May 2000

This was a classic blood bath as Tajiri finally fights back against Corino and just destroys him. Tajiri is a sadistic monster wiping Corino's blood on his chest and killing him with kicks and putting him through tables. Corino (the heel) makes a few valiant comeback attempts, but he can't match Tajiri. I LOVE this match and have it at about ****1/4.

Talk about it here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOCkFQPuaTA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97DQ5EySFE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30vMOuzAg0Q

Another conflicting GAEA match. A ton to love in this with some absolutely brutal spots that conveyed the violence. Some of the stage dives were excellent. The visual of the chairs that kept hanging onto Karou even after the seat got slammed across her head was also a gripping visual. The finish comes with Ozaki putting Karou into a plastic bag of sorts and delivering some sickening powerbombs on a char in the ring. Karou does a great blade job and that is really prevalent in May 2000 and has added something to each match it has been introduced into. The bad of this match revolved around the fact that it was a 28 minute brawl so there were some slow spots and the seconds …

Reunions in wrestling can be tricky. Especially when it is 10+ years like this one. I still remember how excited I was to see Vince McMahon and Bret Hart have their in ring confrontation on 1/4/10 and how that immediately evaporated when I saw just how much of a shell Hart was. This match reminded me of going to a Pearl Jam or other rock concert in current day. Eddie Vedder isn't going to be jumping off any scaffolding just like Devil and Chigusa aren't going to produce the ****3/4 classic they did in 1985. Eddie forgets some lyrics and we laugh along just like we do when some of the Crush Gals double teams aren't executed quite as cleanly as you would hope. That being sa…

We get about 10 minutes out of 16 and this is a pretty great old school slugfest from these two veterans. I know about Kyoko's stylistic change in the 2000's but it will take some getting used to. I had no idea what to expect from Yamada but she was excellent hitting some brutal strikes and being all pissed off. I want to seek more out from her on this GAEA run. Kyoko really relied on the clothesline throughout the match and it pays dividends by giving her the win in the end. ***1/4

Looking at that talent roster, no way this would be bad. It was entertaining as a match. It appears that Bestia had gotten a haircut since the IWRG match. Panther and Santo really go after each other throughout the match and I am looking forward to their upcoming single rematch. Zumbido and La Park brought most of the comedy into the match utilizing the referee. Santo gets his revenge later in the match and the crowd is pretty raucous at that. Parka and Shocker have some good interaction as well and that is an interesting match to ponder. Tarzan Boy does well here and has good support from the crowd which always helps. Finale has everyone flying around and a beautiful San…

A handicap match that was set up for one reason and that is Horace to make his decision. The action is fine with some back and forth until Horace seemingly helps his uncle by decking Bischoff. The filthy animals run in and get taken out as well. Torrie Wilson comes out in a short cheetah print dress and suddenly Horace has a change of heart. He hits Hulk with a chair and puts on the New Blood shirt. *1/4

Flair is in the ring demanding stuff when we cut to Russo at the Flair house with David and Daphney. They tour Flair’s house and Russo puts on one of his robes. They refer to Reid throughout this as champ. David’s room consists of a cot on the basement floor that is unfinished. Beth, Reid and Ashley (Charlotte) come into the house and David berates them until Beth kicks them out. Flair in the ring looks shell shocked. David comes out and gets some legit heel heat calling him Ric instead of Dad. He then says his Dad (Russo) is in the back right now. Ric invites him to the ring. Daphney continues to make faces at Ric during his promo. Ric wants to become the champion tonigh…

Even though this is a feud I have no use for, this is a pretty big opening match to Nitro and the video package beforehand is well done in trying to make sense of it. The cage match itself is their best effort as they convey the violence without drifting too far into cartoon territory. Sting shows a good bit of aggression handcuffing Vamp and then delivering the Stinger splash. A little bit of magic ends the segment as the cage lifts up with the lights going out and when they come back on, Vamp is gone. **

I am conflicted on the Radicalz fighting this early. On one side, they did establish them as just a couple of professional guys looking to gain a job and that was why the union was taking place. On the other side, it does feel like they were a cool unit that could be poised to have a big run and now these three are fighting and Benoit is above it all. This was pretty clunky and everyone seemed a bit off execution wise. Saturn does hit a nice flying elbow and gets the pinfall on Eddy as Chyna inadvertently kicks him in the balls. Good enough job hyping the Judgment Day match. *1/2

They keep evolving the five second pose this time taking a shot at the Cleveland Indians. Match was nothing at all and only 2-3 minutes but it does show again how resourceful E&C are at stealing wins. The Acolytes and Hardys had some issues brewing here. 3/4*

HBK starts off Raw with a promo. He talks about his promotion and even name drops TWA. He says however the thing he is most proud of is his wife Rebecca and son Cameron. As a result of not being able to fully invest in his duties, he is resigning as Commissioner. He does however want to be the referee Sunday for the iron man match. We get a clip of him screwing the Rock on SmackDown in August and out comes Vince. They do a good bit of recon ensuring Shawn is a face by Vince getting in his face and getting shoved down. HBK leaves as the rest of the regime arrives. We get another long form promo. The promo from HHH was fine but this felt too much like the traditional 20…

Here comes Hulk for what I think is his final Thunder match but we will see if I remember that correctly. The in fighting with the New Blood over Torrie is really grating as Horace punches out Kidman before coming out and taking it to Hulk. At least Torrie with Kidman or Horace is more believable than her hanging arm and arm with Bischoff. A quick brawl and Torrie gives Horace some appreciation which brings out Kidman. He and Horace go after each other again. Hulk hiptosses Kidman through the table and then pins Horace. Afterwards, Hulk kisses Torrie and she likes that as well. ¾*

The Filthy Animals stalk to the ring. They play up the gimmick that Disco doesn’t fit along with the rest of the group but I think it is a detractor. Konnan calls out anybody and MIA answers the challenge. Major Gunns is brand new and she never had any charisma at all as a performer. The action here is good while it lasts with Major Stash (Van Hammer) shockingly looking good. Shawn Stasiak comes out and takes out Chavo. Booker T comes out as a result and he goes after Stasiak. This unfortunately made the Animals and MIA look secondary and they were able to have an entertaining match. Major Gunns gives Chavo mouth to mouth to revive him. **

Flair comes out for his promo and gives credit to Jarrett reminding him that he came from the old school mentality. Flair then moves onto Russo. He talks about Russo growing up admiring Bruno Sammartino as a kid. Flair does a great promo and he still has it when he can sink his teeth into something. Jarrett has had enough and comes out to brawl with Flair along with Crowbar and David Flair. This brings out Arn with a lead pipe to scurry off the David/Crowbar/Jarrett contingent. Arn challenges them to a match. We come back to Flair’s entrance and Arn gets laid out by Crowbar and David in the back. Flair gets jumped by Jarrett on the aisle. A 3-1 attack happens to Flair. I …

It is nice that with Toryumon taking a break, we are still getting to see CIMA do some great work in Mexico. Here he is a strict rudo like in Crazy Max and leads his team IMO from a cheating and overall work stand point. Cool to see Super Calo as I have always liked his look. Ciclon showed he still had a little left in the tank in the second fall as he really went after Cerebro perhaps setting up a singles match down the road. I don’t believe I have seen Black Dragon before but he was fine here if not too spectacular. Bombero just wastes Calo with a clothesline after he dances around in a funny moment. Finish is fun with CIMA in a surfboard and when he gets released from …

Pimpinela Escarlata starts with a promo and looks lovely today in her robe. Panther is working as a tecnico here. Escarlata and villano IV start things off with some great wrestling overall. Pimpinela really wrenches back on the submission attempts. Panther is in next with villano V and they have another great sequence. Panther’s mat work in 2000 has been awe inspiring with him lifting Villano up and holding him there using one arm for strength for 30 seconds or so. Villano III vs Enterrador is our last pairing. Enterrador is someone I am not familiar with so it is up to him to keep the momentum going. He is a bigger guy and III works on taking him down and grinding him o…

Really good 10 minute match. Kansai in 2000 has certainly lost a step more compared to someone like Aja but she still can bring the goods in certain moments and these compact matches help go a long way. This had a template of Kansai wanting to bully around Azumi based off her size advantage and Azumi running around to prove her toughness. The way Kansai gets the crowd to pop as she kicks Azumi to regain the advantage is great. Azumi also does a beautiful roll up for a nearfall in the latter stages. Kansai ends up winning with the splash mountain. Azumi shoves away Ran Yu Yu in the ring after the match. ***1/2

I guess they are trying to mix up more people into the IC title mix with Hardcore and Val out there. This is the second time in six months they have tried to insert Holly into this position and it just doesn’t ever work. There wasn’t much to the match at all before Hardcore Holly brings in a chair and hammers first Jericho and then Benoit. He works over Benoit’s leg heavily and that is something to look for in the Judgment Day match for continuity. 1/2*

Another non match of sorts as Rock and Dudley Boyz battle for about two minutes and then go after the lumberjacks. Test gets put through a table. It doesn’t look like Rock can overtake the odds when he puts Bull through a table. HHH is able to regain the advantage with an assist from X-Pac and they Rock Bottom Rock through the table as our final signoff before Judgment Day. ½*

A lot going on here. Canek and Cibernetico do a fine brawl using the chain but there is of course a ton going on outside because this is AAA. My man Oscar Sevilla is really getting his ass kicked. I did think for someone that is usually dreadful, Canek is passable here. Finish features fires and is mainly a vehicle for the Los Vipers to come out and attack Cibernetico including using fire. This allows Canek to win. **1/4

The rudos are in more militant gear tonight. Bestia gives some hellcious punches to Negro Casas as they pop it off really strong in the first fall. Second fall starts with Niebla flying around all over the place performing great moves. Shocker continues to fake getting fouled but no one is buying it. Casas gives a receipt in the second fall to Scorpio by kicking him right in the dome as the tecnicos take that fall easily. We keep cutting to a kid in the Villano mask and Rugrats Tee shirt that is mugging hardcore for the camera. Third fall was really quick but had Tarzan Boy and Niebla flying around all over the place. A la magistral cradle is done by Negro for the pin. A …

A pretty boss cowboy hat and leather coat combo for Ano 2000. This is really like the old pissed off lads of CMLL battling each other. Villano still seems to be the focal point of the whole promotion in a lot of ways as he gets a promo on his way to the ring. Perro does as well and we see just how awful his forehead looks from a career of blading. Right on cue, Perro is busted open 1 minute into this match. He gets beat on for a while until Villano bails him out. Villano comes in with a fury and they take the first fall. Second fall is more of the same until the ref gets bumped and Perro gets fouled by Ano. That looks like a win for the rudos but the referee that was knoc…

Jaguar gets knocked out of the way at first allowing Scoot and Blade to do some chain wrestling that looked pretty good. Jet then jumps in and Scott gets double teamed. It looks like they are wrestling in a barn. The three way spots work pretty well here with all the guys executing their indy riffic spots cleanly and in some innovative ways. Some of the more clichéd moves include an assisted suplex and powerbombs. This is the most crisp Blade’s striking has looked. The valet for Jaguar jumps on Blade and then Blade’s valet gets in the ring for a catfight in the lamest portion of the match. Scoot’s finisher still looks insane as he wastes Jet with it. A table gets inserted…

I was going to say that if you watch this skip to about 7’30’’ as there is no sound and it’s all mic work up to there. That is until I watched the rest of the match and the finish is missing so, DO NOT BOTHER TO WATCH THIS PERIOD! You have been warned. The cameraman had changed position from the previous three way and is now stood in the Quartermaine/Peskin corner, pretty much right behind the man on the apron. Only about five minutes in does he realise it might be advantageous to move, or he’s just had enough of looking at the wrestler’s backs! Capone works the majority of the match for his team and doesn’t look good, with low lights including an ugly exchange when …