Eddy/Rey and AJPW 1996 Tag Question

[Guest Tim Cooke]

Just rewatched Eddy/Rey from Halloween Havoc. Having aquired a lot of Rey/Juvi stufff from Mexico recently, I have been trying to find my favorite Rey Jr matches. I still feel that the 3/16/96 Tijuana match with Juvi is his best, but the Halloween Havoc match certainly stands out as a run away second.

 

The match needs two things IMO to make it on the level of the 3/16/96 match. The first would be a couple of more minutes. The thing is I am not sure what I would personally put into these added couple of minutes. Useless mat work at the beginning would hamper the match more than it would help it...Eddy through out a lot of "submission" holds to pace the match....any ideas?

 

Also, in watching the ending, I finally figured out why it doesn't work for me. A lot of people have bitched about the splash mountain reversal finish being overused. I think it would have fit perfectly had Eddy used his "Tiger Bomb" right before on Rey for a nearfall. Then he signals he is going up top, they fight up there for position until Eddy wins, Rey reverses, 1,2,3.

 

My other thing is about the 1996 RWTL Final. What tag matches do I need leading up to it? I don't have my Lynch 1996-2000 TV list anymore. I know I need the old stuff like the 1988 final but what specific matches from 1996?

 

6/7 is obvious but any dates on the other matches would be greatly appreciated.

 

Tim

[Guest XdojimeX]

"My other thing is about the 1996 RWTL Final. What tag matches do I need leading up to it? I don't have my Lynch 1996-2000 TV list anymore. I know I need the old stuff like the 1988 final but what specific matches from 1996?"

 

The 5/23 bout really kicks off the Akiyama storyline, so start there. I think the other match you're talking about, the rematch, happened in July not June but I could be wrong. But definitely get that as well. And assuming you haven't already seen them...the two Ace/Williams title matches I'd recommend, if anything to help flesh out the Misawa/Akiyama campaign that year plus they're pretty darn good matches to begin with. Even the Misawa/Taue Triple Crown switch is worth seeing as it pertain's to Taue's peaking rivalry with Misawa, and it's another darn good match. Never saw the first league match between the two, but wouldn't be surprised if it's worth reference as well even if the final dwarfs it.

 

Man do I miss great All Japan wrestling...

[Guest wolverine]

Aside from 1993, I think 1996 is my favorite year for AJPW, mostly because we saw Misawa, Kawada, Taue and Akiyama all peaking at the same time. It's a beautiful thing.

 

(Oh, and Kobashi improved his selling a bit too).

[Guest Jubuki]

Umm, Tim? Isn't the ring supposed to cover the AJ stuff? Or are you just out of the ring and you've decided to not tell anyone about it?

[Guest Tim Cooke]

I'm still in....just needed the dates for indexing purposes.

 

BTW, I have so much stuff to send you and Elliott. I will shoot you guys an email after work tonight or tommorow and give you an update. I am DEF still in the ring.......just need to get up to speed on dubs for you all and get back on track.

 

Tim

[Guest Jubuki]

Ah.

 

In that case, one of Elliott's most recent tapes covers the Super Power Series stuff that builds to the Tag League - really good matches...though I should send you the CD I just made of the full matches. The 7/9/96 tag match is on one of his other tapes too, the second J-TV one, I think. I'm probably going to get a new copy of the Tag League finals some time this month as well, or if not that, I'll try to get the league match they had. It depends on how this new VCR holds up.

[Guest wolverine]

The Super Power Series '96 tape is one of my favorites. If it wasn't for the below par Kobashi-Kawada match, I'd say it would be one of their best commercial tapes. Still think they should've given Misawa and Taue more time though, as they were building quite a nifty match, although not on the same level as their 1995 bouts. Tag match is super fun as well. I think I actually like it better than 7/96, but I'd have to watch both again.