What is your "cup of tea" wrasslin match?

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

What do you look for in a wrestling match to make it perfect for you?

Some people love that really technical ROH sort of style, that is sort of a smarky style that is great to watch, but also, a little too smarky.

Some people love the showmanship of the WWE, and if understood and done well, that is an art within itself (See: Shawn Michaels, Undertaker and Randy Orton for example)

Some people look for death defying bumps.

There's also "Japanese Strong style" or w/e Josh Matthews always talks about, and that too is a great style to watch.

Whatever, you get my point... I guess it's sort of a grey area it's hard to truly define genres, and there's also different eras which incorporate different styles.

Honestly, my favourite style is probably that hardass stampede wrestling influenced style. I'm not necesarilly fond of how it leaves the gus who wrestle the style, but it pretty much incorporates everything. You have the showmanship, the high flying, the strong style, the storytelling etc.

When the guys actually seem like they're involved in an athletic competition, and there appears to be some sort of struggle, and it's not like they're just setting up for spots. Pretty much, watch any Chris Benoit match and you get what I'm saying. Also watch any Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle match etc and any prime Bret Hart match.

Everything looks really fluent, and like they should be doing what they're doing. The punches look like they hurt, the moves have meaning and it doesn't look like they're doing a dance. I don't like watching a match and it's like they do spots for the sake that it's a wrestling spot.

That's what I also loved about Stan Hansen, he didn't really do spots, he just beat the hell out of people and got the hell beaten out of him... it wasn't a dance, it was a fight. And fuck was he quick for a big man.

I find a big problem with a lot of the guys who are marks for themselves, is all they want to do is not necesarilly a BIG spot, but they wanna do stuff that makes them look like they're the next coming of wrestling jesus, instead of just working a realistic match.

I don't necesarilly love high flying when it's just a lot of flashy twirls and flips. That's why I like Christian, cuz he has the ability to flip around like a gymnast, but his high flying is more in your face. Like his jump from the 2nd turnbuckle to outside of the ring is a very bruising high risk move, as opposed to just doing a 450 clusterskullfuck diving headbutt for no reason.

I'd say my favourite era and style of matches was between 1997-2006. '02 took a dip in work rate I'd say, but once Angle and Benoit really got going after Benoit fully recovered from his neck surgery the level of athleticism in matches was insane. I don't think it's wise to work that style as far as health goes, but good god damn was it fun to watch. Every move counted.

Wow I wrote a lot.

[TheAdamEvansFan]

I'm more into a Tag Team brawl, preferrably T.L.C. Dudleys vs Hardys vs Christian n Edge vs Kane n Xpac was probably some of the best matches I've ever watched.

I like these matches because in a tag team you usually have the perfect wrestler, both have strengths and weaknesses to cover each other.

These tag teams were also very charismatic as I can see Jericho n Miz being. They just need a solid tag team name now.

Anyways, I liked the tag team era!

BTW you stink.

The Fan

[CSL]

Mid-late 1980's tag wrestling when it comes to being able watch anything. They used to have time to tell a story, build a match etc. I could watch the Brainbusters, the Bulldogs, the Harts, the Rougeaus etc all day. In terms of modern stuff, guys like Orton, HBK etc nowadays, people that 'get it'. I have no desire to watch 'movesetz' with a million indy suplexes with guys being dropped on their heads, it makes me fucking cringe and kind of angry.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

I have no desire to watch 'movesetz' with a million indy suplexes with guys being dropped on their heads, it makes me fucking cringe and kind of angry.

Movesets are fine if they have purpose. But what you say is right. I don't care if you do 3532532000000 suplexes, because if you do one really well, it's better than watch all the other ones.

[Mr. Pierre]

This might sound odd, but I like the matches that are billed as just one-on-one matches, but due to the way its built throughout the weeks, it turns into a street fight type of match by PPV time. Usually just brawls with little weapon use and dramatic finisher spots.

Ex: Taker/HHH WM17, Austin/Rock WM 15 & 17

[CSL]

Movesets are fine if they have purpose. But what you say is right. I don't care if you do 3532532000000 suplexes, because if you do one really well, it's better than watch all the other ones.

If done for a reason, sure. There a far too many clowns around that have to 'get all of their moves in' simply because they 'don't get it' or are just marks for themselves.

I don't care if you do 3532532000000 suplexes, because if you do one really well, it's better than watch all the other ones.

Pretty much sums it up to a tee.

[BillyBonez]

Mad violent matches, like Mankind Vs Taker in the HIAC is a classic example, or some of the deathmatches they do in other feds. The more extreme, the better for me. Now I know WWE dont do that stuff no more, but it still is my favorite type of match.

[CSL]

FMW

[Xero]

The majority of my favorite matches are no DQ brawls or ones that turn into such. HBK/Taker Cell, Mankind vs Michaels Mindgames, Austin/Bret I Quit...

But if I were to pin one "style", it'd be the first Michaels vs Taker Mania match, which I will point at and say "that is THE sports entertainment WRESTLING match" for years to come. The second one was a much more fast and brawl style while the first was more of the way I'd prefer my matches to look. A slow but ever-building match with false finishes, a few highspots that add to the match dramatically, etc.

The build in the match and the storytelling within the match are VERY important to me, more than the "style".

[TheAdamEvansFan]

Xero is a beast.

I read your post and felt like I was listening to Socrates of Wrestling.

[Schlomey]

I love a good feud.

Some examples:

HBK vs Chris Jericho
HBK vs The Undertaker
Stone Cold vs McMahon
HBK vs Bret Hart
Cena vs Edge

If the story is strong than the chances are the matches are going to be as well.

Case & Point:

Cena vs Edge - I am not a big Cena fan. He is just ok for me. However, whenever Edge vs Cena gets re imagined I always look forward to it & the chemistry they have in the ring together is phenomenal. Their TLC match was one of my all time favorites to be honest. Easily in the top 100.


Another thing I like: Mid-Sized Wrestlers

Christian, CM Punk, HBK, DiBiase ect....

The really small guys are fast but a lot of their matches are very formulaic. Meaning sometimes they all run together. While it is an amazing spectacle, sometimes a spotfest doesn't deserve to be included as some of the best matches.

Large guys are typically brawlers. While that works in many instances, sometimes in the longer matches/feuds it gets very repetitive & drawn out. Guys like Cena/HHH/Sheamus/Orton - While amazing, it feels like sometimes we are watching the same match over and over.

The mid-sized guys is where it's at. They have the athleticism and the speed as well as the ability to perform physical maneuvers that some of the larger guys only dream of doing. CM Punk, for instance, can lift larger guys up for the GTS but can also springboard, huricanranna, high kick ect....

This leaves room open for some exciting match ups.


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Gimmick matches:

While they are overly used in this years PPV model, the use of gimmick matches can also help a feud.

I am CERTAIN that HBK vs JBL would have been better suited with a gimmick.

-=-=-=-=-=-=---=-=

The Old School HIAC - That's where it's at. When they debuted the SUPER CELL I realized at that point that I would never fully enjoy a HIAC match again. The original cell was amazing. The new cell is so tall that you KNOW there is no chance of somebody doing a dive off the cage and chances are nobody will even attempt to leave the cell. Thats the fun of that match, finding creative ways of escaping the cell and using every inch of the structure to cause damage. The newer cage and the PG rating does not due the match style justice...so I am for it taking a hiatus until the next change in programming.


-=-=--=-=-=-=--=-

Regular cage matches: Another treat. Jeff Hardy vs John Morrison in the steel cage pops in to mind as being one of the hotter regular cage matches. Also include in there Hardy vs Punk. When used sparingly I really do enjoy the matches inside the cage.


-=--=-=--=-=-===--=


Big vs little - no fucking way. Rey's run on RAW really spoiled any shot of me enjoying this type of match. One exception was Taker vs Rey at Royal Rumble this past year...That was gold


-=--=--=-=-=

Elimination Chamber - LOVE IT. While they were better back in the day with blood and weapons, the last 2 years the WWE has been SOOOO creative when it comes to the chamber matches. I am speaking of the finishes as well as the spots. Jericho winning via HBK run in & Edge taking out Kofi the year before - It is a treat to watch these matches but I'm glad they are just once a year.


-=-=--==---=-=--=--

Money In the Bank - My favorite gimmick match. I love the big Wrestlemania matches but in the back of my mind I am always just as excited and sometimes more excited to see the spots in MITB. Great platform for young or mid card guys to get exposure. Made CM Punks WWE career and so far it has helped Swagger. Just to name a few.


-=-=-=--=-=-=-=---=-=-=


I guess an emotional interest in the storyline is important to me but the most important thing is in ring storytelling. HBK vs Undertaker part 2 would NOT have been as good as part 1 if HBK didn't crawl up Takers chest and smack him to finish him off with real pain in his eyes....You can't fake that kind of emotion.

I also love 2 count kick outs after finishers. While overused lately, it does add that momentary SHOCK value that undercard matches lack.


I am also a bit of a mark for crazy spots. In my eyes, a memorable match should be won in the ring with a pin or submission but I can't say I don't enjoy watching a man fall through three stacks of tables or seeing Edge spear someone through a flaming table.


Basically there are a lot of things I look for in a good and memorable match.

[LuigiD]

I am a big fan of technical bouts like many other members. There is nothing better than to see 2 great technical wrestlers all over the ring. Constantly countering, pulling moves, etc.
Then again..I am also fan of great hardcore bouts. The epic clashes of the old ECW between the Sandman, Dreamer, Terry Funk, Cactus Jack, etc. Even better when you had great wrestlers like Storm and Lynn going at it with weapons.

[The Pope]

Anything with Kurt Angle in it.

[Schlomey]

So your favorite match is Kurt Angle vs Eugene...gotcha

[VSG]

I like a match built to a good storyline, something that captivates me and makes me want to actually pay to watch it in HD with a few friends around rather than the crappy illegal streams. Great wrestling is almost always promised with such events, but I prefer the culmination of a storyline foremost.

[jskinnyg]

I like a match built to a good storyline, something that captivates me and makes me want to actually pay to watch it in HD with a few friends around rather than the crappy illegal streams. Great wrestling is almost always promised with such events, but I prefer the culmination of a storyline foremost.

Pretty much something like what he said above, but i also love gimmick matches if they are done right...

And i LOVED the old school WCW War Games matches with two teams and two rings... Would be great to see that again... But the great build ups and feuds are what gets me to buy a PPV... i.e. Taker/HBK... Punk/Mysterio, etc...

[DLVH84]

STRONG STYLE, HANDS DOWN!!!

From Antonio Inoki, to Riki Choshu, to Shinya Hashimoto, to Yuji Nagata, to Shinsuke Nakamura.

STRONG STYLE FOREVER!!!!

[The Pope]

So your favorite match is Kurt Angle vs Eugene...gotcha
Yeah, that Nick Dinsmore has some talent

[Schlomey]

dude I totally forgot the Royal Rumble match. I think its the best thing in wrestling...at least in theory.

[RiX1024]

My cup of tea is always an underdog match.

[St. Jimmy]

Hell in a Cell.

[TheAdamEvansFan]

The Triple Cage Match was probably my favorite

I also loved the multiple Rings.

The Faction vs Faction PPVs were also my Favorite..

Damn I miss WCW.

[DLVH84]

FMW

Now you're talking my kind of wrestling, CSL!!!

[Favre4Ever]

I've gotta say some of my favorite matches were the initial Angle/Mysterio matches when Mysterio first entered the company back in 2002/2003. They had the technical wrestling aspect of Angle, the flipping around acrobatic high-flying element of Mysterio, and loads of chemistry. So i'd say my "cup of tea" wrestling match would be a mixture of those aspects.

[Executioner]

War Games