Superstar Sleeze

Rockers & DESPINA vs Buddy Rose & Doug Somers & Sherri - AWA 11/27/86 At first, I thought this was an interesting booking progression to go from the red hot bloodbath to a more lighthearted match. The middle portion of the matches gets hot, but the finish run bring back that 80s camp fun. We begin with a more comedic to start with Buddy Rose bumping and stooging. Sherri tries to help, but Michaels kicks hand off. We find out this is an INTERGENDER tag match as Despina gets arm wringer on Somers and he sells it. Somers finally gets a short jab to the face of Shawn and works him into ropes. Sherri gets shouldertackles on Shawn and Shawn looks to carry her over to his corner, but Buddy hits him. They bust Shawn open and Sherri gnaws at his head. Sherri is such a great heat-seeker. The match takes a dramatic turn. Shawn great staggering and falling through ropes. This is all-time great Shawn Michaels selling. Buddy shows Michaels off to his corner and pounds his head. Good heel work working the cut. Shawn fires up with a wicked series of punches and falls towards his corner and Somers cant make it in time. Jannetty is such a great comeback, but Somers gets his foot on the ropes. Janetty gets over zealous and goes flying over turnbuckles onto floor in a HOLY SHIT bump. Buddy knocks Shawn off apron. Rockers look in rough shape and looks like the end is near for them. Buddy works over Jannetty’s leg and catapult into Somers’ elbow. Jannetty tries to get away from Sherri, but Sherri makes tag. Sherri misses splash. Despina kicks some Sherri ass. Sherri takes two HUGE, awesome bumps. Obligatory spanking spot. Triple collision spot! Press slam of Despina on top of Sherri for the 1-2-3. This match was a perfect balance of drama and camp, which is a specialty of the 80s that has been hard to recapture in the modern era. I just love that. ****

AWA World Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers vs Midnight Rockers - AWA TV 8/30/86 I really don't know how much I can say about the famous Bloodbath match that has not already been said, but I will try my best to explain why this may be the greatest American tag team match ever. Shawn Michaels quick pinfall attempts. Superkick. Rose slams his head into the post and Michaels outside and taps a gusher. Awesome, awesome staggered selling and wild punches. Somers is nasty as fuck gnaw at cut spitting blood. Every hope spot is met with a jab to the cut. Jannetty tries to help, but no avail. The drama is ridiculous for Michaels to get to Jannetty. Jannetty gets in and nails everything that moves. He sends Somers into post twice to bust him open. Sherri distracts and Buddy buries the knee in the back. Buddy busts Marty open with pistons rights. It is a bloodbath. Buddy gnaws. Somers is fucked up. War of attrition. Michaels hanging from ropes on the arpon and just great selling. Somers with a seated dropklick finally gets Jannetty down, but kick out at 2. Jannetty taeks a swing at Buddy. Jannetty tumbles after missing to hit Somers. Somers great selling. Jannetty weird spurts spastic spurts of energy. Jannetty bits Rose. Shawn in and he is incensed from his own blood and Buddy is such a great chickenshit. Shawn fires off and full court press. It is a fracas. The ref is knocked down. Somers and Jannetty knock head.s Rose drops Jannetty onto a chair. OW!!! Two refs throw it out. Rose and Somers look to beat Michaels down, but AWA faces save. Michaels jumps Buddy on the outside in the classic moment. If you have not watched this, you must. Pitch perfect selling from the Rockers especially Michaels and great heel work from Rose & Somers working the cut. The epitome of drama! *****

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine - MSG 3/26/79 This is the rematch to their classic one hour draw. I have never seen this particular Backlund/Valentine encounter and of all the MSG matches I think this is the least. I really like the draw, 81 series and their 84 match is unhearalded I would say all those matches are at least ****1/2. This match plays on the draw by having no countout there must be a winner so part of the psychology is too tease that they are going to go long and this causes a looooooooooooooooong front facelock sequence where a fan audibly yells “Cmon somebody do something.” I love you, Bob and Greg, but I gotta agree. The early Backlund shine before this facelock was solid highlighted by a wicked Backlund forearm. I love Backlund/Valentine exchanges they are just so nasty. Backlund starts to break up the front facelock with some nice hope spots and Valentine responds by trying the figure-4 and the crowd ooohs and aaaahs. No not the front facelock, but he moves into the deathlock and slaps the back of Backlund’s head now that is just insulting. Backlund is ripshit and powers out, carries him over to a corner and slaps the shit outta him. I love Backlund/Valentine! The next sequence will blow your mind. Valentine applies a half-crab, but Backlund grabs the toe and he transitions this into a cradle that is just outstanding. Now Backlund tries to go for the half-crab, but Valentine still has a leg. So Backlund maneuvers into a monkey flip, WOW! Backlund Figure-4!!!! MSG ROARING! Incredible sustained heat! Valentine makes ropes and Backlund is rocking back and won’t release. Valentine reverses and Backlund is writhing and hollering. Valentine works on the legs and Backlund responds with a crazy headbutt. TIMMMMMBBBBAAAAAHHHHH!!! Valentine big elbow to top of the head and covers. Backlund slaps his back at two and The Hammer thinks he has won. Backlund atomic drop wins the match for the Champ. I really liked the home stretch with some hot sequences around leg work that really showcased how good both were. God that front facelock and horrible finish just really kills the match for me. For as strong as Backlund looks some of these finishes are just horrible for him. It was Valentine’s last match with Backlund in the Garden until 81 why not put Backlund over clean. Still some really great shit! ***3/4

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Giant Baba vs Jack Brisco - AJPW 12/5/74 2 out of 3 Falls. Baba had won the NWA World Championship from Brisco three days prior so I presumed this would be switch back to Brisco, but I was wrong which made for a very surprising finish. It always fun when these historic matches finish the opposite from what you expect. Now I have robbed that from anyone who reads this review. Well hopefully, you just skip to the bottom see the ****1/2 and skipped the whole review so you can be just as surprised. Jackie B tries a different tact in this match working the side headlock rather than leg takedowns, which I think is a horrible approach against GIANT Baba. Baba is just too long and will use his leverage advantage to break via top wristlock. This happens on two occasions. Brisco tries to cheat, but to no avail and digs himself into an early hole with Baba working the arm. Brisco tries to create movement, but Baba stymies him with shoulder tackles and arm drags. Baba has a great armbar takedown into a really neat submission. Brisco picks the leg and looks to go to work. There is a really cool moment when Birsco is riding high in a deathlock and Baba looks to pull back in a chinlock and Brisco bridges out. Nothing comes of the Brisco leg work. Airplane spin by Baba! Baba looks to win with the same string of moves from the previous match hitting a Russian Legsweep for two and then looks to follow up with the falling clothesline, but Brisco has seen this movie before and NAILS him with a beautiful dropkick. This sets up the belly to back suplex to send Brisco up 1-0. Brisco starts hot with elbows to the back of Baba's head, but this is not sustained. Brisco misses a kneedrop and this is the demise of Jack. We get to see more selling from Brisco than in the previous match and this seems to be an area where he excels. It is too bad more babyface stuff does not exist. Baba is relentless on the knee ultimately setting up the Boston Crab into the backbreaker. Brisco is really good working underneath and selling. Baba is an effective monster. It is too bad they fought exclusively in Japan.Russian Legsweep only gets two! Swinging neckbreaker ties it at one a piece With it all knotted up and Brisco in a bad way, Baba looks to press his advantage at the start of the 3rd fall, but Brisco tries to use the outside to break his rhythm. I am loving this urgency It turns into a slugfest, which I don't love between these two. Brisco's big weakness is his working punch/forearm, which looks to miss by a mile everytime. Baba's overhead chops are fine given his size, but they are not the best either. Both wrestlers start going to the well to finish their opponent off but their opponent is able to block (Brisco dropkick and Baba's swinging neckbreaker). Baba is really pouring it on and I don't see how Brisco can win this. Baba pushes off ropes on a Brisco back suplex (winning first fall combination) to land on top and win. The finish was a little botch. Again another great 70s style match, but still missing that extra gear that really gets my blood pumping. I liked this one for Brisco getting to sell more and I loved the move psychology. Brisco countering the falling clothesline with a dropkick to win the first fall was cool as all get out. The Brisco missed kneedrop was a great transition in fall #2. The third fall was a perfect culmination of everything before it. Excellent match, I would say about the same as their first match, but I give this one the nod. ****1/2

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Brisco vs Giant Baba - AJPW 12/2/74 2 out of 3 Falls Giant Baba is just one freaky looking dude. i had to get it out there. Those shoulderblades are something else. Great sporting contest from these two wrestlers for the World Heavyweight Championship. It was a breath of fresh air to watch two men work so hard at surfboard taking the time to widen their base or drop to a knee to really sell the hold. I loved the opening matwork. Brisco looked world class taking the Giant down at will. He had a game plan go after the legs and he was tenacious with his drop toe holds and leg pick ups. The only thing keeping Baba in it was his natural size. When he got a hold of Brisco in that surfboard, he demonstrated how damn athletic he is being able to put a foot between Brisco's shoulderblades in a standing surfboard. I loved Brisco's reaction to the surfboard to start letting the fists fly. He was feeling vulnerable so the wrestling went out the window. Baba responded with GIANT CHOPS! Dropkick and Russian Legsweep score one for the hometown hero. Baba starts off hot, but Brisco backs him into the ropes and refuses to give him a clean break. Brisco is just wrenching a nasty chinlock. I love all the tests of strength in this match. They trade suplexes and Briscos follows his up with a figure-4 to even the match. I surprised they did not go with the quick submission, but Baba writhed in pain for a while before the ref called it. The last fall was very dramatic. It was definitely the best selling of the match with Baba playing up the knee injury and Brisco tenaciously working the leg. Baba responds with GIANT CHOPS to avoid the figure-4 and Brisco does a great job selling these. The Russian Legsweep that won the first fall is used a false finish with Brisco making the bottom rope. That was a expertly laid out spot. Baba hits a clothesline similar to Kobashi falling clothesline to win the match and the World Heavyweight Title. That makes that Kobashi move all the cooler knowing it is a tribute to Baba. I really enjoyed this match as a struggle between two opponents for the world title in a classic game of human chess. Yes, Brisco was a bit of a dick here and there, but overall, it was a relatively clean fight. It is funny, I think if all wrestling was like this, I probably would not be a fan. It is too similar to real sports in the sense that it is two talented performers executing at a high level, but it just lacked that narrative to really sink my teeth into until the closing stretch. That is a minor quibble because what they presented was awesome. If Brisco moving from the mat to strikes back to the figure-4 all the while selling Baba's chops like death. Baba worked hard in this match and was great at providing the highspots. It did not click with me on that next level, but still something I would have as a MOTYC in any year. ****1/2

No End of the Year '81 special? If not, what was everyone's match of the year? The Alley Fight? Backlund/Valentine? Backlund/Slaughter Cage?

Roman Reigns is not white. They have cooled him off, but I expect them to ramp him back up in the fall and winter. They have played it smart with him. Keeping him out of the limelight, letting him improve and I know people are taking notice here and I think elsewhere. He needs to up his promo game. Be a badass. No sarcasm. Just straight forward ass kicking. Say what you will do and then do it.

Best RAW Of The Year! Hands Down. Not even close. I meant to post this a while ago. I hated Battleground for them to come back with this was stupefying. I was really thinking of giving up on them and this RAW just blew me away. Strong Taker Promo, Awesome Heyman promo (I thought he has been overrated, but this summer has been his best shit ever!) and then that brawl was just awesome chaos and raucous mayhem! Loved it! Then get this, Show/Miz perfect squash like a great squash. An actually entertaining Matadores match THANKS PTP! Brie Bella vs Charlotte in a good match. But it gets better, Reigns vs Harper in an absolute barnburner. WHO GIVES A FUCK WHO IS IN THE PULL APART BRAWL!!! ROMAN REIGNS IS MAKING A ONE ARM COMEBACK! Charles, you are awesome, but guys, seriously, great fight over here can we talk about the wrestling!!! Serious RAW Free Match of the Year Contender until the Ruiner of Matches fucks it up. Still awesome, awesome Reigns/Harper slugfest with great selling by Reigns. Rollins/Cena OH HELL YEAH!!! Rollins was great in this setting. I wish he had a neck brace on while bragging about his accomplishments. Great shit! Women's tag match was what's up! Between this and Reigns/Harper, I can't remember the last time there was this much great wrestling on RAW. Awesome, old school WWF formula tag match and I know tag wrestling (Tag Teams Back Again on PTBN WHOOMP THERE IT IS!) The main event was just awesome popcorn fun. It was straight out of the 80s/early 90s playbook with the babyfaces just having fun and popping the crowd. The FU into the Swing into the RKO was the greatest thing ever. My Dad and I were losing our shit in our living room. Damn for one week wrestling was fun again. Check out this episode of Raw!!!

When I first saw Loss tweet about this, my knee jerk reaction was poppycock. Ambrose (save for Rusev) is the only wrestler that incorporates limb psychology (where he is the one who is selling) into his matches. Plus, there is even sometime week-to-week selling of an injury see January 2015, knee injury from Bray Wyatt Ambulance match. This is pretty mind-blowing for 2015. Then I said I would watch the Dean Ambrose/Big Show match in question. Wow! Could Dave and Bryan be more off base. Ambrose was fucking awesome in that match selling for Big Show. He tempered every hope spot with fighting through the pain, but that was mostly an absolute shit kicking. He was falling down on the outside, but kept bringing himself to his feet. This was total Die Hard. It is actually really stupid and juts plain wrong to pick this match to point to Ambrose's selling issues. At the end of the day, Ambrose has selling issues just like the rest of the roster because what the match layout dictates and what the crowd expects. When Loss points out the Rollins match from last summer or someone else points out the Harper match those are great examples of Dean Ambrose of failing at selling. The Big Show match, God No! He gets an A+ from me!

NWA US Champion Wahoo McDaniel vs Magnum TA - Worldwide 3/23/85 Steel Cage Match Watching Mags in Mid-South, it was clear just how good of a babyface he was in terms of selling and just connecting with a crowd. Even with his technical execution being subpar, I thought his charisma overwhelmed any flaws. Once he was put in brawls with DiBiase, he could really shine. Here against Wahoo, his offense has come a long way. He is by no means the best, but it is no longer glaringly bad. Couple this with the babyface charisma and selling, he was a potent force. He has just debuted recently and was given a string of very quick wins with the belly to belly suplex, which has been established as a devastating finisher. Have not seen much of Wahoo in action, here he brought chops and lots of them. He was a good mountain for Magnum to climb. In 1985, the story was about Mags. Wahoo tried to cheat early, but Magnum overcame that and then Wahoo tried to turn it into a slugfest and Mags fought right back. In fact, he was kicking so much ass, he hurt himself on a headbutt and Wahoo was able to pull him into the cage. Wahoo worked an adequate heat segment, but Magnum's selling and how he conveyed the earnestness of his comeback was what carried the day. I loved the finish with Wahoo in control working shoulder tackles only to be caught out of the blue with the vaunted Belly To Belly! New US Champion! A perfect way to build a hot new babyface and a superb finish. Not a great match, but definitely one worth checking out. ***

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Jimmy Snuka - MSG 6/28/82 Steel Cage Match Everytime, Snuka even touches a turnbuckle, MSG goes bonkers. Snuka, like a great stripper knows how to stoke those flames, first it is a middle rope knee drop and then a chop. Each tease gets more and more of a reaction. Before we discuss the climax, lets talk Superfly's style. It has been a long time since I watched this match and Snuka wrestled in a really engaging style. He was a stalking heel almost in the vein of a horror movie monster similar to early Undertaker. He is the exact opposite of Adonis with almost no bumping until the one super duper bump. At his best Backlund could only get him to one knee early. Backlund is able to throw him into the cage to bust him open. Backlund is kicking ass, but to not to the same effect he is used to as Snuka is just a monster that keeps coming. Snuka builds and builds and finally he ascends to his perch, but goes one rung higher all the way to the top of the cage. He leaps off and crashes and burns in the world's most painful belly flop. Backlund wins off the mistake. The match is totally must see because of that one spot. It still looks crazy awesome in 2015 and in 1982 that must have been face-melting, brain-frying shit. ***

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Adrian Adonis - Landover 3/28/82 Lumberjack Match If the first match Adonis complimented Backlund well, in this match Adonis took it over and just went balls to wall in this action-packed sprint. This was totally in Adonis' bump 'n' run wheelhouse. They did a great job establishing the stipulation early with Adonis finding himself in all sorts of precarious positions with the babyface lumberjacks much to the crowd's enjoyments. Adonis gets his bearings and rakes Backlund's eyes and sends him to the heel side. They just run a ton of high end offense. Adonis is busting out missile dropkicks! BACKLUND PILEDRIVER~! i love Backlund kicking Adonis in the head from his belly when both on the mat. That is the scrappiness all wrestlers should have! Awesome back drop of Adonis into the lumberjacks and Adonis is fighting for his life. Back in the ring, these two are just throwing the kitchen sink at each other. It feels two wrestlers who want to win at all costs rather than just an exhibition of moves as counters are based off mistakes by the opponent. Adonis takes three tremendous bumps rapid fire that need to be seen. He is reeling, but Bob telegraphs a back body drop and GOOD NIGHT IRENE! Backlund counters with a bridging victory roll to retain the World Wrestling Federation Championship. If you love action, you will love this match. They cut a frantic pace. Adonis is at his "bump n run" best. Backlund has plenty of firepower to keep up. Two wrestlers doing all they can to win a match with Adonis applying his best shot, but Backlund proving he is just that much better. ****1/4

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Adrian Adonis - MSG 1/18/82 In the stodgy, lumbering early 80s World Wreslting Federation, Bob Backlund brings a dynamism more akin to Mid-Atlantic. I don't want to say that is overlooked by his proponents, but I don't think his critics give him enough credit for working the cutting edge style of movement in an area where everyone was accustomed to a slower pace. Yes, Backlund works holds, but he is always working the headlock or arm and peppering in spots in between. Adonis is a perfect opponent for Backlund in this regard because he excels at bumping and moving. Even though the majority of the match revolves around a long heel in peril sequence, it never drags too much because Backlund is always working the arm and Adonis working ways to get out, but ends up thwarted in a most entertaining fashion. The story was Backlund using Adonis' desperation against him by countering at every turn from the get go. This is a Backlund staple: you go running at him with a fist and he will single leg pick up you to make you foolish. So a similar effect he was always reapplying his wristlock. Adonis rolls up on the armstretcher-rowing spot. In doing so, Adonis does manage to bloody Backlund with by rubbing his palm in Bob's face, which I was surprised caused that to happen. The hardway blood definitely helps as it feels as though the playing field is level. Adonis even busts out a proto-Sling Blade. With his newfound advantage, Adonis starts throwing bombs to win the match (neckbreaker, slams, suplexes) and Backlund is getting crazy awesome kickouts. Adonis hits a piledriver, but it is only a decent one. Backlund knocks him off the top and Adonis crotches himself in most epic fashion. Backlund gets a receipt for the the stomp to the groin with his own stomp to the groin. Backlund then shows him how you muthafuckin piledrive someone. I like how Backlund threw back these moves in Adonis' face It is a shame he used that as a transition move. Good Night Irene! Backlund dives to the outside to break the hold, but shakes himself up in the process. Adonis rams Backlund's head into the turnbuckle and taps a gusher. They tease the countout, but Backlund makes it back in. I bit on the countout finish hard. A great, great boxing match breaks out; the ref loses control and awards the match to Adonis on cuts to set up the rematch, which was on an untelevised MSG card. BBBBBOOOOOOOOOOO!!! For Backlund critics, I am sure the talking point was that he dominated the match with the wristlock forever, but I thought they worked it an entertaining fashion. The home stretch was strong and the finish fantastic. This match is a great war of attrition. Adonis throws everything he has at Backlund, but Backlund is resilient. Look at that massive kickout by Backlund after the groin shot. They both are exhausted and battered. Then Good Night Irene, the countout finish tease and the bloody boxing match at the end. Definitely one of the best Backlund title defenses. ****1/2

Parv, if you want to talk peak Greg Valentine sexiness, did he ever look better than with a World's Heavyweight Championship Belt around his waist. Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine - MSG 11/23/81 WWF Heavyweight Championship, No Holds Barred This is the rematch from last month's disputed finish show where The Hammer walked out the Champion, but did not win the match. Thus the championship is held up and there must be a winner! Backlund is red-hot to start and beats Valentine's ass from pillar to post. The Hammer was great here at selling, begging off and bumping for Backlund making him look like Superman. Valentine goes for broke rushing into the corner with double knees and jams them in the turnbuckles. Backlund gives a taste of his Hammer's medicine to the Hammer working over the leg. I will say the one thing that did bring it down for me was Backlund's kicks to the leg were not the best. I recognize this is not Shoot-Style Japan, but Backlund has those killer headbutts, punches and forearms it makes his kicks look extra weak. Valentine is selling this for all its worth and when Backlund does use his fist to work the leg or an actual hold it is better for it. Valentine tries to dig himself out of this hole with desperation lunges, but it seems too deep at first with Backlund headbutting and punching his way back into control. On a figure-4 attempt, Valentine is able to punch Bob in the head and pounce on his leg. Valentine takes Backlund to school. No disrespect to the champ, but this is how you do it. Backlund fights him off and throws some wicked European Uppercuts to Valentine's leg from ground. Holy shit, both their legs are just shot and I am loving the double leg psychology. Valentine just grabs Backlunds ankle and scoots out and wraps his knee around the post. There is no avoiding it this time, Backlund is taken into the Figure-4 twice and his mettle is tested, but GOSHDARNIT HE IS BOB BACKLUND AND HE NEVER GIVES UP. With every fiber of his being and muscles bulging, Bob turns Valentine into the ropes. Both men are just exhausted. Valentine is the first one to try a suplex for a victory, but he can't capitalize. Backlund hits a magnificient, textbook German with a beautiful bridge to win the match! MSG explodes and Backlund leads him in a proto-Yes chant. I agree with the Titans this feels like the climax of Bob Backlund's reign. I thought this was exactly on par with the original 1981 match. I thought the original one just felt a bit grittier. Valentine was more frustrated and Backlund scrappier, but this one had sweet feel-good finish. It is a total toss-up; both are all-time classics. ****1/2

Parv, if you want to talk peak Greg Valentine sexiness, did he ever look better than with a World's Heavyweight Championship Belt around his waist. Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine - MSG 11/23/81 WWF Heavyweight Championship, No Holds Barred This is the rematch from last month's disputed finish show where The Hammer walked out the Champion, but did not win the match. Thus the championship is held up and there must be a winner! Backlund is red-hot to start and beats Valentine's ass from pillar to post. The Hammer was great here at selling, begging off and bumping for Backlund making him look like Superman. Valentine goes for broke rushing into the corner with double knees and jams them in the turnbuckles. Backlund gives a taste of his Hammer's medicine to the Hammer working over the leg. I will say the one thing that did bring it down for me was Backlund's kicks to the leg were not the best. I recognize this is not Shoot-Style Japan, but Backlund has those killer headbutts, punches and forearms it makes his kicks look extra weak. Valentine is selling this for all its worth and when Backlund does use his fist to work the leg or an actual hold it is better for it. Valentine tries to dig himself out of this hole with desperation lunges, but it seems too deep at first with Backlund headbutting and punching his way back into control. On a figure-4 attempt, Valentine is able to punch Bob in the head and pounce on his leg. Valentine takes Backlund to school. No disrespect to the champ, but this is how you do it. Backlund fights him off and throws some wicked European Uppercuts to Valentine's leg from ground. Holy shit, both their legs are just shot and I am loving the double leg psychology. Valentine just grabs Backlunds ankle and scoots out and wraps his knee around the post. There is no avoiding it this time, Backlund is taken into the Figure-4 twice and his mettle is tested, but GOSHDARNIT HE IS BOB BACKLUND AND HE NEVER GIVES UP. With every fiber of his being and muscles bulging, Bob turns Valentine into the ropes. Both men are just exhausted. Valentine is the first one to try a suplex for a victory, but he can't capitalize. Backlund hits a magnificient, textbook German with a beautiful bridge to win the match! MSG explodes and Backlund leads him in a proto-Yes chant. I agree with the Titans this feels like the climax of Bob Backlund's reign. I thought this was exactly on par with the original 1981 match. I thought the original one just felt a bit grittier. Valentine was more frustrated and Backlund scrappier, but this one had sweet feel-good finish. It is a total toss-up; both are all-time classics. ****1/2

Booooooo! Hisssssss! #KeepTitansInBacklundEraWWF

Thanks, Magpie & Savage! Appreciate it. Like Kelly, Hogan/Koko vs Kamala/Honky definitely leapt off the page. Magpie, if you havent already, definitely indulge in Strike Force vs Islanders, by far my favorite WWF 80s tag feud. Savage, what do you think would happen if Sleeze logic met Johnny logic? None of this would be possible without Chief Jay Historian and 4x time Brainbuster champion, Kelly, your host and mine, and one helluva man!

"Hulk Hogan...I'm that N*****" - New Jack. I can't believe Hogan and New Jack worked us all. Real American vs Natural Born Killa. Balcony Dive vs Leg Drop. This is Awesome! This is Awesome!

Mil Muertes vs Fenix Deathmatch- These are the best part of Lucha Underground. Really nice violent brawls. I thought this was even better than previous match, which is surprisingly because I do love some good blood spitting. This one cut out the shit at the beginning. Just went right where it needed to go absolutely violent beating from Muertes. Katrina is so, so much better in heel role. Holy shit, was she hot and I mean double hot tonight! Maybe the hottest woman in wrestling right now (up there with Paige and Ms. Foxy for me). The big drawback was Fenix's hope spots where still too convoluted. I liked the double stomp that was a perfect use of taking what the match and environment was giving you. The rope running and the flippity do-da was a little much for a DEATHmatch. Rest assured, Mil Muertes knew what was up and delivered a savage beating and Fenix was selling like a champ. The finish was absolute HOLY SHIT spot! In an era where that gets thrown around, I marked out for that one. Muertes looking strong going into June. Muertes and Katrina is definitely my favorite act in Lucha Underground. ****

Having watched a handful episodes of Lucha Underground in February and March, I do really appreciate their commitment to episodic TV and angle advancement each week compared to WWE where nothing ever fucking happens in the plot (WWE wrestling is fine). I just have much time to watch full episodes and prefer WWE wrestlers and wrestling. I am doing a first half review and was looking at some LU matches using the VOW match of the month poll to guide me. Cage vs Mundo was the week before I started watching. Nothing special standard WWE Smackdown! 2009 match. Mundo talked a big game on Austin in terms of psychology and really emphasizing face/heel dynamics. He said all the right things, but man did not put anything into practice here. Cage is athletic and has the body. He has no idea how to be a heel and he was just throwing spots out. His facial expressions are not menacing. He would probably be better off as a face. Morrison still so his overly contrived kicks and his selling was awful pre-knee injury angle. I still cant believe he uses Starship Pain has his finisher. Has a split legged moonsault ever looked good? Fenix vs Mil Muertes - Grave Consequences was the peak of my short-lived LU fandom. Loved the match then and love it. My biggest quibble is for as hot as Katrina is, my God is she totally devoid of emotion? Just absolutely apathetic. I am actually enjoy Vampiro as the Canadian-Mexican stoner with his 90s way of talking. I did not like the opening as much this time around, but as soon as Muertes blasted Fenix with the turnbuckle AI was hooked. I loved the blood, gnawing and spitting. In an era where the WWE has totally forgotten how to do a blood feud brawl this was exactly what I needed. Fenix did not have the greatest hope spots, moonsault presses to standing opponents look shitty and the superkick is so overplayed unless you are the Young Bucks. Overall, I dug match a lot and it had a great finish. ***3/4 Trios Champions Son of Havoc/Angelico/Ivelisse vs The Crew - When I was watching, I remember the champions were feuding amongst themselves. It seems the Evil Dario teamed them together to mess with them in Trios titles tournament and their dysfunction bonded them. They won the titles only to have Dario sic the Crew on them on that night. I like The Crew a lot. They are faceless gangbangers that hit hard and dont fuck around. They know how to work heel and made these three misfits (none of which I care for) look great. Watch this for Angelico BATSHIT crazy dive! The awesome finish that has the crowd come unglued, but mostly for The Crew rocking it! *** LU Champion Prince Puma vs Drago - Drago is fucking awesome! He has the best flips & do-das, he has great strikes, submissions and better selling & facial expressions than majority of wrestlers today. Puma is probably the best of the indy style that pervades wrestling today in terms of just absolutely breath-taking athleticism. He does lack in selling and moving too quickly to the next spot. He is a great spot wrestler. This was a very entertaining match and very appealing to the eye. The commentary reinforced how important this match was for Drago as it was career vs title, but there is a lot that could have been done to the layout of the match proper to put that aspect over. It felt like they were just going out there to pop the crowd. Just to reiterate how much I like LU for using matches to advance angles. They have Hernandez who is clearly a bit shady come in and rough up Drago at the behest of Konnan, who is a total sleazebag leeching off Puma's winning ways. Puma has to make the tough decision to end Drago's career using Hernandez's help against his better judgement. Drago does not seem to broken up about losing his career. One of the better spotfests of 2015. ***1/2

Thanks Parv! Posts like this is why I am a Parv fan. #ParvManiac4Life

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Stan Hansen - MSG 3/16/81 Before the match, Pat Patterson challenges Sgt Slaughter to a match for next months Garden show. Now there's a series of matches I need to rewatch! I cant believe, I am going to say this, but Hansen felt subdued in this match. He was totally content with rhythm breaks and grounding Backlund. It was not his usual running around with reckless abandon. The match was fine and told a decent story. Backlund jumpstarted the match and he wanted to beat the shit out of Hansen. Hansen wanted no part of it. Hansen could never keep Backlund down who was throwing headbutts to mid section and fists to the head. So Hansen kept running, which is just very un-Hansen like. Eventually, Backlund gets fed up and starts chasing him to the outside. Hansen misses his lariat on two occasions and pays for it, but always makes it to the outside. The third time Bob follows him to the outside he caught coming back into the ring with the Lariat! It looked good, but not great and didn't feel like a climax. Backlund cant make it back in, which sets up a rematch in a cage. Backlund gets his heat back by sending Stan packing. Good match, but disappointing. Their NJPW match is way better. ***

WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine - MSG 10/19/81 Huge kudos to the Titans especially Pete to get me to watch this in short order. This bad boy did not disappoint. "Anything you can do, I can do better." - Bob Backlund's motto. Whether it is out-brawling Patera, out-powering Hogan or in this match out-slugging Valentine, Backlund's game is to prove he is better than his opponent at their game. It is this attitude that truly makes him a world heavyweight champion (I acknowledged it was not recognized as a World title, but damnit Bob is my boy.). In this match, there a countless of examples of Valentine executing a move and Backlund absorbing the move and then dishing out the same move but with even more impact and ferocity. This is established early with Valentine getting three early takedowns. Backlund fires back in rapid fire those three same takedown. Anything you can do, Hammer, I can do better and don't you forget it, pal! The crux of the match centers around Valentine and his full court press to apply the figure-4 on Backlund. He begins by weakening the knees. There is a great spot where Backlund gets a monkey flip out of a half crab. Anytime, Backlund looks to turn the tide, Valentine comes crashing down with a thunderous blow. Valentine tries 8 million ways to apply the figure-4, but he can't wrangle the ever-scrappy Backlund. This is just perfect pro wrestling. You can feel Valentine's frustration about not being able to apply this hold and simultaneously you feel Backlund's desperation to avoid this hold at all costs. The figure-4 becomes everything and you are totally invested in this struggle between these two competitors. Valentine tries a different tact. He turns the match into a slugfest. Against pretty much anyone else, Valentine could bully his way to victory with his vicious forearms, but not against our hero. Backlund gives as good he gets with equally vicious elbows, fists and headbutts that must have inspired BattlArts, The dynamic switch between stand up and ground really feels like you are watching BatBat match take place in early 80s WWF in MSG. It is crazy. Valentine bullies him into the ropes and goes back to the legs. He applies the figure-4 and Backlund immediately flips to his stomach. GREATEST SPOT EVER! Bow down at the altar of Bob Backlund! Again Valentine stymied switches to slugfest and this ends with a BACKLUND PILEDRIVER~! Only two for Bob, who misses the leg drop and hurts the injured leg. BattlArts headbutts from the knees ensue and they just beating the shit outta each other. Then we get the finish. Valentine hoists Backlund up for the airplane spin, but hits the ref. Backlund ends up on top, a groggy ref counts to three, Valentine is up first and because they wearing the same trunks and have similar builds the ref hands the title incorrectly to the Hammer thus the title is held up. I get that they are setting up for a rematch and this is creative, but I didn't dig it. It is just kinda lame. I can't really explain it. It is just lame in my eyes. It knocks the match down just a peg. Still one of the all-time classics of the Backlund era, an absolute pleasure to watch and guide on how to sell the importance of a hold and a match. Terrific performance from both wrestlers. ****1/4 Rewatch: Really enjoyed the body for all the same reasons I mention above. I think one thing I didnt mention was how I liked the constant double knockouts. Whether it was from headbutts or a suplex, the double KO spots really made this feel symmetrical and like these two are equals. Backlund was great at selling the leg throughout. The finish is fucking terrible. It is one of the all time worst finishes and I cant believe I was so charitable before. This is the Seth/Bray of the 80s, so bad. Knocked the down the rating slightly.

No comments, for shame! This one of the best Titans episodes ever! Everything was gelling. Johnny did an excellent job as host. Really facilitated damn well. Pete knocked it out of the park on Backlund/Valentine. I think his work on the first match is his best bit ever. Perfect blend of passion and critical thinking. Kelly killed it with Mr. Snooze. Muraco is terribly boring. Parv brought the funny with the encyclopedia quips. Really tight, wicked bitchin. Got to say I think Parv should remain as host. #Parvmaniac. I think it worked this one time because Johnny had not watched the footage. When Johnny watches the footage, you got have Johnny kicking it on the panel, plus part of Titans' charm is Parv and his crazy theories! Loved this one.

I was just watching this on the Network. The kid is an USO! He sounds exactly the same lol. I'll admit eight year old me was a little disappointed Sable didn't come out.