The Dog's Jarmies

Johnny Gargano (c) VS KUSHIDA - NXT North American Championship 2/14/2021

CJD: It's going to be hard for me to put my thoughts about this match into words. There's a lot of really great work here. KUSHIDA brings some of what I like best out of Gargano, his mean streak, his World Of Sport influence (without straight up stealing spots). They definitely got too cute for my tastes at times but the good stuff here had too much wow factor for me to skip sharing it with you. I've been wanting to catch up on some of KUSHIDA's work in NXT and even though I have no idea why he's dressed for a street fight, even though this is sterile piped-in audio pandemic production value hell, I still enjoyed seeing him do his thing with a very game opponent. I'm curious how you'll feel about this one.

JJZ: Well alright, I was very excited to sink my teeth into this. I miss watching Kushida first of all and I haven't watched very much if any NXT in the year 2021 so I'm very very hype on this. NXT really really made Johnny a better all around wrestler. He looks so polished in this match. Just smooth and confident. Now, I haven't watched a Kushida match in forever. I mean, I forgot his moveset. I was popping like a little kid on Christmas for his stuff. The arm work alone was a teachable moment for the young guys in the back. Pair that with John John's selling and your getting your money's worth with this match alone. Finishing sequence was so well done. I was pulling for Kushida the whole way. I got very invested in this one.

Dedicated To All Those With Big Egos

Johnny Gargano VS Ethan Page - AIW 6/29/2014

JJZ: So I can't remember which one but I saw a lot of highlights from this match on a documentary one time and I always wanted to watch the whole match. So here. we. go.

My first thoughts as I start the match is that I can't remember the last time I watched Gargano. I wasn't big on him before NXT to be honest. I'm sure there is a lot out there I'd probably be into. Now I do like Page a lot. I think he is underrated. He has above average mic work and I always enjoyed his offense. This match is a really well worked indy bout that has a nice build to the home stretch. I loved the Play It Forward veterans with the run ins. I also enjoyed the local indy storylines playing out in the match. Crowd was hot and Johnny is AIW royalty so I got a kick out of him watching him in his element.

CJD: I'll see your indifference to Gargano and raise you one better. I'm hot and cold on both of these guys! Which is ironic since I set you up with a Page match. But the North really blew me away as a team in that one. Still this match is an AIW booking masterpiece with some surprise appearances from underrated talents you alluded to that I was very happy to see. I think Page works better as a face and Gargano better as a heel... funny how that works out. I didn't love this match but it's a piece of Absolution history and there was plenty I enjoyed about it despite any criticisms. I think the biggest compliment I can give both wrestlers is that I felt like things weren't coming naturally that night in that boiling hot Turner's Hall and they both showed young veteran poise to push the match to something memorable and good by the end. I just needed sunglasses for all the daylight I was seeing on some of those punches!