Posted August 14, 200817 yr comment_5434045 What I wrote about this on Segunda Caida Pretty much a textbook example of a simple match performed by ridiculously charismatic performers, and how great something like that can be. Very few wrestling moves performed by either guy. Fujiwara does basically headbutts, punches and a Fujiwara arm bar. Choshu does kicks, one back suplex, a scorpion deathlock and Choshu lariats. It isn't about what they do, it is how and when they do it. Fujiwara jumps Choshu in the aisle and just destroys him for the opening five minutes. Choshu is bleeding and Fujiwara is smirking and strutting, Choshu gets control with a back suplex, and Fujiwara has an awesome "Oh Fuck" look on his face as he goes up. It gets a little more back and forth after that, but Fujiwara still controls most of it, until he makes the mistake of getting cocky and removing the ringpad. Choshu reverses the whip, Fujiwara takes a bump, they spill to the outside, and Choshu just smashes Fujiwara's head into the ringpost. Fujiwara has a traditional comedy spot, where he no-sells getting his head smashed into the ringpost, so Choshu really has to crack open his skull to make it work. Then it is all about a repulsively bloody Fujiwara trying to survive incredible looking Choshu lariats. Both guys come off as such superstars, it was like watching Hogan v. Rock with actually contact being made on the moves. On rewatch, I want to talk a little bit about how fucking awesome Fujiwara’s selling in this was. Choshu’s lariats weren’t that brutal but Fujiwara did an amazing job selling their impact, and you really believed they destroyed him . This is one of my favorite wrestling matches ever, and I can’t imagine anything will displace this as my #1. Best of NJPW v. UWF 2 Disc 2
November 17, 200816 yr comment_5435786 It probably won't be my No. 1, but this was a great fucking match. You're right Phil, the charisma and understanding of how to work a story were off the charts here. Both guys sold masterfully with facial expressions and body language. Fabulous ending with the lariats though I was sad when Fujiwara failed to beat the last count, because I wanted it to keep going. Slam dunk nomination.
September 3, 200916 yr comment_5443788 Yep, this was great shit. I remember watching this for the Schneider comp. I loved Fujiwara attacking the lariat arm with the armbar. Up until the end, you wondered which one would prevail, especially with Fujiwara countering a lariat right ionto the armbar. Great stuff. Add the blood and the big league atmosphere and this is going to be high on my list. Probably not my #1 but it will be up there.
