MINORU'S MUSINGS [Rapture 2020]

HELLOOOOOOOOO WRESTLING FAAAAAAANS! It is once again time to be graced by the wisdom of your mother’s favorite wrestler, The Black Lion, Minoru Tanahashi. It is time for the 3rd edition of Minoru’s Match Musings, and this one is special because we will be covering OATH's recent iPPV, RAPTURE! Added bonus, I did predictions for this show, so I am going to look at those and if I got a decent number correct, we’ll revisit them. If I didn’t, forget you ever saw them, just skip past them, in fact never look at them again. Rapture was a massive show with titles matches, changes, debuts and shocks. Come along with me and let’s talk about the show, who had the MOTN on this night?

Rapture Pre Show Match Musings

This is another case of the expected to win winning. A few okay matches, but nothing that just really stuck out to me right away.

Rapture Main Card Musings

Jacobi Vs. Macbeth Musings

This was a damn entertaining match, right up until the end. Macbeth was fired up and come out of the gate hot really laying into Jacobi. It looked like he was just gonna tear through the horrible hobo, but an eye rake ended that, and I can’t say I disapprove of the tactics. It was back and forth for a while after that and I was really enjoying the fight. Macbeth proved that bringing out his buddies was smart, but Jacobi had one in hiding. Midnight special did neutralize Shortcut from getting physically involved, but he still proved to be a valuable distraction multiple times. Macbeth kept on fighting though, especially after getting busted open. It looked like he was on his way to a victory after some big moves, but the creepy little bastard caused another distraction and that piece of shit Zeke Davis interfered, using a damn stun gun. After that, it was easy for Jacobi to come out with a stolen victory. This one gets 2 stars because of that bullshit ending, also, fuck Zeke Davis.

Wales Vs. Young (Tabula Rasa Title Match) Musings

3rd Minoru’s match musings and 3rd time the Tabula Rasa title match is my personal MOTN. This match was absolutely incredible and congratulations to Josie Wales on a hard fought and well earned victory. I almost don’t want to give a run down because I feel like I can’t do it justice, and if I try I will ramble on and on. Trust me, go and watch this match for yourself. It was an absolute war from bell to bell to bell to bell. It went all 3 falls of course, both women showed incredible athleticism, resilience, ingenuity, and while some may call the way Wales took the second fall (her first) cheap or controversial, I thought it was brilliant. It’s no secret I was rooting for Young to retain the title, but I certainly wasn’t disappointed to see Josie pick up the win. She impressed the hell out of me and I’m sure a lot of other people. This one gets 5 stars from me.

Davis Vs. Marshal Musings

Fuck Zeke Davis. I enjoyed this match, mainly because of the end, but it was a decent match. Luckily Midnight special got rid of Jacobi so more BS couldn’t happen, although Davis certainly had plenty of tricks up his proverbial sleeves. Marshal wasn’t putting up with his bullshit though and she took the fight right to him. She really controlled the match as Davis showed what a cowardly little bitch he is. Sure he would get in some offense here and there, but it was all due to a cheap shot and then he would celebrate like he had won the damn title. In the end, he got exactly what he deserved, spiked on his stupid head and pinned. This one gets 2.5 stars.

Umbra Knights Vs. Hell Realm (Tag Team Title Match) Musings

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this match and I was very pleasantly surprised. I was certain the champs would dominate and run through the makeshift challengers, but Abendroth and Mason showed some damn good team work in this and a lot of fire, as did the champions. I like that they came right at the champions at the start, especially with it seeming to be a way to get the giant Monstruo out of there so it would be a fair match. They took it to the champs early on and looked like they could end it early, but the champs came back, showed some good team work and were in control, but then it shifted again. This was a common theme in this match as both teams threw everything they had at each other. There multiple times where I was certain the match was over, especially when The Hell Realm were just brutalizing Terra Mason. In the end, the upstart duo took the match and the titles in a damn good match that was certainly an MOTN contender. I’m giving this one 4 stars.

Aguero Vs. Matsuda Musings

This was a really fun match, especially at the start. These two obviously know each other very well and went in to this match without much ill will towards the other, although that could be a different story now. I had Aguero winning this, but I think Matsuda could have taken it had she not hesitated when she had her cousin’s leg pinned between the stairs and the post. She definitely showed more aggression in this match, but I think Aguero is the slightly more talented of the duo. This was definitely no friendly exhibition though. These two came out and threw down, giving each other all that they had. There were some heavy strikes thrown throughout and it looks like it could go either way, but instead we were left still wondering who the better one truly is as the refusal of both to lose, ended up meaning neither of them one. The no contest was a bit disappointing, but I enjoyed the match so this one is getting 3 stars. Would be 3.5 or even 4 with a definitive ending.

Whelan Vs. Edwards (Intrepid Title Match) Musings

First things first, hopefully Finn Whelan recovers and returns. I may not like him, but I didn’t want to see him get injured. This was another damn good match slightly marred by the ending. Both men came out of the gate hot, trying to hit huge moves and end it early, but they were countered, reversed, escaped, you name it. The real story of the match was Edward’s assault on the left leg of Whelan. Edwards used his striking and suplexes very well, but it was clear that submission was the name of the game for him. For Whelan it was, do whatever the hell it takes. He hit some heavy strikes, took some big chances and looked like he could get going quite a few times, but he was always stopped short. Whelan finally took control and looked to finish it, but that left leg gave out, Edwards got the massive bicycle knee, locked in his submission and then that nasty noise that signalled the end of the match and possibly Finn Whelans career. I’m giving this one 3.5 stars.

Black Vs. Helms Musings

Holy fucking shit balls was this match violent, and I loved it. Both of these guys were a bloody mess by the end of this fight, and that’s exactly what it was. Sure there were some wrestling moves used, but it was mostly punches, kicks, and beating the shit out of each other with a god damn steel chain. While the Tabula Rasa match is getting my MOTN nod, this was probably the match I most enjoyed watching. It was difficult at times though, and that’s why it only gets 4.5 stars instead of 5. Some will say it was a shorter match and there wasn’t a lot of wrestling, but I like a good bloody brawl and these two delivered that in a big way. Black picked up the win and showed some toughness throughout, but you can not count out Locke Helms and the sheer grit he showed out there. That is one tough scary creepy son of a bitch.

Ojima Vs. Holland (World Title Match) Musings

Okay, this one was another absolute war, and that was before the match had even officially started. Seriously, Ojima didn;t even wait for the bell. Hell he didn’t even wait for the championship introductions. The crazy old bastard didn’t even wait for Holland to get inside the ring. These two battled all over, beating and bludgeoning each other before they even got into the ring. Once they did get in the ring, it was more of the same. The champ was able to take control thanks to his size advantage, but the old bastard didn’t back down one damn bit and seemed to enjoy pissing Holland off at every turn. Let’s not forget, Ojima got the first near fall of the match. For all the stuff these two threw at each other, a pin attempt didn’t even come until at least 10 minutes in. In fact, Holland only had one single pin attempt in this match. The match kept swinging back and forth, with one taking control and looking close to ending it, but then the other would start to fire back. In the end, Holland took a massive risk that didn’t pay off, crashed through a table and as tough as he is, that was all that the cranky crusty old bastard needed to hit his big move, get the 1, 2, 3, and become the new champion. I do not like Ojima out all, but I will give him credit. He won this one on his own and earned the title. What him and the gonad garglers did after the match though, that was complete bullshit. The match would get 4.5, but I’m knocking off half a star for that bullshit at the end. 4 stars.

Final Grades

Jacobi Vs. Macbeth - **

Wales Vs. Young - ***** MOTN

Davis Vs. Marshal - **½

UK Vs. THR - ****

Aguero Vs. Matsuda - ***

Whelan Vs. Edwards - ***½

Black Vs. Helms - ****½

Ojima Vs. Holland - ****