|
Post by elliott on Dec 7, 2017 21:02:40 GMT -5
Chigusa Nagayo vs Devil Masami (AJW - 8/22/85) The real best match from one of the most legendary shows in 80s wrestling. This has all of the great high spots of Jaguar/Lioness but has a stronger foundation of psychology and selling. This is way ahead of its time and stands up well compared to just about any title match ever.
|
|
|
Post by Cap on Dec 8, 2017 8:25:27 GMT -5
Second
This one seems so self evidently great to me. I don't really know what to say about it. I co-sign everything Elliott said about this. Nagayo is incredible. She has such fire and presence and Devil is a brilliant juxtaposition. Devil always stands out. She is absolutely brutal. I love this match.
|
|
|
Post by jetlag on Jan 8, 2018 11:59:07 GMT -5
3rd. A great title match. Masami never looked better. Also, PUNCHES.
Full review:
This is more like a classic title match. It's all about the struggle over holds and building to the big throws, making the simple work here very compelling. I just love the first nearfall for the surfboard hold. There is some meandering, but Chigusa knew to sell when it was on the money, and Devil looked like a devil. The fact that there's no choreographed spots, making it all feel like it was made up on the spot, adds a ton to the match too. My favourite bit may have been Devil blocking a Sharpshooter, taking out the leg and then both of them going into a greco lock up. Just a great battle of attrition. Chigusa isn't always on point but her UWF offense here was a lot of fun and because she is a megastar she added a ton of heat to the match. Then you have those fucking punches and huge exhaustion in the last couple minutes pushing this into EPIC territory. Magnificient match.
|
|
|
Post by elliott on Oct 4, 2018 18:54:56 GMT -5
I challenge someone to watch this alongside Flair vs Steamboat (pick which one you think is best) and tell me why this isn't clearly better.
|
|
|
Post by Cap on Aug 2, 2020 15:08:03 GMT -5
Do we have a copy of this available on the inter-webs?
|
|
|
Post by Kadaveri on Aug 2, 2020 19:26:26 GMT -5
Messaged you.
|
|
|
Post by nintendologic on Aug 2, 2020 20:11:46 GMT -5
Ditch's website.
|
|
|
Post by Cap on Aug 3, 2020 9:35:34 GMT -5
Many Thanks!
Also... at the risk of being outed as clueless.... what id ditch's website?
|
|
|
Post by nintendologic on Aug 3, 2020 11:00:13 GMT -5
Ditch is a wrestling message board OG who maintains two websites where puro matches can be downloaded (thditch dot biz for pre-split All Japan and NOAH and theditch dot us for everything else-this is where Devil/Chiggy can be found). He hasn't posted anywhere or updated the sites since late 2014, but they're still up.
|
|
|
Post by elliott on Aug 3, 2020 12:47:26 GMT -5
Watch it yet, Cap?
|
|
|
Post by Cap on Aug 3, 2020 14:49:12 GMT -5
I have watched it before. It made my list last time (in the 30s). It has just been a while and I wanted to get a view in before this ballot. I have not rewatched it yet. It has slipped down a bit and that feels like more the product of me not reminding myself how great it is.
|
|
|
Post by Cap on Aug 12, 2020 17:58:15 GMT -5
From my rewatch project on 8/8/2020 Devil Masami vs Chigusa Nagayo (WWWA All Pacific Title – 8/22/1985) Current Rank: 39 Trending: Up This is joshi for people who like 70s and 80s NWA Title matches. But it is also, in parts, joshi for people who like territory brawls… and… well…. joshi. It is a match that I think unintentionally serves a lot of masters, brilliant escalation and story telling from bell to bell. I generally really like this era Nagayo, but Devil Masami is out there showing why she is probably better than your favorite wrestler. This is neither here nor there to the match, but I think I have a crush on '85 Devil Masami. I fanboyed here. She has a great performance and levels up at just right time to put this match over that final hump. Devil is fantastic in the final 7 ish minutes and Nagayo matches Devil in her own way. Part of this homestretch performance is actually related to comparing this to the Lawler/Dundee match. If I had any doubts about which match I would vote for they were rendered inconsequential at the end. The punch exchanges are the closest thing – I think – we get to a sort of surface level comparison between these matches and I think Devil and Nagayo hold their own. No, they aren’t as snug on CLOSE examination and they aren't shouldering the same kind of storytelling load on the whole, but they still score well where it matters, storytelling, placement, and timing. The heavy shots near the end from Devil popped me hard. This is moving up significantly, maybe up 20+ spots. Full Post: gweproject.freeforums.net/post/8310
|
|
|
Post by mvz on Mar 26, 2021 5:28:19 GMT -5
As this match wrapped up I was thinking to myself that this is probably a top 20 contender. This match had a lot of what resonates with me. There was variance between punches, limb work, and big bombs, but all in a cohesive story. In addition to co-signing Cap’s ranking, I want to reiterate the praise for Masami. She is such a compelling work; when she is on top it is never dull for a second and her facial expressions and selling are always on point. Both women were great in this match though, just a great title fight.
|
|
|
Post by Cap on Mar 26, 2021 5:38:18 GMT -5
YES!
Love to see people on board with this match.
|
|
|
Post by makaiclub on Apr 5, 2021 20:01:18 GMT -5
This was epic. A real high level match built on smart submission wrestling, great striking and a smart build to the high spot of the match. One aspect of the match that I loved was how they never really moved on from the submission aspects of the bout. A lot of matches have a lot of submissions work and gradually move on but they chose to slow this down and go back to the submission, much to the benefit of the match. So compelling. This combines a lot of different styles with the frantic Joshi pacing with the UWF styled grappling and psychology driven bomb throwing. ****3/4
|
|