Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Manabu Nakanishi
Usually these dome shows begin with the low midcarder/juniors having their moment to shine but they have opted for a differing route. Teznan, a rising star, is opening the show with the prospect, Nakanishi. Nakanishi looked strong against Tenzan last month in the big gauntlet match, but didn’t get the job done. This is a proper version of that match, something substantial to give Nakanishi for his first big Dome match. Nakanishi outclasses Tenzan early on with his amateur wrestling skill and power advantage. He is able to get some easy take downs and beats Tenzan in a test of strength. It’s a simple match as both are simple wrestlers, Tenzan especially. Tenzan tries to grind Nakanishi with a face hold and chops, and Nakanishi isn’t that much varied either. There wasn’t much in the way of heat however, but we know how cruel the dome acoustics can be. The match progresses a bit with a middle rope mongolian chop and a moonsault attempt by Tenzan. Nakanishi responds with a few suplexes and strong man spots but I’m just bored by what he offered. It feels very low energy, which isn’t a surprise given the rest of his career. After a few double clothesline spots, Tenzan takes control of the match to win. He hits a diving headbutt and submits Nakanishi with an awful modified boston crab, similar to the one Samoa Joe does in his little powerbomb->crossface sequence. This isn't wonderful. Functionally fine but lacking any dynamism. I’ve come around on Tenzan but his strengths aren't that. It was a solid but dull match. What more can I say? **1/2
Shinjiro Otani vs. El Samurai
Before the match can even begin, things are happening. Suddenly Michinoku Pro’s Kaientai DX unit arrives at the ringside area. For what reason I wonder? Otani doesn’t seem to take it kindly however. Samurai and Otani continue their straight-laced opening stretch nonetheless. Grappling and hard strikes and thrown. Otani takes the edge, tying Samruai up in the ropes before kicking him. He arrogantly plays with Samurai’s mask while in the hold, which Samurai almost uses to escape. The match kind of lingers on a little too long with not much drama to it but these are pros and the wrestling is always good. Otani’s highspots are always great and he works towards his suplexes again but gets caught at the finale hurdle to lose with a reverse suplex. Samurai then taunts the Kaientai group and walks away to leave Otani with the mess as they are entering the ring. Nothing explodes like you’d imagine though. Handshakes are given out and Otani and Kanemoto even seem to join them in some sort of friendly way. This feels like a message of intent to show these guys are important. The match was good but too long in the end, especially for the angle that didn’t happen. ***1/4
Chris Benoit vs. Kevin Sullivan (w/Jacqueline)
Clip form only. 1 minute out of 9. Not sure why but the highlight is Jaqueline accidentally hitting a diving headbutt on Sullivan instead of Benoit for the finish. NR
Junji Hirata & Satoshi Kojima vs. Kazuo Yamazaki & Osamu Kido
The fans start to awaken for the more direct wrestlers on the roster like Yamazaki and Hirta. Yamazaki starts to apply all sorts of submissions and that adds a great dynamic as its been established that he can get a tap out win at any time. Hirta is an underrated work. He is good here, gels with everyone no matter the strength. Kido comes in and does some neat work too. He’s an ageing guy but the crowd dug him. Kojima obviously got the rub in the end too. There wasn’t a lot of substance but it was a fun match. Worth seeing. ***1/4
Shiro Koshinaka vs. Takashi Ishikawa
The eternal struggle between Heisei Ishingun vs Outsiders persists. It’s been a while since Ishikawa has been on New Japan TV, so this is fun. Ishikawa surprises me by hitting a spry plancha to the floor as well. Koshinka comes back in, throws some punches and hits a hip attack on the floor. Ishikawa starks working the leg of Koshinaka and Ishikawa does some cool submissions. Koshinka isn’t a wonderful seller but he really went the mile to sell the pain of Ishikawa’s kicks and holds. Ishikawa is a great heel here too. He even pays a slight nod to Riki Choshu which is just out of order as an outsider. And the fans react accordingly. Koshinaka attempts desperate measures like a piledriver on the concrete but that backfires on him and Ishikawa backdrops and chokeslams him on the hard floor. Koshinaka looks out but is able to avoid being posted and hits a hip attack which drives Ishikawa to the post himself. He then hits another when in the ring and one from the top rope for a close two count. 3 more follow, including one from the top again, and those finally get the job done. A surprisingly good bout. Ishikawa was awesome. ***1/2
J-Crown Title Match: Jushin Thunder Liger (c) vs. The Great Sasuke
This is one of their more low-key matches, as in I didn’t know it existed but the observer as a rating attached to it, so it must be one of those matches forgotten about with time. This seems typical for the match between these two. Liger and Sasuke spend the first half of the match chaining between wrestling holds. And frankly, it’s fine grappling. Sasake more than holds his own but seeing Otani and Liger perfect this format to near perfection, makes this stand out as ordinary. And it felt much longer. Then like a switch, it was spot time. The transition was too sudden, and the back end of the match failed to hook me as well. Some of the spots were awesome, like the failed phoenix splash. But this match done better time and time again. Nothing special whatsoever. Although a top rope brainbuster is never a bad finish to have. **1/2
Tiger King vs. Antonio Inoki
Boy the atmosphere changed. The power of Inoki. This is a big match even without Inoki. It’s the return of Satoru Sayama in a proper New Japan match since his exhibition with Liger. Both are in the end stages of their careers but both still have star power and have legitimate skill that’s apparent clear as day. This was worked like a quasi shoot style of match. Sayama is throwing strikes and Inoki relies on his defensive style of grappling. This is full of awesome little moments, which they make the most of, such as Inoki going into the crab position and Sayama trying to get past the guard by flying over him. Inoki defensives with his legs and Sayama has to regroup. And then the finish was another great little moment where Inoki is able to catch Sayama out with the manji gatame and get the win. Short match but it was a lot of fun. ***1/4
Great Muta vs. Masahiro Chono
Fuck yes, the match we’ve been waiting for. This might just be the most excited I’ve been for a Muto/Chono match, but with the Muta gimmick, there is always the unknown feeling in the air of how it’ll go. Positivity! Muto has been in a bit of a rut lately as himself, especially in regards to Chono, but others as well. Him donning Muta seems to be an attempt to change that momentum. Tie-up begins the match with Chono pushing Muta down into the mat. Knuckle-lock attempts get thwarted with kicks to the stomach, which catch Muta off guard. The antics start when Muta spray paints NWO on Chonos back. Muta really takes control from this point. He hits a frankensteiner on the ramp and then a piledriver through a table! They go back and forth a few times before Muta gets the table from ringside, signalling the match is coming to its conclusion. Mist attempts, low blows, table spots. It’s an American heavy influenced finish which was cool for this era. The big moment of the match comes at the finish where Muta is able to beat Chono with a moonsault after months of failing. Then it happens: Muta and Chono shake hands! What is going on?? Guess we’ll find out on Nitro…..Not a classic but it was a cool match. ***1/2
IWGP Tag Team Title Match: Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami (c) vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Riki Choshu
I don’t think you could get away with Choshu vs Fujinami but them in a tag match works just fine. Choshu is winding down and will retire soon and this is a good road towards that. Plus he is teaming with his #1 protege, Kensuke Sasaki. A throwback match to the 80s, like all Fujinami and Choshu matches are. Sasaki doesn’t exactly shine in these kinds of matches but he’s capable. Choshu relishes these matches, as evident by him pulling off a sick flying headscissors into a hammerlock. Something no one expected. Sasaki comes in throwing some fire body punches and then grapples with Fujinami, which was cool. The match can be repetitive to some as there is a lot of grappling that doesn’t always go anywhere but I think it’s good grappling. The tags make it more interesting and add flow. The match does occasionally throw a fast ball in there, like Kimura hitting his patented flying knees, which look brutal to take, a Sasaki no-sell here and there. There is a great moment where they are changing from big spot to big spot, which leads to the closing stretch where lariat after lariat is hit. Sasaki and Choshu use some great team work to knock out the champs in 1-2 hits and win the belts. The match favours a purests tastes, for sure. I loved it,although a strong mid-match story would’ve made it greater. Choshu wins the titles for the third time, Sasaki his fifth in the semi main event. A strong one too. ***3/4
Different Style Fight: Shinya Hashimoto vs. Naoya Ogawa
Famously put together at the last minute because Ken Shamrock backed out of the match. Income silver medalist to save the day and establish a rivalry that will affect the company for a while. The presentation of New Japan shows are usually low-key but that just makes these matches feel otherworldly. Ogawa is hugh and accomplished in Judo, so he’s a dangerous threat to Hashimoto. Ogawa is new to wrestling but as he proves, he is easily capable of taking Hashimoto to the ground. Hashimoto’s kicks and chops stagger Ogawa but Ogawa keeps coming with his throw attempts. He picks up Hashimoto like he’s nothing and slams him down into the mat with a brutal thud. Awesome! Ogawa’s novice tendencies remain clear when he’s standing over Hashimoto. He doesn’t always look sure of what to do but when he does something, it’s effective. Hashimoto knows exactly what to do with him as well. He backs him up in the corner and is able to score a throw on the Olympian to a big pop and Ogawa has to bail to the floor to regroup. He’s getting it now. Ogawa attempts a knee bar but can’t submit Hashimoto. They jockey for control and Ogawa is able to snag the arm for a double wrist lock. Ogawa is the crowd favourite which is rare for a Hashimoto match but that doesn’t affect the game plan. Hashimoto keeps plugging away with those awesome brain chops and throws Ogawa again! Ogawa quickly gets up and suddenly he hits the STO and then a choke for the surprise win! The crowd is stunned. Choshu is stunned. The commentator is stunned. Ogawa celebrates with great earnesty while Hashimoto is furious in the corner with a bloody nose. In his debut match, Ogawa beats the IWGP Heavyweight champion. What does this mean? Damn. If this is New Japan’s take on a shoot style match, it’s a bloody strong one. It retained enough pro wrestling beats for this crowd while having the raw energy of Ogawa’s shoot mindset to match the exact feeling they were aiming for. Not the crash, bang finish that will get the 5 star ratings but it’s wonderfully effective for the shock win. Great match. Hashimoto was incredible and Ogawa looked good in his debut. ****1/4
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