Last Wrestling Match Watched 2.0

[Crippler]

WWF Backlash 2002 - #1 Contender's Match: Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker

Ric Flair is your special referee and looks to have stolen Ernest Miller’s red SHOES. They do the token staredown, fake out lockups to start, until UT grabs a headlock. That’s enough to force Austin to bail. Now Austin takes over with the headlock. Taker escapes though and throws some boxing jobs into the air. That causes Austin to do some psyche out pushups. “Notorious Texas mind games by Dr. Austin,” as it is called by JR, who knows the name for all of Austin’s bag of tricks. Austin takes him down and stops to flip the bird to the patriotic biker. UT tries the headlock … again, but Austin breaks it and slaps on an armbar. Holy crap, Austin just did an armbar and drop toe hold to set up the armbar. You can even see the floored expression on the face of Ric. Austin tries some chops, which is a bad turn in a match against UT, as Taker then just clotheslines him and grabs an armbar of his own. So, are we just going to exchange headlocks and armbars the whole match? In a rare sight, the ropewalk draws some boos. Austin comes back with the Lou Thesz for two, where Austin deliberately broke the pin himself at two. Maybe the trust just isn’t flowing. They brawl on the outside, where a “Hogan fears Mr. Tan” sign sneaks into camera distance. Austin tries taking the protective layer off the announce table, but anticlimactically has to stop and adjust his knee braces. Taker big boots him off the apron and we have a slugfest on the outside, which spills into a crowd brawl of course, as if that was the only thing we needed to see in this match. Austin sends him into the post and tries a piledriver, but UT back drops out of it, then uses the HARLEY DAVIDSON OF DOOM parked at ringside as a weapon. Scott Hall and Kane-Pac try to provide some distraction. Meanwhile Taker sends him into the steps and takes him down with those vicious and wild haymakers. UT gets the apron legdrop, and at this point nWo are not to be seen again. Okay. Taker works on the knees now, and tries a Figure Four but Austin gets the ropes. Of course, Flair probably wouldn’t allow a match to finish on HIS own terms anyway. Oh hey, there’s the rear chinlock applied by UT! That turns into a cover for two, despite Taker no-selling an eye poke. Austin tries a sleeper but Taker quickly counters to a backdrop suplex for two. Austin tries the Stunner, but Taker shoves him off and gets a lariat for two. Austin tries to slug his way back in it, but Taker gets the flying forearm of DEATH to stop the momentum. JR reminds us of that great acrobatal move by saying Taker went AIRBORNE. Taker eats exposed turnbuckle and they collide with clotheslines for a Double-KO spot. UT rolls the snake eyes and tries the Tombstone, but Austin gets out and shoves Taker into zebra striped Flair, who gets KO’ed further revealing those fashionable red boots of his. Austin of course gets a Stunner out of the bumped ref spot, but no pin, which allows Taker to get a low blow and Chokseslam that gets just over two. You know, if you’re trying to make a last-second kickout off of a finisher look good, you might want to not do it as soon as the two is counted. Taker has to result to the chair, which Flair apparently has no problem with. Austin blocks the chair but runs into a big boot for two. Austin gets a spinebuster for two. UT grabs the chair and wacks him with it, weak Flair counts the two, which also doesn’t look very pretty. These two could definitely take some advice from Angle. Taker tries a full nelson … yeah, but gets clotheslined. So when all else fails, Chokeslams, chair shots and all, Taker must attempt the FULL NELSON?! Taker tries another chair shot but misses and get a mudhole stomped into his trademarked Deadman Inc. shirt. Taker wacks him with the chair again and Flair counts the three, despite Austin’s foot being on the bottom rope before the count even started. That would lead to Flair's heel turn and a summer's worth of horrible booking. The nWo added nothing to the match other than standing around. The match had absolutely nothing, and I mean NOTHING going for it, with all the boring spots with the restholds and mindless brawling then the outstretched ending sequences with the Flair bumps, topped off with that incredibly shitty ending. What a mess. 27 minutes of my life I’ll never get back. *

 

[Crippler]

WWF Backlash 2002 - WWF Tag Team Titles: Billy & Chuck (w/Rico) vs. Al Snow & Maven

The champs jump Maven and isolate him before Snow can even get out of the block. The crowd chants, "Rico's gay," so he tells them to talk to the hand. Ugh, he's such a bitch. They quickly realize that it would be much more productive to have Al play face-in-peril. He falls into Billy's crotch, though, and gets the hot tag to Maven. Maven isn't exactly a house of fire as he immediately gets hit with the Fameasser. Chucky superkicks Al, but Rico's interference backfires. That allows Maven to hit a crossbody for two. Snow chases Rico away, leaving Maven alone in a two-on-one. Chuck superkicks Maven, and Billy gets the pin. Just a nothing match really, a title match for the sake of another title match being on the card, and you know it means very little when it only gets six minutes. *

 

[Crippler]

WWF Backlash 2002 - WWF Undisputed Title: Triple H vs. Hulk Hogan

Hogan comes out to Voodoo Chile, making me wonder why that song is licenced when the rest aren’t. Awesome shot of Hogan staring over Hunter's shoulder before the match begins. Both guys were babyfaces coming in, but Hogan was riding the nostalgia wave. Mid-ring staredown, finally they lock-up, and HHH wins a power battle. Crowd seem to be behind Hogan, which is unsurprising. Another lock-up, and again HHH wins a test of strength to more boos. Another lock-up, and this time Hogan wins the power battle and does some posing. Another test of strength, HHH gets Hogan down to one knee, but Hogan gets back up. HHH hits a back elbow, our first strike after four minutes of match time, and applies an overhand wrist lock. Hogan powers out and applies a headlock. THIS IS TERRIBLE. HHH sends Hogan off the ropes, and Hogan knocks him down with a shoulder block, then poses. Lawler compares it to a chess match, which seems like a perfectly acceptable alternative to watch right now. HHH unleashes some right hands, punching Hogan down into the corner, and then choking him. Hogan reverses a whip, and hits a back body drop on HHH, then clotheslines him down twice. Hogan goes for some chops in the corner, then a choke of his own. HHH goes all punchy kicky to take over, as Terry loses the bandana. But the immortal gets a backdrop out of the corner and pounds away. Hogan mounts the Assassin with ten punches then tosses him. HHH rakes the eyes outside and tries a suplex, but Hulkamania allows Hulk to reverse it into one of his own. Hogan rakes the eyes then, which makes whatever sense, but HHH can even no sell IMMORTALS, as he then slaps Hogan and sends him to the corner setting up a Pedigree, but Hogan counters out and catapults him into the corner, then rolls him up for two. JR notes that Hogan retaliates with one of his greatest offensive maneuvers, “The right hand.” No comment to add. Hogan then uses a Diamond Cutter for two. Whoa, talk about defying the moveset. HHH goes to working the leg, which you knew would have to happen sooner or later. He jams it into the post a few times then uses the ropes to continue the pain and agony. HHH continues on the knee with a leglock, but Hogan gets regenerated by the Hulkamaniacs and kicks out of a Figure Four attempt. However, HHH chopblocks the knee, whiche hopes no opponent ever does to him, then goes back to working the leg. Meanwhile JR and King try to puzzle out just why this crowd is all pro-Hogan. Is that even plausibly, guys? Hogan is finally able to kick HHH off to the corner, but HHH goes back on the rampage by choking Hogan. This is not exactly Ultimate Warrior bearhug boring, but getting dangerously close. Now HHH successfully locks in the Figure Four, which Hulk should be accustomed to, and he does, as he counters it, but Hunter makes the ropes. Evil Hogan however refuses to break it. Now HHH goes with the sleeper, which is anything but what we needed here. Hogan WILL NOT SUBMIT though, and gets a sloppy back suplex out of it. Hogan oppurtunizes his adrenaline rush and gets the big boot and Lethal Leg Drop, but Jericho runs out and takes out the ref, then clocks Hogan with a chair. Jericho tries waking up the ref, after all he was the one who just took him out. HHH turns on the man who just tried to get him the win, because he would never take a dirty win like that, and gives him a quick kick and facebuster, then tosses him. HHH tries some punches but it is HULK UP OF THE IMMORTALS time, and he gets a second big boot, but a second Lethal Leg Drop misses, allowing HHH to get the Pedigree, but Undertaker spoils the fun and takes out the ref, then grabs a chair and wacks HHH with it. Taker puts Hogan on top, but Hogan NEEDS NO HELP BUT THAT OF THE HULKAMANIACS, and UT is NOT a Hulkamaniac. So Hogan punches Taker off, and gets another Lethal Legdrop for the win. The bloodied and battered HHH offers the handshake of respect afterwards, and Hulk accepts. This was really slow, incredibly repetitive, and just plain boring. It certainly picked up towards the end, the overbooked finishes are what they were to set up future feuds. Hogan was seemingly given the belt for novelty value, a risk which didn’t pay off, but nobody could deny his popularity at this moment in time. *

 

[Crippler]

WWE Judgment Day 2002 - Intercontinental Title: Eddie Guerrero vs. Rob Van Dam

Rob overpowers Eddie for two. Clothesline gets two. Powerslam and Eddie bails. Back in, he forearms Rob, who retaliates with a split-legged moonsault out of the corner and some kicks. Backdrop and legdrop get two. Backbreaker gets two. He stays on the back with an elbow and hooks a Rito Romero Special, which shows that he’s been paying attention to the last match with Eddie and has adjusted his battle plan accordingly. Of course, the match itself was given almost no time to develop on the RAWs leading up to it so they couldn’t even have Rob drop a soundbite like “Yeah, I’ve been watching tapes and learning stuff. Or whatever.” Because that sort of thing might eat into valuable skit time. Rob bridges back on the move for two, then releases and quickly dodges the falling Eddie. Neat spot. Standing moonsault gets two. Eddie gets a cheapshot to take over and makes some friends in the front row, but Rob monkeyflips him to keep on the back. Another one sets up a hotshot into Rolling Thunder, which gets two. Eddie reverses a suplex for two, but Rob heel kicks him down and heads up. Eddie crotches him and gives him the MURDER-DEATH-KILL POWERBOMB~! However, his back is hurt too badly to cover this time, unlike the first match. Eddie heads up, but again the weakened back prevents him from hitting the frog splash, as Rob has time to move this time. Slugfest is won by RVD, and he goes up…but misses. Should’ve worn Eddie down more. Double KO and they do a criss-cross and collide. Rob backslides him for two, but Eddie proves smarter again and does his own backslide, but uses the feet on the ropes for the pin. Solid opener ***

 

[Crippler]

WWE Judgment Day 2002 - WWE Women's Title: Trish Stratus (w/Bubba Dudley) vs. Stacy Keibler (w/Rev. D-Von & Deacon Batista)

The challenger went to work early, using her legs to her advantage. But the more experienced Trish assaulted Stacy with a Boston Crab and a neckbreaker, in addition to punches to the face. Stacy threw a tantrum on the outside, and Bubba simply laughed at her. But Stacy hit Bubba, enraging the former Hardcore Champion. As the ref separated them, Bautista got into the ring and slammed Trish. Stacy then went for the cover, but it was only good for two. Stacy went to work on Trish, choking her and pulling her hair. Moments later, Bautista went to interfere again, but Trish fought him off and bulldogged Stacy for the pinfall win! D-Von chased Trish from the ring as Trish celebrated her victory. In the ring, Bubba Ray and D-Von stared each other down. The two shook hands, and Bautista went to cheap-shot Bubba, but Bubba caught him and knocked him out of the ring. D-Von then cheap- shotted his own brother. Bautista went to attack Bubba, but D-Von called him off and helped Bubba up, and then gave him a cheap- shot of his own. D-Von told Bautista to get the table, screaming that Bubba had to learn, and that he would make Bubba see the light. Bautista and D- Von set up the table, but Bubba fought the men off, yelling at D- Von until Bautista hit Bubba with the steel collection box. The holy men then drilled Bubba through the table! DUD

 

[Crippler]

WWE Judgment Day 2002 - The Hardy Boyz vs. Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman

The Hardyz attack Brock and chase Heyman, but Brock uses that to gain the advantage. Heyman screamed instructions at his man as the Hardys tried to knock Lesnar down, with little success. Lesnar tossed the Hardys around like rag dolls. Jeff downed the monster with a corkscrew moonsault and spinebuster, and Matt nailed a second-rope legdrop. The brothers hit Poetry in Motion and knocked him to the outside, and then focused their attention on Heyman. Jeff chased him into the ring, where Matt caught him and tossed off his hat, revealing the skullet! The brothers brutalized Paul until Brock caught Matt coming off the top, but Brock tripped over Paul and nearly scored the pin. Jeff soon knocked Matt from the apron by accident and got caught in the huge side slam from Brock. Paul Heyman screamed for the pin, and the agent then pinned Jeff to pick up the victory for his team. *

 

[Crippler]

WWE Judgment Day 2002 - Handicap Match: The Big Show & Ric Flair vs. Steve Austin

Stone Cold went right for Flair as the match began, taking out his aggressions on the RAW owner. As the "What?" chants began, Austin then chopped down the 500-pound Big Show. Flair & Show tried to use the numbers game to their advantage early on, but Austin fought them both off. Austin locked Show in the figure four, but Flair saved Show and Austin locked Flair in the hold instead! Outside the ring, Austin grabbed a steel chair. Referee Charles Robinson screamed for him to put the chair down as Flair & Show refocused their strategy. Austin went outside the ring and grabbed another chair, and this time, he simply sat down, and gave Robinson a pair of middle fingers! The match officially got started with Flair & Austin squaring off, as Stone Cold cheap-shotted Show. Austin got the better of the owner, as Flair screamed he was going to leave the ringside area. Robinson convinced him to come back as Austin grabbed a couple of beers. The crowd chanted for Austin as he locked up with Flair, and the RAW owner gained the upper hand by sticking his thumb in Austin's eye. He then chopped away at the Rattlesnake, but Austin regained control and chopped back away at Flair. Austin vented weeks of aggression on the Nature Boy, who tagged in his 500-pound partner. Show used his power to his advantage, but Stone Cold would not stay down. Show downed Austin with a huge boot, and then tagged in Flair. He assaulted Austin with a low blow, but Austin battled back. He caught Flair up top and tossed him to the mat, and then stomped a mud hole in him and walked it dry. But Show fought back, dominating Austin with a Powerslam. Austin kicked out of a pinfall attempt at two, and Flair continued his assault. Flair went to work on Austin's leg, and then tagged in Show, instructing the monster to go to work on Austin's legs to soften the Rattlesnake up for the figure four. Austin screamed in pain as Show dropped his 500 pounds directly on his legs. Flair tagged back in and set Austin up for the figure four, but Austin rolled him in an inside cradle for two. Austin tried fighting back, but the attack on the Rattlesnake's leg continued. Flair then snared Austin in the figure-four leglock, as Stone Cold screamed in pain. Austin tried to turn it over, and finally reversed it until Big Show came in to break up the hold. An Austin backslide was good for two, and Stone Cold battled back valiantly. Austin downed Flair with a spinebuster, and then locked Flair in a figure-four of his own until Show again came into break things up. Flair tagged in Show, and Austin stunned the 500-pounder with boots to his face and a second-rope Lou Thesz Press! Austin then hit the move on Flair and a spinebuster, but Show broke up the pinfall. Show then grabbed Austin by the neck, but Austin hit a Stunner as X-Pac ran to ringside. Austin went for another Stunner as X-Pac went for a kick, but X-Pac hit Show by accident. Austin then Stunned X-Pac and Stunned Flair, pinning the RAW owner for the win! This was hard to watch cause it was so boring, 15 minutes. *1/2

 

[Crippler]

WWE Judgment Day 2002 - Hell in a Cell: Triple H vs. Chris Jericho

This was carryover from WrestleMania, only instead of being a surrogate for Stephanie (who was "banned from television forever"), Jericho was a surrogate for Vince. Referees locked the men inside the Cell as the match began. The men stared each other down, trying to gain the psychological advantage in the most intimidating match in all of WWE. Triple H gained the early advantage, taking it to Jericho and tossing him to the outside. Back in the ring, The Game continued his attack, but Y2J fought back. Jericho went for an elbow in the corner, but Triple H missed, and Y2J hit the post shoulder-first and flew to the outside. There, Triple H tossed him into the Cell repeatedly. Triple H continued his assault, suplexing Jericho and scoring a two-count. Jericho threw Triple H into the corner, and The Game flew to the outside, where it was now Y2J's turn to use the cage to his advantage. But Triple H reversed, throwing Jericho into the ring steps. Triple H used the steps as a platform, and tried to piledrive Jericho onto them, but Y2J fought out of it and slingshotted Triple H right into the Cell! Jericho's arm began bleeding profusely. Jericho grabbed a ladder from under the ring and drove it into The Game's face. Jericho raked Triple H's now-bloody face into the Cell, and then back in the ring, he again drove the ladder into Triple H's head. Jericho maintained the advantage, tossing The Game into the ladder and knocking him to the outside, where Triple H's head again hit the ring steps. From the ring, Jericho tossed the ladder to the outside and onto The Game. The Game tried to fight back, but Jericho tossed him into the Cell once again. Jericho grabbed the ladder, but Triple H grabbed a chair, and knocked the ladder right into Jericho! Jericho grabbed his knee and hand in pain, as The Game nailed him in the back with the chair. Jericho punched Triple H repeatedly and bulldogged The Game onto the ladder. Y2J brought the ring steps into the ring and was about to hit The Game, but Triple H caught him with a front toehold, and Y2J fell face-first into the steps! The Game followed up with a neckbreaker. Triple H hit a facebuster and then tossed the steps at Jericho, which bounced off Y2J's head and arm! Outside the ring, Triple H picked up Jericho and drove him into the cage like a javelin. He bounced Y2J's head off the ring steps. Jericho went after The Game in the ring, but Triple H moved, and Jericho ran full-force into referee Tim White, driving the ref into the cage and knocking him out cold. Jericho drove the chair over Triple H's head and went for the pin, but there was no ref to count it. Jericho went after Tim White and again drove him into the cage, busting White open. Referees ran down to help White, but couldn't get into the Cell, since White had the key! Triple H hit Jericho with a spinebuster, as the other refs used a bolt-cutter to get the lock off the Cell. After they did so, they ran into the cage to save White. Jericho went after Triple H with a chair, but The Game kicked the chair back into Y2J's face. Triple H looked under the ring for something, and finally pulled out his sledgehammer! He drove it right into Jericho's face and went for the cover, but the refs were too busy checking on White to count the fall. A bloody Jericho crawled out of the cage as Triple H stalked him. Jericho slammed the door into The Game's face. The two fought outside the Cell, and Jericho bounced Triple H's head off the announce table. Jericho then took the top off the Spanish announce table. The two ascended the table, and Jericho went for the Pedigree! Instead, Triple H battled out and DDT'd Jericho through the table! After he recovered, Triple H reached under the other announce table and took out a barb wire two-by-four! Jericho ran away from Triple H climbing up the Cell! The Game climbed up the cage after Jericho, bringing the bat with him. Y2J grabbed the bat and nailed The Game in the back with it. On top of the cage, Jericho held up the bat and again nailed Triple H with it. Jericho locked The Game in the Walls of Jericho on top of the cage, as a ref climbed the cage to ask Triple H if he gave up. Triple H held on, finally throwing Y2J off of him. Y2J again grabbed the bat, but as he went to hit The Game, Triple H nailed him with a low blow. The Game locked up Jericho for a Pedigree, but Jericho backdropped him. Triple H knocked Jericho in the head with the bat, but could only score a two-count from the ref, who was counting falls on top of the Cell! Still atop the Cell, Triple H went for the Pedigree and nailed it. The ref then counted Jericho down, as Triple H won the match! These two don't have much chemistry with this face/heel alignment. There was just no emotion to any of this, even though they tried to recreate some of the famous Hell in the Cell spots. **3/4

 

[Crippler]

WWF Fully Loaded 1999 - WWE Championship First Blood Match: The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin

The stipulation is that if Austin loses, he can never get another title shot. If Austin wins, Vince McMahon will never appear on WWF TV again. Uh-huh. Earlier, the Undertaker was involved in a separate dispute with X-Pac and Kane, something that would be important later. Austin is bandaged up from Taker's attack during the contract signing. Taker meets Austin in the aisle and pummels him against the railing. To ringside, Taker knocks Austin into the audience and then tosses the ringsteps at him! There's a lawsuit waiting to happen. Finally, they get to the ring as Vince McMahon shouts advice from the announce table. Taker misses a big boot in the corner, so Austin starts stomping away at the Taker's other leg to take him down. Austin wraps the Taker's knee around the ringpost, damaging it even further. Taker responds by kicking Austin over the ring barrier into the audience. Taker grabs a chair and starts swinging wildly, but Austin is able to avoid his swings and drop toehold him into the steps. Back in the ring, Taker accidentally knocks down Earl Hebner. He tries to bounce off the ropes and trips over Earl's prone body, tying himself in the ropes. Austin grabs a chair, but Shane McMahon runs in and takes one for the team. Ooooh. Taker unravels himself from the ropes, but Austin kick him in the nuts and delivers a Stunner. Vince senses the end is near and tries to attack with his crutch. Austin disposes of him and grabs another chair. Taker grabs the earlier chair, though, and hits Austin in the gut. He's about to hit Austin again when X-Pac runs down and kicks the chair into his face. That buys Austin enough time to grab a camera and SMASH it into Undertaker's head. Earl Hebner recovers and sees Taker bleeding to give Austin the win. Number One contender Triple H attacks after the bell, but the Rock runs down and they fight all the way to the back. Taker and Austin continue to brawl until enough WWF officials come down to separate them. Austin gives Vince a Stunner to send him on his way. This is probably the best First Blood match in history mainly cause if was just 10minutes straight good brawling, but if somebody can direct me to a better one, don’t hesitate. ***1/2

 

[Crippler]

WWF WrestleMania X-Seven - The Undertaker vs. Triple H

This was the first meaningful match between these two, and at does have a pretty big feel to it. They immediately brawl on the floor before the bell rings, and the remains of the Spanish announce table gets used. Poor guys can’t catch a break. They head into the ring, and we get the opening bell. Taker controls early with some soup bones, and elevates HHH with a high backdrop. Taker staggers HHH with a clothesline and looks to set up either the Tombstone or snake eyes, but instead he just hits a powerslam. That was weird. HHH can’t get any traction in the early going until he is able counter Old School by simply yanking Taker off the top rope. The man’s called the cerebral assassin for a reason, you know. HHH goes to work on the throat of Taker with multiple elbows. The neck work continues with a nice swinging neckbreaker, but it only gets two. HHH keeps trying for the cover, but Taker kicks out each time. In a Flair spot, HHH gets in the face of the ref, and the ref shoves HHH back. That gives Taker a chance to recover, but he sets too early on a backdrop and eats a knee. We are just over 5 minutes in and HHH goes for the sledgehammer. Sadly, Chioda disarms HHH, but he pays for it as Taker reverses a pedigree attempt to a catapult, and it’s Chioda who gets crushed. Taker snaps off a chokeslam, but HHH is able to lift a shoulder at two. That’s pisses off Taker, so he takes out his frustration on Chioda by punting him in the head. Nice! Now we get the kick ass brawl we were hoping for as they brawl through the crowd. They head to tech area as JR accidentally refers to HHH as Kane. I know they fought a shit load of times, but how do you confuse those two? The brawl continues to a nearby platform and HHH is able to get hold of a chair. In a sign of things to come in the next match, HHH just beats the hell out of Taker with the chair. HHH goes for one more shot, but he gets goozled, and in a great visual Taker chokeslams him off the camera tower to the “concrete” floor. The impact is kind of ruined when Taker jumps down and you see the padding give way under the black covering. The replays didn’t help things either, but still, the thought was there. JR informs us the ref is still motionless, and Heyman asks who gives a damn about a referee. Ha! HHH gets his ass kicked all the way back to ringside, and both men head back into the ring. Taker spots the sledgehammer, and that’s a bad thing for HHH. He does some high quality cowering however, and it gives him just enough time to punt Taker in his booger reds. Now HHH has his hands on the sledge, but he runs flush into a boot from Taker. Both men struggle to their feet and start exchanging right hands. Had this been a Cena match you would be hearing “Boo, Yeah” right about now. HHH gets dumb and tries a tombstone, and as expected, Taker easily reverses to one of his own. Unfortunately for Taker he pays for punting the ref earlier as there is nobody to count the fall. Taker goes for the last ride, but HHH is able to grab the sledgehammer, and he fires off a shot as he was being hoisted up. That gets a hot near fall, and it also splits Taker wide open. Again, HHH gets stupid however as he mounts Taker in the corner to fire off some right hands. It sucks for him though as he is prime position for the last ride, and that’s exactly what happens to give Taker the pin. They basically said forget this wrestling shit, and went out to have a kick ass brawl with no slow spots. I’ll even forgive the ref bumps because he was only slowing down the chaotic brawl this match ended up being. ***1/2 - ***3/4

 

[AZUCAR!]

Beer Money, Inc vs LAX - TNA World Tag Title - Hard Justice 2008

 

[Crippler]

WWE Smackdown 09/04/2003 - WWE CHAMPIONSHIP: Kurt Angle vs. The Undertaker

During introductions, it is mentioned that Taker somehow dislocated his wrist last week, as tape is seen on Taker's left arm by his hand, as well as his elbow. Taker overpowers him to start and they trade wristlocks, and Kurt gets overpowered again. Taker goes back to the arm, but Kurt works a headlock. Taker hiptosses out and gets a short-arm scissors, which Kurt reverses for a near-fall. Rollup gets two. Takedown gets two. Well, if Undertaker wants to be Mr. MMA, Kurt’s the guy to play ball with him. Angle goes to a wristlock, but Taker armdrags him and goes back to the arm, setting up for some OLD SCHOOL. Angle comes back with the rolling germans and a double-leg takedown for two, but Taker slugs him down. What a poor sport. Taker works on the neck on the apron and guillotines him with a legdrop. UT was keeping up so well before he took it back to his usual slow brawl. Angle gets posted and we take a break. We return with Taker pounding away in the corner, but Angle fights back. He grabs a sleeper, but Taker suplexes out. Angle takes him down to set up an overhead suplex for two. Taker comes back with a corner clothesline series and Snake Eyes, and a big boot. Angle counters with the anklelock, but Taker powers out. Angle Slam gets two. Another one is countered with a chokeslam, which gets two. Last Ride is reversed to another anklelock, it’s reversed to an armbar. Angle reverses back to the anklelock, but now Taker gets his triangle choke, which the crowd totally doesn’t get. Angle makes the ropes. Angle tries another anklelock, but Taker is in the ropes so it doesn’t go anywhere. Taker drops an elbow for two. Taker slugs away, but Angle fires back, only to walk into a big boot. Taker tries another chokeslam, but Angle reverses to another anklelock. It’s in the center of the ring again, but Taker reverses out of it again. Geez, I’m getting sick of that. Chokeslam and Last Ride, but Brock runs in for the DQ.

This was an extremely good TV match and still holds up to this day. It featured some great mat based wrestling. Angle was on a roll at this point and Taker had showed signs of changing over to a more MMA-based style in the past. It was never more evident before than in this match. You know these two looked back to this match when they were getting ready for their No Way Out 2006 match that completely turned Taker’s career around for the better. ****3/4

 

[Crippler]

TNA Hard Justice 2008 - Last Man Standing: AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle

They are doing the Texas Death Match rules, pin fall and then they have to answer the count of 10. Angle stalls and keeps going to the floor. AJ wants to fight and keeps calling him on. AJ finally chases him after Angle spits on him. Angle back in first, lands uppercuts and then rights in the corner. Angle chokes out AJ with the boot, a slam by Angle and a cover for 1. He works the chinlock of hate on AJ, who escapes and gets chops and rights on Angle. He lays the boots to him, choke shim out but Angle then rakes the eyes. Uppercuts by Angle, but AJ gets the counter combo into the dropkick and then clotheslines Angle to the floor. SENTON DIVE by AJ, and he then covers Angle on the floor for 2. AJ slams Angle off of the apron, and then to the barricade. Stiff kicks by AJ to the chest of Angle, back in the ring and more kicks by AJ. A slam followed by a knee drop from AJ and he covers for 2. Angle manages to pull AJ to the floor and follows. Slams AJ to the barricade, whips him and AJ leaps the barricade and then dives onto Angle, gets caught and Angle gets an overhead belly to belly into the barricade! Angle covers for 2, and then slams AJ to the steps. Rights by AJ, chops and unloads on Angle. They brawl up the ramp and more rights by AJ where the cut from Thursday is. Angle tries a suplex, but AJ gets one on the ramp. AJ covers for 2. They fight on the stage now, rights by AJ and Angle is rocked. Angle suplexes AJ off of the stage! SENTON DIVE BY ANGLE! Psycho. Angle covers for 2. Rights by Angle as he drags AJ to the ring and then slams AJ off of the announcers table. Back in the ring and Angle lays the boots into AJ. Side back breaker and a cover for 2 by Angle. Back to the chinlock goes Angle, AJ fights to his feet and takes Angle to the corner. Enziguri by AJ. Kicks to Angle now, chops follow and a whip, counter and AJ avoids him and chops Angle down. Overhead belly to belly by Angle! A slam by Angle and right into a cover for 2. Side headlock by Angle as he tries to keep AJ down. AJ fights, works to his feet and escapes. Chops to Angle, rights, lefts and knees by AJ. Off the ropes and they collide as they both went for a cross body. They trade rights, a clothesline by AJ, another and a third. A whip, AJ tries to counter and to the apron he goes. Springboard shoulder block by AJ. Torture rack by AJ! AJ spins it into a powerbomb and covers for 2. AJ picks up Angle, clash try countered and Angle gets the ankle lock. AJ escapes, gets a spinebuster and then goes up top. Angle runs up, AJ knocks him off and tries a RANA, powerbomb by Angle, rolls and tries the clash but AJ gets the ankle lock! Angle gets the ropes, but AJ pulls him back and grapevines the leg! Angle taps @ 17:00. The ref counts on Angle, he works to his feet and is up at 9. AJ to the apron, rights to Angle, back in and more rights by AJ. AJ misses the back flip DDT and a LOW BLOW by Angle. German by Angle, another and then a third. He hangs on and gets a sick release German on AJ, and he covers for 2! Straps are down! Angle calls AJ a pussy and calls him on, Angle slam countered and a PELE by AJ! AJ covers for 2. AJ crawls and goes up top now. Angle over, rights to AJ and then climbs up with him. Elbows by AJ, Angle down and Angle runs up and gets a SICK SUPER GERMAN! 1…2…3! AJ was pinned @ 21:00 and the ref counts, but Angle with an Angle slam and pins him again. The ref counts on AJ again, AJ is down and crawls for the ropes. Angle grabs him, AJ counters the Angle slam into the clash! 1…2…3! That pin came @ 23:00 and the ref counts on Angle. AJ is up and Angle is up at 9. Corner shoulder block by AJ. Sets Angle up top, follows, they battle and Angle looks for a suplex, AJ head butts him and DDT'S ANGLE OFF OF THE TOP ROPE! AJ covers for 3 @ 24:00. The ref counts again, AJ is up and Angle cannot answer the count. Post match Commentary plays up Angle's history of neck issues as he lays on the mat. The ref calls for medical attention and the EMT's come to the ring. They put the neck brace on Angle and place him on the back board as AJ watches on. AJ is back in and gets a brain buster on Angle! ****1/4

 

[Andrew]

Brock Lesnar v. John Cena - Extreme Rules 2012

 

[Crippler]

WWE King of the Ring 2002 - King of the Ring Semi-Finals: Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho

Jericho grabs a headlock to start and works the arm, but Rob kicks back. Criss-cross and RVD gets an elbow and they armdrag each other to establish parity. Both men miss clotheslines. Van Dam delivers a reverse elbow and they both go for dropkicks. Jericho slaps him in the face, so Van Dam returns the favor with the side of his foot. Van Dam delivers a monkey flip. Jericho comes back with a flying forearm. Jericho springboards but misses the crossbody. Van Dam follows him out with a somersault plancha. Back in, Van Dam hits a sidekick and goes up for the Frog Splash. Jericho kicks the ref into the ropes, crotching Van Dam on the top rope. Jericho double-arm superplexes him for two. A leg scissor rollup gets two for Van Dam. Jericho clotheslines him for two and unties the top turnbuckle. Van Dam small packages Jericho for two, but the ref is busy trying to repair the turnbuckle. Jericho drops Van Dam with the Breakdown. It only gets two, so Jericho unties his wrist tape and chokes him with it. Jericho misses the running vertical splash against the ropes. He comes back with a surfboard stretch. Van Dam avoids a charge in the corner, and Jericho's shoulder goes right into the post. A springboard kick nets two for Van Dam. He cartwheels into a moonsault for two. Jericho avoids the leg sweep and drops Van Dam with an enzuigiri. That gets two. Van Dam avoids the bulldog but takes a German Suplex. It only gets two. Van Dam hot shots Jericho on the ropes and delivers a split-legged moonsault. That gets two. Van Dam reverses the Walls of Jericho to a rollup for two. Jericho misses a dropkick but avoids going into the exposed turnbuckle off a slingshot. Van Dam goes into it instead. Jericho gets the bulldog, but the Lionsault misses. Van Dam spinkicks him and goes up for the Five Star Frogsplash. IT MISSES! The Lionsault hits. ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Van Dam goes for a huracanrana. Jericho counters to the Walls of Jericho. Van Dam easily makes the ropes. They fight on the turnbuckle. Van Dam kicks Jericho back into the ring and finishes him with Five Star Frogsplash. After the match, Jericho puts Van Dam in the Walls of Jericho, injuring him further. This was good, but they looked a bit disjointed near the finish and worked a really slow style. ***