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Fighting Spirit Review: NOAH “THE FIRST NAVIGATION” on 1/12/14

By
Kevin Wilson
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0

Date: January 12th, 2014
Location: Yokohama, Japan
Announced Attendance: 400 (Super No Vacancy)

I had to backtrack a bit, as this show was released after others I had already reviewed. Events shown on Samurai! TV don’t have too much of a delay, but anything on G+ can be a few months behind. This is primarily for smaller shows and can be clipped or have matches missing, but I am being as much of a completist as possible so the smaller shows will still get reviewed. Here are the matches on the show I will be reviewing:

– Nakajima and Taiji Ishimori vs. Hajime Ohara and Takayama
– Daisuke Harada vs. KENTA
– Daisuke Sekimoto and Okabayashi vs. Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste
– Atsushi Kotoge, Mohammed Yone, and Marufuji vs. Kenou, Maybach Taniguchi, and Morishima

That wasn’t all the matches of course at the event, just the ones that made tape. This is obviously a ‘house show’ but that doesn’t mean the matches will be bad, so let’s see how NOAH does on their smaller shows.

Katsuhiko Nakajima and Taiji Ishimori vs. Ohara and Yoshihiro Takayama

Ishimori and Ohara start things off. Ohara pushes Ishimori into the ropes but he gives a clean break. Drop toehold by Ohara and he applies a side headlock, Ishimori gets out of it with a headscissors and both men return to their feet. Wristlock by Ohara, Ishimori reverses it, Irish whip by Ishimori, reversed, and Ohara hits an armdrag. Hurricanrana by Ishimori and he delivers a dropkick, sending Ohara out of the ring. Ishimori goes off the ropes but he does a fake dive when Ohara recovers. Ohara returns to the ring and tags in Takayama, and Ishimori tags in Nakajima. Nakajima and Takayama tie-up, Takayama pushes Nakajima into the ropes and he gives a clean break. Kick by Nakajima and he applies a side headlock, Irish whip by Takayama but Nakajima boots Takayama in the face. Kick to the back by Nakajima, but Takayama returns to his feet. They trade elbows, Nakajima goes off the ropes but Takayama catches him with a big boot. Nakajima rolls out of the ring to re-group but returns after a moment, waistlock by Nakajima but Takayama applies a wristlock. Nakajima rolls out of it and applies a wristlock, and Nakajima kicks Takayama in the arm. Another kick to the arm by Nakajima and he hits an armbreaker. Nakajima tags in Ishimori, Ishimori goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits an ax handle onto Takayama’s arm. Wristlock by Ishimori and he hits an armbreaker. Ishimori tags in Nakajima back in, and Nakajima kicks Takayama in the arm. Armbreaker by Nakajima but Takayama applies a sleeper. Takayama tags in Ohara, and Ohara kicks Nakajima in the stomach. Ohara rolls Nakajima into the corner and asks Ishimori to be tagged back in. Ishimori is, hammerlock by Ishimori but Ohara reverses it. Headscissors by Ohara but Ishimori gets into the ropes to force a break. Ohara hits Ishimori in the back and puts him on the apron, he then twists Ishimori in the ropes. Ohara goes off the far ropes and dropkicks Ishimori in the back. Cover, but it gets a two count. Ohara tags in Takayama, and Takayama clubs Ishimori in the back. Ishimori elbows Ohara and Takayama, Takayama picks up Ishimori, Irish whip, and Takayama hits a back bodydrop. Cover by Takayama, but it gets a two count. Takayama tags in Ohara, Ohara picks up Ishimori and hits a scoop slam. Ohara tags in Takayama, Takayama clubs Ishimori in the back and puts him in a backbreaker. Takayama releases the hold after a moment and he tags in Ohara.

Ohara picks up Ishimori, and he hits a backbreaker. Ohara picks up Ishimori and hits a vertical suplex. Single leg crab hold by Ohara but Nakajima breaks it up. Ohara picks up Ishimori and hits a suplex, cover, but it gets a two count. Ohara goes off the ropes but Ishimori ducks his attack, but Ohara applies the Muy Bien. Nakajima quickly breaks it up. Takayama picks up Ishimori and slams him in front of the corner. Ohara goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a diving elbow drop to Ishimori’s back, cover, but it gets a two count. Ohara picks up Ishimori and throws him into the corner, Ohara gets a running start but Ishimori kicks Ohara back. Ishimori hits a reverse STO into the turnbuckles and makes the tag to Nakajima. Nakajima waits for Ohara to get up and hits a big boot in the corner followed by a one armed suplex. Nakajima goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a missile dropkick. Cover, but it gets a two count. Nakajima picks up Ohara and applies a sleeper, Irish whip by Nakajima, reversed, but Ohara hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ohara tags in Takayama, Takayama picks up Nakajima and hits a scoop slam. Takayama picks up Nakajima and he hits a backdrop suplex. Cover, but Nakajima gets a shoulder up. Takayama stomps Nakajima in the back and hits a few elbows followed by a series of knees all to the back. Takayama grabs Nakajima and applies a waistlock, but Nakajima elbows out of it. Kicks by Nakajima but Takayama hits a hard knee to the midsection. Takayama tags in Ohara while Nakajima tags in Ishimori. Kick to the face by Ishimori, he charges Ohara in the corner and hits a double knee strike. Slam in front of the corner by Ishimori and he hits a doublestomp, cover, but it gets a two count. Ishimori goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a diving double knee strike, cover, but it only gets a two count. Ishimori picks up Ohara but Ohara elbows him off. Kick by Ohara and he hits a swinging side slam onto his knee. Cover, but Ishimori kicks out. Ohara picks up Ishimori, Irish whip, but Ishimori hits a handspring into a cutter. Nakajima comes in the ring, and they throw Ohara into the corner. Strikes by Ishimori and Nakajima, and Nakajima hits a backdrop suplex. Ishimori picks up Ohara and hits a double knee to Ohara’s chest, cover, but Takayama breaks it up. Ishimori picks up Ohara and slams him in front of the corner, he goes up to the top turnbuckle but Ohara rolls out of the way of the 450 Splash. Ohara hits a tilt-a-whirl sitout side powerslam, cover, but it gets a two count. Ohara picks up Ishimori and gets him on his shoulders and hits a backbreaker, but Nakajima breaks it up. Ohara picks up Ishimori and goes for Muy Bien but Ishimori rolls him up with a Front Cradle for the three count. Your winners: Katsuhiko Nakajima and Taiji Ishimori

Match Thoughts: Not a bad match. It wasn’t overly exciting but Ohara and Ishimori did a good job at showing some emotion (they were the ones that seemed to not like each other) to make it more than just a nothing match. The back work on Nakajima was solid as was the work on Ishimori, and even though it was a mid-card match on an ‘off’ show the match had a good structure and ended right as it started to feel like it needed to end. Solid all the way around. Score: 6.0

Daisuke Harada vs. KENTA

KENTA and Harada circle each other to start, KENTA pushes Harada into the ropes but he gives a clean break. They trade elbow shots, side headlock by KENTA, Harada Irish whips out of it but KENTA hits a shoulderblock. They start trading elbows again, Harada goes off the ropes but KENTA hits a big boot. Harada fires back with a lariat and KENTA rolls out of the ring to re-group. KENTA slowly gets back into the ring, knee by Harada and he elbows KENTA in the back. Snapmare by Harada and he applies a reverse chinlock. KENTA gets out of it and applies a hammerlock, and KENTA knees Harada in the arm. Harada gets a foot on the ropes to force the break, and KENTA kicks Harada in the chest. Stomps by KENTA, Harada returns to his feet and they trade elbows and slaps. Hard slap by KENTA and he hits an elbow drop, cover, but it gets a two count. KENTA applies a reverse chinlock and then applies a camel clutch. Harada gets a foot on the ropes to force a break, KENTA stomps Harada in the back, KENTA picks him up and hits a scoop slam. Kick to the back by KENTA, Harada returns to his feet and KENTA slaps him. Kick to the chest by KENTA, Irish whip, and KENTA knees Harada in the stomach. Cover by KENTA but it gets a one count. KENTA pushes Harada in the corner and hits a hard elbow, more elbows by KENTA, he picks up Harada and hits a snapmare. Kick to the back by KENTA and KENTA applies a crab hold. Harada gets to the ropes to get the break, KENTA picks up Harada and they trade elbows. Uppercut by KENTA, Irish whip, reversed, and Harada hits an overhead suplex. Harada charges KENTA in the corner and hits a jumping elbow smash, scoop slam by Harada and he goes up to the second turnbuckle to hit a diving doublestomp. Dropkick by Harada, and KENTA falls out of the ring. Harada goes to the ropes and goes for a pescado but KENTA moves, so Harada crashes into the mat. KENTA throws Harada into the ringside table and then into the ring post.

KENTA picks up Harada, picks him up and slams him on the exposed floor, purposely missing the mat. KENTA picks up Harada and does it a second time. KENTA gets back in the ring and Harada slowly crawls back in as well, and KENTA kicks Harada in the head. Harada gets back to his feet and they start trading elbows. Boot by KENTA, he goes off the ropes and Harada hit a hard elbow. Harada goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a diving elbow smash, cover, but it gets a two count. Harada picks up KENTA, he gets KENTA onto his shoulder and hits a death valley driver. Harada goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a diving elbow drop. Cover, but it gets a two count. Harada picks up KENTA but KENTA elbows him off, Harada goes off the ropes but KENTA knees him in the stomach. KENTA picks up Harada, Irish whip, and he elbows Harada in the stomach again. Cover, but it gets a two count. KENTA goes up to the top turnbuckle and nails a diving doublestomp, cover, but it gets a two count. KENTA goes up to the apron and hits a swandive missile dropkick. Big boot by KENTA in the corner and he follows up with a dropkick. KENTA picks up Harada, he puts Harada on his shoulders but Harada slides off. Elbow by KENTA and they trade elbows, KENTA goes off the ropes but Harada knees him in the face and hits a German suplex hold for a two count. Harada picks up KENTA but KENTA gets into the ropes. Harada goes off the ropes and elbows KENTA in the back of the head, but KENTA hits a powerslam. KENTA picks up Harada but Harada elbows out of the Go 2 Sleep. Elbows by Harada, he goes off the ropes but KENTA catches him with a lariat. Cover, but it gets a two count. Harada gets up and hits KENTA as they trade slaps, which KENTA gets the better of. Harada gets back up and they trade slaps again, with again KENTA winning the battle. Back up they trade slaps again, KENTA slaps Harada to the mat and covers him, but it gets a two count. Lariat by KENTA, cover, but again it gets a two. KENTA picks up Harada and puts him on his shoulders, and KENTA nails the Go 2 Sleep. Cover, and he picks up the three count. Your winner: KENTA

Match Thoughts: While the winner was never in doubt, Harada shows a lot of fire and KENTA showed him some respect by not taking him likely. I loved KENTA intentionally slamming Harada on the exposed floor about one foot away from the mats, not just once but twice. It is logical, the exposed floor is right there, but wrestlers don’t usually do that. Harada was stubborn with the strike battles which did him in, he should have rolled away to re-group, not continuing to stand toe to toe with a better striker than he was. But he is new to NOAH, he will learn. Overall I thought this was a good match, I would have liked for Harada to have another hope spot at the end but it was still a lot of fun to watch. Score: 7.0

Daisuke Sekimoto and Yuji Okabayashi vs. Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste

Okabayashi and Nicholls start things off. They immediately get into a shoving match and then start trading chops, Irish whip by Okabayashi but they collide with no result. Okabayashi goes off the ropes and shoulderblocks Nicholls to the mat. Nicholls rolls out of the ring to re-group but he returns after a moment. Tie-up, Okabayashi pushes Nicholls into the ropes and chops Nicholls in the chest. Wristlock by Okabayashi and he tags in Sekimoto, but Sekimoto gets away and tags in Haste. Sekimoto and Haste tie-up, Haste pushes Sekimoto into the ropes and he gives a clean break. Haste and Sekimoto tie-up, side headlock by Haste, Sekimoto Irish whips out of it but Haste shoulderblocks him down. Kick by Sekimoto, he trips Haste and he tags in Okabayashi. Okabayashi stomps on Haste, he takes him to the middle of the ring and kicks him in the leg. Okabayashi chops Haste in the chest and clubs him in the back. Okabayashi tags in Sekimoto, Sekimoto grabs Haste and throws him into the corner. Sekimoto stomps down Haste, he picks him back up and chops Haste in the chest. Irish whip by Sekimoto to the corner but Haste avoids Sekimoto when he charges in and dropkicks him in the back. Nicholls grabs Sekimoto from the floor and rams his leg into the ring post. Haste tags in Nicholls, and Nicholls knocks Okabayashi off the apron. Nicholls drops an elbow onto Sekimoto’s leg and applies a leglock before tagging in Haste. Haste slams Sekimoto’s leg into the apron and takes him outside of the ring. Haste drops Sekimoto knee-first onto the apron before returning into the ring. Haste uppercuts Sekimoto and he dropkicks Sekimoto in the knee. Haste tags in Nicholls, double Irish whip to Sekimoto and Nicholls hits a shoulderblock. Splash by Haste, cover by Nicholls but it gets a two count. Nicholls slams Sekimoto’s leg into the mat twice and applies a single leg crab hold, but Sekimoto makes it to the bottom rope. Nicholls picks up Sekimoto, throws him into the corner and tags in Haste. Nicholls throws Sekimoto out of the ring and Haste throws him into the crowd. Nicholls goes and gets Sekimoto, sliding him back into the ring. Nicholls is tagged back in and he stomps Sekimoto on the leg. Sekimoto chops Nicholls but Sekimoto chops him back. Nicholls knocks Sekimoto into the corner, Irish whip, but Sekimoto kicks Nicholls when he charges in and hits a spear.

Sekimoto makes the tag to Okabayashi, Okabayashi knocks Haste off the apron and chops Nicholls against the ropes. Irish whip by Okabayashi, reversed, but Okabayashi chops Nicholls to the mat. Okabayashi picks up Nicholls and hits a delayed vertical suplex. Cover, but it gets a two count. Okabayashi grabs Nicholls and puts him in a crab hold, but Haste breaks it up. Okabayashi chops Haste out of the ring and then applies the crab hold again to Nicholls, but Nicholls gets a hand on the ropes. Okabayashi grabs Nicholls and puts him on his shoulders, but Nicholls gets off and hits a spinebuster. Nicholls tags in Haste, and Haste dropkicks Okabayashi. Leg lariat by Haste in the corner and he hits a cannonball. Haste picks up Okabayashi and hits a Falcon Arrow. Cover, but it gets a two count. Nicholls comes in the ring, double Irish whip to the corner and they both hit strikes on Okabayashi in the corner. Double slam by Haste and Nicholls, cover, but Sekimoto breaks it up. Nicholls elbows Sekimoto out of the ring, while in the ring Haste uppercuts Okabayashi. Irish whip by Haste but Okabayashi shoulderblocks Haste to the mat and tags in Sekimoto. Sekimoto throws Haste into the corner, and Haste collapses onto the mat. Sekimoto puts Haste up on his shoulders in an Argentine Backbreaker, and Okabayashi puts Nicholls into one as well. Nicholls gets away from Okabayashi and breaks up Sekimoto’s move, but Okabayashi throws Nicholls out of the ring. Double lariat by Sekimoto and Okabayashi onto Haste, and they hit a double backdrop suplex. Cover but Sekimoto but Haste kicks out. Sekimoto applies a Scorpion Deathlock to Haste, but Nicholls breaks it up. Okabayashi throws Nicholls out of the ring again, they pick up Haste but Haste elbows them both off. Sekimoto kicks Haste, Irish whip to the corner and Okabayashi hits a lariat. Sekimoto follows with a lariat of his own, Okabayashi slams Haste to the mat and Sekimoto hits a diving body press off the top turnbuckle. Cover, but it gets a two count. Sekimoto goes off the ropes and hits a lariat, but Haste comes back with an uppercut. Haste grabs Sekimoto and hits a Bomb Valley Death, cover, but it gets a two count. Haste goes up to the top turnbuckle but Sekimoto rolls out of the way of the Phoenix Splash. Sekimoto goes off the ropes and levels Haste with a lariat, cover, but Haste barely gets a shoulder up. Sekimoto grabs Haste and hits the German suplex hold, and he picks up the three count. Your winners: Daisuke Sekimoto and Yuji Okabayashi

Match Thoughts: I am surprised that the Big Japan team won, but it was a solid match. Nicholls and Haste are starting to grow on me, a lot of their matches are a bit similar but they always go at a great pace and have some high impact moves. The leg work on Sekimoto went nowhere at all but that is easier to overlook in a tag match since at least he had some time to recover on the apron. A good showing by the Big Japan team, Sekimoto/Okabayashi matches are almost always entertaining and this one was no different. A really solid heavyweight tag match. Score: 6.5

Atsushi Kotoge, Yone, and Marufuji vs. Kenou, Taniguchi, and Morishima

Morishima and company attack their opponents to start the match, with Morishima isolating Marufuji in the ring. Morishima picks up Marufuji, kick by Marufuji and he goes off the ropes, kicking Morishima again. Morishima hits a shoulderblock and he throws Marufuji out of the ring. Morishima goes out after Marufuji and with Kenou they kick on Marufuji. Morishima hits Marufuji around the ring while Kenou stacks chairs onto Kotoge before hitting the pile of chairs with another chair. Morishima and Marufuji get back in the ring, and Morishima tags in Taniguchi. Taniguchi stomps Marufuji, Irish whip, and Taniguchi hits a back elbow. Cover, but it gets a two count. Taniguchi clubs Marufuji in the back but Marufuji fights back and tags in Yone. Yone and Taniguchi tie-up, Taniguchi pushes Yone into the ropes but Yone switches positions with him. Irish whip but they collide with neither man going down. Taniguchi goes off the ropes but Yone hits a lariat. Yone picks up Taniguchi but Taniguchi chokes him down to the mat. Yone manages to tag in Kotoge while Taniguchi tagged in Kenou. Kotoge and Kenou face off and they trade elbows. Eye rake by Kenou and he kicks Kotoge in the chest. Dropkick by Kotoge and he throws Kenou out of the ring. Kotoge goes out after him and he throws Kenou into the ring post. Yone kicks Kenou outside of the ring, Kotoge grabs Kenou and slides him back into the ring. Kotoge applies a reverse chinlock to Kenou and tags in Marufuji. Marufuji dropkicks Kenou in the face from the apron before getting back into the ring and elbowing Kenou around the ring. They trade elbows and then kicks, but Marufuji throws Kenou in the corner and tags in Yone. Scoop slam by Yone and he hits a leg drop to Kenou. Kick to the back by Yone, he picks up Kenou and throws him into the corner. Yone tags in Kotoge, and Kotoge headbutts Kenou. Kotoge picks up Kenou, snapmare, and Kotoge dropkicks Kenou in the head. Kotoge goes up to the second turnbuckle but Taniguchi runs over and holds him, giving Kenou time to recover. Kenou slaps Kotoge from the top turnbuckle out to the floor, where Taniguchi greets him and throws Kotoge into the crowd. Morishima hits Kotoge with a kendo stick, Yone tries to help but he gets beat down as well. Taniguchi beats on Yone with a chair, while in the ring Kenou stomps Kotoge. Kenou picks up Kotoge and throws him into his corner before tagging in Taniguchi.

Taniguchi and Kenou stomp on Kotoge in the corner, Taniguchi picks up Kotoge and hits a scoop slam. Cover by Taniguchi, but it gets a two count. Taniguchi picks up Kotoge again but Kotoge elbows him back. Taniguchi tags in Morishima, and Morishima punches Kotoge in the corner. Irish whip by Morishima and he hits a lariat onto Kotoge. Morishima picks up Kotoge and hits a scoop slam. Kick to the arm by Morishima and he tags in Kenou. Double Irish whip to Kotoge and they hit a double elbow strike. Marufuji runs in the ring but Kenou fights him off. Taniguchi and Kenou stomp on Kotoge, Kenou picks up Kotoge and puts his leg into the ropes before kicking it. Taniguchi then hits Kotoge from the floor with a steel chair. Kenou picks up Kotoge but Kotoge elbows him off. Back kick by Kenou and he throws Kotoge in the corner before hitting a big boot. Kenou tags in Morishima and Morishima hits a running butt smash in the corner. Morishima then hits a second one, he picks up Kotoge and hits an exploder. Cover, but it gets a two count. Morishima tags in Taniguchi, Taniguchi picks up Kotoge and Taniguchi clubs him in the back. Back elbow by Kotoge but Taniguchi hits a shoulderblock. Stomps to the back by Taniguchi, he goes off the ropes but Kotoge drops him onto the second rope and kicks Taniguchi in the back of the head. Kotoge crawls to his corner and tags in Yone, and Yone lariats Taniguchi in the corner. Irish whip by Yone, reversed, and Taniguchi hits a lariat. Yone fires back with an elbow and they trade shots, kick by Taniguchi and he goes off the ropes but Yone catches him with a jumping kick. Guillotine leg drop by Yone, cover, but Taniguchi gets a shoulder up. Yone goes for a kick but Taniguchi catches it and rakes Yone in the eyes. German suplex by Taniguchi, Yone falls into the corner and Taniguchi hits a lariat followed by a powerslam. Cover by Taniguchi, but Yone kicks out. Taniguchi picks up Yone and goes for a chokeslam but Yone armdrags out of it. High kick by Yone and he tags in Marufuji. Kick to the head by Marufuji to Taniguchi and they trade elbows. Taniguchi goes off the ropes but Marufuji hits a lariat. Marufuji picks up Taniguchi and chops Taniguchi into the corner. Irish whip by Marufuji and he hits a jumping elbow strike. Snapmare by Marufuji and he hits a jumping doublestomp to Taniguchi’s head. Cover, but it gets two. Marufuji picks up Taniguchi and goes for the Shiranui but Taniguchi pushes him off. Kick combination by Marufuji, cover, but it only gets a two count. Marufuji picks up Taniguchi and goes for it again but Taniguchi pushes Marufuji into the referee. Taniguchi goes for a chokeslam, Marufuji gets out of it but Taniguchi catches him with a powerbomb. Taniguchi gets his big stick and hits Marufuji in the corner with it while everyone else brawls at ringside. Taniguchi picks up Marufuji and he hits a chokeslam. Cover, but Kotoge breaks it up.

Taniguchi picks up Marufuji and goes for a powerbomb but Marufuji gets out of it and hits a Shiranui. Marufuji tags in Kotoge while Kenou is tagged in as well, Kenou goes for a kendo stick shot but Kotoge kicks him in the face. Kotoge picks up Kenou and throws him into the corner, Kotoge goes to the second rope and chokes Kenou over the top rope. Kotoge goes up on the apron but Kenou kicks him, he goes off the ropes but Kotoge rolls in the ring and hits a cutter. Cover, but it gets a two count. Snapmare by Kenou but he misses the big kick. Low blow by Kenou to Kotoge and he hits a double knee in the corner followed by a dropkick to the face. Cover, but it gets a two count. Ankle hold by Kenou to Kotoge but Kotoge hits an enzigieri to get out of it. Marufuji and Yone run into the ring and they triple team Kenou. Swandive body press by Kotoge, cover, but it gets two. Kotoge goes off the ropes and hits a swinging leg kick, cover, but it also gets two. Kotoge picks up Kenou and goes for the Killswitch, but Kenou gets out of it and kicks Kotoge in the chest. Headbutt by Kotoge, he goes off the ropes but Taniguchi hits him from the apron. Kenou tags in Morishima, and Morishima hits Kotoge in the chest with a kendo stick. Cover by Morishima, but Kotoge kicks out. Morishima goes for a lariat but Kotoge catches him with a backslide for a two count. Kicks by Kotoge to the head, cover, but again it gets two. Kotoge picks up Morishima and goes for the Killswitch but Morishima elbows out of it. Headbutts by Kotoge, he goes off the ropes but Morishima catches him with a lariat. Cover, but it only gets a two count. Kenou and Taniguchi come in the ring, and Taniguchi hits a chokeslam onto Kotoge. Morishima follows with a lariat, cover, but the pin is broken up. Yone and Marufuji Irish whip Morishima, but he knocks them both down with a double lariat. Morishima picks up Kotoge and plants him with the backdrop suplex, cover, and he picks up the three count. Your winners: Kenou, Maybach Taniguchi, and Takeshi Morishima

Match Thoughts: Probably the worst match on the card, not to say it was terrible but it definitely dragged in parts. The Morishima Army is fine when they are able to mix up the action, but a few sections in the middle lost me a bit as not a whole lot was going on. Kotoge did a great job playing the face in peril and all the wrestlers got involved to at least some degree, but not everyone seemed needed (Yone in particular was a non-factor in the match). It did set up well that the Morishima Army was the leading faction in NOAH and to their credit no one was half-assing it, it just lost its momentum at times as the offense got a bit lackluster. Not a bad match or anything but a step down from some of the other Morishima Army matches I have seen. Score: 5.5

Final Thoughts:

Best Match: Daisuke Harada vs. KENTA. Harada ranks quite a bit lower than KENTA so there is no way that he was going to win this match, but he showed a lot of fire while making some ‘rookie’ mistakes that helped led to his downfall. Harada didn’t have any real convincing near falls but he always seemed to be right on the cusp of pulling off the upset, which a lot of times in these types of matches is all you can hope for. KENTA seemed really motivated, I’d imagine working with newer young wrestlers is more fun than wrestling against the same person for the 100th time. Overall a very entertaining match.

MVP: Atsushi Kotoge. I think I have made him the MVP on other NOAH cards, but any time he is in a big match he delivers. Some of his offense is a bit contrived but he sells really well and his ‘comeback’ spots always deliver. I am not sure long-term what his ceiling is as he is a smaller wrestler, but he is very good at what he does.

Overall:  A very solid house show, really just being held back due to small number of matches and average main event. I will give the wrestlers credit – sometimes on New Japan house shows the wrestlers seem to just be going through the motions but I couldn’t tell any difference here when comparing to the bigger NOAH events. The wrestlers were still giving it their all, which obviously as a fan I appreciate. There wasn’t a real blow-away match but KENTA/Harada was quite good and none of the matches were stinkers. Probably just for major NOAH fans since there were only four matches taped, but not a bad card.

Grade: C-

The “OH MY GOD!” Review: ECW @ The Lulu Temple 6/21/96

By
Heels Inc
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0

1996-06-21 at Lulu Temple in Plymouth Meeting, PA

Champions
World: Raven
TV: Pitbull 2
Tag Team: Eliminators

 

“Dangerous” Devon Storm & Damien Kane (w/ Lady Alexandra) vs. Bad Crew ref John “Pee Wee” Moore
This match stems from the last visit to the Lulu Temple on May 31st. Bad Crew attack as their opponents are getting on the apron pull htem in the ring and then dump them to the floor. One of Bad Crew hit a suicide dive on Storm and they both suplex Kane back into the ring. Hart attack clothesline on Storm gets 2. Top rope somersault senton to a standing Storm gets two. A backbreaker second rope leg drop combo gets 2. Charges with a chair to the corner but Storm gets the boots up. Storm sits him in the chair and hits a running clothesline and tags in Kane. Kane slows things down with a couple of low blows and then works the leg. He and Storm hit a double slingshot suplex. Tag made and Storm hits a springboard moonsault and legs in a reverse figure four. Storm and Kane switch as the ref is distracted by the other member of Bad Crew. Kane puts on a half crab. Tag made and Storm hits a double under hook suplex and then tags back out. Kane hits a second rope superplex and Storm hits a moonsault. All four men brawl in the ring with Storm and one of Bad Crew going to the floor. Storm sits Bad crew in a chair gets back in the ring and flips over the top rope onto him. Storm gets in the ring and throws the other member of Bad Crew to the floor and flips onto him. Back in the ring Kane has a pin and gets the win in 7.04.

“Shah” Hack Meyers & Axl Rotten vs. F.B.I. ref John Finnegan
Hack attacks Joel Gertner on the way to the ring throwing him into the rail and hitting him with a chair a few times. These four men know each other well as this is the 4,673rd time they have faced off. Hack and Axl chase the F.B.I. out of the ring with chairs before the ring announcements. The bell rings and the F.B.I. hug. Axl gets on the mic and makes fun of them before liking each toher too much. JT Smith gets the mic after and starts to sing but Axl attacks him. Hack beats on Little Guido. The F.B.I. bails to the floor to regroup. Smith starts with Axl. Axl trash talks Guido the crowd chants “pussy”. Guido tags in but before he locks up he tags right back out. Smith gets a go behind on Axl and Axl screams for Smith to get his woody off of him. The fans chant derogator things to Smith so the F.B.I. start to leave. Axl gets on the mic and gets them to come back to the ring. Smith now in with Meyers and Smith gets a go behind again. Hack freaks out so Smith makes the tag to Guido. Arm back by Hack and a tag to Axl. Gudio gets sent into a corner and Axl hammers away and hits a suplex. Tag to Smith and Hack takes him to the ground and then tags to Axl. Hip toss and arm drag to an arm bar by Axl. Tag to Hack and he comes in with a double axe handle to Smiths arm and then he puts on an arm bar. Axl back in and he goes to work on the arm. Smith starts screaming in pain and for some reason Axl lets go. Always thought the point of an arm bar was to hurt the guys arm. Smith hits a low blow and tags out. Things fall apart and everyone is brawling with the ref trying to pull Hack out of the ring. Smith slams Axl’s leg into the ringpost. Guido goes to work on the knee in the ring. They make an illegal switch and Smith to work on the leg of Axl. Guido back in and he ducks the head on an irish whip and Axl hits him with a dominator. Tag to Hack and he comes in and cleans house. Smith drops a weapon and Hack gets it and nails Smith for the 3 count at 11.52. Hack raises his hand and the ref sees the weapon in his hand. The ref restarts the match. In ECW? For using a weapon? We get a bell to restart the match. Guido hits Hack from behind and Smith covers for the win in an additional .05.

Mikey Whipwreck vs. Tag Team Champion Kronus ref Jim Molineaux
They lock up and Kronus pushes Mikey to the ground a few times. Mikey ducks a roundhouse kick and hits an arm drag, hip toss and drop kick. Kronus rolls to the floor an dMIkey hits a plancha. Back in the ring Mikey comes off the top with a clothelines for 2. Kronus hits a kick that floors Mikey. Kronus has the advantage for about two minutes until he misses and 2nd rope moonsault. Mikey hits two clotheslines on Kronus and a leg drop that gets him 2. Kronus gets whipped to the ropes and comes off with a kick to Mikey’s head. Kronus with a super double under hook suplex and a diving headbutt. They go to the floor and Kronus hits Mikey with a chair. Mikey throws Kronus into the rail and goes to the top turnbuckle. Mikey jumps off the buckle over the corner post onto Kronus. He grabs a chair and uses it a few times. Some fans give Mikey weapons and he uses those too. Sunset flip, back slide and la magistral cradle all get 2. Kronus cuts off Mikey and sends him into the ropes. A tilt a whirl slam gets 2. Kronus slams Mikey hits the ropes and lands a flipping leg drop for the win in 8.19.

World Champion Raven & Stevie Richards (w/ “Primetime” Brian Lee & Blue Meanie) vs. Dudley Boys (w/ Dances With, Chubby & Sign Guy Dudley) ref John “Pee Wee” Moore
Richards is dressed like Baron Von Raschke and Meanie like Col Debeers. Buh Buh Ray Dudley and Stevie both get on the mic before the match. Richards talks and Buh Buh messes around by making fun of Raven and juggling donut holes that Chubby gave him behind D-Von Dudley’s back. Buh Buh sits on the ground to tease Raven some more and Stevie kicks him in the face. Raven and Stevie double team as D-Von just stands by and watches. Stevie with a claw that pushes Buh Buh into the croner. Stevie charges with the claw but Buh Buh moves and Stevie gets the claw stuck on the turnbuckle and can’t let go! Buh Buh charges and hits an avalanche and pulls down Stevie’s pants. Raven comes from behind and hits Buh Buh with a DDT. D-Von gets a chair but decides not to use it and instead sets it up in the corner and sits down. Raven and Richards go back to the double team. Buh Buh ducks a double clothesline and hits them both with one of his own. Buh Buh goes over and argues with D-Von and turns into a Steviekick D-Von punches him and Raven school boys him for 2. Buh Buh gets up and Stevie hits another Steviekick Buh Buh turns into a DDT from Raven and is pinned at 3.50. D-Von gets on the mic after the match and yells at Buh Buh for always messing around. They hug and make up but then D-Von hits Buh Buh and the rest of the family with the chair. D-Von gets on the mic again and yells that it’s his family and not Big Dicks. D-Von leaves as Big Dick comes through the crowd. Big Dick helps all the brothers up and hands Buh Buh the mic. Buh Buh tells D-Von that Dick is going to kick his ass. Buh Buh brings two kids into the ring and they dance together.

“Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. Rob Van Dam ref John Finnegan
They get nose to nose to start off the match. Van Dam slaps Jericho then does a back flip. Jericho slaps Van Dam and doesn’t do a back flip, cause back flipping for no reason at all is stupid. Van Dam hits some action movie style karate moves. Jericho knocks Van Dam to the floor and hits a spring board drop kick as Van Dam gets on the apron. Jericho jumps off the top turnbuckle and stomps on Van Dam’s back as Rob is leaning against the apron. Very cool looking move. Van Dam is on the ground holding his knee. Back in the ring Jericho hits a hanging vertical suplex and VERY lightly kicks Van Dam in the face. Tiger bomb gets a 2 count for Jericho. Jericho starts working on the knee but Van Dam fights back and takes control. Jericho reverses an irish whip Van Dam ducks a clothesline and gets hit with a spin kick. He rolls to the floor and drags Jericho out and throws him into the crowd. Van Dam leaps off the guardrail with a somersault body block and then throws a few chairs at Jericho. Jericho is rolled back into the ring and Van Dam slingshots himself back in with a leg drop. Jericho hits a dragon suplex for 2 after ducking a clothesline. Van Dam gets up and goes right back to work on Jericho choking him in the corner. Corner whip Van Dam goes for a monkey flip but Jericho catches him and puts him on the buckle and hits a super frankensteiner for 2. Body slam and Jericho goes up top and hits a splash for 2.5. Loud chops by Jericho and Van Dam ducks a clothesline, but Jericho is able to hit a suplex. Jericho goes for a lionsault but Van Dam is back up and kicks him on his way down. Van Dam brings a chair into the ring and whips Jericho to a corner. Van Dam rolls with the chair leaves it in the middle of the ring and monkey flips Jericho onto it. Van Dam goes for a power bomb onto the chair but Jericho reverses it into a frankensteiner onto it. Back drop onto the chair and Jericho now just picks it up and hits Van Dam twice in the head. Van Dam pops up and kicks the chair into Jericho’s face. Jericho is hanging his head out of the ring so Van Dam puts the chair on it and leaps over the top rope and leg drops the chair. Van Dam off the top rope with a kick gets the win at 14.06. Van Dam gets the mic and tells Jericho he does respect him but just like he’ll do to Sabu he’s going to break Jericho’s neck. Sabu hits the ring and chase away Van Dam.

Taz & Bill Alfonso vs. Sandman (w/ Missy Hyatt) & Tod Gordon ref Jim Molineaux
I’ve got five bucks that says Sandman’s entrance is longer then the match. Gordon is not with Sandman and Missy and it looks like we are going to get a handicap match instead of the advertised tag match. Alfonso gets on the mic before the match and demands that Gordon show up so he can kick his ass. Gordon sneaks from the crowd and gets in the ring and hits Alfonso with a cane. The ref calls for the bell as Taz stalks after Gordon. Sandman canes Taz from behind and he goes ot the floor. Alfonso is on the apron and Sandman grabs his head and drags him over the rope and drops him on his face. Sandman picks up Gordon and throws him into Alfonso. They go to do the same with Taz but he catches Gordon and slams him down. Taz and Sandman fight now. Taz goes for a german suplex but Gordon grabs Sandman’s leg to stop him from going over. Alfonso pulls Gordon off and throws him out of the ring. Taz gets the Tazmission on. Gordon gets in the ring with a broom and hits Alfonso with it. He hits Taz but it does nothing. Tazmission on Gordon puts him out in a second. Taz goes and locks it in on Sandman. Taz gets up and tells the ref to check them and they are both out at 3.18. Alfonso gets the mic and says he beat them both by himself. Alfonso grabs Missy and chokes her out. Taz now curses at the fans, stomps Sandman and calls out Paul Varelans and Sabu.

TV Champion Pitbull 2 (w/ Francine) vs. Tag Team Champion Saturn ref John Finnegan Falls Count Anywhere Match
Another match that’s a follow up to last months Temple show. If you remember Saturn took a nasty spill on the floor in that one. Saturn with a headlock and Pitbull takes him over with a belly to back suplex. Saturn with some kicks that floor Pitbull and get a 2 count. Back to the headlock Pitbull again goes for the suplex but Saturn flips and lands on his feet and gets a Russian leg sweep. Pitbull kiks out at 2 and hits a press slam and spin wheel kick for 2. Running powerslam for another two. Saturn whipped to the corner but he gets his elbow up on the charge and comes off the second rope with a bulldog. Pitbull powers back and hits a powerbomb for 2. Pitbull gets Saturn in a corner and charges but Saturn gets the boot up twice and gets a 2 count off a victory roll. Saturn gets irish whipped and tries for a moonsault, Pitbull grabs him but Saturn slides off the shoulder and hits a german. This all happened very smoothly and looked real nice. Saturn with a frankensteiner over the ropes and both men spill to the floor. Saturn hits Pitbull with his own chain busting him open and drops him sternum first on the guardrail. Saturn leaps off the top rope into the crowd and gets a 2. Saturn whips the champ into the wall leaving a blood smear. Saturn with a bulldog up on the stage. Saturn throws Pitbull off the stage and dives. Pitbull catches Saturn and tombstones him on the floor. Both men are down and Pitbull covers but only gets 2. They brawl and Saturn gets Pitbull down and gets a 2 count. They go back to ringside and Pitbull is slammed face first into the ring post. Saturn goes for a top rope crossbody back in the ring but Pitbull powerslams him and gets 2. Flap jack by Pitbull gets 2. Saturn kicks Pitbull as he’s coming off the top with a axe handle. Saturn hits a super frankensteiner. Pitbull hits a powerbomb and gets 2. Saturn reverses an irish whip and picks up Pitbull with a samoan drop. Saturn comes off the top with a headbutt and climbs back up. Pitbull gets him off and hits a super fallaway slam for the win at 12.52.

“The Franchise” Shane Douglas vs. Sabu ref John Finnegan
Two of my favorites going at it here. Douglas gets on the mic before the match and calls some fans fat and tells them that their mother sucks. Paul E. Dangerously hits the ring and yells for Sabu to put on his neck brace. Sabu dives at the legs but Douglas avoid him. Sabu fires away at Shane and whips him into the corner buckle. Douglas hits chest first and Sabu follows with a clothesline and springboard moonsault. Sabu whips Douglas into the corner again Douglas comes out and is back body dropped. Sabu Irish whips Douglas and drops his head but Douglas hits a swinging neckbreaker. Shane now with a pile driver . Shane stomps at the back of Sabu’s neck. Neckbreaker by Shane Douglas. Douglas really working over the neck of Sabu. Douglas locks on a headscissor on the ground. Shane drops a knee to the back of the neck and gets a 2 count. Sabu tries to fight back but he just doesn’t have the strength. Douglas with a neck crank and a hangman on Sabu. Shane again with another hangman but Sabu walks up the turnbuckle and flips out. Sabu hits a dropkick and Shane rolls to the floor. Shane picks up a chair and Sabu baseball slids it. Sabu brings the chair in the ring goes to jump off of it but slips. They fight in the crowd Sabu throws Shane into the guardrail. Sabu brings another chair in the ring jumps from it to the top rope and off the top rope on to Shane in the crowd. Back in the ring Sabu hits a body slam and slingshot leg drop. Sabu hits the triple jump moonsault and both men roll on the floor in pain . Sabu covers and gets 2 and then goes for a tombstone Shane reverses and hit his own. The Franchise picks up Sabu and hits another piledriver but Sabu kicks out at 2. Shane goes for a neck breaker but Sabu reverses for one of his own. Sabu puts Shane on the apron and leans him on the second rope face up. Sabu climbs up top and drops a leg Shane kicks out at 2. Sabu drops Shane crotch first on the top rope. Shane crawls to the apron and Sabu pulls him crotch first into the ring post. Sabu sets up a table on the apron a guardrail and puts Shane on it. Sabu sets up a chair in the ring jumps off it to the top rope and then falls off the top rope through the table. Rob Van Dam hits the ring and Shane throws Sabu in. Van Dam puts Sabu on the top rope and hits a fisherman buster. Sabu still somehow kicks out at 2. Shane hits a brain buster but stops the ref from counting 3. Shane says he’s going to break Sabu’s neck. Paul E. comes back to ringside yelling at Shane to stop. Shane puts Sabu on the top rope and is going for a superplex but the ref calls for the bell and stops the match at 13.35. A bunch of refs and wrestlers hit the ring to pull Shane away as he’s still trying to hit the Superplex . They pull Shane away and the EMT’s rush to help Sabu. Alfonso shows up on stage to taunt as Sabu is stretched out.

Tommy Dreamer (w/ Beulah & Kimona Wanalaya) & The Gangstas vs. “Primetime” Brian Lee & The Bruise Brothers ref John “Pee Wee’ Moore, Jim Molineux Falls Count Anywhere Match
They hit the ring and the brawl is on. Dreamer gets suplexed through a table by Lee as the tag teams brawl with each other. Dreamer and Lee go outside where Lee throws Dreamer into a truck. Back inside Dreamer hits Lee with a garbage can. Mustafa and Dreamer both go through a merchandise table as we reach the five-minute mark of this fight. Back in the ring Dreamer hits a double DDT on the Bruise Brothers but Lee immediately hits a devastating looking choke slam. Lee puts three cinder blocks across Dreamer’s body and hits them with a chair getting the win at 6.52. The Gangstas first fight off their opponents to the back and then help Dreamer back to the locker room.

My thoughts on the show
This was a three hour show instead of the usual 2-2.15. I have to say a very enjoyable house show. I usually don’t recommend the fan cams as like I have said before I really think matches need commentary. This particular show however I am going to suggest you watch. Nothing of importance happened of course but some real good matches in the bottom half of the card, the Dudley match told a nice story and as usual you get the nice brawl to close out the show. Remember that coming up next is Hardcore Heaven!

WWE Under Investigation For Possible Violations Of Securities Laws

By
Jim Somers
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0

The following statement was released yesterday evening.

WWE INVESTIGATION INITIATED BY FORMER LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Following Disclosure of Disappointing Distribution Agreement

NEW ORLEANS, May 16, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (“KSF”), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

On May 16, 2014, WWE disclosed that it had reached a multiyear deal with US broadcaster NBCUniversal for its long-running Raw and SmackDown programs, stating that the annual value of its television distribution agreements would reach $200 million, well below what investors were expecting. Daniel Moore, an analyst with CJS Securities, said in a research note that, “Given management’s more optimistic tone and the fact that other major sports franchises have garnered much higher increases, this outcome is likely to be viewed as disappointing by many investors.”

On this news, the value of WWE’s stock plummeted by over 43%.

KSF’s investigation is focusing on whether WWE and/or its officers and directors violated state or federal securities laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com ) or KSF Partner Melinda Nicholson ( melinda.nicholson@ksfcounsel.com ) toll free at 1-877-515-1850.

Read more at http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0517/576133/wwe-being-investigated-for-possible-violations-of-state-or/#z3QZPfcjZA57sDMV.99

Forbes Reports WWE Loses $340 Million; Investment Firm Wants New Ownership

By
Jim Somers
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0

Forbes published an article today noting that Vince McMahon lost $340 million today with the WWE stock price drop.

WWE issued the following release announcing that they will address stockholders this Monday:

WWE® to Host Business Outlook Conference Call

STAMFORD, Conn., May 16, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) — WWE announced that it will host a conference call on Monday, May 19, 2014 to discuss the Company’s 2014 and 2015 Business Outlook. The Company’s Chairman & CEO, Vincent K. McMahon, and the Company’s Chief Strategy & Financial Officer, George Barrios, will host the conference call beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET.

All interested parties are welcome to listen to a live web cast that will be hosted through the Company’s web site at corporate.wwe.com . Participants can access the conference call by dialing 1-888-424-8151 or 1-847-585-4422 using the passcode: 7849998. Please reserve a line 15 minutes prior to the start time of the conference call.

The Company’s Business Outlook release to be referenced during the call is available at ir.corporate.wwe.com. A replay of the call will be available after the conference call concludes, and can be accessed on the Company’s web site.

——————————————–

– Investment firm Lemelson Capital announced today that they have taken a major stake in WWE shares and have called on WWE’s Board of Directors to replace the current executive management team. Below is their press release:

Lemelson Capital Announces Stake In World Wrestling Entertainment And Calls On Board To Pursue New Management Or Ownership

Marlborough, MA, May 16, 2014 — Lemelson Capital, LLC, a private investment management firm, today announced that they had taken a stake in shares of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and called on the Board of Directors to replace the executive management team of the company following a period of consistent losses, execution issues and material misstatements.

Despite the stock’s roughly 63% correction since Lemelson Capital’s original short call less than two months ago (from $30.37 on March 17 to $11.33 as of publication of this release), the firm today also reiterated that fair value of WWE’s common stock is between $8.25 and $11.88.

Lemelson Capital’s original short thesis can be found here:

“WWE has affirmed that even with one million subscribers for its WWE network, the company stands to lose between $45 million and $52 million in FY 2014, which validates the original short thesis,” said Emmanuel Lemelson, Chief Investment Officer of Lemelson Capital Management. “This follows what we believe to be material misrepresentations by the company about both the performance and operating profit model of its WWE network, which the company has wrongly labeled ‘a homerun’,” said Lemelson.

Lemelson Capital today also called on WWE’s Board of Directors to promptly replace the company’s executive management team, or explore the sale of the business, and said that such changes are a necessary component of any successful strategy going forward. “For example, promoting the WWE direct network’s value to shareholders without a fair and accurate discussion of the implications to a traditional network revenue circumvented management’s fiduciary responsibility as stewards of investor’s capital, and is part of what has emerged as a pattern over recent years. Further, there are no pending operational developments in the pipeline to offset these significant losses,” Lemelson added.

Lemelson Capital and its clients are long shares of WWE.

TNA Production Almost Walk Out Over No Pay, Are Talents Being Paid?

By
Jim Somers
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0

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

TNA’s production crew threatened to walk out during last week’s sets of Impact Wrestling tapings because they were behind on pay. The situation was resolved when word got back to management and people received checks.

The same situation with production happened around this time in 2013. The belief is that Janice Carter, who controls TNA’s finances, earmarks a certain amount of new money to finance losing periods. This earmarked money is besides the revenue the company makes itself. The story is that people started getting paid late because TNA is taping so far ahead and taping so many pay-per-view events that they just didn’t have the money. This is what got them into financial trouble last year.

Before people in production were paid at the last set of tapings, many if not most of them hadn’t been paid since early March. Regarding the threats to walk out, not everyone threatened to leave at the start of the week but the majority did.

In 2013 it was reported that crew members and talents were being paid late. It’s said now that talents for the most part are up to date on pay. Checks may arrive a few days or a week late but talents are getting paid without hassle.

Spoilers: WWE Smackdown Results for 5/16/14

By
Jim Somers
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0

WWE Smackdown Results for 5/16/14 (Taped 5/13)

Thanks to Ray E. for the following WWE SmackDown spoilers from tonight’s tapings in Greensboro, North Carolina:

* SmackDown starts with John Cena coming out to a big pop. He sends his condolences to Daniel Bryan which gets a cheap pop. Cena cuts a promo on the Last Man Standing match against Bray Wyatt at Payback. Cena insinuates that Wyatt has no balls. Cena sings, “I’ve got no pearls in my pants” to mock Bray. He accepts the challenge for Payback. Cena issues an open challenge and says he will face anyone that Bray chooses tonight. Bray appears on the big screen and cuts a promo.

* A Bo Dallas vignette airs.

* Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. The Usos is up next for the Tag Team Titles. Cody played a heel and got pinned after taking a superkick and splash from Jimmy Uso. Cody acted upset with Goldust after the match.

* Los Matadores and El Torito are out. 3MB is out with Hornswoggle. Heath Slater vs. El Torito is next. Torito wins what was described as a lame comedy match.

* Natalya vs. Nikki Bella is next with Eva Marie as the special referee. Our correspondent says Eva can’t ref any better than she can wrestle. Nikki got the win after what was described as a botchfest.

* Dolph Ziggler talks to Renee Young and cuts a backstage promo on Batista. He says Batista is the weak link of Evolution and tonight he will show him up.

* Batista vs. Dolph Ziggler is next. Ziggler comes out first followed by Batista to the Evolution theme. Ziggler wins by disqualification after Batista hits him with a low blow. Ziggler then takes a Batista Bomb. Batista beats Ziggler around the ringside area and comes back to powerbomb him onto the barrier.

* Sheamus is out first followed by Titus O’Neil. Titus asks how Sheamus can be United States Champion when he’s not even from the US. Titus calls Sheamus a funny color “hot mayonnaise white.” The match starts and Sheamus gets the very quick win with a Brogue Kick.

* Santino Marella and Emma come out for a match against Damien Sandow. Santino wins a quick squash with the Cobra. After the match, Sandow cuts a promo about how he’s always handcuffed but is a “good little soldier.” The mic gets cut out on him. He walks up the ramp acting like his hands are cuffed behind his back, saying he’s being held back.

* R-Truth comes out to a big pop as he’s from Charlotte. Paul Heyman is out next for a promo. Cesaro vs. R-Truth starts. Cesaro wins a short match with the Neutralizer.

* John Cena is out for the main event. The Wyatt Family comes out and surrounds the ring but The Usos run out to even the odds. Bray picks Erick Rowan to face Cena tonight. Cena wins with the Attitude Adjustment. SmackDown ends with Bray staring Cena down from the ramp.

The Prime Time Wrestling Video Review 2/29/88

By
K.F. Brodzensky
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0

Prime Time Wrestling 2/29/88

Hot damn! Finally got the episodes I was missing. A special thanks to the wrestling fairy out there, you know who you are! 😉

Anyway, it’s leap year, and we’re on the road to WrestleMania IV. I know I posted the 3/21 show already, but now that I have these three shows I wanted to go back and bring everything up to date. So we’ll have 2/29, 3/7, and 3/14 coming your way over the next week or two. Once I’m caught up to 3/21, we’ll continue on with the rest of the year in chronological order (hopefully).

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– Gorilla Monsoon runs down tonight’s card, Bobby Heenan with a few one liners. Not too much to report here as the opening is a quick one this week.

Match #1: George “The Animal” Steele v. Sika. From Madison Square Garden 2/22/88. Most of the match is just Sika refusing to let Steele get in the ring. Finally Animal slides in and knocks Sika to the floor. Sika pulls Steele outside and rams him into the time keeper table. Sika gets back in the ring, George throws a bunch of chairs in the ring and climbs back in. Sika swings a chair at George, Steele ducks, the chair bounces off the top rope and knocks Sika out cold. I thought Samoans had hard heads? Steele covers for the win in 2:49. Awesome. This thing was over before I knew it. I’ll give this thing 1/4* just for dodging trying to have an actual match between these two. No five minute nerve hold from Sika? That works for me! And to think, they both got paid for this!

Match #2: WWF Women’s Champion Sensational Sherri v. Rockin Robin. From the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita, Kansas, “Superstars” TV Taping 2/16/88. Gorilla & Bobby do the voiceover work for this match. This is a non-title match, your referee is Joey Marella. Sherri misses an attack in the corner and Robin makes several quick pinfall attempts. Sherri tries to escape but Robin follows her outside and rams her into the apron, then drops Sherri throat first across the top rope. Robin yanks Sherri back into the ring by her hair. Side headlock by Robin takes Sherri down. Gorilla and Bobby spend the majority of the match discussing Heenan’s 6-man match for WrestleMania. Sherri finally takes over with a lot of cheating and screaming. Robin gets tossed outside, but Sherri returns a favor from earlier and drops RR across the top rope. Sherri eventually drags Robin back inside, where Robin is able to counter with a BULLDOG, but Sherri gets her foot on the rope at 2! Clothesline by Robin and Sherri gets out. Robin tosses Sherri into the corner but Sherri tries a reverse cross body from the second rope. Robin ducks and Sherri misses. Robin misses a knee in the corner and Sherri applies a Boston Crab, some pinfall counters follow. Completely blown spot is next and I have no idea what it was supposed to be. Sherri takes Robin down and goes to the top rope but misses a cross body, and Robin goes to the second rope and hits a shitty looking facebuster that was probably supposed to be a bulldog to get the win in 8:34. Lots of blown spots by Robin, some were not so obvious, at least one was blatant. This match was going pretty good, you can tell when Robin’s spots are planned because she’s good at those spots. It’s the parts of the match where Robin has to adlib or listen to Sherri call spots that were a mess. Robin really should have never been champion in 1988. I want to give this match * because it still wasn’t terrible or anything.

– Update with Craig DeGeorge. We go back to the 2/5/88 Main Event with the Macho Man and Elizabeth celebrating after issues with the Honky Tonk Man. An interview with Randy Savage follows. He’s going to the top, the WWF Title. Elizabeth, looking about as good as she ever has, is excited about WrestleMania IV.

– The WWF fans pick who they think will win the WWF Title at WrestleMania IV. Three fans? They show three fans? What was the point of that video?

– Bob Uecker is with The One Man Gang and Slick. They’re promoting WrestleMania IV and the Gang is in the tournament. Slick says OMG will win. Apparently he’s forgotten about Butch Reed.

Match #3: Ken Patera v. Demolition Ax (w/ Mr. Fuji). From Madison Square Garden 2/22/88. Announcers are Gorilla, Heenan, and Alfred Hayes. Patera gets the better of Ax as things get going and Ax takes a break outside. They resume action and Ken hooks an armbar. Ax manages to free himself but Ken comes back with a forearm blast off the top rope, using his forearm brace as a weapon! That’s illegal referee! Ken gets a 2 count. Ax sent into the corner, Patera runs right into Ax’s foot. While Ax distracts the ref, Fuji cracks Ken in the chest with his cane. Ax misses a falling headbutt and Ken takes over with a big clothesline. Patera locks on the Full Nelson, but Fuji on the apron. Ken lets go and decks Fuji! Ax swings, Patera ducks, and locks in the Full Nelson again! Smash now on the apron, and Patera nails Smash as well! But Ax from behind with a knee in the back of Patera, and Ax steals this one in 7:27. 1/2*

After the match, Demolition attack Ken Patera until the Junkyard Dog makes the save with his dog chain. JYD blocks off Demolition from doing any more harm to Patera. Ken gets hold of Mr. Fuji’s derby and stomps it to hell.

– British Bulldogs Promo. They announce Matilda will return at WrestleMania IV. Back in the studio Heenan responds.

Match #4: The Junkyard Dog (w/ Ken Patera) v. Demolition Smash (w/ Mr. Fuji). From Madison Square Garden 2/22/88. We pick right up where the last match left off, JYD, Patera, and Demolition all still at ringside. JYD is subbing for Billy Jack Haynes, who was most recently in a feud teaming with Ken Patera against Demolition. Haynes had just recently left the company presumably due to his instability. Both guys trade shots with Dog finally getting the better and Smash bails to the floor where he runs into Ken Patera. Smash stalls before finally returning to the ring. Smash works JYD in the corner, but Dog reverses a whip and hits a clothesline. Well honestly, he completely whiffed it. Smash took the bump before Dog even threw it. JYD misses a splash in the corner on Smash, and Smash goes back on top with a slam for 2. Smash applies a reverse neck vice, JYD fights free, and the two land a double clothesline. Both guys back up, trading punches, Dog goes off the ropes and he’s tripped by Ax! Then Smash goes off the ropes and he’s tripped by Patera! The referee becomes distracted by the wrestlers outside the ring, which allows JYD to grab his dog chain and nail Smash with it for the win after 3:44. Pretty much a DUD, but I’ll go 1/4* because I liked the finish.

– Some fun banter with Gorilla and Bobby as the Brain explains why the previous loss only bolsters Demolition’s confidence for their title match at WrestleMania. Bobby says Smash lost to a chain and an ex-con on the floor, which actually makes Smash the winner. Bobby explains it better.

– A Hostess Pudding CAKES commercial? I remember Pudding Pies, but Pudding Cakes? Man, Hostess wanted to stuff pudding into everything. I wonder if Pat Patterson and Terry Garvin owned a stake in that company?

Match #5: Jacques and Raymond Rougeau v. Rick Renslow and Dave Wagner. From the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita, Kansas, “Superstars” TV Taping 2/16/88. Bruno Sammartino, Ventura and McMahon on commentary. Some flashy moves by the Rougeaus to start. The Rougeaus were great in the ring, they just needed that “oomph” to get them from being so bland. They’d get that oomph in a few months, unfortunately they’d have to cut their offense in half as heel. Anyway, lots of good stuff from the Rougeaus clears the job boys out of the ring. Renslow and Wagner were often tag partners both in WWF, and especially in the AWA as they were from around those parts. The jobbers actually get Raymond in their corner for about 5 seconds and work him over, even choking him with the tag rope, but Ray isn’t there long. Jacques tags in, Renslow and Wagner blow all kinds of spots to the point Vince McMahon can’t even ignore it on commentary. The Rougeaus try to whip the jobbers into each other, and Renslow and Wagner COMPLETELY MISS running into each other!!!!! How the hell do you do that???? Wagner bumps anyway, which makes it all the move ridiculous while Renslow walks around in an uncomfortable daze. The Rougeau Bomb follows and the French Canadians score the win after 2:57. It was a squash by every sense, DUD, but some of the blown spots just have to be seen to believed.

– Craig DeGeorge with the Honky Tonk Man. I really didn’t care for DeGeorge, his voice was annoying and honestly, he just sucked. Honky has Brutus coming after the IC Title at WrestleMania IV. HTM plans to retain. No duh.

Match #6: Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake v. Brian Costello. From the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka, Kansas, “Wrestling Challenge” TV Taping 2/17/88. Heenan and Gorilla on commentary. Brutus is all kinds of colorblind. Purple zebra striped jacket, blue zebra stripes pants, yellow zebra striped forearm bands. Beefcake with an atomic drop and Costello takes a crazy bump over the top rope, getting tied in the ropes and nearly breaks his wrist. A little hammering by Brutus and he whips Costello into the corner. Brian comes stumbling out and the there’s a bad video edit. The camera angle changes and you can clearly see a spot has been edited out, likely Costello blew the spot. So they cut from the whip into the corner to a new camera angle where Brutus is locking in the sleeper for the win after 2:09. Beefcake with the easy win, and he must have liked Costello because he takes a little off the back instead of the top. There was really noting to this match, an atomic drop and then a sleeper, some punching in between. The Rougeaus match was much better, even with the blown spots. I loved catching the edit in the match here. DUD

– Special Interview in the arena. Craig DeGeorge, ugh, interviews Hulk Hogan. Brother, he wants his belt back. Brother… Brother.

– WrestleMania IV Report with Craig DeGeorge. Damn that guy is all over this episode. Can’t wait for Sean Mooney to arrive! Donald Trump comments on WrestleMania IV coming to Trump Plaza. Hercules v. Warrior has been added to the card, both men respond. Nightmares are the best part of Warrior’s day, while Hercules says he’s the one who snapped the chain. Also added, Demolition challenge the champions Strike Force. We hear from the Demos and Strike Force. Demos say they’ve beat everyone and now the WWF is forced to give them their title shot. Tito and Martel say they’re ready for these “monster” and want to see what they’re like underneath the paint. Vanna White speaks after being announced as Guest Time Keeper.

– Bobby Heenan is on the phone. He says he is talking to Vanna White, and she told Bobby he can turn her letters any time. Gorilla and Bobby talk about Hercules’ chain. Monsoon wants to know where you buy a chain, ACE Hardware? Bobby says Hercules’ chains are custom made. More quick wit from Heenan in this short banter segment. Bobby was just so quick, so slick, even the simplest thing had hilarious delivery.

Match #7: Koko B. Ware v. “Ravishing” Rick Rude (w/ Bobby Heenan). From the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka, Kansas, “Wrestling Challenge” TV Taping 2/17/88. Gorilla and Alfred Hayes on inserted commentary, Dave Hebner the referee. Rude’s initial plan of attack doesn’t work too well and Koko is all over Ravishing Rick as things get started. Bobby Heenan gets up on the apron and it slows things down. Rick takes over with a back suplex and sits on Koko’s back with a chinlock. Koko walks the hold to the corner and drops Rude face first into the top turnbuckle. Rude with a little fancy footwork and he gets Ware back down with the chinlock. We go to a commercial break, and when we come back Rude slowly changes from a chinlock to a bearhug. Ware finally breaks the hold and Rude misses a dropkick. Koko starts flapping his wings, series of punches by the Birdman. Rude reverses a whip to the corner and Ware fakes a reverse cross body, Rude ducks, but Koko comes off the top with a Flying Dropkick on Rude! Heenan can feel the match slipping so he steals Frankie! Heenan literally takes Frankie’s perch and runs backstage with it. Koko comes chasing after Heenan and gets counted out. Really? Rick Rude can’t beat Koko in the ring? Rude gets the count out win in 8:51, WTF is that. I get that they wanted to reenact the Heenan stealing Matilda thing since Koko is in the WrestleMania 6-man, but did they have to do it at the expense of Rude?

Koko returns with Frankie to show everyone the bird is ok. Ware then clears the ring from Ravishing Rick and celebrates to “Piledriver” after the match. Half of this match was a chinlock and a bear hug, and then the lousy finish, but this is still probably the best thing on the show. *1/4

Final Thoughts: We’re a month from WrestleMania IV, the big event has just about fully developed as far as special guests and matches announced goes. Some mediocre stuff from Gorilla and Bobby this week, which still blows away anything from current day. Your typical Prime Time episode with some undercard house show matches mixed with TV taping leftovers. Not a whole lot to say on this show, it wasn’t terrible so I can’t rip on it, and it wasn’t great so I can’t put it over. It was just another average Prime Time episode, it had some sprinkles of fun at times.

Match of the Night: Rick Rude vs. Koko. This was one of the more lackluster WRESTLING episodes of the show, nothing was really all that great. The ladies match could have easily won this honor had Robin not blown so many spots. It’s still close to a toss up between the ladies and Koko/Rude, but I leaned towards the boys because of Koko’s work in the opening minutes and the finish.

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Vince Changing His Mind Causing Problems, How Triple H Is Viewed By Talent

By
Brian Grey
-
0

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

It’s said that Triple H has been put into an impossible position when it comes to WWE talent relations because the person still making the final calls is Vince McMahon and Vince changes his mind frequently.

WWE talents are becoming increasingly frustrated because they are at first told a certain direction by Triple H and then Triple H ends up having to get with the talent again and explain what he told them before has been changed, because of Vince.

This isn’t turning out to be a bad thing for Triple H as the WWE talents, for the most part, see him as one of them and they believe that he’s also frustrated when things get changed.

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