NJPW Fantastic Story In Tokyo Dome
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match: Ultimo Dragon (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger
Liger bringing out the blue for the big Dome show. Neat look. The match kicked off with some fast mirror counter spots that the crowd was into before Ultimo catches Liger out by going for the legs. Ultimo had some cool llave style holds, as well as a traditional indian deathlock. Ultimo is on top for most of it and does an okay job of showcasing his skill. He hits a crazy dive over the guardrails onto Liger, he has a nice variety of offence. However, he’s a bit sloppy at times, totally misjudging a jump and landing feet first before hitting a headbutt, in a critical moment of the match. Liger put in a good showing as well. The palm strike and koppo kicks always pop me. The match lacked drama though. None of the big moments of the match felt big. Solid Junior match but you expect more. ***
Sting vs. Hiroshi Hase
After his WOTY effort last year, Hase gets rewarded with another big match on the Dome show, this time against US star Sting. Pretty cool, that. The match was okay mostly, good in some parts but they never really seem to click past execution being fine. The crowd popped for Sting not selling the chops which is always a good spot. It just never translated to a good match though. **1/2
IWGP Heavyweight Title / NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Great Muta (c) vs. Masahiro Chono (c)
What a total let down of the series. The first two editions were classic to great matches. But on the grand stage, title v title, it was a bit of a snoozefest. I wasn’t compelled by this at all. Even the big portion of the ramp felt lessened by the lack of drama and oomph. The signature spots were executed fine. I just wasn’t interested in this match. **
IWGP Tag Team Title Match: The Hell Raisers (Hawk Warrior & Power Warrior) (c) vs. The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)
This was a fun of a spot fest with four bulldozers that were put over strongly. Scotty took some nasty bumps, from the doomsday device especially. The crowd loved most of it until the ending which was annoying given it was on the big show of the year. ***
Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Takashi Ishikawa
Another match of the New Japan vs WAR series tonight. The Dragon takes on Ishikawa from WAR. What a rub Ishikawa gets from this. I’m not too knowledgeable about his career but having the semi final match on the Dome show against the legend himself is pretty much the highlight of a long career. Now that’s a big level. And I think he steps up. Maybe I’m just a sucker for 90s Fujinami matches with long, snug contests but I dug this a ton. When Ishikawa slapped on the Dragon Sleeper, the crowd booed big time. He leveled Fujinami with a lariat and several strikes throughout the match. Ishikawa really played up to the invader role well. Fujinami, of course, sold it all superbly and made some great comebacks that had tons of fire behind them. Loved the consecutive enziguri into dragon sleeper finish as well. Who says Fujinami wasn’t good post back injury? ***3/4
Genichiro Tenryu vs. Riki Choshu
After Tenryu dispatched Koshinaka, it was only time before he moved onto a big gun. Up steps Riki Choshu, an old rival from Tenryu’s All Japan days. Both men have had classic battles before but none on a stage as big as the Tokyo Dome. Both are prone to a big spectacle, and a spectacle this was indeed. All the anger and frustration comes out in their faces and demeanour. I think Choshu out did Tenryu in regards to the snugness of his strikes. The stomps to the head were brutal, to the point of Tenryu being split open by the eye. The slaps he’d throw were super hard as well. Tenryu gave as good as he got. The offence was typical of Choshu and Tenryu. They were basic moves that were used perfectly to transmit an epic yet simple story. It’s quite sloppy which is even more on brand for Tenryu but it makes the match all the more raw and authentic in the process. ****
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