Random review #2

I think I found my favorite match for the year so far, maybe being edged out by Mashimo/Madoka versus MEN's Teioh/Shinobu from BJW, which was an amazing tag contest that was highlighted by great execution, story, and something that you don't see much in puro, long-term selling with no breaks. Anyways, I'll probably do a write up for that match later, that's not today's subject.

Hirooki Goto and Tetsuya Naito versus Shinsuke Nakamura and Hiroshi Tanahashi, 8/26/08 "Red Shoes Unno 20th Anniversary Show".

You want to see why New Japan has the brightest future out of the three major companies? This match will illustrate that. Four young wrestlers, two of them former IWGP Heavyweight champions who have nowhere to go but up (Nakamura & Tanahashi) , the 2008 G1 Climax winner (Goto) and the standout rookie of 2006 (Naito). Naito, despite having just over two years experience under his belt, is amazing. He hangs in this match so well with his peers, you'd think he was brought up with them. This match is highlighted by several things, for one, the crowd heat is perfect. Screams for all four men, pops for all the major moments, and overwhelming support for Naito. The match starts with great feeling out sections between Tanahashi and Naito, and picks up pace when Goto and Nakamura get in there. Naito is in over his head against both opponents, but he never says die and gets some great nearfalls (particularly the Goto lariat assisted German Suplex). He even nails a picture perfect Stardust Press (with faster rotation than usual) on Nakamura, getting an unbelievably close nearfall for a two year wrestler against a two time IWGP Heavyweight champion who has almost always been considered the future of the company (hence the nickname "Supernova"). The finish pays a lot of respect to Naito, as he is hit with both Tanahashi's High Fly Flow and Nakamura's Landslide before being put away. Tag wrestling needs to return to this simplicity, there are no over complicated spots, no real dead time, and a focused story. Highest recommendation.

NOAH 9/27 Osaka, AJPW 9/28 Yokohama

Yeah it drew 3300 (claimed). Less than half of the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium's 6700 seat setup for pro wrestling. That'd be what happens when you book such a weak title match and barely any undercard to make up for it; granted the 2/3 falls tag is probably good, but the end result was predictable and it's just going to lead to another KENTaiji/Kanemaru & Suzuki match, the fourth this year, 2nd time that the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles will be on the line. NOAH could have been unpredictable (like All Japan was the day after) and given No Limit (composed of the excellent young wrestlers Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito from New Japan) the Jr. belts, but it was not to be.

Speaking of All Japan, they drew 4500 (claimed) to the 5000 seat Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium. That's a pretty good draw, and the show was loaded with surprises. First off, Naomichi Marufuji conquered the arising star of All Japan's Jr. division, Ryuji Hijikata in a twenty six minute match that I really want to see. Joe Doering joined Voodoo Murders, adding a gaijin influence to the group not seen Giant Bernard and RO'Z, for example. And, in the great shocker, Keiji Mutoh became a 4 crown champion after he defeated Suwama under his Great Muta guise, claiming the Triple Crown. He is currently IWGP Heavyweight Champion as well as Triple Crown champion, with a challenge coming up in Shinsuke Nakamura (who Mutoh defeated earlier in the year to win the IWGP title for the first time in over eight years). Minoru Suzuki has stepped up as the first challenger to the Great Muta, so Keiji is going to have a rough time coming up soon.

hakutomoteru.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phlC9FctQO4

Makabe and Yano selling shoes? Whatever. It's hilarious. Makabe sounds so gruff.

Random review #1

*copied and pasted from the original writing on Strong Style Symphony*

Recently watched Nakanishi/Yoshie from PREMIUM twice, just to really scope it out. Loved it both times, maybe a little more the second time. They work so well together, built completely around the drama of Nakanishi actually being able to toss Yoshie. Even after the fact gets established, it still stays on your mind that it isn't easy for Manabu to do it, so it's easily possible for Yoshie to block the moves and go on the offense. In a way, it's similar to their G1 2005 match, but that's not a bad thing. Crowd gets into the struggle, and the finishing run is fun, just to see Nakanishi toss Yoshie around. High recommendation.

What the fuck is Pro Wrestling NOAH thinking?

Kensuke Sasaki versus Mohammed Yone? GHC title? Main event?

Yeah, I know that Sasaki is popular. I like him. I don't even mind the shallow lariat throwing machine that he has become. Sure, he'll never reach the level that he attained against Kawada in 2000 because that is the obvious best that Kensuke will ever be (and it's pretty much all Kawada, Kensuke just plays the necessary role super well). But Jesus, is this smart? They are literally booking a main event title match that can go one way and one way only. Yone has no chance. Literally, fuck all chance of winning. Do they think this is going to draw? If it does, yeah...it's all Kensuke. But I don't think it will. And I honestly doubt the ability of the match to do well, either. Yone's never been known as someone to put a lot of effort forth, and his offense won't do much to a big genetic tank like Sasaki. So uhh, fuck you Pro Wrestling NOAH.