|
Post by jetlag on Jun 9, 2020 5:12:11 GMT -5
1 fall match that goes a little over 30 minutes. This was face vs. Face, not something that you saw on TV much. It felt a bit like something you‘d see in 70s AJPW, two guys doing some nice stuff in a long quality contest. Because it‘s France they do really try to take each others heads off with european uppercuts here and there and once in a while a guy will eat a nasty kick or elbow in the middle of an exchange, but they play nice all the way through. The wrestling was classy with both heavyweight looking guys busting out cool flying headscissors and working hard. Leduc is introduced as a world champion, while he didn‘t show a ton of charisma, he looked like a classy worker, and his escape where he headspins out of an armlock is spectacular. There was some excellent bodyscissors work and a handful of fantastic rope running exchanges that you would‘ve bought as plausibly ending the match. One of my favourite spots in old euro matches is the hip throw where the other guy has his arm behind his back and lands on his shoulder in nasty fashion, it‘s so simple but brutal looking. The match also had some of the more elaborate double leg nelson work I‘ve seen, which is one of the coolest old school holds. Great finish, too.
|
|
|
Post by club on Jan 1, 2023 23:25:19 GMT -5
Thought this was a tremendous war of attrition. Really enjoyed them punishing each other during the long holds, with neither guy wanting to back down even if that means getting booted in the face repeatedly. They found all sorts of ways to keep these parts interesting and really enjoyed them trying to figure a way out of each other's holds. Honestly I would've been fine with this going shorter - it felt they had told their story by the 25 minute mark - but the fatigue and desperation that comes with a longer match did help the excellent finish.
|
|
|
Post by jetlag on Jan 3, 2023 5:01:29 GMT -5
I am happy to see the French stuff is getting some love since it's been almost 3 years now since we started watching all that. I probably need to rewatch but it's time some of these bouts are canonized as all-time greats and this one should definitely get near the top of the list with two of the top heavyweights of the era having a high end bout!
|
|
|
Post by club on Jan 4, 2023 9:02:27 GMT -5
Agreed. There are some all-timers there. I've been enjoying the hell out of Leduc the past week or so, he really is excellent as a stoic technical babyface who can throw down. There are a few of his matches in contention for my list - this, Rocco Lamban in 58, and Bert Mychel in 73.
|
|