August 2019

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The entrances set the whole tone for this match. Both coming down off lifts that would normally be used for construction. The video package playing in the middle of the two, whilst they are angrily trash talking. It was a tremendous visual. As way Wagnery having a large entourage and Blue Demon Jr having only one, which is his son, Hijo del Blue Demon. The match starts out hot, with Blue Demon attacking Wagner before he could take the honorary mask off and busts him open, with the blood turning some of the mask red and smashing him with a bottle. Just absolutely great rudo work from him. Him and his son double teaming Wagner to hit a chop was just a tip of the icebe…

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I had MOTYC expectations for this match just as I had for Ishii/Mox, like I said that time, that's never a fair hype to have, but sometimes the match lives up to it, and this one did the first 10 minutes or so could've been the usual "whatever" part as most long NJ match tend to have, but I was compelled by Shingo getting pissed off at Naito's antics and proceeding to beat the shit out of him. I think the only bad transition was Naito going back on offense after that first control segment by Takagi, but that's basically the only criticism (which is incredibly minor) I have for the match, the rest was fucking awesome. Shingo being a dominant force, landing some incredible…

One of the best matches of the 2019 G-1 Climax!!!! Talk about it here

This surpassed even my wildest expectations and was possibly a star-marking performance for Threat. They went back in forth with tags making sure not to mix genders until both Brookes and Threat tagged in. Brookes asked them on commentary to get Triple H on the phone and ask if it’s ok. The commentator gets on his cell phone and explains the situation, says “I know you didn’t sign him” then tells Brookes that Uncle Paul is upstairs and says he can do what the fuck he wants. They go at it and Threat hits a ran followed by a delayed vertical suplex. Starr and Grace are in and Grace wins a test of strength that Starr breaks by getting the ropes. Brookes and Grace did do Broo…

Thatcher gets a takedown early and goes for a choke. Makabe goes after the leg. Thatcher mounts him and throws some slaps. Makabe moves into the guard. Thatcher grabs a hammerlock but there’s a rope break. They’re on their feet and Thatcher goes for a cross armbreaker and get it but Makabe escapes and works the leg. They have a rope-break and then start trading uppercuts. Thatcher applies a leglock. Makabe grabs him and they battle for position. Thatcher headbutts Makabe in the back. Thatcher gives him a gutwrench suplex then gets his back and throws elbows. Thatcher tries a choke but Makabe transitions into a cross armbreaker. Thatcher gets a single-leg crab and Makabe c…

Mark and Jay Briscoe defend the ROH World Tag Team Titles. I already loved their Street Fight, but this was on another level. Amazing violence from start to finish with a natural chaotic & heated feel to it. Mark Briscoe is still a crazy bastard in 2019, Tama Tonga had a few superb spots w/ his sneaky attacks (that dropkick to Mark which sent him over the barricade + that cutter as Mark was climbing the ladder) & Jay mothafuggen' Briscoe. I recommended this match to a friend right after watching it, and his response was "are GOD matches allowed to be good" -- well, when you have Jay rocking the crimson mask like it's 2004 vs. Samoa Joe in a Steel Cage, then I…

This was similar to one of the shoot-style matches from WXW Ambition but with regular rules so guys could get counted for pins when going for submissions. I feel this was up there with their WXW Ambition match from earlier in the year. Lots of trading of ankle locks and the likes. It was really cool that with the change in rules Ishikawa would throw in pin attempts like a small package and a backslide, transitioning well from submission work. They traded several cross amrbreaker attempts and Fujiwara armbar attempts through the match. Thatcher finally got Ishikawa in the Fujiwara and sunk it in deep and Ishikawa tapped out. The match got a standing ovation and was classic…

This was a classic match with a great hype video showing the history between the two. They were both trading shoulderblocks early on and Walter did an impressive leapfrog. There were lots of strike exchanges and lots of Sekimoto attempting power moves on the huge Walter and eventually getting the bodyslam. Walter also hit a huge tombstone on Sekimoto who later got Walter in a deadlift bridging German suplex. Sekimoto hit a top rope splash and then came backward off the ropes missing an elbowdrop. Walter gives him some big chops and puts on a sleeper. Sekimoto fights out but Walter boots him in the face and gives him an emerald frozien for the pin. After the match Wal…

Both men are already eliminated, but this is a first time ever match!!! Talk about it here

Winner goes to the finals!!! Talk about it here

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I attended nine shows in four days in Toronto this week. I consider this to be the best match I saw all week, just ahead of Walter vs Sekmioto. They started with some shoot-style wrestling. Mercedes applied a camel clutch. Grace hit a toprope senton. They traded strikes on the floor. Grace used a Michinoku Driver. Mercedes did a dragon suplex. Grace gave her a spinebuster. They went to the top and Mercedes hit a top rope death valley driver. Mercedes brings in the belt and misses a belt shot. Grace ends up grabbing the belt but Mercedes hits her with a big boot with the belt. Mercedes then gives her a fisherman buster on the belt and gets the pin to keep the title. Merc…

This match has Hoshiki defending her Wonder of Stardom title against Jungle Kyona, who has some momentum herself having just won the tag titles with Konami a few weeks earlier. The story of this match is Hoshiki's quick technical striking verses the power of Jungle. Jungle's tries to neutralize Hoshiki's striking by working over her leg but Hoshiki is able counter back with some opportunistic quick bursts and works a sleeper to slow Jungle down. Jungle tries to put her away during the finishing run but Hoshiki keeps sneaking out trouble and Arisa is able to line up a series of strikes to pull off the win. Tremendous match, especially with Jungle's performance but Hoshiki …

Adam Cole defends the NXT Title against Johnny Gargano in a two out of three falls match. First fall is regular rules, second fall is a street fight, and the third fall is a steel cage with weapons. Talk about it here

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Another dope Astronauts match with plenty to love on. Abe getting caught with that open hand early from Sato and his staggered sell. The intensity of the Nomura/Wada exchanges, which leads to nasty slaps and corner headbutts -- Wada's Northern lights suplex is snappy as hell. Loved Sato going nuts on Nomura with the ground-and-pound, and then Nomura German suplexing Sato as he's reaching for the tag. Another neat spot came with Abe catching the double wrist-lock off the German suplex hold by Wada and slickly keeping it locked in through Wada's struggles. His set up to the cross kneebar on Sato before turning that into a legtrap German was also very cool. Fun mix of shoot-…

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EDIT: re-watch from 2021. Goddamn I didn't like Rollins at all in this. It isn't that surprising, but it's disappointing, because the elements for a potential great match were there. A taped up mid-section that Brock attacks in an awesome fashion? Uh hell yes please, but then Seth doesn't really sell it much at all & is on the offense with his weak looking arsenal for wayyy too long, for my liking. It's a great & definite way to put him over, no doubts about that, but a good match it is not. *3/4

Pretty sure this is Trish's best match ever, and while Flair was incredible in this, Stratus was the star. While it was a retirement match, it really didn't feel like a foregone conclusion. There were many moments in which it looked like Trish could beat the odds and either pin Charlotte or make her tap - to her own finishing move, no less - and it made for a great, exciting story. Only downside to this is that it makes you want have more of Trish, which you can't really have if it's her last match. Easy MOTN.

FInal match of the 2019 G-1 Climax tournament!!!! Talk about it here