Shinsuke Nakamura vs Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW 8/1/14

This was a really fun Greatest Hits, bomb-throwing sprint match. Maybe not a sprint, but very efficient clocking in around 15 minutes. I love how they build to both guys bigger spots and really make each other earn it. The spot of the match has to be Nakamura doing his signature taunt before the Bom-Ba-Ye Knee only for Ishii to NAIL him with a dropkick. Each man really had the other scouted. They establish each man is going for the killshot early as the very beginning, Ishii goes for the Sliding Lariat and Nakamura goes for the Bom-Ba-Ye Knee. Both miss but both let the other know they arent here for a long time, they are here for a good time. Everything is centered around building to that. Nakamura is in the lead most of the match with Ishii playing catch up. Nakamura is using his knees and strikes to the head to control. Ishii gets his standard offense like the superplex and powerbomb in but for the most part he is reacting to Nakamura. Such as dropkicking him on the taunt, later he would Lariat to counter Bom-Ba-Ye Knee and then headbutt all to evade. There was a time where all these counters did give Ishii an opening and he hit the Sliding Lariat, which is the prelude to his Killshot, the Brainbuster. Nakamura had this scouted and evaded and hit a backstabber and then a Bom Ba Ye Knee to the back of the head. Smart, Ishii couldnt counter because he couldnt see it coming all the other times were head on. After that the end was nigh, they did some counters here and there, but Nakamura was firmly in control and it was a couple more vicious knees to put Ishii away. I like that about New Japan they dont swerve for swerve's sake. Ishii got his Sliding Lariat that was his nearfall, his oh so close moment. Once Nakamura hit the Knee, Ishii can be game, but it was Nakamura's game. When you respect the moves and the wrestlers, the fans respect the match. I enjoyed this one. ****  

A match where both stuck to their best hits - Ishii lariats and headbutts and Nakamura with kicks and knees - fairly impressive match. It had a fairly nice dynamic of the leader of CHAOS going against the small bull of the group, Ishii went all out to beat Nakamura with Nakamura constantly rolling with the punches and coming back. ****