Random Matches

 

Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis vs. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin (08/27/2022, TNA/Impact): Something of a "dream match" but not really as it never really gets to that "epic" level that one might expect from an Aussie Open/Motor City Machine Guns match. The way Fletcher and Davis switch off on a vertical suplex is a bit too cutesy for me, but there was more than enough good action to offset it. The commercial break meant that we missed some of the "meat" of the match, which took me out of things a bit. Both teams wrestled with the intensity that the stakes - a shot at the Impact Tag Team Championships - warranted, but whether it was the somewhat abbreviated runtime or just the fact that the two teams didn't have the familiarity necessary to make this as great as one would hope, this match didn't exceed or really even meet my expectation of greatness. (2.5/5)

Akira Hokuto vs. Rumi Kazama (08/25/1993, AJW): Sorta like the last Hokuto match I reviewed in that Hokuto is the big star and Kazama is rep'ing the LLPW and is definitely coming in as the underdog. As per usual, we get the big stiff kicks, the powerbombs, a piledriver, and then eventually a decisive victory once Hokuto hits her finish, the Northern Lights Bomb (which I hate as a name because it implies a powerbomb-type move but is actually more like a scoop slam-brainbuster). I liked the logic and story of Kazama constantly going for submissions to weaken Hokuto's knee, though it certainly isn't revolutionary or anything. After the match, Hokuto calls out Kandori. Solid match, but nothing special. (2.5/5)

Giant Baba and Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Nick Bockwinkel and Blackjack Lanza (12/09/1978, AJPW): More scientific wrestling out of Bockwinkel and Jumbo. After a good, energetic opening, this one lost me once it got to the headlock-fest portion. I liked Baba and Tsuruta going after Lanza's hand in attempt to neutralize the Claw. I'm not a massive fan of 70s wrestling so this didn't really blow my mind or anything, but I can see superfans of any of the four enjoying this for what it was. (2/5)

Manami Toyota and Yoshiko Tamura vs. Rie Tamada and Toshiyo Yamada (08/30/1996, AJW): Not much to this match beyond Manami being Manami - loud selling, good dropkicks, the usual - though I did like Tamada and Yamada as a team (I had to look back to learn that Yamada is someone I've actually seen more matches from, usually as Toyota's partner). For an 11-minute match, they pack a ton of action into this, which makes it typical of the genre (as does the poor refereeing and near-total disregard for things like actually tagging in from the corner and not just stepping into the ring and then making the tag). Inessential viewing, but not bad. (2.5/5)

Akira Hokuto vs. Chigusa Nagayo (03/19/1989, AJW): Hokuto was not yet the star she would become in the 90s, but it's clear that she was special and, though I'm likely reading far too much into the match, it's fun to see Nagayo recognize it in real time as she's forced to up her game to take on a spirited youngster (the two had met in the ring a few times before this when Hokuto wrestled under her real name Hisako Uno). I really liked how Hokuto came out of the gate on attack and the story that unfolded from there as Nagayo turned the tides and then put on a mostly dominant performance. Like some of the other joshi matches from this time, the transitions were a bit jarring and out-of-nowhere; for example, at one point, Nagayo has been working Hokuto's leg and knee mercilessly and then, a moment later, Hokuto applies a Sharpshooter. (3/5)

Nick Bockwinkel vs. Lanny Poffo (09/18/1984, Pro Wrestling USA): Cagematch  has this listed as being from Pro Wrestling USA, a promotion I had to read-up on. It was essentially a joint promotion between the AWA, the NWA, and Continental Wrestling (Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler's Memphis territory), which helps explain Nick Bockwinkel's promos before and after the match. This was pretty much a squash, but Poffo takes a great bump to the floor and does hit a moonsault towards the end - pretty cool for 84' - to give this one some life. This isn't Bockwinkel's finest work, but it is representative of his scientific style and purposeful, deliberate pacing. (2.5/5)

Lioness Asuka and Chigusa Nagayo vs. Yukari Omori and Itsuki Yamazaki (11/1984, AJW): This match is labeled as taking place in November 1985, but a commentator corrected it (?) and said it was from 1984, which does make a touch more sense considering the Crush Gals were fairly inactive in 1985. This is your typical Crush Gals match with the crowd going absolutely apeshit for them, a bit of crowd brawling, an airplane spin, and just all-around good action. There are moments in this match that almost seem "sped up" with how fast the work is. There's also some slams that look a bit "loose," which I tend to prefer to everything looking crisp and rehearsed. This might be something of a hidden gem just because I couldn't locate any info about it on Cagematch but if you're a fan of the Crush Gals or even their opponents, who are also great in this, check it out on YouTube. (3/5)

Taka Michinoku and El Desperado vs. Zack Sabre Jr. and Yoshinari Ogawa (05/10/2015, NOAH): Over on Cagematch, this match has only one rating it is a lowly 4 but I liked this considerably more - probably because I'm a bit of a mark for Sabre Jr. and Ogawa these days, both of whom have swiftly become among my favorites to watch. Unlike some of the other tags I've seen from Ogawa and Sabre from a couple years earlier, Zack is much more confident here and busting out a ton more of his signature stuff and Ogawa also seems a bit "looser" here and more eager to bust out things that lean more into the entertainment side of things as opposed to his technical skills. I'm a fan and feel like the match is much more enjoyable because of it compared to a six-man I watched with some of these same workers a few weeks back. Fun match. (3/5)

Swerve Strickland vs. Kenny Omega (03/25/26, AEW): While not quite as good as their match in February, this was still great. I wasn't a huge fan of some of Omega's mannerisms, but, as per usual, his execution offensively and the way he took Strickland's best maneuvers was flawless. Strickland might have had an even better performance overall, selling everything that Omega threw at him brilliantly. This match really did feel like one where Omega was in the driving seat most of the time and while Strickland had some moments when it looked like he might pull out a victory, Omega's win felt earned but also, in a sense, inevitable. It was Omega's "night" just like it was Swerve's in February - though Strickland did have to bend the rules, pulling Aubrey Edwards into things, to get that W - and I'm eager to see the eventual rubber match. (3.5/5)

Yumiko Hotta vs. Aja Kong (07/14/1996, AJW) - Hotta comes out swinging with some kicks and takedown and both women get some shots in on the mat. Kong delivers some knees and kicks and goes for a submission but Hotta gets to the ropes. Hotta goes to the outside for a breather before they lock back up in the middle of the ring. Kong gets a takedown but can't do much with it because Hotta is covering up. Kong starts swinging with big right hands before going for an armbar. Hotta counters it with some strikes of her own and then a series of kicks to the head and back. Kong takes each one defiantly as Hotta hits more and more, eventually getting to her feet and applying a leglock. Kong drops a knee onto Hotta's leg and then applies a half-crab, really wrenching it back. Hotta grabs the ropes but Kong keeps the pressure on, pulling Hotta's leg onto the apron, sending her into the crowd, and then bashing her knee with a chair. She sends her into another pile of chairs and then cracks her with a stiff chairshot to the body! Damn. Kong sends her into another pile of chairs and then slams a metal sheet onto her. I must admit to enjoying seeing Hotta take this much of a beating as she's usually the one dishing out reckless offense in the name of realism. Hotta hobbles her way back into the ring but Kong goes right back to the knee/leg, applying an ankle lock. Hotta grabs the bottom rope to break. Kong continues her attack on the knee, even standing on it at one point. Hotta comes back with a heel kick off the ropes but she gets cut off again. Kong drops her with a body slam and goes to the top rope, hitting a giant splash on Hotta's knee before locking up the leg once more. Hotta hits another rolling kick in the corner and then some sharp kicks to the face. She misses a rolling kick in the corner but connects with one in the middle of the ring for a surprising nearfall. Hotta goes a double underhook powerbomb (?) but Kong is too big and she has to settle for an armbar. Kong gets her foot on the rope to break it up and Hotta attempts the double underhook again. Missed Uraken by Kong but Kong gets an ankle lock instead! Hotta goes to the ropes but Kong hits her with a back suplex. Hotta no-sells it and applies a sleeper, trying to choke the life out of Kong. Kong gets to one knee and eventually to the bottom rope. Hotta goes once more for the double underhook but Kong escapes and goes for a backslide, to which Hotta just lets her fall to the mat and gives her a quick kick to the face. Hotta with another rolling kick but Kong essentially blocks it by turning her back towards her and Hotta is in pain! Kong hoists her up to the top rope only to get knocked off. Hotta tries a kick from the top but misses and Kong grabs her knee once more! Hotta gets to the rope but the damage is clearly becoming too much. Kong goes back up top, Hotta meets her down, and down they come in a heap with Kong on top. Kong applies the leglock but again Hotta gets to the ropes. Kong misses the Uraken when Hotta ducks, but Kong hits her with one from her other hand instead! Damn! Somehow Hotta kicks out! Another Uraken! And then a leglock attempt, but Hotta counters it into an Anaconda Vice (keylock)! Kong taps! I didn't like that the Uraken wasn't sold as the death move it should've been, but the finish did establish Hotta's keylock as an immediate match-ender. Cool match. (3.5/5)

Bull Nakano vs. Akira Hokuto (12/30/1995, AJW): I loved this. Reading up on this, I had no idea that this was one of Nakano's last matches and that she came into it injured because she looks as good as ever here. There are some excellent moments in this - the piledriver on the table, Nakano hitting a front-flip legdrop, some absolutely nasty head drops, it's all so good. My only criticism would be Hokuto's comeback as she goes from "dying" to mounting a spirited comeback in very little time and without much of a transition. Cagematch has this match going close to 18 minutes, but the video on YouTube is somehow only 12, but I didn't catch the clipping. Regardless, this is a blast to watch. (4/5)

Will Ospreay vs. Naomichi Marufuji (09/17/2023, Pro Wrestling NOAH): Marufuji starts things off with a huge chest chop before we get some nifty stand-up grappling that ends with a rope break (and Ospreay covering up his chest to block any further chops). Things pick up as they run the ropes and both men attempt dropkicks. Ospreay goes for a handspring but eats a basement dropkick and Marufuji grabs a wrist and then hits him with another knife-edged chop in the corner. Ospreay ends up sending Marufuji to the floor and then into the guardrail from an Irish whip. Ospreay's delivers some forearms but Marufuji counters with a dropkick, another chop, and then a jumping back elbow. Ospreay ends up on the apron so Marufuji hits him with a cool springboard dropkick and then a spinning crossbody to the floor. Marufuji hits some Kawada Kicks but Ospreay comes back with an insane series of backflips and handstands and then a springboard forearm for 2. Ospreay delivers a few Kawada Kicks and then a nasty chest chop of his own! Marufuji tries some strikes, which don't look too pretty, and Ospreay comes back with a kick of his own and then a ridiculous aerial maneuver to the floor. We get some good work built around the guardrail and the post as Marufuji retakes control. Ospreay hoists him over the top rope, hits him with a superkick, and then delivers a Shooting Star Press for another nearfall. A sitout powerbomb gets him another 2. Ospreay heads to the top rope after a scoop slam but Marufuji rolls away, forcing Ospreay to settle for just a plain ol' awesome dropkick. Ospreay attempts a Stormbreaker on the apron but Marufuji counters it into a Sliced Bread #2 (Shiranui)! Great spot and they actually sell it with Ospreay barely able to beat the count back into the ring (where he's met by a springboard dropkick for 2). Marufuji slaps him around a bit and we get a forearm exchange that includes some absolutely nasty chops from both men. An insane sequence follows as Ospreay looks for the Oscutter but ends up taking a neckbreaker and then another Sliced Bread #2. Ospreay rallies, though, connecting with the Hidden Blade out of nowhere! After a spinning/falling kick, Ospreay connects with the Oscutter but only gets 2. Ospreay goes to the top rope but Marufuji meets him up there and takes him down with a Spanish Fly! Ospreay comes back with a Tiger Driver but it only gets 1! Ospreay hits some big forearms and goes for another Hidden Blade but Marufuji cuts him with a heel kick for 2. After a headbutt and a knee to the head, Marufuji hits a Tiger Tilt-a-Whirl Suplex (no idea what else to call it). We get some more knees and more kicks, but its clear that Marufuji is running out of steam as Ospreay nails a pair of Hidden Blades and then a Stormbreaker Zero for the win. Over on ProWrestlingOnly, the three reviews are loaded with the usual criticisms of this sort of match - that not enough is sold, that it is more an exhibition of athleticism and "callback spots" than a competitive contest, that strike exchanges have become as perfunctory as a collar-and-elbow tie-up, that this is too self-conscious an "epic," a great match-by-recipe not by innovation. While I agree with most of these criticisms, they didn't ruin the match for me and I thought the good outweighed the bad. I liked the story of Marufuji, the veteran, having to sneak in his spots to try to cut-off the younger and more dynamic Ospreay. With Ospreay, instead of a killer instinct, he wrestled and performed like he was in awe of his opponent, living out a fantasized dream match. Was it a bit corny? Sure...but I found it endearing too. Ospreay was clearly "pulling back" in terms of his workrate, but, if anything, that worked to the matches favor by allowing it to flow without an overwhelming number of crazy moves and sequences. Overall, a very good match and showcase of both men's talents. (3.5/5)

Yoshinari Ogawa and Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask IV (12/07/2013, Pro Wrestling NOAH): I wouldn't call this a hidden gem, but it's pretty darn good for what it is - a straightforward, heated tag team match featuring at least three superb workers (I'd say four but I can't really speak too much on Tiger Mask IV). Sabre Jr. puts on a very good fired-up babyface performance, while Liger leans into his heelishness. Ogawa plays the face-in-peril for awhile too, a role that he isn't particularly known for (though the beatings he took for Kobashi and Abdullah and Misawa always made him seem a bit sympathetic to me). There's not a ton of high-flying from Liger or Tiger Mask, unsurprising considering their ages at the time, but because all four guys are world-class technical grapplers, the match doesn't feel slow or lazy. Loved Sabre Jr.'s second suicide dive to the floor as he completely threw himself into it. The feel-good ending got a huge response from the crowd. Good match. (3/5)

Mayumi Ozaki vs. Hiromi Yagi (03/03/1996, JWP): Mayumi Ozaki is terrific and vicious in this, though I was also impressed by Yagi's performance. The match goes a tad long but feels like an absolute war. There are great moments sprinkled throughout this match, including some wicked brawling on the outside (especially Yagi's use of a steel chair), but also some not-so-subtle gaps and a bit of a scattershot approach in terms of the layout with lots of limb work that doesn't really go anywhere and some random-but-vicious powerbombs that are beautiful to see but don't play into the finish at all. I really liked Yagi here and am hopeful to see more of her as I make my way through 90s joshi, but the fact that I haven't seen her name brought up as one of the all-time greats in the genre has me wondering if this wasn't her "career match." Good match. (3/5)

Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet (04/01/2017, The Wrestling Revolver): This match happened on the weekend of WrestleMania, which is alluded to a few times on the commentary (speaking of the commentary, AR Fox joins the team for this match), and was hyped up as something of a dream match despite both guys being really only known to indie wrestling fans. Strickland was not yet the Swerve we know and love today and wrestles a more high-flying/faster-paced style. Ricochet had not yet come to the WWE but had built up his reputation in Lucha Underground and NJPW as one of the best high-flyers in the world. Good mirror work to start the match before we start to see all sorts of ridiculous sequences and counters, which is pretty impressive considering this is their first 1-on-1 match against each other. They load so much into the 18-20 minutes that it can be a bit dizzying and I could see the argument that they do too much and could've told a more character-driven story if they had slowed things down a bit. Of course, in 2017, Ricochet and Swerve didn't yet have the strong characters they have now so it's hard to criticize them going with the explosive, dynamic, non-stop action style that brought them to the dance. (3/5)

"Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Billy Jack Haynes (Wrestling Challenge): Savage was the Intercontinental Champion coming into this match, but it was non-title. As was typical for the time, this didn't go long and seemed to be designed to mostly get over Savage as incredibly unlikeable, sneaky, and a jerk to Miss Elizabeth. For what it was, it was pretty entertaining, though, and I really liked the way Savage escaped Haynes' Full Nelson by kicking off of Earl Hebner. Danny Davis shows up to disqualify Haynes, which was part of his "evil referee" gimmick. I wouldn't call this a carry job because Haynes isn't all that bad, but this wasn't designed to be a great match and it isn't one. (2/5)

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (05/01/1998, AJPW): For close to 30 minutes, Misawa and Kawada put on a match that isn't a breath-taking masterpiece as much as almost the "perfect version" of a story that needed certain imperfect elements to exist. Misawa came into this match banged up and injured (my understanding is that this is also played up by the commentators) and never really take the driver's seat beyond a minute or two. Kawada's cut-offs, often coming in the form of big boots, are nasty and on-target throughout the match, which further bolsters the idea that not only is Misawa a step behind but that Kawada is having the best match of his life, every dart thrown hitting the bullseye. Kawada's victory is definitive but well-earned because of Misawa's toughness and resilience, keeping the match from feeling "cheap" or like it was just your basic "injured underdog vs. healthy heel" story. Well worth checking out. (4/5)

Bryan Danielson and Samoa Joe vs. KENTA and Naomichi Marufuji (03/25/2006, ROH): A love letter to the classic tags of AJPW in its structure but wrestled firmly like a 2006 battle with all four men bringing their working boots. KENTA and Samoa Joe's interactions are the best parts of the match, but Danielson isn't phoning it in one bit. The crowd was super into this from the very beginning. A very, very good match but a bit like an All-Star Game in that, as good as it is, there is an "exhibition" feel to things despite the intensity of the moves themselves. (3.5/5)

Kyoko Inoue vs. Manami Toyota (12/08/1996, AJW): This match might best be described as "Oops All High Spots." The first 7-8 minutes are so incredible that you wonder if they haven't worked themselves into a match that has nowhere to go but down and then it just keeps going at a breakneck pace with wilder and wilder suplexes and slams and off-the-top-rope headscissors and dives and...it's about as action-packed as any match you can name. There are a handful of unignorable botches too, but even these moments add to the overall feeling that these two women are throwing everything they can think of to win the match. There's a noticeable lack of submissions, something I usually like to see from Inoue especially, but it actually works to the match's favor because neither woman is required to do much long-term selling, an element that can become quickly forgotten in a bomb-throwing contest with as many false finishes as this one. Speaking of finishes, the refereeing in this match is about a million times better than in their 60-minute match from the previous year, a bout that was named Match of the Year in The Observer but that I, and many others, dislike. This is the match that that match wishes it was. (4.5/5)

TNA Final Resolution 2011

TNA Final Resolution 2011

Orlando, FL - December 2011

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this match, the TNA World Champion was Bobby Roode, the X-Division Champion was Austin Aries, the TNA World Tag Team Champions were Crimson and Matt Morgan, the Knockouts Champion was Gail Kim (who was also co-Knockouts Tag Team Champions with Madison Rayne), while Robbie E was the TNA Television Champion.

Final Resolution began with Christopher Daniels vs. Rob Van Dam in a rematch from the previous month's Turning Point show. I disliked that match considerably, so I was not super excited to see on this card, but this was an improvement as it was a much more straight-forward match with Daniels toning down the ill-fitting chickenshit/cowardly heel shtick. The match also ran under 10 minutes, which is just about the amount of energy that Van Dam seemed to be able to expend at this point in his career. Daniels and Van Dam would've/could've/should've had better chemistry at other times, but by 2011, Van Dam was not the Van Dam of 99' and Christopher Daniels, while a consummate pro, wasn't going to pull a Match of the Year contender out of him or such a heatless, dull storyline. Better than first outing, but not by much. (2/5)

Robbie E defended his TNA Television Championship against the former champion, Eric Young, in the next match. Yup, two rematches of two forgettable/bad matches from the previous show in a row. If Young was mildly amusing at Turning Point, he's gone from "mild" to "plain" in this one while Robbie E's gimmick just feels cheap and like something you'd see at your local indy show rather than on national TV. I liked Rob Terry as his muscle but wish they would've gone "bigger" with this whole presentation. Anyway...the match is fine, but feels long (which is not a compliment when your match is 7 and a half minutes). (2/5)

Crimson and Matt Morgan defended the TNA World Tag Team Championships against Brother D-Von and "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero. Two thoughts struck me before the bell even rang: (1) Matt Morgan won TNA gold with Hernandez and Crimson to make him a 3-time TNA World Tag Team Champion and that has to put him in the category of "Worst Modern Wrestlers To Have Multiple Championships" and (2) I can't believe the storyline involving Dinero and Brother D-Von and D-Von's sons was still going on as D-Von and Dinero had had a match about this very issue way back in August of 2011. Anyway, this wasn't good. I was surprisingly impressed by the Crimson/Morgan match from the previous show as the two went at it in a physical match that didn't overstay its welcome, but none of that chemistry carried over into their tag team effort and D-Von and Dinero weren't a great pairing either. Like the previous match, this was under 10 minutes but was a chore to sit through because nothing really happened of consequence. There weren't any major botches or miscommunications, but filler like this shouldn't be on a PPV costing people money to see. Then again, looking at the active roster in TNA at this point, its not like they had a ton of options as The Young Bucks had left, the Guns were injured/inactive at the time, and the rest of the roster was fairly thin. (1.5/5)

Next up - Kid Kash challenging Austin Aries for the TNA X-Division Championship. This one needed a "Who Booked This?" sign in the audience because its a serious case of booking malpractice to put two heels in the ring together and expect them to get the crowd exciting no matter how good they are (and, in this case, Aries and Kash deliver the goods). At one point, Kash hoists Aries up for a powerbomb on the top rope and Aries counters it into a hurricanrana and it barely registers with the audience because there is zero investment in this match. I actually felt kinda bad for them because they were working their asses off here in front of a crowd that was given nobody to root for. Today, a match like this could conceivably work in front of an audience like AEW's, where the crowd is often more appreciative of the in-ring work, is bit more "smarkish," and probably would've been more willing to engage in a match pitting an ROH guy vs. an ECW guy. In front of the TNA crowd of 2011, though, this was A Jerk We Don't Like vs. A Jerk We Don't Like. (2/5)

Mickie James challenged Gail Kim for the TNA Knockouts Championship in the bout that followed. James and Kim both came to TNA with a similar reputation: workers not "Divas," wrestlers not bikini models. Given a spotlight match and a major storyline, James and Kim didn't put together a particular great or even good match, which is a shame. There were individual moments  and elements that were neat - Kim taking a wicked bump out of the ring around the post, Mickie's bumping and selling - but this felt like it needed something more special to start and took awhile to heat up before we go to interference finish (with James being so close to the ropes that it felt like she should've/could've been able to get a foot on the bottom one). I'm not sure if more time would've helped or if my expectations were unrealistic, but this wasn't as good as I was hoping for. (2.5/5)

James Storm took on Kurt Angle in a grudge match next as Angle had attacked Storm from behind, concussing him, and then bloodied him on another episode of Impact before this. Anyway, Storm and Angle exchanged wristlocks and holds to start with The Cowboy faring well enough and maintaining relative control, eventually knocking Angle over the top with a clothesline. Angle applied a drop toe hold that sent Storm into the steps and rolled him back into the ring. Angle stopped trying to outwrestle Storm and went for hard strikes and boots on the mat. After a bit of a comeback, Angle slowed him back down with a headlock. From there, Angle hit some snug German suplexes, an Angle Slam, attempted a moonsault, and applied multiple ankle locks but Storm would not give up. Storm hit a sloppy DDT-esque maneuver on the apron and eventually a superkick to get the clean W but, throughout the match, his offense was noticeably loose and poorly executed. (2/5)

Jeff Hardy took on Jeff Jarrett in a stipulation-loaded cage match next. Hardy put his career on the line, but if he won, he'd become number one contender for the TNA World Championship. Considering Hardy's reputation at the time - remember, it was less than a year since he had shown up at Victory Road so loaded that they had to take the title off of him in a 90-second "match" against Sting - the finish for this was never really in question and the 11th hour addition of Jeff or Karen Jarrett being fired if they lost didn't change much (I'd have to double-check, but I could swear Jarrett had been fired/re-instated from TNA a few times before this already). Anyway...Hardy does some big moves off the cage, including a failed swan dive and a nifty Vader Bomb off the top rope that does connect, but this isn't too good. Sting and Karen Angle get involved because of course they do. When this feud started, there was some real intensity and I liked the initial conflict and tension around Jeff Jarrett being disappointed with how Hardy had been welcomed back into TNA despite the embarrassment that he brought it with his drug abuse. There was an undeniable kernel of Jeff Jarrett being "in the right" even as a heel, but the feud devolved into very predictable and trope-ish story beats, including the nonsensical concept that somehow defeating Jarrett would make Hardy a top contender despite Jarrett having already lost to Hardy at the previous PPV and, prior to that, having not won a televised singles match since May (when he defeated Matt Morgan). Terrible writing, meh match. (1.5/5)

Main event time - AJ Styles challenging Bobby Roode for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in a 30-Minute Ironman Match. How this got 3.5 stars in The Observer I'll never know...this was a bore to sit through with its saving grace being AJ Styles' selling. I can understand the argument that this was "smartly worked" with lots of psychology, that they needed to start things off slow, that Roode targeting Styles' knee grounded the match in a believable athletic-focused story, even that the finish - spoiler alert: it ends in a draw and inexplicably does not go into a "sudden death" round (something that has been firmly established in pro-wrestling as guaranteed as overtime in any other sport) - effectively made Roode look like an undeserving cowardly champion and that AJ was adequately "protected." Ultimately, though, I rate matches based on my enjoyment of them and this was not enjoyable. After Roode takes the 2-0 lead, the match is built around AJ Styles overcoming the odds and doing so by going after Roode's shoulder, but because Roode controlled so much of the first 15 minutes of the match, Styles' comeback fell flat for me. In my mind, Roode needed to take more damage to explain falling from a 2-0 lead to down 3-2 and it needed to go beyond Styles targeting his arm. I wasn't expecting much out of this match because the more I've watched Roode, the more I find him to be pretty bland, but I was curious if AJ could carry this into watchable territory. As hard as he tried and as good as his individual performance was, it wasn't enough. (1.5/5)

With a relatively poor 1.88-out-of-5 Kwang Score, Final Resolution 2011 is a considerable step down from the last show I reviewed, Bound for Glory 2011. Not a single match on this show, aside from the Gail Kim/Mickie James match, even hits average range and some of the matches, like the main event, the underwhelming cage match, and the World Tag Team Championship match, are hard to sit through. 

FINAL RATING - DUDleyville

AEW Full Gear 2023

AEW Full Gear 2023

Los Angeles, CA - November 2023

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, MJF was the AEW World Heavyweight Champion, Hikaru Shida held the AEW Women's World Championship, the AEW World Tag Team Champions were Ricky Starks and Big Bill, the AEW Trios Champions were Billy Gunn and The Acclaimed, the TNT Champion was Christian Cage, the TBS Champion was Kris Statlander, and the AEW International Champion was Orange Cassidy.

AEW Full Gear 2023 started off with a video hyping the night's major matches and the on-going Devil story, in which MJF had been getting attacked by one (or several different?) men under a Devil mask. During the pre-show, The Gunns had beaten down MJF after the match, sending him to the hospital and putting the main event in jeopardy.

Sting, Darby Allin, and Adam Copeland teamed up take on Christian, Killswitch (Luchasaurus), and Nick Wayne in the opening contest. Ric Flair was on hand as this match was part of Sting's "Farewell Tour." The action was okay with Allin doing most of the heavy lifting including taking a nasty bump on the apron from a Killswitch chokeslam and then hitting a top-rope Destroyer on Nick Wayne later on. There was good heat between "Cope" and Christian with Cage evading his former tag team partner throughout the match and eventually fleeing the match entirely leaving his "sons" to take the L. The Flair/Christian interaction on the outside was painful to watch as Christian "sold" phantom punches. The crowd was into this. (2.5/5)

On the entrance ramp, Tony Schiavone and Bryce Remsburg announced that, due to injury, MJF would have to forfeit the AEW World Championship to Jay White, but before the title could officially change hands (?), Adam Cole came out on crutches and said that despite being injured, he would fight in MJF's place. 

Jon Moxley challenged Orange Cassidy for the AEW International Championship in the next match. Cassidy came out of the gate in serious mode, which played into the on-going story between them and how Cassidy's mind games had no effect on the leader of the Blackpool Combat Club (not yet the Death Riders, though, watching back, there's really not all that much of a difference between the stables). Moxley controlled the early going, cutting off Cassidy repeatedly, but then got bloodied from headbutts. The turnbuckle gets exposed and we enter a closing stretch that had some unfortunate elements, including Moxley taking some awkward bumps into the buckle and then Cassidy's Orange Punch being nearly "buried" as it takes six of them to put Moxley down (with Moxley even "firing up" after the third). Some people on Cagematch really, really despised the finish, but Moxley has been so established as a Final Boss-level guy in AEW that I didn't find it as offensive. (3/5)

"Timeless" Toni Storm challenged Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women's World Championship in the next match. Storm was very over with the crowd, but Shida never really seemed to click with the AEW audience the way TK hoped for and its fairly obvious why in a match like this. Storm's character work and presence is there, but Shida is not a great foil to her because the level of their personalities is such a mismatch (and Shida, while solid, is not that captivating an in-ring performer that it can make up for the lack of definable character). The finish is poorly executed, exposes the referee, and needed to be re-calibrated because Shida was initially out of position. Not woeful, but not good. (1.5/5)

A four-way ladder match for the AEW World Tag Team Championships was next with Ricky Starks and Big Bill defending the titles against FTR, Dralistico and RUSH, and Brody King and Malachi Black. This wasn't the all-out, balls-to-the-wall spotfest that I was expecting, though part of that is because AEW has put on so many ridiculous multi-mans over the years that it takes an especially crazy match to leave a lasting impression. Brody King may have been the MVP of the match as he not only took a wicked bump onto a ladder when Big Bill dumped him off one when he attempted to grab the titles, but also hit his finisher on Dralistico into one on the outside in what was the best spot of the match. The Starks and FTR exchanges were good too, while Black really seemed to fade into the background in this match a bit. (3/5)

The TBS Champion, Kris Statlander, defended her title against Skye Blue and Julia Hart in the next match. Hart and Blue had been in a somewhat uneasy and confusing alliance during the build-up to this as Hart had spit mist into Blue's eyes in September causing Blue to become more overtly heelish and begin to dress like she was part of the House of Black. Blue wouldn't officially align herself with Hart for another month (according to Wikipedia), but the potential of this match being 2-on-1 was played up on commentary. While Blue and Hart don't truly team up on Statlander, the match is still laid out as mostly both women trying to take out the champion, which was a smart way to mask the very much apparent issue that Statlander is essentially carrying the match from beginning to end. There are more than a few awkward moments in the first 3/4ths of this match, but the final few minutes are very good as Statlander goes into overdrive to make Blue's finisher look extra dangerous and then erupts with a series of awesome suplexes before we get a genuinely shocking finish. Had it not been for the last few minutes of this match, this would've been below average. (2.5/5)

In the ring, Tony Schiavone announces AEW's latest signing - Will Ospreay! Ospreay was over enough with the AEW audience to make his signing feel like a big deal. He clarifies that he will not be joining AEW right away as he has dates to finish with New Japan, but is looking forward to seeing everyone at Revolution and then at Wembley Stadium. Cool.

"Hangman" Adam Page and Swerve Strickland's epic Texas Death Match was next. I had seen some clips of this match before and I knew of its reputation, but this one mostly holds up even if some of its better parts have been "spoiled" for you (the worst spot of the match is the unnecessary and demonstratable phony cinder block to the back at the end of the match, but everything else is wildly violent). Rewatching the older AEW PPVs over the last few years, its hard not to see Strickland as arguably the most consistently great performer on the roster, even moreso than Page (often called AEW's "main character") and Darby Allin (who, as great as he is, has to largely play the undersized underdog rather than being able to play multiple roles the way Swerve can). This is a career performance out of him (and Prince Nana as well) as his selling and character work are brilliant at various points in the match, even when he and Page clearly go into overkill mode. While Swerve continued to look and act like every additional potential match-ender was taking its toll, I found some of Page's "no-selling" to be a bit much, even with the commentators making it clear how both men's adrenaline was what was carrying them through the war. While it doesn't add to the match's rating for me, it's worth mentioning how symbolically important this match was for AEW at the time (as I'll get into in the next match). CM Punk was one week away from returning to the WWE (at their Survivor Series show on the 25th) and hadn't been on AEW TV for quite awhile, but there was still an undeniable lingering feeling that AEW was no longer the "cool alternative" and that his departure had cemented the company as being the Young Bucks' proverbial playground. This match didn't run counter to that notion - this sort of death match is about as "indie-rific" as things get - but it did reclaim some of the "Us Against Them" attitude that AEW had been built on. Paired with Ospreay's appearance before this match, it does seem like we're getting a peek into AEW's future far more than the matches that follow. (4/5)

Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega took on The Young Bucks in the next contest with the Bucks putting up their future AEW World Tag Team Championship shot against an agreement that, were they to lose, Jericho and Omega could never tag again (which didn't seem like a big loss, to be honest). This match goes a touch too long and Jericho doesn't move nearly as well as any of the other three guys, but there is not enough smart work to carry this one through its duration and to re-capture the crowd who, at one point, seem to be much more interested in "popping" themselves with CM Punk (and "Fuck CM Punk") chants than in the story being told, which focused on Jericho getting his arm smashed between the steps and the ring and the Bucks trying to turn it into a 2-on-1. The match went to another level once the Bucks hit low blows on their opponents. Highlights included one of the Bucks hitting the Judas Effect, Omega taking a nasty German suplex on the apron, Matt Jackson hitting a One Winged Angel for another nearfall, and Jericho cutting off a Meltzer Driver with a Codebreaker. Omega's Ripcord Bang/One Winged Angel combo was a satisfying ending and I liked the Bucks' post-match temper tantrum. (3/5)

Main event time - Jay White vs. Adam Cole for MJF's AEW World Heavyweight Championship...but wait, no, MJF returns at the last possible minute having commandeered an ambulance! Praised by Meltzer (who gave it 4.5 stars in the Observer) but largely disliked on ProWrestlingOnly and Cagematch, this match might best encapsulate all the best and worst of the Bro-Chacho babyface MJF run. On the positive side, MJF is a good enough worker to play a sympathetic babyface. While his selling of an injured leg/knee is spotty, he plays to the live crowd very well and his signature stuff is over. He also delivered a gutsy diving neckbreaker to the arena floor that looked incredible (and incredibly dangerous). On the negative side, there are some logic issues in the layout and execution of the match. On three occasions - not just the two mentioned on commentary - MJF decides not to accept a count-out victory even though it would allow him to retain his Championship and that MJF has never before, even as a babyface, been unwilling to take a shortcut. While MJF comes off as heroic, Jay White not being able to put away a one-legged man becomes increasingly glaring as the match passes the 20-minute mark. There's no shortage of ref bumps either, giving this a very WWE-in-98' feel, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but does feel out-of-step with some of the rest of the show, another case of AEW's "identity crisis" in 2023. Not nearly as bad as some of the reviews paint it as, this match requires the viewer to be at least, at some level, a fan of MJF (and Cole for that matter) to enjoy, which could be a tall order for some. (2.5/5)

With a Kwang Score of 2.75-out-of-5, Full Gear 2023 was a slight step up from WrestleDream as a whole, but a ton of the credit goes to the stomach-churning but highly entertaining Texas Death Match and the undeniably high "basement" of AEW's roster. When you have Kenny Omega, FTR, Brody King, Orange Cassidy, and Darby Allin spread across your card with Kris Statlander putting in one of her best performances up to that point and MJF and Toni Storm being over enough to carry their matches through sheer charisma and an LA crowd that was very much engaged and supportive of everyone's efforts, it is near impossible not to put on a decent show. Still, the aforementioned "identity crisis" that AEW was going through is apparent on this show. Prior to the events of this show, the Bucks and Jericho were all essentially babyfaces despite how stale their characters were, the women's division still feels thin and aimless, the tag fourway - while entertaining - felt like TK threw his hands up and just told 8 guys to go out and murder each other without a deeper story of who the fans should actually be rooting for. 

FINAL RATING - High Risk Maneuver