Posted October 2, 201014 yr comment_5456546 They worked the first fall almost entirely on the mat. They didn't go super-fast or really try for submissions but I still found it absorbing. Instead of just going back to a headlock over and over, Steamboat went through a logical progression of counters, and everything flowed well. Mascaras took the fall with a cross body off the top. They went back to the holds to start the second, with Mascaras using a full nelson to punish Steamboat and Steamboat countering into an arm-wringer. Mascaras escaped and went to the highspot well again with a springboard cross-body that Steamboat reversed to take the second fall. They traded some nifty roll-up attempts in the third fall and tumbled outside as they fought over an abdominal stretch. They remained so engaged with the grappling that they got counted out. This didn't do a ton for the crowd, but they really produced something different from almost anything that will make the set. I was also interested to see Steamboat work a match based entirely on grappling. This struck me as the sort of unexpected nugget that makes these sets fun, so you guys should take a look. AJ TV '82 or '83
October 19, 201014 yr comment_5457410 Ricky Steamboat vs. Mil Mascaras (2/3 falls), 8/81?? (TV 82 or 83) - Man, watching Mil roll around on the mat makes me want to dive into Jose’s Mil Mascaras set. Steamboat is game at working the mat and both guys struggle to maintain control and twist the other into a compromising position. Shit, the fluidity was amazing as they twist and contort. At one point, Mil has his legs locked around Steamer’s head and Steamer sells it in a panic and it worked. About as good of a babyface vs. babyface 1st fall can be. I might have nominated this fall alone. Let’s see how the other two pan out. - 2nd fall, It starts off with a full nelson duel and Ricky’s selling makes it work. I have really been bothered by over-selling Ricky in All Japan but not in this match. Maybe it is compensating for Mil’s lack of expression. Shock ending as Mil attempts another body press only to get rolled through for the three count. - 3rd fall, Ricky starts with putting Mil in a bearhug. Mil escapes and they start trading falls. Ricky gets control and continues work on the back. When Mil gets control after his body blocks, they fight over an abdominal stretch that ends up on the outside with both men being counted out in the process. Shitty ending to a fun match. The 1st fall and the 2nd pin playing off the 1st fall are enough to push this through but the brevity of the last 2 falls not really building the match will hurt it overall.
November 5, 201014 yr comment_5457991 2 out of 3 falls: Mil Mascaras vs. Ricky Steamboat (August 1981) Steamer announces before the match that he has an eye injury but he wants to face the legendary Mil and another thing in that Steamer looks really skinny here. The 1st fall features some outstanding mat wrestling with Steamer hanging with Mil on every move which is something else. Steamer then goes for some dropkicks before missing one which led to Mil hitting a great cross body block off the top rope to take the fall. The 2nd fall starts with Steamer taking control but again Mil overpowers him with his ability although Steamer hangs with him and even tucks and rolls under a Mascaras cross body block off the top rope to even the falls. The 3rd fall features both men trading the advantage until a cobra twist sent them to the floor where they would get counted out before Gypsy Joe & Gino Hernandez would attack both men to set up a match. The wrestling here was really solid and yeah this is a different style of match than normal on this set so I'm all for moving this forward.
