Posted February 17, 201114 yr comment_5464730 The early going here was nice as they let Martel get in some arm drags, then went to Martel being downed by a headlock and operating from that as a base. Martel eventually breaks out, hits a nice drop down monkey flip and then arm drags Saito over locking on an armbar. They come up for a nice hip toss reversal that Martel counters back down into an armbar base. Martel is really cool here working the arm, doing a nice overhead takedown, throwing elbows and double sledges to it et. Saito comes back with an eye gouge and starts lighting Martel up with chops and then tosses him the length of the ring with a hip toss before doing his standing heart punch to downed opponent spot. He locks on the sleeper at this point which is a spot Saito always works well. Martel tries to back Saito into the turnbuckles but Saito keeps it cinched in. Martel finally decides to run forward and Saito bumps into the top turnbuckle. Saito tries to sneak up on Martel but Rick catches him coming in. Martel hits a piledriver for a nearfall and then a pair of vertical suplexes. Martel goes for his slingshot splash but Saito scoots out of the way. Saito gets some nearfalls including a good one off of a Saito suplex. Saito locks in the Scorpion in the middle of the ring. This ends up being an incredibly great spot as Martel literally grips the canvas pulling inch by inch to get to the ropes to save his title. Martel ends up winning almost immediately after this with a reverse crossbody that kind of felt flat just because the Scorpion spot had been so well done. Still this was a very good match.
February 17, 201114 yr comment_5464772 The match was sold as Saito getting subbed in for Masked Superstar (who no-showed), and Martel not being prepared for him since he prepared for Superstar.
April 1, 201114 yr comment_5468867 Rick Martel vs. Mr. Saito - Really great offense from Martel early on looking better because of Saito’s bumping. When Martel hooks in the armbar and works in moves in and out, I was in heaven. Add Saito running into the ringpost and Martel attacking it viciously and I marked out. Strange time for Saito to turn the tables and take over. However, it doesn’t last long. After a few flurries and suplexes, he misses a springboard splash and Saito takes over. The struggle to escape the Scorpion is followed by a quick cross body that ends the match. The end was abrupt and I wish it would have gone longer but the clean win and the hot match gives this a solid nomination.
February 22, 201213 yr comment_5495571 AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel © vs. Mr. Saito (4/24/85) Saito is the replacement for Masked Superstar so the story is Martel hasn't had time to prepare for him. This started off with some really good back and forth action with both men not able to keep an advantage for a long period of time. Saito would eventually lock on his sleeper after Martel worked over his left arm and this was the first time that one of them was in any serious trouble. Martel makes a fun comeback after getting out of the sleeper hitting a nice piledriver for a nearfall as Saito got his foot on the rope. This would then turn into a battle of nearfalls as both men had the other one on the ropes ready to go with Saito nearly putting away Martel with the sasorigatame but Martel would hit a desperation reverse cross body block to get the win. Damn good match with both men working their asses off and this is an easy nomination.
