THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA
In this debut article, I include summaries of several matches that have been bumped from my top 100 match list within the last year. All of these matches were great ones, all rated ****1/2, but ultimately missed the cut.
Rey Misterio Jr. vs Psicosis 7/7/96
These two put on another masterpiece and Misterio in particular had another incredible highlight reel of moves. Fans were quiet at first but were much louder by the end of the match out of amazement over these two. Misterio armdragged Psicosis out of the ring at the start. The two then traded the advantage with a smooth exchange of mat wrestling. The highspots began as Psicosis spin kicked Misterio out of the ring. Psicosis then cleared the top rope with his amazing tope suicida on Misterio. Psicosis gave Misterio a top rope legdrop for an early near fall. Psicosis nailed Misterio with a lariat and gained a near fall. Psicosis continued his dominance of Misterio until Misterio catapulted him head-first onto the ringpost. Misterio then gave Psicosis a spinning huracanrana off the apron to the floor. Misterio nailed a springboard huracanrana back in the ring for a heated near fall. Misterio then briefly worked on Psicosis's knee. Misterio dropkicked Psicosis in the corner and gained a near fall. Psicosis fought back and threw Misterio stomach-first onto the top rope. Psicosis gave Misterio an inverted DDT and dropped him throat-first on the ringside barricade. He then gave Misterio a senton off the top rope to the arena floor in a completely insane move. Psicosis gave Misterio an enzuguiri for a near fall and then applied a camel clutch. Misterio fought back and gave Psicosis a huracanrana. Misterio then dropkicked Psicosis off the second rope and gave him a top rope spinning huracanrana off the apron to the floor. Misterio gained a near fall with a slingshot moonsault. Misterio knocked Psicosis out of the ring with a top rope missile dropkick. Misterio then gave Psicosis another corkscrew quebrada, nearly killing himself in the process. Misterio went for a springboard huracanrana but Psicosis countered with a powerbomb for a near fall. Psicosis then went for a splash mountain off the second rope but Misterio turned it into a top rope huracanrana and scored the pin at 15:21. Amazing collection of spots with reasonably logical pacing and great execution. ****1/2
J-Crown & WCW Cruiserweight Title Unification Match: Ultimo Dragon (J-Crown) w/Sonny Onoo vs Dean Malenko (WCW) 12/29/96
A tremendous all-around wrestling clinic. Malenko was his usual brilliant self while Dragon was becoming a top 10 caliber worker around this time period. The match started with quick and fluid matwork. Both looked strong, although Dragon was really impressive with his agility. Dragon threw a few stiff kicks but Malenko fought back by dropping Dragon on his head with a backdrop driver. Dragon threw some impressive roundhouse kicks, including a spinning one. Dragon maintained the advantage with some matwork and quick action. Dragon aborted a Malenko comeback by slamming him on the floor and hitting a tope suicida. Malenko suplexed Dragon at 7:00 as crowd heat picked up. Dragon maintained his dominance until Malenko countered a sleeper with another backdrop driver. Malenko gained a near fall with a German suplex before apllying a leglock for a lengthy period of time. Malenko continued to focus his attack on Dragon's left leg until the 13 minute mark. Dragon missed a handspring elbow and Malenko powerslammed him for a big pop. Dragon hit a spin kick and powerbombed Malenko for a near fall. Dragon attempted a tombstone piledriver but Malenko countered with one of his own for a dramatic near fall. Malenko went for the Texas cloverleaf but Dragon escaped. Malenko gave Dragon a tiger driver for a near fall. The action spilled to the floor and Dragon hit his Asai moonsault at 16:15. Dragon missed a moonsault and Malenko applied the Texas cloverleaf for a huge pop. Sonny Onoo briefly distracted Malenko. Dragon surprised Malenko with a small package for a near fall. Malenko hit a brainbuster for a near fall. After a slew of counters by both men, Dragon tiger suplexed Malenko and scored the pin at 19:12 to win the match and titles. Super match with the crowd being almost Japanese-like in popping for the near falls. ****1/2
WWF Intercontinental Championship: Bret Hart (champion) vs British Bulldog (challenger) 8/29/92
This was a super match with unreal fan heat. Although the move set was tame compared to most other top 100 matches, the pacing and psychology were as good as they get in the WWF. The two teased tension between then and Bulldog knocked Hart out of the ring with a tackle. The two had a quick exchange on the mat and Hart gained an early near fall. Bulldog catapulted Hart into the corner and assumed the advantage from there. Hart then dominated Bulldog for a stretch including gaining a near fall with a Samoan drop. Hart then used a, well, a bulldog, but was then press slammed off the top rope. Bulldog missed a top rope headbutt. Bret nearly missed a tope but brought down Bulldog by collaring his head. Hart gained a near fall on Bulldog with a Russian legsweep. Hart suplexed Bulldog and gained another near fall. Bulldog surprised Hart with a backslide for a near fall. Hart gave Bulldog an elbow off the second rope for a near fall. Hart applied a sleeper on Bulldog but Bulldog reached the ropes. Hart reapplied the sleeper on Bulldog in the center of the ring. Bulldog escaped by backing Hart into the corner. Bulldog press slammed Hart into the ropes and gave him a lariat. He gave Hart two more lariats for a near fall. He press slammed Hart for another near fall and gained another with a vertical suplex. Bulldog powerslammed Hart for a dramatic near fall. Hart caught Bulldog with a German suplex for a near fall. Bulldog scored a great near fall with a top rope superplex. After the two lariated each other, Bret applied the sharpshooter on Bulldog in dramatic fashion. Hart attempted a sunset flip on Bulldog but Bulldig blocked it and scored the pin at 25:12 to win the title in front of his home crowd. The crowd went nuts for the result. Great match that built well and nearly everything was perfectly executed. ****1/2
Toshiaki Kawada vs Gary Albright 10/25/95
Kawada carried Albright to what was easily the best match of his career. In doing so, Kawada had one of his better matches. The fan heat was also unreal for this match. Albright immediately went for a German suplex but Kawada applied a leglock. Kawada gave Albright a jumping kick and went for a back suplex, but Albright applied a leglock of his own. Kawada gave Albright several knees to the head. Albright gave Kawada a belly to belly suplex and applied a cross armbreaker. Albright followed up with a Fujiwara armbar. Albright suplexed Kawada and then reapplied the armbar. Kawada gave Albright a slew of kicks to his leg and tried to apply a half crab but Albright blocked it. Kawada then applied a cross armbreaker on Albright. Albright tackled Kawada on the arena floor but Kawada fought back and gave him several kicks outside the ring. Kawada slammed Albright and gave him another kick but Albright fought back with some blows of his own and belly to belly suplexed Kawada. Albright powerslammed Kawada for a near fall. Albright gave Kawada a brutal released German suplex. Albright gained a near fall on Kawada, then hooked on a full nelson. He took down Kawada and went for a submission. Kawada briefly countered with a cross armbreaker but Albright regained control of the match. Albright headlocked Kawada but Kawada countered with an impressive backdrop driver. Kawada then applied the stretch plum on Albright. Kawada lariated Albright but Albright applied a sleeper. Albright continued to dominated and then attempted a dragon suplex. Kawada countered it and gave Albright several knees and a rolling kick to the head. Kawada applied a cross armbar and made Albright submit at 15:35. Kawada's selling was masterful from start to finish and added to the drama of the match. ****1/2
1994 All Japan Carnival Tournament Match: Kenta Kobashi vs Stan Hansen 4/10/94
This was not as great as their all-time classic nine months earlier, but was still a super match with a fired up crowd. It seemed like Kobashi carried the match a bit more this time. Kobashi superkicked Hansen twice to gain an early advantage. Hansen got the better of Kobashi outside the ring. The two traded the advantage and Kobashi gave Hansen a slew of chops in the corner. Hansen regained control and took the fight back to the floor, but ran into a Kobashi superkick. Kobashi gained an early near fall with a legdrop. Kobashi maintained his dominance until Hansen won an exchange of blows. Hansen whipped Kobashi into a table outside the ring. Hansen then powerbombed Kobashi on the arena floor. Hansen jumped off the apron but Kobashi moved and Hansen crashed into the ringside barricade. Kobashi regained control and suplexed Hansen back into the ring. Kobashi missed a top rope splash. Hansen attempted a suplex but Kobashi fought it and gave Hansen a suplex of his own for a near fall. Kobashi nailed Hansen with a slew of punches and gave him a lariat for a dramatic near fall. Kobashi gained another near fall on Hansen with a DDT. Kobashi applied a sleeper but Hansen quickly escaped. Kobashi briefly applied a Boston crab on Hansen and dropkicked him in the corner. Hansen gave Kobashi a backdrop driver for a near fall. Kobashi went for a sleeper but Hansen gave him another backdrop driver for a near fall. Hansen gained a near fall with a running elbow and a more dramatic near fall with a powerbomb. Hansen attempted a top rope splash but met Kobashi's knees. Hansen hit Kobashi with his lariat but hurt his arm in the process. Kobashi tackled Hansen's injured arm a few times. Kobashi gave Hansen a moonsault for a dramatic near fall before giving him a second moonsault for the pin at 26:54. Fans went nuts for the upset since it was the first time Kobashi had ever defeated Hansen in a singles match. Hansen worked like an aging veteran and played his role as well as Kobashi played his underdog role. ****1/2
1997 Carnival Tournament Final Match 1: Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi 4/12/97
This was far from their best match. Then again, they had four ***** classics between 1997 and 1999. All the great moves and psychology were present, just not at their very top level. The start was great as both men countered or negated each other's moves. Misawa hit his 360 degree tope at 1:55. He dominated Kobashi for the next few minutes. Kobashi hit a DDT and a German suplex for an early but heated near fall. Kobashi gained a near fall with some type of captured backdrop driver. He then applied a sleeper on Misawa for two minutes. Misawa finally fought back with a released German suplex at 13:07. Misawa followed up with an elbow suicida and a top rope flip bodypress for a near fall as crowd heat began to pick up. He gained subsequent near falls on Kobashi with a tiger splash and a top rope lariat. Kobashi dropped Misawa on his head with a released German suplex and followed up with a brutal half nelson German suplex for a dramatic near fall. Kobashi powerbombed Misawa twice for a great near fall. Kobashi went for a lariat, but Misawa elbowed the arm after which both men sold the damage to their limbs. Misawa gave Kobashi an elbow and two tiger suplexes for a great near fall at 21:40. Misawa then gained a near fall with a tiger driver. Misawa gained a near fall on Kobashi using another tiger driver. He went for a running elboe but Kobashi countered with a lariat yet continued to sell his bad arm. Kobashi powerbombed Misawa for a near fall. Kobashi gave Misawa a move that started out as a suplex but ended as a released powerbomb for a heated near fall. Kobashi gained another near fall with a dropkick. Kobashi DDTd Misawa and went for a lariat but Misawa blocked it with his elbow. Kobashi gained another near fall before time expired at 30:00. Excellent match with a great second half. ****1/2
WCW Cruiserweight Title: Rey Misterio Jr. (champion) vs Dean Malenko (challenger) 10/27/96
Despite the apparent extreme difference in styles, this was a classic match with super execution except for one botched spot down the stretch. Malenko attacked Misterio before the bell and dominated him during the opening minute. Misterio did all kinds of awesome lucha spots including a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Misterio dropkicked Malenko to the floor and hit a long distance somersault plancha for a pop. Misterio went for a headscissors but Malenko countered with a side slam. Malenko fought back and grounded Misterio for a stretch using several submission moves. Malenko gave Misterio a back superplex for a near fall in a very impressive move. Malenko scored another near fall with a brainbuster. Misterio fought back and rolled up Malenko for a near fall. Malenko the continued his dominance of Misterio focusing on his back with moves such as a camel clutch. Malenko was also dominant outside the ring. Malenko applied a sleeper on Misterio for a lengthy period of time. Malenko hit a unique belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Misterio fought back but both punched each other and knocked each other to the floor. After a botched spot outside the ring, Malenko regained the advantage. Misterio gave Malenko a springboard somersault Thesz press for a near fall. After a series of counters, Misterio gained another near fall on Malenko. Misterio gave Malenko a twisting quebrada in the dive of the match, and both men sold the damage well. Misterio hit a huracanrana on Malenko for a great near fall. Misterio attempted a springboard huracanrana but Malenko countered with a powerbomb for a great near fall. Malenko gave Misterio a second rope doctor bomb and scored the pin at 18:45 to win the title. Great crowd heat added to the closing minutes. ****1/2
Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada & Gran Naniwa vs Taka Michinoku, Dick Togo & Men's Teoh 2/14/97
This is the best match I have ever seen in person. Despite the tiny crowd of 300-350, these 6 put on a world class match. Not their most spectacular match, but just as flawless as any of their other classics. The match began with the usual simple but quick action. Togo and company did several of their signature triple team moves. Taka was an early standout due to his heelish poise. Togo and Hamada had a smooth and occasionally stiff exchange of moves, climaxing with Hamada hitting a tope. Sasuke was sharp in an exchange with Men's Teoh. Hamada also did the spot where someone tries to backdrop him but he lands on his feet. Togo's work was both stiff and athletic. At one point he also tried to take Sasuke's mask off. Taka and Togo spike-piledrove Hamada at 9:08 after which Togo gained a near fall. Teoh gave Naniwa an exploder for a near fall. Togo German suplexed Naniwa and Teoh full-nelson slammed him for a near fall. Taka gained a near fall on Naniwa with a brainbuster. Hamada gained a near fall on Taka after a suplex. The heels did a triple team powerbomb on Sasuke for a near fall. Sasuke hit an in-ring quebrada on both Togo and Teoh for a cool near fall. Sasuke hit Taka with his Asai moonsault. Hamada tornado DDTd Togo and gave him a top rope huracanrana for a near fall. Teoh gave Naniwa a backdrop driver for a near fall. Naniwa gave Teoh a spinning doctor bomb for a near fall. Sasuke gave Taka an in-ring quebrada for another near fall. Taka gave Sasuke the Michinoku driver but Sasuke dropkicked him in mid-air. Taka hit a springboard plancha on Sasuke for a pop. Togo and Teoh gave Naniwa a double impact for a great near fall. Togo gave Naniwa a powerbomb followed by his top rope senton for the pin at 16:57. The combatants received a well-deserved standing ovation afterwards. ****1/2
NEXT ARTICLE: Manami Toyota vs Kyoko Inoue: Women's Feud of the 1990s?
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