Super Dragon/Excalibur vs Rising Son/Taro (XPW Redemption 2001)

Match of the Week: Super Dragon/Excalibur vs Rising Son/Taro (XPW Redemption 2001)

It was this match that expanded my horizon into world of SoCal wrestling. I could go on long rant strange state of wrestling in 2001. Maybe I should do that in later time. Some ramblings before the match.....

There was two well known feds in SoCal at the time. One was UPW, whom once had WWE development deal producing John Cena, Samoa Joe, and Miz. The other was XPW, who earn not so sterling reputation being ECW ripoff and still stinging from backlash of incident at Heatwave 2000 PPV. I still gave them a chance. If it wasn't for that chance I would not have seen this match and explore other parts of SoCal feds. I bought copy of XPW Redemption at Sam Goodys which has since long closed down. I popped this tape on VHS and this was the first match. I looked at the back of cover and it wasn't advertised.

As for the match they went balls to the wall for 10 minutes in a style I never before. It was mix of high flying and stiff strong style wrestling beating the crap out of each other. It was later I found out this style was called hybrid. They were performing revolutionary moves not seen in the states throughout the match. 619? Rising Son did it before Rey Misterio. Cradle implant DDT? Seen cradle DDT but never in implant form. Super Dragon hitting various high flying moves such as corkscrew splash. Excalibur show off a tiger driver in the match. Pyschodriver? Never seen anyone did it before Super Dragon and he did two variations in the match. The crowd? They started off negative and these four won them over once the match ended.

This match got me dig more deeper into SoCal wrestling indy scene. What I saw was a revolutionary hybrid style that set SoCal wrestling apart from everyone else. It was quick fast and hard hitting way different than what I have seen at the time. A search of the wrestlers landed me to Revolution Pro, a fed run by wrestler and trainer American Wild Child. RevPro, in turn, was precursor to Pro Wrestling Guerilla as some of wrestlers created the fed started out in RevPro. It lead me to site called SoCal Uncensored, a site dedicated to SoCal indy wrestling. Importance of RevPro wrestlers showing up at XPW help jump start to rise of SoCal indy scene. It got me into the scene.

The post match:
- they were given five minutes in the ring but all four decide go into overtime. Three of four never got invited back while Super Dragon would have one more match in XPW.
- Revolution Pro closed up shop in 2004.
- Super Dragon and Excalibur along four others form Pro Wrestling Guerilla in 2003
- Super Dragon became top guy all of SoCal wrestling. Forced to retire from injuries he would returned years later teaming with Davey Richards til injury hit him again.
- Super Dragon/TARO had killer match at Bart Kapitze Alternative Wrestling Show in mask vs mask match which Super Dragon won
- Rising Son wrestled til injuries caught up to him in 2004. He returned for few matches in 2010. He passed away last year.

Match of the Week: Megumi Kudo vs Combat Toyoda (FMW 5/5/95)

Match of the Week: Megumi Kudo vs Combat Toyoda (FMW 5/5/96)

May 5 in Japanese wrestling is unofficially "FMW Day" as the company hosted big shows on this date. They don't care what day it lands on there be a show on that date. Twenty years ago this match stole the show as two women, Megumi Kudo and Combat Toyoda, battle each other in no rope explosive barbwire match. All four sides covered in barbwire while two sides contains electric explosions when touched. A retiring Combat Toyoda head into the match as FMW and WWA women champion hoping leave as champion like Atsushi Onita did on 5/5/95 show. Challenger Megumi Kudo is the face of FMW women division looking add title win no. 5.

These two told story of lifetime as these two put on a wrestling match in middle of a Japanese deathmatch as they out-wrestle and out-power each other while being surrounded by elements of barbwire. When either one landed on exploding barbwire it made Atsushi Onita looking like nervous wreck. These two women gave their heart and spirit out in this entire match caused Onita to break down after the match.

If you thought the matches Bayley, Sasha Banks, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch had in NXT was revolutionary Megumi Kudo and Combat Toyoda were 20 years way ahead of them and pushed the envelope with this amazing brutal match.

Toyoda remain retired til she came back for few one-off matches few years later. Last known match for small FMW revival brand in 2008. Kudo would retire the following year and stay out of ring competition entire time. During that time she broke many of joshi fans hearts when she married Hido.

Match of the Week: Steve Austin vs Rock (Backlash 99)

 Match of the Week: Steve Austin vs Rock (Backlash 99)

This match is one forgotten gems they had together. In my opinion, this match is far superior than their Wrestlemania 15 encounter. Going into the match the following happened:

- while Rock got his rematch, Steve Austin wanted his custom smoking skull world heavyweight belt back
- McMahons stacked the odds against Austin with Shane McMahon as referee of the match. Stipulations tacked on if Austin touched him he would be DQ'd and lose the belt
- Vince and Shane McMahon now at each other throats over power
- Rock and Austin battle on the bridge which Rock threw Austin over and into the river along with the "title"
- turns out Rock didn't toss smoking skull belt. He was wearing it and held mock funeral for the belt. Austin gained revenge steamrolling Rock's car. Both fought which Austin sent Rock down to the grave. Shane McMahon bashed Austin from behind with a shovel and is left as the last visual of holding smoking skull belt high in the air over Austin and Rock going to the show.
- before the show started match is made into no holds barred.

At least Austin and Rock made sense while McMahons feuding bit confusing. Then again its Russo style booking.

As for the match both took no hold barred rule seriously at they brawled and tore everything down in their path from fencing, equipment, and announce tables. One of my favorite visual moments when Rock got hold of camera mocking Austin only eat a stunner on top of announce table. The overbooking kicked in trying screw Austin few times. Vince would enter the foray sending one of Hebners as referee of the match and KO'ing Shane with a belt. Steve Austin gave Rock another stunner then a belt shot to retain the title and is shown holding both winged and smoking skull belt at same time.

Another wild fun brawl between the two and would get to pinnacle of it few years later.

WWE Backlash 1999 Stone Cold vs The Rock (No... by tweety-adnan

The next night on RAW Rock would turn full blown face again leaving The Corporation while Steve Austin save Stephanie McMahon from clutches of The Undertaker whom he kidnapped at end of Backlash.

RIP Prince

This year brutally sucked in deaths. So many favorites and respected people leaving this world. Prince is one my favorite. His musical ability is super uncanny. Going miss him. RIP Prince.

My silly tribute to him in this picture

Match of the Week: Kurt Angle vs Shane McMahon (2001 WWE King of the Ring)

Back after hiatus and had great Wrestlemania weekend. I watch another classic Shane McMahon bump, this time, live when he went for elbow drop on The Undertaker from top of Hell in the Cell and ended up crashing through announce table. Throughout the years when Shane gets in the ring to battle he found a ways to get on highlight reel with his crazy stunt spots. One of his infamous matches is the crazy match against Kurt Angle at 2001 WWE King of the Ring.

The picture said it all. Both battle each other in the street fight brutally beating each other the entire match. The famous spot was Angle suplexing Shane multiple times on the plexiglass trying get it to break. Post match causality left Angle with broken tailbone and Shane lucky to be alive after nearly killing himself landing on his head when the glass didn't break.

At the end you give Shane McMahon props and respect for willing put his body on the line each and every time for the dangerous spot he perform,

Shane McMahon vs Kurt Angle Street Fight King... by suverier_sabu

Ken Anderson Must Be Biggest Idiot in Wrestling

The title said all. Never have someone given a chance to be a main eventer only to piss it away in both WWE and TNA. He was loud, obnoxious, and clear on the mic. He can work around the ring. He was destined to be main eventer in the big time. But his story shows how bad he blew it.

When he debut in WWE he shined and just when things looking up he got hurt. These things happen. He recovered and given Money in the Bank win at Wrestlemania. Things really looking up but nope, got derailed by injury bug again resulting Edge beating him for Money in the Bank to get it away from him. Recovered and about receive main event push as being Vince McMahon illegitimate son. Then came one final mistake. He went public saying he never used steroids. What happen two weeks later? Got popped for failed drug test resulting in suspension and changing of WWE plans. That killed any trust of him being a main eventer relegating him to midcard status. He got sloppy on wrong person name Randy Orton effectively ending his disappointing WWE tenure. Went to land of misfits on TNA where they take anyone to put on TV and PPV whether old, drunk, drugged up, and willing take late paycheck. He was able main event on smaller scale company with TV and PPV show that try to act big but failing each time becoming champion twice. Yet cracks shown where he just shell of himself and more of loudmouth joke. Just things winding down he expected get another shot at main event. What happen? He showed up and wrestle when he is in no condition to against their longest tenure guy, Eric Young where it was reportedly terrible and cut from TV. At Young instance, TNA drug tested him (the same company that put Jeff Hardy out to wrestle in no condition) and he failed ending his TNA tenure. In silly parting shot Ken Anderson responded "Fuck TNA."

No Anderson fuck you. They gave you opportunity when no one wants touch you after your failed WWE effort putting the title on you twice. When given a chance you found a way to blow it. Whether its ill-timed injuries to opening your big mouth to your sloppiness. You somehow piss off the big players in the respected companies and you crossed another one of your last opportunity.

So many times in wrestling there wrestlers that got the rug pulled under them due to booking. Except for Ken Anderson he pulled the rug under him by himself when on verge of launching to the top. He end up stranded on the pad. He now coined the term "Ken Anderson'd" when it comes to wrestlers who blew their potential main event status.

Hayabusa

Sad Hayabusa passed away. He's one of my all-time favorites to grace the ring. My first Japanese wrestling tape I ever got was FMW 4/30/98 and 5/19/98 shows. He stood out way more and became huge FMW fan as result. His feud with childhood friend and rival Mr. Gannosuke is one of underrated feuds in wrestling. He always brought the best out of everyone he faced such as Masato Tanaka, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, and the late Kodo Fuyuki. A freak ring accident left him paralyzed ending his in-ring career. Despite it all he continued to be in wrestling in some form. The guy loved this business. Being true fighter he worked hard through his paralysis and last year able to walk unaided. Like a phoenix he risen from re-birth from being ace of a company through serious injuries to promoting and have new career in singing. Rest in peace Hayabusa and may you be re-born and rise again.