Eddy Guerrero v Dean Malenko (Inglewood, CA, 6/28/97)
Yeah, these two together are infinitely more enjoyable to me when they drop the whole SPIRIT OF COMPETITION~ deal and one of them acts like a little douchenozzle instead. The Uncensored match had Eddy starting to embrace his inner-scumbag. That was in March and this is June, and by this point he's a fully-fledged slimeball. I love weasly little dickweeds in my pro-wrestling and Eddy is a spectacular weasly little dickweed here. Taunting, begging off, stalling, back-pedalling, cheating; the whole shebang. This being a handheld means that you get to see him really milking stuff like grabbing the ropes for leverage on holds or working the ref' into positions so that he can't see a fly hair pull or choke. I generally don’t like handhelds very much since I seem to have a problem concentrating (the reason for which is still a mystery to me), but they do let you see things that you normally wouldn't on TV, and Eddy playing to the back row is something I can definitely get behind. I'm not a Malenko fan by any stretch of the imagination, but seeing him work as a straight up babyface that's basically eschewing all of the lengthy control segments is making me even less excited about going back to those Malenko/Mysterio matches where he spends an hour doing limb-work that winds up being totally pointless, because I can actually enjoy him as the former. He does work Eddy's leg for a few minutes in this, but before long he's back to being the recipient of weasel boy's dirty tricks. Also like how Eddy decides to work Dean's leg as a receipt of sorts once he gets back in control. Reminded me of the Kerry Von Erich/Michael Hayes match on the Texas set, although this felt more like an "anything you can do I'll go ahead and do better because I'm a dick like that" thing than Kerry doing it because Hayes is the bane of his existence. Unfortunately it's a theme that's dropped after a few minutes, but I'm less annoyed by three or four minutes of leg work from two guys combined going nowhere than eight or nine minutes from one guy going nowhere. Plus Malenko hits this awesome leg whip and busts out a super fast kneebar in this and I was leaning on rewind like a motherfucker. Think I just prefer their Uncensored match, but this is RIGHT there and I'll be damned but I'm actually looking forward to the next Eddy/Malenko match on the set. And it's a fuggin' handheld. What next?
Juventud Guerrera, Lizmark Jr. & Hector Garza v La Parka, Psicosis & Villano IV (Bash at the Beach, 7/13/97)
Ridiculous spotfest. First couple minutes has guys pairing off like a traditional Lucha trios match, but before long they ditch that and just run through a shit ton of highspots. Way too much to mention all of it, but the spot where the technicos do a stereo suicide dive and Mark Curtis just curls up in the corner with his hands on his head is awesome. Psicosis also murderises Juventud with this powerbomb thing off the top rope that is just fucking ludicrous. The dive train towards the end is tres cool and Juventud's spot is... well, words don't do this thing justice. Juvi should challenge Keith Richards to a coke-snorting contest. Can you call something that has no transitions or structure in the slightest a good match? It's totally insane and it's something I'd probably hate if I never knew what to expect to begin with. Some people will probably still hate it. Pretty much the definition of a "popcorn" match. If this was a Kurt Angle, Kurt Angle & Kurt Angle v Davey Richards, Davey Richards & Davey Richards match and they wrestled it the exact same as these 6 guys I'd shit all over it. Good job I have no problem being a hypocrite in this instance.
Eddy Guerrero v Chavo Guerrero Jr. (Nitro, 7/14/97)
Eddy's dropped the singlet here and has 100% completed the transformation to total bare-chested, pornstached scumbaggery that I remember from my childhood. He's also invested in a white bandana that you might not think would make a HUGE difference to one's cretinous aura, but trust me, it SO fucking does. The previous week it seems Eddy had ditched Chavo during a tag match and left him to be the victim of Scott Norton's pro-wrestling snuff film, all in an effort to toughen him up. This doesn't sit well with Chavo, so this week Eddy plans on toughening him up himself. Nice little match, the story being Chavo hanging tough (pun?) and getting more than his expected share of licks in while Uncle Scumbag comes to realise he shouldnt be taking his nephew so lightly. Eddy getting fed up with the pissing about and just shredding Chavo's chest with chops is a sight to see. Not their best match together, but this was short and sweet.
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