August 1999

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Standing at an impressive 6'3 and being equipped with natural intensity, Brian Johnston looks like someone who would be a huge star. Looking like a freakish hybrid between Nathan Jones and Brock Lesnar, his flaws become suddenly apparent when the bell rings. His strikes look like shit and the ground game he works with a young Fujita looks subpar and awkward. Not a whole happens in this until Johnston lands a combo which looks to rock Fujita, only for Fujita to strike back, land a Fisherman's driver and lock on an armbar for a sudden win. At least this was short and the finish looked cool enough. ★¾

Don Frye looks like the lovechild of Brock Lesnar and Rick Rude. That is what a top tier wrestler should look like. His heel work looks a tad forced, but I can't argue with a man with a moustache as strong as his. Frye nails Norton down with a barrage of strikes to keep him grounded. This works until Norton powers up and starts an incredible comeback. When Norton starting no-selling Frye's headbutts, I thought I was seeing Norton being made into a star, much like Nakanishi earlier in the night. It's not to be as Frye is able to score a low blow when the referee is down and lock in a sleeper for a win, after caving in Norton's skull with some nasty punches. This was a fun …

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I didn't think this was that good, as Chono looked rather battered by this point in his career. Hashimoto saves this from total mediocrity with some great selling and the buckets of charisma he brings to the table. Truth be told, I'm not a fan of either guy and they had both seen better days by 1999. I liked the sequence at the start of the match where they tease nailing spinning wheel kicks and Hashimoto getting in Chono's head by doing squats after eating some nasty leg kicks was some king shit. The interference was welcome as I wasn't engaged in anything these two were doing, but the finish was crap and confusing. Don Frye gets on the apron as Chono locks in the STF. H…

The more experienced team of Liger and Samurai rush Takaiwa and Otani and work this one as the heels. Samurai is a solid hand, but he's always overshadowed by Liger even when he's teaming with him. Otani has seven years of wrestling experience at this point, but he still has that fire in his belly that a lot of the NJPW young lions have and his springboard attacks look as spectacular as ever. Never has a springboard move look as effective than when it comes from Shinjiro Otani. Liger shoteis Takaiwa, but he powers up in a really cool spot. The youngsters are able to pull this one off, but this felt like it could of went either way. ★★★

Koshinaka is washed up and Fujinami is wrecked physically by this point. Kojima and Tenzan look like stars and it's clear that they could make something enjoyable if they were matched with two wrestlers who could go physically. Fujinami still looks like a big deal when he's slapping around those cocky upstarts around and the crowd pop big for Koshinaka's butt bumps and Fujinami's Dragon Screws. This is a match that's carried on charisma and nostalgia. ★★

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After watching this and knowing Ikeda went through a war with Ishikawa later the same night, I think he might have been the Wrestler of the Year in 1999. This continues from their interactions in the previous tags and it's really made by Ikeda's selling. Yone is demolishing Ikeda throughout most of the match, ripping him apart with kicks and repeatedly trying to decapitate him using kicks to the face and lariats. It's really made by Ikeda's selling as he looks like he's trying not to pass out from the beating. Yone looks like a world beater, and Ikeda looks like the toughest motherfucker on earth for withstanding the punishment.