SPEEDBALL MIKE BAILEY

 

 

vs. ALEX NORTH

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3swsop_sami-callihan-solomon-crowe-vs-mike-bailey-czw-seventeen-2016_sport

 

vs. SAMI CALLIHAN

 

 

SHUJI ISHIKAWA

 

 

w/ ZEUS vs. Kazusada Higuchi & Suguru Miyatake

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ptafn_fuma-c-vs-shuji-ishikawa-union_sport

 

vs. FUMA

I love Speedball and I'm sure he's gonna win but I can't vote against Big Dog.

This is my first foray int owatching Mike Bailey. I like him but he needs to grow on me. Ishikawa is oneo fthose guys that is alway around and always brings it. I'll be keeping my eye on Speedball for the future and see if these meet up again next year.

 

James

You have to ask yourself - could Mike Bailey wield this mighty weapon?

This appears to be the narrative for a lot of contests in this bracket.  I like what I have seen from Speedball, but he is up against Big Dog, man.

 

One thing is for certain; I need to keep an eye on Alex North.

I took my partner to an Evolve show, and when Bailey came out and the crowd started chanting "Speedball", she thought they were chanting "Steve Holt" because he sort of looks like the Arrested Development character. 

 Kenny Omega vs. Mike Bailey (starts at 5:07)

 

His match vs. Roddy at Mystery Vortex III was in-fucking-sane. The best I can find is a shitty music video...

 

 

I actually felt his BOLA performance was a bit disappointing and works against him.

Also watch his match against Chris Hero from EVOLVE 47, if you can. Unbelievable match.

I don't care about the Big Japan guys at all, they always come off like fake WAR guys to me, guys who watched Hara, but never got what made him great. Really like Bailey though.

Bailey is the best PWG style worker in the world.  Had lots of good stuff, including things like his work a Best of the Best, which gets forgotten.  I thought the Galloway and Strong matches from PWG were the best and second best matches in that company all year.  Just a great sprint worker, and my favorite flyer in wrestling (and yes that includes Dragon Lee though it's close).

 

Ishikawa was in my least favorite match of the year v. Sekimoto.  I do genuinely love the Twin Towers as a team and would have had to think about it for a half second if they were Bailey's opponent.  But as a singles match I'll take Bailey easily.

Neither one particularly scratch my wrestling itches as Ishikawa seems sort of stiff and just another Japaneese wrestler who is stiff.  Its really not enough for me in order to promote him highly.  Bailey seems like another 'more-is-more' indy wrestler who is going to do a somersault plancha to the outside of the ring in the first 3 minutes of every match.  He's also a little bit of a mess as his nickname doesn't fit his Karate Kid white boy gimmick.  I'm voting Ishikawa because he annoys me less.

Taekwando, not karate.

Saw that Alex North was the feature opponent against Bailey up top: I worked North in B.C. when he was a rookie: he didn't run the ropes right (no arm up), and one night slipped through and nearly died on the floor. It was scary. 

I'm not as versed on Speedball as some, but I sorta like it better when Naomi does his shtick. I'm sure that doesn't speak well for either what I think of him or my own tastes and ability to tell what makes good wrestling.

Ishikawa just kind of bores me, though, so Speedball it is. Kind of wish I could scrap this match and just vote Damo.

Mike Bailey has nearly perfected a type of match that I will pop for 99% of the time. Shuji Ishikawa has not quite done that though he is a beefy lad which I do appreciate. 

 

 Kenny Omega vs. Mike Bailey (starts at 5:07)

 

His match vs. Roddy at Mystery Vortex III was in-fucking-sane. The best I can find is a shitty music video...

 

 

I actually felt his BOLA performance was a bit disappointing and works against him.

 

I was gobsmacked when I saw the kicking sequence similar to what Naomi does in her matches.  The fact that she likely got that from him astounds me.

 

That said, I just couldn't get into what Ishikawa was doing despite seeing a couple matches.  Bailey at least brings a ton to the table.  If he could make those count he'd be a lot better off.  But I heartily enjoyed him so this was an easy vote for me.  The match against Alex North was awesome.

 

That picture of the swordffight highly amuses me though.

Bailey sure doesn't have a lot on youtube. I'm trying to be lazy here.

We all know Naomi would vote for Speedball.

I've only seen Speedball, and he feels like someone who will be really good two years from now.  I'll abstain.

Bailey - 42

Ishikawa - 31