Northern Lights Bomb Wrestling Review #1
Hey folks!
Welcome to the Northern Lights Bomb Wrestling Review #1!
The DEAN~!!! show I reviewed here was such a great tribute to Dean Rasmussen. Dean was such a huge part of my early getting to know wrestling outside the WWF period that I want to pay homage to him, as well. So, here we are, this new format. In the past, I updated you on what I was watching right now with weekly or monthly posts ranking the matches, and this will be taking its place. Yes, it will update you on what I’m watching, but it will not just cover the great matches in a list form. I feel like that method was getting rather limiting.
The first one is a little slim. It was a rough week watching the Maple Leafs try everything to give me home, only to tear it apart in game 7 overtime. That said, I did get in some good stuff!
*****
My Greatest Wrestler Ever (GWE) Project list for 2026 will not be like my list from 2016. I am trying to go through as many years as possible, put together Wrestler of the Year lists, and then use that to build my overall GWE list. That means I’m watching random 2007 matches at the moment!
Arisa Nakajima & Azumi Hyuga
vs
Meiko Satomura & Tyrannosaurus Okuda
(Sendai Girls Live Vol. 13: Dignity, 2007-10-05)
The great Kadaveri sent this to me as an obscure 2007 match that covers many of the WOTY contenders, and, oh boy, was it a blast! Of course, Nakajima and Satomura are all-time greats, but every time I see Hyuga, I start to think she’s one of the most untalked about greats around. She’s such a great Joshi face! Okuda is someone I forgot existed, but she had the best name and turns out to be a pretty cool Satomura trainee in her mold.
Satomura is a complete beast here, and every time she’s in the match, it gets better and better. That’s not to discount the others who were all good, and the match picked up for the last third. The finishing sequence with Satomura going for it was great, only for her to be taken out with a death knee! Definitely a match to watch! [7.25/10]
Azumi Hyuga vs Kaori Yoneyama
(JWP Climax, 2007-12-09)
Continuing with Hyuga, we have her in a big title defense against the future Fukigen Death, another of the all-time underrated great wrestlers.
It started off as a pretty traditional big title match, with Hyuga getting the chance to play the ace favourite and Yoneyama working completely from underneath. The match started to feel really special about 2/3 of the way when Yoneyama made a great comeback run. Her offense is unreal with the locomotion Germans and senton bombs! From here, all of the counters from both were so quick and unique. She does get cut off, though, on the floor. A superplex is countered, and Yoneyama hits an insane Psicosis senton to the floor! As they continued the struggle was real between them, especially them fighting over a top rope move. The counters continued to be unique and great with such speed and execution. Yoneyama has such amazing babyface fire near the end here. However, there were a few too many kick outs, and the finish felt a little anti-climatic, keeping it from a Greatest Match Ever type match. Great, though, and should be watched. [8.5/10]
*****
Moving on to current wrestling! I skimmed through WWE Backlash France from May 4th. This is the first taped event I can remember seeing from France since 1989. That show had that amazing Rockers vs Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, which you need to watch. The crowd was great then, and it was absolutely electric on this show.
The opener was Kevin Owens and Randy Orton against The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga. It starts with a brawl that security fails to break up, which causes Nick Aldiss, the GM, to come out and make it a Street Fight. This was a fun all over the arena brawl. Owens doing a splash off the barricade, followed by Orton teasing one only to step down and then ram Tonga into the steps was a pretty great moment. This match wasn’t incredibly violent, but the super hot crowd and out of control plunder nature of the match really made it a blast. It’s still jarring to hear Michael Cole mention IWGP Titles and wrestlers like EVIL at WWE events. Another jarring moment was when a heel (Tonga) realized a babyface made a comeback behind him because the crowd went nuts. After Owens Falcon Arrow’s Tonga through four chairs, it looks over, but Tanga Loa debuts breaks up the pin and gives The Bloodline the win. (7.25/10)
Next had Bayley defending her title against Naomi and Tiffany Stratton. It was fun, but a three-way. As others have said, Stratton is going to be a star; she has so much talent. I skipped over Damian Priest defending his title against Jey Uso. Asuka and Kairi Sane defended the tag titles against Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill was next and good! KAIRI, as a stooging heel getting killed by Belair and Cargill, is pretty great pro-wrestling. There was a weird referee moment where he claimed Kairi wasn’t legal and didn’t count a pin but then just let it continue with her in the ring. What kept this match off the spreadsheet was the stretch after the hot tag until the finish, which felt useless. The finish was great, though, with Jade doing an insane power move, followed by Belair doing her move onto Asukla onto Kairi for the win. I skipped over the main of Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles. People seemed to love it, but I can’t bring myself around to watch AJ Styles anymore.
Probably worth a watch, as everything was decent, and the crowd was amazing!
*****
Joshi Night is a great tradition on Discord. Every Sunday at 4 PM EST, we gather to watch Joshi chronologically and text chat here. It’s always a great way to end the week, and this one was no exception. If you miss us live, everything is achieved on that link, so check it out!
We started with two matches from AJW’s August 22, 1997 show. It was entitled “Osaka Queen Holy Night,” which is fun. I love show titles for some reason. We started with LCO (Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda) vs Kyoko Inoue & Manami Toyota, and it was a great start. Literally, with LCO bringing in chairs and causing a crowd brawl. It settled into a pretty fun tag match with some big moves and the fun of LCO breaking up pins with chairs. This wasn’t quite the level of the last few LCO matches we watched, but it’s worth watching. [7/10] That was followed up by this weird LLPW vs AJW tag match showcasing Kumiko Maekawada & Yumiko Hotta vs Mizuki Endo & Shinobu Kandori. If you like kicks, submissions, and shitty stuff, this was your jam. The highlight here was Kandori and Hotta both removing their shoes and socks and then doing an old school UFC grappling contest in the later stages of the match. If you like this stuff, it might be worth a watch.
Onto an LLPW show from September 11, 1997, with a trios team of Carol Midori, Mikiko Futagami, & Yasha Kurenai vs Harley Saito, Mizuko Endo, & Noriyo Tateno, and it was a match. Fun stuff mixed in, but too long and too much happening with no purpose.
Next we get three matches from GAEA Double Destiny from September 20, 1997. We start with a fun tag match with KAORU & Sakura Hirota vs Sonoko Kato & Toshiyo Yamada. It’s wild how much better Yamada has been since joining GAEA after years of middling time in AJW. Hirota is a joy to watch with her enthusiasm, and this was just a good old bag of fun tag match! We follow that up with the biggest disappointment of the night. Kyoko Inoue vs Meiko Satomura is joined in progress about halfway through, and it looked freaking great, but there is no full version out there. Satomura worked the arm like a boss, and Inoue’s selling was unreal. This was the first time I can remember Satomura looking like such a big star. The nearfalls were great, and you have to see the back suplex Inoue throws while leaning to the finish!
We then get Aja Kong vs Chigusa Nagayo! I know!!! Weirdly this legendary battle is not the main event, but there is a second title match with Devil Masami facing the winner, so I guess that makes sense. Nagayo had a ridiculously cool mask and cape prematch!
This had one of my new favourite starts to a match ever, as Kong immediately hit an Uraken and then kicked about six of her soy canisters into the crowd. She then grabbed the remaining two and bonked them off Nagayo’s head into the crowd as well! So great! We settled into a dream match between two badass legends that went as well as possible without it being a violent war. Nagayo worked the arm of Kong well here and then hit Hokuto’s top rope flipping dive, which she learned on our last week of watching from teaming with her. Another great nearfall was the top rope Running Three! That starts a great finishing sequence with Nagayo trying her own Uraken, but Kong ducks and hits hers. Kong then goes for the win with a final Uraken, which gets countered into an armbar for a quick tapout! Amazing finish and an amazing match. Go watch it! [8.5/10]
The final match of Joshi Night was Hikari Fukuoka defending her JWP Openweight Title against my favourite Command Bolshoi, also from September 20, 1997. This is a match I had seen before, and I love it. It’s all about Bolshoi trying to prove she is more than just a clown and be a serious title contender. She sneak attacks from the beginning and fights so hard to keep up with the larger Fukuoka. So much so that she unmasks herself to try to hype herself up and prove she is an equal. Some of the dives by Fukuoka were unreal, and the avoidance of each other’s big strikes was great. During the match, Fukuoka worked over Bolshoi’s legs a lot, trying to ground her, too. After some killer nearfalls, it all ends with Fukuoka hitting one of her best moonsault double stomps ever for the win. She CRUSHES her. A great must watch match as well! [8.5/10]
*****
That’s all I could get to this week, but next week, there will be more!
You can discuss this on Twitter!
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The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month (April 2024)
With WrestleMania weekend, I won’t have too much new to say here, but here is my list. Note every match, even the honourable mentions, are 8/10 rated or higher. It’s been a great month of watching for me!
Honourable Mentions
- Aja Kong vs Kyoko Inoue, AJW, August 10, 1997
- Aja Kong vs Manami Toyota, AJW, August 20, 1997
- Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda vs Kumiko Maekawa & Tomoko Watanabe, AJW, August 20, 1997
- Meiko Satomura vs Shinobu Kandori, LLPW, February 12, 2007
- Chris Hero vs Eddie Kingston, CZW, April 7, 2007
- Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuinness, ROH, June 9, 2007
- Cheerleader Melissa vs Wesna, ChickFight, June 17, 2007
- Chris Hero vs Equinox, Chikara, November 7, 2007
- Daniel Makabe vs Timothy Thatcher, ACTION DEAN~!!!, April 4, 2024
- Masha Slamovich vs Syuri, GCW/JCW, April 4
- Lyra Valkyrie vs Roxanne Perez, NXT, April 6, 2024
- Mayu Iwatani vs Sareee, Stardom, April 27, 2024
#11
Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Mistico
“Best 2/3 Falls”
CMLL Super Viernes
July 27, 2007
Wagner comes out as the most bad ass rudo in the first fall, just beating down Mistico and then pinning him with a vicious power bomb and ripping off his mask! The second fall, Mistico returns with a new mask and jumps from the balcony onto Wagner, but soon Wagner has ripped his mask and blooded him until a great comeback to even it off. In the final fall, Mistico fights back and rips Wagner’s mask. The crowd is really hot for this, and they work a really dramatic ending with Mitsico so great as the underdog! The speed at which Mistico hits dives is impressive. The real flaw of the match is that after Wagner power bombs Mistico on the floor and the doctors make sure he’s not dead, someone attacks Wagner, laying him out for Mistico to jump back in and win. Regardless, a great match,
#10
John Cena (c) vs Randy Orton
“WWE Heavyweight Championship”
WWE SummerSlam
August 26, 2007
This match is shockingly great, as they go with a simpler structure and work in a more traditional format. Orton goes full work on the neck with headlocks and stomps, while Cena fights completely from underneath with great hope spots. The teases of the big moves were great, especially since this match wasn’t overloaded with those spots like most WWE main event matches of the time. Orton was so focused on the neck it was well paid off. The finish was a shocking surprise FU by Cena for the win; it was kind of a play on Orton’s RKO that was out of nowhere. A great match I had completely forgotten about.
#9
Roman Reigns (c) vs Cody Rhodes
“WWE Undisputed Universal Championship”
WWE WrestleMania XL: Sunday
April 7, 2024
Thoughts here, on my review of the full WrestleMania show.
#8
Chris Hero vs Eddie Kingston
“Last Man Standing”
IWA Mid South Petty Invitational: Night 2
September 29, 2007
You know this is going to be a fight when it starts with them already brawling, appearing through the curtains. It didn’t let up, and the first half of the match is brawling all over the arena. Chris Hero is the best, so logical and smart. Things like being disadvantaged and shoving the table into Kingston to get distance are perfect. Hero’s selling even makes Kingston’s Kawada chops look good. The stuff in the ring is even better, with Hero mostly in control and Kingston fighting from underneath. A lot of the work is on Kingston’s hand, which is great, but sadly, Kingston essentially abandons it later. A real stand-out spot was Hero hooking a Boston Crab and then putting a chair under him so he sat down, and the chair drove into the back of Kingston’s neck. He was so great in this. Kingston bled from under the eye, which added to the gritty feeling of the fight. The back-and-forth shoot head butts were disgusting. After using mostly chairs in the match, Hero got frustrated by Kingston just breaking the ten-count, so he grabbed the guardrail. This led to an amazing finishing sequence that ended with Hero taking a Saito Suplex on the guardrail. Absolute beast of a fight here!
#7
Rhea Ripley (c) vs Becky Lynch
“WWE Women’s World Championship”
WWE WrestleMania XL: Saturday
April 6, 2024
Thoughts here, on my review of the full WrestleMania show.
#6
Claudio Castagnoli vs El Generic
“Race to the Top Tournament Final”
ROH Race to the Top
July 28, 2007
Another amazing underdog performance from Generico, as he tries to play Cinderella in the tournament and upset the bigger, stronger favourite, Claudio. I love that it took its time to build the match up because, by the time we got to the nearfalls, in the end, they all felt very special. Generico had amazing selling and hope spots, and Claudio has a great power offense. A perfect marriage in styles.
#5
Ayako Hamada vs Meiko Satomura
“Battlefield WAR Tournament Final”
Sendai Girls Live Vol. 10
July 22, 2007
Apparently, 2007 was the year of the classic tournament finale matches. These two battled, mostly with some of the most brutal strikes ever. The kicks of both of them were unreal! The real contrast is that Satomura would go for submissions, especially working over Hamada’s shoulder, while Hamada would use flying to try to get the advantage. Everything they did was incredible and vicious, and the hot crowd lost their mind for the great finishing sequence!
#4
The Briscoes vs Kevin Steen & El Generico
“Boston Street Fight”
ROH Death Before Dishonor V
August 10, 2007
This was one of the damnest fights. They were in street clothes and fought all over the arena, beating each other into bloody messes. What I really love is how organic the weapons were, how things were set up, and how they were used because they just happened to be there. Having it as teams meant it was constantly a war flipping between the two pairs. It did get a little too many big moves near the end, keeping it from a GME potential, but it’s pretty damn close and a must-watch.
#3
Gunther (c) vs Sami Zayn
“WWE Intercontinental Championship”
WWE WrestleMania XL: Saturday
April 6, 2024
Thoughts here, on my review of the full WrestleMania show.
#2
Demus vs Mad Dog Connelly
“Dog Collar”
ACTION DEAN~!!!
April 4, 2024
Thoughts here, on my review for the full DEAN show!
#1
IYO SKY (c) vs Bayley
“WWE Women’s Championship”
WWE WrestleMania XL: Sunday
April 7, 2024
Thoughts here, on my review of the full WrestleMania show.
You can discuss this on Twitter!
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:
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!
IWA Japan Texas Bronco New Coming Review (November 17, 1994)
It’s been way too long since I reviewed my last IWA Japan show, and I really need to satisfy that itch for insane wrestling that only IWA Japan can fulfill.
This is from November 17, 1994, at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium with 4,795 fans, or at least cagematch says.
We have Japanese, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Americans, and a Canadian, so let’s go!
After the ring announcer says something, the “Eye of the Tiger” from Rocky plays, and each wrestler on the card makes an entrance and just stands in the ring with the others. The song ends and has to be repeated. This takes so long, and I am transfixed, waiting for something to happen. With Terry Funk, we get the other wrestlers cheering for him and chanting his name, and he handshakes all of them, so that’s something. The Headhunters whip chains with nails in them around the whole arena, causing a stir, and don’t get into the ring, as the song plays a third time! These two twin short monsters with chains and beauty pageant sashes are hilarious. For some reason, there is no Leatherface.
1. Super Astro vs Takashi Okano
If you have never seen Super Astro before, you are missing out. He’s kind of a short luchador with very broad shoulders and a little stout, but he is so fucking awesome at flying and really all parts of wrestling.
This is your typical cruiserweight type of match, although Okano can barely keep up with Astro, who is doing all the heavy lifting. The landing on his feet from a moonsault when Okano moves were impressive. Later, his fake dives to the floor are even better, and his somersault plancha onto Okano lying on the floor is the best. Astro hit a flying flip onto standing Okano for the win.
Rating: Good Enough/10
2. Aguila Negra vs Yoshihiro Tajiri
Tajiri and the future Zumbido have some nice potential. This match reminded me that Tajiri wasn’t doing kicks early in his career, and that is sad. This is pretty solid, though, with some fun back-and-forth action, although Negra’s top rope dive wasn’t a very exciting finish.
Rating: Solid/10
3. Miguel Perez Jr. & Super Astro vs El Texano & Silver King
I have no idea why Astro had to work double duty tonight, but he against proper good luchadors means he works at a way higher level in this match than the opener. This is a pretty good high speed tag. There is a moment in the middle that needs to be seen to be believed, as it’s Super Astro and Texano and Silver King all missing, faking, and hitting moves in spectacular fashion, ending with King being pushed off the top to the floor, taking out Texano. Those three are awesome in this, but Perez really adds a different element to push this even higher. Silver King and Texano being a regular tag team really shows here, too, and gives the match a lot more focus. Another great moment is Astro hitting these great spin kicks on Silver King and then Texano and then trying one on the referee for a good pop. The match drags like a JWP tag match. 16 minutes was too much. That said, they spaced out the cool moments well, and there were a lot of them. The finishing sequence was hot, with Perez almost killing Silver King with an Asai moonsault and Texano and Astro having a fun run of nearfalls in the ring until Texano hits a power bomb for the win.
Rating: So Close to Spreadsheetable/10
4. Hiroshi Ono vs Shoji Nakamaki
“Barbed Wire Chain Death Match”
These two are smart, with full slacks and thick shirts and arms all covered! This is your normal chain attached around the wrists match, but with the chain tightly wrapped with barbed wire!
At first, they try to work around the chains using DDTs, headbutts, and even a big tope by Nakamaki. On the outside, they start to use the barbed wire chain, and Nakamaki just carves Ono up. Nakamaki wraps up his arm and does a lariat while he’s near the post, and a second attempt, Ono moves, and that looks vicious, which leads to him carving Nakamaki up this time. They brawl and carve into the crowd and all over the floor. It’s bloody. Inside, Ono tries for some pins, but not much happens until they go back outside. The chain has disappeared, and Ono hits another vicious lariat, then rams Nakamaki into the post, who responds by headbutting the post a bunch, and then Ono takes over using a steel chair and hypes the crowd up with some weird gyrating. His DDT onto the cement floor was nasty. Back inside, they use the chain only as a weapon as Nakamaki power bombs Ono onto it and then does Jeff Jarret’s Stroke onto it. He tries another Stroke and gets weirdly reversed into a Russian Legsweep. Ono does a shitty back suplex and a HORRIBLE Rock Bottom and then wraps the chain around Nakamaki’s waist and suplexes him awkwardly for another two count. After a few more lame attempts by Ono, Nakamaki comes back with his awesome lariat and another power bomb onto the chain and then wraps himself all up in the chain and does a splash from the second rope for the biggest near fall of the match. One more Stroke gets the win to end this mess, an awkward, bloody, but fun match.
Rating: A Mess, but a Fun Mess/10
The two hug afterward, following the code of honour to the max! Some other bald dude shows up and takes out Nakami with a chair after insulting him, presumingly setting up the battle for the balds at the next show.
Backstage, Ono and Nakami are good old friends who talk as if they just had a fun game of pool, but they are covered in blood everywhere.
5. Leatherface vs Terry Funk
“Cage Match”
Nothing beats a Leatherface entrance with him dancing and waving the chainsaw around!
Funk sets the tone early by sneak attacking with a chair. After some more shots, he gets really confident, throws the chair away, punches him down, and immediately goes for the spinning toe hold like it’s an old NWA b-show squash match.
After that,t we get some good action, including shots into the cage, until most of the match is Leatherface in control as the heel. Hitting a nice series of power bombs and some awkward top-rope dives. Funk’s kickouts are very good, and he’s so good at fitting from underneath. When Leatherface misses the moonsault, that is when Funk is able to get control and goes for his own moonsault, which he also misses. As Leatherface is in control, there is a huge stir in the crowd, and ANOTHER LEATHERFACE appears with a chainsaw, causing a distraction. Funk backdrops him from the top rope for a huge near fall. He small packages him, and Funk wins.
Rating: 7/10
Post-match, the two Leatherfaces have a chainsaw off until they both dance away with their chainsaws and terrorize the crowd. I have to admit part of the rating is for that ridiculous double Leatherface!
Upon doing research, I found that the Leatherface in the match was Rick Patterson, and that’s the one in IWA Japan, so he’s the fake. The one that appeared was the original Leatherface, aka Cpl. Kirchner. No wonder the pop was so loud.
Terry Funk does a backstage promo to tease the King of the Deathmatch. If Funk loses one deathmatch, he will no longer be the King of the Deathmatch!
6. The Headhunters vs Dick Slater & Nobutaka Araya
“IWA World Tag Team Title Tag Team League Final”
After The Headhunters looked to just overpower their opponents, we get some nice shine by the Slater/Araya team with Araya hitting a moonsault to the floor onto both The Headhunters. Slater, of course, brawls with them on the floor, too. The advantage lasts longer than you would think as they double-team until a quick punch puts the twins in control. They really do have a nice array of double-team moves. Shockingly this match is pretty back and forth and worked like a very competitive normal tag team match. At least for the first half of the match, that is when The Headhunters take it to the floor and destroy Araya with a bottle. They then grab a fork and take out Slater as well after breaking up the pin with a fork! After all that shit on the outside, The Headhunters use the distract the referee to use the fork inside the ring behind his back. It’s kind of hilarious. I guess rules only apply inside the ring.
One of The Headhunters hits a huge moonsault for a near fall, but Slater breaks it up and tries JYD headbutt, only to hurt himself. The match really picked up here, as it was pretty plodding before. Tiger Driver onto Araya for another near fall! A giant Bull Nakano top rope leg drop wins the match, the titles, and the tournament for The Headhunters.
Rating: Solid/10
The first half was them trying to do a fancy tag league finale, which was a mistake. The brawling for the last 1/2 really saved things.
After, The Headhunters wanted to continue the beatdown, but Terry Funk made the save. Araya makes a show-closing rousing speech.
Conclusion
This show is not a must-watch, but the two hours had some good wrestling, a good match, and some fun angles to set up the future. You can’t really go wrong here, well, as long as you like this style.
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The Best Matches of WrestleMania Weekend 2024
I didn’t watch every show of WrestleMania weekend, but I did watch a bunch. Here are my top matches from Philadelphia and the surrounding area!
Honourable Mentions
- Masato Tanaka & Minoru Suzuki vs Masha Slamovich & Rina Yamashita, GCW Joey Janella’s Spring Break 8, April 5
- Billie Starkz vs Queen Aminata, ROH Supercard of Honor, April 5
- Danhausen & Ram Kaicho vs Maki Ito & Nick Gage, GCW Joey Janella’s Spring Break 8, April 5
- Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, & Naomi vs Asuka, Dakota Kai, & Kairi Sane, WWE WrestleMania XL: Saturday, April 6
- Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins vs Roman Reigns & The Rock, WWE WrestleMania XL: Saturday, April 6
- Drew McIntyre vs Seth Rollins, WWE Wrestlemania XL: Sunday, April 7
#15
Dr. Cerebro vs Gringo Loco
“No DQ”
ACTION DEAN~!!!
April 4
Thoughts here, on my review for the full DEAN show!
#14
Athena (c) vs Hikaru Shida
“ROH Women’s World Championship”
ROH Supercard of Honor
April 5
I really like Athena, and her dressing like Karlach was cool as shit, but this match was just good, not great. The leg work was good by Athena, but a lot of the match was not really focused enough and had a lot of kickouts that took me out of the match. It was definitely a good match, but maybe a little too much.
#13
Maika (c) vs Megan Bayne
“World of Stardom Championship”
Stardom American Dream in the Keystone State
April 4
Thoughts here, on my review of the full Stardom show.
#12
Jacob Newman & Tank vs Manders & Tom Lawlor
“Gypsy Joe Rules”
ACTION DEAN~!!!
April 4
Thoughts here, on my review for the full DEAN show!
#11
Adam Priest vs Slim J
ACTION DEAN~!!!
April 4
Thoughts here, on my review for the full DEAN show!
#10
Masha Slamovich vs Shayna Baszler
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X
April 4
I generally wouldn’t like a no-ropes match wrestled in shoot-style, but this is less shoot-style and more early UFC, which I loved back in the day. Baszler came to play and was vicious here, and Slamovich is so good as a badass. It’s short and violent and a joy to watch.
#9
AZM, Saya Kamitani, & Tam Nakano vs Maika, Mei Seira, & Mina Shirikawa
ROH Supercard of Honor
April 5
One of my absolute favourite wrestling matches are showcase matches. It’s so cool to see normal everyday moves. The Stardom wrestlers do get giant reactions because it’s in front of a new audience. This was super fun, all action, everyone getting their spots to stand out match.
#8
Daniel Makabe vs Timothy Thatcher
ACTION DEAN~!!!
April 4
Thoughts here, on my review for the full DEAN show!
#7
Lyra Valkyrie (c) vs Roxanne Perez
“NXT Women’s Championship”
NXT Stand & Deliver
April 6
The Champion came into the match with an injured arm by Perez, and that was the story of the match. Perez attacked it so well all match, and the selling was tremendous. Valkyrie only used her other arm and fought so hard but could not overcome the injury and had to tap out. Great match!
#6
Roman Reigns (c) vs Cody Rhodes
“WWE Undisputed Universal Championship”
WWE WrestleMania XL: Sunday
April 7
Thoughts here, on my review of the full WrestleMania show.
#5
Masha Slamovich (c) vs Syuri
“JCW World Championship”
GCW/JCW vs The World
April 4
This was one of the matches I was most looking forward to all weekend, and it did not disappoint. Even though it took place at 1 AM, these two came to work!
For a 30-minute draw, it didn’t drag or feel like a draw until the last two minutes, when they were frantically going for the win. Up until that point, it was a well-built match between two wrestlers who were almost perfectly built for each other. Both are tough as nails, with great kicks, submissions, and suplexes. It had a kind of old-school feel, too, where it was just built so well!
#4
Rhea Ripley (c) vs Becky Lynch
“WWE Women’s World Championship”
WWE WrestleMania XL: Saturday
April 6
Thoughts here, on my review of the full WrestleMania show.
#3
Gunther (c) vs Sami Zayn
“WWE Intercontinental Championship”
WWE WrestleMania XL: Saturday
April 6
Thoughts here, on my review of the full WrestleMania show.
#2
Demus vs Mad Dog Connelly
“Dog Collar”
ACTION DEAN~!!!
April 4
Thoughts here, on my review for the full DEAN show!
#1
IYO SKY (c) vs Bayley
“WWE Women’s Championship”
WWE WrestleMania XL: Sunday
April 7
Thoughts here, on my review of the full WrestleMania show.
Discord
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WrestleMania XL Review
I haven’t been this excited about a WrestleMania since 2004. Vince is gone, and they have an SA policy. Kevin Dunne is gone, too. The production is great, and the storylines heading into this one have been amazing. LFG!
WrestleMania XL: Saturday
April 6, 2024
Philadelphia, PA
Lincoln Financial Field
The new button was pretty cool.
After a nice intro video, Michael Cole gives us a weather update and wonders how the cold will affect the wrestlers. That’s a nice touch.
Hey, it’s the proper USA anthem, not the song Vince always wanted. Truly, this is a new era!
Speaking of a new era, Trips is here to tell us it’s a new era.
I will note here the production of WWE has gotten so fucking good. It’s great throughout, and it’s shocking how good it is since it was so shit even 6 months ago.
1. Rhea Ripley (c) vs Becky Lynch
“WWE Women’s World Championship”
Becky gets a cool entrance with her reading from her book, while Rhea gets a band to play her theme song!
Becky has had strep throat all week, so she’s the clear underdog. So much already feels different.
Becky tries to work the arm, but Rhea is just too damn strong, and she takes complete control for most of the early part of the match. When she goes to the top, Becky armbars her down to continue her strategy. Every time Becky gets the advantage with the arm, the power of Rhea is too much. That continues when Becky moves, and Rhea hits the post with the arm. Becky looks to win with the flying leg drop, but that gets countered into Rhea’s “Prison Trap,” but Becky rolls her up for a nice near fall. Both hit their finishers for more awesome nearfalls! A superplex by Becky turns into the Dis-Arm-Her after working the arm all match, but Rhea is too strong; she stands up, taking Becky to the outside with a move, and turns into an electric chair on the floor. Rhea hit a frog splash for a massive two! Becky tries the Manhandle Slam, but Rhea counters with a Riptide into the buckle and then a Riptide for the win! Great opener!
Rating: 8.75/10
Pretty Deadly takes the time to insult every team in the upcoming ladder match.
2. The Judgement Day (Finn Bálor & Damian Priest) (c) vs #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) vs The Awesome Truth (The Miz & R-Truth) vs The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Wood) vs Austin Theory & Grayson Waller vs New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate)
“Six-Pack Ladder Match for the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship”
The gimmick here is both sets of titles are hanging, and they are really pushing that the Championships will be split up here.
I have to admit I laughed at R-Truth getting the hot tag and then going through Cena’s move set and getting a “pin” in the ladder match. #DIY doing DX moves less fun, but R-Truth tells them to go for one belt while he goes for the other. However, Waller graps the SmackDown Tag Team Titles to win those. For his trouble, he gets power bombed through a ladder to the floor.
The Raw Tag Team Titles are still in play, so we continue. We get all the usual ladder match stuff you would expect until it looks like R-Truth has won. JD McDonagh runs out and makes the save for Judgement Day. When it looks like they will retain, New Day makes the save, by the way, dressed as Apolo Creed and Rocky from the first Rocky film. We get more teases, and eventually, R-Truth pulls down the belts for his first win at WrestleMania.
Rating: Some Fun Stuff and Ladders
Michael Cole brings up the weather again, I think he is really cold tonight.
3. Rey Mysterio & Andrade vs Santos Escobar & “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
Andrade off the top rope with Rey on his shoulders to the floor was a wild dive! We settle down, and Mysterio works face in peril. Andrade gets a hot tag, and he looks so great throughout this match, but he doesn’t get the win. Rey hits 6-1-9 and Andrade hits a moonsault from the top to the floor, but Escobar’s group cheats to go back into control. All of the seconds start doing dives and brawling, leaving Escobar and Rey alone. Two large dudes in Mysterio masks attack, and Rey and Andrade win. LWO hugs the large dudes, and it’s Jason Kelcie and another football from the Eagles.
Rating: Good Match
4. Jey Uso vs Jimmy Uso
The video hype package for this match is really great!
Lil’ Wayne raps Jey to the ring.
Because they are twins and longtime tag partners, it makes sense that this match was mostly mirroring and very even, but that doesn’t make it the most exciting match. Jey finally gets control, Jimmy begs for forgiveness, and everybody in the crowd knows he’s insecure. Sadly, Jey does not, and Jimmy takes advantage. However, a comeback by Jey and a big splash give him the win.
Rating: I’m Sure It Was Fine
5. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, & Kairi Sane) vs Bianca Belair, Naomi, & Jade Cargill
For a six-person tag on the undercard, this match had a great build, and the video package highlighted that well. The entrances from both teams were amazing, and everyone looked amazing!
The glee Damage CTRL has while they work over Naomi was joyous to watch. After Bianca gets tagged in, she really unleashes some of the best offense. She goes to tag Jade in for the first time but gets cut off, which gives Damage CTRL the chance to work over Bianca now. A Ricky Morton rolling tag brings in Cargill, who KILLS Damage CTRL. We have some fun back and forth until Cargill pins Kai with her finisher.
Rating: 7/10
Sami Zayn is with his wife and kid, and his kid thinks he can do it, but he doesn’t want his kid to see it. He has doubts after losing to Roman Reigns in Montreal last year. Later, on his way to the ring, Chad Gable appears and says he’s not going out with him, and he believes in him. He does the Rocky 2, you owe me a favour gimmick. Further on his way to the ring, Kevin Owens appears, hugs him, and says he can do it! Damn, he better do it now!
6. Gunther (c) vs Sami Zayn
“WWE Intercontinental Championship”
This is an all-time classic. Sami fights really hard, but Gunther is the most dominant Intercontinental Champion ever. Sami gets in some nice hope spots, but every time, Gunther comes back on top. That is until Gunther hits two huge power bombs that don’t put Sami away. Some doubt comes on Gunther’s face. He is able to keep Sami down, and his confidence soars again, so he starts to taunt Sami’s wife at ringside. He hits a few top rope splashes without going for the pin. Sami tries to fire himself up as Gunther goes to the top again, and he does by hitting a Helluva Kick out of nowhere. He then climbs up and hits the Brainbustaaahhhhh! Yes, El Generico’s brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle. Two more Helluva Kicks and Sami ends Gunther’s 666-day reign as Champion in a beautiful moment!
Rating: 9.25/10
The two GMs, Nick Aldiss and Adam Pearce, are here to thank the viewers. They announced the attendance of 72,543 and told the fans to keep the noise for the main event.
7. “Main Event”
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns & The Rock) vs Cody Rhodes & Seth “Freakin'” Rollins
“If The Bloodline wins, then the Universal Championship Match on Sunday will be fought under ‘Bloodline Rules'”
A nice long recap video in case you missed anything in this great build. Watching that build and then seeing Cody Rhodes giving his weight belt to his father-in-law and hugging his mom is foreshadowing. The Rock came out with the People’s Championship given to him at the Hall of Fame show.
The Rock actually looks great, like a wrestler not a statue. Way better than his previous run.
The match is fascinating, though. There were about 10 minutes of boring before a fun all-over-arena Attitude brawl. The Rock, being on the TKO board, tells the referee to let it go. After, it turns into a southern tag with Rollins isolated as they work the knee. Roman bleeds, and Cody gets a hot tag, but the match continues. The Rock gives Cody’s mom the weightlift belt from the angle on Raw. There is brawling at ringside this time, and Cody Rock Bottoms Rock through a table while Roman spears Rollins through the barricade. At one point, Roman hit the spear on The Rock after Seth saved Cody. After all the madness, Cody has the win, but Rock uses the weightlifting belt to stop his pin on Roman. From there, The Rock pins him with the People’s elbow.
45 minutes?
With editing, this could have been a classic, but there was too much that was not classic.
Rating: 7/10
That means Sunday’s match between Cody and Roman will be “Bloodline Rules.” I like the carryover booking here. Which leads us to Sunday.
WrestleMania XL: Sunday
April 7, 2024
Philadelphia, PA
Lincoln Financial Field
This is a very sports intro. Michael Cole talks about matches and shows wrestlers entering the building earlier today. He also brings up the weather again. It’s less cold today!
The opening video was amazing! You have to be hyped from it!
A different American anthem plays; why do Americans have so many damn anthems?
Speaking of sucking, here comes Stephanie McMahon. I so wanted to be done with McMahon BS. She’s excited about the Paul Levesque era and just says how great he is and does the DX intro.
1. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs Drew McIntyre
“WWE World Heavyweight Championship”
Drew McIntyre has a whole bagpipe band playing Roddy Piper’s theme before they play his song. Punk is on commentary and is already pissed! Michael Cole gives another weather update, haha. Seth Rollins has a whole band of wild, colourful costumes to play him out. This rules! He’s dressed in a very fabulous outfit. The whole band marches him to the ring!
Drew hits the Claymore right away for a nearfall immediately, and then he goes to work on the knee as Seth tries to go outside to recoup. This is perfect playing off last night. Seth is broken but gets in a curb stomp, but his hurt leg from last night means he doesn’t hit all of it, and it’s an easy kick out for Drew. The whole story is that Seth is broken, and Drew is easily in control, but Seth keeps fighting, hurting his knee, and having to gut through it. Drew wastes time and stares at Punk and goes for the GTS, but it gets countered into a rollup for a good nearfall. Another Claymore gets two as well. He gets very frustrated and tries to power bomb Seth through the announce table, but that’s countered. Seth stomps Drew on the table but hurts his knee again. Back inside, a Claymore came out of nowhere for another kickout. Drew is fucking losing it. One more Claymore, and that’s it. I don’t normally like Seth, but this match was good, and the story was easy to enjoy throughout.
Rating: 7/10
Drew won his first World Title in front of a crowd. After a moment with his wife, Drew stares down Punk again. He gets in his face and waves the title, mocking him, and then Punk attacks. He takes his brace off and then hits Drew with it.
That’s when Damian Priest arrives with the Money in the Bank briefcase, and he cashes in.
2. Drew McIntyre (c) vs Damian Priest
“WWE World Heavyweight Championship”
He hits his finish and wins the title immediately. Drew really brought that on himself. Great moment there!
Rating: WTF!
3. Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, & Rezar)
“Philadelphia Street Fight”
Snoop Dogg is the guest commentator for this one. That rules. On the other hand, Bubba Ray Dudley is the guest referee. That sucks.
The weapon shots are vicious and stiff. Kross argues with Bubba, and then Lashley and The Profits go through Dudley spots. The table spots were nice, and they ended the match there pretty easily.
The real highlight was B-Fab and Scarlet getting involved and brawling with weapons. Later, B-Fab did a Russian legsweep through a table off the apron onto Scarlet! The other big highlight was Snoop Dogg having a great time.
Rating: It was a WWE Dudley-inspired street fight.
Logan Paul does pushups, and then a video package about last night’s main event plays.
Kayla Braxton asks Paul Heyman what “Bloodline Rules” means. No DQ. No Countdown. One fall. Whatever The Bloodline wants, really. He name-dropped Brandi Rhodes!
4. LA Knight vs AJ Styles
The video package reminds me of how over the former TNA dude is now. Since I don’t watch regularly, it surprises me every time.
We don’t wait; punches right away from both. From there, it’s pretty back-and-forth until Styles works the leg. Knight almost makes a comeback, but his attempt to slam AJ onto the bare floor fails as AJ counters, leading to a near countout. AJ’s springboard 450 is stopped by Knight’s knees. We get more punching, and then they counter each other’s finishers until Knight hits BFT for the win. The crowd loves it.
Rating: Solid
A video package plays going over the Hall of Fame ceremony, and they each get their moment in front of the crowd. Bull had her nunchucks, so it’s great.
We get many commercials, highlights of their charity events, and a nice little tribute to Bray Wyatt.
5. Logan Paul (c) vs Randy Orton vs Kevin Owens
“WWE United States Championship”
A video package for this match makes sense, but we have spent so much time doing video packages since the last match it’s wearing thin.
Logan Paul comes in on a truck promoting his drink and has a drink mascot with him. Sami appears as Kevin makes his way to the ring to return the favour from last night, saying it’s his turn now. After looking at the truck, he gets a golf cart to come out on. Randy Orton comes out without a vehicle, so Owens offers him a ride to the ring, and he gets on the back. It’s a fun moment.
Orton and Owens just take turns beating up Paul, to begin with. After taking him out, they realize only one of them can win, and they both try to double-cross each other. They decide it’s time to fight each other, which gives Paul an opening. We get a more typical triple-threat match, with each man hitting big moves. Paul is a really hateable heel, which adds a good dynamic. Brass Knuckles by him and get two only on Orton. Owens is taken out by the knucks, too. He goes for a final brass knuckles shot, and Orton hits an RKO instead. Orton then gets the knucks, hands them to the referee, and goes for his classic punk kick, but the Prime bottle saves him. The Prime Bottle is Paul’s buddy and so Orton kills him with an RKO on the table. Of course, that gives Owens and Paul time to recover. Owens Pop Up Power Bomb is turned into an RKO, and then Paul hits a frog splash on Owens for the win after disposing of Orton.
Rating: Almost Spreadsheetable
6. IYO SKY (c) vs Bayley
“WWE Women’s Championship”
This is another great video package. Bayley does an Egyptian goddess entrance being carried by cat men. She is living the dream, basically. She looks amazing. Shirai looks great, too, so let’s go!
This is very intense to start. On a tope by Bayley, she tweaks her leg, and then Shirai goes to work. You almost forget, since she was such an amazing heel, that Bayley is an all-time babyface! The selling of the leg by Bayley, whether on offense or being beaten on, was great! Shirai has such great offense. Moonsault by Io to a fully extended leg of Bayley, but that hurt Bayley, too. Amazing spot! Bayley does a tentative attempt at a flying elbow, but Shirai counters into a submission! She’s frantic and turns it into the STF in the middle, but Bayley pushes her off. Bayley-to-Belly gets a big nearfall. The selling of Bayley is so great! Shirai decks her and laughs, but Bayley decks her, which fires Bayley way up! Moonsault for a HUGE nearfall. Standing moonsault. Second rope Moonsault. But Bayley moves out of the proper one and goes for Rose Plant, but Io flips out of it. Bayley hits the elbow drop and the Rose Plant for the win. This fucking ruled!
Rating: 9.25/10
Snoop Dogg is out with the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders and mascot to announce 72,755 attendance.
One final weather update before the main event! Then, a long video package recaps everything.
7. Roman Reigns (c) vs Cody Rhodes
“WWE Undisputed Universal Championship Bloodline Rules”
Wish me luck with this recap.
Cody gets a Triple H entrance for the main event and Brandi Rhodes is there to take his mask for him and wish him luck. Good stuff! His family is at ringside. On the other hand, Roman has a whole orchestra to sing and play his song for him.
Cody takes out a table, but Roman puts it back. After some okay weapon shots and brawling, there is a brawl in the stands, and they get on one of the longest tables ever. Roman tries to suplex him off of it, but Cody reverses, and they head back toward the ring, where Roman takes complete control after a GIANT powerbomb. He has a long control segment until double lariats take both out. Cody makes a big comeback and hits the Disaster Kick, but that’s not enough. Roman counters the Cody Cutter with Cross Rhodes, but that gets two. He misses the Superman’s punch, and Cody punches and bionic elbows him away to a comeback. He sets up the table, but a low blow by Roman stops everything. Roman power bombs Cody through the table, and Superman punch gets a big nearfall. Cody counters the spear and hits a Cody Cutter for two. Roman tries Rock Bottom, counter, then Cody hits the spear. We are spamming each other’s finishers. Cross Rhodes hits, and a second attempt has Jimmy Uso break it up. Superman punch brings out Jey Uso, and he brawls with his twin. Jey spears him off the stage through a table. Roll up by Cody for two, spear by Roman for a massive kickout! They both tumble to the outside, and Cody spears Roman through the barricade. Back inside, Cody hits two Cross Rhodes, but Solo breaks up the third attempt. A two count after the Samoan spike. Solo tries to kill Cody and then holds him up as Roman spears him, and Solo spikes him at the same time. That’s another two. That brings out John Cena for the save. Attitude Adjustment by Cena as he puts Solo through a table. That brings out The Rock. It’s Cena vs The Rock now; everyone else is dead. Huge staredown and Cena gets to Rock Bottom. Rock brings out the Mama Rhodes belt, but the Shield music plays and Roman takes out Seth dressed in Shield gear before he does anything. Rock then destroys everyone with the weight lift belt, but the Undertaker’s music plays, and the music goes off. He’s behind The Rock and they have a staredown now. Choke Slam by Undertaker. Gong. Lights off. Undertaker is gone. Roman is up, and Cody is trying to get up. he grabs a chair and goes to kill Cody, but Seth is getting up, too. He nails Seth from behind, just like Seth did to him when The Shield broke up. He goes for a spear, but it’s countered. Cody hits Cross Rhodes and rolls that into three. He wins.
Rating: How do you rate that? 8/10 I guess?
Big props to Samantha Irvin, who is the best ring announcer ever, it seems. Her announcement of Cody winning was great. He gets the belt and cries, and out comes Brandi. After his moment, more come out and put him on their shoulders to celebrate. More and more folks, including his mom, enter.
A fitting end to WrestleMania XL.
“Damn it, I love professional wrestling!” Michael Cole
Cody gives us a little speech. Cody brings out Bruce Pritchard and Trips because it’s a new era.
Cody hugs everyone, even Michael Cole, who is crying. Cena ducking to stay off camera is funny, but the last image shows Cody alone in the ring with the belt, shaking Seth’s hand. Trips whispers something in his ear, and then the fireworks come. Cole is emotional, and Cody shakes everyone’s hand and hugs the cameramen and anyone he can find.
Finally a good WrestleMania and WWE may be good again.
Discord
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The 1992 Wrestler of The Year List
To put together my top 100 list of the greatest wrestlers ever, I am going through each year and putting together a list for that particular year. Previously, on the podcast “Maybe Not Taue,” I compiled a list for 1985, 1990, 1997, & 2021. You can listen to those here. 1983, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2023 are on the blog.
1992
It’s been a great year for pro wrestling, and the top-end talent really cemented themselves. However, I had a hard time ranking the first two-thirds of the list. There were a lot of really good wrestlers all vying for the same positions. I tried my best!
Notes
All of the below stats are from Cagematch. Yes, they are not perfect.
The recommended matches are not a definitive list. It’s a list of cool matches I watched for this process or were on my spreadsheet beforehand!
Honourable Mentions
- Bam Bam Bigelow
- Larry Zbyszko
- Mitsuharu Misawa
- Sakie Hasegawa
- Suzuka Minami
The List
#25
El Dandy
Previous Ranking: 1990 (2nd) & 1996 (14th)
Years Unranked: 1983, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2004, & 2010
Matches: 58
Places Worked: WCW, SWS, UWA, WWA, & AAA
Titles Won: CMLL World Middleweight Championship (twice)
Tournaments: CMLL World Middleweight Title Tournament (winner)
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Goro Tsurumi vs Naoki Sano & Ultimo Dragon, SWS, March 18
- vs Negro Casas, CMLL, July 3
- vs El Satanico, CMLL, September 18
#24
Barry Windham
Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, & 2001
Matches: 201
Places Worked: WCW & NJPW
Titles Won: WCW World Television Championship & NWA/WCW World Unified Tag Team Championship w/ Dustin Rhodes (twice)
Tournaments: NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament w/ Dustin Rhodes (finals), G1 Cliamx, & WCW King of Cable Tournament
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Dustin Rhodes & Ron Simmons vs Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, & Larry Zybyszko, WCW, January 21
- w/ Sting’s Squadron vs The Dangerous Alliance, WCW, May 17 (#4 MOTY)
- w/ Dustin Rhodes vs Larry Zybszko & Steve Austin, WCW, February 29
#23
Takako Inoue
Previous Ranking: 1993 (19th) & 1996 (19th)
Honourable Mentions: 1994, 1995, & 2004
Years Unranked: 1997, 2004, 2010, 2015, & 2019
Places Worked: AJW & UWF
Titles Won: Japanese Tag Team Championship w/ Mariko Yoshida
Tournaments: AJW Japan Grand Prix & AJW Tag League The Best w/ Terri Powers
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Kyoko Inoue vs Akira Hokuto & Bull Nakano, AJW, June 21
- vs Aja Kong, AJW, August 9
- vs Akira Hokuto, AJW, December 13
#22
Akira Taue
Previous Ranking: 1990 (15th), 1993 (24th), 1995 (1st), & 1996 (3rd)
Honourable Mentions: 1994, 2001, & 2004
Years Unranked: 1985, 1997, & 2010
Matches: 149
Places Worked: AJPW
Titles Won: AJPW World Tag Team Championship w/ Jumbo Tsuruta
Tournaments: Champion Carnival & AJPW Real World Tag League w/ Jun Akiyama (finals)
Akira Taue continued to emerge in AJPW, teaming with Jumbo Tsuruta and being a rock on that cool tag team. The few big singles opportunities he got, he really delivered, especially the Stan Hansen title match where he looked not only like he belonged with Hansen but was just as big of a menace as him.
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Jumbo Tsuruta vs Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, AJWP, January 26
- w/ Jumbo Tsuruta & Masa Saito vs Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa, & Toshiaki Kawada, AJPW, May 22
- vs Stan Hansen, AJPW, July 31
#21
Yumiko Hotta
Previous Ranking: 1993 (39th) & 1995 (24th)
Years Unranked: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2021, & 2022
Places Worked: AJW & CMLL
Tournaments: AJW Japan Grand Prix & AJW Tag League The Best w/ Suzuka Minami
Recommended Matches:
- vs Bull Nakano, September 11
- w/ Suzuka Minami vs Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, October 17
- w/ Takako Inoue vs Hikari Fukuoaka & Mayumi Ozaki, JWP, December 1
#20
Negro Casas
Previous Ranking: 1990 (23rd), 1994 (21st), 1996 (11th), 1997 (18th), & 2001 (14th)
Honourable Mentions: 1993 & 1995
Years Unranked: 1983, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, & 2023
Matches: 103
Places Worked: CMLL, UWA, NJPW, WWA, WAR, FMW, WWF, & AAA
Tournaments: NJPW Top of The Super Junior III & CMLL World Middleweight Title Tournament (finals)
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Horace Boulder & Tim Patterson vs Atsushi Onita, El Hijo del Santo, & Tarzan Goto, FMW, May 16 (#10 MOTY)
- vs El Dandy, CMLL, July 3
- vs Ultimo Dragon, WAR, September 15
#19
Kenta Kobashi
Previous Ranking: 1993 (11th), 1994 (19th), 1995 (6th), 1996 (18th), 1997 (15th), & 2004 (8th)
Years Unranked: 1989, 1990, & 2001
Matches: 156
Places Worked: AJPW
Titles Won: All Asian Tag Team Championship w/ Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
Tournaments: Championship Carnival & AJPW Real World Tag League w/ Giant Baba
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Akira Taue & Jumbo Tsuruta, AJPW, January 26
- w/ Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Danny Kroffat & Doug Furnas, AJPW, May 25 (#2 MOTY)
- w/ Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Masa Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa, AJPW, July 5
#18
Toshiyo Yamada
Previous Ranking: 1993 (35th)
Years Unranked: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, & 2004
Places Worked: AJW, CMLL, W*ING, & UWF
Titles Won: UWA World Women’s Tag Team Championship w/ Manami Toyota & WWWA Tag Team Championship w/ Manami Toyota
Tournaments: AJW Japan Grand Prix & AJW Tag League The Best w/ Manami Toyota (finals)
Toshiyo Yamada is such an interesting wrestler. She’s clearly trying to fit the Crush Gals mold that was previously set as the standard for AJW superstars, but she isn’t at that level. To this point, she was the best wrestler ever at reigning Toyota in and she really added to all those classic tag matches, definitely a big part of those. However, this was probably her peak, as she was shuffled away from being featured and really blended in with the undercard. Her kicks and offense were unreal!
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Akira Hokuto vs Aja Kong & Bull Nakano, AJW, August 15
- vs Aja Kong, AJW, August 30
- w/ Manami Toyota vs Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki, AJW, November 26 (#1 MOTY)
#17
“The Natural” Dustin Rhodes
Previous Ranking: 1993 (33nd) & 1994 (2nd)
Years Unranked: 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2021, & 2023
Matches: 245
Places Worked: WCW & NJPW
Titles Won: NWA/WCW Unified Tag Team Championship w/ Barry Windham (twice)
Tournaments: WCW Nintendo Top Ten Challenge Tournament, NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament w/ Barry Windham (finals), WCW King of Cable Tournament
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Barry Windham vs Larry Zbsyzko & Steve Austin, WCW, February 29
- vs Rick Rude, WCW, May 1
- w/ Sting’s Squadron vs The Dangerous Alliance, WCW, May 17 (#4 MOTY)
#16
Scott “Flash” Norton
Previous Ranking: 1995 (14th), 1996 (22nd), 1996 (25th), & 2001 (16th)
Honourable Mentions: 1993 & 1994
Years Unranked: 1989, 1990, & 2004
Matches: 97
Places Worked: NJPW
Titles Won: IWGP Tag Team Championship w/ Tony Halme
Tournaments: G1 Climax & NJPW Super Grade Tag League II w/ Super Strong Machine
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Brad Armstrong vs Hiroshi Hase & Keiji Muto, NJPW, February 10
- w/ Masa Saito vs Bam Bam Bigelow & Big Van Vader, NJPW, July 8
- vs Bam Bam Bigelow, NJPW, August 6
#15
Dynamite Kansai
Previous Ranking: 1993 (5th), 1994 (11th), 1995 (2nd), & 1996 (24th)
Honourable Mentions: 2001
Years Unranked: 1996, 2004, 2010, & 2015
Places Worked: JWP & AJW
Titles Won: JWP Openweight Championship
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Hikari Hukuoka vs Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki, JWP, April 3
- w/ Cutie Suzuki vs Devil Masami & Mayumi Ozaki, JWP, August 16
- w/ Mayumi Ozaki vs Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, November 26 (#1 MOTY)
#14
Genichiro Tenryu
Previous Ranking: 1989 (1st), 1993 (10th), 1994 (4th), 1996 (4th), 2001 (12th), & 2004 (3rd)
Years Unranked: 1983, 1985, 1990, 1995, 1997, 2010, & 2015
Matches: 40
Places Worked: SWS, WAR, NJPW, & WWF
Tournaments: SWS Tag Team Title Tournament w/ Ashura Hara (finals)
1992 was an interesting year for Tenryu. He started the year with SWS as they died off before launching WAR. The year ended with the start of the tremendous NJPW vs WAR feud. Tenryu was unreal in all of this but was lacking in a lot of footage availability. Still, it’s Tenryu, and he was great in the flashes we got!
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Masao Orihara vs The Great Kabuki & Tatsumi Kitahara, WAR, July 14
- w/ Koki Kitihara vs Kengo Kimura & Shiro Koshinaka, WAR, October 23
#13
Mayumi Ozaki
Previous Ranking: 1993 (12th), 1994 (25th), 1995 (9th), & 2001 (6th)
Honourable Mentions: 1996
Years Unranked: 1997, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, & 2023
Places Worked: JWP, AJW, & Seishin Kaikan THE KENKA
Titles Won: JWP Tag Team Championship w/ Cutie Suzuki
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Devil Masami vs Cutie Suzuki & Dynamite Kansai, JWP, August 16
- w/ Dynamite Kansai vs Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, November 26 (#1 MOTY)
- w/ Hikari Fukuoka vs Takako Inoue & Yumiko Hotta, JWP, December 1
#12
Manami Toyota
Previous Ranking: 1990 (8th), 1993 (13th), 1994 (6th), 1995 (3rd), 1996 (20th), & 1997 (3rd)
Years Unranked: 1989, 2001, 2004, 2010, & 2015
Places Worked: AJW, CMLL, W*ING, & UWF
Titles Won: UWA World Women’s Tag Team Championship w/ Toshiyo Yamada, WWWA Tag Team Championship w/ Toshiyo Yamada, & IWA World Championship
Tournaments: AJW Japan Grand Prix (finals) & AJW Tag League The Best w/ Toshiyo Yamada (finals)
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Toshiyo Yamada vs Aja Kong & Bison Kimura, AJW, March 20
- w/ Toshiyo Yamada vs Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue, AJW, July 15
- w/ Toshiyo Yamada vs Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki, AJW, November 26 (#1 MOTY)
#11
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Previous Ranking: 1985 (17th) & 1989 (3rd)
Years Unranked: 1983, 1990, 1993, & 1994
Matches: 218
Places Worked: WCW
Titles Won: WCW World Television Championship & NWA/WCW Unified World Tag Team Championship w/ Shane Douglas (twice)
Tournaments: WCW Nintendo Top Ten Challenge Tournament (finals) & NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament w/ Nikita Koloff
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Sting vs Rick Rude & Steve Austin, WCW, January 21
- w/ Sting’s Squadron vs The Dangerous Alliance, WCW, May 17 (#4 MOTY)
- vs Rick Rude, WCW, June 20
#10
Keiji Muto
aka The Great Muta
Previous Ranking: 1989 (22nd)
Honourable Mentions: 1996
Years Unranked: 1985, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2010, 2015, 2019, 202, & 2022
Matches: 153
Places Worked: NJPW & WCW
Titles Won: IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Tournaments: G1 Climax, NJPW Suger Grade Tag League II w/ Bam Bam Bigelow
Muto had an interesting 1992. The first half of the year was focused on the great tag team in Hiroshi Hase. They were legit great. In the latter half, he donned his Great Muta gimmick and took the IWGP Title. His few WCW appearances were not that great, which kept him lower in the top 10.
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Hiroshi Hase vs Brad Amstrong & Scott Norton, NJPW, February 10
- w/ Hiroshi Hase vs Bam Bam Bigelow & Big Van Vader, NJPW, May 1
- vs Masahiro Chono, NJPW, August 10
- vs Hiroshi Hase, NJPW, December 14
#9
Bret “Hitman” Hart
Previous Ranking: 1985 (23rd), 1989 (11th), 1990 (18th), 1993 (9th), 1994 (1st), 1995 (4th), & 1997 (1st)
Years Unranked: 1983, 1996, & 2010
Matches: 210
Places Worked: WWF
Titles Won: WWF Intercontinental Championship & WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Recommended Matches:
- vs Roddy Piper, WWF, April 5
- vs The British Bulldog, WWF, August 29
- vs Shawn Michaels, WWF, November 25
#8
“Macho Man” Randy Savage
Previous Ranking: 1985 (18th), 1989 (5th), & 1990 (10th)
Honourable Mentions: 1995
Years Unranked: 1983, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, & 1997
Matches: 164
Places Worked: WWF
Titles Won: WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Tournaments: WWF Royal Rumble
The Macho Man had an amazing 1992, coming back from being a heel for so long and moving back up the card to the WWF World Title. This was the height of his character work, as shown in the Roberts feud and the WrestleMania feud. Afterward, he became an amazing Champion and oh-so-good when given a chance to show it inside the WWF system.
Recommended Matches:
- vs Jake Roberts, WWF, January 27
- vs Shawn Michaels, WWF, April 19
- vs Ultimate Warrior, WWF, August 29
#7
Kyoko Inoue
Previous Ranking: 1993 (3rd), 1994 (15th), 1995 (5th), 1996 (7th), 1997 (7th), 2001 (24th), & 2004 (20th)
Years Unranked: 2010, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, & 2023
Places Worked: AJW, W*ING, & CMLL
Titles Won: All Pacific Championship
Tournaments: AJW Japan Grand Prix & AJW Tag League The Best w/ Aja Kong (winner)
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Takako Inoue vs Akira Hokuto & Bull Nakano, AJW, June 21
- w/ Aja Kong vs Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, July 15
- w/ Aja Kong vs Debbie Malenko & Sakie Hasegawa, AJW, October 17
- vs Akira Hokuto, AJW, November 26 (#6 MOTY)
#6
Sting
Previous Ranking: 1989 (24th) & 1993 (34th)
Years Unranked: 1990, 1994, 1995,1996, & 2023
Matches: 193
Places Worked: WCW & NJPW
Titles Won: WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Tournaments: WCW King of Cable Tournament (winner)
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Sting’s Squadron vs The Dangerous Alliance, WCW, May 17 (#4 MOTY)
- vs Cactus Jack, WCW, June 20
- vs Big Van Vader, WCW, July 12
- vs Big Van Vader, WCW, December 28 (#9 MOTY)
#5
Aja Kong
Previous Ranking: 1990 (6th), 1993 (8th), 1994 (3rd), 1995 (7th), 1996 (9th), 1997 (5th), & 2001 (10th)
Honourable Mentions: 2004
Years Unranked: 2004, 2010, 2015, 2019, & 2023
Places Worked: AJW, CMLL, & W*ING
Titles Won: WWWA Tag Team Championship w/ Bison Kimura & WWWA World Championship
Tournaments: AJW Japan Grand Prix (winner) & AJW Tag League The Best w/ Kyoko Inoue (winner)
After years of trying, 1992 was the year Kong became the Champion and ace of AJW. Her chasing and alliance with Nakano was perfect pro-wrestling. Her destructive matches against others were all delights, too. You can’t go wrong with Kong in 1992.
Recommended Matches:
- vs Bull Nakano, AJW, April 25 (#7 MOTY)
- w/ Bull Nakano vs Akira Hokuto & Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, August 15
- vs Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, August 30
- vs Bull Nakano, AJW, November 26 (#3 MOTY)
#4
Big Van Vader
Previous Ranking: 1989 (19th), 1993 (4th), & 1994 (17th)
Years Unranked: 1985, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, & 2001
Matches: 159
Places Worked: WCW & NJPW
Titles Won: IWGP Tag Team Championship w/ Bam Bam Bigelow & WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Tournaments: WCW Nintendo Top Ten Challenge WCW King of Cable Tournament (finals)
Not only was he the dominant monster champion in WCW, but he was also part of a dominant monster tag team in NJPW. The Sting series is undeniable, but that is only a small part of his resume in 1992.
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Bam Bam Bigelow vs Hiroshi Hase & Keiji Muto, NJPW, May 1
- w/ Bam Bam Bigelow vs Masa Saito & Scott Norton, NJPW, July 8
- vs Sting, WCW, July 12
- vs Sting, WCW, December 28 (#9 MOTY)
#3
“Ravishing” Rick Rude
Previous Ranking: 1989 (13th)
Years Unranked: 1983, 1985, 1990, 1993, & 1994
Matches: 226
Places Worked: WCW & NJPW
Tournaments: WCW Nintendo Top Ten Challenge Tournament (winner), NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament w/ Steve Austin, G1 Climax (finals), & WCW King of Cable
The greatest year of Rick Rude’s career. He has such an amazing heel and seemed to put all of his potential together into his role as the top shithead in WCW. Whether he was in a heated feud with Steamboat, facing youngsters like Rhodes, or going to Japan and having classics in the G1, Rude did it all in 1992.
Recommended Matches:
- w/ Steve Austin vs Ricky Steamboat & Sting, WCW, January 21
- w/ The Dangerous Alliance vs Sting’s Squadron, WCW, May 17 (#4 MOTY)
- vs Dustin Rhodes, WCW, May 30
- vs Ricky Steamboat, WCW, June 20
- vs Masahiro Chono, NJPW, August 12 (#8 MOTY)
#2
“The Dangerous Queen” Akira Hokuto
Previous Ranking: 1989 (14th), 1990 (4th), 1993 (1st), 1994 (9th), 1995 (15th), 1997 (24th), & 2001 (9th)
Years Unranked: 1996
Places Worked: AJW, CMLL, W*ING, & FMW
Titles Won: All Pacific Championship
Tournaments: AJW Japan Grand Prix
The greatest wrestler ever had another great year has she became more and more of The Dangerous Queen. She was one of the best brawlers and one of the best technical wrestlers of the year. She can do anything and had some great matches to back it up. Her simmering underneath the main event as a force had everyone of her matches feel special.
Recommended Matches:
- vs Bull Nakano, AJW, July 30 (#5 MOTY)
- w/ Toshiyo Yamada vs Aja Kong & Bull Nakano, AJW, August 15
- vs Suzuka Minami, AJW, September 15
- w/ Bull Nakano vs Combat Toyoda & Megumi Kudo, FMW, September 19
- vs Kyoko Inoue, AJW, November 26 (#6 MOTY)
#1 “Wrestler of the Year”
Bull Nakano
Previous Ranking: 1985 (14th), 1989 (16th), 1990 (1st), 1993 (7th), 1994 (8th), & 1995 (23rd)
Years Unranked: none
Places Worked: AJW, CMLL, & FMW
Titles Won: CMLL World Women’s Championship
Tournaments: CMLL World Women’s Title Tournament
The final year of Nakano’s WWWA title reign was another of her great years. She was able to show the wear and tear of the defenses as the year went along. You can see her go from dominant champion to vulnerable champion throughout 1992, dating back to 1991. She had three matches in the top 10 of the year, so the high end was there as well.
Recommended Matches:
- vs Aja Kong, AJW, April 25 (#7 MOTY)
- w/ Akira Hokuto vs Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue, AJW, June 21
- vs Akira Hokuto, AJW, July 30 (#5 MOTY)
- w/ Akira Hokuto vs Combot Toyoda & Megumi Kudo, FMW, September 19
- vs Aja Kong, AJW, November 26 (#3 MOTY)
Coming Soon
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ACTION – DEAN~!!! Review
Dean Rasmussen was a big part of my early online fandom and this tribute show is so nice to see. I joined DVDR as a teenager and started reading Dean. I did podcasts with Dean. Dean’s love of wrestling was beautiful, and this show is beautiful.
Bear with me as I don’t watch much southern indies, so I don’t know a lot of these folks.
From Williamstown, New Jersey on April 4, 2024.
This is a fitting image to start the show:
1. Alex Kane (c) vs Colby Corino
“ACTION Wrestling World Championship”
Corino really worked the headlock in this match, hitting it in various ways, including from the top rope. Corino was really good at working on top throughout the match, and Kane did have some good selling and some nice hope spots. Kane’s suplexes were impressive, including countering the headlock into a suplex for the finish.
Rating: Good Opener
2. The Good Hand (Suge D, Kevin Ryan, & The Wall) vs O’Shay Edwards & Amboss (Robert Dreissker & Laurance Roman)
The Good Hand are the clear heels, and it’s always nice when you can determine that so easily. O’Shay is a big dude, and they have a nice start where nobody wants to face him. The simple stuff always works, folks! As we progress, we get a face-in-peril segment and some good heel work. Including the always fun, almost hot tag, but the person on the apron is pulled off. The simple stuff always works, folks! The hot tag is good, but it doesn’t lead to the pin, as we have a bit more back and forth until O’Shay hits a giant moonsault.
Rating: Solid Stuff
The Ugly Sucklings come out and issue an open challenge.
3. Violence is Forever (Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku) vs The Ugly Sucklings (Rob Killjoy & White Mike)
The Sucklings cheat and taunt throughout the match and mostly control the action. White Mike did a giant swinging headlock, so this match is a win. The Sucklings lose control once they try to outfight Violence is Forever, and it ends with a nice flurry.
Rating: Good Stuff
4. Coven of The Goat (Tank & Jaden Newman) vs Tom Lawlor & Manders
“Gypsy Joe Rules”
This gimmick means there are no rules, and the stipulation was added because Dean would want some violence in the show. Sounds good to me.
We get a stiff, violent brawl all over the arena, including a beer toast to Dean mid-match. There is blood and barely any time spent in the ring. The exchanging headbutt spots to Dean chants was something else, as was Tom Lawler doing a “dive” from a tiny step stool ladder. The last stretch was a fun tornado tag run in the ring filled with stiff shots and The Coven of the Goat hitting a double team on Manders for the win after a miscommunication between Manders and Lawlor. A perfect undercard brawl.
Rating: 7.25/10
5. 3 Flippy Guys (Brayden Toon, Rico Gonzalez, & Bobby Flaco) vs 3 Strong Motherfuckers (Hoodfoot, Danny Demanto, & Isaiah Broner)
Nice DVDR reference, as Dylan Hales (doing commentary) calls this a WAR six-man.
Prematch Danny says let this be a traditional tag match because a lot of violence is coming up later. However, he asks for a single door with “SPO” written on it to come into the ring. Based on the names of the people in the ring, you can predict what this match is, and it’s good. The door gets broken, and the flippy guys do some flips for the win.
Rating: Fine
6. Gringo Loco vs Dr. Cerebro
I haven’t seen Cerebro in so long, and it looks like he hasn’t lost a step on the mat; he’s so damn good at it, and Loco is no slouch, either. We get a pretty traditional lucha libre match, building from the mat into bigger moves and flying. It’s very well done, as both are great veterans. We get some throwbacks to their blood feud from IWRG years ago with some brawling, and it ends with a DQ off a chair shot. However, they keep fighting after that. So, the match is restarted as “No DQ.”
It’s a hot restart. The Super Flacon Arrow by Grino Loco was vicious! Loco hits a Spanish Fly, too, but can’t put him away. Cerebro hits a vicious armbar suplex and makes Loco tap. A good ending to a heated match!
Fans throw money in the ring for the luchadors; what a nice moment!
Rating: 7/10
The head of the IWTV Championship Committee cuts a heel promo and presents a brand new shiny title for the winner in the next match.
7. Krule (c) vs Warhorse Jake Parnell
“IWTV Independent World Championship”
Krule is a huge monster with a mask. Parnell fights, but Krule lives up to his gimmick, throwing him around ringside through chairs and just looking unstoppable. Warhorse’s big dive gave him some hope, but he struggled to maintain control. With each big move, he seemed to gain momentum, but it was never really enough to stop Krule, who just kept coming and coming. Finally, Parnell tried a big dive but got caught with a Choke Breaker (choke slam into a backbreaker). That gets a nice nearfall, but after a battle over a superplex and a big power bomb by Parnell, it still isn’t enough. Two flying elbow drops, and then Krule sits up and hits a super choke slam, wiping both out. The referee gets nailed, and the authority person tries to wipe out Krule, but he responds, and then someone runs out and hits a flying elbow drop for two somehow (he’s not in the match.) The authority dude takes out the second referee and demands the dude finish Krule. Fireball by Krule wipes out the run-in dude, and he pins him. I’m sure this would be better if I watched ACTION.
Rating: Odd Shit
Jonathan Gresham appears then and gets in Krule’s face, and the locker room separates them.
8. Arez vs Matt Makowski
We have a kind of lucha vs shoot style match here, which is a fun contrast. Makowski goes back to his Chikara days, though, and uses some of his lucha to keep up. Arez is very flippy, they have a lot of fun exchanges, before a flying move is countered by Makowski into a quick submission.
Rating: Fun
9. Adam Priest vs Slim J
Slim J is kind of a perfect person to be on Dean’s tribute show. This is a more traditional American style match than others on the show. Priest is a heel, Slim J is the babyface. It’s a nice build, ramping up as it goes along. The Priest control segment on Slim J is great, especially the piledriver nearfall. The comeback is great, as Priest tries another piledriver on the apron and he gets backdropped to the floor. Once back in the ring, the match really ramps up with Slim J back on offense. We get some good exchanges and near falls going down the stretch. It looks over with the guillotine by Slim J, but Priest counters it with a reverse stun gun. Priest goes for the kill, but Slim J counters for the win. This one is really good!
Rating: 7.5/10
10. Sinner & Saint (Judas Icarus & Travis Williams) vs Wasted Youth (Austin Luke & Marcus Mathers)
This is a lot more of a high octane tag with all dudes good on the mat and everywhere else. It’s exciting and fun, and if you are a fan of the modern high-energy matches, this is for you. It’s not really my cup of tea, but it wasn’t offensive like some matches in this style always seem to be. After a lot of nearfalls, a 450 by Mathers gets the win for his team.
Rating: Cool or Whatever
11. Demus vs Mad Dog Connelly
“Dog Collar Match”
What a start with Connelly snapping the chain and it hitting Demus in the face. From there, the war begins!
This is violent and stiff. The lariats and kicks are all brutal, and the chain shots are worse. They brawl all around the arena, and Demus takes out at least 2 fans as he’s thrown around by the chain. The violence does not stop when it gets into the ring. In fact, it ramps up, and Demus finally makes a comeback. We have blood, choking, chain shots, it’s basically a fight, and it’s damn good. The second crowd brawl segment has Demus in control instead, and it may be more intense. By the time they are back in the ring, they are both bleeding. Mad Dog’s comeback is chain-assisted punches, and it may be the most violent thing in the match. They are that vicious. Mad Dog tries to hang Demus if I am not getting over how much of a fight this is. Demus counters with a small package for two and then gets choked out by the chain and a reverse choke.
A must watch match, and this may be hard to top over WrestleMania weekend.
Rating: 9/10
12. Daniel Makabe vs Timothy Thatcher
A long running feud of two of the best technical wrestlers in the world comes to a head on Makabe’s retirement tour in the main event.
This is a RINGS-style match, which is not my typical favourite style, but there was enough here to like, and if this was my style, it may be an all-timer. Thatcher had a knee injury, and Makabe had an injured hand, and they kept coming back to those and having them come into play. The matwork, submissions, and strikes were all stiff. The finish of Makabe just knocking him out with strikes was great.
Rating: 8/10
Makabe gives a nice retirement speech and a nice tribute to Dean and DVDR!
Conclusion
Literally an all-time show as a tribute to an all-time great person in wrestling. Wrestling is great.
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Stardom American Dream 2024 in The Keystone State Review
Weirdly, the last time WrestleMania weekend was this exciting was 2019, when the last American Dream show was! I hope this is my first of many show reviews this weekend.
Commentary by Veda Scott and Tom Lawlor.
Not the sound mix is bad with Lawlor being inaudible and the music being super loud.
1. Mei Seira (c) vs Ram Kaichow vs Saki Kashima
“High Speed Championship”
Saki Kashima steals the show early with her reactions to Ram Kachow and her dead gimmick, with dust flying over her corpse and her playing referee for the other two. We get a lot of really great comedy early on to a hot crowd before we exchange a million nearfalls. Not long into it, Ram throws dust at Seira’s eyes and Kashima does her roll up to win the title again.
This was short but a blast. It had a title change, so it was a fun way to start the show.
Rating: Fun
2. AZM, Camron Branae, & Saya Kamitani vs Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, & Stephanie Vaquer
I have watched so much Stardom over the years, and I have no idea who Camron Branae is; she seems local. Vaquer is from CMLL and rules. These are interesting teams.
There was a really fun start of the match where everyone got their stuff in and got highlighted. It warms my heart to see that Momo is the most over one in the match. From there, though, the Oedi Tai and Vaquer team start taking control and doing their heel work. After some dives to the outside, we get a long Vaquer vs Branae segment leading to the win by Vaquer, where no Stardom wrestlers got involved. Very odd for a Stardom match.
Rating: Solid stuff
After the match, they hyped the upcoming NJPW match, in which AZM will challenge Vaquer for her IWGP Women’s Title.
3. Willow Nightingale & SAKI vs Syuri & Konami
God’s Eye starts the match by isolating SAKI and do a good job working her over. The hot tag for Willow was fun, with her and Syuri doing good work, but God’s Eye took over again. Konami goes to work on Willow for a second face-in-peril segment before SAKI jumps in and turns the tide. SAKI holds Syuri outside while Willow destroys Konami for the win after a pounce, DVD, and power bomb.
Rating: Goodish
I’m starting to think Stardom didn’t book this, or things have really changed since Rossy left.
4. Mayu Iwatani, Momo Kohgo, & Tam Nakano vs Mina Shirakawa, Mariah May, & Xia Brookside
It is so nice to see the return of Club Venus, Mina’s team, and May back in Stardom! Mina is such a star. Tam teaming with STARS also feels like a throwback.
Mariah May did a giant swinging sidewalk slam, so she continues to jump up my list of favourite wrestlers. We get Club Venus dominance to start on Kohgo, and that is fun, and the crowd loves it. Eventually, Kohgo tags out to Iwatani, who is her usual great self. She has good segments with May and Shirakawa before Tam is tagged in, and they duel for crowd reactions before the Cosmic Angels explode in violence! From there, we get a typical Stardom trios match with lots of great spots, double and triple teaming, and saves. Iwatani and Nakano do one of the coolest double team sequences I’ve ever seen with a DDT, into a German, into a pin all assisted for a great nerafall. Tam nails Twilight Dream for the win.
Rating: Good
Tam’s all-time great music plays after the win! However, the show is now 66 minutes old, and there is only one match left.
Former Stardom champion Toni Storm shows up to thank Stardom for her time there. She’s proud of Mariah and gives her some flowers. Toni then meets Mina, and they have a lovers spat over Mariah. They tease a match for AEW Forbidden Door.
5. Maika (c) vs Megan Bayne
“World of Stardom Championship”
With this main event, I am reminded Bayne left Stardom after a great run and hasn’t done anything in AEW since, and now I am sad.
In the beginning, Maika tries to use her power on Bayne, but Bayne is too strong. She then tries to use her smarts, which works for a brief moment until Bayne is just too big and strong and takes over and works over Maika’s lower back well.
Bayne makes a mistake going for a suplex, which Maika counters and has a brief run before the power is too much again. Bayne is such a beast on offense, but she makes a mistake going to the top for a superplex, giving Maika another chance at a comeback. She can’t put her away, leading to another comeback. Every single time Maika tries to outpower Bayne, she loses up until this point.
Bayne’s series of big moves is some of the best in wrestling today. She looks so great just killing Maika, who fights back so hard with some great kickouts.
Maika hit a fucking Michinoku Driver off the top rope, and it only got two. A hammerlock Michinoku Driver gets the win, though, and Maika retains!
Rating: 7.25/10
This felt like a true war, and the story of Maika not being able to rely on power and fighting through it was well done.
After a long celebration, Momo Watanabe comes to the ring and makes a challenge to Maika for the title. She tries a cheap shot, but Bayne saves her, and then Maika accepts the challenge.
A fun show overall with a great main event. Not a bad way for me to start off my WrestleMania weekend!
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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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AEW Dynamite & Rampage Live Report (March 20, 2024)
Before The Show
AEW is live in Toronto at the old Ricoh Coliseum, now Coca-Cola Coliseum and I am live with my good friend on this snowy Wednesday night! I haven’t been to this arena since last October when I saw Kim Petras. This show will not be that great, but I think it will be a lot of fun.
I am usually lower on AEW, but Mercedes Mone’ is there now, and I am getting a Deonna Purrazo and Mariah May match, as well as a women’s street fight. The one women’s match a show rule SUCKS, but at least these are matches that should get time.
So, let’s get onto the pre-show!
Ring of Honor
- Anna Jay squashed Nikita
- Nyla Rose squashed Alexia Nicole
- Evil Uno beat London Lightning
- Action Andretti & Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) beat Christopher Daniels, Jack Cartwheel, & Matt Sydal
The first two matches were pure quick squashes, but it was nice some locals got a payday.
Evil Uno wrestled a lot in Toronto in the past, so that helped him here. He did some good heel work, I thought, but I guess he’s a babyface, and it got pops, so I don’t know if I understand wrestling anymore. He won.
The trio’s main event was a flippy, divey, fun, energetic match. If you like that stuff, it’s pretty good.
Before The Dynamite
Justin Roberts came out and read signs. Throughout the show, he did that during commercial breaks and got the crowd to cheer for some of the usually nameless staff. That part was nice, although the sign reading was lame.
Tony Khan came out, and he was very popular. I feel very uncomfortable with how popular billionaires are. He talked about loving Toronto and showed how much he loved it by mentioning that his Daddy owns the nicest hotel in town.
Dynamite
We start the show with Mercedes Mone’ doing another intro promo. It’s nice, and she’s popular. She brings up the injury to Willow Nightingale. They had good chemistry in that match before the injury, so Willow should be a good first opponent. Skye Blue and Julie Hart interrupt, but Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander interrupt to tease the Rampage main event Street Fight. Willow also teases hitting Mone’ with the chair, but she is found out.
The Young Bucks and Okada talk with someone backstage and make some jokes to hype the upcoming Eddie Kingston match. The Bucks say they will be producing the match. Is this a Vince Russo promo?
Let’s note this here because it’s a problem all night. The sound system AEW uses is garbage. It’s really hard to hear anyone on the mic throughout the show, whether they are in the ring or backstage or whatever.
AEW Continental Champion Match
Eddie Kingston (c) vs Kazuchika Okada
The crowd was red hot for this for both folks. It seemed like a solid enough match, and if I cared about either person, I bet I’d be into this, too. Okada wins and ends the Triple Crown. PAC comes out to seemingly challenge for the title, leaving poor Kingston as an afterthought. Looking around online, nobody was super into this, so I don’t have to justify not being that into it, either.
Swerve Strickland is backstage with Prince Nana and he wants a big man to prove he can beat Joe.
Backstage again, Willow and Kris Stat are with Stokley Hathaway, hyping their Street Fight. Mercedes teases the Willow match.
Hook vs Chris Jericho
Seeing Jericho was next, I went to the bathroom and only caught the finish. Jericho looked bad. Hook looked good. Hook won.
Adam Cole was in a fancy chair and seemingly publically had a talk he should have had with Wardlow in private.
Jericho is next with Renee and cuts a shitty promo setting up things nobody wants to see for next week with Hook.
Next, Will Ospreay does a promo with Tony Schiavone, and it’s actually a pretty good one. It sets up the Bryan Danielson match. He rightfully points out that he was way more successful in Japan than Danielson was.
Toni Storm & Mariah May vs Deonna Purrrazzo & Thunder Rosa
I love three of these wrestlers, and Toni Storm is pretty okay with a fun gimmick. They have a pretty fun tag match, with everyone getting to look good. They teased that Thunder Rosa was going to take Purrazzo’s spot as the number one contender by having her do a blind tag toward getting the win. Give everyone here more matches, please.
Swerve Strickland vs The Butcher
The Butcher answers the open challenge. I saw The Butcher in a local Toronto show once come out and do some choke slams and say he was training to start wrestling. He’s done pretty well at it. Strickland should be up there with Mone’ as the stars of the company. He wins in a good little match.
Afterward, he cuts a great promo about his growing hate of Samoa Joe, who comes out. Don Callis interrupted, and I could not hear a single word he said.
Swerve says something after, but the sound system is not good, so I have no idea. Reading reports, I guess a match with Takeshita.
AEW TNT Championship
I Quit
Christian Cage (c) vs Adam Copeland
It must have been pretty cool for these two to do this match in their hometown.
Yes, this match went too long, but it was still a big blast. They really pandered to me personally with all the Leafs and hockey spots. They tried to pander to me by going all TLC with tables, ladders, and chairs, but even though the TLC matches they had hit me at the right age, it didn’t hit my interest.
They did bleed and brawl all over the arena and backstage. One thing I never saw before was a monkey flip from the ramp onto the floor. The match suffered after the original run-in from the heels and the faces running in for the save. That was fine, but the faces put in too much offense and helped Edge handcuff everyone to the ring. They stuck around for the finish, too. Trim about 5 minutes from the match, and the too much faces helping in the end, and it’s an all-time classic. Also, Edge pulled out the spike and got like 8 ball shots with it before Christian submitted. Christian really should have submitted before being hit at all. Small complaints about a great match, though. The crowd really added to it too, we were very into it.
Rating: 8.5/10
Rampage
There was some wacky pool promo with a skeleton going down a slide, followed by The Acclaimed coming out for some promo. I went to the washroom to skip it.
AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament Wild Card Match
Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher vs Orange Cassidy & Trent
This was a solid tag match, especially when Hobbs was in control or Cassidy was in the ring. The other two do a little too much of the showy, jumpy offense I don’t care about. It had a lot of energy and a nice little win by Cassidy in the end.
Katsuyori Shibata vs Kevin Matthews
For a wrestler who had his brain physically removed and then put back into his head, it’s impressive that Shibata is even in the ring now. This was a squash.
Rocky Romero vs Konosuke Takeshita
I’ve been really impressed with Romero’s run in CMLL, so it was nice to see him here. This was essentially a competitive squash but a good one with a good amount of time.
Street Fight
Julia Hart & Skye Blue vs Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander
This was a hell of a brawl with blood and tables, lots of chairs, and so many tacks. It had to deal with the fact it was the second wild street fight of the night and the inexperience of Hart, who spent so much time searching under the ring. It was incredibly distracting.
Ignoring that, it was a great match, like we’ve grown accustomed to in these women’s street rights matches. Willow took herself out of the finish by making a big move on Blue through two tables, which allowed Hart to get the win.
Rating: 7.5/10
Overall, this was a really fun evening of wrestling, and it didn’t hurt having my good buddy Dave with me. I bet it turned out well on television.
You can discuss this on Twitter!
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:
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!
Please donate to Callen Lorde!
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