NJPW Hyper Battle 1993
Shinya Hashimoto vs. Hiromichi Fuyuki - NJPW Hyper Battle 1993 - Day 11 23/03/1993
This was a fun match between the two burly members of their respective rosters. Fuyuki stalling and pissing off Hashimoto and the crowd was fun. Hashimoto kicked ass in return. ***1/4
NJPW Magnitude X
El Samurai & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Norio Honaga & Ultimo Dragon - NJPW Magnitude X 06/04/1993
The finish with Liger evading Honaga was awesome, and the dive sequence. ***
Genichiro Tenryu vs. Riki Choshu - NJPW Magnitude X 06/04/1993
This wasn’t as good as the Dome match but there were a ton of elements of it that I liked. I always enjoy the struggle and test of strengths that kick off a Choshu match. The crowd heat was tremendous for this and the two bought tons of great moments like the suplex off the top rope. The finish with Choshu hitting non-stop lariats until Tenryu went down was pretty epic as well. ***3/4
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku In Fukuoka Dome
Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Tiger Mask - NJPW Wrestling Dontaku In Fukuoka Dome 03/05/1993
Tiger Mask (III) in the dome. Obviously it's Kanemoto, so I was always going to watch this although I don’t believe it’s highly regarded. Liger vs Kanemoto is an all time feud in Jr Wrestling and you might as well start somewhere. Kanemoto doing Sayama spots was awful. He flubs the arm-wringer spot and the sasuke special. This was much better when he was kicking Liger with his kicks. The submission work was met with silence and not much heat by the Fukuoka crowd. Some of the highspots get careers as well as the surprise win for Tiger Mask. Not a good match, at all. **
I was looking at the results prior to this. Kanemoto only had around 3 matches prior to this as the gimmick, and he lost every match. So him getting no reaction was not a surprise. The booker (Choshu/Liger ??) dropped the ball, there.
Masahiro Chono & Shinya Hashimoto vs. The Hell Raisers (Hawk Warrior & Power Warrior) - NJPW Wrestling Dontaku In Fukuoka Dome 03/05/1993
The Hell Raisers coming to the stage via motorbikes is the coolest thing. They are insanely over and the booking of them shows you why. They are really dominant against even the best of wrestlers. Previously squashing Riki Choshu (former IWGP Heavyweight champ and legend. Booker on the side :P) and Hiroshi Hase with ease. And they looked dominant in this match against Chono and Hashimoto. Although it’s still fairly competitive. Chono and Hash had sound strategy, split the Hell Raisers apart and try to sneak a win. It works for the most part but Hell Raisers overcome it with brute force and get the win. Awesome stuff. ***
Great Muta vs. Hulk Hogan (w/Jimmy Hart) - NJPW Wrestling Dontaku In Fukuoka Dome 03/05/1993
IWGP Heavyweight champ vs WWF Champ is a big deal and probably should’ve led to a better match. Even in 93 where both guys arguably peaked, this could’ve been good. But there was something so cold about this. Muta was busy messing around on the outside. Character work is good, but when it detracts, you’re doing something wrong. He was injured going into this and wouldn't’ fully recover until later in the month so he’s playing it safe. I get it. He wasn’t fun or interesting to watch. He was rather frustrating. Hogan tried, and did a bit of technical work (that didn’t look good) but I think if he played up the poses and his personality more, this could’ve been a better, more entertaining match. The ramp run was awesome though. Even when Muta is shite, he does something cool. **
Genichiro Tenryu & Riki Choshu vs. Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami - NJPW Wrestling Dontaku In Fukuoka Dome 03/05/1993
4 big stars main eventing a Dome show brings a reliably awesome experience. Choshu and Tenryu have been feuding for the past year but both come together to face Inoki and Fujinami. And they play the aggressive heelish team well to compliment the uber face duo of Inoki and Fujinami. Tenryu vs Inoki exchanges were good but the Fujinami/Choshu interactions were the highlight, imo. ****
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