If you missed the first two parts of our wrestling Secret Santa (concept discovered by us on Voices of Wrestling) then follow the links below
Nerd giving: RevPro Rob
Nerd receiving: Rich
Match:Shelton Benjamin vs Shawn Michaels - Monday Night Raw, May 2nd, 2005
Rob:I feel this is just a glimpse into what could have been a really decent rivalry.
Rich:So here we are, Shelton is in the ring and instantly looks surprised as Shawn Michaels music hits. The crowd, and JR go absolutely mental. Kings voice goes obnoxiously high, ever more so than usual.
HBK milks the entrance, this crowd are still on their feet as the bell rings. After an exchange of grappling on the canvas the men back up and a huge HBK chant rings out. Both men exchange hammer locks before they grapple on the canvas again until HBK gets to the ropes for the break.
More HBK chants ringing out as he kicks in a sleeper hold on Shelton. Shelton fights back with a couple of arm drag take downs. Both men head to a corner before squaring up again. Shelton locks in a headlock, trying to wear down HBK. But it doesn’t last long before HBK is able to get the upper hand with a few kicks and punches.
Shelton hits a clothesline out of nowhere which takes both men to the outside. Shelton lands on his feet, returns to the ring and asks the ref to start the count as we go to an ad break. As we come back, both men are on the top turn buckle, HBK looking for the Superplex but Shelton counters by twisting into a cross body, driving HBK into the canvas.
Meanwhile Dave Batista is watching on backstage waiting to see who will come out of this as number one contender by winning this tournament. Interestingly, he is watching the by pretty straight on, not the usual WWE side angle.
Shelton hits a Samoan drop on HBK but both men are tiring now. They exchange rights in the middle of the ring. But Shelton stays on top and hits the back breaker for a 2 count. HBK hits the chops on Shelton’s chest before both men take each other out with firearms. The count gets to 7 and both men kick up.
The crowd are really into this now. HBK and Shelton exchange roll ups. These men really are giving it their all! It’s quite the fast-paced duel. HBK lines up the sweet chin music but Shelton sucks and nails HBK with the spinning heel kick, wow! He really dropped him there. Here’s the cover... 1...2... Kickout! That was close.
HBK is bleeding from the mouth. Shelton is looking to set up a Superplex as HBK fights back and pushes Shelton to the canvas. He hits a massive elbow drop into the gut of Shelton.
HBK fires up and lines up the sweet chin music.... Shelton blocks it and again hits the spinning kick. 1....2.... kick out again! Even closer than the last near fall! Lovely stuff. Shelton with more quick offence for another 2.99999 count!
Shelton lines up the springboard cross body. Holy shit, from nowhere, sweet chin music! That has to be all folks. 1...2...3! There it is, HBK is your winner. Wow, what a cracking match. Don’t get matches like this on Raw these days! Lovely stuff!
Prediction:Luke (editor’s note, Rich lives in Canada and has only met JCH)
Nerd giving: Rumours are he has seen the Joker - it’s Pete Hitchcock.
Nerd receiving: Daniel ‘Watford’ Wildash
Match:Kevin Owens vs Finn Balor - Beast in the East 2015
Pete:This is the first full match I ever watched
Dan:Christmas time is upon us and I've been given a gift of a match by someone who says, "this is the first full match they ever watched". Pretty good match to start your wrestling viewings on because, if I remember this match correctly, this is a slobberknocker!
This match starts with a promo vid regarding Balor and his prior success in Japan. Owens says this would be a fairy tale ending for Balor and it won't happen. Balor states the demon is coming out tonight. Balor accompanied by Kane is made official it seems
Balor out with his classic demon (not Kane) body paint slithering around like he's possessed. Owens follows out next getting booed and jeered by the Japanese fans. Owens points out a man dressed head to toe in Cena merch. What a hero. Owens and Balor receive a bouquet of flowers each. Owens decides he's allergic to these and chucks them into the crowd
Balor straight out the blocks with a missile drop kick into the corner. Set up for the coup de grace as Owens rolls out but Balor still lands on him on the outside. It's all Balor at the moment as Owens again goes to the outside. Balor sends Owens crashing through the barricade. Both men back in the ring now as there's a bit of back and forth action going. Pin attempt at 2 for Owens as he's now on top. Plenty of smack talk from Owens. "That's why I'm the champ" which gets met by raucous boos from the Jap crowd. Whilst this is going on, Cole lists off Balor's achievements in NJPW as Owens starts bowing to the crowd.
Owens continues to beat down on Balor over the next few minutes. Few near count outs on Balor happen over this time. Owens expresses how he hates Japan and everybody who lives there. A roll through into a drop kick gets Balor back in the match. Punches back and forth between the two ends in Owens unleashing his inner John Cena. Big five knuckle shuffle from Owens. He's looking for the AA, but it gets countered by Balor into a stomp. Continued offense by Balor ends in a sweetly hit Pele kick. Big dive to the outside onto Owens and a coup de grace on his back. He's looking for 1916 and hits it! Kick out at 2 from Owens. He's gone back up to the top for another coup de grace, misses and a suplex from Owens ends in a running cannonball into Balor. Balor isn't giving up and kicks out at 2.
"This is awesome" chants ring around the arena as Owens shouts "you're done" at Balor. Set up for the powerbomb gets reversed into a slingblade which Tanahashi would be proud of. He's gone back up top for the coup de grace! Owens realises and quickly counters with a headbutt. Balor reacts and kicks him to the ground. Coup de grace! Kick out at 2 and 1/2. Balor looks shocked. He puts Owens into the corner and unloads on him. Both men to the top rope and Owens hits a huge top rope rolling senton. Balor kicks out of that at 2 1/2 also. Madness
Owens to the top looking to fly and Balor counters with the knees. Another 1916 and a kick out again. Big resilience from Owens. Owens looks incensed and shouts "you can't beat me" at Balor. Irish whip into the rope sets up into a pop up powerbomb. Quick counter by Balor puts Owens into the corner. Missile dropkick in the corner sets up coup de grace. He hits it! 1 2 and 3. It's over. Balor is your new NXT champion! What a great match.
Prediction:I don’t have a Scooby, Luke maybe?
Nerd giving: It’s WSBF boss, Ross Casey
Nerd receiving - RevPro Rob Crowley
Match - Will Ospreay vs Marty Scurll - ROH TV Title - York Hall - November 2016
Ross:I think this is my favourite ever live match and I hope whomever watches it has as much fun as I did. Pretty sure you get Nigel and Kelly on comms too which is ace. This is at a point in both of their careers where they were just about getting into world star territory and is a reminder of how amazing our scene is.
Rob: Thoughts on Ospreay (c) vs Scurll:
- Ospreay looks like he just got out of bed. Kind of feel like maybe he’s wrestling under the weather?
- all Scurll early on. It’s been ages since I watched a Marty match. Forgotten how much I enjoy the Villain character in-ring. He’s wonderfully malevolent in his presentation.
- Ospreay really does possess incredible balance and agility. His comeback rallies are always impressive.
- the ROH crowd seem to be trying to make themselves the main feature here. Irritating.
- Scurll’s finger break spots sound bad on tv, but even worse live. Never fails to get me. The way he sells them is almost always as good as the victim’s selling.
- I do enjoy a Chicken Wing finish.
Overall: Decent match, very enjoyable. Glad Scurll won.
Prediction:I really feel like any of the group could have sent me this, so I’m having a tough time guessing who it was....
I’ll go with Dom
We’re 7 for 7 with satisfied nerds this Christmas. What a lovely bunch we are, sending each other excellent, enjoyable matches….
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