wrestling / TV Reports
Csonka’s NJPW on AXS TV Review 7.29.16
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NJPW on AXS TV Review 7.29.16
– The matches this week come from the 2015 New Japan Pro Wrestling Destruction in Kobe event.
– Hiroshi Tanahashi and his fabulous hair will be our guests for interviews this week.
IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match: Champions reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) defeated the Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) @ 16:17 via pin [****]: The match was just a joy to watch, as they worked a lot of back and forth, with neither team really taking firm control, but the pacing was really good as was the work. From there, the action just kept escalating at a good rate and all four guys were on, building to a good finish at the right time. There is something to be said about a match that goes home at the right time and doesn’t overstay its welcome. The champions retained, and continue their great run in NJPW as a dominant team when it comes to straight tag matches. Post match Roppongi Vice attacked the champions and let them know that they will be challenging for the titles.
– Hiroshi Tanahashi and his fabulous hair discuses having to fight to defend the dome title shot. He felt that he and Okada were on a journey and that they both were trying to retain for another chance to prove themselves against each other. He said that Fale was a difficult opponent, and has provided problems for him over he years and that he was even inured at the hands of the big man.
IWGP Heavyweight Title Tokyo Dome Rights Match: G1 Winner Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Bad Luck Fale @ 16:37 via pin [****]: Tanahashi once again worked some magic here with Fale, and what we ended up with was another very good match overall. First of all, the crowd was so into Tanahashi and this match, which helped a ton. Second of all, Tanahashi (like Nakamura and Okada) knows how to work to Fale’s strengths. They were really able to take what had worked for them in the past and put it all together here in a great package. Also, I have to give Fale some credit as well (and I do harp on him a lot) because he worked his ass off here in what may have been his best singles outing. Tanahashi did some big dives (HHFs to the floor and such) and did everything in his power to defeat the monster. Fale also teased the High Flow Fale, which beat Tanahashi in the G1, and got a great crowd reaction here. Tanahashi picked up the win, and retained the rights to his title shot he won in the G1. Fale is the big monster for New Japan, and it was this performance that made me feel that he was sliding into that role and fully embracing it. Do I want to see Bad Luck Fale main events or an IWGP Title run? Hell no. Does he have his place? Certainly. Post match Tanahashi offered Naito a shot at the briefcase.
– In the final interview, Hiroshi Tanahashi and his fabulous hair discuss their battle against the bigger Fale. Tanahashi knows he’s a smaller heavyweight and marveled at Hogan and Andre, but then saw guys like Muta find success as smaller heavyweights and that gave him hope. As for Naito, he wasted to get on his nerves and remind him that (at the time) he had never been IWGP Champion.
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”
