And just to keep them together here's the top Wrestling Observer MOTY voting for the 90's:


1990

1. Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (1-31) Osaka
2. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (6-8) Tokyo
3. Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane vs. Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong (7-8) Baltimore
4. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior (4-1) Toronto
5. Steiners vs. Nasty Boys (10-27) Chicago
6. Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto vs Dragon Master & Masanobu Kurisu (4-1) Tokyo
7. Keiji Muto vs. Hiroshi Hase (9-14) Hiroshima
8. Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger (2-25) Greensboro
9. Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton vs. Joe Malenko & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
10. Yoshihiro Asai vs. Negro Casas (6-7) Tokyo
11. Jushin Liger vs. Chris Benoit (8-19) Tokyo

1991:

1. Steiners vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (3-21) Tokyo
2. Bull Nakano vs Akira Hokuto (1-4) Tokyo
3. Ric Flair & Larry Zbyszko & Sid Vicious & Barry Windham vs. Steiners & Sting & Brian Pillman War Games (2-24) Phoenix
4. Cactus Jack vs. Eddie Gilbert (8-3) Philadelphia
5. Steiners vs. Sting & Lex Luger (5-19) St. Petersburg
6. Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko vs. Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes (11-18) Savannah
7. Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior (3-34) Los Angeles
8. Curt Hennig vs. Bret Hart (8-27) New York
9. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (4-20) Tokyo
10. Jushin Liger vs. Hiroshi Hase (5-6) Tokyo
11. Keiji Muto vs. Masahiro Chono (8-11) Tokyo
12. Jushin Liger vs. Chris Benoit (10-18) Hiroshima
13. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Kenta Kobashi (5-24) Osaka
14. Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair (10-25) Oakland
15. Jushin Liger vs. Owen Hart (4-27) Okinawa
16. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada (10-24) Yokohama
17. Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs. Esther Moreno & Manami Toyota (4-29) Tokyo
18. Ric Flair vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (3-21) Tokyo

1992:

1. Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas vs. Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (5-25) Miyagi
2. Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman (2-29) Milwaukee
3. Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue (4-25) Yokohama
4. Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai (4-30) Tokyo
5. Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada (8-15) Tokyo
6. El Hijo del Santo & Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto vs. Negro Casas & Tim Patterson & Horace Boulder (5-16) Los Angeles
7. Sting & Nikita Koloff & Dustin Rhodes & Ricky Steamboat & Barry Windham vs. Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton & Steve Austin & Larry Zbyszko & Rick Rude War Games (5-17) Jacksonville
8. Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog (8-29) London
9. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Yumiko Hotta & Suzuka Minami (3-17) Tokyo
10. Eddie Gilbert vs. Terry Funk (11-14) Wayne, NJ
11. Royal Rumble (1-19) Albany, NY
12. Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman (12-27) East Rutherford, NJ
13. Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage (4-5) Indianapolis
14. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (11-27) Richfield, OH
15. Sting vs. Cactus Jack (6-20) Mobile
16. Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Masa Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa (7-5) Tokyo
17. Sting vs. Big Van Vader (7-18) Albany
18. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue (4-20) Tokyo
19. Rick Rude vs. Masahiro Chono (8-12) Tokyo

1993:

1. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki (4-11) Osaka
2. Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi (8-31) Toyohashi
3. Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori (4-2) Yokohama
4. Cactus Jack vs. Vader (10-24) New Orleans
5. Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi (7-29) Tokyo
6. Hikari Fukuoka & Cuty Suzuki & Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki vs. Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue & Sakie Hasgewa (7-31) Yokohama
7. Sting vs. Vader (2-21) Asheville
8. Lightning Kid (X-Pac) vs. Sabu 4-17 Minneapolis
9. Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (7-10) New York
10. Stan Hansen vs. Toshiaki Kawasda (2-28) Tokyo
11. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi (4-14) Nagoya
12. El Hijo del Santo vs. Heavy Metal (1-29) Mexico City
13. Winners (Abismo Negro) & Rey Misterio Jr. & Super Calo vs. Jerry Estrada & Heavy Metal & Psicosis (1-29) Mexico City
14. Bret Hart vs. Curt Hennig (6-11) Dayton
15. Mitsuhau Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (3-27) Kyoto
16. Atsushi Onita vs. Terry Funk (5-5) Kawasaki
17. Devil Masami vs. Bull Nakano (4-18) Tokyo
18. Steiners vs. Tom Prichard & Jimmy Del Rey (8-30) Auburn Hills, MI
19. Heavy Metal & Psicosis & Picudo vs. Winners & Serup Calo & Rey Misterio Jr. (2-14) Mexico City

1994:

1. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) (3-20) New York
2. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (6-3) Tokyo
3. Great Sasuke vs. Chris Benoit (4-16) Tokyo
4. Love Machine & Eddy Guerrero vs. El Hijo del Santo & Octagon (11-6) Los Angeles
5. Terry Funk vs. Shane Douglas vs. Sabu (2-5) Philadelphia
6. Ric Flair vs Vader (12-27-93) Charlotte
7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (5-21) Sapporo
8. Nasty Boys vs. Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne (4-17) Chicago
9. Jushin Luger vs. Great Sasuke (4-16) Tokyo
10. Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan vs. Nasty Boys (5-22) Philadelphia
11. Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota (11-20) Tokyo
12. Akira Hokuto & Kyoko Inoue vs. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada (12-10-93) Tokyo
13. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Steve Williams (7-28) Tokyo
14. Great Sasuke vs. Jinsei Shinzaki (4-29) Tokyo
15. Chris Benoit & Shinjiro Otani vs. Black Tiger (Eddy Guerrero) & Great Sasuke (10-18) Odawara
16. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (8-29) Chicago
17. Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi (9-3) Tokyo
18. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (3-20) New York

1995:

1. Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue (5-7) Tokyo
2. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (8-27) Pittsburgh
3. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (10-7) Philadelphia
4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada (1-24) Yamagata
5. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi (1-19) Osaka
6. Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (4-15) Philadelphia
7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada (6-9) Tokyo
8. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (9-22) Mexico City
9. Ultimo Dragon vs. Chris Jericho (7-7) Tokyo
10. Manami Toyota vs. Akira Hokuto (9-2) Tokyo
11. Oleg Taktarov vs. Tank Abbott (9-8) Casper
12. Cactus Jack & Head Hunters vs. Terry Funk & Shoji Nakamaki & Leatherface (Rick Patterson) (4-2) Tokyo
13. Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa vs. Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue (8-30) Osaka
14. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi & Stan Hansen vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada & Johnny Ace (4-2) Tokyo
15. Shawn Michaels vs. Jeff Jarrett (7-23) Nashville
16. Sabu vs. Devon Storm (10-28) Woodbury, NJ
17. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (7-24) Tokyo
18. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue 4-15 Tokyo
19. Rey Misterio & Rey Misterio Jr. vs Fuerza & Juventud Guerrera (3-2) Xalapa
20. Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (5-13) Philadelphia
21. Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (8-26) Philadelphia
22. Manami Toyota vs. Aja Kong (6-27 Sapporo
23. Pit Bulls vs. Raven & Stevie Richards (9-16) Philadelphia

1996:

1. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams & Johnny Ace (6-7) Tokyo
2. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera (3-9) Philadelphia
3. Dick Togo & Mens Teioh & Shiryu (Kaz Hayashi) & Taka Michinoku & Shoichi Funaki vs. Gran Hamada & Super Delfin & Tiger Mask & Gran Naniwa & Masato Yakushiji (10-10) Tokyo
4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (5-23) Sapporo
5. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels 3-31 Anaheim
6. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis 7-7 Daytona Beach
7. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin 11-17 New York
8. Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel (Kevin Nash) 4-28 Omaha
9. Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Otani (8-4) Tokyo
10. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (12-13-95) Tokyo
11. Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind (9-22) Philadelphia
12. Bas Rutten vs. Masakatsu Funaki (9-7) Tokyo
13. Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (10-18) Tokyo
14. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Ultimo Dragon (11-24) Norfolk
15. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Dean Malenko (10-27) Las Vegas
16. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams & Johnny Ace (9-5) Tokyo
17. Don Frye vs. Amoury Bitetti (5-17) Detroit
18. Antonio Inoki vs. Vader (1-4) Tokyo
19. Manami Toyota & Mima Shimoda vs. Mariko Yoshida & Kaoru Ito (8-6) Hakata
20. Sabu vs Rob Van Dam (4-20) Philadelphia
21. Rey Misterio Jr. & Ultimo Dragon vs. Psicosis & Heavy Metal (6-1) Los Angeles

1997:

1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (3-23) Chicago
2. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (1-20) Osaka
3. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (10-5) St. Louis
4. Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Misterio Jr. (10-26) Las Vegas
5. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (6-6) Tokyo
6. El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto (6-5) Tokyo
7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (12-6-96) Tokyo
8. Great Sasuke & Gran Hamada & Masato Yakushiji vs. Mens Teioh & Dick Togo & Taka Michinoku (4-13) Philadelphia
9. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (10-21) Tokyo
10. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Otani (2-9) Sapporo
11. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (11-9) Montreal
12. Bret & Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith & Jim Neidhart & Brian Pillman vs. Steve Austin & Ken Shamrock & Goldust & Legion of Doom (7-6) Calgary
13. Ultimo Dragon vs. Dean Malenko (12-29-96) Nashville
14. Hector Garza & Juventud Guerrera & Lizmark Jr. vs. La Parka & Psicosis & Villano IV (7-13) Daytona Beach

1998:

1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (10-31) Tokyo
2. Undertaker vs. Mankind (6-28) Pittsburgh
3. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (6-27) Yokohama
4. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (5-1) Tokyo
5. Steve Austin vs. Dude Love (5-31) Milwaukee
6. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (12-5-97) Tokyo
7. Juventud Guerrera vs. Billy Kidman (11-16) Wichita
8. Rock vs. HHH (8-30) New York
9. Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (6-12) Tokyo
10. Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (7-25) Tokyo
11. Koji Kanemoto vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. (6-3) Osaka
12. Ric Flair vs. Bret Hart (1-25 Dayton
13. Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (3-29) Boston
14. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Koji Kanemoto & Dr. Wagner Jr. (8-8) Osaka
15. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Jushin Liger & El Samurai (8-2) Tokyo
16. Genichiro Tenryu vs. Shinya Hashimoto (8-1) Tokyo

1999:

1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (6-11) Tokyo
2. Edge & Christian vs. Hardys (10-17) Cleveland
3. Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit (10-4) Kansas City
4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama (3-6) Tokyo
5. Steve Austin vs. Rock (4-25) Hartford
6. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (1-22) Osaka
7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama (10-23) Nagoya
8. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Minoru Tanaka & Koji Kanemoto (10-11) Tokyo
9. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto (6-24) Tokyo
10. Juventud Guerrera vs. Blitzkrieg (4-11) Tacoma
11. Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn (3-21) Asbury Park
12. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis vs. Blitzkrieg vs. Juventud Guerrera (4-19) Gainesville, FL
13. Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn (5-16) Poughkeepsie
14. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Vader (5-2) Tokyo
15. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Vader (10-30) Tokyo
16. Great Sasuke vs. Magnum Tokyo (2-7) Yokohama
17. Masato Tanaka vs. Mike Awesome (11-7) Buffalo
18. Jushin Liger vs. Koji Kanemoto (3-17) Hiroshima
19. Rock vs. Mankind (1-24) Anaheim

I'm running a Best of the 2000's (00-09) poll over on another forum so I'm watching as much 2000s matches as I can. I'm trying to watch all the majorly suggested ones but also following the Wrestling Observer's yearly best match awards and trying to watch them all. For anyone else interested in the results from the last 10 years and maybe something to watch here ya go:


Wrestling Observer Checklist ho:

2000
1.) Atlantis vs. Villano III (3/17 - Arena Mexico)
2.) Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (1/23 - Madison Square Garden)
3.) Dudley Boys vs. Edge & Christian vs. Hardy Boys (8/27 - Raleigh)
4.) Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kensuke Sasaki (10/9 - Tokyo Dome)
5.) Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Koji Kanemoto & Minoru Tanaka (6/25 - Tokyo)
6.) Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (2/27 – Hartford)
7.) Triple H vs. Chris Jericho (7/23 – Dallas)
8.) Triple H vs. Rock (5/21 – Louisville)
9.) Chris Benoit vs. Steven Regal (5/25 – Cincinnati)
10.) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (4/11 – Kanazawa)
11.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (1/17 – Osaka)
12.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Takao Omori (4/15 – Tokyo)
13.) Dudleys vs. Edge & Christian vs. Hardys (4/2 – Anaheim)
14.) FBI vs. Mikey Whipwreck & Yoshihiro Tajiri (8/26 – New York)
15. Rock vs. Chris Benoit (7/23 – Dallas)

2001
1.) Keiji Muto vs. Genichiro Tenryu (6/8 - Tokyo Nippon Budokan)
2.) Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho vs. Steve Austin & Triple H (5/21 - San Jose)
3.) Toshiaki Kawada & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Yuji Nagata & Takashi Iizuka (12/14/00 - Osaka)
4.) Minoru Tanaka vs. Takehiro Murahama (4/20 - Tokyo Korakuen Hall)
5.) Triple H vs. Steve Austin (2/25 - Las Vegas)
6.) Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho (1/21 – New Orleans)
7.) Rock vs. Steve Austin (4/1 – Houston)
8.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (12/23/00 – Tokyo)
9.) Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit (5/29 – Edmonton)
10.) Akira Hokuto vs. Meiko Satomura (4/29 – Kawasaki)
11.) Rock vs. Chris Jericho (10/21 – St. Louis)
12.) Keiji Muto vs. Yuji Nagata (8/12 – Tokyo)
13.) El Hijo del Santo & Negro Casas vs. Rey Bucanero & Ultimo Guerrero (11/2 – Mexico City)
14.) Momoe Nakanishi vs. Kumiko Maekawa (5/4 – Kawasaki)
15.) Edge & Christian vs. Dudleys vs. Hardys TLC (4/1 – Houston)
16.) Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle (8/19 – San Jose)
17.) Momoe Nakanishi vs. Kumiko Maekawa (10/24 – Tokyo)
18.) Keiji Muto vs Toshiaki Kawada (4/14 – Tokyo)
19.) Yuji Nagata vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (6/6 – Tokyo)
20.) Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Shinya Hashimoto & Yuji Nagata (3/2 – Tokyo)

2002
1.) Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle vs. Edge & Rey Mysterio (10/20 - Little Rock)
2.) Genichiro Tenryu vs. Satoshi Kojima (7/17 - Osaka)
3.) Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (8/25 - Madison Square Garden)
4.) Keiji Muto vs. Toshiaki Kawada (2/24 - Tokyo Nippon Budokan)
5.) American Dragon vs. Low Ki (3/30 - Philadelphia)
6.) Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama & Yuji Nagata (2/17 - Tokyo Nippon Budokan)
7.) Spanky vs. Low Ki vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Doug Williams (7/27 - Philadelphia)
8.) Naomichi Marufuji vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa (12/9/01 - Tokyo)
9.) Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle (9/22 - Los Angeles)
10.) Eddie Guerrero vs. Edge (9/24 - San Diego)
11.) Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Osamu Nishimura (6/5 – Osaka)
12.) Low Ki vs. American Dragon vs. Christopher Daniels (2/23 – Philadelphia)
13.) Hulk Hogan vs. Rock (3/17 – Toronto)
14.) Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Jushin Liger & Minoru Tanaka (4/7 – Tokyo)
15.) Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Mike Barton & Jim Steele (12/11/01 – Osaka)
16.) Manami Toyota vs. Kaoru Ito (2/24 – Yokohama)
17.) Kurt Angle vs. Edge (5/19 – Nashville)
18.) Yuji Nagata vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (5/2 – Tokyo)
19.) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (9/23 – Tokyo)
20.) Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Jushin Liger & Wataru Inoue (2/17 – Tokyo)
21.) Momoe Nakanishi vs. Kumiko Maekawa (2/24 – Yokohama)
22.) Low Ki vs. AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn ladder match (8/21 – Nashville)

2003
1.) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (3/1 – Tokyo)
2.) Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (1/19 – Boston)
3.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Yoshinobu Kanemuru& Makoto Hashi (9/12 – Tokyo)
4.) Chris Jerchio vs. Shawn Michaels (3/30 – Seattle)
5.) Bryan Danielson vs. Paul London (4/12 – Philly)
6.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Jushin Liger & Takehiro Murahama (7/16 – Osaka)
7.) Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (3/30 – Seattle)
8.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Yuji Nagata (9/12 – Tokyo)
9.) Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Jun Akiyama (8/17 – Tokyo)
10.) Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (9/16 – Raleigh)
11.) Juventud Guerrera vs. Chris Sabin (8/27 – Nashville)
12.) Chris Harris & James Storm vs. Christopher Daniels & Elix Skipper (6/25 – Nashville)
13.) Low Ki vs. AJ Styles (1/5 – Tokyo)
14.) Homicide vs. Steve Corino (8/16 – Fairfield, CT)
15.) Randy Orton & Chris Jericho & Christian & Scott Steiner & Mark Henry vs. Shawn Michaels & Rob Van Dam & Dudleys & Booker T (11/16 – Dallas)

2004
1.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (7/10 – Tokyo Dome)
2.) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (3/14 –Madison Square Garden)
3.) Samoa Joe vs. C.M. Punk (10/16 – Chicago Ridge)
4.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (4/25 – Tokyo)
5.) Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley (4/18 – Edmonton)
6.) Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar (2/15 – San Francisco)
7.) Samoa Joe vs. C.M. Punk (6/12 – Dayton)
8.) Kensuke Sasaki vs. Yoshihiro Takyama (8/8 – Osaka)
9.) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels (12/30/03 – San Antonio)
10.) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (4/18 – Edmonton)
11.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa (4/25 – Tokyo)
12.) Kensuke Sasaki vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (11/3 – Tokyo)

2005
1.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Samoa Joe 10/1 New York
2.) Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels 4/3 Los Angeles
3.) Kenta Kobashi vs. Kensuke Sasaki 7/18 Tokyo Dome
4.) Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles 9/11 Orlando
5.) Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiosaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima 11/5 Budokan Hall
6.) AMW vs. XXX 12/5-04 Orlando
7.) Satoshi Kojima vs. Toshiaki Kawada 2/16 Tokyo Gym
8.) Mistico vs. Ultimo Guerrero 2/15 Arena Mexico
9.) AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels 2/13 Orlando
10.) KENTA vs. SUWA 9/18 Budokan Hall
11.) Mistico vs. Perro Aguayo Jr. 5/13 Arena Mexico
12.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Takashi Sugiura 6/5 Sapporo
13.) Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiozaki vs. Jun Akiyama & Doug Williams 11/12 Coventry, England
14.) KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Ikuto Hidaka & Minoru Fujita 5/8 Tokyo Differ Ariake
15.) KENTA vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru 7/18 Tokyo Dome
16.) Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe 12/26/04 Philadelphia

2006
1.) Do Fixer vs Blood Gen. (ROH 3/31/06)
2.) KENTA vs Marufuji (NOAH 10/29/06)
3.) Bryan Danielson vs KENTA (ROH 9/16/06)
4.) Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuiness (ROH 8/12/06)
5.) Samoa Joe vs AJ Styles (TNA 12/11/05)
6.) KENTA vs Low Ki (ROH 12/17/05)
7.) Chris Benoit vs Finlay (WWE 5/21/06)
8.) Cage of Death: CZW vs ROH (ROH/CZW 7/15/06)
9.) Rikio/Morishima vs KENTA/Marufuji (NOAH 7/6/06)
10.) Kurt Angle vs The Undertaker (WWE 2/19/06)
11.) Averno & Mephisto vs. El Hijo del Santo & Negro Casas 12/16/05 Mexico City
12.) Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels
13.) Ikuto Hidaka & Minoru Fujita vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Takashi Sugiura (3/5 Tokyo, NOAH Budokan)
14.) Bryan Danielson vs. Roderick Strong 3/31 Chicago Ridge (ROH)
15.) Edge vs. Mick Foley 4/2 Chicago (WWE WM22)
16.) Chris Hero & Super Dragon & Necro Butcher vs. Samoa Joe & Adam Pearce & B.J. Whitmer 4/22 Philadelphia
17.) Edge vs. John Cena 9/17 Toronto
18.) Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe 11/19 Orlando

2007
1. Bryan Danielson Vs. Takeshi Morishima (8/25/07)
2. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori Vs. Kota Ibushi & Naomichi marufuji (7/15/07)
3. Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuiness (6/9/07)
4. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels (4/23/07) (74)
5. John Cena Vs. Umaga (1/28/07) (46)
6. Briscoes Vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (9/15/07)
7. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels Vs. Edge Vs. Randy Orton (4/29/07)
8. Cima, Shingo Takagi & Susuma Yokosuka Vs. Dragon Kid, Ryo Saito & Masaaki Mochizuki (3/31/07)
9. Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Hirooki Goto (11/11/07)
10. Hiroshi Tanahasi Vs. Yuji Nagata (4/13/07)
11. Bryan Danielson Vs. Takeshi Morishima (9/15/07)
12. Undertaker Vs. Batista (4/1/07)
13. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels (4/1/07)
14. BJ Whitmer Vs. Jimmy Jacobs (3/31/07)
15. Briscoes Vs. Ricky marvin & Kotaro Suzuki (1/21/07)
16. Takeshi Morishima Vs. Claudio Castragnoli (8/10/07)
17. Chris Harris Vs. James Storm (5/13/07)
18. Briscoes Vs. Claudio Castragnoli & Matt Sydal (5/12/07)
19. Kurt Angle Vs. Samoa Joe (12/10/06)

2008
1. SHAWN MICHAELS VS. CHRIS JERICHO 10/5 PORTLAND
2. Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels 3/30 Orlando
3. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe 4/13 Lowell
4. Blue Panther vs. Villano V 9/19 Mexico City
5. Kenta Kobashi & Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama 12/2/07 Tokyo
6. Nigel McGuinness vs. Austin Aries 12/29/07 New York
7. Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson 2/23 New York
8. Undertaker vs. Edge 3/30 Orlando
9. Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. KENTA & Kota Ibushi 9/14 Tokyo
10. Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino & Genki Horiguchi vs. Cima & Ryo Saito & Dragon Kid 3/29 Orlando
11. KENTA vs. Naomichi Marufuji 10/25
12. Undertaker vs Edge 8/17 Indianapolis
13. Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black 3/16 Philadelphia
14. Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black 7/26 Detroit
15. Naomichi Marufuji vs. Shuji Kondo 11/3 Tokyo
16. Kenta Kobashi & KENTA vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima 6/14 Tokyo
17. Volador Jr. & Sagrado & La Sombra vs. El Hijo del Fantasma & La Mascara & Valiente 4/30 Mexico City
18. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Kotaro Suzuki 9/6 Tokyo
19. Kurt Angle vs. A.J. Styles 8/10 Trenton
20. HHH vs. Jeff Hardy 10/5 Portland
21. Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Masato Yoshino & Naruki Doi 3/28 Orlando
22. Kurt Angle vs. Yuji Nagata 1/4 Tokyo
23. Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Tyler Black & Jimmy Jacobs 9/19 Boston
24. Takeshi Morishima vs. Naomichi Marufuji 12/2/07 Tokyo

2009
1. UNDERTAKER VS. SHAWN MICHAELS 4/5 HOUSTON
2. Davey Richards vs. Shingo Takagi 9/6 Chicago
3. KENTA vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima 3/1 Tokyo
4. Bryan Danielson vs. Naruki Doi 9/6 Chicago
5. KENTA & Go Shiozaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima 6/22 Tokyo
6. Davey Richards vs. KENTA 4/3 Houston
7. Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho 6/28 Sacramento
8. Bryan Danielson vs. Davey Richards 9/25 Boston
9. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels vs. A.J. Styles 11/15 Orlando
10. KENTA vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima 2/11 Tokyo
11. Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima 12/27/08 New York
12. Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe 11/15 Orlando
13. John Cena vs. Randy Orton 9/13 Montreal
14. C.M. Punk vs. Jeff Hardy 8/25 Phoenix
15. Rey Mysterio vs. John Morrison 9/1 Cleveland

http://floydscabana.blogspot.com/2009/08/f...f-all-time.html

Floyd’s Rant for Wrestlemania XXV

Hell yeah WM back in Texas! Houston's less than an hour away but I'm such a poor bastard I didn't go. Should've at least gone to ROH. All well I'm a dumbass. :-( Poor Tazz got the ax right before this show. Released or fired? I doubt he'd choose losing a Wrestlemania paycheck. So were stuck with the JR/Lawler/Cole trifecta.


1. Money-In-The-Bank Ladder Match V: (Kane Vs. Mark Henry Vs. Shelton Benjamin Vs. C.M. Punk Vs. MVP Vs. Kofi Kingston Vs. Fit Finlay Vs. Christian) - Should be a hot opener. Once again the winner gets a shot at a World title whenever he wants. Uh-oh Spanish announcers are here, I’d hate to be sitting at that table tonight. They talk about MVP’s 20 match losing streak, didn’t Kobashi lose like 80 straight? So I wouldn't worry. JR compares Finlay to the Quiet Man, I’d love to see John Wayne in a 50's ladder match. After tossing everyone around like garbage luchadores Kane and Henry square off early. Only 20 seconds in and Cole gets his stupid "Controlled Frenzy" line in. Everyone does dives including a dive bomb by Shelton who nearly kills himself:

<- Shelton's gonna get an earful from his momma.

Due to peer pressure, even fatty Mark Henry tries a dive too but gets caught by Finlay. Hornswoggle brings in a step ladder and uses Henry as a platform for the tadpole splash!. Camera misses a kick-ass rolling senton onto the ladder by Finlay on Punk. Lotsa cool moves by Kofi. Christian hits an unprettier off the ladder. Shelton powerbomb/throws MVP to the outside! Wow his neck barely missed the guardrail. Christian and Shelton battle on the top, with Benjamin taking a nasty fall to the outside. Now Punk and Christian fight at the top. Crowd’s for Christian. Christian just about wins it all, but Kane chokeslams him off. Punk quickly recovers and gets the briefcase! Cool opener. Kingston was the man for the first half, Benjamin the second. Punk wins for the 2nd time in a row. ***1/2

Kid Rock plays. Someone on the WWE payroll must have a hard-on for Kid Rock the last few years. Linda McMahon? On one hand he's pretty good here. On the other he plays on and on and on for about 10 minutes which is pretty much an average match length.

2. 25 Women's Battle Royal - No entrance so Fuck trying to figure out the 25 participants. Apparently Sunny was hidden somewhere in there. I did see Molly Holly and I *think* Gail Kim. Pretty much a blur of diva bimbos except for one cutie who wins it all. It's Santina, Santino's twin sister! She cries with emotion upon winning Ms. Wrestlemania, then gives the coolest dance for the crowd. And the crowd loves it! Great start for that young talent. JR: "She must've competed in the Olympics for Eastern Europe in the 60's". DUD

3. Chris Jericho Vs. Ricky Steamboat, Jimmy Snuka & Roddy Piper - Whoa is that Frank Shamrock next to Mickey Rourke? Flair comes out with the legends. For some reason Steamboat half baldness reminds me of Verne Gagne. Looks like it's an elimination match, meaning Jericho needs to defeat all three superstars. Piper demands to start the match. Holy crap Piper is a house of fire! He tries a bodypress then a sunset flip for 2! Kudos to Piper and his two artificial hips (as well as all his recent health problems) going all out. 55 year Steamboat with a chop off the top rope! JR gets to mark out with the Armdragon!!!! Snuka’s the first to go, submitting to the Walls of Jericho. Shining Wizard gets rid of Piper. Steamboat's the last man left and Flair's rooting for him from ringside. Steamboat with a crossbody off the top for a nearfall! With only a few minutes to work with, somehow Steamboat gets the fans behind him to break out of a headlock. Steamboat skins the cat (But the camera missed it!) Steamboat's with a slingshot plancha to the outside! Steamboat hits another chop off he top. Can he win it all? Jericho hits the bulldog but misses the Lionsault. Powerslam gets another close win for Steamboat. Steamboat with an awesome counter to the walls gets a 2.9, crowd thought that was it. Jericho hits the code breaker and gets the win. Steamboat was great. Flair's pissed and rushes the ring. He gets some chops in but ultimately becomes victim #4 to the legend killer. Nasty codebreaker to Flair’s face. Jericho kicks Flair out like garbage and stands tall in his ring. He calls out Mickey Rourke (who looks like a 60 year old Jeff Hardy). Jump those rails Shamrock! Finally after a half an hour of stalling Rourke comes in and knocks Jericho out with one punch. Flair and Rourke celebrate and embrace like the life-long friends they are. After defeating four legends Jericho jobs to the power of the punch. They should've gotten Sean Penn. Jericho/Steamboat ruled though. **1/2

4. Matt Hardy Vs. Jeff Hardy – Problem here is I just don’t see Matt as strong a heel to pull this off. Plus this feud needed a few more months to simmer. This is a no-DQ match. It’s insinuated that Matt started the fire that burned Jeff’s house and dog. Classy. JR says how the Hardys grew up in Charlotte watching WWF religiously. If memory serve I believe that indy Crockett promotion had small present there too. Jeff breaks the ice by hitting Matt with a WM poster, who put that under the ring? Matt counters Jeff’s whisper-in-the-wind mid-air with a chairshot! Matt goes hunting and finds a vacuum cleaner under the ring to waffle Jeff with. My vendetta match would go about the same as this, except my brother would make snide remarks after every beatdown. Matt hits a side effect on a chair! Matt bends Jeff like he was Manami Toyota on the ringpost. Crowd murmurs as Matt gets a table out and sets it up. Matt goes for suplex but Jeff hits a twisting flying clothesline off the apron! Ouch for Jeff. Next up is crutches, then a trashcan. It’s the WWE Hardcore Division 1999. Swanton misses. Man the crowd isn’t into this. Matt signals for his own Swanton to show how's it done but Jeff catches him with a superplex! Jeff hits a chairshot and the crowd goes lukewarm!!!! Jeff puts Matt onto the table outside, then sets up another table on top of that. He hits a top rope splash through both tables and Matt! Damn Jeff nearly sailed right over that. They roll in and Jeff gets a 2 count. Jeff pulls out a huge-ass ladder from under the ring, how do they fit so much stuff down there? Jeff tries his trademark leapfrog off a tall ass ladder legdrop but misses! Matt jams Jeff’s head through a chair and hits a Twist of Fate! Matt beats his brother clean! ***

Video game commercial. They show HHH bodyslamming Andre of course.

5. INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP: JBL Vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. - Champ JBL cuts a kickass promo saying your about to see the most dominate victory in WM history and how he's our idol. Rey comes out like the Joker. Why does Rey ALWAYS have to fight bigger dudes? Couldn’t they have given us a 10 minutes Rey/Psychosis match? JBL kicks Rey right in da face before the bell. Match officially starts and before you can say Mamajuana, Rey pins JBL with a splash off he top. New I-C Champ! I expect him to lost to Mark Henry with a month. JBL ‘s shocked and embarrassed. JBL gets the mic and for the first time in his life is at a loss for words. He finally says. “I….I……. … I-Quit!!!” and leaves the ring! DUD

6. Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker – HBK descends from a mini-elevator, Undertaker ascends from the floor. This is gonna be great. HBK avoids punches, feints moves and fires back chops when he can. Finally Undertaker catches HBK in the corner with punches. HBK cleverly fakes an injury to get back on top. Taker comes back with a press slam, then goes old school. Taker goes for a corner knee in the face, but HBK moves and Taker’s leg is hurt! HBK goes for a sharpshoorter (ala Bret), can’t get it, so he clamps on a Figure Four (ala Flair!). Taker gets out and goes back on the deadman offense with corner clotheslines then a snake eyes/big boot. Legdrop gets a 2 count. Taker signals for the early chokeslam win but HBK counters with the crossface! Taker's in trouble but finally gets out with a sidewalk slam. Lots of counters results in the Undertaker's "Hells Gate" MMA triangle choke. HBK barely makes the rope for the break. Both guys are outside now. Taker goes for the apron legdrop but Shawn rolls out of the way. HBK hits a baseball slide then climbs to the top. He tries a twisting moonsault to the outside but misses and just SPLATS on the floor!!! Christ it was like he was a 20 year Cactus Jack or something. Man Shawn should NOT be taking bumps like that at his age. Speaking of bumps you shouldn’t be taking, Taker soars with his now trademark zombie plancha and SHOULD HAVE DIED:



He hits the camera man and how he didn’t end up in a wheelchair I'll never know. Man that was scary. HBK manages to get up and drag the ref back in. He gets the dazed ref to count. Could the streak end in a count out?!!! HBK prays and prays and bites his fingernails. Can HBK avenge his 98 Royal Rumble match? Finally Taker gets back in at the 9.9 count. Now I know they was no way Taker loses in a count out, but his dramatic selling getting back in was freaking awesome. Taker still fucked up though and the streaks in jeopardy. HBK goes for the sweet chin music but gets choked slammed instead! 1…2.… 2.9! Both get back up and this time HBK hits the sweet chin music! Another 2.9 count! More counters but Undertaker finally hits the Last ride for another close win. Looks like All-Japan is making a house call to Wrestlemania this year! After using two of his most devastating moves, Undertaker goes for Shawn’s own top rope elbow but misses! Shawn goes for a clothesline but misses and goes over the ropes. He hangs on and skins the cat, but falls right into he tombstone! Someone get the body bag it’s over! 1…2… 2.9999! That was cool. Taker is in disbelief but he drops the straps and signals it’s over. He goes for tombstone #2 but HBK counters into a DDT. HBK staggers up-top again and hits the elbow! He goes for sweet chin music #2nd and hits it! Taker somehow gets out at 2.999. Exhausted both guys get up and slug it out with everything they have left. Taker runs into a HBK boot. HBK goes for the moonsault but Taker catches him in midair for Tombstone #2!! 1,2,3. And that’s that. 17-0. ****1/2

Great match but I don't see the 5 stars every talking about. But then again, who cares about my opinion? It's what you think that counts! In fact in what's the funniest thing all year over at the F4W boards, Brian Alverez is getting yelled at in 1,000 threads for not giving it a perfect rating. Awesome.

7. SMACKDOWN WORLD TITLE: Edge Vs. John Cena Vs. Big Show - This is for the... Ummmm.. I dunno anymore. The two world title have been switched so many times I've given up. The belt's not important though. What IS important is whoever wins gets Vickie Guerrero's love.



OH NO! Vickie's hurt and in a wheelchair. Chavo rolls her down to ringside. Cena pulls an Eminem and has a whole clone army of Cena’s in his entrance. With the emerging cloning technology on the horizon, I imagine this being Stephanie McMahon's vision of the 2020 roster. You know since Howard Finkel got in the Hall of Fame and all, it would’be been cool to have him do the World title matches. Big Show quickly show his dominance with both Edge and Cena bouncing them around like pinballs. Edge tries to make a deal but Show slams him nutts first on the ring ropes! Show boots Edge out of the ring and works over Cena. Edge dropkicks the ringsteps into big shows knees, then Cena hits top rope legdrop thingy to the floor! Ouch. That could've been BAD for Cena. Back in the ring and FU attempt is countered into a downward spiral for 2. Edge gets dumped and Big Show hits a sidewalk slam on Cena for 2. Chavo earns his WM paycheck by getting Fu’ed on the floor! Big show gets tied in the ropes like ala Andre.

Cena hits the 5-knuckle shuffle. He goes for the FU but Vickie distracts him. Edge goes for the spear but hits Vickie instead! He's sleeping on the couch tonight. Double clothesline and both guys are down. Big Show finally wiggled his way free. Big Show chokeslams Edge out of the ring. Cena goes for the FU on Show but gets thumped on the head instead. Ha Cena just collapsed out of the ring like a rag doll. This whole match has been nothing but people getting dumped out of the ring. Show goes for a chokeslam outside but Edge counters into a DDT on the floor! Edge maneuvers the ring steps for something evil. Edge Stinger Splashes Big Show through the ringside barrier. Now it's just Cena Vs. Edge which is what this match should’ve have been all along. Edge signals for the spear, but Cena catches him into the STFU! They steal from WM 20 with Big Show preventing Edge from tapping. Show goes for the Vader top rope splash but misses. Edge and Cena suplexes Show then clotheslines him out. Cena picks up both guys for an FU but Edge squirms out. Show does gets FU'ed, then Cena Fu's Edge onto Show! Cena pins the Big show for the title! Edge wasn't pinned but loses the title! Rematch next PPV? ***

Hall of Fame time. Austin rides around the ring and gets maybe the biggest pop of the night. Way to make those new stars WWE!

TO THE BACK! Vince and Shane-O meet HHH on the way to the ring but don't follow. Looks like this is HHH fight to avenge Stephanie and the McMahon family name.

8. RAW WORLD TITLE: HHH Vs. Randy Orton – Orton comes out in a T-Shirt with “Stack on dimes” written on it. OK not really. HHH smashes a mirror with his sledgehammer to signify he's a different man for this match and that sledgehammers can break things. HHH attacks Orton and the crowd… ummmm, doesn’t care. Uh-oh, it's HHH/Jericho all over again. Seems if HHH gets DQ’ed he loses the title!. Whoa Orton hit the RKO right out of the gate! Orton goes for the punt but HHH hits the pedigree! Outside HHH splashes water on his face to revive. Back in and HHH risks a DQ with punches. Orton throws HHH into the steps outside. Man the crowd is DEAD. Wait looks like a count-out will give HHH the title too. The rules are all new to me. HHH makes it back in so Orton works the ribs. This is like an empty arena match. Crowd’s coming alive for Orton. No wait I think they’re trying to start the wave. Holy shit that AWESOME! They're so bored for a WM MAIN EVENT they're starting a wave. For gods sake someone get Stone Cold back out here. Or Steamboat. Orton senses they’re losing the crowd so he ups the excitement with a long headlock!

Cole hasn’t said anything for awhile, think his mic got messed up, so I should be enjoying this more. Back and forth punches. HHH with the knee based offense then hits a stinger splash. Watch those quads, Trips! Orton catches HHH coming of the top with a sweet dropkick. Both guys are down. Orton goes for the 50 yard field goal but HHH catches the leg. HHH almost willingly gives up his title to smash Orton with a TV monitor but decides not too. Orton backdrops HHH onto the announcer table. Orton his the Stephanie McMahon DDT on the floor. HHH is out! Remember if he can’t get back in, Orton's the new champ. HHH gets in at the 11 count. Not a typo. Orton is stunned and starts kicking in HHH's ribs. Ref gets bumped. RKO to HHH! Orton rolls out and gets the sledgehammer the Hardy's left under the ring. Run-in time? HHH’s punts Orton in the noggin coming back in!! Revenge! HHH illegally uses the sledgehammer while he ref is still down. Crowd boos that. Where is Legacy?!?! HHH hits the pedigree and retains the title! Revenge is his and he won it on his own. Match went just under an hour. I await CM Punk’s music but he never comes out. Instead WM ends with JR saying “And the Game plays on….” **


OK Wrestlemania. Taker/HBK was awesome, MITB really good and seeing Steamboat was fun. Everything else was just kinda there.

How about you. What did you think of the show?


WM 25 Grade:
Total star rating: 18.50
Total matches: 8
Show Average: **1/4

Ric Flair Vs. Jake Roberts (Mid-South - 11/24/85)


Match history:

Not much that I know about. Ric Flair was the perennial NWA World champ throughout the 80’s and he traveled from territory to defending the belt against all comers. Here he takes on the up and coming Jake the Snake Roberts in Mid-South.



The Match:

Jake's the clear fan favorite here. Before the match Flair makes fun of Jake’s trailer-park-trash hand-me-down outfit. What is this XPW? This is a NWA World title match goddamit, you gotta dress in style. Flair bends down to mock Jake’s ghetto pants he must’ve picked up from the Salvation Army's Wrestling gear donation box, when suddenly Jake DDT’s him! Ric Flair is out! And I mean OUT. This is all before the bell has sounded! Flair stayed on his back for a super long ass time, about 5 minutes, until he weakly and very gingerly rolls out. The sell job by Flair is just incredible. Flair’s obviously in no shape to wrestle so he says “I’m outta here baby” and makes for the dressing room. What a jype! The crowd is booing unmercifully. DUD

Wait! The ref says that Flair MUST defend the NWA World title. He gives him until the 20 count to return or else Jake is declared the winner! Huge pop for that. The ref starts to count and Flair barely makes it back in time.

Crowd’s hot now, chanting “DDT”. And with that move’s devastation already shown to the crowd, just one more DDT and Jake’s the new champ. Jake immediately goes for the DDT but Flair takes him down like it’s MMA. Flair scoots to the corner and begs for time. See just a few moments in and Robert’s has been established as a threat to winning the World title tonight. Man, Flair is the master. After a Flair flop, Jake goes for the DDT again but Flairs quickly drops to his belly. Jake works a facelock for a few 2 counts until Flair gets a ball-shot in and stuns him. Now Flair goes on the offense with his usual bag of tricks including a Low-Ki-lite foot stomp. Flairs works him over and hits the sleeper. Jake’s losing consciousness and he hasn’t even hit the bars yet!

Jake manages to get out but Flair's not done yet. Flair goes for his patented knee drop but Jake catches Flair’s knee in mid-move and clamps on his own Figure-Four leglock! Flair nearly gives up the World title by losing but then suddenly regaining consciousness right at 2.9 counts. Flair escapes and gets some near wins due to cheating then starts knocking Jake around with punches and chops. “DDT DDT DDT!” chant’s the Mid-South crowd. Flairs with more chops but suddenly Jake feel’s no pain! He even asks Flair to hit him with all he’s got. Now Jake starts in with the punches. It’s Drunken boxing, and Jake’s the Drunken master! Jake gets a sleeper, but Flair belly-to-back suplexes out. Flair goes top rope and of course gets slammed down. Jake hit a hits a running knee lift. He goes for another but Flair moves and Jake's knee hits the turnbuckle. Flair reverses a small package and uses the ropes for leverage to score the pin!

Flair is the man. He was the master at coming into a territory and putting the local guy over. Not satisfied by this shaky verdict, after the match Flair and Jake decide to have round 2. Then round 3. Then round 4, And so on until someone passes out from the alcohol. (17:43) ***3/4

Kerry Von Erich Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All-Japan – 5/22/84)

Match history:
Two weeks ago Kerry Von Erich stunned the world by defeating Rc Flair for the NWA World title. One week ago Jumbo Tsuruta lost the AWA World title to Rick Martel. For years Jumbo Tsuruta has been wrestling Ric Flair for the NWA World title, always coming close but never winning. More experienced than Von Erich, now Jumbo gets the chance to get another World title for Japan.

Fall #1:
Crowds hot right away. Tie up and a clean break from Von Erich. Stalemate to start. They spend the opening minutes testing each other out.. Von Erich tries to be cute with an arm-bar so Jumbo lifts him right over his head into a fireman’s carry and gently places him sitting down on the turnbuckle and walks away. Sign of respect or disrespect? Dory Funk Jr. quantum leaps in Jumbo’s body and brings the pain with the Texas European uppercups. He channels Dory again with a double arm suplex attempt to BIG POP! Kerry’s stunned!

Kerry comes back with a Von Erich claw attempt!! Jumbo protects his head for all he’s worth so Kerry instead clamps in on Jumbo’s mid-section. Kerry picks up Jumbo and this time it’s him gently placing Jumbo on the turnbuckle, but he adds a shove to Jumbo’s chest while backing away. Tempers are flaring! Tie-up in the ropes, Kerry gives a clean break, but Jumbo gives a return shove! It’s on now! Jumbo with the big knee and Kerry tumbles like a drunk to the outside. Kerry gets a sunset flip back in for a 2 count. A Tentative tie up but it’s all a sham cause Jumbo stuns Kerry with an enzugiri and gets the 3 count!!!!!

Fall #2:
Only one more fall and Jumbo’s the champ! Jumbo smells blood and lays in punches. Actually he really does smell blood cause Von Erich’s busted open! The NWA World title’s at stake! If Kerry comes back to the states without the title he may be getting a visit from Harley Race with some pliers and a blow torch. Kerry comes back with punches and kneesdrops but he’s staggering around having trouble standing (nothing new for him). Kerry gets a sleeper on Jumbo! Jumbo nearly goes out but the power of the Puro fans gives him the strength to get out.

Jumbo goes all monkey-ape-crazy on Von Erich in the corner, the ref has to pull him back. Jumbo gets a crazy close nearfall and nearly wins the title. Both guys run off the ropes and knock heads. The ref begins the count but they both make it up. Jumbo with the piledriver! Another close 2 count, the crowd senses victory. Kerry with a discus punch. CLAW!!!!!!!!!! IRON CLAW!!!! This time even the fans shouts aren’t enough, Jumbo fights but to no avail. Kerry pins an unconscious Jumbo for the 2nd fall. But Kerry refuses to release the hold! The ref manages to pry him off before a riot breaks out.

Fall #3:
Jumbo’s posse try to regroup him but Jumbo on dream street. Last fall for the title. Kerry goes for the claw again right away but Jumbo fights it. Jumbo gets a knee and starts working on Kerry’s hand! Jumbo keeps up on the hands for a few minutes including stomps and posting it on the outside. Kerry in incredible pain, he won’t be opening up pickle jars anytime soon. If his iron Claw is nullified, what is Kerry’s plan B? Jumbo with a Fujiwara armbar. Kerry gets out and hits a pile driver but misses a reverse elbow drop off the top rope, injuring his hand further! Jumbo knee #3! Jumbo clamps on a Boston crab. Kerry gets out and they exchange a series of near-falls like their were Lynn vs. RVD or something. Both guys tumble out. They keep each other from reentering the ring. Belly to back suplex onto the concrete floor by Jumbo! Jumbo makes it back in! Jumbo raises his hand up in triumph but no! They both didn’t make it back in, a double count out. Henceforth, still your NWA World champ, Kerry Von Erich! Awesome match. (27:38) ****3/4

I've been watching alot of 80's matches lately and went ahead and made my own personal Top 100. I know some of picks may be weird so feel free to comment on them, or even better, other matches that I haven't seen and you think should be in there. Here it is:

Floyd's Top 100 matches of the 80's

I'd like to add these matches would've made my list but my copies were too clipped to rate. I recommend to check them out too!:

Tiger Mask I Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (New Japan - 11/4/82)
Tiger Mask I Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (New Japan - 6/2/83)
Owen Hart Vs. Keiichi Yamada (NJ - 6/10/88 )
Owen Hart Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (NJ - 6/24/88 )

**********************************************

100. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Rockers (WWF - 2/16/89) - Short but exciting match from SNME. Both teams were relatively new to the WWF and introduced themselves to the TV audience in a fun fast-paced match.

99. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (New Japan - 2/5/87) - Koshinaka was defending the IWGP Jr. title against the former champ here. These guys had an awesome feud throughout the 80's in New Japan's Jr. division. Known as the "Broken fingers" match.

98. Ric Flair & Barry Windham Vs. The Midnight Express (NWA - 12/7/88 ) - Kind of like Michael Jordan was famous for his dunks and drives to the basket but everyone forgot his near perfect jump shooting, everyone forgets what an awesome tag team wrestler Flair is. The NWA World champ teams up with U.S. champ Windham to take on the Midnight Express in a dream match up at the Clash of Champions IV.

97. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Mil Mascaras (All Japan - 7/30/82) - Tsuruta defends the NWA United National Championship against Mascaras. Of all the early 80's matches I saw on All-Japan Classics, this one stood out for some reason. I dunno I guess cause I didn't expect a bloody brawl from these two. They start off all nice-like with some scientific mat wrestling but when that goes nowhere they head to the floor and start brawling like Brody Vs. Abdullah. It gets so bad that the ref stops the match and trainees come out of the woodwork to get them apart, but a bloody Tsuruta calls on the fans support so they restart the match.

96. Randy Savage Vs. Hulk Hogan (WWF - 4/1/89) - Savage was always a jealous psycho. But after paranoia gripped him with the thought of Hogan's "lusting" of Elizabeth and his title, Savage snapped and attacked his former friend. Now they settle it in the ring in a long awaited match for the WWF World Championship at Wrestlemania V. It's Jesse Ventura's classic commentary that knocked this match into my Top 100.

95. Jaguar Yokota Vs. La Galacta (AJW Hair vs. Mask - 5/7/83) - Great feud in the 80's from these two. This was one of their first matches with La Galacta putting up her mask Vs. Yokota's hair. La Galacta had lots of help from her posse, can Yokota win on her own?

94. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 4/18/85) - Brody was a huge name in All-Japan but made the jump to New Japan and immediately started this dream match up against the Japanese legend. Playing by his dirty American rules, Brody injures Inoki's arm right before the match. Crowd was red hot for this one.

93. Ric Flair Vs. Rick Martel (All Japan - 10/21/85) - I remember reading about all those cool "unification" matches that happened in the old Apter mags, but never thought I'd see any, but years later I got to see this one. AWA World Champion Martel takes on NWA World Champ Flair in a huge match set in neutral Japan. This is title Vs. title, so whoever wins gets it all!

92. Team New Japan (Seiji Sakaguchi, Tatsumi Fujinami, Keiichi Yamada (Jushin Liger), Kengo Kimura & Shiro Koshinaka) Vs. Team UWF (Akira Maeda, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Osamu Kido, Nobuhiko Takada & Kazuo Yamazaki) (New Japan - 5/1/86) - The New Japan Vs. UWF promotional feud had alot of great Elimination matches. This one was a gauntlet type elimination match meaning it starts as a one-on-one singles match. Then whoever loses that leaves and the next guy on his team comes to the ring to face the winner. This continues until one team in completely eliminated. This resulted in a 70 minute marathon match with some fresh matchups, and the one-on-one matches helped showcase the UWF guys to the New Japan crowd. The highlight of the match was a dramatic finish involving Fujinami which sets up one of the best matches of the 80's one month later.

91. Ricky Steamboat Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 2/23/84) - This match showcased their great technical skills but also added a fast pace and exciting ending sequence. This was for the vacated NWA United National Championship (After former champ David Von Erich died). Which Hemisphere Gets the title?

*****************************

90. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Bob Backlund (UWF - 12/22/88 ) - UWF got a big foreign name in Bob Backlund, who was still remembered in Japan for his classic matches against Inoki in the late 70's. Backlund seems stunned and out of his element in the early goings of the match getting the crap kicked out of him, but manages to come back with his scientific and amateur wrestling skills.

89. The Crush Gals (Lioness Asuka & Chigusa Nagayo) Vs. Jaguar Yokota & Devil Masami (AJW - 6/28/84) - Exciting dream match-up from four of the more popular wrestlers in All Japan Women's.

88. Ted DiBiase & Stan Hansen Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/12/85) - It's the last day and both teams were so close in points that the winner of this match would win the annual tournament. Once again it was Japan Vs. USA.

87. Bob Backlund Vs. Adrian Adonis (WWF - 1/18/82) - Hard fought 40 minute match with Backlund getting bloodied at the end but making a great comeback with the fans help.

86. Riki Choshu, Animal Hamaguchi & Yoshiaki Yatsu Vs. Akira Maeda, Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura (NJ - 12/8/83) - Great 6-man tag with Choshu's Ishingun Army clashing against his 1983 nemesis Tatsumi Fujinami & the Inoki gang. A real feel of hatred in this match and the fans picked up on it.

85. Terry Funk & Dory Funk Jr. Vs. Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/13/82) - While the 81 RWTL finals is considered the classic, I like the 82 one better. Stan Hansen caused the Funks the lose the 81 finals. Their feud would kept going throughout the year finally culminating in this great match.

84. The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask I (NJ - 4/23/81) - Considered the weaker of their series, I really like the debut here of Tiger Mask with Dynamite Kid bewildered at all the incredible moves Tiger Mask was throwing at him. The whole DK/TM series was awesome and the moves used here in their first match set the stage for their future bouts.

83. Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka & Keiji Muto (New Japan - 3/20/87) - This was for the vacated IWGP World Tag Team titles. Maeda & Takada represented UWF while Koshinaka & Muto New Japan. Exciting match and a clash of styles with the UWF guys doing their strikes/submissions thing and the New Japan guys going new school with quicker, flashier moves

82. Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - 8/29/88 ) - This was the main event of the Bruiser Brody Memorial card. The Tsuruta/Tenryu feud was heating up and both teams didn't want to be the ones to lose this one.

81. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Hiro Hase (NJ - 3/11/88 ) - Olympian Hase made a huge splash right out of the gate, winning the IWGP Jr. title in his first year. Here he has to prove it wasn't a fluke defending it against ex champ Takada. Both guys had a double countout when they brawled on the outside in the Top of the Super Juniors tournament a month earlier, so this match should prove who's the better wrestler.

*****************************

80. Footloose (Toshiaki Kawada & Ricky Fuyuki) Vs. The Can-Am Express (Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat) (All Japan - 6/5/89) - Fast and exciting tag team match featuring the future talent of All-Japan. Kawada & Fuyuki were defending the All Asia Tag Team titles here.

79. The Sekigun Army (Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Nobuhiko Takada, Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kengo Kimura)
Vs. The Ishingun Army (Riki Choshu, Yoshiaki Yatsu, Animal Hamaguchi, Isamu Teranishi & Kuniaki Kobayashi) (New Japan - 4/19/84) - Yup another elimination match. Once again it's a gauntlet match featuring one-on-one matchups. Match went almost 90 minutes with (I'm not making this up) a super hot crowd throughout. The big feature match up are leaders Inoki and Choshu.

78. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Hart Foundation (WWF - 8/28/89) - The Brainbusters stunned the world, ending Demolition's year-and-a-half reign as WWF Tag champs. The titles are not on the line here as the contract was drawn up before the switch, but a Hart Foundation win would give them a shot in the future.

77. Team New Japan (Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura & Umanosuke Ueda & Kantaro Hoshino) Vs. Team UWF (Akira Maeda, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Osamu Kido, Nobuhiko Takada & Kazuo Yamazaki) (New Japan - 3/26/86) - This was the inaugural UWF Vs. New Japan elimination match and many people feel is the best of the bunch. It's a Survival Series type match where when your eliminated your team continues on without you. Inoki's looking for revenge against Maeda's cheap shots after his match against Fujiwara. The usually docile Japanese crowd may have been the hottest ever. The crowd was so insane the building looked like it was shaking. Which promotion's cuisine will reign supreme?

76. The Cobra Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (New Japan - 8/2/84) - Short match but super high paced. The Cobra attacks Kobayashi right away and both guys start trading big moves and end up brawling on the outside.

75. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 9/16/86) - One of the last matches in their long running feud, this match went the full hour with Brody going soft and trying to prove he's more than a brawler, keeping up with Inoki's old school 70's style.

74. Roddy Piper Vs. Greg Valentine (NWA Dog Collar match - 11/24/83) - Although he was cautioned not to wrestler after his ear injury, Piper seeks revenge against Valentine at Starrcade 83. A bloody and dangerous match where both guys are connected to each other by a metal chain around their neck.

73. Riki Choshu Vs. Killer Khan (All Japan - 7/31/86) - Both guys had a hard hitting match and a surprisingly dramatic finish with both guys showing their toughness.

72. Andre the Giant Vs. Stan Hansen (New Japan - 9/23/81) - Big match up (literally) with Hansen and the Giant brawling to a molten hot crowd.

71. Tiger Mask II Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (All Japan - 6/12/85) - Kobayashi had a famous feud against Tiger Mask I in New Japan. Here he's in All Japan and him and Tiger Mask II continue the feud in a great match with some of the best aerial stuff Misawa ever tried under the hood.

*****************************

70. Bob Backlund Vs. Sgt Slaughter (WWF Cage - 3/21/81) - Awesome escape-rules cage match where Backlund defends the WWF World title. At first it seems Backlund is the one whose in trouble, but instead it's Slaughter whose getting bounced around and is trying to escape Backund's fury.

69. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (New Japan - 8/5/86) - My favorite of their series. As the first ever IWGP Jr. champ, Koshinaka wants to win it back from UWF's Takada.

68. Dynamite Kid Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 2/15/80) - Fujinami defends the WWF Jr. Championship against up-and-comer The Dynamite Kid. Two of the pillar stones to New Japan's emerging Jr. division.

67. Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (NWA - 7/23/89) - After months of career-threatening injuries, Flair finally gets his chance for revenge against the wild Terry Funk at the Great American Bash.

66. Antonio Inoki Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 9/19/85) - Inoki and his protege Fujinami kick it old school in a scientific showcase. In fact this was called the "Basic of New Japan" match which I guess meant no face paint or flaming ladders in barbed-wire. Winner gets Karl Gotch's belt, Lou Thesz is the special referee.

65. Jushin Liger Vs. Naoki Sano (New Japan - 7/13/89) - Some insane spots here like Liger doing a top rope senton onto Sano ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR. Both guys couldn't continue and it was ruled a draw but their feud was only just beginning.

64. Pat Patterson Vs. Sgt. Slaughter (WWF - 4/21/81) - This was a no-DQ Alleyfight where Slaughter got his head rammed into the ringpost and bleed so bad they had to stop it. Think about how much blood was needed for them to stop a No-DQ Alleyfight!

63. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 10/28/88 ) - Their feud keeps going in this main event matchup. Tenryu gets DQ'ed for not listening to the ref and continues beating up Tsuruta in the corner only adding more fuel to the fire in future matches.

62. Sangre Chicana Vs. MS-1 (EMLL 2/3 Falls Hair Vs. Hair - 9/23/83) - MS-1 thinks outside the box, ambushing Chicana on his way to the ring and beating the crap out of him to win (and lose) the first falls. Now Chicana is practically dead and all MS-1 has to do is win the 3rd fall. By the end of the match the ring was covered in crimson from both men in one of the bloodiest matches of the decade.

61. Ric Flair Vs. Butch Reed (Mid-South - 8/10/85) - NWA World champ Flair travels down to the Superdome to take on Butch Reed. Tremendous near hour long match with Reed being inches from winning the title.

*****************************

60. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers Vs. The Midnight Rockers (AWA - 9/2/86) - One of the hottest AWA feuds in the 80's, Rose & Summers defended the AWA World tag titles once again and by the end of the match all four guys were bleeding all over the ring. The Rockers refused to lose this night.

59. Dick Murdoch Vs. Butch Reed (Mid-South - 9/22/85) - Both guys were fan favorites so it started as a friendly but competitive match over Murdoch's North American Championship. 60 minutes later both guys are slugging it out and people are trying to hold them apart. Anyone who need proof of what's the big deal about Murdoch needs the watch this match. In fact, all heels need to watch his performance in this match.

58. Lioness Asuka & Chigusa Nagayo Vs. Jumping Bomb Angels (AJW 2/3 Falls - 3/20/86) - The Crush gals are defending the WWWA Tag Titles. Super fast paced tag team match where there was constant action throughout. The fans didn't know who to cheer so they cheered for both.

57. Lex Luger Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 7/23/89) - After being sick of all the fans cheering for Steamboat him rather than him, U.S. champ Luger turned on him. This was scheduled as a No-DQ grudge match but right before the bell Luger refused to wrestle unless it's changed to a regular match.

56. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan - 2/3 Falls - 10/9/81) - Two of the best in the world, these guys always had classics matches against each other. Flair defends his NWA World title in a great 2/3 Falls match on Tsuruta's home turf.

55. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Kazuo Yamazaki (UWF - 8/13/88 ) - One of my favorite UWF matches. Takada and Yamazaki have some of the fastest and stiffiest kicks ever seen in a wrestling ring and they go all out in this match.

54. The British Bulldogs Vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake (WWF - 4/7/86) - After months of chasing the titles, the Bulldogs get their big match up at Wrestlemania II, this time with an outside referee to keep the Dream Team from their usual cheating ways.

53. Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch Vs. Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami (NJ - 12/5/84) - The MSG finals of 1984 featured the rulebreaking WWF duo against the fan favorites Inoki & Fujinami. Murdoch & Adonis unload their bag of tag team chicanery but the hometown Japanese stars wouldn't stay down for the 3 count.

52. Tiger Mask I Vs. Black Tiger (New Japan - 5/26/82) - Black Tiger was Mark "Rollerball" Rocco of the British World of Sports fame. Here he plays the Anti-Tiger and keeps up with Sayama's technical and aerial skills.

51. Jaguar Yokota Vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW - 8/22/85) - Considered by many the greatest Women's match of the 80's, Yokota defends the WWWA World Heavyweight Championship against Asuka.

*****************************

50. Dynamite Kid Vs. The Cobra Vs. Davey Boy Smith (New Japan - WWF Jr. tournament - 2/7/84) - Actually this was a 3 match round-robin tournament, the guy with the most wins gets the vacated WWF Jr. title. There's no pause in between as the winner has to fight the next guy right after. All 3 matches were great.

49. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (St. Louis - 1/25/85) - Great match where Flair defends the NWA World title to a hot St. Louis crowd.

48. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 10/11/89) - This was different from their other fights cause it was a brawl all up and down the ring. Probably the hottest match of theirs because of the hatred and fire from each other.

47. El Hjio del Santo Vs. Negro Casas (EMLL Mask Vs. Hair 2/3 Falls - 7/18/87) - El Hijo Del Santo puts on his mask on the line (and his father's reputation) for a chance to humiliate Casas. Casas gets the first fall on a quick pin stunning the crowd. Now El Hijo Del Santo has to pull it together to get the win.

46. Jerry Lawler Vs. Bill Dundee (Memphis - No-DQ - Title/Loser-Leaves-Town Vs. Hair(s) - 12/30/85) - Not only does Bill Dundee put his hair on the line, but his wife's too! Lawler is coming into this match blinded in one eye after a heinous attack earlier on. But you can never count out Lawler's Memphis super hero skills.

45. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Akira Maeda (UWF - 11/10/88 ) - My pick for the best UWF match of the 80's. Maeda takes the early advantage, continuously getting the better of the younger Takada. Just when it seems it's over Takada starts to make a dramatic comeback with the fans cheering him on. They also made excellent use here of UWF's newer rules (Like limited knockdowns and rope breaks).

44. Ric Flair Vs. Lex Luger (NWA - 12/26/88 ) - After Luger lost their big title match due to a trickle of blood, this is the Starrcade rematch. Typically awesome Flair match that has Luger's fired up not to miss his 2nd chance.

43. Jushin Liger Vs. Naoki Sano (New Japan - 8/10/89) - Tremendous match to close the decade out as Sano goes for the IWGP Jr. title.

42. The Midnight Express Vs. The Fantastics (NWA - 4/26/88 ) - The Fantastics get another shot at the U.S. Tag titles in a great 40 minute match.

41. Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Terry & Dory Funk Jr. (All-Japan RWTL finals - 12/11/80) - 45 minute RWTL finals featuring some of the biggest names from the 70's for All-Japan. Not as slow a match as you'd think with plenty of action going on.

*****************************

40. Ricky Morton & Eddie Gilbert Vs. Masa Fuchi & Atsushi Onita (Memphis Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl - 2/14/81) - There was a match, but the reason this is on the list is what happened afterward. All 4 guys brawled throughout the concession stand breaking mustard jars and
planks over their heads, bleeding all over the floor. A promoter tried to break it up and got beat up, so his mark wife bravely went in to help and go the Tojo Yamamoto pimp slap for her trouble.

39. Randy Savage Vs. Bret Hart (WWF - 11/11/87) - My favorite SNME match ever. Bret Hart was primarily a tag team wrestler and this was his chance to show the world how good he was on his own. Savage was turning face so he had to watch Elizabeth as well as doing the best injured leg sell of all time.

38. The Cobra Vs. Nobuhiko Takada (New Japan - 6/17/86) - Takada defends the IWGP Jr. title against the aerial Cobra. One of the most exciting Jr. bouts of the 80's with a great ending sequence.

37. Ric Flair Vs. Barry Windham (NWA - 4/11/87) - From the Crockett Cup for Flair's NWA World title. Another great match from these two. The clipped version I have is awesome, I can only imagine how good the full match is.

36. Team Choshu (Riki Choshu, Tatsumi Fujinami, Akira Maeda, Kengo Kimura & Super Strong Machine) Vs. Team Noki (Antonio Inoki, Seiji Sakaguchi, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Kantaro Hoshino, Keiji Muto) (New Japan Elimination match - 8/19/87) - Awesome 10-man Elimination match that had super crowd heat. The fun thing was the mixing of all the UWF and New Japan guys. Future star Keiji Muto really got a big boost in this match as the fans were going crazy for him for his gutsy performance.

35. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Morton (NWA Cage - 7/5/86) - From the Bash Tour. All those rumors I heard of how great Morton/Flair matches were was proved in this match. Morton's wearing a face mask to protect his broken nose but doesn't let that deter him from putting on one of the best cage matches of the decade.

34. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (World Class 2/3 Falls - 8/15/82) - The return cage match gets all the praise, but I think this was the better bout. Flair goes to Texas to defend the NWA World title against Von Erich.

33. The Midnight Express Vs. The Fantastics (NWA - 3/27/88 ) - From the Clash of Champions I. They knew they only had 10 minutes and they used every minute of it to put on an exciting fast paced match. Some big time brawling from teams not known for it.

32. Tully Blanchard Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 11/22/84) - From Starrcade 84. Steamboat's been chasing after that T.V. title but has busted up ribs. These two were respectively possibly the greatest heel and babyface of the 80's.

31. Ric Flair Vs. Ted Dibiase (Mid-South - 11/6/85) - Flair was in Watts country and was scheduled to take on Butch Reed, but he got injured so DiBiase got the shot. Before the match Dick Murodoch came out mad saying he's the #1 contender. Harsh words were spoken and before you knew it DiBiase was brainbusted on the concrete floor and bleeding heavy. Still bleeding profusely, the heel DiBiase wouldn't quit and came out for the title match to the fans cheers. Can DiBiase pull off the miracle?

*****************************

30. Kuniaki Kobayashi Vs. Tiger Mask I (New Japan - 1/6/83) - Exciting fast paced Jr. match. The Kobayashi/Tiger Mask series was just as good as the Dynamite Kid one.

29. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan 2/3 Falls - 6/8/83) - Another awesome match from these two. Match went to an hour draw with Tsuruta only one fall away from winning the NWA title from a bloody Flair.

28. Akira Maeda Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 6/12/86) - Fujinami had a gutsy performance in an elimination match a month earlier, but tired and bloody, he was easy prey at the end for Maeda. This time it's one and one between what most people consider the two best guys from each team in the inter-promotional feud.

27. Dump Matsumoto Vs. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - Hair Vs. Hair - 8/28/85) - Overmatched big time in weight and size, Nagayo makes up for it with her heart and rage. This is actually 2 matches, the one inside the ring with chains, scissors and blood, and the one outside with each girls army's brawling around the ring. Who will be humilated with the haircut?

26. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 5/29/84) - From the "Night of the Champions" card. Only days after regaining the NWA World title in Japan, Flair has to defend it again against his old rival Steamboat.

25. Bob Backlund Vs. Ken Patera (WWF Texas Deathmatch - 5/19/80) - After their January match went to a DQ and people had to pull them apart, this Texas Deathmatch was set up for the WWF title. No DQ, No Count Out. Can Backlund put his amateur wrestling aside and brawl against the Strongman?

24. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan - 6/8/82) - Usually the big World title matches were 2 out of 3 Falls, but only 1 fall here. Flair defends the NWA World title here. A bit of a quicker pace then the rest of their classic matches. Two legends.

23. Devil Masami Vs. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 8/22/85) - Masami was defending her All Pacific Championship here. The famous Jaguar/Asuka main event gets the most praise, but I actually thought this match was better. A 40 minute match that had everything, mat wrestling, brawling and big moves. Like Steamboat/Flair it was more of a chess match and an effort not to make a mistake that your opponent could take advantage of.

22. Tiger Mask I Vs The Dynamite Kid (New Japan - 8/5/82) - I really would've added 2 or 3 more TM/DK matches on this list but only focused on the most important ones. This was their best from 82 with back-and-forth action and exciting moves.

21. Team Horsemen (Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger & J.J. Dillion) Vs. Team Kick-the-Horsemens-Ass (Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, The Road Warriors and Paul Ellering) (NWA Wargames - 7/4/87) - A massive two ring cage is set up for the Horsemen to finally get what's coming to them. Thought up by Dusty Rhodes probably while drunk, the rules are 2 men start off. Then after 5 minutes a coin is tossed and the winning team sends in a member for a 2-on-1 advantage. Every few minutes thereafter the opposing team gets the send a member from their team in. The match can only by stopped by submission after everyone's inside the cage. The crowd was so loud you could barely hear Jim Ross's screaming out his commentary.

*****************************

20. Antonio Inoki Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 8/8/88 ) - Super Saiyan scientific match that went an hour. Inoki was being phased down but still was going to make it hard for his protege Fujinami to get the big one here.

19. Kerry Von Erich Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (NWA 2/3 Falls - 5/22/84) - A mere week after losing the AWA World title, Jumbo gets a chance at the NWA World belt against new champ Von Erich. A fantastic and criminally underrated 2/3 falls match.

18. Ted DiBiase Vs. Jim Duggan (Mid-South Coal miners glove on a pole, Tuxedo, Loser-leaves town, Cage match - 3/22/85) - Most likely Vince Russo's favorite match. Former friends, DiBiase turned on him and they've been brawling all throughout the year. This is the big finale though inside a steel cage with a coal miner's glove hanging on a pole to put the other guy away. Short but bloody match. Crowd was going nuts.

17. Barry Windham Vs. Ric Flair (NWA - 1/20/87) - Awesome free TV match that went 45 minutes. It seemed at every moment Windham was going to win and the title against the Nature Boy.

16. Tully Blanchard Vs. Magnum T.A. (NWA - I-Quit cage match - 11/28/85) - Barbaric match where the only way to lose is to quit. Magnum has been chasing the U.S. title but Blanchard always manages to escape with the title. There is no escape from the cage. You heard of those method actor that get so into a role they believe it? Look at these guys faces at the end of the match. More of a felony than a match here.

15. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - 1/28/86) - Choshu and Tsurta went to a 60:00 draw a few months back so their feud wasn't settled yet. These 2 teams had some great matches but this was the best with Tsuruta/Tenryu defending the tag titles. All four guys looked great especially the underrated Yatsu and the crowd was super into it.

14. Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Curt Hennig (AWA - 12/31/86) - This match lasted to an hour draw and was shown New Years night on ESPN. Bockwinkle was defending the AWA World title against the younger contender Curt Hennig.

13. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (Hawaii - 10/12/85) - These guys always had tremendous matches and this was the best of them. Flair defends the NWA World title in a fantastic hour long draw.

12. Randy Savage Vs. Ricky Steamboat (WWF - 3/29/87) - After having to almost retire from wrestling, Steamboat makes an incredible recovery from a crushed larynx to get revenge in front of the largest audience up to that point. Savage was also defending his Intercontinental championship.

11. Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (NWA I-Quit match - 11/15/89) - Defintily one of the hottest feud in the 80's was the insane Funk targeting Flair which included piledriving him through a table, smacking him around with a branding iron and even trying to suffocate him with a plastic bag. Now this is it. The final match. Both men's pride is on the line and both have vowed to retire and shake the other man's hand if they have to admit defeat. Match can only be stopped by verbally saying "I Quit" on a microphone in front of a national T.V. audence.

*****************************

10. Sgt. Slaughter Vs. The Iron Sheik (WWF Bootcamp - 6/16/84) - Exhausting, bloody and brutal. Both guy hate each other so much they put everything on the line in a dangerous No-DQ Bootcamp Streetfight where anything goes. Will the dreaded loaded boot come into play?

9. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 2/20/89) - The first and fastest paced match of the 89 Steamboat/Flair trilogy. Steamboat came out of nowhere to challenge his old foe. Flair defends the belt in a great back and forth match.

8. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy Vs. Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/16/88 ) - The 1988 RWTL finals. Tenryu and the youngster Kawada take on the two tough American dudes. Kawada wants to make a name for himself and goes all out but his inexperience oveshadows his enthusiasm and soon he's injured. Can Tenryu put on a big T on his shirt and pull of the superhero finish?

7. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 5/7/89) - Part 3 of their trilogy with Steamboat defending the NWA World title again against Flair. In case of an hour draw or disputed finish there are three judges at ringside.

6. Chigusa Nagoya Vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW - 2/26/87) - Tag team partners collide for a chance at the WWWA World title. Awesome match that went the exhausting 30 minute distance but with all the fans screaming for a finish they restarted the match. There must be a winner!

5. Ric Flair Vs. Barry Windham (Florida - 2/14/86) - Flair travels to sunny Florida to defend the NWA World title at the Battle of the Belts II. If there was anyone who really was in Flair elitle league inside the ring, I'd have to say either Steamboat, Tsuruta or Windham. Windham tried his best here to get the title but feel just short in 45 minutes.

4. Ric Flair Vs. Sting (NWA - 3/27/88 ) - Often called the most overrated match of all time, I'm still a mark for it. Flair turns a face painted newbie wrestler into the future of WCW in 45 minutes. I'm a huge Sting fan but I still think Sting should've given 10% of his wrestling earnings to Flair after this career defining performance.

3. Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask (New Japan - 4/21/83) - The final match and thr culmination of the tremendous Tiger Mask/Dynamite feud. After all their many famous matches, Dynamite Kid has never beaten Tiger Mask. Dynamite knew this and put everythig he could into this match to get that elusive pin. The great thing about this series is if you see if from start to finish, you'll see various moves in one match being repeated, then counterd in the next, then Those ones countered into the next and so on. Both guys knew each other so well at this point that you needed somethig extra to get that first mistake whether it's some insane highrisk aerial move or Dynamite Kid breaking a bottle n the ringpost and demanding the match be restarted.

2. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 6/5/89) - Tsuruta had just unified 3 Champioships belts into the famous "Triple-Crown" of All-Japan. One of his first defenses was against long time ex-tag team partner and long time nemesis Tenryu. Outstanding match from start to finish especially the near-falls at the end harkening to the future 90's All-Japan main events. Tenryu was actually getting the better of Tsuruta in recent bouts but this time Jumbo wasn't going to lose his new legacy so easily.

1. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA 2/3 Falls - 4/2/89) - I still remember as a kid watching this on free TV with my jaw to the floor, wondering how a match could be so long but be so... awesome. No mistakes can be made here. Their first match was a quicker pace and Flair doesn't want to make a slip up here. Amazing match that went just a shade under an hour and went back and forth throughout. The 55 minutes flew by like 15. At this time in their careers these guys were about as even in the ring as you can be.



Wrestlers with most matches on the list
---------------------------------------------
Ric Flair - 23
Nobuhiko Takada - 11
Jumbo Tsuruta - 11
Tatsumi Fujinami - 10
Ricky Steamboat - 8
Antonio Inoki - 8

Floyd's Rewatching Ratings (Your Mileage May Vary)
Last updated: 2:00 AM - 7/7/08

1980:

1. Rimi (Jaguar) Yokota Vs. Chino Sato (All-Japan Women - 1/4/80) - [****]
2. Jackie Sato Vs. Tommy Aoyama (All-Japan Women - 1/4/80) - [***3/4]
3. Dynamite Kid Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 2/15/80) - [****]
4. Bruno Sammartino Vs. Larry Zbyszko (WWF - 3/24/80) - [***1/2]
5. Ken Patera Vs. Pat Patterson (WWF - 4/21/80 MSG) - [***1/4]
6. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Dick Slater (All Japan - CC finals - 5/1/80) - [***3/4]
7. Bob Backlund Vs. Ken Patera (WWF - 5/19/80) - [****1/2]
8. Bob Backlund Vs. Dusty Rhodes (New Japan - 5/27/80) - [***1/2]
9. Bruno Sammartino Vs. Larry Zbyszko (WWF - Cage match - 9/8/80) - [***]
10. Harley Race Vs. Mil Mascaras (All-Japan - 9/12/80) - [***3/4]
11. Bob Backlund Vs. Stan Hansen (New Japan - 9/30/80) - [***1/2]
12. Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Terry & Dory Funk Jr. (All-Japan RWTL finals - 12/11/80) - [****1/2]
13. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Ricky Steamboat (All-Japan - 12/1/80) - [***3/4]
14. Ricky Steamboat Vs. The Sheik (All-Japan - 12/9/80) - [***1/2]
15. Antonio Inoki & Bob Backlund Vs. Stan Hansen & Hulk Hogan (New Japan - MSG Finals - 12/10/80) - [***1/2]


1981:

16. Ricky Morton & Eddie Gilbert Vs. Masa Fuchi & Atsushi Onita (Memphis - Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl - 2/14/81) - [****1/4]
17. Abdullah The Butcher Vs. Bruiser Brody (All-Japan CC Finals - 4/10/81) - [**]
18. Bob Backlund Vs. Sgt Slaughter (WWF Cage - 3/21/81) - [****]
19. Pat Patterson Vs. Sgt. Slaughter (WWF - 4/21/81) - [****1/4]
20. The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask I (NJ - 4/23/81) - [****]
21. Terry Funk Vs. Dory Funk Jr. (AJ - 4/30/81) - [***1/2]
22. Ricky Steamboat Vs. Jimmy Snuka (All Japan - 6/3/81) - [***3/4]
23. Jerry Lawler Vs. Terry Funk (CWA Memphis - [****]
24. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bad News Allen (New Japan - 8/2/81) - [***1/2]
25. Bob Backlund Vs. Don Muraco (WWF - Texas Death Match - 9/21/81) - [***3/4]
26. Andre the Giant Vs. Stan Hansen (New Japan - 9/23/81) - [****]
27. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan - 2/3 Falls - 10/9/81) - [****1/4]
28. Bruiser Brody Vs. Terry Funk (All Japan - 11/3/81) - [***1/2]
29. Tiger Mask I Vs. Gran Hamada (New Japan - 11/5/81) - [***3/4]
30. Bob Backlund Vs. Greg Valentine (MSG 11/23/81) - [***1/4]
31. Bruiser Brody & Jimmy Snuka Vs. Terry & Dory Funk Jr. (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/12/81) - [***1/2]


1982:

31b. Bob Backlund Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 1/1/82) - [***3/4]
32. Marc Rocco Vs. The Dynamite Kid (British World of Sport - 1/16/82) - [****]
33. Bob Backlund Vs. Adrian Adonis (WWF - 1/18/82) - [***3/4]
34. Giant Baba vs. Stan Hansen (All-Japan - 2/4/82) - [***1/2]
35. Dave "Fit" Finlay Vs. Davey Boy Smith (British World of Sport - 3/12/82) - [***3/4]
36. Giant Baba Vs. Bruiser Brody (All Japan - 4/16/82) - [***]
37. Harley Race Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan - 4/22/82) - [***3/4]
38. Les Thornton Vs. Tiger Mask I (New Japan - 5/25/82) - [***]
39. Tiger Mask I Vs. Black Tiger (New Japan - 5/26/82) - [****1/4]
40. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (All Japan - 6/4/82) - [****]
41. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (AJ - 6/8/82) - [****1/2]
42. Bob Backlund Vs. Jimmy Snuka (WWF Cage - 6/28/82) - [***1/2]
43. The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask I (New Japan - 7/23/82) - [****]
44. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Mil Mascaras (All Japan - 7/30/82) - [***3/4]
45. Tiger Mask I Vs The Dynamite Kid (New Japan - 8/5/82) - [****1/2]
46. Bob Backlund Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 8/5/82) - [***1/2]
47. Ric Flair Vs. Jerry Lawler (Memphis - NWA World Title - 8/14/82) - [***1/2]
48. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (World Class 2/3 Falls - 8/15/82) - [****1/2]
49. Stan Hansen Vs. Terry Funk (All Japan - 9/11/82) - [***]
50. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted Dibiase & Matt Borne (Loser Leaves Town) (10/27/82) - [***3/4]
51. Tiger Mask I Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (New Japan - 11/4/82) - [My copies to clipped to rate, looks ****+ though!]
52. Antonio Inoki Vs. Rusher Kimura, Animal Hamaguchi, & Isamu Teranishi (New Japan - 11/4/82) - [****]
53. Harley Race Vs. Ricky Steamboat (All Japan - 12/7/82) - [***1/2]
54. Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Harley Race & Dick Slater (All Japan RWTL - 12/13/82) - [***3/4]
55. Terry Funk & Dory Funk Jr. Vs. Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody (All Japan RWTL finals - 12/13/82) - [****]
56. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (World Class Cage match - 12/25/82) - [***3/4]


1983:


57. Kuniaki Kobayashi Vs. Tiger Mask I (New Japan - 1/6/83) - [****1/2]
58. Tiger Mask I Vs. Gran Hamada (New Japan - 2/3/83) - [***3/4]
59. Marty Jones Vs. The Dynamite Kid (British World of Sport - 2/5/83) - [***3/4]
60. Ric Flair Vs Bruiser Brody (St. Louis - 2/3 Falls - 2/11/83) - [****]
61. Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood Vs. Don Kernodle & Sgt. Slaughter (NWA Cage match - 3/12/83) - [***3/4]
62. Tatsumi Fujinami Vs. Riki Choshu (New Japan - 4/3/83) - [***3/4]
63. Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask (New Japan - 4/21/83) - [*****]
64. Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Hulk Hogan (AWA - 4/24/83) - [***1/4]
65. Jaguar Yokoto Vs. La Galacta (AJW Hair vs. Mask - 5/7/83) - [****]
66. Adrian Adonis Vs. Bob Orton Jr. (Southwest - 5/26/83) - [***1/2]
67. Antonio Inoki Vs. Akira Maeda (New Japan - 5/27/83) - [***1/2]
68. Antonio Inoki Vs. Hulk Hogan (New Japan - 6/2/83) - [***3/4]
69. Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan 2/3 Falls - 6/8/83) - [****1/2]
70. Dory & Terry Funk Vs. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy (8/31/83) - [***1/2]
71. Sangre Chicana Vs. MS-1 (EMLL - 2/3 Falls Hair Vs. Hair- 9/23/83) - [****1/4]
72. Don Muraco Vs. Jimmy Snuka (WWF Cage match - 10/17/83) - [**1/4]

73. Sekigun vs. Ishingun 4-bout battle (New Japan - 11/3/83)
a) Seiji Sakaguchi Vs. Animal Hamaguchi (***)
b ) Akira Maeda Vs. Riki Choshu
c) Tatsumi Fujinami Vs. Killer Khan
d) Antonio Inoki Vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu

74. Roddy Piper Vs. Greg Valentine (NWA - Dog Collar match - 11/24/83) - [****]
75. Ric Flair Vs. Harley Race (NWA Cage match - 11/24/83) - [***3/4]
76. Jerry Lawler Vs. Randy Savage (Memphis Cage match - 12/3/83) - [***1/4]
77. Riki Choshu, Animal Hamaguchi & Yoshiaki Yatsu Vs. Akira Maeda, Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura (NJ - 12/8/83) - [***3/4]
78. Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu (AJ RWTL finals - 12/12/83) - [***1/2]


1984:

79. Dynamite Kid Vs. The Cobra Vs. Davey Boy Smith (New Japan - WWF Jr. tournament - 2/7/84) - [****1/4]
MATCH 1: Davey Boy Smith Vs. Cobra. (***3/4)
MATCH 2: Dynamite Kid Vs. Davey Boy Smith. (***1/2)
MATCH 3: Dynamite kid Vs. The Cobra. (***3/4)

80. El Canek Vs. Andre the Giant (EMLL - 2/12/84) - [My copies to clipped to rate, looks ***1/4 or so though]
81. Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (AWA World title in All Japan - 2/22/84)
82. Ricky Steamboat Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (All Japan - 2/23/84)
83. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Nick Bockwinkle (AWA World title in All Japan - 2/26/84)

84. Sekigun Vs. Ishingun 10-Man Elimination match (NJ - 4/19/84):
The Sekigun Army (Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Nobuhiko Takada, Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kengo Kimura)
Vs.
The Ishingun Army (Riki Choshu, Yoshiaki Yatsu, Animal Hamaguchi, Isamu Teranishi & Kuniaki Kobayashi)

85. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (World Class - 5/6/84)
86. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Rick Martel (AWA - 5/13/84)
87. Ric Flair Vs. Harley Race (All Japan - 5/22/84) - [***3/4]
88. Kerry Von Erich Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (NWA 2/3 Falls - 5/22/84) - [****3/4]
89. Kerry Von Erich Vs. Ric Flair (NWA 2/3 Falls - 5/24/84) - [****]
90. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 5/29/84) - [****3/4]
91. Antonio Inoki Vs. Hulk Hogan (New Japan - 6/14/84)
92. Sgt. Slaughter Vs. The Iron Sheik (WWF Bootcamp - 6/16/84) - [****3/4]
93. Randy Savage & Lanny Poffo Vs. The Rock n' Roll Express (Memphis - 6/25/84) - [***1/2]
94. The Crush Gals (Lioness Asuka & Chigusa Nagayo) Vs. Jaguar Yokota & Devil Masami
95. The British Bulldogs & Dr. D David Schultz Vs. Antonio Inoki, The Cobra & Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 7/1/84) - [***1/4]
96. The Freebirds Vs. The Von Erichs (World Class - 7/4/84) - [***1/2]
97. The Dynamite Kid Vs. The Cobra (New Japan - 7/5/84) - [***1/2]
98. Satoru Sayama (Tiger Mask I) & Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Akira Maeda & Yoshiaki Fujiwara (UWF - 7/23/84)
98b. El Satanico vs Shiro Koshinaka (EMLL - Hair Vs. Hair - 7/30/84)
99. The Cobra Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (NJ - 8/2/84) - - [My copies to clipped to rate, looks **** though!]
100. Antonio Inoki Vs. Riki Choshu (NJ - 8/2/84)
101. Tiger Mask II Vs. La Fiera (AJ - 8/26/84) - [****]
102. Tully Blanchard Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA Starcade - 11/22/84) - [****1/4]
103. Kazuo Yamazaki Vs. Nobuhiko Takada (UWF - 12/5/84)
104. Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch Vs. Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami (NJ - 12/5/84)
105. Tiger Mask II Vs. Pirata Morgan (AJ - 12/8/84) - [***1/2]
106. Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch Vs. Jack & Jerry Brisco (WWF - 12/28/84)

1985:


107. Jaguar Yokota Vs. La Galactica (All Japan Women - 1/5/85) - [****]
108. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (St. Louis - 1/25/85) - [****1/4]
109. Jumbo Tsurura & Genichiro Tenryu Vs. Riki Choshu & Masa Saito (All Japan - 2/5/85) - [***3/4]
110. Jaguar Yokota Vs. La Galactica (All Japan Women - 2/27/85) - [***3/4]
111. Tiger Mask II Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (All Japan - 3/9/85) - [***1/2]
112. Ted DiBiase Vs. Jim Duggan (Mid-South Coal miners glove on a pole, Tuxedo, Loser-leaves town, Cage match - 3/22/85) - [****3/4]
113. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T Vs. Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff (WWF - 3/31/85) - [***3/4]
114. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 4/18/85) - [****]
115. Ric Flair Vs. Terry Taylor (Mid-South - 6/1/85) - [***3/4]
116. Tiger Mask II Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi (All Japan - 6/12/85) - [****]
117. Antonio Inoki Vs. Hulk Hogan (New Japan - 6/13/85) - [***1/2]
118. The Cobra Vs. Hiro Saito match (6/28/85) - [***1/2]
119. Ric Flair Vs. Nikita Koloff (NWA - 7/6/85) - [***]
120. Yoshiaki Fujiwara Vs. Super Tiger (UWF - 7/17/85) - [***3/4]
121. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 8/1/85) - [***3/4]
122. Ric Flair Vs. Butch Reed (Mid-South - 8/10/85) - [****1/4]
123. Devil Masami Vs. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 8/22/85) - [****1/2]
124. Jaguar Yokota Vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW - 8/22/85) - [****1/4]
125. Dump Matsumoto Vs. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - Hair Vs. Hair - 8/28/85) - [****3/4]
126. Bret Hart Vs. The Dynamite Kid (WWF - 9/14/85)
127. Antonio Inoki Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 9/19/85)
128. Dick Murdoch Vs. Butch Reed (Mid-South - 9/22/85) - [****]
129. Roddy Piper Vs. Paul Ordorff (WWF SNME - 10/5/85) - [***1/2]
130. Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich (Hawaii - 10/12/85) - [****3/4]
131. Jerry Lawler Vs. Bill Dundee (Memphis - 10/19/85)
132. Ric Flair Vs. Rick Martel (All Japan - 10/21/85)
133. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genchiro Tenryu Vs. Ric Flair & Rick Martel (All Japan - 10/31/85)
134. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Riki Choshu (All Japan - 11/4/85)
135. Ric Flair Vs. Ted Dibiase (Mid-South - 11/6/85) - [****1/2]
136. The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask II (All Japan - 11/27/85)
137. Jim Duggan Vs. Buzz Sawyer (Mid-South - 11/11/85) - [***3/4]
138. Ivan & Nikita Koloff Vs. The Rock n Roll Express (NWA - Cage match - 11/28/85)
139. Tully Blanchard Vs. Magnum T.A. (NWA - I-Quit cage match - 11/28/85) - [****3/4]
140. Ted DiBiase & Stan Hansen Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - RWTL finals - 12/12/85)
141. Jerry Lawler Vs. Bill Dundee (Memphis - No-DQ - Title/Loser-Leaves-Town Vs. Hair(s) - 12/30/85)

1986:


142. Hulk Hogan Vs. Randy Savage (WWF - 1/27/86) - [***1/4]
143. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - 1/28/86) - [****3/4]
144. Ric Flair Vs. Ron Garvin (NWA - 2/2/86)
145. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan - 2/5/86) - [****]
146. Antonio Inoki Vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara (New Japan - 2/6/86) - [***1/2]
147. Ric Flair Vs. Barry Windham (Florida - 2/14/86) - [*****]
148. Bret Hart Vs. Ricky Steamboat (WWF - 3/8/86) - [***1/2]
149. Lioness Asuka & Chigusa Nagayo Vs. Jumping Bomb Angels (AJW 2/3 Falls - 3/20/86) - [****1/4]
150. New Japan Vs. UWF 10-Man Tag Elimination (New Japan - 3/26/86) - [****]
151. The British Bulldogs Vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake (WWF - 4/7/8 ) - [****1/4]
151b. The Funks Vs. Tito Santana & JYD - [***3/4]
152. The Fantastics Vs. The Sheephearders (NWA - 4/19/86) - [**1/2, too clipped]
153. Randy Savage Vs. Tito Santana (WWF - 4/22/86) - [***3/4]
154. New Japan Vs. UWF 10-Man Elimination Tournament (New Japan - 5/1/86) - [***3/4]
155. The Funks Vs. Hulk Hogan & JYD (WWF - 5/1/86) - [***3/4]
156. Akira Maede Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (New Japan - 6/12/86) - [****1/2]
157. The Cobra Vs. Nobuhiko Takada (New Japan - 6/17/86) - [****1/4]
158. Antonio Inoki Vs. Andre the Giant (New Japan - 6/17/86) -[**1/2]
159. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Morton (NWA - 7/5/86) - [****1/2]
160. Ric Flair Vs. Dusty Rhodes (NWA Cage match - 7/26/86) - [***3/4]
161. Riki Choshu Vs. Killer Khan (All Japan - 7/31/86) - [****]
162. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (New Japan - 8/5/86) - [****]
163. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Kazuo Yamazaki (New Japan - 8/7/86) - [***1/2]
164. Midnight Rockers vs. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers (AWA - 9/2/86) - [****1/4]
165. New Japan Vs. UWF 10-Man Tag Elimination II (New Japan - 9/16/86) - [****]
166. Antonio Inoki Vs. Bruiser Brody (New Japan - 9/16/86) - [****]
167. Shiro Koshinaka Vs. Nobuhiko Takada (New Japan - 9/19/86) - [***1/2]
168. Akira Maeda Vs. Don Nakaya Nielsen (New Japan - 10/9/86) - [***1/2]
169. Chigusa Nagayo vs. Dump Matsumoto (AJW - Hair Vs. Hair - 11/7/86) - [***1/2]
170. The Rock N Roll Express Vs. Ole & Arn Anderson (NWA - 11/27/86) - [***1/2]
171. Ric Flair Vs. Nikita Koloff (NWA - 11/27/86) - [***3/4}
172. Hulk Hogan Vs. Paul Orndorff (WWF Cage match - 12/14/86) - [***3/4]
173. Midnight Rockers vs. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers (AWA Cage match - 12/25/86) - [***3/4]
174. Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Curt Hennig (AWA - 12/31/86) - [****3/4]

1987:


175. Barry Windham Vs. Ric Flair (NWA - 1/20/87) - [****3/4]
176. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka (NJ - 2/5/87)
177. Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat & JYD Vs. Adrian Adonis, Randy Savage & Harley Race (WWF - 2/23/87) - [***3/4]
178. Chigusa Nagoya Vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW - 2/26/87)
179. Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Shiro Koshinaka & Keiji Muto (NJ - 3/20/87) - [****]
180. Randy Savage Vs. Ricky Steamboat (WWF - 3/29/87) - [****3/4]
181. Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant (WWF - 3/29/87) - [***1/2]
182. Ric Flair Vs. Barry Windham (NWA - 4/11/87) - [****1/2]
183. Nick Bockwinkel Vs. Curt Hennig (AWA - 5/2/87)
184. Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Kazuo Yamazaki & Toshiaki Fujiwara (NJ - 5/25/87)
185. Wargames (NWA - 7/4/87) - [****3/4]
186. Midnight Express Vs. The Rock N Roll Express (NWA - 7/4/87)
187. Wargames (NWA - 7/31/87)
188. El Hjio del Santo Vs. Negro Casas (EMLL Mask Vs. Hair - 7-18-87) - [****1/2]
189. NJ Vs. UWF 10-man Elimination Match (NJ - 8/19/87)
190. The Crush Gals Vs. The Jumping Bomb Angels (AJW - 9/14/87)
191. Tatsumi Fujinami Vs. Riki Choshu (NJ - 10/5/87)
192. Chigusa Nagayo Vs. Yukari Omori (AJW - 10/20/87)
193. Randy Savage Vs. Bret hart (WWF - 11/11/87) - [****1/4]
194. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Road Warriors (NWA - 11/26/87)
195. Ronnie Garvin Vs. Ric Flair (NWA Cage match - 11/26/87)
196. 10-Tag Team Elimination match (WWF - 11/26/87) - [***3/4]

1988:


197. Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant (2/5/88) - [***1/2]
198. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Tiger Mask II (AJ - 3/9/88) - [***1/2]
199. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Hiro Hase (NJ - 3/11/88) - [****]
200. The Midnight Express Vs. The Fantastics (NWA - 3/27/88) - [****1/2]
201. Lex Luger & Barry Windham Vs. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (NWA - 3/27/88) - [***1/2]
202. Ric Flair Vs. Sting (NWA - 3/27/88) - [*****]
203. Lex Luger & Barry Windham Vs. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (NWA - 4/20/88) - [****]
204. The Midnight Express Vs. The Fantastics (NWA - 4/26/88) - [****1/2]
205. Owen Hart Vs. Keiichi Yamada (NJ - 6/10/88) - [My copies to clipped to rate, looks ***3/4+ though!]
206. Wargames (NWA - 7/16/88)
207. Tower of Doom - [***]
208. Randy Savage Vs. Ted DiBiase (WWF Cage match - 7/22/88) - [***3/4]
209. Yoshiaki Fujiwara Vs. Don Nakaya Neilsen (NJ - 7/31/88) - [****]
210. Antonio Inoki Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (AJ - 8/8/88)
211. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Kazuo Yamaxaki (UWF - 8/13/88) - [****1/4]
212. Genichiru Tenryu & Ashura Hara Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu (AJ - 8/29/88) - [****]
213. Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (AJ - 10/28/88) - [****1/4]
214. Nobuhiko Takada vs Akira Maeda (UWF - 11/10/88) - [****1/4]
215. Jerry Lawler Vs. Kerry Von Erich (AWA - 12/13/88)
216. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy Vs. Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada (AJ - 12/16/88) - [*****]
217. Nobuhiko Takada Vs. Bob Backlund (UWF - 12/22/88) - [***3/4]
218. Ric Flair Vs. Lex Luger (NWA - 12/26/88)


COMING UP:
--------------

Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Rockers (WWF - 2/16/89)
Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 2/20/89)
Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - Landover - 3/18/89) - [****1/2]
Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 4/2/89) - [*****]
Randy Savage Vs. Hulk Hogan (WWF - 4/2/89)
Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 5/7/89)
Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat Vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Ricky Fuyuki (AJ - 6/5/89)
Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Genichiro Tenryu (AJ - 6/5/89)
Jushin Liger Vs. Naoki Sano (NJ - 7/13/89)
Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (NWA - 7/23/89)
Demolition Vs. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson (WWF 2/3 Falls - 7/29/89)
Jushin Liger Vs. Naoki Sano (NJ - 8/10/89)
Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson Vs. The Hart Foundation (WWF - 8/28/89)
Bret Hart Vs. Curt Hennig (10/2/89)
Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (NWA - 11/15/89) - [****3/4]

Floyd’s Rant for Wrestlemania XXIV


1. NO-DQ BELFAST BRAWL: J.B.L. Vs. Fit Finlay (w/ Hornwoggle) - I haven’t kept up with WWE in a while so bear with me, but I think the story goes like this: Midget Hornswoggle was discovered to be Vince McMahon’s illegitimate son. So of course Vince McMahon showed his affection by beating the shit out of him as much as possible. Then JBL, using his A.P.A. detective skills, dropped the bomb that Hornswoggle is really Finlay’s son! JBL also went dwarf tossing by mauling Hornswoggle inside a cage. If I was booking I’d have the entire locker-room tested and have JBL be the father next. Then book Jerry Springer (That show still on?) This is a Belfast brawl, No-DQ. They shoulda used one of those old British World Sport rules instead. My pre-match prediction, JBL bleeds.

JBL attacks Finlay right at the bell and they brawl outside. Back in and Finlay hits a reverse Earthquake splash for 2. Finlay rolls out and finds all kinds of stuff under the ring to play with. Why do the ring crews always leave their kendo sticks under there? JBL ups the ante by tossing the ring steps in the ring! He should grab Horsnwoggle and us him like a bat. JBL tries to pildrive Finaly on the steps but is backdropped instead. Cookie-sheet damage follows. JBL comes back though and treats Finlay like he’s a ROH guy caught alone in the shower. But then Hornswoggle saves his dad with a kendo shoot! Finlay props up a table in the corner. JBL roll outside and slaps that midget out cold! While JBL’s still outside, Finlay does the Chris Benoit spot where he dives like a torpedo outside, only to be hit but a trashcan lid! More midget violence ensues:

<- Vince McMahon’s fav Wrestlemania moment.

JBL goes for Hansen’s lariat, but see he’s not Hansen cause Finlay ducks and throws JBL thought the propped up table for a 2 count. Finlay tries to press slams the steps onto JBL, but it’s all goes horribly wrong, and JBL ends up hitting the Wall Street lariat for the 3. Too much Sports entertainment-ness, but still a fun opening match. I was hoping for a mini-JBL (Spanky?) to roll out from under the ring, but no dice. **3/4

TO THE BACK! Diva flunkie #34 talks about the MITB ladder match when Ken Kennedy starts yelling right in her face, then leaves.

2. Money-In-The-Bank Ladder Match IV: (John Morrison Vs. Carlito Cool Vs. Shelton Benjamin Vs. C.M. Punk Vs. Ken Kennedy Vs. MVP Vs. Chris Jericho) - You know, it would’ve been great if they put all the guys who failed the Wellness policy during that big bust last year, and then the winner gets one strike taken off their record. Speaking of Wellness Policy, Jeff hardy isn’t in this match.

Right at the bell everyone but MVP rolls out and starts picking up ladders. Carlito brings in a ladder but MVP steals it and then boots him out. MVP starts knocking everyone out of the ring like it’s a game of King of the Mountain. In a Russo/Freudian moment Jericho brings in a bigger ladder. It’s a ladder joust! That was awesome. Morrison climbs to the top with a ladder and while holding the ladder FUCKING MOONSAULTS OFF THE TOP ROPE TO THE OUTSIDE!!! That was insane. He didn’t land pretty either. Kennedy tries to sneak in but Jericho stops him. He tries the Liontamer but can’t get it, so settles on sling-shooting him into the ladder. Kennedy lands right on the ladder however and quickly starts climbing. Morrison jumps on the ladder next. Shelton climbs up too and ends up hitting a flip-powerbomb on Kennedy, who at the same time suplexes Morrison!! Punk hit’s the Go to Sleep on Benjamin and climbs, but Kenney with a rolling firemans carry onto the ladder! Now Carlito and MVP fight at the top, Carlito gets dumped. Carlito works MVP’s leg, MITB psychology? There's no time for that here, it's spot-spot-spot - rinse-repeat. Carlito climbs up for the win, but come on dude, you ain’t going to win. Shoulda went to TNA. Shelton does that One Night Stand bump again and breaks/bends a ladder/his spine in half on the way down. That was scary. Camera work for this is tremendous by the way. It's a shame Benjamin is Mr. MITB once again but will soon be again regulated only to house shows and Most Underrated year-end awards. That'll teach him to play video games in the locker room.

Morrison climbs but becomes a Walls of Jericho victim on the ladder. Kennedy again tries to sneak a win but no dice. A bunch of bodies start flying and then dropping. The ring is cleared. But as the smoke clears MVP is the only man standing. He starts climbing with a smirk on his face. Suddenly Matt hardy jumps the rail! Security! Twist of Fate off the ladder!!! He doesn’t mention ROH on his way out this time. Two ladders are propped up in a V shape, and it ends up hurting people. Jericho climbs up but gets apple spit in his face and he goes flying. Apple bump!! Everyone’s down again except Jericho who climb. C.M. Punk meets him and they both fight for the briefcase. I think the finish went awry somewhere, but it doesn’t matter as C.M. Punk grabs the suitcase and wins! 10$ says this is just a ploy and McMahon will somehow get the briefcase onto straight-edger Kennedy somehow. ***1/2

Hall of fame is shown. I’m surprised Mike Graham didn’t get more of an ovation, it being Florida and all. Mae Young’s hopped up on drugs again.

3. Umanga Vs. Batista - Looks like this is a Smackdown Vs. RAW match. Umanga shows his athleticism early with spins kicks. Fatty Samoan Splash gets 2. Umanga’s works on Batista back., knowing that senior citizens bones are brittle, and their muscles can’t be too great after years of steriods use. See Umanga does his homework. I must be a in a great mood tonight cause this isn’t too bad. Umanga goes lucha and tries a middle rope headbutt but misses! Batista goes for a slam but his back buckles, nearly losing on a near 3 count. Umanga with loud kicks to the back, then it’s back to the Samoan spike. This portion is begging for the crowd to cheer for Batista, but there not into the match. Actually it sounds like their on Umanga’s side. Ha now the crowds booing Batisa in his comeback, this is awesome. Batista gets a (falling on his ass) Demonbomb out of nowhere and gets the 3 count. *1/2

In the back Merryweather is with his posse. There’s got to be at least 20 people there, were talking 0.8 on the Master P scale. Looks like there was a battle royal on Heat before the show. The winner gets a shot at the ECW World title. Luckily the WWE used this to elevate one of their newer superstars, you know that young Kane guy they just brought up from developmental.

4. ECW WORLD TITLE: Chavo Guerrero Vs. Kane – Man Chavo looks like so much like my neighbor it’s scary. Kane with the chokeslam.1..2..3!?!?!? WTF?!?! Look, I know the ECW title doesn’t mean shit Vince. I GET IT! You can STOP trying to prove it now. Didn’t Kane go like 2 hours in a Royal Rumble or something, he couldn’t been winded. Ughhh. DUD

In a commercial Carlito gets attacked by seagulls at a restaurant. I just got the idea of the WWE doing a bunch of skits based on Alfred Hitchcock movies. Like a wheelchair-bound HHH watching the Undertaker carry bodies from his apartment, or the entire crusierweight division replaying “Lifeboat”. Then I remembered the WWE writing team and slapped myself harshly for being so dumb.

That girl from the Disney channel is in the ring and demands everyone STAND up for the make-a-wish foundation. Right at that moment they get a shot of the wheelchair kids, DOH! Well the thought was nice. And now we come to the match I’m looking forward to:

5. Ric Flair Vs. Shawn Michaels - If Flair loses he’s gotta retire! Flair comes out with a Blue Blazer robe. Mind games to start, HBK slaps old man Flair so hard he’s busted hardway. “First blood, brother” says Flair. CHOP FEST!!! HBK gets the advantage and goes uptop, but gets Flair-slammed out! Flair quickly goes top rope too but uh-oh, HBK catches him. No wait, he pokes Shawn in the eye. Flair hits the flying bodypress for 2! Yes, Flair finally got that top rope move off after about 15 years of trying (I think Harley Race voodoo cursed him at Starrcade). Flair gets dumped out and HBK with his Wrestlemania-sized Asai moosault. Flair dives away at the last minute though and HBK hits sternum first on the announcers tables HARD. I mean HARD. HBK’s fucked up, yo. Little Naitch starts the count, come on give him some time. HBK makes it back in and Flairs working the ribs. Back suplex gets a 2 for Flair. Flair goes old school with a double arm suplex for another 2. HBK comes back with a neckbreaker, then dropkicks Flair out. HBK hits a top rope moonsault to the Floor, but slammed himself more into the concrete than on Flair. HBK beating the crap out of himself up.

Back in the ring and CHOP FEST #2 ends with an HBK flying Jalapeno. He manages to painfully kip up then starts his comeback. He hits the top rope elbow! Shawn’s looks really fucked up, legit. He starts tuning up the band. He goes to Superkick, but pauses!?!?! Flair quickly gets a takedown and clamps on the figure-four!!! The crowd’s going crazy! Ya snooze you lose Shawn. HBK manages to reverse it and Flair gets the ropes. They do that Steamboat pinning sequence thing but HBK couldn’t bridge out, he’s hurting bad. Flair goes to work the leg but HBK sunsets flips for a close 2. Flair whips HBK who does a 1/2 Flair flip in the corner. Flair chop-block. Wooooooo! Time to go to school! Figure-four reversed into a small package by HBK.. Only a 2 count! Flair gets the figure four again! HBK finally managed to reverse it but Flair reverses it right back again! Finally HBK makes the ropes. Flair struts cause everything going his way. HE EATS SWEET CHIN MUSIC!! Both guys are down. HBK crawls towards Flair and pins. Only 2! HBK’s having trouble standing. He tunes up the band again. But Flair can’t stand up. Finally HBK goes to pick Flair up. BALL-SHOT BY FLAIR! The ref didn’t see it either cause Flair’s the dirtiest player in the game. Flair crawls over… Only a 2 count!! Out of nowhere HBK gets a figure four! Flair makes the corner and while grabbing for the ropes the turnbuckle falls off. The ref goes to fix it so Flair hits the thumb-to-the-eye on HBK. Roll up gets another super close 2.99 for Flair. CHOP-FEST #3 begins on their knees. Out of nowhere HBK gets another sweet chin music. HBK tunes up the band. Wait he hesitates again. There is a hush in the crowd. Flair gets up and groggily but is ready to fight. HBK says “I’m sorry. I love you….” SWEET CHIN MUSIC #3!!!!!!!! This time there was no hesitation. 1…2…..3. Flair’s career it over.

<- Old Yeller, no! :-(

Like at the end of “Lost in Translation”, HBK whispers something we’ll ever know, kisses Flair’s forehead then leaves. The commentators go all ROH and don’t speak for awhile. And with tears in his eyes Ric Flair stands for the last time in the ring, to 75,000 fans applauding him. With the Sport Entertainment style the only monopoly in town, it is truly and end of an era for wrestling. Thank you Ric Flair, you will forever be THE MAN! ****

6. Playboy Bunny Lumberjill match: Beth Phoenix and Melina (w/ Santino Marella) Vs. Maria and Ashley - I thought they said Bundy-mania for a minute. Snoop Dogg in the house. Hope he serenades the Divas with the song "Bitches Ain’t Shit But Ho’s and Tricks” with Giant Khali taking Dr. Dre’s place. It takes Snoop’s golf cart (Well it IS Florida) about 20 minutes to get to the ring. Snoop gives props to Ric Flair.. Uh-oh Snoop-talk. Dang. I’m too white for this. The Divas surround the ring. If there was ever a time for the TNA Women’s division to jump the rails, now’s the time Awesome Kong. Snoop gets a pimp King of the Ring Chair at ringside.

Anyway, stuff happened in the match. Nothing bad, in fact some good moves, but it doesn’t matter cause there’s no heat. And how could there be after the Flair/HBK match? Suddenly the lights go out! TNA sabotage? Marella interferes and causes Maria the match, but not before receiving a Memphis punch from Lawler. His humiliation continues when Snoop hits him with a clothesline Straight Outta Compton, by gawd! Good one too, at least better than Rodman ever threw. *

7. RAW WORLDS CHAMPIONSHIP: Randy Orton Vs. John Cena (v 2.0) HHH (v 3.0) - Wait, this isn’t the main event? Hmmmm. Heel turn coming up? HHH’s entrance takes 3 ½ minutes. Orton wisely takes out HHH right at the start with a belt shot and it’s 1 on 1 in the ring. HHH comes back though and dumps the other 2 out. HHH and Orton tumble like lovers all over the ECW table. Back in and John Cena picks up BOTH guys up for an FU, but doesn’t get it. Impressive attempt though. Orton grounds both guy and starts stomping away while a “Cena Sucks” chant starts. Lots of boos for Cena already, I’m sure there’s already a topic on DVDVR with someone weeping and gnashing their teeth about it. People don’t like him, accept it and move on with your life. Orton gets that funky middle rope DDT on both guys! He nabs a 3 counts on each. Orton attempts a RKO but Cena dumps him like trash right onto HHH. Cena with the top rope legdrop! Orton says fuck it and tries to leave, but Cena gives chase. Orton manages to use Cena momentum during the run to post him in a neat spot. Cena’s layed out seeing stars. Back in and HHH works on Orton’s leg. Wait Orton with an RKO on HHH! A knocked out HHH rolls out. Orton staggers around and falls right into the STFU!! They steal from WM 20 as HHH prevents Orton’s hand from tapping out. HHH pulls Cena out and slams him against the ring steps. HHH with a neat-looking Indian deathlock kind of thing on Orton but Cena breaks it up. Cena dumps HHH and reapplies the STFU! WM 20 is re-visited again as HHH applies the Crippler Crossface on Cena! Cena makes the ropes, then starts making a comeback. Orlando’s boo’s seem to give him more strength! Both guys counter each other’s big move, until HHH hits the Pedigree! It’s ovah! 1…..2………Suddenly running out from stage right, Orton soccer kicks HHH right in da head! The pin is broken up. Orton collapses on Cena, for the 1,2,3! Orton retains! Wow, big props to WWE letting Orton retain. Another 10$ says they’ll re-do this main event next PPV. Solid match. ***1/2

8. NO-DQ MATCH: The Big Show Vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - Ha! I haven’t been watching Raw lately, but the package they play of the build-up for this match is just phenomenal, one of the best I’ve ever seen. Mayweather's supposedly got like 4 billion dollars for this fight but I must dispute that. Big Show’s got a small size advantage here.

Mayweather uses his speed to avoid the Big Show’s soupbones and gets some body shots in. Stick, and move. Stick and move. Just got a flashback from Butterbean/Gunn. Mayweather all cocky and takes a breather in the corner where he sips from a diamond-encrusted chalice. Seriously the thing's like 20 pounds and looks like the Holy Grail. Big Show rushes at him and managed to quickly maul one of his handlers. There’s suddenly fear in Mayweather’s eyes. Uh-oh, Big Show catches on of Mayweather’s punches! He goes to stomp it into confetti but luckily Mayweathers gets free. Damn, if Mayweather loses his hands, he’s only got his Krav Maga and Wing Chun experiences to fall back on. Oh No! Mayweather’s cornered!! No he manages to punches his way out, then clamps a sleeper off the top rope! Big Show’s going out! Big Show managed to flip him over, and Garvin stomps the hand!!! The handlers outside all shit their pant and Mayweather sells his hand better than 60% of the WWE lockerroom. Big Show with the silent chops in the corner! Big Show stands on Mayeather’s back while the manager protests. Mayweather tries some kicks he saw in a Kawada match but it does nothing. Big Show hits a side-walk slam. Finally Mayfeather’s handlers pull his dead carcass out of the ring and signal it’s over. Big Show gives chase and knocks everyone around and drags Mayweather back. Big Show goes for the choke slam but a handler runs in and hits a chairshot! That guy gets chokeslammed but Mayweather picks up the chair and starts raining down chairshots. Somewhere Chris Nowinski slowly shakes his head. Now Mayweather rips off a gold chain from the unconscious handler. It’s got brass knucks! POW!!!!!!!!! Big Show it out! Power of the punch! Mayweather’s been training with Regal! The ref starts the count and Big Show can’t get up in time, it’s ovah!. Mayweather wins!! Mayfeather’s undefeated in boxing AND wrestling! Next stop, MMA. Pretty fun for what it was. Mayweather was great in his role. **1/2

Ahhh shit Coach and Michael Cole’s calling the main event, I hit the mute button. The guest ring announcer is some girl from “Keeping Up with the Cardassians” a show about Star Trek or something.. She announces the attendance as 74,635. Hey I just realized neither tag titles were defended tonight.

9. SMACKDOWN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Edge Vs. The Undertaker – Taker’s entrance last 6 minutes, actually much less than I thought. Edge gets a good-luck kiss from the crippled Vickie Guerrero. Both guys are touted as being undefeated at Wrestlemania. Edge has also never lost to the undertaker. Edge isn’t intimated and starts with punches. But he musta forgot that the Undertaker’s the “Best pure striker in the WWE!!” Taker hits a flying clothesline for 2. Taker works the arm and tries old school early but get arm dragged off. Taker chokes Edge and refuses to break, then intimidates the ref. Taker went for a flying knee in the corner but it turned into a Stinger Splash and Taker tumbles all the way to the floor. Edge hits him while he’s on the apron and Taker flies into the barricade! Outside Edge works the ribs. Taker makes it back in and Edge with corner tackles. Edge goes top rope and decides to channel Manami Toyota cause he gets Flair slammed from the top TO THE FLOOR!!! Crap that was nasty! Not to be outdone, Taker follows with the zombie WM plancha!! Crazy.



Taker with the legdrop on the apron. Last Ride attempt! No wait, he couldn’t pick him up cause of his back. Back outside and Edge back suplexes Undertaker on the rail! Taker’s dumped in the front row. Back inside Edge works the back more with a half-Boson crab. Edge with the monster face!

Taker gets out and a slugfest akin to Takayama/Frye breaks out. Well not quite. Taker hits the ho’ train in the corner then snake eyes! Taker goes for his boot follow-up but Edge hits a surprise dropkick for 2! Edge has done his homework it seems. Taker goes for a chokeslam but Edge counters with a DDT!! Edge goes for the spear but loses some teeth hitting Taker’s boot. CHOKESLAM STRAIGHT TO HELL BY GAWD!!!!!!! Only 2!?!?!?? Taker goes old school again but gets crouched. Edge hits a suplerplex! Taker comes back and nearly gets the Last Ride but Edge squirms out and hits a neckbreaker! Only 2.

Taker finally gets the Last Ride and collapses. Only 2?! Tombstone! No Edge counters it into the X-Factor. Only 2 again. Taker finally hits old-school. Taker goes for big boot but hits the ref. Edge talks shit so Taker zombies up, but Edge kicks him square in the balls. Edge wanders outside. He grabs a camera and smacks Taker. They should’ve done a reply with that camera's angle on. Edge paws at the dead ref. He slightly grazes the ref's arm, and the ref proceeds to do an unconscious bump to the outside. Taker gets up and hits the Tombstone! No ref! Wait! Charles Robinson sprints the quarter mile to the ring! He counts….. but only 2!?!? Here come Edge’s cronies. Taker quickly dispatches them with a chokeslam. But Edge hits the spear! Only 2!?? Edge cries. Spear #2. Wait Undertaker with the Triangle choke! No wait he’s got the head tucked down so I guess it’s the google-platta thing all the kids are talking about nowadays. Edge taps! Holy shit, he Nick Diazed him! Didn’t see that finish coming. And that’s that. 16-0. Taker celebrates while fireworks injure 40 fans. ***1/2

Except for Flair/HBK nothing earth shattering. But I really enjoyed the show top-to-bottom!


WM 24 Grade:
Total star rating: 22.25
Total matches: 9
Show Average: **1/2

My thought on Disk #3 (Ranked in order of best-to-worst):

Cream of the crop:

1. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (No DQ, Loser Leaves Town, Coal Miner's Glove on a Poll, Tuxedo, Cage match ) (3/22/85) [BR-14] - Wow. A short but an awesome, brutal and bloody cage match to cap off their feud. it's bad enough to get your ass kicked but now they have to do it in their best clothes. This easily would've still been #1 for me even without all the history that DVDVR provided. But the inclusion of it made it that much better a finish to their feud.

2. Ted DiBiase vs. Jim Duggan (No DQ) (3/8/85) [BR-13] - Great No-DQ match before the cage one. It was a regular match to begin with but was changed right before the bell. Gonna have to re-watch their streetfight from Disk #1 and compare, as both are great. Hacksaw Duggan is in 3 and-a-half matches of my Top 5, who would've thunk it?

3. Ric Flair vs. Terry Taylor (4/28/85) [BR-17] - After all those 10 minutes lightening fast tag matches and energetic brawls, Flair brings it to a halt with this 30 minute match. I really liked it though with a slow NWA-title-defense-like beginning building up to an exciting ending. Can Taylor bring home the gold? Solid match.


Very good too:

4.Rock N Roll Express vs. Chavo & Hector Guerrero (2/13/85) [BR-11] - Great TV tag match with the Guerreros using all kinds of funky moves to try and win the belts.

5. The Fantastics vs. Dr. Death & Jake Roberts (4/14/85) [BR-15] - I really liked this tag team match-up. Roberts and Dr. Death make a great heel tag team. The fantastics have the heart but are overpowered.

6. Ted DiBiase vs. Brad Armstrong (2/10/85) [BR-10] - Really good match where Armstrong's trying to regain his title. Armstrong's really good here, but it's DiBiase who really shines.


Good:

7. Buddy Landel, Chavo & Hector Guerrero vs. Brickhouse Brown, Bill Dundee & Jose Lothario (Elimination Match) (11/16/84) [BR-2] - Neat elimination match with the Guerrero gang going after poor old Lothario.

8. Ted DiBiase & Dr. Death vs. Hacksaw Duggan & Terry Gordy (Texas Tornado Match) (1/21/85) [BR-9] - Tornado tag match which means a No-DQ brawl without tags. Action went everywhere, in-and-out of the ring.


Good to OK

9. Ernie Ladd & Butch Reed vs. Magnum T.A. & Master G (Street Fight) (11/4/84) [BR-1] - Match turned from a Street Fight into a regular tag, good match.

10. Rock N Roll Express vs. Midnight Express (1/21/85) [BR-8] - Typical and fun RNR/Midnights match.


OK but ain't no Top 20 or nothin:

11. Kevin Von Erich vs. Chris Adams (1/18/85) [BR-6] - World Class comes to Mid-South. I really liked this match but it was super-short (under 5 minutes). Just can't rate it too high because of that.

12. Buddy Landel, Chavo & Hector Guerrero vs. Rock N Roll Express & Jose Lothario (1/18/85) [BR-7] [SDM-14] - This was listed as an elimination match but was actually a 6-man. Pretty fun match but nothing that made me want to rank it high.

13. Brad Armstrong vs. Ted DiBiase (1/16/85) [BR-5] - Armstrong's defending the title. Good TV match. But I liked their rematch much more.

14. Rock N Roll Express vs. Midnight Express (Scaffold Match) (12/2/84) [BR-3] - As far as scaffold matches it wasn't too bad, but I never really could rate those high for some reason. Think they play alot better live (and scarier!)

15. Rock N Roll Express & Butch Reed vs. Dr. Death, Kamala & One Man Gang (2/25/85) [BR-12] - Somewhere along the way Reed turned good-guy! OK 6-man but nothing special. Reed's demands and chants for the Emancipation of Kamala was priceless.

16. Rock N Roll Express vs. Dirty White Boys (4/15/85) [BR-16] - OK tag match but seemed too formulaic to me. The Dirty White Boys looked like good heels though. Maybe if it was longer..

No Sir. I Didn't like it:

17. Adrian Street vs. Terry Taylor (Loser Leaves Town) (12/7/84) [BR-4] - Never really got into this. Street wants revenge after Tayor started macking on his valet. "You don't mow another man' grass."


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Thought for Disk #3:

- The Guerreros are an awesome tag team.

- I really noticed how fantastic the camera/audio work is for aot of the house shows. You can hear every word of Dibiase and Jake Robert talking trash. And the video quality is great too.

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Floyd's Ongoing Mid-South Top 10: (After three Disks)

1. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (No DQ, Loser Leaves Town, Coal Miner's Glove on a Poll, Tuxedo, Cage match ) (3/22/85) [BR-14]
2. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted Dibiase & Matt Borne (Loser Leaves Town) (10/27/82) [PTB-8]
3. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (Street Fight) (7/29/83) [PTB-14]
4. Mr. Olympia vs. Chavo Guerrerro (6/24/83) [PTB-13]
5. Ted DiBiase vs. Jim Duggan (No DQ) (3/8/85) [BR-13]
6. Rock N Roll Express & Hacksaw Duggan vs. Midnight Express & Ernie Ladd (6/8/84) [SDM-3][/b]
7. Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum T.A. vs. Midnight Express (2/10/84) [PTB-16]
8. Ric Flair vs. Terry Taylor (4/28/85) [BR-17]
9. Magnum T.A. vs. Ted DiBiase (No DQ) (Tulsa 5/27/84) [SDM-2]
10. Magnum T.A. vs. Ted DiBiase (No DQ) (OKC 5/27/84) [SDM-1]

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Your thought on Disks #3? Or any of the Mid South matches? Onto #4 and all the Flair that comes with it. Whoooo!