IWA Mid-South Top 18 Matches, #14: Kongo Kong v. Danny Cannon 5/1/14

14. Kongo Kong v. Danny Cannon 5/1/14



PAS:  Really great cat and mouse match. Kong is one of our favorites, he basically is a black One Man Gang, 6'7ish 400 pounds, but really agile. Cannon is a little dude who works a little like a stockier Low-Ki, early part of the match is all about Cannon using his agility to squirm out of Kong's grasp, and pepper him with low kicks, until he is caught and hurled over the top rope, he takes a big bump, but is able to evade Kong again and hit him with three straight topes and a plancha, but still can't knock him down. The match continues like that with Cannon avoiding, hitting and running and Kong catching and pounding. The build to the first Kong knockdown was great, Cannon gets smushed by a somersault in the corner, but avoids the second, and as Kong gets up Cannon springboards to the top rope, grabs the support beam and flips himself into a double stomp right onto Kong's back, such a cool spot, and because he failed to knock down Kong for so long, it meant a lot. Finish was perfect too, as Cannon couldn't avoid him forever, he tries for a top rope rana, gets it turned into a top rope powerslam, and gets sqaushed with a 747. No 2.9 kick outs, no dramatic near falls. Icarus flew too close to the sun and got fried.

ER: I think this is the most I've ever seen Phil write about a match. Think about the ground that covers. And justifiably so because this match was great. It was smart, innovative, fun, and satisfying. I have never heard of Danny Cannon before this match and he was really fun, made me feel that same way I felt when I saw Low-Ki vs. Red from over a decade ago. The evasive spots were really fun as you had Kong tossing Cannon recklessly and Cannon landing on his feet from all sorts of weird angles. Cat and mouse/David & Goliath can be one of my favorite match types (you should see how I ranked all of the Lawler vs. Gigantic Fatties on my Memphis ballot) but it can be tough to hit all of the right notes. This match hit all of the right notes. The comebacks were done smart and they never backed themselves into any illogical selling corners. I loved Cannon's three topes, and the rafter spot and follow up should be in the running for spot of the year. Not only was a guy wildly climbing up to the rafters ("they are *literally* hanging from the rafters!") and stomping a giant savage awesome, but the match psychology was great as Cannon hit Kong with maybe his one available killshot, but couldn't roll the giant over quick enough to get the pin. Great spot, great moment, great match.

PAS: We are putting this at #18 on our MOTY list. IWA-MS from the ashes!!!