Random Match Review: NJPW Dominion 6.6 - Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match - June 7th, 2021

Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi 

NJPW: Dominion

June 7th, 2021

When this match was announced, I was excited, but felt indifferent about it at the same time. Shingo getting another title shot? Yay. It’s against Okada.. uh oh. 

The backstory here is Will Ospreay was the champion. He defeated Kota Ibushi in Ibushi’s first defense of the newly christened IWGP World Heavyweight Title (the merging of the old belt and the IC belt.) He then defeated Shingo Takagi in his first defense, but he didn’t come out unscathed. An injured Ospreay was forced to relinquish the belt soon after his second five star, highly acclaimed match with a man who has become one of his greatest rivals, Shingo. 

Random Match Review: NJPW Dominion 6.6 - Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb - June 7th, 2021

Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb

NJPW: Dominion 

June 7th, 2021 

So, yeah. I totally can’t be arsed to review this whole show, but I OBVIOUSLY watched the two higher profile matches on the show considering I’m a Shingo and Ibushi mark of many years. 

Here, we have a Kota Ibushi coming off losing a massive match to Will Ospreay, also losing his IWGP World Heavyweight Title in the process. A title that he christened. That sucks for our beloved Kota. Now, Jeff Cobb stands in front of him. A beast that has reached new heights since joining up with the man who dethroned Ibushi. 

The story pretty much writes itself and thankfully, the action holds up, too. They only have one prior singles meeting so it’s still relatively fresh. That first meeting came in the G1 climax last year and its fine. Standard stuff, really, but largely forgetful. I also don’t remember getting too ~riled up~ about it.

I DID get RILED up for this, however. It’s not some masterpiece or a must see match or anything. It is a fucking blast and a half, though. Probably because it plays to both men’s strengths and doesn’t try to be anything epic or extra.

Kota has the speed, agility and crisp strikes. Cobb just throws his ass around and clobbers him. 

It’s good and goes back & forth and I loved it. I think you will too! 

Also.. COBB HITS A FUCKING KAMIGOYE. That exchange alone had me ROLLING. Great match, Kota wins and looks to head back for his damn belt, brother. 

Match rating - ****

AEW: Dynamite Review - June 4th, 2021

AEW Dynamite

Friday, June 4th, 2021

Daily’s Place - Jacksonville, FL 

Commentators: Excalibur, Jim Ross, & Tony Schiavone 

It’s the fallout from Double or Nothing! Very excited to see what’s next for everyone so let’s jump right into this Friday night edition of AEW Dynamite. 

1) The Young Bucks (w/ Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Brandon Cutler, & Don Callis) vs. PAC & Penta El Zero Miedo 

AEW: Double or Nothing 2021 Review

AEW Double or Nothing 

May 30th, 2021

Daily’s Place - Jacksonville, FL 

Commentators - Excalibur, Jim Ross, & Tony Schiavone

For the first time ever, I attended an AEW event and not just an event, but a PPV event. The first PPV event back with fans in full capacity and it was honestly the best live wrestling experience of my life.

It took me a few days to fully recover from the 8 hour round trip and all the yelling & chanting, but I finally was able to get my full thoughts together on this fantastic event. Please note, I haven't watched this back on tape yet, so some of these ratings could change slightly on a re-watch, but I'm pretty confident in most of them. 

1) Serena Deeb (c) vs. Riho - NWA Women’s Title Match 

This was a match that was announced super last minute, but boy was everyone in attendance so hyped for the in ring action to start that this felt like it had weeks and weeks of build. Great reactions for both women in their entrances, but the true response came as the match progressed and dueling “Let’s go Riho / Let’s go Deeb” chants broke out. It made everything feel important and the ladies busted their ass, more than matching the energy, they enhanced it. Serena is superb and was the ace here working Riho’s knee/leg and slowing this down when needed. This had an electricity about it being the first match back with a full capacity crowd and it rocked, I need more of these two. Deeb forces Riho to tap to retain her title after a fucking great back & forth match. 

Match rating - ***3/4

2) Brian Cage vs. “Hangman” Adam Page

AEW: Dynamite Review - May 28th, 2021

AEW Dynamite

Friday Night Dynamite

May 28th, 2021

Daily’s Place - Jacksonville, FL

Commentators: Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, & Taz

It’s the first ever Friday night edition of Dynamite and the start of Double or Nothing weekend. Plus, we are back to a full capacity crowd which I forgot until we went live and man... it’s something else 

1) Darby Allin (w/ Sting) vs. Cezar Bononi 

I can’t think of a better way to kick off this show than this. Darby coming out with Sting to an insane reaction from the first full house in over a year. This deadass gave me goosebumps. Such a special feel. I’ve said it before, but Darby is such a star and exudes so much emotion. This wasn’t anything monumental, match wise. Run of the mill, lesser known big guy vs. fan favorite smaller guy. Bononi throws Darby around a little and targets the ribs, but nothing sticks. Darby wins with the coffin drop. This was a blast, honestly. 

Match rating - **1/2

Post match, Darby gets on the mic and calls out Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky. They come out and Sky cuts a promo, but there’s no physicality.. until Bononi and his goons attack from behind so Page & Sky join in. The Dark Order makes the save to a BIG pop. Sting & Darby fist bump Dark Order, thanking them for the help. Good way to gather hype for the tag match on Sunday. 

2020 Pro Wresting Truth Year End Awards (Elite 80, Best Matches of the Year List + more)

 2020 PRO WRESTLING TRUTH YEAR END AWARDS

THIS IS HELLA LATE AND WAS WRITTEN BACK IN JANUARY BUT I NEVER GOT AROUND TO POSTING IT AND I WILL NOT BE REVISING IT ANY FURTHER SO HERE GOES...

Hello, it is about a month late, but life and the world has been crazy. I haven't done anything like this since 2014, I think? Or 2015, actually now that I think about it. Pretty crazy! I'm not sure what dove me fully back into wrestling in the last year and a half after an on/off break in 2016-2018. Maybe it's just having more time on my hands now that I'm not doing much of anything with music and work is the only thing on my plate. Regardless, it's been a very enjoyable, but tedious dive back into doing this stuff.

Having to rebuild my audience after years away from reviewing has been tough, but I'd like to think I'm starting to build some consistency back and I hope to meet more new people through this outlet in the new year. Thanks to anyone who's stuck around from the old glory days of 2014-2015 and thank you to anyone who's new to reading my stuff. I appreciate you taking the time to check this blog out and see what I have to say. I truly do this just for fun and because I love compiling lists and trying to keep up with a sport I've loved since childhood. I'd also like to shout out my friends Donnie and Mike, both of whom have contributed to this site in some form in recent years, and are my 100% consistent in real life wrestling buddies that I watch almost everything with. I love y'all <3

Now, onto this. So this year I'm doing things like how I used to. I'm bringing back my PRO WRESTLING TRUTH ELITE 80 wrestlers of the year list (with a sliiiiightly different format) and am also doing Top 10 Wrestler lists for WWE, AEW, and NJPW with write ups on each plus a Top 25 Overall Matches of the Year List consisting of any promotion. Individual promotion Top 10 Matches of the Year List will be listed on my 2020 Year in Review tab at a later date, probably a few days from now. I just needed to get the main stuff out before I let it slip under the rag as the year starts pressing onward. Also, if you want a month by month list of every match I watched and rated that was ***+ you can find that here!

Without further a due, let's start this thing off with the 25 Best Matches of 2020::::::

Best Matches of the Year (Overall): 

1) Kenny Omega & Hangman Page (c) vs. The Young Bucks - AEW World Tag Team Title Match - AEW: Revolution - 2/29/20 - *****

AEW: Dynamite Review - May 19th, 2021

AEW Dynamite 

May 19th, 2021

Daily’s Place - Jacksonville, FL

Commentators - Excalibur, Jim Ross, & Tony Schiavone 

1) Christian Cage vs. Matt Sydal 

This developed off of a backstage segment last week. Both men have recent history with Team Taz and Powerhouse Hobbs, though. And Taz is on commentary so it’s all sorta intertwined. This is a very interesting match, though. On one hand you’ve got the vibes of 2009 ECW where these two were keeping that show afloat and on the other hand you’ve got two extremely seasoned veterans, but they both come from completely different backgrounds and styles. I felt like Christian would be a perfect opponent for Matt as he will keep him working a less spotty style, which to me, in the year 2021, is better for Sydal. This isn’t the Sydal from 04-05 tearing it up with AJ Styles in IWA MS & ROH, this is a Sydal who matured stylistically very similar to someone like AJ. Now that I mention it, that’s a good comparison. Anyway, yeah, Christian grounds Sydal and forces him to work tight which rules, as said before. It makes the fun flurries from Sydal more pop worthy as he hits moves like the meteora for a near fall and it feels like an actual false finish rather than just another spot. I’ve written a lot about this match, more than I ever expected for a 7-8 minute match, but it was just such a blast. Nice and simple opener worked to perfection. Christian wins with the killswitch. 

Match rating - **3/4

Taz stands up from the commentary booth and starts jawing at Christian. An injured Ricky Starks shows up to provide a distraction for Hook, Brian Cage & Powerhouse Hobbs to attack Christian & Sydal, who hugged & embraced post match, from behind. They beat them down until HANGMAN PAGE WALKS OUT. He hands Starks his shot glass and stomps to the ring and goes after his opponent for Double or Nothing, Brian Cage. This was a nice way to hype two different matches for the PPV. Page looked awesome in his role and he & Cage had a sick exchange that made me stoked for their rematch at Double or Nothing. Cage gets the last laugh though as he plants Hangman with a powerbomb following help from Hook, much to the pleasure of Taz. Team Taz stands tall.

Backstage, we have the Varsity Blondes & Julia Hart. It’s the first time we’ve gotten a promo from them on Dynamite (that I can remember) and it’s honestly really good. They introduce Julia Hart as part of their group, now I think and Pillman Jr says that all he ever knew as a kid was the Dark Side of the Ring until he met the Young Bucks and they are the reason he decided to give the business a chance, but now they need a reality check and they will get it tonight when he & Griff defeat them for the tag team titles!! Loved this!

2) Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston vs. The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens)