John Smith (USA) v/s Stepan Sarkisyan (URS) - 1989 World Cup

[@blumpkinspicelatte4580]

That ankle pick by Sarkisyan off of John's shot at 6:20 was phenomenal wresting. Both guys are amazing.

[@Bpd0177]

They had some great matches against each other these two

[@OmarAbdulMalikDHEdMPASPACPAPro]

I REALLY admired John Smith when I was a wrestler (MANY years ago😅👴🏾). He didn't strike me as the most powerful guy. However, his speed, skill and timing seemed unparalleled! Just INCREDIBLE!😊🤼‍♂️👍🏾

[@sharonscoville1864]

Hmm...I really can't say he seems to be less powerful than the chunky guy. Like a young David Taylor.

[@naw4197]

Dave Schultz sitting in the background!

[@oMegaEddy13]

God rest his soul

[@tmt1675]

I’ve never seen a boring John Smith match. I mean whoever got on the deepest shot here got re attacked and scored on. Insane!

[@chuku3073]

It's truth

[@anthonymontgomery4785]

John smith low single is used to practice that every day my junior yr I even had the smith Adidas shoes

[@graceandtruthfellowship4347]

Same 😂 friend of mine loaned me his John Smith "How Low Can You Go" VHS. Changed my wrestling for sure. That was 2000 before all this stuff was on YT 😂

[@tmt1675]

3:16 the strength and pure chain wrestling there is amazing from red

[@abdelhakym8283]

Stepan is a beast for surviving that crackdown

[@jnewk9100]

john smith the goat

[@АнатолийФедоскин-ю8й]

КРАСИВО !

[@tmt1675]

That elbow pass duck was ferocious Smith had! Lightening quick. Fantastic hips.

[@MrDbaker360]

Dude from Russia on the saucey sauce

[@AndrewReevesArt]

Yeah they were always roided up back then

[@kobebetty]

Still are just got caught now ha​@AndrewReevesArt

[@mikeolson268]

Love how the ref stops them 1 second before Smith takes him down. BS

[@CrispimSoares]

The Soviet looks pretty jacked up compared to Smith. Was he on PED? Oh, of course not....

[@fenrir2616]

Was that Dave Schultz at 02:48?

[@Dr_C_Smith]

In the red top? Yes.

[@tmt1675]

Speed and mechanics and technique vs .... Roids!!!!

[@gregoryderosa8045]

Know that..great comment

[@tmt1675]

Tree trunk city in the red lmao! Guys like Smith and Cross were so impressive because they didn’t need to be physical they were so slick it put them in position to bully! That’s why Jordan Boroughs is so great too because he’s slick fast athletic and physical!

[@tmt1675]

6:36 text book Smith Single with the low feint to set it up.

[@jacefebo5138]

John Smith set the president for the quick twitchy style that you see everywhere in lighter weights today.

[@brettmerrick8271]

precedent

[@ianshue2890]

Hulk vs Flash. I love it

[@rakehen2689]

Hey y'all kind of confused, John ended up winning gold at the 1989 world cup but lost here. Was it a 1/3 match? If so the only other video of John Smith v/s Stepan Sarkisyan I can find in 1989 (where Smith won) doesn't look like the same arena. I also can't find their tie breaking match. Anyon able to help?

[@jimmythe-gent]

Tom Hanks from "Big" was some freakin wrestler, Who knew.

[@kolliskollis]

How do y'all even have this match? Was FloWrestling a thing back then?

[@insidetrip101]

@Mike Betancourt rofl my thoughts exactly.

[@michaelbradley7621]

What high level wrestling

[@slickwilly9684]

I see where Anuiar Geduev gets his style from. Small tank that knows how to slow down a guy like Smith, much like Geduev slowed down Burroughs in their matches.

[@blee9480]

John smith is juiced to the gills cmon!

[@gregoryderosa8045]

Lmao 🤣🤣

[@pjkz]

why are people booing at the end?

[@douglastovey2685]

Because the ref stopped an obvious takedown for Smith on the edge of the mat when Stephan stepped out then later on the same scenario was reversed. Smith stepped out and they gave a caution and 1. Take one give one Smith wins.

[@irish1354]

flat out stud

[@tmt1675]

That was my first pair of wrestling shoes at 4 Smith has on. I still have them framed! Pretty sure he invented the volley ball bubble knee pad as well.

[@williamoleary9330]

World Cup not the World Championship or Olympics

[@douglastovey2685]

I knew John was in trouble when he unlocked his hands on the high crotch crack down. Can’t handle that kind of power with one hand.

[@алексейгузынин]

Ото в финале Олимпиады - 88 так бороться надо было Стёпе. Единственный раз когда кто то из советских борцов дал ладу Смиту. Во всех остальных был пролёт.

[@rawsondenna6329]

Best in the world

[@baccaratfitness2360]

Sarkisyan looks like a 160 pounder compressed into a 136 pounder.

[@brandenpalcko4010]

3:00

[@idavidp2895]

Soviets just juiced to the gills man

[@Bpd0177]

I think most people was at the top