Post by KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! on Aug 31, 2013 12:50:02 GMT -5
I watch without exaggeration hundreds of wrestling matches each month. Yet, this one takes the cake as far as ones that are just baffling. Where to begin!
*The match is billed as a shoot fight promoted by Antonio Inoki (who else?) yet is obviously a work. I mean for Christ's sake Barnett gets Banner in a full on fireman's carry position at one point! Maybe, I'm just an idiot, but if this match isn't a work then I'll eat my hat.
*Banner wears boxing gloves throughout the bout while Barnett has bare knuckles. I guess it's kind of a tribute to that disaster that was Antonio Inoki/Muhammad Ali.
*Banner comes out to O Fortuna complete with crazy screaming in Japanese, which I have no idea what is being said.
*Barnett, a real-life former UFC Heavyweight Champion is dominated throughout most of the match.
*Banner scores an obvious (worked) TKO, but instead of just stopping the match like in a typical UFC contest, the ref still counts.
*After the match Banner (from France) gives a promo in broken English promising to rock n' roll in front of a Japanese crowd.
*Inoki, wearing his pimp/gang leader outfit then gives a promo in Japanese. Also, around this time Bob Sapp and Bobby Lashley make cameos.
*Banner, who is still wearing boxing gloves on top of his belt is then presented also with a crystal trophy and a samurai sword. Banner even tries to unsheath the sword, but can't get much of a grip on it with his gloves still on.
Really, there is probably a bunch of stuff I'd only catch if I watched it again. I know Inoki's MMA/pro wrestling hybrid stuff rightfully gets crapped on a lot, but if his booking is this batshit insane these days, I'm tempted to lobby WWE to hand their booking over to him.
