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2010-04-09T12:12:00.003+01:00

Obviously this blog is no longer being updated. But if you've enjoyed reading it, you may be interested in my book Wrestling's 101 Strangest Matches, available in bookshops and the following online retailers:

• Waterstone's (UK)
• Amazon (UK)
• Amazon (US)
• Amazon (Germany)
• Amazon (Japan)

Carlos Colon vs Jason the Terrible

2009-05-27T11:43:00.004+01:00

Karl Moffat isn't a name known to most wrestling fans. But as the hockey-masked Jason the Terrible in Stampede Wrestling, All Japan and WWC, he had one of the best monster heel gimmicks in the business from 1987-89.

After he fractured his left leg in a traffic accident on 4 July 1989 - a crash that also injured Davey Boy Smith and Chris Benoit - he wrestled only sporadically and is now a truck driver in British Columbia.

Here, he faces WWC boss Carlos Colon (father of WWE's Colon brothers) in a bout that took place in Puerto Rico in 1987.

Tazmaniac vs Gypsy Joe

2009-05-25T12:57:00.005+01:00

Taz - who recently discovered the internet - is barely recognisable here as the character with which he first gained some notoriety, the Tazmaniac. This May 1992 match took place for Japanese hardcore promotion W*ING.

His opponent, Gypsy Joe, became something of a cult figure at the time due to his willingness to absorb ridiculously stiff chair-shots.

Today, Joe continues to work for under-the-radar independent promotions in Tennessee and, at 75, is widely considered to be the oldest active pro wrestler in the business.

Shockwave the Robot vs Osamu Namiguchi

2009-04-23T10:40:00.001+01:00

Even by wrestling standards, this 2007 match from Zero1 is stupid - but very, very funny. It features a bloke in a silver body suit and mask who pretends to be a robot. That breakdances.

It's not really a gimmick that lends itself to classic matches. But for an undercard comedy interlude, it's the best character we've seen in ages. If nothing else, check out the priceless robotic shuffle into a legdrop at 8:20.

For more Shockwave, check out his - sorry, its - official website and this interview with Slam! Wrestling (which we found via the excellent Spike Nail Deathmatch).

Hulk Hogan vs Harley Race

2009-04-22T12:08:00.005+01:00

Although this match - which was taped on 7 March 1988 - is featured on the forthcoming Best of Saturday Night's Main Event compilation, the DVD makes no mention of the horrendous injury sustained by Harley Race during the bout.

Near the end of the match, Race set up Hogan on a table at ringside. The eight-time NWA champion then performed a diving headbutt off the ring apron. 'The Hulkster', predictably enough, moved out of the way and Race crashed through the table.

The table had far less give then Race anticipated and his awkward landing ruptured his intestine. He later had 18 inches of it removed and also suffered from peritonitis, an extremely painful inflammation of the membrane that lines the abdomen.

Race was asked about the match in issue 168 of Power Slam. "Generally, if I was going to do anything like that [ie land on a table], I'd walk out there and see what I was actually going to have to land on," he told the magazine. "And this particular night I didn't bother to do it. It got me."

The strange thing about watching the match again now is that there's no indication that Race was injured: he just carried on. "I knew I was hurt at the time," he said. "But, as far as the pain, when your adrenaline is pumping like that, you really don't notice that until after you've quit what you're doing and given it a chance to catch up with you, which happened the following morning.

"I was in really bad pain but I kept going. After WrestleMania IV on 27 March, I flew back to Kansas City. When I went to bed that night and I woke up the following morning, I immediately had a rush of pain and blacked out. When I came to from that, I just called the hospital and they came and picked me up. They didn't know if I was going to live or die."

Remarkably, Race returned to the ring in November 1988, while in the midst of a bitter divorce. "I was going through so much crap at that point in time that [returning to wrestling] was one way of getting away from it."

Bret Hart vs Owen Hart

2009-04-03T11:55:00.001+01:00

Genuine brother vs brother matches are a rarity in wrestling - especially on a stage as big as WrestleMania.

This weekend's Matt vs Jeff Hardy scrap is only the second bout between siblings in WM history. The first, of course, was this seminal encounter between Bret and Owen Hart, which took place at WrestleMania X in 1994.

Will Matt vs Jeff live up to the standards set 15 years ago by the Harts? We'll know in just two days' time.

Click here to see the concluding part of the match.

Koko B Ware vs 'Iron' Mike Sharpe

2009-03-24T09:44:00.002+00:00

In the least likely WWE Hall of Fame induction since Vince McMahon Sr's chauffeur was deemed to be one of the most significant figures in wrestling history, Koko B Ware will be included in the class of 2009.

But don't be fooled into thinking he's the perennial loser that popular opinion suggests. Here he is actually winning a match - taped for a 1989 episode of Prime Time Wrestling - against 'Iron' Mike Sharpe.

And if that isn't a credential for making it into the Hall of Fame then, frankly, what is?

Steve Williams vs Kenta Kobashi

2009-03-19T10:37:00.002+00:00

Here's a match that's featured in the Human Highlight Reel column in the current issue of Power Slam magazine. The August 1993 bout from All Japan is, as PS rightly states, a blinder.

Test vs Shane McMahon

2009-03-16T15:36:00.001+00:00

Andrew 'Test' Martin died on Friday at the age of 33. His best match was this street fight against Shane McMahon, which took place at SummerSlam '99.

Dr Wagner Jr, Super Crazy & Sangre Chicana Jr vs LA Park, Buzz & Black Metal

2009-03-13T14:17:00.004+00:00

We've had six-sided rings, twin-ring cage matches and even three-ring battle royals.

But Mexico's Extreme Air Wrestling has attempted to trump all those with the bonkers idea of holding matches in two rings - one of which is twice the height of the other. Why? Well, frankly, why not?

This six-man tag took place on a show in Zacatecas, Mexico on 19 February. Mascara Magica clearly isn't a fan but, as daft gimmicks go, this is actually pretty intriguing and does allow for some cool highspots between the upper and lower storeys.

What's the loopiest gimmick match you've ever seen? Let us know in the comments below.

Kurt Angle vs Giant Bernard

2009-03-04T13:02:00.002+00:00

It's been eight months since we last posted a match that featured Kurt Angle. At the time, he was recovering from a serious neck injury that he suffered on 5 May.

Since then, he's put on a thrilling run of performances, both in the US and Japan - where he recently had this match with the former A-Train/Prince Albert. It took place on New Japan's show at the Sumo Hall in Tokyo on 15 February.

Angle's TNA contract expires later this year. Don't be surprised to see him return to WWE for one last run before his body finally gives up for good.

Parts two and three of the bout can be found here and here.

Human Tornado vs Jake Manning vs TJ Mack

2009-02-16T11:51:00.001+00:00

Here's a three-way match featuring underrated high-flyer Human Tornado, one of the best of the new wave of indie workers. The bout took place in August 2007 for the United Wrestling Federation - as if wrestling really needs another UWF.

Christian vs Jack Swagger

2009-02-11T18:09:00.005+00:00

Christian's long-anticipated return to WWE after three years in TNA finally took place yesterday, in the unlikely shape of this ECW match against Jack Swagger.

He was widely expected to pop up at the Royal Rumble and be revealed as Jeff Hardy's tormentor, although those plans were apparently revised after WWE thought such a storyline had become too obvious.

Well, if nothing else, joining the company's distant third brand with no build-up is anything but obvious.

Nigel McGuinness vs Kotaro Suzuki

2009-02-05T16:15:00.002+00:00

Brit export Nigel McGuinness may have one of the most ill-advised coiffures in wrestling (which really is saying something).

But, over the last couple of years, the Ring of Honor champion has had a cracking run of quality singles matches - including this July 2007 encounter with Kotaro Suzuki for NOAH.

The Staplehurst native's ROH contract expires in May. Given that he's got little else left to achieve on the indie circuit, could we see him in WWE by the summer?

The Rockers vs Orient Express

2009-01-17T15:13:00.002+00:00

Royal Rumble has always been one of our favourite pay-per-views of the year - not only because of the big battle royal itself but also due to the excellent bouts often found on the undercard.

This opening match from the 1991 Rumble is one of Shawn Michaels' early classics, back when he was still a member of The Rockers with Marty 'Has anyone seen my career?' Jannetty.

They face the underrated team of Pat Tanaka (who later popped up in the original ECW) and Kato, a masked Paul Diamond (a journeyman wrestler who once played Max Moon). Neither of whom is Japanese.

The teams had previously feuded in the AWA, where Tanaka and Diamond were billed as Badd Company.

Parts two and three of the match can be found here and here.

Randy Savage vs Tito Santana

2009-01-09T11:45:00.002+00:00

WWE's recent DVD The History of the Intercontinental Championship includes an unprecedented two matches that feature Randy Savage, usually persona non grata as far as Vince and co are concerned.

In addition to the somewhat overrated WrestleMania III bout with Ricky Steamboat, the compilation features this less familiar contest, in which the 'Macho Man' wins the IC title from Tito Santana.

The bout took place at the Boston Garden on 8 February 1986 but didn't air on TV for another two weeks, during which time Santana continued to defend the title he'd already lost.

Keiji Muto vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

2009-01-07T13:33:00.003+00:00

New Japan kicks off the wrestling calendar with its annual 4 January extravaganza at the Tokyo Dome.

This is the gripping main event of Sunday's show, in which the revitalised Keiji Muto defends the IWGP title against Hiroshi Tanahashi.

It's a slow-burner that masterfully builds to a dramatic finale. Keep an eye out for Muto's cool-looking dragon screw off the apron to the floor. The concluding part of the match can be seen here.

Xanta Klaus vs Scott Taylor

2008-12-18T15:42:00.002+00:00

Something seasonal now: Balls Mahoney's 1995 WWF stint as Xanta Klaus, an 'evil' Father Christmas. We'll have whatever you're having, Vince. Merry Christmas!

Quinton Jackson vs Alexander Otsuka

2008-12-17T11:13:00.003+00:00

Here's another oddity from Japanese promotion Battlarts, which seems to specialise in such things: a 2001 pro wrestling match featuring current UFC light-heavyweight star (and heroically bad driver) Quinton Jackson.

The worked-shoot aesthetic is a throwback to groups such as the UWFI, which were wiped out by the rise in popularity of genuine shoot promotions UFC and Pride.

Necro Butcher vs Freakshow

2008-12-12T09:56:00.003+00:00

Necro Butcher may be about to make the unlikely transition from deathmatch wrestling cult hero to mainstream notoriety, thanks to his role in The Wrestler.

The film, which is released in January, is directed by Darren Aronofsky, the man who brought us Pi and Requiem for a Dream. It's already won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival and is tipped for Oscar success in February.

Aronofsky discusses why he picked Necro Butcher for the film in the current issue of Power Slam: "When we began researching wrestling we thought, 'This guy is out of his mind.' But when we met him he was a very sweet man and totally open to the experience of doing this film."

Take a look at this bleakly violent clip from IWA Mid-South and see just how sweet he looks while having a fluorescent light tube broken over his head.

Terry Funk vs Eddie Guerrero

2008-12-09T10:29:00.002+00:00

Years before his runs with AAA, ECW and New Japan, Eddie Guerrero (no, not this one) worked as 'enhancement talent' for WCW. In this May 1989 bout, he faces Terry Funk, who had just started his landmark feud with Ric Flair.

You have to wonder how many other squash matches from this (or any other) era feature the supposed cannon fodder performing a dive off the top turnbuckle to the floor followed by a plancha.

Carlos Colon vs Abdullah the Butcher

2008-11-27T15:17:00.002+00:00

Abdullah the Butcher - who recently celebrated his 87th birthday - will supposedly have his retirement match on a show promoted by Puerto Rico's WWC on 13 December. Although you do get the feeling that the Butcher will continue to wrestle for as along as he can walk (well, waddle).

His most violent feud was with WWC boss Carlos Colon, the father of current WWE tag champs Carlito and Primo Colon. They face off here in a match that took place in San Juan on 21 September 1985.

It's not the most athletic display you'll ever see. But who cares about highspots when you can stab someone with a fork?

Rey Mysterio vs Psychosis

2008-11-26T14:54:00.003+00:00

This opening match from July 1996's Bash at the Beach is one of the finest WCW bouts ever. Mysterio and Psychosis joined the company at a time when it was signing up a slew of luchadores - even the likes of Super Calo and El Dandy were employed by WCW at one point.

Injuries and all that added weight mean that Rey's acrobatics are kept to a minimum these days. But it's matches like this that remind us what an incredible performer he was at his peak.

Although he was lucky not to be skewered by Psychosis's somewhat over-the-top mask.

MVP vs James Mason

2008-11-24T14:32:00.004+00:00

Could things get any worse for MVP? He was once pushed as having "the biggest contract in SmackDown history". And now, in one of the most unlikely results ever, he's reduced to jobbing to James Mason.

Mason is a veteran British wrestler who, as Tazz notes during the commentary, looks like shit. (I'm paraphrasing.) He generally works for All Star Wrestling although he appeared for TNA as the captain of Team Britain during America's X Cup tournament in 2004.

This brief SmackDown match was taped in Manchester on 11 November during WWE's European tour and broadcast 10 days later.

Bob Backlund vs Great Sasuke

2008-11-21T09:53:00.002+00:00

Here's one of the biggest style clashes you'll ever see: Jap-lucha pioneer Great Sasuke against the resolutely mat-based Bob Backlund, who held the WWF title from 1978-1983.

Just 30 seconds into the bout, which took place for Japanese outfit Battlarts on 23 November 1998, Backlund completely fails to catch Sasuke when he dives outside the ring. It's not the most salubrious way to start a match.

After a brief TNA run in early 2007, Backlund made a one-off appearance on the 15th anniversary edition of Raw in December. He was quickly eliminated from a battle royal by Steve 'Skinner' Keirn.