Opinion

Andrew’s Top 5 Matches: Week Ending 9/13/2020

NXT, Stardom, All Japan, Impact…all have big matches or tournaments going on. What does this week’s Top 5 look like?

Published

3 years ago

September 14, 2020

We see the Stardom 5Star Grand Prix continuing, AJPW Champion Carnival starting, plus some pretty big television matches. So much wrestling, so many tournaments…this is gonna be an interesting next few weeks.

So let’s see how August broke down and what the Match of the Year Pool looks like so far.

Match of the Year Pool:

January – Wrestle Kingdom 14: Double Gold Match: Kazuchika Okada vs Tetsuya Naito
February – AEW Revolution: AEW World Tag Team Championship: Hangman Page & Kenny Omega (c) vs The Young Bucks
March – AEW Dynamite: AAA Mega Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs Sammy Guevara
April – WrestleMania 36: NXT Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs Charlotte Flair
May – NXT: Pit Fight: Matt Riddle vs Tim Thatcher
June – NXT In Your House: NXT Women’s Champion Triple Threat: Io Shirai vs Charlotte Flair (c) vs Rhea Ripley
July – NJPW Dominion: NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs SHO
August – NOAH the Chronicle Vol 3: GHC National Openweight & GHC Heavyweight Championship Double Title Match: Kenoh (c) vs Go Shiozaki (c)

I always love when a non-New Japan puro company makes it on to the list; especially a quality match like the Double Champion match. Plus, to prove there’s no hanky panky in the votes, AEW All Out: AEW Tag Team Championship: Hangman Page & Kenny Omega (c) vs FTR, won the weekly vote. And we all know I’d rather eat glass than vote for AEW 90% of the time, so there we go.

Quick Top 5:

NXT: Vacant NXT Championship: Finn Balor vs Adam Cole
Rating: **** 1/4
Stardom Red Stars: Mayu Iwatani vs Konami
Rating: ****
IMPACT!: World Tag Team Championships: The Rascalz (Dez & Wentz) vs Motor City Machine Guns (c)
Rating: ****
Stardom Red Stars: Saya Kamitani vs Himeka
Rating: ****
AJPW Champion Carnival: SUWAMA vs Jiro Kuroshio
Rating: ****

Honorable Mentions:

AJPW Champion Carnival: Kento Miyahara vs Yoshitatsu
Rating: *** 3/4
Stardom Blue Stars: AZM vs Utami Hayashishita
Rating: *** 3/4
NJPW New Japan Road: NEVER 6 Man Championship: CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto) (c) vs CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, SHO & Toru Yano)
Rating: *** 3/4
AJPW Champion Carnival Day 2: Yuma Aoyagi vs Shotaro Ashino
Rating: *** 3/4
NJPW New Japan Road: Vacant IWGP Jr Tag Championship: Suzuki-Gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) vs LIJ (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
Rating: *** 3/4
Stardom Blue Stars: AZM vs Jungle Kyona
Rating: *** 1/2
AJPW Champion Carnival Day 1: Jake Lee vs Jiro Kuroshio
Rating: *** 1/2
NJPW Strong Ep. 6: TJP & ACH vs Adrian Quest & Logan Riegel
Rating: *** 1/2
NJPW New Japan Road: LIJ (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs Suzuki-Gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado)
Rating: *** 1/2
Stardom Red Stars: Konami vs Giulia
Rating: *** 1/4
Stardom Blue Stars: Momo Watanabe vs Natsuko Tora
Rating: *** 1/4
NJPW New Japan Road: Ass Masters (Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi) vs Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori & Gedo)
Rating: ***
IMPACT!: TJP vs Chris Bey
Rating: ***
NJPW New Japan Road: Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomoaki Honma & Yuji Nagata vs Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, ZSJ, Taichi & DOUKI)
Rating: ***
NJPW New Japan Road: Yota Tsuji, Gabriel Kidd & Yuya Uemura vs Tomoaki Honma, Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima
Rating: ***
NJPW Strong Ep. 6: IWGP US Rights Certificate: KENTA (c) vs Jeff Cobb
Rating: ***
NJPW New Japan Road: Darkness Club (Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & EVIL) vs LIJ (SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito)
Rating: ***
NJPW Strong Ep. 6: Guerrillas of Destiny vs David Finlay & PJ Black
Rating: ***
IMPACT!: Willie Mack vs Brian Myers
Rating: ***
AJPW Champion Carnival Day 2: Kuma Arashi vs Zeus
Rating: ***
NJPW New Japan Road: Darkness Club (EVIL, Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi) vs LIJ (SANADA, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi)
Rating: ***

2t. AJPW Champion Carnival: SUWAMA vs Jiro Kuroshio

Snippet From Mathew’s Review:

They get back into the ring and Jiro tries to do an Irish Whip but Suwama holds on, so what does Jiro do? He springboards off the ropes to do a backflip and brings Suwama’s arm down with him and applies the Kimura Lock. Jiro struggled to get it on but does until Suwama made it to the ropes. Suwama hits Jiro with the Lariat but Jiro kicked out at two. Suwama attempted a German Suplex but Jiro landed on his feet as Suwama saw and went for a Lariat, and Jiro spun to catch his arm into an Armbreaker! Suwama got to the ropes again and Jiro would hit a Superkick to make the champ to down. Jiro would go for the Moonsault Press to end it but Suwama had his knees up before he could connect. Suwama ran into him in the corner for a Lariat and hits a German Suplex, only to top it off with a Discus Lariat right after but Jiro kicked out after all that! The champ is looking to end it as he lifts him up for the Last Ride but Jiro flipped over him to roll him up and get the surprise victory! Jiro has pinned the champ!

Winner: Jiro via Roll Up

2t. Stardom Red Stars: Saya Kamitani vs Himeka

From My Results:

WOW! So Himeka comes out with medical tape on her right shoulder, so that gives Saya an eventual target. This started out slowly with both women taking a little bit to lock up, and then try to search for some grappling/mat based advantages before Himeka finds the opening and boots Saya out of the ring. This gives us the first glimpse of their dynamic, with Himeka talking smack the entire time as she bounced Saya’s head off the chairs and apron.

Once Saya turned things around, I think we’ve learned how to make Saya look good. She was vicious! Saya started talking crap, repeating jabs back at Himeka, and she threw the referee off multiple times during the match. Saya focused Dropkicks on the injured shoulder, chided and goaded Himeka to engage in strikes, and proved she has quite a sadistic side herself.

Both women sold well, fought well and it was just fantastic. Saya still has to work on finding a good time to do her Water Wheel Kick, cause that still looks bad, but so much of this was tremendous. The Draw worked wonderfully because it showed a vulnerable side of Himeka, since she’s been a bit sadistic and dominant; but damn did this do wonders for Saya.

Winner: Time Limit Draw

2t. IMPACT!: World Tag Team Championships: The Rascalz (Dez & Wentz) vs Motor City Machine Guns (c)

From My Results:

Early on the Guns picked apart Wentz once the initial onslaught stopped. They focused his knees and worked through the progressions well. Bullseye Dropkicks on the knee, a grounded Dragon Screw Leg Whip, and a plethora of other moves. Notably, Shelley was clever as hell when Wentz was seated, Shelley jumped for the expected Dropkick to the chest, but instead drives his knee into Wentz’ busted knee.

Little tandem aspects the Guns pulled off were beautiful, Dez did get the hot tag and it looked great. He took advantage of a tiny slip up by Sabin, Wentz came in, even though he was beleaguered with the knee. They went for Hot Fire Flame, and missed. Shelley comes in, Guns take out Dez, Dirt Bomb on Wentz, and the champs retain.

Winner: MCMG via Dirt Bomb

2t. Stardom Red Stars: Mayu Iwatani vs Konami

From My Results:

Mayu got a near fall with a Dragon Suplex Hold, went to the top rope for her Moonsault, but as soon as she missed, Konami was back in attack mode. Konami sunk in a Sleeper Hold for so long that by the time she broke the hold, since Mayu managed to get her foot to the ropes, Mayu looked like she was just coming back to. More submission offense, Front Neck Lock, a few Triangle Lancer attempts, and then the Triangle Kimura that finished off the match.

Watching Mayu barely limp over to the ropes, and reach with the last bit of her energy as Konami just kept finding ways to choke the life out her was pretty awesome. Konami is usually a little too stoic to get a good read on things, but after this match, attack mode Konami is pretty great.

Winner: Konami via Triangle Kimura

1. NXT: Vacant NXT Championship: Finn Balor vs Adam Cole

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Cole aims from a corner again, Balor stands up, but Balor SLING BLADES Cole first! Cole comes back, into the elbow drop DDT! Balor hobbles but takes aim from a corner now, to SHOTGUN dropkick Cole to a corner! Cole bounces off buckles and is in the drop zone! Balor goes up top as fast as he can, takes aim again, COUP DE GRACE!! But the bad leg slows Balor to the cover! TWO!?! Cole survives because of that delay!! Balor refuses to be frustrated, he just drags Cole back up. Cole trips Balor up, wraps up the legs for another FIGURE FOUR! Balor endures, his shoulders are down, TWO! Balor refuses to quit, and he works to turn this over. Cole turns it back over, but Balor reaches for the ropes again! Cole lets go, drags Balor away, and goes to reapply, but Balor cradle counters, TWO!

SUPERKICK!! Cole takes Balor down outta nowhere but he isn’t done there. He sits Balor up, runs, LAST SHOT!! Cover, TWO!?!? Now Balor shocks Cole! The crowd is loving “NXT! NXT!” as the atmosphere is electric! Cole goes to a corner, climbs up the ropes again, but Balor catches the jump to a fireman’s carry! And pops Cole to a half hatch, but Cole rams Balor into buckles! Balor holds on, turns Cole around, BLOODY SUNDAY!! But Balor can’t cover because of the bad leg! Balor grits his teeth and powers through the pain to climb back up! Cole SUPERKICKS a leg out! Cole hurries up from the outside, but Balor grabs him first! Balor throws elbows, shifts position, for a SUPER 1916!! Cover, Balor wins!!

Winner: Balor via Avalanche 1916

Thoughts:

So we get a solid bit of Japanese tournament matches, yet, NXT and Impact make a decent showing. As much as I enjoyed Greg’s boyfriend versus Miranda’s, I have my own biases. Himeka vs Saya Kamitani, gets my vote for multiple reasons. Those being, they help to cover one another’s short comings and I really have enjoyed watching Himeka’s story throughout the tournament.

The Jumbo Princess has won me over quite a bit. Not yet at the drinking of bath water level, but she’s special.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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King’s WrestleMania Rewind: Stone Cold VS. Scott Hall (WrestleMania X8)

Chris King is back with another WrestleMania Rewind, looking at the NWO’s Scott Hall battling Stone Cold Steve Austin at WWE WrestleMania X8 from Toronto!

Published

1 week ago

March 14, 2023

Chris King

Chris King is back with another WrestleMania Rewind, looking at the NWO’s Scott Hall battling Stone Cold Steve Austin at WWE WrestleMania X8 from Toronto!

Chris King is back this week with another edition of WrestleMania Rewind, where he is rewatching all the past Mania matches and feuds. This week you’re in for a treat as we look back at ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall at WrestleMania X8.

In late 2001, Vince McMahon bought out his competition WCW and acquired the rights to a plethora of talent including Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, and the iconic trio known as NWO. Hulk Hogan; Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall were hell raisers, and what better way to make a name for yourself than take out the two top superstars in the WWE The Rock, and Stone Cold?

The NWO cost Austin his chance at becoming the Undisputed Champion at No Way Out during his match with Chris Jericho. Adding insult to injury, the NWO spray-painted ‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ with their brand logo just like they did in WCW. As you can imagine, Austin was pissed and out for revenge against the group and primarily Scott Hall.

Hall would challenge Stone Cold to a match at WrestleMania 18. Both superstars beat the living hell out of each other leading up to this highly-anticipated match for who runs the WWE.

The glass broke and Stone Cold made his iconic entrance, and black and white NWO covered Halls’ entrance alongside Kevin Nash. With the odds stacked against ‘The Toughest S.O.B’ could Austin or NWO prove their dominance? Sadly the NWO broke up that very night when Hulk Hogan came to the aid of his adversary The Rock after their ‘iconic’ dream match. Stone Cold would ensure the victory with the Stunner. Hall would perform an Oscar-worthy sell over the finisher.

What a time to be a wrestling fan in the 2000s when nothing was impossible for WWE. Who would’ve thought WCW would go out of business and Hogan would make his long-awaited return to WWE?

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

King’s WrestleMania Rewind: Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens (WWE WrestleMania 36)

Chris King takes a look at the most underrated WWE WrestleMania matches, and starts off with Seth Rollins battling Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 36!

Published

2 weeks ago

March 8, 2023

Chris King

WWE WrestleMania 36 Kevin Owens Seth Rollins

Chris King takes a look at the most underrated WWE WrestleMania matches, and starts off with Seth Rollins battling Kevin Owens in the WWE Performance Center at WrestleMania 36!

Chris King is starting a new series heading into WrestleMania season dubbed WrestleMania Rewind. Each week he’ll be going back and sharing his insight over underrated matches at the Show of Shows. First up, is Kevin Owens vs. “The Monday Night Messiah” Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 36.

At the 2019 edition of Survivor Series, Rollins sacrificed himself during the men’s traditional match allowing SmackDown to ultimately gain the victory. The following night the self-proclaimed Messiah, berated the whole roster but KO was not having any part of it. Owens quickly became a huge barrier in Rollins’ cause for the greater good. The Authors of Pain attacked Owens with Rollins’ character in question.

Owens finally had enough of his rival’s mind games and torment and challenged Rollins to a match on the Grandest Stage Of Them All. Rollins mockingly accepted his challenge and the match was made official for night one of WrestleMania. Owens came out of the gate beating the holy hell out of the Monday Night Messiah trying to achieve his long-awaited moment at Mania but, Rollins tried to steal a disqualification victory by using the ring bell.

Owens hellbent on revenge provoked Rollins into turning their encounter into a no-disqualification contest where the fight could be taken all over the empty arena. The highlight of the match, was when KO used the WrestleMania sign to deliver a thunderous senton bomb through the announce table. Owens would secure the victory with a Stunner in an incredible match. Despite having no crowd during the pandemic era, both KO and Rollins put on an intense performance under the brightest lights.

In my personal opinion, this was a great feud that helped both superstars in their transformation as compelling characters for years to come.