It's the last real day of spring break, so naturally I'm sitting on the couch watching wrestling. I'm trying to participate in the Best of the 2000s Japan wrestling project, but I've fallen behind my original schedule of one match a day. This is due in August, so it's time to start binge watching. Today I start 2002. Let's settle in for the long haul.
Satoshi Kojima vs. Genichiro Tenryu - AJPW - Feb 24, 2002
Tenryu has been a top three wrestler in this project for me. I love mean old bastards roughing up younger guys and Tenryu is the pinnacle of that. Kojima plays the unfortunate youngster this time. At about 31 years old, Kojima is hardly a kid, but next to Tenryu he might as well be. Kojima came back at Tenryu with tons of fire. The lariats Kojima hit on Tenryu looked killer, but Tenryu wasn't going to lose that easily. I loved Tenryu beating Kojima into the ground with chops but then falling back into the ropes, grimacing in pain once he saw Kojima wouldn't see it.
Match Rating: ****3/4
Jushin Liger & Wataru Inoue vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi - NOAH - Feb 17, 2002
Liger and Inoue jump Kanemaru and Kikuchi as the bell rings. The four brawl for the next few minutes until things settle down. The crowd roars their disapproval whenever Liger or Inoue interfere. Liger is such a phenomenal dickhead. The NOAH fans want their guys to win so badly that they don't even care when Kanemaru puts his feet on the rope for a pin attempt. The wrestling match breaks down into a straight up fight for a few seconds here and there, really cementing the animosity. Liger flops around like crazy when Kikuchi gets him in an armbar and he makes his desperate attempts to get the ropes so dramatic. Kanemaru even uses one of Liger's finishers on Inoue to seal a victory.
Match Rating: ****1/4 and the best juniors match so far in the set. As if I didn't like this enough, there's a twenty man brawl at the end. I can't resist a big brawl while the timekeeper furiously wails away on the bell.
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama & Yuji Nagata - NOAH - Feb 17, 2002
Another huge tag match from the same night. This one is a "SPECIAL MATCH" if the signs are being honest with me. Misawa and Nagata start it off but it's Akiyama vs. Kobashi the fans are dying to see. Nagata works a more methodical pace than Akiyama, who's going full bore at Kobashi and Misawa. That is until Kobashi and Nagata start smacking and chopping the crap out of each other. Interesting how the ref didn't care at all the Akiyama was in the ring, standing watch over Misawa when Nagata had Kobashi in a leg lock. I guess it doesn't matter if he doesn't attack Kobashi? The closing stretch is good, but today is the odd chance that I can say there was a better tag match on the same card. Akiyama getting the pin on Kobashi seems huge, but the crowd went silent for it.
Match Rating: ****
Masato Tanaka (c) vs. Shinya Hashimoto - ZERO1 - Mar 2, 2002
Tanaka already dropped a lot of his ECW baby fat. He's not as ripped as he is today, but the transition is starting. Tanaka kicks the belt away at the start, which infuriates Hashimoto. Hashimoto is bent on punishing Tanaka with an ass whooping. Tanaka bumps and sells more and more as Hashimoto continues the beat down. Tanaka pounces on Hashimoto for a pin the moment he gets Hashimoto down. He obviously wants nothing to do with this fight. Tanaka gets this look of "I'm sorry, please stop kicking my ass." Hashimoto finally obliges with a sick brainbuster.
Match Rating: ***1/2 but one of the stand out matches for what it is. Plays like a very extended squash.
Yuji Nagata (c) vs. Yoshihiro Takayama - NJPW - May 2, 2002
This must have been a TV broadcast, because there are a couple of Japanese commercials cut in before the match starts. Takayama is legitimately huge. At 198 cm, he towers over Nagata. Nagata starts wearing down Takayama early. Nagata makes every blow Takayama lands seem like it could be the end. I'm a fan of that. Nagata flinghing himself at the ropes when Takayama sets up for a German got a laugh out of me, but it emphasized how dangerous Takayama is. Nagata howls to show his fighting spirit but has to clutch the top rope to even stand at the same time. Nagata and Takayama start trading forearms. That evolves into trading rights. Nagata wins with two high kicks, the second smashing into the side of Takayama's head.
Match Rating: ***3/4
Genichiro Tenryu vs. Satoshi Kojima - AJPW - Jul 17, 2002
I skipped a few matches that I'll have to go back and see just so I could get to the rematch right away. The crowd chants "Kojima" while Tenryu looks as stoic as ever. Tenryu cornered Kojima early on in the first match with strikes and chops. This time Kojima evens the score. Tenryu drives Kojima back into the corner during a test of strength not long after. The crowd knows what's going to happen. Kojima knows what's going to happen. Kojima pushes back with all his might to get out of that. What a tease. Kojima starts targeting Tenryu's knee. Tenryu throws a great jab, probably because he's punching Kojima square in the face.
Kojima keeps going back at Tenryu's knee whenever he gets in trouble. Tenryu actually has to roll out of the ring and take a moment to let the pain subside. Tenryu's favorite spot on the other hand is throwing Kojima into the corner then jabbing and chopping the hell out of him. I love it way more when he does it than when Kobashi does it his style. Holy hell Tenryu just did a suicide dive through the ropes. Kojima returns that with a plancha of his own. Tenryu's selling of his knee is phenomenal. He limps across the ring as he runs from an Irish whip. Kojima won't stop targeting it with stomps, a figure four, and then a sharpshooter.
Kojima mimmicks Tenryu's chops and punches in the corner. Unlike the first match, he has to sell this time around and he isn't hiding his pain. He fixes his knee pad every chance he gets. Tenryu's mannerisms never cease to amaze me. The little things he does get the crowd going, like the face and gesture he makes when Kojima falls over as he tries to stand after a German suplex.
The crowd wants Kojima to win this one so badly. Tenryu tries a brainbuster, which ended the first match, but Kojima slips out and counters with an Ace crusher. Tenryu hits the brainbuster on the second try, but he's too hurt to get the cover quickly. He stumbles over and flops onto Kojima, who kicks out at two. Tenryu sets Kojima up for the spider German like the first match. It lands, but Kojima rolls away from the back elbow drop that follows. Kojima lands an avalanche Ace crusher. Tenryu gets a foot on the rope before the three.
Tenryu chops Kojima before he can hit a lariat. It stuns him for a second, but Kojima comes right back with it a moment later. Both men are down and have to slowly scrape themselves up. They trade hard, hard shots. Especially Tenryu's chops. Another brainbuster. Tenryu immediately brings Kojima back up. A second brainbuster in a row. Kojima kicks out!
Tenryu clenches his fist, sizing Kojima up for a lariat. Kojima blocks it. He shoots Tenryu into the ropes and lariats him on the rebound. Two count. The crowd buys every nearfall and so do I. The camera keeps switching to an overhead angle when both men are down, which is a visual I love. Tenryu boots Kojima's arm when Kojima tries another lariat. More chops, then a fourth brainbuster. And a fifth! Kojima gets up, filled with fighting spirit. He stumbles into the ropes and springs back with a lariat. Tenryu kicks out at two. This is nuts.
Both men trade chops again until a SIXTH brainbuster puts Kojima down. Tenryu has to slowly roll onto him. Kojima kicks out at two. Tenryu's pissed. He chops the hell out of Kojima. No more brainbusters. It's powerbomb time. He plants Kojima back into the mat and folds him in half. Kojima can't kick out of this one.
Match Rating: ***** Superb. Not perfect, but the complaints I have feel more like nitpicks when weighed against the intensity and drama of the match. There's a fighting spirit spot, which I'm not a big fan of by nature, but I think Kojima does it about as good as it can be done. He gives up going after Tenryu's knee, but after a while he clearly wanted to put the old man away. The near falls were about to get excessive at the end but Tenryu picked the right moment to finish the job and he did it with something different to boot. Loved it. Best match of the set so far.
Showing posts with label NOAH. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NOAH. Show all posts
Mar 14, 2014
Feb 3, 2014
Match Review: KENTA vs. Takeshi Morishima - Jan 5, 2014
Word on the street is that KENTA had a workout with the WWE at their performance center. It doesn't seem like much will come of it, other than spreading news that nothing will come of it, but it does give me a reason to review his most recent NOAH title match. Not that I want this to be KENTA: The Blog, but one more won't kill me. That said, let's get to the match.
GHC Heavyweight Title - KENTA (c) vs. Takeshi Morishima
KENTA is the reigning GHC Heavyweight champ coming into this match. He's going on almost a year now after dethroning Morishima in late January 2013. A video package before the match shows some of the battles these two have had and refers to Morishima as a "High Tention Monster." Sic, guys, absolutely sic.
Neither guy is in much of a hurry to start this one. They tie up on the first approach and the much bigger Morishimi easily backs KENTA up. KENTA shoots Morishima into the ropes and a shoulderblock floors the smaller man. KENTA rolls over into the corner, clearly rethinking his strategy right now.
They start a forearm and strike exchange. KENTA gets the worst of it to start, but a string of hard kicks to the chest finally put Morishima on his back. Headscissors are squeezing Morishima until a rope break. KENTA gets a few stomps in before the big guy rolls out. He tries to get back in, KENTA kicks him again while he's in the ropes. Another set of forearms sends Morishima packing.
KENTA whips Morishima into the barricade, but Morishima takes the lead after a shoulder block moments later. Morishima body slams KENTA once they're back in the ring and follows up with a big splash. Love me some big man offense. KENTA rolls out of the ring. People do that a lot more than you realize, until you start breaking matches down. Morishima follows him out there and gives KENTA a suplex before taking it back in the ring.
Morishima bludgeons KENTA with his big paws. He's laying it in for a couple minutes until KENTA tries to fight back with some forearms. Morishima locks in an abdominal stretch. He pulls up KENTA's other leg for added effect, but he only gets a two count on the post-break pin.
KENTA and Morishima battle for a suplex. KENTA finally wins that struggle. Morishima isn't down long and it takes a KENTA leg lariat to put Morishima down for any length. KENTA uses those precious moments to climb the turnbuckle and hit a flying clothesline. Morishima's down again, so a KENTA STF inflicts some more pain. Morishima gets Irish whipped to the ropes. KENTA goes for a body slam. Nothing doing, he's not big enough to lift Morishima. KENTA hits the ropes with a full head of steam and Morishima counters with a butt bump. KENTA's down now, Morishima's up on the ropes, and he shoots KENTA across the ring with a missile drop kick once KENTA got back up.
KENTA looks the worse for wear thus far. Morishima's eating some forearms and kicks, sure, but he looks unstoppable. KENTA can only slow him down momentarily, which he's doing again with a dropkick to the corner. KENTA sprints back to the opposite corner and does another on the now sitting Morishima. The crowd's chanting for KENTA after a knee drop from upstairs. He tries to lift Morishima, but Morishima's still too damn big. KENTA springboards in from the apron; Morishima counters it straight into a slam.
Both are slow to get up, though Morishima is definitely looking better. He waits for KENTA to rise before hitting the ropes and lariating KENTA with his thick right arm. The ref counts the pin, but only gets two. Morishima gets KENTA to his feet, looking for a backdrop driver, and KENTA grabs the top rope for leverage. Morishima yanks him away, tries again, and KENTA counters with a headlock takedown into a failed pin attempt. Morishima rushes at KENTA, who lifts him up on his shoulders. He goes for a Go 2 Sleep, but barely connects, mostly hitting Morishima's arm. It gets a two count, which was probably more than it deserved.
Morishima again bounces of the ropes. This time KENTA uses his moment properly and gets the powerslam on his second attempt. KENTA springs up and starts to wail away with stiff kicks to the head. The third has Morishima on his back. KENTA only gets two. The crowd's not buying these finishes so far, nor am I.
KENTA hoists Morishima up on his shoulders again. He hits a second Go 2 Sleep and this one connects much more cleanly. He makes the cover, the ref counts, and this one is still going on. Only a two count.
KENTA's fired up. He takes Morishima by the hair, pulling him to his feet. Morishima springs into action and finally hits his backdrop driver. Both guys are down. Morishima rolls an arm onto KENTA, good for a two count of his own. Morishima wants another back drop driver. KENTA jerks him down to the mat and hustles into a LeBell lock in the middle of the mat. Morishima's a huge guy and he uses all his strength to haul the both of them towards the ropes, just close enough to get a foot on it.
KENTA hits a running knee to Morishima's back as he tries to stand. He hits the ropes again and Morishima flails wildly with a lariat meant for a much taller man. KENTA hits the other side, Morishima again misses badly on a lariat. KENTA hits the ropes a third time without breaking his momentum. He leaps for a busaiku knee and Morishima crushes him in midair with a third lariat attempt. Morishima smashes him with another lariat. KENTA gets his shoulder up just in time on the pin.
Morishima tries to kick KENTA to the side but it's blocked. KENTA tees off on Morishima with a dozen hard right-handed slaps. KENTA loads up too much on the last one, letting Morishima block it. Morishima clubs KENTA's neck with another lariat, though both are standing. Morishima brainbuster's KENTA and goes for the pin. 1-2-nope, only 2. The crowd really heated up and so have I. I bought into that as the end, but we're getting bonus action now.
Morishima hits the ropes one more and lands the hardest lariat yet. KENTA's neck is going to feel like hell. It's still not enough, KENTA gets a shoulder up once more. Morishima isn't going to let the momentum change. He's got KENTA by the waist the instant he's up. BIG backdrop driver. This this one is OVER. It took 20 minutes and a hell of a lot of offense, but Morishima finished him off.
Match rating: ***. It's an entertaining but not great match. A lot of the near falls were dead until the very end. Oddly, the last one also came across as overkill because Morishima just about murdered KENTA with that lariat. Luckily it only took an additional backdrop driver all of four seconds later to end it, so the kept the match from dragging on. KENTA's offense is credible enough that it looks like it would hurt Morishima, but Morishima did a fine job at only bumping on the right moments, rather then bouncing around in there for a considerably smaller man. I'm a sucker for Big Man vs. Little Man, especially when the big guy is too much to overcome. Give this one a watch.
GHC Heavyweight Title - KENTA (c) vs. Takeshi Morishima
KENTA is the reigning GHC Heavyweight champ coming into this match. He's going on almost a year now after dethroning Morishima in late January 2013. A video package before the match shows some of the battles these two have had and refers to Morishima as a "High Tention Monster." Sic, guys, absolutely sic.
Neither guy is in much of a hurry to start this one. They tie up on the first approach and the much bigger Morishimi easily backs KENTA up. KENTA shoots Morishima into the ropes and a shoulderblock floors the smaller man. KENTA rolls over into the corner, clearly rethinking his strategy right now.
They start a forearm and strike exchange. KENTA gets the worst of it to start, but a string of hard kicks to the chest finally put Morishima on his back. Headscissors are squeezing Morishima until a rope break. KENTA gets a few stomps in before the big guy rolls out. He tries to get back in, KENTA kicks him again while he's in the ropes. Another set of forearms sends Morishima packing.
KENTA whips Morishima into the barricade, but Morishima takes the lead after a shoulder block moments later. Morishima body slams KENTA once they're back in the ring and follows up with a big splash. Love me some big man offense. KENTA rolls out of the ring. People do that a lot more than you realize, until you start breaking matches down. Morishima follows him out there and gives KENTA a suplex before taking it back in the ring.
Morishima bludgeons KENTA with his big paws. He's laying it in for a couple minutes until KENTA tries to fight back with some forearms. Morishima locks in an abdominal stretch. He pulls up KENTA's other leg for added effect, but he only gets a two count on the post-break pin.
KENTA and Morishima battle for a suplex. KENTA finally wins that struggle. Morishima isn't down long and it takes a KENTA leg lariat to put Morishima down for any length. KENTA uses those precious moments to climb the turnbuckle and hit a flying clothesline. Morishima's down again, so a KENTA STF inflicts some more pain. Morishima gets Irish whipped to the ropes. KENTA goes for a body slam. Nothing doing, he's not big enough to lift Morishima. KENTA hits the ropes with a full head of steam and Morishima counters with a butt bump. KENTA's down now, Morishima's up on the ropes, and he shoots KENTA across the ring with a missile drop kick once KENTA got back up.
KENTA looks the worse for wear thus far. Morishima's eating some forearms and kicks, sure, but he looks unstoppable. KENTA can only slow him down momentarily, which he's doing again with a dropkick to the corner. KENTA sprints back to the opposite corner and does another on the now sitting Morishima. The crowd's chanting for KENTA after a knee drop from upstairs. He tries to lift Morishima, but Morishima's still too damn big. KENTA springboards in from the apron; Morishima counters it straight into a slam.
Both are slow to get up, though Morishima is definitely looking better. He waits for KENTA to rise before hitting the ropes and lariating KENTA with his thick right arm. The ref counts the pin, but only gets two. Morishima gets KENTA to his feet, looking for a backdrop driver, and KENTA grabs the top rope for leverage. Morishima yanks him away, tries again, and KENTA counters with a headlock takedown into a failed pin attempt. Morishima rushes at KENTA, who lifts him up on his shoulders. He goes for a Go 2 Sleep, but barely connects, mostly hitting Morishima's arm. It gets a two count, which was probably more than it deserved.
Morishima again bounces of the ropes. This time KENTA uses his moment properly and gets the powerslam on his second attempt. KENTA springs up and starts to wail away with stiff kicks to the head. The third has Morishima on his back. KENTA only gets two. The crowd's not buying these finishes so far, nor am I.
KENTA hoists Morishima up on his shoulders again. He hits a second Go 2 Sleep and this one connects much more cleanly. He makes the cover, the ref counts, and this one is still going on. Only a two count.
KENTA's fired up. He takes Morishima by the hair, pulling him to his feet. Morishima springs into action and finally hits his backdrop driver. Both guys are down. Morishima rolls an arm onto KENTA, good for a two count of his own. Morishima wants another back drop driver. KENTA jerks him down to the mat and hustles into a LeBell lock in the middle of the mat. Morishima's a huge guy and he uses all his strength to haul the both of them towards the ropes, just close enough to get a foot on it.
KENTA hits a running knee to Morishima's back as he tries to stand. He hits the ropes again and Morishima flails wildly with a lariat meant for a much taller man. KENTA hits the other side, Morishima again misses badly on a lariat. KENTA hits the ropes a third time without breaking his momentum. He leaps for a busaiku knee and Morishima crushes him in midair with a third lariat attempt. Morishima smashes him with another lariat. KENTA gets his shoulder up just in time on the pin.
Morishima tries to kick KENTA to the side but it's blocked. KENTA tees off on Morishima with a dozen hard right-handed slaps. KENTA loads up too much on the last one, letting Morishima block it. Morishima clubs KENTA's neck with another lariat, though both are standing. Morishima brainbuster's KENTA and goes for the pin. 1-2-nope, only 2. The crowd really heated up and so have I. I bought into that as the end, but we're getting bonus action now.
Morishima hits the ropes one more and lands the hardest lariat yet. KENTA's neck is going to feel like hell. It's still not enough, KENTA gets a shoulder up once more. Morishima isn't going to let the momentum change. He's got KENTA by the waist the instant he's up. BIG backdrop driver. This this one is OVER. It took 20 minutes and a hell of a lot of offense, but Morishima finished him off.
Match rating: ***. It's an entertaining but not great match. A lot of the near falls were dead until the very end. Oddly, the last one also came across as overkill because Morishima just about murdered KENTA with that lariat. Luckily it only took an additional backdrop driver all of four seconds later to end it, so the kept the match from dragging on. KENTA's offense is credible enough that it looks like it would hurt Morishima, but Morishima did a fine job at only bumping on the right moments, rather then bouncing around in there for a considerably smaller man. I'm a sucker for Big Man vs. Little Man, especially when the big guy is too much to overcome. Give this one a watch.
Jan 27, 2014
Match Review: Yuji Nagata & Ryusuki Taguchi vs. Jun Akiyama & KENTA - July 24, 2010
I've heard multiple references over the past year to KENTA having heat with New Japan, but could never find out why that was so. Google doesn't know the difference between "KENTA" and "Kenta (Kobashi)," so that made searching a futile endeavor. Today was the day that I got my answer. This may not be the only time KENTA has done something to piss people off, but it is the crux of the matter. I have no real opinion of him one way or the other. I generally like his matches but don't go out of my way to see them, absent special circumstances. So here we go:
Nagata's starting off against Akiyama. I've never been a big Nagata fan either, but this is from a few years past and against some quality opponents. Nagata and Akiyama are trading wrist locks and waist locks to start, drop down to the mat, and separate. They lock up again but Akiyama forearms Nagata. The two start to trade forearms back and forth. That evolves into trading boots to the face, then jumping knees.
KENTA and Taguchi tag in. KENTA slaps Taguchi hard and holy shit is he stiffing him. KENTA is drilling Taguchi with forearms and slaps. Taguchi returns fire but is obviously still working while KENTA takes it to another level. KENTA snaps a hard low kick in too before they start to grapple. KENTA leans Taguchi up against the corners and tries to slap him again, but Taguchi ducks under it and escapes.
Taguchi brings KENTA into his corner and Nagata tags in. Taguchi throws in one more hard slap for good measure. Nagata starts with a hard kick to KENTA's chest. KENTA slaps him a few times and tries to stiff Nagata, but the old pro is having none of it. He headbutts KENTA and wrestles him into the ropes. If KENTA is going to be stiff then Nagata is going to teach him a lesson. Akiyama is standing on his side awkwardly. KENTA and Nagata stare each other down and exchange words. KENTA is bleeding above the eye, probably from Nagata's headbutt. Akiyama has to step in the ring, but is is no big hurry to rush to KENTA's aid.
Taguchi tags back in and the two shoulder KENTA down after a double Irish whip. I have to wonder if KENTA learned his lesson for the match. Akiyama tags in and dumps Taguchi outside. They start brawling down the aisle and around the ring.
We get Nagata against KENTA again. KENTA and Nagata are wrestling once more and the ref separates them. We're back to Nagata vs. Akiyama for a bit, then Taguchi's in. Taguchi tries to stand tall with Akiyama, but the much bigger man eats his chops and forearms without flinching. One forearm sends Taguchi reeling.
We get Taguchi vs. KENTA for another major confrontation. KENTA is stiffing him about as bad as before. Taguchi, to his credit, looks like he's trying to be professional. KENTA's cut is nasty. It swipes a sharp path across his brow, above his right eye. It's a cut that a doctor would be checking on in boxing or MMA, but hopefully there won't be any more of that tonight.
KENTA tries a go to sleep but Taguchi lands on his feet. Taguchi ducks under a clothesline from KENTA, has both of his arms, and hits a straight jacket German suplex for a two count. Nagata's back in and KENTA strikes at him hard again. Nagata takes the hits and stands there. He's not going to let this little kid show him up. Akiyama and Nagata will be in the ring together a moment later. Their forearm exchanges are much less brutal. Akiyama hits an exploder, but it's not enough to end the match. A second exploder can't even keep Nagata down, but the crowd pops big for a standing guillotine. Taguchi has to dropkick Akiyama to make the save and Nagata pounces, slapping on a trademark armlock until KENTA makes the save.
KENTA really wants to go at Nagata, slapping him hard a bunch of times. Nagata lays him out with a kick to the chest. The wrestlers are cycling in and out at a rapid pace now. Taguchi's fisherman suplex is only good for two on Akiyama. The four continue to come in and out. An Akiyama exploder on Taguchi gets a near fall thanks to a Nagata save. Akiyama has Taguchi on his feet again and hits a wrist-clutch exploder for the pin while KENTA distracts Nagata outside. The two are sizing each other up outside even after the match. KENTA is pointing to the cut on his head and sticking his finger in Nagata's face. A group of people have to get between them before it gets worse.
Match rating: ***3/4. A very solid match. Well-paced and well-executed, but the real story here was KENTA starting something and Nagata really making him pay for it. It's hard to factor that into a rating. On the one hand, it adds a lot of emotion (real emotion, at that). On the other, it's uncomfortable to watch someone act like how KENTA did. I'll put my qualms aside though and give this one some snowflakes.
Nagata's starting off against Akiyama. I've never been a big Nagata fan either, but this is from a few years past and against some quality opponents. Nagata and Akiyama are trading wrist locks and waist locks to start, drop down to the mat, and separate. They lock up again but Akiyama forearms Nagata. The two start to trade forearms back and forth. That evolves into trading boots to the face, then jumping knees.
KENTA and Taguchi tag in. KENTA slaps Taguchi hard and holy shit is he stiffing him. KENTA is drilling Taguchi with forearms and slaps. Taguchi returns fire but is obviously still working while KENTA takes it to another level. KENTA snaps a hard low kick in too before they start to grapple. KENTA leans Taguchi up against the corners and tries to slap him again, but Taguchi ducks under it and escapes.
Taguchi brings KENTA into his corner and Nagata tags in. Taguchi throws in one more hard slap for good measure. Nagata starts with a hard kick to KENTA's chest. KENTA slaps him a few times and tries to stiff Nagata, but the old pro is having none of it. He headbutts KENTA and wrestles him into the ropes. If KENTA is going to be stiff then Nagata is going to teach him a lesson. Akiyama is standing on his side awkwardly. KENTA and Nagata stare each other down and exchange words. KENTA is bleeding above the eye, probably from Nagata's headbutt. Akiyama has to step in the ring, but is is no big hurry to rush to KENTA's aid.
Taguchi tags back in and the two shoulder KENTA down after a double Irish whip. I have to wonder if KENTA learned his lesson for the match. Akiyama tags in and dumps Taguchi outside. They start brawling down the aisle and around the ring.
We get Nagata against KENTA again. KENTA and Nagata are wrestling once more and the ref separates them. We're back to Nagata vs. Akiyama for a bit, then Taguchi's in. Taguchi tries to stand tall with Akiyama, but the much bigger man eats his chops and forearms without flinching. One forearm sends Taguchi reeling.
We get Taguchi vs. KENTA for another major confrontation. KENTA is stiffing him about as bad as before. Taguchi, to his credit, looks like he's trying to be professional. KENTA's cut is nasty. It swipes a sharp path across his brow, above his right eye. It's a cut that a doctor would be checking on in boxing or MMA, but hopefully there won't be any more of that tonight.
KENTA tries a go to sleep but Taguchi lands on his feet. Taguchi ducks under a clothesline from KENTA, has both of his arms, and hits a straight jacket German suplex for a two count. Nagata's back in and KENTA strikes at him hard again. Nagata takes the hits and stands there. He's not going to let this little kid show him up. Akiyama and Nagata will be in the ring together a moment later. Their forearm exchanges are much less brutal. Akiyama hits an exploder, but it's not enough to end the match. A second exploder can't even keep Nagata down, but the crowd pops big for a standing guillotine. Taguchi has to dropkick Akiyama to make the save and Nagata pounces, slapping on a trademark armlock until KENTA makes the save.
KENTA really wants to go at Nagata, slapping him hard a bunch of times. Nagata lays him out with a kick to the chest. The wrestlers are cycling in and out at a rapid pace now. Taguchi's fisherman suplex is only good for two on Akiyama. The four continue to come in and out. An Akiyama exploder on Taguchi gets a near fall thanks to a Nagata save. Akiyama has Taguchi on his feet again and hits a wrist-clutch exploder for the pin while KENTA distracts Nagata outside. The two are sizing each other up outside even after the match. KENTA is pointing to the cut on his head and sticking his finger in Nagata's face. A group of people have to get between them before it gets worse.
Match rating: ***3/4. A very solid match. Well-paced and well-executed, but the real story here was KENTA starting something and Nagata really making him pay for it. It's hard to factor that into a rating. On the one hand, it adds a lot of emotion (real emotion, at that). On the other, it's uncomfortable to watch someone act like how KENTA did. I'll put my qualms aside though and give this one some snowflakes.
Jan 19, 2014
Match review: KENTA vs. Yoshihiro Takayama - June 7, 2004
Takayama is huge. He looks twice the size of KENTA. Not only that, but he's rocking a glorious golden mane. Takayama throws his hand out for a nonchalant handshake but KENTA kicks it away. The two exchange kicks and hard slaps to open the match. It's clear very early that Takayama is going to dominate if KENTA tries to trade.
Takayama and KENTA trade until about two minutes in when Takayama floors KENTA with a huge knee. He does it again once KENTA gets back to his feet. The ref is counting him out and so far this resembles PANCRASE more than pro wrestling. KENTA starts to sit up when Takayama rushes at him and caves his chest in with a hard knee. Dick move. Takayama will press slam the barely conscious KENTA to the outside and continue to push the little guy around.
Takayama's kicks sound brutal. Those tree trunk legs looks like they're going to kill KENTA. KENTA will rise to his feet and start a fiery comeback, slapping away at Takayama, but one big fist sends him packing. KENTA blocks a Takayama charge with two boots to the face and gets another comeback, springing off the ropes and using his speed advantage on the big guy. He sends a flurry of kicks at Takayama, first to the chest then to the body, and the crwd pops when Takayama goes down.
KENTA's taken control of the match as this point, beating Takayam with the sheer volume of strikes. But KENTA goes down any time Takayama touches him.
KENTA continues to wail away on Takayama with vicious strikes. He knocks him down and go for the pin, but Takayama is out at two. KENTA transitions to an armbar then a choke, but Takayama rises and tries to powerbomb him, but KENTA is too quick and slips out, landing on his feet. Takayama blasts him with a rising knee for his effort.
Takayama is toying with KENTA now. A huge rising knee makes KENTA go flying. The giant bounces off the ropes and hits another rising knee. KENTA is out and a quick pin gets Takayama a win. After the match, KENTA struggles to get to his feet and Takayama gives him a hug, helping him gain his footing and then raises the loser's hand.
Really good big vs. little man match. KENTA's moments of offense were energetic and believable given how hard he was hitting Takayama. He bumped hard for the big guy too and his selling looked excellent. Takayama's offense looked great.
Match rating: ***1/2. It's a tight match, another 10 minute affair that tells its story quickly and makes it clear how things are going to work out. KENTA isn't big enough to stand up to Takayama, but he tried damn hard to do it. Worth a watch.
Takayama and KENTA trade until about two minutes in when Takayama floors KENTA with a huge knee. He does it again once KENTA gets back to his feet. The ref is counting him out and so far this resembles PANCRASE more than pro wrestling. KENTA starts to sit up when Takayama rushes at him and caves his chest in with a hard knee. Dick move. Takayama will press slam the barely conscious KENTA to the outside and continue to push the little guy around.
Takayama's kicks sound brutal. Those tree trunk legs looks like they're going to kill KENTA. KENTA will rise to his feet and start a fiery comeback, slapping away at Takayama, but one big fist sends him packing. KENTA blocks a Takayama charge with two boots to the face and gets another comeback, springing off the ropes and using his speed advantage on the big guy. He sends a flurry of kicks at Takayama, first to the chest then to the body, and the crwd pops when Takayama goes down.
KENTA's taken control of the match as this point, beating Takayam with the sheer volume of strikes. But KENTA goes down any time Takayama touches him.
KENTA continues to wail away on Takayama with vicious strikes. He knocks him down and go for the pin, but Takayama is out at two. KENTA transitions to an armbar then a choke, but Takayama rises and tries to powerbomb him, but KENTA is too quick and slips out, landing on his feet. Takayama blasts him with a rising knee for his effort.
Takayama is toying with KENTA now. A huge rising knee makes KENTA go flying. The giant bounces off the ropes and hits another rising knee. KENTA is out and a quick pin gets Takayama a win. After the match, KENTA struggles to get to his feet and Takayama gives him a hug, helping him gain his footing and then raises the loser's hand.
Really good big vs. little man match. KENTA's moments of offense were energetic and believable given how hard he was hitting Takayama. He bumped hard for the big guy too and his selling looked excellent. Takayama's offense looked great.
Match rating: ***1/2. It's a tight match, another 10 minute affair that tells its story quickly and makes it clear how things are going to work out. KENTA isn't big enough to stand up to Takayama, but he tried damn hard to do it. Worth a watch.
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