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!!!