Random Matches

Shinya Hashimoto vs. Takoa Omori (12/23/2000, NOAH): An interesting match in the sense that it offers a story that American fans unfamiliar with NOAH can understand, but far from "must see." Omori comes in with some confidence and gets a big entrance, but Hashimoto basically decimates him in under 10 minutes in what I believe was Hash's NOAH debut. Immediately after the match, he starts calling out Misawa, building to a 1-on-1 match that I don't think ever happened. Reading the reviews on Cagematch, I was a bit surprised that this match is known for its lack of cooperation as I just thought it was another day in the office for Hashimoto and his usual stiff chops and kicks (plus, the finish, a huge brainbuster, is not the type of move you want to dead-weight somebody on). I can see why some people really like this match, but I guess I was expecting something a bit "meatier." (2/5)

Ted Dibiase vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (03/14/1978, AJPW): A bit boring unless you're super into "human game of chess"-type matches that are all about leverage and technical proficiency. DiBiase looks to be about 19 years old in this match (he was closer to 24) and Jumbo is also in his mid-20s. I haven't seen a ton of 70s wrestling from Japan or really anywhere, but I've seen more thrilling and entertaining stuff than this. Not my cup of tea. (1.5/5)

Yumiko Hotta vs. Reggie Bennett (09/02/1995, AJW): Reggie Bennett shows how tough and resilient she is in this losing effort to Hotta, who actually reins in some of her unprofessional/overly stiff tendencies in this match. This is not a mat classic, though there are some actual submissions applied and suplexes and what not. As Bennett says in her post-match interview, she's a barroom brawler and a pro-wrestler, differentiating herself from Hotta's martial arts background, and this match does play like a clash of wrestling styles (as well as a squint-and-you'll-see-it David vs. Goliath match with Bennett being the powerhouse). Inessential viewing. (2.5/5)

Dave "Fit" Finlay vs. Batista (12/02/2006, WWE): Not as good as I wish it was considering I'm a fan of Finlay and not a Batista hater. With Finlay, you always get stuff that makes logical sense and is rooted in psychology, but what may hurt the match more than anything Finlay and Batista actually do is the production around it. Michael Cole and JBL are insufferable on commentary, leaning way, way too far into an antagonistic dynamic full of petty slights and jabs that detract from the match. (To be fair, JBL had only become a regular commentary on SmackDown about 6 months before this.) I didn't love the "schmoz" finish, but understand it was done to build up to the Armageddon main event (which saw Batista team with Cena to take on Booker T and Finlay). (2/5)

Eddie Kingston vs. Naomichi Marufuji (08/28/2022, House of Glory): As someone that is very new to seeing Marufuji, I must admit to being a bit underwhelmed at times and was not impressed by what he and Kingston did here. The match goes under 8 minutes and is mostly just chest chops and slaps (and a notable Sliced Bread from Marufuji). With them focusing so much on strikes, you would think both guys would really lay them in, but after the first couple, nothing really lands and the closing stretch is especially weak. Even the commentators seemed to be expecting something a bit more epic than this, though I did read one review that mentioned Marufuji may have come into this match injured. A disappointment. Steer clear even if you're a fan of both guys. (1.5/5)

Roddy Piper vs. Jimmy Snuka (07/15/1984, WWE): This was a fun one with lots of energetic bumping and selling out of Piper and Snuka getting to be the badass face in front of a rabid crowd that wants to see him murder his opponent. Oops, probably shouldn't mention murder and Snuka in the same sentence. Anyways, the finish is inconclusive, but the action leading up to it is plenty exciting (though it does ebb-and-flow a bit between really cool moments and just sorta commonplace brawling and theatrics you've seen a dozen times before). Snuka hits a hell of a dive towards the end that is really fun to see. Not a match I'd consider "must see" personally, but I totally get why fans of this era, of this style, and of Piper especially would consider this to be a hidden gem. (3/5)

Aja Kong and Kyoko Inoue vs. Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda (08/09/1997, AJW): Another incredible match out of Kyoko Inoue (and Aja Kong for that matter). This is a hellacious tag team brawl that, if it isn't officially a "No DQ," is wrestled like one as we get chairs and crowd-brawling from the very start. Lots of lots of really stick strikes and slams and powerbombs and I loved when Inoue and Aja Kong applied stereo submissions (and did Kyoko's signature dance together). Mita and Shimoda came across as super tough and determined challengers but took a hell of a beating throughout. A fire extinguisher came into play at one point and I don't think it was "gigged" as the chemicals it puts into the air really do seem to cause respiratory issues for the fans, announcers, and even the wrestlers themselves. Kong's splashes look painful as all hell. Some of the maneuvers performed on chairs laying in the ring were considerably ahead of their time. The finish is definitive and earned, though maybe a touch underwhelming after all the hell the two teams put eachother through. An absolute joy to watch if you're into joshi brawls or are looking for a place to start. (4/5)

Manami Toyota Gaunlet Match (12/25/1995, AJW): As someone else wrote on Cagematch, I didn't understand this at all - what the rules were, why it was happening, anything about it...but there is some fun in seeing Manami Toyota, an absolute legend in Japan, take on nineteen different opponents for roughly 90-120 seconds each. She pins some, she gets pinned by some, some just float in and out of the "match" when another competitor takes a powder - it's unclear what exactly is happening aside from Toyota just working her way through an incredible test of endurance and toughness. Kyoko Inoue and Aja Kong were the most recognizable challengers, though some of the other wrestlers like Mita and Shimoda were familiar too. It's hard to rate something like this because it is such a different type of match than anything I'd seen before, but there were enough really cool moments to make it work for me as a viewer. (3/5)

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Naomichi Marufuji (12/10/2006, NOAH): This one started off a bit slow to me with Misawa looking his age a bit, but then got more exciting as Marufuji started to "throw bombs" and the drama behind the story - the New Wave vs. the Old Guard - ramped up. At 44, Misawa takes some nasty bumps to prove he was still capable and willing to deliver what was needed to make for a memorable, hard-hitting match, but it's also clear that he is not the same Misawa of 5 years earlier, let alone 10 (Misawa would pass away in 2009). I wouldn't go as far as to call this a "carry job" because that implies Misawa doesn't take a whole ton of punishment, including some on the arena floor, or even deliver some good offense himself - his suicide dive is still a thing of beauty - but this is Marufuji keeping things at a pace that works for the veteran and building things slowly until we get to the big spots in the latter half of the match. This is good enough and interesting enough and wrestled in front of a hot enough crowd for it to be "above average," but its not the most comfortable watch and it does take a minute to kick into a higher gear. (3/5)

Genichiro Tenryu and Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Takeshi Morishima and Masao Inoue (05/11/2013, NOAH): A fun match for its comedic elements - Masao Inoue and Morishima's interplay, in particular - but this nothing I'd go out of my way to see. Tenryu looks and works his age. Ogawa does most of the heavy lifting for his team, but I expected a "bigger" performance out of him too. (2/5)

Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens vs. Red Bastien and Billy Robinson (11/06/1973, AWA): I'd always heard how great Billy Robinson was and I saw some of it here, though I imagine that this was not even the most representative match of his style as it was a 2-out-of-3 falls "studio" tag match. His agility is spectacular. This is an action-packed match and the crowd is into it, though it didn't hook me the same as some of the posters on Cagematch who called this an all-timer. Going into this match being more familiar with the rivalry and context probably would've helped. (3/5)

Kyoko Inoue and Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota and Blizzard Yuki (04/02/1995, AJW): I enjoyed the heck out of this one, just as I suspected I would considering that 3-out-of-4 of the competitors are among my current favorite wrestlers, male or female. Blizzard Yuki holds her own, but the other three are why one should check this match out. Kong and Inoue's teamwork is funner in the 1997 match, but both have great chemistry with Toyota, who is excellent in this match. Some great nearfalls in the closing stretch and all the big signature spots one would expect from Kong, Kyoko, and Toyota. Maybe just a hair short of "must see," but very strong. (3.5/5)

Shinya Hashimoto and Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman (03/07/2004, HUSTLE): Doing some reading about HUSTLE, I was surprised to learn that the promotion had a reputation for being wacky and very, very different from the more serious puro resu wrestling promotions of the time because this match felt plenty serious and "shoot-based" to me. Coleman and Randleman were renowned MMA fighters (Coleman being the subject of The Smashing Machine) and bring their legitimate wrestling style to this match, while Hashimoto and Kawada are obviously known for their striking (specifically kicks). The clash of techniques and unpredictability of Coleman and Randleman, who were relative newcomers to the world of pro-wrestling, makes for an interesting watch. Loved Kawada's running boot in the corner to Coleman, which had to hurt. I didn't like the finish, an out-of-nowhere TKO victory for Randleman on Hashimoto, as it seemed like it was designed to prevent anybody from taking a pin or submitting (without just going with a more overt DQ). (2.5/5)

                                       

Mayumi Ozaki vs. Dynamite Kansai (03/17/1995, JWP): Kickass, bloody, violent street fight - more like a chain match, to be honest - with Ozaki looking almost gleeful as she uses every weapon she can find to punish Kansai. Kansai had the size disadvantage, but Ozaki brings a level of craziness to her hardcore matches that makes her incredibly dangerous (at one point she even starts biting Kansai's head wound!). Heated, wild brawling at its best and thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end. This is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but fans of ECW at its most hardcore will recognize and appreciate what these two did. (4/5)

Kensuke Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, and Takeshi Morishima vs. Genichiro Tenryu, Yoshinari Ogawa, and Kotaro Suzuki (09/27/2009, NOAH): This was a hoot of a match thanks to the great work of Morishima, Sasaki, Ogawa, and an aged-but-still-game Tenryu. There were multiple Misawa tribute spots that I caught, but the crowd probably picked up on even more. This seemed like a match that Misawa himself would've dug because of the layers of story involved with Tenryu and Ogawa having history with Misawa dating back to the 80s and Kotaro Suzuki being one of his proteges in NOAH. I also really liked that they sprinkled some comedy into the match as Ogawa is always good at doing the little chickenshit heel stuff and there was a funny spot when Suzuki attempted a Tiger Drive on the monstrous Morishima. I read one review of this match that criticized the lack of story, but the story seemed pretty clear to me with the babyfaces - a team comprised of two legends (well, Ogawa is a legend to me) and Misawa's protege Suzuki - taking on a powerful team of brash, disrespectful heels in tribute to the ultimate babyface of Japanese wrestling, their fallen friend. There was a bit of a lull in the middle of the match, but this was mostly action-packed and good. (3/5)

Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Jun Akiyama (04/07/2002, NOAH): This has to be up there as one of the biggest upsets in pro-wrestling history, not just in NOAH or Japan or of the decade. Jun Akiyama was built up as something of a "5th Pillar," though obviously of a generation after Misawa, Kawada, Taue, and Kobashi. His reign as the GHC Champion had lasted over 250 days by this point and he had defeated his mentor Misawa to capture the title. Akiyama was very much "The Man" while Ogawa had, to my knowledge, always been booked and presented as a weaker, less serious competitor who had skill, but also could be cowardly and fight dirty. Akiyama comes into the match with a ton of confidence, but ends up getting cradled for a shocking pinfall loss in under 5 minutes. As a booking choice, the finish has considerable criticisms but it is a great, surprising "moment" in a main event match that I'm sure most fans expected to not only go longer but also have a very, very different ending. Its hard to rate a match like this as must-see because it doesn't really have much to it, but they did do a lot in the little bit of time they had and there is no downplaying how surprising the finish was. (3/5)

Manami Toyota and Toshiyo Yamada vs. Yumiko Hotta and Kyoko Inoue (02/18/1994, AJW): This received a very high 4.5 stars from Meltzer in the Observer and while I won't go nearly that high in my rating, I can see why, at the time, this would've been considered great. Toyota is incredible in this, a real master of pacing her matches to spread out the big crowd-pleasing signature spots without it ever feeling like a formula. She takes a ton of punishment throughout, including being hooked up in a camel clutch by Inoue which leaves her vulnerable to a brutal kick to the chest by Hotta. I dug Indian Deathlock-esque submission that Toyota applied early. I liked when Toyota went for one of her trademark dropkicks but got caught by Inoue, who then spun her around for the airplane spin, though it's far from an original spot. Still cool. Another good match featuring the ultra-reliable Toyota and Inoue. (3/5)

Jeff Hardy vs. Jushin Thunder Liger (08/27/2016, NEW): More of a "curio" than a truly great match, this happening in 2016 means that both guys are well, well past their prime and we don't get nearly the amount of big signature high spots that we would've gotten had these done battle a decade or, better even, 15 years prior. Liger hits a frog splash late for a good nearfall, but eventually Hardy gets the W because he was the bigger star in America. This was pretty heatless too because while Hardy was perpetually over, Liger also had his fair share of supporters and didn't "heel it up" enough to add tension or conflict to what was basically a Legend vs. Legend match. The highlight was Hardy taking a nasty back bump onto one of those stiff, thick plastic tables at ringside. Weirdly enough, after watching several of Hardy's matches in TNA from 5-6 years earlier, he looked to be more motivated here than he did when he was considerably younger and was being pushed at the top of the card. (2.5/5)

Hector Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero vs. Ted DiBiase and Steve Williams (07/26/1985, Houston Wrestling): This was a cage match for the Mid-South Tag Team Championships held by DiBiase and Williams. I've now watched more than a few Ted DiBiase matches from pre-WWE and I still don't see an "all-time great worker," though he'll probably still make my Greatest Wrestler Ever list just based on his reliability and heel work as the Million Dollar Man. "Dr. Death" is usually a funner watch too but there was a shortage of big power moves in this one. The Guerreros didn't impress me much either here. We get blood and the crowd is certainly hot for this, but the ref turning heel for the finish made the whole thing seem pointlessly long. You know something isn't great when you check the runtime and feel like it went 4-5 minutes longer (this match was barely 12). (1.5/5)

Akira Taue vs. Big Bubba (Big Bossman) (07/29/1993, AJPW): According to Cagematch (I had to look it up), Ray Traylor had left the WWE in the late winter/early spring of 93', did a few one-offs for the USWA and in Australia (where he faced Nailz of all people), and then did a tour in Japan, which is what led to this match. My first thought was that its crazy how relatively "small" Taue looks in the ring against Bubba, especially as Taue was sort of known for being one of the larger heavyweights of the AJPW scene in the 80s and 90s. Not a bad match, but nothing super special to see. I'm not sure how familiar these two guys were with each other, but they seemed to know each other's signature moves well enough. (2.5/5)

KENTA vs. Kenta Kobashi (10/09/2004, NOAH): You don't need to know much "story" here aside from Kobashi being the veteran/legend and KENTA being the young rising star. KENTA comes out of the gates trying to use his speed and strikes, but Kobashi's chops cannot be matched. I still thought Kobashi did a great job of selling KENTA as a legitimate threat despite the clear size difference. When Kobashi takes over, KENTA pays for his confidence for an extended period but KENTA does get in some excellent offense of his own, including a brilliant tease of the Burning Hammer (he ends up delivering a GTS to the back of Kobashi's skull that doesn't look too great instead). Not every piece of offense looked too good, but most of it - especially Kobashi's powerbombs - were jaw-dropping. I didn't love this match as much as others on Cagematch - where it is hovering above an 8 - but if you're into super stiff chops and kicks, this will be right up your alley. (3.5/5)

Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue (05/07/1995, AJW): One of the most controversial matches to ever get named Match of the Year int The Observer, this match has so much going for it - a tremendous opening stretch, lots and lots of insane head drops and falling back elbow drops and dropkicks galore and nifty submissions - but also so many things that work against it. The match is best described as a near hour-long sprint (on YouTube the match is only about 50-52 minutes so I'm not sure if I watched a "clipped" version or what, but it didn't seem to be) as Toyota and Inoue go to war with countless nearfalls - many of which have such an overdramatic count by the ref that they actually deter from the match. We get some crowd brawling and a table spot and it is undoubtedly a remarkable show of endurance by both women to fight for so long...but the time limit draw finish is a total letdown. The crowd was into this way more than I was despite having such an excellent start. (2/5)

Kota Ibushi vs. Claudio Castagnoli (04/12/2008, NOAH): Considering the reputation and abilities of both men, I was expecting to like this match considerably more than I did. I'm not sure if Claudio intentionally wanted to slow things down a bit and work a match that wasn't super spot-heavy, but this was not the "fireworks show" I expected. Perfectly fine match, but Claudio has become a much, much more interesting worker since this one (and the same can be said for Ibushi, I guess). I really liked Ibushi's devastating back-flip double knee-drop off the guardrail. (2.5/5)

Kenny Omega vs. Pentagon Jr. (09/01/2018): Billed as the "Biggest Independent Wrestling Show Ever," the first ever All In show was the precursor to the formation of All Elite Wrestling and this was the main event. The crowd was red hot for this and it did have "big match feel"...but, watching this years later without all the "buzz" of the event itself and only being able to take in the atmosphere secondhand, the match isn't much more than a Greatest Hits set. Of course, with some of those hits being brutal V-Triggers and a package piledriver on the apron, this isn't a bad thing at all, but it does mean the match doesn't really offer anything new beyond seeing two icons of independent wrestling/lucha libre going move-for-move. At one point, Omega dropped Pentagon Jr. on what looked like the top of his head, but somehow the match didn't end there. Undeniably good, understandably great to many, but this isn't a match I think has that "must see" quality that separates it from the pack. (3/5)

Yoshinari Ogawa/Zack Sabre Jr./Hitoshi Kumano vs. Taichi/El Desperado/Taka Michinoku (1/??/2015, NOAH): According to Cagematch, these two teams had 3 matches in 2015 and all were fairly similar so I wasn't able to determine which one this was. Even their runtimes - a little under 11 minutes - were near identical. Anyway...I love me some Ogawa and he was the highlight for me here while Sabre Jr. didn't really seem to get much offense in and was just sorta there. Haven't seen any of Taka Michinoku post-WWE, it was also kinda cool to see him as the veteran heel here. Not bad stuff, but not really anything great. (2.5/5)

Jon Moxley and Claudio Castignoli vs. Hechicero and Konosuke Takeshita (03/11/2026, AEW): Caught this on Dynamite and was maybe hoping for something a bit more fun, but this was fine for what it us. Its a booking decision/question but, with Okada being on the show later, I would've had him involved in this match as Takeshita's partner not only to continue the long-simmering Takeshita/Okada rivalry but also because they have a much more interesting dynamic together period. Moxley and Castignoli are a good pairing, but they also aren't each other's best teammates. And so, in the end, this felt more like a tag team match involving 4 singles wrestlers rather than a tag team match between actual partners. The action was good and Takeshita and Moxley got big responses for their interactions - a good sign for their upcoming bout at Revolution - but I didn't find this to be anything above average as a whole. (2.5/5)

Kyle Fletcher vs. "Speedball" Mike Bailey (03/11/2026, AEW): This match got 5 stars in The Observer, but because Meltzer blew up his own rating scale, that doesn't mean the same thing as it once did. I wasn't as huge a fan of this, though it was very good. Kyle Fletcher is a fantastic worker and Bailey is really fun to watch but this was a bit predictable to me. You knew you were going to a fireworks show with lots of fast-paced sequences and high-flying and that's what you got. You knew the match was going to go close to the time limit and would either end in a draw or in some screwy way to protect Bailey and they went with a (relatively weak-looking) belt shot/interference. You knew what Callis would add to the commentary and that's what he added. That doesn't mean any of this was bad or dull or that the match lacked specific highlights - again, with Bailey and Fletcher being such great performers and being so willing to throw themselves into every bump and bust out full-force offense, you're guaranteed to see some awesome stuff - but that it never exceeded or subverted expectations. I wouldn't call it a "Good Match for Good Match's Sake" because there was at least some storyline development here and Bailey got to look like a potential singles champion, but I wouldn't consider this more "must see" than any other great match you'd get on Dynamite. (3/5)

Kyle Fletcher vs. Blake Christian (03/27/2024, ROH): This match was for Fletcher's Ring of Honor Television Championship and ran about 10 minutes. I was surprised that Christian kicked out of the running boot-into-the-brainbuster and kinda wish that would've been the finish because of how well it looked and how often the wrestlers in AEW (and ROH, by extension) do unnecessary finisher kick-outs in matches like this where its not really needed. Before that, the action was very good, but watching this roughly 2 years later, its clear how much Fletcher stepped up in 2025. At this point, you do get some of the cocky, brash character work, but not nearly as much as you get out of him today. Good enough TV match. (2.5/5)

Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada vs. Yoshinari Ogawa and Jumbo Tsuruta (07/06/1991, AJPW): This was "clipped" at the start, but I'm not sure we missed much as everyone seemed pretty fresh at this point. Highlights included Ogawa's top rope stomp on Misawa and, later on, his use of "Kawada Kicks" on the man that made them famous (great heeling there), Jumbo's signature stuff all looking super crisp and painful, and some really great lariats. I don't think this ever comes close to reaching "must see" level but there's enough good in it to at least consider it average. (2.5/5)

Kenta Kobashi and KENTA vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Naomichi Marufuji (01/26/2003, NOAH): This was good-not-great, with KENTA and Marufuji working a much faster, much more "junior heavyweight" style while Kobashi and Misawa do their heavyweight stuff, which kinda makes for an awkward start. Things pick up after an initial (rare) botch by Kobashi and Misawa on a dragon suplex attempt and we get to Marufuji taking a ton of offense from the Kentas. Kobashi eventually got the win with a series of nasty clotheslines. Solid. (3/5)

Manami Toyota and Sakie Hasegawa vs. Kyoko Inoue and Takako Inoeu (08/30/1995, AJW): Another Toyota/Inoue encounter that went a touch too long for me to really love. One reviewer on PWO noted that these four put on a much better match in January (not sure if he meant 95' or 96'), but I can't compare it to much else aside from the lengthy and unlovable near-hour-long match that Toyota and Inoue had a few months before this. There are some really cool spots at times, the usual high-flying from Toyota and submissions from Kyoko Inoue, but this didn't have me at the edge of my seat from beginning to end the way their better matches have. I also thought that, once again, the referee did an awful job of maintaining a consistent count by pausing before the should-be 3 in order to add drama. (3/5)

Manami Toyota vs. Yumiko Hotta (01/22/1996, AJW): I have no idea why Yumiko Hotta was even allowed anywhere near Manami Toyota after this match as she blatantly kicks her in the head and face, full force, multiple times to the point that it is shocking Toyota is even able to finish the bout. Speaking of the finish, it was fairly sloppy and anti-climactic as it ended with a bit of a "your turn/my turn" exchange with Hotta attempting some powerbombs, not executing them, and then eating one from Toyota to end the match without being really worn down and "set up" for that to be the deathblow. Some how, despite getting kicked in the face throughout the match, its Hotta that is opened up in the early going. Of the things I did like in this match, there was a great moment when Toyota took the trophy they were fighting over and tried to crush Hotta's face with it on the ringside table. Maybe I've seen too many Toyota matches in too short of time to be blown away by her the way I was when I first started watching joshi, but this was almost too stiff and violent with too little selling to make me consider it great. (2.5/5)

Fit Finlay vs. Super Calo (01/28/1999, WCW): 1999 is bit of a strange time for WCW. By this point, the WWE was fully on top of the Monday Night Wars and WCW was desperately trying to stay relevant, but were still mired in the same nWo drama that they'd been in since at the late summer of 96', with much of the commentary during this match revolving around Eric Bischoff and Ric Flair's feud over control of the company. Meanwhile, in the ring, Finlay and Calo put on a good, physical back and forth with some fine offense out of Finlay and some good "fighting from underneath" heart out of Calo. Nothing super special here, but a decent TV match that probably would've been better if it had a real reason for happening or commentary played up that the winner would be "moving up the ranks." Just kinda there. (2/5)

Stan Hansen vs. Akira Taue (04/14/1993, AJPW): The YouTube video of this match is "clipped," but even in slightly abbreviated form, this is a solid hoss battle with Hansen and Taue both delivering all sorts of big lariats and even some dropkicks and a DDT on the floor out of Taue over the course of 10 minutes or so. Having now seen more of Stan Hansen over the past few years, I will say that while he may not mix it up 100% with his offense or anything, he was a more dynamic performer in his prime than I think I gave him credit for growing up. He has no problem taking bumps to the floor and on the floor and selling against Taue here and the match moves a good pace because of that effort. Far from must-see, but pretty solid. (3/5)

Swerve Strickland and Trevor Lee vs. The Young Bucks (01/23/2015, IWF): This was a fun tag bout - nothing super special - but interesting in the sense that it features Swerve before he was Swerve, when he was a bit more of a run-of-the-mill "spot guy," matching agility spots with the Jacksons here. Trevor Lee also showcased noticeably less character work than he would in TNA and NXT (as Cameron Grimes). The match goes about 15 minutes and is a really fun one, but the production is definitely "indie" and the venue is pretty darkly lit (which I don't actually mind). The Bucks are the Bucks - quick tandem offense, lots of energy, superkicks and flips - and it is no surprise why they were so over with the independent wrestling audience throughout the country at the time. Not must-see, but solid for sure. (3/5)

Akira Hokuto vs. Harley Saito (08/05/1983, AJW): Hokuto controls much of the early going of this match, which is not a bad thing at all when your offense is a good as hers is. Reading up on this, the match layout makes a ton of sense as Hokuto was a main event killer and Saito was not near her level on the card. Saito's offense isn't enough across the stretch of the match, but there are moments when she catches Hokuto with a big kick that establish her as a valiant fighter. Over on Cagematch, this has a surprisingly high score because, while it isn't an "epic," it tells its story effectively and Hokuto's charisma is undeniable. That's not enough to make it "must see" for me but it's certainly above your typical match. (3/5)

AEW Revolution 2026

AEW Revolution 2026

Los Angeles, CA - March 2026

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, the AEW World Heavyweight Champion was MJF, the TNT Champion was Kyle Fletcher, the TBS Champion was Willow Nightingale, the AEW World Tag Team Champions were FTR, Kazuchika Okada was the AEW International Champion, the World Trios Championships were held by Okada, Fletcher, and Mark Davis of the Don Callis Family, Jon Moxley was the Continental Champion, the AEW Women's World Champion was Thekla, the Women's World Tag Team Champions were Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron (The Babes of Wrath), and the AEW National Champion was Ricochet. 

The show kicked off with the finale of the 21-man Blackjack Battle Royal for Ricochet's National Championship. I hate it when a title - held by an entrant - is put up in a battle royal as it really telegraphs that the champion is likely to be one of the last two men standing (which is what happened here). Jungle Boy won the match and the title but I have no idea why. Ricochet has been excellent in AEW when he's been featured prominently while Jack Perry arguably peaked as a tag worker years ago and hasn't been able to put it all together since his backstage run-in with CM Punk and subsequent Scapegoat run.

Next up - FTR vs. Young Bucks for FTR's AEW World Tag Team Championships. It really seemed like Nick Jackson wrestled the majority of this match. 3-out-of-4 competitors ended up bloodied. The Bucks' introduction involved a pre-match video featuring their kids and then the rest of the family was involved in the match too. With all these bells-and-whistles and with the match basically diving head-first into the deep end of violence without any sort of "build," the match felt like FTR and the Bucks opted to try to "wow" the crowd so they'd forget just how many times we've seen these two teams go at it and kick out of and steal eachother's finishers. Unable to tell a truly different story, we got the usual Greatest Hits in slightly different order and with the Bucks playing the sympathetic, hometown babyfaces. A good match, sure, but nothing...uh...revolutionary. Highlights included a really good suplex to the floor spot and I liked the definitive Super Shatter Machine finish, plus Stokely was great. The post-match saw the return of Adam "Cope" Copeland and Christian Cage, setting up what will likely end up being some sort of TLC in the near future. I'm guessing the plan all along was to re-ignite the FTR/Bucks feud to set to the table for Cope and Cage and a 3-way feud. (3/5)

Next up - Toni Storm vs. Marina Shafir. Shafir reminded me of Yumiko Hotta, only not as reckless with her kicks (which were still stiff as all hell, but not to the point that you wondered if she knew wrestling was a work). Storm has done an excellent job of helping make Shafir look like not just a legitimate threat in the ring, but a star worth paying attention to. Storm managed to eke out the W after a series of awesome hip attacks and then a shocking "tit biting" into a roll-up and, after celebrating on the ramp, we got the AEW debut of Ronda Rousey. I'll give some credit to TK here as he went with Rousey showing up out of the crowd and not by blasting "Bad Reputation," which made much more sense in kayfabe and also would've been pretty repetitive after the Cope and Cage return (though I'm a sucker for that song/entrance theme). A solid match and maybe even the best singles match of Shafir's career. (2.5/5)

Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita for Moxley's AEW International Championship was next. I was not a fan of their time limit draw on Dynamite so I did not have high hopes for this one. This was a Superhero Fight with Moxley and Takeshita hitting each other with every big move they knew, springing up, hitting another one (or getting hit by another one), over and over for 20+ minutes. It was an incredible feat of stamina, endurance, and toughness, but I'm not a fan of "spamming" and no-selling and multiple finisher kickouts, which was basically all this match had to offer after the limbwork in the beginning (which would be ignored/re-emphasized depending on the sequence). Takeshita getting his black eye busted open was nasty and I almost wish Mox had managed to control more of the match for longer stretches to really allow Takeshita to get the crowd's sympathy a bit more. The post-match was a bit awkward too as Takeshita shook Mox's hand (a clear babyface move), the Death Riders celebrated, and then we got a kinda-bizarre Will Ospreay return video leading to him coming in and taking out all the Death Riders (which positions them as heels despite Moxley being presented as much more of a fan favorite over the past few months against the Callis Family and just in general). (3/5)

Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron defended their AEW Women's Tag Team Championships against Megan Bayne and Lena Kross in the next match. I thought this delivered what it needed to as a bit of a "break" in the show after a very strong first 90 minutes (I watched this show in chunks, as usual) and also established Bayne and Kross - the Divine Dominion - as worthy champions. Certainly not "PPV worthy," but it was Willow and Kross's second match of the evening and played off of what happened earlier in the show between them with Willow selling an injury before the bell even rang. (2/5)

Swerve Strickland took on Brody King in a grudge match next. I really liked most of this match, though there were some elements I was less of a fan of - specifically Strickland lifting King up in a powerslam position at one point, which hurts his status as one of the few "monsters" in the company and, later on, King kicking out of House Call at one (though they kept the move strong by having him lose by a second one definitively). I was also a touch disappointed with the post-match as we saw the return of Kenny Omega when I think there is still plenty of gas in the Swerve/King tank and that their feud deserves another round (preferably with some sort of chain stipulation). (3/5)

Thekla defended her AEW Women's World Championship against Kris Statlander in a 2-out-of-3 falls match. I really liked the intensity throughout and, once again, how far Statlander was willing to push things to try to get this match over with a crowd that was maybe a bit spent after having already seen most every major star on the roster (including unadvertised appearances from Omega, Ospreay, Copeland, Christian, and Rousey). I liked the layout of this match too with Thekla having to cheat to win the first fall, Statlander resorting to increasingly violent throws and power moves to try to take her out, eventually landing the "Sunday" Night Special to tie things up, and then Thekla having to resort to even more trickery and interference to retain. My biggest gripe might actually be just how much punishment Thekla took as both the first fall and third fall really played up her role as a conniving heel who can't beat Statlander without some sort of advantage (including the use of a strap). Going toe-to-toe with her for so much of the 2nd fall showed Thekla's toughness, but emphasizing it can be a tricky move as it also hurts Statlander's credibility a bit (especially with the obvious size and strength advantage she has). A "good enough" match and I'm curious where both characters go next as this was one of the few matches that didn't feature a big "post-match" moment. (3/5)

Kevin Knight, "Speedball" Mike Bailey, and Mistico challenged The Don Callis Family's Mark Davis, Kazuchika Okada, and Kyle Fletcher for the AEW Trios Championship in the next match. I've been mostly underwhelmed with how the AEW has treated the Trios Championship over the past couple years, so I didn't come into this match with much investment. Thankfully for the competitors involved, the LA crowd was very much into it and very much behind Mistico (and the other luchadores on this card, as we'd see in the next match). Mark Davis was super impressive in this match while Okada felt like he was mostly just doing this match as a "cameo" (which is crazy considering how he could be being used for actual "dream match" scenarios). This also felt like something of a night off for Fletcher as he wasn't the focal point of the match or even attempting to steal the show the way he has the past few PPVs (and even increasingly on TV). At one point, Fletcher rolled into a Speedball top rope move and Schiavone had to basically cover why he would be positioning himself for it (Schiavone explained that he was trying to "roll away" from the move, but it was clear the opposite was true). There was also a sloppy Mistico pin break-up at one point. Aside from that, though, this was a ton of fun and the post-match celebration was clearly a big moment for the crowd and for Mistico as well. I was expecting Knight to turn on Speedball here - not to join the Callis Family necessarily but just to build to the rivalry they sorta hinted at some weeks back - but maybe they're saving that moment for when/if The Hurt Business returns? Another solid match, but not "must see." (3/5)

Bandido vs. Andrade El Idolo was next and, up till this point, would probably be my Match of the Night. While it went a minute or three too long (it went close to 21), with lots of kickouts to moves that could've/should've been the finish, it had an excellent opening, Andrade's striptease moment was mega over with the crowd, and some of the moves Bandido busted out towards the end were absolutely incredible and, in some cases, the first time I'd ever seen them (in the case of Bandido somehow hitting a Pele/heel kick while having Andrade in a fireman's carry, it didn't seem like the commentators had ever seen that before either). I'm still not 100% sure why they paired Andrade with Don Callis when the recipe for his success lies in being treated as a much more singular figure with - preferably - a female manager like Zelina Vega, but I'm a fan of him changing his look a bit (the lighter hair color, the braids, the decision to no longer rock baseball pants) and the much more narcissistic, self-absorbed gimmick he is leaning into. Maybe just a hair short of "must see." (3.5/5)

A Tornado Six-Man Tag followed with Darby Allin teaming with Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong to take on "The Dogs" (Clark Connors, Dave Finlay, and Gabe Kidd). This was - somewhat surprisingly - my favorite tag team match of the night, though it was admittedly the least-structured and had the lowest stakes. What worked for me most about this match was that, with Darby and OC, you have two very clearly-defined and very engaging characters with enough "shtick" and signature moves to keep things really entertaining and exciting from beginning to end. I really loved Orange Cassidy doing his kick routine on the Dogs and getting brutalized for it, I loved the way the heels neutralized Darby for some of the match by tying him to the post, I loved Roderick Strong's offense (as usual). My only real complaint is that I'm not sure why they'd book a finish that makes your brand-new trio of supposed badasses look like immediate midcard fodder. I can understand any of the three losing in a singles match or even in a tag match, but as a cohesive unit, they should not be losing to a team of three singles wrestlers. (3.5/5)

Main event time (finally) - MJF defending the AEW World Heavyweight Championship against "Hangman" Adam Page in a Texas Death Match (with the added stipulation that if Page loses, he will never challenge for the AEW World Championship again - a not-so-subtle nod to the same stipulation Cody Rhodes once set for himself in the first year of AEW and that MJF ended up costing him). MJF had a fun pre-match video in which he pissed on Page's grave and then came out sporting Terry Funk ring attire. It did not take long for the match to spill into the stands. We got some glass involved fairly early as well, with MJF taking a bodyslam into the stuff and then getting dragged through it. Page then grabbed hold of some barbwire and "busted" MJF open with it (it was a blatant bladejob) before pulling it tight around MJF's mouth in a brutal-looking spot. Page pulled a table out on the outside but before he could use it, MJF hit him with a drop toe hold into a chair near the barricade. Back in the ring, MJF took a shard of glass and sliced Page's forehead open (again, another bladejob) and then bodyslammed Page into the rest of the glass in the center of the ring. MJF grabbed a broom to move the glass off the ring, giving Page a moment to rest. The broom got broken into peices and MJF jabbed Page in the head before leveling him with a chair to the back. MJF then pulled a SYRINGE out from the under the ring and jabbed it through Page's mouth! Ughggh! That is one spot I could certainly live without AEW ever having used in the first place and ever using it again. MJF left the syringe in his mouth and walked about the ring, grabbing the chair. He looked to hit Page in the head with the chair, but Page blocked it and hit him with a right hand (as he spit the syringe out). Page hit MJF with a chairshot to the back and then went to the floor to pull a barbwire-covered chair out from under the ring. When Page looked to use it, MJF hit an Alabama Slam that sent Page into it instead! Damn. MJF set up another table on the outside but this time he was cut-off and Page hit him with a Deadeye into the barbwire chair in the middle of the ring. Page sold some knee damage but was able to grab the chair and bash it into MJF's back repeatedly as the crowd cheered. Page followed it up with a fallaway slam into the chair (which was propped up in the corner) and MJF delivered some loud, vocal obscenity-laced selling. Page went for a moonsault with the chair - which was a dumb, unfitting spot from a logic standpoint - missed it and MJF threw the chair into his face to switch the tide. MJF didn't get much offense in, though, as Page hit him with an absolutely nasty Deadeye through the table near the ring (with the table not breaking immediately, they practically bounced off the thing, which looked extra painful). Both men broke the 10 count and ended up on the opposite apron (where another table had been placed many minutes earlier by Hangman). Page looked to hit another Deadeye but MJF countered with a bite to the skull - something that we'd seen multiple, multiple, multiple times on the show already, preventing it from feeling like a real moment - and hit a Tombstone Piledriver through the table! There was a time when that move would've been cause for a guy to spend the next 9 months at home. Hangman managed to beat the count and MJF rolled him into the ring. From here, things continued to ramp up in violence with dog collars, light tubes, MJF getting his head skewered, a barbwire table (which the fans were hoping Page would set aflame), and even a big spot where both men crashed through the table that controls the pyro off to the side of the entrance stage. The finish to this match - which went over 40 minutes - saw Page attempt a Buckshot Lariat only for MJF to counter it into a literal "hangman" choke with the chain, causing Page to pass out and MJF to be declared the winner. This was about as violent and hardcore as a main event match can get, which feels like something I end up typing every other AEW PPV. (4/5)

With a very respectable Kwang Score of 3.05, Revolution 2026 was a solid show that didn't deliver the same number of great matches as December's World's End show but never dipped too far below average. Some of the highlights of the show were the unadvertised appearances of Rousey, Omega, and Ospreay, none of which are reflected in the show's score but helped break-up the show's layout. AEW PPVs are never thin on good action, but some matches - the Women's Tag Team Championship bout and even the strong Trios contest - felt a bit like marquee television matches rather than PPV matches, but that also reflects the consistent quality of Dynamite and Collision as shows where you'll often see 15+ minute spirited, workrate-heavy matches. 

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

Random Matches

Johnny Saint vs. Dave "Fit" Finlay (04/09/1988, All Star Wrestling): There's probably better matches to serve as an introduction to British wrestling, but I wouldn't know of any. It's a bit jarring to see a match broken up into 3-minute rounds with the winner decided by a 2-out-of-3 falls decision and that there also additional rules/warnings around disqualifications and penalties. Even with these differences (and how they play into the psychology and flow of the match), the basic story isn't vastly different than what you might get in a typical 2-out-of-3 falls match with the heel gaining the early advantage, the face making a comeback to tie things up, and both guys slowly bending the rules and sneaking in some "cheap shots" to gain the advantage. I really liked the finish of this match too as it actually makes getting tossed to the hardwood floor outside the ring as painful and potentially injury-inducing as it really is, the kind of thing that most wrestling fans take for granted but actually should be played up more. (2.5/5)

Dave "Fit" Finlay and Ricky Moran vs. Ross Hart and Owen Hart (03/31/1984, Joint Promotions): Another match from the UK's World of Sport series, this one features an 18-year old Owen Hart and a 24 year old non-mustached Finlay. Not too much to say about this one beyond it being a decent showing of technical wrestling and grappling with Finlay getting the clean win with his fireman's carry senton slam after 10 minutes or so. Even as a curio to see a very young Owen Hart, this doesn't offer much to maintain one's attention or make you think that Owen was destined to be considered one of the best in-ring workers in the WWE in the 90s. (2/5)

Kota Ibushi and Naomichi Marufuji vs. Mark Briscoe and Jay Briscoe (01/07/2007, NOAH): A hellacious tag team match with the Briscoes looking particularly strong here. I was expecting maybe a touch more "dazzle" out of Ibushi, though even when he's giving a more "restrained" performance or has to share the spotlight in a tag match, he still delivers all sorts of crazy moves and sequences. Some really good nearfalls towards the end. The match seems a bit slow at first and the crowd almost seems unfamliar with the Briscoes or at least not too impressed until they start busting out the bigger spots and tandem offense. As someone who hadn't seen all that much of the Briscoes' work before Mark became a fixture in AEW, it's funny to see that he already had some goofiness and volume to his work. Good stuff. (3/5)

Yumiko Hotta vs. Plum Mariko (07/31/1993, JWP): Watching this match, I didn't realize that Plum Mariko was legitimately concussed for parts of it, though I absolutely should've: Yumiko Hotta's ridiculously stiff kicks to Mariko's face were gasp-inducing. On the other hand, Mariko somehow manages to continue working through a 10+ minute match instead of just collapsing (which shows how incredibly tough she was). Reading up on Mariko and learning that she eventually died in the ring from a Liger Bomb by Mayumi Ozaki and I can understand why this match - and others of its ilk - have such a troubling reputation. Its hard to rate something like this because of the difficulty in separating what we are watching on our screen as entertainment and the real-life consequences of a style that emphasized people kicking, punching, and slamming each other with maximum force. That being said, if Mariko survives the way Aja, Hokuto, and Manami Toyota did, a match like this would probably be more easily revered and not reviled. (2.5/5)

La Parka Jr., Mistico, Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. John Morrison, Pentagon Jr., and Judas Mesias (06/14/2015, AAA): I do not remember Rey Mysterio Jr. leaving the WWE in 2014 and, aside from an appearance The Greatest Royal Rumble, not returning to the WWE as a regular performer for 4 years. I had vague recollections of Rey doing some Lucha Underground but I always thought that was just a few matches here or there. Anyway, it did happen and during that time, Mysterio shared the ring with a real Who's Who of top talent in Mexico and the US - including Mistico (wrestling as Myzteziz in this match), future AEW and WWE stars Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix, The Young Bucks, Ricochet (wrestling as Prince Puma), Zack Sabre Jr., Will Ospreay...the list goes on. Anyway, this match happened fairly early in Rey's "indie run" and features El Mesias (who wrestled as Judas Mesias in TNA), La Parka (but not the real La Parka that most of us know and love from WCW), and John Morrison wrestling as "Johnny Mundo." It also features Arnold Schwarzeneggar introducing Rey Mysterio to cross-promote the failed (but, in my opinion, underappreciated/underrated) Terminator: Genisys and Rey rocking some Terminator-inspired gear and facepaint. When we finally get through all the intros and some stalling to start, the action is pretty good and I actually thought La Parka's work in the middle of the match was maybe the most entertaining 1-2 minutes of the whole thing. Its also fun to Morrison in a "All American Pretty Boy" gimmick, not exactly a super innovative or original character but one that he clearly was having fun doing and that he was comfortable and confident doing too (in comparison to some of his WWE runs in which I'm not sure he ever looked 100%  confident with his stature in the company). I'm not surprised this doesn't have any reviews on Cagematch because this plays very much like a fun "house show" main event. Watchable but not particularly memorable. (2.5/5)

Naomichi Marufuji vs. Roderick Strong (07/25/2008, ROH): As good as the action is in this match, I never felt "pulled in" or invested emotionally and, in a nutshell, that's why I'm hesitant to consider Roderick Strong for my Greatest Wrestler Ever ballot. In terms of in-ring skill, moveset, agility, and execution, Strong is one of the best workers of his generation. In the right contexts, he can be very, very entertaining (I really liked his role in the Better Than You Bay Bay storyline from AEW a few years back and have loved his on-screen interactions with Marina Shafir this year), but as someone who was never immersed in Ring of Honor (let alone NOAH), this match does not come across as the sort of "Dream Match" that maybe some fans regarded it as at the time? To me, this is just two excellent wrestlers with deep bags of cool moves pulling out every nifty counter and sequence they knew and going wild for nearly 20 minutes. It's incredibly impressive, sure, and there is something to be said for two guys of very different backgrounds essentially "speaking" through pro-wrestling, but in terms of emotion or story, this had little to say beyond the athleticism on display. (3/5)

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue (01/15/1991, AJPW): Taue gets busted open early on in a match that doesn't go all that long but packs in plenty of nasty offense - kicks to the face, forearms and palm thrusts, a knee-first slam on the table by Taue, etc. - and some really good character work to get over the fact that these two guys hate each other. I wasn't a massive fan of the finish, but I could see the argument that part of that is because a full-force clothesline to the back of the head (the Axe Bomber) is not an established or credible finish in the US, but was a "death blow" in Japan. (3.5/5)

Yumiko Hotta vs. Mitsuko Nishiwaki (06/17/1990, AJW): This match didn't leave much of an impression on me. I was also surprised to learn that this match was part of a 1-night tournament and was Hotta's second bout because she holds nothing back in this. Hotta's whole deal seems to be that she can deliver the most brutal kicks of any woman - or man? - on Earth and we get a ton of those here, but Nishiwaki is no slouch and there are some good nearfalls towards the end that make it seem like it could be anyone's match despite Hotta's early control. Another example of how polarizing Hotta can be because, as nasty as her offense looks, it's questionable how much of it was "pro wrestling" and how much of it was legitimately dangerous and unprofessional. (2.5/5)

Darby Allin vs. Swerve Strickland (03/08/2019, DEFY): The DEFY promotion is based out of the Pacific Northwest, started in the late 2010s (2017 according to Cagematch) and still running today. This match was Swerve's "send off" before he (somewhat briefly) went to NXT, but because this isn't ECW in the mid-90s, the crowd is actually really happy for the guy and not booing him for "selling out." His opponent on this night is longtime rival Darby Allin so, as one might imagine, this match goes from delivering some good wrestling in the beginning to some incredible high spots and hardcore craziness as it progresses, including Darby hitting a chair-assisted Coffin Drop, Swerve taping Darby to a chair so he can hit him with a Swerve Stomp, and then thumbtacks for good measure. I could see some people not liking how far they push things or that they cram so much into the 20-minute runtime that none of it really "sticks," but this was a match designed to be an emotional "thank you" from Swerve to the fans that not-so-subtly gave him one last opportunity to put on the kind of match that the WWE would likely never allow him to do again. A damn good match. (3.5/5)

Chigusa Nagayo vs. Mayumi Ozaki (JWP): Nagayo's bizarre MegaMan/Ancient Rome pre-match get-up earns this match a point before it even starts because it is bonkers. Ozaki struck first with a jumping DDT and then a splash to the floor. Ozaki pulled Nagayo through the crowd and hit her with part of the guardrail! She grabbed a nearby screwdriver and, though its impossible to see due to poor lighting and the crowd, opens Nagayo's forehead with it. Back in the ring, Ozaki grabs the mic. An angry Nagayo marches back into the ring, blood trickling from her forehead. Ozaki continues her attack but Nagayo stuns her with an absolutely nasty powerbomb! Holy shit! If this match ended right here, it'd be an all-timer. Ozaki is nearly counted out but gets to her feet to eat a spinning heel kick and then a kick to the face. Nagayo applies a headlock, hits a very snappy DDT, and then reapplies the choke. Nagayo releases the hold, hits a suplex, and then tries to reapply the hold but Ozaki counters out and gets some offense in, including some biting of Nagayo's wound. Ozaki goes to work with a socket wrench (?), which gets a big reaction from the crowd but doesn't seem to do much damage. Back in control, Ozaki applied a seated arm bar and then just wailed on Nagayo with strikes before landing a dropkick and series of running boots. Nagayo fought back, though, and managed to apply a standing leglock of her own. She flips off the crowd too, which is not something I think I've seen in any joshi matches before this. I wasn't familiar with the story but it seems like this match was maybe an inter-promotion one as Ozaki, clearly wrestling as the heel, has her fair share of supporters. From here, we get all sorts of cool moments - Nagayo applying a nasty Sharpshooter and then beating the hell out of Ozaki in the crowd, Ozaki defiantly re-entering the ring with blood pouring out of her head and smeared across her face, more vicious use of the guardrail and chairs, a splash to the floor by Nagayo, knees and kicks and boots to the face galore...even if Ozaki didn't have one of the deepest crimson masks I've ever seen, this match would be an undeniable epic. After going to the floor a third time, Ozaki hits a fisherman suplex back in the ring but Nagayo kicks out at 2 and applies another choke. Ozaki's selling is masterful, as she looks like she is legitimately struggling to breathe/stay awake. Nagayo brings her up for a vertical suplex but drops her stomach-first on the top rope. Ozaki goes to the floor and Nagayo hits her with a suicide dive! Ozaki comes back with a cannonball splash of her own to the floor! There seems to be some sort of hiccup during the next sequence but they right the ship with Ozaki countering a gutwrench powerbomb into a hurricanrana and then a snapdragon suplex ala Kenny Omega. A half-nelson suplex also gets 2 and Ozaki hits yet another for 2.9! The crowd is going ballistic at this point as Ozaki delivers a third half-and-half! Ozaki goes for the Whisper in the Wind but Nagayo dodges it and then hits a running over-the-shoulder backbreaker to get the W. Wow. This blew me away. This had every great element one could want in a wrestling match. It wasn't perfect - there was a lull at one point in the first third or so and I'm not necessarily a fan of mid-match promos - but those are very minor flaws in an otherwise absolutely amazing, all-time great match. (4.5/5)

Terry Gordy and Michael "P.S" Hayes vs. Jumbo Tsuruta and The Great Kabuki (01/22/1984, AJPW): This is about what you'd expect - not a workrate classic but you get plenty of "color" as Kabuki gets opened up and the crowd is pretty hot. The finish is kinda cool as Kabuki blinds Gordy with the mist, which causes him to exit the ring and go out into the stands, leading to a count-out finish. Nothing super special here but at least they kept things moving and didn't bog it down with rest holds. Plus, Kabuki does really bleed a gusher to get over the intensity. (2.5/5)

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Darby Allin (01/03/2024, AEW): This is why AEW has swiftly become my "go-to" promotion in terms of modern, accessible mainstream wrestling. There's not a ton of "story" behind this match aside from the fact that Allin (and Sting) had been feuding with the Don Callis Family. They were involved in a very poorly-received match at the World's End 2023 PPV, but most of that was because of how sick the audience was of Jericho. This match was a "banger" as the kids say, a perfectly respectable TV match that showcased Allin's high-risk offense as well as Takeshita's power and ruthlessness. Highlights included Allin getting knee'd in the face when he attempted a suicide dive, a German Suplex from the top rope, rolling suplexes on the entrance ramp, and something I'm not sure I've seen before when Takeshita broke the ref's count by shoving Allin into the ring and then yanking him out by a single leg. I also really liked the definitive finish, which put over Takeshita strong but, because of the beating he took, it's not like Darby lost a single bit of credibility. Not a "must see" match but a good example of how high the bar is in today's wrestling landscape when a match like this could almost be considered just average. (3/5)

Tiger Mask II (Misawa), Jumbo Tsuruta, and The Great Kabuki vs. Genichiro Tenryu, Toshiaki Kawada, and Samson Fuyuki (01/11/1990, AJPW): Not a particularly memorable match, but there is some fun to be had in seeing a relatively young Misawa (wrestling as Tiger Mask) and Toshiaki Kawada mixing it up. I was shocked at how good The Great Kabuki was in this, his uppercuts looking devastating at times. From what I've seen of Kabuki over the years, he's never struck me as a particularly good worker. Tsuruta and Tenryu are clearly the biggest stars of the bunch and their moments together get the biggest reactions and have the most intensity. Inessential "filler" type match that does showcase some of Misawa and Kawada's athleticism and toughness, but neither is as polished as they would become in the months and years after this and its noticeable. (2/5)

Dynamite Kansai vs. Kyoko Inoue (11/19/1994, AJW): This is a great match. Kyoko Inoue is someone who I may or may not get to see enough from in the next month to rank on my Greatest Wrestler Ever list but will probably make the extra effort to just because I enjoy her work so much. As usual, she executes some cool submissions, but I was extra impressed with the amount of springboard and power moves she pulled out. Kansai ends up getting the W with an awesome Razor's Edge from the corner that feels like an absolute death move. A real treat of a match to watch and I'm not surprised it has many admirers on Cagematch. (3.5/5)

Stan Hansen and Bruiser Brody vs. Nick Bockwinkel and Harley Race (11/13/1984, AJPW): For a guy with a reputation for not being a big seller, Brody doesn't seem to have any issues selling for Bockwinkel and Race in this match. Speaking of Bockwinkel, he's my favorite performer in this contest by a good bit with his non-stop energy and involvement. After about 10 minutes of back-and-forth, the match turns into a melee on the floor with everyone grabbing chairs and going at it until the match gets thrown out. The best thing that can be said about this match is that its too short to be boring and everyone is over enough that the crowd is into it for what it is. Disappointing considering the talent involved. (2/5)