Top 20 NJPW Matches of all time

[Guest BionicRedneck]

I'm sure this had been done a 100 times before but im bored

 

I haven't seen much NJPW older than 1989 so bear that in mind. Here goes:

 

1.Great Sasuke Vs Wild Pegasus-Super J Cup 94

 

2.Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Ohtani - J-Crown Tournament

 

3.Pegasus Kid vs. El Samurai - TOSJ 93

 

4.Jushin Liger vs. Noaki Sano-1/31/90

 

5.Keiji Mutoh vs. Masa Chono - G-1 Climax 91

 

6.Great Sasuke/Black Tiger vs. Wild Pegasus/Shinjiro Ohtani -Jr. Tag League 94

 

7.Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Liger - Super J Cup '94

 

8.Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai - TOSJ 92

 

9.El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto - TOSJ 97

 

10.Jushin Liger vs. Noaki Sano 8/13/89

 

11.Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani 2/9/97

 

12.Hiroshi Hase/Kensuke Sasaki vs. Steiners Brothers - Starcade 91

 

13.Pegasus Kid vs. Black Tiger - TOSJ 95

 

14.Big Van Vader vs. Stan Hansen - 2/10/90

 

15.Takashi Iizuka/Yuji Nagata vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Masanobu Fuchi 12/14/00

 

16.Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani 3/17/96

 

17.Keiji Mutoh/Masa Chono vs. Hiroshi Hase/Kensuke Sasaki 11/1/90

 

18.Jushin Liger vs. Owen Hart - TOSJ 91

 

19.Hiroshi Hase vs. Great Muta 12/14/92

 

20.Great Sasuke vs. El Samurai - Super J Cup 94

 

I'm sure everyone will tear this to pieces, but, thats the fun part...fire away

[Guest Vyce]

No Giant Singh matches? Tsk, tsk.

[Guest wolverine]

The only one I take issue with is #9. Now, I haven't seen all of those matches, but of the ones I have seen, that match sticks out like a sore thumb (I credit that to actually watching it again).

[Guest BionicRedneck]

"The only one I take issue with is #9. Now, I haven't seen all of those matches, but of the ones I have seen, that match sticks out like a sore thumb (I credit that to actually watching it again)."

 

I think that this is a superb match, although i do understand some peoples arguments against it.

 

What would your top 20 be?

[Guest RickyChosyu]

1.Great Sasuke Vs Wild Pegasus-Super J Cup 94

 

2.Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Ohtani - J-Crown Tournament

 

I liked Ultimo/Ohtani from the J-Crown more, but I'm still undecided on whether or not that's due to my Ohtani fandom or not, so bias may have something to do with it.

 

7.Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Liger - Super J Cup '94

 

8.Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai - TOSJ 92

 

Again, I prefer these two flipped around. Liger/Samurai is just so different from any other Junior match I've ever seen. Sammy was almost Memphis-like in his heel work and they built up to Liger's come-back so well that when Liger finally went on the offensive he mauled the hell out of him and had the crowd in the palm of his hand. Liger/Sasuke was an excellent match, but did very little set itself appart from many, many other Sasuke matches I've seen, aside from the ass-kicking he recieved being more extreme than usual.

 

9.El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto - TOSJ 97

 

I haven't seen this in full, but there are many on this board who believe it to be hugely over-rated. I'll leave that arguement to them, though, since I'm largely undecided.

 

20.Great Sasuke vs. El Samurai - Super J Cup 94

 

I may be in the minority here, but I don't see why this is on a top twenty list, as there are some heavyweight matches that I have enjoyed more than this, let alone the number of Junior matches that I like more. To each his own, though. Ohtani/Samurai from 1/29/96, Liger/Ultimo from the '95 J-Cup, and Kanemoto/Liger from 1/4/96 all came off as more enjoyable to me than Sasuke/Samurai. But, to each his own, I guess.

[Guest wolverine]

"Liger/Ultimo from the '95 J-Cup"

 

We can't count this as New Japan, since it took place in a WAR ring.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

"20.Great Sasuke vs. El Samurai - Super J Cup 94

 

I may be in the minority here, but I don't see why this is on a top twenty list, as there are some heavyweight matches that I have enjoyed more than this, let alone the number of Junior matches that I like more. To each his own, though. Ohtani/Samurai from 1/29/96, Liger/Ultimo from the '95 J-Cup, and Kanemoto/Liger from 1/4/96 all came off as more enjoyable to me than Sasuke/Samurai. But, to each his own, I guess."

 

I just think this is a great match. Its one of the most underated matchs IMO+ Of the those matches you named i have only seen Liger/Ultimo and as Wolverine rightly points out , that match took place in WAR.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

"20.Great Sasuke vs. El Samurai - Super J Cup 94

 

I may be in the minority here, but I don't see why this is on a top twenty list, as there are some heavyweight matches that I have enjoyed more than this, let alone the number of Junior matches that I like more. To each his own, though. Ohtani/Samurai from 1/29/96, Liger/Ultimo from the '95 J-Cup, and Kanemoto/Liger from 1/4/96 all came off as more enjoyable to me than Sasuke/Samurai. But, to each his own, I guess."

 

I just think this is a great match. Its one of the most underated matchs IMO+ Of the those matches you named i have only seen Liger/Ultimo and as Wolverine rightly points out , that match took place in WAR.

Yeah, for some reason I forgot that WAR hosted in '95. So that match is disqualified.

 

Anyway, I did enjoy that match, for sure, but I just didn't like the way those two worked together. I can understand the psychology of Samurai working Sasuke's leg to weaken his flying ability, but when Sasuke starts doing his usual leg lariat's and cartwheel-related high spots after Sammy has just made a big point of working his leg, I get annoyed. I usually make a bigger deal out of stuff like that than others, though, so maybe it's just me.

 

At the same time, there were just too many other Jr's matches that I liked more, and some heavyweight ones that you left off, too.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

"I usually make a bigger deal out of stuff like that than others, though, so maybe it's just me."

 

Maybe. Its very rare that the psychology is spot on. Sometimes Puro fans choose to forget about it. For, instance i saw a match (can't remember off the top of my head) were Kobashi worked on Misawa arm for about 10 mins and Misawa went over with the Elbow.

 

"At the same time, there were just too many other Jr's matches that I liked more, and some heavyweight ones that you left off, too."

 

Your probably right, but i just might not have seen em'

[Guest Black Tiger]

Here is my top twenty list.

 

20. El Samauri vs Shinjiro Ohtani (BOSJ 1997)

 

19. TAKA Michinoku vs Super Delfin (Sky Diving J)

 

18. Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Chris Benoit (1/4/00)

 

17. Lyger/Fujiwara vs Inoki/Sayama (5/3/97)

 

16. Kanemoto/Ohtani/KDX vs Samarui/Honaga/M Pro guys (5/3/97)

 

15. Nagata/Iizuka vs Kawada/Fuchi (2nd Judgement)

 

14. El Samauri vs Ultimo Dragon (11/22/92)

 

13. Ohtani vs Sakuraba (Sky Diving J)

 

12. Jyushin Lyger vs Hayabusa (J Cup)

 

11. Ohtani vs Tajiri (1/4/97)

 

10. Kawada vs Sasaki (Oct 2000 DO JUDGE)

 

09. Minoru Tanaka/Kanemoto vs Lyger/Shinya Makabe (1st SXW Show)

 

08. Lyger vs Sasuke (Battle Formation 1997)

 

07. Hashimoto/Iizuka vs Ogawa/Murakami (1/4/00)

 

06. Koji Kanemoto vs Jyushin Lyger (1/4/96)

 

05. Masahiro Chono vs Rick Rude (1992 G-1 Climax)

 

04. Ohtani vs Ultimo Dragon (J* Crown)

 

03. El Samauri vs Chris Benoit (TOSJ 1993)

 

02. The Steiner Bros vs Hase/Sasaki (3/21/91)

 

01. Great Sasuke vs Jyushin Lyger (J-Cup)

15.

[Guest MrDanger]

I'm sure this had been done a 100 times before but im bored

 

I haven't seen much NJPW older than 1989 so bear that in mind. Here goes:

 

1.Great Sasuke Vs Wild Pegasus-Super J Cup 94

 

2.Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Ohtani - J-Crown Tournament

 

3.Pegasus Kid vs. El Samurai - TOSJ 93

 

4.Jushin Liger vs. Noaki Sano-1/31/90

 

5.Keiji Mutoh vs. Masa Chono - G-1 Climax 91

 

6.Great Sasuke/Black Tiger vs. Wild Pegasus/Shinjiro Ohtani -Jr. Tag League 94

 

7.Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Liger - Super J Cup '94

 

8.Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai - TOSJ 92

 

9.El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto - TOSJ 97

 

10.Jushin Liger vs. Noaki Sano 8/13/89

 

11.Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani 2/9/97

 

12.Hiroshi Hase/Kensuke Sasaki vs. Steiners Brothers - Starcade 91

 

13.Pegasus Kid vs. Black Tiger - TOSJ 95

 

14.Big Van Vader vs. Stan Hansen - 2/10/90

 

15.Takashi Iizuka/Yuji Nagata vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Masanobu Fuchi 12/14/00

 

16.Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani 3/17/96

 

17.Keiji Mutoh/Masa Chono vs. Hiroshi Hase/Kensuke Sasaki 11/1/90

 

18.Jushin Liger vs. Owen Hart - TOSJ 91

 

19.Hiroshi Hase vs. Great Muta 12/14/92

 

20.Great Sasuke vs. El Samurai - Super J Cup 94

 

I'm sure everyone will tear this to pieces, but, thats the fun part...fire away

I'd probably agree with most of those matches, although not necessarily in that order.

 

I'd personally have Akira Maeda vs Tatsumi Fujinami 06/12/86 in as no. 1 with Tenryu/Hash 98 G-1 and Kawada/Sasaki Oct 00 coming in for Liger/Ultimo and Vader/Hansen.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Personally, I found the Chosyu/Hashimoto match from the '96 G1 Climax to be everything that Hash/Tenryu from '98 and Kawada/Sasaki from '00 were, and more. It's actually one of the best NJPW heavyweight matches I've ever seen. I need to get more Hashimoto.

[Guest wolverine]

"I need to get more Hashimoto."

 

Yes. At least this guy isn't afraid to take or dish out any punishment in the ring, unlike the overrated Mr. Mutoh.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Thanks, BlackTiger. Some interesting choices!

 

*18. Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Chris Benoit (1/4/00)*

 

I'd love to see this match

 

*12. Jyushin Lyger vs Hayabusa (J Cup)*

 

Holy shit! i guess i'll have to watch this match again, i remembered it being pretty disapointing

 

*05. Masahiro Chono vs Rick Rude (1992 G-1 Climax)*

 

mmmm.I forgot about this one

 

No Pegasus Vs Sasuke?

 

 

"I'd personally have Akira Maeda vs Tatsumi Fujinami 06/12/86 in as no. 1"

 

I haven't seen this match so thats probably why its not on there

[Guest Jubuki]

I haven't seen much NJPW older than 1989 so bear that in mind. Here goes:

 

Then why call it 'all time' when your viewing area is 13 years out of a promotion that's been around for 30? Just say 'since 89' and leave it at that.

 

Now on to the stuff that's undeserving:

 

6. Benoit vs. Samurai 6/15/93 -- Samurai was a crap worker at this point; he had managed a real suckfest in a good bit of the rest of the tournament, but somehow he got pushed to the finals. Luckily, Benoit was able to carry the everloving shit out of him, which was enough for me to like it, but this is so horribly lopsided in terms of work, it isn't even funny. And Benoit hadn't even hit his peak yet - his better work came from 94-96. I'd have a hard time picking this for a Top 20 Benoit list, let alone NJ's top 20. Barely a **** match.

 

9. Samurai vs. Kanemoto 6/5/97 -- Ah, Day One of the Two Most Overrated Days of Wrestling Ever (followed by an equally stupid Triple Crown match). By this time, Samurai was a much better worker, but Kanemoto wasn't someone he could reel in. Benoit knew how to do it...Dragon probably could have given a chance or two...but Sammy and Liger developed into the same kind of worker, and neither one was going to work with '97 Koji well. Lots of aimless matwork, Hotta-ish punting, the ruination of the Big Spot of the Match...eh. Not a Top 40 or 50 for the year of '97; definitely doesn't make a top 20 for the company, nor does it go ahead of the Liger/Sano and Liger/Ohtani matches you have entirely too far below it.

 

14. Vader vs. Hansen 2/10/90 -- Two guys beating the shit out of each other with Hansen not realizing he needed to carry Vader in this. It's like Tenryu/Hash from the 98 G1, and it's easily as overhyped. No place being here. And the AJ vs. NJ tag below it doesn't belong ahead of at least 3 of the matches below it.

 

Other than that, I'm not going to bother griping about placement in *this* place - seeing the matches at all is enough of a surprise, though it would be a bigger one to see Choshu/Hashimoto 8/1/96 or Mutoh/Hashimoto 8/15/95 praised ahead of Tenryu/Hash or Hansen/Vader.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

"Then why call it 'all time' when your viewing area is 13 years out of a promotion that's been around for 30? Just say 'since 89' and leave it at that"

 

Er...yeah thats why at the top underneath "Top 20 NJPW Matches of all time" it has "What Are Yours?".Which is an invitation for somebody who has seen more, to tell me what they think are the top 20. Sorry, I should have put "My top 20 NJPW Matches since 1989 but you post your top 20 matches of all time". But, that wouldn't have fit. So i explained the situation underneath.

 

Just out of curiosity i'd love to know how you rated these matches:

*6. Benoit vs. Samurai 6/15/93

*9. Samurai vs. Kanemoto 6/5/97

*14. Vader vs. Hansen 2/10/90

*"And the AJ vs. NJ tag below it"

 

Why don't you just post your list? besause it's clear your not goin to be happy with anyone else's

[Guest wolverine]

Just out of curiosity i'd love to know how you rated these matches:

*6. Benoit vs. Samurai 6/15/93

 

Dude, he rated it above.

 

I wish I could do one of these lists, but New Japan just isn't a promotion that I had much desire to seek out, except for the important junior stuff....

[Guest wolverine]

And where the Hell are the Tiger Mask-DK matches? How about Nobuhiko Takada's matches against Shiro Koshinaka? Lots of ****+ stuff here that's never talked about....

[Guest BionicRedneck]

"And where the Hell are the Tiger Mask-DK matches?"

 

Well, i have only seen one and that took place in a WWF ring

[Guest RickyChosyu]

And where the Hell are the Tiger Mask-DK matches? How about Nobuhiko Takada's matches against Shiro Koshinaka? Lots of ****+ stuff here that's never talked about....

Hmm...I have to say, I've never even heard of that match. I have read lots of Takada pimping (including Takada/Hashimoto being praised as "The Greatest IWGP Heavyweight Title Match of All Time") but never any of his matches Vs. Koshinaka.

 

The one Tiger Mask/Dynamite Kid match I've seen is rather odd. Quick sumarry: Ten minutes or so of mat-work followed by a nice, ultra-quick exchange all over the ring. TM gets a leg-locke, leading to blatant interferance from Kid's ring second, who I've been told was Bret Hart. Match continues, Kid accidently knocks Hart off the apron, TM dumps Kid, and the Space Flying Tiger Drop is hit. Outside, a TM wip is reversed by Kid, sending TM into the guard rail. DK charges but gets back-dropped into the lap of the poor sap in the second row, and the match is suddenly clipped to Dynamite Kid's hand being raised in victory. Strange ending to a crazy match.

[Guest wolverine]

Hmm...I have to say, I've never even heard of that match. I have read lots of Takada pimping (including Takada/Hashimoto being praised as "The Greatest IWGP Heavyweight Title Match of All Time") but never any of his matches Vs. Koshinaka.

 

You should check it out. There's a COMM tape that NJ put out covering the Takada/Koshinaka series, and almost all the matches are ****+. Keep in mind this is 1986-1987 stuff, to put it in perspective. Takada truly was one of the great workers in NJ history, but it's something that's often overlooked.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Hmm...I have to say, I've never even heard of that match. I have read lots of Takada pimping (including Takada/Hashimoto being praised as "The Greatest IWGP Heavyweight Title Match of All Time") but never any of his matches Vs. Koshinaka.

 

You should check it out. There's a COMM tape that NJ put out covering the Takada/Koshinaka series, and almost all the matches are ****+. Keep in mind this is 1986-1987 stuff, to put it in perspective. Takada truly was one of the great workers in NJ history, but it's something that's often overlooked.

Very intriguing. Any idea where I could find it? I haven't seen it anywhere before, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I've liked what I've seen of Takada, so far.

[Guest wolverine]

Tabe (www.tabe.nu) has it. He's a real big Takada fan, so if you're looking for UWF/UWFi stuff as well, he's the guy to go to.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

The one Tiger Mask/Dynamite Kid match I've seen is rather odd. Quick sumarry: Ten minutes or so of mat-work followed by a nice, ultra-quick exchange all over the ring. TM gets a leg-locke, leading to blatant interferance from Kid's ring second, who I've been told was Bret Hart. Match continues, Kid accidently knocks Hart off the apron, TM dumps Kid, and the Space Flying Tiger Drop is hit. Outside, a TM wip is reversed by Kid, sending TM into the guard rail. DK charges but gets back-dropped into the lap of the poor sap in the second row, and the match is suddenly clipped to Dynamite Kid's hand being raised in victory. Strange ending to a crazy match.

 

You have to see their 81 matches. I know what match your talking about it, and it is no where near the level they were at in 81. They are all super fast, have awesome matwork, and tons of high impact moves that they would cut back on for some reason in the later years. My favoriate is the 4/21/81. The essential TigerMask/DK match. It doesnt have all their famous spots, but it has most of them. Including one of the sickest DDTs I've ever seen. ****3/4 IMO. Despite years of evolution and improvement on their style, I still think it is worthy of a top ten place.

[Guest JHawk]

*05. Masahiro Chono vs Rick Rude (1992 G-1 Climax)*

 

That was good, but I actually liked the Chono-Mutoh semifinal better.

 

For the record, I haven't seem enough puro to make an accurate top 20 list, but keep them coming guys. Lists like this help me figure out what else to add to my collection.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

The one Tiger Mask/Dynamite Kid match I've seen is rather odd. Quick sumarry: Ten minutes or so of mat-work followed by a nice, ultra-quick exchange all over the ring. TM gets a leg-locke, leading to blatant interferance from Kid's ring second, who I've been told was Bret Hart. Match continues, Kid accidently knocks Hart off the apron, TM dumps Kid, and the Space Flying Tiger Drop is hit. Outside, a TM wip is reversed by Kid, sending TM into the guard rail. DK charges but gets back-dropped into the lap of the poor sap in the second row, and the match is suddenly clipped to Dynamite Kid's hand being raised in victory. Strange ending to a crazy match.

 

You have to see their 81 matches. I know what match your talking about it, and it is no where near the level they were at in 81. They are all super fast, have awesome matwork, and tons of high impact moves that they would cut back on for some reason in the later years. My favoriate is the 4/21/81. The essential TigerMask/DK match. It doesnt have all their famous spots, but it has most of them. Including one of the sickest DDTs I've ever seen. ****3/4 IMO. Despite years of evolution and improvement on their style, I still think it is worthy of a top ten place.

Sounds like something I really need to pick up. I can see my next pay check dissapearing already.

[Guest MrDanger]

"I'd personally have Akira Maeda vs Tatsumi Fujinami 06/12/86 in as no. 1"

 

I haven't seen this match so thats probably why its not on there

Well you need to see it as soon as possible, it's mind blowing considering the time frame.