Holy hell, I wish I was independently wealthy so I could just sit at home all week and watch NJPW. I’m obviously way behind on the G1 Climax and it’s this non-stop hedonistic celebration of ****+ matches. Anyway, Shibata has been rocking this whole new style of pro wrestling, kind of like they took Joe v. Kobashi and built an entire genre around it, and this is his second ***** match this year by my count. There’s two sequences here that are just mind-blowing: The first one is where they’re DARING each other to throw the hardest shots they can and just beating the hell out of each other, and the second is where they trade german suplexes and then Ishii just FUCKS HIM UP with a lariat that’s like something out of 90s All Japan. I have no idea how they can continue to put themselves through this kind of abuse, but it’s just awesome stuff.
I just started watching NJPW due to random BoD postings and discussion. What's the 1 NJPW match you guys would recommend to track down?
ReplyDeleteFreaking awesome match!
ReplyDeleteThe Tanahashi-Okada IWGP title matches are excellent. Personally, anything with Tanahashi in it is worth watching.
ReplyDeleteThe discussion about this the other day got me to wondering: can you imagine this kind of deal being available for a block of Great American Bash shows back in the day?
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Tanahashi v. Minoru Suzuki from last year was *****, and the Okada title switch from earlier this year also was. Either one is well worth seeking out. Not to mention the previous Shibata v. Ishii matches that are also *****.
ReplyDeleteBesides what's been mentioned below, I'd also seek out:
ReplyDelete* Prince Devitt/Low-Ki/Kota Ibushi for the Jr. Heavyweight title, if you're into cruiserweight stuff
* From earlier this year: Hirooki Gotoo & Yuji Nagata v. Shibata & Katsuyori Sakuraba. Really gets going just before the injury stoppage, but Nagata is much easier to watch in NJPW.
I'll dabble...thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'll check me out. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThread jack: Breaking Bad in an hour and it's going to be awesome.
ReplyDeleteI remember back in the day when wrestling was a work and two people didn't deliberately hurt each other to the point where it would shorten their careers.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm not saying that's the way things should be. I just remember it.
Bring on the face shots!
Just watched a Tanahashi-Okada match. FUCKING AWESOME! I'm a better man now for having seen it.
ReplyDelete" I have no idea how they can continue to put themselves through this kind of abuse..."
ReplyDeleteI could hazard a guess......
Apparently, Meltzer did in fact give this match 5*, well deserved imo. Along with the 2 sequences you mentioned, I also liked them charging right at each other right after the opening bell.
ReplyDeleteThis was fucking awesome. The head butt reversal sequence was the shit along with basically everything else.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming the thinner guy (gut who lost) was the heel since he got in about 80% of the offense?
Technically, they're both heels; Ishii (the short bald dude) is part of the CHAOS crew. But Ishii, Okada and Nakamura are played up as faces more often, compared to Gedo, Jado and the lower-card members.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised. The shorter bald dude was booked basically as a face here in the states, takes alot of abuse then makes the face comeback to win. Either way, awesome stuff.
ReplyDeleteYou're not wrong, though; I've been watching for a few months and there's definitely been a change in how he's been portrayed -- especially in matches where he's taking on Minoru Suzuki. (Check out the Nakamura/Ishii match v. Suzuki and Shelton Benjamin for an example.) He's definitely graduated to the "A-level" of the stable.
ReplyDeleteI love how they only go for pinfalls at the very end. And despite losing, he still kicks out after the three. I LOVE THAT. I hate when guys act knocked the fuck out because they got rolled up for a three-count
ReplyDeleteHelluva match.
ReplyDeleteA couple of things I liked outside of the actual match:
1. The overall presentation and lighting. We're all so trained at this point to accept the WWE's version of what wrestling should look like at this point, that it's cool to see something different and not be a knock off the WWE.
2. No turnbuckles! That ring looked much more like Pride or K1.
3. Pretty decent draw and the crowd was very animated. I hope NJPW is doing good business so they can continue to grow and give another outlet to guys that are stuck in WWE. It's always good to have another place where you can earn a living.
Are you talking about this match? There wasn't anything that I would call dangerous. It was worked stiff but they weren't exactly punching each other in the face. No worse than a good Regal match from back in the day...
ReplyDeleteHow many guys on the WWE roster could work a match or style like this? Sheamus, Cesaro, Bryan, probably Barrett and Punk....is that it? I guess Lesnar as well. Man, if WWE wants to get its money's worth with Lesnar, they'd have him face Sheamus in a match like this at Wrestlemania next year.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what their wallets look like but I'm pretty sure the words "bad motherfucker" are involved somehow. Awesome match.
ReplyDeleteGuys are throwing huge bombs at each other and a freaking Boston Crab still got a rise out of the crowd.
ReplyDeleteThat's wrestling.
I don't understand the "this kind of abuse" statement.
ReplyDeleteThey are pulling their punches, kicks and headbutts. They are hitting each other with forearms in the part of the neck/chest that it doesnt do any damage.
Its stiff as hell, but its not as bad as people make it.
Honestly, I thought the strikes at the beginning didn't even come off that powerful.
ReplyDeleteA much bigger issue would be the suplexes. I, too, didn't see a big deal with this match.
Yeah, this match isn't a great example though. Nothing too stiff here, really.
ReplyDeleteVader matches are far more difficult for me to watch, especially knowing how he abused so many of the jobbers. Also almost any Kawada match.
Whoa, is that the same Suzuki from Pancrase?
ReplyDeleteExactly. It was "safe stiff". Fantastic nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteWhen Dr. Death started backropping Kobashi straight on his neck, that started an arms race that lasted all the way up until Misawa's death.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like they've reevaluated things since then and done a good job giving meaning to moves.
There's really no reason for someone to take 14 brain busters in a match anymore.
Shibata is like a young/lean Samoa Joe. That's not a bad thing.
ReplyDelete