I just wanted to share a quick post explaining why I grade certain matches at higher grades. To kind of understand my mindset, here are the few things I take into consideration before I render a grade.
1) Company- I do not evaluate WWE matches the same way that I evaluate matches from ROH or New Japan. I do not consider it to be fair to compare companies between each other in terms of what makes a great match. Any wrestler who goes to WWE will tell you that WWE has a much different style than ROH and New Japan. The wrestling is different because each of their objectives are different. WWE is a company that aims to entertain through micromanaging (for better or for worse) the matches and storylines we see on TV in order to achieve what Vince McMahon wants. ROH and NJPW are a bit more relaxed in what they have their wrestlers do. Also, ROH and NJPW tend to be based more on the athleticism of the athletes which then gets peppered with storylines whereas WWE tends to be the exact opposite for a good portion of their matches. Believe me when I tell you that I am not putting down WWE at all. But it's literally an "Entertainment" company. Therefore you have to evaluate it at a different playing field than you would for ROH or NJPW. Speaking of Entertainment
2) Entertainment. How well did I enjoy the match? How did I feel after watching it? And it changes between companies and between performers. I would never hold a match between The Miz and Rey Mysterio to the same standard that I would hold a match between Minoru Suzuki and Tomorhiro Ishii. That's not a knock on any of the four performers as they are all (pardon the pun) awesome in their own way. But they are completely different wrestlers in completely different companies. But did they give the audience what they wanted? In both cases, the answer was yes. The crowd watching Rey and The Miz going back and forth on SmackDown was equally as entertained as any fan that watched Suzuki and Ishii engage in the slugfest at Power Struggle. (Side Note: God, I loved that Ishii/Suzuki match.)
3) Flow of the Match. How well did the two wrestlers work together? Were there hiccups in the match? (Example: I really enjoyed the Women of Honor match from Global Wars Night 2 because there was a chemistry between the two performers. However, I did not enjoy the Women of Honor match from the next night because I felt that the chemistry of the wrestlers and the flow of the match just did not click.)
4) Objectives Met- Did the end goal that the company set out in the segment get met? For example, I do not mind DQs or segments that lead to a no contest as long as it achieves some sort of agenda and doesn't trash something in the process. I've been vocal while watching ROH for NOT being a fan of The Kingdom. But I loved what they did in Night 3 of the Global Wars Tour because it accomplished the goal of making The Kingdom look more like heels and Dalton Castle and The Boys look more sympathetic. And it built to the upcoming Final Battle match between Castle and Taven. However, I did not care for Brock Lesnar causing a No Contest in the Hell in a Cell match between Strowman and Reigns because it ruined/destroyed the Hell in a Cell gimmick in the process. Take that Cell out of the equation, and the goals would have been met to a much greater degree in my opinion. Instead, it turned the fans on the entire story.
5) Context- This is something that is going to be a bit controversial. But I think that the context of when and where a match takes place plays a huge factor as well. You can't grade a 1995 match the same way you would a 2018 match. They are in two completely different eras and the industry has changed too much in those years. Thus, you need to watch the match within the context of the times in which the match is performed and the abilities of the performers involved. For example, if I were to grade Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior from WrestleMania VI, I would have to grade it based on the standards set in the Hogan Era, the venue and event that the match took place in, and the standards of what Hogan and Warrior can adequately perform under. I know this is going to be a shock, but you are never going to see Hulk Hogan do a springboard hurricanrana on someone. Shocking, I know. That's like expecting Rey Mysterio to overpower Braun Strowman in 2018.
Now, many people consider the Warrior-Hogan match to be an all-time classic because it was HUGE at the time it took place and for what it did for the Ultimate Warrior. In addition, for two huge muscle-bound wrestlers going at it, it was a phenomenal match. They both worked that crowd to near perfection that night. Now, let's flip to a match between Chris Sabin and Jay Lethal in front of a few hundred people in Ring of Honor this past week. Now, how is it fair to compare those two matches? You can't. Nothing at all makes that comparison fair to either match. However, when I evaluated and graded that match, I took the following things in consideration
a) The performers involved
b) The company/venue/event
c) The stipulations
d) The flow of the match
e) The action/moves involved.
f) Meeting REASONABLE expectations prior to the match.
g) The finish accomplishing some sort of goal.
h) Entertainment Value Overall of the Segment
So, looking at all those levels of criteria in my head, with the 15 minute time limit involved in the match, I felt that both men performed an excellent time limit draw that saved the champion from taking the loss and provided a new challenger for Lethal down the road whenever Ring of Honor decides to give Sabin the match. The attack by Kenny King afterwards was also well done because it built to the big title match between Lethal and King at the end of the tour. The live crowd liked the match, and it fit the standard for what a Ring of Honor match should be. It wasn't my favorite match of all time, but these guys more than met the expectations I had for the match. And I was entertained as a result of their hard work.
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I know this is a bit of a rambling post, but I hope by now you get the point of how I tend to grade these matches. So, if you are wondering why your perception of matches may be different than mine, you now have an idea of what I do to grade my matches.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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