Posted May 5, 200817 yr comment_5431067 Gran Hamada vs. Babyface (UWA Light Heavyweight Title) (4/3/80) - Early on, they do some decent matwork and then break out the huge lucha spots that pique the crowd’s interest. I am really digging the way yhtey work seamlessly from the mat into the spots and counters. Both guys did their out of the ring dives that would look impressive in 1996. The ending brings it down a bit as the ref counted three even though it looked like it was a two count. I’ll throw this on as low-level because I think there are plenty of matches that smoke it but the change of pace and lucha style will work well on the set. (NJC 83)
May 23, 200916 yr comment_5439862 I will give this a more enthusiastic nomination then Will, just breathtakingly beautiful lucha exchanges between these guys, Babyface takes an armdrag as good as any rudo I have ever seen. Huge bumps and dives by both guys too. This was a slam dunk nomination for me.
July 9, 200916 yr comment_5441715 I liked the body of the match a lot. The lucha sequences were some of the best you'll find in NJ and it had a nice, steady build. The ending blew. I hate the short count more than the dreaded double countout, which can at least work for a brawl. Whatever, though. At least 1/3 of the set will feature sketchy endings, so I'll go yes based on the overall quality. I wish we could magically switch Hamada in for Sayama in all those '81 and '82 matches.
