Loss

Rick Rude.

Alberto Del Rio vs Rey Misterio (WWE Friday Night Smackdown 01/07/11) 2/3 falls match. Alberto is so much taller than Rey that some of these spots look really weird since he doesn't always do a great job of feeding spots in a way that doesn't look like he's just getting in position for a spot. Del Rio in fact looks really green here and doesn't really seem to work in a way where he looks natural in the ring. Hopefully he gets better later, but this isn't really a good performance for him. He's just a guy working a match and going through spots instead of a guy who believes in his act and wrestles with confidence. Rey looks really good -- not the best I've seen him look, but strong. The submission and La Magistral pinning combo to finish the first two falls was really cool. I like the layout of this - ground attack and heel aggression including some work on Rey's arm leading to a big comeback - but I don't think this was executed very well. This isn't a bad match, but it's awkwardly paced and it only has heat when Rey is on offense.

Thanks. I will check it out in the future, but for now I want to focus on watching matches that don't require me to spend more money.

I don't disagree with any of that.

I'm about to go through these. This is what I have on deck. Is there anything else I should add? If it's online and you can link to it, I'll watch it as well. 159 matches listed below. Matches in red are matches I couldn't find. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Jon Moxley (Dog Collar Match) (IPW, 1/1) The Miz vs. John Morrison (Falls Count Anywhere Match) (WWE Monday Night RAW 01/03/11) The Big Show vs. vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Dolph Ziggler (WWE, 1/7/11) Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio (SD 1/7/11) Mark Sterling vs. Jeremy Wyatt (No DQ, Iron Man Match) (3XW 1/7/11) Negro Navarro & Black Terry vs. Gran Apache & Angel Mortal (IWRG, 1/9/11) Kana & Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs. Yuki Ishikawa & Carlos Amano (Kana Pro, 1/10) Yoshihiro Takayama vs. KENTA (NOAH 1/15/11) Jerry Lawler vs. Tommy Dreamer (NEW, 1/15/11) Negro Navarro & Black Terry vs. Gran Apache & Angel Mortal (IWRG, 1/16/11) Dingo vs. Akira Tozawa (ACW 1/16/11) Derrick King Enterprises vs. Picture Perfect (SAW 1/22/11) Negro Navarro, Dr. Cerebro, & Multifacetico vs. Gran Apache, Mazada, & Comando Negro (IWRG, 1/23/11) Black Terry vs. Angel Mortal (IWRG, 1/23/11) Solar I vs. Black Terry vs. Negro Navarro vs. Villano IV vs. Ray Mendoza Jr. vs. Ultraman vs. El Dandy vs. Fuerza Guerrera (Tag Torneo Incredibles?) (Arena Neza, 1/29/11) Los Traumas vs. Fabi & Mari Apache (DTU, 1/29/11) Kevin Steen vs. Chris Hero (PWG 1/29/11) Claudio Castagnoli vs. El Generico (PWG 1/29/11) Naruki Doi & Ricochet vs. Masato Yoshino & PAC (DGUSA 1/29/11) Dick Togo vs. Antonio Honda (DDT 1/30/11) Dr. Cerebro vs. Comando Negro (IWRG, 1/30/11) Ángel Azteca Jr., Ángel de Oro & Ángel de Plata vs. Cancerbero, Raziel & Virus (CMLL 2/4/11) Masaaki Mochizuki & Don Fuji vs. Ryo Saito & Genki Horiguchi (DG 2/6/11) James Mason vs. Dean Allmark (ASW 2/6/11) Kana vs. Meiko Satomura (Kana Pro, 2/13) Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz, (RAW 2/14/11) Smackdown Elimination Chamber (Chamber 2/20/11) The Miz vs. Jerry Lawler (Chamber 2/20/11) Raw Elimination Chamber (Chamber 2/20/11) John Cena vs. C.M. Punk (WWE, 2/23/11) Dick Togo vs. HARASHIMA (DDT, 2/27/11) Jerry Lawler & Brian Christopher vs. Bill & Jamie Dundee (???, 3/2/11) Jerry Lawler/Dr. Tim Linder vs. Bill Dundee/Dr. Brian McCarver (Nashville 3/4/11) Kevin Steen & Akira Tozowa vs. Kings of Wrestling (PWG 3/4/11) Kevin Steen & Akira Tozowa vs. Young Bucks (PWG 3/4/11) Kotaro Suzuki vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima (NOAH 3/5/11) Blue Panther & Negro Navarro vs. El Satanico & Solar I (CMLL, 3/5/11) Colt Cabana vs. Adam Pearce (NWA Hollywood 3/6/11) Sami Callihan vs. Yoshihito Sasaki (wXw 3/12/11) Daisuke Sekimoto vs. El Generico (wXw 3/13/11) Sami Callihan vs. Big Van Walter (wXw 3/13/11) John Cena vs. C.M. Punk (WWE, 3/13/11) Blue Panther, Solar I, & Rocky Santana vs. Black Terry, Negro Navarro, & Ray Mendoza Jr. (UWE, 3/16) Albert Del Rio vs. Christian (Cage Match) (SD 3/18/11) The Stro vs. King Bulldozer (NWA Mountain State, 3/20) Solar I & Ultraman vs. Black Terry & Negro Navarro (PROLLM, 3/20/11) Albert Del Rio vs. Christian (SD 3/25/11) All Night Express vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe (ROH 4/2/11) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuji Nagata (NJ 4/3/11) CM Punk vs. Randy Orton (Mania 4/3/11) Undertaker vs. HHH (Mania 4/3/11) Rey Cometa, Pegasso, & Angel de Plata vs. Arkangel de la Muerte, Nitro, & Skandalo (CMLL, 4/8/11) Low-Ki vs. Akira Tozawa (PWG, 4/9) El Generico vs. 1-2-3 Kid (Chikara 4/17/11) Sami Callahan vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (Evolve 4/19/11) Blue Panther vs. Negro Casas (CMLL 4/24/11) Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi vs. Ryota Hama & Manabu Soya (Big Japan 4/28/11) Go Shiozaki & Shuhei Taniguchi vs. Kings of Wrestling (NOAH 4/29/11) Rey Misterio vs Mark Henry (WWE Smackdown 04/29/11) Ultimo Guerrero vs. Hirooki Goto (CMLL, 4/29/11) CM Punk vs. Randy Orton (Last Man Standing) (Extreme Rules 5/1/11) Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio (Ladder Match) (Extreme Rules 5/1/11) John Cena vs The Miz (WWE Monday Night RAW 05/02/11) Randy Orton vs. Christian (SD 5/6/11) Chris Hero vs. Eddie Edwards (ROH 5/7/11) Drew McIntire vs. Chris Masters (Superstars 5/12/11) Chris Hero vs. KENTA (wXw 5/15/11) All Night Express vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe (Street Fight) (ROH 5/21/11) Randy Orton vs. Christian (Over the Limit 5/22/11) Koji Kanemoto vs. Fujita Jr. Hayato (NJ 5/26/11) Chris Hero vs. Akira Tozawa (PWG 5/29/11) Freelance vs. Avisman (IWRG, 5/29/11) Fujita "Jr." Hayato, KAGETORA, Takeshi Minamino, Shu Sato & Kei Sato vs. Kenou, Yapper Man #1, Yapper Man #2, ken45° & Kenbai (M-Pro 6/5/11) Virus vs. Guerrero Maya Jr. (CMLL 6/7/11) Kota Ibushi vs. Ryusuke Taguchi (NJ 6/10/11) Bully Ray vs. AJ Styles (TNA 6/12/11) LA Park vs. El Mesías (Mask vs. Hair) (AAA 6/18/11) CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio (Capitol 6/19/11) Eddie Edwards vs. Davey Richards (ROH 6/26/11) Togo vs. Gedo (DDT 6/30/11) Austin Aries vs. Jack Evans vs. Low Ki vs. Zema Ion (TNA 7/10/11) Necro Butcher vs. Low-Ki (IWA-EC 7/12/11) Shingo vs. Akira Tozawa (DG 7/17/11) Chris Hero vs. ACH (ACW 7/17/11) Smackdown Money in the Bank (MITB 7/17/11) RAW Money in the Bank (MITB 7/17/11) CM Punk vs. John Cena (MITB 7/17/11) Takashi Suguira vs. Kensuke Sasaki (NOAH 7/23/11) Rey Mysterio vs. John Cena (7/25/11) Fit Finlay vs. Sami Callihan (Evolve 7/26/11) Johnny Kidd & Colt Cabana vs. Johnny Saint & Mike Quackenbush (Chikara 7/31/11) Sara Del Rey vs. Claudio Castagnoli (Chikara 7/31/11) Daga vs. Mickey Suicida Segura (IWL 7/31/11) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (NJ 8/5/11) Jake Davis vs. Vince Vega (Cage Match) (EPWA, 8/12/11) Toru Yano vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJ 8/13/11) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Minoru Suzuki (NJ 8/14/11) Fit Finlay vs. Big Van Walter (wXw 8/14/11) Mark Henry vs Sheamus (Summerslam 8/15/11) CM Punk vs. John Cena (SSlam 8/15/11) Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio (RAW 8/16/11) Alberto Del Rio vs. Daniel Bryan (8/19/11) Kevin Steen vs. Fit Finlay (PWG 8/20/11) Kevin Steen vs. El Generico (PWG 8/20/11) Damien Wayne vs. Charlie Dreamer (OSF, 8/20/11) CM Punk vs. John Cena (RAW 8/22/11) Mark Henry vs Sheamus (WWE Smackdown 08/26/11) Black Terry/Negro Navarro vs. Trauma I & Trauma II (LUCHA POP 8/27/11) Virus vs Stuka Jr. (CMLL 8/30/11) Dean Allmark vs. James Mason (ASW, 8/31/11) C.M. Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio (WWE, 9/3/11) Akira Tozawa, Ricochet & CIMA vs. PAC, Rich Swann & AR Fox (DGUSA 9/9/11) Averno vs. La Sombra (CMLL 9/16/11) Briscoe Brothers vs. All Night Express (Ladder Match) (ROH 9/17/11) Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton (NOTC 9/18/11) Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (FCW 9/18/11) Necro Butcher vs. Sami Callihan (IWA:EC, 9/20/11) Bam Bam vs. Pierrothito (CMLL, 9/20/11) Dragon Lee & Stuka Jr. vs. Euforia & Misterioso Jr. (CMLL, 9/30/11) Necro Butcher vs. Mark Savoir (WVWA, 10/1/11) Jerry Lawler vs. Terry Funk (No DQ) (NEW 10/1/11) John Cena, CM Punk, Mason Ryan, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne vs. Alberto Del Rio, Christian, Jack Swagger, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler & David Otunga (RAW 10/3/11) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito (NJ 10/10/11) Luke Gallows vs. Jake Davis (EPWA 10/15/11) Kevin Steen vs. El Generico (Ladder Match) (PWG 10/22/11) Jun Akiyama vs. Kohei Suwama (AJ 10/23/11) Mark Henry vs. The Big Show (Vengeance 10/23/11) John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio (Last Man Standing) (Vengeance 10/23/11) Trauma I vs. El Hijo del Pirata Morgan (IWRG, 10/23/11) Trauma I vs. Trauma II (SomosLuchadores.com, 10/29/11) Black Terry, Dr. Cerebro, & Robin Maravilla vs. Dinastia Navarro (AULL, 10/29/11) Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan (WWE 11/4/11) Takeshi Ono & Ryuji Hijikata vs. Kengo Mashimo & Junji Tanaka (BattlArts 11/5/11) Minoru Tanaka & Ikuto Hidaka vs. Katsumi Usuda & Yujiro Yamamoto (Battlarts 11/5/11) Yuki Ishikawa vs. Daisuke Ikeda (Battlarts 11/5/11) Rui Hyugaji vs. Kenou (M-Pro 11/5/11) Dean Ambrose vs. William Regal (FCW 11/6/11) William Regal vs. Daniel Bryan (Superstars 11/10/11) Yuji Nagata vs. Tomohiro Ishii (NJ 11/12/11) CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio (Series 11/13/11) Eddie Kingston vs. Mike Quackenbush (Chikara 11/13/11) Takashi Suguira vs. Kensuke Sasaki (NOAH 11/14/11) Jake Davis vs. Luke Gallows (Last Man Standing Match) (EPWA, 11/19/11) Jack Swagger & Dolph Ziggler vs Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston (Survivor Series 11/20/11) Pantera vs. Trauma I (IWRG, 11/20/11) CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler (RAW 11/21/11) Bugambilia del Norte vs. Eterno (IWRG, 11/24/11) Hy-Zaya & Suicide Kid vs. Adam Gooch & The Rick (D1W, 11/24/11) Triton vs. Negro Navarro vs. Trauma I vs. Trauma II vs. Black Terry vs. Judas el Traidor vs. Belial vs. Terremoto Negro (LUCHA POP, 11/26/11) Daniel Bryan vs. Mark Henry (Cage Match) (SD 11/29/11) Ayako Hamada vs. Sara Del Rey (Chikara 12/4/11) Jerry Lawler vs. Matt Classic (PWX 12/10/11) Kevin Steen & Super Dragon vs. The Young Bucks (PWG 12/10/11) Manami Toyota, Sawako Shimono & Hanako Nakamori vs. Aja Kong, Tsubasa Kuragaki & Mio Shirai (Chikara Joshimania 12/4/11) CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. The Miz (TLC 12/18/11) Trauma I & Oficial AK-47 vs. Trauma II & Oficial 911 (Relevos Suicidas) (IWRG, 12/22/11) Masato Tanaka vs. Tomoaki Honma (NJ 12/23/11) Kevin Steen vs. Steve Corino (No DQ) (ROH 12/23/11) Dave Finlay, Murat Bosporus & Big Boy v. Yoshiaki Fujiwara, TAJIRI & Hajime Ohara (SMASH 12/30/11)

Bagwell threatened to become pretty good in the ring a few times throughout his career but the threat turned out to be idle.

I'm a firm believer that you can compare wrestling from anywhere and anytime involving anyone to wrestling from anywhere and anytime involving anyone. A match that requires too many concessions from the viewer is usually a match that simply isn't that good. That doesn't mean understanding of what the standards were in that promotion, style and era aren't important, aren't helpful and don't lead to more informed and considered opinions. I am not going to expect an all action spotfest in a WWF main event from 1986, for example. But I will consider what people were doing at that point in time - both globally and in the promotion itself - and ask questions about if it worked then and if it works now. If WWF main events in 1986 largely sucked and I run across a really good one, that match deserves tons of credit. That type of talk is what makes this all fun. That's not to say things like context don't matter. It matters a ton. But a match can stand out from the pack in its promotion, its style or its era, but still not be something I'd call a great match. I would probably use other terms to praise it. As most of us would agree, there are plenty of things worth watching in wrestling besides great matches. I give credit to anything that works at time. I really do. They accomplished what they were setting out to do for their intended audience. The thing is that I don't think "great match" is always the way to describe something that worked at the time for its intended audience. There are other positives we can throw at those types of matches. To me, the very best matches are the ones that transcend the identity of the wrestlers performing, the style in which the match is wrestled, and the era, promotion and country in which they takes place. Plenty of matches are great and simply don't hit that high watermark and there's nothing wrong with that. Some matches are just a good representation of their style, the era, the promotion ... whatever the case may be. I'm rambling, but here's the quickest way to wrap this up: (1) Context matters to me, but more in terms of setting reasonable expectations and finding the barometer, not in terms of using it as a crutch to explain away quirky things about the house style. (2) A great match is a great match. If I call something great, it's not something I think it's great for its time, or great for the people involved. A four-star match in 1980 is a reasonable comparison to a four-star match in 1996. Styles change, but if you strip wrestling down its most basic elements, all versions of pro wrestling basically set out to do the same things -- connect with the audience and encourage a suspension of disbelief. The tools and techniques for getting to that point may change across time periods, cultures and wrestlers, but they are all ultimately trying to get to the same end goal. Any wrestling that isn't aiming to do those two things is not wrestling I am really going to connect with all that much. I'm not saying these things should be universal standards that everyone should use. But it works for me because I prefer to watch wrestling in hindsight.

It doesn't exist on video. WCCW refused to air it because it was so bad.

I am going to take a break from the 80s now. While I have enjoyed 1980, it has been a lot of wrestling that looks more or less similar and I need to check out something with more variety. I'm going to watch the 2011 MOTYC set for a total change of pace, then come back to this. However, before I go, here are my top matches of 1980. I'll revise this list after other 80s sets come out. I was going to seek out some of the other pimped stuff from the year, but as most of you know, I love my chronology, so I will just catch it when it is officially released. 1980 #1 - Nick Bockwinkel vs Billy Robinson (AJPW 12/11/80) ****1/2 #2 - Mighty Inoue & Higo Hamaguchi vs Spike Huber & Rocky Brewer (IWE 07/25/80) ****1/2 #3 - Tatsumi Fujinami vs Kengo Kimura (NJPW 09/25/80) ****1/2 #4 - Tatsumi Fujinami vs Tony Rocco (NJPW 09/11/80) ****1/4 #5 - Jumbo Tsuruta vs Dick Slater (AJPW 05/01/80) ****1/4 #6 - Tatsumi Fujinami vs Steve Keirn (NJPW 02/01/80) **** #7 - Tatsumi Fujinami vs Dynamite Kid (NJPW 02/05/80) **** #8 - Strong Kobayashi & Haruka Eigen vs Mighty Inoue & Isamu Teranishi (IWE 06/29/80) **** #9 - Tatsumi Fujinami & Kantaro Hoshino vs Dynamite Kid & Steve Keirn (NJPW 01/18/80) **** #10 - Bob Backlund vs Stan Hansen (NJPW 09/30/80) ***3/4 #11 - Ricky Morton vs Sonny King (Memphis 04/26/80) ***3/4 #12 - Satoru Sayama & Gran Hamada vs Perro Aguayo & Babyface (UWA 04/13/80) ***3/4 #13 - Mighty Inoue & Animal Hamaguchi vs Carlos Plata & El Doberman (IWE 11/27/80) ***3/4 #14 - Jumbo Tsuruta & Giant Baba vs Dory & Terry Funk (AJPW 12/11/80) ***1/2 #15 - The Sheik vs Ricky Steamboat (AJPW 12/09/80) ***1/2 #16 - Bill Dundee & Tony Boyles vs Wayne Farris & Larry Latham (Memphis 06/07/80) ***1/2 #17 - Jumbo Tsuruta vs Dick Murdoch (AJPW 03/05/80) ***1/2 #18 - Antonio Inoki vs Stan Hansen (NJPW 05/09/80) ***1/2 #19 - Tatsumi Fujinami vs Steve Keirn (NJPW 11/06/80) ***1/2 #20 - Harley Race vs Giant Baba (AJPW 09/09/80) ***1/4 #21 - Tatsumi Fujinami vs Tony Londos (NJPW 09/19/80) ***1/4 #22 - Antonio Inoki vs Stan Hansen (NJPW 04/03/80) ***1/4 #23 - Chavo Guerrero vs Kengo Kimura (NJPW 11/03/80) ***1/4 #24 - Antonio Inoki vs Stan Hansen (NJPW 09/11/80) *** #25 - Bill Dundee vs Tommy Rich (Memphis 08/23/80) *** #26 - Bill Dundee vs Paul Ellering (Memphis 05/24/80) *** #27 - Tatsumi Fujinami vs Chavo Guerrero (NJPW 05/09/80) *** #28 - Gran Hamada vs Babyface (NJPW 04/03/80) *** #29 - Carlos Plata, El Doberman & Goro Tsurumi vs Animal Hamaguchi, Isamu Teranishi & Mach Hayato (IWE 11/12/80) #30 - Bobby Heenan & Nick Bockwinkel vs Greg Gagne & Super Destroyer Mark II (AWA 10/03/80) #31 - Carlos Plata & El Doberman vs Mighty Inoue & Mach Hayato (IWE 11/01/80) #32 - Harley Race vs Giant Baba (AJPW 09/04/80) #33 - Verne Gagne vs Nick Bockwinkel (AWA 07/18/80) #34 - Bill Dundee vs Larry Latham (Memphis 04/19/80) #35 - Jumbo Tsuruta vs Dick Murdoch (AJPW 02/23/80) #36 - Antonio Inoki vs Stan Hansen (NJPW 02/08/80) #37 - Chavo Guerrero vs Kengo Kimura (NJPW 09/30/80) #38 - Lord Alfred Hays vs Bobby Heenan (AWA 01/13/80) #39 - Tatsumi Fujinami vs Ron Starr (NJPW 09/30/80) #40 - Greg Gagne vs Super Destroyer Mark (AWA 05/01/80) #41 - Rusher Kimura vs Alexis Smirnoff (IWE 11/22/80)

Dory & Terry Funk vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Giant Baba (AJPW 12/11/80) This had more heat than any match in 1980 so far, but I didn't really care for the way it was structured. Baba and Jumbo would dominate for a while, then the Funks would dominate for a while. Then Baba and Jumbo would dominate for a while. Then the Funks would dominate for a while. It was like at any moment, nothing before that moment really mattered. The match wasn't really a cohesive start-to-finish layout. Now that out of the way, there is some really impressive stuff here that just isn't in any of the other matches I've seen from the year. Funk commands a crowd extremely well and works excellent stuff with both Jumbo and Baba. Baba is Baba, but he's the better version of himself and this one. Dory, sadly, is also Dory. In this match, he doesn't do much that's just really noticeably "off" other than wrestle in a completely unemotional way without any change in facial expressions, any sense of urgency or any idea that he cares that he is in a wrestling match. How was this guy ever a standard bearer? I guess he had stamina and was mechanically fine, but is that really all it takes? Predictably, Terry is the one with the big and small touches that make this a very good match. He does theatrical stuff I've seen other guys try in Japan that they could never get over. I don't even mind Terry's cartoon overselling, which normally takes me out of the moment but gives this match some much-appreciated personality. I really loved the boxing-style punches on Baba which led to Jumbo losing his temper and storming the ring. Of course, Dory comes in and half-assedly and kindly requests that everyone settle down and this match loses the excitement it's just built. In some ways, that's the story of this particular night -- they do something really cool, the crowd comes unglued, then they kill it to go on to something else and repeat the cycle. Terry and Jumbo get in a really spirited fight in the last few minutes. Then Baba and Dory enter the ring to brawl but they aren't going after each other for any particular reason. It's more like "Oh, they look to be brawling outside. I guess we should fight now too." Then the match ends with a finish that seems to leave people in question instead of being anything decisive. One thing that I thought was cool about this is that much like the bigger and more famous juniors matches of the 90s were clearly influenced by Fujinami's matches, the more epic 90s All Japan tags do owe something to matches like this one. I think the most glowing example of that is Funk taking Baba through the rolling cradle, but there are also things like Jumbo's role as the junior guy on his team who gets angered when he feels his mentor is being disrespected. I'll probably comment on the links to the 1990s style quite a bit when watching 80s footage, especially when it's as glaring as it is in this match. The difference is that over a half hour into this match, no one seems all that fatigued. No one is selling any injuries. Nothing has really happened that matters. They even repeat spots like Dory holding on to the ropes to avoid Dory's dropkick. All of that makes me wonder what the point of going so long was. I'll call this a good match simply because there is too much good stuff in it for it to be bad. But it's good stuff in pockets, as part of a match that lacks cohesion in a major way. I am assuming these teams have done far better.

I think they didn't want Jesse Ventura having to raise a heel's hand at the end of the match. I've also heard that Austin refused to put HHH over, so I don't know.

It can be done, but it's not always necessary, and it's not always a bad thing if it's not. I'm not sure anyone should work at shedding these things either. We need to balance each other out. "All of us are smarter than any of us" as the saying goes.

I guess that rings better than the inspirational story of how HHH wisely manipulated a series of vulnerable drug addicts and alcoholics -- The Clique, Shawn on his own, Vince, Chyna, etc. -- until he became the heir apparent.

I think my point was more that I'd rather watch Mongo, not necessarily that was he better. Just that he tried harder and seemed to care more. Either way, both guys are pretty awful.

Billy Robinson vs Nick Bockwinkel (AJPW 12/11/80) This just kept getting better and better the longer it went. While I've enjoyed a lot of the mat specials in 1980, this is the first one that seems like it flew by. I could have watched these guys go twice as long. So many crowd pleasing twists on typical spots. The human game of chess stuff is awesome when Robinson starts wrestling a step ahead of Bockwinkel's attempted counters. Shitty finish aside, this was an absolute pleasure to watch and was easily the best match I've seen in 1980.

The Sheik vs Ricky Steamboat (AJPW 12/09/80) This was a really fun brawl. I wasn't sure what to expect in this one. Steamboat looks great in this and Sheik of course causes chaos wherever he goes. I thought the referee did a great job of getting this over too. Sheik was tremendous at being the aggressor then realizing what he had done and just trying to get away from a pissed off Steamboat. Taking the bell-to-bell and post-match into play, this is a hell of a scene and a really good match. Sheik freaking out fans and threatening to get blood on them as they scatter away is pretty great.

Mighty Inoue & Animal Hamaguchi vs Carlos Plata & El Doberman (IWE 11/27/80) Excellent match. Lots of cool stuff in this one, with my highlight being the double Argentine backbreaker! El Doberman sells really well in this one. I'm still not convinced he's great as I've seen him really mess up some stuff, but this was a great performance and he did a great job feeding spots to Inoue and Hamaguchi. Great FIP stuff too, and a surprisingly hot and fast-paced series of moves to build to the finish. IWE fascinates me.

I really liked the Eddy Guerrero vs JBL cage match on Smackdown that blew off their 2004 feud.

Rusher Kimura vs Alexis Smirnoff (IWE 11/22/80) This started off really dull and got good during the hard chop exchange followed by Smirnoff gouging Rusher's face. Those moments were fleeting though, and this really just didn't add up to a good match because they couldn't sustain the violence. I was, however, exposed to Rusher Kimura's tremendous entrance music for the first time.

How did I go this long without Rusher Kimura's awesome entrance music in my life?

Carlos Plata, El Doberman & Goro Tsurumi vs Animal Hamaguchi, Isamu Teranishi & Mach Hayato (IWE 11/12/80) A little lucha influence and a little American influence. Really cool hodge podge of styles on display here. There are execution problems with the stuff the masked guys are doing, but I appreciated the spirit of what they're going for and it was an interesting mishmash of stuff. The blend of high flying moves and stiff shots was pretty cool and there were some fun proto (very proto) Michinoku Pro spots. No one will confuse these guys for Gran Hamada or likely even Tiger Mask, but they managed to work a match that was memorable and fun, so I'll credit them for that.

On this week’s episode, Will & Charles are joined by our friend Johnny Sorrow to discuss the IC Title! We start off with the tournament in Rio de Janiero to crown the new champion. We’ll run down the champions from Pat Patterson up until Stone Cold & Owen Hart in 1997. We discuss the famous feuds for the belt including Santana-Valentine, Savage-Steamboat, and HBK-Razor. We’ll say mean things about the Honky Tonk Man and Ultimate Warrior. We’ll say nice things about Goldust and even Jeff Jarrett. Enjoy the show! http://placetobenation.com/wrestling-with-...tory-1979-1997/ RSS Feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo...6985/sounds.rss Itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ptbn-wr...d715657490?mt=2

Yeah, this thread stinks and I don't see any reason to keep it open at this point.

Tatsumi Fujinami vs Steve Keirn (NJPW 11/06/80) These two once again match up well. Some really interesting holds here from both guys working over the legs and ankles. Highlight is the nasty enzuigiri from Keirn. Fujinami has had a really great 1980 with lots of really unique, mat-based juniors matches.