Day 25 2024

 

MGMC vs Beer Money Best of 5

Oh yes. Naturally after a contentious finish at Victory Road, they needed to find a way to definitively crown tag team champions. Would The Guns first title win be legitimized or would Beer Money rectify an injustice done to them by shoddy refereeing? 

[Match 1- Impact 7/15/10

First up, a ladder match. The titles are not hanging above the ring but instead a contract is that allows the winners to decide the next match stipulation. Beer Money attack the Guns during their entrance and take control for a bit. The underdogs quickly fight back and we have the story for this match. The pendulum is constantly swinging back and forth between the two teams. MCMG are fast on their feet but Beer Money is made up of two wrestlers that cut their teeth in tag teams giving them the strategic advantage. None of that matters once the plunder gets involved. My word there’s so many awesome ladder spots I can’t just sit here and list them all. Giving the Guns, one of the most creative tag teams ever, ladders to play with was a stroke of genius. History repeats itself but this time in favor of Beer Money. The ref for the match, Brian Hebner again, gets knocked out by a wayward Alex Shelley. Sabin grabs the contract but there’s Ref to call the match. 

Storm sneaks in and cracks a beer bottle over Sabine head and grabs the contract. Earl Hebner sees Storm with the contract and awards the match to Beer Money. I both like and hate that this is becoming a feud between Brian and Earl Hebner as much as it is between the Guns and Beer Money. Anyway, excellent match. Two amazing tag teams given weapons to play with, it’s great…speaking of.

Match 2 Impact 7/22/10

Per the rules of the first match Beer Money were granted the right to choose the stipulation and they’ve chosen a Street Fight.  The Guns, pissed off after the Ladder match, drop the belt at the top of the ramp and book it to the ring. The brawl is on. Roode takes the first bit of innovative offense as he gets put in a Camel Clutch by Shelley. Sabin goes all the way back up the ramp which is connected to the ring, runs down it, and Dropkicks Roode in the face. Awesome! Slowly but surely the plunder comes out which gives the Guns more creative license including Roode getting Sabu’ed by a trash can. Roode actually takes the majority of the spots looking back on it. Anyway, leading to the finish both the ref outside and inside the ring are taken out. MCMG hit a Sliced Bread Powerbomb combo but with both refs down they can’t score take win. Storm cracks a beer bottle over Shelley’s head, kicks Sabins head off, and drags the ref over to count the three for Roode to put Beer Money up 2-0.

Great stuff.

Match 3 Impact 7/29/10

Steel Cage! Beer Money are in the ring and waiting for the Guns as their music plays with no sign of Sabin and Shelley. That’s because the Guns are coming from behind. They climb over the cage and jump Beer Money. Immediately the Guns launch into their signature offensive while also finding time to throw Storm and Roode into the steel. A Poetry in Motion Dropkick sends Roses head into the steel and we got color. Then, Sabin and Roode take up spots in the corner because naturally TNA would have a tag team cage match where both teams still need to tag in and out. 

Despite Roodes gusher, Beer Money dominate showing off their own tag team acumen. I haven’t said it enough so far but Beer Money are really good in their own right. Beer Money almost steal the series but Shelley refuses to stay down and tags in Sabin. Sabin runs through an arsenal of moves and the rule about tagging in and out flies out the window. Beer Money come close but the Guns won’t stay down. The back and forth looks to be over when the Guns have Roode primed for a Splash Neckbreaker combo but Storm has the beer bottle. Sabin learns from his mistakes though and moves allowing Roode to get cracked in the head. Storm takes the Splash Neckbreaker instead and the Guns bring it to 2-1.

Match 4 Impact 8/5/10

ULTIMATE X!

Shelley and Sabin, the vets of this match type, immediately bolt for the X but Beer Money stops them and lays the SmackDown. The Guns being quick, and squirrelly immediately turn the tides. Shelley watches the perimeter as Sabin goes the X. Shelley manages to stop Roode but fails to stop Storm. The Guns light up Beer Money with a flurry of tag team moves climaxing with Shelley tie sing up Beer Money all by himself in some sort of bizarre STF and Crossface combo. 

Beer Money not one’s to be outdone, fight back and SPIKE. S.P.I.K.E. SPIKE Shelley with a Catapult into a DDT. It looked fucking nasty. Then they argue over who is going to go for the X. Storm once wind by convincing Roode that he’s too drunk to climb the cables. I love wrestling. 

The rest of the match is a flurry of excellent tag team work from both teams and innovative maneuvers from the Guns. Both teams make breaks for the X but no one succeeds for long. Following a Sliced Bread on the apron from Shelley, Roode and Sabin are free to gun for the win. Roode is climbing ontop of the cables and Sabin is shuffling along the traditional way. They meet in the middle and Sabin doggedly knocks Roode off balance and causes him to fall to the mat. Sabin grabs the X and the series is tied 2-2.

TNA Impact 8/12/10

The final match in the series. 2/3 Falls for all the marbles. The past four matches have been excellent, these two teams work magic together. Let’s fucking go. 

Fall one, Storm and Sabin start and neither get a firm control so they tag out. Shelley and Roode starts to go the same way but Shelley takes control. Roode almost swings momentum back his way but Shelley tags Sabin and the Guns do what the Guns taking out both members of Beer Money. Guns control for a bit but eventually the dastardly, opportunistic ways of Beer Money give them the control…briefly. Shelley breaks up a near fall and tags on. Beer Money remain in control but Shelley prevents the Catapult DDT he almost died too in the previous match and the Guns take off in a flurry of X Division madness. Sabin attempts to keep the momentum going btu Storm stops him and drops him with an Orton DDT on the apron. Shelley tries to put away Roode but his Double Foot Stomp misses. GutBuster from Roode, Back Stabber from Storm, DWI! The first fall goes to Beer Money. 

No break between falls and Beer Money continues their assault on Shelley. But they get too big for their britches and hit the taunt button. Sabin tags in and takes out both men with a Missile Dropkick. The Guns sandwichRoode in the corner and hit the Splash Neckbreaker Combo to secure the second fall. 

Sabin attempts to keep the advantage but Roode outmaneuvers. Assisted dive from Storm, followed by a Suicide Dive from Shelley, followed by rope from Roode. Commercial! Fuck. Thank God for YT. The Guns are trying for their Muta Lock/Running Dropkick thing but Roode cuts them off and Sabin does a full ass backflip selling Roodes Lariat. Beer Money take control,but Storm louses it up and ends up taking a Double Foot Stomp in the Tree of Woe. In comes Sabin who take out both members of Beer mOney. The crowd bite hard on a very near fall after a Sabin Tornado DDT.

The Guns don’t slow for a second. Another near fall off of a Modified DWI from the Guns. The crowd are super into this, the commentators are super into this, I’m super into this. Beer Money mount a comeback but Sabine counters a DWI, and ducks a Last Call Superkick. Roode eats the Superkick and he’s done for the match. A third near fall (and third bite form the audience) follows a Splash Neckbreaker combo but the second one seals the deal. The Guns win the fall, the match, the titles, and the series.

Yeah, these are excellent even 14 years later. The two teams have amazing chemistry, and were two of TNAs best teams. They tore the house up on four straight Impacts, I HIGHLY recommend checking out the full series comp. TNA uploaded to YouTube if you’ve never seen these matches or want to revisit them.

Day 24 2024

 

WCW SuperBrawl 1991

WCW World Television Title Singles Match

Bobby Eaton vs. Arn Anderson(c)

Spoilers, this didn’t disappoint.

The start by trying to out wrestle each other but when that doesn’t work, Bobby just rocks Arn with the first right hand of the match. Bobby rocks Arn about six or seven times with that right hand throughout the match and Arn sells it beautifully each time. The Enforcer isn’t down for long and the match spills onto the apron where both men take bumps on the ramp. 

Bobby takes control and almost gets the W but only gets a two and starts to work over Arns arm. Beautiful, absolute perfect heel work from Arn gives him control of the match and he starts to work over Bobby’s leg. This dominates the rest of the match. No matter how much Bobby fights Arn just keeps going after that leg until Bobby struggles to even hit a basic Suplex. These two are so fucking good. 

Things briefly go south after a Bobby counters a Vader Splash but again Arn is after that leg. Bobby event takes a signature, gorgeous, crispy Anderson Spinebuster. Bobby refuses to stay down despite the fact that his leg is totally fucked. He catches Arn with his metaphorical pants down and hits a Running Neckbreaker that’s sets Arn up for the Alabama Jam and we have a new champ.

If you couldn’t tell, I quite enjoyed this. Everything here is just so well done, the selling, the moves, the psychology, the commentary. Just everything hitting on all cylinders. Grade A match brothers. 

Day 23 2024

 

WWE Survivor Series 2024

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Singles Match

Damien Priest vs. Gunther(c)

 

The two start off with Damien taking control on the mat. Gunther bails to the outside after barely dodging a kick. Gunther comes back in and unleashes a flurry of strikes but Damien counters with a Shoulder Tackle. The two go back and forth but after the Shoulder Tackle Priest started selling the shoulder and Gunther takes the first opportunity to start working over the arm.  

Damien valiantly tries to rally back with his good arm but Gunther is viscous, unrelenting. But any man with a good arm, two good legs, and enough spit and grit can win a fight and Damien finally gets Gunther off of his feet with a huge kick to the temple. Damien takes control and fights off two of Gunther’s finishers and locks in a Hells Gate. As if the guy didn’t get enough Undertaker comparisons.

Bushido is a double edged sword. Priest is in control but tries for a Razors Edge but his shoulder gives out. Gunther locks on the Sleeper and transitions it into a pinning Powerbomb but only gets a two! Gunther tries to go high but 6 foot something, 300 pound Priest counters with a freaking Hurricanrana and then succeeds in hitting Razors Edge but is too weak to capitalize. 

Priest tries for a South of Heaven Chokeslam twice but both times his shoulder betrays him. Gunther rolls him into a viscous Kimura Lock with his legs wrapped around Damien’s head. Priest gets to the ropes and takes two Short Arm Clotheslines before ducking the third and taking Gunther down with a Lariat of his own. Both men go to the top and fight for a big move to no avail. Gunther is tossed off by Priest but Priest falls to the outside. Finn Balor interferes while Priest is outside the ring, only to be booted by Gunther.   Gunther finally puts Damien away with a Powerbomb, MMA Elbows, and a modified Cobra Clutch. 

This was a good match. It had some spots that were pretty slow which isn’t really my thing. The two work well together and once the two just started throwing big moves at each other and the crowd woke up, it got much better. Still won’t say this was better than good. 

Day 22 2024

 

FMW Yamato-Nadeshiko II

No Rope Barbed Wire Death

Shark Tsuchiya vs. Megumi Kudo

Is FMW more than blood and guts? Yes. Am I a deathmatch guy? No. But I’ve never seen a women’s barbed wire match and I’m always looking for something different for these things. So here we are. 

Megumi cuts a promo pre-match that she concludes by saying she doesn’t fear Shark, she only hates her. Megumi comes out rocking a white bodysuit with pink. Her arms, face, neck, and one leg are exposed. Take a wild guess at who ends up with most of the blood. Obviously, the two spend the first couple minutes trying and failing to introduce the other to the wire ropes. Shark is eventually successful in Irish Whipping Megumi into the ropes. Her cohorts outside the ring eagerly help drive the wire into Megumi face and the blood begins to flow. 

Sharks cohorts toss her a barbed wire wrapped kendo stick and a plain table to help in inducing punishment. After four or so unsuccessful table spots, Megumi turns the tide and puts Shark through the table. Shark no sells it and attacks Megumi with a goddamn sickle! Fucking…no! She tries to Cleve the poor woman with the sickle but Megumi uses a piece of the table as a shield and then as a weapon and its Sharks turn to meet the ropes. 

Megumi also cohorts outside the ring and she tries to help beat Shark with the kendo stick but she’s not nearly as smooth getting into the ring as Sharks cohorts and it looks like Shark takes a couple of unexpected real shots. Did not look fun…none of this looks fun but those especially looked rough. Megumi s offense…doesn’t last. It’s almost immediately back to being brutalized by the heels. Shark damn nears kills Megumi with a Backdrop Driver and a follow up Powerbomb. 

 

The rest is a blur of chaos. Megumi fights back and begins to hit Shark with Tiger Bomb after Tiger Bomb to no success. After dispatching one of Sharks friends into the bare bed wire, she hits Shark with a nasty, nasty Vertabreaker for the win. 

Well this was definitely a spectacle. This wasn’t great even as a hardcore match. It seems like Shark started nursing her leg pretty early on so maybe that contributed to it btu there was a bunch of blown spots and awkward moments especially when Megumi big comeback was foiled by her partner getting stuck on the ropes trying to come into the ring. If you want to see something different maybe give this watch but other than that I wouldn’t recommend this. 

Day 21 2024

 

Lucha Underground: Ultima Lucha Uno

Cero Miedo Match

Pentagon Jr. vs. Vampiro

Lucha Undergorund S1 is one of the all time wrestling shows, fight me. Naturally, they needed a big show to cap off the season, a WrestleMania like event, a Starrcade, a November to Remember, and thus they gave Ultima Lucha. Feuds came to a head, titles were defended, blood was spilled, all for the rabid Believers in the Temple. The network that aired Lucha Underground was the brainchild of director Robert Rodriguez and featured a very ‘70s grindhouse theater aesthetic. 

The Cero Miedo Match from the second night of Ultima Lucha 1. In the weeks leading up to Ultima Lucha, Pentagon Jr./El Cero Miedo/Dark/Oscuro/The Artist Formerly Known As had been breaking the arms of his opponents as sacrifices to a mysterious master. Things reached a boiling point when LU commentator Vampiro prevented Penta from breaking the arm of the original Sexy Star…wonder if he regrets that. But anyway, this made Vamp Pentas next target and after weeks of goading Vampiro finally agreed to step back in the ring after ten years. 

Vamp comes out dressed like Papa Emeritus from the band Ghost, looks sick as hell. That matters not to Penta however who blindsides Vamp with a chair while he’s walking in the crowds adulation. He proceeds to beat the ever loving shit out of Vamp with the chair and the fight spills into the crowd where Vamp mounts a small comeback. In a hilarious moment, Penta chucks some fans drink at Vampiro as he’s trying to get away. 

More chair shots and an FU on the bare floor causes the ref to intervene citing an injury to Vampiro. Penta doesn’t listen and continues his assault until the ref gains control. Vamp is stretchered off but actually fights the EMTs and returns to the ring. 

The legend gains control and introduces a bag of thumbtacks to the match. Yeah it’s that KIND of match baby. Penta takes a slam into the racks but Vampiro is too into the rush and misses a Twisting Senton onto said tacks. Then we hit second gear. Penta introduces the light tubes. He cries them over Vamps head/shoulder/neck and Vamp is almost instantly covered in blood…so naturally Penta goes and grabs more lighttubes. He strikes Vampiro again but unsatisfied with his bloodshed so far, he digs a broken piece of the tubes into Vamps head. Whihc just seems to invigorate Vampiro. 

The legend mounts a comeback and rips the mask of Penta. Not only a huge sign of disrespect but a harbinger of what’s about to happen. Vamp takes the third set of lighttubes Penta brought in and cracks Penta with it. The blood pours and the mat is a mess of dirt, glass, tacks, and bloods…it’s like a battlefield if Bravehearts battlefield was the CZW Arena. 

Vamp is firmly in control and the crowd is losing their shit over this match. Vamp produces a table from under the ring along with a lighter, and lighter fluid. There’s an old adage in wrestling, he who sets up the table must go through it. With the fire lit, Vamp turns to Penta to finish the job but Penta turns the tables. The spot doesn’t go the way it should. The table halves remain on fire and Vamp is actually on fire. He rolls out of the ring to get out but the fires almost put anyway. The fucking ring mat is even on fire. This is nuts but also the end. Penta pins Vampiro outside of the ring. 

Penta starts to call for his master but Vamp insists that Penta breaks his arm. Penta has no problem obliging. After breaking Vamps arm, he calls for his master to reveal himself and his master obliges…as Vampiro reveals himself as Pentas teacher! Penta bows and that’s wrap.

It’s a violent spectacle that still holds up some 8 years later. It’s all about story here and it’s very well told. Matt Striker on commentary does his part even if it does get grating the third or fourth he mentions we’re not watching Ian Hodgkinson we’re watching the darker, evil inner personality Vampiro. God shut up Matt. 

Day 20 2024

 

NJPW G1 Climax Special 1995 Day 7

Singles Match

Sabu vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

Finally cracking back into a Best Of Sabu in Japan DVD I’ve had for a couple years. 

Sabu hoofs it to the ring. One of my favorite things about Sabu is that during the pre-match he’s always pacing around and taking swipes at his opponent like he just can’t wait for the bell to ring. Bell rings and Sabu dives for the legs but Liger sidesteps him. Sabu points to the sky and Liger looks up to see what he’s pointing at. Liger gives no shits and it’s great. Sabu tries for another leg takedown but Liger sidesteps him and waves an imaginary cape like a bullfighter. Sabu takes the bait and dives only to get Kappou Kicked for his effort. Liger grabs the leg but fails to follow up. He winds up in a Camel Clutch and Sabu bites on one of the horns on his mask. Doesn’t hurt him in anyway but I guess it sends a message. 

Out of the ring, and Sabu sets Liger up against a table. The bell only rang maybe a minute and a half ago. Sabu tries for a Suicide Dive but Liger recovers and slams the table into Sabus head as he comes through the rope. The table they use is that long one at ringside which looks solid as a motherfucker. Liger then mocks Sabus pre-match bowing because why not. 

Sabu re-enters the ring and he’s now bleeding. Hard way too since the cut is right around where the sideburns are. Liger gains control briefly and even gets a near fall off of a pinning Powerbomb. The two go to the May while still showing off their innovative offense. Sabu takes a control and takes Liger back to the outside with a Hurricanrana over the top rope. Back to the table but Sabu tries a Senton instead of a Suicide Dive. He hits but the table doesn’t break it just kinda slides out from under Liger. The two look worse for wear. 

 

A Baseball Slide from Sabu prevents Liger from breaking the count. But then Sabu botches so Liger gives him a taste of his own medicine by whooping him into the table which is propped against the turnbuckle post. A Doving Headbutt back in the ring scores Liger another near fall but he ends up taking a DDT for his trouble. Sabu checks off a couple more signature spots but his botching tendencies rear their ugly head. He tries Suplex off of the apron but it  goes south and it looks like Sabu almost hurts his back in the process. A Diving Hurricanrana botch follows and again Liger just moves on like it didn’t happen. Things fall apart here, I think Sabu may actually be fucked up. He stumbles on a Top Rope Hurricanrana and I can’t tell if it’s a legit slip or if Liger was meant to have pushed him. If it was planned it didn’t look like it. Liger hits a Shotei and a Fisherman’s Buster to seal the match. Sabu kicks out like after the three. 

Good match overall. It was slower than I expected but that was to its detriment. Sabus worst tendencies showed up late in the match and kind of derailed the whole thing. It’s not a must see match but it’s cool to see these two tangle.

Day 18 and 19 2024

 

AEW Full Gear: Zero Hour 2022

Singles Match

Jun Akiyama vs. Eddie Kingston w/ Ortiz

May 1st 1998, Hiroshi Hase battled Jun Akiyama in the Tokyo Dome for AJPWs 25th Anniversary.  At some point in Yonkers, New York an eighteen year old on the wrong path would see this match and his live would change. From that point Eddie Kingston knew he wanted to be a wrestler. This match meant the world to Kingston, this is him standing across the ring from his goddamn hero. 

It starts slow and Eddie takes the early control with a Full Nelson. Akiyama gets to the ropes and the two trade Chops (Kingston) and Forearms (Akiyama). Eddie wins out and knocks Akiyama to the floor when the legend attempts to counter. Eddie tries for a Half-and-Hakf Suplex on or off the apron but Akiyama breaks free and fucking spikes Eddie with a DDT on the apron. He follows this up with a Gullotine Knee Drop which he follows up with a Curb Stomp. Grandpas in Japan are fucking brutal. 

Akiyama decides he needs another does of head trauma and spikes him with a picture perfect Piledriver. Like it’s beautiful, it would make Bret Hart cry. Eddie kicks out of the pin attempt though and eats a Running Knee for his troubles. Jun tries to go high but Kingston cuts him off and hits a Superplex. He also bites Akiyama and I imagine biting your hero must be a very weird feeling. 

Once the two are up, Kingston pays homage to another one of his hero’s, Kenta Kobashi and unleashes a flurry of chops in the corner. Akiyama absorbs them though and retaliates with a flurry of Forearms…which Eddie absorbs and retaliates with more chops, bearing more successes the second time. Akiyama blocks the Back Drop but misses the Lariat and gets Half-and-Half Suplexed. But Grandpa isn’t settling in for Jeopardy just yet and is right back to his feet and nails Eddie with an Exploder Suplex. 

Eddie says fuck it and is right back up and returns the Exploder only to eat a running knee after Akiyama takes the Suplex with a grin and a hard on. Fucking Bushido man. It only elicits a near fall and Eddie counters a second Exploder with a DDT that spikes Akiyama. Brutal and beautiful. Backfist to the Future, near fall, second Backfist to the Future blocked and countered with an Exploder followed by a bare knee Sliding Knee murders Kingston. But Kingston kicks out and digs into the Virtual Pro moves menu to counter a Wrist-Clutched Suplex with a Northern Lights Bomb. Eddie drops the straps! Shit has gotten real! Backfist to the Future and Eddie puts away his hero. 

Very good match. It’s not action packed and a little slow but it’s very…impactful, I guess would be the right word. I don’t know, watch it and you’ll what I mean. Eddie got to hang with his hero and the crowd loved Eddie. Shout out to Tazz who decides to be a good commentator for this match. 

TNA Victory Road 2010

TNA Tag Team Title Match

Beer Money Inc. (James Storm and Bobby Roode) vs. the Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley)

Tag titles are vacant going into this. Why you may ask? Well becuas the champs before this were The Band, Kevin Nash, Eric Young…and Scott Hall. Long story short, Scott Hall pulled a Scott Hall and instead of just letting Nash and EY defend the belts, TNA stripped them completely…of the titles not their clothes. 

Anyway, Shelley and Storm open. Shelley takes early control and the Gun run through a sampler of their beautiful, quick, and crisp tag team offense. It’s beautiful.  Things re looking good for the faces until Beer Money use their craftiness to gain control…and almost neuter poor Alex Shelley. The heels ground and isolate Shelley, including a gorgeous Gut Buster from Robert Roode. 

Shelley finds an opening and uses the heels own tactics against them to tag in Sabin. Sabin runs wild, again just so quick without sacrificing any smoothness. God there’s one Standing Hurricanrana where you don’t even see Sabin snap over, it’s like a frame rate glitch in a video game. Fucking outstanding. 

Beer Money show some tag hutzpah though with two great combos, a Hurricanrana black pass over into an Eye of the Storm and a Slingshot into a Codebreaker. I’m overusing the word here but beautiful. Everything is just so smooth and crisp. Love it! Time for the finish, Storm goes to spit beer into one the Guns eyes but the Gun ducks and referee Brian Hebner gets blinded by the booze instead. Neckbreaker/Top Rope Splash almost seals things for the Guns but substitute Ref Earl Hebner is just a second too late getting into the ring. 

Beer Money near fall as Roode counters a Top Rope Crossboy into a pin. Desperation is starting to set in as Roode and Shelley just start laying into each other. More Guns double offense takes out Roode. Sabin pins Roode but Storm rolls up Shelley. Earl counts the three. Brian counts the three. Double pin!

Fucking the counts are perfectly synced by the way, the work of two seasoned vets. No room for error. Earl, the senior official, declares the match must be restarted. There will be a winner! Beer Money waste zero time taking it to the Guns. Things are looking for the heels until Shelley sends Storm balls first into the corner. He lays out Roode with a Superkick and packs away Storm with a Backstabber. Neckbreaker-Top Rope Splash Combo seals it for the Guns securing them their first titles. 

Fuck what a match. The chemistry between these two teams is off the charts and well documented. I could genuinely watch the MCMG do their thing for hours. If only there were more matches between these two teams…