Unsung, Underground, and Underappreciated: Must-see matches available on Youtube

by Russell Jaffe

As a lover of all things pro wrestling, I hold a soft spot in my heart for the bizarre, rare, and just plain insane. I collect WCW tapes from late 1999 and beyond, own every episode of XPW TV, and keep up with the lowliest of the low indie promotions, like Dirty South Pro Wrestling and Jonny Rodz’ World of Unpredictable Wrestling. I try to diversify. But what about people less-crazy than myself who want all the strangest must-see pro wrestling without all the time and money flushed into the abyss? I present to you: Unsung, Underground, and Underappreciated: Must-see matches available on Youtube.
Youtube is the voice of Generation Y: fast, to the point, odd, sadistic, voyeuristic, and representative of our multi-tasting, ADD generation. These matches are perfect fits within the deep cracks of pro-wrestling subculture. I present them for your enjoyment, whether you’ve seen them or not.

Finlay vs Grasshopper-World of Sport 1986
This bizarre match is must-watch for a number of reasons:
1.) World of Sport was totally fucking awesome and added an authentic edge to pro wrestling while retaining all the ridiculousness we all love.
2.) It’s Finlay in 1986. With a girl dressed like an Injun.
3.) I cannot figure out of this match is actually on sped up tape, but if not, these guys could give Bruce Lee a run for his money. Their way of moving is really fast and insane.
I recommend that anyone who likes World of Sport to seek out Mike Quackenbush vs. Johnny Saint from CHIKARA…that throwback match really brought back memories of simpler (and in this case, equally as odd) times.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRwa8AdVDQY

WCW 1989: Ding Dongs vs. Skyscrapers
This insanely brutal squash makes me laugh every time. It’s humiliation at its most humiliating as the pathetic, despised Ding Dongs are decimated and de-masked by the monsterous Skyscrapers. Yup, that’s Teddy Long with them. Let the neck snapping begin.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-pCo0CMIFA

Juvi's hilarious XPW promo: Philadelphia, 2001
People remember an awful lot about XPW, but you’d be hard pressed to find anything good. While many of the matches were garbage matches, how many times can you say that you’ve seen a garbage PROMO? Juvi brings it out in full force here, and envokes the wrath of the 2001 audience, chanting “WHAT?” Yes, Austin and the Rock were hot, and their hotness did not translate at all to Juvi.
Unfortunately, this video was taken down and uploaded again, but its missing some funny stuff, particularly when Chris Chetti comes out and gets bonked in the head by the lone piece of the set- a juicer that has been sitting in the corner.
LINK:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFqrppW9N0c

Vader vs Takeshi Morishima- NOAH 2003
Call it a torch being passed or forcefully taken. Vader, on his way out, takes on Takeshi Morishima, on his way up. Morishima would go on to win the ROH and GHC world titles, while Vader would go on to fall off the ring in WWE. This match is fast, stiff, and brutal: perfect for Youtube. Not quite the infamous Stan Hanson vs. Vader match, but does anything need to be?
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTRpqt0UiHI

Mighty Wilbur vs David Isley -AWA
This match is important for anyone who says mic skills don’t matter. What as Mighty Wilbur squashes a jobber, gets over in about 3 seconds, and then proceeds to destroy all his heat with a dragged out promo that will remind you of that one math teacher who made you want to just play calculator games the whole class. Apparently he dislikes Paul Jones.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bwYxQfdrSs

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Katsuyori Shibata-2004 NJPW
It’s hard for me to describe this vicious match besides saying that each man has nothing but reckless abandon for themselves and their opponents. Like Youtube itself, it presents a non-stop marathon of hard hitting violence and insanity. Watch for the most horrific knee-drop in the history of wrestling at the end. You know from the get go that this match isn’t ending until someone can’t go anymore. This is an absolute must-see match!
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN6F1USUOaE

Great Antonio vs Antonio Inoki: 70s
This match is more important for the story behind it…Great Antonio refused to sell for Antonio Inoki, which is basically akin to inking your own death sentence in your own blood. Also, it’s worth mentioning that this match that degenerates into a shoot has amazing camerawork and quality, and it was the 1970s! Nice, Japan.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lXAGZtMxU8

Nasty Boys at Maryland Science Center
Remember when you were a kid and you watched all those wacky segments that made wrestling so much larger than life? If yes, then you do not remember this poop-covered gem: the Nasty Boys visiting the Maryland Science Center. While Knobbs may be called a legend on reality TV shows, he’s not exactly the wittiest guy in the world, and he has about 4 times the brain power that Jerry Saggs does. Turn your brain off and enjoy the stupidity!
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vypggcGJ1E0

Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger vs Perfect Event- WCW Greed 2001
Relive the death of WCW as Luger and Bagwell allow themselves to be totally slaughtered by the Perfect Event. The myth behind the match is that Luger and Bagwell stated many times that they think this was a good idea for getting their opponents over, while Death of WCW thinks it was a snide way to challenge management, who demanded Perfect Event be put over. Regardless, it’s a rare gem from WCW’s end.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EnFK-XhLe0

Val CM Punk- heat 2005
Reportedly, this is the match that got CM Punk signed to a WWE developmental deal, and if you watch it you’ll see why. Val Venis puts on his work boots to take CM Punk (working heel) to an intense back-and-forth match that you’d never in a billion years expect to see on the former “Stevie Night Heat.”
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rDEfClDq-g

Little Egypt and Little Fiji vs. HOUSEWIVES -GLOW
Let me start by saying that I love the Housewives and I wish there were more matches that just allowed wrestlers to be totally over the top and bury their opponents. Don’t expect any quality women’s wrestling here. Check out the amazing rap that starts this weird garbage clusterfuck!
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld8RIR3QoaY

Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton- Smackdown fall 2002
Who would have thought Randy Orton would go on to greatness? Anyone, after watching this match. Watch Orton destroy himself and sell as only Orton can but look like he has a chance in this classic “David vs. Goliath” match up. Imagine how awesome this match could be now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBb5F52cKg0

Jean-Paul Levesque vs. Alex Wright- WCW 94
Part 2 is easily accessible…and it must be here just so it can be said that Alex Wright beat Triple H clean (oops, spoiler alert). How did he do it? What is the secret to beating the Superman son-in-law McMahon? How did Wright beat the Game? Why hasn’t Wright main-evented Wrestlemania??? Find out (almost all) of those things.
LINK:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qra-2p4fcaM

Low KI (Kaval) vs. TJ Wilson (Tyson Kidd)
If HHH vs. Wright represents the past of wrestling, this match could represent the future. Indie standout and ROH alum Low Ki takes on TJ Wilson, soon to be Tyson Kidd, on FCW TV. This is a kick-ass match, and the result may very well surprise you! Could these guys be the future of Wrestlemania?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLLwcGBKvgI