1001 MATCHES: Big One (90s)

(by PHIL RIPPA)

Second part of THE BIG ONE~! All matches took place between 1990-1999


426) JERRY ESTRADA vs. EL SATANICO – CMLL (03/23/90 – Hair Match)

Reviewed by Rippa in DVDVR #142

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427) RAYO DE JALISCO JR vs. CIEN CARAS – CMLL (09/21/90 – Mask Match)

Reviewed by Pete DVDVR #116

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428) EL DANDY vs. EL SATANICO – CMLL (12/14/90, Hair Match)

For the “I don’t get lucha” crowd. There isn’t much to “get” about two guys who hate each other and are just bringing the violence.

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429) THE ENFORCERS (ARN ANDERSON/LARRY ZBYSZKO) vs. DUSTIN RHODES/RICKY STEAMBOAT – WCW CLASH OF CHAMPIONS XVII (11/19/91 – WCW World Tag Team Championship)

http://dai.ly/xz8eb9

Peak Enforcers here. Ricky Steamboat is the world’s greatest mystery partner. “NOT RICKY STEAMBOAT!!!!!”

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430) ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH 1992 – WWF ROYAL RUMBLE ’92 (01/19/92 – Winner gets WWF Championship)

http://dai.ly/x2ndk8o

One would say that if you were going to watch one Royal Rumble match, this would be the one to watch. I reviewed it in DVDVR #122. I am definitely WAY harsher on it then than I would be now. But I was also like 25 when I reviewed it and stupid. Anyway – this is the Flair and Bobby Heenan show.

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431) STING vs. VADER – WCW SUPERBRAWL III (02/21/93, Strap Match)

http://dai.ly/x1freq7

This match is so awesome and in the conversation for best strap match ever. Pretty ironic that this awesomeness was the product of the White Castle of Fear.

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432) SABU vs. LIGHTNING KID – NWA GRANDSLAM ’93 (04/17/93)

I have mentioned on more than one occasion that the first two tapes I ever got were JoMosh #3 and #4. This match was on #4 and was the first full Sabu match I had ever seen (everything else to that point had been the comp videos of him just trying to break tables). Totally wild for the time period and as you can see in the screen cap, Waltman bleeds a lot.

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433) CUTIE SUZUKI/CHIGUSA NAGAYO vs. DEVIL MASAMI/PLUM MARIKO – ALL JAPAN WOMEN (11/18/93)

http://dai.ly/xmgy2r

One of the greatest match that the late Plum Mariko had. One of the early wrestling tragedies of my time (Adrian Adonis, Bruiser Brody, and Von Erichs aside for those who are going to get super picky)

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434) ATSUSHI ONITA/TARZAN GOTO vs. GENICHIRO TENRYU/ASHURA HARA – WAR (03/02/94)

https://youtu.be/CpSaO7v4GB8

Reviewed by Pete – DVDVR 114

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435) ATSUSHI ONITA/KATSUTOSHI NIIYAMA/MR. GANNOSUKE vs. MR. POGO/HIDEKI HOSAKA/THE GLADIATOR – FMW (09/25/94, Exploding Barbed Wire Dynamite Pool Elimination Death Match)

https://youtu.be/Jvdmkr-5baU

Yup – just FMW having a match that requires you to take a boat to get to the ring. Oh never change…

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436) MASA CHONO vs. TONY ST CLAIR – CWA EURO CATCH FESTIVAL (12/17/94)

Reviewed by DEAN in DVDVR #141

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437) FIT FINLAY vs. DOINK THE CLOWN – CWA EURO CATCH FESTIVAL (12/17/94 – CWA Intercontinental Title Match)

Legitimately taking place right after the St Clair/Chono match, we have this bizarro matchup. Dean reviewed it twice with two WILDLY different opinions on it. The Doink in this match is Steve Keirn.

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438) CHRIS BENOIT vs. AL SNOW – ECW DOUBLE TABLES (02/04/95)

http://dai.ly/xor82c

Reviewed by Rippa in DVDVR #136. It is funny to look back and see that I did enjoy an Al Snow match once.

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439) GARY ALBRIGHT vs. TOSHIAKI KAWADA – ALL JAPAN 23rd ANNIVERSARY SHOW (10/25/95)

http://dai.ly/x4euw5b

God – this is all Albright being “Whelp – I am going to use my legit amateur background to toss you around” and Kawada being all “Whelp – I am going to kick you in the face then”. A lot to enjoy here – especially like the flash nature of the finish as it works in the context of the match.

Quasi reviewed by DEAN in DVDVR #6

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440) VOLK HAN vs. TSUYOSHI KOHSAKA – RINGS (08/24/96)

Somehow we have no Volk Han matches picked so far. (Though now that I say that, I am positive I am going to go back see that we actually did and do a giant fucking correction). Some folks might be scared by RINGS. Don’t be.

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441) BRACITO DE ORO/CICLONCITO RAMIREZ/MASCARITA MAGICA vs. DAMIANCITO EL GUERRERO/EL FIERITO/PIERROTHITO – CMLL (10/03/97)

http://dai.ly/x98h0m

New board poll should be – What scares people more? Rings or Minis? This is so so good. One of the finest minis matches you will see. Also a chance to see Virus when he was still a mini (He is Damiancito el Guerrero)

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442) HAYABUSA vs. MR GANNOSUKE – FMW (04/30/98 – Double Titles)

http://dai.ly/x3vws6j

I was so happy that we somehow hadn’t picked a Hayabusa/Gannosuke match yet. I have seen some call this the best FMW match ever. I wouldn’t go that far but I probably would call it the best match of their feud.

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443) UNDERTAKER vs. MANKIND – WWF KING OF THE RING ’98 (06/28/98 – Hell in a Cell)

http://dai.ly/xyeunp

This one of those “not technically great but historic” matches. You have seen all the Foley spots a million times but to me, this is one of those matches that I will watch whenever “it comes on” (Similar to that movie you always end up watching when you find it on airing on Spike). Classic JR lines and Terry Funk improvising a fight with Taker to stall are just some of the “other” reasons to watch the match.

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444) GREAT SASUKE vs. MAGNUM TOKYO – TORYUMON (02/07/99)

https://youtu.be/jiimzf4p6JE

Magnum Tokyo’s coming out party as a singles wrestler. Plus crazy ass Great Sasuke.

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445) JUVENTUD GUERRERA vs. BLITZKRIEG – WCW SPRING STAMPEDE ’99 – (04/11/99 – Winner Gets Cruiserweight Title Shot)

http://dai.ly/xx997d

The opening match of probably WCW’s last good PPV. This is also the match that lead people buying into the Blitzkrieg hype. To this day, you still have folks who are all “CURSE HIM FOR GETTING A REAL JOB!!!”

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