Talk about it here.

The usual good, big feeling match between these two, but this may be my least favorite of the matches I've seen between them. It felt like it could have gone longer, and that the finish could have had a few more teases. Choshu earns a big win to set him up for the Tokyo Dome in January where he'll challenge Fujinami.

Choshu sort of methodically chops Hashimoto down at the end. I liked that he saw Hash's standard spinning heel kick counter coming, but I was expecting another Hashimoto comeback that never came. This was certainly a big, heated match but a dull opening keeps this from being a great one.

NJPW feels out of place to me at Bodokan. This did feel rushed and it was Choshu firing off as many lariats as he could before putting down Hash for good.

This felt big but they really milked the opening to the extreme in them doing minimal stuff. The body also felt flat with Hashimoto working over Choshu for a while before he starts clotheslining him continuously and then picks up the win. Disappointed.

This was basically a spin kick vs. lariat match, with Choshu and the lariat finally winning. Other than the test-of-strength filler and a couple of headlocks, I can't remember any other hold or move being used in the match. I've seen much better from both of these guys.

 

This wasn't quite in "What's this doing on here?" territory, but it was awfully close.

One thing about both of these guys is everything does feel big. The fact they had the crowd at all after that opening is due to that. Once Hash went through his big moves and Riki took over i expected another hash comeback, but literally all I got was lariats. Hash looks like a super tough dude despite losing, so I guess mission accomplished. But I can think of better ways of accomplishing it.

I am surprised everyone was down on this match. I thought it was their usual great Battle of The Bulls match. It wasn't CHOSHUUUUUUUUUUU, but not much is.

 

Greatest 18 Champion Riki Choshu vs Shinya Hashimoto - NJPW 11/5/91

 

What is the Greatest 18 Championship? Short answer: Fuck if I know. Long speculative answer: It was a Riki Choshu vanity belt to make his matches seem more important while Fujinami was IWGP Champion throughout 1991. It is smart idea. Choshu is going to be wrestling the semi-main all year you should give his opponents something to vie for in addition to just trying to beat Choshu. It is one thing for Hashimoto to wrestle Choshu it is another to have a belt on the line even if it is a made up one. Don't ask me why the that is the name. It is Japan. The physical belt is Inoki's old WWF World Martial Arts Championship.

 

Usual great Choshu vs Hashimoto battle of the bulls match. Hard fought lock ups. Shoulder tackles. Headbutts. It is the old run it up the gut, three yards and a cloud of dust. It is what is missing from wrestling nowadays. I thought what was interesting is that even though in 1991, Choshu is clearly Hashimoto' senior and Hashimoto wouldn't really break out until 1993, Hashimoto feels in charge of this match. It is his match to lose. Choshu is the one desperate in the beginning landing the big elbow and following up with headbutts. Hashimoto is not trying to prove to Choshu he belongs. It feels like he is past that. Now he just needs to pick up the win. It is two different things to contend and to win. Hashimoto already has that air that he can contend and Choshu clearly takes him very seriously, but can Hashimoto win? Hashimoto lots of kicks, rainbow spinning heel kick and DDT, but not enough to put him away. I hate how the cross armrbeaker is treated in New Japan. Hashimoto goes for the rainbow heel kick in the corner and Choshu blocks just as he will in the 1996 G-1 Climax and Hashimoto never recovers. Selling has never been a strong suit in New Japan among really any of its wrestlers. I should say long term selling. They good at registering. They are terrible at weaving it in long term. I just have to give up that Choshu blocked that with a bad arm and that he is moving around like nothing happened to him. Usual Choshu vs Hashimoto fireworks ending. Lots of Lariats, screaming defiance, Hashimoto eating them. I really enjoyed Hashimoto trying one last spinning heel kick that Choshu side steps. I would have made Choshu stealing Hashimoto's DDT the finish, but that is just me. I don't think they needed as many lariats, but again just me. It is Hashimoto vs Choshu, it is big, beefy wrestling. Whats not to love? ***3/4