April 2001

Rhyno has been working his way through the Holly family and should at least, in theory, have more of a fight with Hardcore Bob than he had done with Crash and Molly. Hardcore out to try and restore a bit of honour to the family name. Both men come out swinging, Tazz and Michael Cole thinking that this will be a very physical match. Rhyno takes that great bump he does when running into a raised boot. They’re rolling about on the match as this is turning into a right old scrap. The two trade chops before Bob ducks one and floors Rhyno with a clothesline. He drives him backwards into the corner and is just relentless. Every time referee Jimmy Korderas pulls him off he…

Michael Cole says that Matt Hardy and Lita, after a brief stay in hospital, are resting at home tonight following the brutal attack on them on Raw. The era of the lengthy promo to kick off the shows sees Triple H, Steve Austin and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley out at the onset. We’re in Philadelphia tonight and that very much looks like Hat Guy front and centre a couple of rows back. Triple H says how a month ago the World Wrestling Federation was a pretty rosy place, but here we are just a few weeks after Wrestlemania and how things have changed. ‘Stone Cold’ and himself are now the two most dominant men in the WWF (note: The Rock has been indefinitely suspended by Mr M…

This was a decent BattlARTS joint. Murakami and Ishikawa actually squared off for a change instead of skirting around their issue. I was interested to see how Tanaka would adapt to the BattlARTS style. He basically worked his own style but he was stiff and went at his opponents hard. Not a bad approach. Yone didn't drag things down too much. Ishikawa has the potential to be the best guy in Japan but the Murakami feud hasn't exactly caught fire. It started off like a house on fire, but I'd kind of like to see him move on to something else.

This was an interesting styles clash. Usually, I wouldn't be down with a styles clash in shoot style but Japanese wrestling has been in such a slump in 2001 that simply having a good match is a positive. Mens ended up being one of those fringe workers who have an interesting, eclectic career, so it's no surprise that he slotted straight into a BattlARTS match and managed to do well. Usuda's only crime is that he's boring. Other than that, he's probably a top 20 worker in Japan at this stage.

It's that time of year again. The time where they bring Gigante Silva in for a few dates the way they used to do with Andre back in the day. This was all right. The Silva spots were predictable but harmless. The Villano brothers were solid. I really love that Villano punch spot. This could have been a lot worse.

This was the main event of the Arena Mexico Anniversary Show. I had high hopes for this but it was disappointing. The only real storyline was Ultimo Guerrero vs. Satanico, and they had run so many rudo contra rudo bouts during their feud that what was the point of having relevos increibles? Santo and Casas squared off but it wasn't vintage Santo vs. Casas, and Dr. Wagner and Emilio got stuck into each other but Emilio looks like he's running on fumes at this point. And the match didn't go the distance either. Instead of a showpiece, it was another wrinkle in the Infernales fallout, which was a letdown given the talent level.

I liked this match. It didn't pretend to be anything different than what it was. You had Kim Duk, who was older than dirt and had stolen Rambo's gimmick from IWRG, and a perpetually grumpy Tenryu vs. two midcard guys who are suddenly more important to the company than before because of the departures. I haven't enjoyed too many things about Japanese wrestling in 2001 but I am enjoying Taiyo Kea's sudden rise. it's fun watching Smith get a bigger role too. Both guys were up for the challenge and good enough workers to make it work. If you like Tenryu, he was in vintage form here. He spent most of the bout being snarly and throwing punch combos.

Talk about it here.

This was a pretty cool match. It was a tournament semi so it was quicker and spottier than usual but it felt decisive.

Tournament final from the Toryumon show. This was given plenty of time but never really captured the imagination. There was a crappy reset at the beginning which didn't amuse me much. The upshot of the tourney was that Mochizuki proved he was the chief dog in Toryumon. Magnum was crying and pleading with CIMA after all. It was very emotional and poorly acted.

This was the other tournament semi from the Toryumon show. Fairly standard stuff but they made sure SUWA got enough licks in to look credible.

The only version I could find of this online was missing the introductions and joins the action right as Malenko tags in Saturn, Ki down on the canvas. Alex Arion is probably best known for a handful of appearances in the formative years of Ring of Honor. Ki counters the Saturn powerbomb with a jawbreaker. Flying headscissors followed by the Tidal Crush. Arion off the top with a missile dropkick, however in doing so he inadvertently sends Saturn hurtling towards his own corner. Ki tries a second handspring, this time though Malenko snatches and dumps him. He tosses him to the floor and then causes a distraction so that Saturn can drive him backwards into the metal r…

In what must be a first, at least when it comes to the year 2001, Johnny Swinger becomes the first to person to wrestle in ECW, WCW and WWF. E.Z. Money would’ve joined him but he never even got a look in with the WWF, despite being picked up at WCW’s close. Kid Kash could possibly achieve the feat too, although I have no idea if he makes an appearance in WWF rings this year. Kevin Kelly and Tom Prichard acknowledge that Swinger is “no stranger to mat action.” It’s all K-Kwik until Swinger avoids the clothesline by sliding through Kwik’s legs, boots him in the gut and hits a sit-out swinging neckbreaker. Running clothesline in the corner. He stomps him down, but when…

It’s so weird seeing Tobita enter a traditional wrestling ring and arena as opposed to what we’re used to with him. Fuyuki is handcuffed for this match, presumably to try and make it an even contest. Tobita’s chops and punches are real bad and you kind of understand why he does the style of wrestling that he does. He catches Fuyuki’s leg and nails him with a terrible looking clothesline. DDT for a two count. Tobita looks for the piledriver when he’s jumped from behind by a monster carrying a pair of bolt cutters. The monster cuts Fuyuki’s cuffs, running lariat and he gets the win in just two minutes. Stick to fighting the monsters Tobita!

Talk about it here.

Primarily a showcase for the Stretching Crew who get to demonstrate their speed, athleticism, power and agility in front of a new, and larger audience than usual. In what may come as a surprise Shelton looks the better prospect of the two here, and by some way. After the shine the usual formula of the heat section on Shelton before the hot tag to Brock. At least something was learned from the Christmas Chaos show as it’s the 450 splash broken up as opposed to the Shooting Star press. Payne is a long way away from Lesnar on the SSP, over half way across the ring, and Brock lands on him perfectly.

What a thrown together face (is Raven a face?) team. Gunn and Test don’t bother waiting for Raven, Paul Heyman wondering if they can even trust him. Nice spinning side slam by Test on Malenko. Eddy immediately offers his hand to Gunn on his first foray into the match, it’s ‘the One’ though who ends up crossing him. He doesn’t see the blind tag and as he presses Eddy overhead Saturn blasts him with a superkick. Belly to back suplex. Gunn hits the Fameasser on Malenko but gets felled by an Eddy cheap shot from the apron. Slingshot senton. The Radicalz are doing their best to keep ‘the One’ on their side of the ring. Saturn clotheslines him across the top rope and p…

This match was originally scheduled for last Thursday on Smackdown, however due to Rhyno taking Crash out backstage it never took place. Jim Ross points out that Crash, the Light Heavyweight champion, has the unique opportunity to leave the arena tonight with two title belts. After the challengers make their entrance Rhyno sneaks out and gores Hardcore Bob before the bell. Edge screams for it to be rung and, when it is, immediately makes the cover only for Crash to save his cousin. Referee Tim White throws Rhyno out of there but it looks like the damage has been done. Christian with a reverse DDT, dropping Hardcore across his own knee as they continue to work him ove…

Michael Cole grabs a word with Jeff Hardy when he arrives at the building, wanting to get some comments about having to give Triple H a rematch for his newly won Intercontinental title. That’s all fine by Jeff because they (the Hardyz) still have some unfinished business of their own after what Steve Austin and Triple H did to Matt and Lita last week. It’s a busy show for Cole who not too long later has an interview scheduled with Steve Austin. That interview has barely gotten underway when Austin is blindsided by Matt Hardy. JR talks about him wanting revenge for what ‘Stone Cold’ did to Lita while Heyman thinks he must have a death wish. A bunch of referees eve…

Haha, all Angle says is “Your Olympic hero...” and he’s cut off by Chris Jericho’s entrance music. Y2J says that unless he was going to finish that sentence with “...is a complete and utter ass clown,” then he’s got nothing more to say! Great armdrag by Jericho into an armbar. Some nice reversals sees Kurt pick up an early two count. Angle stomps him down in the corner, whips him to the opposite one but Jericho rushes out with a clothesline. Hip lock take over. A springboard dropkick sends Kurt through the ropes to the outside (cool to see a slight variation on that) where he makes the mistake to turn his back on his opponent who nails him with a baseball slide. Je…

After the clips of Chris Benoit helping Chris Jericho to the back air we see William Regal still in the ring. He calls out ‘the Crippler’, telling him that he just blew it, he’s the Commissioner and what he says goes. He wants a match with him and orders him to get his bloody miserable carcass out here right now. Benoit answers the challenge and he’s got back up in the shape of Y2J, there to counter Kurt Angle who has stayed by the side of Regal. The two hit the ring, Jericho taking care of Angle. Belly to back and ‘the Crippler’ looks to make short work of the Commissioner but there’s no-one home on the diving headbutt. Clubbing forearms followed by some snug upper…

No time off to recover, three days after his elbow got horrifically sliced open in CZW, Kasai is back wrestling. He’s got an almighty padded bandage covering that elbow as well as a bandaged shoulder and forearms. Usuda is wearing a belt, although being that I know little about BattlARTS, no idea what title it is. The opening few minutes show that Kasai is completely out of his depth going against a Shoot Stylist, forced to constantly go to the ropes to break Usuda’s submissions. He calls for a timeout and we get a bit of comedy as he eats a banana. Usuda doesn’t slip on the banana peel, although Kasai shortly after does. Kasai uses what few teeth he has left to bit…

Man, I really didn't expect to see La FIera in this match. He looked unrecognizable to me from his prime years. I mean, if I saw him on the street I couldn't recognize him as La Fiera. This was the weakest of all the Gigante Silva handicap matches. The Capos got the pin when they all sat on top of Silva. Dantes was grinning and laughing like they were riding a banana boat. Fiera didn't make a strong impression.

This was a good match. Brazo de Oro doesn't have it anymore, but Tony Rivera worked hard as usual and the rudos were good.

The barbed wire bat is placed in the middle of the ring with each team on opposite sides of the building. They were supposed to wait until the count of ten to sprint, that’s probably not the right word considering who is involved here, to the ring where the first person who grabs the bat can use it, but Kanemura doesn’t bother waiting and sets off early. Freddy steals it away from him and swings it into his chest before terrorizing some fans in the crowd. The women are clearly frightened by him given the screams you here! Kanemura whips Freddy into rows of chairs, it may not be IWA Mid-South but it is an IWA show after all! Ah, this is clipped. I thought it might be…