wrestling / Video Reviews

Furious Flashbacks: Puro Round Up #1

January 31, 2015 | Posted by Arnold Furious

 

 

I knew that by the end of the year I’d need a ‘round-up’ column of sorts to showcase anything I missed during 2014 and also to make sure I wasn’t miles behind when January rolled around. Mainly because late November into December becomes Tag League time of the year and everyone else starts thinking about year end awards. Inevitably I’m still in October and a catch up column is needed. Hence…this round up of various stuff from the last few months and indeed the entire year. The idea is to try and check out a few MOTYC’s I was missing but also to make sure I don’t miss any of the big shows in December. We start this journey in late November as DDT ran another title match show at the Korakuen. This one saw rock, paper, scissors champion Soma Takao coming after HARASHIMA and his King of DDT title.

 

From DDT (30th November) – God Bless DDT

K-OD Openweight Championship:

HARASHIMA (c) vs. Soma Takao

 

HARASHIMA has been one of the most consistently outstanding wrestlers in Japan during 2014 so I felt I owed it to him to not miss one of his latest title defences. The Korakuen is packed out for this with 2,000 in attendance and Takao taking the role of underdog. The ‘establishing parity’ bit at the start of this match feels like it came right out of an ECW show from 1999. Takao’s underdog status doesn’t last as he showcases his skills in a way he’s never been able to before. In Team Dream Futures he doesn’t really stand out. You could argue he’s the least important guy in the group. But here he’s decisive, his flying is effective and HARASHIMA is smart enough to know Takao needs a big chunk of the match to make people think he can win. Which leads to an unusually passive HARASHIMA giving up huge sections in their entirety. Also Takao shrugs off kicks that have floored more important opponents. It’s smart business from HARASHIMA, even if it doesn’t match his usual dedication to common sense. It’s not long before HARASHIMA tires of this and starts bossing Takao on the mat, locking him into holds and bullying the red-haired youngster. Having Keisuke Ishii and Shigehiro Irie at ringside is a nice touch as their shouts of support show the group’s unity and also the uphill struggle Takao faces.

 

As the match progresses both the crowd and Takao start to gain in confidence that there will be an upset. Even though HARASHIMA continually shuts these down. Takao is able to get flash pins, usually when avoiding big HARASHIMA spots like the Somato (his running double knee strike). Takao gains in confidence as he uses the ropes for spots. Following that it’s Axe Guillotine Driver time and HARASHIMA counters it into a motherfucking CANADIAN DESTROYER. Both men stay down to prevent a pin. Takao then nails the Guillotine Driver and HARASHIMA kicks out. This leaves Takao looking tired, as if he channelled everything into that spot and it didn’t get the job done. Yet HARASHIMA is tired too after taking a beating and a finisher. Out of ideas they just ELBOW THE PISS out of each other. HARASHIMA wins out, on account of his championship conditioning, but then Takao pops back up for an another immense elbow duel. HEADBUTT! BOOT SCRAPES! Oh shit! First Flash….for 2. HARASHIMA was opened up hardway during that abuse. HARASHIMA has to hang on to survive but comes back with some brutal knees as this starts to get really epic. Takao looks like he was knocked goofy so HARASHIMA downs him with SOMATOOOOOOO for the win. This match almost plodded along until they’d done enough selling of the fatigue to convince everyone they were shattered…then they opened up big time. The last 5 minutes was epic stuff. HARASHIMA came away looking like a better champion and Takao looked tremendous in defeat. As does anyone HARASHIMA puts down.

 

Final Rating: ****

 

From Wrestle-1 (30th November) – First Tag League Greatest Day 6

Wrestle-1 First Tag League Greatest Final:

Team 246 (Kaz Hayashi & Shuji Kondo) vs. New Wild Order (AKIRA & Manabu Soya)

 

Not only is this the final match of Wrestle-1’s first ever tag league but it will also determine their first ever tag team champions. Team 246 is an easy pick for the best team in Wrestle-1 with Soya & AKIRA being experienced veterans, here to keep the pacing tight in this near 30-minute match. The match itself is fairly heatless with the slow pace and repeated blocks on double teams not winning the crowd over at all. Soya and Kondo seem determined to make the whole match about blocking stuff and it takes 4 or 5 blocked lariats before a double one connects. Rinse, repeat. It’s as if Soya only has two things; hitting a lariat or having it blocked. The match is better when Kondo starts throwing him around and Hayashi puts AKIRA to the sword. AKIRA ends up running a major underdog hand where he sneaks in roll ups and gets the crowd going with that angle. Tags go completely out of the window around halfway through and then it’s just into that cycle of hit move, other guy saves and so on. Which is given away by the camera angle. You can continually see the guys looking out for the saves. Eventually Kaz puts AKIRA away, which you knew would happen because AKIRA had his eyes closed, no longer concerned about watching for his save. Obviously the best team went over but the match was long and somewhat disjointed. Not an ideal beginning for the belts and yet still miles better than the singles title.

 

Final Rating: ***

 

From All Japan (6th December) – Real World Tag League Day 11

AJPW Real World Tag League Finals:

Burning Wild (Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori) vs. Xceed (Go Shiozaki & Kento Miyahara)

 

This feud is the core of All Japan’s booking since Jun Akiyama took over. The idea being that he and the other veterans, hand-picked champion Omori included, are the mountain the young guns have to climb. It’s reminiscent of Misawa going after Jumbo Tsuruta. The difference being Akiyama runs the show but isn’t the champion. Meanwhile Go Shiozaki wants to be the champion, he wants to be ‘The Man’ in AJPW. Injuries and previous management stopped that from happening but now he’s the heir apparent. He just has to contend with the boss. There’s a lesser story with Omori, who’s spent his whole career becoming the top guy he is today, and Miyahara’s intense desire to knock him off that perch before he gets too comfy. Does Omori have the desire to stay where he is? Miyahara takes it too far with Akiyama though by slapping him around while he’s on the apron. The look on Akiyama’s face is priceless. The second he gets the chance he throws Miyahara into the crowd and DDT’s him on the floor. Twice. This leads right into a segment I like to call; let’s beat the shit out of Miyahara, the cocky little prick. Nobody gives a youngster a thrashing like Akiyama (well, Minoru Suzuki but he gets more practice). Even his tags to Omori look harsh in this match. He is a surly motherfucker. Shiozaki then runs in giving it the “I’ll save you” vibe so Akiyama KNEES HIM IN THE FACE.

 

It’s brilliant because Akiyama gets Miyahara and just slaps him into submission. No one is going to save you, boy. You have to save yourself. It’s tough love. It’s beautiful. If Vince McMahon could do this to his wrestlers, he totally would. Grab that brass ring, boy, grab it! Shiozaki looks more than capable of matching Akiyama but Jun keeps kneeing him in the face. My favourite being Shiozaki attempting a flying clothesline and Akiyama throwing a knee into his face while he’s in the air. Is he trying to give his top up and comer a concussion? No wonder All Japan get so many injuries but I’ll be damned if it isn’t fun to watch. Omori is less brutal but equally keen to finish the kids off. He flattens Miyahara with the Axe Guillotine Driver, thus setting him up for more knees and the King Crab Lock. You can see that AJPW are interesting in pushing Shiozaki AND Miyahara as Kento gets to kick out of pretty much everything. He’s not just in this match to job. As the match builds it becomes harder and harder to see what will happen. Miyahara tries for the Break Heart but gets kneed in the face, again. AXE BOMBAAAAAAA! Every time it looks over someone makes a last gasp save. It’s a very well planned out match. Akiyama goes absolutely fucking NUTS with knee strikes on Miyahara and he STILL kicks out. EXPLOIDAAAAAAAA ’98 and Miyahara finally stays down. Great match, one of the best in All Japan all year long. The recent run under Akiyama has produced wrestling that’s not been seen in an AJPW ring for a long time.

 

Final Rating: ****1/4

 

From New Japan (7th December) – NJPW World Tag League Day 11

NJPW World Tag League Finals:

Bullet Club (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) vs. Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto)

 

This was all a bit predictable by comparison to All Japan’s tag league. The spot for the winner was to challenge for the tag straps at Wrestle Kingdom. Both Shibata & Goto were conspicuous by their absence from the card. If Bullet Club win do they get the night off? So it was all a bit obvious and the journey that Meiyu Tag have taken over the course of 2014 seemed to be culminating in a tag title shot. Another issue is the 21 minute main event run time. Most of Meiyu Tag’s matches have been relatively short and action-packed. Bullet Club’s own tags tend to be better when they’re shorter. Doc isn’t that kind of wrestler. He’s a high impact guy, power and uppercuts. Interesting to note Shibata’s change of style here. He doesn’t come charging in and kicking ass. He’s slower, methodical and the suggestion has been that in taking on a full-time New Japan schedule (since October he’s been working the tours, not just the big shows) Shibata has become a pro-wrestler, rather than an MMA guy doing pro-wrestling (all off the back of *that* handshake with Tanahashi). I’m sure his opponents are happy about this development. The structure of the match is expected though with Goto taking extended heat. Shibata plays the protective older brother to prevent a count-out but more specifically Bullet Club interference from the outside. AJ Styles is one of those on the wrong end of a Shibata thrashing. Speaking of which; that’d be a terrific match. Meiyu Tag showcase some actual team moves here, which is a rarity. It’s usually Goto gets into trouble and Shibata saves him. It’s as if they knew they were underprepared in the past and went out of their way to plan team moves. This all leads to a softening of Shibata’s personality. He wants Goto to succeed. He wants them to succeed as a duo. He’s a nice guy at heart. Despite this it’s Goto who screws up, again, and accidentally batters Shibata off the apron. Now Goto has to survive. He has to prove himself equal. Which he does by surviving, countering and lasting until Shibata is back on his feet. Once Shibata is back in there he hits PK on Anderson and it’s Goto who wins it with Shouten Kai. This was key for the team as Goto had to believe he could win the big one. Shibata gave him that confidence here.

 

Final Rating: ***1/4

 

Kaientai Dojo (28th December) – K-Special Year End Show

Strongest K Championship:

Kengo Mashimo (c) vs. TAKA Michinoku

 

As a Xmas present TAKA has given himself a title shot. It’s been a while since I saw TAKA in a meaningful, long singles match and there might be a reason for that. He’s certainly methodical here, taking Kengo to the mat and working an old school style. You could be forgiven for thinking this is Dradition. TAKA spends a lot of time on Kengo’s leg to try and keep him grounded. It takes away a lot of the champ’s power but also allows Kengo to show how sensible he can be as he takes time to recover. Does it make sense? Yes. Is it fun? No. Kengo goes the eye for an eye approach too by working TAKA’s leg in response. I have no idea what the commentator finds to talk about it. It’s literally all legwork. “Leglock”. “Reversed”. “Leglock”. For once the selling is actually credible although it’s usually a brief limp before yet another leglock. It gets to the point where they’re both selling leg injuries so much they’re just lying around doing that and nothing else. It’s dedication but it’s also boring. Did I mention this match is 20 minutes long? It actually gets quite good toward the finish where the intensity of leglocks gets to boiling point but there’s really no difference between what they’re doing at the end and what they’ve been doing for the previous 20 minutes. Eventually TAKA can’t take the pain (I can relate) and taps out. Possibly of boredom. Unless you adore leglocks this is not the match for you.

 

Final Rating: **

 

Big Japan (21st December) – Death Match Vegas

Daisuke Sekimoto & Hideyoshi Kamitani vs. Kohei Sato & Yuji Okabayashi

 

Okabayashi is back! The tubby bald badass fucked his shoulder up back in January coming off the top rope in Germany and missed the entire year. This is his first televised match since the barnburner with Tomohiro Ishii in Legend Pro 11 months beforehand. Those Big Japan softies give him some welcome back orchids before the match. Sekimoto and Sato are regulars across the Japanese scene but Kamitani might be a new name for you. He’s 22 and only debuted in April 2012. Okabayashi’s welcome back to wrestling is a CHOP DUEL with SEKIMOTO! That’ll blow the ring rust away! Kamitani has a different challenge for Okabayashi, an arm ringer on that surgically rebuilt shoulder. Japanese people are mean. I can’t get enough of Sekimoto and Sato barrelling into each other. It’s like there’s an underground toughman movement in Japanese wrestling and these two, and Hino, are at the forefront of it. Okabayashi would be too if he’d not missed a year. He takes out his frustrations on Kamitani, the poor bastard. It’s a lot of fun to watch him work through his issues. He looks like he missed it. Big Japan is a tough place to work and Kamitani is certainly learning that. You either get used to having the crap beaten out of you every night or get used to falling into light tubes. Either way you go it’s going to hurt. Sekimoto is a freakishly strong guy and it’s easy to forget that because he’s tough too but when he starts throwing Kohei Sato around you remember his strength. It’s mightily impressive. Everyone gets their chance to shine in this match, even Kamitani, despite his smaller stature. Okabayashi ends up being too much for the youngster though and the Golem Splash finishes. Given the participants this was suitably manly. I missed Okabayashi.

 

Final Rating: ***1/2

 

BJW/DDT/K-Dojo New Year’s Eve Toshikoshi Pro Wrestling 2014 (31st December 2014) – Tenka Toitsu Three Organisations Tournament

Yuji Hino & Yuji Okabayashi vs. Daisuke Sekimoto & Antonio Honda

 

This is the final tag team tournament of 2014 and features wrestlers from three separate promotions. Hino is from K-Dojo, Okabayashi & Sekimoto from BJW and Honda from DDT. I hasten to add that this isn’t the actual final but rather a second round match. If I’m cherry picking I’m cherry picking matches with Sekimoto in. Like in the last match, there’s an odd-man out in the manliness stakes and it’s Antonio Honda but he’s clever and funny enough to know this and use it to his advantage. Hino vs. Sekimoto is always great and they re-run that chop duel from Fortune Dream. It is WONDERFUL. I’m tempted to go **** for that alone. Hino is such a beast he’s able to do the fallaway slam on Honda without leaving his feet. He just throws Honda over his head. That is freakish power. Honda tries to outthink Hino by reminding him of MONSTER ARMY. In Monster Army, Honda OUTRANKED Hino so he just orders him to stop attacking. Hino stops to salute and Honda hits a Russian legsweep. Brilliant! The rest of the match is a war with a bunch of hard-hitting impactful stuff so it’s nice to have Honda in there to break it up. Him teaching Sekimoto how to juke and jive before an attack is fantastic stuff too. Sekimoto can swing his hips like a beast (he does everything like a beast, to be fair). Okabayashi overcomes this and flattens Honda before finishing with the Golem Splash. This match had a healthy combination of violence and chuckles. It was right up my alley.

 

Final Rating: ***1/2

 

Tangent: in case you were interested Yankee Two Kenju (Kodaka & Miyamoto, get used to seeing them in multiple feds in 2015) won the final by beating the Two Yujis. The match doesn’t appear to have surfaced online. That wraps up the December Round Up. Every other major show will drop into full reviews (DDT, IGF and Dragon Gate final shows of the year all on tap). With that complete I’m going to take a quick look at two potential MOTY’s that I didn’t see.

 

 

 

From Dragon Gate (16th January 2014) – Open the New Year Gate.

Open the Dream Gate Championship:

Masato Yoshino (c) vs. Masaaki Mochizuki

 

If, like me, you have trouble differentiating between the Dragon Gate titles; this is the one that Ricochet and YAMATO traded in 2014, which BxB Hulk won in July and has had ever since. Seeing as I dip in and out of Dragon Gate, with alarming regularity, I wasn’t watching at the time. So I missed this. People who like Dragon Gate have it as a MOTYC. I can understand that because Yoshino is really fast and Mochizuki likes kicking really fast people in the head. It’s a match made in heaven. Mochizuki’s sole purpose in Dragon Gate seems to be to slow down the spotty guys and make them have less chaotic matches. It intensifies the high spots and Yoshino gets a big reaction for a moonsault to the floor here after Mochi had been trapping him in holds for 5 minutes beforehand. In return for this Mochizuki takes to kicking Yoshino a lot. A LOT! This leads to somewhat muddled selling from the champ. Sometimes he collapses, sometimes he comes flying back with a satellite headscissors. And sometimes that gets him kicked in the head again. It’s fun but I’m not convinced any of it makes sense. They balls up at least one big spot with Yoshino trying Lightning Spiral off the top at pace but slipping on the ropes. To their credit, it still connects. It still looks pretty cool but it’s not the move Yoshino was going for. Yoshino’s goes for Sol Naciente (basically a triangle choke/double armlock combo) quite early here while Mochizuki is relatively fresh, with predictable results. I.E.: more kicks to the head. This is the point in the match where it starts to go nuts though with near falls and submission attempts and the crowd getting thoroughly into the business of it. Generally the bigger the match, the bigger the stretch and they go into the stretch with five minutes left. That’s a good sign. Yoshino gets kicked in the head again and again and every time the fans buy it as a pin. Yoshino isn’t alone in the selling and Mochizuki does a tremendous flip bump off a lariat as well as taking nasty missile dropkicks to the noggin. It keeps the fans guessing with hints at both men winning. After dumping Mochizuki on his head another Sol Naciente finishes, Mochi fighting it all the way. I can see why people loved this, and it’s really good. Maybe I’d have had a higher opinion of the match if I’d seen it closer to the time it happened. Worth seeing though. A contender for Dragon Gate MOTY.

 

Final Rating: ****1/2

 

From Big Japan (30th June) – Ikkitousen Strong Climb Block B

Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Shinobu

 

For those who missed it the Ikkitousen Strong Climb was Big Japan’s G1 style tournament. It didn’t exactly set the world on fire this year and I didn’t see most of it but one match that got a tonne of buzz was this one. Shinobu isn’t a guy I know very well because he mainly works for Big Japan but he does a fine job of working Sekimoto here, employing sensible moves like the sleeper to bring the big man under control. Seki has a wonderful response to the sleeper though. He just stands up, with Shinobu on his back, and marches into the ropes. As if he’s strolling to the newsagents to get the morning paper. Sometimes Sekimoto’s sheer muscular nature makes him do amusing things. One thing that always bothers me about Big Japan is how goddamn filthy their mat is. I got meningitis just watching this match. At least use a different mat for the death match stuff. There are bloodstains everywhere and bits of the mat are taped back together. Shinobu’s aerial moves don’t quite hit the mark but they keep Sekimoto unbalanced. It’s like the STF. He must know he won’t get a submission but he will make Sekimoto wear himself out dragging Shinobu across the ring and because he’s a big manly man that’s what he’ll do every time. Sekimoto has a pleasant habit of making people look good so he continues to sell for Shinobu, even if he’s half his size. It seems Shinobu’s only route to victory is off the top but a spectacular SSP misses and Seki release Germans him into the buckles in a move that makes me yell “FUUUUUUUUUCCCCK” at the screen. Sekimoto wasn’t even CLOSE to the buckles on the release. And yet Shinobu keeps kicking out until Sekimoto becomes lax on a German suplex and gets caught in an armbar. And just like that Sekimoto has to tap out and Shinobu gets a huge upset win. I love Sekimoto’s selling on the submission as he suddenly realises how much trouble he’s in and starts thrashing around with his legs, desperate to get the ropes. Top selling. The finish is still highly unlikely but the selling makes it just about convincing. The brutality of the high spots made this one. Sekimoto looked like a monster.

 

Final Rating: ****