David v goliath-style psychology

[Guest Loss4Words]

Ok, so I just finished watching a great six-man from NJ in '89 with Vader, Buzz Sawyer & Manny Fernandez against Jushin Liger, Riki Choshu & Kengo Kimura. My favorite part of the match was the way that Vader & Liger worked together. I realize that in this case, you're booking the creme de la creme of each weight class together, but the spots were very smart.

 

Liger and Vader tagged in and were face to face. Vader lunged for Liger who ran from him. Vader chased him outside the ring then Liger ran in and did a quick baseball slide on him. I know that's a standard American spot, but this one was a little different because it was so fast-paced. The fast pace was perfect here because I actually got the feeling that Liger was running for his life. There were some other great sequences in the match between Vader and Liger as well.

 

Watching this, I wonder if anyone can recommend any really good juniors v heavies matches to me because I like the underdog match layout here. I've seen similar stuff in JWP with Dynamite Kansai and whoever is dumb enough to try to face her, but I was wondering if someone could recommend some men's matches that follow the same mold. I'm discovering that my favorite matches are the ones where a total underdog goes out and makes a way better showing than anyone expected. Whether he loses or wins in the end is irrelevant.

[Guest J*ingus]

Well, there were those Kevin Nash vs. Rey Misterio matches...  

 

But seriously, you've already seen the guy who I think is the best Goliath in the business in Vader, as he makes pretty much any opponent he faces into an underdog, and usually gives a ***+ rating to whatever match he's involved in.  Most good Goliaths tend to be gaijins (Hansen, Bigelow, Dr Death, etc), because japanese men in general just don't grow that big.

[Guest Jubuki]

Well, the AJPW 6-mans with Kikuchi involved fit that mold.  I've also heard good things about a 2/94 match between Hashimoto and Liger.  Might be worth hunting down.  I'd also go after the 6/10/94 & 8/18/94 UWFi stuff - totally different environment, but the stuff with Albright & Vader against Tamura & Takada shows some interesting and fun takes on the idea.

[Guest stretch plum]

"I've also heard good things about a 2/94 match between Hashimoto and Liger.  Might be worth hunting down."  

 

The instant I read the post I thought of this match. It's a bit short, in the 3 1/2 star range but for a match involving the two top dogs of their respective divisions at the time I don't think you could lay out a better 15-20 minutes. Hash's selling was remarkable having the crowd believing Liger could get the upset while still maintaining his aura and Liger's execution was about as good as I've seen him against a heavyweight. Really fun match.