RIPPA Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 http://youtu.be/eJcmQLGGK0k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cool arrow Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 My only question is, does Andre go up for Bravo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianS81177 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Of the 4, Bravo is the the weakest link so I picture him taking the elbowdrop and being pinned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Yeah, I love Quake but I love that Baba/Andre vs Demos match too and Bravo is the worst at this stage of his career. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJcmQLGGK0k For some reason I think I've never seen the MSG match. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpncWHMEMgg Here's what I wrote back in 2010 about this: This is a great Demolition performance. It's obviously not a great match, but it's a great performance. Eadie and Darsow are hugely giving for Baba/Andre, and that in itself makes this worth watching in any sort of comprehensive look at Demolition. So, they're at the Tokyo Dome for the an All Japan/New Japan/WWF summit. We're outside my general knowledge base here, so bare with me. My guess is that the Japanese crowd knew little about Demolition, but they sure did like the theme music. A big chunk of the crowd seems to be clapping along for it. We shoot to the back where they interview Baba and Andre, except for Andre wants no part of it and the interviewer can't physically get himself into the right position around the two giants to interview him. Funny stuff. Smash and Baba to start. Smash gets in a few blows before getting whipped off the ropes and eating a chop. He goes down, flips three times, gets up, realizes he's in Andre's corner, and let's loose this awesome facial expression before stumbling back as Andre just stands there bemused. Baba goes for the arm on the rope, hits a bit head chop, and amazingly, Smash is fighting back. This, despite the setting, is still a Demolition match, and they're going to make Baba and Andre work for it, at least to an extent. Smash is in Andre/Baba corner, fighting back. And it's all for naught as Andre tags in. A headbutt and a spasm sell. Stepping on Smash. A big punch. But Andre misses the butt drop (again) and Smash rolls over quickly to Ax. Ax clubbers and Andre does a great bit of selling like he can't get up. He hits Ax in the throat, and Ax stumbles back to his corner and tags Smash. Smash clubbers. Gets kicked. Tags. This is awesome. Everytime Andre touches them, they tag. It's a more extreme version of the MSG Colossal Connection tag match. It's just brilliant. It gets over Andre as being godlike as forcing a tag with a touch. It gets over Demos as being brilliant for not taking even one hit from the giant for granted. It's just fun and unique and it lasts 4-5 tags before Ax hits an elbow drop but then Andre doesn't let go of him, rolling them over so he can make the tag. Baba steps all over Ax's stomach and he sells it great, only to fight back in the corner, and yes, Demolition is attempting to control the ring against Giant Baba, with tags and double clubbering and cheating behind the ref's back. Classic Ax right here. It doesn't last long, though. Baba manages to knock Ax off the apron, ending the possibility of a double-team and allowing him to escape and make the tag. It's subtle and logical and Demolition in droves.Anyway, Baba hits a neckbreaker on Smash and the crowd goes nuts, before he tags in Andre. Smash tries to hit him but Andre's not down this time, and he just laughs and punches Smash who does a spiraling sell. Ax gets tagged in and Andre chokes him, before moving him around the ring with the costume strap. Andre chokes Ax in the corner, causing Smash to come in, but Baba responds. Still, it's enough to allow Ax to tag Smash who hits a big clothesline, staggering Andre. Smash keeps working on him in the ropes, causing Baba to come back in. This brings Ax in and we have the slowest pandemonium you shall ever see. A pretty good looking "Demolition whipped into each other spot," better than usual, leading to the finish. Andre headbutts Ax and he rolls out. Baba tosses Smash off the ropes and hits a kick. Andre hits the big elbow drop. Baba stands in the middle of the ring like the world's biggest pitbull blocking off a whole side of the ring with his size, and there's the match. It's actually a really good Demolition showcase that shows off both men's strength. Smash hams and sells big and uses his energy. Ax does things smartly and logically and gives the match story and meaning. Everything he does adds to the logic of the match. They fight back at every turn and give when they should be giving. Worth watching in the midst of a lot of other Demos matches. It really is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianS81177 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Has anyone seen Baba work from when he was younger? I know Andre was a lot more athletic in the 70s/80s but for some reason I can't picture Baba being any different than he was at the end of his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Commander Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 i'd guess Baba wasn't as skinny when he was younger. 1980s Baba was kinda built like a T-Rex. Big torso and head, tiny arms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSC Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 My big question is...Did Baba & Andre team when they were younger, or was the version I saw in the Demolition match the only version I have to judge off of? Because if that's the case, I have a hard time not voting for Quake/Bravo for Tenta clearly being the best of the foursome by far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianS81177 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I think Andre worked primarily for New Japan in the 70s and 80s so I doubt they ever teamed before 1990 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianS81177 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 That screen cap of Andre and Baba is frightening. Andre looks demonic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ray Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Has anyone seen Baba work from when he was younger? I know Andre was a lot more athletic in the 70s/80s but for some reason I can't picture Baba being any different than he was at the end of his career. There's always Youtube to the rescue. FWIW, I gather that Baba was at least a decent worker. Given his start in wrestling 60's and he was a big and weird body type. When he was younger, his legs and arms were a little more defined so he looked a little less like a potato with toothpicks stuck in it. Anwyay, here's a 1967 match against Bruno Sanmartino, he seems to move pretty well for a big guy. He's definitely not moving like the Great Khali. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEAN Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Man, the third fall of that match is fucking awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ray Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Man, the third fall of that match is fucking awesome. I think there's a related video that has a feature of Baba and there's a great clip of him on a panel show where you have to buzz in and he Baba chops through the desk. Awwww fuck, here it is. 10 seconds in. http://youtu.be/KtHsjPGJDnk I only wish JH would find or post the Giant Baba anime where Killler whacks his squirrel friend and Baba swears revenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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