The Wrestling Bucket

Sami Callihan vs MASADA, CZW “Proving Grounds”

Even better than their match last year (which was very good). Typical stiff Callihan brawl and MASADA brought plenty. This also had clearer roles being played, with MASADA being the pissed off veteran beating the hell out of Sami and trying to put him in his place. Plenty of knarly bumps, including a Sugiura/Okada-esque head drop that was scary as shit. All of the striking exchanges were quality, not just because they were stiff, but because they felt like a struggle. MASADA's spinning backhands were also nasty as all hell.

The Briscoes vs The Nigerian Nightmares, CZW “Proving Grounds”

For those who don’t know, the Nigerian Nightmares a couple of 400lb+ monsterous fat dudes working foreign savage gimmicks. On paper this looked great but in practice it was a flop. The Briscoes don’t treat their opponents as a threat, they are the Briscoes and they are badasses who will fight anyone. That is all well and good but it really stopped the Nightmares from looking as intimidating as they should have done. There was one good section in the middle where the Nightmares were working over Mark with lots of devastating looking shit and crushing him with their weight, but then he effortlessly rolled over and tagged in Jay. Ugh. Maifu then fell of the top rope in embarrassing fashion and the match never recovered.

Chris Hero vs KENTA, wXw/NOAH "Genesis In Germany"

This was pretty good if you can get over the amazingly bad crowd that wXw has. Stiffff as fuck, including some straight right jabs to the jaw from Hero and sick punts from KENTA. The claustrophobic nature of wXw kind of worked to their advantage, as they can't do a billion highspots and therefore the focus was much more strike-orientated. Hero once again did some amazingly awful RAWR FIGHTING SPIRIT!! hulk-up for the finish, was almost killed this for me, but the rest of the match was good enough. I found myself saying "Ow" a lot watching.

Mike Quackenbush vs Hallowicked, Chikara “Aniverario And His Amazing Friends”

This was fun, if not on the "go watch now" level. There was some nifty stuff like the armdrag into pinning combo, and Quack working over Hallo's arm with some nasty looking holds. Hallo's dive was really weak, but he sold the arm really, really well and he did a good job when controlling Quack with a cravate. It was a bit too cookie-cutter for me, and the strikes were weak as expected, but the finish was pretty great.

Virus vs Guerrero Maya Jr., CMLL 6/7

This was pretty fucking great and up there with the best match of the year. Loads of wacky submissions throughout, Virus was a vicious bastard in the second fall, Maya's comeback was energetic and the big end run was BIG. Plenty of great moments and highlights: Maya's slingshot armdrag off apron was nuts, Maya's dive, the running knee to back of head, Virus's flying senton to floor which looked devestating. All were totally nuts. There was some crazy pinning combos, and the final chop exchange which ended with Virus cheapshotting Maya was just peachy.

AJ Styles vs Bully Ray, TNA Slammiversary (Last Man Standing)

Another MOTYC, and the best TNA match I have seen in a good couple of year. Both guys threw some great punches and there was plenty of violence (Ray squashing AJ with the steps was particularly nasty). Both guys worked stiff, and Ray is such an asshole and his bladejob was gruesome. I think the best thing about this was actually not the violence, but how it was laid out. Ray wailing on AJ, only for AJ to ask for more then just get pissed and beat the fuck out Ray was really compelling to watch. The big dive spot was insane, and dug the bullshit finish. When it was all said and done, this felt like a war.