Match of the Day - The Hokuto/Kandori Dreamslam showdown!

Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori - AJW Dreamslam I (1993)

Since it's Women's History Month, I've decided to feature one of my favorite female pro wrestling matches: Akira Hokuto versus Shinobu Kandori at All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling's first Dreamslam event as "Match of the Month". This is a brutal bout at my favorite speed for a wrestling match - out of control speed!

Just in the opening minutes of the match, LLPW's Shinobu Kandori, a judo expert with a bad attitude, target's Akira Hokuto's arm in hopes of twisting it right off. Kandori works on the arm until it is clearly out of commission. Hokuto's arm puts her in such a disadvantage that the chance of this match being a technical wrestling showcase goes right out the window. Instead, the match turns into a legit-looking fight. These two scrap it out with each other like two kids in the schoolyard... It's brutal, it's bitter, and it's far from pretty.

Once the match spills out into the ringside area, Kandori counters Hokuto's attempt at a piledriver on the announcers' table and tombstone piledrives Hokuto's head straight into the table leaving Hokuto donning the crimson mask. Not often does one see such brutality and blood in a women's wrestling match, especially not here in America, but this match brings it at full force. This match is a must-watch spectacle that clearly I can not give the justice it deserves just by using words. The only way to experience the power of this match is by watching it.

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.

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.

Match of the Day - Chris Hero/Eddie Kingston loser leaves CZW match

Chris Hero vs. Eddie Kingston - Loser Leaves CZW match - CZW Out With the Old, In With the New (2007)

In honor of Chris Hero's return to the Combat Zone tonight, I present the heated blood feud of Hero vs. Eddie Kingston - loser leaves CZW for good. You can tell that these two really didn't like each other, in the ring or out. That being said, this is less like a wrestling match and more like a straight up, back and forth stiff fest; slow brewed to the very final strike. 

PS: The loser did happen to make a one match return to CZW in 2010.