CLASSIC TOMK AND/OR PHIL from DVDVR #130

SICK NICK MONDO vs. IAN ROTTEN - LIGHT TUBE TABLES FANS BRING THE WEAPONS MATCH

TKG: There were a bunch of idiots who were pimping Shane McMahon vs. Kurt Angle street fight as a really well worked hardcore match between a talented bumper and a wrestler with legit amateur background. I didn’t pimp it that way, I pimped it as a must see for its horrific missed spots. Well those idiots need to see Rotten vs. Mondo. Rotten is a legit highly ranked ex-amateur wrestler, and Mondo is known for great spots and bumps. Rotten is a smarter garbage worker than Angle, as he understands better how to use the props and makes (at least in this match) better decisions to protect his opponents. And Mondo is so, so much more than Shane. I’ve already heaped the praise on Mondo once in this review and once in live show report. So go back and read that. The match starts in ring with a collar and elbow lock up. They work a top wristlock into an arm drag a bunch of standing switches reinforcing Ian’s amateur background. Mondo is able to roll the larger Ian into a leg submission, which Ian reverses. Mondo is allowed to get mat based offense, but Ian is clearly the superior. In Shane/ Angle there were tons of credibility destroying spots where Shane was allowed to outwrestle Angle. In Ian/Mondo, Mondo is allowed to demonstrate his in ring wrestling skill without destroying credibility of the match. They both do a collar and elbow into ropes followed by clean break up spot to show mutual respect. This is followed up by another series of standing switches, which Ian dominates and eventually takes into a headlock. At this point Mondo is forced to throw strikes and punches his way out of headlock. They do a criss cross into an Ian dropkick followed by another criss cross into a Mondo kick that sends Ian out of ring. A full third of the match was in ring. Since Ian has demonstrated his in ring dominance as a legit amateur, Mondo seeing Ian out of ring quickly takes advantage of this opportunity by diving onto Ian. Once Ian is down outside the ring, Mondo is left to think about what his next course of action should be. He looks at the downed Ian, and thinks back to his training at Al Snow’s gym; “Damnit even Bionic J didn’t have bosoms this big”. Mondo goes to his bread and butter, hitting Ian with fan built weapons, in between punching and kicking at Ian. He can’t outwrestle Ian so he’s got to go to the weapons. Ian gets quick spurts of offense on the floor, set up by either amateur style clubbing forearms or snapmares. But Mondo is allowed to control on the outside. They both do a good job improvising around the weapons the fans provide. Eventually Mondo thinks he has enough momentum that he can set up ladder to the balcony and the light tube table. This gives the downed Ian enough time to recover and go after Mondo. Mondo climbs the ladder and challenges Ian to come up after him. Mondo then proceeds to further wear down Ian by kicking him at the ladder top. Mondo gets cocky and forgets that its already been proven that he shouldn’t lock up with Ian (the superior wrestler). Mondo goes for an Irish whip which Ian reverses sending Mondo off the balcony through the light tube table. Ian understands prop wrestling better than Angle and allows his opponent to control his own bump. Ian hobbles down the ladder to pin Mondo. Having been declared the victor, Ian extends his hand to the downed Mondo, lifts Mondo up with loving arms and carries him back to the ring. Adding an extra bit of symmetry to the match, Ian rolls Mondo in ring (where Ian had dominated earlier) while he stands out of ring (where Mondo had dominated). Ian then gets on the stick and puts over Mondo as the future, and Mondo puts over Ian as a legend. A beautiful story well told. Shane McMahon jerks off at night wishing he and Angle could have done something a tenth as effective.