Weekly Watchlist 036 - February 16 2025

What's new, sports entertainment enthusiasts? 

This weeks watchlist is going to be a bit "modified," I guess is the best way to put it. As you guys know, I tend to review two matches along with anything else I watched in the week that I feel should get some recognition. This week, however, I've had to cut back. My desire to watch wrestling just wasn't there on the weekend, and I didn't really watch anything until the start of the week. I'm drafting this review much later in the week than normal so I'm already on the back foot in that sense. 

For those that keep track of, or live in the great white north like yours truly, you'll know that I got a whole heap of snow dumped on me this past weekend. I spent around 3 hours combined shovelling on Sunday, and it knocked me on my ass really bad. So bad, that my right wrist was bothering me for about a day and a half. It's much better now but I'm also mindful that it could be aggravated easily by typing too much. So I've opted to cut back for this week. But fear not, this weeks match is an all-timer. 

Buckle up! It's time to venture back to the rings of All Japan!

Weekly Roundup

Here's what I watched for the week;

 

 

AEW Grand Slam Australia; Does Size Really Matter? 

Before getting into AEW's great Grand Slam show this past weekend, I want to address what was apparently the elephant in the room from the show; the size of he ring. From what I'm hearing, because I've basically abandoned X for BlueSky, a lot of fans were in an uproar about AEW using a smaller ring for this show. I will say, I did notice almost immediately, I watch enough wrestling that the difference between a 20x20 and an 18x18 ring stands out like a sore thumb to me. Although it did interest me, more from the perspective of watching guys move around a different sized ring and their timing for spots and stuff, I certainly wasn't one of those who decided to use it as more ammunition to try and tear AEW apart and further along the narrative that their a "indie mudshow promotion" that "can't draw a dime."

Maybe I'm just an idiot mark, but if I don't like the wrestling I see, I don't watch it! Remember that DPW/Gatoh Move show I started last year and then gave up on? Know why? I didn't like it! Want to know why so many matches on my spreadsheet score so well? Because I watch wrestling I like! My time on this earth is far too limited to spend it with my blood pressure through the roof because something merely exists. If you're one of those fans and you're reading this; grow the fuck up.  

Anyways, here's my rundown for Grand Slam Australia.

Ospreay/Omega vs Takeshita/Fletcher was as good as you could expect it to be. All four dudes were doing the most insane shit possible and stealing the show before it even began. The One Winged Angel/Hidden Blade combo is diabolical. I need to see Ospreay and Omega team up again. They're far too powerful as a team but I don't care, more please!

Mercedes Mone vs. Harley Cameron was fine. Harley was a bit out of her depth, if we can be honest, with Mone doing the bulk of the work in this match. She was a bit clunky at times but wasn't atrocious by any means. Cameron brought out the puppet Mone in a nice moment, but ultimately was beaten by Mone. I think with time she'll find gold but the story is better with her losing right now.

Cope and Jay White vs. The Death Riders was your typical tag team Death Riders street fight affair. Crowd brawling, some weapon shots and table bumps, nothing here was remarkable or insane. I feel kinda bad with how much I praised the Death Riders last year and how much they've fallen. They don't really feel like a threat or they have the same "direction" anymore. They need to feel like a prominent part of the shows again, really start tearing AEW apart again. Get back to what works. 

Okada and Matthews was a great match, once again, to the surprise of nobody. It's kinda crazy to think how many names Okada is squaring off against and he's having compelling, competitive matches with almost all of them. There's not big leaguing or outclassing from one of the best wrestlers in the world today, he's going strike for strike. Matthews came dangerously close on a few occasions to dethroning Okada but wasn't able to get the victory.

Toni Storm and Mariah May took the main event slot, and rightfully so. This match was brutal, emotional, and a fantastic cap to their multi-month, almost multi-year story. Mariah has really found her groove and proved she's more than just "eye candy," she can more than hold her own in the ring, going shot for shot. Storm ultimately picked up the win, becoming the fourth AEW Wome- I'm sorry, FOURTH?! I knew she's held the title a couple times and was kinda trading it back and forth for a bit there, but fourth?! That's more than anyone else with any other title, right?! I mean good for her, but that figure really caught me off guard. 

 

 

Jun Akiyama vs. Kenta Kobashi - AJPW Summer Action Series 1998 - Day 15 - 07/24/1998

The calm before the storm. AJPW

Like I said at the start of the blog today, I really lacked motivation to watch anything this week. Still wasn't really feeling it. I checked out AEW's show, forgot NXT even had a show this weekend, and started New Japan's show from the week before, but that was it. In the middle of the afternoon on Tuesday, I finally had the urge to watch something. I was tired of having no motivation anymore, I needed to feel inspired, to have the feeling brought back. What promotion, during what era, and what wrestler would do that for me this week?

Kenta motherfuckin' Kobashi. Circa 90's All Japan.

So, to the YouTube machine I went and found this match, his 1998 Triple Crown Title defence against Jun Akiyama. Earlier in the year, Kobashi beat Toshiaki Kawada for the Triple Crown on June 12, starting his second reign with All Japan's biggest prize. By this point, Kobashi was firmly established in All Japan, outgrowing his position as the "underdog" of the Four Pillars of Heaven and spending time at the top of the heap. Tonight, he goes against Jun Akiyama, who some consider to be the adopted fifth Pillar of Heaven. Often forgotten about when talked about the stacked roster All Japan had at the time, Akiyama was more than capable of having compelling matches against the very best on the card, with this match being no exception. 

The match starts hot right from the bell, with both men trading heavy strikes in the middle and Kobashi trying for a back suplex, but Akiyama counters into a crossbody and tries to cover early. A shoulder tackle takes Akiyama down and he takes the chance to latch onto the right leg of Kobashi as he stands, backing him into the ropes and holding on until the referee forces the break. Kobashi had been dealing with multiple knee injuries starting in 1995, with his right knee always heavily bandaged and braced. Akiyama is quick to try and take advantage of this weakness, with Kobashi immediately put on defence to protect the target on his leg. 

A double knuckle lock pushes Akiyama down to a neck bridge, but he powers out and tries to pick Kobashi up for a suplex, but can't get him off the canvas. Rolling backwards while maintaining the hold, he twists the digits of the champion and forces him to a knee, twisting to keep the pressure on. They break after Akiyama drills Kobashi with a forearm to the jaw, sizing each other up once again.Akiyama sending Kobashi into the ropes, and he meets him in the middle with a huge jumping knee to the face, dropping the champion to his stomach, nearly falling out to the floor. 

Gotcha! AJPW

 Trying for a cover, Akiyama isn't able to keep him down longer for a two, locking in a side headlock out of the pin as Kobashi shifts on the canvas as he tries to stand. He gets to his feet and creates enough distance to fire off a spinning back kick to the gut of Akiyama, but it's with his bad leg, and he feels it instantly. Kobashi grabs at the brace as he limps towards the hunched over Akiyama and rips him up for a huge delayed vertical suplex. 

Wearing Akiyama down to his stomach out of an octopus hold, Kobashi stomps the back and then drops the leg across the back of his neck, clutching at the right knee after impact before he shoots in for the cover. Resorting to using his injured leg as offence is risky for Kobashi, but sometimes the situation calls for it. Back on their feet again, they trade heavy handed shots back and forth, with a forearm from Akiyama putting the champion on jelly legs, and a series of nasty open handed slaps eventually putting Kobashi down on his back. 

Akiyama is in the drivers seat now, with Kobashi pushing him back in the corner to land a single cop. He tries to send Akiyama to the opposite corner but gets reversed and lands there himself, fending off a jumping knee strike that puts Akiyama down on his ass. He rocks Kobashi with a forearm as he marches out the corner, ducking a spinning knife hand and landing a low dropkick to the right knee of Kobashi, the champion hollering in pain upon impact. 

Target acquired. Time to go to work. AJPW

 With the wound freshly opened, Akiyama latches on like a shark smelling blood in the water. He hooks the leg and pulls Kobashi out of the corner, who desperatley chops at the throat of Akiyama as he hops forward helplessly. With disgusting ferocity, Akiyama twists Kobashi's leg down with a Dragon Screw. With the champion on the canvas, Akiyama stalks his prey, trying to keep him down with kicks to the knee as Kobashi rises to his feet, meeting every strike with wild eyes and a fighting spirit that refuses to let him die. He tries for a spinning knife hand again but Akiyama takes him up and over with a back suplex, but Kobashi pops to his feet and rushes in, dropping Akiyama on his head with a huge half-and-half suplex! Not one to be out done, Akiyaka is quick to his feet and dropkicks the rushing Kobashi in the knee again, rolling to the outside as he lands from the strike. 

Pulling Kobashi to the outside, Akiyama takes another half-and-half suplex on the floor, his eyes distant and glazed over as Kobashi struggles to stand on his injured wheel. Kobashi rolls Akiyama back in the ring and goes for a cover, but it's only two still. A DDT spikes Akiyama on his head as Kobashi goes for another quick pin, but still only two. Again, a half-and-half suplex is tried and this time, Kobashi rushes to the cover, but it's still not enough. 

Consider your Dragon... Screw'd. AJPW

 

On the apron now, Kobashi tries for a half-and-half suplex once more but Akiyama comes alive, fighting out of the hold and snatching the leg of Kobashi, driving his leg into the canvas with another Dragon Screw as the champion crumbles to the floor, clutching his knee in agony. Akiyama refuses to let up, zeroing in on the leg with brutal efficiency. He twists the leg around the top of the guardrail and dropkicks the injured knee, with Kobashi falling back to the ground as he pounds the brace, trying to force blood flow into the injury. 

The referee takes Akiyama back to the ring to have him roll in and stop the assault, but Akiyama is right back out and pulls the champion off the ground, dropping him knee first across the top of the guardrail this time. He rolls in the ring of his own volition this time, his steely, cold gaze watching as Kobashi writhes around on the ground, eventually working his way back into the ring, only for Akiyama to pick him up like he is about to bodyslam him, but he drives him into the corner and hangs him upside down by his feet, being extra particular in linking the foot of the injured leg under the top turnbuckle. 

Taking a running start from the opposite corner, he lands a perfect dropkick on Kobashi's knee (I think I can stop calling it the "injured" knee, we know which one Akiyama is going for at this point) as he falls from the corner and crumbles in the ring. Everything about Akiyama's offence is targeting the knee now, a Dragon Screw to Kobashi while he's seated on the top rope, charging into the guardrail knee first with Kobashi held in a reverse powerslam position, dropkicks while Kobashi is on the canvas, even a figure four and a Scorpion Death Lock to really make Kobashi hurt, Akiyama is doing everything he can to try and destroy the champion's leg. 

The referee is in the face of Kobashi the entire time, and it definitely sounds like someone is shouting "YES! YES! YES!" which keeps throwing me off. Kobashi verbally giving up?! Never! The referee is making absolutely sure that Kobashi is still in this fight as he crawls to the ropes, his sweat soaked-hair shaking droplets all around as the referee slaps his cheeks, Kobashi barking "NO" between laboured breaths. He pulls himself up the ropes, nearly on both feet as Akiyama dropkicks him once again and them pulls him to the middle, trying for a shinbreaker but only able to drop Kobashi on his foot, sending waves of pain up his leg. Kobashi, however, is quick to get to his feet, crushing Akiyama with a lariat that takes both men down!

Lariatooo! Out of nowhere! AJPW

Akiyama is prone on the canvas, all but beaten but Kobashi is rolling around in agony, the simple act of standing proving to be too much for his wounded knee. He pulls himself up to both feet as Akiyama crawls to the apron across from Kobashi, on a knee and supporting himself with the middle rope. Kobashi works his way around the ring, using the top rope to support him until he makes it to the same side as Akiyama, cracking him with knife hand strikes to the side of the neck with an intensity that betrays just how deep they are into this war. He pulls Akiyama back in the ring and drills him with more knife hands to the neck, each one dropping Akiyama flat on the canvas. 

With Kobashi's able to support his own weight on both legs, he tries to take Akiyama up and over with another half-and-half suplex but Akiyama shoots his leg back with a mule kick, connecting with the knee of Kobashi as he falls back, shouting in pain. Pulling Kobashi back on his shoulder again, he runs him knee first into the top turnbuckle, picking him back up off the canvas to land a huge impaler DDT. Ascending to the top as Kobashi stirs below, Akiyama lines his target up and takes flight, connecting with the back of Kobashi's head with a horrific flying forearm. 

Eat your heart out, AJ Styles. AJPW

Despite that terrifying shot, Kobashi gets out at two, but Akiyama gives him zero time to recover. Pulling him up to his feet, he drops him with a belly to belly suplex, nearly spiking the champion on his head. Another dropkick to the knee and an exploder suplex means another pinfall attempt, but still not enough! Staying on the canvas this time, he locks Kobashi in a figure four and lifts himself up on his arms to keep the pressure on. Kobashi nearly has himself beaten twice, letting both shoulder lay on the canvas from exhaustion. 

Eventually, Akiyama lets the hold go and pulls Kobashi to his feet, taking him up and down with a nasty brainbuster but it only gets two! He goes for another pin but still only two! The crowd is in an absolute fever pitch now, gasping and cheering like mad at everything that these two do. Akiyama tries for another exploder but Kobashi gets out, stumbling to the ropes as Akiyama tries for it again, but a back elbow stuns Akiyama and a lariat to the back of the head drops him! Kobashi's fighting spirit will never dim. 

With both men on their feet again, Akiyama charges in for an exploder suplex and connects, but so too does Kobashi, rolling through the impact and charging in with a huge lariat! They fight to their feet again and Kobashi snatches Akiyama by the neck with a sleeper hold, taking him up and over with a sleeper suplex that spikes Akiyama on his head! Akiyama starts to rise to his feet, and so does Kobashi, but he uses his momentum to fling himself forward with a massive lariat that folds Akiyama in half! he goes for the cover but somehow, someway, he gets out!

Start looking for his head a block away. AJPW

The building is about to crumble from the crowd's excitement, and Kobashi feeds off the energy as he rises to his feet, killing Akiyama with a burning lariat and covers him for the merciful three count.

An incredibly brutal match. Kobashi spent so much of his career as an underdog struggling from underneath, that even as the Triple Crown Champion, he's able to believably fight in desperation against someone like Akiyama. His leg is target expertly and dismantled with insane precision, but the iron will of the unbreakable Kobashi is what pushes him to victory. Should be a surprise to nobody that this match is as good as it is.

There we have it! Another week down! I apologize for the short post this week, but I was planning for the worst with my wrist being out of commission earlier in the week. I really thought work and writing would do me in worse than it did, but I wanted to play it safe. Next week I'll be back to my usual routine, hopefully, and maybe we'll venture out of Japan for a review. Been a whole month spent in the land of the rising sun. I swear that wasn't done on purpose! 

As always, send comments, requests, questions or threats to cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com and I'll answer them whenever I feel like it. 

Until next time, take it easy friends!

Cliff Morgan