I love that Joe vs Necro is listed.
While I’ve never considered it a “Death Match”, it is definitely an incredible outing from Necro Butcher - and represents a peak point of the Northeast US indie scene during the 00’s.
It’s also interesting to think about the fact that Joe vs Necro took place the same weekend (and building) as the original Hardcore Homecoming event and the day before ECW One Night Stand. (Necro vs Joe took place on an IWA Mid-South Show, as part of a double header with CZW later that day). It was a packed weekend for those fans for sure.
Oh, and Necro worked a match on the CZW show later that same day.
I’d also argue that this match is probably the most remembered of that entire weekend, with maybe Tanaka vs Mike Awesome being the only other one still even discussed somewhat.
At the end of the day, Necro vs Joe was a dream match at the time. Joe, amongst the very best all around talents at the time on the indies. Necro was a wild man who had gained a reputation for being the stiffest and craziest dude on the indies. Just a perfect match-up. Styles make fights.
Also, it should be noted that this spurred several other Necro vs other super stiff hard hitting indie darlings, such as Necro vs Low-Ki and Necro vs Super Dragon. Sadly neither could reproduce the spectacle of this match.
Even if Dylan Summers has ended up complete dumpster fire of a human being in recent years - he still helped create a masterpiece of violence with his match with Joe.
As far as Onita vs Funk - I absolutely love the final five minutes. It’s just so perfect, and almost cinematic. The sirens going. The countdown. And finally, Onita running back in to try and save Funk from the explosion. It’s magic. I really hope AEW lifts some aspects of this match for the Omega / Moxley match.
In terms of other indies for death matches, I’d recommend checking out some of the mid-2000’s Fans Bring The Weapons brawls from Montreal’s IWS. I remember sitting front row for some of these shows in front of nearly 1000 people, for matches that featured hundreds upon hundreds of light tubes, and all sorts of other creative violence. It’s where a guy like Sexxxy Eddy broke out, and was able to get into TOD, and make a name for himself - and as a result, opened the door for other Non-Death match IWS guys at the time to get into the states, specifically Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
