Ditch

Hansen wasn't amazing every time out either. He had plenty of good matches on the '80s set, but also plenty that were merely decent, and only a couple that were great. The question isn't whether Tenryu had some forgettable outings. Of course he did. Plenty of his biggest matches are ones I don't care for. The question is, who was *better*?

Fuyuki

I can see where Loss is coming from, but they only really established that strong sense of struggle for a few minutes in the middle. The last 6-7 minutes has lots of middling leglock filler and they never really get to a dramatic "one of them on the verge of losing" point. Very good at times but not 'very good' overall.

Kobashi, Honda, KENTA & Marufuji vs Akiyama, Saito, Kanemaru & Hashi, NOAH August 23rd Background: Kobashi's Burning stable and Akiyama's Sternness stable had been at war for the past year, producing quality multi-man tag matches one after another. Marufuji is involved by virtue of his team with KENTA, which means that Kobashi's side includes both sets of tag champions *and* the GHC heavyweight champion. Quite the unit. Why I think it's underrated: As a smaller-show tag designed to build towards Marufuji/KENTA vs Kanemaru/Hashi at the end of the tour, this wouldn't grab headlines. However, it's possibly the best multi-man tag of the decade. We're treated to one good pairing after another, hot nearfalls even in the middle of the match, strong pace given the length, and a finish that feels a lot bigger than you would have expected going in. What it deserves: Top 50. I realize some people will always place title matches ahead of tags, but I think on the merits this deserves to place high.

The media players I use are VLC and Media Player Classic. VLC works 99.9% of the time. If you can't get it to work and try both, let me know. Chono/Takayama didn't work when I first tried it, then worked 30 seconds later. Very confusing.

I don't think any amount of 2002 or 2004 booking would have "made" Akiyama. He was never going to be a Misawa/Kobashi level star. If it was in the cards, NOAH would have been popping in late 2001. It wasn't. NOAH didn't pop until Kobashi returned. And when Kobashi left in 2006? Company tanked. Akiyama has had a fine career. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If he debuts a couple years sooner? No sweat. Maybe he gets Taue's spot. Akiyama and Nagata both suffer as a result of who they're compared to. How do you follow the Musketeers? How do you follow the Four Corners? I think the same thing happened with Jumbo (comp to Baba) and Fujinami (comp to Inoki). Jumbo and Fujinami were the 'pause that refreshes'. NOAH didn't have anyone to follow up with after Akiyama, but in Nagata's case I think he and Tenzan were needed to clear the stage for Tanahashi et al. to be seen as a success on their own terms rather than the terms of the golden days.

Not sure what the heck happened there. I even re-uploaded it and the same error happens. Put it on Youtube and re-uploaded the excel file.

Do Fixer vs M2K, trios titles, Toryumon June 29th 2003 Background: Genki Horiguchi and his super-effective backslide made waves in the spring. Can such trickery get it done against a tough M2K unit at the biggest show of the year? Why I think it's underrated: The match was well-received at the time but was somewhat forgotten as time passed. Whereas Toryumon is associated with flash and style, this match thrives on old-school tag structure to properly set up the exciting finish. What it deserves: Top 100. This has something for everyone.

Or you can turn sigs off.

Ah, I'd missed the 'households' distinction. Yeah that's just nutty. The "parents" category makes even less sense in that context.

A lot of times, a match did really well in a vote based on consensus of it being good rather than it being any sort of MOTDC. As for those matches, they're much more in the "well-worked/good layout/good story" vein than "big five-star epic". I can totally see someone shrugging off all of them based on preference.

That whole pie isn't even 20% of the population, but the fact that it even approaches 20% shows it as being exaggerated.

Clearly knows his stuff based on a few of the translations. Can't be overstated how important that is.

Japanese stars also hate breaking kayfabe, talking about things like favorite matches and opponents. Who was the translator?

Kanemoto vs AKIRA, IWGP junior title, New Japan March 23rd 2003 Background: Akira Nogami didn't do much of note in the '90s, including a forgettable run as junior champion. A re-invention in 2000 as part of Chono's stable led to a number of really good technical matches. This is the best of those, as the two of them show remarkable inventiveness and attention to detail. Why I think it's underrated: It's not a highlight-reel spotfest, but more of a chess match. This got some initial praise from show-to-show New Japan viewers but didn't catch the eye of Meltzer et al. I can understand preferring something a bit more spectacular, but this is really tricked-out and stands apart from the usual "tons of nearfalls" Japanese title match cliche. What it deserves: Top 50 consideration. It doesn't hit the dramatic pitch of the very top tier, but creativity and execution make it solid mid-ballot material.

Clearly you saved the best for last.

Nicely done, Chris!

I don't think the WCW side had enough talent to maintain a hot feud, at least initially.

El-P, I love how your typos are somehow endearing rather than annoying. Maybe because I hear them in my head with a French accent. Also it's fitting for WCW write-ups. Why put more effort into spellchecking than they did into booking? The "best" is yet to come my friend!

Jumbo/Fuchi vs Misawa/Kawada handheld from August was recently added to my AJ site and deserves a look.

Akiyama, Saito & Izumida vs Rikio, Morishima & Ikeda, NOAH March 16th Background: Morishima and Marufuji have a tag title shot against Akiyama and Saito at the end of the tour, so this is designed to build towards it. Oddly enough two lead-ins made the cut but not the title match, which had a weak first half due to its length. Why I think it's underrated: For those of us brought up with US wrestling there's no inherent appeal to a 6-man, especially before the Shield win streak. In Japan it's an integral part of booking and on occasion produces standout matches. Unlike most 6-man tags, this starts hot and sustains a lot of intensity throughout. Ikeda, who tends to take it easy in NOAH, brings his A-game for a change. Even the problematic Izumida contributes. What it deserves: Top 100. They do a great job of making the action unpredictable, and when you add in the pace and stiffness it's all the better.

Think about the ungodly amount of talent WCW had on the shelf over most/much/all of the last year. That wasn't everything but it sure didn't help. The Invasion was hot at the start with next to no star power and could have been sustained for a lot longer if they'd bothered to bring in more of the top guys and make it a real war. That, in turn, would have gone a long way to bringing over the remaining WCW fans and some of the lapsed ones. But no, Vince couldn't stand to buy out contracts. Or push WCW as a threat. Or de-push his kids.

The first one is weird; needed to remove the www. from it. Fixed both, file updated. Thanks!

Wow, I never considered the Johnny Ace/Animal connection in terms of his return being given so much effort.

File updated with three changed links. Tenryu & Hirai vs Kojima & Hayashi, All Japan October 6th 2002 Background: Tenryu is SO ANGRY with Kaz Hayashi. That punk! Just look at him. And Kojima! Grrrrr! Why I think it's underrated: As with so much of what I'll be highlighting, it's a tag on a smaller show. Nothing is on the line but pride. By now you should be familiar with Tenryu's eternally foul mood, and if you aren't then go back and start watching the Y2K matches. Hirai doesn't have many good performances to his credit but definitely brings it as much as he can. Kojima and Hayashi have the youth and spunk to be perfect foils for Tenryu. What it deserves: Top 100 consideration / on the bubble. Fun, energetic, and ends when it should.