Retro Rasslin' Review – Details, episodes & analysis

This is part 2 of our 2-week Dynamite Kid retro rasslin' extravaganza! Last week, we covered Dynamite Kid vs Tiger Mask. This week, we watch along to Dynamite Kid vs Bret Hart from the Calgary Stampede territory in 1978 as well as those two men doing battle in the WWF in 1985. These two gladiators carried their rivalry from the light heavyweight division of the Calgary territory all the way to their tag-team feud in the World Wrestling Federation as the British Bulldogs dueled with the Hart Foundation. These two have always been can't-miss wrestlers, and these matches are no different!

First Match: https://youtu.be/Du6d0s0G50U

Second Match: https://youtu.be/Ei8C2_IJ73M

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There are so many amazing, classic matches between Dynamite Kid and Tiger Mask to choose from, but we picked just two. One of the matches we're covering today is from All Japan Pro Wrestling whereas the other is from WWF in Madison Square Garden. Dynamite Kid was and is to this day a divisive figure, but his in-ring work was second to none. Let's also not leave out the amazing talent of the man who donned the Tiger Mask. This is part one of our two-week Dynamite Kid extravaganza! I hope you enjoy the watch-along as well as the facts I'm going to be throwing at you. Watch and learn!

First Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x963cv

Second Match: https://youtu.be/wWaOWRIw1Ww

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We're hopping on the time-traveling wrestling ring to go back to the mid-1970s for two amazing matches from the world's most famous arena! "Superstar" Billy Graham is most well known for his triumphs in Madison Square Garden, so we are going to be watching along as he takes on two other titans of the industry on that very venue. First, in 1975 (supposedly), Graham squares off against one of the WWWF's biggest babyface draws, Bruno Sammartino, in a battle of the big men. In the second match, we're heading to 1977 to watch Graham and "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes brutalize each other in a Texas Death match! Listen in and watch along if you can, but you'll have fun either way!

First Match: https://youtu.be/Ko2-DqAiFWY

Second Match: https://youtu.be/WqGxsj3l830

The man currently known as LA Park became famous in AAA and WCW under the name La Parka. But when he left AAA in 1996, he had to change his look up a bit and became LA Park (La Authentica Park). Today, we're talking about some of the history of the character, the man behind the character, and watching along to two matches from very different eras. The first match is from 2016 where LA Park takes on Caristico (the former Mistico & Sin Cara). The second match is a 6-man tag from 1993 where La Parka teams with Psicosis and Heavy Metal to face the team of Lizmark, Rey Misterio Jr, and Eddie Guerrero.

First Match: https://youtu.be/eM1CVdNsqj4

Second Match: https://youtu.be/w0EjbTCKQg8

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In the summer of 1988, Curt Hennig, who was the reigning AWA World Champion, was about to head east for the WWF. Jerry Lawler, who ruled Memphis, tried for almost a decade and a half to get some sort of World Title. So, this made for a perfect storm that led to Hennig defending his title against Lawler in the Mid-South Coliseum. We review that match and a return match that aired on ESPN for the AWA!

First Match: https://youtu.be/DJlLhqCrWqU

Second Match: https://youtu.be/cpNVKql6_IE

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Little known fact: Andre the Giant finished out his illustrious career in Japan. However, back when he was a spry, young man, he did quite a few tours in Japan with historic matches, including a few with Antonio Inoki in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Today, we watch along to a couple of his classic matches (back when Andre had his famous afro), review the matches, and we go through some BIG facts about the Eighth Wonder of the World, his run in the Land of the Rising Sun, and his opponents.

First Match: https://youtu.be/BSVLReP5of0

Second Match: https://youtu.be/ZLwFZh75SdE

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In honor of Women's History Month 2021, we are going to Japan way back in 1989 and in the early '90s for two matches involving Joshi wrestling legends, Madusa Miceli and Lioness Asuka. The first match is a classic bout of theirs where Nick Bockwinkel was the special guest referee. The second match was a tag-team encounter where Madusa completely changed her look and attitude to team up with Bison Kimura to take on Yumiko Hotta and Mariko Yoshida. Your host, Troy, has much difficulty keeping all of this straight in the tag match and struggles to pronounce some names, but he tries his best. At the very least, you'll be entertained and you might learn something!

First Match: https://youtu.be/plmPCAyaxvU

Second Match: https://youtu.be/1_4aLEwfUrE

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Atsushi Onita was one of the kings of deathmatches in Japan, being a founder of FMW and having multiple wrestling matches where things explode and/or are sharp. In our first match, we're seeing Onita take on his former mentor, Terry Funk, at the FMW's 3rd Anniversary Show. In the second match, we're watching along to another Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch where Onita faces Hayabusa at FMW's 5th Anniversary Show. Both matches were pretty brutal and bloody, but neither was as good as AEW's match between Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega. In their favor, things exploded way better.

First Match: https://youtu.be/JPbn8Hsrv1g

Second Match: https://youtu.be/TJEH0guo_EM

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Heading into 1980, the legendary Bruno Sammartino took a young Larry Zbyszko under his wing as his protege. Finally, during what Bruno thought was a friendly match, Larry snapped on him and left him laying in a pool of his own blood. Now, Bruno wants revenge and we're going to watch him seek that vengeance out! First, we're watching along to one of their legendary bouts in Madison Square Garden and then finally, we will check out their legendary "Showdown at Shea" steel cage match!

First Match: https://youtu.be/39Btl0dJ3IQ

Second Match: https://youtu.be/th7rZcdSQSs

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"Killer K" Toshiaki Kawada was known as the ace of All-Japan Pro Wrestling, but in 1994, the American, "Dr. Death" Steve Williams was the top dog in the promotion. AJPW was known for having some of the best workers in the world in the mid-'90s with the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer regularly giving 5 and 6 stars to matches in that promotion. This match was no exception, as these two wrestling legends beat the ever-loving hell out of each other. Watch along and learn about the match and the men from your master of ceremonies, Troy Adams!

MATCH: https://youtu.be/BfP84q3VDEg