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!

Forever Forward Fridays

Chris Hero VS Keith Lee - Beyond 12/29/2016

JJZ: 2016 was an incredible year in professional wrestling. Maybe Chris Hero's best year ever. Every weekend he was just producing bangers across the independent scene. Also in 2016 Keith Lee was starting to make a lot of noise. So this match was so highly anticipated. Not sure if this was the first time they worked but it definitely was the first time in Beyond. The crowd was so hot for this match that the boys didn't really need to do much to deliver. They both hit hard and showed way more athletic ability than men there size should be able to. The psychology was what you'd expect for a hot vet vs a hot rising star. Kind of a look what I can do vs I'm smarter than you. Really liked this match. Well worth the wait.

CJD: I'm pretty sure this was the first match Hero and Lee had, and it's pretty special with that in mind. You know how much I love their gritty, John Carpenter fight scene style match in EVOLVE. This is isn't that, but it does tell a complete story and escalate beautifully considering the circumstance and how long they go. The last few minutes of bombs are what you pay for and you get your money's worth for sure. These beef slappers knew their audience in Beyond and played to that room perfectly. Really glad you gave me a reason to sit down to this one, and I'm looking forward to digging into Lee considering we might be watching the tail end of his career currently.

Forever Forward Fridays

Kassius Ohno VS Mike Dalton - NXT 4/7/2012

CJD: Staying within our FFF themes with Breeze was difficult, and this match doesn't exactly fit the bill, but I know Chris Hero will give you bountiful options for indie wrestling goodness to get us back on track. And this curious pit stop on our winding Friday roads is a fascinating one for two Hero marks like ourselves. Man did he ever look primed and ready to take on the world as Ohno here. Breeze to his credit does an AAA+++ job as the enhancement talent. I don't want to say too much since there's not a ton to say about a match this short. But if you're a fan of either of these guys this is well worth a watch to give you insight into a lesser celebrated era of both of their careers.

JJZ: Wow, this match took me back man. Since I had Hulu, I was actually watching NXT around this time. I remember the not sold out crowds and more minor league feel before it turned into one of the greatest eras of wrestling ever. Onno played a huge part in developing a lot of the talent that would go on to become pretty successful. Breeze being one of them I'm sure. I picture after the match Chris and Tyler in the back talking about the match. Hero giving Dalton tips and props for what was an above average jobber match. This week's match was more about remembering a time than the match itself. Nice pick baby cakes.

Take Your Breath In A Slugfest With A Suplex

Chris Hero VS Necro Butcher - IWAMS British Rounds Match 1/21/2006

JJZ: This is a masterpiece. This match takes me back to a time when we watched so much wrestling together. I would have killed to have been there live for this. It was beautiful to watch Hero doing what he does best, working the crowd, selling like a beast, and telling a story like no other. Necro plays his part perfectly with that tiny crowd dying for him to get his hands on Hero. I totally forgot Trik Davis was a thing. This match was a journey that I couldn't get enough of. I was happy to play this forward to really highlight that Hero always has had a fantastic mind for the sport. To have a match with very little action to be honest with so much story telling for over 30 mins is just talent. Who's your Hero? Chris Hero!

CJD: The first thing that came to mind while watching this is the booking is brilliant. It reminds me so much of a classic World Class or Mid South angle and match, minus the British Rounds stipulation. Despite what a throwback style of angle this is it never feels like like an homage or parody of anything else, it's uniquely its own thing, and it's the genuine article. Everyone involved in this match, from the bit players to the main characters, make me believe what they're doing 100%. Say what you will about Ian Rotten but this was always one of his best qualities, and I think he really instilled it in the young talent that came through IWAMS. It's carny as hell and that's what the roots of good pro wrestling are all about.

Trik Davis was definitely a thing, as white meat as a babyface can be in an era where nobody wanted to be one. Hero's angle with him and feud with Cannon around this time is still some of my favorite stuff he's ever done in his very prolific career. Our next Mason Dixon Tri State Outercontinental Champion after Necro will be our 100th but I kind of wish our imaginary title lineage just ended here before we hit that milestone. We don't usually rate matches but if this isn't five snowflakes then I don't know what is. Necro's banter with Hero prematch is worth 1 and 4/5s stars alone by my scorecard. Thanks so much for bringing this one into my life.

Deep Waters, Pulling Me Down, Deep Waters, Afraid I'll Drown

Chris Hero VS Matt Riddle - EVOLVE 71 10/16/2016

CJD: When we started Play It Forward there was a short list of guys and girls I wanted to strap the MDTSOCWWKD Championship on (ie feature matches from) as fast as possible. And it's crazy to think almost 100 matches later we're just getting to Chris Hero. But here we are! Technically Riddle is still our Champ this week and I'm glad because this is my favorite type of performance from him. Hero beats him down to the point the calm cool demeanor is stripped away. It's easy to forget how good Deep Waters' selling and fire can be but it's on full display here. The pace of this one is deliberate but it makes perfect sense with Hero controlling the tempo most of the time. I think it loses the crowd a bit by the end but their loss is my gain. I badly miss this run of Hero's career, luckily there's plenty of greatness to go back and dissect. Maybe not the GOAT as he convincingly would claim but a strong case for best in the world at the time.

JJZ: Chris Mother Fucking Hero in 2016/17 was the BITW in my opinion. Interesting MDTSOCWWKD run for Riddle with his match last week at full bro level and this match when he was still a baby bro. I like this match for the simple reason I haven't seen Riddle work from under very often. He has good fire and gets good sympathy from the fans. Hero is such an arrogant veteran dickhead that even though I love him I still kinda find myself rooting for Riddle. You can sense that Hero knows he needed to pick up the urgency when Matt starts going for kill shots. I thought the crowd was still along for the ride, and I was too.

Editor's note: This match has been taken down since we originally shared it. We'll check back periodically to see if we can find a new link. We apologize for the inconvenience!