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Rey Mysterio Jr vs Eddy Guerrero (Halloween Havoc)

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Guest TSMAdmin

I realize this column is pretty late. I could say that after posting 5 columns in about 2 weeks I got burned out. But I've actually got even MORE excuses as to why this one took so long

 

1) I am graduating from college next month and with each passing week the school work load gets bigger and bigger. Last weekend was particularly huge. And as much as I love doing this, making sure I graduate comes first.

 

2) I got struck with a major cold on Sunday. I'm only now getting over it but at its worst my throat was sore and swollen and I was experiencing major chills.

 

3) A close friend of mine from work had to go into the hospital this week to go on list for a heart transplant. It's scary realizing how close to death he is and I can only hope and pray he gets the operation and can recover.

 

4) Finally my house was broken into Monday. My PS2, all the games, DVD player, 100 DVDs, a laptop and a prized baseball card were stolen. I've taken it pretty well, but it still...ya know...REALLY F***ING SUCKS!!!!

 

*Ahem* Anyway I finally got a chance to sit down watch a match and write up an analysis for it. I want to thank Ravishing Rick Rudo from the Forums for reminding me about this match. Offhand I asked him what his favorite North American match was and he brought this one up.

 

And now for our Main Event...

 

Rey Mysterio Jr vs Eddy Guerrero (WCW Cruiserweight Title Match, Halloween Havoc 1997)

 

Length: 13:47

 

Winner: Rey Mysterio Jr

 

Rating: *****

 

Analysis: This match has a special meaning for me. I was watching it one night on one of my many compilation tapes and my Dad was watching it with me. My Dad is not a wrestling fan. He can't understand at all why I'm such a fan of it. He's ridiculed me on more than one occasion for my devotion to it.

 

Well when he saw this match he had nothing to say. Oh wait he did say something:

 

Damn that was pretty good

 

Oh, it's more than just pretty good Dad. It's probably the best cruiserweight/light-heavyweight match in modern North American wrestling. It features two guys who at the time (and in some respects still today) were probably the most athletic wrestlers working.

 

There's something present in this match that has been missing from many other cruiserweight title feuds. Hell it's something missing from most feuds period these days: an engaging story. It shares the simple in-match storytelling that I talked about in my Diesel/Hart Analysis. This match is all about pride. Rey is willing to put his mask, his symbol of pride and identity, on the line to dethrone Eddy as Cruiserweight champion. When Eddy is tearing at Rey's mask during the match, it's as if he's tearing at his soul. And for once all four announcers (Tony, Bobby, Dusty, and Mike) catch on to this instead of ignoring the match in front of them to sell whatever nWo shenanigans had been going on that week.

 

Of course the story wouldn't matter if the match itself wasn't good. Rey and Eddy hit their moves with a precision that I haven't seen in other "lucha style" matches. I maybe wrong, but I didn't count one blown spot during the match. And they move fast. There's no moment where they guys have to make awkward tempo or speed changes. This gives the match great fluidity. I wish more matches could flow as well as this one does.

 

And the moves look like they HURT. Eddy relentlessly works on Rey's back. He hits backbreakers, suplexes and each time

he goes for a resthold, it makes sense because the holds he chooses work on Rey's back. Also during the abdominal stretch and camel clutch Eddy takes the time to rip at Rey's mask. These aren't moments that slow down the match. These moments work to build sympathy behind Rey Mysterio, who maybe the best babyface that will get the crowd's sympathy behind him.

 

Of course a hero is only as good as the villain he faces. There's a reason why people on the Internet don't just say Eddy. They say EDDY~. From the moment he steps out into the arena, he has NO, I repeat, NO support from the crowd. He has a scowl on his face. His hair covering his eyes. He saunters to the ring like a snake (perhaps he was studying Jake Roberts). The crowd takes several opportunities to let the world know that "EDDY SUCKS". Oh but he doesn't suck, he MAKES you want him to suck. That is the trademark of a great heel. Against a great babyface. In a great match.

 

Other Highlights: Remember when I said the moves HURT in this match? I need only say one thing: POWERBOMB FROM HELL. And this time that emphasis is not sarcastic. And I believe Eddy takes the greatest ballshot in wrestling. I mean, there's no way he didn't feel some pain down there when he hit that post between his legs. That got the biggest reaction out of my father.

 

Hopefully I'll be back to a regular schedule now, although around the beginning of June I'm going to be offline for a few weeks as I need to send my computer away for some repairs. But in the meantime I'll keep up at the best pace I can. Until next time...

 

Please send all suggestions/comments/questions to [email protected]

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