We are into 2024, and boy, does current news make me not want to watch current wrestling. There is very little of that here as I focussed on 1996 and the GWE project instead.

#25
Hayabusa vs TAKA Michinoku
FMW Scramble Survivor
November 16, 1996

About two thirds through this was a fine junior match, with Michinoku looking amazing, but the last third was spectacular, with Hayabusa coming to the moment. I also enjoyed TAKA being in FMW, so he added using a chair to his legwork section. It reminded me of Rey Jr. working ECW. The dives were spectacular throughout this.

Rating: 7.5/10

#24
TAKA Michinoku (c) vs Minoru Tanaka
“Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship”
Battlarts Let’s enjoy BATTLARTS
October 30, 1996

I am not a big fan of shoot style, but they did a good job of mixing that up with junior style to keep me interested during the first half, which was a bit dull. The finishing and last stretch were really great and exciting, though! I bet most people would be higher on this than me.

Rating: 7.5/10

#23
Savio Vega vs Steve Austin
“Caribbean Strap Match”
WWF In Your House: Beware of Dog 2
May 28, 1996

It’s limited due to the touch the four corners rules of WWF strap matches, but this was vicious and violent with good psychology. It thankfully put the end to Austin with DiBiase as well.

Rating: 7.5/10

#22
Manami Toyota (c) vs Kyoko Inoue
“WWWA World Championship”
AJW Kokugikan Chojoden The Real Earnest
December 8, 1996

The first and final thirds of this match were really great, but the middle third was boring. However, this was the big Inoue title win, so it’s memorable.

Rating: 7.75/10

#21
Billie Starkz vs Maki Itoh
GCW Now and Forever
July 14, 2023

The cute-off that clearly cemented Starkz as a heel and Itoh as the babyface was a great use of fun and comedy; it added to the story. From there, both were great and had the crowd in the palm of their hands.

Rating: 7.75/10

#20
Genichiro Tenryu vs Yoji Anjo
WAR Revolution Anniversary
July 21, 1996

Anjo brings the shoot fight UWF style to Tenryu, who seems unimpressed, and weathers all the kicks, submissions, and comebacks with stiff lariats, straight punches, and power bombs. This low key rules.

Rating: 7.75/10

#19
Chris Jericho (c) vs Pitbull II vs Shane Douglas vs Too Cold Scorpio
“ECW World Television Championship”
ECW Heat Wave
July 13, 1996

Mostly built around the Douglas-Pitbull feud, and that part was wonderful, especially Douglas. However, a significant part of this was Scorpio out wrestling everyone and putting on a great performance.

Rating: 7.75/10

#18
Hayabusa & Masato Tanaka vs Mr. Pogo & Terry Funk
“No Ropes Barbed Wire Current Mine Explosion Double Hell Time Bomb Tornado Death Match”
FMW Fighting Creation: 7th Anniversary
May 5, 1996

Completely chaotic with barbed wire, explosion, fire, and Mr. Pogo. I’m not sure if I like watching Pogo or hate it, but his sickle weapon, which he uses to dig into people’s backs, is something else. I loved all the evasions of the weapons. That is how you work a deathmatch!

Rating: 8/10

#17
Megumi Kudo vs Shinobu Kandori
“Street Fight”
LLPW on January 5, 1997

A really good ECW-like street fight. Kandori wore a suit, so that’s a huge win. She was a badass in this, and Kudo did everything she could to survive as they fought all over the arena. The finish was brutal in the best way possible. I can’t wait for the finale of this trilogy now!

Rating: 8/10

#16
Kazushi Sakuraba vs Shinjiro Ohtani
“UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship”
NJPW Skydiving J
June 17, 1996

This is a hoot. Sakuraba tries to MMA Ohtani, who fights back with some vicious suplexes and kicks. It’s intense and nonstop action for eight minutes.

Rating: 8/10

#15
Super Delfin (c) vs TAKA Michinoku
“CMLL World Welterweight Championship”
NJPW Skydiving J
June 17, 1996

Young Taka is so fun to watch. He had this unbelievable balance and flying ability, but was so cocky and arrogant, every moment of watching him is a blast. The first third of this match is really good with TAKA hitting some incredible dives, the middle third is solid stuff, and the final third had a great finishing sequence. Although the final move was a little anticlimactic.

Rating: 8/10

#14
Aja Kong vs Kaoru Ito
Zenjo Perfection: Ota Ward Champion Legend
January 20, 1997

At one point, Kong beat up Ito and threw her into the concourse, then grabbed the barricade and stood waiting for her with it over her head to beat her down more with it. One of the best shot things in the history of wrestling. Ito did revenge and beat her up all over the arena, too. For a 30 minute draw, this felt like a wild and quick brawl, so I give this the highest recomendations.

Rating: 8.25/10

#13
The Gladiator & Terry Funk vs Hayabusa & Masato Tanaka
“Street Fight”
FMW Flashover
September 24, 1996

This is exactly what you want from this match. Hayabusa did flying. Tanaka and Awesome did their stuff, but not just against each other. Funk was wild. They brawled all over and used chairs and tables and it was a real blast.

Rating: 8.25/10

#12
Mizuki (c) vs Miya Yamashita
“Princess of Princess Championship”
TJPW Wrestle Princess 4
October 9, 2023

Yamashita is such a badass boss in these big title matches, and Mizuki plays her role of fighting champion really well. It was a great, intense title fight, though, that really shows Yamashita is the best ace wrestler around today.

Rating: 8.5/10

#11
Mistico vs Soberano Jr.
“2/3 Falls”
CMLL Super Viernes
September 1, 2023

A great main event all-tecnico match that saw Soberano Jr. play subtle heel, teasing the greatness that was later to come in the year. Mistico’s comebacks and babyface fire are unmatched in 2023, and the amazing spots the both of them pull off are unmatched as well. I’ve seen few matches with this many amazing spots that didn’t feel like a spotfest.

Rating: 8.75/10

#10
Atlantis y El Dandy y Lizmark y El Hijo del Santo vs Blue Panther y Dr. Wagner Jr. y El Felino y Negro Casas
“Torneo de Alto Rendimiento Torneo Cibernetico Match”
CMLL Homenaje A Salvador Lutteroth
March 22, 1996

All these absolute legends go in there and have a fast paced Survivor Series like match. Great matwork, great flying, great storytellingb and action. It’s like comfort food.

Rating: 8.75/10

#9
Shinjiro Ohtani (c) vs Ultimo Dragon (c)
“UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight & NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship vs IWGP Junior Heavyweight & WWF Light Heavyweight Championship, J-Crown Tournament Semi-Final Match”
NJPW G1 Climax
August 4, 1996

Ohtani is such a beast here, but luckily, Dragon is along for the ride as this hit some high levels. The start was really exciting, the middle was some fun matwork, but the real joy was the finishing stretches. All the hot moves were expertly timed, and the crowd was great. I could watch 1996 Ohtani all day long.

Rating: 9/10

#8
The Great Muta vs Jushin Liger
NJPW Super Grade Tag League VI
October 20, 1996

Another crazy brawl for Muta in 1996 and this one includes Liger missing Muta and stabbing a table with a lead pipe or something! Wild stuff. Bloody and chaotic with a fun Liger facepaint gimmick reveal. It was definitely memorable.

Rating: 9/10

#7
Gran Hamada, Gran Naniwa, Masato Yakushiji, Super Delfin, & The Great Sasuke vs Dick Togo, MEN’S Teioh, Shiryu, Shoichi Funaki, & TAKA Michinoku
Michinoku Pro From Lucha no Kuni: Heartbreak
December 16, 1996

These Days is so ingrained in my head as the greatest Lucharesu match of all time that I was surprised when I saw this match listed as better on Cagematch. Upon watching it, I don’t know if it’s better, but if it’s not, it’s damn close. I’m not sure what words to say about a match like this. 23 minutes of both teams throwing everything at each other to try to win, with no spots that bugged me. The high spots were tremendous, and the Kainetain DX team ups were all great. I’d say maybe it’s below the These Days match just because Kainetain DX didn’t do as much posing and team-up jerk moves. Regardless, a ridiculously great match.

Rating: 9.25/10

#6
Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa
“Real World Tag League Final”
AJPW Real World Tag League
December 6, 1996

I have been down on prime AJPW for a few years now, so I was curious to rewatch this match since I rated it so highly the first time I saw it. Watching it, I think my AJPW issue is that the style that is so popular today that I don’t like is a continuation of this wrestling. That said, the last ten minutes were unreal, and there is nothing in wrestling like Taue unleashed, dropping people with choke slams everywhere! Akiyama did good in the Kobashi role of trying to save Misawa’s ass too. A great match, but still, it felt like a lot of too much for me.

Rating: 9.25/10

#5
El Samurai (c) vs Shinjiro Ohtani
“UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship”
NJPW New Year Special
January 21, 1996

The majority of this match is matwork and limp attacks, which normally would be a match that would kind of bore me, but this match blew me away. Ohtani’s attack on Samurai’s leg was amazing, including the vicious springboard dropkick into it. Near the end, when they hit their bigger moves and the near falls were tremendous, and the armwork by Samurai to get to the finish was perhaps the best moment of the match. A real classic.

Rating: 9.25/10

#4
Mayu Iwatani (c) vs Syuri
“IWGP Women’s Championship”
Stardome Gate
January 4, 2024

This was one of the most violent non-weapons matches I have ever seen and an instant classic. Fast-paced and incredibly hard-hitting from the beginning, and it only built better throughout toward an incredible finish of Iwatani coming off the top like she was doing a standing moonsault, only to hit a reverse hurracanrana for the win. It was filled with insane moves and some of the most vicious headbutts you’ll ever see, but it never felt like too much, and kick outs for kick outs state. In fact, the big near fall came when Syuri’s leg was on the rope. A must watch match!

Rating: 9.25/10

#3
Dick Togo (c) vs Jushin Liger
“MPW British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship”
NJPW Skydiving J
June 17, 1996

This was a match I hadn’t seen in well over a decade, and boy, did it live up to my memories. Togo came in as a total asshole trying to destroy Liger. However, Liger wasn’t up for that shit and was a giant asshole back. It’s vicious, and everything hits so violently. You have the famous catching Togo off a dive and power bombing on the floor spot which was followed by another power bomb! Immediately, Liger enters the ring to strut! More great violent action continues on until we get some great stuff down the finishing stretch, including a flying dropkick into the arm, which Togo was using to pull himself up, and a top rope brainbuster. Great match!

Rating: 9.25/10

#2
El Dandy vs Negro Casas vs El Hijo del Santo
“Triangle Cabellera contra Mascara”
CMLL Super Viernes
December 6, 1996

I had no recollection of this match, but it’s listed as a classic and, for some reason, an 8/10 on my spreadsheet. I am glad to admit I was really wrong, as this is the classic people say it is.

The first segment, where Casas and Dandy team up to pin Santo, so he has to put up his mask, was really great storytelling. Casas and Dandy then had a mighty fun singles match, leading to Casas winning and taunting everyone. That brings us to the bulk of the match, the Santo vs Dandy match, with everything on the line. It becomes a bloody, violent death match with great dives and huge drama from there, and it becomes the perfect hair vs mask match. The last few moments are as good as wrestling gets. Even if you don’t like the lucha style, this is one you will certainly love.

Rating: 9.5/10

#1
Genichiro Tenryu vs The Great Muta
WAR Osaka Crush Night!
October 11, 1996

I had never seen this before, and I feel really stupid because this match is unbelievable. From the beginning, Muta shoots two different mist colours! He gains his advantage by breaking a glass bottle and digging that into Tenryu’s head for a while! Outside the ring, he piledrivers him on a table and then hits him with some kind of tripod or something. That wasn’t even enough, inside the ring he pulls out something and digs that more into the cut! Tenryu’s hope spots after that were great, and the cut-offs by Muta were on that level, too. Also, I’m not much of a chop person, but they looked great here, probably due to the other violence making it fit in. To get back to the outside, Tenryu switches to straight punches that look sick as fuck! Tenryu throws some chairs and a table into the ring to up the madness! However, more mist from Muta stops the attack before Tenryu can get too far ahead and uses chairs and the table to continue the assault, including moonsaulting Tenryu through it! Instead of going for the win, Muta attacks Tenryu’s second to steal his white shirt to use Tenryu’s blood to write on it and then choke him out. Muta thinks he’s all that, so he goes for the moonsault, which Tenryu counters with a massive top rope powerbomb and an enzuigiri, and one more powerbomb, which is countered with Muta misting him! Muta weirdly goes under the ring and emerges to use the mist again, but Tenryu covers his mouth with an unreal counter! That leads to the ultimate finish, and this is up there with Dr. Wagner Jr vs LA Par-K as one of the most amazing, crazy brawls ever! I am blown away!

Rating: 9.75/10

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