Last Days of Necro

Necro Butcher didn't work a ton of matches during his last few active years, and I realized I'd hardly seen any of his work from 2014-16. It surely couldn't hurt to take a look at some of those matches, just to see the last glimpses of this legend.

Necro Butcher vs. Brute VanSlyke 2CW 12/27/14

ER: This was No Holds Barred and we had no idea how literally that would be taken during this match. I'd never seen VanSlyke before but he's a big guy who clearly has no problems taking balled up punches to the face, and will happily hurt this old boxcar hobo. This was a really good brawl that focused on two guys hitting the other. That seems pretty obvious, but so many of these things are about stupid spot set up with too much space between the beatings. This was constant beatings. Necro clonked Brute with ring steps and a chair, and even grabbed him right by the balls and yanked. Brute slammed him into the ringpost and worked a convincing backbreaker (nice sell by Necro too) and continued working that back by slamming him into the turnbuckles. Necro doesn't really bump at this point - can't blame him - and he doesn't look physically able to get up for a ton anymore. There were a few times where Brute lifted him into something and looked like he was doing 100% of the work. BUT, that also made it look more impressive. Brute dishing a tough suplex on a big guy like Necro with none of Necro's help is only going to make this guy look cool. The finish was a fantastic fireworks show, with this breaking down into a big punch exchange, building to Brute hitting a nasty lariat on Necro. And then he makes this better and better by picking Necro up for a few more short arm lariats, grabbing him off the mat by his beard on the last one, and aiming that lariat right at the side of Necro's head. If there's a better Necro brawl than this one in the last couple years of his career, someone please show it to me now!

Necro Butcher/Smokey C/Grim Reefer vs. Sabu/Rhino/Devon Moore PWS 6/11/16

ER: Well this was kind of a drag. This is noteworthy for being Necro Butcher's last wrestling match (yes he was in the goofy Janela battle royal earlier this year, but this was at least supposedly structured like a match), but it isn't really much outside of that fact. Necro is involved in this footage less than maybe anyone (I'm sure he was off brawling in the crowd, but this handheld didn't pick a second of that up). This was mostly Sabu throwing chairs at people and then doing his legdrop/chair thing and people chanting "You still got it!" This felt much more like Sabu's retirement match than Necro Butcher's. Grim Reefer had a couple nice moments including a cool rope walk somersault senton, but that was about it. Just as it looked like Necro was going to go through a highlight reel of Necro Butcher stuff, Natural Born Killaz hit and we got a New Jack appearance. Jack is moving slow as hellllll and we got a guitar shot, some cane shots, and at one point he put a trash can on Necro and just sort of fell on him. Necro at least made some things interesting with his selling, making it look like he took something sharp to his eye. That's something. But Necro clearly needed to retire. Nothing about him at this point really read "wrestler". He was wearing track pants and looked about as old as someone can look at 43. A lot of the match honestly felt like a way to tease Necro *about* to do something, but not being able to. He fired back a bit with some floating punches on New Jack, and wasn't even allowed to hit the tiger driver. Who wanted this to end with Necro losing to Devon Moore by small package? This felt like it was designed to be a crowd pleasing match, that wasn't really pleasing in any way to me. Necro is an absolute pillar to me, hate to see this be the last gasp, but also glad the dude eventually got out of wrestling.

Read more!

It's Old Vader Time!!

Vader vs. 2 Cold Scorpio  Pro Wrestling Syndicate 6/1/12

ER: Vader ceased working full time in 2003, 15 years ago! And I can't recall anybody talking about his post-NOAH career. Now Vader was a late starter who didn't get to WWF until he was in his early 40s, and was still working full time in Japan into his late 40s. His career had to wind down at some point, so it makes sense that a really large guy working occasional matches in his 50s wasn't getting the same amount of attention. Outside of a couple other Japan matches and random appearances in WWE or TNA I know I wasn't seeking out post-prime Vader. I saw this match out there and knew these two were always on the same side in Japan so never fought there, really only crossed paths during Scorpio's Flash Funk run 15 years earlier. Vader was in his late 50s at this point and by far the biggest I'd seen him, Scorpio looked...well, the exact same as he's looked for the past 15 years. I wasn't expecting a lot out of this one as I assume there was a conversation before the match that went "I can't bump anymore, so I'm just going to throw a lot of hands." It's gotta be tough going into a match knowing that you're going to take a beating without getting a lot of glory, but man did I dig this match a LOT.


Vader is REALLY big here but still knows how to work a match, still knows how to build to things, knows how to make his few bumps matter, doesn't attempt anything that he can't pull off, etc. And Scorpio does take a beating nicely. They start off with a nice slow build but it's always tense as you know both guys can throw big shots. Vader is first to do so, and we start getting some chest puffing as both guys take turns seeing who can hit the other harder with a short arm clothesline, a harder version of what they would do before tag matches in NOAH, and the fans win. After Vader hits him with a big lariat and bear attack we get more classic Vader shots, and it's awesome seeing him older, fatter, but still using that same Vader muscle memory. I've made a big deal about Vader being in his late 50s, but Scorpio is in his late 40s here and spry as hell, bumping around big for Vader and springing quickly back to his feet. At one point Vader hits a mean kick right to the balls, and the announcer covers nicely with a "well who's going to tell Vader that you can't do that" explanation. Scorpio lands some stiff punches to the face, and works in some cool big moments like attempting to lift Vader only to get flattened with a crossbody. Vader is smart enough to make even the obvious resting spot of the match engaging, not just holding a chinlock but fighting over a Rings of Saturn while shoving on Scorpio's jaw. Vader was clearly breathing heavy but doing cool work, getting his weight on Scorpio, Scorpio fighting to not let up his other arm, turning it into a cool part of the match when it could have been a drag. We get some cool moments out of big Vader misses, like a nasty missed elbowdrop right into the mat. Scorpio misses on a big moonsault and in a moment I was completely not expecting, Vader absolutely crushes him with a Vader Bomb. Even more impressive, he appears to protect Scorp. This match was so much better than I anticipated, and until otherwise informed I will promote this as the last awesome Vader match. I could not imagine fans of both being disappointed in this one.

PAS: This was great, exactly how you want to work a match with a minimal number of bumps. If you aren't going to bump (well Vader didn't bump, Scorpio landed damn hard on a couple of throws), beat the shit out of each other and the definitely did. Feels like the kind of match you would expect old buddies who are tough as shit to have with each other. There are lots of moments where Vader throws a potato, Scorp throws one back and Vader smiles a bit and just pastes him. Scorpio's missed moonsault was gorgeous and that final Vader bomb was a splatterer. I remember digging this match back in 2012, and it was great to revisit it.


Vader/2 Cold Scorpio vs. Jay Lethal/Devon Moore  Pro Wrestling Syndicate 6/2/12


ER: This was just unexpectedly great. With no exaggeration Scorpio and Vader work as quickly here as they worked their last NOAH tag match a decade prior. Except now their combined age is 104. Old Vader was not in any way old Andre. There was no built in sad vulnerability, no constant pain etched across his face, no moments where it looked like he couldn't bend down to climb through the ropes. Vader looked linebacker quick here, and Scorpio looked as agile and graceful as literally any time you've ever seen Scorpio. This match is just outright shocking. Vader doesn't just stand in the middle of the ring and let people bounce into him, as you might expect from a 400 pound man with AARP eligibility. Vader RUNS and still has quick burst speed, still is an actual wrestler on the offensive. He and Lethal start with a rope running exchange that sees Vader pivoting and moving just as quick as ever, and when he's lacing into Lethal with clotheslines, big Vader arm attacks and punches, we get actual footwork and skill, not just "hold still and walk into my fist". When Moore is in Vader just absolutely FLATTENS him with two of the best elbowdrops you've ever seen, dropping them fast and hard across the upper chest, laying out with full extension, not once approaching gingerly dropping down. He continues squishing Moore and working a nasty arm submission while I actually giggle. Scorpio was just phenomenal here. He's a guy with some of the wildest high flying and strikes around, and he clearly aims to use ALL of it. His ringwork is so lightning fast, he throws this great violent spin kick, hits an awesome rolling heel kick, several variations on a twisting splash, all great. He and Vader are such an awesome complementary team, love Vader just slamming these guys then slingshotting Scorpio into the ring with his heavy flying. We get a hilarious violent stretch, where Vader hits a full extension Vader Bomb on Lethal, but Moore makes the save, so Vader hits another one, and Moore makes the save. Vader is looking at more like "Are you serious?" and while Vader is yelling at Moore we get Scorpio sneaking in with a slingshot legdrop on Lethal, then a rolling splash. Lethal is just a total grease stain on the mat and Moore keeps saving him, and it's great. Lethal and Moore do get a brief but nice comeback, ending with Moore hitting a nice shooting star press. Vader comes in with the save, just hammerfisting the back of Moore's head and clearing the ring with a violent chokeslam on Lethal. Scorpio is truly crazy and drops the bomb to end the match, crushing that moonsault legdrop. This match was just a total shock. I really dug the Vader/Scorpio singles the night before, but to see the two of them here working as if a decade hadn't passed since their last tag match, I was just flipping out the entire match. This one delivered some completely improbable thrills. These are the last of the great Vader matches.

PAS: Devon Moore must have broken some old school locker room rule or something (maybe he didn't share his drugs) because he gets merked by Vader and Scorp in this match. Lethal gets a chance to do some offense and work exchanges with Scorpio, while Moore just gets smashed. That chokeslam by Vader looked like he was trying to Joe Thurman Moore. I was amused at Devon continuously breaking up the pin while Lethal was getting flatter and flatter. The Drop the Bomb may be my favorite top rope move ever, it is so beautiful and lands with such violence, fun match and both the oldsters looked awesome. Colorado represent!!

Read more!

JAPW 13th Anniversary Night One 12/10/10

JAPW put on two pretty big shows back to back in December, and the DVD's are out. JAPW anniversary shows tend to be good shit, so I have been looking forward to these

Devon Moore v. Jon Moxley

This kind of workrate undercard match isn't going to be the best showcase for Moxley, although I enjoyed him here. I really like the way he takes in ring bumps, very expressive, great pained facial expression. He also can be a real Ginoish sneering bastard on offense. Even in New Jersey I can't really see Devon Moore as a face so he seems like a weird opponent. Moore has some athletic offense, but the way he carries himself really makes impressive things look less impressive. I did love the bump he took on the second rope chicken wing faceplant, although I question Moxley breaking out a super version of his finisher on an opening match like this.

Nick Gage v. Rhyno

Terrible match, Rhyno was fully in cash the check mode, as this was all slow motion side headlock reversals and chinlocks. They blatantly kill some time until the Brodie Lee run in, Lee accidentally kicks Gage which sets up a sub Kelly Kelly spear by Rhyno. If this was a crazy brawl I imagine Gage would have bumped enough to make it semi entertaining, but as far as technical stuff Nick Gage is to Jack Briscoe as Nick Gage is to D.B. Cooper.

Joe Hardway v. Corvis Fear

I like Corvis Fear a bunch, he has some cool looking offense and works stiff, but Hardway is all entrance and they seemed to be on different pages a bunch in this match. I do enjoy the joie de vivre which Johnny D brings to his strip club manager gimmick, I just wish the South SIde Playaz Clube were better wrestlers.

LuFisto v. Kalamity

Surprisingly entertaining womens match, a real potato fest with both ladies cracking each other really hard in mouth and head with kicks and elbows. There was a pretty nasty exchange where both ladies are sitting on the mat kicking each other hard in the teeth. Kalamity who I have never heard of before has some really nice looking offense, including a great spinebuster. About as violent as one might imagine a drunken Comic Con fight between a horse faced girl in an anime costume and a portly goth chick would be.

Necro Butcher v. Eddie Kingston

I like both of these wrestlers a lot, I have really liked this matchup a bunch in the past, and for the most part I liked this. It did fall short of what I was hoping for though. I think part of it might have been card placement, they followed the women's match which was pull of face punching which is going to be a big part of what these guys do, and that dampened the heat a bit. When these guys are at their best they create this frantic intensity, it feels ragged and crazy and even when it isn't currently exploding it feels like it is going to explode. It was just missing here, I felt like I was watching these guys work their touring match, instead of some lunatic fist fight between a fat drunk Puerto Rican and some homeless psychopath. There was some cool shit here though, both guys take sick bumps on chairs, Necro has some of the most violent eye rakes in wrestling history and I love a match which ends on a KO punch. It is a thumbs up for sure, I just wanted more.

Brodie Lee v. Pinkie Sanchez

20 second squash leading to a pull apart with Rhyno. Pull apart sucked Rhyno was just a huge failure, I can't imagine how sucky the title match is going to be.

United States Death Machine v. Da Hit Squad

Wild JAPW tag brawls are one of my favorite things in wrestling. This was one of the lesser versions of that, but I still enjoyed the hell out of it. I didn't hate Dickinson in this as much as I normally do, I kind of enjoyed his Jersey shit talking, and both of his big spots, were big fucking spots. He does a leaping kick from the top of the bleachers down to the middle on Monsta Mack, and takes a burning hammer through a wooden door. Callihan is great in this setting as he is such a rabid dog, that he is always in someones face slapping them or spitting on them. DHS were fun too, Monsta takes a bunch of big bumps for a fat guy, and Maff has a similar kind of frothing anger to Callihan. THe match had some problems, it went too long as downtime really hurts matches like this, and this had some moments where nothing was happening, when it needs to feel like a riot the whole time. Also they clearly built the wall throw (which was an old DHS spot from Bayonne) as a huge moment. In Bayonne they could dart someone from the ring headfirst into a wall, this is a much bigger place and the spot just doesn't look good as a regular press slam throw into a wall. Still the finish was a finish and I wouldn't mind seeing this feud run back.

Jushin Liger v. Bandido Jr. v. Kenny Omega v. Azreal v. El Generico v. B-Boy

For folks that hadn't heard about this card before, that isn't a typo. Outside of the pure weirdness of Liger working rope running exchanges with Bandido Jr., this was pretty average. The BOLH matches in the past have been crazy spotfests, but this didn't have those kind of workers. I thought Omega's three cool spots were hit well, and Liger running in an shotaying everyone was a bunch of fun, but the elimination part of the match didn't have a ton else to it. I actually really liked the final Azreal v. Liger showdown. Liger is historically great at putting over random dudes and he leaned into all of Azreals stuff and made him look like a killer, before crushing him with a top rope brainbuster. Post match Liger was the best as he is so fucking amped to win the JAPW LIght Heavyweight Title, he was on his knees hugging the belt like Rocky at the end of Rocky 2.

A bit of a disappointing show, the on paper great stuff was just good, and some stuff was bad. I am hoping for more from night 2.

Read more!