Posted June 21, 200817 yr comment_5432341 I didn't have huge expectations coming into this, but I really enjoyed it. Long opening mat section, but both guys did enough stuff to make lots of mat wrestling interesting. I loved Bockwinkle's constantly stretching out his worked over arm, as well as Hennig's leg selling. Built really well for a 60 minute match with a super hot last 10 minutes with both guys soaked in blood. Will clearly end up in the top 5 WWE 24/7
June 22, 200817 yr comment_5432353 The only thing that hurts this match has nothing to do with the match...it's the inept commentary of Trongard and Blears. They never try to hide the fact that this was going the distance. Same with the time calls every five minutes that spelled out "Draw" so clearly. Can't argue that it's a real AWA Classic, though. I honestly have no idea how it will rank for me at the end of the day, but it'll be up there.
January 21, 200916 yr comment_5436881 I thought this was awesome. It might be my favorite draw of all time. At least top 2.
January 5, 201114 yr comment_5461521 It's basically irrelevant what I think of this because this is THE match people think of when they think of AWA for better or worse. It is making the set. The first 20 minutes of this are really a mixed bag. The one badly botched spot is early and mostly irrelevant but you still can't help but feel that a big portion of the early work is just egregious "killing time" style "work." I put "work" in parenthesis because during the first half o this match Bock is perfectly content to lay around with a hold on here and there. Bock is much better on the defensive during the opening half as he works some nice bridging spots and generally tries to work some decent escape spots. They do some good up and down hope spots and some good tempo readjustment spots. Still this match is nothing special until the ref bump shortly after the 30 minute mark. That was a GREAT spot because the fans had been conditioned by this point to assume the worst with a ref bump, so when Hennig and Bock get nasty with each other on the floor you think it's going to a DQ and instead they go to a story of Bock attacking Hennig's wheel and Hennig trying to take it to a "tired" Bockwinkel who is clearly working a "veteran on the ropes" gimmick, asking the ref how much time is left, trying to find ways to avoid contact, et. Hennig 's bumping and selling really helps this the longer it goes along as his defeated face plant into the steps and sell of a Bock forearm off of a strike exchange around the 45 minutes mark were really great moments that seemed to bolster the over all feel of this at moments when it started to seem "long." Bock's escape of the mid-ring Boston Crab, into the sunset flip roll up was a really great exchange that sort of signaled the beginning of the final stretch. God damn the Hennig roll up after Bock plays "confused old man" and things he's won with a suplex is a really tremendous nearfall and leads to a really fun burst of offense from Hennig. Hennig of course takes an insane bump after trying to lock on a spinning toehold and goes shooting hard to the floor, bloodying himself in the process. At this point the match is no longer about Hennig's leg at all (the vicious Indian Deathlock Bock worked earlier is long forgotten now) and is all about Curt's cut, with Curt getting pounded into the mat, pounded into the steel, and just straight up pounded with punches to the skull. This creates a unique dynamic of sorts as the ref is checking Bock and instead of it being "can old man Bock keep his title" it almost starts to feel like "can the young guy avoid death." Of course as soon as this story starts to develop Hennig makes his comeback, busts open Bock and shit starts to get really fucking great as you realize this is the ultimate in escalating matches. Fucking great blood drenched nearfall off of a suplex with Hennig nearly dying trying to get over for the cover. Final minute and a half is Bock in the figure-four trying to fight it off, trying to make the ropes and then ultimately just doing enough to survive until the bell. The flaws of the first half are easily forgettable and forgiven by the greatness of the second half.
January 11, 201213 yr comment_5492134 AWA World Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel © vs. Curt Hennig (11/21/86) This is an all-timer and probably the leading candidate for the #1 spot on this list. Amazing match and a grand slam nomination.
