1001 MATCHES: PWI 500

Posted on November 11, 2016 12:43 PM by Phil

(by PHIL RIPPA)

Building off the last theme – this time it is random folks who were #1 or #500 on the PWI 500. I tried to pick folks who weren’t picked in the DVD 500 section (though there is some overlap due to matches picked).

What really irritates me is that the whole reason we did the DVD 500 in the first place was because PWI had left a big “name” off their list (the 1999 version) and people were pissy and we did the 500 in response just so we could leave the person off our list too. Problem is… I can’t remember who that person was (and if we even remembered to leave them off our list). Getting old sucks.

384) HULK HOGAN/STAN HANSEN vs. TIGER JEET SINGH/UMANOSUKE UEDA – NEW JAPAN (11/24/80 – MSG Tag League Day 1)

Hulk Hogan = #1 (1991 – the 1st PWI 500)

Pre-WWF Hogan in Japan is always a trip. Here he and Stan Hansen are teamed together in the very first MSG Tag League. The match is a fun brawl type match which is really the only thing you can do when Tiger Jeet Singh is around. Hogan and Hansen lost in the Finals to Inoki and Bob Backlund with Inoki pinning Hogan because of course he did.

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385) ZEUS vs. ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER – WWC “10th ANNIVERSARY SHOW” (07/07/90)

Zeus = #500 (1991)

Reviewed in DVDVR #168 (basically could have easily gone under Avert Your Eyes~!)

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386) DIESEL/SHAWN MICHAELS vs. RAZOR RAMON/1-2-3 KID – WWF ACTION ZONE (10/30/94 – WWF World Tag Team Championship)

Diesel = #1 (1995)

Shawn Michaels = #1 (1996)

There are probably two tape trader legendary 90s WWF syndicated/colisseum home video matches. One was the Steiners/Harts match that was already picked. This match from Action Zone is the other. The members of the clique decide to go out and put the peddle to the metal for 20 minutes.

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387) DON E ALLEN/DINO SENDOFF vs. CHAD AUSTIN/BROAD STREET BULLY – ECW HARDCORE HEAVEN ’95 (07/01/95)

http://dai.ly/x8yr2s

Don E Allen = #500 (1994)

Oh Don E Allen. Debuted on the ’94 list and went up one spot each of the next two years. The match itself – such as it is a match – allows you to see the whole 911 nonsense that ECW ran for far too long. I will say that in the 60 seconds of the match – Chad Austin (Yes – THAT Chad Austin) nearly breaks his neck on a back drop. I either never knew or totally forgot (most likely the later) that Broad Street Bully was Tony Stetson.

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388) DEAN MALENKO vs. SCOTTY TOO HOTTY – WWF BACKLASH ’00 (04/30/00 – WWF Light Heavyweight Title)

Dean Malenko = #1 (1997)

Oh yeah – the infamous year where Dean Malenko was #1 and Misawa was #2. Here Malenko and don’t call him Scott Taylor battle of the lamentable Light Heavyweight title in what is arguable the best match of Malenko’s WWF career.

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389) RANDY ORTON vs. CACTUS JACK – WWE BACKLASH ’04 (04/18/04 – No Holds Barred, Falls Count Anywhere, Intercontinental Title Match)

http://dai.ly/x151y2f

Randy Orton = #1 (2008)

I still loathe Randy Orton but he could have his moments and this match with Foley playing gatekeeper and Orton evolving (pun not intended at first but now blatant on re-read) into dangerous force who will do anything to win is one of those moments.

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390) TYLER BLACK vs. AJ STYLES – NWA NO LIMITS (04/28/06)

Tyler Black (as Seth Rollins) = #1 (2015)

AJ Styles = #1 (2010)

For those who haven’t seen any the WWE 24 on Seth Rollins recovery from his injury – they spent a decent chunk of time on this match – where AJ Styles goes into Iowa for reasons and takes on a 19 year old Tyler Black (in one of his earliest matches) in front of Black’s friends and family. Styles also puts over Black after the match. God  – Styles is way fucking older than we all realize. Is he Dorian Gray?

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391) JOHN CENA vs. ROB VAN DAM – WWE ONE NIGHT STAND ’06 (06/11/06 – Extreme Rules, WWE Championship Match)

http://dai.ly/x17af0f

John Cena = #1 (2006, 2007, 2013)

Rob Van Dam = #1 (2002)

Cena is the only person to be selected #1 three times. The match itself is totally fine, in that good to great range depending on your thoughts. This is more about the execution of excellent booking and a unique environment. Also proof that more can be done with Money In the Bank than “when is the guy going to run in at the end of a match?” Fuck all of you who still hate John Cena.

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392) BATISTA vs. UNDERTAKER – WWE SURVIVOR SERIES ’07 (11/18/07 – Hell In A Cell, WWE Heavyweight Championship)

https://youtu.be/QwNQ9fRl9p8

Batista = #1 (2005)

Who knew that best Hell in a Cell worker would end up being Batista? God – I dig this match. Even the sports entertainy finish works.

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393) SHOCKWAVE THE ROBOT vs. MECHA MUMMY – ZERO ONE (02/17/08)

https://youtu.be/b6ghFkR81zs

Shockwave the Robot = #500 (2010)

Man – I really wish I hadn’t shot my Shockwave the Robot wad in the previous theme. I apologize for the video of the match as the Wrestling with Wregret version is the only one I could find online. (First video is the setup, complete with pudgy middle manager Shinjo Otani). I will not apologize for selecting a Mecha Mummy match.

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394) DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. REY MYSTERIO JR – WWE SUMMERSLAM ’09 (08/24/09 – WWE Intercontinental Championship)

http://dai.ly/xb54z1

Dolph Ziggler (as Nick Nemeth) = #500 (2005)

Yup – Dolph was #500 once. I am actually a little pissed about that since if we did a 500 right now I am fairly positive I would have pushed for Dolph to be 500. Fucking gimmick infringement. Anyway – Rey Jr was one of his first (probably is the first but fuck research) feuds after adopting the Ziggler gimmick. Way less irritating eight years ago.

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395) MIZ vs. JERRY LAWLER – WWE RAW (11/29/10 – TLC Match, WWE Championship)

http://dai.ly/x11574y

The Miz = #1 (2011)

I picked this one over the Elimination Chamber match since it has WAY less infuriating Michael Cole in it. I mean it still has irritating Michael Cole since this is the ground work for the Cole/Lawler feud but still. This also has everything going against it as only the WWE would have a throw away TLC match on a RAW with barely any hype. Also only the WWE would put butt old Jerry Lawler in a gimmick match where he can’t do like 90% of the normal stuff. The Smoke & Mirror the fuck out of it but it all works because the crowd is DESPERATE for Miz to win. The Miz is the best American born heel in like two generations.

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396) LEAKEE vs. LEO KRUGER – FCW (01/12/12 (Taped) – FCW Florida Heavyweight Title

https://youtu.be/-mpNIADJv14

Leakee (as Roman Reigns) = #1 (2016)

For those who have never seen Reigns in FCW, here ya go. God – if Vince really wanted him to be a face he just needs to stop wearing a shirt and go back to tiny trunks. So very dreamy. This also has the added bonus of William Regal basically teaching Byron Saxton have to announce a match on the fly.

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397) PEPPER PARKS vs. MICHAEL ELGIN – EMPIRE STATE WRESTLING (05/10/13)

Pepper Parks = #500 (2001)

We first saw Pepper Parks like 18 months in his career when he showed up at the 2002 Super 8. Thankfully he has dropped the male cheerleader gimmick. He is slumming it as Braxton Sutter in TNA but on the indy scene he is super fun. Here he is taking on Big Mike (and his horrible mullet). This isn’t New Japan Big Mike but it is way better than ROH Big Mike. Elgin really should just be a Big Hoss touring the US Indy scene. Super fun match before a hot crowd. As I always say – if you get this at your local show, you are getting your money’s worth.

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398) TIMMY LOU RETTON vs. MANNY GARCIA – UIW (11/09/14)

Timmy Lou Retton = #500 (2016)

Timmy Lou Retton is a pudgy agile black guy who can work. Basically he is everything Ruckus wishes he was. Also – if you wanted to see No Way Jose work heel, this is for you.

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399) GRADO vs. CHRIS RENFREW – INSANE CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING (01/25/16 – ICW World Heavyweight Title)

Grado = #500 (2014)

The sleeper feud of 2016 is Grado vs. Chris Renfrew and I really can’t believe I just typed those words. It is crazy how good this is – with Grado dumping the comedy gimmick and becoming super serious. A feud built around former friends who started in ICW together battling over titles and the whole “one guy became a big star the other didn’t” angle (ignore that they are using TNA in it.) And then both guys go to fucking war. The hype video allows you to get a sense of the story and it elevates everything. Even the ICW announcers (who I generally want to hit with a shovel) add to the match. God – I didn’t even touch on the who bizarro Chris Renfrew Silent Hill stuff. I don’t even know what to think of 2016 anymore.

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400) SPACE MONKEY vs. TAYLOR KAY-DEEN – CONFLICT WRESTLING (04/23/16)

Space Monkey = #500 (2015)

Space Monkey is no Ape Virgon or City Monkey but he is a monkey that has been to space so it is hard to argue with his credentials.

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