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NJPW New Year Golden Series 1988 - Day 1 - 04/01/1988
Big Van Vader vs. Antonio Inoki
They don’t make matches like this any more. Not a great match but it’s purpose was to create Vader as a threat once more. It establishes that Inoki can’t figure Vader out, and as soon as it seems he has him, Vader can power out of his big move. It wouldn't surprise me if they think Vader is a lump as he does very little things but he is a beast regardless. Inoki goes all out to sell for him. A DQ finish turns into an angle with Choshu and Saito and a further beatdown of Inoki. Good match. ***
Top Of The Super Junior I Match: Owen Hart vs. Hiroshi Hase
While I’m not the biggest Owen Hart fan, I think he’s a good wrestler and Hase is a good opponent for him. A technical bout with a lot of amaeutr style mat work. I don’t think it progresses into something immense, but the work is solid and interesting to see. A good example of what the Juniors could do in this era. ***1/4
Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Masa Saito
I hope the finish was a fuck up because that’s a dreadful finish. The match may have been going somewhere or ending a bit early but this had some decent chain wrestling. Saito is a little different than the average Japanese wrestler because of his US experience which adds a little difference to Fujinmai by default. Decent while it lasted. ***
ASW ITV Wrestling - 05/01/1988
Fit Finlay vs. Johnny Saint
While this is far from the purest WOS match in its form, this still is full of pretty good technical wrestling which speaks to the plethora of talent in Britain even during the dying days. This ultimately is the masterclass of face/heel dynamics. Finlay is the hated gimmick that bends the rules while Saint is the straight-laced hero that wins through talent and skill. Although Finlay has plenty of that which makes the whole thing even more deplorable. Finlay cheats and gets two public warnings but he uses his final one to a great benefit, taking advantage of Saint’s vulnerability and forcing the submission for the win. Good match. ***1/2
Capitol Sports Promotions - 06/01/1988
WWC Universal Heavyweight Title Match: Carlos Colon (c) vs. The Iron Sheik
Oh yes!!!!! Sheiky baby in Puerto Rico. They slug away at each other to begin with Colon winning out. The Iron Sheik bails to the floor to rethink his approach. Colon continues to punch away at the begging Sheik. Desperate measures are needed really early apparently as Sheik gets a knife/or other sharp object out and confers with Chicky Starr. Sheik blends and bumps for the Caribbean hero, and barely gets any offence in until he uses the sharp object, and that changes the game. Sheik looks to be in control until he makes the mistake of going for the suplexes and it gets reversed. Headbutts and a running powerslam gets two. Sheik’s blade job is amazing, which makes up for the wrestling which isn’t as bad as it could be. Colon had him in a sleeper and you could see the blood drip on his stomach. Colon goes for the kill and gets the figure four leg hold and Sheik gets saved from a humiliating loss by Chicky Starr who attacks Colon. Sheik stabs Colon with the object and then with the boots. Objects are being thrown in by the crowd now who are incensed. The ref can’t contain the brawl which goes back and forth until the tape is cut off. The match was perfectly serviceable although Sheik wrestles like an old man with minimal offence and not the cleanest of bumps. Colon took all the match with a few exceptions and then even came out on top in the post match brawl. Amusing stuff. I had a fun time seeking this out. I need to watch more PR and this is just that. **1/2
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