Tag Archives: Larry Zbyszko

The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month (March 2024)

I am going to do more shorter posts, so I’m shortening my monthly post down to the top 10 with honourable mentions. In March I had my live report from AEW Dynamite/Rampage, and in April I will have my WrestleMania weekend report. Hopefully lots more to come, because if I don’t write it down I’ll probably forget it!

#10
Mitsuharu Misawa (c) vs Toshiaki Kawada
“Triple Crown Championship”
AJPW 20th Anniversary Giant Series
October 21, 1992

This was their typical really good, but doesn’t do a lot for me matches. The highlights were the hot start and great finishing sequence, but the middle portion really brought this down for me.

Rating: 7.75/10

#9
Hanan vs MIRAI
“Cinderella Tournament Second Round Match”
Stardom Cinderella Tournament
Match 10, 2024

Hanan worked as the underdog and was able to survive MIRAI’s initial onslaught. Her judo throws continue to impress. As the match built the crowd was solidly behind Hanan as they both hit their amazing offense and had changes to win. The finish was amazing! Maybe the best Hanan has ever looked.

Rating: 7.75/10

#8
Giulia vs Tam Nakano
Stardom Cinderella Tournament
March 20, 2024

This has been my favourite feud in forever and with Giulia leaving in the Stardom split, this is their final match. I’m thankful we are alteast getting it, even if it’s a 15 minute time limit match in the middle of the show.

They seemed more focused on hating each other instead of working a match. Stiff slaps, stiff kicks, stiff headbutts, and using each other’s moves to show each other up. It’s violent and emotional, but it does not giving the focus or time to make a true classic like most of the rest of the matches in the feud.

Rating: 8/10

#7
Shark Tsuchiya (c) vs Megumi Kudo
“FMW Independent Women’s & WWA Women’s Championship No Ropes Barbed-Wire Current Explosion Barricade Double Hell Death Match”
FMW Fighting Creation: 8th Anniversary Show
April 29, 1997

This was filled with some insane spots like Shark being thrown from the ring to the floor onto the barbed wire, which exploded and may have been the most nuts! They did a good job of building to the spots and setting up Kudo has overcoming the champion. I could live without the sickle as a weapon, though. Another really wild spot was Kudo getting power bombed onto the barbed-wire explosion! They even had fire, too. This was a pretty damn good death match, and I’m not usually into those.

Rating: 8/10

#6
Hiroshi Hase & Keiji Muto (c) vs Brad Armstrong & Scott Norton
“IWGP Tag Team Championships”
NJPW Fighting Spirit
February 10, 1992

Scott Norton is unreal in this match. He does like 10 presses of Hase above his head, nails a vicious lariat to Hase after his giant swing, and has a perfect big man offense throughout the match. Hase and Muto are pretty good double teaming and take out Armstrong most of the match, and Armstrong sells it well. The match really excels with Norton there, though. The finish is hot!

Rating: 8/10

#5
Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs Larry Zbyszko & Steve Austin
WCW SuperBrawl II
February 29, 1992

Dustin Rhodes is the best babyface tag wrestler of all time, and he was amazing in this, playing face-in-peril with great hope spots. Austin and especially Zbyszko were just the best dick tag team cheating at every moment. Before Dustin was the face-in-peril, Windham was, and I loved how they would constantly toss him outside and attack him while distracting the referee. The finish was very satisfying with Windham getting his revenge for Larry breaking his hand!

Rating: 8/10

#4
Mayumi Ozaki & Reiko Amano vs Megumi Kudo & RIE
“Dress Up Wild Tag Team Match”
JWP A Life in the Battle
April 8, 1997

Dress Up Wild means wearing regular clothes, and you can use weapons. RIE is Bad Nurse Nakamura, and Reiko is Carlos Amano.

This is a nasty, bloody brawl with stiff shots and lots of weapons, including a chain, an unbreakable table, and a baseball bat. There are some really great moments here, like coming off the top rope with the bat, but the opponent is walking away, so you barely hit them. Makes it feel more real. Another great moment is when they chain Kudo up into the corner, so she can barely reach them for a save. This sets up the barbed-wire match with Ozaki-Kudo perfectly. It would be higher, but it’s JWP, so there was a big of drag as they went to long before the finishing sequence.

Rating: 8/10

#3
Christian Cage vs Adam Copeland
“AEW TNT Championship I Quit Match”
AEW Dynamite
March 20, 2024

Thoughts posted on my live report of that show here.

Rating: 8.5/10

#2
El Dandy vs Negro Casas
“CMLL World Middleweight Title Tournament Final 2/3 Falls”
CMLL on Televisa
July 3, 1992, Aired July 5, 1992

The first two falls were filled with amazing submissions and matwork that built into an incredible final fall with great nearfalls. If you like the technical wrestling this is a must watch match.

Rating: 8.75/10

#1 “The Best Match I Watched in March 2024”
Genichiro Tenryu & Koki Kitahara vs Kengo Kimura & Shiro Koshinaka
WAR on October 23, 1992

Kimura & Koshinaka are billed as the “Anti-Players Association” and this is near the beginning of the NJPW vs WAR feud and the crowd is INTO IT!

The NJPW folks cheat like moffos, taking every shortcut they can. They make Tenryu & Kitahara bleed and are constantly in advantage with double teams and heel work. This all makes the crowd wilder. The whole match feels chaotic and is exactly what you want from a promotional war. The visuals of Tenryu giving the NJPW team looks when they would cheat were pure art. The comeback and build to the finish by Tenryu with some of the kickouts was lovely madness! A great must watch brawl!

Rating: 9/10

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1992 Match of the Year List

A truly stacked year for matches, with over half being on my top 100 greatest matches ever list!

Honourable Mentions

  • Royal Rumble Match, WWF, January 19
  • Big Van Vader & Crusher Bigelow vs Hiroshi Hase & Keiji Muto, NJPW, May 1
  • Big Van Vader vs Sting, WCW, July 12
  • Aja Kong & Bull Nakano vs Akira Hokuto & Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, August 15
  • Akira Hokuto & Bull Nakano vs Combat Toyoda & Megumi Kudo, FMW, September 19

Now, onto the list!

#10
Atsushi Onita, El Hijo del Santo, & Tarzan Goto vs Horace Boulder, Negro Casas, & Tim Patterson
“2/3 Falls”
FMW in Los Angeles
May 16
California State Gymnasium

From The Best Matches I Watched in February 2024 post:

A famous and insane match. It’s 2/3 Falls with two referees like a lucha match, but this is no lucha match. Well, it kind of is, as Santo and Casas put on a lucha clinic. However, the others do wild and crazy brawling all around them and the arena. It really needs to be seen to be believed.

#9
Sting vs Big Van Vader
“King of Cable Tournament Final”
WCW Starrcade “BattleBowl/The Lethal Lottery”
December 28
Omni Coliseum

From The Best Matches I Watched in February 2024 post:

This one takes the blueprint from GAB and ups it! They added a Vader beatdown segment to start the match before Sting unloads! The way Vader gets back on offense, with Sting missing a Stinger splash into the guardrail, is great! Vader’s control segment is even better here, and Sting fights back so well. Although the rope and dope moment was not paid off, the finish of Sting caching Vader off the top into a slam ruled.

#8
Masahiro Chono vs Rick Rude
“NWA World Heavyweight Title G1 Climax Final Match”
NJPW G1 Climax
August 12
Ryogoku Kokugikan

From The Best Matches I Watched in February 2024 post:

To me, Rick Rude feels like the most American style wrestler ever. Chono is one of the most NJPW style wrestlers ever. They’ve had a match in WCW that was dogshit, but I knew this was good because I saw it like two decades ago. Watching it now, I was blown away. Rude adjusts to NJPW so well, but doesn’t give up his essence, he just adds more fighting spirit spots and more stiffness. He even still does some of his overselling silliness and his prematch promo! The knack on this match is the middle gets a little routine, before they start hitting their huge moves to bring this home. The crowd was so into Chono which made all the nearfalls hit even harder. Really a tremendous match and an amazing Rude performance.

#7
Bull Nakano (c) vs Aja Kong
“WWWA World Championship”
AJW Wrestlemarinepiad
April 25
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

The first of two Bull Nakano vs Aja Kong title matches on this list. Maybe this is a better match, but the other match had the special ending. This is the match that proved Kong could beat Nakano, even though the bloody beaten Nakano was able to pull the win. The staredown was one of the best in wrestling history. This is textbook wrestling!

#6
Kyoko Inoue (c) vs Akira Hokuto
“All Pacific Championship”
AJW Dream Rush In Kawasaki
November 26
Kawasaki City Gymnasium

A match this great was actually overshadowed by two better matches on the show! This two tried to prove they were the best starting with a technical title match and it building and building and having one of the best finishing sequenes in wrestling history.

#5
Akira Hokuto vs Bull Nakano
“Steel Cage”
AJW on July 30
Prefectural Gymnasium

This is a short and violent bloody cage match with two insane spots off the top of the cage. The only thing holding this match back is the crowd not caring for some reason.

#4
Sting’s Squadron (Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, & Sting) vs The Dangerous Alliance (Arn Anderson, Beautiful Bobby, Larry Zbyszko, Rick Rude, & Steve Austin)
“War Games”
WCW WrestleWar
May 17
Jacksonville Coliseum

This or the 1987 version are the greatest War Games ever. It’s such a simple and great way to do a wrestling match. This had it all. If you’ve only seen modern War Games, this is a must-watch.

#3
Bull Nakano (c) vs Aja Kong
WWWA World Championship
AJW Dream Rush In Kawasaki
November 26
Kawasaki City Gymnasium

What a beautiful end to the classic Bull Nakano title reign. Kong has Bison in her corner, who retired earlier in the show, and they add one more classic to their classic feud! I definitely cried after this match!

#2
Danny Kroffat & Doug Furnas (c) vs Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
“All Asia Tag Team Championship”
AJPW Super Power Series
May 25
Prefectural Sports Center

My #1 and #2 could flip flop and they both are contenders for the greatest tag team match of all-time. You’ve all seen them and if you haven’t, don’t waste any more time.

1992 Match of the Year
Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada (c) vs Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki
“WWWA Tag Team Championship 2/3 Falls”
AJW Dream Rush In Kawasaki
November 26
Kawasaki City Gymnasium

There you have it! What a stacked year!

Coming Soon

The top 25 wrestlers of 1992 list should be ready shortly. Plus, at the end of every month, I’ll write up the top 25 matches I watched during that time. I am hoping to work on some smaller posts as well, covering various shows and the 2020 Joshi Yearbook. I’ll also be live at AEW Dynamite in March in Toronto.

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Discord

We also have a lovely discord community to discuss the greatest wrestler ever project and anything else under the sun. It’s an open and welcoming group, and I am very proud of it. Everyone is welcome:

Join:

https://t.co/0pOARzaXHD

We also do weekly watch-along parties with chat!

How Can You Help?

Callen-Lorde is the global leader in LGBTQ healthcare. Since the days of Stonewall, we have been transforming lives in LGBTQ communities through excellent comprehensive care, provided free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, we are continuously pioneering research, advocacy, and education to drive positive change around the world because we believe healthcare is a human right.

Please donate to Callen Lorde!

The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month (February 2024)

A fun month of watching as I transitioned from 1996 to 1992. The current stuff is weird. Stardom is dying. CMLL brought in Tessa. WWE is hot, but maybe with Mania closer, I’ll watch more. AEW is hinting at pushing women more, so maybe. I don’t know. 1992 has been a lot of fun, though!

#25
Miyuki Takase (c) vs Nagisa Nozaki
“AWG Championship”
AWG Beginning Pro
March 15, 2020

From the 2020 Joshi Yearbook Volume 3 post:

I loved the early brawling in this. After the brawling segment, it became a fun go for the win type title match that was very enjoyable and high energy!

Rating: 7/10

#24
Mr. Hughes & Vader vs Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner
WCW Clash of the Champions XVIII
January 21, 1992

Steiners throwing around huge dudes is always a fun match. This is before the big Vader push, so it feels kind of weird seeing him losing in the opener, although they did keep him looking strong.

Rating: 7/10

#23
Konami & Unagi Sayaka vs Masato Tanaka & Minoru Suzuki
Unagi Sayaka Produce Tono Wa Goranshin: 1-Ban Venus
January 7, 2024

A fun match where Konami and Sayaka work from underneath and do a great job of inserting hope spots throughout. Sayaka is one of my favourite underdog working around, and she shone here. I really want to see a Minoru Suzuki vs Unagai Sayaka singles match now!

Rating: 7.25/10

#22
Devil Masami & Hikari Fukuoka (c) vs Mayumi Ozaki & Reiko Amano
“JWP Tag Team Championship”
JWP on February 9, 1997

The future Carlos Amano stepped it up big time in this match. A really cool moment had Devil on so match of a rampage that she had to be held back. She’s really the master of getting the most out of these JWP tag matches! The finishing segment was absolutely great!

Rating: 7.25/10

#21
Mankind vs The Undertaker
“Buried Alive Match”
In Your House: Buried Alive
October 20, 1996

The WWF was so sanitized at this time, but this had a real fight feel. Maybe the dirt and shovels tricked my brain. The weapons and vicious moves around ringside looked really gritty though. There was even a nice nearfall in this, which was surprising. The finish was a little abrupt, and the post-match stuff was super silly, but this is pretty damn good.

Rating: 7.25/10

#20
Chihiro Hashimoto (c) vs Syuri
“Sendai Girls World Championship”
Sendai Girls Don’t Forget That Day
March 8, 2020

From the 2020 Joshi Yearbook Volume 3 post:

These two are always awesome against each other: the kickboxer vs the wrestler. They didn’t hit the high levels they had in other matches, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good match.

Rating: 7.25/10

#19
Jushin Liger vs Rey Misterio Jr.
WCW Starrcade
December 29, 1996

A real dream match at the time that was both disappointing but really good. The expectations for the two greatest juniors of all time squaring off for the first time were probably too high. Liger plays bully heel, which is fun, and Rey was amazing working underneath. There was a little disconnect between them and definatelwy the crowd that drags this down.

Rating: 7.25/10

#18
Kenta Kobashi (c) vs Stan Hansen
“Triple Crown Championship”
AJPW Summer Action Series II
September 5, 1996

These two have had absolute classics before, but this does not hit that level. There are a lot of fun elements, and it’s absolutely hilarious to see Kobashi win with a lariat.

Rating: 7.5/10

#17
Cactus Jack vs W*ING Kanemura
“Barbed Wire Barricade Spider Net Glass Crash Death Match”
FMW Fighting Creation: 7th Anniversary
May 5, 1996

I am always very hit or miss on deathmatches, and I am still not sure what the key ingredient is to make one great or good or bad. It’s one of those undefinable things. This was violent and brutal and looked like it was a bad time for everyone involved. It did build well, but it’s not a match for someone who dislikes deathmatches.

Rating: 7.75/10

#16
Chigusa Nagayo vs Mayumi Ozaki
GAEA Victory Road
February 23, 1997

The Oz Academy and GAEA feud wages on, this time with the two head bosses having a vicious brawl. They use a pipe, table, a chain and have blood. Both pull out all the stops and work towards their strengths, speed and flying, with Ozaki and Chigusa being more grounded and power-based. It goes a little long, and at some point, Ozaki has problems with her bottoms and throws on some random pants to finish the match. Ozaki going for a top rope splash and Nagayo catching her with a kick to the head was one of the best versions of that I have ever seen. The finish was cool, too. Post-match, the feud continues!

Rating: 7.75/10

#15
Big Van Vader & Crusher Bigelow vs Masa Saito & Scott Norton
NJPW Masters of Wrestling: DRAGON THE REVIVAL
July 8, 1992

This ruled. Both Norton and Saito did the beat up one guy and call in the other because they proved the dude they were facing was nothing! When Vader came in to face Norton, they did a pose off. The first five minutes ruled of just big stiffs beating the shit out of each other with nobody backing down. It remained cool the rest of the way, although the finish was a tad flat. I think Vader-Norton is magic every time they are against each other.

Rating: 7.75/10

#14
Akira Hokuto & Chigusa Nagayo vs KAORU & Maiko Matsumoto
GAEA Winning Road
February 16, 1997

Hokuto and Nagayo vs a youngster and a rookie is the most OP match ever, but that doesn’t matter as it rules! The first half is Matsumoto getting destroyed by the heelish legends until she can finally make a hot tag to KAORU, who does her awesome flying. The rest is hope spots and the young team trying to battle back, but not having enough to overcome.

Rating: 7.75/10

#13
Arn Anderson, Beautiful Bobby, & Larry Zbyszko vs Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, & Ron Simmons
WCW Clash of the Champions XVIII
January 21, 1992

This is Windham’s return and revenge match against Zbyszko for injuring his hand. It’s fast-paced, with a lot of heat done in a traditional tag format. Dustin plays face in peril, and he’s one of the best at this ever. The heels bump so well for all the babyface hope spots and comebacks, and the finish is perfect revenge, where Windham uses the cast for the win.

Rating: 7.75/10

#12
Akira Taue & Jumbo Tsuruta vs Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
AJPW New Year Giant Series
January 26, 1992

The young underdogs fight like dogs from underneath against the badass team of Taue and Tsuruta. The fire shown by Kobashi & Kikuchi was great but not matched by the badassness of Taue & Tsuruta. Great, more southern style tag, and the only flaw was Kikuchi getting a little too many kickouts at the end. Great match, though!

Rating: 8/10

#11
Black Tiger vs Shinjiro Otani
“Best of the Super Junior III: Block B”
NJPW Best of the Super Junior III
June 5, 1996

Eddie Guerrero starts off with fire and destroys Ohtani’s leg so well with amazing selling by Ohtani. The match progressed very well! Ohtani is just on fire during this period, with his mannerisms setting him above everyone else, and the crowd is so into him, making this feel even more special.

Rating: 8/10

#10
Mitsuharu Misawa (c) vs Akira Taue
“Triple Crown Championship”
AJPW Super Power Series
May 24, 1996

It was fun to watch as Taue relentlessly tried to put Misawa down, and it felt like time to end Misawa’s year-long reign. Misawa fights for his life basically just fending off Taue, but never really having control. It’s short and has an absolutely great finish, with Taue catching Misawa, who came off the top into a choke slam. The pop is great for Taue’s win!

Rating: 8/10

#9
Devil Masami vs Sakura Hirota
GAEA War Cry
January 19, 1997

This is the best sub five minute match ever! Hirota throws EVERYTHING at Masami and actually catches her off guard until Masami regains herself and crushes her! Chigusa Nagayo, Hirota’s second, jumps into the ring and hypes her up! Hirota is ready to run through walls and charges, which lasts a few seconds before Masami power bombs her to death!

Rating: 8.5/10

#
Bestia Salvaje vs Negro Casas
“Hair vs Hair 2/3 Falls”
CMLL on Televisa
October 18, 1996

From the opening moments of Salvaje attacking before the bell, this was a whirlwind of a match. A tremendously great selling performance by Casas. He was a great underdog fighting back for his life and to save his hair. Salvaje was relentless, and they kept this shorter and nonstop!

Rating: 8.5/10

#8
Mei Sera (c) vs Hazuki
“High Speed Championship”
Stardom 13th Anniversary Supreme Fight: Osaka Minami Rebellion
February 4, 2024

This was a classic High Speed match, and they work with such intensity and speed it’s a thing of beauty. Hazuki was so great controlling the match, but Sera not only held her own but was amazing in this, too. I loved the segment outside the ring with Hazuki just tossing her like garbage outside before diving on her and the strike exchange, but the submission win nearfalls building to the finish was my favourite.

Rating: 8.5/10

#7
Ilja Dragunov (c) vs Trick Williams
“NXT Championship”
NXT Vengeance Day
February 4, 2024

This was about as good as WWE storytelling can get. Carmelo Hayes at ringside was perfect, supporting his friend but looks shot of envy throughout. Him picking him up to hype him up for the comeback was great too. Dragunov was a beast and Williams is a tremendous babyface who fought so well from underneath.

Rating: 8.75/10

#6
Jushin Liger (c) vs Shinjiro Otani
“IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship”
NJPW Hyper Battle
March 17, 1996

The first segment was Otani working the arm and Liger the leg, which was fine, but the match really picked up after the mat stuff. The nearfalls here were amazing. Liger and Otani were the most Liger and Otani I may have ever seen, as Liger was such a jerk and Otani such a goofball. Any match with a springboard dropkick to the arm is a massive plus for me, too. The selling by Otani of the big moves was unmatched here, especially on the palm strike finish.

Rating: 8.75/10

#5
Sting (c) vs Van Vader
“WCW World Heavyweight Championship”
WCW The Great American Bash
July 12, 1992

Sting starts off hot and takes it to Vader. It’s kind of nice to see Sting as the smaller guy. It allows him to do more of his fun flying. The real bulk and great part of the match is Vader destroying Sting, which was littered with hope spots. All of that is great. The finishing run had one spot I’m not sure I love or hate. Vader is on the top, and Sting puts him on his shoulders and walks him to the middle of the ring, and then just stands there. Forever. Just holds him up, struggling, before finally doing a Samoan drop. It was odd. Anyways, Vader ducked a Stinger Splash, where Sting gets busted open on the post and Vader power bombs him to death. After the post, they did a few moments of Sting having a concussion, which, in retrospect, is not fun to watch. Nitpicks aside, it’s a great star-making title change match!

Rating: 8.75/10

#4
Big Van Vader & Crusher Bigelow (c) vs Hiroshi Hase & Keiji Muto
“IWGP Tag Team Championship”
NJPW Explosion Tour
May 1, 1992

It featured Has had one of the best face-in-peril segments ever, where he bled so much while the monsters destroyed him. A hilarious moment is after Hase makes a comeback; Muto comes in and says, lets so move together and tells Hase to do a bridging suplex on Vader. It’s a few minutes before Muto is actually tagged in! It led to some fun moments, but was funny. It built well from there with nearfalls from both sides. Vader and Hase were the stars here and the finishing choke slam by Vader ruled.

Rating: 8.75/10

#3
Atsushi Onita, El Hijo del Santo, & Tarzan Goto vs Horace Boulder, Negro Casas, & Tim Patterson
“Best 2/3 Falls”
FMW in Los Angeles w/ WWA
May 16, 1992

A famous and insane match. It’s 2/3 Falls with two referees like a lucha match, but this is no lucha match. Well, it kind of is, as Santo and Casas put on a lucha clinic. However, the others do wild and crazy brawling all around them and the arena. It really needs to be seen to be believed.

Rating: 9/10

#2
Big Van Vader vs Sting
“King of Cable Tournament Final”
WCW Starrcade
December 28, 1992

This one takes the blueprint from GAB and ups it! They added a Vader beatdown segment to start the match before Sting unloads! The way Vader gets back on offense, with Sting missing a Stinger splash into the guardrail, is great! Vader’s control segment is even better here, and Sting fights back so well. Although the rope and dope moment was not paid off, the finish of Sting caching Vader off the top into a slam ruled.

Rating: 9/10

“The Best Match I Watched in February 2024”
#1
Masahiro Chono vs Rick Rude
“NWA World Heavyweight Championship G1 Climax Final”
NJPW G1 Climax
August 12, 1992

To me, Rick Rude feels like the most American style wrestler ever. Chono is one of the most NJPW style wrestlers ever. They’ve had a match in WCW that was dogshit, but I knew this was good because I saw it like two decades ago. Watching it now, I was blown away. Rude adjusts to NJPW so well, but doesn’t give up his essence, he just adds more fighting spirit spots and more stiffness. He even still does some of his overselling silliness and his prematch promo! The knack on this match is the middle gets a little routine, before they start hitting their huge moves to bring this home. The crowd was so into Chono which made all the nearfalls hit even harder. Really a tremendous match and an amazing Rude performance.

Rating: 9/10

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Discord

We also have a lovely discord community to discuss the greatest wrestler ever project and anything else under the sun. It’s an open and welcoming group, and I am very proud of it. Everyone is welcome:

Join:

https://t.co/0pOARzaXHD

We also do weekly watch-along parties with chat!

How Can You Help?

Callen-Lorde is the global leader in LGBTQ healthcare. Since the days of Stonewall, we have been transforming lives in LGBTQ communities through excellent comprehensive care, provided free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, we are continuously pioneering research, advocacy, and education to drive positive change around the world because we believe healthcare is a human right.

Please donate to Callen Lorde!

The Best of The WWF Volume 1

best of the wwf 1

We are finally ready for the third and final of the first day release Coliseum Home Video tapes. Vince is the host again and he informs us that this tape chronicles the history of the WWF.

Hulk Hogan & Andre the Giant
vs
Big John Studd, Adrian Adonis, & Dick Murdoch
(7/15/1984, Meadowlands)

Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Red Bastien

This is a pretty standard southern tag match, but with double the face in peril segments. Yes, Andre plays face in peril here for a bit.

The highlight was Andre putting all three guys in the corner and then squashing them with the help of Hogan. For some reason Andre ran Studd off later in the match, making it two on two. A fun big butt splash by Andre for the win.

Overall a pretty standard tag match here, but with lots of heat and charisma. Seeing Murdoch and Adonis bump for Hogan and Andre was fun enough.

Rating: **

Fabulous Moolah w/ Lou Albano vs Wendi Richter w/ Cyndi Lauper
(7/23/1984, Madison Square Gardens)

Pre-match has Okerlund interview Captain Lou Albano and Moolah. Moolah is pretty low key and Albano does not think she can be beaten. She has been champion for 27 years!

Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Gene Okerlund

I won’t be able to rate this one, as there are a lot of video cuts. Cyndi Lauper is by far the highlight of this whole thing. She’s so great cheering on Richter and getting in Moolah and Albano’s faces.

The finish has Moolah go for the back suplex, but Richter gets her shoulder up at two to get the win and the title.

Post match Moolah nails the referee with a really stiff dropkick.

Gorilla Monsoon vs Baron Mikel Sculina

Announcer: Vince McMahon

Muhammad Ali is in the front row. After all the hype on Titans of Wrestling, I am very excited to see Sculina.

The match is nothing and this is all about the angle. Although Baron has a nice flurry to start, before Gorilla took him apart with chops.

The poor Baron just walks away as Ali takes off his jacket, shirt, and shoes to go after Gorilla.

The two circle, before Gorilla grabs him in an airplane spin and gets him all dizzy. Ali’s seconds lead him away. Such a weird angle. I guess this helps establish that Antonio Inoki can defeat Ali in a fight, but Ali looked like such a punk.

After the match Gorilla gives a great interview, using his classic “this guy doesn’t know a wrist lock from a wrist watch” commentary line. Gorilla finishes with “Great boxer, terrible wrestler.”

Jimmy Snuka vs Bobby Bass
(10/29/1984, Hamilton, Ontario)

“No Class” Bobby Bass sneak attacks, but gets quickly squashed by Snuka and the Super Fly Splash.

Piper’s Pit with Jimmy Snuka

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This is the classic segment where Piper hits Snuka with coconuts and runs away before Snuka can kill him. If you haven’t seen this angle, watch it now.

Jimmy Snuka vs Roddy Piper
(8/25/1984, Madison Square Gardens)

Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Lord Alfred Hayes

This was a super heated revenge match for Snuka. Piper got almost nothing in, as Snuka beat the crap out of him. Snuka even took Piper to the floor, ran him into the post and a chair to bust him open. The reaction from the crowd of Snuka realizing Piper was bleeding was amazing.

The finish saw Snuka go for the splash, but Piper gets up. As Snuka flies, Piper knocks him over the top for a count out win. This perfectly sets up rematches.

rating: *** 1/4

Cobra vs Black Tiger
(12/28/1984, Madison Square Gardens)

Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Gene Okerlund

The winner here will get the vacant WWF World Junior Heavyweight Title. From what we saw this looked like a well built NJPW style juniors match. There was a lot of nice matwork which built to some hot stuff, especially for the WWF in 1984. There was even a tope. Compare this match to the early Starrcade junior matches with the likes of Denny Brown and it’s staggering.

The finish was super hot with a Tombstone by Tiger for a nearfall. The second attempt was countered into a Tombstone and followed by a flying senton for the win. It’s really a shame that the WWF didn’t continue with Cobra and try to build a division around these guys.

We now get the build to Gene Okerlund wrestling.

Day 1

It’s 5:00 AM and Okerlund is smoking a cigar. That’s really hilarious. Hogan shows up and is pissed, tells him to throw away the bacon and eggs and gives him a real breakfast. Raw eggs. Hello salmonella!

They go for a run and Okerlund stops to grab a beer and a brat. Hogan is mad again.

Day 2

Weight training at the gym montage set to the Coliseum Home Video music.

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Day 3

This time Hogan comes in at 6:00 AM. No cigar, so there is progress (although he might had finished it in the last hour). They go and run stadium steps. Gene trying to go up steps with Hogan on his back is pretty funny stuff.

Day 4

We get more illusions to Rocky as they run up steps in Minneapolis. They both think they got it, so look out Mr. Fuji and George Steele. 4 days does not seem like enough training for Okerlund.

Hulk Hogan & Gene Okerlund vs George Steele & Mr. Fuji
(8/26/1984, Met Center)

Announcer: Vince McMahon

To start, Hogan rips off Gene’s shirt to leave him in just trunks and boots. Vince yells “Oh my what acion!”.

I love that the match starts with Fuji and Hogan. What a mismatch. This match is pretty edited as well. We do get one of the most annoying Hogan spots, as he high fives Okerlund and the referee counts it as a tag. Luckily Okerlund runs between Steele’s legs to make a tag. Hogan does almost all the work, but Okerlund blind tags in at the end. Hogan slams him onto of Fuji for the win.

Afterwards we get a double pose session with Okerlund and Hogan.

Bruno Sammartino vs Larry Zbyzsko
(1/22/1980, Allentown, PA)

Announcer: Vince McMahon

This is a pretty famous television match. The two are still friends and are student and teacher at this point.

The story of the match is that Larry is trying to win, but Bruno lets up every time he has the advantage. It’s really a great story and seeing Larry getting more and more angry every time is awesome.

Eventually Larry gets tossed and comes back in super pissed. He gets real aggressive and stomps the shit out of Bruno. He grabs a chair and nails him a few times leaving him bloody.

This is perfect slow build story telling.

Rating: *** 1/2

Bruno gives a promo after being weighted in before the cage match. Bruno is confident.

Bruno Sammrtino vs Larry Zbyszko
(“Cage Match” 8/9/1980, Showdown at Shea)

Announcer: Vince McMahon

This was very similar to the Snuka-Piper match as it was all revenge and very little offense for the heel. Except here Bruno beats up Larry and then walks out. Nothing much to say about this one, except it’s just a good pay off to a long feud.

Rating: ***

In Conclusion:

Really a good mix of things from the current product and the past. Nothing you have to go out of your way to see (except maybe Snuka on Piper’s Pit), but a good way to spend 90 minutes.

Next Tuesday, I will be back with a review of the “Most Unusual Matches” tape. Remember to send in your requests for the “Fan Favourites” match that I will review on Thursday.