LogFAQs > #948699607

Bidoof's Match of the Week Recommendation

Super Vader vs. Nobuhiko Takada (c)
UWF-i Pro Wrestling World Tournament Finals - 8/18/1994
Match Link: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7g9ir

Confession time - I'm disappointed in you, Board 8. I saw the rankings for Steiner's Top 100 Wrestlers project. I even did some of the write-ups for it. Where you guys put Big Van Vader, one of wrestling's greatest monsters and in my opinion wrestling's greatest hoss, was shameful. You people had him below Kevin Nash, dammit. So, it's time. It's ****in' Vader time.

Let's begin with a quick introduction to UWF-i. This is actually the third iteration of Japan's shoot style promotion that aimed to present people a more realistic, hard-hitting style than what they were getting from the larger promotions. The matches may have still been predetermined, but they all felt like and were treated as fights. Last topic, I presented a wild brawl. This time, I'm giving you a more scientific bout between a man and a monster.

Takada at the time of this match had been the UWF-i champion for 696 days. He fought against all manner of opponents in that time, from other disciplined shooters like Kiyoshi Tamura (man, I should find stuff from him for this) to big collegiate wrestler types like Gary Albright. He even had fought Vader the year prior and came very close to losing it then. You can see in his face from the start of the match how worried he is about having to face this beast of a man again and especially how he's unsure about trading strikes with the guy. While Takada has Vader beat in sheer technical skill, Vader's power is terrifying. Takada needs multiple hard shots just to get Vader stumbling but Vader only needs one blow to make him crumple.

Vader, of course, plays the perfect monster. His blows are hard (then again, I don't think anyone has ever accused Vader of being a light worker), he's fast for a guy his size, and his selling is wonderful. He gives Takada enough to make him look like a badass and he seems to bump at exactly the right time to really get the crowd fired up. I especially love the subtle heel work he gets in like nailing Takada with a closed fist to get out of a hold. There's maybe two spots like that in this match but, like with his selling for Takada, it's just enough to let the people know who the "hero" is here. Vader even gets to show off some mat work of his own, not as polished as Takada's but it doesn't need to be. Unlike Takada, he's not looking for a submission - he's looking for a knockout blow.

The last couple minutes of this match are just incredible, especially as you listen to the crowd explode when Vader starts looking to powerbomb Takada. I think you guys will enjoy this and I believe you'll see why I love Vader so much from this. Happy holidays!