Weekly Watchlist 006 - July 21, 2024

Welcome back, dear reader!

The weekly watchlist trudges along and I've got to say, as much as this is just another thing I'm committing myself to doing, another ball to juggle, it doesn't really feel like work each time I sit down to watch a match and review it. Maybe its like what they say, love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life? Once I start getting paid to write these, I'll give you a better answer to that.

I've been working my way through the DPW library recently in an effort to get caught up and start on some other promotions I've had on my list to watch for a long time now. I've got the idea to do a different series/type of post for these promotions but haven't locked that idea in yet. I don't want them to flood the watchlist but also don't want to abandon the watchlist either. I'll let you guys know when I've come to some sort of conclusion.

 

 

  Here's what I watched this week;

 

Konuske Takeshita vs. Colby Corino - DPW 1st Anniversary - 12/10/2022

A show of respect. DPW

 

 As I've been working my way through DPW's shows recently, I came across a matchup that I sought out not long after it first aired when I was just starting to see more of Takeshita on my screen in AEW. He was really impressing me with the matchups he was having, his one with Hangman stands out in my mind, so I wanted to see what else he'd been up to recently. Conveniently, he had a match at a promotion I'd been meaning to check out for many months but just never got around to. Wrestling and I were in a tough spot for the last year or two, its complicated but we are doing better now.

Initially, I didn't have this match rated all too high in my spreadsheet, mostly because the notes I had made for it were incomplete and I didn't really remember anything exceptional happening that warranted a higher score. But after watching it for a second time, my god, this match absolutely rules.

Everybody knows, or at least should know, how good Takeshita is. He's been having incredible matches on AEW since his debut and is one of the brightest up and coming stars in the sport. Colby Corino, on the other hand, has been a bit of a dark horse for me. I had no expectations for him when I first saw this match, but after watching everything of his in DPW up to this show, Colby has got to be one of my favourite indie dudes going, he's incredible. I have yet to see a Colby match that was anything less than stellar, he always puts on an incredible match and is the highlight of every card he's on.

So in theory... this match should be exceptional. Right?

Right!

Corino and Takeshita start the match out pretty evenly matched, going hold for hold and counter for counter. Both men are trying to get an advantage early until they start countering hammerlocks into hammerlocks back and forth and finally break, facing off once again. 

Back together they go as Takeshita is able to get on top of Corino after transitioning a crossface into a side headlock. Corino tries to work his way out and is eventually able to pop into a headstand and pull himself out, to Takeshita's surprise.

Cornio has Takeshita on the mat this time in a scarf hold, keeping the pressure in tight as Takeshita uses his long legs to reach up to the head of Corino and trap him in a head scissors. Corino now finds himself trapped as Takeshita sits out on the mat, squeezing his head between his thighs, so he starts working his way into a headstand once again. He bounces from side to side, building momentum until he posts himself straight up in the air, ready to escape, when Takeshita grabs him by the trunks and spike's him with a piledriver.

No escape this time. DPW

The distance wasn't much, but it was effective, sending Corino rolling away grasping at his neck as Takeshita snatches him up for a side headlock. Corino is able to fight out, countering arm drags and sending Takeshita into the ropes. Corino spins around Takeshita in what looks to be a hurricanrana attempt but keeps the momentum going and goes behind Takeshita, rolling him up close to the ropes. There's not enough room for Takeshita to be pinned, so he bounces off the middle rope and rolls forward as Corino keeps with him and tries to stack Takeshita up for a slick pin, but only scores 2. Can't say I've ever seen a roll up-rope-rebound-pinfall before but I like it! This is what the indies are all about man, doing shit that nobody else is doing. 

With how close that surprise pinfall was, Takeshita takes a breather outside to collect himself. Corino, on the other hand, starts getting the crowd behind him as he runs through the top and middle rope legs first, trying to hit Takeshita with a dropkick but he catches him by the feet and stops him. Holding him in the air for a few minutes as Corino holds the top rope himself, Takeshita yanks him out into no mans land and lets go as Corino comes crashing down, hitting the ring apron shoulder first. Nasty, nasty landing. 

Not the best way to come off the apron, in my opinion. DPW

It should be noted as well, this ring is shorter than the rings most people are used to seeing in something like WWE or AEW. I wouldn't call it a "pony" ring, like I've heard the really short ones called (like the ones CHIKARA would use for many years) but that doesn't dampen the impact of this at all. Just not as far to fall after the impact I suppose. Silver lining. 

Rolling Corino back inside, Takeshita jumps over the top rope and lands on Corino with a senton, flexing in the middle to add a little bit more flair. Takeshita keeps on Corino, whipping him hard from corner to corner as Corino takes it on his back, crumpling to the mat. Takeshita is taking his time now, wearing down Corino's back until he can't stand by ripping him up off the ground and back down with a big back suplex. Corino tries to crawl away after the drop but Takeshita pulls him down for a pin, but he kicks out at 1! The hope is short lived however, as Takeshita intermediately grabs hold of his left legs and flips him over into a single leg crab

Desperate, Corino crawls to the ropes and breaks the hold, pulling himself back to his feet, doing everything in his power to stand. Takeshita pulls Corino in from behind, pushing him chest first into the ropes and smashing him in the back with his forearm, crumpling Corino in a heap. Takeshita keeps this up, rebounding him into heavy forearm smashes two more times as Corino tries to do anything to get away.

Suddenly, Corino finds an opening, snatching Takeshita from behind and picking him up for an Olympic slam but his back gives out and he drops Takeshita, who looks almost pleased with his work. With Corino nursing a screaming back, Takeshita hits the ropes and charges at Corino, who responds with a huge samoan drop, before kipping up and crashing back down on Takeshita with a flipping senton!

Big boy style. DPW

The impact of the move is enough to stun Takeshita, but also hurt Corino, who bounces onto his stomach in pain, fighting and crawling his way to the corner. Takeshita works his way to the opposite corner, standing up and turning to face the ring as Corino comes charging in with a lariat, spinning out and coming back in with a forearm across the jaw. Catching Takeshita, stumbling out the corner dazed, Corino flips him upside down and onto his stomach with a tilt-a-whirl type slam, before ducking out between the ropes.

Slowly, Takeshita rises to his feet but isn't up for very long, as Corino comes flying from the top rope and pulls his man down with a bulldog, covering him for a close 2. The tide is starting to turn now as Corino is able to find his second wind, fighting through the pain and willing himself to keep going.

Looking to end the match before Takeshita can turn things around, Corino picks Takeshita up into a Colby Clash (someone calls out "Styles Clash" and someone else shouts back "no!") but Takeshita is able to force Corino to fold forward into a tight pinfall, getting a close 2.

Back on his feet, Takeshita hits the ropes once, ducks a lariat and goes for another rebound, before taking to the sky and crashing into Corino with the Takeshita Line. God, do I love the way he hits that move. Looks so, so good.

One of the coolest looking clotheslines in the business today. DPW

With both men back on their feet, Takeshita has Corino’s back and tries a back suplex but Corino fights out, running for the ropes as Takeshita grabs him by the waistband and pulls him back in, snatching him up for the suplex but Corino counters! He's able to flip mid-air and pull Takeshita down with a spiking DDT before kipping up again and screaming to the DPW faithful;

"LETS FUCKING GO!"

Hell yes Colby! Lets fucking go!

Fired up, he charges to the ropes and rebounds, but gets caught with an insane Blue Thunder Bomb from Takeshita, taking Corino up, around and back down again in what seemed like half a second. How does this guy just keep hitting insane moves like that?! 

Both men are down now and slowly rise to their feet, meeting in the centre as Takeshita pulls Corino in close by his chin and gestures for the crowd to hush.

"LETS FUCKING GO!"

YES. FUCK YES. LETS GO!

Now, its time for All Japan. Forearm smashes traded back and forth in the centre, neither man backing down. Takeshita is the first to falter and Corino seizes on this moment of weakness and chops his foe, but it barely registers. Takeshita drills Corino with a series of forearms, punctuated with a rolling forearm and sealed with a lightning fast brainbuster.

The "hand between the crotch for that extra power" was a really slick touch. Kudos. DPW

Takeshita climbs to the top now, waiting for Corino to rise to his feet but he's too slow, and Corino climbs up after him and positions himself for a nasty top rope hurricanrana. It looks like Takeshita is able to block it as he rises to his feet and pulls Corino up with him, aiming for a nasty top rope powerbomb, but Corino is able to pull it off! Floating around and ripping Takeshita off the top rope with a nasty landing. 

Takeshita is too quick, however, as Corino starts to crawl for the pin, Takeshita just rolls outside to escape, trying to collect himself. He doesn't have long, however, as Corino hits the ropes and dives to the outside. He tries for a tornado DDT but he's caught in mid air the first time by Takeshita, so he transitions the suplex attempt into a stunner and rolls into the ring to try again. This time, he hits his mark, catching Takeshita around his neck and pulling him down to the concrete floor with a nasty thud. 

Corino is tapping into his reserves now, rising to his feet and pounding the apron to get the already hot crowd to liven up even more. With Takeshita rolled back inside, Corino climbs to the top rope and soars towards his enemy, who turns around just in time to catch Corino with a disgusting knee under the chin.

The kind of footage you should show your dentist when you go for your next visit. DPW

 

Back on their feet, Corino counters a vertical suplex attempt into a stunner and rolls him up for a pin, but it'ss till not enough. Desperate, Corino pops to his feet and tries to double stomp Takeshita but slips on the first try, but lands flush on the second try. 

Corino hits the ropes now but Takeshita cuts him off with a nasty lariat, dropping in to a pin but Corino pops Takeshita up and over into a crucifix pin of his own! Still only a 2. Ducking a punch, Takeshita takes Corino from behind and charges into the ropes, bounding back with a chaos theory suplex, crumpling Corino in the corner. With the end in sight, Takeshita lines Corino up from the opposite corner and fires with a nasty knee strike, dropping Corino for a decisive 3.

Remember, your target is not the head, your target is behind the head. DPW

God, this match rules so hard. It take a minute or two to get going but once these guys start going it does not let up at all. The crowd is so ready for everything they both do and it is such an insanely fun bout. I doubt we will see more of Takeshita in DPW with him being a full time AEW guy now, but I really hope Corino keeps getting the spotlight. I say this purely because I don't know what any of the shows look like between this one and the current product. Honestly, I'd love to seem him hold the national title or even their worlds championship. He more than deserves it. Every show he gives his match everything, he's a true workhorse. He's made a fan out of me.

Batista vs. The Undertaker - Hell in a Cell - Survivor Series - 11/18/2007

Locking up like bulls. WWE

 I knew I'd be watching a lot of DPW this week, getting through both their first anniversary show and their first episode of DPW live, so I wanted to find something from another promotion to review this week. I did some digging in my spreadsheet (nearing 900 entries, for those keeping track) to look for a match or show that stood out to me, something I knew I'd enjoy getting to review. 

And there it was, the final match in one of my favourite rivalries in my "golden era" of wrestling. I can't pin down what my first show or match was like other people can, I just remember being at my mothers place and her ex had SmackDown on during 2006 or 2007. I'd spend the odd Friday night there and sleep over until Saturday, so I know for sure my first show wasn't RAW or WWE's version of ECW. I also remember telling my mother I liked Bobby Lashley's "big shoulder muscles," referring to his traps. She thought they were gross, guess she doesn't respect real graps like I thought. 

The first guy I connected with was The Undertaker and he’s been my all-time favourite ever since. A completely different presence when he was on screen, the absolute epitome of "sports entertainment" wrestler. Theatrics, shtick, a fantasy character made real, it was everything a 12 year old cared about. Unfortunately, I lived in a house that thought wrestling was something a young man like myself should not be watching, so it had to be done in secret. Couple that with not getting internet at our house until mid-2009 meant I was unable to watch anything other than the weekly shows and piece together what happened on each episode. And, I only watched SmackDown! I didn't care about RAW and I couldn't figure out how to find ECW on my TV. I would watch TNA on the weekends, because I was just trying to watch any wrestling at all, but thats it. 

It wasn't until a few years ago that I got the WWE Network which let me catch up on stuff I've missed and fill in some gaps in my memory. Going back to 2007 and watching the odd PPV, Wrestlemania 23 is something else man, what a crazy show. My vote for best match on the card has got to go to Undertaker vs Batista, but Kane vs The Great Khali is a really close second. Undertaker and Batista proceed to go through the rest of 2007 having absolute wars with each other, with this match being the last in their series of 5. 1 win, 1 loss, and a pair of draws means this match is for all the marbles. 

And let’s talk about Batista for a second here, as these dances are nothing without an adequate partner. Batista was another dude I adored when I was younger and my respect and love for him has only grown as I’ve gotten older. Sure, Big Dave isn’t putting on mat classics and dazzling the crowd with his ring technique, but c’mon, look at this dude! He’s an absolute monster! How can you not fuck with Batista crazy?! You’re lying to my face if you don’t think Batista is sick as hell.

Batista is defending the World Heavyweight Championship in this match and starts out in control, trying to keep the match at his pace, but Undertaker is able to slow things down and starts to wear on Batista early. The other 2 matches in this series that I've watched (Wrestlemania 23 and Backlash) both started out hot, with a quick and exciting pace. Mania 23 started in third gear and didn't let off the gas the entire time, and their Backlash match was pretty similar but had some slower points purely with it being a Last Man Standing match, you don't really have a choice but to stand around and wait for the other guy to stand up. But this match is worked at a much slower pace, you could consider this "Undertaker speed," if you will. 

Some corner punches, the snake eyes combo, and a 2 count sends Taker rolling outside the ring to dig for plunder. He comes back up with a chair and brings it with him back to the ring as Batista rises to his feet. Winding back, Taker is cut in half by a spear.

Denied! WWE

Taker keeps the pressure on Batista, even trying for an armbar but Batista breaks it instantly, rolling outside as Taker follows him. He keeps the pressure on the champion, forcing him against the cage wall and trying to shred his skin off like cheese on a cheese grater. Batista is starting to bleed a bit from the forehead, but its nothing compared to what happens later in the match.

A guillotine leg drop across the apron (remember that guy in the crowd that always screamed for that move for a few years around like wrestlemania 27? Called it the greatest move in wrestling. Never gets old) and a chair forced into Batista's throat with the help of the ringside stairs starts to wear the champion down, making it hard for him to catch his breath. Not like it's going to be hard, this match isn't moving at a blistering pace.

Here's the thing, I like this match a lot, I really do! But it just seems like these two talked backstage and came to the conclusion that they'd work an Undertaker match but just throw some weapons in and do it in the cell. It never really picks up any considerable pace and its just big shot after big shot followed by walking or moving to get the next spot set up. Theres not a lot of urgency in this one like there seemed to be in their previous matches.

Undertaker gets Batista back in the ring and starts setting up for old school, wringing his arm and driving his shoulder into the champ's. He climbs the ropes and startes to walk, and when he leaps off to come crashing down on Batista, he gets caught for a nasty spinebuster. 

Spine on the pine, or so they say. WWE

Batista is back in the drivers seat and starts wearing Taker down, planting him with a solid running powerslam but only scores a 2. This time, it's Batista's turn to take the action outside, he throws Taker through the ropes and follows him out, whipping him into the cage wall and following up with a nasty lariat to flatter Taker. He's not down for very long though, and when he finally gets back up, he's able to throw Batista over his shoulder and drive him head first into the cell wall, following up with a skull splitting chair shot. Now Batista is bleeding buckets, nasty blade job. 

A ring-shaking superplex. WWE

Back inside, Taker tried to go for old school again but gets shoved down onto the top turnbuckle as Batista starts to climb to meet him for a massive superplex. With both men down and hurt from the impact, Batista starts to crawl toward Taker for the pin, but makes the mistake of going up through his legs and gets caught in Hell's Gate, before the move was named that actually! Batista once again fights his way out and rolls outside, giving himself a moment to breathe before locking back up with Undertaker. 

In one of the strangest things I think I've ever seen Undertaker do, he gets a tiny running start before running towards Batista on the outside and "diving" to the outside. I say "diving" because he does little more than a quick hop out through the ropes and just lands on Batista. Gotta be one of the weirdest things I've ever seen Taker attempt.

With Batista bleeding and holding himself up with the corner of the cage, Taker grabs a set of steps and charges at Batista. At the last second, he gets both  his legs up and blocks the charge, sending the stairs back into the face of the Undertaker. Turning the tide, Batista bounces Taker's head off the ringpost and he falls into the corner dazed. Upping the ante, Batista throws the stairs up onto his shoulder and charges the Undertaker, crashing into him over and over again, beating him down into a pulp with the steel stairs. One of the craziest things I've seen in a while, what an absolute monster.

Beating him with the stairs like they weigh nothing. WWE

 

Now both guys are bleeding, showing the wounds of war as they roll back into the ring, Taker taking a corner to stand and regain his footing. Batista wastes no time, climbing to the second rope to start raining down punches on the Deadman. But, as to be expected, Undertaker cuts off Batista's barrage at 9 and picks him up for a nasty Last Ride, but it only scores a 2.

Undertaker is ready to put an end to the match as he calls for a chokeslam, catching Batista right under the chin and driving him into the mat. Only a 2. Frustration is starting to build as he picks Batista up for a tombstone, but gets reversed into a spinebuster, but its still not enough. Now Batista is angry, as he stalks around the ring thinking of his next move. Taker starts to rise to his feet, but gets planted back down with another spinebuster. 

 

They barely had time to set the table for dinner! WWE

 

Venturing to the outside, Batista digs under the ring for something to put Undertaker away for good, coming back up with a table. Setting the table up as Undertaker starts to climb back to his feet, he immediately picks him up and drives him through the table with a Batista Bomb, but it only scores a 2.

If a table won't finish the job, then the stairs surely will. Batista drags the bottom half of the steps in the ring and pulls Taker in for the final Batista Bomb, but gets sent up and over with a back body drop, crashing down on the stairs he was trying to use. 

With Batista down, Undertaker hoists him up for a Tombstone and connects, drilling him into the canvas but he only scores a 2! Undertaker's blood is about to boil over as he picks Batista up again, and carries him up the steps and positions him for a second tombstone, connecting with the steel. 

Batista falls down like a corpse, laying flat out on the canvas, just waiting to be pinned. Undertaker climbs down and cover him as the ref counts 1... 2... and gets pulled out of the ring! How?! Edge, disguised as a cameraman, was inside the cell with them the entire time, waiting for the right time to strike. 

Climbing in the ring as Taker starts to rise, realizing what has just happened, he turns to face Edge who cracks him across the head with a camera. Undertaker starts to crawl to get away, trying to find time to collect himself and try to win the match as Edge grabs a chair left outside the ring, pulling the wounded Undertaker over to the steps and laying him across the top. Standing on the bottom step, chair in hand, Edge winds up and comes crashing down with a disgusting ConChairTo. 

Scrambled brains! It's whats for dinner! WWE

Both Undertaker and Batista are completely out of it, all but dead at this point, as Edge drags Batista over to the Undertaker, now flat in the ring, and drapes his arm over the chest of the Deadman. The referee counts 1... 2... 3, and its all over. Batista retains, Undertaker loses, all thanks to Edge.

This was a really solid cell match. Maybe not one of the greats, but it started to pick up as time went on and delivered where it counted. I still stand by the idea that a lot of this match was just your typical Undertaker brawl type match, but being as biased as I am towards Taker, I find it hard to hate that kind of match, but I can see how it might not be your thing. The finish didn't take anything away from what happened before it, Edge costing Undertaker the title fit in to their rivalry perfectly, which would carry me as a far for the next year and position Edge as public enemy number one for me. 

This week was a bit lighter as far as stuff watched. No real reason as to why, just found myself busy or distracted doing other things throughout the week and didn't get a chance to sit down to watch some shows/matches like I like to. I'll hopefully catch up on AEW's recent shows next week (Ospreay/MJF and Blood & Guts) and keep working my way through the DPW library. I somehow fell asleep on the couch at the end of Live 1 so I missed the main event but I'll start from there next week.

Until then, dear reader, feel free to drop me a line at cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com if you have any suggestions or feedback. Feel like I'm in a good rhythm with my reviews now and I'm keeping consistent, I like this. Its fun.

More to come.

Cliff Morgan