Forever Forward Fridays

Chris Adonis VS JTG - NWA Heavyweight Championship 7/6/2021

JJZ: I know studio wrestling has been back for a little bit but I haven't really watched it. Now the match itself is fine. Super basic, really clean and a simple story. I've never been a Chris Adonis (Masters) guy. He is like a modern Lex Luger. Honestly I'm not sharing this for the wrestling. I'm sharing this for the feel, the look. Watching this took me back to 7 year old JJZ. Just a little kid watching two jacked, oiled up guys throwing each other around. JTG and the Masterpiece made me feel nostalgic for 11 minutes.

CJD: So thanks to your match I learned two things about Chris Adonis. He's Jewish, and he saved his mother from a burning building in a 2013 arson attempt by ripping a 10 foot tree out of the ground so she could climb out of the window?! What the fuck! Anyway, this is a little off brand for FFFridays, but I'll allow it because I really want to watch more of this era of JTG. What is on brand for Adonis, is I got a quick workout in while I watched this. And it felt appropriate because this was a very workmanlike match. Clean and simple is a great way to sum it up baby. This match was like when you're in the zone at work and you're always 3 steps ahead of what you're currently doing. Everything came together nicely. The bad guy was easy to root against. The good guy was easy to root for. Everything made sense. They did some impressive shit. They finished on a logical beat that left you wanting to see more in a few different ways. As you said, this is an important flavor of pro wrestling storytelling, and a very good modern example of it!

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.

Forever Forward Fridays

Jacob Fatu (c) VS JTG - HOG World Championship 2/3/2023

CJD: When we came up with the concept for FFFridays, I bet you'd never guess we'd end up at Jacob Fatu VS JTG years later. But here we are!! This match probably isn't going to blow your socks off, but it was way better than I expected. JTG is really good working from under, the match loses momentum a bit when he's in the driver's seat. But his selling and emotion elevate the match a ton by the end. I really liked the extra mustard the ring announcer put on the intros. I bet if I dug deeper on Fatu I could find some real hidden gems, but I'm more than happy to land on Jay The GAWD and see what you come back with in return!

JJZ: Not gonna lie, I was always really impressed that Cryme Tyme was able to wrestle in Tims. Just saying. I thought this match was a solid wrestling contest. JTG was better than I expected. He really showcased his strength. Throwing Fatu around like I used to throw my son around. Honestly they worked this match like a WWE match. Big intro, slow start that builds to some big spots, and a big finish. I'll agree that it isn't the greatest thing we have ever shared but not everything can be. Sometimes we need to showcase just some good old wrestling. I feel like Fatu always does something that makes me say goddamn! That Samoan Drop was fantastic. JTG ain't no JT Fury but he put on a good match.

Your American Express, Oh That Great, Great American Excess

The Battens VS The Nightmares - CWA 12/29/1984

JJZ: I don't know where the hell we've gone CJD but I don't know who the Nightmares are either! With the Battens being twins but also faces, I was wondering if they would still do the switch a roo when the ref wasn't looking. They did! I like it. There's a finish in this match I've never seen before. It's easy to argue that it was unnecessary and the other Batten should've ran in but I think it legitimately gives and shows the ref's power in the ring. Great flow to the match with both teams showing off good offense. The Nightmares gave off such good sleazy 80s heel energy. All while looking like rec league softball players. These last few matches have been so much fun man. Love Debutting wrestlers to PIF.

CJD: Rec League Softball Players indeed baby. What a perfectly 80s territory tag team match. The Nightmares were a treat. Memphis is a huge blindspot for me, stylistically it's just not my bag, even if I'll always have a soft spot for matches like this. Matches that go to Fist City, if you know what I mean!! I'm so fascinated to see what I dig up with the Beer league boys, I can't imagine that's the more famous Danny Davis before he started ripping shit up at the gym. Maybe they did a tour of All Japan?!? Also yeah, that finish was an interesting one indeed. Just a fun oddball match in general my friend.

Forever Forward Fridays

Masha Slamovich VS Jacob Fatu - Wrestling REVOLVER 11/16/2023

JJZ: So Fatu is so violent I was super curious how stiff this was gonna be. Masha can really bring it, you know she wasn't going to back down at all. Wrestling Revolver brings a high standard with the production quality. Just a little shout out. I thought both wrestlers really fucking went for it without going over the line with the physicality. Just a stiff straight forward shot for shot match that was a lot of fun with a hot crowd. A ton of big pop spots. Some good falsies and a lot of hard striking. Enjoy.

CJD: I don't know about that Tussle Cam John. Not a fan. And that's my only criticism of this match! What a banger and clanger. I thought this was actually a little more even than Masha VS Bayne. Which is a credit to both matches, and how the different opponents brought a different approach, with Masha adapting beautifully to both. She looked like a total world beater against Fatu and it was very realistic how even it felt. The show of respect post match was a nice touch. I'm so glad we found our way back to Slamovich, she always brings it, and I've watched way too much MLW to check out what Fatu was up to. Looking forward to seeing some more of his contemporary work... perhaps??

A Mad Dog, You've Got Nothing I Can Use

Buzz Sawyer/Matt Borne VS Bart Batten/Brad Batten - World Class 8/22/1986

CJD: I don't think I watched quite as much Buzz as you did Sullivan, but I did watch much more than it normally takes to play a match forward. Mad Dog was a personal favorite once upon a time but over the years as I've seen more and more I'd struggle to call him great. Maybe great in small doses which would help explain why he bounced around so much. Now I'm going to shoot straight on this one brother. I have no fucking clue who the Battens are. The US Express? Seriously? If this isn't the match of their career I'd be blown away. But even if it is that's nothing to be ashamed of. Both teams had the Sportatorium rocking and rolling and the booking is really effective leading up to a tag tournament. The Maniac and the Mad Dog are such a natural team, and Borne is someone I have more and more time for over the years. Although I am very curious if you can find a MAN UP Batten VS Batten hidden gem to come back at me with instead!!

JJZ: US Express? Who-ttens? Babycakes, the fact that these two wrestlers are so brand new to me is crazy. They were over. That crowd was so into them. Buzz and Matt beat the living shit out of them. That suplex to the concrete was sick. I know Cactus taking the powerbomb to the outside from Vader was considered insane, but a standing suplex positions you even higher. Ridiculous do to in a quick TV match. Shout out to Buzzy boy on those boots. Love it! 80s wrestling movesets are so interesting because they always drop in little things that I wouldn't expect. That knee off the top was pretty brutal. Really enjoyed how I spent these last 10 minutes.

Forever Forward Fridays

Masha Slamovich VS Megan Bayne - Beyond Wrestling 11/11/2021

CJD: Happy 4th PIF fam!! And what's more American than comic books?? John I know you love talking comics! Well this match was Wolverine VS Thor. Masha just wouldn't. Stay. Down. This wasn't always pretty but a match like this shouldn't be. I watched a good bit of the Megasus before landing on this match, and you can consider me a big fan. She does so many little things that draw you in. I've seen some opinions really go both ways on her but I think part of that is she legitimately garners heat in more of a throwback way. Masha is always a blast, I hadn't watched her in a little while, and I'm very curious to see what you come back with!

JJZ: Dude! That dead lift powerbomb popped the fuck out of me. This was such a good one. The aggressive non stop energetic offense of Masha was perfect to try to combat Megan's power and strength. Masha coming out of the gate with some sneaky shit was great psychology. Haven't seen Masha in a minute also. Really love her in ring style. Megan is really good. Her two matches we played forward really impressed me. I think she has star power. Masha is an indy darling but I think Megan will be in WWE at somepoint. Or not. Who fucking knows. Great match either way!

For Boston, For Boston, Thy Glory Is Our Own

Kevin Sullivan VS Buzz Sawyer - GCW 4/5/1982

JJZ:  So we are staying in the same era for Sullivan so instead of the Prince of Darkness (even though it says it in the upload description) we have the Boston Battler. Again in this match Kevin showcases some real technical wrestling abilities combined with a two dollar steak level of toughness. I've never been too high or low on Buzz. He wrestles like a gritty legit hard nosed heel. Honestly he just looks like a real brick. Perfect bad guy for the 80s. I've had to watch a lot of Sullivan's matchs to get to this one and I'll say this period of his in ring career is definitely my favorite.  The ending left me a little disappointed, but it was 80s wrestling so I should see it coming. The beginning and middle had enough story that the finish didn't matter too much. Both guys really laid it in for the entire match and you know I'm all about the meat slappies. Hope you dig it brother.

CJD: I love this era of Sullivan, I wish he had incorporated more of this into the rest of his career. Although I do appreciate how far he pushed the envelope for his time. This match was as snug as it gets. Every transition was earned and logical, with bad intentions. Which is also impressive because, as you said with Kevin's work in these early days, there was some real technical work compared to what I'd expect. These two suspended my disbelief so thoroughly I went through a few Sullivan interview clips to see if there was a real issue there. And while he confirmed just about nobody "got along well" with Buzz, he said they actually had good working relationship. That makes me appreciate the level of give and take here that much more. And I didn't mind the very 80s finish at all, I'd love to see the next match they were setting up. I know you had to put in some work to land on this one babycakes and I appreciate that blue collar effort, much like the workmanship that went into this match!

Super Fabulous The Patterns Have Been Updated

Kevin Sullivan (c) VS Steve Keirn - GCW NWA TV Title 2/28/1981

CJD: You want to talk about suspending disbelief and exceeding expectations. This match right here is exhibit A. This is the earliest I've seen from either guy and it's definitely a novelty seeing this flavor of the Taskmaster compared to what he went on to become. The promos before and after the match are a nice bonus, nothing special but really help build that ambiance. The match would stand on its own merits either way. This is really a piece of kick ass pro wrestling especially by 1981 standards. It makes me want to watch every match Sullivan and Keirn ever had against each other. When I think about the craft of pro wrestling this is the kind of work I look for. These are clearly two students of the game and it shows. And I love that the tiny studio crowd is so along for the ride!

JJZ: Chris, this was delightful. Loved the before and after promos. And I fully agree. I want more of this feud. Also I got such a kick out of Gordon repeatly going back to the body building competition. Didn't know Kevin ever was that ripped up. He did look like a million bucks. The match itself was so good. I mean just a great feud building match. The mindset of the Taskmaster to milk the clock was such a smart heel move. First just slapping on headlocks and armbars. Then running away to push Keirn over the edge. Just great stuff.