Heart Punch

FOR: I'm hoping JBL takes Cole to task mercilessly for losing his voice and leaving JBL to call the main event at the PPV. AGAINST: Looks like Batista's pyro didn't go off on cue. FOR: So they're keeping him face. All right. AGAINST: Cole's still sounding a little rough. FOR: There it is. Good job, John. FOR: Cole: "I don't even think they have arenas there." FOR: Matt's bulldog/dropkick. AGAINST: What's Vickie mean by that? AGAINST: Scotty's flubbed hurricanrana. FOR: JBL: "He took time off." Cole: "He retired." FOR: This match has been surprisingly long. AGAINST: JBL's 360 OTC joke falling flat. FOR: Really? Edge has never lost at Mania? FOR: The falls are actually counting everywhere. FOR: Hey, where's the ring be... oh. AGAINST: Khali? AGAINST: Kane could've done a better job going through the barricade. FOR: JBL: "Get your ass off my show, Khali!" FOR: Booker's all ...

Instead of being bummed out over yet another wrestler who died *way* too young, let's celebrate him for what he was best at...cracking Masato Tanaka's skull and dropping people on their head. This stuff is totally random, as it's pretty much just every match of his I can find on the video sites. But it's Awesome being Awesome and, on this night, that'll have to do. RIP. "Gladiator" Mike Awesome v. Masato Tanaka (FMW - 2.18.97) Part One Part Two Mike Awesome v. Masato Tanaka (ECW: Heatwave 1998) This is still *the* Tanaka/Awesome match for me. Probably the first time most of us saw this matchup and hot damn, did it live up to the hype. Mike Awesome v. Masato Tanaka (ECW: November to Remember 1999) Great match, containing everything you love (or hate, as the case may be) about the Awesome/Tanaka series. Mike Awesome v. Masato Tanaka (ECW on TNN - 12.31.99, I think) A lot of people might consider this the best of their ECW matches. Honestly, they all sort of ...

Mike Alfonso, better known to wrestling fans around the world as Mike Awesome, has been found dead in his home of an apparent suicide. Awesome first hit it big over in Japan, and got his first American exposure in Extreme Championship Wrestling. He had several memorable matches in ECW, many of which came against Japanese star Masato Tanaka. In fact, his last WWE appearance came at the first WWE/ECW One Night Stand in a match against Tanaka. He was a two-time ECW Champion and a co-holder of the ECW Tag Team Titles. Sadly, he might be best known for leaving ECW while still holding their world title and appearing on WCW Monday Nitro on the first night of Vince Russo's "new era of WCW." This resulted in him returning to the ECW Arena and getting beaten by Taz in less than 30 seconds. Everyone at Heart Punch would like to extend their deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Mike Alfonso.

Sorry this is late. Between the weather causing a power outage, work and having plans pop up this weekend, today is the first free time I've had to work on it since it aired. Looks like I'll have a week off, though, since stupid MTV doesn't seem to want the next episode to air. After all, why would MTV want to air something that's actually entertaining? Oh yeah...and a hearty fuck you for dropping the Friday previews. -On tonight's show, we get The Filth and the Fury (Teddy Hart & Matt "M-Dogg 20" Cross) v. The Trailer Park Boyz (Nate Webb & Josh Raymond w/Johnny Webb), Jack Evans in action and Al Katrazz/Luke Hawk v. Los Pochos Guapos (Aaron Aguilera & Kaos) in a TLC match. Tables. Ladders. Cervezas. -Intro. - Sparta performs. -Clips of last week's WSX title match lead to a Vampiro interview. Regardless of the sacrifice, the WSX Title is his destiny. -Tony & Keeley from Sparta join in on commentary. Tony seems fairly knowledgeable ab...

AGAINST: Edge's weak-ass pelvic thrust in his chyron. FOR: JBL: "What were his parents? Mr. and Mrs. Bastard?" FOR: JBL: "I don't think that's important to bring that up." AGAINST: "Weird dude?" FOR: JBL agrees with me. AGAINST: A mini-Boogeyman? This is beyond ridiculous. FOR: JBL: "Somebody make some sense of this, please!" FOR: The look on TLB's face. AGAINST: Recapping the Trump angle. FOR: Deuce and Domino going over Teddy Long's head for a tag title match. FOR: 'Crack 'Em in the Mouth'. It's apt if nothing else. AGAINST: Tonight is the FIRST edition of "At The Movies". AGAINST: See No Evil DVD sales must be really slow. I blame The Marine . AGAINST: This was so much better when Booker and Goldust did it. AGAINST: Even JBL and Cole can't sell that. FOR : Kennedy ducking Sweet Chin music. FOR : Shawn's slingshot pescado. FOR: That was unique. FOR: There's an awful...

FOR : JBL: "Miz saying he had him is like Cleveland Williams saying he had Muhammad Ali." AGAINST : Isn't it a little early in the show to be destroying the announce table? BOTH : They're doing the ladder match again? FOR : Deuce's jumping side kick that should have broken Kendrick's collarbone. FOR : Long shoving Sharmell's broken nail out of his face. FOR: JBL noting how Matt's going right for the facemask unlike earlier battles. FOR : This match. FOR : Kennedy's got a point about being overlooked. AGAINST : What, they didn't play his music? AGAINST: UNNECESSARY ZOOM FOR : Finlay headbutting Boogeyman and immediately regretting it. FOR: Daivari? AGAINST : Actually, JBL, they do have cruiserweights in boxing. The comparison fails. FOR : Cole forgetting the question. FOR : Helms getting out-cheated. AGAINST : Jillian's hair and makeup. FOR : This could be great or horrifying. FOR : Kennedy stopping to look at the WM sign. FOR : Batista...

FOR: Taker showing up at both RAW and ECW. FOR: Nick Patrick's reaction to Benoit's slap. FOR: Cole dropping some psychology on us with his explanation of Finlay's kick. FOR: This match. FOR: What's up with The Little Bastard? AGAINST: A whirlpool, Cole? FOR: Oh, all right. That actually makes sense since they both hang out under the ring at times. AGAINST: "Unsafe working conditions"? AGAINST: Why are the boys wearing surgical masks? AGAINST: I think JBL's "Sandy" thing is one of those inside jokes that only he and Cole get. AGAINST: The closest Sonic to NYC is in West Virginia, JBL. FOR: London's quick thinking with the rollup of Domino. Too bad Deuce had just tagged in. FOR: Kendrick circling the ring off the hot tag to build momentum. AGAINST: Can we get a name for that? AGAINST: The Ancient Order of Royal Houstonians? FOR: Cronkite. AGAINST: Clemens. AGAINST: Swayze. FOR: The Rockets. AGAINST: I can't see how...

So, apparently MTV has decided to do a "sneak peek" of the new WSX episodes on Friday nights. If I'm home (as I am tonight, since my plans were snowed out), you can expect to typically see these recaps up by Saturday morning. That's my goal, at any rate. -Tonight, Human Tornado debuts, facing Luke Hawx. Team Dragon Gate faces That 70s team and we crown the first WSX champion as Vampiro squares off with 6-Pac. There's also a good chance that shit will blow up. God, I love this show already. -We get an opening montage this week. Some low budget, generic animation. Who cares? -The Three-6 Mafia perform. Hell if I know what song they did. Someone more hip hopically inclined can fill in the blanks. Gotta say…the sight of these guys performing in front of a bunch of scenesters who were totally rocking out made me laugh just a little. Who knew Southern rap went over so well with the doom and gloom crowd? -Clips of the WSX Rumble from last week to establish our main even...

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...