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Post by mrjmml on Feb 9, 2024 21:32:37 GMT -5
AJ Styles vs Sandman (TNA - 2/26/2003)
I don’t know how to start with this one, the two previous matches I reviewed were amazing in their own unique way this match is completely unremarkable at least for me. This is good don’t get me wrong it’s good but nothing else I don’t see anything here that deserves to be considered among the greatest matches of any year even 2009 ( the worst year in that department in my opinion) but still this match has something going for it. The runtime is very short around 10 minutes of Sandman’s madness will be enjoyable and this one is no exception although I don’t consider this match to be great it was way better than I expected going into it but it’s not for me it’s not my kind of match at all, it’s the TNA version of an ECW car crash and if that’s up your absolutely go for it. The best thing about this whole thing is the crowd they were ecstatic throughout the match especially by TNA standards by AJW standards they would be just a run of the mill crowd. This match made me understand why this year is very low end in the west if this is one of the best matches 2003 but this match made me think about something I read in October: ‘‘ There are no bad years in wrestling if you search hard enough’’. I think that’s what I think happened here because this match wouldn’t have been seen as great if this match happened in 1993 when the MOTY list was absolutely loaded anyways I don’t regret giving this one a chance but if you don’t like Sandman avoid this match it will be an enormous waste of your time even if it’s just 10 lone minutes it’s not worth it at all. Wrestling is the most subjective art form so you may find something in this match that I’m just missing that’s what keeps me in the wrestling community.
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Post by mrjmml on Feb 11, 2024 10:54:31 GMT -5
Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (NOAH - 3/1/2003)
I can’t say anything about this match that hasn’t been said already, most of my readers have seen this match many times and are also familiar with the backstory between these two amazing wrestlers, it’s regarded as one of the best matches of the century for a reason. Misawa and Kobashi go really hard at each other’s throats (sometimes literally), the chops (especially Kobashi’s) and the bumps are really hard to watch considering what happened to Misawa 6 years later but it’s still enjoyable at least for me but I’d understand why someone couldn’t watch this match because of the consequences. If I had to describe this match with one word it would be intense, the intensity is off the charts at the same level of Akira Hokuto vs Shinobu Kandori in Dreamslam 1 (1993), Kazuchika Okada vs Katsuyori Shibata from Sakura Genesis (2017) or 6/9/1995 but there’s something missing in this one that I personally found in those three matches. This match loses a bit of steam on rewatch, the shock you get when you first watch it and you see the amount of risks these two take in order to make this unique and remarkable and that’s one of the many things I love about wrestling and the people that partake in it their commitment to their art form and style that no other artists (except performance artists) show. Professional wrestling is a fascinating deconstruction of theatre that has the potential to be the greatest art form and this one is a great example of that, I get why some people consider this match the greatest match ever I’m not that high on this one but it’s the greatest of the year and one of the best of the century so yeah I recommend this to everyone who likes wrestling doesn’t matter what kind of fan you’re you will be entertained by the madness.
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Post by tetsujin on Feb 11, 2024 13:57:16 GMT -5
Greatest match ever.
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Post by mrjmml on Feb 11, 2024 16:13:44 GMT -5
Vince McMahon vs Hulk Hogan (WWE - 3/30/2003)
This one was a great surprise for me, I didn’t know what to expect but whatever I was thinking it was going to be it was way better than that. I was shocked by this match’s quality while not being a modern classic not even close especially when you compare the last match I reviewed ( Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi 3/1/2003) but it’s certainly a fun little match from one of the best PPVs the WWE has ever produced. This is a guilty pleasure for me, old men hitting each other in a hatred filled brawl will always be fun for me and the runtime is absolutely perfect if this match was two minutes longer I’d have lost interest but they did it right, I don’t get why Roddy Piper interfered but when you’re watching this match your analytical side of the brain takes a 20 minute nap so it wasn’t an issue for me at all because Piper’s appearance just meant more craziness is about to happen so I’m in no position to complain. It wasn’t Hulk Hogan’s brightest day but he did a fine job and I could say the same thing about Vince but what makes this thing good is the sum of the parts, the WrestleMania environment and the funniest chair shot in wrestling history. I’m completely serious Hugo Savinovich took it in the most melodramatic way possible, it was pure gold just that moment is enough to recommend this match to every wrestling fan in the world. The spanish speaking announcers have it very tough while the english speaking ones are just witnesses like they always are, their reactions are priceless too and that was enough to get me hooked for the rest of the bout, I’d argue that was the high point of the whole event it was that good. Both wrestlers are controversial figure nowadays so you may want to skip this match.
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Post by mrjmml on Feb 12, 2024 19:28:20 GMT -5
Kiyoshi Tamura vs Dokonjonosuke Mishima (U-Style - 4/6/2003)
I love this match, Kiyoshi Tamura is the greatest shoot wrestler in history in my opinion he brings a level of intensity and commitment to every single bout he’s apart of and that’s the best quality a wrestler can have every match with Tamura matters. He’s an amazing performer, I’m fascinated by how he sells every single move like he’s being killed, that’s what I mean when I say commitment to your craft, he’s special, one of a kind in his specialty where unconvincing selling can very easily kill a match for me. He’s everything I want in a wrestler, he’s undoubtedly a top 10 wrestler of all time and this match is a great example of why that’s the case, a unassuming match from a little shoot style promotion made memorable by Tamura’s performance it’s beautiful. He also makes whoever he’s facing look way better than they actually are, Dokonjonosuke Mishima isn’t a bad wrestler but he isn’t nearly as good as his opponent but still feels like a threat thanks to his opponent’s selling, professional wrestling is truly a special medium that can make every idea off the top of your head work. This one is short with a ten minute runtime (not that short by shoot style standards) which is more than enough to get the story across in a convincing manner that wouldn’t have worked if this match was any longer because Dokonjonosuke Mishima shouldn’t last more than ten minutes against one of the greatest wrestler ever. This match is great but it isn’t a great introduction to Kiyoshi Tamura, if you are already familiar with his style and legacy grab some popcorn you’ll be amazed by the way the match was structured and how Kiyoshi made his opponent look legit for a few moments.
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Post by mrjmml on Feb 24, 2024 18:23:38 GMT -5
Paul London vs Bryan Danielson (ROH - 4/12/2003)
2003 is a very special year in the history of Ring of Honor; Samoa Joe is crowned champion and so began his amazing title reign that lasted almost two years after beating the second (and one of the worst) champion in the company’s history Xavier. Many wrestlers that had a prominent role in 2002 (their first year) stepped up significantly both in-ring and on the card such as these two. Paul London had been the company’s main babyface guy for a year now while Bryan Danielson was putting up technical masterpieces at the top of the card consistently since the very first show The Era of Honor Begins so the audience knew what they were about to witness first-hand, the indie version of an NWA title bout for nothing but bragging rights and the thrill of competition. For those who don’t already know I’m a big Bryan Danielson fan, I love his style, his facial expressions and range as a worker so this match is right up my alley but I can see how some people may not like this match as much as I did. It’s an above average ROH epic with a great atmosphere around it like most do but what makes this match worth of a review is Paul’s astonishing performance that surely elevated this bout to MOTY consideration for me, even if you don’t like what they went you have to appreciate his effort both selling his leg and taking bumps in a way that didn’t break the overall dramatic tone of the match which was set up by the first fall and continued through the last two. None of that would be possible if Danielson wasn’t there, I don’t think anyone else (except Samoa Joe maybe) would have been able to direct the match the way he did truly showing of his talent as ring general making his opponent shine and taking the loss obviously it couldn’t have ended any other way.
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Post by mrjmml on Mar 1, 2024 9:58:06 GMT -5
Kenta Kobashi vs Tamon Honda (NOAH - 4/13/2003)
It’s Kobashi first defense of his legendary GHC Championship reign. This match was doomed from the start for me, it was destined to be way worse than the match that preceeded it (Kenta Kobashi vs Mitsuharu Misawa 3/1/2003) but even having that in consideration this match could have been better than it ultimately was. I believe that it went on for longer than it was necessary and that really affected the quality of the match. First of all, Tamon Honda never looked like a threat to Kobashi’s reign so most of the challenger’s offense feels irrelevant there’s no point in this match where I thought that the champion was at risk of losing his gold and that lack of tension made this match a drag for me. I see how some people think it is one of the greatest matches of the year but it just wasn’t something I’d enjoy because the crazy bumps they take aren’t enough for me to keep me on the edge of my seat. Even tough I criticized this match somewhat harshly by my standards I have to say that it wasn’t a bad match either. Both men gave all they had to offer but the end result just wasn’t as good as they hoped. Kenta Kobashi’s reign as GHC Heavyweight Championship champion got a good start but it’s evident that there will be greater matches in the future making this match nothing more than a footnote in Kobashi’s career and the greatest moment of Tamon Honda’s. I have a great deal of respect for both wrestlers but I think they knew that Honda wasn’t a credible underdog so they tried really hard to make him look like one but it didn’t work. If you like the King’s Road style especially during the late 1990’s you may find this match really interesting.
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Post by mrjmml on Mar 2, 2024 22:58:26 GMT -5
Carnage Crew vs Hernandez/Eddie/Juan (No DQ - ROH - 4/26/03)
Here we have an actual classic ROH hidden gem. If you aren’t familiar with Ring of Honor before 2004 these wrestlers may not ring a bell but if you have watched at least a few shows from 2002 and 2003 you know what you’re about to watch. The Carnage Crew thrived in chaotic car crash brawls and this particular one is the greatest they’ve ever done in my opinion. The Texas Wrestling Academy and the Carnage Crew had a feud almost since the beginning of the company’s run and this match was clearly its climax. Early ROH divided their matches in two parts: matches ruled by the code of honor and blood feuds where the code of honor doesn’t apply and they aren’t wrestled for the sake of competition rather bloodlust, payback and giving a climactic finish to rivalries. This match is the perfect representation of what they were going for it’s genuinely impressive how they pull off something like this in a way that’s able to convey effectively how much these two factions hate each other. This match is the kind of match you can go in without any context whatsoever and still enjoy it as much or even more than someone following the product because there’s nothing to explain here just six guys going at each other and putting all on the line. I believe that pro wrestling is a universal language which anyone can understand but no one can actually master, words can’t quite make this match justice, it’s a masterpiece in its own unique way. This kind of matches have a ceiling, they can be great but they can’t be all-time great matches even this one isn’t quite there for me but it’s the perfect match if you want to turn off your brain and watch meat and potatoes wrestling go watch this.
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Post by mrjmml on Mar 16, 2024 11:34:51 GMT -5
Jerry Lawler vs Terry Funk (3PW - 5/3/2003)
I love that this match actually happened, evidently it’s not the greatest match between these two but it’s still worth watching for any wrestling fan that likes old men going hard during the twilight of their careers so almost every wrestling fan on the face of the earth would like this and unsurprisingly I’m among those fanatics. They aren’t in their prime anymore, Jerry Lawler was 53 and Terry Funk was almost 60 when this match took place, in fact, Terry had his first ‘‘retirement’’ match around twenty years ago. The match itself is very slow but they make up for it with the masterful character work that they did throughout a surprisingly long match, it’s longer than the two matches that they had in Memphis in 1981 which is quite impressive putting their age into consideration. The crowd is also really into it, it’s what they had paid to see and it was money well spent as these two had one of the greatest showings of their careers in the most unexpected of places at an age in which you are supposed to be retired or you’re going to retire soon. This match made me appreciate even more the longevity of luchadores like El Satánico, Atlantis or Black Terry who’s still having great matches even though he’s 71 now. We can’t take them for granted but something all great wrestlers have in common is that age isn’t an impediment rather a feature, they all find a way to be great. Let’s think about other mediums and art forms for a second, Pablo Picasso was a great artist I can’t deny that but his last few years painting were awful and his medium wasn’t nearly as physically taxing as professional wrestling. 2024 is Bryan Danielson’s last year as a professional wrestler and he’s having a career year, this match reminded me of how greatness in wrestling can’t be lost.
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Post by microstatistics on Mar 20, 2024 20:58:22 GMT -5
Fun following you go through 2003. I think it's in the top 20% of the last 25 years of wrestling. A poor WWE year but other US promotions (ROH, TNA) compensated for it while Japan roared back after a (relatively) weak start to the decade, marshalled by NOAH and Kobashi.
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Post by mrjmml on Mar 21, 2024 9:22:52 GMT -5
Brock Lesnar vs Big Show (WWE - 5/18/2003)
It’s what you’d expect from these two, a dumb match involving a stretcher and a forklift but I have to say that I really enjoyed, it’s not highbrow professional wrestling by any means however that doesn’t automatically disqualify this match from being among the greatest of the year because it was a pleasant experience and lasted as long as it was supposed to and the match was very fun. WWE matches with special stipulations like this one don’t always land, in fact, most of them are awful I’m sure you could think of many examples over the top of your head thankfully this one actually worked really well, they nailed everything they tried and the crowd showed their appreciation for their effort something I’d like to see more from WWE crowds. I can recognize that it is a great match even though it’s not my cup of tea at all, it was the best possible version of this kind of match and I feel like it has gone relatively under the radar for way too long, I see this match being a favourite for many wrestling fans especially WWE fans, I also found it very similar to Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns from SummerSlam 2022 so if you liked that one definitely check this one out. The match doesn’t need any context whatsoever but you may be interested in how this match came to be. It’s the typical monster heel ark where Big Show wants to demolish the whole SmackDown roster and put everyone on a stretcher one by one luckily for them Brock Lesnar (the good guy obviously) saves the day. Big Show challenges him to a Stretcher Match in Judgement Day, not the most original story ever altough exactly what I expected. The only thing I’d strongly recommend watching is the amazing finish that ended Big Show reign of terror over SmackDown, a match I don’t regret watching.
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Post by mrjmml on Mar 31, 2024 19:46:06 GMT -5
El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (WWA - 5/17/1991)
The second chapter of the greatest rivalry in the history of lucha completely delivered, a fantastic mat-based bout capable of holding any lucha fan to their sit for the entirety of their runtime even though it’s an apuesta involving the son of one of the most protected characters (if not the most) in the history of lucha. I know that’s a big compliment but this match absolutely deserves it for everything that these two were capable to achieve in that ring, the hold to hold action was always engaging and genuinely fun to watch it’s a match that more than lived up to expectations. Negro Casas has always been a favourite among the fans of the style (me included) for his ability to make matches like this one work in a way that most luchadores can’t. I’ve already reviewed two matches involving him here, the first apuesta between him and Santito and a tag team match in the same year (1987) but it’s obvious that he has grown as a wrestler since then and he had become a force to be reckoned with during that time. Santito also improved as a wrestler in that time span making this matchup pretty even (ignoring the history of his mask) so this match played out as expected with both men having their respective moments to shine however history repeated itself once again and ‘‘El enmascarado de plata’’ retained his mask after a memorable showing everyone should at least take a look at. The match itself is absolutely worth your time but I must tell you that this apuesta is different to many others I’ve covered this one is mostly technical so you won’t see chairshot or blood like you’d in those.
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Post by mrjmml on Apr 5, 2024 20:03:35 GMT -5
Atlantis vs Blue Panther (EMLL - 8/9/1991)
Another technical classic featuring two of the greatest luchadores to ever do it, it’s a great title match mainly because of its runtime, 25 minutes of awesome action while other matches of that kind go for longer (around 30 minutes) but most of them can’t make a match like that work however these two made the most out of their encounter. We all know Atlantis ‘‘El ídolo de los niños’’ literally the children’s idol was the main babyface of the company (EMLL/CMLL) for many years and the 1990’s were his best years although he was their brightest prospect during the 1980’s so his jump in in-ring ability didn’t surprise anyone and his longevity is also worth highlighting considering that he had fantastic matches during the 2010’s against Último Guerrero or La Sombra. His mask is probably the most valuable in lucha along with El Hijo del Santo’s, he was the face of CMLL for many years so his treatment is understandable and logical as a way to thank his contribution to wrestling as a whole for thirty years. Now the NWA Middleweight championship is on the line, Atlantis is defending his title against Blue Panther ‘‘El Maestro Lagunero’’, the match is as good as you could expect from them the hold to hold action is superb from beginning to end, no restholds here, every move has a purpose and helps to move the action forward something not many matches actually achieve, this is direct and focused the way mat wrestling should be. Atlantis came out of that match on top but Blue Panther lost honourably, no cheapshots or anything that might be considered dirty. This is worse than the last match but I’d still recommend this match to anyone who calls himself lucha fan.
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Post by AndrewGB79 on Apr 7, 2024 0:30:52 GMT -5
El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (WWA - 5/17/1991) ... The match itself is absolutely worth your time but I must tell you that this apuesta is different to many others I’ve covered this one is mostly technical so you won’t see chairshot or blood like you’d in those. Just watched and thoroughly enjoyed this one. And according to Cagematch it's not an apuesta match, but a title match for Santo's UWA World Welterweight Title.
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Post by mrjmml on Apr 23, 2024 18:11:49 GMT -5
Akira Taue vs Yuji Nagata (NOAH - 6/6/2003)
Although this match doesn’t really need any context to be enjoyed I’ll provide it anyway. From 2002 to 2004 NOAH and NJPW worked together and as a result many dream matches took place and this one particularly is my favourite of the bunch it’s like they were made to wrestle each other, both their styles are based on heavy striking and they’re the best at it. Yuji Nagata was in his prime after a phenomenal 2002 a year which saw him become IWGP Heavyweight Champion and a very dominant one at that, sadly he lost that title to Yoshihiro Takayama a month before this match so it’s a great opportunity to make a comeback against an aging (but competitive) veteran like Akira Taue however he’s not going down without a fight, if he wants that win he’ll have to earn it because as we all know by now Taue is not an easy opponent for anyone. The pace is relentless, they go at each other’s throats as advertised, it’s really entertaining to watch, probably the hoot of the year if you like any of these guys you’ll enjoy it. It’s perfect if you want to introduce someone to either Yuji or Taue, it’s also booked really well, I have the need to shout out NOAH’s creatives because it’s the best way they could have thought of to push Nagata. With a crafty veteran and former Triple Crown holder will always present a threat so there will be some intrigue about the result which is great because intrigue keeps the crowd at the edge of their seats and that’s done perfectly here. I find cross-promotion feuds fascinating and this match encapsulates the greatest things about them in 17 minutes. I love simplistic pro wrestling when it’s done right, I strongly recommend it, in fact, if Misawa vs Kobashi didn’t happen this one would be MOTY.
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