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Csonka’s NJPW on AXS TV Review 9.25.15
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NJPW on AXS TV Review 9.25.15
– The matches come from the NJPW Power Struggle 2014, which took place in November.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM: NEVER Openweight Title Match: Tomohiro Ishii (c) beat Hirooki Goto (17:15) with a brainbuster (1st defense). [****¾]: So this match was pretty fucking bananas. I discussed Sakuraba and Suzuki and their faux shoot/MMA stuff before, and when done right it works so well. But this was different. These dudes were fighting and kicking the hell out of each other. They went wild for 18-minutes and brutalized each other with forearms, elbows, suplexes and clotheslines. For some people it will be too much, Ishii was coughing up some blood at one point, and even if worked that will make people uncomfortable. Also, many don’t like that real fight style, which is understandable. I hate to use the term at times, but this came off as a war between two warriors that were looking to outlast the other and simply survive. There was a level of intensity here that dwarfed Cena vs. Lesnar at Summerslam (for comparison). That’s also not a knock on Cena vs. Lesnar, I enjoyed the hell out of that match. I love hard hitting and physical wrestling, and this was done so well and pulled me into the action through their insane level of intensity. I loved this and felt that it was a true MOTY contender. This was a beautiful exercise in violence. I really wish that they had shown this whole match.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi beat Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI (15:56) when Ibushi used a Phoenix splash on YOSHI-HASHI. [****]: This had to follow the NEVER title match, which thankfully worked not only from a quality standpoint, but also because of the star power. With Tanahashi and Okada involved, the crowd almost had no choice but to react to the match, which was one of many WK previews. This was just a great tag team match, with four guys working hard and in harmony; it appeared to be effortless for them. This was a completely different match in style from the NEVER title bout, which helped it succeed. On top of that, it was just a lot of fun.
* Shinsuke Nakamura was the special interview this week. He spoke about choosing Shibata as is challenger, due to the loss in the G1, he felt that he had to face him again and get the win. They faced off several times ten years ago, and then he returned and got the victory. He looked to test himself and he was able to beat him, and now that he is part of the team again, he wanted the rematch and was willing to put the title on the line to get it. His dream of challenging for the title at the dome was over, he had to take on other challenges.
FULL MATCH: IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) beat Katsuyori Shibata (17:05) with the Boma Ye (1st defense). [****]: I thought that the show’s main event was a good match, but not at the level of the usual NJPW main event. I guess the best way to explain things is that it felt as if it was missing something. You know that feeling, you’re watching a movie, TV show, wrestling match and you enjoy it but it seems to be missing that special something that makes it memorable or great. That was this match, and a lot of Nakamura matches for me. I liked the work, the wrestling was not only good but also clean and I felt it had a good build; but nothing was excellent. There is nothing wrong with a really good match, but this just lacked that special something to take it to the next level for me, that next level that a lot of NJPW main events (or matches like the first one on this show) get to. Nakamura fucked up Shibata’s world by avoiding the penalty kick and landing three bom a ye’s to score the victory. I liked it a lot, I just didn’t love it as I have seen much better from both men. I will say that Barnett and Ranallo were awesome on commentary here, and added to my enjoyment of the match a lot. They continue to be the best commentary team in wrestling. Post match Ibushi appeared, planted Nakamura with a German suplex as he celebrated his victory and then challenged him for the IC Title on January 4th. This worked so well because this isn’t done all the time in NJPW, and also there was no music telegraphing the run in. If you missed WK, these two ended up having a fucking epic match.
* Shinsuke Nakamura said that the rematch in November was important, and he adapted himself to battle Shibata. As for Ibushi’s challenge, he said it was fun how he appeared and that he was the only one who could do it that way. he even chuckled a bit as the interview ended. Apparently Nakamura was amused.
* End scene.
* Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”
