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Post by Codyverse: Tag Team Champion on Jul 26, 2017 0:20:47 GMT -5
My 9 yr old nephew came over and we watched the main event of summerslam 89, Hogan and beefcake vs macho king and Zeus. He loved it I want that Macho in elite form so bad. And I'm assuming you'd like a Zeus? Back on topic lol.. That was a fun match to watch. Zeus was a horrible wrestler but he had such a presence.
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Post by Danger10 on Jul 26, 2017 7:33:49 GMT -5
Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels Ladder Match Summerslam 95
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bigraj
Main Eventer
PSN: bigraj70501
Joined on: Nov 5, 2010 16:46:40 GMT -5
Posts: 1,778
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Post by bigraj on Jul 26, 2017 8:42:53 GMT -5
Quite a bit lately, some of which I've probably already posted.
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hbkfan
Superstar
Joined on: Nov 25, 2011 8:00:29 GMT -5
Posts: 503
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Post by hbkfan on Jul 27, 2017 23:46:46 GMT -5
Watching an episode from Raw 1999 January, prior to the RR, the thing looks like a PPV!
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Post by Brad on Aug 4, 2017 3:10:27 GMT -5
92 Royal Rumble match.
Can a Rumble ever get any better?
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Post by The Brain on Aug 4, 2017 4:10:27 GMT -5
92 Royal Rumble match. Can a Rumble ever get any better? I can guarantee that Rumble match will NEVER be topped.
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 19, 2024 9:39:22 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2017 4:49:51 GMT -5
Victoria v Trish at No Mercy 2002. Creative finish, built Victoria as a monster heel too. Oh, and Victoria used to be scary hot.
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Post by Escape The Rules on Aug 9, 2017 18:43:27 GMT -5
Just watched the first HIAC match from Badd Blood 97. Strangely I had never watched the match in it's entirety until tonight. I'd seen highlight packages plenty of times and have been a fan for 20 years now, but had just never sat down and actually watched the whole match from start to finish.
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Aug 11, 2017 9:14:33 GMT -5
I've started doing daily random match reviews. There's a poll that'll remain open for another two hours and you can vote for what I review next. There's an option from each decade from the 80s to the 10s at www.strawpoll.com/e6h9cyfx. This match won the first vote. Stretcher Match: Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy; Smackdown 4/10/09
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| First off, thanks to everyone who voted in my StrawPoll. This match won 4-3-3-3 in a tight race.
For some backstory, Jeff Hardy was the hottest star in WWE. His popularity rose, his merchandise was moving and he was rivaling John Cena as THE MAN. At least, it felt that way to me. He made it to the top of the WWE, but they couldn’t quite trust him, so his title run was cut short after a month when his brother turned on him. They met at WrestleMania XXV, five days before this, in an Extreme Rules Match that Matt won. Matt opened this episode by badmouthing Jeff and saying he wanted to erase (or DELETE) him from existence. Teddy Long, playa, came out and booked a Stretcher Match for them in case one got drafted to Raw the following week.
Todd Grisham decided he had to explain the rules of a Stretcher Match to fans. Simple enough, you get your opponent on the stretcher and drive it up the ramp past the finish line. Not the most creative stipulation, but it has produced some damn good matches (See: Batista/HBK at One Night Stand 2008).
This was a heated battle, as they came out of the blocks firing. Thank goodness, too. Too many matches start with typical grappling, even if it’s a bitter feud. Normally, I wouldn’t like Jeff going for the win early, since he should want to hurt his brother. However, in Matt’s promo to open the show, he kept called Jeff a disappointment and a loser, so I could see why he’d want to get the win and even the score more than putting a hurting on Matt. Ever the fun daredevil, Jeff did a cool spot where he skateboarded on the stretcher down the ramp and jumped off onto Matt. After a commercial, the violence continued with the use of steel chairs and stairs. Jeff missed a huge leg drop onto the stretcher, which played into their Mania match as Jeff lost because of a bad risk. Like an idiot, he tried it again, but with a Swanton, and missed. It cost him again, as Matt pushed him over the line to win at 14:04.
I’d say this was one of their better matches together. It was smartly worked, with Jeff wanting to win but still managing to be the right amount of violent. My main issue was Jeff going for the big spot twice in the end. Once makes you look like a daredevil who took a bad risk. Twice just makes you look dumb. I was also happy to see Matt win. Beating Jeff, who was such a big deal at this time, twice in five days was kind of a big deal. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to a ton for Matt. [***½]
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Aug 11, 2017 11:51:58 GMT -5
Steve Austin vs. Val Venis – WWF Smackdown 10/21/99; Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky
| | Thank you again to whoever voted. This match beat The Midnight Express vs. The Midnight Rockers, Alex Shelley vs. Christopher Daniels and Bobby Fish vs. Kyle O’Reilly.
This match comes to us from the 9th episode of Smackdown. During this odd era, Val Venis was in the midst of a push, even defeating Mankind at No Mercy the previous Sunday. A Mankind who was just WWF Champion two months prior. Meanwhile, Steve Austin was on the road to a WWF Title match (vs. HHH and Rock) at Survivor Series, though we all remember how that turned out. Rock and Mankind got into a verbal spat to start this episode, leading to a match for Rock’s spot in the title match. Val, wanting a main event spot, interrupted and challenged Austin for his.
Austin went right at Val, probably looking to put him in his place. Not only did he kick his ass, but he outsmarted him on a few occasions, until Val connected on a big clothesline. He worked Austin’s neck and back, which made sense given Austin’s history. Austin turned it around they brawled outside. A lot of post-neck injury Austin matches involved brawling and he usually made it work well. Val used a chair on Austin’s knee behind the referee’s back and you wondered if Val would pull off the upset. Never fear, as it led nowhere because Austin hit the Stunner to win in 9:53.
Some of this was good and some of it lacked. I thought Austin kind of toying with him and being one step ahead early was good. Val was smart in how he swung the tide, but his offense wasn’t very interesting. I wish something came of the chair shot, as Austin just shrugged it off to win. However, it was a solid TV match. Back to the midcard you go, Val. [**¾]
Voting is now open for tomorrow’s match at strawpoll.com/x29g154d
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Post by marino13 on Aug 11, 2017 20:24:24 GMT -5
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Aug 12, 2017 10:25:41 GMT -5
Prince Devitt vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – PROGRESS Chapter 13: Unbelievable Jeff; 5/18/14; Electric Ballroom in Camden, Greater London
| | PROGRESS has been a company since 2012. They run their shows as chapters, which is a cool concept. This was Chapter 13 and there were production issues. The good people of PROGRESS didn’t feel right charging viewers due to that, so it’s available for free on YouTube. The match starts around 1:33:15. As of 2017, they are my favorite wrestling company in the world.
In April 2014, Prince Devitt said goodbye to NJPW on his way to the WWE. Along that road, he made a stop in PROGRESS for a battle with European wrestling standout, Zack Sabre Jr. Devitt did a ton as a junior in NJPW, while Sabre was one half of the Jr. Tag Champions in NOAH.
Instantly, it stood out that Devitt came out with Dark Knight Joker paint, adding a card and Joker’s coat for full effect. He came out with a dropkick and the double stomp, getting a near fall early. It’s the kind of finisher kickout I don’t mind, because Devitt tried for the surprise win and Sabre wasn’t worn down enough to make kicking out seem like a bad move. Sabre stalled his momentum by attacking the left arm in that Sabre way we’re used to. Devitt continued to be aggressive, bringing a chair into play for a vicious dropkick outside. Sabre was aggressive in his own way, transitioning from one painful hold to the next, keeping the focus on the battered arm. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of Sabre kicking out of another double stomp. Devitt won shortly after, via Bloody Sunday in 12:51.
Very good work from both men. Two highly entertaining wrestlers working to their strengths in front of a great crowd. Though I enjoyed Devitt’s style in this, it did feel like he might’ve been holding something back to preserve himself for his WWE run. I also wasn’t a big fan of Sabre kicking out of two double stomps, though now that I think about it, it might not have been his official finish at this point. Devitt sold the arm well, but Sabre’s selling left something to be desired. Since it’s free, this is certainly worth checking out. [***¾]
Voting is now open for tomorrow’s match at strawpoll.com/g8b69sfz
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Aug 13, 2017 23:18:45 GMT -5
NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Ricky Steamboat [c] vs. Ric Flair – WrestleWar 5/7/89; Nashville Municipal Auditorium
| | It’s widely considered the greatest trilogy in wrestling history. At Chi-Town Rumble in February, Ricky Steamboat won the NWA World Title from Ric Flair in an absolute classic. However, there was a ref bump, so it was controversial. Steamboat retained against Flair at Clash of the Champions VI in an amazing 55 minute 2 Out of 3 Falls match, but again, there was controversy since the referee missed Flair’s foot on the bottom rope.
This was the rematch to end all rematches. There were three judges to determine a winner if there’s a draw. Lou Thez, Pat O’Connor and Terry Funk. I loved the details of their entrances. Flair came out with a bunch of women by his side, while Steamboat was with his family. Very telling of both men.
In the opening minutes, there were some brutal chops thrown, with neither man backing down. Ricky went to work on an armbar and I marveled. Something so simple was used in perfect fashion and it completely engaged me. Their struggle on the mat and the exchanges all mattered. It was clear I was watching two masters. Since something as small as that worked so well, the crowd pops even bigger when they go for even the slightest of bigger moves. Ricky attempted the cross body a few times, but failed. Flair had it scouted and maybe Ricky was too married to it. With that, Flair took control and did the little things. He’d argue with the referee about a count, all the while leaning on Steamboat’s throat for added damage. I liked that the judges gave score tally updates throughout this. It made for a real sport feel, like this was boxing or something. Steamboat used an O’Connor roll, right in front of PAT O’ CONNOR. Not a bad way to sway votes.
More callbacks came when Steamboat tried the double chicken wing, which was how he won at COTC. He was, to that point, the only man to make Flair submit. Flair reached the ropes and then came back with some leg work. He locked in the Figure Four as the thirty minute mark was reached. It was Ricky’s turn to use the ropes for a desperate escape. Ric pounded on the leg, but he stopped to “WOO” and ate an enziguri for it. From out of nowhere, Flair reversed a slam into a pinning combination to win his sixth World Title at 31:31.
This worked as an epic conclusion to an all-time great rivalry. It had a big fight feel that is hard to duplicate. This had lots of energy, a wild crowd and everything they did mattered. No stone was left unturned. The things you may overlook at first had attention to detail paid to them. I think I prefer their COTC match and even may slightly like the Chi-Town Rumble outing better, but you can’t go wrong with any. [****¾]
Voting is now open for tomorrow’s match at strawpoll.com/9ay7fsz5
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Aug 15, 2017 19:22:51 GMT -5
GWF Light Heavyweight Championship Two Out of Three Falls: Lightning Kid [c] vs. Jerry Lynn – GWF TV Taping 12/27/91; Sportatorium
| | The WWE Network’s “Hidden Gems” section is quite the treasure trove of rare wrestling. Here, we have two pioneers of the cruiserweight wrestling style in the US. Jerry Lynn had a run as a cruiserweight division jobber in WCW, while the Lightning Kid rose to fame as the 1-2-3 Kid in the WWF. The WWF didn’t have a cruiserweight division, but Kid’s style gained him popularity, a Tag Team Title run and a shot at the WWF Title in one of the best matches on Raw ever.
Here, in late 1991 (the match aired on TV in early 1992), they weren’t big stars just yet. Lightning Kid won the Light Heavyweight Title in a tournament final over Lynn, with this being the rematch. This wasn’t just your typical Two Out of Three Falls match either. It was based around finishers, as Kid had to get his pinfalls off the Lightning Strike and Lynn could only get points via sleeper.
Kid was the heel and it showed early. The early exchanges were either even or saw Lynn gain the advantage. To turn the tide, Kid suckered him in and got a cheap shot. I always felt Kid was underrated as a heel. Not many people can play a good underdog babyface and unlikable heel. Lynn got the first fall in just under seven minutes with a sleeper that got a big pop. The finisher stipulation was both a positive and negative. Good because when those moves were used, the crowd reacted, but bad because not much else got a great reaction. The fans knew it could only end with two specific moves, so the other stuff was an afterthought. The score was evened with the Lightning Strike tombstone around ten minutes. Just as Lynn was nearing a win in the third fall, Scott Anthony attempted to interfere, but was thwarted. With him out of the way, Lynn used the sleeper to win the title in 13:02.
I enjoyed this match and thought it was good, but it certainly had some issues. For one, the 2 Out of 3 Falls stipulation is one that doesn’t work in short bursts. The interference didn’t feel like it was needed and the finisher stipulation was a slight hindrance. That being said, there was a fair amount to like here. Kid was a strong heel and did so without compromising his high octane offense. The action was good and the exchanges were crisp. All in all, recommended, but not required viewing. [***]
You can vote on my next single match review at strawpoll.com/85x93af6
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Aug 16, 2017 15:38:57 GMT -5
PROGRESS Championship: Marty Scurll [c] vs. Mark Haskins vs. Tommy End – PROGRESS Chapter 36: We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Room…Again 9/25/16; O2 Academy BrixtonIt was the biggest event in PROGRESS history. They started from the bottom and sold a record 2,400 tickets for this event. At the start of the year, Marty Scurll captured the PROGRESS Champion in a phenomenal match against rival Will Ospreay. Over the next few months, he defeated some big names, including Chris Hero. However, he failed to get past Tommy End and had Mark Haskins hot on his trail. That led to this, which was billed as the biggest match in PROGRESS history. Could Scurll survive this challenge? Would Haskins finally win the big one? Could Tommy do the unthinkable and win the PROGRESS Title in his final independent wrestling match before joining WWE? Yea, that was another story coming into this one. Their entrances told a story. End basked in his, knowing it was the end of the line for his indy run. Haskins was quick, wanting to get down to business. Scurll’s was extravagant, featuring several women cosplaying as him. The early stages of this weren’t too great. They didn’t resort to the overly done “one person out of the ring” spots in most Triple Threats, but a lot of the stuff didn’t fully click with me. There were some cool spots, particularly Haskins stopping a Marty Chicken Wing by pulling him and End into a double armbar. After Haskins took a table bump, the match really kicked up, bringing several near falls that made you question the outcome, even though most people felt it was obvious coming into this. Unable to pick up the win, Scurll grew frustrated and attacked several referees with his umbrella. PROGRESS co-founder Jim Smallman even got in the ring to try and calm him down. It was a callback to an old PROGRESS Title match with Jimmy Havoc and Will Ospreay back at Chapter 20. And just like that, Havoc’s theme music hit to a thunderous ovation. It was the biggest in PROGRESS history to that point and remained that way until the South Pacific Power Trip edged it in 2017. It was Havoc’s first appearance in PROGRESS in over a year. He took out Scurll with an Acid Rainmaker and left. That left Haskins free to use the Sharpshooter to make Scurll submit and win the PROGRESS Championship after an emotional 29:32. A big time main event that ran a bit too long. The early stages weren’t great and if this went closer to 20 minutes than 30, I think it would’ve worked better. The action was great and there were several creative spots that stood out. The moment of Havoc returning was huge and very memorable, though I feel that it took away from Haskins’ title win moment. The crowd popped big for it either way, though. I recommend this match, but it’s not in the upper echelon of PROGRESS main events. [***½]Vote for my next review at strawpoll.com/5byxbaza!
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Post by Brad on Aug 17, 2017 1:48:59 GMT -5
With the news about Flair's health and the fear many of us are experiencing right now, I thought it only fitting to pop in my Ultimate Ric Flair collection DVD. Tonight I watched...
Vs. Harley Race- Starrcade 83' Vs. Dusty Rhodes- Sarrcade 85'
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Aug 17, 2017 12:02:34 GMT -5
TNA Legends Championship I Quit Match: AJ Styles [c] vs. Booker T – TNA Sacrifice 5/24/09; iMPACT! ZoneBooker T held the TNA Legends Title for 143 days, but was dethroned by AJ Styles at Destination X in March. That title change was when TNA officially recognized the title and it made Styles the company’s first ever Grand Slam Champion. This bothered Booker, as he introduced the title as a way to pay tribute to his legend status, not to add to someone else’s. This was the rematch and it was set under I Quit rules. Booker looking to get his title back, while AJ looked to solidify his status as a legend. Mike Tenay noted that this series with Booker T led to the maturation of AJ Styles. He’d ride that to a TNA Heavyweight Title run in a few months. Thankfully, this didn’t follow the WWE I Quit match trope where the referee constantly stops the action to ask if someone quits. Remember how bad that was in the awful Rusev/Cena I Quit match? Anyway, Booker knew he was slower and didn’t try to play AJ’s game. When AJ tried a springboard, he simply ran into him to cut it off and send AJ crashing outside. With AJ having to sell, the pace slowed, which benefitted Booker. Booker worked the arm and they did a fair amount of rolling around in a submission that Booker wouldn’t let go. Not something I’ve seen often from the Booker man. Just when things really picked up and seemed headed towards a great ending, Sharmell came to the ring. She shouted support for Booker after AJ hit a springboard 450 splash. I guess there was a miscue, because Booker ran straight into Sharmell and knocked her off the apron with almost no provocation. AJ trapped him in an armbar, but Booker refused to quit. He wouldn’t allow his legend status to potentially be ruined by saying those two words. Kevin Nash’s girlfriend and fellow Main Event Mafia member Jenna Morasca, ran out and threw in the towel for the finish at 16:48. Man, that ending killed something that was on its way to being very good. I liked how smart Booker was, making this move at a pace that worked for him. AJ bumped and sold well, helping things out. I also thought there were a few MMA like elements (the Booker armbar spot and some of the mounted punches) that worked. That finish was awful, though. It shifted the focus from the guys in the ring to the dreadful Jenna/Sharmell feud, which culminated in a horrendous match two months later. With a better finish, this would’ve been one of Booker’s better matches ever. Instead, it’s just good, which is how a lot of his matches in his career went. [***¼]You can vote on my next review at strawpoll.com/k5dgb7b9!
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Post by Codyverse: Tag Team Champion on Aug 17, 2017 16:15:07 GMT -5
Undertaker vs Kurt Angle NWO 2006
Undertaker vs RVD Vengeance 2001
Undertaker vs Foley KOTR 1998
My fiancé wanted to see a younger Taker in action so I showed her a few of my favorites
Also watched a few older Scott Hall matches and some of HBK-Flair from Mania 24
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Aug 18, 2017 16:10:41 GMT -5
AWA World Heavyweight Championship: Nick Bockwinkel [c] vs. Hulk Hogan – AWA Super Sunday 4/24/83; St. Paul Civic CenterI’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know a ton about the AWA. I know he’s a legend, but I’ve also not seen a lot of Nick Bockwinkel. That made this match winning the vote pretty cool. This event did very well. Not only was the arena sold out, but a nearby arena viewed the show on closed circuit television and that also sold out. This is pre-Hulkamania Hogan, as he wouldn’t win the WWE Title for almost another year. Bobby Heenan managed Bockwinkel here, showing that his feud with Hogan had a long history. Fresh off Rocky III, Hogan came out to “Eye of the Tiger” and was crazy over. It was clear that this guy was headed for massive success. As expected in a match from this era, Bockwinkel brought all the stalling techniques. It’s not the most exciting style, but I understand why it happened. Whenever Hogan finally got his hands on the champ, the fans ate it up. They clearly wanted to show that Bockwinkel was physically overmatched. Hogan would run through him and when Bockwinkel got in offense, Hogan would kick out. Bockwinkel nailed all the little things heels do. He choked Hogan where the referee couldn’t see and his stalling drew a lot of heat. Hogan took everything Bockwinkel threw at him and persevered through his raw strength. After a ref bump, Hogan sent Bockwinkel over the top. Back inside, he hit the Leg Drop and got the three count in 18:32. BUT WAIT! A second referee arrived to reverse the decision, giving Nick the win via DQ because Hogan threw him over the top rope. Shenanigans. I’ve always heard this was one of the issues with the AWA. They pulled these dusty, cheap finishes on some big events and if you do that too much, the fans will stop buying into the possibility of a title change. Anyway, the match was a great example of playing the crowd perfectly. Nick and Hulk did exactly what they had to for the crowd to go nuts. Not a match that’s for everyone, but one I could appreciate for its time period. [***]Vote for my next review at strawpoll.com/xkf884pa!
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Aug 19, 2017 14:17:59 GMT -5
GHC Jr. Heavyweight Championship: KENTA [c] vs. Low Ki – ROH Final Battle 12/17/05; Inman Sports ClubBefore being known to a wider audience as Hideo Itami, he was KENTA. This would mark the ROH debut for the NOAH star, as he defended his GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title against Low Ki. If you wanted to know how big a deal this way, just note that this was the main event. Yes, ROH’s biggest show of the year was headlined by a debuting Jr. Heavyweight. I absolutely loved the ROH/NOAH partnership. It was about 10,000x better than their NJPW partnership. The ROH faithful rightfully treated this like a big match. Both men came in confident that their striking ability was better than the other. For example, even after Ki brutalized KENTA with some kicks, the champ retaliated by cockily kicking him in the back of the head, shrugging it off. Their first strike exchange was brief but violent. Almost as if it was put there purely to tease the audience. Each kick sounded more painful than the last. There was a feeling that these were two very evenly matched wrestlers. Despite that, it was Ki who took control, wearing down KENTA and focusing on the back. I say wear down, but it wasn’t anything dull like you get in some other matches. KENTA began his comeback, fueled by kicks and high impact offense. When he couldn’t put Ki away for good, that set up a finishing stretch of wild stuff. Ki hit the Warrior’s Way and busted out the Kobashi chops, while KENTA delivered a super falcon arrow (HE DID THE SUPER DEAL). They went to exchange some of the hardest slaps you’ll ever see in a ring. It reached a point where KENTA knocked Ki down with one and the fans bought it as a finish. A highlight came when KENTA had the Busaiku Knee countered into a Ki Krusher, which was insanely awesome. In the end, KENTA hit the first Go to Sleep in ROH history, which Ki sold like death. He followed with the Busaiku Knee to retain in 25:02. An incredible encounter. KENTA had the best in-ring debut for a company I can think of, at least until Shinsuke Nakamura showed up in NXT in 2016. Low Ki was the perfect opponent for this, as their styles were similar and played right into KENTA’s strengths, introducing him as well as anyone could have. The crowd was hot for everything. Nothing against them, but I do feel this might’ve been even better in a place like the Manhattan Center. Anyway, they beat the hell out of each other and raised the bar until a great finish. [****½] Please vote for my next review at strawpoll.com/p7888yc2
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