Posted February 10, 200916 yr comment_5437137 DVD #12 ---------------------------------------------------- July 29th: Ariake colloseum IWGP Heavyweight throne challenger decisive league match / Choshu vs Saito - Weird to see these longtime allies against each other. I thought both guys lacked their usual intensity, perhaps for that reason. IWGP Heavyweight throne challenger decisive league match / Antonio Inoki vs Vader - Smart structure here as Vader hurt his arm during an early melee on the outside, and that gave Inoki something to attack whenever he needed a little rally. Vader sold it well too, especially near the end, after Inoki gored him with the timekeeper's hammer. Strong finish as Vader tried a move off the top only for Inoki to shift and catch him in an armbar. Vader came off as strong but clumsy and Inoki beat him not with force but with guile. Great atmosphere as well and this one should go on the block. July 29th: Ariake colloseum Koshinaka, Kimura, Fujinami vs Chono, Hashimoto, Mutoh - This started out fun with the Musketeers refusing to let the veterans into the ring. It also featured some choice instances of Hash punching Fujinami straight in the face. It didn't go long enough or have a staisfying conclusion, however. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Don Nakaya Nielsen - This was an interesting early glimpse at MMA as you had a real striker vs. grappler match-up. Fujiwara tried to lure Nielsen to the corners, where he willingly took his kicks and punches in hopes of trapping him into a takedown. Nielsen busted Fujiawara open in the second round. That led to a great sequence in the third, with both guys lying on the apron and a bloody Fujiwara raining headbutts on Nielsen. The match became a little imbalanced over the last few rounds. Fujiwara went down from almost every Nielsen shot, and the submission attempts came fewer and further between. I guess that fit the story of the match though. I was intrigued throughout so I'll throw it a nomination. August 4th: The Otsuki citizen comprehensive gymnasium Kimura, Fujinami vs Vader, Saito - Nothing here that I hadn't seen before or better.
