December 24, 201113 yr Author comment_5490873 Great way to start off the G1! Very good match between two guys who seem to always have good matches together, this one not being an exception. This is an interesting match in that I genuinely didn't know the results and figured Koshinaka's role was to make Muto look good. And that is how the match was laid out. Muto had the quick, flashy highspots, Muto dominated most of the matwork and even Koshinaka's late rally seemed like it was designed to show how much punishment Muto could take. But the end result was something different, and then looking back on it, it works to put Koshinaka over too. I don't know how much of a surprise result this was, but I do know I was genuinely surprised by the result. Koshinaka countering the top rope rana attempt into a powerbomb was a holy shit spot and was the turning point in Koshinaka winning.
June 25, 201213 yr comment_5508045 I always like how Muto gets angry and storms out whenever he jobs. This was ok and a good start to the G1.
October 22, 201410 yr comment_5634809 Big upset that really felt earned, as Koshinaka had Mutoh on the ropes for most of this. Mutoh looks tough and resourceful, but that power bomb off the turnbuckle was a holy shit moment and really felt like the finish. Smart move to have Mutoh escape via the ropes instead of kicking out--he really looked dead and they got a near-fall that was surprising but also made sense instead of just being a cheap excuse for a 2.9. I'm to the point now where I no longer hate Koshinaka.
February 1, 20187 yr comment_5830874 The opening night of the G1 with an eager crowd at the Ryogoku. Both participants looked sharp and energetic. The matwork was interspersed with quicker paced segments. They had the dynamic just right. The champion being on top and the underdog fighting from underneath. Mutoh always looked the likelier winner before one big move turned everything on its head. Literally. Kosh countered a top rope huracanrana and powerbombed Mutoh right on his noggin. A move of awesome brutality that made the upset make complete sense. Excellent storytelling. This wasn't a G1 classic, but would turn out to be the best bout of the tournament this year.
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