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Post by microstatistics on Jan 6, 2018 23:24:22 GMT -5
Juniors classic for the ages. Excellent speed vs. power dynamic. The repeated sleepers stretch is of course legendary and for good reason. Masterful selling from Eddie as he becomes more and more sympathetic. Finishing stretch has some of the best nearfalls and use of high impact offense ever.
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Post by tetsujin on Feb 1, 2018 7:54:30 GMT -5
The famous headlocks match. What an exhibition of athleticism but also what a great dynamic between both characters, with fantastic build up to one of the craziest climaxes in any match. 1996 MOTYC for sure.
I second this, it has a chance to be at the bottom of my list.
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Post by KB8 on Feb 2, 2018 13:42:50 GMT -5
I still think this is the best juniors match of the 90s. I don't really bother with star ratings, but if I did I'd probably throw this in the five stars pile (or six stars or whatever we're up to now).
The first third managed to engage me more than most of the perfunctory early stage matwork you got at the time, as it felt like they were establishing Benoit as the better on the ground while Eddie was more dangerous when he could take to the air. If nothing else it sets up the headlock portion, which is about the best use of a headlock you'll see. Benoit doesn't want Eddie up and flying around so he'll just drag him back to the mat every single time. Eddie's sell of it is so great, particularly the subtle little moments where it looks like he's created some distance only to stagger a little and allow Benoit to grab him again. The crowd can't get behind this tactic at all and it actually draws heat. It's like they're playing each other at FIFA and Benoit just keeps giving the ball to Messi, or NBA and he's just chucking up threes with Curry. It's effective and everything, but it's kinda cheap, you know? All those possibilities and he's taking the easy option every time. When Eddie finally manages to hit something the crowd don't react with applause for a fancy move as such; it's more like they're genuinely behind him and they're urging him to press the advantage. They do a tease of the middle rope tombstone that Benoit used to win their match in the '95 tournament, and I don't know it was a deliberate callback or not but it was really cool either way.
I absolutely love this match and I'll probably have it top 30 and I don't care who thinks I'm crazy.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jul 29, 2018 15:08:04 GMT -5
The sleepers match everyone knows it and everyone loves it! Brilliant use of the sleeper to sap the energy of the dynamic Eddie Guerrero. Match that's on the bubble.
Benoit's chinlock worn down Guerrero enough that he had a hard time stringing moves together. Anytime, Benoit was in danger he would just wrap him up in chinlock. I loved it. Is it really that clever? To me clever is winking at the audience. This is actually effective pro wrestling strategy that is not used enough.
Black Tiger vs Wild Pegasus - NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 6/11/96
Once upon a time, I had this match as the best match either man has had. At this point, I would say it is in the Top 5 for each man. Such an interesting piece of pro wrestling storytelling. There is nothing I enjoy more than breaking down kayfabe strategies. I thought this match was exemplary in showcasing contrasting styles. On the mat the tough and gritty Benoit can gain the advantage, but there are times when he loses it like Tiger's nifty trip at one point or the headscissors takeover. The real straw that breaks the camel's back is Eddie's back splashes over the top rope. Benoit takes exception to those and starts applying the chinlock. This is what this match is famous for. Black Tiger would escape the chinlock snap off one explosive move and Pegasus would promptly smother him with a chinlock. By the fourth or fifth time, the crowd was pissed and chanting for Tiger. It was really the perfect use of the chinlock to wrap up Black Tiger prevent him from hitting his high flying offense, but also set up his own moves. Notice Benoit would hit a chop and then go for something and Black Tiger would counter so back to the chinlock until that would not happen.
Benoit hits a MASSIVE POWERBOMB! HE THREW HIM DOWN! But he misses the diving headbutt! Tiger gets whipped into the guardrail and Pegasus comes flying out with a dive taking Guerrero over the top rope. He goes for the powerbomb again, but Tiger reverses into Brainbuster, weak transition. Black Tiger is a little foggy before he hits Frogsplash for two. Guerrero goes for the brainbuster, but Benoit drops down into sleeper! Excellent! I liked Benoit catching Eddie with the Dragon Suplex right after the break. Great struggle over the tombstone piledriver feels like the most important thing in the world. Benoit wins and sets him up top. Super Back Suplex! Great selling as always from Benoit on moves like that. He is one of the best as putting over the punishment his own body takes from his violent offense. SPLASH MOUNTAIN! Nice tease of Tombstone from top before Eddie reverses into Top Rope Frakensteiner and then SUPER BRAINBUSTER WINS THE MATCH!
I would say the biggest complaint I have with this match is they don't do a great job establishing why Pegasus needs to use the chinlock. A really hot shin would have made this a five star match. Because it would have added a lot of excitement and established the narrative for the rest of the match. The use of the chinlock was perfect as a means of getting Eddie over as explosive and Benoit needing to sap his energy. The weakest part of the match was Black Tiger hitting a brainbuster out of nowhere when he had been taking offense. I even thought Splash Mountain was set up better because Benoit was selling the after effects of landing on his head by his own move. I will admit that transitions to Eddie's offense could have been better. I thought it was nice three move finish Splash Mountain->Top Rope Frankensteiner->Super Brainbuster for the win. ****1/2
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Post by makaiclub on Jul 22, 2023 14:29:42 GMT -5
Damn, I can’t even begin to explain how much I adored this match. It was just sensational wrestling in every form. I loved Pegasus’ mindset early in the match. He simply would grab a headlock and continuously apply it, grinding BT down into submission. It’s not fancy or pretty, especially for someone like Pegasus’ skill, but he was so aggressive and persistent with it, as well as combative using it to cut Black Tiger off. It was so effective that it turned Black Tiger, who has worked heel in all the matches I’ve seen, into the biggest babyface in the division. And then it escalated and escalated but the quality never relented. Each counter was glued together with a realistic transition that felt earned and executed with some much impact, combining the graceful Jr Heavyweight style with the Heavyweight style. But despite the dominance that Pegasus had, Black Tiger had enough established winning moves, including the super frankensteiner that he used to beat Liger on Day 2 and when he hits them, it feels big. And when they didn’t finish the job, that felt even bigger. It took another top rope move (a super brainbuster) to finish the job and it felt justified because they wrestled such a great match. ****1/2
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Post by elliott on Sept 15, 2023 21:58:14 GMT -5
Always thought this was probably the Juniors MOTD but I'm not about to rewatch a bunch of Benoit matches.
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