Posted February 5, 200817 yr comment_5427860 Shunji Takano vs. Toshiaki Kawada (7/11/89) - I was digging the hell out of this match but the crowd could care less. Nakano executes a nice capture suplex early on but Kawada was controlling with various submissions. Kawada was already displaying his kicking variations. Takano takes control in a nice sequence where Kawada kicked Takano out of the ring, goes for a plancha only to miss Takano. In turn, Takano hits a plancha instead and injured Kawada’s back. The end stretch has Takano working on the back and Kawada attempting to put this thing away. However, Takano comes off the top with a kneedrop for a win. I liked the match but the lack of heat really hurt it. I’ll nominate it but won’t go to the wall for it. (AJC 183)
April 26, 201015 yr comment_5450054 This had the motions of a really good match but maybe not the heart. It was fun to see Kawada developing his kick-based offense, and Takano's knees to the back looked really nasty. In fact, I can't fault much of what they did. But the crowd's disinterest hurt the match a lot. I'm not sure if the wrestlers could have changed that by showing a little more fire with their expressions and such. Maybe it was just a shit crowd. I love Kawada, so I wouldn't mind seeing this make it, but it would finish low for me, and I also feel little inclination to fight for it.
July 11, 201015 yr comment_5453016 Shunji Takano vs. Toshiaki Kawada (7/11/89) Kawada is wearing Shawn Michaels tights circa 1992 here which is quite the sight and Takano's hair is fabulous here. Kawada throws some great kicks here but Takano hitting him with a dive on the floor then slamming him very hard on the concrete was impressive as well. Takano also impressed me later with his Pele kick into the diving kneedrop off the top rope for the finish after they had some good back and forth action. This was a fun little match but the crowd acting like they were in a library definitely hurt the atmosphere so a no vote from me.
