Junji Hirata, Manabu Nakanishi, Osamu Nishimura & Satoshi Kojima vs. Kazuo Yamazaki, Osamu Kido, Takashi Iizuka & Yuji Nagata
A cool collection of midcarders with a few high profile names (at the time) like Hirata and Yamazaki. Nakanishi look funny in this era of his career. He’s shed the singlet but now looks like a lumpy Hiroshi Hase cosplayer with his long hair. The match I saw was a clip version because the new NJPW World site is absolutely shocking. But I didn’t expect much regardless. It’s like previous openers at the dome. Maybe more pro-style than the last but it was a decent in and out match to get these wrestlers on the card. **1/2
Koji Kanemoto vs. Super Liger
Oh yes, the infamous Super Liger gimmick. Jericho isn’t my favourite wrestler but he didn’t deserve this. Not everyone can be a mask wrestler and Jericho really isn’t and was never skillful enough to be that. There is this innate skill that’s needed. Not even his opponent could do it. But regardless, this isn’t an interesting match. Super Liger dominates the early match to a tepid reaction which isn’t out of the ordinary for Junior Heavyweight matches, even with the real Liger. Kanemoto really hit his stride in 1997 but he doesn’t show up here. He sandbags Super Liger on the selling. He doesn’t push the match on his end either. Super Liger just flops, no doubt about it. He’s not convincing at best and he botches at his worst. It wasn't working from the off. But credit to New Japan, they keep Jericho around without the mask to give him a chance. Super Liger wins as this was intended to be a big run, eventually setting up a Jushin Thunder Liger match but obviously…plans change. Not very good. Boring and has a memorable botch that the crowd laughs at. *1/2
Jinsei Shinzaki vs. Michiyoshi Ohara
Another slightly clipped match because thank you, update! Ohara’s black attire makes a cool contrast to Shinzaki’s white aesthetic. Ohara isn’t great and probably is the least memorable of the HI lot, so there isn’t much to work with except a cool uranage here or there. Shinzaki is the only one bringing the excitement which says a lot about the match but the crowd seems into the match a little more than the previous match. And they got a kick out of Shinzaki thwarting HI’s interference attempt. Shinzaki wins with a powerbomb to end the match. **1/4
Yoshihiro Tajiri vs. Shinjiro Otani
I think Tajiri surprised a few people in this match. He is a prolific kicker and he showed that to the New Japan crowd almost immediately. Otani’s selling for the kicks were great too. He really made Tajiri, who can be mistaken for an indie bumpkin, look good. But of course, Otani was going to win this with relative ease. He let Tajiri shine with his strike before taking over with his submission work. The match ends swifty, perhaps too swiftly but it’s probably the best match of the night, so far. Otani wins with a powerbomb and a diving rolling senton to end the match. ***
Tatsutoshi Goto vs. Kendo Nagasaki
Now you could easily confuse these two because they are very identical outside of Goto’s facial hair. Same attire. Same bald hair. Same body shape. It’s uncanny. The match is rather so-so but not as bad as you may expect. There were some okay attempts at wrestling before they went into brawling. The lack of heat was palpable but the match remains watchable for completionists. **1/4
Singles Match (Special Referee: Kotetsu Yamamoto): Masahiro Chono vs. Shoji Nakamaki
This was more of a squash and an angle than a match. Chono confronts Nakamaki on the entrance ramp and they brawl on the floor. Chono batters Nakamaki, cuts him open by throwing his face first into the edge of the ramp before getting him in the ring and beating him with a Kenka Kick. Nakamaki had no chance. Once the match is over, Nakamaki attacks Chono once more and gets some offence in but he then gets launched into the barbed wire block of wood in the corner. Chono deems himself done but Nakamaki continues throwing himself in the barbed wire in a bizarre PR stunt. This is full of politics and madness but it was rather fun in some bizarre way. SQUASH
Singles Match (Special Referee: Kotetsu Yamamoto): Masa Saito vs. Great Kojika
While I enjoyed Saito’s part and Kojika heeling out, this was a rather embarrassing effort. This is the big boss and he’s wrestling in a tux bumbling his way through getting beat up by Saito. 1/2*
Antonio Inoki vs. Willie Williams
We can put this in the “was this needed” file. Inoki showing up is a big occasion but it’s not needed. I didn’t think he looked bad but his choices for matches are suspect. Willie Williams spent the latter decade in RINGS working for Maeda but he didn’t look really dangerous. It felt like a lame attempt to recapture their 1980 bout rather than a clash between two ageing enemies. It only lasts 4 minutes, making it tolerable but also unnecessary. **1/2
J-Crown Title Match: Ultimo Dragon (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger
Jushin Thunder Liger looks wonderful decked out in gold. It’s perfect for the occasion. 7 belts, interpromotional match, Tokyo Dome. It certainly fits. The match however is so-so. I’ve seen it 3 times now and it stood out to me how little there is to gravitate to in this match. There is the odd cool moment where and there. And both are pros and did what they set out to do in a competent fashion but they didn’t hook me emotionally. I didn’t really invest, didn’t really care about the wrestling. It just wasn’t that interesting. ***
IWGP Tag Team Title Match: Ookami Gundan (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Masahiro Chono) (c) vs. Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami
More of a favourite match than a Tokyo Dome classic. It was full of meat and potatoes wrestling that these guys do really well. Fujinami at this stage is fluctuating between having it and being over the hill and Kimura has long since been the latter but they were good throughout the match. Chono and Tenzan did what they do well. They keep things moving, provide good heel character work and allow the faces to shine, which was important in the setting. Good match. ***1/4
Great Muta vs. Power Warrior
An interesting match. This is New Japan trying to make Power Warrior into a money drawing gimmick that Sasaki brings out occasionally. He seemed to get over to me but I don’t think it’s used again in the same way. Nonetheless, the result remains the same: Sasaki pins Muto to kick start his great year and rise within New Japan. The match featured a lot of spots where things happen but they don’t come across as big or impactful as they should. It’s okay as a match but not particularly memorable. ***
IWGP Heavyweight Title Match: Shinya Hashimoto (c) vs. Riki Choshu
I think this encapsulates everything I like about this style. It feels like a war. Not because of what moves they do. This isn’t a war in the same way a Kawada vs Hansen match is, it’s a war, a fight, because of the way they react to each other and things done. The selling of certain things is wonderful. The weight of the match is told through the opening lock up. Every moment is made to feel big because of the careful approach by both wrestlers. Its drama is slowly built up and milked for all its worth. When Hashimoto throws a devastating kick, we are told very clearly how devastating it is, not by how it looked (and it looked as brutal as it always is), but by Choshu’s selling. That aspect of the match is masterfully crafted as was the rest of it. This isn’t a match where you can get by explaining it via its moves. It’s minimalist in that sense. Moves are repeated, and often, but it constantly feels like its progressing and moving forward to an amazing climax which it does. A wonderful match to main event an average Dome show with varying quality. ****1/4
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