The 2BWE Video Project: Pages 12-18

In the second part of the Big Bad WWE Encyclopedia Video Project (a.k.a. the 2BWE Video Project for short), I will take a look at such luminaries of the ring like Andre the Giant, Antonino Rocca, and Ashley Massaro. If you want to review the guidelines of the project, than you can view the original post right here. Well, on with the show.

P12- Andre the Giant: Ultimate Warrior vs. Andre the Giant

This was one of the many matches these two had for Warrior's Intercontinental Title back in 1989, and I believe is from the October 29, 1989 card at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The match starts with Andre standing tall in the center of the ring while Warrior runs around like a crazed man. Warrior charges, but Andre's ready for it and uses his size advantage to drag Warrior over to the corner. Andre then spends the next minute or so choking Warrior in the corner, making sure to break the ref's five count each time before going back to choking. Warrior tries to escape with a couple of toe kicks, but Andre just backs him into another corner and starts the process all over again. Andre keeps control with chokeholds and punches until Warrior throws a few chops at him. That doesn't do anything, but then Warrior karate chops Andre in the trapezoids which has some effect on him, and Warrior goes to work by choking Andre in the corner. Warrior with a running clothesline that sends Andre into the ropes. Andre looks to be trapped, but is able to escape just before the Warrior tries another clothesline, and instead Warrior takes a big boot to the torso. Both men get back up slowly, and Warrior does an awkward single leg takedown before choking Andre again. After this point, Warrior just brawls with Andre on the ground until the Giant is able to gain his bearings and slam Warrior into the mat before getting up very slowly. After a nerve hold, Andre confers with his manager Bobby Heenan at ringside, which gives Warrior enough time to recover and body slam Andre down. Warrior goes for a big splash, but Andre puts his arm up to block him and knocks Warrior back. Back up, Andre traps the Warrior in a bear hug for two minutes until Warrior finally gets out and tomahawk chops Andre in the head. After Warrior stuns him, he runs around the ring for 10 seconds before launching into Andre with a clothesline that knocks the Giant outside of the ring. Andre slowly gets back in while the Warrior winds up his arm like Daryle Lamonica warming up to throw a deep pass. He tries to catch Andre with a clothesline, but instead Andre pulls the ref into his path, so the poor ref is flattened instead. Andre grabs the Warrior by the back of his head and headbutts him twice and follows with an elbow drop. He covers, but the ref is slow to get up and when he does, he disqualifies Andre for putting him in the Warrior's path. At first Andre believes he's won the title, but is dismayed to find out that he's been disqualified. After the match, the Warrior clotheslines Andre from behind and takes his belt back, spinning it around like a helicopter. Well, at this point Andre couldn't move very well, and the Warrior isn't very good at his job, so this match was a struggle to get through. I'd give it a 0.5 out of 5.

P13- Andre the Giant: Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant- WWF Title

Yes, Andre's profile takes up two whole pages in the WWE Encyclopedia, but that's all right. Anyway, this match is from the television special The Main Event on February 5, 1988, and is the most watched match to ever air on television, as the show got a 15.2 rating, which is a higher rating than any series that aired on television last year. So this match was kind of a big deal, as it was the rematch from the two men's legendary Wrestlemania III match. Andre comes out with Ted DiBiase and Virgil. But before the match, an interview is shown with Hulk Hogan, who says that he has invested his assets of taking vitamins and saying prayers wisely in a profit sharing plan with all of his Hulkamaniacs, and that he will slam the Giant down again tonight. Hogan comes out and tries to come after Andre with the title belt, but referee Dave Hebner holds him back. The bell rings, and Andre takes his time, standing tall in his corner while Hogan works the crowd. Finally, Andre moves, and turns to DiBiase on the apron for some last minute advice. That gives Hogan the opening he needs, as he attacks the Giant and takes care of both DiBiase and Virgil with a noggin-knocker. He then gives both DiBiase and Virgil big boots that send them flying out of the ring, then catches Andre with a few punches that stagger the big man. Hogan gives Andre everything he's got, but just can't manage to knock Andre down. Hogan manages to knock Virgil down after he gets on the apron, but all the punches, kicks, clotheslines, and eye rakes he uses on Andre still fails to bring him down. Hogan climbs to the top rope, but the Giant catches him and launches Hogan off for a hard body slam. Andre goes for a diving headbutt, but misses, and Hogan is now back up. Hogan covers, but Andre chokes him instead and lets go before the count of 5. Andre is now in control, using chokes, slams, stomps, and other strikes to keep Hogan at bay. Andre knocks himself down after a big boot, and knocks Hogan to the outside of the ring, where Virgil quickly scoops him up and back in. More chokes and strikes by Andre, but the power of Hulkamania arises, and Hogan gets out of the choke hold and starts firing away in a renewed attempt to knock Andre off his feet.  He finally does it after a clothesline from the second rope, gives Andre the big legdrop, and covers, but the referee is distracted by Virgil. Hogan argues with the ref, but Andre grabs him from behind and headbutts him twice before delivering a sloppy looking suplex. Cover, but Hogan gets the shoulder up at two. However, the referee keeps counting, and we have controversy as Andre is awarded the match and the WWF Title. Hogan is in disbelief as Andre the Giant is awarded the title. Afterward, Andre is interviewed by Mean Gene Okerlund, where he says he (Andre) told us he would win the World Tag Team Championship. Whoops. He then surrenders the Title to Ted DiBiase as part of their agreement before the match, meaning that DiBiase has just bought the WWF Heavyweight Title. Say it ain't so. Hogan goes after them before the three men walk out of the ring, quite satisfied with what they have done. Meanwhile, another Dave Hebner comes out, and the two men start arguing. As it turns out, it was Dave's evil twin Earl Hebner that called the match, although at this point nobody knows which is which. One of the Hebner's slugs the other and kicks him out of the ring. He then pleads for mercy to Hogan, but the Hulkster is having none of it, so he gorilla presses him and throws the ref out of the ring over DiBiase and Virgil, knocking all three men to the floor. As it turns out, it was only the second most controversial call of Earl Hebner's career. Match wasn't too good from a pure wrestling standpoint, but the atmosphere was electric and the whole match had a big-fight feel to it, so overall I'd give it a 1.85 out of 5.

P14- Angelo "King Kong" Mosca: Angelo Mosca vs. Blackjack Mulligan

Angelo Mosca, the former CFL All-Pro defensive tackle turned wrestler, takes on Blackjack Mulligan in a brawl that took place in the Florida territory in 1983. The two men hate each other so much that their fight goes out of the ring and even out of the arena. Eventually, they pick up the fight in the back of a pickup truck. Mosca gets knocked out of truck onto the street, but gets up quickly and the two keep fighting on the street. The locker room empties to break the two up, but not before Mosca gets another shot in on Mulligan. Finally, after about 20 seconds, order is restored and all the wrestlers have successfully separated the two big men from ripping each other apart.  The video quality wasn't too sharp, but all in all it wasn't too bad and a good way to advance a feud, as it wasn't every day that two wrestlers climbed into the bed of a pickup to duke it out. I'd give it a 2.2 out of 5.

P14- Angelo Mosca Jr.: Ivan Koloff vs. Angelo Mosca Jr., Mid Atlantic Heavyweight Title Match

Angelo Mosca Jr. was basically the Dale Berra to Angelo Sr's Yogi Berra. Then again, Mosca wasn't quite as good in his field as Yogi was at baseball, but you get the picture. I believe this match took place on January 25, 1984. Angelo Mosca Sr. is on commentary with Bob Caudle for this match, and Koloff is accompanied to ringside by his manager Gary Hart. Koloff backs Mosca up and Irish whips him, but Mosca ducks a clothesline and then nearly gets a three count after a Sunset Flip. Mosca continues his dominance with two dropkicks and a cross body block that also draws a two count, and the fans are really behind Mosca in this match. Koloff backs up and takes a breather, only to continue to take punishment from Mosca in the form of a hip toss and an arm bar. Mosca then starts rolling with Koloff still in the arm bar, which you don't see too much of these days. Ivan finally gets out of it after two knees to the face, and keeps Mosca off balance with strikes before getting a two count after a knee drop. Koloff, ever the veteran, is not fazed by this and simply puts Mosca in a front headlock. Mosca is able to escape, but Koloff then slows down Mosca with a punch and then throws him out of the ring.  Mosca gets back in, and suddenly the video skips and the bell ring again, as the show took a 'TV timeout', in Bob Caudle's words, to make sure the conclusion is shown.

Back to action, Koloff snapmares Mosca and starts choking him, and follows that up by picking him up and throwing him hard against the ring ropes. Koloff then hits a backbreaker, and starts to concentrate his efforts on hurting Mosca's back by driving his knee into it, then by just grabbing hold of lower back and squeezing the muscles. Mosca eventually fights out and then tries to go for a Boston Crab. He can't so he does some weak looking catapult type move instead. Koloff goes to the eyes and gets back up, he tries a piledriver, but Mosca blocks it and then flattens Koloff with a back elbow. That gets a two count, so Mosca arm drags Koloff down, but after that he gets caught in a headscissors. Mosca flips out of it, then tries another hip toss but for some reason stops in mid move. I guess Koloff got an eye gouge in or something. Bearhug by the Russian Bear, and Mosca Sr. is starting to really get on my nerves from the commentary booth, as he keeps yelling "Go Ang" like every 20 seconds. Mosca cheats to win by using an eye gouge to get out of the hold, and the two kind of stagger around for a few seconds before Koloff somewhat back body drops Mosca out of a piledriver attempt. Mosca gets up and dropkicks Koloff, which gets a two count. Mosca then does a toe-hold, and follows that up with a basterdized version of the figure four, where it seems as if Koloff has to remind him to put his other leg over Koloff's foot to make the hold look better. Koloff gets to the ropes, but Mosca is undaunted and goes to work on the leg again. After Koloff gets out of the toe hold, Mosca covers, but to no avail as Ivan kicks out. Mosca slams Koloff and goes to the top rope, where he comes down on Koloff with a cross body block. Cover, and we have a new Mid-Atlantic Champion, as Angelo Mosca gets the three count and a hug from his father, who charges the ring after the bell has rung. Match started out strong, but started to peter out towards the middle, of Mosca's inexperience started to show. Still, I'd give it a 2.05 out of 5.

P14- Angelo Savoldi: Angelo Savoldi vs. Dr. Jerry Graham

I have no idea when this match took place, but I do know it took place in either the 1950s or 1960s and is from a show in Melbourne, Austrailia. The match starts with a rush as Savoldi charges Graham, and the two do a ring running spot which eventually slows down and stops. Graham shows off his high opinion of his intelligence by pointing to his head, and Savoldi responds by charging at Graham again, sending Graham scurrying to the apron. Graham tries a bearhug, but Savoldi slips out easy. Graham tries another hold, but Savoldi escapes again, and sends Graham flying out of the ring with a big right hand. Back in, Graham takes Savoldi by surprise with a spinning drop toe hold, and follows that up with a chinlock while he ties up Savoldi's legs with his own, in an STF type hold. Savoldi gets out of the hold by chomping down on his hand, which the crowd approves of. Savoldi gets a side headlock takedown for two, but Graham turns it around on him and starts choking him. While the ref grabs Graham to force him to stop, Jerry does, only to continue to choke Savoldi with his free hand behind his back, out of sight of the referee. Graham keeps punching and grabbing at Savoldi, which eventually ticks Savoldi off enough for Graham to back away into a corner. Savoldi has none of that, so he slugs Graham and throws him out of the corner with a beal. Savoldi stomps a mudhole in Graham and then throws him into another corner. The ref goes to pull Savoldi off, but that allows Graham to get a shot in and regain the advantage. Graham then tries to make friends with Angelo, but gets a right hand to the mush instead, so Graham goes to the ring apron to rethink things. The bell rings, signifying the end of round 1, so I guess this match will be done in five minute rounds.

Before round 2 begins, Jerry Graham goes to the announce table to express his displeasure at Savoldi and the fine people of Melbourne. Round 2 begins with Savoldi charging at Graham and hitting a few punches, only for Graham to turn the table and hit a wicked looking punch combo to the body. Savoldi is thrown hard into the corner and then falls down, allowing Graham an opportunity to choke him with his boot. Graham takes a while to get up to the top rope, but comes off quickly with a knee drop, and gets the first pinfall of the match. Well, I guess this is a two out of three falls match as well. Graham uses the break to once again dis the Australian people, wondering why the U.S. bothered to save them from the Japanese in World War II or something. The bell rings, and Graham manages to put Savoldi in a modified sleeper hold, and manages to hold onto to it for two solid minutes before biting Savoldi's cauliflower ear in the corner and letting go. While Graham is distracted by the ref, Savoldi uses the opening to fight fire with fire, and bite on Graham some. That infuriates the doctor, as he whips Savoldi into the corner, squashes him, and drops a knee on him. Graham goes up to the top again for another knee drop, but this time Salvodi moves. After a pair of running backdrops, Savoldi hits a running dropkick on Graham, covers, and gets the second fall of the match to even things up at one apiece. Both men go to the corner to recuperate, and after a minute, the bell rings to signal the next fall. Savoldi takes the advantage with an arm drag and twist, and goes to work on Graham with a spinning wrist hold. Graham wriggles out of it and grabs Savoldi with a headlock before whipping him into the ropes. After that, Graham rebounds with a shoulder block that knocks the smaller Savoldi down. But Savoldi is up quickly, and counters another attempted shoulderblock with an arm drag and twist of the arm. Graham retreats to a corner, only to get stomped on and pounded by Savoldi. After 30 seconds of this, Savoldi whips Graham into another corner and traps him by hooking each leg under a rope. Savoldi hits one charging shoulder block, but Graham gets the knee up on the second one and quickly covers, and that gets the three count and the third fall. After the match, Graham goes to announcer's table, and compliments Savoldi by saying he's the toughest Italian he's ever faced. Well, that was nice of him. Match was pretty decent, and a real interesting look at wrestling in the past. I'd give it a 3.1 out of 5.

P14- Antonio Inoki: Andre the Giant vs. Antonio Inoki 1983

What the hey? Another Andre the Giant video? Oh well. This video is a highlight reel of two wrestling legends in a New Japan match from May 6, 1983. Inoki starts off by trying to outrun the Giant, but gets caught with an overhand chop. Nevertheless, Inoki continues to run around the ring to tire his opponent, and then tries a shoulderblock, which does not go well for Inoki. Back up, Inoki kicks Andre low and then hits the enziguri to the head, and follows that up with a knee drop. The next clip starts with Andre with an ankle lock of sorts on Inoki. This continues for about 25 seconds until the next clip, which starts with Inoki fighting out of a bearhug with punches. He does, but Andre headbutts him with his massive truck tire sized head. Next, Andre takes down Inoki with a front facelock, but loses leverage on the hold and Inoki is able to sneak out and slip on a cross armbar. Andre gets back to his feet and throws Inoki out of the ring, then follows to deliver another headbutt. Next, Andre is choking Inoki in the crowd, and the bell rings, but both men go to the ring anyway. Andre shrugs off an Inoki dropkick, then whips Inoki to the ropes and hits him with the big boot on the rebound. Andre with a knife edge chop, and the ref raises Andre's hand in victory as Inoki must have been counted out. It was probably better that I didn't see the whole match, since it's more than likely worse than the action shown in this video. So, because of that, I'd give the video a 2.45 out of 5.


P15- APA (Acolyte Protection Agency): 1.28.02 - Trish and APA vs. Jazz and Billy and Chuck

This match from the January 28, 2002 edition of Monday Night Raw teams up then WWF Women's Champion Trish Stratus with the APA (Faarooq and Bradshaw) against Jazz and Billy (Gunn) and Chuck (Palumbo). The announcers inform us that in this match, women can legally fight men. Jerry Lawler shows his objectivity by booing Jazz as she comes out, while Billy and Chuck come out to the theme Billy used when he was known as "The One" Billy Gunn. I guess he was the one Billy Gunn because nobody else wanted to be Billy Gunn. Only kidding. Trish and Jazz start off, and after a tie up, Jazz slaps Trish in the face and knocks her down with a clothesline. After a shoulderblock, Trish is able to leapfrog Jazz, then catches her by surprise with a monkey flip before dropkicking Jazz out of the ring. However, Jazz proves she is the more aggressive of the two by dragging Trish out by the leg and slamming her face first into the apron. Back in, Jazz throws down Trish, then tries to suplex her, but Stratus is able to counter with a small package that gets two before Chuck breaks it up. Trish tries to slug Palumbo, but the punch is blocked and Chuck throws her back down. While Chuck celebrates, Bradshaw is tagged in, and he's mad, as Chuck takes a shoulderblock, a big boot, and a back elbow before retreating to his corner and tagging his partner in a suggestive manner. Bradshaw's not done, as he boots Billy off the ring apron. Bradshaw tries to powerbomb Chuck, but Billy breaks it up, and then catches Bradshaw with a dropkick. Tag to Chuck, and he's able to stifle Bradshaw with some punches and stomps. However, Bradshaw is able to reverse an Irish whip and back suplex Palumbo before tagging in Faarooq, and the two Acolytes shoulderblock Chuck, which draws a two count. Faarooq catches Chuck with a back elbow, but Chuck ducks (hey, that rhymes) a clothesline, then delivers a superkick straight to the mush. Well, it was supposed to be, but it was way off the mark and didn't come close to Faarooq's face. Even so, that gets a two count. Chuck runs into a spinebuster, than takes a diving headbutt. Billy comes in to break it up, and oh here go hell come as everybody's now in the ring except for Jazz, who is violently knocked off the apron by Trish. Trish and Chuck are left in the ring, and Trish fights off Chuck with some punches before attempting a huracanrana. Well, that's a bad idea, as Chuck powerbombs Trish and then covers her by barely holding her shoulders to the mat, as during this time he's supposed to be a 'nontraditional' male. Whatever the cover, it's good enough to get the three count. Afterward, Chuck has a look on his face as if he smelled a giant fart. This wasn't all that great, although Trish and Jazz weren't too bad. I'd give it a 1.44 out of 5.

P15- Argentina Apollo: "Arriba" Luis Martinez and Argentina Apollo vs. The Mongols

According to the WWE Encyclopedia, Apollo was a high-flying superstar who wrestled barefoot and teamed with Don McClarity to win the United States Tag Team Championship. This video is from Eddie Einhorn's IWA, a mid 1970s promotion that tried and failed to run against the NWA, and I have no idea what the exact date of this video is. Here, Apollo and his partner Luis Martinez are interviewed before a match with the Mongols, Geeto and Bolo. Apollo is not exactly Ric Flair on the mic, while Martinez is slightly better, but not great. Martinez states to the fans that all they've got to do is to "show that they're behind us, and let us give you all the action, action, and more action." Wow, that's a lot of action. The two partners also shake hands three times within thirty seconds. Also, Arriba is the victory cry, according to Martinez. Well, Arriba, then. To the match, where Martinez hip tosses one of the Mongols while the other one goes after Apollo. The Mongols go to work on Apollo with various strikes, while throwing Martinez out of the ring. The bigger Mongol (I don't know which one is which, and the announcers is too busy blubbering about nonsense to call the match) catches Apollo with a kitchen sink knee. The smaller Mongol, which I later find out is Geeto (while Bolo is the bigger one, and also would become Demoltion Ax), comes in and the two double team Apollo, but to little effect, as Apollo forces his way to his corner to tag Martinez. Oh here go hell come as all four men are in the ring. Martinez does an airplane spin to one, while Apollo has the other in an Argentinean Backbreaker. Sit down splash by Martinez, and the referee calls for the bell as Apollo has apparently submitted his opponent. The Mongols' manager, a big mountain of a man called George 'Crybaby' Cannon, comes in to complain about this decision, and in protest bounces the helmet he's wearing in the air and catches it at head level. What a bounce!  For that, this video gets a 2 out of 5.

P15- Ariel: Ariel ECW Debut

In this video, the woman who would later come out with Kevin Thorn and be the only interesting part about Kevin Thorn makes her ECW debut, and by golly what a debut it is, as she reads tarot cards to recap the past instead of reading the future. Those tarot cards must be specific to ECW, as they apparently tell of Rob Van Dam and Sabu invading the previous night's Raw. But wait a minute, the next tarot card tells of the future, as ECW's Rob Van Dam and Kurt Angle will face off against the team that would later on be known as Rated-RKO, Edge and Randy Orton. I guess if Ariel had kept reading, she would have seen the debut of Marcus Cor Von and Test and Bobby Lashley attempting to wrestle for the ECW Title. Well, I guess it's not a bad way to recap previous events by having a busty girl read tarot cards, so for that I'll give this a 2.15 out of 5.


P15- Armageddon: Mr. Kennedy vs. Undertaker, Last Ride Match, Armageddon 2006


This is a Last Ride match, meaning that to win the match, you must put your opponent in the back of a hearse and drive the hearse out of the arena. Coming into this match, Kennedy has two victories over the Undertaker, albeit in controversial fashion. Kennedy does his own ring introduction, per usual, and the whole time there's this one guy in the crowd that yells "You Suck" every three seconds. It gets quite annoying after about the thirtieth time he says it. The Undertaker's entrance takes up a little more than four minutes of time, which is also not unusual. The bell rings, and Kennedy does all he can to avoid getting hit by Taker, eventually ducking out under the bottom rope. He gets back in, and gets punched in the mouth and kicked out of the ring for his efforts. To the outside, where Undertaker slams Kennedy head-first into the ring steps, then hip tosses him onto the Spanish announce table. Undertaker continues to beat on Kennedy before launching him off the table chest first into the ring apron. Back in, Taker continues his assault by punching and choking Mr. Kennedy, who seems a bit overmatched this time. That is, until Undertaker misses a knee lift in the corner, and goes flying out of the ring, allowing Kennedy an opportunity to stomp the proverbial mudhole in the Undertaker. Kennedy goes on the apron and launches himself towards a now standing Undertaker, but he gets caught and driven spine first into the post. Undertaker scoops Kennedy up on his shoulder and carries him towards the hearse, but Kennedy slips out and pushes Taker into the hearse, then follows with more strikes. Kennedy continues to strike and slam the Undertaker into the hearse, before opening the back door. He puts Undertaker in (while audibly calling the next spot) the back of the hearse, but Undertaker is able to get out with a boot to the face. Undertaker continues to assault Kennedy by firing punches and slamming his opponent into whatever happens to be there before rolling him back in the ring. Actually, he sets Kennedy up over the apron and delivers his patented leg drop on the apron. Undertaker continues to batter Kennedy, then sets him up on the top turnbuckle and delivers a superplex. Undertaker then throws Kennedy over the top rope, while the "You Suck" guys yells, "save some for me, Taker!" Yeah, like your fat ass would be able to do anything with a guy like Kennedy, why don't you do us all a favor and shut up already. I give you a 0 out of 10.

Anyway, Undertaker scoops up Kennedy again to carry to the hearse, but in a last-ditch effort, Kennedy puts a sleeperhold on the Undertaker, and it works as Kennedy is able to get Taker on the ground. After 30 seconds of this, Kennedy believes he has the Undertaker asleep, so he lets go of the hold and drags the Undertaker in the hearse. He slams the door, but Kennedy has to sit and take a breather while the 'You Suck' guy screams 'NOOOOOOOOOOOO' at the top of his voice. He eventually goes to drive it away, but the Undertaker is waiting for him in the drivers seat and commences his beating of Kennedy. They end up around the announce table, and while Undertaker clears the table of its monitors, Kennedy grabs a steel chair and uses it to repeatedly jab Undertaker in the ribs. Back in the ring, Kennedy smashes the Undertaker in the back with a chair, then gives Taker two shots in the head with the chair. But Taker sits back up, and Kennedy decides to head out of the ring with chair in hand. Apparantly, Kennedy has had enough, so he attempts to escape the Undertaker by climbing up the wall set up for the pay-per-view, with Undertaker quickly following. Both men are now on top of the mock castle, which looks about 10 feet high or so. I am quickly corrected as Michael Cole informs me they are some 15, 20 feet in the air as Undertaker pounds away on Kennedy. Undertaker goes for a choke slam off the structure, but Kennedy kicks him down low, then uses Undertaker's moment of weakness to throw him off the structure. Yes, Taker probably landed in a padded area, but it still looked dangerous, especially with the camera focused so that it looked like Taker was flying into your living room, so to speak. Kennedy climbs down and the referee tries to stop him from further beating on the Undertaker while a hush has fallen over both the crowd and the announce booth. Kennedy does open the hearse door and drag the Undertaker, who hasn't moved, towards the hearse. Kennedy gets the Undertaker in, and gets in the driver's seat, where a camera is mounted. All of a sudden, the Undertaker sits up with an evil look in his eyes. He drags Kennedy out of the hearse, then sets him up to deliver the world famous 'Undertaker rights and lefts' combo. Kennedy ducks a steel chair shot and a swing of a lead pipe that shatters the hearse window, but he can't duck the next shot, a steel chair directly to the head. Kennedy is now busted open. Undertaker puts Kennedy on the roof of the hearse, which can't be good. As it turns out, it isn't good as Kennedy is chokeslammed hard on the hearse roof. To make matters worse, Undertaker then Tombstones Kennedy on the hearse roof for good measure. Undertaker puts Kennedy out of his misery by stuffing him in the hearse and driving out for the victory. Good match, not great, but good, with a couple of cool spots and at one point it looked as if Kennedy would win, so it wasn't a total squash. I'd give it a 3.45 out of 5.

P16- Antonino Rocca: Antonino Rocca vs. Lou Kim

Rocca was a huge wrestling star back in the 1950s, considered an innovator of the ring with his aerial tactics and fast-paced, entertaining style. In this match from 1952, he takes on Lou Kim, who I don't know anything about, but he has sideburns and a fu manchu, so he's probably at least better than Jim Powers. Rocca bounces around the ring on his bare feet, as I guess that's his thing. After some feeling out, Kim locks a bearhug on Rocca, but must break the hold. Rocca confounds Kim by dropping to the mat and rolling around in the ring, with Kim unable to catch him. He then leaps on Kim's shoulder and puts him in a headlock with his legs, but Kim is able to get to the ropes and places Rocca on the corner. Kim rocks Rocca with a few overhand chops to the back and the head, and covers, but Rocca's legs are under the ropes. Kim with a full nelson, but Rocca flips over his back into the ropes, then dropkicks Kim to tie him up further. After Kim escapes, Rocca does another running dropkick, and a third one ties up Kim into the ropes again. Kim eventually gets out on the apron, but is counted out as he can't return to the ring before the count. Rocca leaps in celebration. This was quite a different match to those of today, but I wasn't crazy about it, so I'll give it a 1.65 out of 5.

P17- Antonino Rocca: The Kangaroos and Dr. Jerry Graham vs. Antonino Rocca, Ricky Starr, and Miguel Perez

This video is from sometimes in the 1950s and features the original Kangaroos (Al Costello and Roy Heffernan) team up with Dr. Jerry Graham to battle Rocca, the ballet dancer/wrestler Ricky Starr, and the father of a future Los Borica, Miguel Perez. We start with Starr doing cartwheels all over the ring while Costello chases after him and eventually Costello falls face first into the ropes, allowing Starr the opportunity to jump on his back two times. Rocca decides to enter the ring and do the same while Heffernan chases after Starr. The Kangaroos double team on Ricky Starr some, then Costello puts Starr in a full nelson, but Starr flips him over his back and takes Costello down with a series of dropkicks, and after the fourth one, Starr covers and gets the first fall for his team. Rocca starts the second fall for his team, and repeatedly kicks each of the Kangaroos with a front kick to the face. We cut to Perez pounding away on Heffernan, then going to the other corner and swinging at each of his opponents. Cut to Graham giving Rocca a pair of bodyslams, but catching Rocca's feet in his face after the second one. Rocca then dropkicks Graham a few times before somebody interferes, only for Rocca to dropkick him into Graham. Cover by Rocca, and the ref counts to three to give his team the victory. After the match, Starr tries to get after the interfering party, but is eventually pulled off of him. I wonder how good the whole match was? As for what I saw, it was kind of silly, to be honest, so I'll give it a 1.35 out of 5.

P18- Armando Estrada: ECW 6/10/2008 Armando Estrada vs. Finlay


The former general manager of ECW, Armando Estrada takes on Finaly in this match on the June 10, 2008 edition of ECW. Finaly comes out with his 'son' Hornswoggle, and guess what, Mike Adamle is on commentary with the man he once referred to as 'the Taz'. What did I do to deserve this honor? Estrada was just fired from his GM role last week, so now new GM Teddy Long is forcing Estrada to fight Finlay and win in order to earn a contract. Estrada shows some moxie by going after Finaly before the bell, and starts the match raining blows on Finlay. Armando whips Finlay into the corner and charges, only to take a boot to the head. Finlay seems a bit ticked, as he comes after Armando with a pair of clothesline, then gives Armando a bodyslam and a sitdown splash for his troubles. To make matters worse for Armando, Finlay delivers his finisher, the Celtic Cross, and it proves to be a true finisher as it gets the three count. Finlay and Hornswoggle celebrate a job well done, but here comes Teddy Long. Estrada is lucky that Teddy likes him, as the new GM gives Estrada another match to earn his contract, this one against Colin Delaney, the very same man Armando put in matches against men twice his size in order to earn a contract. Delaney comes out, and Finlay being the guy that he is, canes Estrada in the back of the leg with his shillelagh. Delaney DDTs Estrada upon entering the ring, and gets the three count in about six seconds. Long still feels charitable, so he gives Estrada one more chance with a match against Hornswoggle. But Estrada's still down, and Hornswoggle takes this opportunity to scurry up the turnbuckles and deliver the Tadpole Splash to get the quick victory. The three Irishmen dance in celebration of their various victories, but Delaney makes the mistake of placing Hornswoggle's hat on Finlay, which results in a shillelagh shot to the face. Well, that made me laugh, and it also made Finlay crack a smile. Back to celebrating for the Finlays, and the video ends. Poor Armando. I'll give a 2.5 out of 5 just because I like Finlay cracking fools with his shillelagh.

P18- Arnold Skaaland: Superfly Jimmy Snuka and Arnold Skaaland vs. Lou Albano and Don Muraco, MSG, 12/26/1983

This match took place the same night Skaaland's other client at the time, Bob Backlund, lost his WWF Heavyweight Title to the Iron Shiek after Skaaland threw in the towel while Backlund was in the camel clutch. So Skaaland had a big night on this night. Here the match starts off with the then 58 year-old donning the tights and squaring off against big Don Muraco. Skaaland takes Muraco by surprise with a pair of arm drags, but Muraco is able to regroup and puts a headlock on Skaaland. Skaaland whips Muraco out of the position, then ducks for Muraco to leap over him. Muraco puts on the breaks to taunt the fans, but walks into a Skaaland body slam, and then 'the Golden Boy' decks a charging Albano for good measure. Back up, Muraco whips Skaaland, who uses the opportunity to hit Albano again, then small packages Muraco for a two count.  Tie up, but Skaaland ducks under and tags out to Snuka. Muraco headlocks Snuka, and then shoulderblocks him after an Irish whip, but Snuka gets the upper hand after a pair of leapfrogs and a karate chop to the throat, which sends Muraco bailing out of the ring. Back in, Snuka gets a one count after a flying headbutt, then puts Muraco in a chinlock. Snuka drags Muraco over to the other corner and forces the Magnificent one to tag in Albano, and 'The Guiding Light' squares off with his former charge. Snuka starts off with some strikes, but a low blow hunches Snuka over and allows Albano to punish Snuka with forearms. While Albano has the ref's attention, Muraco comes off the top rope and drives his knee into Snuka. After some more punches, Muraco is tagged in, and continues the punishment on Snuka with a pair of knee lifts. After a minute of Muraco dominating Snuka with strikes, Superfly sees an opening and fires at Muraco, eventually knocking him down with a headbutt. Snuka then karate chops Albano just because he can, but Muraco prevents any further punishment on Albano with a dropkick that knocks Snuka down. Albano's in, he delivers some of the worst strikes in the history of pro wrestling before tagging in Muraco again. Muraco hooks up Snuka in a full nelson and waits for Albano to strike Snuka, but Captain Lou takes forever and a day and Snuka ducks out the way so Muraco takes the force of the Captain's blow. Skaaland comes in and pounds away on Albano, while Snuka climbs to the top and flattens Muraco with a cross body block. Cover, and the ref counts three giving Snuka and Skaaland the victory. Snuka's not yet finished, and gives a double noggin knocker to Muraco and Albano before both men stagger out of the ring. Kind of a strange match, as a 58 year old manager was able to hold his own against Muraco and Albano got a lot of offense on Snuka. Not that good of a match either, but I guess the right team won. I'll give it a 1.25 out of 5.

P18- Ashley Massaro: Ashley Massaro on Raw

This video is from the March 12, 2007 editon of Raw. Ashley Massaro, the former contestant of Survivor:China and the second WWE Diva Search winner is talking about her signing of her Playboy cover at some store in New York. Not surprisingly, there's nothing but dudes in line. Then for some reason we get Todd Grisham interviewing Mick Foley. Mick is here to promote his book, The Hardcore Diaries (which I reviewed earlier). Mick plugs his book and his appearance of ECW when Ashley shows up to exchange her Playboy for Mick's book. Ron Simmons shows up, looks at the magazine, and says Damn. Later on, Ashley runs to the ring and spears Melina because I guess the two have an upcoming match. Well, at least this was short. 1.3 out of 5.

Well, that's all for now. Remember, if you have any thoughts about the matches reviewed above or about the 2BWE project itself, then feel free to leave a comment on this post. Also, if you have any ideas for future posts, then send me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com. Also, remember, Arriba is the victory cry.