wrestling / Video Reviews
EL DANDY~! Tape Review-G-1 Climax 2003 Part 1
As always, this review is brought you by GOLDEN BOY TAPES~! Rob IS YO DADDY!!!
-New Japan is always a stickler for saving their best for the Dome Shows and the G-1 Climax. Past G-1 Climaxes have been disappointing, as it was if a lot of the participants didn’t really care that much. In fact, in 1999, it seemed as if New Japan was on the downfall (which they were, in some aspects), when the Climax turned in one of the worst tourneys ever, a far cry from the greatness that came in 1996. Steadily, it got better over the next three years, and then, this year, it got interesting with the participation of NOAH outsider Jun Akiyama, the Supernova, Shinsuke Nakamura, and a new-look Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Let’s just go over the Blocks and the participants:
Block A
-Masahiro Chono-“Mr. G-1″ is always a threat, winning the tournament four times, the most ever.
-Jun Akiyama-The NOAH participant who came in with something to prove after Yuji Nagata’s demolition of him at the 6/6 NOAH show.
-Manabu Nakanishi-Trying to get back into form after a lengthy absence from New Japan to focus on vale tudo, where he wasn’t a factor.
-Osamu Nishimura-“Mr. Muga” is always a threat, as his throwback to the great 70s wrestling throws his opponents off guard, and is also a treat to watch.
-Hiroshi Tanahashi-A young lion, the U-30 Openweight Champion, looking to prove he belongs with the big boys in New Japan.
-Hiroyoshi Tenzan-The underachieving Chono pupil, looking for this tournament to be his coming out party, his chance to shine, if you will.
Block B
-Yuji Nagata-After setting the defense record of the IWGP title, Mr. Saikyo wants to win the tournament that he captured over the great Keiji Mutoh in 2001.
-Shinsuke Nakamura-The Supernova enters the Climax within his first year of full-time wrestling, which is absolutely unheard of, looking to prove himself somehow.
-Katsuyori Shibata-A shoot-style young lion, he’s Makai #4 in the Makai Club…or is he?
-Yoshihiro Takayama-The man on top of the puroresu world, the IWGP and NWF champ is in here to prove why he’s the best in the game.
-Tadao Yasuda-This former IWGP champ is hated, and will use his guile to try and get him through the tourney with success.
-Yutaka Yoshie-The “enforcer” of New Japan is in here, like his tag team partner Tanahashi, to prove he belongs with the big boys of New Japan.
-So with all that in mind, let’s start with Days 1 and 2 of the tournament!!! Days 1, 2, and 5 are off Samurai TV, which means it’s been clipped down. Days 3 and 4 are from ESPNi’s SXW, which means a full TV block dedicated to these days. NO CLIPPING. Clipped ratings aren’t final since the full match could change them.
–Day 1: 8/10
-The day starts off with the introduction of all 12 participants, with the winner of the previous year’s tourney, Chono, coming out last. Watch the evolution of Takayama’s face throughout this bad boy. By the end, it looks even more disfigured, if that was more possible. Jesus, this man would have been Dali’s greatest model if he was still living.
–Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Katsuyori Shibata-We’re joined in progress with Shibata working over the leg as Nak is working over the arm. They trade go behinds until they get caught in the ropes. Nak tries stuff, and then Shibata just starts whooping his ass with kicks and knees. Corner whip, back elbow, and then he absolutely UNLOADS a kick in the face to Nak, who falls out of the ring like he’s just been knocked out, and rightfully so. Shibata follows out and just starts kicking his ass some more, kicking and slamming him into the ringpost and what not. Back in, Shibata gets 2. He tries a German, but Nak reverses into one of his own, which is GORGEOUS, but then he breaks the bridge and tries another, but Shibata pushes off the ropes to break that up. Nak with elbows, but one is ducked into an STO, into that reverse Crossface (the Naruse Lock) that is the big craze in Japan these days, and Nak makes the ropes. Shibata goes from a Boston Crab into a Cross-legged STF, which is broken up, but then he kicks some more. He charges and eats a spear, however. Shibata gets more kicks, but Nak transfers BEAUTIFULLY into a powerbomb. Somebody needs to steal that move against RVD one of these days. Nak then does the Shining Triangle, which is like the Shining Wizard except he vaults into a TRIANGLE CHOKE, and Shibata taps. This was the best Nitro match I’ve seen in a while (© DVDVR) as it was only 4:22, but the talent in these guys is totally unheard of at this age. In Nak’s case…we’d find out just how talented he is later this year. **
–Block B: Yuji Nagata vs. Yutaka Yoshie-JIP with Yoshie whooping Nagata’s ass on the floor. Nagata to the apron, but is sent back down with a running backfist. Yuji is down and waits until 19 to get back in. Nagata collapses on the Irish Whip, so Yoshie FAT ASS SPLASHES him for 2. Nagata ducks another backfist and tries an Exploider, but Yoshie blocks and hits a REALLY good Death Valley Driver for 2. Camel Clutch PROCURED. 3 butt splashes to the back gets 2. Yoshie goes corner avalanche, corner ass splash, and Thesz Press for 2. He slams and goes up top for the REALLY FAT ASS SPLASH, but Nagata stops him, so he settles by jumping onto him standing up for 2. Didn’t look like too much, really. Yoshie looks for the German, but Nagata blocks until he eats a backfist to the head, and Yoshie gets the German for 2. Yoshie looks for the running powerslam, but Nagata gets a spinning heel kick and a running Shining Wizard in the corner. Nagata puts Yoshie on top and gets a SUPER EXPLOIDER for only 1! Gotta be those donuts for extra energy. They trade elbows, but Yoshie gets a throat thrust, only to eat four enzuigiris and a running high kick for 2. Nagata with the knockout roundhouse kick, and then the Backdrop Hold for the victory. 6-7:00 of the 12:21 was shown, but this was a GREAT Yoshie match and Nagata was totally feeling it here. **1/4
–Block A: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi-JIP with Tanahashi getting a Dragon Screw into a Figure-Four. It’s broken and Tanahashi looks for another one, but Nak headbutts out and gets a spear. He totally blows a facecrusher, and then gets a suplex and a good lariat for 2. Nak goes for the Torture Rack, but Tanahashi blocks and goes for his own, which is broken up as Nak gets a lariat. Tanahashi gets a good enzuigiri, flipping neckbreaker, and missile dropkick before dumping Nak RIGHT ON HIS NOGGIN’ with a German. Nak is looking really rusty at this point. Dropkick to the knee, Dragon Screw, Figure-Four. Nak gets to the ropes. Tries another Dragon Screw, but headbutts out, so Tanahashi goes one up into a Dragon Suplex, but Nak counters with a STUNNER??? Tanahashi reverses a German into a rolling clutch for 2. Tanahashi eats a lariat, the LAST RIDE (!!!) and a German Suplex Hold for the victory at14:04 (about 6-7:00 shown). Then Makai Club comes in and whoops his ass until the seconds come in and stop it. This wasn’t pretty, as Nak just didn’t look good at all, especially with all that ode to WWE offense that looked SO out of place. Tanahashi tried hard, though. *
–Block A: Masahiro Chono vs. Osamu Nishimura-Chono enters MUGA WORLD~! We’re JIP with the criss-cross of DOOM followed by the handshake of EQUAL DOOM! Nish works over the leg, and then after they tie up, Nish hits some GREAT European Uppercuts. Nish dropkicks the knee into the figure-four. The great thing about Nish is that he LOVES the Spinning Toe Hold, so just when his opponents think that, he drops the figure-four on them. It’s great strategy. Nish kicks the leg and then delivers a diving kneedrop to the leg, into a half crab, into the Boston Crab. After the break, Nish gets a Euro Upper, and then they just go headbutt crazy in the corner. Chono tries fighting out, but Nish gets more Uppercuts. Chono eventually fights out of the corner and hits a Yakuza Kick for 2. Neckbreaker is reversed into a backslide for 2. The crowd actually pops for the near falls here. Chono School Boy gets 2. Nish gets another Euro Upper into the Spinning Toe Hold, but Chono small packages him for the win at about 6:00 into a 24:00 match. Good stuff from what I saw. Looked about ** or so.
–Block A: Tadao Yasuda vs. Yoshihiro Takayama-JIP with Yasuda getting a Butterfly Suplex for 2. Tadao can’t get Tak over for the Tiger Driver, and it ends up being a TIGER DRIVER ‘91~! for 2. Well, talk about your blown spots being upped an ante. There’s a debate on whether or not the move was deliberately invented by Misawa, or if it was because he couldn’t get big guys over on the move. It happened against Akira Taue just like it happened here. Yasuda goes to a sleeper, but Tak breaks. Tak ducks a right hand and hits a backdrop for 2. Tak then clamps on Yasuda’s own sleeper hold and holds it for quite a while. Yasuda breaks and a Makia who is at ringside doesn’t like that Tak doesn’t break the hold, so he gets in his face. Tak gladly kicks his off for him. That leads to a Makai beatdown. Back in, Tadao gets a front neck lock which Tak suplexes out of. Tak snapmares into a knee kick, and hits another. Yasuda catches another one and Dragon Screws out of it into a figure-four. Tadao Mutoh?! Yasuda makes the Mutoh gesture in the figure-four as the crowd laughs. That answers that question. It’s in for a WHILE before Tak gets to the ropes. Yasuda won’t break, of course. Tadao gets his front sleeper and BEATS THE DOUBLE CHAMP! About 5:00 out of the 11:16 shown. Meh, this wasn’t too good at all, really. *
–Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Jun Akiyama-What’s great about this is that it’s the only match on this Samurai TV taping that is shown in full, and it’s obviously the big match to start things out, because it shows the superstar invader against the one who has something to prove. Tenzan’s new look is straight out of the Benoit wardrobe. Akiyama is still with the white trunks and the blonde hair, but he’s got a belly that says to me “Stone Cold” Jun Akiyama. Man, these guys make the opening knucklelock dramatic. The crowd is REALLY into this. Tenzan pushes him into the ropes and headbutts him. Tenzan with a headlock and a tackle, but when Akiyama grabs a headlock, Tenzan backdrops him. That’s sweet. Akiyama takes a powder, and then dicks it up by breaking the count to continue with the powdering. They trade chops back inside, and then Tenzan takes over with a headbutt and the Mongolian Chops. More big time chops and a suplex for 2. Akiyama hasn’t had an offensive advantage in six minutes…and then he starts kicking away and it works. Guess I should stop talking about the offensive advantage stuff. Running high kick puts him down, but Tenzan blocks the jumping knee in the corner and hits a spinning heel kick. See? Told ya. Tenzan tosses Akiyama and takes him to the ramp, where he chops and tries a suplex, which is blocked, and Akiyama reverses with a DDT. And then he does it twice more, dropping off the ramp with the last one. If that doesn’t tell you what Akiyama’s strategy is, nothing will. Tenzan gets in at 19 and eats the jumping knee for 2. He drops three knees to the head and does an elbow, too. He stomps and chokes away in the corner and draws the ire of the fans. Tenzan hulks up and fights back, eventually getting a lariat. That’s one thing in Tenzan’s repertoire that he needs to work on. Back elbow and another lariat gets 2. Calf Branding gets a 2. Tenzan tries for the Buffalo Sleeper, but Akiyama gets to the ropes. Tenzan goes up as Akiyama is playing opossum and gets a superplex. Tenzan no-sells, but eats two jumping knees and a SPIKING DDT for his troubles. A diving elbow pat to the back of Tenzan’s head gets 2. Akiyama Lock (front neck lock) follows, and Tenzan is in BIG trouble, but he gets to the ropes. Akiyama with two kneelifts and an Exploider for 2. Tenzan blocks a second and no-sells two lariats before getting a headbutt and the JUDGEMENT SLAM~! (Leg-clutch Angle Slam) for 2. Tenzan gets the Buffalo Sleeper and grapevines, but Akiyama gets to the ropes. Two diving headbutts get 2. He calls for the Tenzan Tombstone Driver, but Akiyama falls out, only to eat the Mountain Bomb for 2. Tenzan then does a REALLY smart move. Akiyama was thinking about the TTD, so Tenzan instead dropped him with the rib breaker to set up the moonsault, which misses. That’s a neat bit of psychology right there. Akiyama procures the Akiyama Lock again, and Tenzan is in the middle of the ring again, but Akiyama lets go for 2. Sheer Drop Exploider and the Exploider ‘98 (Wrist-clutch/pumphandle exploider) gets the duke for Akiyama at 19:43. It almost seems as if Akiyama was just toying with Tenzan. He let him think that he had a chance to get the win early, so Akiyama found an opening and let him have it. Great cat and mouse game. ***1/2 Afterwards, Akiyama puts on the NOAH towel (which I need to get from somebody) and berates Tenzan for being one of the best New Japan can offer or something.
Day 2: 8/11
–Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura (2 pts) vs. Yutaka Yoshie (0 pts)-We’re JIP with Nakamura hitting the chinlock. Yoshie tosses out and Nak goes for his world-beating takedown, but Yoshie blocks it with his girth and stomps away in the corner. Yoshie then uses this REALLY great slingshot variation of the Banzai Drop a few times on the Supernova. Yoshie with the Boston Crab. Man, the Crab hurts enough, but Yoshie’s fat ass sitting on you doesn’t help matters any. Nak eats the corner splash and counters the powerslam into a front neck lock. Yoshie breaks, but Nak goes to cross-armbreaker only for a second as Yoshie breaks. Nak knees Yoshie down for 2. He elbows away and slams the big man. He tries a German and can’t do it at first, but eventually does (WHOA!) for 2. Yoshie gets the throat thrust and the backfist to take over. FAT ASS SPLASH gets 2. Yoshie then looks to finish the rookie, but Nak moves before Yoshie can climb. Nak then does a flying cross-armbreaker into the Triangle Hold and Yoshie says “No SIR!” by Backlund deadlifting into a powerbomb. He then gives Nak the mother of all backfists before hitting the REALLY FAT ASS SPLASH at about 6-7:00 of 12:31. This was pretty fun for a bit. *1/4
–Block B: Katsuyori Shibata (0 pts) vs. Tadao Yasuda (2 pts)-This sucks because they play off the “Is Shibata Makai #4…or ISN’T HE?” storyline and Yasuda Nash’s to Shibata’s Hogan. Yasuda lies down in 41 seconds. Shibata is pissed. I am, too. I would have at least liked to see Shibata kick Yasuda’s head off or SOMETHING. Shibata is tearing stuff down in the back he’s so mad, I guess. No rating, duh.
–Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan (0 pts) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (0 pts)-JIP with Tenzan hitting the TTD on the floor. Well, if that isn’t a great JIP, I don’t know what is. Tanahashi does the customary “Beat the 20 count” bit and gets in at 19. Only for Tenzan to send him out again with a lariat. Tanahashi flips out of the outside-in suplex but eats a backdrop. Diving headbutt gets 2. Tenzan’s headbutts almost look like flying chops to the chest. Buffalo Sleeper PROCURED and Tanahashi is in the middle of the ring with nowhere to go, but of course that means that he’ll break it. Tenzan stomps away, but eats two enzuigirs and a flipping neckbreaker before reversing a high crossbody for 2. Tenzan gets a spinning heel kick, but Tanahashi small packages out of a TTD attempt for 2. Tanahashi gets a Japanese leg roll clutch for 2 as he can’t get the bridge. School boy gets 2. Tanahashi elbows but eats a Mountain Bomb for 2. Tenzan gets the Rib Breaker, but Tanahashi is up, and breaks up the Moonsault with a Super Backdrop! Tanahashi gets an elbow to the head and then a Dragon Suplex Hold for the upset at about 7:00 of 15:14 that I saw. The Under-30 Openweight Champ makes a great comeback, but I REALLY wish I could have seen the entire match because that would make this a better viewing for me. *1/2 Tenzan definitely looks not too good, as he has 0 pts, but has done it against tough opponents.
–Block A: Osamu Nishimura (0 pts) vs. Jun Akiyama (0 pts)-Speaking of matches I wanted the full view of, this is a perfect example. However, this is a Nishimura match, so since this is about halfway in, you and I both know that up to this point, we would have seen a knucklelock sequence, a rope running sequence, and a headstand out of a headscissors, along with the requisite “Beat the 20 count” the Climax offers before the spot we’re joined in progress with. That being said, this is probably the only time that seeing a match JIP wouldn’t take away from the actual match itself. We’re JIP with Nish outside, and Akiyama taking him to the buckle and snapping him across the turnbuckle iron! That’s neat. Nish tries getting in, but Akiyama guillotines him across the ropes. Akiyama then messes with the crowd cuz he’s a dick and he’s invading the Climax so that he can prove that NOAH is the best and this fires up Nish to a point. Akiyama with a GREAT piledriver for 2. Chinlock procured. Akiyama switches to a rear headscissors. If this was a side headscissors, we’d see the headstand, but alas, I get nothing. Akiyama then continues the stretching with a HUGE facelock that makes Nish’s trunk nearly at a 90 degree angle to the mat. Thank God for Nish being Rubber Man. Akiyama releases and covers for 2. Rope running sees Nish tackling Akiyama, but then going right into a Cobra Twist. Missed spot maybe? Akiyama hiptosses out, but they both dive out, so Nish drops him shin first on the announce table. Nish then gets a Euro Upper and keeps Akiyama out as he tells him to bring it on. Nish then dropkicks Akiyama to keep him out. Nish is showing some fire, I’ll tell you that. He whips Akiyama in and gets the Octopus Hold, and then goes up top and kneedrops Akiyama’s knee. SPINNING TOE HOLD~! into the Figure-Four. By the way, the knee being worked on is Akiyama’s jumping knee, the right knee. Keep that in mind. And it is on for a WHILE. Akiyama finally breaks, but the knee is messed, suffice to say. More with the STIFF Euro Uppers in the corner. That’s the best addition to Nish’s arsenal without a doubt. Akiyama falls down on the corner whip, so Nish, like a DICK, dropkicks the knee and goes to the figure-four, this time trying to stand up while in it to add pressure. I want to send Nish a card or something. The crowd is SO into the near falls off a FIGURE-FOUR. This is 1986 NWA. LOVE IT. Nish goes up and misses the Missile Dropkick, and Akiyama gets a Dragon Sleeper. Whoa, that’s a new one. Oh, and the right knee is down so that there isn’t as much pressure. That’s right. PSY-CHOL-O-GY, BABY! Nish gets to the ropes as Akiyama limps around. He tries a suplex, but Nish flips out because of Akiyama’s knee and looks for the Japanese rolling leg clutch cradle, but on the bridge, Akiyama grabs a sleeper. That’s AWESOME and I can’t believe it took so long for somebody to think of that as a credible counter to that move. Akiyama chains to the Akiyama Lock at the 25 minute mark. Akiyama breaks and goes back to it. See, usually, Akiyama would use the Exploider, but the fact that Nish has worked the knee has rendered the Exploider useless. Akiyama is using this opportunity to use a big move and rest the knee. He releases for 2. With the knee a bit better, the jumping knee/Exploider combo gets 2. Nish goes to the corner, and Akiyama is waiting, but the jumping knee misses, so Nish grabs a Cobra Twist and cradles for the HUMONGOUS win at about 13:00 of 27:13. Man, Akiyama sold like a KING in this match, and Nish was totally on it with his mannerisms and his intensity and these two just CLICKED. Great psychology with the knee getting taken out being the sole reason why Akiyama couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities, and Nish working it like a mofo was absolutely great. ***3/4
–Block A: Masahiro Chono (2 pts) vs. Manabu Nakanishi (2 pts)-JIP with Chono using the Cobra Twist, and then dropping Nak into the STF. It’s too early and Nak gets to the ropes. Chono then locks in the Butterfly Lock. Nak powers out and hits a Water Wheel Suplex. He then clips the leg and gets the TORTURE RACK OF DOOM! He releases and puts on the Stretch Muffler (Brock Lock w/o the Crab part) and then he grapevines the leg until Chono gets to the ropes. Nak works the leg some more and grapevines the leg again, this time in the middle of the ring. However, Chono grabs an ankle pick and it’s Nak who’s trying to get to the ropes, and does. Chono tries a Dragon screw, but Nak rushes out with right hands, only to eat a Yakuza Kick. Nak tosses Chono on a sleeper attempt, and then spears him. Nak then powerbombs Chono and gets him in a kneelock and Chono taps at 11:39. About 5:00 were shown. Nothing special. *
–Block B: Yoshihiro Takayama (0 pts) vs. Yuji Nagata (2 pts)-This is a rematch from 5/2/03 when Takayama defeated Nagata to win the IWGP Title to make him the double champ that he is coming into the tournament. They take it to the mat to start off with and neither man can really take advantage. Nagata finally gets his by kicking Tak in the corner lots and then hitting a belly-to-belly. Tak returns the favor and hits one of his own. Nagata reverses a whip and hits a Russian Leg Sweep right into what looks like his Nagata Lock. Tak kicks Nagata off and looks for the Everest German Suplex, but Nagata rolls out and grabs an Ankle Lock. Nagata opens Tak up, catches a knee kick, and then Dragon Screws and gives the salute for the Nagata Lock. Tak breaks, but Nagata keeps kicking away at the leg. Two enzuigiris put Tak down. Tak counters a backdrop cross-body style for two and keylocks the arm. Nagata breaks and goes back to kicking Tak down. He eats a knee to the kitchen sink for 2. Tak gets a high knee in the corner and a front neck lock. Nagata breaks it and Tak hits the backdrop and a legdrop for 2. Nagata elbows out of the Everest German, but Tak eventually gets it for only 2. Huh…Nagata locks in a juji-gatame, but Tak breaks. Nagata goes for the armbreaker, but Tak fights back with elbows. Nagata takes him down into a seated armbar, but Tak breaks. Nagata wins an exchange with a kick and an Exploider for 2 and locks in Nagata Lock II (Crippler Crossface). Tak breaks and Nagata kicks away, but then they start trading elbows, and Tak gets a palm strike, a BIG kneelift, and the Everest German Suplex to win it at 14:05. That win came out of nowhere (like their match in May) and Tak finally gets on the board. Really nice hard-hitting match. Tak’s gouge over the eye that he suffered would plague him throughout the tournament. **Ѕ
Day 3: 8/12-SXW TAPINGS~! All the matches are in full and I love it!
–Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Masayuki Naruse-Taguchi is a young lion getting his chance to move up in the ranks. Naruse looks like a blonde Minoru Tanaka, and he fights like him, too. They start off with a neat little exhibition on the mat where Taguchi hangs with Naruse, and then Naruse starts on the knee, kicking away into a kneebar. Naruse then goes to a spinning toehold, but Taguchi grabs an ankle pick. Naruse shrugs it off, literally, and grabs a kneebar until Taguchi can get to the ropes. Naruse shoots the leg again as Taguchi tries a cross-armbreaker, but Naruse blocks and they hit the mat again. Naruse locks in a sleeper bodyscissors, but Taguchi gets to the ropes. Taguchi Owens out of an armbar and hits one of his REALLY nice dropkicks. They trade chops and Taguchi wins, but Naruse kicks his head off in retort. Naruse does a low-high feign that stuns Taguchi, and then gets a high kick and a Shining Wizard in the corner before hitting a Capture Suplex for 2. Naruse kicks, but Taguchi Dragon Screws, dropkicks the knee, and grabs a kneebar. Naruse breaks, and Taguchi follows with his great dropkick again for 2. Seated dropkick into La Magistral gets 2. Backslide gets 2. Slam, but the elbow drop misses, and a big kneelift gets 2 for Naruse. Taguchi catches a kick, but Naruse reverses it into the Naruse Lock for the tapout at 7:42. That was pretty fun for a Young Lion match. *1/4
–Tiger Mask IV, Heat, and Masahito Kakihara vs. Jysuhin “Thunder” Lyger, Koji Kanemoto, and Naofumi Yamamato-Heat is Minoru Tanaka, TM IV is YOUR IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champ, and Kakihara kicks people really hard. Lyger and Kanemoto need no introductions, as they are THE UNBEATABLES~! and are IWGP Jr. Tag Champs at this point. Yamamoto is a young lion who asks the two legends to step back and let HIM start against Tiger Mask. Yamamoto still has that arm taped up. Lyger tells TM how much he sucks. Yamamoto slaps TM in the mask and Lyger is liking it. They trade armholds and TM takes him to the mat. They run the ropes and TM tackles Yamamoto. Tag Heat, who kicks Yamamoto in the stomach and the face for 2 as the heels knock the tag champs off. Boston Crab is broken up. Snap Suplex/double kneedrop gets 2. Tag Kakihara, who REALLY lays into the kid and slams him for 2. Camel Clutch, and Heat wit the KAIENTAI~! Dropkick to the face. Kakihara gets cocky and pisses off the legends. Heel teaming in the corner. TM kicks away and hits a rolling sole butt for 2. Slam and moonsault double kneedrop to the stomach gets 2. That’s NASTY. Lyger KICKS YAMAMOTO because he’s not doing his job. THAT’S RIGHT! TM chops and snapmares and kicks before tagging Heat. Suplex gets 1. Heat chops, but Yamamoto chops right back…until Heat kicks him the stomach. Headbutt, and a tag to Kakihara. He does some boot scrapes that are like…a 2 on the Samoa Joe/Ohtani scale and tags TM. Yamamoto gets an elbow and tags Lyger. SHOTEIS GALORE for TM! TM falls out of the Lygerbomb but eats a quebradora. Frog Splash gets 2. TM flips out of a German and dropkicks Lyger. Tag Heat. SUPERHERO CONTRA SUPERHERO! Lyger reverses a whip and gets a koppo kick. TAG KANEMOTO. Now he shows Kakihara how to REALLY do the boot scrapes. Kneelift and dropkick for TM. Slam/twisting senton gets 2. Heat kicks away on Kanemoto and Kanemoto is down and out on the outside. Kanemoto comes back with the fastest belly to belly in the BIZ and then grabs an Ankle Lock. The heels come into break, but both eat a dropkick. Yamamoto wants in, and HE GETS IN, DAMMIT! Heat kicks him and tags Kakihara, who kicks him some more. Corner whip reversed, and Yamamoto gets a dropkick, hiptoss, and the Boston Crab. Then he gets all dropkicky and stuff, but misses a dropkick, eats an STO (or Kaki Cutter) and then the juji-gatame makes Yamamoto tap like a little girl at 11:08. The champs love this kid’s fire though. They slap him in the face and raise his hands. See, a simple storyline. Young dude gets his ass WHOOPED, hot tags, and then he gets overanxious and loses the match for the team, but gets the respect of his teammates. Yamamoto could make for a poor man’s Kintaro Shiga one of these days. **1/2 MAN, does Kanemoto have a deep voice.
–Josh Barnett vs. El Samurai-Barnett is the next big gaijin star of New Japan, fighting out of Pancrase, where he currently holds the King of Pancrase title. He’s following in the footsteps of Scott Norton before him with this big ol’ gaijin push. Samurai actually comes to the ring with MMA gloves to try and handle the MMA star. Samurai is all dropkicking and gets vertical on a tope right out of Shocker-ville. Barnett eats the steel, too. Back in, Barnett gets some shots in, but Samurai outsmarts him into a small package for 2. School boy gets 2. Barnett catches Samurai and hits a BIG Michinoku Driver II for 2. He kicks away and then knocks out Samurai with the Captured Buster at 1:38. The Buster is a sheer drop Capture Suplex and it’s VERY impressive. Barnett wasn’t known that well yet, but he soon would be. Plus, he’s in MMA, so Inoki thinks he’s the shit, regardless. 1/2*
-Next they show a press conference with IWGP Tag Team Champs Yutaka Yoshie and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Then they show Shinsuke Nakamura talking about his upcoming G-1 match with the champ, Yoshihiro Takayama.
–Block B: Katsuyori Shibata (2 pts) vs. Yutaka Yoshie (2 pts)-Shibata doesn’t wait for the bell and just punches the hell outta Yoshie and kicks him down. All he did was piss the fat man off. Yoshie has the GREATEST SHIRT EVER as he has a picture of himself sticking his ass out in the air and it says YOSHIE on the ASS! Yoshie gets a Thesz Press and drops his ass down upon Shibata with furious anger for 2. Another Thesz Press gets 2. Outside, Shibata makes Yoshie eat steel, but Shibata eats a back blow. Yoshie gets 2 in side. Yoshie kicks Shibata down and Shibata eats that slingshot Banzai Drop in the corner. Snapmare into more buttdrops, into the Camel Clutch. Shibata breaks and dropkicks Yoshie charging into the corner. More kicks to the knee and the stomach. Outside, Yoshie goes to the post again and eats a kick. Now the 20 count. Yoshie in at…17? YOU’RE BREAKING THE CYCLE, MAN! Shibata works the leg some more and grabs a kneebar. Yoshie breaks and then Shibata kicks some more. Yoshie absorbs the shots because he’s SO DANG FAT, and then blocks a spin kick with his arm, but he hurt himself on that one. Yoshie with the FATTY AVALANCHE and then the Butt Attack. Thesz Press gets 2. Powerslam gets 2. Yoshie with a back blow, but Shibata gets a spinning kick to the face. Shibata kicks away into an STO for ONE as Yoshie USES FAT BOY POWER to kick out. Big throat thrust, but Yoshie gets kicked in the face for the upset win at 9:17. This was spirited and I’m a stickler for Yoshie’s fat boy offense. *1/2
–Block A: Masahiro Chono (2 pts) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (2 pts)-Chono takes down the youngster to start, but Tanahashi comes back with an armbar. Chono grabs a hammerlock, but Tanahashi elbows out and hits a somersault back kick. Dropkick misses and Chono Yakuza Kicks Tanahashi to the apron. Chono kicks away, but Tanahashi gets a Dragon Screw off the apron. Back in, Tanahashi dropkicks the knee into a Sasuregatime (Sharpshooter). Chono’s perennially messed up knee is yet again messed up and Tanahashi is gonna attack and attack. Chono Small Packages out of a figure-four attempt (remember, that’s how he beat Nish) for 2. To the corner, and Tanahashi gets another dropkick to the knee. Tanahashi kicks at the knee, and then goes from a Northern Lights Suplex into a kneebar. DAMN! It wasn’t as fluid as it sounds, but if Tanaka needs a new Minoru Special, there it is. Chono elbows out of a German attempt, but eats an elbow for 2. Chono comes back with a leg lariat, but it was with the bad knee, so both men are down. Chono with a kneelift, but he uses the bad knee again, and he’s down again. Chono with an atomic drop into a Yakuza Kick for 2. Tanahashi comes back with an atomic drop of his own, and then a dropkick. He follows with a missile dropkick and a looks for a German, but Chono goes low. Tanahashi gets an enzuigiri, but Chono goes right to the STF as Tanahashi is on the ground. Tanahashi breaks, and Chono follows with a Cradle Piledriver. Chono goes up top (THE HELL?), and Tanahashi goes up and brings him down with a Superplex. Chono no-sells (GIMME A BREAK!) and hits the Shining Yakuza Kick for 2. Chono gets three Yakuza Kicks for 2. Another gets 2. Chono goes up again (HUH?) and he hits the Diving Tackle for 2. Chono still has it after all these years…Chono looks for another Yakuza Kick, but Tanahashi snaps off a Frakensteiner for 2. Chono catches Tanahashi with a Yakuza Kick for the win, however, at 13:11. Frankly, Chono’s no-selling didn’t do much for me. *3/4
–Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura (2 pts) vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (2 pts)-Little did anyone know that four and a half months later, it would be THESE two fighting for NAKAMURA’S IWGP Heavyweight title. So much can happen in a few months. Takyama takes Nak to the woodshed with crossfaces and then they go to a bridge where Takayma JUMPS ON NAK IN THE BRIDGE. That’s nearly 300 pounds on your neck. Talk about your strong necks. Nak gets out, suplexes him over, and goes into the cross-armbreaker into the triangle choke. Tak dead lifts out, but Nak lands on his feet and takes him down with an elbow. Nak looks for a flying juji-gatame, but Tak blocks it. Nak jumps on Tak and gets a sleeper, and he actually brings the big man down. Tak gets to the ropes, and tosses Nak off when he tries another one. A kick into the Everest German, which is reversed into a victory roll for 2. Frankensteiner gets 2, as does a small package. Nak goes to the flying juji-gatame and gets it, only for Tak to roll over on top for 2. Tak with the big ol’ kneelift, and then puts Nak down on his face, and follows with a SUNSET FLIP for 2. A SMALL PACKAGE??? That gets 2. Tak then decides to finish off the Supernova with the knee kick at 7:08. Talk about a weird ending. Match was a fun monster match. *1/2
–Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan (0 pts) vs. Osamu Nishimura (2 pts)-Make or break time for Tenzan, and it’s against Mr. Muga. The more I watch Nish, the more I wish he’d wrestle American Dragon. Both men work that slow build style and have a GREAT sense for psychology, and with both men now in New Japan, that might become something down the line if NJPW decides to have one of those “heavyweights vs. juniors” style cards. These fellas are gonna take this mutha to the mat, and all that jazz. No specific body part. Nish is all headscissors and snapmares, and Tenzan likes to stretch and stuff, using a Regal Stretch and a Camel Clutch as his main offense at this point. Nish is flexible and makes the Camel Clutch REALLY hurty-lookin. Nish does his headstand out of headscissors spot. Tenzan brings this into the striking portion with the chops and so, and Nish comes back with those great European Uppercuts. Nish monkey flips out of a knucklelock. Nish tosses Tenzan, and then hits some more Euro uppercuts on Tenzan on the apron. Tenzan comes back in, and Nish takes him right back out and gives him a kneecrusher on the guardrail. Back in, Nish sweeps the leg out from Tenzan and locks in the figure-four. FUN FUN! Tenzan gets to the ropes, and comes back with a backdrop. Nish powders, and then get to the apron, and tries to trade HEADBUTTS WITH TENZAN. No dice, Nish man. He CAN, however, Euro Upper the hell outta him, only to eat a Mongolian Chop. Tenzan chops away, and Nish comes back with elbows, but Tenzan controls. Suplex gets 2. Tenzan with a back elbow and a lariat for 2. Tenzan slams and looks for the Calf Branding, but Nish blocks and elbows away on Tenzan, who hits a Mongolian Chop to get the advantage again, and he gets the Calf Branding for 2. Tenzan hits the diving headbutt for 2. Tenzan locks in the Buffalo Sleeper and Nish is in some trouble, but he gets to the ropes. Tenzan calls for the TTD, hits a Mongolian Chop, and gets the TTD after a block from Nish, but only for 2. Tenzan hits two lariat, but Nish gets the Cobra Twist cradle for 2! Nish goes back to that knee with a dropkick, but eats another backdrop from Tenzan. And he eats another one for 2. He goes for another one, but Nish gets the Octopus Hold. Nish makes me happy when he NAILS Tenzan in the back of the head Ohtani-style with a Missile Dropkick, and then hits a diving kneedrop to the back of the head for 2. Nish gets the Spinning Toe Hold, but Tenzan Mongolian Chops out. Backbreaker and the FAT ASS MOONSAULT get 2. Tenzan then locks in a Kaekoemi Crab (Boston Crab variant where you pull on the knees as opposed to the ankles) for the tapout at 25:56. This was solid psychologically, but it wasn’t really exciting unless Nish got on offense, which is weird, because I like seeing Nish counter stuff as opposed to being on offense. Tenzan stays alive, Nish is still in the running. **1/4
–Block B: Yuji Nagata (2 pts) vs. Tadao Yasuda (2 pts)-Bah. Yasuda never really excited me. These two have a history, as Nagata beat Yasuda for the IWGP title and in the rematch, Yasuda and the rest of Makai Club bloodied Nagata up BIG TIME, to nearly Mutoh levels of blood being spilt. Nagata starts by kicking away. Yasuda comes back and tosses, negating the usual Yasuda tomfoolery. Nagata kicks Yasuda off the apron. They take it to the mat, and Nagata kicks away and locks in a Front Neck Lock. Yasuda comes back with his front choke, which is quickly broken up. They go to the mat again, but no dice on the juji-gatame from Nagata. Nagata then kicks Yasuda down, but Yasuda blocks the belly to belly and sumo attacks Nagata into the corner. Avalanche and Butterfly Suplex gets 2. Scott Steiner level Tiger Driver gets 2. He gets the Front Sleeper, but Nagata gets to the ropes. Yasuda gets a sleeper, but Nagata breaks. Yasuda with a front neck lock, but Nagata hits a Northern Lights Suplex. He kicks Yasuda down and hits the belly to belly. Two enzuigiris put the big man down for 2. Exploder gets 2. Yasuda with a SWEET low blow and the crowd HATES it. Front Neck Lock, but Nagata reverses into Nagata Lock II (Crippler Crossface). Yasuda breaks, and then mule kicks Nagata on the German attempt. Tackle attempt, but Yasuda eats a koppo kick. Shining Wizard in the corner, and then another Exploder gets 2. Yasuda blocks the backdrop hold, but eats an enzuigiri. The Makai Club president trips Nagata, and then when the ref turns his back, MAKAI #4, which is Shibata after all, makes his presence felt, hits the spinkick, and a Tiger Driver finishes off Nagata at 12:21. This was semi-fun. *1/4 Nagata makes with the chair afterwards. BUT WAIT! It WASN”T SHIBATA, as the seconds that hold off Nagata INCLUDE Shibata! Nagata is puzzled, I’m puzzled, and this whole thing is puzzling.
–Block A: Jun Akiyama (2 pts) vs. Manabu Nakanishi (4 pts)-Nak isn’t exactly looking great, but he’s getting the job done, so to speak. Akiyama has considered his loss to Nish as a fluke victory, and now wants to prove that against Nak. Akiyama has to dick it up in order for this match to be interesting, because Nak SUCKS. Nak shows off the power to start before they take it to the mat, using the basic “Nak is more powerful than Jun” spots, like the surfboard, and then they go on to Jun not being able to tackle Nak, but Nak certainly can tackle Jun. They trade elbows, but Nak starts chopping and Jun is down like a tree. Double chop sends Jun down again. Belly to Belly, but Jun knees the lariat arm twice and sends Nak out. Akiyama with a jumping knee off the apron, and then he wraps the arm around the guardrail. Jun works the arm with armbreakers. NOW, the $64,000 question. Will Nak sell the arm? Jun locks in a juji-gatame, but Nak gets to the ropes. Jun tosses Nak again and wraps the arm around the post. Jun gets to the apron…and Nak lariats the arm. DAMMIT! That answers that question. Nak then puts the Stretch Muffler on Jun while on the apron. That’s pretty neato. Nak then chops the knee off the apron and grabs a standing kneebar. Nak then clips Jun on the apron. Nak with a shotei rush, and then a Dragon Screw into half knee-clutch crab. Akiyama breaks, and Nak follows with the Stretch Muffler and a kneebar. They slap each other in the hold with the crowd chanting “HEY!” after each one. Akiyama breaks, but Nak keeps working over the leg and then headbutts, but Akiyama counters the kneecrusher. Nak looks for a lariat, but Akiyama knees the lariat arm and hits an Exploder. Akiyama with another jumping knee, and then hits a DDT on the apron that Nak takes like a MAN, right on the top of the head, adding the tripod sell. Akiyama then adds a piledriver on the floor. Well, if he won’t sell the arm, let’s see him sell a stinger, eh? Back in, a diving elbow and an Exploder gets 2. Nak blocks the Exploder’ 98 and gets a Water Wheel Suplex. Nak gets the spear and the lariat for 2. He locks in the Torture Rack, but Akiyama gets out. Akiyama blocks the Uranage and hits an Exploder, and then we have a simultaneous meeting of the Jumping Knees. Nak lariat gets 2. Akiyama blocks the powerbomb and rolls Nak up for two (which didn’t look good at all), and then gets the small package for the win at 16:35. Match was all over the place and not very good at all, but then again, Akiyama had Tenzan and Nish to work with, and then gets paired with Nak, so you take what you can get. *3/4
