They start out with some opening mic work and then Smothers is a unloading shit and Candido is immediately reeling. Loved some of the early stuff like Candido eating a back fist on a corner charge and taking maybe the best Tracy "backflip, into middle rope" spot I've ever seen. SMW is a promotion where the matches usually develop fairly slowly, but they are going really fast here but with everything done well. I thought Candido's initial transition to offense was a little underwhelming, but once he was in control they worked some really excellent cutoff/hope exchanges. I really enjoyed their use of the ropes in this as they did several big spots build around Smothers trying to work inside out spots and either getting nearfalls off of them or getting caught by Candido. Smothers strikes looked really sharp throughout and Candido was on point with the big bumping during all of the teaser spots which made the build to the eventual comeback really interesting. Smothers is so awesome in this working the great every time he looks to gain an advantage and I really liked his big comeback coming off of a missed Candido splash. Candido's selling is awesome at this point as he weeble wobble's around and just keeps falling out of the ring to save himself before using a visit to the floor as an excuse to a pull chain and waffle Smothers for the pin. Awesome match.

This was a pretty great match. They start out fast and furious and just slow it down at times to sell the big spots. I agree that might have been the best backflip into the middle rope spot spot I've seen Smothers do and I'm not a fan of it. It also helped how Candido sold the set up of the move so the spot made sense here. This is a bout the way it is worked really stands out on your typical SMW card because the pacing is so fast. Candido brings out that Benoit style NJ Jr. style of hot moves and Smothers shows why he is so versatile here by being the glue that makes the match not to take anything away from Candidio.. Candido was great at selling here, and was smooth with his transitions. I didn't dig the finish because it was abrupt. I thought they were starting to go into the finish then bam it was over. I would have liked them to at least done a tease of the chain or maybe do it Lawler or Landell style where you see the heel wind up the chain big time on the wrist. Oh well it was still a great match.

Chris Candido vs. "Wild Eyed Southern Boy" Tracy Smothers (2/13/94)

 

Smothers is great on the mic before the match and just starts tearing into Candido who takes a lot of punishment here with Smothers dishing it out at a fast pace. These guys are really moving here with Candido hanging move for move with Smothers and both men taking some big bumps here from the ring to the floor. Candido would take over though and grounded Smothers with a headlock but again both men were working hard here as Smothers was moving around while Candido was jawing with Mark Curtis and trying to cheat. Candido missed a big splash which kickstarted Tracy's comeback and he was great as usual firing away on Candido before Candido got to the floor where he pulled out a chain and used it to win. This was a damn good match and moves forward fairly easily.