MOTW 97: Awesome vs Tanaka
"M.O.T.W. #97: Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka" - ink & digital illustration
We're now up to the 97th addition to our 'Match of the Week' illustration series & this week I bring you the match that opened the evening of this past weeks' Wrestling Club w/ Chris Things at The Scratch & one of my favourite ECW matches of all-time!
This gasoline-soaked, concussion-laden thrill ride took place on August 2nd, 1998 at Extreme Championship Wrestling's incredible HeatWave '98 PPV event from the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
So this just rocks so hard in every way! It may not be the smartest or most subtle of matches but dang if I don't love every moment of this madness with all of my heart! It honestly made me so happy to play this for a bar full of people with varying degrees of knowledge of Professional Wrestling. I honestly stand by this one as one of those totally perfect matches to show folks who have no idea of this bizarre art form.
As the big ECW PPV debut for this already legendary FMW feud, you get the feeling both have something to prove here. And dang, if they don't put themselves through likely life-altering degrees of punishment to do so. So many surreal moments in this one that just connect on a guttural level. That running chair-shot down the ramp by Tanaka & Awesome falling like a giant tree on impact is SO GREAT!! The chair exchanges, all the teases of Awesome-Bombs through the table & the climactic final moment where Tanaka gets the best of Big Mike! My gosh! I love this way too much!!
HIGHLY recommended to watch for the 1st time, or even just the 1st time on a hot minute. This is Pro Wrestling!
P.S. this one is for my dear mate David as he ventures back over to the U.K. & all our good times watching this ridiculous stuff. Love you & miss you already my dude!
ENJOY!!
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