November is in the books, friends!
This was a really crazy month for yours truly. Some great wrestling, a wack ass schedule that really threw a wrench into a lot of my wrestling viewing, and a pair of great shows from the big 2 brands that made it all worth while.
Let's go over what really stood out this month!
CM Punk vs. Chavo Guerrero - Gulf Of Mexico Match - ECW - 02/05/2008
This match is stupid, hilarious, and the prime example for how Vince McMahon viewed ECW in the late 2000's. A complete joke of a brand that he couldn't care less about. Get a couple buddies and have a hoot with this one.
The Amazing Red vs. Chris Sabin vs. Alex Shelley vs. Daniels vs. Suicide vs. Homicide - Ultimate X - TNA Bound For Glory 2009 - 10/18/2009
TNA's X Division was one of the greatest group of wrestlers any company has put together in history. A who's who of some of the best wrestlers that perfected the frenetic indie style. Crazy spots, insane bumps, and a pace that makes the viewer sweat. These 6 dudes could be considered the best ever in the X Division and this Ultimate X match shows you exactly why.
The Sandman vs. Mikey Whipwreck - Ladder Match - ECW - 10/31/1995
An unassuming match at first that picks up in intensity and action quickly, with both Sandman and Mikey pulling out some crazy bumps and offence. It's a shorter match that ends without a whole lot of build but is a really fun watch.
Cody Rhodes vs. GUNTHER - WWE Crown Jewel 2024 - 11/02/2024
GUNTHER continues to make the case for why he's the greatest wrestler in the world right now. Cody is no slouch either, and these 2 work through a fantastic match that builds and builds to a great finish that makes both guys look amazing.
Eddie Kingston vs. Larry Sweeney - Yellow Belly Strap Match - CHIKARA Talent Borrows; Genius Steals - 11/18/2006
CHIKARA is not often known for its serious story lines, but the rivalry between Kingston and Sweeney was pretty serious and intense when you consider what most CHIKARA cards looked like. 2 guys who know each other extremely well stole the show in an fantastic strap match reminiscent of something you might see in an old school southern strap match. Loved it.
George Hackenschmidt vs. Joseph Rogers - 01/03/1908
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 022
Curt Hennig vs. Nick Bockwinkel - AWA Championship Wrestling - 11/15/1986
Despite already knowing this match would go the full hour, I was hooked from the start. The build in action is slow, deliberate, and perfect. The intensity never lets up once it starts to ramp up and both guys are in peak form here. Bock needs to be talked about more and Hennig needs to be seen before he became Perfect.
Donovan Dijak vs. Jake Something - Limitless 9 Lives - 09/21/2024
Dijak is on a mission to prove that WWE dropped the ball with letting him go and matches like this are as much a statement to New York as they are a testament to his value as a new indie name. Two big dudes that move like guys half their size, Something is on the verge of breaking out finally and Dijak is starting on the run of his career while not being signed to any promotion. Amazing stuff.
Candy Okutsu, Dynamite Kansai, Fusayo Nochi & Hikari Fukuoka vs. Cutie Suzuki, Devil Masami, Hiromi Yagi & Mayumi Ozaki - Bridge Of Dreams ~ Dome Spring Full Bloom - 04/02/1995
High energy, fast action, these 2 teams never let up. It's not as hard hitting as the match that follows, but I found it hard to look away because there was so much going on that I didn't want to miss. Don't let the video quality fool you, this match ruled.
Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue vs. Blizzard Yuki & Manami Toyota - Bridge Of Dreams ~ Dome Spring Full Bloom - 04/02/1995
The harder hitting of the womens tag matches on Bridge of Dreams, all 4 women decided that their opponents suddenly owed them money and they needed to be hit as hard as possible. They didn't let up for a second and made me wince more times than I can remember. Should be no surprise when Manami Toyota and Aja Kong are on opposite sides of the ring.
Leatherface, Shoji Nakamaki & Terry Funk vs. The Headhunters & Cactus Jack - Barbed Wire Board & Barbed Wire Baseball Bat Bunkhouse Death Match - Bridge Of Dreams ~ Dome Spring Full Bloom - 04/02/1995
Features in Weekly Watchlist 023
Gran Naniwa, Super Delfin & TAKA Michinoku vs. Kaientai & The Great Sasuke - Bridge Of Dreams ~ Dome Spring Full Bloom - 04/02/1995
The junior heavyweights got a chance to shine at Bridge of Dreams and put every other "high energy, fast paced" match to shame with their speed and intensity. Seriously, this show hardly lets up and it's matches like these that make it so damn exciting. Almost no misses on the Bridge of Dreams card and this match absolutely hit.
Holy Demon Army & Johnny Ace vs. Super Generation Army & Stan Hansen - Bridge Of Dreams ~ Dome Spring Full Bloom - 04/02/1995
Seriously, what needs to be said? Holy Demon Army vs. Super Generation Army. The 4 Pillars of Heaven. Sure, Johnny Ace and Stan Hansen are in there 2 but they're really good for the part they play! Even for a match that features no sound for three quarters of it, it's exciting and compelling. It's hard to not get excited when 4 of the greatest wrestlers ever are in the same ring.
Stephanie Vaquer vs. AZM - NJPW Windy City Riot 2024 - 04/12/2024
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 023
Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander - AEW Full Gear 2024 - 11/23/2024
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 024
Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher - AEW Full Gear 2024 - 11/23/2024
Ospreay continues to innovate the modern style of wrestling. I always think I'll have some critiques about his "circus gymnastics matches" but I never do. Ospreay is another level of exciting and Fletcher proves he's more than the sum of his parts after breaking away from Aussie Open.
Big Boom AJ vs. QT Marshall - AEW Full Gear 2024 Zero Hour - 11/23/2024
This match would have fit in perfectly with a 1989 WWF show in Madison Square Garden. It's quintessential wrestling. The powerful, popular babyface squares off against the cowardly, arrogant heel. All hope looks lost as the heel dominates but no, the hero gets a top rope superplex and lands the Powerboom! Meltzer was wrong for giving this match 2.5 stars. Hogan could learn a thing or two from the Costco guys, brother.
Akira Hokuto vs. Manami Toyota - AJW Destiny - 09/02/1995
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 024
Dominik Dijakovic, Keith Lee, Kevin Owens & Tommaso Ciampa vs. The Undisputed ERA - WarGames - NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2019 - 11/23/2019
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 025
Bron Breakker vs. Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser - WWE Survivor Series 2024 - WarGames - 11/30/2024
To the shock of nobody, Sheamus, Breakker and Kaiser put on the match of the night for Survivor Series 2024. Sheamus and Breakker have been on a crazy tear this year, against each other or on their own, and Kaiser was a welcomed wildcard in this match that proved he can more than handle himself as a singles guy. Please let Sheamus win the IC title before he retires my heart can't handle this much longer.
There you have it! The best of month 11! Onto December and the end of 2024!
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