Kaze Ni Nare

Minoru Suzuki VS KENTA - NOAH 8/27/2005

JJZ: This is total selfish pick. We've both seen it before. We both love it. I was itching for a match like this. KENTA getting his release gives me hope that he will go back to NOAH and be the Minoru Suzuki to the next big NOAH star that can bring them back to the top of the Puro scene. This match doesn't really need a breakdown. Read the wrestlers names and you know what this match is all about.

CJD: I'm sure I have seen this one before but I didn't remember much about it. I loved the way it started off, totally believable and had me popping. This was, as you said, exactly what you would expect from these two around this time, and that's not a bad thing at all. Also, I like that we've managed to put the belt on the two men on our banner at the top of the page before we hit our 50th Champ! Kind of a lay up but I'll be happy to sit down to some classic NOAH any given Tuesday.

You Say Chutoro, I Say Otoro, Let's Play The Whole Thing Forward

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x37bhs8

Aja Kong/Jun Kasai/Minoru Suzuki VS Mitsuhisa Sunabe/Ryuji Ito/Yumi - Oz Academy 8/23/2015

CJD: Usually a match being joined in progress is a violation for me. But sometimes playing it forward isn't about the match you want, it's about the match you need. And I'm on the tail end of two months of hellacious overnight shifts and this match put a smile on my face for every minute of what we got to see of it. I never knew I needed a trios team of Suzuki, Kong, and Kasai so badly, but they are god damn great together. I bet you didn't see this coming in response to two weeks of brutal deathmatches!

JJZ: To paint a little picture while I'm watching this match. I'm smoking a cigar and have had about 3... 3 1/3 drinks. Now Chris, you are my best friend. Behind my wife and my kids your opinion matters more than anyone else's in this world. So I take no joy in saying this, but this match sucked. This was a shitty RAW main event. It told no story, had not real big spots and it felt like all the wrestlers just kinda checked out by doing the most basic shit they have. Love you baby but no bueno mi amigo.

CJD: I'm going to call bullshit. There has never been a RAW intergender main event with personalities as big and diverse as Suzuki, Kong, and Kasai. That would be like Foley, Shamrock, and I don't know, Lita? In a main event together. Never happened! I get what you're trying to say, that they rely on their personalities to pop the crowd more than they do "stuff" in this match. But that's pro wrestling baby. All three of them have sacrificed enough that they've absolutely earned it. How many comedy matches have a grand story? Chris Candido has a towel in his ass and doesn't realize it for 15 minutes is like the Hamlet of comedy matches. I think you forgot your fourth drink of the night, which was a shaker pint of Haterade filled right to the brim!

JJZ: Comedy match? I didn't laugh once. I didn't even think it was a comedy match. And how dare you talk anything but positive of the greatest comedy match of all time. In all seriousness, yes they have earned the right to kinda take a night off in the ring but the greats usually don't. Did the match actually suck? Not as a standard wrestling match but as a match with those legends in it, it is disappointing. Usually when I'm drinking, smoking, and watching some rasslin' I'm loving everything put in front of me. Maybe it just wasn't what I was in the mood for, or maybe my expectations were too high. But I'll ask you this, if you were trying to introduce any of those wrestlers to someone would you pick this match?

CJD: Definitely not. Like I said, it's a match built on their well deserved reputations. As long time fans of all 3 I find that rewarding without needing it to be a good starting point for others.

JJZ: I guess looking at it from your point I was buying supermarket sushi and expecting 5 star restaurant taste.

CJD: I have supermarket sushi in the fridge right now! It's going to be delicious for dinner at work tonight!

JJZ: Haha. Got some spicy tuna?

CJD: Nah just veggie rolls, I knew it'd be a few days before I got to it.

Who Are Your Top 10 ATDMWR?

Masada VS Jun Kasai - FREEDOMS Pain Limit Finals 8/27/2012

JJZ: Both of these gentlemen are bleeding from the head before the match even starts. I always find it interesting when death matches start with wrist locks but but that doesn't last too long here. This match is brutal. Just some sick crazy stuff. Jun and Masada are a couple of death match legends so I wouldn't expect anything less. I'm loving that they have all these weapons under the turnbuckles. I can also honestly say there is shit I've never seen before in this match. It gets me thinking about where I'd place Masada and Jun in the all-time death match wrestler rankings. Or as I like to call it the ATDMWR. Jun would be top 10 for sure, with Masada not far behind. No matter where they rank this shit was fun.

CJD: God damn. I threw you probably the biggest curveball in PIF history and you squared it up and hit it right out of the park! This match is exactly what I'm talking about, an ultraviolent deathmatch done right. It builds logically, gets you invested in who wins and loses, and isn't just about the disgusting shit they put each other through. But make no mistake, these two are willing to do some of the most disgusting shit you'll see in any deathmatch. This is still a little above and beyond of what I usually prefer but I have to give it up to both guys, this match was awesome. If you didn't pull an Ace out of your deck with this one then at very least it's a King of Spades. I know to people who don't get it deathmatches seem like a snuff film, but to me they're almost therapeutic. When you're feeling down and out in life, just remember what Jun Kasai and Masada went through in the Pain Limit Finals in 2012. You won't feel so bad!

Infatuation, She's A Fatal Attraction

Christina Von Eerie VS Masada - CZW Fatal Attraction Match 2/2/2013

CJD: I was having some trouble finding a CVE match to play this week. I didn't want to pluck you right back out of the land of the ladies, I didn't want to play an intergender match, and I certainly didn't want to play an intergender deathmatch! You know I struggle with intergender matches to start with, especially anything that goes in the hardcore direction. But I'll be honest, what I've seen from Von Eerie has not exactly won me over, and I was desperate. This match kept popping up, and I gave in and watched it. This is, in my opinion, a very good, borderline great deathmatch.

You also know that I cut my teeth on 90s deathmatch wrestling, and have a love for the art of how to construct a match like this and not make it mindless. They absolutely captured that. There's some moments that aren't great, which I think any sane fan would expect, and the finish isn't great. There are some moments where I wanted to stop watching, but I'm glad I didn't. These are two professionals putting on a hell of a performance, and the last moment we see from them at the end of the video made me respect both of them that much more.

JJZ: Why in the hell is she working a death match in a sports bra? An intergender death match really evens the playing field and makes it believable that CVE can get a win here. I thought the match proved its point around the sixteen minute mark. After that I thought it was a little overkill. Crazy spots aplenty here. CVE was a fucking champion but she should have been throwing the hardware a little harder. Definitely the most cringe-worthy match in PIF history. I thought both wrestlers came out in the end looking great.

A funny point while watching was my 9-year-old son walked by during a moment when CVE was covered in blood. Before I could turn off the TV he looks at me and says "Boys can wrestle girls?!" Totally giving no fucks about the blood and barbed wire and mayhem.

Clap More, Chant Less

Candice LeRae VS Christina Von Eerie - Beyond Wrestling 11/15/2013

JJZ: So watching Candice matches for this week has made me realize she is a better technician than I thought. One of our many matches from Beyond, this takes place in what I'm guessing is their school. I've seen a good amount matches from this venue and I love the fans at this place. Never too chant heavy, always giving the wrestlers appreciation for what they're doing in the ring. After the last couple of matches we shared I wanted to play forward something that told a story in the ring, with a slow build to the highspots, and some good falsies. This match checked all those boxes. I've seen only a few CVE matches so I was pretty green going into this match and was impressed with her. I think you'll really enjoy this one.

CJD: I knew Candice was technically sound but this is definitely the most I've seen her act as a ring general previous to signing. It caught me by surprise as well. She did a great job pacing this match and connecting with the crowd. Speaking of the crowd, that guy in the Broncos sweater was LOVING this match! I get what you're saying completely about how they react, there's maybe what, 30-40 people there paid? And they're louder than some 205 Live shows (unfortunately). This match had almost the feeling of two training partners, there was a familiarity but at the same time a nastiness to it that I really liked. It switched gears from chain wrestling to stiff shots nicely and like you said had a good end run. This is maybe the fourth or fifth Von Eerie match I've seen and I still don't have a great read on her. Curious to see what I come back at you with next week.

Wrestling Is Forever

Matt Cross/Ivelisse VS World's Cutest Tag Team - Bar Wrestling 6/8/2017

CJD: Some weeks we put a lot of research into what match we decide to play forward, and sometimes something perfect falls right into your lap. This was the latter this week. World's Cutest Tag Team will probably go down as one of the more underrated tag teams ever. Legitimately a great babyface duo. I'm not that familiar with Ivelisse but Cross puts in a performance strong enough for both of them. And while I don't know which way you'll go (you certainly have lots of options), this at least gives you the choice if you want to take us back to some women's wrestling. Either way I think you're going to enjoy this one.

JJZ: I did not want to leave the land of the ladies so quickly but my hand was forced, so I'm super fucking stoked to be back so soon. Great crowd to start the match. Also loving the ceiling decorations. Bar Wrestling is such a fun promotion that I'm dying to hear the origin story of. Joey was one of the PWG Six but stopped working there and started his own promotion a few years back. Baldwin Park was like a teenager seeing a titty for the first because they were exploding when any action was happening. This was a super Indy spotfest that was so enjoyable to watch. Joey and Candice are so fun together that if intergender wrestling was a thing in WWE they would be signed together no doubt.

He's Hot Fire, Check It & See, He's Got A Fever Of 100.3

Myron Reed VS Matt Cross - Smash Wrestling 7/14/2018

JJZ: So I'm pretty familiar with Smash from watching a ton of Chris Hero there. The former backyard superstar Matt Cross I have always found very fun to watch and him versus Reed is just the kinda match I'm in the mood to watch right now. I'm surprised finding out from commentary that Cross put Smash on the map since they are a Canadian promotion and he's from Ohio. Kind of an odd combination. Both these guys can bump their asses off. The story that I'm reading from this match is a veteran high flyer trying to take a greenie high flyer to school. But at the end of the day it's pretty much a fun spot fest. Life is good and so is wrestling.

CJD: Strangely enough this is exactly the match I'm in the mood for right now as well. Such an easy watch and such a good performance from both guys. I have to disagree that it boils down to a spotfest, I think this is a match very much based on hierarchy and strong fundamentals. Cross calls the shots and Reed follows, with a few moments to shine, but even for a high flying match this is "less is more" which I'm always a fan of. This one flies by in the best way possible. Nice choice JJZ!

Mason-Dixon Tri-state Outercontinental WWKD Champions #31-40

As PIF closed out 2018 and crept closer and closer to our fiftieth Champion, we continued to explore uncharted territory. From American heavyweights, to an indy classic, to women's wrestling, where will the big gold imaginary belt end up next??

31. Rob Van Dam
Because of course it had to go to RVD after Sabu. Teenage CJD and JJZ would have been very happy with this couple of weeks of matches.

32. Batista
33. JBL
34. Undertaker
And then teenage us would have been quite perplexed! But we can certainly enjoy some New York style heavyweight TV wrestling these days, and these were some fine examples of it. JBL's featured matches against Batista and Undertaker were two pleasant surprises indeed.

35. CM Punk
36. Jimmy Rave
Two early 2000s rising indy stars that went on totally divergent paths. I'd make the argument that Punk would have never gotten his chance in WWE if it wasn't for this feud with Rave, so I'm glad to highlight it.

37. AR Fox
A wild man indeed. His matches showed quite a range of what he's capable of from total shitbag heel to straight up firey babyface.

38. Kimber Lee
The First Lady of PIF! And not a bad choice for such a lofty title whatsoever.

39. Heidi Lovelace
This was a great chance for both John and myself to get more familiar with Lovelace's career before she became Ruby Riot, an area we were both quick to admit we were far too ignorant of.

40. Seleziya Sparx
A total unknown to both of us before she hoisted the imaginary strap. Dare I say the most unlikely MDTSOCWWKD Champion yet?? With plenty more to come I'm sure!

Next Time On PIF Z

Myron Reed (c) VS Jake Something - Glory Pro Crown Of Glory Championship 10/20/2017

CJD: Jake Something is up there in the amount of total matches watched for me before picking what I would play forward. Which is no knock against him. In fact the exact opposite, after seeing a wide variety of his stuff I'm high on him and I don't think he's even close to his ceiling. This in particular is a monster performance on his part which is part of why I picked it. Also I know you love a big man/little man match up where the size difference feels like a major factor, and I'd say they do that very effectively in this one. Myron Reed I've seen a decent amount of recently and the jury is still out on him for me. First half of this match I wasn't loving him but I thought he really brought it in the second half. This also closes out with a nice classic pro wrestling angle if you feel like getting invested in watching some more Glory Pro.

JJZ: I'm sitting in my chair with my daughter asleep on my right shoulder. I'm drinking a microwaved cup of leftover coffee from the morning trying to shake off my work day that I'm still feeling the effects of when I put this match on. A smile is brought to my face when I realize I'm about to watch a viking destroy a stowaway from his ship. These two do not look like they should be in the same ring together and man do they play off that. Reed trying to take risk after risk to get offense in while Jake looks like he is seconds away from breaking Myron in half. Not familiar with Glory Pro at all but they seem like a solid promotion. Really liked the intro that explained the importance of the match. Even though Lil' Bow Wow is out-sized and out-matched in almost every way, he still has a Champion's fire and feel about him. These guys make this feel like it's gonna be the last match they ever wrestle and they totally locked me in.

Sparx Lights The Friction

Seleziya Sparx VS Jake Something - Superkick'd Pro Wrestling 8/17/2018

JJZ: Alright, I was really hoping to stay in the land of the ladies longer but with limited options it is what it is. Super Indy again with a hot crowd. I feel like I've seen Jake Something before but can't place him. To steal one of your sayings, Sparx is playing the plucky underdog babyface really well. Commentary isn't the greatest but we've heard worse. Not working super stiff, definitely more story focus here, reminding me of Chikara a little bit. This match isn't flawless by any means but takes you on a ride in a short matter of time. Loved that Jake Something had a Goku tat popping out above his knee pad.

CJD: Sometimes I think we're overstating how much matches we're sharing from a few years ago helped change the game for indy wrestling. Then we have such a stark contrast from last week to this week with this very recent match. This looks like it was shot for Ultimate Rap League in front of a crowd that's not that far off. Both wrestlers play their roles effectively and Sparx, as you said, is a PUB through and through. This has symptoms of what I don't like about most intergender wrestling but they both work hard to compensate for those rough edges. Good stuff all around and most of all I'm curious to see more from Superkick'd!