Weekly Watchlist 027 - December 15 2024

 Whats new, my fellow fans of fraudulent fisticuffs?

Another week down and another week closer to the end of 2024! I'm not sure if I mentioned in a previous post or not, but I toyed with the idea of doing some "year end awards" for the blog, going over matches and stuff I liked best from the year. But I don't think I'll do that this year. I'm getting in a good grove with how I watch and do these reviews right now and I want to keep that flow going. I might work on that next year, when I have a full 365 days worth of matches under my belt. I will, however, give you guys a quick rundown of some stats in a short year end post. Matches, promotions, and general star rating for the year. Think that will be fun for all of us to find out!

 

 Weekly Roundup

Here's what I watched for the week;

Saturday Nights Main Event 2024

I was expecting 2024's iteration of SNME to be a proper pay per view show, but it ended up being a saturday special edition of a RAW or SmackDown. Can't say I'm overly disappointed (in the concept, not so much in the show itself) in having a 5 match card breeze by in an hour and a half (no commercials). 

Zayn vs McIntyre was a fine matchup. Short, didn't really get into a whole lot of exciting moves or back and forth drama, but Drew caught him with a Claymore out of nowhere for the 3 count and that works for me. Sami can eat pins all year long and never lose his momentum, Drew getting one over on the Bloodline is the right call for where he's at right now 

Liv and IYO was pretty sloppy, honestly. Not sure if one or both are to blame, as I've been enjoying Liv's work as of late and think IYO is fantastic. Maybe just an off night for both of them. A couple missteps, some flubs awkward moments, but if you aren't watching with a critical eye, you'll probably enjoy this one.

GUNTHER, Balor and Priest had the best match on the card and, sadly, that's a pretty low bar. They kept it exciting and fast paced with all 3 guys bumping around for each other and GUNTHER coming in to shut stuff down and keep his reign intact. I kinda hope we can get away from Judgement Day stuff soon as I'd like for Priest to be able to fly on his own next year and Balor can move on to other feuds and have that singles push that, apparently, he's gonna be getting soon. 

Michin and Chelsea green was a step better than Liv/IYO, but only because they weren't as sloppy. I don't think either one of these ladies are exceptional workers, but they were able to have a decent match with a nice, creative finish. I'm happy Chelsea is the first Women's United States Champion (wow! More belts! I'm so happy!) so she can get the push that she's more than deserving of. 

Cody and Owens had a decent little main event match with not a whole lot going on. I'm happy Kevin is back as a heel again, I think he's leagued better as a vicious heel than a valiant babyface, even if he's great at both. Cody showed up with the winged eagle belt as a nice touch, but that was just about the best part of the match. I'm drafting this a couple days later and I can't think of anything exciting that happened in the match at all. Not a great sign for your main event slot. 

Harley Race vs. Terry Funk - Houston Wrestling - 07/01/1977

I've had this match sitting in my spreadsheet as a "watch this next" for the past couple of weeks now. I watched it a couple months back right before I went to bed and I was able to remember enjoying the match but that was it. I wanted to give this match a proper viewing and add it to my spreadsheet where it can be recorded and remembered until the end of time. Or, until the spreadsheet gets deleted one day, not sure which will happen first. 

After listening to The Lapsed Fun earlier this year, I knew I needed to dive deeper into Terry's catalogue of matches and really, really understand why he's celebrated as one of the best to ever do it. It wasn't long until this match showed up, considered to be the best match of the 1970's, a pretty good rating if you ask me considering, you know, there's only 10 years of wrestling to choose from. 

We see NWA Champion Harley Race defending his title in this 2 out of 3 falls match, the traditional rule set for NWA title matches. Funk was coming off a 424 day reign as champion earlier in the year, losing his title to Race in February after beating Jack Brisco for the title in December of 1975. Nick Kozak is the referee for this match, a wrestler in his own right that would occasionally put on the zebra suit (metaphorical, of course, he's wearing a lovely white shirt with baby blue slacks for this match) and call matches. 

The bell rings and neither man is too ambitious to get this one going. Funk is encouraging Race to make the first move, but Harley is watching Funk closely and keeping his distance. Funk starts to move in for Race as he backs into the corner, getting a foot on the ropes to make sure whatever Funk tries will be broken before he can even get his hands on him. Race is not ready to engage Funk on any terms but his own. The champion is calling the shots tonight. 

They lockup and break as quickly as they came together, with Funk remaining the aggressor, shoving Race into the ropes as the hold is broken again. Funk locks up with Race once more and keeps on him, changing places with the champion to put him against the ropes again, opening his chest and lacing him with a heavy chop. Race nearly falls over the top rope from the shot, reeling as Kozak admonishes Funk for hitting Race against the ropes. 

Now Race really wants to keep Funk off him, but it's no use, as Funk locks up with Race again and immediately grabs hold of the left wrist, taking the champion down to his knees as he wrenches back with an armbar. Funk sits down deep, working over the left arm of Race and wrenching it back and forth to try and rip it from it's socket. Race squirms and to try and break the hold but Funk stands up, still maintaining wrist control as he puts a boot on the face of the champion. He takes his other foot and stands on the side of Race, just below his armpit and falls back on his ass, ripping and pulling at the arm of Race as he lands. 

Funk has always had a knack for making everything work. NWA

It's an unorthodox way of weakening someone's arm, but no less effective. Neither are Funk's forearm scrapes and elbow drops on the trapped arm of the champion. You may not learn these techniques in any catch wrestling gyms, but that doesn't make them any less effective, and Race knows it. He's squirming and trying to get away, but Funk plants 2 feet on the handsome one's face and falls back again, pulling the arm further and further out with each pull. 

Funk wastes no time as Race rolls onto his stomach, taking the left wrist and hammerlocking it behind Race's back, lacing a boot under his forearm and putting his other foot in front of the arm to trap it in place, he once again falls back, putting even more pressure on the hammerlock now. He floats over and around Race, still holding the hammerlock as he tries to force him off his stomach and onto his back, a move I could easily see Hackenschmidt doing (in fact, I think I did!). 

This is the window Race needs, getting to his knees and then to his feet, pushing Funk against the ropes and chopping him but the offence is short lived. Funk press slams the champion and catches his left arm once again, holding on tight and refusing to let go. Even when Race gets back to his feet again, he gets press slammed back down and his arm gets drilled with knee drops, punctuated with a leg drop (somewhere in Florida, a young Terry Bollea feels a shiver run down his spine)

Terry, brother? It's Terry. I wanted to talk to you about your match the other day, dude. NWA

This is the early stage of a war of attrition, Funk knows he's going to need to put an effort in to beat Race and needs to wear him down. Patience and precision will be what wins him this match, and he's showing both in spades as he focuses on the arm of the champion almost exclusively for the first 10 minutes of the match.

In the YouTube copy of this match (this dude's channel is great, by the way, a lot of old territory matches. Mostly Texas area stuff. Some Von Erich matches in here!), we fade to black with Terry still holding Race's arm. When we come back, Funk is on his knees and fading, as Race has the challenger in a side headlock and is putting the squeeze on. Funk is able to crack Race in the back with a forearm and tries to take the champion down but Race remains in control, even with his back on the canvas. Funk gets a leg over top of Race as he tries to change his position but Race just keeps squeezing and clamping down on Funk's head. 

After having his head squeezed for minutes on end, Funk gets back to his feet and starts trying to reverse the hold. Race is leaning nearly all his body weight on Funk, who's nearly standing up to his full height. He gets his right foot out in front of Race and his hips follow, twisting and pushing his torso up and to the left, releasing his head from Race's vice like grip as Funk continues to turn. With two sets of arms in the air, Funk starts to bend down now, controlling Race's arms in the mess of limbs until he's able to grab hold of the left wrist once again, twisting it around violently as Race flips with it and lands flat on his back. Beautiful stuff. 

I'm gonna go ahead and flip you over! NWA

Funk is back in control momentarily but Race traps Funk's head with his legs now, using the far more powerful legs muscles to try and squeeze Funk's head like a grape. Funk is squirming and flailing, but not so much to exhaust himself. Race is deliberate in dropping the leg on Funk to add pressure and damage, and Funk is deliberate in when he tries to flop and squirm out of the hold. There's a method to the madness. 

Eventually, Funk's patience pays off, as Race raises himself to his hands to try and really put the squeeze on Terry's head but it works more in favour of Funk than Race. Funk finds his breath and starts to stand, bringing Race up with him, refusing to untie his legs from around Funk's head. Terry is barely able to stand but finally makes it, holding Race upside down as he raises to his full height, but the pressure is too much, as he falls to a knee and Race goes back down to the mat, resuming his torturous hold. 

I'd like to reiterate; Terry can make everything work. NWA

Funk tries again and is able to get to his feet much quicker this time around, working forward slowly until he meets the corner, pressing Race ass first into the middle turnbuckle to mercifully force the hold to break. Race is slow to let Funk go, squirming around the referee to start laying into Funk with heavy hands and strikes to the gut. Funk is punch drunk but refuses to back down, starting to feel the damage from Race's hold as his shoulders feel weak. Race returns the favour as he grabs Funk's left wrist and wrings it out, absorbing chops as Funk's shoulders and neck scream in pain. Funk's strikes eventually send Race back into the ropes, with one final chop nearly tying Race up in them for good measure.

They circle each other and lock up again, with Funk spinning around Race and taking him down with a single leg takedown, going for the Funk families signature move, the Spinning Toe Hold, but Race rolls back and gets out of the hold in time. Funk is sent back to a knee, surprised Race got out so quick, with the champion taking a knee and outstretching his arms as if to say "nice try Funk! Not that easily!"

 

Not quite the whole ballgame yet, Terry! NWA

They lock up again and Race shoves Funk back into the ropes, with both men coming off the ropes and Race shoving Funk across the ring, who hits the ropes and drops Race with a huge shoulder tackle that brings Funk to a knee. He's back on two feet quickly as he charges for the ropes again, but this time Race sidesteps and Funk flies through the ropes to the floor! Funk stands on the apron and Race meets him there, bringing him back inside with a vertical suplex. He pulls Funk to his feet and ties him up with an abdominal stretch, with Funk howling inagony but refusing to give in. But eventually, the pain is too much to handle, as his shakes of "no! no!" turn into "yes! yes!" as the first fall goes to Harley Race.

Really giving this guy the stretch, brother. NWA

The version of this I watch has a neat little graphic between the end of the first fall and the beginning of the next fall so it's hard to tell how much time is between them, but Funk is standing in the corner when we are back, telling Kozak he's good and ready to continue. This fall starts similar to the beginning of the match, but Funk backs Race into the corner out of a lock up and starts lacing him with slaps to the face, paintbrushing the champion. 

Emotions are starting to boil as Race charges Funk, pushing the referee aside but Funk body slams Race and charges in, only to get a headbutt to the gut for his excitement. Kozak is trying to check on Funk but Race is igoring and outright pushing him away, dropping the elbow on the back of a prone Funker. Race goes for another elbow and then a knee drop, pulling back with a crossface as Funk's face is once again etched in agony. Funk is able to reverse to a side headlock and get to his feet, hitting the ropes and twisting around Race as they both try for an abdominal press until Funk drops down for a backslide but only gets 2. 

As Race gets to his feet, Funk beats him up and pulls him in, sitting back with a piledriver! He floats over Race and gets the pin! We're at one fall a piece!

He spike'd him! NWA

We're now in sudden death. Both men are groggy and worse for wear. Funk is following Race around the ring as he keeps grabbing at his head and neck, the lingering pain of the piledriver impossible to shake. At this point, they're foregoing lockups and technical prowess, instead drilling each other with shots to the head and chest. A right hand drops Race flat on his back and Funk follows up with a jumping knee drop to the forehead of the champion. 

Funk focuses his efforts on the head and neck of Race now, picking him up only to take him down with a swinging neck breaker. He picks him up again and plants him with a huge atomic drop that sends Race flying across the ring, his spine shaking from the impact against Funk's knee. He's been trying to pin Race after everything during this fall, and the only thing that prevented Funk from being a two time champion being Kozak noticing Race's feet on the bottom rope. 

Funk is leaning against the ropes with his back to the ring as Race stirs and gets to his feet, stalking the challenger. But Funk isn't completely clueless, he senses the approaching threat and snatches a single leg, wrapping Race up and locking him in the Spinning Toe Hold! Race is flailing and squirming and finally catches Terry in the face, stunning him as he falls backwards. Funk gets back up and goes for the hold again and again Race goes for the head of Funk, the target hovering a few feet above Race's prone body.

The hold is broken again but Terry keeps taking Race down, wrapping his leg and foot up even as Race opens up the wound that has appeared above the left eye of Funk. With each shot, Race's knuckles are stained a deeper crimson, and Funk finds it harder to stand but still, he spins and spins, cranking the spinning toe hold as Race fights to survive.

Here, we have reached the real war of attrition. Funk is bleeding and it's only getting worse, but he knows he can beat Race if he can keep the Spinning Toe Hold on long enough. Race, for his part, is frantic to not get put in Funk's signature hold, knowing he can only last so long if Funk is able to succeed, so he does whatever it takes to weaken his challenger. A wound above his eye creates a ticking clock that favours Race with each shot he lands on the bullseye, with Funk looking down at the champion seeing his chest grow a deeper crimson as more and more of his DNA drips from his face. 

Funk is almost entirely on autopilot, able to apply the Spinning Toe Hold in his sleep. Kozak gets in his face to look at the cut as Funk is groggy and stumbling around, still wrenching on the hold. Funk falls down and loses grip, with Kozak directly in his face and Funk shoves him away, flying blind from the blood loss and feeling like he needs to defend himself. Kozak has no choice and calls the match off, calling for a doctor to come to the ring immediately to tend to Funk. The third fall ends in a draw, and Race retains his title. 

The dying breaths of a title challenge. NWA

 

Race gets a few final cheap shots in, headbutting Funk as both men are barely able to peel themselves off the canvas, with Funk wearing a mask of his own crimson. 

This match is brilliant. Initially, I liked but didn't love this match. It was a top end 4 star match for me. But after this review and watching it again, man, I love this match. Race and Funk put on a match that burns slow at the start and eventually builds to a brawl. I'm a bit disappointed it ended the way it did, with Kozak making the call the Funk was bleeding too much (don't let him watch anything Funk did in ECW or FMW then, heaven forbid) but after watching it again, I don't think it takes away from the match as much as I did initially. Clean finishes are always preferred, but inconclusive finishes weren't unheard of in the NWA days.

 

 

Claudio Castagnoli vs Brodie Lee - Steel Cage Match - CHIKARA Style and Substance - 09/07/2008

Absorbing every shot. Your best may not be good enough. CHIKARA

In the last couple of years, I've found myself watching this match around this time of the month. Generally, it's on the 26th of December, but this year I decided to bump it up a whole 10 days, to the 16th. Instead of watching this CHIKARA classic on the anniversary of your death, I chose to watch this match on the day of your birth, Brodie. 

I want to give Brodie Lee a special spotlight on this blog at a later date but for right now, I'll briefly talk about the man we lost 4 short years ago. His death was one of the first wrestler deaths that hit me, I can't really remember any other wrestlers I was a fan of passing away until Brodie, and when I saw the news that night, I was stunned. I didn't know how to react. He was a guy I believed in from the moment I first saw him along side Bray Wyatt and always kept my eye on. I was rooting for him when he was getting a nice singles push during the SmackDown Live era, I was a huge Bludgeon Brothers fan, and was gutted when he got released, only to find out he debuted in AEW as The Exalted one not long after the company was born. To this day, the death of Brodie still hits me sometimes. He wasn't someone I knew personally, obviously, but was a guy that I never tired of seeing on my screen and wanted the absolute world for. 

This match is considered by many to be one of the best of his career, with some even considering it one of the best in CHIKARA's history as well, and it's more than deserving of that praise. Not only is this a first of its kind matchup in CHIKARA, a steel cage match, but it's one that has a real big fight feel. Like this is a really big deal, partially due to the fantastic video package before the match. It goes over "Brodie Lee's Path of Destruction" through CHIKARA, bulldozing opponents smaller than him (not hard in CHIKARA, lets be honest) until Double C decides enough is enough. 

They have a few matches before their steel cage clash, one with Brodie winning by DQ, another where Claudio got the win because of a DQ, and a no DQ match ending after Mitch Ryder gave Claudio a fireball to the face to allow Brodie Lee to get the win. Now, a steel cage match will be the rubber match. No rules, no interference, just Double C and The Big Rig. The table has been set.

It's not really relevant to the match, but I'll never pass up an opportunity to talk about Larry Sweeney. During a pre match promo, Sweeney interrupts to try and ask Claudio if he'll tag with him so they can both get at Mitch Ryder after he refuses to have a singles match with Sweeney. He talks about how they may have been at odds before after the Kings of Wrestling broke up and they've been at each others throats lately, but Sweeney wants "the past to fend for itself." Claudio is blunt, smirking as he retorts "uh... no," before walking away. God, Sweeney is unreal man. I miss him terribly. 12 Large forever. 

Ain't no doubt about it! CHIKARA

We're in the arena now as the ring announcer lays out the rules for the match. Pinfall or escape. I'd prefer pinfall or submission, but I'm not too upset about escape being a rule as (spoilers) it doesn't factor into the match. Brodie is out first, marching around the ring before climbing inside. Claudio is out next and heads straight for the cage, getting blindsided by a big boot as he enters the cage, sending him to the floor. 

They brawl around the ring, with chops to the chest before Brodie hurls Claudio into the ring steps, these ones wood as opposed to WWE's steel. Probably hurts a fraction less. Brodie clobbers Claudio over the back with forearms before rolling him in the cage door, but Claudio dives through the opening and crashes into Brodie!

Air Swiss! CHIKARA

Turning the tables before the match has even started, Claudio uses the dive to throw Brodie in the ring himself, attempting to level the Big Rig with clotheslines as he makes it to his feet, absorbing every shot. He ducks a line and waits near the cage wall, baiting Claudio in for another clothesline until he back body drops him into the cell wall, scraping against the steel and landing hard on the apron. Now, Brodie is in control. He leathers Claudio with chops in the corner, bludgeons him across the back with forearms, and uses the shirt he came down to the ring with to choke Claudio against the cage wall. 

There's something about the make up of this cage that really makes every shot look like it hurts like hell. Maybe its the simple fact that it's basically a fence around the ring, not a fancy chain link wall like WWE has used for years. When Brodie shoulder tackles Claudio into the cage, it bows out with the impact and Claudio is visibly forced into the steel. I can't help but wince at some of the impacts. The size and strength of these two really help make everything look awful, especially when Brodie sends Claudio with a hard whip into the ropes. Claudio takes the ropes with his back but the speed and force he hits them with sends his shoulders into the cage wall and it warps to adsorb his frame. It's gnarly and I love it. 

Claudio gets whipped into the corner and gets the boot up just in time as Brodie runs in, getting caught under the chin. Claudio hops to the top rope and catches Brodie with another boot, but Brodie cracks Claudio under the chin with an uppercut when he turns back around, climbing to the top rope and bringing Claudio over and down with a top rope double underhook suplex. He tries for a pin but it's not yet enough. 

There's beauty in the violence. CHIKARA

Claudio drags himself to the corner, fending off Brodie as he stalks him but his efforts are not enough, as he gets chopped hard enough to fall out of the corner. Brodie stands on Claudio's throat and uses the ropes to add extra leverage, taking advantage of the lack of rules in this match. With Claudio back in the corner, Brodie chops Claudio with enough force that he stumbles along the ropes to the next corner, trying to escape but Brodie is on his tail, chopping him again. He follows him to all four corners, punctuating his onslaught with a european uppercut. 

The impact stuns Claudio, but it also wakes him up, the pain and anguish from the brawl mere seconds before seems to fade away, as Claudio marches out of the corner and uppercuts Brodie in the centre of the ring! The master of the europea uppercut catches Brodie with a hat trick of strikes, the first two putting the Big Rig on spaghetti legs and the third one drops him, the first time Brodie's back has hit the canvas in this match. 

Claudio tries to send Brodie into the cage wall but Brodie stops him, grabbing Claudio by the head and taking him across the ring to make him eat the cage wall instead, but Claudio reverses at the last second! The top of Brodie's head collides with the cage with disgusting impact, falling backwards as he clutches his head. 

Brain to the cage! CHIKARA

With Brodie slow to his feet, Claudio lies in wait until he rises to his full height, snatching a double leg and swinging him around, dropping him like a corpse into the cage wall. Brodie is bleeding as Claudio goes for the cover, the impact on the steel cage busting him wide open. Brodie gets behind Claudio after driving him head first into the top turnbuckle, carrying him in a torture rack and dropping Claudio with a huge neckbreaker. 

Brodie is pacing around the ring now, weighing his options as he goes for the wall of the cage and starts to climb, but Claudio is quick to his feet and pulls Brodie back down into the ring. Brodie tries to get Claudio set up for a powerfomb bit Claudio reverses it, picking him up on his shoulders in a firemans carry. He readies himself in the centre, and then presses Brodie Lee above his head! With Brodie suspended in air, he charges at the cage and hurls the Big Rig at the cage, the wall nearly buckling from the impact as he crashes onto the apron. 

Brodie flies! CHIKARA

Claudio goes for a corner whip but gets reversed, with Brodie charging in with a big boot but falls against the ropes, the blood loss and damage starting to catch up with him. He's able to get Claudio up for a running powerbomb and holds him for the pin, but it's still not enough. Wasting no time, Brodie gets to his feet and goes for the cage wall, pulling himself up and is able to get one leg over the wall before Claudio starts to climb beside him. Brodie dismounts from the cage and stands on the top strand with Claudio, trading shots back and forth until they both get crotched on the top rope, falling back inside the ring. 

From their knees to their feet, Brodie and Claudio continue to trade blows back and forth, with a discus lariat from Brodie ducked and turned into Swiss Death! Claudio's pop up european uppercut always looks so nasty, I love it. 

Looking to put this match behind him, Claudio wraps Brodie's arms up and pulls him down as the crowd calls the move for him. "RICOLA!" they all shout, but the Ricola Bomb is blocked as Brodie charges forward, driving Claudio into the corner as referee Bryce Remsburg gets caught in the crossfire, crumbling to his knees as Brodie keeps driving Claudio back into the corner. He finally stands up and back body drops Claudio up and over, but he lands on his feet! Brodie turns, confident Claudio isn't a threat, but eats a huge big boot (huge AND big, do they make shoes that size?) Brodie hits the canvas as another referee tries to make his way in but struggles to find a key.

Claudio tends to Bryce as Brodie gets to the corner, lining Double C in his crosshairs and charges in with a boot, but Claudio turns in time to stop him! He pulls him down for another, say it with me, "RICOLA!" bomb! Bryce flops over to make the count and slowly counts 1, then 2, but Brodie kicks out before the slow 3 is counted!

RIIIIIIICOLAAAAA! CHIKARA

Bryce is on his feet first, nursing his ribs as Brodie stands next, hugging the corner as Claudio staggers to his feet, charging in only to get caught with a back elbow. He stumbles back to centre as Brodie barrels out of the corner, taking Claudio's head off his shoulders with a discus lariat! He pulls Claudio up and onto his shoulders, practically dead weight as he powerbombs him into the cage wall and then into the ring. For whatever reason, this bump is particularly nasty, the ring looks to be made of solid concrete when Claudio lands. 

Brodie sits in the corner and waits for Claudio to stir, watching as his opponent slowly crawls to the corner and pulls himself up to his feet. He waits for the exact moment that Claudio makes a move out of the corner, and charges, running through him with a big boot. He folds Claudio over for the pin, but he kicks out! 

Going for the cage wall to try and escape, he motions for someone to come towards him, but there's nobody at ringside - yet. Suddenly, Buck Hawke (he teamed with Mitch Ryder in CHIKARA so is loosely tied to Brodie) starts to climb the cage to give Brodie Lee a chain. Before he can make it far, Larry Sweeney makes the save! He rips Hawke down from the cage and stands guard at ringside, begging for anyone else to try and interfere. Claudio may not want his help, but he's gonna get it tonight. 

Claudio starts to get to his feet, stumbling to the ropes as Brodie sits on the top of the cage now, one leg away from escaping. He climbs to the top and Brodie once again joins him at the top, with the punch exchange leading to Brodie falling back in the ring as Claudio stands alone on the top rope. 

Now, Claudio has a choice to make. Does he climb over the cage and escape to win? He's feet away from victory, but it's a hollow one at best. Or, does he rejoin Brodie in the ring and finish him off once and for all?

Claudio looks to pick option A, putting one leg over the top of the cage but stops himself. He thinks for a second before he pushes himself up more, crouching on the top of the cage now. He turns to the ring, facing Brodie Lee as he is on his feet now, stumbling and staggering around the ring. With precision possessed only by the Swiss Superman, he takes flight, crashing into Brodie Lee with a missile european uppercut!

No words. Utterly insane. CHIKARA

Brodie is folded in half as Claudio rises to his feet, finding his second wind as the CHIKARA crowd comes alive. He rips Brodie up off the ring and ties his arms up, getting him in position for, you guessed it! "RICOLA!" The Ricnola Bomb! This time, Brodie is up on the shoulder of Claudio, almost like he's up for a Razors Edge. Claudio boosts Brodie up before drilling him straight down, the impact is as bad as you can imagine. He folds the Big Rig up and covers him, with Bryce mercifully counting 3. Claudio has put Brodie Lee away. 

This match is perfect. I love it so much. Brodie is the perfect heel monster and Claudio is a fantastic babyface in peril. These two are movie monsters come to life and are brilliant sparring partners. There's a slow build that gets to a really heavy hitting middle part, and a final act that comes at you with all of their biggest and nastiest moves one after another. It's a quick match too, clocking in mere seconds over 15 minutes so it's an easy watch if you're worried about it taking up a lot of your time. Seek this one out if you haven't seen it already. It's a treat.

Well, that does it for this week! Next week will be the last Weekly Watchlist of 2024 and part 3 of Tapping Out will drop on Tuesday, Christmas Eve! The feedback I've been getting has been amazing, thank you to everyone who has given my story a listen. I'm excited for everyone to hear the end of it. As always, send whatever you want to the inbox, cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com. Name me another blog that covers CHIKARA and NWA matches in the same post. Go ahead, I'm waiting. Email is right there. This is the one of a kind experience you get from the Wrestling Vault. Nobody else is doing it like I'm doing it.

Until next time, take it easy.

Cliff Morgan