[1996-10-23-UWFi] Billy Scott vs Kenichi Yammamoto

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

UWFI feels more like pro wrestling to me than RINGS, which is probably why it's easier for me to get into, even if the matwork, while outstanding, isn't quite as good. This is a good example of that. The momentum shifts here are classic pro wrestling, even if the wrestling style isn't exactly that. It's not something completely different either though, as this is closer to 70s NWA world title matches in Japan than, say, a WCW undercard match from this same time period. This really is a terrific match though. I do like Billy Scott, and I think this is the first time I've ever seen him. I should also say that Yammamoto busting out a traditional backslide in the middle of all this tricked out matwork is awesome! I love the Tenryu/Anjo, Tenryu/Takada and Takada/Koshinaka matches because they are heavy on spectacle and substance, but I like this more than any of those, and I like it for a completely different reason. These guys only have their work to fall back on, as they aren't stars on the level of the other guys. As a result, the match seems a little more gritty and hard fought, and I'm guessing that this is more representative of the typical UWFI match than any of the other matches I listed. This is more about the match than it is either guy as an individual, and while both are great, the lasting impression for me is about the match, not either guy in particular. The whole exceeding the sum of the parts is always a great thing when it happens in wrestling and it's doubly impressive when there are no booking tricks or star power to use as a security blanket. One of my favorite matches of the year, and definitely my favorite from either UWFI or RINGS.

[Childs]

That's interesting. I didn't respond to this match at all. Maybe I'll have to rewatch.

[Tim Evans]

I enjoyed this but probably not as much as Loss. It was kinda slow to get into but the Dueling Belly to Belly suplexes ruled. The thing that hurts it is the dead crowd. I know that's what they are known for but it's still annoying.

[Ditch]

I can see where Loss is coming from, but they only really established that strong sense of struggle for a few minutes in the middle. The last 6-7 minutes has lots of middling leglock filler and they never really get to a dramatic "one of them on the verge of losing" point. Very good at times but not 'very good' overall.

[PeteF3]

Yeah, sort of with Ditch here. The run between minutes 10 and 15 are the best of the match and really some of the best you'll see in UWFI, period--Yamamoto kicks Scott off and Scott goes flying across the ring taking a great theatrical bump that's pure wrasslin', and Yamamoto follows it up with a dropkick (!). It's very much a babyface comeback. Then both guys go on to murder the other with suplexes, and that's clearly the hottest point of the whole match. However, the first portion is pretty middling and they go back down to earth after that, without any other peaks to come as the time limit draws nearer. There's good work, but as the time calls got more frequent neither man really seemed to react. One could argue that both were spent, or that like an NHL team in the waning minutes of regulation they were content to play it out and take the sure draw/point rather than risk running themselves into defeat. This is still a good match with some great selling by Scott and a fine fiery perfromance by Yamamoto, that would have fit right in with any UWFI card when the promotion was at its peak.

[soup23]

In the middle on the match overall. Some really exciting flurries and exchanges of action but also a lot of down time. These are two guys that really didn't do a whole lot of memorable stuff and I can't recall another match of either right off hand. The finish felt like too much of a race to the end of the exhibition for my liking as well. ***1/4

[tim]

There's a lot about this match I liked but it was also very unpolished. Some great spots and high-level offense for a shoot style match. They worked, at times, with a lot of energy, a fast pace, and pulled off some really creative spots in a shoot style context. But there was a pretty extended period in the middle where they were sort of laying in holds and it felt like they didn't really know where to go, and this wasn't just in that middle portion either. But still the good in this match make it very enjoyable.