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.

What It Takes, Who I Am, Where I've Been

Rob Van Dam VS Kendo Kashin VS Necro Butcher - IGF 8/15/2008

JJZ: I'm not even sure if this match is good. I just can't believe it ever happened. I was definitely entertained by it. I had zero clue how Necro, Kendo and Van Dam would work together, but they pulled off a very fun, physical and ECW style match. I wish it was a THREE WAY DANCE to put it over the top for an ECW clone but I'll take what I can get. On paper I assumed Kashin would be a little left behind during the match but he brought it. Can't wait to hear your honest opinion on this one baybay.

CJD: What in the actual fuck. Only in Inoki Genome Federation. Fujiwara and Hansen at ringside watching this debacle?? Let's fucking GO!! I loved your comment on the phone to me that at first you expected this to be an upload of a video game match. Certainly felt like it. In my honest opinion, this was wayyyyyy better than it had any right being or needed to be. RVD and Necro were there to play and I'm much more receptive to Kashin's antics than I was when we attended Best Of The American Super Juniors live (a little PIF trivia for everyone there). The first 7 or so minutes things were clunky and they were finding the rhythm. When they locked into that groove though they rode it straight to the finish. RVD really played the hits in this one. Necro channeled Brody, Abby, and Kamala simultaneously. The perplexed crowd even came alive by the end. Also you said you wish it was a 3 way dance. But it was! Do you want me to edit that?

JJZ: There were two pin falls?

CJD: Yes!

JJZ: Holy fuck, I watched this on my phone while cooking my daughter dinner. I assumed with all the blood that Necro just got taken out of the match. Goddammit. I don't know how I missed that. You can include all of this in the review if you want.

CJD: I will, and it gave me a chance to jog my memory about one more amazing part of this match. That Dollar Store Hatebreed RVD entrance song! What a choice! I bet he's used it a bunch and I'm just out of the loop, but that was something else.

I'm In Search Of The Lionheart

Rob Van Dam VS Chris Jericho - ECW 6/21/1996

CJD: There were a few factors at play when deciding if I should play this match forward. First of all, I feel like Friend of the Blog Mr H has played both of us quite a few hidden gem ECW fancams from this venue. Second of all, the match has that hidden gem feel for the first half... then falls apart a little bit. But third of all, man do these guys work their butts off to still deliver a good match, despite it clearly taking its toll on both of them. So mix that all up, marinate it in a 90s ECW stew from our high school wet dreams, and serve with tempered expectations for what you're actually going to get... and I said, let's do the damn thing! Pun intended. I was pleasantly surprised by how punchable RVD's face was in this match. He was an underrated smug prick in this era even if he was clearly transitioning to cool heel. Jericho was an effective babyface too. There was a lot to take away from this, even the post match, and I could see someone saying the match had more flaws than positives. But for the FanCan Connection's tastes, I bet you'll be allll about this one.

JJZ: First first first of all. I 100% played this match for you before. Either from my 20 something disc ECW comp or my Best of Jericho RF video comp. Either way I'm super fucking excited to review this since it's been at least 10 years since I watched it. Now you know, I'm a RVD mark. I'm not as much of a Jericho guy as some people, but his ECW run, that I do love. And this is fucking ECW grade A material. I don't know why but I just love the shit Van Dam does. He did a spring board flip off the guard rail and I loved it. It's so wild how some wrestlers you can just enjoy their moveset over others. Jericho is working his tail off in this one. Everything he does he has to earn. I could watch ECW all goddamn day. Recently I've only been watching current NJPW and I'll tell you what, I enjoyed this match more. Well done baby cakes.

Nobody Gets Higher

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4isctf

Rob Van Dam/Booker T (c) VS Ric Flair/Batista - WWE Tag Team Championship 3/22/2004

CJD: This match might seem like it's out of left field, especially when you give me a wrestler we spent a huge portion of our teenage years watching, but I think it's a pretty Chris Pick. Good tag team wrestling, clear hierarchy, everyone plays their role well, and definitely a "huh, never knew about that one" or "huh, totally forgot that happened" kind of match. I didn't appreciate the Flair/Batista team anywhere near enough at the time, it's such an effective use of both guys at that point in their career. RVD & Booker are a fun team that I'm a little surprised they didn't get more life out of. Also when you're picking the next MDTSOCWWKD champ, keep in mind a few weeks ago we were transitioning from Martin Stone to Jon Davis.

JJZ: Outta left field is an understatement my friend. At one point in my life I literally would have said I hate Dave Batista. But after a little help from our mutual friend Mr. H I have learned to appreciate him for his better qualities. Those were on display in this match, good psychology, pacing, and old school power wrestling. Flair is Flair which means tons of flavor to this match. The teaming of these two are such a compliment to each other and kinda make for a perfect team. Experience, youth, energy, psychology, power, technical ability. And across the ring! Had no clue this ever happened! Fun ass team. Booker T is someone I really need to focus on a little more. I know his WCW run but not so much WWE. Good stuff babycakes. Curious where this road will lead me.

A Matter Of Respect

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

Sabu VS Rob Van Dam - AJPW 3/3/2001

JJZ: Revisiting my favorite childhood feud for this one!!!!! This match took place about 6 weeks after ECW folded and you tell right way Sabu is nursing a leg injury. It still is such a surprise to me that AJPW booked RVD and Sabu. They do not fit the AJPW mold what so ever. With that said it was so much fun watching these two maniacs turn the kingdom of the four pillars of heaven into a bingo hall from Phila for 15 mins. They clipped about 2 mins out of this match but it doesn't even matter. I could watch them work all day. These two always brought a great combo of madness and grace to there matches that the crowd responded to well. I liked the ending and I'm So excited for you to watch this match baby cakes!

CJD: Wow. What an oddity of a match. This felt to me like they approached it as if the Shiek told them to get in the ring and give him 15 minutes, no bullshit. I think a lot of that has to do with performing in front of the Japanese crowd. But this was so focused while still capturing the feel of controlled chaos that made their feud and tag team work so well. I'm still just blown away I never knew this existed!