Superstar Sleeze

They've done so many insane angles with him that haven't closed the show and where the other wrestlers are still existing in their own universes doing their choreographed entrances unaware anyone else exists, and yes, that does have a diminishing effect. Also zero follow through. Next week everybody is ok. Finally the firing angle looked like there would be follow through but that got reversed

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Naoya Ogawa vs Shinya Hashimoto - NJPW Final Dome 10/11/99 Final Dome is a very amusing name for pro wrestling card to me for some reason. After the shoot angle at 1/4/99, Ogawa goes on to win the NWA World Championship from Dan Severn. I have no idea why Inoki wanted to resurrect that championship. Weirdly enough Ogawa won the championship back in October of 1999 in Connecticut. It is weird to think that I could have seen Naoya Ogawa live. This is probably the biggest crowd the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was ever defended in front of. Actually Muta/Chono was in front of 53.5k and this only drew 48k. Fujinami is the special ref after the fact at 1/4/99 Tiger Hattori was steamrolled and the match had to be called off. I loved the first 3/4s of this. incredible atmosphere. Badass big fight feel. I am a huge Naoya Ogawa fan. He just has great presence. Reminds me of a Bill Goldberg or a latter day Brock Lesnar. You just feel like something crazy is gonna happen. Hashimoto cant get anything going early against Ogawa. Ogawa does have the reach advantage so I get why he is trying to shorten the gap but the dude cant take the giant Ogawa down. Hashimoto is besides himself in the corner and has no idea what to do. Then Ogawa starts taunting him. I have said how much I love cocky shooter bastards. Ogawa comes in and gives Hashimoto a couple playful punches and BAM! Headbutt. THE DOME EXPLODES~! I don't think I have heard the Tokyo Dome that loud. They were fucking roaring for Hashimoto on offense as he reigned down the hammer fists. Ogawa quashes this with a wild right to the head from his back as Hashimoto was going for a kneebar. Ogawa is in the full mount but Hashimoto makes the ropes. Ogawa being the asshole he is sneaks in a stomp to the midsection that Hashimoto sells so well. Hashimoto's next flurry is two huge deadlift suplexs. Again the Dome erupts. I am going crazy too. This time Ogawa stymies him with a top wristlock. Bummer. Ogawa quashes all of Hashimoto's hope with an STO. Two brutal ones. Really drives him down. Great selling from Hashimoto. Hashimoto kicks Ogawa right in the fucking knee. The crowd and I perk up, but then it is a wicked STO. Ogawa does a great job selling the leg. Ogawa gets a great suplex and then it is just STO after STO. Hashimoto does a great job with his defiant selling. Clearly going for the Choshu/Hashimoto dynamic with the defiance in the face of a clear loss and move repetition. It dragged on forever and really killed the heat. I think one last Hashimoto flurry, KO punch/kick or STO and call it. Instead of this going forever with Fujinami checking on him and Inoki calling off the match. Hashimoto is a total rockstar. Great selling from beginning to end. His offense was electric, but don't sleep on Ogawa his presence makes this match work because he is a real mountain to climb. His selling late with the leg is great and I love his cockiness. Tighten this up and it is classic, but God the ending just drags. ***3/4

Shinya Hashimoto vs Naoya Ogawa - NJPW 1/4/99 A lot has changed since these last two hooked up in May of 1997. Hashimoto is no longer the IWGP Champion and the main focus has been on getting Kensuke Sasaki over as the new man. You can clearly see that Sasaki is cut from cloth of Riki Choshu and someone that Choshu would want to carry New Japan into the new millennium, but Inoki was entering his phase with being obsessed with shooting and there was a clear clash over Sasaki as there was no way he could deliver on what Inoki wanted as a champion. In a way, Inoki had been obsessed with credibility and shooting, after all that is what his legend is built upon but I don't think it ever got in the way of presenting pro wrestling like it did from 1999-2006. Ogawa after his first two matches with Hashimoto won a series of matches over shooters and traded victories with Don Frye who Inoki had his last match with was clearly someone Inoki respected. In late 1998, it seems Inoki started a spinoff promotion called Universal Fighting-Arts Organization with the first main event being Ogawa defeating Don Frye. Inoki loves invasion angles. The idea was to create Ogawa as the centerpiece of the UFO promotion and invade New Japan. They work this big angle for January 4th Dome show to kick off 1999. There has been reports that this was a shoot. I didn't see it. Felt like a work to me. It clearly is trying to capture the magic of PRIDE with the brutal head stomps. It is funny that Nobuhiko Takada ended out Inoki-ing Inoki at the end of the day. Also on paper this sounded awesome. Ogawa brutalizing Hashimoto in a five minute ass kicking with a wild fracas at the end and the whole match being called a no contest. It didn't feel as heated as I expected. I thought the 1/4/00 match was way crazier and more chaotic. One big plus is this is the Naoya Ogawa I know and love. Cocky shooter badass taunting everyone and the crowd. Getting on the mic laying down some smack talk. Flying around like an airplane. In the ring, his movement has vastly improved. His strikes look light years better. I think they could have had a good match here but the point is to get the UFO invasion over and create some buzz that Ogawa destroyed Hashimoto. Hashimoto is going for takedowns which is dumb. Hashimoto never was great at takedowns and Ogawa is a world class judoka that is what he does. Stick with strikes Hash. Somehow Hashimoto's nose is bloodied, but he is so prone to bloody noses who knows when it happens. Ogawa knees the ref in the balls. Ogawa was teeing off on Hashimoto's head. Brutal, brutal head shots. Was it a shoot in the sense that those punches and kicks were dangerous? Yes. But it all looked pre-planned to me. Riki Choshu coming out at the end was weird, but at the same time it doesn't matter if it is Japan or America people love seeing their old timey favorites come out and play asskicker. So I get it. I think on paper this was an excellent idea for an angle. To me they didn't hit this one out of the park. Look at 1/4/00 for a real crazy spectacle.

I love Braun. Right up my alley. Great power wrestler but I hate how all his angles have no lasting effect. Drives me nuts.

Man RAW isn't the same without Cole saying "it's Boss Time!" I'm a mark for shooter gimmicks. Sonaya's lariat a couple weeks ago was one of the best in ages. This was more of just a solid outing. Really hoping for big things from her.

I didn't like this much despite really enjoying Ogawa's two big matches in the 2000s. Very clunky here. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs Naoya Ogawa - NJPW 5/3/97 I have watched two Ogawa matches in my life and I loved both (w/Murakami vs Hashimoto/Iizuka & vs Kawada in Zero-One). He has an amazing presence in those matches. First off he is a giant compared to most Japanese heavyweights. He knows like two moves but he is deadly. He is so raw and unpolished. There is a sense of total chaos when he is in a match. I was expecting more of the same here. This is only second match in pro wrestling. In his debut match, he defeated Shinya Hashimoto in April in a non-title bout. Now the title is on the line. Pre-match clips we see Ogawa chopping wood with Inoki and doing some sparring with Inoki. Ogawa is rocking the Judo gi. I was pretty disappointed in this match. Ogawa was not raw in the chaotic way. He was raw in the very clunky way. The match just felt so low and without energy. It was exactly opposite of the anything can happen feel of the 2000s matches. Ogawa being a world class judoka can take Hashimoto down at will, but cant do much else. However, he is quite good at strike defense so Hashimoto cant land much in the way of strikes and thus makes for a boing match. Once Ogawa took him down he tried to finish with cross armbreakers and double wristlocks common finishes but Hashimoto was too adept at blocking. It felt oddly boring, which I am surprised by. Hashimoto snuck in a spinning back chop, which you watch him practice in his sparring session, which is a neat touch. Then he goes for a leg bar. I hate the leg bar. He seems to try keep taking Ogawa down by the gi but Ogawa blocks. Big finish run is Ogawa gets the Oo-soto-gari, Space Tornado Ogawa, crowd oooohs and aaaahs and he puts Hashimoto in a rear naked choke. Hashimoto makes the ropes. Hashimoto from the ground sweeps the leg and then kicks Ogawa's leg out from under him. Ogawa takes a really clunky bump but looks so much realistic, I dig it. Then he kicks Ogawa's head off. He fucking punted him. Ogawa is out and someone from his camp throws in the towel. Not the spectacle I thought it would be. Pretty boring until the last minute or so, but the last minute is pretty damn good. Disappointing.

Misawa is the only other person that can get away with it. Hashimoto is tremendous. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs Kazuo Yamazaki - NJPW 2/16/97 Move over Sid because Hashimoto rules the world! Hashimoto had really grown into a world class asskicker. Adding that overhand chop as a more frequent part of his arsenal is great. Yamazaki throws some bows up against the ropes and Hashimoto responds by OBLITERATING him with a chop! Loved the beginning Yamazaki sneaks in a head kick (great call by announcer) tries to pounce with German but Hashimoto counters with a DDT so they are back on an even playing field. Yamazaki catches the next kick and drops into a kneebar. Great selling by Hash rolling to outside and good focus by Yamazaki attacking the leg upon reentry. I liked him going for an arm bar to make Hash defend that and go back to the leg. Great psychology. There's one small problem I find the kneebar to be most painfully boring submission hold. Great psychology doesn't always lead to great entertainment. Yamazaki gets in an axe kick as Hash was trying to make a comeback and then gets his German good callback! Figure-4! Hashimoto escapes and now here comes the asswhupping. Great kicks and a big ass lariat. Yamazaki counters with a cross arm breaker where the drama is appropriately sold and Hashimoto races for ropes. It becomes a great battle of Hashimoto strikes vs Yamazaki arm bar takedowns. They did a great job building drama and making those arm bars into hot nearfalls. The one where he switches arms to block Hashimoto from getting to ropes is great and loved it as a counter to the brain buster. Great use of psychology and submission to build tension. This is peak Hashimoto even more so than earlier in the decade. His comeback is fire. The way he pops Yamazaki with an elbow while Yamazaki has wrist control or those head butts. But the best is when he fires up and he knows his arm is gonna hurt like hell but he fights through the pain dishes an unholy barrage of overhand chips. The kicks in this were brutal. He was smoking Yamazaki. I forgot this earlier but the front kicks he used to make his initial comeback were nasty. This is all set up for badass finish. He fucking spikes Yamazaki with they brain buster. Goddamn. Not quite as good as their 98 classic but this is so much fun especially once it becomes Hashimoto's strikes vs Yamazaki's arm bars. ****1/4

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs Riki Choshu - NJPW 1/4/97 Coming off the Cinderella victory in the '96 G-1 Climax where Choshu beat Hashimoto epic fashion, Choshu now challenges for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship one last time on the grandest stage of them all, 1/4, Tokyo Dome. It is Hashimoto vs Choshu. Intense. Gritty. Epic. Lock-ups that make you believe. Tests of strength until the very end when Hashimoto hoists Choshu up one last time to come crashing down with the Brainbuster. Everything is earned. Choshu is throwing punches and Hashimoto is exploding out of the corner with overhand chops and kicks. This is where New Japan's house style of minimal bumping works well. Just taking a knee to your opponent's offense means so much, Hashimoto on one knee in the corner taking that abuse is great. Hashimoto then has Choshu in the corner is working him over with kicks. Stepping on his throat. You would expect some remorse for someone who was probably a hero or a mentor to Hashimoto. Hashimoto is the heir to Choshu. There is no remorse. There is no "Sorry, I love you." It is nasty and he has no problem putting down the Old Man. But Choshu has fight left in him and starts in on the knee. Hashimoto sells so well. The Scorpion Deathlock. I hate that Choshu just lets go but I get that's just a hold to him, but I don't love it. Mack Truck Lariats. Hashimoto sells these so well. But this time Hashimoto's overhand chop leads to more damage as he kicks Choshu nearly straight off. Choshu is able to snap off a superplex, but it is too little too late. He goes up top and Hashimoto meets him there and superplexes him. Choshu survives two DDTs, but the Brainbuster which Choshu fights as hard as he can but eventually he has to submit to Hashimoto and Father Time and go up and then comes crashing down. I love that Choshu lifts his legs to kick out, but they just fall down with no power left. Great match. Doesn't hit highs of the G-1 Climax because Hashimoto does not kick Choshu's ass quite as hard in this match so it doesn't set you up for that big rah-rah-sis-boom-bah comeback from Choshu. I didn't like Hashimoto pop up no sell and then superplex on Choshu either, but there is so much to love in his match. So focus on the positives. It is a great Grizzled Veteran has one last match in him and gives it all he got and comes up short. Hashimoto shows no remorse and goddamn he has to earn this win as Choshu does not go down without a fight. Epic main event fitting of the Tokyo Dome. ****

Shinya Hashimoto vs Riki Choshu - NJPW 8/2/96 "CHOSHUUUUUUUUUU!!!!" I am so glad I finally watched this. Incredible tour de force. Best Dome match to not take place in a Dome. I look forward to their '97 Dome encounter. The Lock Ups here are just incredible. Tight and snug. I loved Hashimoto getting the headlock and then grapevining the leg causing them to tumble over. This is one of those rough & tumble matches where nothing is gonna be pretty, but you best believe everything will be earned. The battle over that first suplex feels gargantuan. Like whoever gets it will win the match. Oddly enough that is the truth as Choshu gets the Champ over and then applies Scorpion Deathlock.But after that Choshu runs out of gas and this becomes the Hashimoto asskicking show. Hashimoto is OBLITERATING Choshu with kicks. Choshu is left gasping from breathe but he is defiant as ever. He is the Old Gunslinger with one last go around at the OK Corral. No matter how hard Hashimoto hit him and believe you me he hit hard and repeatedly, but Choshu never stayed down. Choshu would not be denied. DDT, massive second rope elbow and a barrage of kicks did not stop Choshu. Hashimoto was literally kicking Choshu so hard he kicked him out of the ring. Choshu kept getting back up. The Old Man was not going down just yet. Hashimoto hurls his entire body at him as Choshu is climbing back on the apron sending Choshu crashing back to the floor. Hashimoto looked ready to destroy the Rockstar of the 80s on the floor, but as he went for his rainbow heel kick Choshu blocked it with a big forearm to the knee. From there, Choshu alternated between attacking the knee and trying to floor the Champ with massive mack truck lariats. Some of the most brutal lariats ever and Hashimoto ate them and his appetite would not be satiated as he kept asking for more. Those lariats, the smack of flesh and Hashimoto not taking a bump is what Clash of the Titans means. Hashimoto blocks a lariat with an overhand chop. Liked the symmetry of how Choshu blocked that rainbow heel kick. Choshu goes back to the knee. I loved the Superplex for Choshu as it is just a huge spot. Choshu only gets two and Hashimoto is great at selling. You can sense he is not just selling the knee, but the fact he knows he is doomed and that The Old Man got one up on him. Hashimoto has his defiant last stand and with one last bellow of "CHOSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!" it was all over as Choshu finally floors Hashimoto with a MONSTER LARIAT! This is pro wrestling, muthafuckas. ****1/2

I have watched this match before?!?! Lol. Shinya Hashimoto vs Kazuo Yamazaki - NJPW 1/4/96 Well Hashimoto had to wrestle someone at the biggest show of the year since Mutoh would be defending the championship against Takada. I really liked their 1998 match. I am disappointed by this because of that. The kicks in this were phenomenal. Both guys brought their A+ kicking game. I just thought everything was fine. Yamazaki working the arm and Hashimoto making him earn is something I love in principle, but Hashimoto didn't really sell long term and didn't feel like Yamazaki had a game plan involving the arm. Basically, the match was Yamazaki escapes the first brainbuster gets a rear naked choke, which Hashimoto gets the ropes. Then I think what really kills the match for me is how Hashimoto no sells the cross armbreaker. Disappointing. I will say Hashimoto's Overhand Chop as a response to Yamazaki was GLORIOUS! Great kick and killer brainbuster to follow. Great finish stretch. ***1/4

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Nobuhiko Takada vs Shiro Koshinaka - UWFi 3/1/96 Takada defends his newly won IWGP Championship against Koshinaka. Koshinaka is on a run of a lifetime two IWGP title challenges inside of a month. This is a time where I would have loved to seen Takada vs Hase. Had Hase already left New Japan? Let me say this the crowd was super into Koshinaka. I wasn't. I think they had the right match for this audience, but I just don't find Koshinaka credible at all. I liked his slap at the beginning to Takada on the ropes. Nice, dick thing to do to say Here I am. The ass attacks were well cheeky. Takada was picking his spots waiting for Koshinaka to ride too high on a toehold on a cross armbreaker. Did you see Takada sell that vertical suplex (weakest brainbuster ever)? He sold throughout the rest of the match. While Koshinaka just didn't give a fuck. Takada just ragdolled for this clown. The Dragon Suplexes and Texas Cloverleaf was wicked over. Takada just lights Koshinaka up with kicks and is all right with the world. Takada does a great job continuing to sell but once he starts the head kicks you know he is in control. Cross armbreaker gets him in the submissions. Koshinaka was playing by pro style rules and Takada tried his best to keep the integrity of shoot style by selling a lot, but at the same time just caved and let Koshinaka hit his offense. At least the finish was done right. I love seeing Takada kick people in the head. ***

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Keiji Mutoh vs Shiro Koshinaka - NJPW 12/11/95 I have not seen much of Koshinaka. He was the leader of a lame mid-90s midcard stable known as Heisei Ishingun, which I had never heard of until about a week ago. Nobody ever really amounted to anything from that stable from I can tell and they never really had any angle of note. This is Mutoh's title defense in between title defenses against Nobuhiko Takada. Very enjoyable match. You just have to come to grips that New Japan heavies don't sell. Hashimoto is probably the best but even he doesn't do long term selling. It could be powerbomb-powerbomb-Dragon Suplex, yep Im doing the next move now. As a bombfest, this is super fun, just don't expect anything with depth. I thought the beginning NWA-style championship wrestling was well done. Koshinaka used his ass attack to set up his headlock. Mutoh's used a great dropkick to set up his leg work. Tight legwork from Mutoh that Koshinaka never sold in the match except once. Koshinaka hits a bulldog and works some holds. Mutoh gets caught in back handspring elbow and eats a Dragon Suplex, but Koshinaka cant hold on. Koshinaka hits a powerbomb for a good nearfall. I really liked the symmetry of Mutoh catching Koshinaka on his ass attack and suplexing him. I think at this point Mutoh does some Dragon Leg Whips. I love 2001 Mutoh so I am cool when he wrestles like this. Awesome finish stretch from Mutoh. That springboard dropkick is awesome! Really good at it. Nice top rope Frankensteiner. Eats knees on the moonsault, but Koshinaka actually sells it. But then hits two powerbombs and Dragon Suplex. Like when I say they don't sell this is what I mean. They will sell in the moment but not throughout. Mutoh eats all this offense and it is Dragon Leg Whip City. Moonsault is kicked out, but it is ok because it back to Dragon Leg Whips and Figure-4s to win the match. We were one Shining Wizard from a great 2001 Mutoh match. I enjoyed this a lot. Thought the finish stretch was wicked fun, but yeah the not selling hurts it. ***1/2

I know everyone hates this match, but God I thought it was really damn good. I get the match is not what everyone wanted and I agree, but I don't think it is due to lack of effort on either party's part. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Keiji Mutoh vs Real World Heavyweight Champion Nobuhiko Takada - NJPW/UWFi 10/9/95 UWFi is coming! UWFi is coming! UWFi is coming! UWFi was on death's doorstep and one last attempt to cash in, Takada & Co. invade NJPW. I think this had to be the long term goal Takada envision. A couple huge pay days at the Dome invading Inoki's company. It is like when a start-up wants a merger/acquisition or IPO. Takada wanted to get to the Dome to face the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and make his money. Honestly, I think Mutoh was a transitional champion to Takada so that Hashimoto could get the glory of defeating the invader. The two people better suited to have a great match would be Hase (too low on the totem pole) and Fujinami (too old). So we are left with Mutoh. If this was a Great Muta brawl, it would be a much better match but that is not what NJPW vs UWFi is. At the end of the day, Mutoh was not suited to excel in this setting, but contrary to what everyone has said about this match I don't think it is from a lack of effort in fact I think they end up with a pretty good match. There are some bright spots early on like hard-fought takedown defenses and blocked armdrags, but this is brutally boring when they get on the mat. Takada is probably the most boring shoot-style mat worker and Mutoh looked like he had no clue what to do. But I think the back half (last 7-8 minutes or so) is actually much better than people give it credit for. We see Mutoh hits his jumping reverse kick which sends Takada down and Hashimoto is exhorting him on the outside to follow up. Takada starts laying in with the kicks. Takada is really good at kicks. Then we get a good Takada heel hook to show Mutoh is pretty much fucked on the mat and needs to avoid that. Mutoh gets a great hard-fought German, looks like he really has to hoist him. Then a good backdrop driver. Mutoh desperately rushes for the moonsault, but crashes and burns. That tells you everything you need to know. Takada is totally in Mutoh's head. Mutoh knows he cant beat him on the mat (heel hook) and in stand up (Takada's kicks). Bombs & mistakes are Mutoh's only chance. Takada proceeds to kick Mutoh's ass. He totally picks him up apart with one of the greatest kicking exhibitions of all time. He goes for the cross armbreaker twice. One nice thing about UWFi coming to town means submissions especially the cross armbreaker are taken seriously. First time, he cant really get it, second time he does and the crowd gasps, but Mutoh makes the ropes. I literally think to myself the only way Mutoh has a prayer in this match is if he wrestles like 2001 Mutoh. He catches a foot, dragon leg screw. OH SHIT! It is happening! FIGURE-4! THE DOME ERUPTS! I have never heard the Dome so loud. I am popping too. Great selling from both men, Mutoh knowing this is his one chance and Takada the pain. Great stuff. Takada makes it out. Mutoh looks beaten. Takada is just nailing him with kicks. The finish is weird. Takada hits an enziguiri, but lands on the mat and doesn't moves and Mutoh just applies a Figure-4! Great drama and crowd heat again! Huge pop for the Mutoh victory. Yes, the first five-seven minutes was terrible. Mutoh didn't know what to do and Takada is not Volk Han. Once it came down to Takada owning Mutoh with kicks and Mutoh realized Im fucked, I need to hit a moonsault, Mutoh misses and everyone including Mutoh thinks Mutoh is fucked, this is a damn great story. Then Mutoh gets the break of a lifetime catching a kick and ripping off a Dragon Leg Screw. I get it. It is the Dome. It is NJPW vs UWFi. This was supposed to be the Match of the Century. Even 22 years later, it feels like it should be the Match of the Century. it feels huge. It is disappointing, but I don't think it is nearly as bad it is made out to be and I think both guys did try really hard. ***3/4

Surely he means in regards to partying and trash talking on the mic. Not in the ring. I have not seen the video. But I can only imagine that is what he means. If it is the case of partying and trash talk, he is not wrong. So whats the big deal? I don't get why there is so much heat on this guy, but then again I don't have to work with him. I am happy to watch a pro wrestler be a pro wrestler on my screen. I am a big Enzo supporter. I don't get the backlash against him at all.

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Keiji Mutoh vs Hawk - NJPW 7/13/95 Given down years for WWF & WCW and the fact that New Japan drew 50k+ on three separate dome shows in 1995, you could say that Hawk, muthafuckin Hawk, is challenging for the most prestigious championship in the biggest pro wrestling company in the world. That is surreal. Couldn't find it, but Keiji Mutoh ended Shinya Hashimoto about 1.5 year stranglehold on the IWGP Championship at 5/3/95 Fukuoka Dome Show. He proceeded to successfully defend his title against Hiroyoshi Tenzan who was getting a major push in 1995 with title challenges against both Hashimoto & Mutoh in '95, along with becoming Chono's #2 after Chono turned heel. Tenzan is the first native to be pushed in New Japan since The Three Musketeers, Sasaki & Hase broke out in the late 80s. Mutoh's second title defense comes against Hawk, who was not doing much as the Hellraisers wrapped up in late '94 and Kensuke Sasaki is back to just being Kensuke Sasaki. The first ten minutes are brutally dull. It is basically an exhibition in who can sell less. I think in a weird way Mutoh wins. Hawk works holds. I mean seriously. Once Hawk comes flying off the top and injures his knee, this actually gets really good. Like surprisingly good. Mutoh works the knee really well foreshadowing his 21st Century persona with the figure-4, I also his signature elbow but landing it on the knee. I thought Hawk sold really well. Hawk blocks the back handspring elbow, but Mutoh elbows. Then Mutoh hits a picture perfect dropkick right to the mush. Mutoh is deadset on hitting this back handspring elbow, but this time hits the railing and then Hawk just clobbers him. Alright, I am digging this. Hawk hits a lariat off the apron. Then hits his Doomsday Device lariat from the top to ring and Mutoh takes a great bump. Damn good nearfall. Hawk gets a pair of powerbombs, almost good stuff. Mutoh hits his backbreaker -> moonsault, but only gets two. Then he hits an awesome missile dropkick to the back of Hawk and another moonsault and wins. Last five minutes was really entertaining wrestling. First ten sucked. Watch it JIP, they probably wrestled it with that intention of how it would be viewed. ***

IWGP Tag Team Champions Hellraisers vs Shinya Hashimoto & Keiji Mutoh - NJPW 7/13/93 The Hellraisers had been defending against such world class tag teams as Tony Halme & Rambo (who?) and Tony Halme & Bobby Eaton (what?). This was their first defense against a major native tag team and what a duo, basically the two biggest stars of the 90s. Mutoh was in the midst of his IWGP Heavyweight Reign as the Great Muta. He would wrestle matches as Mutoh during this reign and seemed that they were winding him down at this time as he competed in the G-1 Climax in 1993 as Keiji Mutoh and would drop the title to Hashimoto in September of '93 and would wrestle the majority of time as Keiji Mutoh from here on out. Definitely the best Hellraisers match I have seen thus far. I really liked the macho pissing contests involving Sasaki. The chop battle with Hashimoto, then the test of strength with Mutoh and then a knucklelock with Hashimoto but they started headbutting each other while in the knucklelock. Hawk was just kinda there. Hawk takes the FIP which is about as interesting as a Hawk FIP is ever. I did like his pushups in the Indian Deathlock, but that's it. The finish run was hot. Hashimoto misses his rainbow kick and Sasaki tags in and great dropkick to Hashimoto. Sasaki calls for Doomsday Device, Mutoh breaks it up. Hashimoto DDT! 1-2-NO! Great sell from Sasaki. Hashimoto/Mutoh hit a great double team, but Hawk saves. Mutoh tags in and gets caught in his back handspring elbow and it is a RIDICULOUS German from Sasaki! Big Lariat from Power Warrior! Now he wants the Doomsday Device again, but Hashimoto breaks it up. Mutoh gets a big nearfall from the German Suplex. That's twice Hashimoto/Mutoh have gotten big nearfalls off broken up Doomsday Devices. Backbreaker-> Moonsault->HAWK SAVES! Big save because it is over. Sasaki gets a powerslam off the running the ropes. He calls for the Doomsday Device! Will the third time be the charm? Yes it is! Hawk blocks Hashimoto, 1-2-3! Hellraisers retain the IWGP Tag Team Championships. Really strong last three minutes makes this an easy thumbs up. ***1/2

IWGP Tag Team Champions The Hellraisers vs The Steiner Brothers - 1/4/93 The Steiners lost the IWGP Tag Belts to Scott Norton & Tony Halme who were transitional champs to the newly formed superteam of Hawk & Kensuke Sasaki. The Hellraisers were the main focal point of the New Japan tag team scene throughout 1993 & 1994. Kensuke Sasaki was rebranded as Power Warrior complete with Road Warrior face paint and spiked shoulderpads. I think this was a great idea for Sasaki. Sasaki was younger than the Three Musketeers and instead of getting lost in the shuffle as those three were trying to make a name for themselves he was protected by being a Tag Team Champion for two years. Excellent booking of a young commodity. Plus they are able to utilize Hawk without Animal. This is the natural major tag team match for the Tokyo Dome as the Steiners are the ultimate Dome wrestlers and the Steiners/Road Warriors is a dream match. I thought this was the usual great Steiner bombfest. I thought Hawk was a little clunky at times. I don't think he is as good at the Press Slam in 1993 as he once was, but it was a smart spot against Scotty Steiner's amateur background. Also I had English commentary for this match that was neither WWF nor WCW, WSW?, it was pretty annoying and they dubbed over the Japanese audio track including the sound effects so I didn't get to hear the impact of the moves, which took away for some of this. Scotty hitting a Tiger Driver and then a piledriver and Hawk popping up was just Hawk being Hawk. I think Rick Steiner and Kensuke Sasaki match up really well. They trade powerslam and belly to belly suplexes. Again, I thought Sasaki outworked his partner and did a great job going bomb for bomb with the Steiners. I just watched the match and already I forget most of the spots I just know there were a ton of sick suplexes and that Sasaki was isolated. Oh yes, Sasaki took the Steiner Bulldog, which was awesome. Then it broke down into a fracas. The spot of the match by far was Scotty Steiner taking the Doomsday Device on the FLOOR, wow, I think Hawk took the brunt of it flying over the railing. Insane spot and bump by both Scotty Steiner and Hawk. Double countout, which makes sense. Hawk & Sasaki were basically the champs for the next two years, but the Steiners were a big deal and they weren't about to job out. I think that was a big enough spot to close out the match. Big, dumb fun, I have seen better Steiner spotfests, but this is a good one. ***1/4

IWGP Tag Team Champions Steiner Brothers vs Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki - NJPW 9/23/92 SCOTTY STEINER DRAGONRANA! WHAT THE FUCK! Last title defense for the Steiners before they drop it to the all-star team of Scott Norton & Tony Halme. Nobody feels like selling in this one. It is just the Steiners suplexing and slamming Hase & Sasaki to their heart's delight. I will say they were willing to take the suplexes in return, but they weren't going to sell shit. I liked how Scotty at least switch it up using a Dragon Sleeper or STF to break up the suplex-a-thon. I thought the MVP of the match was Sasaki. That had a motor and was totally explosive during the match. He was not going to take the shit from the Steiners and he gave as good as he got. It actually got dramatic when the natives isolated Rick Steiner because Scott Steiner just decided to leave the match. Seriously, I rewound and he didn't even take a bump. He just did the middle rope Doomsday Device and decided to start selling. The finish stretch was ridiculous with Scotty hitting a terrible Dragonrana and then two more shitty Frankenesteiners. Rick hits a Steinerline to win. I like the Steiners & Sasaki more than most and this was just those three hitting insane suplexes. I liked it, but nothing I would remember. ***

IWGP Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers vs Keiji Mutoh & Kensuke Sasaski - NJPW 8/12/92 This is actually non-title. The Steiners won the IWGP tag team championships from Vader & Bam Bam Bigelow in late June of 1992 and would have two title defenses on this tour against Norton & Bigelow and Chono & Hashimoto. This is an usual native team, most of the time you will see these two tag with Hase rather than each other. Big, big fun! Absolutely loved the first five minutes. Great amateur wrestling. Who the hell is this Keiji Mutoh and where is he everyday? He has having so much fun. This crowd was rocking. I loved the Steiners suplexing the hell out of Mutoh & Sasaki only to do their usual pose. Then the natives get back in and Mutoh sends Rick Steiner into a Kensuke Sasaki Steinerline and then Mutoh hits a wicked stiff dropkick on Scotty who tumbles through the ropes. Sasaki & Mutoh do the Steiners pose with Mutoh playing Rick and the Sumo Hall ERUPTS! I was marking out so hard! I thought the heat segment on Scotty was great. Mutoh hitting his trademark elbow and back handspring elbow onto Scotty on the floor. Sasaki showing off his strength with the Argentine Backbreaker. The stuff with the Scorpion Deathlock was great with Mutoh pushing on Sasaki when the ref was not looking. I am having so much fun. I was a bit bummed the natives just gave up on the hold and the tag to Rick was a bit lukewarm. Rick came in and just stiffed the hell out of Sasaki. That slam into the buckles was OUTTA CONTROL! Great tight Boston Crab by the Steiners who switch out behind the ref's back. Sasaki hits a big powerslam on Rick (Rick's usual feed bump to his opponent). Tag to Mutoh and shit just breaks down. Suplexes, moonsaults, Frankensteiners, you name it and happened. Steiners had invented the Steiner Bulldog yet but instead do the Steiner DDT from Rick's shoulders. Looked awesome. Super fun, crowd pleasing match. You don't see many of these in Japan and you know what judging by the crowd reaction this style could really get over. Lots of fun! ****

Buzzed OJ is great! Why don't people talk about that more? IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs Genichiro Tenryu - NJPW 2/17/94 Tenryu is coming off defeating Antonio Inoki at 1/4/94 in the Tokyo Dome, the last person to ever defeat Inoki. So to say the stakes are high in this match is an understatement. Hashimoto is 0-2 against Tenryu and Tenryu has defeated everyone on the New Japan roster. This is about pride. If the first one is about psychology, the second one is about selling, this one is about sheer brutal offense. When you think of Hashimoto and Tenryu, you think of stiff, violent strikes, finally we get these two letting loose and ripping into each other on all their glory. Tenryu is chopping on rope breaks and Hashimoto is throwing wild kicks. Hashimoto takes him down to work the leg so Tenryu starts throwing nasty elbows into Hashimoto's side. Hashimoto throws the nastiest headbutt this side of Regal/Finlay totally out of nowhere. He just throws two more and a big kick. Then they just start firing into each other. Tenryu chops him in the throat and Hashimoto goes down in a heap. Tenryu goes for a rear naked choke. Hashimoto breaks loose and starts in on the arm. I loved how Tenryu got out by kneeing him in the head repeatedly. Tenryu is all about brutal strikes in this match. Knees and kicks to head. He constantly peppering these kicks to the head. Tenryu goes for the lariat and Hashimoto hits his armdrag and goes back to the arm and gets a cross armbreaker, but Tenryu's foot is on the ropes. Chop back to the throat. It is just violent watching this. Again, Jesus! Bodyslam and the top rope reverse elbow gets two. This has been a WAR! Best part of the match: Hashimoto sick and tired of these chops to throat, kicks him low. Now Tenryu drops down in a heap as if he was kicked inthe fucking balls. The ref's reaction is great. He is so pissed Hashimoto did it. But there is a chance that Tenryu is faking but the ref is keeping Hashimoto back. Tenryu up on his feet and Sumo Slaps. Tenryu brutalizes Hashimoto in the corner. Now the ref is on Tenryu's case and Hashimoto LEAPS OVER THE REF AND NAILS AN ENZIGUIRI TO THE TENRYU'S HEAD!!! MARK OUT CITY! HASHIMOTO KICKS TENRYUS HEAD OFF! HASHIMOTO THE DESTROYER UNLEASHED! Tenryu slumped down in the corner and Hashimoto seems very pleased with his corner. I loved Hashimoto finally letting loose and just letting the kicks fly and with most of them being aimed at the head. He hits an ugly version of his leaping DDT. After trying in previous matches, he finally gets it, but cant capitalize. Seems like he had his bell rung. Tenryu Kappo Kick! RUH! ROH! Tenryu hits an enziguiri. Tenryu slaps himself to shake out the cobwebs. POWERBOMB! But Tenryu is knocked silly. He cant capitalize due to all the shots to his head. Hashimoto is back up but Tenryu chops and kappo kick. Again his head is all messed up. Tenryu goes for a DDT, but Hashimoto throws him THE FUCK DOWN with an Urnage. DONT BE BRINGIN THAT IN MY HOUSE! HASHIMOTO DDT! 1-2-NO! CMON! FINISH HIM! Tenryu starts slapping the shit out of Hashimoto, he falls into a powerbomb. 1-2-NO! WOOOOO!!! Tenryu is slapping the shit out of Hashimoto. Duck. BELLY TO BELLY! HASHIMOTO ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE HEAD! DDT! YAAAAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOOO!!!! Chono & Hase in to celebrate with Hashimoto. One of the best feel-good victories of all time, love these torch passing moments. They finally had the stiff, brutal war we wanted out of them. They beat the piss out of each other. Tenryu just ripped into Hashimoto with those chops. Hashimoto with the headbutts early and then those head kicks. Great Tenryu selling of the head kicks down the stretch. Amazing dramatic finish run. Hashimoto just would not be denied and Shinya Hashimoto is officially the Ace of New Japan Pro Wrestling! *****

Is this the only match on any Yearbook with no comments from Loss? Shinya Hashimoto vs Genichiro Tenryu - NJPW 8/8/93 The rematch takes place just days after the finish of the G-1 Climax and this time the match takes place on New Japan's turf so Hashimoto has home court advantage. Hashimoto is much more in control here than at the beginning of the last match. He seems more confident that he can improve and get the win here. Tenryu seems more offensive-minded. He knows he eeked out a victory last time. Tenryu goes with Sumo Slaps to start and Hashimoto mostly blocks, they lock up and get tangled in the ropes. Reset. Each hits a shoulderblock knocking the other off their feet. Hashimoto favors his injured left shoulder. Is this the DDP injured ribs of Japan? Did it ever heal? Tenryu goes low though and gets a drop toehold looking to work the leg, but that goes nowhere. Upon standup, Hashimoto targets the leg he attacked in the first match with kicks and then a toehold. Rope break. Then they stare at each other for uncomfortably long period of time. Tenryu opens a can of whoop ass. Chops to the throat that are just wicked and when Hashimoto tucks his chin to block Tenryu CHOPS HIM IN THE FACE! WOW! Hashimoto opens a can in return and starts chopping the hell out of him and kicking him. Hashimoto ends up just smothering him. I didn't like Hashimoto going for a hold right after that. They should have kept rocking because they were finally letting loose. Tenryu makes the ropes. Wicked kick and then chops him repeatedly up high in the throat and face. Hashimoto goes down in a heap. Kawada kicks to the head. This is a great dick heel performance from Tenryu and a great Hashimoto selling performance. Top reverse elbow from Tenryu. He hits a big lariat for two. Goes for another and Hashimoto says DONT BE BRINGING THAT IN MY HOUSE when he throws him DOWN with an Urnage. Hashimoto wants the DDT, but cant get it so he settles for trying to pull Tenryu's shoulder out of its socket with an armdrag and works Tenryu's lariat arm. Great verbal selling and physical selling from Tenryu. Tenryu starts kneeing him in the head. Tenryu has been brutal in this match. Bodyslam by Tenryu and goes up for his top rope reverse elbow but you cant do the same move twice and Hashimoto gets the electric chair. Crawls desperately for the cover but only gets two. Cross armbeaker on the bad arm and Tenryu quickly gets the ropes. I will never get tired of watching Hashimoto kicking people. Those kicks to Tenryu's bad arm are ferocious. Hashimoto runs the ropes and gets caught in a desperation powerbomb. Hashimoto charging in has cost him twice now (in the first match, missed jumping DDT was the beginning of the end). Tenryu goes for the powerbomb and Hashimoto backdrops out. The selling is off the charts here with Hashimoto really selling discombobulated. Hashimoto cements his advantage with the enziguiri and then the rainbow heel kick. Tenryu's selling is so good you can feel the match slipping from his grasp. Now here is Hashimoto's finish sequence. Tenryu almost blocks the jumping DDT in the same way but this time, Hashimoto gets an armbar takedown on the bad arm. Hashimoto hits his DDT. I loved the urgency on the cover but only gets two. Tenryu is grabbing his head as Hashimoto is frustrated. He grabs the hair of Tenryu and takes him over with a German suplex cover again and only two. The anguish on Hashimoto's face is great. He pulls on the hair again to pull him up this time for a powerbomb. Tenryu almost collapses, nice touch. He picks him up and Tenryu kicks him in the head. ENZIGUIRI! LOOK AT THAT SELL BY HASHIMOTO! WOW! Kappo Kick and Hashimoto is bowled over. In the last match that was the prelude to the powerbomb and the finish. Tenryu is selling his left arm but he grits his teeth and hits a lariat anyways. Tenryu is pissed. Big chops again from Tenryu, great offensive performance from Tenryu. Hashimoto powerslam! Hashimoto gnashing his teeth. Pulling Tenryu up by his hair, German? Tenryu goes wild with elbows and punches to the head. Total survival mode. Bulldog out of that position. Great enziguiri from Tenryu. Tenryu loads him up, powerbomb, 1-2-NO! HUGE POP! Here comes the Defiant Fighting Spirit last stand. Rainbow kick and then falling chops. Hashimoto can barely stand is just throwing chops. Powerbomb again for two. This time Hashimoto has nothing left and Tenryu hits the third and final powerbomb to put away the challenger to his throne. I just want to get this out of the way early, I thought the beginning was too tepid to give this a full five. Now let me praise the match. The finish sequence would inspire generations to come. That defiant last stand by a young upstart is a common trope in 2000s puroresu. It is cinematographic but it works so well here. The way Hashimoto throws those chops after the first powerbomb is just great. In the first match, Hashimoto got caught with a kappo kick to the head in the middle of a fight. It was a flash loss. Here Hashimoto showed great resiliency but had a dug too much of a hole for himself. What makes this match so great is not the offense per se, but the selling. Not just selling of the offense, but the selling of the importance of the match. Hashimoto was selling how badly he wanted to win the match. So many wrestlers forget that is what pro wrestling is about, it is about winning. Hashimoto wanted to win this one so badly. It was completely engrossing watching him try so hard. The way he gnashed his teeth for every Tenryu kick out, how he pulled him up by the hair and how he threw those last chops, Hashimoto putting everything he had into the match. When a wrestler is invested in the outcome of the match, the fans will be invested. Hashimoto comes up short in the match, but in reality he was the true winner. ****3/4

Shinya Hashimoto vs Genichiro Tenryu - WAR 6/17/93 I really need to watch the NJPW vs WAR build to this match. This is the feud that makes Shinya Hashimoto into The Man. Chono may have won the first two G-1 Climaxes and Muta may have been the first one to win the IWGP Championship, but neither was tapped to be the Leader of New Japan to face off against the invading Genichiro Tenryu. Tenryu defeated Choshu at 1/4 Dome show, but lost to Choshu at the April Sumo Hall show. The New Japan vs. WAR feud continued with a greater emphasis placed on Shinya Hashimoto in his quest to defeat Tenryu. I liked the beginning. Hashimoto was raring to go, but Tenryu is tentative. In a lot of ways, this was Tenryu first major contest against a star of the 90s. He had matches with Misawa, Kawada and Kobashi but he left before any of them were pushed. In the New Japan feud, he was faced against his old rival, Choshu. After leading that Revolution against Jumbo, the tables have been turned and it now Hashimoto who is the upstart and Tenryu is the establishment. He has become an elder statesman and now he has to weather that storm of rage that he knows all too well that causes a man to throw off the chains and topple the establishment. There is a great lock up in the corner where you see Hashimoto give Tenryu the death stare. Hashimoto throws a barrage of kneelifts up against the ropes and Tenryu has to powder. Hashimoto is pissed and throws a wild overhand chop. Hashimoto finally gets a hold of Tenryu starts to blast him. Tenryu goes to the eyes and just rips into Hashimoto. That chop to the throat was just nasty. Reverse top rope elbow. Tenryu wants the win early. Tenryu headbutts Hashimoto in the midst of headbutts, Hashimoto kicks Tenryu's leg and LEG SWEEP! Hashimoto does a great job working holds on the legs and using strikes against the legs. Hashimoto has the best standing elbow drop this side of Lex Luger. Tenryu did a great job selling all the leg work. Tenryu has two hope spots built around Sumo Slaps which of course draw blood from Hashimoto's nose. I love how Hashimoto used the weakened leg to set up his big bomb offense: DDT, powerbomb and rainbow heel kick. He goes for the death sentence the jumping DDT but Tenryu shoves him off. Enziguiri from Tenryu! I love how all of Tenryus offense has been targeting the head during his comeback. Powerbomb 1-2-NO! Tenryu is in shock. Hashimoto hits his own enziguiri; I like how Hashimoto has used the powerbomb and enziguiri in this match. Tenryu hits a couple really bad enziguiris, but thats Tenryu for you. The finish sequence is absolutely amazing. Tenryu tries with all his might to get Hashimoto up for his second powerbomb, but cant do it. Kawada kicks by Tenryu and then two BADASS CHOPS! Hashimoto kicks him in the head with a roundhouse kick and Tenryu responds with a KAPPO KICK! That popped me! POWERBOMB! 1-2-3! One of those matches where Hashimoto gained as much in a loss as he would have with a victory. Helluva effort him. Totally in the zone once the bell rang, great job working the leg and hell he had Tenryu where he wanted him after the finish sequence and was one move away from winning. Tenryu showed his veteran poise giving a totally selfless performance selling so well for Hashimoto and giving so much of the match to him. Then coming back with the perfect amount of vulnerability and credibility. You come away feeling that is not a matter of if but when Hashimoto will upend Tenryu and take his place among legends of puroresu and the Ace of New Japan Pro Wrestling. ****1/2

Hulk Hogan & The Great Muta vs The Hellraisers - NJPW 9/23/93 A lot has changed since the Hogan vs Muta confrontation in May both men have lost their championships, Hogan to Yokozuna and Muta to Hashimoto three days prior to this. The Hellraisers were not tag champs at this point, the classic tag team of Scott Norton & Hercules is. So no gold on the line. This match and Tenryu/Hase drew 18,000 to Yokohama Arena, which is a pretty impressive figure. The novelty on the surface is Hogan and Muta as a tag team besides a couple weird looks from Hogan to Muta there is not much there. The real novelty is Hogan eating all of Sasaki's offense like a champ. A lot of people take easy on Hogan, but Sasaki set the tone early with stiff chops. He hit with a pretty wicked lariat and powerslam. He even got Hogan in the Scorpion Deathlock. Sasaki don't give a fuck who you are. Hawk was pretty useless in this match. Hawk and Hogan have a terrible opening with Hawk having trouble getting Hogan up for the Press Slam and Hogan executing the shitting juji-gatame ever but that was mostly Hawk's fault. Hawk vs Great Muta was a contest of who could sell less and guess what Muta won! Muta as a face in peril was just dumb. His whole character does NOT sell. The Muta/Sasaki parts were pretty decent and I am bummed I cant find anything online. The finish is pretty good. Muta mists Hawk when he was setup to take the Doomsday Device. Then Muta mists Sasaki. Hot tag to Hogan and AXE BOMBAH~! Watch Hogan & Tenryu vs Road Warriors for a crazy Hogan tag match in Japan. This is just fun to see Sasaki kick Hogan's ass.

I agree with the sentiment of so many above I was waiting for Hashimoto to unleash HELL on Regal and it never really came. Bummer. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs Lord Steven Regal - NJPW 4/16/95 A lot has changed since June of 94, Hashimoto has defeated three of his four peers (Sasaki (twice), Chono, & Hase) along with young upstart Tenzan and resident gaijin monster Scott Norton. So he was on quite the tear. Bringing in Regal made a lot of sense to bring some variety to Hashimoto opponents as he pretty much went over everybody save for the person he would lose it to (Mutoh) and that Regal fit the New Japan style so well. From in ring style standpoint, I don't think there was a major promotion in the world where Regal's gritty technical work would have been better on display than in New Japan (BattlArts, yes). Regal has that mat-based grit, strong suplex game and barrage of strikes that would fit New Japan so well. Regal takes down Hashimoto early by stepping on the back of his knee and then gets a tight smother. You can hear Hashimoto's labored breathing and the bone of the forearm is grinding against Hashimoto's nose. Hashimoto is susceptible to bloody noses so it is not a surprise that within the first minute we have blood. At first Regal seems to want to attack the left arm and Hashimoto does a good job defending his arm. He gets a nice inside trip, but rides high on the toehold and Regal pops a couple time in the busted nose. This serves to anger Hashimoto upon stand-up. But Hashimoto does not follow up instead Regal continues to blast him in the face or grab tight facelocks and grind his forearm bone against the injured nose. Hashimoto even has to take a breather after a severely brutal beating. This was definitely Regal/Finlay, BattlArts level violence from Regal. I think what dragged this down from a classic to a great match is that Hashimoto never really returned in kind. He had his moments, but there was never that one shot or one flurry that was on the level of Regal's brutality. Hashimoto's enziguiri was the first major salvo of his comeback forcing Regal to outside. Then he started to lay in with the kicks. Some nice overhand chops by Hashimoto as Regal fired back with his own strikes. One of my favorite spots was Regal's counter to the DDT with an armwringer than a pop to the face. Nasty. Hashimoto powers out of the Butterfly suplex. I love Hashimoto's sweep the leg as a transition. His big rainbow spin wheel kick. I didn't like Regal getting the Regal Stretch right after that. Need a transition. Hashimoto then gets out of the Regal Stretch no problem goes for DDT and Regal backdrops him out. They are losing me down the stretch. They come back with Regal violently attacking the face again, this has been a great offensive Regal performance. I liked the armwringer->DDT->quick submission with the cross armbreaker. A quick submission to a cross armbreaker? Is someone preparing for a Shoot-Style Invasion? Regal's brutal strikes and facelocks against the bloody nose of Hashimoto was totally engrossing. Unfortunately, you are waiting for Shinya Hashimoto The Destroyer to UNLEASH HELL on Regal, but it never really comes. Great stuff that could have been classic. ****

What the hell were you all watching? This was MONEY!!! IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara - NJPW 6/1/94 After regaining the championship from Fujinami at the May Dome show, the 80s strike back continue as Fujiwara is his next challenger. Superb! Had all the chippiness you would expect plus a ton of the little things that make both these men great. Fucking Fujiwara, God Bless this man, he rules the school. We get a lock up in the corner and he throws some great rabbit punches. Hashimoto throws one wild haymaker in the corner. I guess Hashimoto has an injured left shoulder because Fujiwara goes after it with ferocity. He takes Hashimoto down with a vicious armbar. Hashimoto makes the ropes and then tries to give Fujiwara a taste of his own medicine, but Fujiwara quashes the armbar takedown as they end up in the ropes. Hashimoto frustrated throws a wicked stomp. Then the best thing ever happens. Fujiwara backs him into the corner and gives him a CLEAN break. What a fucking asshole! I have never marked so hard for a clean break. Other things that are characteristic of Fujiwara is the organic transitions into holds and the struggle over holds. Hashimoto starts to the throw kicks and Fujiwara catches his foot and gets a single takedown. The fight for the single leg crab is great and then Fujiwara just settles for a chokehold. Which just reinforces how much that clean break was such a dick move. FUJIWARA PUNCH TO THE FACE! Punches in puroresu always make me mark out. That was awesome. Fujiwara going back to the choke was great. Then Hashimoto bulrushes Fujiwara and wrenches the knee. Then he points to his shoulder. Fucking love it! Two fucking assholes going at it. Fujiwara goes back to the arm. Rope break. Good selling from Hashimoto. Hashimoto misses his rainbow kick in the corner. Fujiwara just bounces on his feet as Hashimoto looks like an asshole worried that Fujiwara is going to pounce. It takes a real man to make Hashimoto look like a jackass. Hashimoto overwhelms him with kicks in the corner. Fujiwara catches the foot, this time Hashimoto gets a guillotine. Then backs him into the corner, Hashimoto gives Fujiwara a receipt and PUNCHES him in the face and then he catches him really good with a kick to the chest. Fujiwara does his classic collapse selling. Fujiwara sells so well. Desperately clinging to the foot. Then there is the one bad egregious spot. Fujiwara puts Hashimoto in a cross armbreaker for a long time. No real struggle or selling. I know PRIDE wasn't a thing yet, but a cross armbreaker is an endgame. I didn't like the disrespect for that hold. The ease at which Hashimoto got out and he elbows the bad knee. I like the double psychology, but just one bad moment. Hey it happens. They stand up. I love all the resets. Makes it feel like a chapter book. Fujiwara feigns with some slaps and Hashimoto says bring it, don't sing it. Hashimoto gets him in the clinch, Muay Thai knees, Fujiwara goes for the armbar takedown, HASHIMOTO DDT!!! MARK OUT CITY!!! YES! YES! Hashimoto running enziguiri, kneelifts, VICIOUS DDT! Fujiwara fucks up by kicking out, but I don't care, THIS WAS FUCKING AWESOME! Great character work, great build, dripping with psychology, tons of great offense. Only thing this from being in the tippy top is the cross armbreaker spot, watch this match! ****1/2