6/29/2025

© Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Recommendations From A History Man

Peter Edge comes up with a midsummer mix this fortnight, from both sides of the Pacific.

We have a potpourri of matches to look at in my latest Reccies this fortnight; with a subtle theme about the busy month of July, we look at matches from the past that have a link to the events to come.

Kerry Von Erich vs Ric Flair- David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions- 10/2/84

People who watched “The Iron Claw” will know this match as that thing Maura Tierney watched while at home, but the significance of this day was bigger than a minute-long moment in an Oscar bait movie which failed to get its prey.

This match took place 3 months after David Von Erich entered the final scene of “The Iron Claw”. Taking place in a stadium 32,000 fans strong in the Dallas Metropolitan area (you see what I’m doing here) in 105 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s 40°C if you live in a country that measures weather normally) at ringside, the fact that these two put on a ***¾ match is a revelation. I mean, I remember when we had those 2 days here in the UK in 2022 when it was 40°C and I remember going into the garden to sit at the patio table, spending 10 seconds outside and going “nope” and going back into the house.

WWE feels the need to inform us that this upload on the WWE Vault is “Presented in the most complete form possible due to original production technical difficulties” on four occasions because they must have feared that Gen Xers would throw their devices against the wall at the prospect of not seeing the match at 1080p.

It’s the occasion and the ending in particular that raise this match up to 3.75 in my ratings book, with the fans also helping its case by being so behind Kerry that even an abdominal stretch from the Von Erich got a big pop.

For understandable reasons, the pace never leaves third gear. It only goes 10:45, which is insane for the context of a Ric Flair NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title match at this time and that it was a big stadium show main event. If Hangman wins the AEW World Title at All In but the match goes 10 minutes, what do we think the reaction would be? I think it would be negative, even if it ends up as one of the most feel good moments in AEW history because fans are trained to think main events and important matches need to go 20 minutes or more.

Whether or not that is a good thing is a debate for another time.

Flair won the title back a few weeks later at a AJPW because the NWA board of directors knew that Kerry was a mess-up, as the second half of “The Iron Claw” showed, but during the match for all the limitations Kerry had as a wrestler (again, it’s harsh to judge Kerry on this match because of the heat), the connection he had with the fans in Dallas was very obvious to see on this very hot afternoon.

Keiji Muto vs Big Van Vader- August 10th 1991

So, I’ve recommended a NJPW match which has been uploaded on YouTube away from the New Japan channel. (TV Asahi are going to send tanks into the hometowns of me, Trish and Tim aren’t they?)

After consulting our lawyers (ok, it was Trish), because this match was shot on a camcorder in the stands of Ryogoku Kokugikan, Asahi shouldn’t be able to wield the copyright mallet on this one no matter what Reiji Mitsurugi (or Miles Edgeworth if you’re a philistine) tries.

The annual July and August tradition (when the Olympics and Covid weren’t inconveniencing New Japan) is edging nearer and we all have to tell our non-wrestling friends that we are not being social because we need to be on the internet for nineteen nights so we can watch something called the G1 Climax. (Seriously, try this with a friend and try to see if they have a reaction that isn’t one of them feeling awkward about thinking of raising any possible addiction to porn that you might have).

This match is unique, not just because it’s on a fancam, which was one of the great traditions of 90’s wrestling, but it’s the first heavyweight singles that got the 5 star treatment from Dave Meltzer.

What I like about this match are the small things — like Muto getting out of a Dragon Sleeper by just sprawling to his belly, and seeing Muto before his knees became knackered with all the agility he was capable of is fun — but it’s how it’s used that makes for fun viewing.

But it’s also the macro that the match benefits from. Its ‘David vs Goliath’ structure plays to the people at the back of the room that are so far back, if they tried to throw a cushion into the ring they would fail to get it in the ring.

Like the previous match we just looked at, it’s the post match that rocks the most about the whole deal. The fans are so happy they throw cushions into the ring. Vader, who was on his way out of New Japan to move to WCW, gave the biggest endorsement possible by raising Muto’s arm. It’s basically a vibes match, in a time where vibes matches were not a thing in puro in the early 90s that we got only because one person wanted to commit an act of piracy. ****½

Bull Nakano vs Aja Kong- 14th November 1990

It’s a match that defined a feud of the biggest threats to everyone else on the AJW. The two baddest women on the wrestling planet could only see their feud resolved on a Steel Cage but it’s certainly a different cage match than anything else in a lot of good ways.

First off, if you dislike the “escape the cage” ruleset that you see in WWE cage matches these days, this match might be off putting to you — but stick with it because this match sees only one attempt at climbing the cage to win, and that one attempt would end the match.

This video at the start has the blood rivals being interviewed together before the match, which ends in a pull apart brawl. Who thought that was a good idea?

These two hate each other so much in this feud that they start the match outside the cage, where Kong and Nakano treat the outside area like King Kong and Godzilla treat the streets of San Francisco, which sees Kong use a pair of scissors on Nakano like it’s a Friday night in a hotel in Blackburn.

The chaos is magnified by the lights going out at one point. The entourages of both wrestlers try to chuck weapons into the cage and then fight each other outside the cage. Spots that are teased that are cliché east of the Pacific Ocean end up not happening. There is no rhythm, no structure to this match and that’s why I fucking love this match so much.

It’s two people who despise each other having a fight with any weapon they can get their hands on and the end is insane. I won’t describe it so I won’t spoil it, but keep in mind that an All Japan Women’s ring has zero give in it. It’s a fitting end to such a chaotic and brilliant match. ****1/2

Sting vs Ric Flair- Great American Bash 1990

Unfortunately, this match is yet to go up on the WCW Vault (it probably will in the time between my writing this and publication), because the WCW Vault must post 2000 WCW so fans can laugh at how bad WCW was instead of watching 1992 WCW — when WCW was really fun. But thanks to some random upload on YouTube on a channel with 578 subscribers that somehow evaded WWE’s copyright bot, we can look at one of my favourite WCW matches.

The situation unfolding in this match was that the match could only be decided by pinfall or submission (hang on, isn’t that just a No-DQ match?), with Sting’s buddies in a faction called Dudes With Attitude, in what is one of the lamest names of a faction ever, on the outside to stop the Four Horsemen from interfering — and the faction’s manager, Ole Anderson, being handcuffed to El Gigante — and while I’m happy to write plenty of words that are negative about Ole, on this night Ole was perfect, especially his interaction with the ex-Argentina pro basketball player turned pro wrestler, as the match progressed with a particular visual gag before the World Title match I’m writing up being very amusing.

The focus of this match is on the knee of Sting. This is the first match back for the Stinger after he injured his knee the night Flair turned heel on him, and while Sting did look rusty, Flair in his prime helped guide Sting through the match. The limb work of Flair is basic and Flair-esque but obvious considering the circumstances. Jim Ross on commentary is prime JR. Phrases that he says stick in the mind especially “first test of the knee” when Sting gorilla presses Flair.

The final minute is really good even if the pinfall is a very predictable one in the context of a Flair match. The moment where Flair celebrates what he thinks is a surefire victory to come and then isn’t is a great moment of schadenfreude

The biggest problem this match has is related to one of its good parts. The match was supposed to take place at “Wrestle War” in February 1990, weeks after the Flair heel turn and what could have been a title change on the night and a changing of the guard from “the man of the 80s” to the “man of the 90”, before WWF did their changing of the guard from Hulk Hogan to The Ultimate Warrior (though to be fair, it’s WCW so there was a very good chance that Flair would have retained through shady shenanigans by the Horsemen, which would have led to a match where the match could only be decided by pinfall or submission). The crowd were hot for the “Great American Bash” main event but they could have been molten at “Wrestle War”.

But I really like this match because of how the aura of Sting just shines through. From taking what feels like a gazillion chops to the point that the blood vessels on his chest pop leaving his chest red, to the energy he just gives out throughout. It’s a testament to why so many loved him and why his last match last year caught the attention it did. ****¼

By Peter Edge

Retro News

The opening sales for the debut of Real American Freestyle Wrestling, a venture that both Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan are part of, do not look great. The August 30th show in Cleveland, Ohio, had a first count from Wrestletix of 380 tickets, with the cheapest available ticket priced at $39.60. The Wolstein Center has a capacity of 13,077.

This real story is perhaps not as strange as a fake one, though, as Hogan’s friend turned enemy – Bubba the Love Sponge – claimed that Hogan was in such dire shape in hospital that his loved ones had travelled to where he was being treated to say their goodbyes. Hogan’s team was forced to dispute the claims via TMZ, stating that Hogan had been in hospital for treatment for lingering issues bothering his neck and back but had already been discharged. The 71 year old had neck surgery a month ago but had been experiencing “adverse reactions” in the aftermath, which caused the return hospital visit.

Vibe Shift

WWE, AEW, and the Mood of the Summer.
By Micah

NJPW Dominion

Conor McFall takes apart New Japan’s second biggest show of the year.

CMLL Fantasticamania

Bandido rounded out one of the biggest week’s of his career so far by pinning Mistico in the main event of “Fantastica Mania” to set up a singles match between the two this weekend, back in Arena Mexico.