Taso the Greek’s “Bumpin’ Heads 2008″

Best Match:

Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy - Armageddon
Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Togi Makabe, IWGP #1 Contendership - NJPW 12/9/07
Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Kenta Kobashi & Yoshihiro Takayama - NOAH 12/2/07

Worst Event:

Inoki Genome 2

12/03/07

PEPE Michinoku & Seiya Sanada Vs Osamu Nishimura & Manabu Soya **

Real World Tag League: Taiyo Kea & Hawaiian Lion Vs Nobutaka Araya & Touru Owashi ***

Real World Tag League: Abdullah The Butcher & Minoru Suzuki Vs Satoshi Kojima & Suwama *1/2

Real World Tag League: Kensuke Sasaki & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Satoshi Kojima & Suwama ***

12/9/07

Real World Tag League: Keiji Muto & Joe Doering Vs Kensuke Sasaki & Toshiaki Kawada ***

TNA iMPACT from December 27th, 2007. Matches Only.

Card :
1 - Senshi vs. Judas Mesias
2 - Robert Roode vs. Booker T
3 - AJ Styles & Tomko vs. Motorcity Machine Guns
4 - Roxxi Laveaux, Ms Jackie Moore & ODB vs. Angelina Love, Velvet Sky & Gail Kim
5 - Elix Skipper vs. Samoa Joe
6 - Robert Roode & Kurt Angle vs. Booker T & Christian Cage

I hope to bring a small piece of the radio to this blog if possible, as I listen to the radio in my van to and from work. What better thing then to try and catch a bunch of pro wrestling and mma news and fun!?

Live Audio Wrestling12/23/07radio had it’s Best of 2007 and I thought it was definitely an interesting show and great for a laugh. Meltzer gave some of his picks and he was pro ROH, not like that wasn’t hard to see coming. I liked the hosts picks and even some of the callers. One guy liked Roxxi Lavaeugh as female wrestler of the year. So yeah, you had some varying opinions. Nonetheless the show was solid as usual.

Wrestling Observer Live had Les Thatcher on in and Brian Fritz as guests. Bryan Alvarez has done a good job since Dave has gone to part-time hosting. They talked about Mae Young, Les Thatcher’s opinions about the developmentals, and stories from the old school.

And this week I listened to my second show of IYH Radio, ever, and boy, was it better then the first. maybe because they had an actual guest in Kevin Kleinrock. He talked about XPW and Wrestling Society X and his experiences in the business an it was great while he was on. The ramblings of the hosts when they reviewed Armageddon and other shows the past few weeks weren’t horrible. John was better then the English bloke they had on last week.

edited last-12.30.07 Taso

NJPW “NEW JAPAN NEXT ~CATCH THE VICTORY II~”, 12/24/07 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,695 Fans

1. Takashi Iizuka, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask & Taichi Ishikari vs. Jado, Gedo, Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma
Average Japanese 8 man tag. Nothing more, nothing less. *3/4
2. NEW JAPAN NEXT Match #1: Koji Kanemoto vs. Tetsuya Naito
Great match with a good mix of brawling, youthful spite, submission moves and reversals, and good all around work. ***
3. NEW JAPAN NEXT Match #2: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Mitsuhide Hirasawa
A solid undercard match telling the story of the young, overpowered wrestler vs. the jacked-up veteran. This was a squash without the squash feel as Hirasawa showed alot of fighting spirit. *3/4
4. NEW JAPAN NEXT Match #3: Yuji Nagata vs. Yujiro
The Nakanishi match told a better story. Lots of strikes and chops and kicks traded. I liked themat work but there wasn’t enough of it. *3/4
5. Togi Makabe & Toru Yano vs. Riki Choshu & AKIRA
Good high paced match, even when Choshu was in there sinply throwing clotheslines. The use of the chains, foreign objects, etc. brought down a notch for me. brother YASSHI, Shuji Kondo, and co. caused a comotion leading to the finish. AKIRA was pretty good, and I’ve been a fan of Toru Yano for awhile. **1/2
6. Masahiro Chono & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Hirooki Goto & Minoru
Goto & Minoru are former IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions. Good strong-style action. **3/4
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Wataru Inoue vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Milano Collection AT
The mat work between Wataru and A.T. to start the match was good, but it turned a little slow paced and contrived before they tagged out to let Nakamura and Hiroshi go at it. A.T. is one of my favorite Toryumon alumni, but he comes off as a comedy character in New Japan. But his skill is unquestioned and his mannerisms are great. I prefer him in more high-paced matches with smaller opponents. When he got into the match later and went to the faster style with both Wataru and Tanahashi, business picked up. Nakamura seemed uninterested before and during the match. Afterwards though, as the bell rang Nakamura jumped Tanahashi. The finish to the match was also kinda weak and I was expecting more from Tanahashi and Nakamura. **3/4

– listed 12/29/07

New Japan 12/09/2007

1. Jado, Gedo, Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma Vs Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito **
This match is better then the 12/24 8 man tag. Tuger Mask did it in that match but did it better here.
2. Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto Vs Minoru & Prince Devitt **3/4
I like Devitt’s hair. Anyway, he’s damn good in the ring, and so is Minoru, but I want to see Inoue vs. Kanemoto.
3. Special Singles Match: Milano Collection A.T. Vs Masahiro Chono **1/2

Clash of stylescomes to mind. Comedy match in spots, I still thought it delivered on what I, MYSELF, expected. Milano was good but he didn’t seem to mesh well with Chono’s lack of mobility.
4. Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA Vs Manabu Nakanishi, Takashi Iizuka, Steve Madison & ??? **
I can’t deal with NOAH 6 and 8 man tags and the same applies to NJPW. WWE barely ever does them, but on most puro cards they’re in abundance. Toryumon/Dragon Gate is exempt from this opinion.
5. Special Singles Match: Hirooki Goto Vs Toru Yano **3/4
Solid New Japan style match. Goto seems to have potential. I like Yano but his cheating schtick takes away from the match. But I dig Yano regardless because he’s such a prick.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Togi Makabe, IWGP #1 Contendership ***3/4
So far this is my match for December 2008. Lots of bleeding, GREAT brawling by Makabe, plus Nakamura slapped on his triangle choke which I marked out for. Makabe wrapped his arm with a steel chain and hit a vicious clothesline for one of the spots of the night forme. An all around solid, hard-hitting, believable, emotional match.

–special thanks to match list

www.deathvalleydriver.com forums

º HUSTLE “HUSTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2007″, 25.12.2007 º
º Tokyo Korakuen Hall º
º 2,320 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House º
º º
º 1. Kintaman & Red Onigumo vs. Kurodaman & Blue Onigumo º
º º
º 2. Commander An Jo & Kyou Itako vs. Genichiro Tenryu º
º º
º 3. Wataru Sakata, HG & TAJIRI vs. Ryouji Sai, KUSHIDA & \(^o^)/ Chie º
º º
º 4. Monster Bono, Giant Vabo & RG vs. º
º Bob Sapp, Scott Norton & Giant Silva

————————————-

-

12.19.07

A couple of questions and comments on Hustle Christmas 12.25.07:

Kintaman & Red Onigumo vs. Kurodaman & Blue Onigumo

Is Ericka the antithesis of Aja Kong? She played that character pretty well on this show. I haven’t seen alot of Hustle but follow the results and the characters a bit. The match was ok but I’m not into the Blue & Red Onigumo characters except for their webs! Total comedy. *1/2

Commander An Jo & Kyou Itako vs. Genichiro Tenryu

I really enjoyed the Tenryu vs. Anjo & Itako match. I was a big fan of Anjo’s style of wrestling in All Japan, and his thing with Gracie, and seeing him do comedy is awesome because he was a real bastard heel and a good one. And Tenryu is a legend and good with the facials and the comedy as well, plus he’s a bad ass.

Who did Itakao channel this match? Bruiser Brody and Hashimoto? And Tenryu did Baba? I really dug this match alot. **3/4

Wataru Sakata, HG & TAJIRI vs. Ryouji Sai, KUSHIDA & \(^o^)/ Chie

A pretty good match as well. I really liked Sakata and the rivalry between him and the younger guys. Very entertaining match. Chie is good in her role. HG hasn’t gotten old for me. **3/4

Monster Bono, Giant Vabo & RG vs. Bob Sapp, Scott Norton & Giant Silva

The main event was entertaining; star-studded for sure, it had lots of circus flavor with the freak show aspect of Akebono vs. Bob Sapp, but was still an awesome spectacle of behemoths, not to mention the awesome Scott Norton mixed in with those big guys. Too short though but I guess it was perfectly timed considering who was in the ring. **

Hustle is definitely as over the top of any promotion.

I’m giving the matche stars. Does that even make sense? Can you put a star rating on a Hustle comedy style match like you would on a WWE or TNA match? Is it not pro-wrestling? Definitley post-modern or decontruction pro wrestling.

Who plays Giant Vabo?

Monster-K Toshiaki Kawada has an eating contest with this really tall guy… that was weird.

Another question I might pose is whether Takada is a good talker or not. Does the Japanese wrestling media give awards in those categories? Tajiri comes off as really funny on the stick. The whole thing comes off as as a really well rehearsed show.

Upcoming show:

NEW YEAR’S EVE HUSTLE MATSURI 2007 (TV Tokyo)
December 31, 2007
Saitama - Saitama Super Arena

1. Handicap Match: “Monster K” Toshiaki Kawada vs. Giant Shirota, “Hustle Supernova” KUSHIDA & (^o^)/ Chie
2. Keroro Gunsou w/ Nitouhei Tamama & Gochou Giroro vs. Moudoku Cobra Danshaku
3. Dynamite Hardcore Hustle Weapons Match: Erica & “Super Cyborg” Ryouji Sai vs. Kintaman & Kurodaman
4. Iketani Ginga & The Great Sasuke vs. Anjo Shireichoukan & Giant Vabo
5. “Hustle General” Genichiro Tenryu , “Hustle Buzzsaw” TAJIRI & RG vs. Yinling-sama , Great Muta & Monster Bono
6. “Hustle Resistance” Wataru Sakata & HG vs. Scott “Flash” Norton & Giant Silva

credits to:

http://hustle.puroresufan.com/

–12.29.07 Edited today and more to come… Taso

—

Randy Orton vs Chris Jericho**1/3

Edge vs Batista vs The Undertaker ***

Triple H vs Jeff Hardy***

I though this was the best match on the show. I totally bought into the HHH hype, I knew he would do the right thing and give Hardy the match. But there was that SMALL CHANCE… that The Game was going to go over another WWE superstar who to me, in Jeff Hardy, is a main event draw as a baby face. I don’t know if I would ever give Hardy the title. If they do a shake-up of the roster I would put Hardy on ECW as CM Punk’s next opponent.

CM Punk & Kane vs. Big Daddy V & Mark Henry *1/4

Kane should put Punk over in his big retirement match, whenever that happens. That’s all the good I can see coming from this feud. Mark henry and Big Daddy V are cool but the WWE is afaraid to do anything good with them.

Shawn Michaels vs. Mr. Kennedy**1/2

The more I watch Ken Kennedy the more flaws I see in his work, and he’s barely improved. I didn’t think Micheals was more then very good. Great match nonetheless. I do like the feud to continue though, and want to see more interaction between the two.

Finlay vs. The Great Khali*1/2

Funny match. Good finish with the double shellileagh shots.

Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix**

Not memorable even a week later.

MVP vs. Rey Mysterio

IGF.Genome2.Inoki.Fighting.Xmas
12.20.07

AJ Styles VS Senshi
Paint by numbers sorta match, neither worker looking to do more then one might in an opening match. **
Atsushi Sawada VS Amazon Blade
Oh man, some of the worst worked punches I’ve ever seen by Amazon Blade. The size on this guy was immense and he could throw some nice kicks, landing one to the back of the head for a KO win. But terrible doesn’t duely describe this match. 1/2*
Kazuhiro Hamanaka VS Danny lguazu
Are these the IBM guys Inoki is supposed to have discovered? Why doesn’t McMahon discover super heavyweight like this and train them? Inoki wants to bring back the days he was scooting across the mat on his back away from Catius Clay. Iguaza threw some knees my mother could shake off and she’s in her 70’s. That’s not how you work a shoot-style match. Worst match in history. DUD.
Ryushi Yanagisawa VS Chris Moore
Taka Kunou VS Jan Nortje
Yoshiki Hitokui VS Michiyoshi Ohara
Montanha Silva VS Josh Barnett
Kurt Angle VS Kendo Kashin
Tadao Yasuda VS Rene Rooze/Ogawa Naoya

“FINAL MUGA ~FLYING DRAGON SUCCESSION~ DRAGON CUP” 13.12.2007
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,500 Fans

1. Isao Takagi vs. Nobuyuki Kurashima
2. Dragon Cup - Semi Final:
Tatsumi Fujinami vs. TAJIRI
3. Dragon Cup - Semi Final:
Yutaka Yoshie vs. Go Shiosaki
4. Katsushi Takemura & Azteca vs. Ultimo Dragon & Takeshi Nanno
5. Gran Hamada & Mitsuya Nagai vs. Hiro Saito & Tatsuhito Takaiwa
6. Dragon Cup - Final:
X vs. X