Last Wrestling Match Watched 2.0

[Skyefire]

Another "Old School" WWF show, this time from Madison Square Garden in April 1991. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are joined by Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart on commentary. The final match saw Roddy Piper battle Ted DiBiase. Piper had been training/managing Virgil going into WrestleMania. I don't remember the story but Piper had had a leg injury and had been using a single crutch. Well at some point before this match, DiBiase would steal the crutch and bring it with him to ringside. This was Piper's first televised match in 1991. Sensational Sherri, who was now managing DiBiase would get involved in this match at one point attempting to pull him out of the ring only to be dragged in herself. The finish would come when DiBiase would apply a Figure-4 to the injured leg of Piper and the referee stopped the match. Howard Finkel started his announcement of the decision with the fact that Piper did NOT submit, then stated that the referee stopped the match to prevent further injury.

The main event (which as was common at shows like this went on right before intermission) saw Hulk Hogan vs Sgt. Slaughter in a rematch from WrestleMania for the WWF Championship. Hogan came into this match with a bandage on his forehead and, much like WrestleMania, he gets busted open in this match and bleeds bad. This was mostly a brawl both in and out of the ring. At one point the referee gets knocked out, then Slaughter gets a chair handed to him by General Adnan and bashes the already down referee with it. Hogan manages to wrestle the chair away from Slaughter and takes a few swipes at him. The referee comes to, sees Hogan with the chair and disqualifies him. Hogan loses but keeps the belt. This would set up their "Desert Storm Match" (basically a no holds barred match) at the next MSG show.

This event featured the (gimmick) in-ring debut of IRS going up against Superfly Jimmy Snuka. He comes to the ring in a full suit, jacket and all. Removes the jacket before the match and also removes the pants revealing black trunks with the letters "IRS" in red and what at first looks like sheer pantyhose but upon further examination is actually gold/bronze colored tights. Not a good look. Texas Tornado vs The Warlord would deliver us classic Bobby Heenan as he states that Warlord is stronger than Tornado, Gorilla responds by saying that Texas Tornado is smarter and brains wins out over brawn, to which Bobby Heenan replies with "He can't be smarter than The Warlord. He's from Texas."

Also on the card the return of Ricky Steamboat, now known simply as "The Dragon" where he comes to the ring in "dragon" attire and carrying a torch and then "breathes" fire by spitting onto the torch (he would later say how much he disliked the liquid that he had to hold in his mouth in order to spit on the fire. Also Mr. Fuji dons the tights teaming with his Orient Express against Virgil & The Rockers. This match is a showcase for Virgil as he gets the win with the Million Dollar Dream on Tanaka. Plus, there are a couple of forgettable matches with Big Bossman vs The Mountie and Bushwhackers vs Power & Glory.

 

[Geese]

The Steiner Brothers vs. Jushin Liger.& Chris Benoit. Liger tries a single-leg on Scott. Scott easily squashes his move. Scott hooks Liger's leg for a one-count. Scott head scissors Liger to keep him down. Scott cinches on a side headlock. Rick German suplexes Benoit. They take turns stomping away on Benoit. Scott picks Benoit up for a Fallaway slam off the second turnbuckles. Liger and Benoit perform a double flying headbutt on Scott, who's laid out on the canvas.

Scott with a vertical tombstone on Liger for the win.

 

[Geese]

The Steiner Brothers vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki. 5-31-91. Scott pump handle-slams Sasaki. Rick knocks him down with a quick clothesline. He softens Sasaki up for Scott. Scott knocks him down with a double forearm tackle. Sasaki is bearing the brunt of punishment for his team so far.

Sasaki puts Scott in a Texas cloverleaf. When Sasaki ducks down for a bodydrop attempt; Scott counters with a double underhook, sit-out powerbomb. Rick with a Fallaway Slam on Sasaki. The Steiners have been hurting Sasaki with power moves and have kept him away from his partner for much of the match. Rick lifts up Hase over his shoulders. Scott perches the top turnbuckle and DDT's Hase! He defeats Hase with a Frankensteiner.

 

[Geese]

G.O.D. vs. Hikuleo & El Phantasmo. New Beginning in Sapporo. Tama Tonga tries a side headlock on Hikuleo, who lifts Tama up for a suplex. Tama baseball slides under Hikuleo's big boot attempt. A battle of victory rolls takes place between Phantasmo and Tonga Loa. It then becomes a shoving match between Phantasmo and referee Jado. Since this was Tama's last match in NJPW and he's related to Hikuleo, they didn't take the match too seriously.

GOD execute a Magic Killer on Hikuleo. Hikuleo powerbombs Tama Tonga and finishes him off with the Godsend.

 

[Geese]

Sanada vs. David Finlay. New Japan Cup 2023 finals. Sanada gives Finlay a clean break. Finlay backs Sanada up and doesn't extend the same courtesy. Finlay throws a wild right, which Sanads easily ducks. Sanada tries a flying cross-body. Finlay moves out of the way.

Finlay with a well done snap suplex. Finlay keeps Sanada grounded on the mat with a Money Clip. Sanada fights back with a short dropkick to Finlay's left knee. Finlay runs off the ropes. Sanada picks him up for a Fireman's carry and converts it into a TKO. Finlay outfights Sanada in a battle of European Uppercuts. Sanada tries a victory roll but Finlay counters with a schoolboy. Finlay executes the Dominator, hooks both legs, but Sanada kicks out at two.

Sanada clamps the Skull End and does an airplane spin. Finlay counters with a cutter! Finlay with a German. Sanada quickly gets back up and is pumped. Sanada with a Shining Wizard and short DDT for the win.

 

[Geese]

(c) Tetsuya Naito vs. Yota Tsuji for the World Heavyweight title. Sakura Genesis. Tsuji wants to lock-up, but Naito keeps dodging him. Naito is playing his usual mind games. Tsuji out-fights Naito with successive forearm strikes. Tsuji keeps Naito grounded with body scissors. Tsuji sees Naito's moves coming and knows how to counter it. Tsuji Irish whip's Naito hard against the steel railings.

Tsuji with a side back-breaker. A camel clutch. Naito fights back with a standing back elbow. He dropkicks Tsuji to the back of his left shoulder. Naito with a Rude Awakening. Tsuji superkicks Naito when they're battling on the edge of the ring apron. Tsuji follows it up with a side crescent kick. Tsuji stomps Naito on the back of his neck. Back in the ring, Tsuji tries a Boston Crab but it doesn't take long for Naito to get to the rope.

Tsuji super-plexes Naito off the second turnbuckle. Tsuji signals for a Gene Blast. Naito, who's laid out, was playing possum. He monkey-flips a rushing Tsuji to the turnbuckle pads. Naito executes a Destino. He executes a second Destino to put Tsuji away for good.

 

[Geese]

Hiromu Takahashi vs. Mustafa Ali. Windy City Riot. They take turns playing to the crowd. The crowd is on Takahashi's side. Takahashi with a wristlock. Ali with a kip up, breaks free and counters with a wristlock of his own. It then becomes a battle of wristlocks with Takahashi eventually getting the upper-hand. Takahashi takes his plush doll, Darryl Jr., out to the middle of the ring. He makes sure not to use it as a weapon or he'll get disqualified.

Ali with a neckbreaker and a rear chinlock. As Ali is yelling at Darryl Jr. It gives Takahashi enough time to recuperate. Takahashi fights back with a hurricanrana. Takahashi with a running missile dropkick from the edge of the ring apron right onto Ali, who's outside. Ali with two straight dropkicks to Takahashi's jaw. When Ali attempts a third dropkick, Takahashi hits him with a running clothesline. Ali climbs the top turnbuckle. Takahashi counters with an uppercut to his jaw, causing Ali to fall but he flips and lands on his feet. Ali executes a sunset powerbomb. He follows it up with a 450 splash for the win.

A clean win for Ali. He was ingenious with the way he executed a suicida and a dropkick.

 

[Geese]

(c) Nic Nemeth vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the Global Heavyweight title. Windy City Riot. Nemeth with a quick go-behind, then tries to abdominal stretch Ishii, who easily breaks free. Nemeth tries his amateur moves but, surprisingly, Ishii matches him move-for-move. Nemeth tries a reverse knife edge to Ishii's chest. The Stone Pitbull feels nothing. Ishii responds with his own reverse knife edge, knocking Nemeth down. Nemeth sold Ishii's shots well.

Nemeth with a neckbreaker and several successive elbowdrops. Ishii tries a sleeper; Nemeth counters with a side suplex. Nemeth tries a leapfrog; Ishii catches him mid-flight and powerbombs him. Nemeth with a famouser. Fast-paced action towards the end of the match. Nemeth ducks Ishii's clothesline. Ishii, however, quickly connects with an Enziguiri. Nemeth with a superkick. Ishii tries a vertical. Nemeth slips out and counters with another superkick. Nemeth defeats Ishii with a Danger Zone.

 

[Geese]

Genba Hirayanagi & Kotaro Suzuki vs. Tetsuya Naito & Yujiro Takahashi. They charge into the ring and attack Naito and Takahashi. Naito and Takahashi recover. Takahashi with a hiptoss and Naito with a short dropkick to Suzuki.

Suzuki snapmares Naito. The NOAH guys take turns pummeling Naito. Hirayanagi rear chinlocks him. Suzuki with a neckbreaker on Naito. He wears Naito down with head scissors. Hirayanagi with a snap suplex. Suzuki with a short kneelift to Naito's gut, but Naito fights back with a standing dropkick. Takahashi pump handle slams Suzuki. Naito pins Hirayanagi after executing a corkscrew moonsault off the top.

In Japanese matches, there's sportsmanship but not here: There was still bad blood between the NJPW and NOAH guys as they were brawling after the match was over.

 

[Geese]

Austin Aries vs. Tyler Black. ROH: The Tokyo Summit. They brawl on the ramp. Aries with a stiff elbow on Black. Aries perches the top turnbuckle; Black pushes against the rope causing Aries to fall. Black with a scoop slam and a stiff stomp to Aries' lower jaw and a stomp to his throat. Black tries a fisherman's suplex but Aries fights him off. Black picks him up for a powerbomb. Aries hurricanrannas Black, head first, against the turnbuckle pads. Black buckle bombs Aries. Aries tries a Last Chancery. Buck refuses to give up. Aries softens him up with several knee strikes to his head. Aries clamps on the Chancery tighter. Black has no choice but to quit. A lot of explosive moves. And this was just the opener!

Kensuke Sasaki vs. Roderick Strong. ROH: The Tokyo Summit. Strong with a wristlock and an armbar. Sasaki uses his brute force to push the smaller Strong down. Strong tries a side headlock.Strong tries knife edge chops on a thick chested Sasaki with no success. Strong with a Fallaway slam. Strong tries a waistlock to keep him down. Sasaki showed his agility with a hurricanranna off the top. Strong with a Uranage backbreaker. Strong makes a last ditch rally with a series of moves: An Enziguiri, a boot to the face, and a Gut buster. Sasaki with a series of lariats. Sasaki with a lariat off the top. Sasaki defeats Strong with a Northern Lights Bomb.

 

[Geese]

Roppongi Vice vs. (c) The Young Bucks for the IWGP Jr. Tag team titles. NJPW G1 US Special. Matt tries a superkick on Rocky Romero. Romero grabs his leg. Nick with an Asai moonsault on both Rappongi members. Nick tries a flyinng Senton on Romero, who instinctively puts his knees up.

Matt tries to sunset bomb Beretta, who's standing on the ring apron. Beretta doesn't budge. Nick superkicks him. Matt proceeds to execute a running powerbomb on Beretta all the way up to the ramp! Romero rushes towards both Bucks. Their double superkick only stuns him briefly. Romero recovers and knocks both of them down with a double clothesline. Beretta piledrives Nick on the edge of the ring apron. The Bucks traps both Roppongi members in sharpshooters. Romero taps out to Nick's sharpshooter.

 

[Geese]

(c) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Billy Gunn for the IWGP Intercontinental title. Gunn gets the better of it in a test-of-strength. Tanahashi with a side headlock. Tanahashi, then, with a side headlock takedown. Gunn breaks the hold with a side suplex. Gunn resorts to closed fists and working over Tanahashi's injured right arm. Gunn with a jackhammer. Tanahashi misses a High Fly fFow. Gunn takes advantage with a Famouser but only gets a two-count. As Gunn is talking smack and doing his D-X Salute, Tanahashi nails him with an open palm strike. Takes Gunn down with a Slingblade and puts him away with a High Fly Flow.

 

[Geese]

(c) Randy Orton vs. Shelton Benjamin for the I-C title. Bad Blood '04. Benjamin tries a schoolboy. Orton tries to leave in hopes of taking a count-out. Benjamin stops Orton by knocking him down with a baseball slide kick. Benjamin with a flying cross-body. Benjamin with an arm-drag. A knee-lift to Orton's gut. Benjamin press-slams Orton, head-first, on the edge of the ring apron. Benjamin clotheslines Orton over the top rope. Benjamin badly misses a Stinger Splash. Orton lifts him up for a gutwrench, converts it into a neckbreaker. Ever since Evolution member Ric Flair appeared at ringside, Orton has been getting more offense in. Benjamin with a flying cross-body, Orton turns Benjamin over for a pin and grabs his tights for good measure to retain his title. Orton wins, thanks to interference from Flair.

(c) Chris Benoit vs. Kane for the World title. Bad Blood '04. Benoit tries a wristlock but Kane picks him up and tosses him to the corner. Benoit ducks Kane's clothesline but gets knocked down with a shoulder-block. Benoit is knocked down (again) with a shoulder-block. Benoit baseball slides under Kane's boot. He tries a German suplex with no success. So far, the much bigger Kane is dominating the early minutes of the contest. Kane with a sidewalk slam. Benoit sold the move well. Benoit tries his double-leg. Kane fights it off with crude blows. Benoit locks in a sharpshooter, but Kane gets to the rope. Benoit executes three successive German suplexes. Benoit with a flying headbutt, but which didn't entirely connect. Benoit with a cross-face but Kane refuses to tap. Benoit inside-cradles him for the win.

This was Benoit's second match of the show. The first match was him teaming up with Edge to take on La Resistance for the tag team titles.

 

[Geese]

(c) La Resistance vs. Chris Benoit & Edge for the tag team titles. Bad Blood '04. The opening match of Bad Blood and one of two matches Benoit will wrestle on the show. Edge and Sylvain Grenier start it off. Grenier is holding his own against Edge. Grenier leapfrogs over Benoit. Benoit is running off of the ropes. Benoit stops and knocks Grenier down with a double reverse knife edge. Benoit with a side suplex on Conway. Conway with a well done vertical on Edge. La Resistance is taking turns wearing Edge down. La Resistance tries to double suplex Edge. Edge counters with a tanden neckbreaker. Benoit has Grenier in a cross-face for 26 seconds until Kane arrives and fights Benoit, resulting in a disqualification.

Gail Kim vs. Trish Stratus w/Tyson Tomko vs. (c) Victoria vs. Lita in a four-way for the Women's title. Bad Blood '04. Stratus slides out of the ring and leaves the fighting to the rest of the participants. Victoria back bodydrops Kim and follows it up with a standing moonsault. Lita with a roll-up, converts it into a bridge pin on Stratus. Tyson Tomko pulls Lita to break-up the pin. Ref Mike Chioda sees it and kicks Tomko out. Kim misses a spear on Lita, who's against the turnbuckles. Lita DDT's Kim. Stratus sneaks up behind Lita and schoolboy's her to become the new champ.

 

[Geese]

(c) Shingo Takagi vs. Henare for the NEVER Openweight title. Dominion. Takagi with a stiff knife edge on Henare's chest. Henare doesn't feel any of Takagi's forearm shots. Takagi's standing headbutts which doesn't hurt Henare. Takagi, whilst the aggressor, is getting the worse of it. Henare tries a spear but Takagi counters with a front facelock and proceeds to kneelift Henare's chest. Takagi hurts Henare with a standing reverse elbow, a right hook, and a clothesline.Henare's standing headbutt knocks Takagi down, but he gets up and connects with a clothesline. They're both down and neither can beat the count. It's a knock out draw.

(c) Jon Moxley vs. EVIL for the World title. Lumberjack match. Dominion. Moxley with a neckbreaker. Moxley with an armbar submission. Moxley with a hammerlock. EVIL gets to the ropes. EVIL tries a kick, Moxley grabs his right leg, trips him down and puts EVIL in a figure-four. EVIL wants a superplex; Moxley counters by raking his fingernails across EVIL's back. A crude but effective counter.

Moxley with a textbook piledriver. Moxley with a suicida on the House of Torture members. EVIL with an Anaconda Vice but Moxley refuses to quit.
Moxley executes EVIL's own finisher on him. Moxley beats EVIL a few times with a barbed wire baseball bat. Moxley puts EVIL away with a double underhook suplex on the barbed wire bat. Moxley was the workhorse in this match. He retains, despite Dick Togo's repeat interference.