The Near-Fall Notebook

Because the fun doesn't end with a three-count. It was during 1999 that I was flipping through the channels one night, before landing upon an episode of WCW Nitro. When I saw Sting, the man who would make me a fan of pro wrestling, I was hooked. The Near-Fall Notebook is my platform for wrestling columns and commentaries. I plan on covering all matter of pro wrestling, from the larger organizations like WWE to the local indie that you might not have heard about. This is purely my New York wrestling blog.

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“The Pineapple Girl” Yuna Mizumori

(Gatoh Move ChocoPro Live #40 - August 13, 2020)

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The Genderless Pro Wrestler, ASUKA

(Gatoh Move ChocoPro Live #40 - August 13, 2020)

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“The Fiend” Targets Mick Foley

WWE Monday Night RAW - RAW Reunion

(July 22, 2019 - Amalie Center, Tampa, Florida)

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“Let’s be real here... Shingo Takagi is not a junior heavyweight! Shingo Tagaki is far from a junior heavyweight! The man is a freakin’ tank, nearly took my head off! I want to see the results of his weigh-in! I’m glad he’s in the heavyweight division where he belongs, he’s a freakin’ tank! He’s like a rhinoceros!”

NJPW G1 Climax 2019 - Tag 8

July 24, 2019 - Hiroshima Sun Plaza, Hiroshima, Japan

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“Kenny Omega, the myth, seems to think I’m some kind of joke.”

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Kane Speaks Without Assistance for the First Time

(WWF RAW - Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois - August 9, 1999)

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Kevin Owens Makes His NXT Debut

In June of 2014, Kevin Steen had his farewell match in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Roughly one month later, it was reported that he signed with World Wrestling Entertainment. As Kevin Owens, he made his debut at NXT’s third TakeOver event, R Evolution, defeating CJ Parker in under 4 minutes. Little did viewers know that this wouldn’t be the only impact Owens would make that night…

(NXT TakeOver: R Evolution - Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida - December 11, 2014)

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“He’s pulling out the heavy stuff! It’s homogenized! No skim milk for Kurt Angle! Cold milk and cookies, what a combination! Kurt Angle is the Olympic dairyman! Milk-O-Mania has run wild on RAW!”

(WWF RAW - Arco Arena, Sacramento, California - August 20, 2001)

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(WWE NXT Live - Largo, Florida - March 7, 2019)

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Eric Bugenhagen Rocks Out With the NXT Broadcast Team

(WWE NXT - Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida - March 6, 2019)

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“You need to watch your ass… Because the next time you get out of line with either one of us, you’re going to be the one handicapped, and that I will promise.”

(WWF RAW - Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan - September 28, 1998)

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WWE World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker vs. Rey Mysterio

(WWE SmackDown! - Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida - December 25, 2009)

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Beth Phoenix vs. Katie Lea for the OVW Women’s Championship

(OVW TV - Davis Arena, Louisville, Kentucky - December 23, 2006) 

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(WWE SmackDown! - Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina - February 26, 2019)

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Shinsuke Nakamura Makes His Debut at NXT TakeOver: Dallas

In January of 2016, Shinsuke Nakamura announced that he would be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling and signing with World Wrestling Entertainment. The following April, at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, the King of Strong Style challenged Sami Zayn. Ironically, this match would signal the end of Zayn’s NXT career and the beginning of Nakamura’s.

(NXT TakeOver: Dallas - Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas - April 1, 2016)

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Ultimo Dragon Defeats Shannon Moore in His WWE Debut

(WWE SmackDown - Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York - June 26, 2003)

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AJ Styles vs. The Hurricane

(WWF Jakked - BI-LO Center, Greenville, South Carolina - January 26, 2002)