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Post by [Darren] on Feb 23, 2023 17:07:24 GMT -5
My new watch project didn’t work out. So I’m just going back to my old way.
I’m also adding the reviews to each nomination.
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Bryan Danielson v. Takeshi Morishima (ROH - 12/27/2008)
Match Type: Fight Without Honor
Run-Time: 18:55
2021 Ranking: 6 (187)
I watched this just after voting the last time and it immediately shot to #1 and it’s going to stay there. Every match these two had were great. They’re mostly just urgent sprints full of hate. This is no different. Danielson gets the early jump at the entrance, dives into Morishima inside the crowd and gets on the guardrail just in time to put his fist in the air for “IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!!”
The match itself is an urgent, violent war. With as clear a babyface/heel dynamic you’ll ever get. Bryan looks so freaking cool as the bloody-faced, wild-eyed underdog. The use of the chain is done to perfection. The fact that Bryan had the chain wrapped around big guy rendering his arms useless and you’re still not sure if he could pull it off is something I never tire of.
This is nonstop screaming for joy with a smile on my face professional fucking wrestling.
*****
Jerry Lawler v. Terry Funk (CWA - 4/6/1981)
Match Type: Empty Arena Match
Run-Time: 14:56
2021 Ranking: 53 (171)
There’s two things that I always repeat myself over and over with. Professional wrestling and Sport Entertainment are the exact same thing, one is just a corporate branded term by a specific company. The other is just the thing. Also, I don’t debate the “Match v. angle” issue. If professional wrestling were a legitimate sport then obviously the match would be only what happens between the two bells but it’s a whole thing. It’s a whole, cool, weird thing. And this is the coolest, weird whole thing I’ve ever seen.
Funk’s heel work here is nothing short of genius. He’s brash, trash talking and ready to throw the match out because Lawler is late (he was also late). He is an unrelenting disposable bully but the second he gets a taste of his own medicine he’s squealing and yelling “MY EYE!” And crying his way out of the match.
Anybody can understand this. This is just some of the most fun you could ever have watching anything.
I wish Bryan and Sami Zayn just copied this match for their COVID mania match.
*****
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Post by [Darren] on Apr 23, 2023 20:09:12 GMT -5
I’ve done a poor job of documenting my watching because it’s been so sporadic in general. I decided to put out my working TOP 100
Ideally, I don’t want to have repeat matchups but some are necessary (Funk/Flair & Kandori/Hokuto come to mind)
I have a few matches here that haven’t been nominated yet. This is the most comfortable I have felt with a mock ranking since I started doing this. I was not happy with my 2021 ballot. If anybody has any suggestions on matches they don’t see that they think I should watch based on my own tastes and based on ones that you’re super hot on at the moment. I’d love to know. Sometimes I can get sold on a match just on somebody else being hyped on it. But anyhow. Here’s my (almost) Top 100. Probably 80 of the 95 are stone cold locks.
1.) Bryan Danielson v. Takeshi Morishima (ROH - 12/27/2008) 2.) Shinobu Kandori v. Akira Hokuto (AJW - 4/2/1993) 3.) Anarchy in The Arena (AEW - 5/29/2022) 4.) Brock Lesnar v. John Cena (WWE - 4/29/2012) 5.) Ric Flair v. Ricky Morton (JCP - 7/5/1986) 6.) Ric Flair v. Terry Funk (NWA - 11/15/1989) 7.) Ric Flair v. Terry Funk (NWA - 7/23/1989) 8.) CM Punk v. Eddie Kingston (AEW - 11/13/2021) 9.) Bryan Danielson v. MJF (AEW - 3/5/2023) 10.) Team NJPW v. Team UWF (NJPW - 3/26/1986) 11.) Devil Masami v. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 8/22/1985) 12.) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi/Toshiaki Kawada v. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi (AJPW - 4/20/1991) 13.) Bryan Danielson v. Nigel McGuinness (ROH - 2/23/2008) 14.) Shinobu Kandori v. Akira Hokuto (AJW - 12/6/1993) 15.) Jerry Lawler v. Terry Funk (CWA - 4/6/1981) 16.) The Rockers v. Buddy Rose/Doug Somers (AWA - 8/30/1986) 17.) WarGames (JCP - 7/4/1987) 18.) ROH v. CZW: Cage of Death (ROH - 7/15/2006) 19.) Bret Hart v. Steve Austin (WWF - 3/23/1997) 20.) Akira Hokuto v. Meiko Satomura (GAEA - 4/29/2001) 21.) Jushin Liger v. Naoki Sano (NJPW - 1/31/1990) 22.) Masakatsu Funaki v. Tatsuo Nakano (UWF Reborn - 7/24/1989) 23.) Randy Savage v. Ultimate Warrior (WWF - 3/24/1991) 24.) WarGames 1992 (WCW - 5/17/1992) 25.) Stan Hansen v. Andre The Giant (NJPW - 9/23/1981) 26.) Jerry Lawler v. Bill Dundee (CWA - 6/6/1983) 27.) Samoa Joe v. Necro Butcher (IWA MidSouth - 6/11/2005) 28.) Dump Matsumoto v. Yukari Ohmori (AJW - 3/20/1986) 29.) Dump Matsumoto v. Itsuki Yamazaki (AJW - 8/21/1986) 30.) Dump Matsumoto v. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 8/28/1985) 31.) Dump Matsumoto v. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 11/7/1986) 32.) Kiyoshi Tamura v. Yoshihisa Yamamoto (RINGS - 6/24/1999) 33.) Stan Hansen v. Terry Funk (AJPW - 4/14/1983) 34.) Shawn Michaels v. Mankind (WWF - 9/22/1996) 35.) CM Punk v. Jimmy Rave (ROH - 5/14/2005) 36.) Jumbo Tsuruta v. Genichiro Tenryu (AJPW - 6/5/1989) 37.) Stan Hansen v. Carlos Colon (WWC - 1/6/1987) 38.) Antonio Inoki v. Masa Saito (NJPW - 4/27/1987) 39.) Samoa Joe v. CM Punk (ROH - 12/4/2004) 40.) Nick Bockwinkel v. Curt Hennig (AWA - 11/21/1986) 41.) Stan Hansen v. Kenta Kobashi (AJPW - 7/29/1993) 42.) Eddie Guerrero v. JBL (WWE - 5/16/2004) 43.) Sting v. Big Van Vader (WCW - 12/28/1992) 44.) Sting v. Big Van Vader (WCW - 7/12/1992) 45.) Jerry Lawler v. Andy Kaufman (CWA - 4/5/1982) 46.) The Von Erich’s v. The Freebirds (WCCW - 7/4/1983) 47.) Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS - 1/22/1997) 48.) Shinobu Kandori/Akira Hokuto v. Aja Kong/Bull Nakano (AJW - 3/27/1994 49.) Atsushi Onita v. Terry Funk (FMW - 5/5/1993) 50.) Can Am Express v. Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (AJPW - 5/25/1992) 51.) Katsuyori Shibata v. Kazuchika Okada (NJPW - 4/9/2017) 52.) Dustin Rhodes v. Vader (WCW - 11/16/1994) 53.) Dustin Rhodes v. Bunkhouse Buck (WCW - 4/17/1994) 54.) Megumi Kudo v. Combat Toyoda (FMW - 5/5/1996) 55.) Hulk Hogan v. Andre The Giant (WWF - 3/29/1987) 56.) Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Minoru Suzuki (NJPW - 10/8/2012) 57.) Roddy Piper v. Jimmy Snuka (WWF - 7/15/1984) 58.) Sgt. Slaughter v. Iron Sheik (WWF - 6/16/1984) 59.) Sangre Chicana v. MS-1 (EMLL - 9/23/1983) 60.) Tully Blanchard v. Magnum TA (JCP - 11/28/1985) 61.) Roddy Piper v. Greg Valentine (JCP - 11/24/1983) 62.) Jim Duggan v. Ted Dibiase (MidSouth - 3/30/1985) 63.) Akira Hokuto v. Bull Nakano (AJW - 7/30/1992) 64.) Chicky Starr v. Invader III (WWC - 5/1986) 65.) CM Punk v. John Cena (WWE - 2/25/2013) 66.) Daniel Bryan v. Randy Orton (WWE - 12/16/2013) 67.) Akira Hokuto v. Kyoko Inoue (AJW - 11/26/1992) 68.) The Destroyer v. Giant Baba (JWA - 3/5/1969) 69.) Ricky Steamboat v. Rick Rude (WCW - 6/20/1992) 70.) Thunder Queen Battle (AJW - 7/31/1993) 71.) Dynamite Kid v. Tiger Mask (NJPW - 4/21/1983) 72.) Genichiro Tenryu/Koki Kitihara v. Kengo Kimura/Shiro Koshinaka (WAR - 10/23/1992) 73.) Buddy Rogers v. Pat O’Connor (Chicago - 6/30/1961) 74.) Shinobu Kandori v. Bull Nakano (AJW - 7/14/1994) 75.) Jerry Lawler/Randy Savage v. Rick Rude/King Kong Bundy (CWA - 9/10/1984) 76.) Hulk Hogan/Andre The Giant v. Nick Bockwinkel/Bobby Heenan/Ken Patera/Bobby Duncum (AWA - 11/7/1982) 77.) Moose Cholak v. Larry Chene (Chicago - 5/15/1963) 78.) Manami Toyota v. Aja Kong (AJW - 11/20/1994) 79.) Manami Toyota v. Kyoko Inoue (AJW - 5/7/1995) 80.) Manami Toyota v. Akira Hokuto (AJW - 9/2/1995 81.) Manami Toyota v. Mima Shimoda (AJW - 7/23/1995) 82.) Johnny Valentine v. Wild Bull Curry (Houston- 6/20/1969) 83.) WALTER v. Darby Allin (EVOLVE - 6/23/2018) 84.) WALTER v. Timothy Thatcher (Progress - 1/28/2018) 85.) WALTER v. Jordan Devlin (OTT - 8/18/2018) 86.) WALTER v. David Starr (OTT - 6/23/2019) 87.) Dick Murdoch v. Killer Karl Kox (AJPW - 12/9/1976) 88.) Canadian Stampede Match (WWF - 7/6/1997) 89.) Oney Lorcan v. Lars Sullivan (WWE - 9/27/2017) 90.) Orange Cassidy v. PAC (AEW - 2/29/2020) 91.) Gilbert Cesca v. Billy Catanzaro (France - 5/2/1957) 92.) Yoshihiro Takayama v. KENTA (NOAH - 6/27/2004) 93.) Tajiri v. Steve Corino (ECW - 5/14/2000) 94.) Aja Kong v. Yumiko Hotta (AJW - 1/24/1994) 95.) Rick Martel v. Terry Funk (WWC - 9/20/1986)
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Post by AndrewGB79 on Apr 23, 2023 21:55:19 GMT -5
Great list.
You've reminded me of just how much I've got to watch before I can submit even a half-way decent list.
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Post by mvz on Apr 24, 2023 5:07:12 GMT -5
This list is awesome, thank you for posting. Some of these choices warm my heart:)
This is a good reminder to me to watch some things that I haven’t gotten to and it also put a few more things on my radar (I haven’t seen 3 of this Walter matches and a few of those Hokuto matches.)
I have been meaning to use that recommend 10 matches to watch thread, but I may send a DM for a few things you might like.
Thanks again!
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Post by [Darren] on Apr 24, 2023 5:57:17 GMT -5
Those Walter & Toyota matches are on the chopping block. I threw on my 4 favorites for each so I can decide because depending on my mood I don’t much care for them or I’m over the moon about them.
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Post by kas on Apr 25, 2023 7:04:19 GMT -5
How much LA Park have you seen?
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Post by [Darren] on Apr 25, 2023 7:28:05 GMT -5
How much LA Park have you seen? Lucha in general is a major blind spot. It hasn’t clicked with me yet.
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Post by microstatistics on Apr 26, 2023 20:55:15 GMT -5
Cool list. I see you have Liger vs. Sano from 1/31/1990 in the Top 25 (which is awesome). Have you seen Liger vs. El Samurai from 4/30/1992?
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Post by [Darren] on Apr 26, 2023 21:24:47 GMT -5
Cool list. I see you have Liger vs. Sano from 1/31/1990 in the Top 25 (which is awesome). Have you seen Liger vs. El Samurai from 4/30/1992? Have not. Recently watched both Sano matches and wanted to put both on there. That was the first time Liger ever clicked for me. Would love to get into more.
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Post by nintendologic on Apr 27, 2023 9:44:26 GMT -5
If you haven't seen it, I recommend checking out Park vs. Jacob Fatu.
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Post by [Darren] on Apr 27, 2023 10:05:22 GMT -5
If you haven't seen it, I recommend checking out Park vs. Jacob Fatu. Already watched all the ones recommended to me and been quite pleased. Will definitely give that one a go.
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Post by mrjmml on Apr 27, 2023 16:30:29 GMT -5
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Post by puroraisedme on Apr 28, 2023 4:55:28 GMT -5
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Post by mrjmml on Apr 28, 2023 8:35:23 GMT -5
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Post by [Darren] on May 9, 2023 11:35:08 GMT -5
Inspired by Elliott’s wonderful Five-star match list on here & Cap’s wonderful five star match list on his proper blog. This is my list of five star matches by decade. I will update as needed. So far just 80s through 2010s. Nothing earlier or later
★★★★★
2010s
Cody v. Dustin Rhodes (AEW - 5/25/2019) Daniel Bryan v. Kofi Kingston (WWE - 4/7/2019) Brock Lesnar v. Daniel Bryan (WWE - 11/18/2018) Darby Allin v. WALTER (EVOLVE - 6/23/2018) Oney Lorcan v. Lars Sullivan (WWE - 9/27/2017) Katsuyori Shibata v. Kazuchika Okada (NJPW - 4/9/2017) Brock Lesnar v. Roman Reigns (WWE - 3/29/2015) Shinsuke Nakamura v. Kota Ibushi (NJPW - 1/4/2015) Daniel Bryan v. Randy Orton (WWE - 12/16/2013) Brock Lesnar v. CM Punk (WWE - 8/18/2013) CM Punk v. John Cena (WWE - 2/25/2013) Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Minoru Suzuki (NJPW - 10/8/2012) CM Punk v. Daniel Bryan (WWE - 5/20/2012) Brock Lesnar v. John Cena (WWE - 4/29/2012) CM Punk v. John Cena (WWE - 7/17/2011)
2000s
Bryan Danielson v. Takeshi Morishima (ROH - 12/27/2008 Bryan Danielson v. Nigel McGuinness (ROH - 2/23/2008) Bryan Danielson v. Necro Butcher (PWG - 7/29/2007) John Cena v. Umaga (WWF - 1/28/2007) ROH v. CZW: Cage of Death (ROH - 7/15/2006) Bryan Danielson v. Claudio Castagnoli (PWG - 5/20/2006) Samoa Joe/BJ Whitmer/Adam Pearce v. Chris Hero/Necro Butcher/ Super Dragon (ROH -4/22/2006) Samoa Joe v. Necro Butcher (IWA MidSouth - 6/11/2005) CM Punk v. Jimmy Rave (ROH - 5/14/2005) Samoa Joe v. CM Punk (ROH - 12/4/2004) Yoshihiro Takayama v. KENTA (NOAH - 6/27/2004) Eddie Guerrero v. JBL (WWE - 5/16/2004) Meiko Satomura v. Akira Hokuto (GAEA - 4/29/2001) Steve Corino v. Tajiri (ECW - 5/14/2000) Atlantis v. Villano III (CMLL - 3/17/2000)
1990s
Kiyoshi Tamura v. Yoshihisa Yamamoto (RINGS - 6/24/1999) Mankind v. The Undertaker (WWF - 6/28/1998 Steve Austin v. Dude Love (WWF - 5/31/1998) Kiyoshi Tamura v. Volk Han (RINGS - 9/26/1997) Canadian Stampede Match (WWF - 7/6/1997) Bret Hart v. Steve Austin (WWF - 3/23/1997) Kiyoshi Tamura v. Volk Han (RINGS - 1/22/1997) Bret Hart v. Steve Austin (WWF - 11/17/1996) Hollywood Hogan v. Randy Savage (WCW - 10/27/1996) Kiyoshi Tamura v. Volk Han (RINGS - 9/25/1996) Shawn Michaels v. Mankind (WWF - 9/22/1996) Megumi Kudo v. Combat Toyoda (FMW - 5/5/1996) Antonio Inoki v. Vader (NJPW - 1/4/1996) Bret Hart v. Diesel (WWF - 11/19/1995) Manami Toyota v. Akira Hokuto (AJW - 9/2/1995) Mitsuharu Misawa v. Akira Taue (AJPW - 4/15/1995) Manami Toyota v. Aja Kong (AJW - 11/20/1994) Dustin Rhodes v. Vader (WCW - 11/16/1994) Shinobu Kandori v. Bull Nakano (AJW/LLPW - 7/14/1994) Bret Hart v. 123 Kid (WWF - 7/11/1994) Dustin Rhodes v. Bunkhouse Buck (WCW - 4/17/1994) Shinobu Kandori/Akira Hokuto v. Aja Kong/Bull Nakano (AJW - 3/27/1994) Bret Hart v. Owen Hart (WWF - 3/20/1994) Antonio Inoki v. Genichiro Tenryu (NJPW - 1/4/1994) Shinobu Kandori v. Akira Hokuto (AJW - 12/6/1993) Thunder Queen Battle (AJW - 7/31/1993) Stan Hansen v. Kenta Kobashi (AJPW - 7/29/1993) Atsushi Onita v. Terry Funk (FMW - 5/5/1993) Shinobu Kandori v. Akira Hokuto (AJW - 4/2/1993) Sting v. Big Van Vader (WCW - 12/28/1992) Genichiro Tenryu/Koki Kitahara v. Kengo Kimura/Shiro Koshinaka (WAR - 10/23/1992) Akira Hokuto v. Bull Nakano ((AJW - 7/30/1992) Sting v. Big Van Vader (WCW - 7/12/1992) Ricky Steamboat v. Rick Rude (WCW - 6/20/1992) Can Am Express v. Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (AJPW / 5/25/1992) Sting’s Squadron v. Dangerous Alliance (WCW - 5/17/1992) Bret Hart v. Roddy Piper (WWF - 4/5/1992) Keiji Mutoh v. Vader (NJPW - 8/10/1991) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi/Toshiaki Kawada v. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi (AJPW - 4/20/1991) Randy Savage v. Ultimate Warrior (WWF - 3/24/1991) Akira Taue v. Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW - 1/15/1991) El Dandy v. El Satanico (EMLL - 12/14/1990) Jumbo Tsuruta v. Mitsuharu Misawa (AJPW - 9/1/1990) Jumbo Tsuruta v. Mitsuharu Misawa (AJPW - 6/8/1990) Jushin Liger v. Naoki Sano (NJPW - 1/21/1990)
1980s
Ric Flair v. Terry Funk (NWA - 11/15/1989) Jushin Liger v. Naoki Sano (NJPW - 8/10/1989) Masakatsu Funaki v. Tatsuo Nakano (UWF Reborn - 7/24/1989) Ric Flair v. Terry Funk (NWA - 7/23/1989) Jumbo Tsuruta v. Genichiro Tenryu (AJPW - 6/5/1989) Ric Flair v. Ricky Steamboat (NWA - 2/20/1989) WarGames (JCP - 7/4/1987) Antonio Inoki v. Masa Saito (NJPW - 4/27/1987) Hulk Hogan v. Andre The Giant (WWF - 3/29/1987) Stan Hansen v. Carlos Colon (WWC - 1/6/1987) Nick Bockwinkel v. Curt Hennig (AWA - 11/21/1986) Dump Matsumoto v. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 11/7/1986) The Rockers v. Buddy Rose/Doug Somers (AWA - 8/30/1986) Dump Matsumoto v. Itsuki Yamazaki (AJW - 8/21/1986) Ric Flair v. Ricky Morton (JCP - 7/5/1986) Chicky Starr v. Invader III (WWC - 5/1986) Team NJPW v. Team UWF (NJPW - 3/26/1986) Dump Matsumoto v. Yukari Ohmori (AJW - 3/20/1986) Tully Blanchard v. Magnum TA (JCP - 11/28/1985) Dump Matsumoto v. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 8/28/1985) Devil Masami v. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW - 8/22/1985) Jerry Lawler/Randy Savage v. Rick Rude/King Kong Bundy (CWA - 9/10/1984) Roddy Piper v. Jimmy Snuka (WWF - 7/15/1984) Sgt. Slaughter v. Iron Sheik (WWF - 6/16/1984) 5x5 Gauntlet (NJPW - 4/19/1984) Roddy Piper/David Schultz v. Andre The Giant/Jimmy Snuka (WWF - 3/25/1984) Roddy Piper v. Greg Valentine (JCP - 11/24/1983) Sangre Chicana v. MS-1 (EMLL - 9/23/1983) The Freebirds v. The Von Erichs (WCCW - 7/4/1983) Jerry Lawler v. Bill Dundee (CWA - 6/6/1983) Stan Hansen v. Terry Funk (AJPW - 4/14/1983) Hulk Hogan/Andre The Giant v. Bobby Heenan/Nick Bockwinkel/Ken Patera/Bobby Duncum (AWA - 11/7/1982) Jerry Lawler v. Andy Kaufman (CWA - 4/5/1982) Stan Hansen v. Andre The Giant (NJPW - 9/23/1981) Jerry Lawler v. Terry Funk (CWA - 4/6/1981) Jerry Lawler v. Terry Funk (CWA - 3/23/1981)
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