Full Gear and... Andre, Vader, and Von Erichs???

Full Gear was a great show I was not super invested in going into it. Like all AEW PPVs though, it delivered. I'm not even sure the matches I'm rating are the best of the show. Brisco and Fletcher, Hangman and Joe... both kinda would need a rewatch for me to have clear thoughts on. anyways...

Full Gear

Jon Moxley vs Kyle O'Reilly

A feud I didn't know I wanted or needed continues to have great matches, and great violence. The grappling chemistry grounds the fork-based offense in a surprisingly tasty way. It's easy to forget THIS Kyle exists, even though we've all seen it before. Kyle is too good at comedy for his own good sometimes, because these two motherfuckers know how to get wet and fucky on the mat.

Kris Statlander vs Mercedes Mone

I admire Mercedes dedication to objectifying men. So objectified that one of the men carrying her belts seemed intent on becoming a perfect sphere of HGH gut muscle.

Two opponents with consistently great chemistry. Mercedes makes up for the intangible "last 10%" Stat still lacks in charisma. She's getting there though. You don't know the quality of a gem until you give it the chance to be polished and the rocket ship entrance, while a fun gimmick, was also just charming.

I had to watch this match twice since I was distracted during the live PPV, and the false finish seatbelt sequence got me twice. This isn't a big "AH HAH" false finish or anything, but like a pacing trick, making it feel like the match is winding down before going into another gear.

Top this off with the match having the necessary result, and I can't be anything but happy. IDK how can people hate on Mone 🤔

The Grab Bag

During dinner on sundays with some friends I'll put on a few matches. Usually it's just stuff Youtube recommended and sometimes that sends us down a rabit hole. Tonight was some Andre matches.

Andre vs Hogan, The Main Event, 1988

Interestingly terrible. You see Hogan doing for Andre what the Rock would do for Hogan some 10 years later. I felt more invested in this, but it wasn't good. You can tell Andre is hurting, and he can barely move. Hulk for his credit does what he can for him. Even without mobility, Andre can coast on size and charisma alone. The finish just ruins what might have just been a "not great but charming match". Paid off ref, belt goes to Dibiase. Match basically just deflates at that point. Messed up that something had to come after this.

Andre The Giant VS Franz Van Buyten 1968 Andre

So knowing Andre used to be more mobile, we looked up a much older match and... God, it kicks so much ass. Lemme link it here. It's hard to contextually rate this match, since I don't know the matches around it or Buyten's other work, but damn France had some cool wrestling? The way they grapple is like an attempt to move, from pose to pose, becoming, for a moment, beautiful greek statues. Andre's physic and back looked gorgeous under the harsh, moody light. The grappling was fun, Buyten just struggling, doing everything he can, to fight JUST Andre's leg. This, followed by something like 4 back to back hurricaranas, in 1968. We were always killing the business. Physical, fun graps, and just a totally different style that reminds you that wrestling doesn't only have to be one or two ways.

Also to catch up on some older reviews on dropkicked from previous dinner-matches.

Vader vs Kenta Kobashi

AJPW Excite Series 2000

YT algo is good for something, if the other reviews are to be believed.

While this was going on, WWE was having Mae Young give to birth to a hand. If 17 year old me could have, they would have switched to watching All Japan. Anyways not my favorite by either wrestler here but like they also beat the shit out of each other and it was good and the crowd loved it. What more could I ask for?

Ric Flair vs Kerry von Erich

WCCW 1st Von Erich Memorial Parade Of Champions

Not incredible by modern standards, but a perfect antarctic core sample of a different era, where you see what it meant to be truly over vs one of the best heels of the era. Kerry looks like a cartoon drawing of a perfect collegiate athlete and does his part while Flair does what he does best and makes his opponent look like the best wrestler in the world.