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Post by elliott on Dec 3, 2017 22:41:36 GMT -5
Dump Matsumoto vs Chigusa Nagayo (Hair vs Hair - AJW - 8/28/1985)
This is a lock to make my list. I know there are some criticisms surrounding it, but I don't feel the same way. I think it is utterly brilliant with everyone playing their roles to perfection. Dump Matsumoto is a literal cartoon horror villain come to life.
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Post by Cap on Dec 4, 2017 11:17:12 GMT -5
Second
I am going to be really interested in the discussion around this one. Personally, I love the match. I will save my thoughts on the criticism for now, but generally speaking little of what is waged against this match bothers me much. I am not 100% sure it will make my list, but it has a shot at the back quarter probably. I think it accomplishes what it wants and it works the crowd into an emotional frenzy in a way that so few matches can/have. I know that is part of some people's criticism, but it isn't an issue to me.
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Post by microstatistics on Jan 6, 2018 5:06:31 GMT -5
This might be my token #100 at the end of the day. Not without its flaws but simply on another level when it comes to drama and emotion. Borderline disturbing.
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Post by stunninggrover on Jan 22, 2018 23:24:08 GMT -5
This was a violent joshi puroresu brawl. It was a hair vs. hair match. The crowd heat was tremendous. Matsumoto attacked Nagayo with a pair of scissors. Nagayo juiced. Matsumoto used more objects to attack Nagayo with, including a table and a chair. The match itself wasn’t very long. But, the heat, the aftermath and the overall story of this match and feud makes it legendary. The post-match stuff was incredibly dramatic. There is a possibility this will be in my top 100.
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Post by gordi on Jan 23, 2018 1:06:48 GMT -5
This is it. This is the "art" of pro wrestling: Working your crowd.
It may never have been done better than how it was done here. This is the apotheosis of crowd work, and of crowd reaction.
I don't need anything other than that.
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Post by crimsonmask on Jun 27, 2018 17:22:42 GMT -5
This is it. This is the "art" of pro wrestling: Working your crowd. It may never have been done better than how it was done here. This is the apotheosis of crowd work, and of crowd reaction. I don't need anything other than that. 100% agree. That arena full of Japanese school girls screaming the rafters down, my goodness! My favourite crowd of all time. |
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Post by elliott on Sept 3, 2018 14:16:33 GMT -5
So I just rewatched this and I've always been a big fan, but I'm not sure if I've ever liked it as much as I just did. I've always said I prefer the 1986 match because the wrestling itself was better and still had the emotional impact, plus the babyface being triumphant in the end is always great. Obviously it is the character work, psychology, crowd and post match that push this up to all time status, but I actually thought the wrestling aspect of this was really enjoyable in a way that I hadn't necessarily in the past. Dump gets criticized as a gimmick worker without much talent, but I'd disagree with that. Much like Abdullah, there was a lot more to her game than just stabbing and choking.
What Gordi said is what is really important though. Wrestling is all about working and controlling your crowd and I'm not sure anyone ever did it better than this.
My only criticism is actually Chigusa's selling at one point. Her superwoman comeback is just a kip up and then she's right into her Muay Thai stance. The great Superperson Comebacks like Lawler dropping the strap or Hogan Hulking Up are a bit more delayed. But that's an extreme nitpick for a match this rich.
This really is monumental and is something that could make a leap into my top 10.
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Post by bossrock on Dec 29, 2020 21:18:15 GMT -5
The post-match is honestly one of the most upsetting things I've ever seen in wrestling. The sight of fans crying and screaming as a bloody Nagayo gets her head shaved while Masami tries in vain to protect her is utterly heartbreaking. Everything that proceeds this is tremendous with Dump dominating and a punch-drunk Nagayo refusing to accept defeat no matter how vain the effort.
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Post by tetsujin on Dec 30, 2020 6:20:35 GMT -5
Yeah the post match is legendary. It seriously gave me Passion of the Christ vibes. I also liked Dump's entrance and the great plot twist to start the fight. The match itself was fun, but not high level or anything. Chigusa is a great seller, but this was a bizarre performance on her side. There was too much ringside distraction for me, too. Loved Dump's attitude throughout the whole thing, like somebody else above me said, she was a very good cartoon villain here.
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Post by makaiclub on Feb 27, 2021 8:34:57 GMT -5
I forgot how short this actually was. It's just a short brawl but that's all this needed to be. The heat was off the charts for it. The drama was at an all time high as was Dump’s bullshit. Chigusa Nagayo is overwhelmed and falls to Dump, losing her hair in the process. Great match and angle but the feud is far from over. ****
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Post by mvz on Jun 11, 2021 13:06:31 GMT -5
It’s going to be a challenge for me to figure out where to place this, but it needs to be included. It’s hard to assess the action when it almost doesn’t matter. With an all-time great babyface-heel dynamic, the effect they achieved with this match is beyond just about any other match I’ve seen. I agree with those who wrote that this was powerful and bordering on disturbing. But it felt like one of a kind (maybe two of a kind, we’ll see about the rematch.)
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Post by club on Mar 17, 2022 5:02:26 GMT -5
This is a match I dismissed on first watch but find myself coming back to time and time again. And it’s a match that has really got me thinking about personally what I’m really talking about when I talk about the best matches.
It’s rare that I’m just talking about what’s happening in the ring, bell to bell. That’s crowd, the atmosphere, the pre and post match are all part of the equation. Matches like Atlantis vs Villano III and Savage vs Warrior are prime examples of this. Honestly though every kick-ass entrance and post match celebration can elevate a match. On the flip-side an annoying crowd or bad commentary can ruin a great match for me.
This might be the starkest example. I'm not saying the match is bad, it's not. It's good in its own right. Chigusa is a brilliant won’t-quit babyface. As is Dump as the sadistic bully. But there’s a level of raw emotion on display here from the crowd, living and breathing this, that makes it an all-timer.
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Post by puropotsy on Apr 10, 2023 17:11:43 GMT -5
A legendary match with an all-time epic post-match spectacle. The match itself was a great part of the overall presentation. Dump working over Chigusa with scissors was crazy. The match itself could perhaps been a little more dynamic with more hope spots for Chigusa but as an overall presentation this rules.
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Post by KB8 on Jun 18, 2023 13:53:52 GMT -5
I'd seen this before, many, many moons ago. I think it was one of the first Japanese women's matches I checked out, probably going on about 17 years ago now, and at the time I wasn't quite sure what the fuck I was watching. Like the 2/25 Dump/Crane v Crush Gals tag it wasn't something I loved, but it's hard not to be taken in by the sheer drama and heat. As a spectacle it's sort of incredible. People are losing their minds and it's total chaos from bell to bell, and then even fucking more chaos after the bell. I liked how Chigusa tried to use her speed and quick takedowns almost right away, and I liked even more how Dump got to show some athleticism and WRESTLING PROWESS~ by slickly rolling out of them and grabbing Chiggy. Of course you knew Dump would go to the scissors eventually and these were some great scissor shots. Some were right on the back of the head and looked mean as fuck. My favourite part of the match was when Dump dragged it to the floor and, as the crews of both women piled in on a melee, Chigusa grabbed a metal bucket and clonked the thing over Dump's head. Dump's look of "holy shit where did that come from?!" was spectacular, like she really thought she'd be able to stab this woman with impunity, that Chigusa would merely rise above it and continue to play by the rules. And the post-match is truly bonkers; one of the most viscerally emotional scenes in wrestling history. I can see why folks would have this in their top 10.
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Post by mvz on Jun 23, 2023 13:42:56 GMT -5
I don’t remember where I had this on 2021 but it really hit me and has a good shot at the top 10. Somehow over the top and completely realistic. Dump is the ultimate villain and Chigusa’s selling and effort makes sure everyone knows it.
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