Tuxedo Terry Terrorizes The Garden State

Terry Funk VS Bob Backlund - WWA 8/17/1991

JJZ: CJD! I really truly hope this is new to you. I sat and watched this like a little kid on Saturday morning. I need more of these matches. Bob was still in his white meat, baby face role at this time while Funk was in his scumbag heel run. I'm watching Backlund trying to wrestle his classic technique while Funk is just trying to turn the match in destruction and chaos. Going after the crowd and destroying the furniture. Wild ass match. The test of strength was one of the best I've ever seen. That really made the match for me. Bobby B is someone I honestly forget about, which makes no sense. He is unbelievable. Now Funk is just fucking god. Before finding this jewel, I got to watch a bunch of Terry Funk 2000s WCW matches. And you know what?  They were so much fun. You almost got a Kevin Nash vs Terry Funk hardcore title match!

CJD: Camden Community College. John Arezzi. Dennis Coralluzzo. Cactus Jack on the undercard and I don't recognize a single other name until the last three matches. Chi Chi Gomez doesn't even have a link on cagematch! A no-linker! Hat guy in the crowd if I'm not mistaken?? And Terry Funk vs god damn Bob Backlund in the main event. Is there a better example of the state of pro wrestling in the USA in 1991 than this insanity?? This match had some not great reviews as I was reading up on it and I'm not having any of it. Sure it was a little slow at times but what in the world would anyone expect. Backlund still works the hell out of that side headlock and little things like the bridges, leverage, kicks to the stomach, meat slapping goodness on some chops and open hand shots, this match makes a lot out of a basic structure. Then of course the crowd work and the once in a lifetime ambiance. I was talking to you as I started watching this about the craftsmanship that goes into two all timers delivering a match like this on this kind of stage. I found it funny when the commentary echoed the same exact thoughts three decades in the past as it played out. John I loved every minute of this, including a very nice piece of business to button up the finish, but I gotta say... I'm dying to see this Kevin Nash match!!

Becoming A Tarzan Goto Guy

Chainsaw Charlie VS Tarzan Goto - Indie World Vol 1 Fuck Dem Up! 5/21/1998

CJD: While not Dory Jr, clearly I've got the Funk family on my mind, and if you want to take us to a tribute match, I certainly won't turn down a few Amarillo European uppercuts. In the meantime, John do you like watching sick fucks do sick fuck things?? Then boy do I have the match for you!! I never knew this existed, and it turns out it's the last appearance of Chainsaw Charlie. There's some weird WWF overlap in this snuff film barbed wire board deathmatch, and I promise you you won't be able to guess where the finish is taking you. I don't want to oversell this match, I know how you feel about Goto, especially as we're getting later in his career. But suffice to say this match delivered everything I wanted and then some.

JJZ: Well holy fuck CJD. Barns have been burned. What a sloppy, wonderful piece of madness this was. I'm not even sure I understand the finish, but I was definitely entertained. The fact that this was the last appearance of Funk being Chainsaw Charlie and it being in Japan makes me really wonder if he has done more stuff in Japan as CSC that we don't know about? Is there a best of Chainsaw Charlie in Japan that we can order from IVP video for 2.99?  So am I becoming a Tarzan Goto guy? All four of his PIF matches have been bangers. I think he might be off my skip list! Super fun match babycakes!

Forever Forward Fridays

Brooke Valentine VS Harleen Lopez - Flying V Fights 6/1/2024

CJD: We've had a lot of powerhouse VS powerhouse on Fridays lately, so let's change the dynamic here with a technical showdown between the Queen Bee VS the Spiteful Brute. This match is the first round in what's essentially a pure rules tournament as far as I can tell. The commentators spend a lot of time talking about it and that's about my only criticism of the match. The women bring a great back and forth struggle with character, physicality, and skill that really impressed me. I thought both did a great job here, especially within the context of this tournament. And you know we got another test of strength baby cakes!! Excited to hear your thoughts on this one.

JJZ: I'm watching this match while folding clothes in my basement. Good match, man. Opening rounds of tournaments make for some really different style matches. I believe the wrestlers don't just want every match to have all the same moves, so they bring some tricks out of their bag. Now, not knowing these wrestlers that well I'm not sure if that actually happened. But still, this match felt unique to me. Brooke and Harleen really showed some technical wrestling skills. They had a great flow together, and the back and forth kept me on the edge of my seat. Valentine and Lopez both put on performances that proved they belonged in the big leagues in this one.

Mister Danger, You're Just A Stranger

Mitsuhiro Matsunaga VS Tarzan Goto - FMW 12/4/1989

JJZ: I ignored all the Tarzan Goto matches that kept coming up while I was searching for a Matsunaga match to play forward to you. Besides the Cactus Jack match we shared with each other here, I'm usually not a fan. But after not loving what I watched, I figured what the hell. Picking this match solely because of the VHS feels I got and I was so fucking happy. I never expected to stumble upon a  UWF/Battlearts style match with such fucking hate pouring through my screen. These cats were laying it in. That headbutt to the mouth made my teeth hurt. I tried to look up what promotion this was real quick and had no luck. Could've been BJPW? I didn't notice any logos on the mat. Felt like I found a rare gem but you tell me babycakes.

CJD: I think calling this a hidden gem is totally fair, this is FMW's fifth show and as far as I can tell one of the only pro wrestling events ever held at the Handa Municipal Hall. The couple thousand (maybe) people there certainly witnessed something they never saw before, or never would see again that night! Holy shit John, thank you so much for playing this forward, especially with your aversion to a) Tarzan Goto and b) stiff headbutts. This match is a CJD fever dream for certain and I loved every second of it!! Well maybe not the finish, but I don't know how much better I expected from a match that was such perfect absurdly chaotic violence up until that point. And such a late 80s vibe. I love it!! Karate man Matsunaga rules, svelt all yellow Goto in his swankiest tights ever rules even more, I can't wait to explore deeper in the jungle baby!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

The Diet Butcher Of Tokushima

Alexander Otsuka VS Mitsuhiro Matsunaga - BattlARTS 11/9/1999

CJD: You wanted a BattleArts rabbit hole John? Well you're about to be Alice chasing rabbits into a tea party you never expected my friend!! I originally wanted to take us to RINGS to really get me out of my comfort zone but left feeling flat with my options. This match on the other hand somehow matched the highs of your damn near perfect tag, just in a completely different way. Matsunaga was so good at telling the monster movie story in his singles matches after the mid 90s deathmatch heyday was wrapping up. He really found his groove for the second half of his career which wasn't easy with how protected and limited he was. Side note I bet these two would have a blast at his steakhouse reminiscing about this match today. For what it's worth John, there is more of Mr Danger in BattlArts to explore if you want to stay buried in that rabbit hole!

JJZ: 13 year old John thought Matsunaga was the craziest wrestler of all time. Any tapes I got from BJPW I would watch his match first! Otsuka and Matsunaga put on one hell of an effort to make this a wild ass unforgettable match. So wild, in fact, that a FIREBALL was a transition spot! Come on! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Shout out to Tom McGinnis for all you Sixers fans. I haven't been watching a ton a wrestling recently, so this really sparked my inner flame for this beautiful art! I knew how great Matsunaga was, but Otsuka really shined for these 15 minutes. Would never have guessed he'd hang in Matsunaga's style match so comfortably. He was bluechew stiff as usual, but he was blood and guts approved in this gem.

Forever Forward Fridays

Anastasia Morningstar VS Brooke Valentine - Beyond Wrestling 1/26/2023

JJZ: Let's keep this blog a little hossy for the time being CJD. Morningstar definitely brings monster heel energy to all the matches I've seen so far. (Only 4 matches, to be honest). So, my first thought was to play forward Anastasia vs a plucky underdog babyface. But then I really liked the vibe I got from Brooke Valentine. Granddaughter of the Hammer? We'll never know, so let's just say yes. Brooke vs. Anastasia brings a lot of the same energy and toughness that your Willow vs. Anastasia match had, but I really liked it. So fuck it. Those elbows. That German. Them chops. Wish this was a twenty-two minute meat slapfest. I'm excited to hear your thoughts, cutie pie.

CJD: The thing I liked best about this match was the anticipation they built to every little thing they did. Johnny's great granddaughter did shine out in this match with a lot of personality but a bad ass aura to boot. There were some similarities to the Willow match for sure but I liked how they stressed in this one that Anastasia didn't have any help from outside sources for a change. There were some different tactics as a result and I was very happy you went with this stop on our Friday indy wrestling train. You know I'll take all the tests of strength ya got!!

Forever Forward Fridays

Willow Nightingale VS Anastasia Morningstar - Beyond Wrestling 4/30/2023

CJD: Dare I say back to back Forever Forward Friday hoss fights?? John I'm going to see you soon as I write this and I'm going to insist I play this match live for you and the gang because it has such a tremendous live energy. And it was the opener?? Are you kidding me?! I'm not going to lie, there's probably more than a slice of pizza or two by the end of this match. But who the hell cares. If you can't enjoy this on some level you don't have a pulse. Willow has leveled up big time since the last match and Morningstar made such an explosive first impression on me. This was pure indie pro wrestling joy. And I'm bringing it to your eye holes tomorrow night!!

JJZ: So I had the pleasure of watching this delightful independent darling of a match with you! Willow Nightingale versus Anastasia Morningstar! What a hoss battle we got to view, my friend! The power was on full display in that beyond ring. Besides the strength, both wrestlers really show some agility and speed that you would not expect. Just like they say, you can never judge a book by its cover. Honestly, babycakes, this match was made so much more enjoyable because we watched it together like the old days! And it's the perfect sort of match for it. Fancam Connection 4Life!

Love Is A BattlART

Daisuke Ikeda/Takeshi Ono VS Yuki Ishikawa/Alexander Otsuka - BattlARTS 10/30/1996

JJZ: So, if someone asked me what Battle Arts are, I would just show them this match. Totally blurring the lines between real and "fake." This looked like all four guys were shooting on each other for twenty two minutes. It was really well executed violence. I'm totally expecting you to say you've shown this to me before, but if you haven't, it gives me hope to bring joy to your eyes. I think I might show it to our real life friends that enjoy wrestling also. The crowd was eating everything up with a spoon and I was feeling every kick, slap and suplex through my TV screen. I'm hoping me and you go down a long rabbit hole of the fine Arts of Battle!

CJD: John I had the pleasure of sitting down and watching this with you and said IRL friends and one of the first things I said was, what was that,like 13 minutes?  The fact it's almost twice that is amazing because this match just flies by. When I saw the names I thought I'd seen this before but I actually hadn't! And man oh man am I grateful to have watched it now. One of the greatest tags in the history of BattlArts which is really saying something. I don't think any two wrestlers enjoyed kicking the shit out of each other more than Ishikawa and Ikeda. If you had to introduce someone to Otsuka this is such a great summary of everything that makes him awesome. And maybe the best Ono match I've ever seen?? He's such a tremendous dickhead all match long. This match rules!!!

Forever Forward Fridays

Savannah Evans VS Willow Nightingale - CCW 8/6/2022

JJZ: The first thing that pops out to me about this match is the fact that they wrestled like there were hundreds in the crowd, not 10s. The babe with power and the cannibal were going back and forth, trying to show who was the stronger of the two. I totally popped for the old school test of strength. Bring the 80s WWF vibes. Willow brings such energy and confidence into the ring with her. She is super bubbly but somehow also gives off a don't fuck with me vibe. Evans has just an old-school power house, hoss level of you don't want any of this. Super impressed with the level of wrestling Willow and Savannah brought despite the crowd.

CJD: The energy the crowd and the commentators brought to this match wasn't exactly dynamic, although I do love the call "a bridge you could walk over!" Thankfully the energy Willlow and Savannah brought turned things a notch up! Besides the raw power struggle, I love a match with some suplays that have some extra OOMPH and some of these really popped. Willow looks like a work in progress here but the potential is clearly there. Evans was such a revelation these two weeks, equally as impressive as a face or a heel, just super entertaining overall. I'm excited to dig into more Nightingale as I know her name has been all over lately. Thank you for opening this door for me my man!

Justice For Hidaka

Minoru Tanaka/Ikuto Hidaka VS Masao Orihara/Takeshi Ono - BattlARTS 10/19/1997

CJD: When I decided to play a tag match for our 2x MDTSOCWWKD to show how great he was at both sides of the coin, I didn't expect to stumble onto the most young boy lookin Hidaka I ever damn seen!! Add in some classic BattlArts action, swanky ass Ishikawa setting the table in vintage 90s puro TV fashion, and three excellent shootstyle/junior heavyweight hybrid dance partners... and what a stew this is John. These recent Tuesday matches are the stuff PIF dreams are made of man. So many different directions and flavors of what we love about pro wrestling (yes I'm a very culinary motivated individual). Speaking of food, the only slice of pizza in this match is courtesy of young Ikuto, but I love love the way he recovers. He's channeling some serious Kikuchi/Otani energy in this one. The heels bring it, Tanaka looks like he's about to blast off to the moon, I could watch matches like this all day every day.

JJZ: ThIs was fantastic, CJD! To be honest, I didn't realize which wrestler was young Hidaka until he was in the camel clutch. Ikuto took a bunch of licks during this match, but when his opportunity came, he layed it back in for sure. Also, big time appreciation for his bumping and selling. He made Ono and Orihara look like monsters. Hidaka sold a low blow like I've never seen before. I think he might have actually eaten it straight to the duck. All four wrestlers brought such fight and energy to the ring that day. I was also pleasantly surprised for the outside the ring action that took place. I don't recall too many Battle Arts matches where guys are being slung into the chairs. Maybe I just haven't watched enough. This made me a wonderous Sunday afternoon delight for us to share with everyone this Tuesday.

CJD: One last footnote, Hidaka just landed in something like the 500s in the Greatest Wrestler Ever poll, and that's a travesty of justice. I feel somewhat responsible as I said on pro wrestling only I'd help build his case but never got back to him. And now I can't figure out how to get back into my damn account but that's neither here nor there. All I'm saying is, this is I think the fourth Hidaka match we've shared at PIF over 8 years. Expect a hell of a lot more than that in the next decade as we try to right this wrong by the time GWE36 rolls out!!!