Heart Punch

AGAINST : JBL's math. FOR : Batista's all "Get on with it" to Helms. FOR : JBL on Benoit: "I've never seen him happy." FOR : Miz trying to lock his hands to prevent the Crossface. AGAINST: Is it wrong that I just noticed Cherry's wearing roller skates? AGAINST : I didn't realize The Little Bastard was also a pervert. FOR : Melina's matching pants. AGAINST : Nitro's pink jacket. FOR: London's all "'Sup." FOR : Melina's timing on her kick to London's leg. AGAINST : I haven't missed that. FOR: This match. FOR: BK redefining the hot tag. FOR: Ashley tackling Melina at just the right time. AGAINST: The finish. Where'd London vanish to? FOR : Kennedy letting Undertaker boot Batista and the camera work afterward. AGAINST: Didn't this just fail miserably with Terkay? AGAINST : Wow. Two pointless segments back to back. They're really stretching for filler. FOR : Cole's pretty much nailed MV...

So I've now done twenty of these things? Interesting. My question: Is anyone actually checking them out? It's not like it's work on my part or anything, so it's not like I'm unwilling to do it even for only one or two people. But still...it'd be nice to know that *someone* out there pays attention to these things. At any rate, quality wrestling follows. Milano Collection AT & Skayde v. The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli) - (CHIKARA - TWGP 2006, Night Three - 2.26.06) Jet was looking for some good KOW footage. This qualifies, whether he's seen it already or not. This is the finals of last year's Tag World Grand Prix, which is typically the biggest weekend of the year for CHIKARA. Of course, this year they're dumping that format and bringing a super funtastic TRIOS tournament instead. Killer. Anyway, watch Skayde school everyone, which is no small feat with all the legit talent in that ring... Chris Hero v. Necro Butcher - ...

So, the great MTV wrestling experiment has finally arrived on my television. What I expect going in: Zero. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. At best, it'll be stupid spotty fun that feels like it flies by in seconds. At worst, it'll be stupid spotty fun that's so stupid that it'll wrap back around to awesomeness. Seriously, I think this show is an absolute no loss formula. Great roster of young guys, a few vets that can still go and fuck…it's New Jack . NEW JACK! On MTV. In 2007. That's quality right there. -We get some goofiness right off the bat, as MTV doesn't seem to know which show it wants to play. We get a minute or so from the preview of this coming season of Two-a-Days, then switch to your regularly scheduled Wrestling Society X programming. Weird. Tonight, Matt Sydal squares off with Jack Evans and there will be a ten man WSX Rumble to determine the two men who'll go for the WSX title next week. Also, Black Label Society . -Speaking of BLS, here they a...

FOR: Kennedy's promo. FOR: Long addressing the controversy with Undertaker. AGAINST: JBL's outrage. Kennedy doesn't lose his shot if he loses tonight. AGAINST: Of all the things to boo, they boo Mercury choking Matt out with the tag rope? AGAINST: Nitro's run-in was almost too early. FOR: Melina's hair. FOR: Snapshot on the floor! AGAINST: Miz trying to make himself look good. FOR: Miz doesn't even turn around. He knows what's up. FOR: The Chavo-Benoit video package. FOR: This is a hell of a personality clash right here: Regal, Taylor and MVP? FOR: MVP selling the back burns. FOR: JBL: "It was at Delmonico's. You ever been there?" Cole: "Yeah." JBL: "No, you haven't." AGAINST: I don't think there's a Delmonico's in New York. FOR: Yeah, I was extraordinarily wrong. AGAINST: Way too much Vito in this match; not enough London and Kendrick (or shots of Ashley) FOR: Regal and MVP working toge...

I already posted this in the forum but Shane's post inspired me to clean it up and add comments. Perhaps this will lead to actual posting from me on this wonderful blog. And Shane, you are indeed a brain-dead douchebag. LOU THESZ/RIC FLAIR AWARD (WRESTLER OF THE YEAR) 1.) Tito Ortiz 2.) Bryan Danielson 3.) Edge 4.) John Cena First, the people I left out. I'm not a fan of Mistico's in-ring work. Chris Hero wasn't anywhere as good as Danielson in-ring and drew nothing, and that goes for anyone else wrestling in the US not in the WWE as well. Matt Hughes and Mirko Cro Cop both would've been serious contenders except they had a loss during the time period (12/05-11/06). It's hard enough to consider undefeated MMA guys vs. wrestlers, yet alone guys who got beat. Tito led UFC to a ridiculous year, drawing at the time their highest buyrate, starring on the most-watched of the sequels to TUF, and winning three of three fights. Granted, two of them were against Ken Shamr...

I'm not an Observer subscriber, but that doesn't mean I can't fill out my own ballot, by god! Please...add your own vote, or at least call me a brain dead douchebag based on my votes. After all, your taste in wrestling might not be as refined as mine, rendering you unable to see why I'm always right. Or something. Lou Thesz/Ric Flair award for the top overall performer 1. John Cena 2. Bryan Danielson 3. Chris Hero I'd like to place Danielson on top, but I just don't think you can legitimately not have Cena in that slot. Hero is the MVP of the entire indy scene. Where he goes (which is pretty much *everywhere*), good things follow. Biggest Box Office Draw Abstention, if only because I'm not including MMA here and I've not seen enough from Japan or Mexico to judge fairly. Feud of the Year 1. John Cena v. Edge 2. Ring of Honor v. Combat Zone Wrestling 3. Samoa Joe v. Scott Steiner I've gotta go with Cena/Edge here. In an era of quick, meaningless feuds ...

News via Meltzer: The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has confirmed the death of Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow at the age of 45. Bigelow, a major star in the 80s and 90s throughout the world, was found dead by his girlfriend at their place of residence in Hudson, Fla. when she woke up at 10 a.m. Police haven't been able to pinpoint the time of death nor a cause of death. Bigelow had severe back problems stemming from his years in pro wrestling, and was involved in a bad motorcycle accident that nearly killed his girlfriend a few years ago. At his peak, he was one of the top wrestlers in the world, including main eventing the 1995 Wrestlemania in Hartford, Ct. against NFL legend Lawrence Taylor. He also headlined in WCW, ECW, New Japan Pro Wrestling and virtually everywhere else he appeared. I was really hoping to not have to post any of these this year, but here we are, only nineteen days into '07. Bigelow was one of the better big men who ever laced a pair of wrestling b...

AGAINST: Kennedy's way too confident. FOR: Give Charlie half a point for "two of the guys named last week will fight each other." FOR: JBL: "The leprechaun was actually taller than Charles Robinson!" FOR: Matt trying to punch his way out of the Indian Deathlock, then trying to hold on through the clock. FOR: Kennedy's sigh of relief. FOR: The Mercury run-in. AGAINST: Mercury wants to wreck Matt's face? Didn't we do that angle with Jillian and Ashley last week? FOR: Benoit-Kennedy rematch tonight. FOR: Another rematch? Yang looks awful anxious. AGAINST: "Registered redneck?" AGAINST: Why is JBL taking credit for ratings? He's an announcer, for fuck's sake. FOR: The camera angle for Tatanka's avalanche. AGAINST: JBL using black people to debunk the redneck stereotype. FOR: The Armageddon ladder match video package. AGAINST: London and Kendrick are being set up to lose, right? FOR: Benoit pointing to the turnbuck...

FOR: Oh, the Sprint's over two weeks? FOR: Batista's all for it. AGAINST: You might want to get out of the ring, Dave. FOR: Chavo's not nearly as cocky in his entrance as he usually is. Kane has that effect on people. AGAINST: This isn't really new, as Cole and JBL are pushing it as -- they've done this on Raw to determine the entry order for the Elimination Chamber the last couple years. FOR: The clock. FOR: Chavo's suplex counter into the DDT. 7:53. AGAINST: Maryse? That's random. FOR: I honestly wasn't expecting this. FOR: LOL at JBL advocating cheating from the get-go instead of waiting. FOR: London's frustration after Kendrick scoots back into the ring ahead of him. AGAINST: So wait, the match just ends? FOR: Ashley. FOR: I'm a little surprised they're showing the actual "set on fire" footage. FOR: JBL: "And yet, you people cheer." Crowd: cheers AGAINST: TMI, sir. AGAINST: MVP's promo. Where...

This? Not ECW. *sigh* I'm now four weeks behind and, quite honestly, I can't see myself catching up because the show is just brutal to watch. And I haven't been, actually, as the last two episodes sit on a tape, unwatched and mocking me. This is like WCW Thunder 2000 bad, without all the unintentional comedy. Punk is the only reason to watch at this point and Lashley is making me yearn for the days of the Big Show. It might be time to move on to something else. TNA? WSX (hell...it'll only be 30 minutes long! Less when you count the band!)? Indy stuff? Old WCW TV? It remains to be seen. If anyone truly cares about the ECW recap and just couldn't stand to live without it...let me know. I need someone to point at and laugh. Anyway, let me post some nifty wrestling and we'll go from there. Paul London & Brian Kendrick v. William Regal & Dave Taylor v. MNM v. Hardy Boyz - Ladder Match (WWE Armageddon 2006 - 12.17.06) Watch a super fun spotfest! Watch Joey Mer...

AGAINST: This tag match again? FOR: Cena: "Hell, I live here." FOR: The look on JBL's face during Cena's gift presentation. AGAINST: Why is Finlay climbing the stairs? FOR: Cena/Finlay! AGAINST: No Amy? FOR: Regal's heel shenanigans. FOR: Taylor's fallaway slam of Kendrick from the turnbuckle. FOR: Yang getting the hot tag. AGAINST: Regal and Taylor walking out? WTF? FOR: Mercury's return. FOR: Holy shit - footage from the "HHH Runs The Gauntlet" SmackDown Inferno match from ... '99? FOR: The contrast between Kennedy and MVP panicking and trying to keep themselves from wetting their pants and UT and Kane just standing there and snarling at the camera and Taker doing his eye thing. AGAINST: How much did World of Warcraft pay for that Office Space footage? FOR: MVP being so freaked out by the hearse that his own pyro startles him. AGAINST: MVP talking to Chimel and Korderas like they can help. FOR: Kane looking at the hearse ...

Yeah, with no ECW to recap today, I'm bored. I'm planning to work on another recap later, but I wanted to put up a quick VV for two reasons...both the Misawa/Marufuji GHC title switch and Angle/Joe II from this past weekend have officially hit the net and that's notable enough to warrant an immediate post, methinks. Found some other stuff of interest as well. I'll try not to post every match ever wrestled this time around! Mitsuharu Misawa v. Naomichi Marufuji - GHC Title Match (NOAH - 12.10.06) This is loading as I type this, so it'll be a while before I get to sit down and watch it. Meh. The reviews I've read have said it's good, though. Not great...but good. One has to wonder why Misawa is taking the title back, though I'm so out of the loop on the puro that perhaps he's just bridging the gap between Marufuji and their next big choice as champion. Beating Misawa theoretically means more than beating Marufuji at this point, so that makes some sense...

He has 'til *5*, referee! My week off starts today! Fan-friggin'-tastic! If not going to work doesn't put you in a good mood, nothing will. Except for maybe the fine selection of wrestling goodness that I present in this very special SUPER-SIZED post that celebrates my vacation! Be there. "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson v. KENTA (Pro Wrestling NOAH - 12.2.06) Haven't watched this myself as of yet. Since I got my newer PC repaired, these video sites actually work, though. They take longer than hell to load, but they do work. I'm hoping to check this match out later. At any rate, this is supposed to be really good, but not to the level of their match in ROH. The crowd is supposed to hurt it a bunch, as they're apparently dead throughout. "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson v. KENTA (ROH - Glory By Honor V, Night Two - 9.16.06) And...this would be the companion ROH match. ****3/4 sez Meltzer and worth every snowflake in this man's opinion. D...

FOR: Kennedy surveying the hearse. FOR: Wait, did the car just start? AGAINST: Cole and JBL not noticing the car starting until the lights go out. FOR: The crowd shots. AGAINST: Cole botching his 'Playboy research' joke. FOR: This match. FOR: Cena's promo. AGAINST: Why not do Batista's promo in the ring or something? AGAINST: What are those, toy shilleaghs? FOR: JBL: "Torpid. It means 'dull and unenergetic'." Cole: "It was so much easier when Tazz was out here." FOR: I'd normally prefer a faster-paced match, but it's better for these two guys. AGAINST: Cena's not here, right? FOR: I also expect Booker and Finlay to show up on Raw on Monday. FOR: Yang/Noble! FOR: Helms's suit. FOR: Helms's retort to Cole's "What's that on your head?" question. FOR: Cole: "Well, at least I don't wax my eyebrows." AGAINST: How is that softening Kane up? FOR: JBL on Sylvan: "He just surr...

-Clips from December to Dismember. Well, honestly, it was clips of the Elimination Chamber. If this package went a minute, the other matches got a combined 2½ seconds at the most. At any rate, that Bobby Lashley is your new ECW champion. I might have preferred Show. -Paul Heyman promo, from after D2D. He's in tears because Show lost the title. But only because the odds were so stacked against him. Err…you're the guy who made the match. Kinda hard to bitch about it now. The rematch clause is in effect on this week's show. In other words, in 45 minutes or so. Huzzah… -Montage. Rob Van Dam & CM Punk v. Test & Hardcore Holly - What an interesting dichotomy of talent/lifestyle on that first team. And, uhh…Test. Van Dam dedicates the match to Sabu, who was injured (?) at D2D. Guess it was an angle. Don't care enough to look into it. Styles mentions that Vince McMahon had sent Paul Heyman home earlier in the day . In the ring, RVD takes Holly over with a 'rana, th...

Sorry to say, I accidentally taped over the 11.21 episode of ECW, so I'll pretend to have recapped it and you pretend that you've read it. See? Everyone is happy. -Heyman and his bodyguards are out. He officially announces the weapons that will be in the Elimination Chamber. Chair, Crowbar (not Devon Storm, though that'd be pretty nifty), a table and a barbed wire bat. Apparently, all of the people who start in the pods will have a weapon. Otherwise, it's just a regular EC match. Wow…that's underwhelming. -Opening montage. -Tonight, we get a special Elimination Chamber triple-header. CM Punk v. Test, Sabu v. RVD and Bobby Lashley v. Big Show. Rob Van Dam v. Sabu - They run through a quick side headlock takedown into headscissors kip up sequence. Then do so again, for no real reason. Let the indy standoff die, dudes. It's time is WAAAAY past. They trade punches and Sabu takes RVD down with a dropkick to the ankle. He whips Van Dam into the corner, but charges in...

AGAINST: They're bringing back the Inferno Match? FOR: JBL: "I did what I had to do!" Cole: "So did Batista!" JBL: "He cheated." AGAINST: It doesn't sound as good when Sharmell's pissed off. AGAINST: What, Mr. McMahon changes the stips immediately pre-match all the time. AGAINST: Finlay? FOR: He's got a point. FOR: Yay MNM! FOR: Yay Melina! AGAINST: Why is Cole talking about ECW like he was there? And why is a Raw guy teaming with a Smackdown guy to hype a match on an ECW pay-per-view? WORLDS ARE COLLIDING FOR: Cole and JBL referencing the history between these two teams. FOR: Chemistry's still there. FOR: JBL on Ron Simmons: "He makes a living now saying one word." FOR: Kendrick's escape flip and tag. AGAINST: What happened? Can we get a replay? FOR: Thanks, guys. FOR: Kennedy to MVP: "You're stupid. Yeah, you're an idiot." AGAINST: They're not actually gonna do this tonight, a...