Since I'm off work and enjoy wasting my holidays, I've been catching up on a bunch of matches. Here's a good one:

Kensuke Sasaki & Kenta Kobashi beat Genichiro Tenryu & Katsuhiko Nakajima (Kensuke Sasaki 20th Anniversary - 2/11/06) - I know nothing of the history here but I seem to remember hearing Tenryu and Kobashi having beef from the past, like when Tenryu kicked his ass in All-Japan in the late 80’s or something. Tag partners Kobashi and Sasaki chop the crap out of each other then shake hands. Little Nakajima isn’t scared, no sir! and knocks down Sasaki from the start nearly pinning him and almost running his Anniversary. Smark’s #1 love Akira Hokuto is doing commentary. Matwork won by Nakajima but Sasaki’s too strong and tosses him around. Nakajima tries plan B and tries to slug it out but Sasaki’s still too strong! Kobashi tags in and immediately calls out Tenryu who tags in also. Neat mind games played on the rope breaks. And….away we go… IT'S CHOP FEST 2006! This goes on for 20 minutes or so, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Kobashi seems to be winning so Tenryu sweeps the leg then does violent things to Kobashi on the outside. Tenyru rolls back in but Kobashi calls him back out. Tenryu outsmarts the youngster then hits the running dive to the outside! Tenryu’s like 75 too. A chairshot to Kobashi and Nakajima gets tagged back in. Nakajima tries some forearms but Kobashi no-sells. Nakajima’s the Rodney Dangerfield tonight, he gets no respect. Action spills outside where Tenryu hits Kobashi with the side of a chair busting his mouth open hardway. Back I and AGAIN Nakajima gets no respect! :-) Sasaki comes in and destroys poor Nakajima who now has a busted lip. Out of nowhere Tenryu comes over and starts beefing with a bloodied Kobashi. Nakajima with some nice kicks but Sasaki keeps dropping him with hard chops. You could play a drinking game where you sip a beer everytime a stiff chop happens but you’d be passed out 3 minutes in. Kobashi with a unique submission move. Nakajima’s insane beating is getting to Rock/Mankind levels, as in like it’s not fun to watch anymore. Finally Tenryu gets the hot tag and cleans house! Tenryu clamps an octopus hold on Kobashi while Nakajima keeps Sasaki busy. This doesn’t last long as Tenryu gets the chop-fest treatment again, then eats a Sasaki-line and brainbsuter for a 2 count. Tenryu reverses into his own brainbuster then gets the tag to Nakajima. Nakajima tries the kicks again and this time Saski drops! Missile dropkick gets a one count. Nakajima drops Saski after 3 lariatos but all's for naught as Kobashi sneaks up behind him for a release half-nelson suplex. Nakajima manages to shake it off and hits a German suplex for a 2 count. More Nakajima kicks but Sasaki counters with a one-armed powerbomb for 2. The match finally ends after this:

<- Finish HIM!!!

After kicking his ass all match, Kobashi and Sasaki help Nakajima up, but the grouchy CJNorth.. ,err. I mean Tenryu, leaves snubbing Kobashi!! This would’ve set up a badass Tenryu Vs. Kobashi singles match but sadly Kobashi was diagnosed with cancer later in the year. Fun match but too one-sided for my taste but some barabic-ly stiff shots. Would probably make my Top 20. ****1/4

Mic Foley Vs. Ric Flair (Summerslam - I-Quit) – Both guys have (or had) legit beef after talking smack to each other in their books. I'm torn cause both guys are two of my all-time favorites. :-( Before the match Foley is all nervous after seeing Flair go bananas against Big Show, but then Malena gets him motivated and stuff.. Foley comes out with a trashcan. Both guys trade counters and reversals on the mat. Just kidding, Foley attacks Flair right at the bell and crunches the trashcan on Flair’s face in the corner. If you look closely you can see Flair’s face imbedded in the can. Foley puts on Mr. Socko! MANIBAL CLAW!! Foley’s looking to end it early. Foley releases it and grabs the microphone, telling Flair to quit now before it gets worse. Flair pleads the fifth, so Foley wraps barbedwire around Mr. Sock. But Flair puts his own manibal claw on Foley balls! Flair goes all Chuck Liddell with lefts and rights then puts the barbed-wired sock on his hand. Barbed-wired Flair chops!! I think Foley’s chest is bleeding through the shirt. Foley takes his crazy bump on the stairs outside but then drops Flair. Foley brings out a barbed-wired board from under the ring and waffles Flair with it. Flair is busted open!! The crowd chants “We Want Fire”. Jesus Christ, is this Philly?

More nasty moves with the bared-wire board. Flair’s really bleeding now. Foley gets the mic and ask Flair if he quits.. Flair: “Kiss… My… A..{thunk}” Foley beats up Flair with the mic then brings out a bag. Thumbtacks by gawd!! He bodyslams Flair on them!! Ouch! Foley gets the mic again, but Flair refuses to quit. Foley can’t believe it and he brings out a barbed-wire bat to shred Flair’s face. Flair escapes with a low blow but it bleeding much more than any senior citizen should. Flair gets the bat and starts pounding Foley’s arm which also starts bleeding. Flair ask Foley to quit but he won’t. Flair gets a running start and nails Foley, who does the Nestea Plunge off the apron to the concrete!! The ref and Doctors go to check out Foley. The Doc says it’s over cause Foley can’t continue. Flair: “Waitamin. This isn’t a lay-down-on-your-ass match.. it’s an I-Quit match.” Flair goes after Foley. The commentators are playing Flair up as a heel. Foley rolls back into the ring right over the tacks! Flair starts shredding up Foley’s face with the bat. Foley’s bleeding from the forehead. Flair “I’ll kill you! I’ll rip your heart out!! Whooooooo!” Finally Marlena throws in the towel! Flair wins! I guess… Flair grabs the mic. Flair “She! She DOES NOT say you quit. YOU DO!!” Flair’s grabs the bat and runs at Foley while Malena protects him. At the last minute… Foley says “I quit! I quit!!”

Awesome match! Flair and Foley took outlandish and unnecessary punishment pretty much from the get go. A lot of people were let down from this feud but I thought this match was great. ****