Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Song of the Day - Lost in the Hive

Mutoid Man - Lost in the Hive from Helium Head (2013)

Supercharged metal from Ben Koller (drummer of Converge/All Pigs Must Die/United Nations/Acid Tiger) and Stephen Brodsky (Cave In). The project is essentially were the two left of when Koller was in Cave In for a brief time.



Check it out!

Last.fm

Match of the Day - the CM Punk ROH dog collar match #2

CM Punk vs. Jimmy Rave - Dog Collar match - ROH Manhattan Mayhem (2005)


Miss CM Punk? Well, here's a CM Punk match.

Not too long before signing with WWE and going to Ohio Valley Wrestling, CM Punk was in Ring Of Honor's second ever dog collar match. Punk was also in the first which I've covered here before with Raven. This time Punk was facing off against Jimmy Rave who - while a prominent star of the indies at this time - will always be remembered as one half of the Rock N Rave Infection of TNA with Lance Rock (now wrestling as Lance Archer in NJPW) to me. These two put on a very physical match that is definitely a must-see if you are a punk fan, or a Jimmy Rave fan. There's Rave fans out there... somewhere... maybe.

The only thing that rubs me the wrong way during this match is the interference by Fast Eddie towards the end. I'm not ragging on him for having a run-in spot, I'm just bothered that the guy had to do a moonsault from the top rope to break up a pinfall. I get that Punk moves out of the way just before the landing and therefore Rave gets all of the moonsault, but come on, just get in there and break up the pin. Save the "I got to get my shit in" indy wrestling mentality for a match you will actually be in, but that's just me. Other than that though, this match is very good.

PS: The sounds cuts out about two thirds the way into the video above. It's not that big of a deal, I just don't want anyone thinking they lost his or her sound or something.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Song of the Day - Over the Sirens

Solids - Over the Sirens from Blame Confusion (2014)

Some more new stuff. This ones from Solids of Montreal who are currently on tour in North America. Sounds sort of emo fuzzy, sort of garage rock-y, and sort of noise pop-y.


Mont-really good, Canada.

Last.fm

Match of the Day - Elimination Chamber #1

Shawn Michaels vs. Rob Van Dam Vs. Kane vs. Booker T vs. Chris Jericho vs. Triple H - Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship - Survivor Series (2002)


Whether or not you are watching Elimination Chamber, or No Escape as it's called in Germany, here is look back at the very first Elimination Chamber match from 2002.

The match includes HBK's hella god awful "returning after four years" ring gear, RVD destroying Triple H's throat from the first "top of the pod" shot ever performed, and an overall good first Elimination Chamber.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Song of the Day - Psalms

The Caution Children - Psalms from Safe Crusades / No Judgements / And Baby (2014)

Post hardcore meets shoegaze-y, this is Jacksonville, Florida's The Caution Children.

Not your average anything.

Last.fm

Match of the Day - RIP to The World's Largest Love Machine

Viscera vs. Simon Dean - Raw (2005)


Nelson Frazier, Jr., known by countless different names and gimmicks throughout his career, has passed away. Some of his most memorable gimmicks include: Mabel, Viscera, Big Daddy V, or "The World's Largest Love Machine" Big Vis.

Here's a match that depicts the mastodon just prier to his giant pajama run in WWE squashing the fitness guru and seducing Lilian Garcia the ring announcer. It also includes quite the .gif material:


For some, Nelson Frazier, Jr. will forever be remembered as that big guy on a mission that won the King of the Ring and kept hurting people, other people will remember him as that big guy dressed in all black and a white mohawk from the Undertaker's ministry, others will remember him as that big guy who really needed to put a shirt on in WWE's ECW, and others, like me, will forever remember the World's Largest Love Machine with the World's largest pajamas.

RIP

Monday, February 17, 2014

Song of the Day - Olee-Wah

Jerkagram - Olee-Wah from Let's Talk About Us (2014)

I'm having a hard time putting my finger on what exactly Jerkagram sound like without making it sound like something else, because,well, it's really not like something else. Very heavy on the groove, almost prog like, but also a bit math-y and psychedelic.



Last.fm

Match of the Debut - Montel Vontavious Porter

MVP vs. Marty Garner - No Mercy (2006)

In honor of MVP's new roll in TNA.


For weeks a guy named Montel Vontavious Porter appeared on Smackdown to boast that he was the greatest free agent on the planet. When he finally stepped into the squared circle at No Mercy, it was obvious this guy was just heeling it up. So, JBL on commentary did his best at giving the Most Valuable Troller as much criticism as humanly possibly. Granted MVP did come out through a blowup tunnel, had a blue bodysuit on and was cocky as all get out, I think the multiple comparisons to Power Rangers, Battlestar Galatica, and William Shatner (I honestly don't see that one) were a bit over the top. Still, it got MVP over as a guy fans could easily rip on for the rest of his tenure in WWE.

So, who was MVP's first (televised) opponent  in WWE? Why it was Marty Garner, of course. Commentary might have forgotten who he was, but the internet has not. Marty Garner is that guy who took the craziest looking pedigree from Hunter Hearst Helmsley back in '96. Garner was also trained by The Hardy Boyz and one of the other guys from OMEGA, a promotion started by The Hardy's and their friends around North Carolina. Coincidentally, MVP would go on to have a rather amusing feud with Matt Hardy some time after this match which saw Hardy and Porter perform all sorts of challenges to see who was the better man. These challenges included a football throwing contest, an arm wrestling match, a pizza eating contest, and a beer drinking contest.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Song of the Day - Wokinonit

J Dilla - Workinonit from Donuts (2006)

Took a look back at music in 2006. Dilla related.


Match of the Day - Tajiri destroys the "man who made him", Steve Corino

Yoshihiro Tajiri vs. Steve Corino - ECW Hardcore Heaven (2000)


Steve Corino takes on his former managee, "The Japanese Buzzsaw" Yoshihiro Tajiri who turned his back on Corino's dastardly faction, The Network. Steve Corino looks to extend the olive branch at first to Tajiri - by making racial remarks, a move that leads to Tajiri kicking Corino's head off. The assault on Steve Corino doesn't stop there though as Tajiri pretty much just decimates the "King of Old School" from beginning to bloody end. A very convincing win is an understatement.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Song of the Day - Blue Valentines

Tom Waits - Blue Valentines from Blue Valentine (1978)

For any of you out there with a blue Valentine's Day.


Last.fm

Match of the Day - Ken Shamrock looks to massacre Val Venis on Valentine's Day '99

Val Venis vs. Ken Shamrock - Intercontinental title match - St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House (1999)



Nothing says St. Valentine's Day like beating up an adult film star who's infatuated with your sister.

Since no WWF Official would referee this match, as it was too much for even Senior Official Earl Hebner to handle, a special someone had to step up to the task of reffing this very attitudinal era match. That special someone was Mr. Ass Billy Gunn who wasn't doing anything to begin with, so hey, might as well throw him in the mix to add to this already sexually charged match.

From WWF's one and only PPV themed after the 1929 Al Capone conspired 7-man massacre.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Song of the Day - Splish Splash

Wavepool Abortion - Splish Splash from Wavepool Abortion (2011)

Some Russian lo-fi garage rock stuff.


Last.fm

Match of the Day - Another "Shitty" Lego Deathmatch

Shitty vs. Addy Starr - Lego Deathmatch - Inter Species Wrestling Burger King of the Ring (2011)


In honor of the Lego Movie -I haven't seen it so no spoilers - here is another Lego-inspired deathmatch from the human/animal/monster/undead people wrestling promotion out of Quebec, Canada.

This Lego deathmatch is the third in existence from ISW and features the same man who was in the previous colorful connectable building blocks mess of a match and was also in the second (which I have yet to see). The man I'm talking about is Shitty, previously known as Flip, who was brainwashed by Moohammad (the terrorist cow) to be a much shittier person. Shitty's opponent this time around was Addy Starr, a female competitor not afraid to step in the ring with the Lego Deathmatch veteran, but also not afraid to get hardcore with Lego covered kickpads and Lego covered taped fists ablazin'. Addy Starr even dons the D'Lo Brown Lego vest at one point to boost her already Lego-based offense.

It's a messy, and dare I say a "shitty" match, but that's what it was going for. This isn't Flair/Steamboat #169, this is a Lego Deathmatch, a match that requires the most brutal and creative looking spots to do with Lego brand construction toys!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Match of the Debut - The rise and fall of Trytan

Monty Brown vs. Trytan - Destination X (2005)


In 2005, "The Alpha Man" Monty Brown was being stalked by an unknown man who may or may not have possessed supernatural powers. This mystery man was eventually revealed as "Trytan", a man who may or may not have had supernatural powers. So, as all storylines should go, this stalking of sorts by Trytan led to him getting a match with Monty Brown at Destination X.

Whether or not this Trytan guy had special powers or was some Terminator reject, one thing was more unclear than the rest, and that was: could this guy even wrestle? Well, as it turned out, he could - just not very well. Monty Brown carried the match until it came time to deliver his signature move, a move I'll forever miss, the POUNCE! Unfortunately, as Monty Brown is running the ropes to set up his explosive shoulder block, the lights go out and when they turn back on a man dressed from head to toe in black is in the place of Trytan. Monty Brown then takes this masked person and Pounces him and even gets the pinfall when it clearly wasn't Trytan. As Monty Brown is getting his hand raised in victory for defeating a man that wasn't even his opponent, Trytan appears and then disappears into some smoke back to the locker room.

Despite Monty Brown getting the win but not a victory over Trytan, the storyline, just like Trytan throw the tunnel at the end of this match, disappeared into obscurity. Later that night, Monty Brown would turn heel and aligned himself with Jeff Jarrett after helping Jarrett in his match against DDP, thus giving Brown something to do other than chase around a walking disappearance act.

Trytan apparently stayed with the company for some time after this match but never really did anything worth noting. As for the masked man, well, he was never seen again. At least we know who played him, and that was Dennis Knight - better known as Phineas I. Godwinn, Mideon, or "Naked" Mideon .

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Song of the Day - Empty Vessel

Bastions - Empty Vessel from Bedfellows: The Forgotten Daughter (2014)

New stuff from the melodic hardcore band from "the most northern point of" Wales, Bastions.


Love it or hate it, there's passion behind them pipes.

Last.fm

Match of the Day - A triple threat ROH title match in Japan

KENTA vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. BJ Whitmer - Triple Threat ROH World title match - Pro Wrestling Noah Northern Navigation Day 1 (2008)





Nigel McGuinness goes to Japan to defend his ROH world title against BJ Whitmer and Noah's own, KENTA. Despite KENTA's obvious home field advantage, Whitmer and McGuinness ganged up on the Japanese sensation and created an odd-man out situation that is very common in triple threat matches. Eventually the playing field was evened when Whitmer, aware that he wasn't going to win the title he continued to side with McGuinness, began to fight back against fellow ROH'er in hopes to win his first World Championship. 

Not to give anything away, but this match almost ends with the same exact move that yesterday's match did. Hint hint. 

Friday, February 7, 2014

Song of the Day - Camel Clutch

Zletovsko - Camel Clutch from Zletovsko (2013)

I typed in Camel Clutch into Spotify and found this song by the Japanese "zheul" band, Zletovsko!


Very reminiscent of another experimental Japanese band, Sax Ruins; a saxophone side project of Ruins.

Last.fm

Match of the Day - Two indie darlings and some masked dude

CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane - WWE Championship Triple Threat match - No Way Out (2012)


I'm just going to keep this one short and sweet because this match is not too old, yet I honestly don't remember the AJ Lee love triangle (or would it be a square?) storyline too well. I will however point out how much things have actually changed since this match in June of 2012. 

Plus, this match is pretty good. But you probably already guessed that. 

Song of the Day - Olympians

Fuck Buttons - Olympians from Tarot Sport (2009)

With the Opening Ceremonies starting tomorrow night and even some events starting today, it's time to get hyped for some Winter Olympics!


Oh, you don't like the Winter Olympics? Guess you don't love your country then. 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Match of the Day - The Low Ki/Lynn/Styles triangle ladder match

Low Ki vs. Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles - Triangle Ladder match for the X Division title - TNA PPV (2002)


Two up and coming indie sensations and a wily vet still kicking it look to take the world by storm. In the young, Wednesday night PPV from Nashville days of Total Nonstop Action, the name of the game was the X Division. While the main event scene had mostly all established stars, the X Division was in beginning to flourish with great young talent like AJ Styles, Low Ki, Amazing Red, Chris Sabin, Michael Shane, and Sonny Siaki just to name a few. It was new, it was exciting, and it was actually good.

While Low Ki and AJ Styles came into this match already current/former X champs, Jerry Lynn had yet to hold the title. Even though he could go the length with the young guns, he still needed that X Division glory that only Low Ki and Styles had up to this point.

Also, this was the time in TNA where Mike Tenay and Don West would get really excited about everything. I understand the need to sell the product, but come on, this match is good, if not better, without constant marking out by the commentary team. It isn't Matt Striker commentary bad to listen to, but it still gets a little redundant. Especially when every match was called the greatest TNA match of all time and this was only their first year.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Song of the Day - Shadowboxin'

GZA/Genuis - Shadowboxin' from Liquid Swords (1995)

One of the greatest rap/hip-hop albums of all time. Some day I'm gonna buy this on vinyl with the chess set... because that exists!


"My style broke motherfucking backs like Ken Patera."

Last.fm

Match of the Day - The king of extreme triangle hardcore match

Hak vs. Raven vs. Bam Bam Bigelow - Falls Count Anywhere Triangle match - WCW Uncensored (1999)


Three guys who made a name for themselves in the extreme promotion known as ECW going head to head to head in a WCW style hardcore match. As an early precursor to WCW's Hardcore title division (a cheap imitation of the hardcore wrestling that had become popular through WWF), all it really was was taking the weapon-oriented style that ECW was using (but not limited to) and cranking it up to 11. So, as you can see from the video above, this match is more about how many things Hak (Sandman), Raven, and Bam Bam Bigelow can hit each other with than it is about being hardcore. Granted, these guys are/were hardcore at one point or another, the match is still just one big mess.

Many people call the backyard wrestling, ultraviolent, sleazy hardcore wresting of today "trash" wrestling, but this match literally looked like trash wrestling with all the crap that littered the ring.

PS: sorry for the sketchy video... it was the best I could find just of this match in its entirety.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Song of the Day - Caramel

Piglet - Caramel from Lava Land (2005)

One of the most underrated instrumental math rock groups of the 2000's, and I don't use that 'underrated' word lightly.
 

For fans of music.

Last.fm

Match of the Day - Scotty 2 Hotty upsets Dean Malenko again! + Taka Michinoku!

Scotty 2 Hotty vs. Dean Malenko vs. Taka Michinoku - Light Heavyweight title match - WWF Sunday Night Heat (2000)



This little gem occurs just on the heels of Scotty 2 Hotty winning his first title in WWF. Along with the former Light heavyweight champion looking to win back what he had lost almost a week prior on Raw, Taka Michinoku (the first Light Heavyweight champion in WWF), is also thrown in the mix to try to capture the gold once more. Unfortunately for both challengers, Scotty 2 Hotty was not ready to lose the title on this Sunday night C-show, and successfully defends it against his worthy opponents.

After the match though, Dean Malenko, shades of Alberto Del Rio today, 'sends a message' to Scotty by knocking him out with the Light Heavyweight title and locking in the Texas Cloverleaf on the defenseless champion.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Song of the Day - Skate or Live

Best Fwends - Skate or Live from Alphabetically Arranged (2007)

Thrash-y pop for cool kids...


...and skate rats alike.

Last.fm

Match of the Day - The first triple threat match on Raw

Goldust vs. Owen Hart vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley - Intercontinental Championship match - Raw is War/War Zone (1997)



Aside from a few three man matches at house shows, this was the first televised triple threat match to take place in the WWF. The match is for the Intercontinental title and features two individuals whom had held the title previously gunning for the scrap - held at the time by Owen Hart.

To add to this match of firsts, Pat Patterson -  the first Intercontinental champ - plays the roll of the blind guest referee. 'Must be because he's Canadian', Jim Ross says. Why a Canadian would miss a foot on the ropes for a fellow Canadian in kayfabe is beyond me...

Theme Week - Triple Threats

Plain and simple, every match this week will involve three people taking on each other. In honor of Sabu vs. Shane Douglas vs. Terry Funk from ECW's The Night The Line Was Crossed (1994) which took place 20 years ago this week.



Enjoy.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Song of the Day - Philip Seymour Hoffman

Duck. Little Brother, Duck! - Philip Seymour Hoffman (It's The Wonder of Nature Baby!) from Survival Is Not A Workout (2010)

Math-y goodness from one of the coolest albums of any time, Survival Is Not A Workout.



RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Last.fm

Match of the Day - The Raw Bowl

The Smoking Guns vs. Yokozuna & Owen Hart vs. Savio Vega & Razor Ramon vs. Sid & 1-2-3 Kid - The Raw Bowl - Monday Night Raw (1996)


Here's a match with just as many rules and regulations as the big game tonight.  All that is missing is a Bronco Buster and Sid wearing a number 22!? jersey. 

The rules to this match are actually pretty simple; it's just a tag team elimination match were if one member of the team gets pinned/submitted, that team is out of the game... err, match. Also, any wrestler can tag in any other wrestler whether it be their teammate or not - a stipulation that saw Owen Hart tag in Bart Gunn's own tag team partner, Billy, etc. Throw in Earl Hebner with a whistle and a yellow flag, cover the green canvas with yard lines, give the teams one time out, and voilĂ , you got the first and only, Raw Bowl.


Saturday, February 1, 2014

Song of the Day - Ryback

Coke Weed X - Ryback from Coke Weed X (2012)

This song may or may not be about WWE "Superstar", Ryback...

Last.fm

Match of the Day - Cabana/Quackenbush at National Pro Wrestling Day 2013

Colt Cabana vs. Mike Quackenbush - Nation Pro Wrestling Day (2013)


Happy Pro Wrestling Day, everyone!

This is only one of many matches put on last year for the 8 hour inter-promotional NPWD event in Philly.

This years event, while not as long, was set up as a free show with all donations going to the Against Malaria Foundation. Apparently, all the money raised will go to the purchase of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets that may or may not have John Cena on them.

Watch the replay of this year's show now, here!