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Csonka’s NJPW on AXS TV Review 3.20.15

March 20, 2015 | Posted by Larry Csonka
9.5
The 411 Rating
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Csonka’s NJPW on AXS TV Review 3.20.15  

Introduction
As a reminder, this will not be another traditional recap, but instead it will be a mash up of the Rs, Instant Analysis and my usual Twitter ramblings I would do during the shows; completely uncensored and as the ideas flow unfiltered to the old keyboard. Remember, this is a review; and I am here to review the show. As always, I encourage discussion and even disagreement, just do so in a respectful manner. I will be doing the review for Raw and most PPVs and iPPVs going forward.

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* NOTE: I haven’t been able to cover the series (which I wanted to do) due to the fact that my cable system doesn’t offer AXS TV. Thankfully the fine people at AXS TV have provided me with a way to watch the show online, which means I can not only watch, but also review the shows.

* The Setup: As noted in last week’s review, Tetsuya Naito returned to action from injury and won the 2013 G1 Climax Tournament. The feeling at the time is that the fans would buy into his return story, and would become emotionally invested. They didn’t. So much so that NJPW got cold feet on the Naito vs. Okada main event and turned the decision over to the fans. When they did, the fan voting to determine the main event for WrestleKingdom 8, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP IC Title match (the match we’re watching today) was selected to main event the show. It ended up being the right call, partly due to the attachment to Tanahashi and Nakamura, and also because it added to the story that helped legitimize the IWGP IC Title. The feud between the company’s top guy (Tanahashi) and the following work by Nakamura as champion solidified that title as almost on par with the IWGP Title. Amazing, a “secondary title” that means something. Considering that it was a title only created for a possible US expansion and put on MVP, the title has come a long way. I know that this feels repetitive if you read last week’s review, but we may have some new kids attending the party.

* Interview time with Tanahashi who explains losing the IWGP Title to Okada, and that Nakamura called him out for the title match. Tanahashi says they have name value that speaks for itself, and that the matches will be special. He was proud of the fact that the fans voted them to be the main event of the biggest show of the year. Tanahashi then explained how Nakamura was the King of Strong Style and that his own style opposes that. He adds that he feels that the battle over ideologies ended, and that Nakamura broke the spell of strong style.

NJPW on AXS TV Review 3.20.15 (Episode 10) – Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Champion Shinsuke Nakamura from WrestleKingdom 8 (1.04.14): Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Shinsuke Nakamura in the main event to win the IWGP IC Title. This was another match that was long and very good, the best mach on the show in my opinion. Marty Friedman of Megadeth fame played Tanahashi to the ring. Josh Barnett drops his knowledge and explains that Friedman lives in Japan, became fluent in the language and even hosts a radio show. TANAHASHI AIR GUITAR! The entrances were great (big time, big show stuff), and this felt like a big time Tokyo Dome main event; but at the same time I never had that feeling that it could be the MOTY. I know that it sounds odd, especially since this happened so early in the year; I thought it was a really good match but just knew that it would be surpassed. There was a great near fall deep into the match as Nakamura kicked out of the high fly flow; they had (and still do) done a spectacular job of protecting that move that when Nakamura kicked out people were legit shocked. Overall there was excellent work from both men, and the pacing and intense feeling I had for this match felt different than the garden variety Tanahashi match, in a good way. Both men were completely spent post match, selling the brutality of the war that they waged in the ring. It was awesome. Tanahashi finally getting to his feet and getting the title from Stan Hansen was a nice touch to add importance to the moment. Again, this did not end up being a MOTY contender as by the time the end of the year came around it was locked in a pit of tremendous 4.5 star matches, and those matches all fell below my top 10 at the end of 2014. But 2014 was also a stacked year for wrestling, especially with the G1 putting out the quality it did.

I loved the story of the “top guy” dropping down and winning a secondary title. He wanted the title, he wanted to fight Nakamura, and not only did he win the title, but something special happened. He and Nakamura working together added that extra feeling that the title was special, and then when Nakamura took the title back, he was on a one man mission to make the title as valuable as possible and succeeded. Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Champion Shinsuke Nakamura with the High Fly Flow to become the 7th champion – [****½]

* Post Match: We go to the press conference, where Nakamura puts over Tanahashi as a “super exciting opponent”. He added that the title had evolved and there was a bright light shined on it on this night and that history was made and a new era began.

* Back to the ring, Tanahashi discussed believing in his way of wrestling and thanked the fans. His goal is to energize the wrestling industry, and then he air guitared to Friedman a bit and collapsed from exhaustion. He then got back to his feet and MORE AIR GUITAR to Friedman! Tanahashi added that. “that was my newest piece”. Tanahashi is fucking awesome.

* Back to the press conference as Tanahashi puts over his wrestling, Nakamura and the title. He thanks Nakamura, and says he is a star.

* Tanahashi in a new interview says that he felt nostalgic wrestling Nakamura, and that they both believe in wrestling and that touches him.

* Next week’s show will feature Nakamura vs. Tanahashi from Invasion Attack 2014.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”

9.5
The final score: review Amazing
The 411
What a great show again this week. The set up interview from Tanahashi, an awesome main event from one of the biggest show of the year that delivers great work and starts the true rise of the IWGP IC Title. The fact that the company, and specifically Nakamura, have done so much work to make the title mean something, but the Tanahashi feud was a big part of kicking that off. I cannot stress how much I love how New Japan has taken a secondary title with little history and elevated it to such importance. It’s everything I wish WWE could do with theirs, and they have the talent to do so, they just choose not to. Everything worked so well here, and this was a great hour of TV.

Overall NJPW on AXS TV is a great hour of TV, especially if you’re looking for a way to get into the NJPW product and haven’t had the chance to so far. This show is your way in. Josh Barnett and Mauro Ranallo are welcoming in their commentary and are not only entertaining, but also a wealth of information. They will break down the walls and be your gateway into New Japan.

legend