UWF Starting Over - 12/05/1988
Exhibition Match: Nobuhiko Takada vs. Shigeo Miyato
I’m unsure why this was billed as an exhibition match, as it’s wrestled like your standard UWF bout. I guess they felt they needed to ease the audience into what they would see. The UWF wrestlers worked similarly in New Japan, but this was going to be a more minimalist sub-heavy style and that needed to be presented, especially with the spot heavy Takada. There is a good mix of kicks and holds to give variety, suiting both men. Miyato is presented as the little brother between the two and is on the defensive against Takada’s offensive pushing. Takada is able to submit Miyato with the heel hook for the first fall and then again with the cross armbreaker. But the match continues under exhibition rules. Miyato tries hard to fight back despite being out-matched but Takada schools him considerably. Miyato didn’t have a sustained hope spot but it remained an entertaining bout nonetheless. ***1/4
Yoji Anjo vs. Tatsuo Nakano
One thing I love about UWF is that it took low midcarders like these two, brought them in and let them develop and wrestle for over 20 minutes. Just to get them seasoned and used to working a main event style before they get there. It allows the audience to see them on the level of Maeda, Fujiwara and Takada too. This had an aggressive start with the two tightly locking up and pushing each other around the ring. This settles nicely on the mat and while that’s not either’s great strength, there are some good moments of struggle where they both attempt to prove their superiority over the other. Both are rush and rough wrestlers but that’s the charm and they produce some good spots that the crowd latch onto, like Anjo kicking Nakano while he’s on the ground. Nakano was brutal with his kicks too. He sweeped Anjo off by his feet and threw some wicked kicks to him in the corner. Nakano appears to be the crowd favourite by the end but both get great applause after Nakano submits Anjo with a triangle choke. Hints of a great match here, but some roughness held it back for me. Great effort though by two guys that aren’t quite ready for 24 minutes. ***1/4
Akira Maeda vs. Kazuo Yamazaki
This was quite a sensational and cerebral bout with all the skill and drama necessary to make this UWF variation a hit from the start. It managed to allow Akira Maeda shine as the ultimate badass, an image cultivated over a series of well documented evented, while thrusting Kazuo Yamazaki into a main event role. Yamazaki is outmatched, on paper, but proves himself a worthy challenger that actually puts Maeda on the defensive for the majority of the match. So much so that Maeda's win felt like the main comeback rather than business as usual. They opened up with a tenetitive pace with some kicks but mostly worked the mat. Maeda used his size and knowledge to overwhelm Yamazaki, figuring his way into an Americana hold for a near finish. Yamazaki is able to rally, being able to capture the half crab several times, each time getting closer and closer to the tap with Maeda struggling with the hold after the constant attempts. Yamazaki blasted Maeda with head kicks, and vice versa, but Yamazaki's youthful energy was in his favour as he was able to keep up his attacks whereas Maeda faltered, and it almost won Yamazaki the match. There were 3 serious TKO teases but Maeda rallied each time. As the crowd counted towards 10, the crowd seemed to believe in a potential upset here but Maeda eventually was able to get the katahajime, finishing the shocking foe. What a needed classic this was. ****1/2
AWA Championship Wrestling - 14/05/1988
AWA World Tag Team Title Match: Badd Company (Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond) (c) vs. Hector Guerrero & Mando Guerrero
A spark of life in the AWA. A mix of workrate and comedy that the commentary team was excited to see and the fans reacted relatively strongly to. The Guerreror’s particularly Mando was put over as a threat and Badd Company had to cheat and get any advantage in any way possible to keep up. It was a basic but fun affair with a time limit draw finish (?). Could do with another match between the two. ***
Greg Gagne & Jerry Lawler vs. Mr. Saito & Riki Choshu
Apparently Riki Choshu was on his honeymoon during this period, hence why he’s taking AWA bookings. I think this environment does limit Choshu into a generic role, strippin away an uber charismatic wrestler to his bare essentials, but he does well. Saito takes the lead and Choshu plays along. The match is solid from start to finish. Lawler is a good FIP and Gagne is surprisingly fun as a face in peril considering it’s 1988 and not 1978. I think there are some factors that were lost due to new environments such as the strap gimmick not being acknowledged and the potential avenue they could’ve gone in, but it was fine as it was. The Japanese heels get DQ’d via a really eye-rolling chair spot finish. ***1/4
NWA World Wide Wrestling - 14/05/1988
NWA United States Tag Team Title Match: The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) (w/Jim Cornette) (c) vs. The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers)
A raucous crowd in front of this famed 40 minute match. The pace they go at each other astounds me. It’s fast but not go-go-go. There is give and go, it slows from fast to slow naturally that allows you to be brought to your feet and sits you down at the right times. The timing of everything really works with the two teams, especially with the story beats of the match. The Fantastics had plenty of shine in the first quarter of the bout with Midnight Express pumping and showing their vulnerability, and then they timed the switch really well. The heat section was tremendous. The Midnights are a great move team and they don’t try to hide it, but they are equally as great at cheating and getting heat through their minimalistic actions too. I think the ring ads can go either two ways for the viewer, it can hurt or make for an easier watch, and I think it’s the latter because it eases the flow and downtimes of the match moreso, although I doubt there was plenty. Plus they often allow an easy transition into the other sections of the match. For example, they cut back from break to an attempted comeback from the challengers, which was excellent cut off with a knee to the bak into a throw across the rail combination. The Midnight Express elevated their performances towards the end of the match with their aggressiveness. Stan Lane was particularly vicious, launching a grounded Fulton up and back down into the canvas by his hair! They head into the conclusion nicely where they tease a potential ref stoppage. It doesn’t happen, much to the delight of the Fantastics who take advantage. Rogers hits a top rope dropkick, sending him into the clutches of Fulton, who rolls him up for the three and the victory. New champions! Epic bout. ****1/4
NWA World Championship Wrestling - 14/05/1988
The Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk) (w/Paul Ellering) vs. The Powers Of Pain (The Barbarian & The Warlord) (w/Paul Jones)
A fine match in the short burst it was in. Both teams just unleashed their full arsenal and almost provided a good match before the Horseman interfered and left Animal out, leaving Hawk victim to a rare and shocking beating. **3/4
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