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WWE Wrestling’s Highest Flyers – Disc One

May 14, 2016 | Posted by Dylan Diot
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WWE Wrestling’s Highest Flyers – Disc One  

WWE Wrestling’s Highest Flyers

Disc One

Brian Pillman vs. Ricky Steamboat from WCW Halloween Havoc 1992
Chops by Pillman but Steamboat overpowers Pillman to come back. Pillman tires to dump Steamboat but he holds on. O’Connor roll by Steamboat gets 2 and Pillman comes back with a slam. Steamboat works the arm but Pillman fights back. Backdrop by Steamboat and he slams Pillman. Pillman rakes the eyes to come back and Steamboat takes him down by the hair to retake control. Pillman catches Steamboat with a cheap shot and he rubs Steamboat’s face off the mat. Tilt-a-whirl head scissors by Pillman gets 2. Backslide by Steamboat gets 2 and Pillman puts Steamboat on top. He follows up and Steamboat blocks the gordbuster, bringing Pillman down to the mat. He leaps but Pillman dropkicks him on the way down for 2. Back suplex by Steamboat and both men are down. Sleeper by Pillman but Steamboat runs into the corner, sending Pillman crashing into the turnbuckle to break. Pillman snaps Steamboat’s neck off the ropes and he goes up. Steamboat tosses him off the top and Pillman comes back with a knee lift. They trade chops and Steamboat sweeps the legs to block another knee lift. Second rope crossbody by Pillman gets 2. Back breaker by Steamboat and he goes up. Sunset flip off the top by Steamboat gets 2 and they trade roll-ups, with Steamboat catching Pillman with another sunset flip for 3!!!
Winner- Ricky Steamboat ***1/2 ( Really good match as to be expected from a match between these two. This wasn’t the crazy athletic, near-fall heavy contest as it was designed to put Pillman’s new heel persona over and who better to sell for him than Steamboat. It was a good competitive match that showcased the new heel Pillman and left you wanting more. )

Evan Bourne vs. Zack Ryder from WWE Superstars 6-11-09
Bourne goes for the arm early and Ryder goes to the ropes to create separation. Ryder pokes the eye and Bourne comes back with a head scissors takeover. Dropkick by Bourne gets 2. Ryder catches Bourne with a knee lift and he hammers Bourne on the mat. Chin lock by Ryder but Bourne fights out and gets a backslide for 2. Leg drop to the back of the head by Bourne and he goes up. Ryder cuts him off, sending Bourne crashing to the mat for 2 as we go to break.
Back and Ryder hits a flapjack for 2. Suplex by Ryder and he grabs a body scissors. Bourne fights out and catches Ryder with a half crab but Ryder makes the ropes to break. Reverse suplex by Ryder gets 2. Dragon Sleeper by Ryder and he converts it to the rear waist lock as Bourne tries to fight out. Bourne escapes and Ryder misses a dropkick, allowing Bourne to hit one of his own. Hurricanrana by Bourne and he hits a kick to the chest. Spin kick by Bourne and he hits a running clothesline for 2. Enzuigiri by Bourne and Ryder comes back with the Rough Ryder for 2!!! Ryder puts Bourne on top and follows up but Bourne fights him off. Shooting Star Press by Bourne gets 3.
Winner- Evan Bourne **1/2 ( A solid but very paint by the numbers match. Ryder’s heel work was pretty dry but once Bourne starting making his comeback and showed his flashy offense, it got much better. )

Samu vs. Jimmy Snuka from WWF Madison Square Garden 2-20-84
Samu attacks from behind to start but Snuka fights back. Slam by Snuka and he hits a crossbody for 2. Snuka grabs a front face lock but Samu rams him into the corner to break. Slam by Samu gets 2. He grabs a nerve hold and holds it for awhile. Snuka finally fights out and Samu misses a cross body. Snuka knocks Samu down with a chop and he hits a flying battery ram head butt. Suplex by Snuka and he goes up. Crossbody off the top by Snuka gets 3.
Winner- Jimmy Snuka *1/2 ( It would be a real challenge to find a match layout lazier than this. Samu’s heat segment consisted of holding a nerve hold for five minutes before Snuka made his quick comeback to get the win. Everything other than nerve hold was actually fun but to hold that for so long without doing anything to generate interest in the match was pretty pathetic. )

Juventud Guerrera, Lizmark Jr., and Hector Garza vs. La Parka, Psychosis, and Villano IV w/Sonny Ono from WCW Bash at the Beach 1997
Psychosis and Lizmark start. Feeling out process and Garza presses Lizmark into a dropkick on Psychosis. Villano attacks Garza and Garza catches him with some arm drags sending Villano to the floor. Baseball slide by Garza and he hits a tilt-a-whirl back breaker on the floor. Juventud gets a head scissors on Parka and he monkey flips Parka to the floor. Headscissors take over on the floor by Juventud and Ono gets some cheap shots in. He misses a kick and hits Parka by mistake. Back in, Garza catches Parka with a cross body and Juventud hits the rudo team with a springboard back senton. They dropkick the rudos to the floor and they hit stereo suicide planchas to the floor!!!! Back in, Juventud springboards but Psychosis catches him with a dropkick. Psychosis puts Juventud on top and follows up. Snap sunset bomb by Psychosis gets 2. Parka monkey flips Juventud into a sloppy hurricanrana on Psychosis for 1. Villano and Psychosis collide with each other and Lizmark and Garza deliver the star. Parka dumps Juventud onto the pile to break and Psychosis catches Garza with a lariat. Psychosis goes up and misses a flying splash. Everyone misses dives and everyone is down. Overhead belly to belly by Villano to Juventud and he goes up. Juventud stops him and follows up. Everyone follows up and eventually crash and burn. Standing moonsault by Lizmark to Villano gets 2 and he dropkicks Villano to the floor. Crossbody to the floor by Lizmark!!! Twisting pescado by Parka. JUVENTUD LEAPS OFF GARZA’S BACK INTO A CANNONBALL ON THE FLOOR!!! Garza backdrops Psychosis onto everyone on the floor!!! Corkscrew plancha off the top by Garza!!!! Villano V switches places with IV and he clotheslines Garza for 2. He clotheslines Psychosis to the floor by mistake and Garza hits a missile dropkick. Standing moonsault by Garza gets 3.
Winners- Juventud Guerrera, Lizmark Jr., and Hector Garza *** ( This was almost every Lucha six man tag you have ever seen. At times, it was spectacular with incredible dives and really clever mulit-man sequences. At other times, it was a total mess with botched spots and absoulutly no consistency in what they were doing during the course of the match. It was fun for the spectacle it was supposed to be but clearly these guys have had better days. )

Gold Rush Tournament Quarterfinal Match- Shelton Benjamin vs. Shawn Michaels from Raw 5-2-05
Benjamin out grapples Shawn so Shawn has to go to the ropes to get separation. Hip toss by Michaels but Benjamin comes back with some arm drags. Michaels catches Benjamin with a roll-up for 2 and he nails Benjamin with a forearm. Benjamin catches Shawn with a Cactus clothesline, sending both men crashing to the floor as we go to break.
Back and Shawn goes for a back suplex but Benjamin blocks, sending his full weight crashing down onto Shawn!!! Michaels fires away but Benjamin catches him with a Samoan Drop. Benjamin fires away and he begins to clean house. Back breaker by Benjamin gets 2. Flying forearm by Michaels and he nips up but Benjamin follows suit!!! They trade roll-ups for near falls and Shawn knocks Benjamin down with a chop. Stinger Splash by Benjamin and Shawn blocks the Exploder suplex. Backdrop by Michaels and Benjamin avoids Sweet Chin Music. Spinning heel kick by Benjamin gets 2!!! Benjamin puts Michaels on top and follows up. Michaels fights Benjamin off and he hits the flying elbow drop. Benjamin blocks Sweet Chin Music and hits a high kick for 2!!! Springboard flying forearm by Benjamin gets 2. Benjamin springboards and SHAWN CATCHES HIM WITH SWEET CHIN MUSIC FOR 3!!!!
Winner- Shawn Michaels ****1/4 ( I consider this to be one of the best matches in the history of Raw. The way Shawn Michaels sold for Benjamin and took his offense made Benjamin look like the next major superstars and had the crowd WANTING Benjamin to pull off the upset victory. An incredible match that should have helped taken Benjamin to the next level, capped off by a finish that has become one of the signature highlight reel moments in the history of the show. )

J-Crown Championship- Ultimate Dragon w/Sonny Ono © vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. from WCW World War 3 1996
Dragon works the arm to start and he hits a slam into an elbow drop for 2. Chin lock by Dragon but Mysterio escapes and after a nice exchange we have a stalemate. Dragon throws a series of kicks and he knocks Mysterio off the apron with a springboard dropkick. Back in, Dragon catches Mysterio with a German suplex for 2. He presses Mysterio to the mat and he catches Mysterio with a Torture Rack back breaker. Back breaker by Dragon and he grabs a half crab. Mysterio starts to fight out so Dragon power bombs him before powering him into the stun gun for 2. Spinebuster by Dragon and he delivers the Giant Swing!!!! Fisherman Buster by Dragon gets 2. Brainbuster by Dragon gets 2. Small package by Mysterio gets 2. Grapevine by Dragon and after Mysterio refuses to quit, Dragon catches him with a Tombstone for 2. Dropkick by Dragon knocks Mysterio to the floor and he catches Mysterio with a slingshot baseball slide. Dragon sends Mysterio into the railings and he hits a Tombstone on the floor!!! Slingshot splash to the floor by Dragon!!! Back in, Dragon puts Mysterio on top and hits the Frankensteiner for 2. Liger Bomb by Dragon gets 2. Spinning heel kick by Mysterio and he hits the springboard Arabian Press for 2!!! Springboard dropkick to the back by Mysteiro knocks Dragon to the floor. Springboard summersault plancha to the floor by Mysterio!!! Back in, Mysterio catches Dragon with a springboard sunset flip for 2. Cartwheel hurricanrana by Mysterio gets 2. Dragon suplex by Dragon gets 2. Sunset flip by Mysterio gets 2. Dragon blocks the West Coast Pop and hits a slingshot sit-out powerbomb for 3!!!
Winner and Still J-Crown Champion- Ultimate Dragon ***3/4 ( A real dominating performance from Ultimate Dragon. Mysterio had a couple of flashes where he almost stole the match but the purpose of this was to put Dragon over as the dominate cruiserweight in the division and have him work as if he was in a different class than Mysterio and it worked to a charm. )

ECW TV Championship- Eddie Guerrero © vs. Dean Malenko from ECW 7-21-95
Eddie targets the arm early and Malenko escapes. Test of strength and we end with a stalemate. Guerrero catches Malenko with a cradle for 2. Leg lariat by Guerrero and he slams Malenko. Hilo by Guerrero gets 2. Surfboard by Guerrero but Malenko reverses into his own. Guerrero breaks it up and he catches Malenko with a head scissors. Tilt-a-whirl head scissors by Malenko and Guerrero comes back with a dropkick forcing Malenko to bail. Back in, Guerrero dropkicks the leg and he grabs a leg bar. He converts it into the STF but Malenko makes the ropes to break. Knee to the midsection by Malenko and he hits a gut buster. Abdominal stretch by Malenko but Guerrero escapes and rolls Malenko up for 2. Pump handle back breaker by Guerrero gets 2. Gory Special by Guerrero but Malenko counters with a sunset flip for 2. Power slam by Guerrero and he goes up. Frog Splash by Guerrero gets 2!!! Malenko goes up and hits a cross body off the top for 2. Brainbuster by Guerrero gets 2. Guerrero goes up but Malenko stops him and follows up. Guerrero takes him off the top with a Sunset Bomb for 2. Malenko blocks the Saito suplex for 2. Power bomb by Malenko gets 2. Brainbuster by Malenko gets 2. Hurricanrana by Guerrero gets 2. Slam by Guerrero and he goes up. Malenko stops him and Eddie hits a head scissors sending both men crashing to the floor!!! Guerrero goes up and hits a missile dropkick to the back of Malenko. German suplex by Guerrero gets 2. Fisherman’s suplex by Guerrero gets 2. Tiger Bomb by Malenko gets 2. They trade counters and Malenko rolls Eddie up for 3!!!
Winner and NEW ECW TV Champion- Dean Malenko ***1/2 ( These two can’t have bad matches together but this was one of their lesser efforts. The match was one long string of near falls and high impact maneuvers that lacked the selling or the emotional investment that usual makes their matches memorable. Obviously, the work was crisp and they had as good a match as you can without taking it to that next gear but it lacked the magic we are accustomed to seeing from these two.

Bonus:

Psychosis vs. Ultimo Dragon w/Sonny Ono from WCW Uncensored 1997
Feeling out process and Dragon gets the better of Psychosis. Dragon throws a series to kicks, ending with a spin kick. Leg bar by Dragon but Psychosis escapes and hits a dropkick for 2. Corner clothesline by Psychosis and Dragon comes back with a mule kick. Enzugiri by Dragon and he grabs the Camel Clutch. Psychosis counters into his own and he slams Dragon before going up. Flying leg drop off the top by Psychosis gets 2. Second rope elbow drop by Psychosis gets 2. Chin lock by Psychosis but Dragon escapes and catches him with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker. Sleeper by Dragon but Psychosis breaks with a jaw breaker. Chin lock by Dragon but Psychosis escapes. He goes for a sleeper but Dragon counters with a Saito suplex. Spinning heel kick off the top by Psychosis and he hits a suicide plancha to the floor!!!! Slingshot leg drop to the floor by Psychosis and Dragon monkey flips Psychosis off the apron to the floor. Handspring back elbow against the railings by Dragon and he hits the springboard Asai moonsault to the floor!!! Ono catches Psychosis with a spin kick on the floor and Dragon powerslams Psychosis. Moonsault off the top by Dragon gets 2. Psychosis rolls through a hurricanrana with a sunset flip for 2. Inside Cradle by Dragon gets 2. Dragon puts Psychosis on top and follows up. They battle for a superplex and both men crash down to the mat. Dragon slams Psychosis and goes up but Psychosis cuts him off. Frankensteiner off the top by Psychosis gets 2 and Dragon rolls through for 2. Dragon counters the hurricanrana and hits the Liger Bomb. Dragon puts Psychosis on top and takes him down with a sloppy DDT off the top. Tiger suplex by Dragon gets 3.
Winner- Ultimo Dragon ***1/4 ( This was a real clash of styles. At times it was really good with exciting dive sequences and cool looking spots and at other times, they were on different planets for what they wanted to do and it created awkward moments and sloppy spots. I give them credit for working hard and trying to steal the show but these two just didn’t click like they could with other opponents. )

Chavo Guerrero w/Bam Neely vs. Jamie Noble from WWE Smackdown 4-18-08
Chavo controls Noble early but Noble powers out and begins to work the arm. Noble rolls Chavo up for 1 and he gets a cradle for 2. He hands Noble on the top rope and he chokes Noble in the ropes. Arm bar by Chavo but Noble fights out. Knee to the midsection by Chavo gets 2 and he goes to the chin lock. Noble breaks with a back suplex and he cleans house. Northern lights suplex by Noble gets 2. Chavo sweeps the legs of Noble and he hits the Three Amigos. Noble blocks the third and hits a swinging neck breaker for 2. Chavo snaps Noble’s neck off the ropes and he goes up. Frog Splash by Chavo gets 3.
Winner- Chavo Guerrero ** ( Just a simple TV match that gave Chavo some momentum heading into an ECW Championship match with Kane, not much else to breakdown. )

7.0
The final score: review Good
The 411
To be continued....
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