Chris Candido v. Tracy Smothers (Ladder Match)

 

I was really excited to watch this, and wasn't disappointed. The early strike exchanges are so fucking vicious and really set the tone for this one out of the gate. Seriously these guys are lighting each other up with backfist, punches, chops, et. Really loved the early spot with Tracy going for his backflip over the ropes/middle rope kick and Candido ducking out of the way only for Smothers to hit his running baseball slide. Also really dug the spot where Candido sees that Smothers is getting up after he sets up the ladder and runs over and splashes him to keep him down. Candido's plunge over the top from Tracy's double axe was really crazy and well timed by both guys. This really is worked like one of their regular matches, as it is all about Candido working on top, with Tracy working mini-comeback spots, all of which are really good looking and feel like potential momentum swingers. In particular I liked the spot with Candido eating a suplex onto the ladder and then avoided the Smothers splash as well as Candido's insane face first bump off of blocked top rope frankensteiner onto the ladder. Candido ends up missing a massive swan dive from the top of the ladder which sets Smothers off. Smothers just dismissively dropping the ladder on Candido was a great spot and Tracy's corner charge head bump into the ladder looked sick as fuck. Finish with Candido and Smothers trading punches on top of the ladder until it fucking collapses was awesome. I don't give a shit if Mark Curtis had to hold up half of the broken ladder for Tracy to climb to the top afterward, this was an awesome match, with an awesome finish.

 

Rock N Roll Express v. The Heavenly Bodies (Cage Match, Loser Leaves Town)

 

This had a real different feel to this, almost somber, as these two teams seemed to spend the first several minutes slowly feeling each other out as if the severity of the situation required a more subdued approach than normal. The first thirteen minutes of this are essentially Bodies In Peril which I think was an odd choice. Pritchard blades first and blades big but eventually tags in Del Ray for the Morton FIP. Del Ray's thrust kicks really look like shit here. Morton FIp was fine but I really never bout him being in danger as Robert was always there to bail him out. I did really like the Gibson leglock spot and Curtis taking the face first cage bump to break up the fall on that. The finishing run of this with the punch exchanges, great Del Ray moonsault nearfall, and Morton rana for the flash nearfall was really great though. Ultimately I thought the body of this was to weak to put it forward. Others might like it more.

I remember liking that cage match. I'll have to rewatch it.

I figure it is the sort of match that others might like a lot. I thought the mood they set at the beginning was really unique, but I really didn't like the way they laid it out from that point. Finishing run was pretty great though.

As a relatively famous match, probably going to go on the set one way or another.

Fair enough. Should I drag it over as a nomination?

No, I'll watch it.

Already seen this.