Horatio

I've been rediscovering lots of punk music I had to miss while delving into the entirety of Bob Dylan's catalogue for like 20 years. Back in the old days, I had a pretty random collection of stuff by Green Day, Social Distortion, blink-182, The Bouncing Souls, rancid, and The Sex Pistols. I think I move'd onto the popcore emo stuff after I got into The Clash, and Combat-Rock kind of open'd my mind to try anything alternative to the radio in the Napster era. I really liked how A New Found Glory mix'd the pop-punk with a little more mid-pace'd hardcore but with them, it seem'd like something that couldn't go on forever. I moved on completely to folk-music once I heard of Bright Eyes and the rest is history, except lately I realize'd I somehow forgot Saves The Day. I had Through Being Cool and Stay What You Are and I think that on those two albums, they did perfectly what NFG aim'd to accomplish in those early years. As far as the punk rock goes, does anyone hate where the old bands have gone with the music in the last 20 years? I saw a Green Day MV the other day about getting-drunk and I thought it was terrific. "Redundant" was always one of my favorite G.D. songs and I love when Billy Joe offers his version of the Lennon-esque psychedelia, plus I'm glad to hear them looking and sounding somewhat happy with where they are right now (it can't be easy coming down from that American Idiot high). I've heard great things about blink-182's newest album and MxPx are likewise said to be on a musical peak right now; I like that The Ataris are still around. Social Distortion I've always been kind of in-the-middle towards. I really, really like WLWHWT and Somewhere B/W Heaven & Hell, but the rest of the stuff is hit and miss with me. Sex, Love, and Rock'n'roll sounds great, but I don't know how bad I want to hear Hard-Time and Nursey Rhymes. I wish Mike Ness would do another solo album; Under The Influences is a large part of why I start'd giving country-music a chance in my younger years. Their concert at Hellfest is a great watch on youtube. Rancid are easily the most impressive of the bunch, if you ask me. "Red Hot Moon" and "Last One to Die" are old as hell already but it's hard to tell when I listen to them. Hell, "Evil's My Friend" might be consider'd old already and I'm still dreaming of the towns where that song is play'd on the radio. Is "New American" about meeting the guy from The Butcher and The Blade? I know I could look it up, but I'd rather just listen to the song to be honest. As far as I new stuff I look to pick up some Good Riddance and Hot Water Music when I've got some coin in my pocket. If Chuck Ragan has solo stuff, I'll be dumping whatever I can find in my pockets at his feet; I can't believe it took me so long to remember Hot Water Music exists.

Jun Kasai vs Maddog McCrea - BCW 4.28.17 Not exactly my first death-match viewing, not really my first Jun Kasai match, but I'll still venture to say this was a good'un based on it basically ruled. From the opening moments, we see these two are technically sound. And by technically sound, I mean there's a freak'n beautiful DDT within the first minute that cements Kasai as the veteran, but this is almost immediately follow'd by a single chop on the outside that cements McCrea as not only a worthy, but a much larger, challenger (seriously, gotta see Maddog's reach on this one)... The battling on the outside/through the crowd was I guess the carniest thing they did; blood was drawn seemingly for visual purposes but you can see these two are fighting a little different as the match progresses. When Kasai outwrestles McCrea for a german-suplex (where the thumbtacks were), he points to his temple to indicate he appreciates his own intelligence. And I get the feel he's not proud, smarmy smart, he's the punk-rock sort of smarter than people realize, and he's proud of the german-takedown, not the "on-the-tacks" shock-factor. I can't remember every spot of violence, but it was the usual tacks, doors, barb-wire'd, etc. This one was coincidently determine'd to be a classic: Kasai press-slams him F-U style off the top to the floor through a barbwire table that encapsulates him pyramid style when he decides to land in a seat'd position, and when he runs the ropes running over a flaming table, his foot catches fire for a flaming wheel-kick to the face. McCrea also kind of sandbags Kasai on a back body drop that just makes it look like he's not in Kasai's league just when we're ready to see him die. Why was this worth watching for a smart-fan with an interest in wrestling-psychology? Because it ends when it's suppose'd to. The first superfly-splash doesn't work, but the second one had to work and it did. The finish wasn't fancy, wasn't the most violent part of the match, but there's a level of professionalism on display in this match that puts a higher balance on display. Kasai is charismatic as all hell, but McCrea strangely comes out of it seeming like The Crazy Monkey's larger Australian baby brother. For star ratings, I'd give it at least ***1/2 with a little shave'd off for the token brawling on the outside/blading for the sake of blading, and also it would have been a different story with more time. 21:12 (according to cagematch) is a good length for an exhibitionists style match like this, but I get the feeling each guy has deeper blood to spill for the record books...

Well put. Not to spoil it for those who like surprises but I could tell from the moment Hidaka got seriously SLAM'd by a 'judo-style hip-toss' that this was going to be a heavyweight performance from both guys. Hidaka's great offense was solidly sold by Crazy (being a true professional - truly makeing it clear why Eddie did the job for him in R.O.H.), but he was seriously outweighing Hidaka, and it was clear by the way he appear'd to jump to the top-rope faster than one can imagine; he almost springboard'd before his feet hit the top-rope (that's what it look'd like to me - I only watch'd it once). I mean, who would get up from a straight pancaking moonsault like that? Undertaker? Kane? Someone "already dead so you can't kill'em"? They even got into the crowd for a few moments to cater to the Extreme audience in attendance that night, but it never felt like a crowd-pleasing performance as much as a do-or-die opportunity for Hidaka. A beautiful match that makes one wonder what Rey and Prince Puma accomplish'd in L.U. by useing up more time, as I kind of remember they did.... Vampiro vs Lex Luger - Monday Night Nitro the night after Uncensored 2000 Lex Luger vs Vampiro - video Dailymotion I wasn't aware that this match took place, but I had to see it. I'm researching Vampiro because he's always had the tools to be the best in the world, and also, Lex is kind of who I lean on to see solid, tight pro-style in 90's wrestling (I love his 15-minute draw against Tatanka, for example). It's a 9-minute clip but I sat through the entrances and Lex (looking larger than ever with Elizabeth behind him to boot) makes a cute comment about the Vamp's inexperience but Vampiro shows up in the ring while it's dark, (and then someone turn'd the lights off again for a second accidently), but Vamp was gung-ho and suprise'd Luger anyways. [spoilers]He hits a spin-wheel kick and an enziguri, some chops, a good atomic drop (something I never say because I never see it, but Vamp is 6'3" and Luger is looking heavier than Triple-H's 270; plus Luger is shorter than Triple-H so the atomic drop seems to give one the idea that 'atoms' are 'testicles', at least pit'd by these two in a rare dynamic ratio. Gosh, I sound like Bill Nye the Science Guy...), but when he goes for a top-rope hurican, Luger hits him low and then something cool happens: he lifts the Vamp for the Human-Torture Rack but instead, unkindly turns it into a back-suplex in mid-move. It's hard to tell how or why, but visually it appears like heel Luger want'd to torture the rookie just to prove he's the vet. He starts stomping the Undead-guy; kicking him in the ribs, even point-of-the-toe like Dean said he saw Finley doing one time. Luger looks a mix between Kurt Angle and Triple-H in this and it's intense if not sickening considering the pills he claims to have been takeing at the time, but I digress; I am a fan of his work. He kicks him some more in the ribs and almost hammerfists him in the back of the head just to get a moment to catch his breath. He sends the Millie-Vanilly former bodyguard to the ropes only to use that momentum to make a gorrilla press-slam even simpler. And he holds the Ghoul in the hair for longer than he needs to just to give him a chance to survive, I guess.... There's 4 minutes left in this clip and I'm already sold that Luger is an even better heel than he was against Tatanka in '93. I'm talking best-in-the-world just from a psychological perspective. I'm convince'd he thought he had it all with Elizabeth by his side. It's jarring to think of in hindsight. Just to note, I'm surprise'd Vampiro went up for the press-slam as he runs to the ropes with vast energy...Let's see how it ends.... Alright, so Luger continues his onslaught: throws him to the outside, double-axhandle to the back that appears to push Vampiro a good 6-7 feet in the guard-rail, hits thigh-slappy loud knee-lift while back in the ring, and then takes too long putting on the Torture Rack. Vampiro backflips out of it, and although he doesn't land on his feet, he's back on his feet and kicking Luger in the chest within a millisecond. That's what I love about Vampiro. He has a reverse wheel-kick where he spins and kicks with the instep of the foot instead of the heel and he always looks like Bruce Lee, Bruce Le, or Bruce Li, when he does it. This one I was bum'd to see him land on his face but I literally blink'd and he was kicking back by the time I open'd my eyes. Ian throws the Total Package to the corner and hits a running lariat Roman Reigns style, and then throws him into the opposing corner, and does a Sting-style handful-of-hair bulldog off the ropes. He basically gets me marking for using familiar offense and then hits an X-FACTOR on Lex Luger to win hearts and gentle people for all eternity. Running shoulder-block next and then, he goes to the top for what I think will be his old super wheel-kick off the top, but instead does a hard flying clothesline and for a nice nearfall. He should have done his go-to finisher, but instead, he does a makeshift move (one of Kane's for further interest) and that was wisdom, because Lex is wiley and mean not just gonna walk into a flying wheel-kick. It basically ends there, except you want to keep watching for greater theft by Vampiro and violence by Luger with his excercise tool. [/spoilers]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but I just watched Ikuto Hidaka versus Super Crazy from ECW on dailymotion. It's a 7 minute file including entrances and a commercial break and it's still the most action-filled awesome match of all-time. I would accept pay to watch it for the rest of my life. Holy cow, those two... ECW SuperCrazy vs Ikuto Hidaka - video Dailymotion

Black Terry

Just watched Jon Davis vs Bojack from PWX X16 tournamlent. Holy crap, Bojack is fast. Afutura! Jon Davis is ancient of days; how old is he? 600? Someone said Chris Dickinson is in line to take Eddie Kingston's Love of the Common People role in indie-wrestling. In a just society, Jon Davis would be that man. awesome dynamic action. I don't know, it was like 11 minutes but that's extra long for a couple heavies. Lately I've been finding the greatest intricacy in wrestling is size ratio. These two have incredibly precise size-ratio: they are a legit match. I love how they fought for the superplex spot. Sometimes it's just a couple scraps to assert dominance at the top, other times, it's an extended scrap where the man in the corner has to drumroll on a dude's head to refuse taking a superbump. This exchange seemed buried to the forehead in exhaustion, maybe because of the fact they are shaped like two stones that once formed the same egg and it's like watching the cosmic egg crack itself from a high place. Bojack has a damn fine Superkick tho!

Can't believe a dream match in ROH delivered in 2022. I still can't afford PPV. ?

Attention on The Steiners is what God made wrestling fans for. They're still getting inducted right?

Her origin story's something like: "someone told me I was SO punk rock. But I had never heard of any of the groups patched all over Ruby Riott. So I just went back to being a loner and kicking ass. *wink*" That's how I believe it happened anyways...

You're forgetting The River Wild. RKO could never take on Kevin Bacon. Wouldn't have him arrested. Wouldn't get within 6 degrees of him (if I do say so myself)!

Darby almost slid on his back, away from the corner, on a back-bump, from getting thrown upside-down, into said corner. Look on his face was like he didn't know he could bounce like so... Also, that back-flipping crucifix (facebuster?) was the greatest pancake I've ever seen. I feel like I was seeing way too many pancakes 20 years ago and that back-flipping flapjack made it all worth it. I don't know if he was supposed to land on his head and neck, but I still feel like I did see him land on his head and neck, because I can't imagine him saying, Okay, I'll try to land on my face...I mean, wtf? Btw, Toni Storm is my new girlfriend and I decided I'm gonna share her. I think you will all be very happy with her. Thanks Toni and thanks to all of you as well. If it doesn't work out, I'm still happy i got to donate her OF-proceedings right back to her. This feels right.

I've always liked Billy Gunn, but shouldn't we pretend a Billy Gunn and Hardcore Holly team never happened? Hardcore Assmen? I don't get it...

This man does not gaf. Really like him since he got back. Some people need time to themselves to ever be themselves. CM Punk seems to be one of those people.

Just noticed this. It wasn't at all what I expected. I never thought of Steiner as a selfish worker, but I was at least expecting him to win the collar-and-elbow, and get the first headlock of the match. Steiner's offense wasn't even too dominant; he got in just enough suplays to stay on top and he ate Saturn's (usually questionable) superkick (/sidekick) better than anyone. This was a rare more-than-happy BPP era Steiner match and you can see the 1.25.99 trios match versus Benoit to see just how disjoyous he could be in comparison. The "hat-trick" was even low enough to make Saturn seem even like all the more the honorable of the two. Plus, Buff Bagwell being ditzy enough to accidently insult his own hat more than Saturn's dress was really something you don't see much these days. Also, my newly discovered eggshell heart just broke hearing of Regal's eggshell heart. All I can see are his nosebleeds now ?

Communication problems, I'm guessing...