anarchistxx

Benoit would have looked out of place making outlandish gestures and telling the crowd to shut up though. It isn't what he's about. And they did cheat in the ways that they prevented the tag being made.

I don't think he needed to. Angle was the dick on his team, and not only that, Edge and Mysterio were really over, so Benoit could get heat just by being intense and beating them down. And to recall he did do a few heel manouvers. Pehaps, but they got a huge reaction, and I've seen stuff that looks a lot more 'hokey' in a lot of ROH tag matches. I didn't think they had great chemistry, but they were fine working together, and I don't think it hurt the match.

The BookerDust/Blondes match seemed really standard to me. They did a nice job, but it wasn't memorable at all. In comparison, the SD tag was really memorable, as WP said excellent temaowkr and flow, they worked the FIP segments nicely and there was a breathless finish with loads of awesome spots and nearfalls. The Raw tag was a solid, traditional tag. The SD one was an exciting, memorable tag. I hardly think some of the Haas/Holly tags compare. I've seen them, and they're decent efforts, but they aren't anything to remember. And I love a lot of the SD6 stuff, which now has become underrated in some circles, with people claiming it's just a bunch of spots. There's a lot of good stuff in there, and I remember at the time, Raw was abysmal.

Yeah, different styles I guess. But the ROH match is a good southern tag for about 15 minutes before it breaks down into a brawl. Top 3 ROH match ever. Hmm, I thought they were great last time I watched them. Great FIP sections, WGTT were busting out some great offence, some stuff you don't normally see in the WWE, and they all had hot finishes. Yeah, I can see why people don't like it. I've never got the idea that the earlier tag on the same show was better though. Edge was the weakest link of the match, but I thought Angle put in a stellar performance to compensate. I thought Benoit was great as well, intense and seemed motivated. Still, every match can't please everyone.

Out of interest; better than Ki/Cide v Joe/Lethal from ROH P: TFC? Or those awesome Eddie/Tajiri v WGTT tags? Oh, and I don't know how you can call NM 02 'mediocre'?

Chris Benoit/Gunner Scott v Booker-T/Fit Finlay (WWE Smackdown 19/05/06) Really solid tag match. It was a good move having a few FIP moments, rather than one big one, and I was very suprised how long they were given. First time I's seen Scott, and he looked really limited, not to mention having zero charisma at al. How people seem to like that guy is puzzling. Benoit puts in an awesome performance, and the sections with him and Finlay brawling are stiff as fuck and made the match worth watching for their brilliance. I'd love to see them in a staight out brawl together. Booker was just there, and Lashley's appearance at the end was nicely done and he came off looking really good, which, from what I hear, is a lot more than he manages these days. **1/2

Fantastic list WP, I haven't seen nearly enough of these. Very entertaining read. I miss the old Benoit as well, he's still awesome when motivated these days, but too often in the last few years I've sought out one of his matches only to find he does little more than German/Headbutt/Crossface.

Latest news from Meltz is that TNA pulled Joe from ROH shows because they have plans for him to win the NWA Title pretty soon.

WWE US Title William Regal v John Bradshaw Layfield (WWE Smackdown 28/04/06) Personally, I think Regal is a whole lot better than Finlay, and for what it was, this match was great. JBL is the perfect antagoniser, so watching him rile up the English crowd is fantastic; Regal is also great as the fiery, angry face - he showed it in his shiort feud with HHH, and again here. Regal is like a fucking God in England, and JBL is scum wherever he goes, so of course the reaction is off the charts. I'm not sure how I would have liked the match in another context though. I'm not a big fan of JBL's in ring ability, for all his brilliance on the mic, and Regal only looks world class against guys like Benoit, so he's not going to carry JBL to a classic. They have a simple, intense match, Regal gets bust open, JBL is a prick working it over, Regal comes back with sudden supexles and nearly pulls it out only for the evil foreigner to 'steal one', as the abdonimal Michael Cole is fond of saying. The cunt. I feel like hitting the screen every time he tells me that somebody has 'stole this thing' or screams 'what a match Tazz'. But that's another story. Good stuff, and a whole ton of fun, though the pre-match talking may have outshone the actual match itself. *** Somebody find me some SD comps already!

Dusty Rhodes/Sting v Arn Anderson/Tully Blanchard (WCW Clash Of The Champions II 08/06/88) This is basically a clinic on how to wrestle a great tag team match. Dusty always made up for his limitations regarding athleticism and move-set with fabulous body language and charisma, and he is incredibly over here, doing not a whole lot, but making everything he did count. Sting looks more motivated than I've ever seen him, and bumps like a champion. You know Arn and Tully will breing the goods. They work the standard tag formula, but better than anyone else; it helps that all of the characters get great reactions, whether they be negative or positive, and the execution is perfect throughout. To short to be a classic, this is nonetheless a fantastic bout. ***3/4

Edit; wrong year!

Steve Austin/Ken Shamrock/Goldust/Hawk/Animal v Bret Hart/Owen Hart/Davey Boy Smith/Brian Pillman/Jim Neidhart (WWF Canadian Stampede 06/97) This is of course, a molten hot brawl with the crowd going totally wild for the Foundation. It isn't Rock/Hogan level reaction, but it's getting there, and takes a match that would have been merely decent, into something memorable. There's hate, lots of different storylines played out, wall to wall action and Brian fucking Pillman. It's awesome. The problem with this match though, is that it also has a lot of sub-standard workers. The match is great when Owen, Bret, Pillman, Davey, Austin or Shamrock are in together, and Goldust puts on a fair display. Neidhart is pretty useless though, and the Road Warriors are about 10 years past their prime, and they weren't exactly great workers then either. They drag the match down, and there's a little too much repetetive action here, but they get over the fact that anything can happen, and in the end it's a well executed wild brawl for the most part. ***3/4

Not sure actually. He says he was 'forced' to leave I think. Can't be bothered to trail through the ROH forums, it says it apparently on the new video wire but I couldn't find the link.

And there is now officialy little reason to watch ROH anymore. Samoa Joe is leaving after the British shows in March. They've lost Joe, Dragon, Ki, Lethal, Punk, Shelley and Gibson in the last 18 months. They haven't really replaced them. Happy days, with Delirious as the new top star. The Briscoes will likely be gone soon, and ROH shows were already looking really thin on decent talent without the Japanese imports.

ADDED: 1989 - Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (2/3 Falls) (4/2 - New Orleans) (NWA)

My problem with this is, I've already seen Taker/Cena and Tista/HBK on PPV. I want something new. Come to think of it, I've seen Edge/Orton as well. HBK/Cena and Taker/Tista still sounds like a plan to me.

Well, some sad bastard at DVDVR posts a load of comics. I apologize profusely if it isn't you. Are you still so bothered about that, mate? You really should have better things to worry yourself about. Either way, I came on here to discuss wrestling, not discuss something that happened 8 months ago. Whatever his views of the matter, I'm sure Loss would agree that the place for this isn't here; he created this board as a Pro Wrestling Only board, probably to avoid this kind of thing. Take it up with me via PM, if it upsets you that much.

Yeah, I can't see that though, we've already seen Taker/Cena a few times and they like to give something new for Wrestlemania. Maybe they've scrapped the 4-Way and gone with HBK, maybe on the basis of last night, which I'm told was excellent, the Umanga feud may continue. Maybe HHH will be back in time, it said his recovery was ahead of scheduele. Foley seems a strange opponent, and Jericho they have done before. Either way, I'm interested.

I would go halves on the PPV (£7) to see Cena/Rock or Cena/Austin. However, I feel Cena/Hogan is more likely.

I was referring to Phil's boring, childish comments and his unhealthy obsession with comics.

Spit the dummy out and get back to your Beano. Seriously, you've spent about half your posts on this forum attacking me.

Sorry I merely used it as an abbreviated version of 'Japanese', there was no racial intent at all. Didn't actually realise it was offensive. My bad.

Ah, right, well this version had the Jap commentary, so that may have hurt the match a bit.

Yeah, it was certainly a lot of fun. Here is probably a case of where knowing the context does help. I may go back and rewatch.

Oh, right, sorry. Bit slow on the uptake today.