W*ING 1/2/1994

 

Crypt Keeper & Nightmare Freddy vs. Jason the Terrible & Shoji Nakamaki

This was a tornado tag and some of the best stuff I've seen from the horror creatures. That doesn't say much, but the layout was right, as Keeper & Freddy were the heels beating down on the faces, while Jason & Nakamaki were your charismatic babyfaces bleeding, being charismatic and making fun comebacks. Keeper was really spry here, doing a flip entrance to the ring and then landing huge boots to people's faces like he was Kawada or something. I feel like a hypocrite for it, but Jason is really fun to doing his Undertaker stuff and hitting absurd spin kicks.

 

Shinichi Nakano vs. The Winger

Post-SWS Nakano matches are rare as hen's teeth, which is awful because he is such an interesting worker, as his basic technical stuff looks tough as nails, and then he will stand up and kick you in the kidney. This was an extremely basic juniors match (that was half missed by the camera guy) where Winger added nothing, but was still a decent Nakano carryjob. Nakano made Winger struggle for everything, and at one point popped Winger straight in the mouth with a huge punch and then proceeded to stomp and kneedrop the back of his head as if trying to give him brain damage. Japanese sleazy unprofessionality at it's best.

 

 

Head Hunters vs. Jado & Gedo

This was pretty much a sprint and made me think the Headhunters might be one of the most underrated tag teams ever. This was not just funny sleazy pro wrestling, it was basically like a Twin Towers vs. Rockers match, except far seedier, blood-drenched and violent. Headhunters were absolutely pasting the Twins with chairshots, powerbombs and their combined FATNESS, and I loved every second of it. Meanwhile Jado/Gedo were hitting superkicks and flying around, and the Headhunters did a really good job setting themselves up for their offense and bumping around like huge bowling pins. Also, the guy operating the camera finally gets his shit together and we get a full picture of this match. The only bummer was that the camera missed a huge Headhunter dive outside the ring. Watching this grainy footage zooming in on a Headhunter rampaging about in the stands of Korakuen Hall felt kinda like a found footage monster movie. The finish - a giant Headhunter moonsault - was one of the most ridiculous spots I've ever seen as the poor little japanese guy lying in the middle of the ring basically disappeared underneath as this giant fat dude splashed into the ring like free willy. Fantastic match

The Library

Assorted Japanese Indy Wrestling for if you have 20 minute to spare

Takeshi Miyamoto vs. Masahiro Tsukuda, Go Gundan 1/16/1996

These two guys were from a mysterious martial arts gym/indy company called CMA. They had a few appearance on mid 90s sleaze indies and this is probably their masterpiece as they potatoe the living daylights out of each other in front of a bewildered Korakuen Hall crowd. Miyamoto is the guy in the green karate pants while Tsukuda has the boxing gloves. Whole thing felt like a fight to the death in every second. Can't tell which was my favourite moment, the punch to the back of the head from the top or Miyamotos insane internal organ rearranging comeback combo. Truely a life changing 4 minutes.

 

Black Cat vs. Masanobu Kurisu, WKA Memorial 7/7/1992

Only a 6 minute match where the ref blows the finish, but I'd still say this is must watch due to a sick bladejob and it's basically two big bellied stocky guys slapping the shit out of eachother. There really needs to be more Black Cat footage as his strap drop and punch comeback was quite epic. Kurisus chair shots, headbutts, punches etc. are up there with the most violent in history. Kurisu making his way to the ropes doing pushups while in the Scorpion Hold looked rough for a semi in shape middle aged guy.

Jason The Terrible vs. Crypt Keeper, W*ING 7/7/1993

This is a casket match. If you can't enjoy two movie monsters walloping the shit out of each other and bleeding in Korakuen Hall I guess you should just quit pro wrestling entirely. Crypt Keeper is great here just beating the everloving shit out of Jason with punch combos, boots to the head, kendo shots to the face etc, whole deal. It was a truely awesome one sided beating. The fancam view is also great as the guy catches almost all the outside brawling and you see these masked killer rummaging around the stages of Korakuen like it's a found footage movie. Jason has a few amusing comebacks and bleeds a ton while taking a major beating, somehow I really dig his "I'm indestructible" shit, and Keeper just kept beating on him harder and harder. Crypt Keeper also keeps doing a "crazy laughter". Very very inspiring material.