigue really well, hitting big maneuvers like hurricanranas and splashes but taking a breather between each, pausing before his springboards, just generally moving at half-speed in the early going. Okada cut him off with a DDT on the floor and then another off the apron, his more methodical approach being played up on commentary. Okada hit a third DDT, clearly targeting Ospreay's head. Okada hit a neckbreaker after a few strikes from Ospreay and then wiped his brow with part of Ospreay's bandage (which had fallen off). Ospreay hit more chops but Okada kneed him in the gut and then scratched at Ospreay's wound and hit him with a back elbow in the corner. Ospreay countered a DDT attempt with a suplex and then hit his big backwards handspring spinning heel kick and a flying elbow from the top rope. Ospreay called for the Hidden Blade but Okada countered it with his signature one-leg flapjack. Okada hit a brilliant dropkick on Ospreay in the corner and Ospreay had a wicked landing, his leg and knee getting caught by the rope. I'm not sure if that was planned or not but Okada took advantage of it, hitting Ospreay with a kneebreaker. When he attempted a piledriver, Ospreay escaped, landed an awesome reverse thrust kick and hit the Os-cutter off the guardrail! Super cool. As Okada climbed back in the ring, Ospreay hit him with a dropkick to the back of the neck and then another Os-cutter, but only got 2. Ospreay laid in another huge chop but ate a signature Okada neckbreaker and then a big elbow from the top. Okada showed Ospreay the bird and then landed a big dropkick and then, after a nifty sequence, another. Ospreay hit the Styles Clash but only got 2, Okada barely getting his shoulder up. Ospreay went for another Hidden Blade but Okada countered it into a tilt-a-whirl and then hit a Rainmaker...which only got 2! A "Fight Forever" chant broke out as both men sold the exhaustion of the evening. Okada absolutely nailed Ospreay with a forearm and then a couple uppercuts, causing Ospreay to collapse onto the mat. As Ospreay's face bled for the second time that night, Okada hit him with a german suplex and then attempted a Rainmaker - but Ospreay countered it into a Spanish Fly for 2! Crazy counter. Ospreay went for the Hidden Blade, Okada hit a dropkick, Ospreay went for the Cutter, Okada countered with a dropkick, Rainmaker attempt by Okada, countered with a Rainmaker by Ospreay, Stormbreaker by Ospreay, but he only gets 2.9! That was an unreal sequence. Ospreay went for a Tiger Driver, but Okada countered it into a Rainmaker! Okada was unable to make the count, but he held onto Ospreay's wrist and hit him with a second one! Ospreay stayed standing and went for the Hidden Blade but, well, we got about a half-dozen counters and finisher attempts in a 15-second time frame and there's really no way to describe it other than saying it was awesome and it ended with Okada's Rainmaker. Wow. That might've been the craziest finishing sequence I've ever seen. Incredible, incredible match. (4/5)

Main event time - Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Championship against Orange Cassidy, "Switchblade" Jay White, and "Hangman" Adam Page. I didn't love the build-up for this match as Moxley essentially laid down the challenge for a match where he - if you do the Steiner Math - had only a 25% chance of leaving with the title. I guess that is supposed to make him look like a total badass, but it made White, Page, and Cassidy look like losers before the match even began. I also think, on a show loaded with some really great matches, this needed to be a "Best Fourway Of All Time"-caliber match to stand out. Ultimately, I think I was right. This was fine, good, okay...but not exceptional. Moxley getting bailed out constantly by his stablemates is classic heel villainy and I'm here for it - but that desperation conflicts with the narrative that led to this match, that Moxley fears no one and was willing to put up his title in an against-all-odds setting. Had they just had TK or some other authority book this match because the three challengers all had legit claims to being number one contender, that would've fixed things. Anyway, I try to rate matches on the match itself and this match offered very little innovation or storyline-furthering developments. Where was PAC, by the way? If Yuta is going to be so involved, he should've really had some sort of "statement" moment to further his drama with Cassidy. If Jay White is going to fall prey to the numbers, where were The Gunns or Juice Robinson? If you're going to have a huge clusterfuck finish, go all the way the with it. There were some good sequences and the babyfaces doing a Shield Tribute Spot was cool, but that was about it. The post-match return of Edge - err, Adam Copeland, backed up by FTR, blew the roof off, but I'm not personally intrigued with a Moxley/Copeland match. (2.5/5)

With a strong 3.38-out-of-5 Kwang Score and several "must see" matches, World's End 2024 was another great show for AEW. The weakest matches of the night were the main event and Women's World Championship matches and I was a bit surprised there wasn't a single tag match on the card, but with two excellent outings from Will Ospreay, Takeshita and Hobbs delivering on every expectation, and Mercedes Mone and Kris Statlander putting on another great match, large parts of this show are worth checking out.

FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand

AEW Full Gear 2019

AEW Full Gear 2019

Baltimore, MD - November 2019

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, Chris Jericho was the AEW World Champion, Riho was the AEW Women's World Champion, and the AEW World Tag Team Champions were SCU (Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky). 

Full Gear 2019 kicks off with The Young Bucks taking on Proud-N-Powerful, aka Santana and Ortiz. This was a tad underwhelming to me with a few spots I really disliked. I disliked the way Ortiz sold a superkick by wiggling around like a dolphin. I disliked Santana biting the top rope for no real reason just to make a double superkick to the back of the head spot look more vicious (take out the biting and that spot would've been nasty enough). I liked the first Northern Lights Suplex that Matt Jackson hit on both Santana and Ortiz, but disliked him somehow having the power to roll through and do it again. I didn't find the "story" or narrative of the match to be all that interesting and while you know, with these guys, you are going to get some great double-team maneuvers and lots of action, there was one point where the match basically just stopped because Santana and Ortiz seemingly had no game plan. It was an odd hiccup in a match that had been, up till that point, pretty balls-to-the-wall. A touch overlong too, this match was not my cup of tea. The post-match, which saw the Rock n' Roll Express help the Bucks get some revenge against the heels (who had been joined by Sammy Guevara for a post-match attack on their beaten opponents), was a fun, crowd-pleasing moment. (2.5/5)

PAC and "Hangman" Adam Page did battle next. Page controlled early, but really, this was your "classic AEW" back-and-forth bombfest. I liked that they took some time between the big spots, but there was really no "story" to this match aside from both guys showing off all they could do. Like JR noted on commentary, I've often thought that Page's gimmick and style are at odds as you wouldn't expect a cowboy to do so much high-flying, but I've never been an expert on Adam Page's career and, ultimately, his execution is tremendous. PAC was his usual great self here too, though the cameras miss one of his better spots out of the corner. The crowd was a little quieter for this than I think they'd be for this sort of match today, but, at the time, neither guy hugely established with "mainstream" wrestling fans. A good, arguably great, match that suffered from a lack of heat and crowd engagement. (3/5)

Joey Janela, the "Bad Boy" of pro-wrestling, took on Shawn Spears in the next match. The story here was that Spears was trying to rid the wrestling landscape of "Garbage Wrestling," aka hardcore wrestling. Naturally, the story then should've been that Spears would use all sorts of ridiculous, cheap, behind-the-ref's back hardcore spots to win the match, bloodying Janela in the process. We get that...but only after 10 minutes of Janela proving that he can, in fact, wrestle. Unfortunately, being an average wrestler is not enough to get over on a show where the "basement level" of talent is so high. The same criticism can be made of Spears' performance as his stoic heel demeanor lead to underreactions when this match needed more "big" moments and panic. There were moments in this match that were good - Spears' hitting a huge bodyslam on Janela on the floor early, Spears tying up Janela's hair with the tag rope, the finishing spot (a spike piledriver on the floor from Spears with Tully Blanchard on the assist) - but this felt very "mid" as the kids say. (2/5)

The AEW World Tag Team Championships were on the line next as SCU (Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian) defended the titles against The Lucha Bros (Rey Fenix and Pentagon Jr.) and Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen). When you put this many high-flyers in the ring, the goal is to get a really fast-paced, non-stop, "spot-heavy" match and they succeed in delivering that. However, its unclear who the crowd should be rooting for and rooting against and that lack of moral conflict or emotion ends up hurting this match and keeping it from being anything more than an "exhibition style" contest. The fact that the championships are on the line should add some drama, but none of the teams try to take a shortcut or bend the rules to capture them. Maybe in 2019 this sort of match would've felt like a breath of fresh air but in 2024, with matches like these being so common, its hard to consider this anything special. (2.5/5)

Emi Sakura challenged Riho for the AEW Womens' World Championship next. I really liked Sakura's Freddie Mercury-inspired cosplay and opera-singing. Really smart way to give the crowd a "hook" as I'm not sure how familiar the AEW fans were with her. The pinfall sequence towards the end was spectacular and the match may have benefitted from an opening that was as fast-paced rather than the more deliberate approach. JR got a bit tongue-tied at one point, a recurring thread on this show. I don't think its a lack of preparation as much as JR just not being the "wrestling nerd" one would need to be to provide the kind of color commentary he was shooting for as an "expert." In a sense, this is where someone like a Don West made more sense as enthusiasm and excitement for the action would've worked better than JR clearly being out of his wheelhouse. Anyway, commentary issues aside, from a workrate perspective, this might've been my match of the night up till this point as Sakura was really great with her character work throughout and I absolutely loved the way they built towards the multiple javelin stomp spots, which I usually loathe but actually felt organic and logical here (one of my biggest pet peeves is the way certain guys will position themselves to take these moves by holding themselves up on the ropes). (3/5)

Cody Rhodes challenged Chris Jericho for the AEW World Championship in the next match. The storyline coming into this was that Rhodes would never challenge for the title again if he could not defeat Jericho. This was a very "sports-entertainment" heavy match with some good but not really remarkable back-and-forth for the first third, then a second third built around Cody face-planting on the steel entranceway and Jericho working over a cut on his forehead, and a final third where Rhodes made some inroads towards a comeback, Jake Hager got thrown out of the match for interference, and Jericho managed to apply his Walls of Jericho submission to lead to the finish (MJF throwing in the towel for Cody Rhodes). This went a touch too long for me and started a little too slow for me to consider this "must see." Jericho didn't embarrass himself here but I didn't see any greatness either. I liked MJF's turn after the match, especially him getting doused with water by an angry fan (plant?) as he made his exit. (3/5)

Main event time - Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega in a "Lights Out" match. The "Lights Out" stipulation means that this match was "unsanctioned" (but still had a referee) and "anything goes." They promised a wild hardcore match and this was definitely that. Mouse traps, shards of glass, an ice pick tease, a barbwire broom, a barbwire bat, a barbwire "bed" - it was all there. I'm a bigger fan of Omega when he's showing off his agility, speed, technique, and relentless energy, but he was clearly not afraid to work a "death match"-style contest here. Some of the spots were a bit too cutesy for me, such as Omega double-stomping a trash can on Moxley, but others were spectacular. I also really liked how the violence built up until the final few spots with the exposed ring, culminating in Omega basically diving full force onto the uncovered wood. To be honest, this match wasn't really blowing me away until its second half, but the second half is outrageously good. (4/5)

With a Kwang Score of 2.86-out-of-5, Full Gear 2019 was something of a disappointment to me. Jericho/Cody is long and dramatic, but its not particularly great, and really only the main event could be considered "must watch" if you're into death matches. Riho/Sakura is arguably the best "straight-up" match on the show while both tag matches are solid but not unremarkable.

FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand

13 Random Matches

Shinya Hashimoto vs. Nobuhiko Takada (04/29/1996, NJPW) - This one is for Takada's IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. They start things off with some grappling on the mat, both men trying to grab hold of the other's arm. Takada takes a few kicks to his legs but then rallies with a series of his own to bring Hashimoto down. Takada applies an armbar but Hashimoto makes it to the ropes. Takada continues to use his speed and superior conditioning to try to dodge Hashimoto's big offense, but he eventually gets caught and Hashimoto applies a wristlock of his own on the mat. Hashimoto goes to work on Takada's legs and applies a figure four, but Takada is able to crawl his way to the bottom rope. Back on their feet, Takada delivers some big kicks and hits a beautiful side suplex that drops Hashimoto on his skull. Takada reapplies the wristlock but, when that doesn't work, goes for a single-leg crab and then a full Boston crab after. Hashimoto pushes up and out. Back up they go and while Takada lands some heavy blows, Hashimoto's chops are devastating enough to send the champ to the mat. Takada hits more nasty strikes but Hashimoto ducks a kick to the head and drops low for a sweep! Hashimoto with a stomp and then attempts a suplex, but Takada is back to the wristlock on the mat. When Takada relinquishes the hold, Hashimoto is able to get back on his feet and delivers a big kick that sends Takada back down. Hashimoto attempts a suplex, Takada escapes, but then eats a big backhand! Hashimoto with the DDT for 2. Hashimoto finally lands a ridiculous brainbuster and then applies a wristlock and Takada taps! Reading up on this match, I was surprised to learn that it inspired the nWo storyline - I guess Takada was something of a heel invader in NJPW and Hashimoto was the man set to win back the title - but even without that context, this is a really good match and one that can be enjoyed without knowing any of the drama behind it. It is a touch too short to rate as an absolute "must see," but fans of the genre who consider it a 5-star classic certainly won't get much of an argument from me. (3.5/5)

Shinya Hashimoto vs. Steve Williams (12/06/1989, NJPW) - Steve Williams looks like an animal during the pre-match, full of energy and excitement and ready to kick serious ass while Hashimoto is more reserved and focused. They lock up to start things, each guy shoving the other into a corner but nobody landing anything much before Williams takes him to the mat using his amateur wrestling background. Williams can't apply much, though, and they're back on their feet soon after. They lock up, which leads to a Hashimoto wristlock, but we're still in "feeling out" mode 6 minutes in with neither guy being able to get much offense. Hashimoto is able to get a hiptoss in, but Williams wrestles out of the side headlock and hits some big right hands to the chest of Hashimoto. Hashimoto rallies with a series of stiff kicks and then a headbutt before a bodyslam. Williams takes his time getting to his feet and then withstands a devastating jumping spin kick! But Williams is back on his feet! I can see some people criticizing the "no sell" there, but Dr. Death no-selling other people's deathblows is sort of part of the shtick. Williams with some forearms and then, miraculously, hoists up Hashimoto for the guerilla press slam! Holy cow! That was super, duper impressive and worth the price of admission on its own. To the floor they go and, because this is being shot by a single camera in the stands, we don't necessarily see everything that happens. Williams lifts up Hash again and rams him head-first into the post. Hashimoto rolls back into the ring and takes a clothesline off the ropes. Williams grapevines the legs and applies an odd-looking crab-looking thing. Hashimoto reaches the bottom rope and Williams releases the hold, but he's still in full control, delivering a spinebuster for 2. Williams with a rear chinlock, but Hash won't tap so Williams decides to release the hold and just wrench his neck repeatedly. Williams with a piledriver but only gets 2. Dr. Death with some big strikes and then a front facelock that brings Hashimoto to the mat. Dr. Death with a bearhug and then an avalanche pin for 2. Williams goes for a back body drop but Hash counters it with a DDT and then a series of chest-caving kicks and a bodyslam. Hashimoto with a spinning heel kick but he only gets 1. Hashimoto goes for the brainbuster but gets suplexed instead for 2. Williams with a powerslam but Hashimoto gets his foot on the rope at 2. Good nearfall there. Williams is signaling for a big finish and lands a charging shoulder that sends Hashimoto out of the ring and to the floor. Williams follows him out and beats him down, sending him into the guardrail. Williams with a rolling back suplex on the floor. He takes a big swing at him on the post but Hash dodges. Hash with a spinning heel kick, but Williams dodges it. Williams hoists him up, but Hashimoto escapes and shoves him into the post. Hashimoto makes the 10 count and is declared the winner. There was enough good stuff here to make this a fun match and I loved how Williams sold his frustration at the end. Great staredown at the end leading to a handshake as a show of respect between these two. I kinda wish Williams had done a bit more selling but, again, his toughness and no-selling is sorta what makes Dr. Death stand apart (and the same can be said of Hashimoto, though, here, he sells his ass off). Very solid finish (even if indecisive) and it doesn't overstay its welcome. Not "must see," but good for what it was. Has Hashimoto ever had a truly bad match? He must've...but I haven't come across it yet. (3.5/5)

Kana (Asuka) vs. Meiko Satomura (02/13/2011, Triple Tails/Kana Pro) - This is my maiden viewing of a non-WWE Asuka (here wrestling as Kana) match. I've heard very good things about Satomura as well. Strike exchange to start after Kana refuses a handshake. Satomura grabs hold of her arm and Asuka sells the heck out of it on the floor. Satomura joins her outside and boots the hell out of her. The brawl continues and Asuka lays in some stiff kicks of her own. Lots of back-and-forth on the outside and inside the ring with both women taking and receiving some serious strikes and kicks. Things shift into more mat-based work as both women apply and then counter a series of submissions, grabbing and twisting eachother's limbs. None of this could be described as "restholds," but this is not the type of action you'd ever get in the WWE. Satomura controls with a side headlock and hits a DDT and then a big running forearm in the corner and then another off the ropes. Woah, holy mule kick! That was NASTY as Satomura applied a wristlock and then just back-kicked the hell out of Asuka's face. Asuka strikes back with a big slap and then a series of kicks, including one that knocks Meiko in the head for 2. Back to the mat they go as Asuka grapevines Satomura's leg and applies an ankle lock. Asuka with some more kicks to the back and the chest and then a reverse DDT for 2. Satomura rallies, though, hitting a bunch of kicks of her own and then an absolutely devastating cartwheel kick to the back of Asuka's head! Holy shit. How is Asuka not finished after that? And yet, she isn't...even after a Pele kick and a big suplex that gets 2.9. When Satomura goes for another flip kick, Asuka grabs hold of her foot and applies a desperate submission and we get another grueling counter-to-a-counter sequence with Asuka in relative control and refusing to give Satomura even the slightest chance of breaking free for long. With Asuka now in control, it seems like Satomura is fully spent by this point, but she hooks on an armbar and then hits a spinning heel kick off the ropes before connecting with a Death Valley Driver for another 2.5. Satomura applies a headlock, a comparatively simple hold in a match full of more innovative submissions, and transitions it into a leg-assisted sleeper before hitting yet another DVD. This one also only gets 2! Dang. Asuka no-sells the damage a bit and hits a german suplex out of nowhere. Not a fan of the lack of transition there after how dominant Satomura was there. A kick exchange follows with both women landing big ones and then Asuka applying something akin to a Tazmission but even more brutal-looking. Locked with nowhere to go, the referee finally calls it for Asuka and we have a winner in a super competitive battle. This was really good, but not quite "essential" viewing. I'm eager to check out more from Meiko Satomura. (3.5/5)

Meiko Satomura vs. Toshie Uematsu (03/31/1997, WCW) - This is the rare joshi match from an episode of WCW Nitro, which means we're not going to get an epic but it should still be a fun bout. Uematsu gets some offense in at first, but its not long before Satomura gets hold of her arm for an armbreaker before following it up with a big forearm in the corner, a scoop slam, and then a frog splash - but Uematsu gets her knees up! Uematsu runs and does a flip off Satomura a couple times, which is more odd-looking than devastating. Satomura goes to the top but gets picked flipped into the middle of the ring. Uematsu with a devastating splash from the top rope! Now that looked good. This was too slight to be considered good and it wasn't the "fireworks show" I was hoping for. Shocked to learn that Satomura was 17 years old for this match. (2/5)

Akira Hokuto vs. Meiko Satomura (04/29/2001, GAEA) - Nice! As I'm reviewing these matches for the eventual Greatest Wrestler Ever poll over at ProWrestlingOnly, I'm hoping to only include wrestlers on my ballot who I've seen 10+ matches of...and I'm nowhere near that for either of these two. This will help. Anyway, Akira Hokuto and Satomura start things off by swinging and kicking at each other with ferocious intent. Hokuto nails Satomura with a nasty DVD early and then brains her with a series knees to the head. Damn. Satomura with a suplex and then a kick of her own. Hokuto with a damn stiff slap to the head and then another and another. Good lord. Brilliant backflip kick by Satomura and Hokuto is on the mat and holding her eye. Satomura lifts her up but Hokuto nearly catches her with an armbar. The pace of this is incredible as neither woman is giving the other even a second to breathe. Both women fight to be the first to go to the top rope, pulling and kicking each other down. Satomura goes for a flying clothesline but gets her wrist capture and its armbar time from Hokuto! It is seriously cinched, but Satomura gets to the bottom rope. Hokuto whips her out of the ring and Satomura sells the limb damage tremendously, holding her forearm in pain and crying out in pain even as she continues to try to fight once she's back in the ring. Satomura gets some offense in but its not long before Hokuto has her facedown on the mat again, her injured arm and one of her legs tied up. She somehow manages to get to the ropes but Hokuto pulls her back in and attempts a sharpshooter. Countered by Satomura...but then Hokuto counters that into a crossface. Again, Satomura's selling of the damaged wrist/arm is really great here and Hokuto's mercilessness is unbelievable. She hits her with a series of boots to the face and then a couple missile dropkicks, sending Satomura halfway across the ring. Nasty powerbomb by Hokuto! Satomura is still clutching her arm (as if to remind Hokuto that she should be working on it much more at this point?). Hokuto applies another wristlock, but Satomurua resists and eventually gets her foot to the bottom rope to break the hold. Back on their feet, Satomura rallies with a DVD of her own and then an armbar of her own too! This is the part of the match where the joshi "style" loses me a bit as we go from some really great selling and bumping to Satomura completely taking over the match without really "earning it" with a big transition. Satomura's selling of the forearm damage returns at times - it is completely ignored or anything - and I love the action that comes after her initial "comeback," specifically Hokuto cutting her off by blocking a splash with her legs, the back suplexes that Hokuto busts out, Satomura bridging out of a pinfall attempt with every bit of her remaining energy, and Satomura absolutely crushing Hokuto's skull with a kick moments later...There is too much to love about this match to be too critical of the "psychology." The "psychology" is that these two women are going to beat the holy hell out of each other until one can't stand any more and, at times, that means they're going to shrug off the type of moves that should end a match. It is as blatant here as it is in modern wrestling (especially AEW), but at least here there is no semblance of it being a collaborative "work." The kicks to the head look dangerous. The bumping looks like it could paralyze someone. The exhaustion is earned. The kickouts have struggle behind them. There is a disregard for safety here that is exhilarating to watch. In the final minutes, it seems like we're getting a direct callback to the legendary Hokuto/Kandori finish as both women hit the other with devastating strikes and Hokuto essentially falls on top of Satomura for a 2 count. Hokuto attempts a brainbuster but can't get her up at first. She ends up hitting it on her second attempt but can't make the cover! Love the added drama there as this one seemed over. Satomura makes it to her feet first to beat the referee's count (due to outside interference from Satomurua's crew) and win the match, a finish that is very dramatic and Rocky-ish and a little cheap too, if you ask me as I wish they would've gone with something a bit more definitive. Still, its a finish unlike many others so I do give them credit for doing something unique. Overall, a terrific match. (4/5)

 

Aja Kong vs. Meiko Satomura (09/15/1999, GAEA) - This is another one that qualifies as a "double whammy" for me as I try to watch more and more "joshi" wrestling featuring the biggest stars of the genre. Aja Kong was the champion coming into this massive dome show and there is a definite "big fight feel" to this match with huge production value and grand entrances for both competitors. It is bizarre to think that Satomura was 20 years old at this point. Satomura tries to make this an actual wrestling match early, but Kong is too big and is able to overtake her quickly and apply a rear choke before booting her in the back. Kong follows it up with a big suplex and then an elbow drop and some ground-and-pound on the mat. Satomura escapes and gets some offense in, but Kong just basically laughs it off and nails her with a kick to the thigh. Brilliant. Satomura gets some kicks in and knocks Kong off her feet, but Kong looks more annoyed than hurt at this point and applies an armbreaker. Satomura is in agony as Kong continues working on her arm and then nails her with her patented piledriver. Armbar by Kong into a cobra clutch into a full body lock. Kong with a big stalling brainbuster for another 2 count. Big stomp to the lower back by Kong as Satomura is getting completely dominated. Satomura tries to fight back a bit but gets dropped with a headbutt and then crushed again under Kong's weight. Package piledriver by Aja Kong! Dang! That was nasty and way ahead of its time in 1999 to my knowledge. Satomura tries a springboard counter but gets kicked right in the gut. Brilliant cut-off there. Kong has an answer for every hope spot with Satoruma only getting the occasional shot in. Meiko gets suplexed belly-first onto the top rope just as it looks like she may be able to put some moves together and then eats the running reverse powerslam into the corner. Kong goes for a splash but runs into Meiko's forearm. Meiko tries for a splash but Kong gets her knees up. Satomura finally strings together some offense with two big kicks to the head after a brilliant kip-up but then gets clotheslined out of the ring. Wow. Satomura practically leaps back into the ring and, using her speed, lands another big kick before having to eat a wild and stiff suplex. Meiko bridges out at 2! Kong dumps her out of the ring but no longer looks quite as confident and decides to take a risk by delivering a huge crossbody through the middle rope and onto the floor! Whoa. That was sweet. Back in the ring, Kong counters a sleeper attempt with a neckbreaker and then levels Satomura with a huge lariat. Satomura eats another one but won't stay down. Satomura attempts a Pele Kick - wild in 99' - but Kong shoves her away in mid-air. She connects with the second one but after selling the damage for a few seconds, Kong sends her halfway across the mat with a release german suplex. Kong goes off the top, but Satomura catches her in an armbar! Kong reaches the rope, but she was in trouble. Armbreaker by Satomura but Kong hits her with a powerbomb for 2! Kong hoists her up to the top rope but Satomura flips over her and, unable to hit the sunset flip powerbomb, settles for a wild belly-to-back suplex and then another Pele Kick! I didn't love Kong positioning herself for that spot - a rare moment where its clear they are "working" - but its a small criticism. DVD by Satomura for 2. Kong misses the backhand but hits a brainbuster for another 2 count. Kong tries for another backhand but clearly doesn't get all of it and Satomura hits her with a forearm, an armbreaker, and then another DVD for 2. Don't love the repetition there. Kong hits the backhand, but both women go down in exhaustion. Kong hoists Satomura up to the top and this time Meiko hits the sunset flip powerbomb! She still only gets 2, though, and Kong makes it to her feet first. Kong with another attempt at a backhand, but Satomura catches her in an armbar! Kong gets to the ropes, but just barely, and she's clutching her arm in serious pain. Back on their feet, Kong applies a sleeper, hits her with a wild backhand to the back of the skull, and then reapplies the sleeper on the mat. Satomura looks completely dead...but she spins and turns and rolls, putting up a huge struggle to escape. Kong's hold weakens and Meiko makes it to the ropes. Satomura lands another Pele Kick but gets struck by a nasty backhand! Wow. There were a few moments I didn't love and some of the spots seemed a touch repetitive, but the majority of this match was great stuff. (4/5)

Black Terry vs. Multifaceto (04/17/2008, CMLL) - Black Terry meets Multifaceto in the aisleway to start the match in this Hair vs. Mask showdown, gaining the upperhand immediately. Black Terry connects with a pair of codebreakers and then applies something akin to a tarantula. Upon releasing the hold, Multifaceto flies into the barricade. Cool bump. Back in the ring, Multifaceto gains some steam with a bulldog, but an attempt at a springboard Coffin Drop-esque splash gets countered and Terry wins the first fall. Into the crowd they go during the second round with Black Terry blasting Multifaceto with a beer bottle at one point. When he tries to use a chair, the ref demands he return to the ring but he ignores him and throws the chair into his opponent's face. Back in the ring, Terry gets a nearfall and then lays in some really good-looking punches, including an awesome right hand. Either from the punches or Black Terry biting him earlier, Multifaceto is a bloody messy at this point. Gotta love lucha gore. Multifaceto mounts a comeback and applies a really cool submission to win the second fall after hitting a nifty pop-up spinebuster. Someone should definitely steal that combo. During the rest period, Black Terry's second (I'm not sure what his name is) wraps his ribs for him. Multifaceto controls the third fall early. They go back into the crowd for more brawling, this time with Multifaceto in control. Multifaceto hits Terry with a chair, which busts him open. Multifaceto bites him! Back at ringside, the two men trade punches and headbutts but theyre both too exhausted to do much else. In the ring, Multifaceto applies a side bow-and-arrow but Terry escapes, hits a spinebuster, and then applies a leg submission of his own - an inverted figure four. Multifaceto gets to the ropes to break the hold. They continue trading submissions, the match kinda swinging back and forth between being a wild brawl and a more grueling battle of technique and stretching. It wouldn't necessarily work if either part or the selling weren't as good as they are. I love Black Terry attempting to cheat to win but getting stopped by El Pantera (Multifaceto's second) and then Black Terry booting him straight in the face. El Pantera prevents Black Terry from delivering a tope and gets banished from ringside. Quickly after, it is Black Terry's second that gets sent packing. Multifaceto hits a suicide dive - but it takes out the referee on the outside! Not the greatest dive I've ever seen, but I like the twist. Black Terry with a brilliant DDT after catching Multifaceto off the ropes and Multifaceto taps out to a headlock submission but there's no ref to make the call! As Terry goes to revive the referee, his buddy comes in and hits Multifaceto with a low blow. The ref is back to make the count, but Multifaceto kicks out at 2. Side splash by Terry for another nearfall. Black Terry goes for a suplex, but Multifaceto counters it into a small package. Wow. Was not expecting that finish, but it absolutely worked. This was good stuff. (3.5/5)

Black Terry vs. Mr. Condor (12/05/2021, ZONA 23) - I'm not exactly sure what I'm watching here as this match is taking place in some sort of makeshift outdoor wrestling venue. Black Terry and Mr. Condor are both old men and look like it, but that doesn't stop them from beating the heck out of each other. This match is captured on film in a way unlike most any I've seen, with lots of handheld cameras both near and far from the action. Condor draws first blood, carving into Terry's skin with something. Condor nails him in the back with a chair and then we get more straight-up fisticuffs. Black Terry connects with some knees to the gut and Mr. Condor breaks a beer bottle against the post and threatens to stab Terry with it! Holy shit. Black Terry gets one of his own! They drop their weapons and Black Terry grabs hold of Condor and bashes him against the hood of a car. Terry grabs a computer keyboard - there is trash and all sorts of weird objects and broken down cars all over the place - and beats Condor with it and then rolls him into the ring. Condor is bleeding like a stuck pig and we get a wild visual as Terry ties him up in the ropes and hits him with some big forearms. Condor grabs a glass plate and smashes it over Terry's head. Dang. That only gets him a 2 count, though. Back out of the ring they go for more brawling, trading punches, headbutts, chops, and quite a few words too. Back in the ring, Black Terry hits a not-so-great clothesline off the ropes and then goes for a submission but gets caught in one instead. Condor goes for a nifty cover to get the win with Black Terry kicking out just a split second too late. I wish the finish had been built up to a bit better as the rest of the match was such a violent spectacle that it felt a bit anticlimactic. I wouldn't consider this "must see," but it was certainly a unique setting and a wild viewing experience to see two guys in their mid-to-late 60s have such a violent, bloody brawl. (3/5)

Stan Hansen vs. Terry Gordy (09/11/1986, AJPW) - Gordy and Hansen take absolutely no time warming up here as they bring the fight to each other from before the bell even rings, Hansen not even able to lose his trademark vest until Gordy opts to take a "breather" after their initial flurry. The first big "spot" of the match might be Gordy attempting a piledriver/powerbomb, Hansen countering by grabbing the ropes, both guys spilling to the floor, and then Hansen taking control using the ring post before delivering a vicious stomp and some stiff blows. Gordy gets busted open and is bleeding big time, just gushing blood from his head. Back to the outside they go and Gordy dodges a clothesline, causing Hansen to wrap his arm around the post. Gordy with an armbreaker back in the ring and then an armbar on the mat. At this point, Gordy is still bleeding huge, every breath spraying red mist across the ring. Gordy's focus and work on the arm is great stuff and Hansen sells the heck out of it. Gordy tries a splash from the top and Hansen dodges it, giving him the opening he needs to re-take control. Hansen lands a simple piledriver and then a simple back suplex for 2. Hansen with a big boot to a seated Gordy and then another. Hansen looks to hit a big lariat and finish Gordy off, but he gets pulled to the mat by Killer Khan, who then tosses a chair into the ring for Gordy to use. It's 2-on-1, giving us a shit finish. Gordy ends up bashing Khan with a chair and Hansen runs the heels off with some chair-swinging of his own. Outside the ring, Gordy starts tossing chairs into the ring, not really aiming for Hansen, who is now busted open too. A more definitive finish and a longer runtime could've made this really special, but what we get - plus a fun post-match brawl - is enough to still consider this above-average, if not quite "must see." (3/5)

Terry Gordy vs. Genichiro Tenryu (09/02/1989, AJPW) - Mildly disappointing, but only because I expected a touch more from this. It goes under 15 minutes and is very one-sided for its first half as Gordy absolutely dominates the champ. The second half is more even, but some of Tenryu's enziguiris look like they're not quite on target. I loved Tenryu's emphatic resistance to every Gordy attempt at a powerbomb or piledriver. I was impressed by Tenryu's ability to get Gordy up for multiple powerbombs. Obviously with Tenryu and Gordy you are going to get some serious physicality and stiff shots, but there are better examples of it out there which makes this feel lesser in comparison. (3/5)

Kenta Kobashi vs. Vader (02/27/2000, AJPW) - If you told me that Vader had much of a career, with well-regarded matches, after his WWE run ended in the late 90s, I wouldn't have believed you. And, watching this, it is very obvious that he is moving considerably slower, carrying a bit too much weight, and not nearly as dynamic or agile as he once was. That being said, Kenta Kobashi is incredible throughout, selling the heck out of Vader's offense despite it not having the brutal force it once had and taking some heinous bumps on the back of his head. When the crowd comes alive for the second half of the match, you get some really dramatic nearfalls and I thought the finish worked well as Kobashi was able to put down Vader with two huge lariats. Of course, in the US, that sort of finish would never work, but here, where so much of the match was about Vader's size and power, it made sense that it would eventually be his lack of agility, his slowness, and his size that prevented him from being able to kick out once he was down for the count. A really good match. (3.5/5)

Bruiser Brody vs. Terry Funk (11/30/1981, AJPW) - I'm not sure there's enough actual wrestling to consider this a classic. There is little to no "build" or much of a story...but boy is this bloody. Funk either blades himself too deep or gets legitimately split open within the first few minutes of the match and, from that point on, that's really all that this match is about. Funk stumbles and flays, blinded by the crimson that covers his face. Brody ends up opened up too and the match gets more and more violent and wild with Funk taking an awesome fall to the outside at one point. Jimmy Snuka shows up, which keeps this from having a satisfying ending, though you do get the great visual of Brody using his chain to tie Funk into the bottom rope so he can stomp on his knee. This brings Dory Funk out and, eventually, we get a big pull apart. Not much a "match" so its hard to judge something like this, but it was good. (3/5)

Mach Fumiake vs. Jumbo Miyamoto (03/19/1975, AJW) - More historically important than "good," this match is missing a few moments (I think?), but is an interesting watch as it is regarded by many to be the "birth" of real Joshi wrestling. Based on what I've read, Fumiake was a celebrity singer in Japan who brought star power to women's wrestling, which, like in the US, was mostly scene as a sideshow up till that point. While I'm not sure if this was her debut or not, she wins the World Championship here from Miyamoto, who is definitely the more seasoned and animated worker based on this match. Again, not a "must see" match based on its quality necessary - it goes under 5 minutes - but one that has a historic importance. Hard to rate, but based on "the work" and the crowd's engagement, I'm fine calling this just a little sub-average. (1.5/5)