ECW at its peak and UWF (and shoot style) in its infancy? Insane combination
ECW Gangstas Paradise 1995 - 16/09/1995
ECW World Tag Team Title Best Two Out Of Three Falls Double Dog Collar Match: Raven & Stevie Richards (c) vs. The Pitbulls (Pitbull #1 & Pitbull #2)
In some ways, you may need context for this to work as there are so many elements but I think I got by on the bare minimum. This is, at worst, a collection of great moments when combined make a great match. Raven’s character being a badass who’s willing to fight on his own is always a trait that I love. His lackey’s are jokes but he is not and he will go right for his opponents which he did. He thought the entire first fall on his own practically. Although #1 went backstage to look for Stevie, so this was essentially 1 v 1. Naturally the Pitbulls make their way back into the match after Raven scored the first fall via a piledriver through the table but then the Dudleys come down and make it ten times as hard. Dreamer comes to the Pitbulls aide but Fonzie is upto no good (he actually has a fair point but fuck Fonzie). 911 chokeslams his ass, much to everyone's delight and the Pitbulls save their career and win the tag team titles. Yay! It’s only for 29 days because ECW but what a moment. ****1/4
UWF Year-End Special - 05/12/1984
Akira Maeda & Pete Roberts vs. Keith Haward & Osamu Kido
I'm surprised that Meltzer rated this highly. I found this to be thoroughly entertaining but it does have its lulls and half the match is worked entirely on the mat with little high spots. It's a back ended match in that sense but they build upto a fast paced ending really well. Kido and Maeda take the backseat but have their moments in the match towards the end but Roberts and Haward truly flourished being given the reigns. Both are British but don't work as tricked out as the WOS style is, mostly sticking to the basic holds and milking them. The crowd gave them an ovation at the end. Give them all the flowers. ****
Nobuhiko Takada vs. Kazuo Yamazaki
I see the complaints of this boring and a tad dry but I thought it had its bright spots and some nifty moments like Yamazaki kicking Takada after he was in a bridging position. Takada chopping Yamazaki stood out as different in this environment. Yamazaki showed shades of Super Tiger with his combinations and quickness whether it was on the mat or in stand up. He definitely stood out to me as well the fans who got behind him. Takada was more pragmatic. Sometimes this was good, sometimes it was dull. Which makes it a solid match overall. ***
Death Match: Super Tiger vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara
That finishing stretch was pretty amazing. So definitive as well. It’s just a seemingly endless barrage of the hardest kicks and jumping knees you’ll see. Fujiawara had no answer for it. He would only take the kicks and try and push through only to get a kick in the jaw for his troubles. I had no real idea of what the “death” match rules would mean in this case but this finish defined it. The rest of the match was a classic struggle of Tiger trying to defend against Fujiwara’s relentless grappling. Laser focused attack on the arm with endless supply of great holds and counters from Fujiwara. ****3/4
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