2014 Ongoing Match of the Year List

11. Rush v. Negro Casas CMLL 8/1

PAS: Really fun violent apuestas match, although a match that the blood ban kept from being an all time classic. Both guys were really awesome. Rush was a total killer in this, he reminded me of classic Vader or Lesnar, he looked jacked to the gills and was just rampaging through Casas, beating the shit out of him with chops and kicks and crushing him with the corner dropkick. Casas really reminded me of Fujiwara, he was this overmatched veteran who still had a trick or two in his book. Finish was great with Rush just killing him and deciding to punt Casas in the balls just for the hell of it. Great facial selling from Casas as he watched Rush celebrate with the fans hurling trash at him. Great post match, when someone finally shaves that punks head it is going to be incredible.

ER: Well this was awesome. Totally lived up to everything I wanted it to be. Rush comes out in a white suit with his hair tied up in a bun, so he can unfurl its majesty on the hate filled Arena Mexico crowd. And then Rush turns into an absolute hulked up bacne covered steamroller. Some matches you can see guys getting into position for parts of the match, purposely moving the match to a specific turnbuckle they need to be in to hit their mark. But here Rush just organically beats Casas' ass all over the ring. Hits a clothesline, pie faces Casas down to the mat, kicks him to the floor, kicks him on the floor, etc. Casas runs and Rush casual chases him down. Casas peppers in his comebacks when Rush gets cocky, and man does Casas blast in his own kicks. I love Casas' short low kicks to Rush's chest, and I love how every time he got his chance he really tried to make the most of that chance. Watch him desperately/shrewdly latch onto Rush's left arm during La Casita, using any ounce of leverage he can to get the pin. Rush plays a vicious game of oneupsmanship here taking what Casas dishes and bringing it back fiercely. Casas kicks him in the corner? Rush kicks him harder and then gloats to the crowd while standing on his throat. Casas hits the big Thesz press? Rush hits a lunatic dropkick off the apron, not giving a shit how hard his own body thuds onto the ground. And then there's poor Casas getting back into the ring, and Rush punting him right in the face. Casas gets a busted lip and few few brain cells taken off his hands, and the crowd goes silent. I'm not sure I've seen anything like that before. Casas still makes great comebacks and as I told Phil a few days ago, I'm not sure there's a better fired up babyface comeback in wrestling than Negro Casas. I love him going toe to toe with Rush, trying to outwit him, trying to strangle him with subs, ripping at Rush's hands. But it wasn't enough. Rush was too much. He even risks losing the match just for the opportunity to punt Casas in the balls, just because. Great, great match.


2014 MASTER LIST