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Post by elliott on Dec 8, 2017 21:40:07 GMT -5
Nick Bockwinkel vs Rick Martel (AWA - 9/20/1984) This might be my favorite Bockwinkel match and I actually think I prefer it to the Hennig 60 minute draw. Like that one, this is something I will revisit during the course of this project. This was right on the cusp of making my rough draft but just missed out. I always thought the limbwork and selling in this was exceptional.
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Post by Cap on Dec 9, 2017 15:41:40 GMT -5
Second
Really good match. Doesn't touch Hennig/Bock for me, but I see the point. Martel in the AWA is a real treat to watch and this is one of the better performances. This is really dynamic and pacy match. I am guessing that if this project gets momentum some people are going to be really blown away by just how good Martel was. We saw some of that in the GWE project, but I think when its broken down at the match level it will be even more obvious.
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Post by microstatistics on Jan 6, 2018 22:25:24 GMT -5
The second best dueling body part work match ever. Has some of the finest selling I've ever seen, not just of the injured body part pain and damage but general exhaustion and desperation. Bockwinkel's masterclass.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jul 22, 2018 20:27:13 GMT -5
YES! YES! YES! Micro nailed it. Watch these two put on a master class in selling.
AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel - AWA Winnipeg 9/20/84
WOW! Until the finish, I think this was the best match I have seen so far as part of my 80s watching and is definitely neck and neck with Flair vs Kerry from August of 1982. It featured some of the best selling I have ever witnessed in pro wrestling. It was not just from Martel. It was from both Martel and Bockwinkel. It felt like a war of attrition between the two best wrestlers in the world. It was a game of inches and they were both so good that it was just going to be the details the decided the winner. The small detail was Bockwinkel's nasty little short jab to the ribs. It was his great equalizer. Martel was so focused on his kneework that he would leave himself exposed to these quick punches and that eventually took their toll on Martel physically. The story really became who could overcome their injuries Bockwinkel with his knee and Martel with his midsection.
Bockwinkel wrestled most of the match on his knees and he proves why he is one of the all-time best by selling his pain and desperation throughout the match. In this match, Bockwinkel tries to start the match hot and heavy, but he gets overzealous and hits a high knee to the turnbuckle. Martel just pounces on this mistake like in the Lawler match with toeholds and strikes relentlessly. Bockwinkel sells the agony of the holds in such an engaging way that you never lose interest. Bock and Martel trade blows within the toehold and when that does not go well for Bock; he hits a quick jab to Martel's midsection, which forces him off his body. Bock with JYD heabutts to Martel's midsection. Oh shit, this is my kinda match! He pounds Martel's side as best he can with his good knee. This is just dripping with struggle and urgency. Bockwinkel collapses in the middle of the ring while Martel writhes in pain in the corner. Holy shit! Bock uses the wrong knee on a knee lift and can't capitalize soon enough. Martel hits a kneecrusher! Martel is back to work with seatdrops so Bockwinkel just grabs him by his hair and punches him in the head. He forces Martel out of the ring and is basically working a King of the Mountain from his ass and it is awesome! Martel picks the leg and wraps it around the post. Have I gone to Heaven? Bock saves his knee by trying to claw Martel's eyes out. This was no normal eye gouge, he was getting in there. He puts Martel in a stretch where he can constantly maneuver him to expose the ribs to his rabbit punches without the ref seeing. Martel punches to the knee to get out of it and kicks the leg out from under him. Yep, I died and have gone to Heaven. Martel rides high and Bock applies a body scissors, but his leg is so fucked up he can't hold him. They knock heads in the middle of the ring and it is time to hit the finish. Martel goes for the kill first, but misses the reverse cross body from the middle rope. Martel fires through Bock's offense and it looks like he has more gas in his tank. Slingshot splash EATS KNEES! THOSE RIBS! OW! The selling is tres magnifique. They work through a barrage of nearfalls with neither having enough to put the other way. However, the ref gets bumped, Mr. Saito is able to throw salt in the eyes of Martel who has Bockwinkel dead to rites in the Boston Crab. 1-2-3!?!?!?!?!? Bock wins??? After much deliberation, the belt is returned to Martel. I fucking hate that finish. I don't care if it is babyface or heel, it is just stupid bullshit. It is definitely worse when a babyface wins, you get the pop and then rob people. Still even letting the people see Martel get pinned and not lose only hurts the moment when he will actually loses the title.
The finish is the only thing that keeps this from *****, but fuck if this is the tenth best match of the AWA in the 80s, I am in for quite treat! This was fucking tremendous. Small critique would be that they just had one or two more highspots down the stretch to take the drama level to the next level. I am thinking a Bockwinkel sleeper and maybe a piledriver or two. It does not have to be an AWA Jumbo match with a ton of highspots, but a couple more would have been enough to overcome my least favorite finish ever. Enough negativity because this is my favorite match so far. It is a master's class in selling and should be absolutely mandatory to be watched by all wrestlers young and old in the industry today. ****3/4
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Post by mvz on Jun 2, 2021 11:08:45 GMT -5
War of attrition is a phrase that crossed my mind when I watched this so I was happy to see that phrase in Sleeze’s review. Bockwinkel was amazing in this match, I loved his headbutts and his king of the mountain spots, so effective and compelling. Martel was great here as well, both of them have a really focused performance. The ending was a drag, but this still made me happy.
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Post by [Darren] on Nov 24, 2021 10:32:54 GMT -5
This is a match that could’ve fit perfectly on my list but the reviews weren’t so hot on the finish. 99% of the match is pitch-perfect and the finish is less than ideal but it’s not like it’s an outrageous finish. Saito hits Martel w/ the salt and Bockwinkel gets the visible win but Martel wins by DQ and is swinging the belt around like a blind madman half in celebration, half in anger because he let the heels catch him off guard. I see no reason to hold a perfectly of-the-time finish against this match.
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