Posted April 26, 200817 yr comment_5430903 Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Steve Keirn (NWA International Junior Title) (2/1/80) - Early on, Keirn controls the arm but after a quick roll-up, Keirn goes outside to regroup. When he gets back on control, he works on the leg of Fujinami to keep him grounded to prevent anymore flash pins. I am really enjoying the New Japan ground game. Not just in this match but from what I have seen so far in the company. Some of the matches might not have the excitement of All Japan but it seems more real, if that makes sense. The end run picked the pace up with Keirn attacking Fujinami and punishing him with a variety of attacks. However, the crowd really isn’t responding to these guys. Keirn busts Fujinami open on the ring post after a really sweet pin attempt. Fujinami tries to fight back but can’t gather the strength to do one of his patented outside dives. He battles with Keirn who keeps punching the cut past the referee’s 5-count and gets disqualified in the first fall. Keirn starts the 2nd fall abusing Fujinami with a variety of moves, casually pinning him, knowing the match is I nthe bag. However, Fujinami fights back and hits a dropkick. He tries another and Keirn dodges it and sets Fujinami up for a bodyslam but he pops up over Keirn and surprises him with a German Suplex pin. I know this match up will pop up again on the Classics so I want to see how the matches all play out but I have no problem nominating this.The crowd hurts it a little but both guys were great in this. (NJC 79)
November 27, 200816 yr comment_5436011 This was really good, I agree with Will about the early ground work, and I loved Keirn's forearm shots. The DQ finish was pretty neat I had never seen that before. Second the nomination.
November 27, 200816 yr comment_5436012 This was really fun. Fujinami comes into this with a bandage and what looks like Tarzan Goto's forehead. I really liked the early Keirn sit out on leg into Fujinami reversal spot and the way the first fall moved into its hot end run with both guys pitching each other out. I was totally expecting a countout finish and so the "you have till five DQ" came as surprise and really neat. Eigen is ringside for this. Can someone explain to me when and how Eigen went from NJ to AJ.
May 6, 200916 yr comment_5439144 I'll just add my affirmation on this one. The early groundwork was well done and I appreciated Keirn's escalating brutality throughout the match. The first-fall DQ and Fujinami's sudden suplex on the deciding fall were also really well-executed. This should go on the set.
