.png)
WWF on MSG Network - 25/04/1988
WWF World Heavyweight Title Match: Randy Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) (c) vs. Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil)
These two are together once more, this time at Madison Square Garden. Thank god that Dibiase is out of working tags with Virgil against Hogan and Bam Bam Bigelow because him carrying the load got old. This stars fast as Dibiase attacks Savage with punches before slams him into the ring apron head first. Savage pushes Dibiase into the ring post and gets his revenge by doing the same thing. The crowd is hot and screaming as Savage stalks a cowering Dibiase into the corner. They work at an electrifying pace with constant momentum switches and big bumps from both sides. But they also know how to slow it down just enough to build back up to the big spots. The slow areas are still quicker than the average match, and they are always meaningful. Dibiase uses it as a chance to simply cheat and get his heel character over and Savage uses it to gain sympathy with his magnificent selling. Savage remains alive while Dibiase works him over, almost getting a small package win, one of his many great hope spots. Another one was him hitting an axe handle which was wonderfully cut off after he ran into the ring post erratically. The ref bumps, allowing the chance for Virgil to interfere and knock Savage to the outside floor. This hurts Savage enough to draw a count out victory for Dibiase! He doesn’t get the title but he gets a big momentum winning victory over the new champion. ***3/4
WWF World Tag Team Title Match: Demolition (Ax & Smash) (w/Mr. Fuji) (c) vs. Strike Force (Rick Martel & Tito Santana)
Strike Force attacked early, taking the champions off guard. So much off guard that Martel had Ax in the boston crab for a potential victory. Demolition are completely outclassed by the quick team strategy of Strike Force until Ax puts a knee into the back of Martel while he was running the ropes. They take over and deliver a quintessential beatdown. Tito makes the save. Fuji interferes. Demolition wins. A solid but not amazing tag. But I admire the sprint version of this. ***
NJPW Super Fight Series 1988 - Day 15 - 27/04/1988
Ten Man Elimination Match: Hiro Saito, Hiroshi Hase, Kensuke Sasaki, Kuniaki Kobayashi & Norio Honaga vs. Akira Nogami, Kantaro Hoshino, Keiichi Yamada, Shiro Koshinaka & Tatsutoshi Goto
There are roughly 10 minutes missing from the match. The match practically cuts to right before Nogami’s elimination and carries on from there. The pace is super quick with each wrestler rushing in to show off in a big spot which was rare for young wrestlers. Of course, you got some of the more established wrestlers like Koshinaka and Hase in the ring. One of the best spots of the match was Hoshino getting a big elimination, knocking the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion out of the ring to a big pop. Yamada knocks the socks off the crowd with his amazing showing before falling to Kobayashi for the finish. Really fun match. Energy unlike most things you’ll see outside of Japan, but it does have too much missing to rate properly. ***1/2 wil have to do.
Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Big Van Vader
This was terrific. Not a MOTYC but in terms of simplicity and getting the best out of a performance through it, this was great. Vader is an unstoppable beast that wants to crush Fujinami, persistently squeezing the life out of him, particularly his throat, and Fujinami learns to overcome him. First finding ways to counter Vader’s attacks and even slamming in at one point. Vader still is a threat though and continues his assault on Fujinami leading to the finish that might not be the most complex but was very effective in the result which is to lead Fujinami to victory with the fans fully behind him. Vader may have only lost via count out but this felt truly significant. ***3/4
EMLL Super Viernes 1988 - 29/04/1988
Mask Vs. Hair Best Two Out Of Three Falls Match: Kung Fu vs. Kato Kung Lee
Kung Fu was actually pretty fun in this match. He reminds me of a Great Sasakue/Octagon prototype. He was a solid rudo that took delight in beating Kung Lee from pillar to post, and even more delight in beating him via count out. Not a great apuesta but it was solid. ***
WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #16 - 30/04/1988
WWF World Heavyweight Title Match: Randy Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) (c) vs. The One Man Gang (w/Slick)
I tend to think these SNME matches are too short but they produce some really fun matches out of seemingly unassuming wrestlers. OMG's heat section is maximized by the brevity of the match and the excited crowd and Savage is able to focus on nailing the biggest peaks of his offence and get a big win. ***
WWF World Tag Team Title Match: Demolition (Ax & Smash) (w/Mr. Fuji) (c) vs. The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid)
Vince McMahon said that this is a non-title match but cagematch and wrestling data says otherwise. This is a short match as well, so they waste little time easing into the action. Tags are quick and the momentum changes even quicker. The Bulldogs have great snap to their offence and Demolition are great at both cheating and being a general badass team. There is a well executed double heat section implemented in the match which is paid off great when the Bulldogs chase Mr Fuji with Matilda. It's not called off as a count out though. The Bulldogs instead return and beat the champions with a piece of Mr Fuji's cane for the disqualification. Odd finish. ***
Comments
Post a Comment