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Csonka’s NJPW New Beginning in Osaka Review 2.11.17

February 11, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka
8.5
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Csonka’s NJPW New Beginning in Osaka Review 2.11.17  

Csonka’s NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo Review 2.11.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– TAKA Michinoku defeated Henare @ 4:37 via pin [**]
– Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated KUSHIDA & Yoshitatsu @ 7:09 via pin [**]
– Juice Robinson, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask IV defeated YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto, & Gedo & Jado @ 7:35 via pin [**¼]
– Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi defeated Kazuchika Okada, Rocky Romero & Beretta @ 10:04 via pin [***]
– NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Title Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon defeated Champions Tanahashi and Friends @ 12:55 via submission [***½]
– Revolution Pro British Heavyweight Title Match: Champion Katsuyori Shibata defeated Will Ospreay @ 14:00 via pin [****½]
– IWGP Tag Team Title Match: Champions Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma and Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Takashi Iizuka @ 13:05 via pin [**½]
– IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match: Champion Hiromu Takahashi defeated Dragon Lee @ 18:40 via pin [****¾]
– IWGP IC Title Match: Champion Tetsuya Naito defeated Michael Elgin @ 36:28 via pin [*****]

Henare vs. TAKA Michinoku: While the injury issue, which caused a bit of a reshuffle on the lower part of the card, is certainly unfortunate; Henare is going to benefit here as he gets to work a veteran like TAKA in a one on one setting. TAKA smartly grounded the young lion to begin, and used some nice mat work. Henare fired up really well and has really crisp work at this stage of his game. TAKA largely dominated until Henare hit the shoulder block off the top. TAKA then cradled him up, trapping both the arms and legs for the win. TAKA Michinoku defeated Henare @ 4:37 via pin [**] A solid little opener, I actually wished it got a few more minutes; they were working well together.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan& Satoshi Kojima vs. KUSHIDA & Yoshitatsu: Tatsu is about to head to CMLL for a while, and here he attacked before the bell. KUSHIDA tagged in, his arm is all wrapped up still; TenKoji quickly cut off KUSHIDA, as Tenzan worked him over with chops and head butts. KUSHIDA finally fired up, hit the PELE and tagged in Tatsu. Tatsu and his mom haircut missed a spin kick by a mile, Kojima YELLED at him to break up a pin attempt. Kojima then tagged in, worked over KUSHIDA and Tatsu with corner chops. KUSHIDA hit the handspring elbow on Tenzan, Tatsu hit a sloppy looking blue thunder bomb on Kojima, but Kojima hit the cutter and then a lariat. KUSHIDA took out Tenzan, but Tatsu was done. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated KUSHIDA & Yoshitatsu @ 7:09 via pin [**]

This was only ok, certainly not as good when Tatsu was in, and that’s a shame because his last few performances were improved. TenKoji looked to be having fun and KUSHIDA was great. With the trip to CMLL coming, the post match and the story being that he’s a failure, I am almost certain he returns as a heel.

– Post match, Tatsu refused to shake Kojima’s hand, slapping it and walking away.

Juice Robinson, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask IV vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto, & Gedo & Jado: Nagata and HASHI worked a fun opening stretch, Nagata then attacked the arm to cut off his momentum. Gedo and Tiger Mask went back and forth, only for Jado to sneak in and attack Tiger Mask. Liger in to make the save, Gedo is so fun and animated; Jado is also there. Goto cut off Liger, worked him over in the corner but Liger connected with a palm strike and tagged in Juice. Juice ran wild on Goto, hitting an Osaka street cutter and the cannonball for the near fall. I love Juice, dude always works with such fire and aggression and wastes no time. Goto cuts him off with the ushigoroshi, it broke down as CHAOS hit the ring and worked over Juice. The dads are taking a nap as Juice fights on his own. We finally get the big breakdown, Liger and Tiger Mask hit dives; Juice hits pulp friction on Jado and picks up the win. Juice Robinson, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask IV defeated YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto, & Gedo & Jado @ 7:35 via pin [**¼] This was a bit better then the first few matches, but nothing special. The match was the Juice Robinson show, helping him rebound from his loss to Goto, likely positioning him for another shot at the title.

– Post match, Juice made the “I want title belt motion” to Goto.

Kazuchika Okada, Rocky Romero & Beretta vs. Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi: TAKA is out with Suzuki-gun. RPG Vice ran wild early, working over Kanemaru & Taichi and then hitting dives. Suzuki cut off Beretta with a cheap shot and then worked the hanging arm bar in the ropes. Suzuki they attacked Okada, pulling him to the floor and beating him with the barricade. TAKA took the ref, allowing Taichi to use the bell hammer on Beretta. Suzuki-gun maintained the heat on Beretta, Okada tried to make the save, but Suzuki worked a double heel hook. Romero tried to make the save, he got them out of the hold and Suzuki continued to work over and laugh at Beretta. Okada got the hot tag, he ran wild on Suzuki, scoring a near fall. Suzuki then crawled over and attacked the knee, and was just generally a mean bastard. Okada hit the big dropkick, but couldn’t follow up and had to tag out. Romero was all fired up, working over and talking shit to Taichi before hitting forever clotheslines; I love Romero off the hot tag, essentially commentating his own spots. CHAOS took control, until Taichi low blowed Romero. It broke down, Suzuki worked the sleeper on Okada as Kanemaru took out Romero and scored the pin, Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi defeated Kazuchika Okada, Rocky Romero & Beretta @ 10:04 via pin [***] Good match, best on the show so far; this featured focused work, based off of the established angles, with good follow up and an invested crowd.

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions Hiroshi Tanahashi, Manabu Nakanishi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI: Los Ingobernables attack before the bell, taking control right away. Taguchi de Japon quickly made their comeback, with Nakanishi tossing BUSHI to the floor onto EVIL and SANADA. Taguchi then worked the ass attacks early on BUSHI, Nakanishi with ass attacks, and then Tanahashi followed; Taguchi is a bad influence. BUSHI hit a dropkick to the add on Taguchi, we got the customary Los Ingobernables floor brawl, the EVIL chair spot and then BUSHI choking out Taguchi with a shirt. SANADA took the heat on Taguchi, focusing on the ass. EVIL tagged in, he also attacked Taguchi’s ass, but Taguchi finally hit a flying ass attack. Tanahashi gets the hot tag, superhero comeback follows, dragon screw leg whips for all! It breaks down, Tanahashi and EVIL worked well together again, Nakanishi and SANADA got the tags, with Nakanishi taking control until BUSHI cut him off. It broke down again, the champs all did the wacky Nakanishi dance, but SANADA locked in skull end on Nakanishi, but he escaped…

A trio of submissions by the champions, Nakanishi hit the Hercules cutter but the ref had been dumped to the floor during the fray. SANADA fired back with suplexes on Nakanishi, skull end applied but Tanahashi made the save with sling blade, ass attacks by Taguchi to EVIL. Nakanishi up top, hits the high cross on SANADA, scoring a near fall. SANADA escaped the rack, but BUSHI mists Nakanishi, SANADA applies skull end, and Nakanishi has to tap. Los Ingobernables de Japon defeated Champions Tanahashi and Friends @ 12:55 via submission [***½] Things again picked up here, as the titles are back where they belong. The match was fun, and also well worked as they mixed in the wackiness very well, but never allowed it to dominate or take away from the match and that’s the important thing. I found this to be very enjoyable, as it finished the first half in a strong way.

Revolution Pro British Heavyweight Champion Katsuyori Shibata vs. Will Ospreay: Unlike the preview tag matches, they do not charge each other in hopes of inflicting death. Okada and Gedo are on commentary for this, interesting. Shibata quickly grounded young William the flippy boy, looking to keep this is his world, the world of pain. Shibata then attacked the arm, Ospreay ct him off with a dropkick, e looked for a hooting star to the floor, Shibata avoided it so Ospreay did some amazing flippy counters. He then hit the suicide dive and followed with the Sasuke special, and then mocked Shibata but sitting cross-legged in the ring; that wad a spectacular series by Ospreay.

Back in the ring, Ospreay worked on the taped up knee of Shibata. Ospreay made the mistake of throwing strikes with Shibata, which only fired up the champion, who then proceeded to light up Ospreay. Ospreay went for the back handspring, but Shibata caught him and planted him with a German with the leg trapped. They’re getting really creative here, and then Shibata then worked him over with strikes and they went to the floor, Ospreay posted Shibata on the bad shoulder and then hit a head kick. They teased a count out, but Ospreay powered him back into the ring and covered for a near fall. Ospreay up top, but Shibata cuts him off; slips out and hits the trapped superkick, great focus by Ospreay here. Ospreay hits the springboard forearm, does the rainmaker pose, but Shibata counters the rainmaker, Ospreay drops him with a kick and follows with the imploding 450 for a GREAT near fall! The spin kick follows, but Shibata counters the Cuter into the sleeper. SLEEPER SUPLEX by Shibata and the PK finishes it. Champion Katsuyori Shibata defeated Will Ospreay @ 14:00 via pin [****½] Excellent match here, and a refreshingly different one from both guys, very creative at times. The match did a ton to elevate Ospreay’s stock, taking Shibata to the limit in a high profile heavyweight match. This was really great, and one you should seek out. I want more of this so bad, it was some beautiful upper tier shit

– Post match, they shake hands.

IWGP Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Takashi Iizuka: Lance Archer is out of the match due to a back issue, reportedly a herniated disc. We start with the big floor brawl. Iizuka and Smith worked over Yano to begin, Yano does his shenanigans and tags out to Honma, and he misses a kokeshi as Iizuka sends Ishii to the floor. More floor brawling follows. Smith takes the heat on Honma, works a stretch muffler and then tags in Iizuka. He uses tape to choke out Honma, Yano has his own and attacks Iizuka. Ishii tags in, beats down Honma and then Honma makes a comeback on Yano, but misses another kokeshi. He finally hits one on Yano, Makabe in and clears the ring. He runs wild with clotheslines and rights in the corner. Iizuka back in, but Makabe takes he and Yano out with clotheslines. Hair pull by Yano, Honma stops the low blow and it breaks down, kokeshi by Honma and a German by Makabe scores a near fall. Diving kokeshi to Yano, Makabe up top, but Iizuka cuts him off. Ishii in with suplexes, superplex to Makabe but Makabe pops up Road Warrior Hawk style. Smith tags in, Iizuka chokes out Yano and then Smith hits some clotheslines. Butterfly suplex to Yano, with the bridge, gets a near fall. Smith hits a sitout powerbomb, but Honma makes a save. Iizuka pulls Makabe to the floor, and slams the ref into Honma. Iizuka gets the iron glove and hits Makabe. Ishii in and makes the save, runs wild but eats the iron glove shot. Iizuka then accidentally hits Smith and Yano rolls up Smith to retain. Champions Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma and Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Takashi Iizuka @ 13:05 via pin [**½] This was a perfectly solid match, even fun at times, but not on the level of Sapporo or the dome. It was better than I thought it would be, considering we lost Archer for Iizuka.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi vs. Dragon Lee: Takahashi has such star presence from the moment he comes to the ring. They go crazy fists at the bell, and then went rapid-fire offense. Some beautiful counter work here, playing off the fact that they know each other so well. This is their 15th meeting. Back in the ring, and Lee takes control, grounding Takahashi. He then picks up the pace, hitting the knee strike. Lee delivers kicks in the corner, to the floor and Takahashi hits a superkick and then hits a running sunset bomb to the floor.

Takahashi then hits a running dropkick on the ramp, back in and covers for 2. Takahashi tries to rip off Lee’s mask. But Lee sends him to the apron and connects with a RANA to the floor.

Lee follows with a great dive, rolls Takahashi back in and works knee strikes and then into rolling northern lights suplexes. Lee lights up Takahashi with chops and kicks, sets him up top, follows but Takahashi grabs at the mask to stop the double stomp. Lee back up top, but Takahashi pulls him off and tosses him to the floor. Fucks sake lads. Takahashi goes for a RANA to the floor, but Lee counters with the powerbomb. They tease the double countout, back in and Lee hits a snap German, they trade Germans, both fire up and Lee hits the standing Spanish fly for the near fall. They trade chops, Lee suplexes Takahashi into the corner; Lee tries for the RANA to the floor again, but Takahashi KILLS him with an apron bomb. He follows with the crazy senton to the floor. MY GOD.

Lee beats the count; works into a crossface, but Takahashi rolls and looks to escape but Lee maintains the hold. Lee transitions into a rings of Saturn, but Takahashi makes the ropes. We get the ref bump, Takahashi rips of Lee’s mask an gets a near fall off of the inverted destroyer off the ropes. Lee gets his mask back, hits the dragon driver for a good near fall. Takahashi then counters the powerbomb into the destroyer! They trade slaps, fire up and trade chops; Lee hits the knee strike, runs into a superkick, but Takahashi hits ANOTHER destroyer for the near fall. Takahashi hits the DVD to he corner, hits the timebomb and retains, Champion Hiromu Takahashi defeated Dragon Lee @ 18:40 via pin [****¾] This was amazing, different than anything else on the show in the best way possible. Takahashi vs. Lee is something that always delivers, and even overcomes expectations as the feud continues. This was one of those matches where both guys knew that they had to throw everything at one another in order to win and they did. Takahashi is money as Junior champion, and for as much as I love KUSHIDA, Takahashi has brought new life to the title and has made it feel even more important. This is a must see match, just awesome.

– Post match, Taguchi arrives and applauds Takahashi. Takahashi tries to attack, but Taguchi stops that and locks in the ankle lock. I am fine with that, Takahashi needs a lower level title defense soon, and they don’t want to rush back to KUSHIDA; Taguchi is over, and when he is serious can deliver. Takahashi is on another level right now, and they just need to keep rolling with him.

IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito vs. Michael Elgin: Naito was totally traquilo early, stalled on the floor, but when he returned Elgin took the fight right to him, using strikes and power moves before hitting a slingshot splash for the near fall. Naito tries to attack the eye, but Elgin said fuck off and press slammed him to the mat. Elgin then countered the corner dropkicks, sending Naito to the floor. Elgin followed with the cannonball of the apron. Back in, Naito dropkicked the knee, went for a suicide dive, but Elgin caught him and suplexed him on the ramp.

WAR LARGE MICHAEL! Naito attacked the knee an then the eye. Naito worked a heel hook in the ropes, and then continued his assault on the knee. Smart change of pacing by Naito as the bigger and stronger man was running wild early. Elgin tried to fire back with strikes, but Naito continued to work the knee, grounding Elgin and applying an Indian death lock. Every time Elgin gets a hope spot and fires up, Naito goes right back to the knee. Elgin hits an inverted falcon arrow (HE DID THE MODIFIED DEAL), but Elgin is too slow to follow up . After a short break, Elgin delivers some corner clotheslines. He sets Naito up top, but Naito rakes the eyes. Elgin then destroys him with a German to the corner. Another German gets 2, but Elgin couldn’t hold the bridge due to the knee. Clubbing lariats by Elgin, but Naito cuts him off with a dropkick to the knee. Elgin hits rolling Germans, counters the tornado DDT for a moment but Naito finally hits it for the near fall. Naito back to the knee, Elgin fights him off with forearms. Naito rakes the eye, attacks the knee, but Elgin counters with a desperation kick to the face. They trade strikes center ring, Elgin then sets Naito up top. Naito tries to fight him off, hits the sunset bomb and then heads up top. Naito leaps in, but Elgin catches him with the powerbomb! Elgin slams Naito down, heads up top, BIG MIKE FLOW connects, but he can’t follow up due to the knee and Naito rolls him up for 2. Elgin looks for the powerbomb, Naito fights and dropkicks the knee again, and looks for the knee bar. Elgin escapes and decapitates Naito with a lariat. Another lariat by Elgin gets a good near fall. Powerbomb try by Elgin, but Naito attacks the knee. Elgin sets Naito up top, but Naito fights off the powerbomb, Elgin up top, Naito rakes the eye and follows, RANA off the roped connects! REVERSE RANA connects but Elgin survives! Elgin counters destino, but Naito rolls into the leg lock. Elgin makes the ropes, Naito takes Elgin to the apron, but Elgin catches him with an air raid crash on the apron. Back in the ring, and Elgin goes for the dead lift superplex, but is slow to do so, because of the knee. DEAD LIFT FALCON ARROW (HE DEAD LIFTED THE DEAL) for an awesome near fall. Everyone bought that. Elgin hits a lariat, and then another. Elgin mocks Naito, hits a backfist, BUCKLE BOMB, Elgin bomb countered with an eye rake into a tornado DDT. DESTINO by Naito, and Elgin KICKS OUT. THIS FUCKING MATCH! Elgin counters the second desino into the DVD into the corner. they roll to the floor, Naito rakes the eyes, kicks away at Elgin, but Elgin hits an apron bomb and then a powerbomb to the barricade.

Back in, Elgin bomb! 1…2…NO! Elgin sets Naito up top, but Naito counters the burning hammer into destino! Both men are down, Elgin is up and catches Naito again, burning hammer countered, enziguri to the eye by Naito. Elgin hits the spinning backfist, but Naito hits the rolling kick, destino out of the corner, but Elgin survives again! DESTINO again, and Elgin is finally done. Fucking amazing. Champion Tetsuya Naito defeated Michael Elgin @ 36:28 via pin [*****] This was a spectacular effort from both guys, especially after the amazing match that took place before it; they had to deliver something special and did. The pacing, the overall work, the tremendous near falls and drama down the stretch were just so, so good that they had me biting on the near falls. The crowd was awesome, as they tried to will Elgin to victory. Speaking of Elgin this may have been the best I have ever seen him. It was a special performance, he lost nothing in defeat, and will likely be more over after this match. Between this and the Tanahashi match, Naito is off to a hot start n 2017. This is required viewing.

– Los Ingobernables de Japon celebrate post match.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

photo fe36ffd0-0da4-4e3b-a2d3-b026b341dd87_zps41ef5d61.jpg
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

8.5
The final score: review Very Good
The 411
While the first few matches were skippable undercard filler, hurt but he card being reshuffled, the big stuff delivered. Los Ingobernables de Japon won back the trios titles in a very good and fun match; Shibata and Ospreay was absolutely tremendous and a huge performance for Ospreay in the heavyweight ranks, Takahashi vs. Lee delivered a MOTY caliber outing in an amazing display worthy of their rivalry. Finally, Elgin and Naito delivered an absolutely amazing, big time main event that solidified Naito’s run and put over Elgin huge as a player, even in loss. Overall this was very good show, with the Shibata vs. Ospreay, Takahashi vs. Lee and Naito vs. Elgin matches all being must see.
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