Best Of The Velocity Matches #4

 

Tajiri vs. Chavo Guerrero, Jr., WWE 8/4/2002

One of only two singles matches between them! It‘s really good! The other match between them was also on Velocity a year later! These two mesh insanely well, busting out some slick as hell fast junior exchanges before Chavo goes to town on Tajiris leg. Velocity is really the show you want to check out if you want to see guys working limbs in interesting ways in throwaway matches. I loved Chavo attacking Tajiris leg from the Tarantula (while still selling the effects of the Tarantula!), and all the different Tajiri leg selling bits were great. Tajiri also had a cool spot where he slickly rolled out of the ring to elbow Chavo in the face. I actually liked the ending DQ, as it felt Tajiri was out of options so he opted for a prick move by misting Chavo in the face.

Hardcore Holly vs. Albert, WWE 8/4/2002

These two are sure on an unlikely hot streak of good 4-5 minute matches. This was also cool because they just waffle each other hard. Albert starts with a huge lariat and Holly just chops the hell out of his mammoth chest. Albert drops some HUGE bombs including a massive backbreaker on Holly just comes back chopping him and hitting his amazing dropkick. No matter the match, Holly IS gonna chop you really hard and dropkick you in the face, the guy only had one mode. We get a choice nearfall and fiery stoic babyface Holly too, so yes this match is a real winner in my book!

John Cena vs. D-Von Dudley, WWE 8/13/2002

JOHN CENA ROOKIE BEATDOWN!! Rookie Cena just does so many things that feel like him but also unlike him. Like he wasn‘t quite there yet when he hit a big crossbody and followed with a huge leaping forearm, it felt a bit like watching the GAEA version of Meiko Satomura (just.. you know… not quite as intense). And Devon really leathers Cena with right hands and super snug clotheslines. Cena has an absurdly athletic dropkick and leap from the corner. HUGE moment where Devon hits a 2nd rope neckbreaker and drags Cena way into the middle of the ring. Rating for this match: FASCINATING.

Mike Awesome vs. Mark Henry, WWE 8/20/2002

 

Yeah, Mike Awesome vs. Mark Henry! Awesome was looking rough in 2002, but he wasn‘t afraid to trade bombs with a monster. This was just two huge guys crushing each other for 3-4 minutes with both of them taking some huge bumps and spots. Awesome gets press slammed straight to the ceiling, Henry does his awesome leapfrog, absolutely gigantic big splash from the top from Awesome etc. This had it all.

Tajiri vs. Funaki, WWE 8/20/2002

This was also 3 or 4 minutes and absolutely ruled. The crowd is iffy on these two since they don‘t really want to boo Tajiri against Funaki, so they just hit a bunch of cool shit while Tajiri does amusing high pitched yelling and stereotypical jokes (he gets Funaki to bow so he can kick him in the face!) to add some character. The cool shit was really fucking cool, usually 3 minute spotfest means guys hitting a bunch of dives and big moves, but these two do a bunch of slick arm drags and cool technical reversals and its awesome. LOVED Funaki countering the Tarantula and then teasing to put Tajiri himself in the hold. That alone would have made this an awesome match but everything else was cool as hell too.

Best of the Velocity Matches #3

 Hardcore Holly vs. Chavo Guerrero, Velocity 7/6/2002

 

Low key great four minute match between two miserable bastards. Starts great with Chavo not handshaking and Holly slapping the taste right out of his mouth. We get some pretty hard hitting for WWE standards with Chavo setting himself up in fun ways to get chopped by Holly, as well as a nasty Chavo face scrape and Holly dropkicking Chavo in the face. Ending was totally awesome with multiple cool Alabama Slam attempts and counters, Chavo stomping Holly in the face, plus Holly busting out a gnarly powerbomb. Will Velocity make a Holly fan out of me?

Test vs. Val Venis, Velocity 7/9/2002

 

This was a match that I got weirdly invested in. The action was rather standard WWE TV stuff, but they really committed to their stuff. Test has great clotheslines and man looking at him you think he would be a megastar now, being big and good looking, but in 2002 he is doing a generic anti-american thing and getting himself DQ‘d. Venis always has ridiculously perfect offense, an absolutely sick boot to the face (the GUTS to completely outdo a guy whose finisher is a big boot), he also has a reverse figure 4 which he locks in in super slick fashion and Test really puts it over as this dangerous submission nearfall, coming up limping and everything. Crowd got really hot for this too and into the fire of Val Venis of all people, and the DQ actually left me salty. It didn‘t even lead to anything, but at least I know now they gave it their all with what limited tools they had to have a 6 minute Velocity main event.

Jamie Noble vs. Funaki, Velocity 7/16/2002

This was GREAT. Funaki had his working boots on. I didn‘t think he still had it in him, but he was busting out slick armbars and taking mad bumps like he was in his prime. Noble was great too, and him zoning in on Funakis leg lead to some damn great selling from Funaki. They did some great stuff with a northern lights suplex and a tornado DDT, not exactly the most exciting junior moves at this point, but they made them look cool. Super neat finish too. It‘s funny how Noble had this trailer trash gimmick but works like a brainy technician. This has to be the top match in the pile for today.

Tajiri vs. Mike Awesome, Velocity 7/23/2002

Well I may have spoken too soon, because this goes right head to head with Noble/Funaki. Great mix of Mike Awesomes power offense and willingness to take absolutely psycho bumps, and Tajiri taking him apart with brilliant kicks. Tajiri is an absolute god of the b-show match, he‘s just doing something neat ever second. Here he was attacking Mike with all kinds of kicks from odd angles, axe kicking the knee, kicking the back of the knee, stomping on his neck, it was just the right mix of flashy and ruthless. Loved the Tarantula specifically targetting the leg. Mike looked to be in a rough place but gave his all, diving face first into Tajiris feet, splatting on the floor in crazy moment, selling the leg at just the perfect time. Best 4 minute b-show match ever?