You're Out Of Your Element, Robby

Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (c) VS Rob Van Dam - AJPW Junior Heavyweight Championship 10/12/1996

JJZ: Baby cakes. We've probably seen this before. We may have already reviewed this before but I don't care and just wanted to watch this. When I saw it pop up I was like oh hell yeah. Let's go. RVD does all the things people love about him in this one and none of the shit that might annoy you. He showcased his ridiculous acrobatics and mixed in some pretty stiff moves. Kikuchi is incredible. He is AJPW's version of Mikey Whipwreck. He puts his own little touches on the most basic moves while hitting shit that makes me say Jesus Christ! Hope you like this as much as me baby.

CJD: I have 100% never seen this before! Was Kikuchi the secret GOAT RVD opponent?? What great chemistry between these two. I loved the subtle comedy, the way Kikuchi would slow it down, and really built to the shock and awe of Van Dam's big spots. And RVD was dialed in for this era, vibrating at just the right frequency for this golden opportunity. 90s AJPW junior heavyweight matches in full are such a god damn treat. I feel like every VHS we got back then we were lucky if we got more than a few minutes of clips. And there's still a Kikuchi white whale match for me from back then that I've only seen clipped, so let's go hunting!

Like A Nightmare

Danny Davis/Rob Zakowski VS Chris Candido/Dong Cho Ming - USWA 6/22/1991

CJD: John. How am I not going to play this match forward. As two ECW teen fanboys from the 90s, how fucking cool is this?? Like what is even happening here, is Don Cho Ming a Mick Foley era backyarder?? I've never had less hesitation to go with a 4 minute match. This is a must watch. Thank you Danny Davis for bringing us here!!!

JJZ: Wow. Best 4 minute match ever? It just might be CJD. For 1992 this match showed some really ahead of its time stuff. RVD obviously looked like an emerging star with this match. Meng definitely could be a backyarder. Candido and Rob look like such babies also. Talk about white meat babyfaces. Not even sure who were the heels and the faces. You were 100 percent spot on to share this! Side note I thought Danny Davis was coming into the match with some color before realizing it was face paint.

CJD: Holy shit Don Cho Ming was baby Osamu Nishimura?!? I don't understand how, according to wikipedia and cagematch the dates don't match up. But I've seen that mentioned in multiple places.

JJZ: God damn. That would be crazy.

Forever Forward Fridays

Jacob Fatu (c) VS JTG - HOG World Championship 2/3/2023

CJD: When we came up with the concept for FFFridays, I bet you'd never guess we'd end up at Jacob Fatu VS JTG years later. But here we are!! This match probably isn't going to blow your socks off, but it was way better than I expected. JTG is really good working from under, the match loses momentum a bit when he's in the driver's seat. But his selling and emotion elevate the match a ton by the end. I really liked the extra mustard the ring announcer put on the intros. I bet if I dug deeper on Fatu I could find some real hidden gems, but I'm more than happy to land on Jay The GAWD and see what you come back with in return!

JJZ: Not gonna lie, I was always really impressed that Cryme Tyme was able to wrestle in Tims. Just saying. I thought this match was a solid wrestling contest. JTG was better than I expected. He really showcased his strength. Throwing Fatu around like I used to throw my son around. Honestly they worked this match like a WWE match. Big intro, slow start that builds to some big spots, and a big finish. I'll agree that it isn't the greatest thing we have ever shared but not everything can be. Sometimes we need to showcase just some good old wrestling. I feel like Fatu always does something that makes me say goddamn! That Samoan Drop was fantastic. JTG ain't no JT Fury but he put on a good match.