Ditch
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Everything posted by Ditch
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HUSTLE NEVER DIE
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One of the very first puro matches I ever saw. Excessive and flabby in parts, but they also get a LOT right in terms of layout, sequences, payoffs, and build. *Lock* for my ballot but it will struggle to make my top 50 ahead of tighter matches like the 8/23/03 8-man and the 1/10/04 6-man, though I guarantee it will end up well ahead of both in the overall tally.
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If this isn't on every ballot then I Just Don't Know. ****1/2 seems about right to me, because most of the match is in the **** range but they build to some *****-level quality. My #2 for 2000, a mortal lock for my top 15, and a really good chance to break the top 10. Something I think anyone can enjoy.
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Hashimoto & Yamazaki vs Sasaki & Nagata, September 21st. Nagata returns from his WCW run with a big push and lots of fire. Aired JIP, so only ~11 minutes to establish Nagata as someone relevant going forward.
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I can't get over the fact that NTV has been sitting on that Misawa/Kawada match for 18 years. AJ Classics has aired plenty of '90s content, including some matches that only aired JIP initially. It seems clear that they kept all their footage from the mid-80s onward, and certainly promotions were in the habit of keeping everything by 1996, so I can't see a scenario where this was lost. Argh.
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"I think there is a lot these two could have done to improve the match. I hate to sound so negative because this match is ridiculously good and a MOTYC for 2000. When you are ranking the best matches of the entire decade, I believe an extra fine analysis warranted." YES. Exactly how I feel about this. There are some pretty obvious flaws, especially how several minutes are spent on the leg only for Kawada to blow it off really badly. But the meat of the match is still high-level and I expect this to be on most, if not all, ballots. It will certainly make my top 50 and possibly top 25.
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I like me some Tenryu/Sasaki but this was better. I vividly recall seeing this back in 2001 as I was being introduced to puro. It held my interest through the brute force of the stiffness, but I only thought it was good. Being more familiar with them, the style, and the backstory adds so much. I have this #3 for 2000, which makes it a cinch for the top 25. I suspect it will finish in the 15-25 range. Amazing that this probably won't be my #1 Sasaki match for the decade...
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SUWA definitely carries this. Dragon Kid in a lot of ways shows how good Mysterio is, because Kid has a lot of talent and got a pretty good push for his size, but never came remotely close to Mysterio's level in the ring. This is the best Dragon Kid singles match, and that's based on SUWA. Even then it's on the outside of my bubble for making the final ballot.
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This is worked "small", which makes sense considering that it's a set-up for the December match and they're doing it at Differ Ariake. Still, I can see some people expecting a match more in line with Misawa/Akiyama, Kobashi/Omori or Kobashi/Takayama and being disappointed. The consensus on this as "not a MOTYC, but good" is spot-on. Solid work, accomplishes what they're going for, leaves you wanting more. Not a lock for my ballot but it's got a good shot.
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When watching this, the context is so crucial. Hansen, who did turn in a good performance in the RWTL 1999 final, was essentially shot as a performer. Mossman/Kea was good but looked like a disappointment relative to other AJ Dojo products. Having a Hansen/Mossman team in July 2000 is not a recipe for a good match, let alone a Japanese MOTYC, but that's what we get. It helps that they're up against Tenryu and Kawada, but it takes two to tango. Hell of a war, the career match for Mossman/Kea, the last hurrah for Hansen, and a really vital moment for All Japan's survival. If they didn't quickly do something to bounce back from losing Misawa et al., they would have become a glorified indy in no time. LOCK for my ballot.
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A gentleman whose name escapes me got a Best of Kanemoto DVD set from Japan, which is where this comes from. It aired JIP on TV, and seemed perfectly fine but not special. Lots of JIP juniors matches fail to hold up when seen in full; this not only held up but became markedly more enjoyable. These teams delivered a dandy at the October 1999 Tokyo Dome show, and continued with a mix of attitude and action here. A last hurrah for Ohtani in the juniors division and a true hidden gem. LOCK for my ballot.
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I wouldn't go with 5 stars, but this is impressive as hell and an absolutely gigantic step up for Takayama as a performer. I think Takayama was one of the best 5 workers in the world before his stroke in 2004, but in the '90s he never looked like a standout. Being in there with Kobashi helps of course, but Takayama had to effectively fill time and look credible in the exchanges. That takes timing and execution. Shame that this got lost in the shuffle for several years due to the AJ/NOAH split turmoil. LOCK for my ballot.
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Really, really fun match, though it helps to have seen the rest of the tournament and the push behind Omori's axe bomber as a finisher. Omori delivers a career-making performance, Kobashi does his thing, and the finish is really satisfying. A step behind the very best of 2000, but it would be a Japan MOTYC in most other years of the decade. LOCK for my ballot.
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This is a match I've enjoyed more over time, and I gave it 1st place when I went through the 2000 vote, which makes it a LOCK for top 10 in the decade and a strong candidate for #1. Due to the layout, attention to detail, pacing, and the tension level they build to, I'd peg this as the best Misawa match since the '97 classic with Kobashi. Akiyama was kinda floundering in 1999, and because of how good he looked, he was instantly credible as a headliner when NOAH started up. I suspect a lot of people are going to be surprised by this.
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There was so much SHOCK when Kawada vs Sasaki produced a MOTYC, but this match (which wasn't widely seen overseas initially) shows that Sasaki could bring it with the right opponent. Rock-solid heavyweight slugfest and a perfect example of how to work a Tokyo Dome main event. LOCK for my ballot.
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Jado & Gedo vs Kanemoto & Wataru Inoue, New Japan March 4th 2005 Background: Wataru Inoue, who struggled to progress from the 'young lion' phase of his career without becoming a jobber, is given an opportunity to go for the junior tag titles in the main event at Korakuen Hall. This is a rematch from the previous July, when Jado and Gedo narrowly retained. Why I think it's underrated: Jado and Gedo have this weird on/off switch with the quality of their wrestling. Either it's lazy choking and filler, or high-end Southern-style heel aggression. This features "good" Jado and Gedo. More importantly, this is given extra time because it's the main event, and they use that time to build a big-match structure. Kanemoto is effective as the Big Man On Campus, and Inoue is effective in the Ricky Morton role. Top it off with a hot crowd and you get something memorable. What it deserves: Top 100, and maybe even top 50. I really think this is something any wrestling fan can appreciate, and with Inoue having retired this is almost certainly his best match in the New Japan ring.
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Misawa & Ogawa vs Saito & Inoue, NOAH September 10th 2004 Background: Saito spent several years as Akiyama's right-hand man only to be cast out during the summer. He ended up forming a midcard stable named Dark Agents. He and Inoue earned this tag title shot by beating former champions Kobashi and Honda. That match was decent but did nothing to suggest what we'd get at Nippon Budokan. Why I think it's underrated: It lacks the stiffness and bombs of, say, the Kobashi vs Taue match that followed it. Masao Inoue's athletic ability, execution, and moveset are not exactly impressive. Yet the story it tells of a life-long jobber trying to make good and beat the odds is very compelling. Things like layout, structure, timing and selling are what make this work. I've typically seen two reactions to it. Either people love it, or they're turned off by Inoue. I've seen more of the former than the latter, so this is well worth checking out. What it deserves: Top 50. Misawa, Ogawa and Saito all play their roles very well while giving the spotlight to Inoue's career performance.
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Tamura vs Ito, U-Style August 18th 2004 Background: Semi-final in a tournament to crown the promotion's champion. As it turned out there was never a title defense, because the promotion essentially shut down at the end of the year. Thankfully their abortive championship produced this gem. Ito is a massive underdog, lacking the experience and crisp execution of the promotion's ace. Why I think it's underrated: Tamura/Kohsaka was somewhat overlooked at the time, and this was even less prominent initially. While it doesn't match the smoothness of the February submission-fest, it does have a solid story and much more drama in the final minutes. Ito delivers quite the effort. What it deserves: As with Tamura/Kohsaka, top 100 in general and top 50 if you're favorably inclined to the style.
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Tenryu vs Tenzan, New Japan February 15th 2004 Background: An impromptu final in a one-night title tournament. Tenzan gave Nagata a legit KO with a moonsault in the second round, which messed up the plan. Tenzan was already busted up in his first round match with Sasaki, while Tenryu has taken almost no punishment thusfar. Why I think it's underrated: This is a big show main event but isn't worked in an "epic" style, so it wasn't going to attract MOTYC attention when considered alongside what was happening in NOAH. Yet it's just the sort of second-tier bout that deserves attention in a vote like this. They do a great job of mixing things up in their strike exchanges. Tenryu chipping at a wounded Tenzan is a great use of the lumpy old man, and the finish is quite satisfying considering the length of the match. All the more impressive in the context of Tenzan having wrestled two physical matches already. What it deserves: Top 100. I think a similarly worked match in WWE would be raved over.
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Tamura vs Kohsaka, U-Style February 4th 2004 Background: Two of the best shoot-style workers of the '90s were eventually forced to do shoots, with some interesting results. U-Style was a worked promotion started in 2003 so that Tamura could return to worked bouts. Why I think it's underrated: Shoot-style in general isn't as popular as other styles, for reasons that probably don't need explaining. Tamura and Kohsaka go at it with such speed and fluidity that I think most people will be able to appreciate this. What it deserves: Top 100, and top 50 consideration for shoot-style fans.
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Kobashi, Rikio & Hashi vs Akiyama, Morishima & Kikuchi, NOAH January 10th 2004 Background: For some reason, NOAH decided to headline a Nippon Budokan event with three tags, and put champion Kobashi in a third-from-the-top 6-man. Worked out reasonably well. This was done to continue the Kobashi/Akiyama feud en route to July's show at the Tokyo Dome. Why I think it's underrated: Insert my previous comments about 6-man tags being overlooked. The teams are 'parejas increibles', since Rikio/Morishima, Akiyama/Hashi, and Kobashi/Kikuchi are all long-term stablemates. This ends up becoming a showcase for Hashi as he tries to prove himself against his mentor and friend. Good exchanges, plenty of fire, and a receptive crowd all add up to something special. What it deserves: Top 100. Too many spectacular matches from 2004 for this to hit the top tier, but it's got enough quality to merit inclusion