Hey yo Stud Muffins and Foxy Ladies,
Jim Harbaugh sure has his work cut out for him next season. Ain't going to be a walk in the rose garden.
The same used to hold true for the ultra-hard-hitting All Japan Pro Wrestling of the 90s. After the Split, All Japan was able to survive on the backs of three of the greatest legends in puroresu: Toshiaki Kawada, Genichiro Tenryu and Keiji Mutoh. This model was not sustainable and new stars would need to be promoted. The style redefined. Keiji Mutoh emerged as the President of All Japan and defining his brand as Pro Wrestling Love, which I think is positively awesome and so Inoki at the same time. Pro Wrestling Love was one of the first attempts to bring American style wrestling to Japan.
HUSTLE, fighting opera, run by the one-time ultra serious, shoot-style practitioner, Nobuhiko Takada was an even more over the top attempt to import crazy American soap opera hijinx to Japan. One of my favorite HUSTLE storylines was that the Great Muta sprayed mist into the netherregions of Yinling The Erotic Terrorist. This obviously impregnated her and she laid a giant egg. No, GobbledyGooker did not pop put, but rather sumo wrestler and current All Japan mainstay Akebono. It is absurdly badass in my book. HUSTLE also brought us Nobuhiko Takada and Toshiaki Kawada as karoke singers.
Basically, I did not want to get through these reviews of 2000s Japan and not speak about HUSTLE. All Japan in the latter half of the decade was a more a serious version of HUSTLE. There were rival gangs like the Voodoo Murders and RO'D. Every match is preceded by video packages because of the importance of storylines and angles. There are a lot more run-ins, interference and general shenanigans. The junior heavyweights being pushed more was probably more of an influence of the New Japan juniors of 90s being successful and the rise of Toryumon/Dragon Gate.
The Mutoh name ensured that he would always have access to some of the biggest stars in Japanese wrestling. All Japan throughout the end of the decade was able to secure significant time from high-level freelancers like Kawada, Minoru Suzuki, Kensuke Sasaki and Yoshihiro Takayama. In addition, Mutoh had a strong, very upper midcard act in Satoshi Kojima that he could plug in right away and was grooming the hard-hitting, powerhouse, Suwama to be the next superstar. All Japan was producing the quality of NOAH, but in 2005 & 2006, it was really not far off the mark from New Japan, which had a hit a nadir. Once Tanahashi really rose to prominence in 2007, New Japan outpaced All Japan and never really looked back.
The big shift in All Japan booking came at the beginning of 2005. Throughout 2003 and 2004, Toshiaki Kawada was rewarded with the grand Triple Crown reign he deserved albeit 5 years or so too late. Kawada's best match of the reign was a wild, violent brawl with Naoya Ogawa and the most marquee match was the slightly disappointing dream match with Shinya Hashimoto. However, Kawada simply did not have the opponents to have the reign befitting of him, but he made do. In early 2005, much like his compatriot, Kobashi, it came time to put his reign to and end. Unlike NOAH, I think All Japan made the correct call on who should be the next champion, the crowd favorite, Satoshi Kojima. I have been hard on Kojima for being a generally uninteresting wrestler, but make no doubt about it. He was over like rover. To make matters even better, he would win the IWGP Heavyweight title to be the first man to hold the two top titles in New Japan and All Japan simultaneously. So you can't say they didn't push the dude.
Like I said, try as they might puroresu was in a general malaise and Kojima just couldn't get them out. This leads to them a revolving door of legends like Keiji Mutoh/Great Muta, Sasaki, Suzuki and Takayama. Minoru Suzuki who was oddly quiet in the 2000s dragged one last great match out of Mutoh in what I believe to be Mutoh's last. Takayama had a fun 2009 run as a hard hitting giant and his war with Suwama was reminiscent of his great battle with Sasaki in New Japan. The best matches of All Japan much like in late 90s WCW did not feature their cast of legends, but the up and comers.
In 2008, All Japan brought in the red hot Hiroshi Tanahashi from New Japan, who was fresh off a string of excellent matches in New Japan that revitalized the company after founder, Antonio Inoki's departure. All Japan could not have been disappointed by Tanahashi who had kickass matches with a legend like Kawada and their up and comer, Suwama. Tanahashi played the cocky, pretty boy heel to perfection getting under the crowd's skin and by the end of each the match the place was rocking to see Tanahashi get his shit kicked in.
The best match from All Japan during the time span was from the newly pushed junior heavyweight division featuring Kensuke Sasaki protege and boy wonder, Katushiko Nakajima, who at 19 years old, tore the house down with Shuji Kondo. The match featured some of the best mid-match strategy-altering I have ever seen. As Nakajima looks to take away Kondo's strength advantage by taking out the arm, his neck is severely injured and thus he has to go for big head shots to stay in it. I love when a wrestler takes what is given to him and responds in a natural way. Nakajima was wise beyond his years and Kondo was no slouch in this 2007 Match of the Year Contender.
Match Listing:
AJPW Triple Crown Champion Toshiaki Kawada vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 02/16/05 ***1/2
Jim Harbaugh sure has his work cut out for him next season. Ain't going to be a walk in the rose garden.
 |
| Yinling the Erotic Terrorist pins DANGEROUS K~! |
The same used to hold true for the ultra-hard-hitting All Japan Pro Wrestling of the 90s. After the Split, All Japan was able to survive on the backs of three of the greatest legends in puroresu: Toshiaki Kawada, Genichiro Tenryu and Keiji Mutoh. This model was not sustainable and new stars would need to be promoted. The style redefined. Keiji Mutoh emerged as the President of All Japan and defining his brand as Pro Wrestling Love, which I think is positively awesome and so Inoki at the same time. Pro Wrestling Love was one of the first attempts to bring American style wrestling to Japan.
DANGEROUS KAROKE~!
HUSTLE, fighting opera, run by the one-time ultra serious, shoot-style practitioner, Nobuhiko Takada was an even more over the top attempt to import crazy American soap opera hijinx to Japan. One of my favorite HUSTLE storylines was that the Great Muta sprayed mist into the netherregions of Yinling The Erotic Terrorist. This obviously impregnated her and she laid a giant egg. No, GobbledyGooker did not pop put, but rather sumo wrestler and current All Japan mainstay Akebono. It is absurdly badass in my book. HUSTLE also brought us Nobuhiko Takada and Toshiaki Kawada as karoke singers.
 |
| There's the Proud family! |
Basically, I did not want to get through these reviews of 2000s Japan and not speak about HUSTLE. All Japan in the latter half of the decade was a more a serious version of HUSTLE. There were rival gangs like the Voodoo Murders and RO'D. Every match is preceded by video packages because of the importance of storylines and angles. There are a lot more run-ins, interference and general shenanigans. The junior heavyweights being pushed more was probably more of an influence of the New Japan juniors of 90s being successful and the rise of Toryumon/Dragon Gate.
The Mutoh name ensured that he would always have access to some of the biggest stars in Japanese wrestling. All Japan throughout the end of the decade was able to secure significant time from high-level freelancers like Kawada, Minoru Suzuki, Kensuke Sasaki and Yoshihiro Takayama. In addition, Mutoh had a strong, very upper midcard act in Satoshi Kojima that he could plug in right away and was grooming the hard-hitting, powerhouse, Suwama to be the next superstar. All Japan was producing the quality of NOAH, but in 2005 & 2006, it was really not far off the mark from New Japan, which had a hit a nadir. Once Tanahashi really rose to prominence in 2007, New Japan outpaced All Japan and never really looked back.
The big shift in All Japan booking came at the beginning of 2005. Throughout 2003 and 2004, Toshiaki Kawada was rewarded with the grand Triple Crown reign he deserved albeit 5 years or so too late. Kawada's best match of the reign was a wild, violent brawl with Naoya Ogawa and the most marquee match was the slightly disappointing dream match with Shinya Hashimoto. However, Kawada simply did not have the opponents to have the reign befitting of him, but he made do. In early 2005, much like his compatriot, Kobashi, it came time to put his reign to and end. Unlike NOAH, I think All Japan made the correct call on who should be the next champion, the crowd favorite, Satoshi Kojima. I have been hard on Kojima for being a generally uninteresting wrestler, but make no doubt about it. He was over like rover. To make matters even better, he would win the IWGP Heavyweight title to be the first man to hold the two top titles in New Japan and All Japan simultaneously. So you can't say they didn't push the dude.
Like I said, try as they might puroresu was in a general malaise and Kojima just couldn't get them out. This leads to them a revolving door of legends like Keiji Mutoh/Great Muta, Sasaki, Suzuki and Takayama. Minoru Suzuki who was oddly quiet in the 2000s dragged one last great match out of Mutoh in what I believe to be Mutoh's last. Takayama had a fun 2009 run as a hard hitting giant and his war with Suwama was reminiscent of his great battle with Sasaki in New Japan. The best matches of All Japan much like in late 90s WCW did not feature their cast of legends, but the up and comers.
In 2008, All Japan brought in the red hot Hiroshi Tanahashi from New Japan, who was fresh off a string of excellent matches in New Japan that revitalized the company after founder, Antonio Inoki's departure. All Japan could not have been disappointed by Tanahashi who had kickass matches with a legend like Kawada and their up and comer, Suwama. Tanahashi played the cocky, pretty boy heel to perfection getting under the crowd's skin and by the end of each the match the place was rocking to see Tanahashi get his shit kicked in.
The best match from All Japan during the time span was from the newly pushed junior heavyweight division featuring Kensuke Sasaki protege and boy wonder, Katushiko Nakajima, who at 19 years old, tore the house down with Shuji Kondo. The match featured some of the best mid-match strategy-altering I have ever seen. As Nakajima looks to take away Kondo's strength advantage by taking out the arm, his neck is severely injured and thus he has to go for big head shots to stay in it. I love when a wrestler takes what is given to him and responds in a natural way. Nakajima was wise beyond his years and Kondo was no slouch in this 2007 Match of the Year Contender.
 |
| Nakajima The Supernova |
Match Listing:
AJPW Triple Crown Champion Toshiaki Kawada vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 02/16/05 ***1/2
Kawada chokes huge. The Kojima Era begins. Pretty good "epic" title change
AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shuji Kondo vs AKIRA - AJPW 1/8/06
Fun American-style bullshit with interference and cool spots. Kondo is a great powerhouse
AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shuji Kondo vs. Kaz Hayashi - Sumo Hall 8/27/06 ***3/4
Flawless, marvelous offensive execution. Weak on selling, transitions and story.
All Japan Jr. Hvywt Champion Shuji Kondo vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - AJPW 2/17/07 ****1/2
All Japan Jr. Hvywt Champion Shuji Kondo vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - AJPW 2/17/07 ****1/2
#47 out of 100 - Must Watch
Awesome chess battle it is Kondo's strength against Nakajima's strategy. Nakajima battles neck injury.
AJPW TRIPLE Crown Champion Minoru Suzuki vs Keiji Mutoh - AJPW 07/01/07 ****1/4
#68 out of 100 - Recommended
A flawed match, but a terrific Minoru Suzuki performance carries the day.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Suwama - AJPW Champions Carnival 2008 ****1/4
#60 out 100 - Recommended
Hiroshi Flair vs Lex Suwama is tons of fun
AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion Naomichi Marufuji vs Shuji Kondo - AJPW 11/03/08
Waste of time, which is a shame since I like Kondo a lot
AJPW TRIPLE Crown Champion Yoshihiro Takayama vs Suwama - AJPW 08/30/09 ****
#90 out 100 - Recommended
Two big muthafuckas kicking each other's faces in. Sign me up!
AJPW Triple Crown Champ Yoshihiro Takayama vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 09/26/06
It is the Suwama match except with Kojima, so it is mediocre.
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AJPW Triple Crown Champion Toshiaki Kawada vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 02/16/05
CHOKE: Toshiaki Kawada's Soft Drink of choice. How the fuck did Kawada lose this match? He absolutely dominated the first 20 minutes of this match. Kojima looked like the Denver Broncos just overwhelmed and outmatched by Kawada on the biggest stage All Japan could offer at this point. Kojima could not get anything started without Kawada taking over seemingly at will. I did enjoy the throwback to old school All Japan with the surfboard. The only thing stopped me from losing interest in this blowout was that crowd never gave up on Kojima. He was over at the start of the match, when he was getting his ass royally kicked and at the end of the match. Say what you will about Kojima and his modified Ace Crushers, but dude was over and if All Japan had anybody worth a damn at this point he could have been an effective Ace in terms of pleasing their core fanbase. He still cheering for him through the powerbombs, the half crabs and stretch plums. |
| How did he lose? |
Now for me, the layout CHALLENGED my interest because I didn't believe that Kojima had a puncher's chance. This style of match is pretty tricky because you either make Kojima look like a jabroni if he loses or Kawada look like the biggest choke if he loses. The drama in this type of match usually comes from the guy working underneath having one big home run shot that he can hit that can change the complexion of the match. The problem is Kojima has no such move. His Ace Crusher, which could be his home run (DDP and Orton have utilized it that way) has not been protected. So you have this jarring discontinuity in the match where Kawada kicks his ass for 20 minutes and Kojima does an extended comeback (At one point, Kojima hits a roaring elbow and Tiger Driver and could help think to myself is this a bad Misawa parody. ) rather than a flash comeback. Based on Kawada's selling, I don't think you can make a case for rope-a-dope because he didn't seem to punch himself out rather Kojima just sort of went from getting his ass kicked, to getting his ass less kicked until eventually he won. Kawada was still hitting Back Drop Drivers and drilling brainbusters. It was making him look more ineffective than Kojima strong. You got to love Kawada though because when it is time to sell he is totally committed as he sells this weird top wristlock/arm figure-4 like death even though Kojima shoulders should be counted down. Kawada hits another back drop driver and powerbomb. From a kayfabe perspective, how the hell did he lose. The Kojima lariat barrage was really well done because of the escalation of the lariats and Kawada's selling.
I enjoy Kawada kicking people's asses, dont get me wrong. I think they tried to shoehorn Kojima into a role that he did not fit. As much as I mocked Kojima for his Ace Crusher variations, he is not a horrible wrestler. They could have worked a momentous title change to mark the passing of the guard from Kawada to Kojima. I just thought the match was far too disjointed from the opening 20 minute ass whupping AND A standard extended comeback when Kojima needed some bigger spots. I know was awfully harsh on this match, but I think it demonstrates a really strong point of how a certain guy is not right for a given layout. That being said Kawada was really fucking good in this match. He escalated his offense throughout and was making Kojima earn his comeback. I just wish there was a stronger spot that said this is where the match went off the rails for Kawada and he really started to have to scramble. It never felt that Kawada was in trouble until he taking lariats and it was over. ***1/2
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AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shuji Kondo vs AKIRA - AJPW 1/8/06
AKIRA brings out a scale with him to have Kondo weighed before the match. Automatic *****! I actually like how Americanized All Japan was in this period. It was really different than New Japan and NOAH. This is a match that may benefit from watching it in 2014 instead of 2006. I may have been sick of liberal outside interference in 2006, but in 2014 it is pretty fresh (i don't watch 2014 New Japan so the Bullet Club is not something I see). I thought it was a nice little device in this match. Another thing I love about All Japan is they have video packages before their matches reviewing the angles. Awesome, now I know this is going to be hot and heavy instead of a championship style match. Kondo was really into dueling limb work, but blowing off the arm selling when necessary in 2006 & 2007. I do enjoy him as a junior powerhouse, but we did not get to see much of that. AKIRA was really fun in this, but it does not reach the level of the Kanemoto or Minoru Tanaka matches.
The match starts off with some decent amateur wrestling, but could be hotter given what I saw in video package. Kondo lariats the post. So we expect AKIRA to exploit this and remove this weapon. All Japan was really into selling an injury, but then doing a move anyway. I still can't figure out how I feel about that versus outright no-selling. AKIRA misses a kick and his foot gets in ropes and BOOM chair shot to the knee by who I assume is Brother YASSHI, but I could be wrong. The knee work is solid and I love the fact Kondo uses the outside to great effect and throws AKIRA into his buddies. Kondo stupidly sets AKIRA up for a superplex. I hate that why would you give someone the high ground. AKIRA snaps the arm over the top rope. AKIRA works the arm and YASSHI gets nervous climbs on the apron, but brains Kondo with the briefcase. AKIRA climbs to the top and SPLASH! But only two. Kondo abruptly puts Akira in an inverted Texas Cloverleaf. Could have used a better transition there. Then the outright interference happens after a ref bump, but AKIRA's buddies chase off YASSHI. Kondo still hits a superplex. The finish run was concise and mostly well-done. AKIRA gets his hope nearfalls, a nasty German and backslide. Then Kondo hits two wicked lariats to win.
This a fun, breezy 15 minute match. It is entertaining and easy to digest, which I appreciate. Are there flaws, yeah, but it is a fun way to spend 15 minutes. ***
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AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shuji Kondo vs. Kaz Hayashi - Sumo Hall 8/27/06
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| Probably the most underrated junior heavyweight in history, Shuji Kondo |
The one constant of All Japan from the 70s through now is their disregard for the junior heavyweight division. Even NOAH as a spiritual successor to All Japan cultivated a strong juniors division led by KENTA and Marufuji. Even though Mutoh took over AJPW in the 00s coming from NJPW with a strong junior's division did not seem to change AJPW's stance on juniors wrestling. With that being said the token All Japan match of 2006 is a junior heavyweight encounter between two of Ultimo Dragon's students, Hayashi and Kondo.
Before, I get to the match a very skinny Stan Hansen gets into the ring to do the duties of reading from the scroll before a championship match and it was just such a cool touch to see Hansen again. He was wicked over.
This is one of the prettiest matches I have ever seen. It was like you strip Dragon Gate matches of any comedy and just have them play it totally straight, which makes sense since they are both Dragon's students. I can appreciate beautiful execution and from a technical level this is nearly perfect. Hayashi has the best looking hurricanarana I have ever seen and Kondo is one of the best at taking it. Hayashi really looks likes he is grabbing with his legs and forcing his opponent over. Kondo really throws himself into the bump. Hayashi's middle rope senton was fan-fuckin-tastic. He was going a million miles an hour. On the slow motion replay, he still looked like he was going fast. Kondo is a great powerhouse junior like a smaller version of Sasaki. He was really able to work on Hayashi's knee and some very impressive powerslams and one great spear. Of course if you are a powerhouse in Japan, you best have a nasty lariat and his destroys Kojima's and looks badass. Hayashi is a big fan of Emerald Flowsion, but when that can't secure him a victory he does what every wrestler does he tries the move from the top rope. In a move, I never EVER thought I would see. Kondo hits a Flip DDT. When we were growing up, my younger brother always said his finishing move was going to be the Flip DDT. I don't know if he is going to be crushed or excited that someone finally pulled off that move. A moonsault and lariat polish off Hayashi and Kondo retains the belt.
So now the other shoe drops, this match is great eyecandy, but there is not substance to any move. Kondo moves over Hayashi's knee really effectively. I love when he caught a Hayashi rana attempt and put him in a Boston Crab. What does Hayashi hit as his comeback move a wicked fast back handspring elbow. O BUT HE REMEMBERED TO SELL AFTER THE MOVE! He would do this for his 3 next big spots that required the knee, hit the move and sell the knee, before abandoning it altogether. I am happy he did put some effort in, but c'mon man! Look, I don't think just because someone attacks your knee you have to be crippled, but maybe you could hit your spots at half-speed or at least show you are struggling. The end of the match is a total bombfest with very little selling.
To me this is the perfect match to show fans or up and coming wrestlers look you are not going to get a better executed match, but see how they just rattle off moves and without that framework it is all inconsequential. Hayashi and Kondo are amazing to watch and I am sure if you put them in there with a Liger, 90s Sasuke, 90s Otani that they would have had some phenomenal matches. You pair this execution with a great layout, I am seriously saying five star classic without it you are just left wondering what might have been. ***3/4
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All Japan Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shuji Kondo vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - AJPW 2/17/07
Strategy in pro wrestling is often reduced to being very one dimensional. You work a body part to set up your finishing move. You attack an opponents' strength to neutralize their finisher. I am not saying all good pro wrestling needs more advanced strategy or this specific strategy. What this match offered was a rare instance of a multi-faceted strategy. Nakajima established early that his intention was to neutralize Kondo's strength advantage and his lariats by knotting up his arm. However, Nakajima did not have a finishing hold to directly translate this strategy into a victory. In addition, Nakajima took a nasty spill onto the guardrail that severely fucked up his neck. In a nice touch, Hokuto checked on Nakajima. It can not be underestimated how much Sasaki and Hokuto added to the match by being on the outside cheering on Nakajima. It felt like parents cheering on their kid.
Nakajima pressed on by kicking the arm to keep Kondo at bay, but Kondo overwhelmed with brute power zeroing in on the injured neck. Nakajima realized that Kondo's arm was too strong and that point of attack would not turn the tide. So he began taking head shots. Finally, Nakajima stymied Kondo's onslaught and with a dive to the outside. He levelled the playing field to finally return to his attack on the arm. He utilized mentor Sasaki's arm drag, but could not get the cross armbreaker as Kondo slammed out on it dropping Nakajima right on the back of his head. As much as this match was about Nakajima, Kondo was amazing at selling the arm the right amount. He was not blowing off Nakajima's work, but at the same time Nakajima really had not done enough to damage the arm so that it was totally useless. Kondo was fighting through the pain in a believable way. Kondo's slams really target Nakajima's neck, who cant seem to get anything started. In a great sequence, Nakajima is deadweighting Kondo on a powerbomb so Kondo blasts him with a elbow. Nakajima's sell would make Kawada proud. Kondo then spikes Nakajima on his head with a piledriver, but Nakajima kicks out. I will say the placement of that move was too early. The big flaw of the match begins here as Nakajima starts selling like Kaz Hayashi meaning he sells after he does a move not as he is doing it, but it is not as egregious.
Nakajima at this point has no hope winning this match via arm work (no real submission game) so he goes for head shots to set up Emerald Flowsion and a flying bodypress. Kondo signals for a lariat and Nakajima kicks the arm reversing into a Human Capture Suplex only for 2. I liked how after all the kicks to the arm that Kondo could use his arm properly on his slam so that the full impact was not delivered. It was good selling. I loved the axe kick on lariat arm. Kondo finally gets lariat, but it is not enough. I totally bit on the Northern Lights Bomb finish with Sasaki right there. Nakajima wins the match with a German Suplex.
This match had the potential to be a Match of the Decade Contender. The dueling body part psychology, the appropriate arm selling by Kondo, the amazing neck selling of Nakajima, the two-leveled Nakajima strategy all wove together to create a unique, dynamic match. The finish run did depart from this where Nakajima's comeback became a bit incredulous and his selling uneven and the moves excessive. I am not going to penalize the match too much because the base of the match was still there Nakajima defending against the lariat, working through his early match mishap (neck) and using headshots to create big offense. ****1/2
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AJPW TRIPLE Crown Champion Minoru Suzuki vs Keiji Mutoh - AJPW 07/01/07
I wonder how Minoru Suzuki feels about Miley Cryus stealing his gimmick. How bitchin would it be if she stole his hairstyle too? I would become a Miley fan over night. |
| Miley wishes she was this cool |
I would say what I am most surprised about is the lack of love for Minoru Suzuki in this Best of the 00s poll. He has been having a kickass 10s so I just presumed we would see more of him in this decade. Mutoh is a polarizing figure no matter what decade he is competing in. I definitely lean towards the pro-Mutoh SIDE in the 2000s with his barrage of dragon leg screws, basement dropkicks, figure-4s and Shining Wizards. It is really effective work, but it requires the opponent to add something. The maniacal Suzuki does a great job selling and coming off like a total lunatic at the same time.
The opening matwork is a little boring, but it is well-worked. The one THING the New Japan boys had over the All Japan boys was they were more well-versed in matwork so Mutoh does not seem out of place going up against a legitimate shooter even if his double wristlock is shit. Suzuki gets a deep double wristlock and applies the cross armbreaker and we have our first major turning point of the match. Mutoh bails and Suzuki is right on him attacking the arm using railings and the ropes at will. He does get a little cocky and while he is stepping through the ropes Mutoh catches the foot and everybody say it with me: DRAGON LEG SCREW!!! My favorite spot variation on the usual Mutoh work is the dropkick from the timekeeper's table to Suzuki's knee. I dig Mutoh's leg work and Suzuki was great at selling it. What really got my goat in this match was Suzuki worked a short cutoff getting a cross armbreaker and Mutoh totally no sold it by lying there and then just popping out into a figure-4. That really pissed me off because it really ruined what could have been interesting dual psychology and I hate when the cross armbreaker is disrespected.
Suzuki gets an ab stretch while Mutoh is on top and that is the trigger to Suzuki taking over. Suzuki does a great job showing how he is fighting through the pain to kick Mutoh's arm not that Mutoh is really selling it well. Suzuki hits his piledriver and goes back to the abdominal stretch. Suzuki goes to his bread and butter the sleeper. Mutoh is a bit taller than Suzuki so he has a leverage advantage in being able to whip him off and also not feel the full effect, but once Suzuki is able to get him on his back that all disappears and so when Mutoh tried to roll through a second time it almost cost him the match. After a pinfall attempt, Mutoh rattles off 4 Shining Wizards and no pin! Backbreaker, Moonsault, but Mutoh comes down hard on the knee and cant make the pinfall right away. Kick out! Oh so you will sell WHEN YOUR own move hurts you, but not your opponent's moves. I see you, Keiji. He hits a Shining Wizard but uses the hurt knee and again hesitates to make the cover. He looks to hit the backbreaker, but Suzuki rolls into a heel hook. Mutoh makes the ropes. Suzuki mocks Mutoh and gives him a taste of his won medicine with a Dragon Leg Screw, but goes to the well once too many and Mutoh hits a Shining Wizard. Suzuki is rocked and Mutoh goes for the Shining Wizard and Suzuki catches it into a heel hook to retain the Triple Crown.
I was really bothered by Mutoh's selling. He dropped the arm selling even though Suzuki kept going back to it and Mutoh slightly sold for the sleepers, but once he hit his knee on his own move then he starts selling that smacks of egotism. Suzuki was phenomenal in this. He is dangerous and he knows it, but is not afraid to sell. He had a near one year reign as Triple Crown Champion and I think I will go back and watch some of his matches after I finish up everything HERE. The finish stretch here is one of the better ones of the 00s and really liked the Shining Wizard counter to a dragon leg screw only to have the Shining Wizard countered into a heel hook. It is a not match of year contender, but still a great match. ****1/4
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Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Toshiaki Kawada - Champions Carnival 2008
This did not make the Best of Japan 00's voting, but could not simply resist watching one of my new favorites against one of my all-time favorite wrestlers. Tanahashi as the cocky, pretty boy that will do anything to win matches is incredible. What makes him such a great heel is that he is always doing something underhanded to take the advantage. Early on, he gets under Kawada's skin by slapping him on a rope break and running away.He transitioned this into a baseball slide and wiping out Kawada with a plancha. When Kawada started kicking his pretty face in with big boots and then whipping him into the railing, he tried to blow out Kawada's knee. Unfortunately for him, Kawada has not sold his knee all decade and he probably is not going to start for this punk kid. Kawada is the perfect foil for Tanahashi. Unlike Suwama and Goto for are ultra-serious Strong Style pro wrestlers. Kawada has character. He holds Tanahashi in contempt for flaunting his hair and being a punk. So when Kawada is beating the snot out of him it is all the better. They do a great build on the outside to a Kawada powerbomb where he just throws Tanahashi DOWN! Tanahashi has been a great bumper in the matches I have seen. He really makes people's offense look good. Just when it looks like Kawada has him beat as he goes for a second powerbomb, Tanahashi low blows him. Awesome! The finish run is very well-done with minimal no-selling. Tanahashi is just absolutely desperate. He throws everything at Kawada going after his knees, throwing out cradles and sprinting for High Fly Flow. Kawada is also working hard to win the match using cradles, hits his brainbuster and kicks to head. There is a real sense of urgency as the clock winds down to a draw. This is the best Kawada match seen since 2005 and is about on par with Misawa Dome match. Tanahashi played to 00s Kawada's strengths and that is just letting him kick ass and work a hot finish. The more I watch the more I believe that if the NWA travelling champ was still a thing that Tanahashi would be the best NWA champion today. He works great with a variety of opponents, he knows how to shine them up, he always gets the crowd invested in his matches, he knows how to work on top as a face or as heel and his finish run lead to a climax. It was great to see Kawada have another great match and this leaves me only more excited for more Tanahashi matches. ****
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Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Suwama - AJPW Champions Carnival 2008
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| All Japan, New Japan & NOAH aces all in one photo. Pretty damn cool. |
In 2007 it seemed New Japan had left the dark ages of Inokism behind them, but 2008 was like the Black Death before the Renaissance we are witnessing today. Admirably, they tried to create a star on Tanahashi's level by having him drop the IWGP championship to Nakamura on the Dome show. This match did not make the project, but it is definitely, I am going to check out. To see how they since progressed (or perhaps retrogressed) since their great 2006 encounter and to see if Tanahashi plays the heel in the match. Much like in 2005 & 2006, it seems New Japan had partnered with All Japan, which included Mutoh winning the IWGP Championship. This was a death knell for championship match quality for the rest of the year. In addition, we saw Tanahashi wrestle in the Carnival against All Japan's hot, young prospect, Suwama.
I liked this match up a lot on paper before I even saw it for two reasons. One is both wrestlers are on the cusp of becoming The Man in their respective promotions. So you get a hungrier version of an Ace vs Ace showdown. In addition, there are few match ups I like more than the powerhouse versus the cocky pretty boy. This match, especially beginning, felt like I was watch Hiroshi Flair versus Lex Suwama. The cool paradigm shift in this match compared to the Flair vs. Luger series was Suwama was on Tanahashi's level so Tanahashi is even more tenuously in control than a Flair would be.
Hiroshi Tanahashi have the best consistent heat since the Kobashi title defenses. This crowd was red hot. Booing the shit out of Tanahashi and chanting for Suwama throughout the match. It does not matter if it is Greensboro, NC or Tokyo, JP, every crowd is going to love the pretty boy slam -> gloats, but unaware of the powerhouse no-sell -> pretty boy gets slammed. I love when wrestling transcends both time and cultures like that.
INCOMING!!! Huge pop for Suwama's suicide dive! Tragedy strikes for our hero as he was re-entering the ring, Tanahashi grabbed his leg and wrenched it with a timely dragon leg screw. Again, Tanahashi takes away the base of his stronger opponent. He is able to work a body part, but also create an opening for his preferred moves. Plus, cocky, shit-eating grin Tanahashi is awesome at working over the leg. I loved when Tanahashi is jaw jacking with the ref and gets speared, but it is right back to work on the leg. Suwama slaps the ever loving taste out of Tanahashi's mouth to HUGE cheers and mounts the comeback.
Unfortunately, Suwama does not really bother selling and the match does lose its way a bit. It is a bit too easy for Tanahashi to regain in intervening moments when Suwama should either be kicking his ass or making him earn it more. I liked Suwama going for a knee for a knee with a heel hook, but only lasted for a hot second. The Sling Blade countered into a Back Drop Driver is such a great spot. Tanahashi is a crazy bumper. He was getting absolutely tossed around by Suwama. Suwama hits this crazy German Suplex that Cesaro would be proud of, it was a sick dead lift. Tanahashi is overkilled, just like the Goto match, but to an more extreme degree. Tanahashi has not been hit with the powerbomb.
Tanahashi hits a High Fly Flow hits knees in mutual destruction, but Tanahashi comes out on top. He applies the Texas Cloverleaf, which won him the Goto match. This time it was just not in the cards. Tanahashi crumples him with a Dragon Suplex. He goes for another one, but countered into an overhead belly to belly. Here comes the powerbomb, but Tanahashi counters into a roll-up. Tanahashi showboating gets his head taken off with a lariat and finally the powerbomb ends it.
This and Goto matches are very close for me. Tanahashi is really excellent in both of them as the cocky, pretty boy heel that uses the dragon leg screw as a game changer. I loved the addition of the Texas Cloverleaf to the arsenal. I like Suwama better than Goto because he has more charisma and has some cooler power spots. I thought the beginning of the Suwama match was better because it was even more clear in its face/heel dynamic and was really entertaining. However, the finish run was definitely more overkill in this match. Tanahashi should not have survived that many slams on the neck to only get back on offense. The finish of the Goto match overwhelms the beginning of the Suwama match for me to put the Goto match ahead, but both will do very well. ****1/4
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AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion Naomichi Marufuji vs Shuji Kondo - AJPW 11/03/08
I have a biger problem with the bomb throwing fests where I run though my moves for a bit and then you run through yours especially in this context because it does not treat the wrestlers as unique entities. Marufuji and Kondo have enough stylistic differences that they should be responding to each other rather than working as if they were against a generic create-a-wrestler. I understand the viewpoint that I should judge the match I got not the match I think I should have got, but I think when the match I get effaces character of the wrestler I don't think it is a very good match. The beginning of the match was easily the best part because you got to see those stylistic differences in action. Marufuji was outwrestling and using his quickness to stay in control. Then he went for a sunset flip powerbomb off the apron and Kondo just stepped on his face. Kondo used his power to attack Marufuji. Then as soon as Marufuji busted out that weak ass transition where the opponent literally carries him over into the ring so Marufuji can suplex him the match just plummeted him for me. It was a blinding barrage of suplexes, superkicks and lariats then just kept on going and going and going. I loved how they did "we are too exhausted to really hit each other" strike exchange about 8 minutes before the actual finish. I was just like fuck both of these asshole and I actually like Kondo. Kondo runs a bunch of his impressive power spots, but when he goes for Splash Mountain it is countered. Now Marufuji hits Spanish Fly, lariats and a Michinoku Driver for the victory. It was not even really that entertaining of a bomb fest. It was just really long, meandering and aimless.
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AJPW TRIPLE Crown Champion Yoshihiro Takayama vs Suwama
Pro Wrestling Love 8 08/30/09
My main main, Takayama has risen to the ranks of ALL Japan Triple Crown Champion as AJPW continues their run of veterans as champions while they continue to build their only viable Ace, Suwama before they switched to their current penchant for sumo wrestlers. Mutoh is not Inoki weird, but definitely cut from the same cloth. All Japan for their troubles actually was not in that horrible shape when compared to Pro Wrestling NOAH. NOAH has a wider collection of young talent, but Suwama is definitely at the same level as all their heavies and is more consistent. I will say I need to see more Shiozaki and have not seen Suguiria. Morishima has been able to hit higher highs than Suwama, but Suwama is the more even wrestler. The problem is AJPW just has no one to pair him with at all. Suwama is pretty good straight ahead power wrestler that hits his spots and lays it in. He could use a little more fire at times, but as a meat and potatoes wrestler I have seen none better in his generation in NJPW, AJPW or NOAH.Much like Sasaki versus Takayama, this is a fucking war! What I love about Takayama is that he has no obvious weaknesses. He is a giant shooter that can kick your ass with strikes, throws and on the ground. It means his opponent has weather an onslaught and take advantage of any mistake. Give Suwama credit, he does try to take it Takayama first with grappling, but caught in cravat and then a test of strength does not go his way. From what I read of Suwama is that he is country boy strong, the sort of Japanese equivalent of the cornfed farmboys of the Midwest so when his strength is not working then it is not looking too hot for the young stud. Suwama gets an early break when he throws Takayama out on the floor. I dig Suwama's double chops they make a great sound and look painful. Takayama is THE KING of Clubbering Offense. He makes knees and forearms look badass and interesting. Again, Suwama takes advantage by catching an errant Takayama kick and turning it into a throw. Suwama cant keep the advantage and they end up exchanging chops and throws. I just love two big dudes throwing each other around. SUWAMA BIG DIVE~! HOLY SHIT! Somewhere along the line Takayama's eye is swollen shut! The belly to belly throw off the top rope almost kills Takayama, which probably was not a terribly safe spot given Takayama's age and condition. Suwama steals Takayama's Everest Suplex to only get two, which takes to an All Japan video package is how Suwama beat Takayama in a tag match earlier in the summer. Takayama drills him with a nasty Dragon Suplex. Suwama puts up some resistance so Takayama nails him with a closed fist, a headbutt that busts Takayama open and Everest Suplex for win.
The two strikes against this match was that 2009 Takayama just isnt 2002 Takayama. He is a lot slower and not as healthy. He does excel at these gritty contests and his roughhouse style ages well. Suwama is a like a 90s Kensuke Sasaki before he adopted Kobashi-ism. He is a brick powerhouse, but he is has the added advantage of being taller than Sasaki so looking even more imposing. If you watch the video package, you will also see that Suwama has PROBABLY best looking powerbomb ever, but we don't get to see it in this match. The other strike is that it is a little two back and forth. At first, the transitions were Suwama catching Takayama, but not being able to sustain offense, but after a while it just became throw shit out at each other. This is one of the few matches where I felt the finish stretch actually helped the match rating because of how nasty Takayama was on offense and Suwama put up a strong resistance, but it was NOT too ZOMG FIGHTING SPIRIT~! Much like Takayama/Sasaki, I really enjoyed this match, but it is not really a MOTYC, but still very entertaining. ****
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AJPW Triple Crown Champ Yoshihiro Takayama vs Satoshi Kojima - AJPW 09/26/06
I have this weird attraction towards ALL Japan in the 00s. I don't know if it is misplaced loyalty due to my love for 80s and 90s All Japan even though they are the same promotion in name only or if it is because it reminds me of a Japanese version of WCW. They have the strong veterans on top and have some interesting combinations headlining their shows. They use angles/storylines, which are usually stupid, but in a fun WCW way not a shitty TNA way. Most importantly, their wrestling matches feel like a throwback to the 80s and 90s. NOAH is so steeped in Kobashism, unless Akira Taue is wrestling, that you just need a break from all that overkill. New Japan just fucking sucked for years and we will see how it goes once Tanahashi and Co. take over, but All Japan actually has matches that build to a climatic finish rather than the false finish three spots before getting the biggest pop. Akira Taue in 00s All Japan would have been actually really awesome. The Holy Demon Army versus Mutoh/Kojima versus Tenryu/WAR Guy in the early 00s, YES PLEASE! Holy Demon Army versus Minoru Suzuki/Takayama, what a badass match that could have been! There was a lot wrong with All Japan, but my biggest problem has been Satoshi Kojima. I have really wanted to like him. I really did. You know who he reminds me of, 2005 John Cena. When they tried to make Cena into Austin (rebel against Authority, Bischoff), Rock ("funny" promos), Hogan (superman in the ring), Kojima uses Kobashi's chops, Misawa's Roaring Elbow and Hansen's Western Lariat. Who can forget Johnny Ace's Ace Crusher! C'mon dude make something your own.
The match is basically the Suwama match, but worse because Kojima is just mediocre at everything. Takayama beats the living shit out of Kojima and busts up his nose. Kojima tries to make the same comeback as Suwama, but does not have the presence or moveset. Ace Crusher, Kojima does not disappoint! Takayama brutalizes him with knees and he kicks out at 1 for a back drop driver?!?!?!? FUCK YOU PUNCH To FACE! Everest Suplex only gets two!??!!?? Yep, Kojima is winning, but before first, Takayama hits a nasty Dragon Suplex. Takayama is the God King of The Dragon Suplex. I actually liked Kojima popped up lariat when Takayama went for the big knee, but the following Lariats were not Stan Hansen-esque as the announcer was trying to say to win the TRIPLE Crown titles only to drop it to some lame sumo wrestler that is not Akebono.
It is not a bad match, but watching this back to back with the Suwama match you see how much better Suwama is than Kojima. Takayama BEATING up anybody is always going to be entertaining. He makes clubbering look so good. Kojima is just so blase. He was not as over as he was in 2005. ***1/4
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