Forever Forward Fridays

Eddie Kingston/Ruckus/Sabian VS Chris Hero/Claudio Castagnoli/Super Dragon - CZW 1/14/2006

JJZ: Thought you'd appreciate the beginning of the match foreshadowing the show (Hell Freezes Over) we were at later that evening. This was a car crash of a match if I ever saw one. So many innovative spots. Obviously super fucking stiff. CZW is the junk food of wrestling. When you're craving it, CZW can really hit. Now, too much and you start to get a little sick of it. This hit so good on a day when the temps are in the teens after shoveling for 3 hours. I really like that everyone got at least a little shine in this match. Definitely loved that swinging cravat hold. All six wrestlers could put this match on a best of tape.

CJD: This match is like a love letter to so many aspects of my pro wrestling fandom. This era of the indies, this feud, me and you going to so many of these shows. Trading backyard wrestling tapes back in the *Prodigy days to get a glimpse of the mind blowing stuff Claude Morrow was doing before he'd someday be CZW Champion. The different layers of feuds and stories, and another chapter in the historic Kingston/Hero wars. This match rules. There was one giant spot that I thought should've ended it. Only criticism, but I did buy on the nearfall. The point that it could be on any best of comp is such a good one. Also for such a violent match the only part that felt unsafe was Super Dragon landing on his fucking head as Super Dragon was prone to do. Him and King felt like such stars in this. Thank you so much for getting me to watch this my friend. This one brings me joy!

Most Money Making Man, Man

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3s8kdq

The Usos (c) VS Cesaro/Tyson Kidd - WWE Tag Team Championship 2/22/2015

CJD: Claudio has had so many really good eras of his career but they often get cut off or aren't fully realized. His team with Kidd was definitely one of them, but they still had some excellent matches. We both watched this PPV but I remembered almost nothing of this match and was glad to rewatch it. It has so many little touches that are easy to miss out on and I know you're a man who appreciates attention to detail.

JJZ: This was another great era of Cesaro's career. It's interesting that he's been part of three very successful and very different tag teams. Haven't watched the face paint Usos in a while. I really hope they are a career long team. Good basic tag team psychology to start, with the heels cutting the ring off and working a body part on Jimmy. I know I watched this PPV when it happened but didn't remember this match at all. Really fun watch with a some good spots along the way. Sadly though I do remember this was the last run of Tyson Kidd before his terrible injury. I became a big fan of Kidd from this tag team and his work in NXT. Love that Claudio still does the Sharpshooter in honor of his friend.

Goodnight Sweet Prince

Alex Shelley (c) VS Claudio Castagnoli - UWA Hardcore Lightweight Championship 2/17/2006

JJZ: These two. These two beautiful humans arefuckingincredible. I expected so much from this match and of course got so much more. With just reading who is in the match you know the quality you're going to get. Watching people wrestle with the same passion on a small Indy show like this as they do on a huge dome or stadium show is what makes these two special. Not special talents or just wrestlers but special people because they treated that crowd to one hell of a match and that's why as a wrestling fan I love these two.

CJD: You caught me totally off guard with this one! When I saw the link I thought for certain this was a match I own on DVD between these two from a few months previous. Instead you exposed me to a match between two guys I absolutely love that I without a doubt never would have seen otherwise. That's what PIF is all about. There were moments in this match of pure beauty and I'd expect no less. Claudio wrestling for a lightweight championship when he's bigger than most modern heavyweights is amusing to say the least. They cut a great pace early, made the title feel big, had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands at the end, and sent it home with a really solid finish. Also I'm way into this entrance music from Shelley! And I'm way into this vault of UWA Hardcore matches we tapped into these past two weeks.