A Dangerous Review

[Guest Dangerous A]

This review is also up at rollinggermans.8m.com. Let me know what you think. All critique and feedback is appreciatied.

 

 

 

A DANGEROUS TAPE REVIEW: NJPW APRIL 2001 OSAKA DOME SHOW

 

 

 

I came about this tape through our good friends at http://www.goldenboytapes.com. I won 3 auctions that Rob Hunter had out at the same time. (Rob is the guy who runs goldenboy in case you were wondering) The tapes were the January 4 1996 Dome show, the New Japan vs UWFi October Dome show and this tape. This particular tape intigued me because the match ups looked good on paper and the tape was only $3.00 after I won the auction. Total for the 3 tapes, plus shipping was $17.00. If you ever want to get a deal on some bulk puro for cheap, check out ebay and look for goldenboytapes auctions. Go to view seller’s other items and you’ll see Rob constantly has tons of puro for decent prices. Plus if you win a bunch of auctions around the same time, he’ll usually deal with you on the shipping costs and save you money. Things like that make DA a happy man. On with the show.

 

 

 

MINORU TANAKA VS TAKASHI IIZUKA

 

We start things off with what should be a doozy. Both men stay cautious of each other as Tanaka tries to stike while Iizuka is trying to get Tanaka on the ground and take advantage of his size. Iizuka is able to mount Tanaka and tries to pound, but Tanaka gets a half guard on him. Shades of Inoki-ism/worked shoot style. Iizuka works an armbar and attempts a jujigatame, but Tanaka rolls through and makes the ropes. They go back to a standing position and trade blows until Tanaka starts up with the kicks. Iizuka goes down, Tanaka tries to get Iizuka’s back, but Iizuka reverses and attempts a fujiwara armbar. They fiddle like this for a bit until Tanaka makes the ropes and we have a break. They end up standing again both men throw several strikes that miss. Iizuka then shoots on Tanaka and runs flush into his knee, damn near knocking himself out. That was funny. Ref tells Tanaka to step back so he can check out the damage. Tanaka finally says “screw this shit” and starts up with vicious kicks to Iizuka’s chest and back. God I love when he does that.Iizuka attempts the rear naked choke, but that’s turned into the Minoru special. Iizuka grabs his hands in a clasp to relieve the pressure, but Minoru chops them down. Lucky for Iizuka, he’s big and he’s right by the ropes for the break. More brutal kicks follow. Iizuka catches one of Tanaka’s legs and holds him there, but then Tanaka slips out and gets a heel hook. Iizuka then slips out of the heel hook and almost gets Tanaka’s back for the choke, but we get another rope break. Iizuka stomps away and hits an exploder. Pace of the match is actually kind of slow considering the participants. Iizuka throws a lariat wildly and misses, which allows Tanaka to get in another heel hook. Iizuka eventually makes the ropes. Tanaka attempts to kick Iizuka’s leg off of his body. Tanaka allows him back up and thows a lariat which misses and Iizuka fires off another exploder. Both men get back to their feet and Tanaka tries to throw more kicks, but he misses and Iizuka finally gets his back and cinches it smack dab in the middle of the ring. Iizuka cinches in the hooks for good measure and gets the tap out. The story of the match was good, but the pacing seemed a bit off. Still, nothing really offensive so we get **1/2.

 

 

 

YUTAKA YOSHIE VS SHINYA MAKABE

 

Dammit. I really need to find a tape without Yoshie on it. He really bugs me. Especially the stupid ass hair cut he is sporting. Plus he looks like an oompa loompa. Makabe doesn’t deserve this. I like Makabe since I saw him tag with Nagata on the 6/8 Budokan show last year. Makabe starts the bout off by throwing all kinds of elbows and jumping knees, all of which are no-sold. Makabe hits the spear, it’s no-sold. You can pretty much guess how the rest of the match goes. Makabe tries some offense. Yoshie no-sells it. Rinse and repeat several times over. Funny spot as Yoshie fucks up a leap frog. And Makabe was the one who leap frogged. For no reason whatsoever Yoshie fell down so when Makabe came back from the rope exchange, he found Yoshie just laying there. Crowd stared booing at this point. So did I. Yoshie eventually does a reverse power slam and gets the submission with a hanging backbreaker. That ranks up there with getting impacted teeth removed. I challenge anyone to find me a match with Yoshie in it that ranks at least **’s or above. This bout gets ½ *.

 

 

 

BRIAN JOHNSTON VS KENDO KA SHIN

 

Well isn’t this a total mismatch. Size wise at least. This was shortly before Johnston suffered a stroke he almost died from. Word has it he is recovering nicely now and may be able to function normally very soon. But his in ring days in pro and worked fights is pretty much over. Johnston gets Ka Shin down and attempts some ground and pound. Ka Shin gets out of it. They stand back up and Johnston hits an awful looking kick to Ka Shin’s head that knocks him to the floor. Ka Shin sells it like he’s been shot in the head. Ka Shin makes it back in the ring where Johnston pummels him in the corner. In true ugly American fashion, Johnston throws the ref across the ring when he tries to break up the action. Ka shin uses this opportunity to low blow Johnston. The theatrics are now starting to annoy me, along with the fact that these two aren’t the greatest workers in the world. Ka Shin gets a flying armbar, but Johnston is on top of it and grabs hold of the arm in peril to relieve pressure. Johnston then proceeds to lift Ka Shin up and power bomb him from the armbreaker position. Twice. Even though Ka Shin is a small guy, that is an impressive feat of strength. Ka Shin releases the arm bar. Johnston attempts a vertical suplex, but Ka Shin flips through it. Ka Shin goes for a lariat and misses. Johnston grabs him in a front headlock position. Ka Shin tries to go for a Northern Lights Suplex, but Johnston hangs on and cranks in a guillotine choke from the northern lights position for the tap out. Match is way too short, although had it gone another five minutes it could’ve gotten ugly. But still, you gotta try. Match gets *.

 

 

 

KAZUNARI MURAKAMI VS JUSHIN LIGER

 

They showed a brief bunch of clips showing what led up to this match. The clips show Murakami instigating a fight with Liger during one of his matches. I don’t understand Japanese, but I know tone in people’s voices and Murakami’s told Liger to bring it. If you’ve seen him work the mike or watch him wrestle, you have to admit that Murakami is one of the most hateful people you will see in wrestling. Murakami and Naoya Ogawa (his partner in crime) are awesome at getting crowd heat. Too bad they can’t work worth a shit. Murakami is led to the ring by none other than STO master himself, Naoya Ogawa. Crowd is buzzing just seeing Ogawa. Liger comes down to the ring and removes his horned mask to reveal a plain black one. Liger then throws the mask at Murakami and attacks before the bell. Liger is pissed. He knocks Murakami out of the ring. Murakami gets back in and starts to pummel Liger in the New Japan corner. Ref tries to stop Murakami because half of Liger’s body is outside the ring while the other half is inside, but Murakami throws the ref out of the ring. Ref gets back up and tossed aside again. Murakami now yells at the New Japan corner and challenges them to come and get some. Ref throws out the match. So am I. This wasn’t a match. This was a vehicle to contiue to get Ogawa and Murakami over as a bunch of pricks. I am not rating this because it wasn’t a Match. New Japan corner jumps in the ring and wackiness ensues. Of course Ogawa and his love buddy look like gods with the odds 2 against like 10. Liger removes his mask, revealing his face and attacks Murakami. Damn, Liger is an ugly fellow. Ogawa then goes to the announce table and antagonizes Tatsumi Fujinami. All of a sudden Riki Chosyu’s music hits and he comes to ringside and does a weak ass spear on Ogawa. Chosyu and Ogawa exchange pleasantries over the microphone. If I’m not mistaken, this was part of the buildup for that atrocious tag match later in the Dome between Ogawa and Murakami vs Chosyu and Shiro Koshinaka. Speaking of, Koshinaka is here now and the whole thing segues us into our next match of the night.

 

 

 

RIKI CHOSYU AND SHIRO KOSHINAKA VS TOSHIAKI KAWADA AND MASA FUCHI

 

Talk about a challenge for the All Japan team. It’s going to be hard to watch Kawada and Fuchi have to sell Koshinaka’s glute attack. That and Chosyu’s general shitiness. If any of you know me on the smartmarks board, you’ll know I am a motherfucking Kawada mark. Hence the name Dangerous A. (cause my last name is terrible and it’s an ode to Kawada) Chosyu and Kawada start the match off. Kawada works a head lock followed by a whip into the ropes for a shoulder block. Kawada then starts with the rapid fire kicks to the head. Kawada gets Chosyu in the corner and brings the stiff chops followed by a VICIOUS ASS KICK TO THE FACE OF CHOSYU!! If Chosyu is taking this now, then he’ll be no-selling like a motherfucker later on. Kawada gets a running high kick followed by another kick to the face. Stiff shit to start this off. Kawada goes for another running high kick, but Chosyu flat out SOCKS KAWADA IN THE FUCKING FACE! I love it when my main man fucks people up, but turnabouts fair play, right? Chosyu gets a vertical suplex and then goes into position for the scorpion death lock. Damn, the big shit is already out on the table. Chosyu takes his sweet time getting the scorpion on, and then releases it. Tag in to Koshinaka. Damn it. First thing in and Kawada is met with a glute attack. Both men exchange head butts, Kawada goes for a standing leg lariat, but it’s blocked. Koshinaka gets Kawada in their corner and both men proceed to hit a spiked piledriver. Koshinaka is tagged in immediately again, but is forced into the All Japan corner. Fuchi tagged in and gives Koshinaka a boot scrape right across the face. Gotta love grumpy old man Fuchi being an asshole.Fuchi gets a Yakuza kick, but Koshinaka shows his strong style spirit and no-sells it. Both men exchange slaps to the chest which Koshinaka wins and drags Fuchi to his corner. Chosyu and Koshinaka double team Fuchi in the corner and that monotony is broken up with a Chosyu chinlock. Fuchi attempts to fight off both men to no avail. Fuchi is finally able to get away from the opponents corner and tags in Kawada. Unfortunately Kawada is met with several glute attacks off the hot tag. Kawada does not deserve this. Kawada says “fuck this” and starts to no-sell his damn self. He leg lariats Koshinaka and then running high kicks Chosyu off the apron. KILL THEM ALL, KAWADA! KILL THEM ALL!! Tag in to Fuchi who gets Koshinaka in an STF. Koshinaka makes the ropes. Tag into Kawada. Kawada sends Koshinaka into the corner and hits him with a running high kick that had a little onion on it so it tastes better. For the viewer at least. Kawada sets sail with some chops and attempts a power bomb. Koshinaka gets away and tags Chosyu in who lets Kawada have it with a lariat. No sold! Kawada drill Chosyu with kicks to the head and Chosyu goes down. A third kick is no-sold and both men hit each others arms with the lariat. Kawada sells it like he’s been stabbed in his arm while Chosyu no-sells the lariat exchange. Fuchi gets tagged in. Fuchi throws all kinds of shit Chosyu’s way and Chosyu no-sells all of it. And I mean all of it. Chosyu gets a lariat for 2. Wind up lariat does the trick for the three count. Fuchi and Kawada can hold their own, but at their age, they can’t have people who can’t work in there with them. Witness Nagata/Iizuka vs Kawada/Fuchi. Good workers with Kawada and Fuchi equals ****1/2 to *****’s. This drivel gets **’s from me, and that’s strictly because of Kawada and Fuchi’s work.

 

 

 

YUJI NAGATA VS MANABU NAKANISHI (THIS IS STRONG STYLE)

 

I have no clue on the backstory of the title for this match. All I know is both men are former members of the G-EGGS Fighting Club. G-EGGS sounds like they are a bunch of pussies to me. At least Nakanishi is. I don’t get into Nakanishi that much. But I will give him credit for his backhand chops. The boy is right up there with Benoit with how he throws them. Just look at his opponents chests to see where I am coming from. Too bad the rest of his in ring ability won’t follow along with Benoit’s. Both combatants start off with a test of strength and then trade headlocks. They both try to work each other’s arms a bit and reverse whatever armlock is thrown out. Action finally picks up as Nagata slaps Nakanishi right across the face. Nakanishi floors Nagata with a right cross and starts to stomp away. Nakanishi whips Nagata into the ropes and Nagata gets a running high kick and follows with a kick to the back. Nakanishi is back up and starts throwing elbows. Hope these two are not trying to play Misawa/Kawada.Nakanishi starts to pound away but that is stopped with a belly to belly overhead throw. Both men get back to their feet and Nagata starts kicking away at Nakanishi’s legs until he goes down. Cross arm breaker follows, but Nakanishi gets to the ropes. Nakanishi comes with a forearm shot, followed by those wicked chops I was talking about earlier. Both men start trading forearm shots until Nagata breaks the pattern with another running high kick. I swear they are trying to be Misawa/Kawada. Nagata works a chickenwing which Nakanishi breaks up by basing out and throwing Nagata over his shoulder. Nakanishi hits a chinlock. He eventually releases the chinlock and starts to throw kicks of his own. Nagata catches one of the kicks and takes Nakanishi down. More kicks to the legs. Nagata gets Nakanishi kneeling in the corner and starts up with the stiff kicks to the chest. Nakanishi looks out of it. Nagata drills another high kick to the head of Nakanishi. Nakanishi tries to fight back, but his forearms are no-sold. Nakanishi eventually gets Nagata to sell a forearm and that allows Nakanishi enough time to get the spear. Nakanishi gets another spear and goes primal by screaming to the audience that it’s time for the Argentine backbreaker. Nagata kicks his way out of an attempt at the backbreaker. Nakanishi gets a lariat followed by another spear. Argentine backbreaker is finally applied. Nakanishi gives up and dumps Nagata (weird) and starts up with some more stiff chops. Nagata’s chest is beet red right now. Nagata misses a jumping high kick but is able to hit a missle dropkick to the leg followed by a dragon screw. Nakanishi no-sells the leg work and gets Nagata up in the backbreaker again.

 

Nagata fights his way out of it and they both start exchanging forearm shots again. Nakanishi gains the advantage and starts headbutting Nagata’s back. Nakanishi goes for another spear but gets caught with a belly to belly suplex. Nagata gets an enzigiri. Nakanishi fights through and attempts to come off the ropes but is caught flush with a kick to the head and the three count. Huh? Match was showing some of the “strong style spirit” and was brutally stiff. Then came the weird ending. Not bad for a Nakanishi match, but below par for a Nagata match, **3/4.

 

 

 

MASAHIRO CHONO, SATOSHI KOJIMA, AND HIROYOSHI TENZAN VS JINSEI SHINZAKI, TAIYO KEA, AND KEIJI MUTOH (TEAM 2000 VS BATT)

 

Oh hell fucking yeah. I love both factions. They show clips of Shinzaki joining the group and Hiroshi Hase as well. They show Hase handing out uranage’s like candy to T-2000 members. BATT’S theme music is lacking the kick ass Mutoh piano part at the beginning. Bummer. Team 2000 is seconded to the ring by Tatsutoshi Goto and Hiro Saito. BATT has Hiro Hase with them, who then goes to the ringside commentating table to do some guest commentating. Chono is in full dickhead mode by spitting in the BATT corner after his name is announced. Team 2000 act like good little boys by attacking before the bell and throwing everyone out except Mutoh. All three pound on Mutoh a bit and start with the triple teaming. Kojima whips Mutoh into the buckle and Tenzan follows with a lariat. Tenzan tries to whip Mutoh into a Yakuza kick by Chono, but Mutoh dragon screws instead. Kea is back in the ring and he dragon screws Tenzan. Shinzaki grabs Kojima’s arm and does the rope walk before coming off the top and striking the arm, knocking him out of the ring. Now all the T-2000 members are outside to take a powder. Hot opening to start. Eventually all them get back to their apron positions and we begin the orderly part of the match. Kojima and Shinzaki start us off with some rope reversals that end with a Shinzaki kick to the mouth. Shinzaki goes for a hip toss but it’s blocked and Kojima gets a rolling neck breaker. That is followed up with a sommersault senton and some mocking of Shinzaki’s hand gestures. Tenzan and Kea get tagged in. Kea works a headlock. Kea goes for some shoulderblocks that end in a stalemate. Tenzan starts up with the head butts followed by Mongolian chops. Snapmare by Tenzan is followed by a throat strike. Tenzan attempts a lariat but Kea gets a leg lariat instead. Kea hits some stiff chops followed by a nice dropkick of the Hardcore Holly variety. Kea gets Tenzan in the corner for more chops, but they are no-sold and Tenzan follows with chops of his own. Tenzan drags Kea into his corner and tags in Chono. Chono circles around the ring some and points to Mutoh, indicating he would like to break a foot off in his ass. Crowd wants Mutoh in. Kea gives them what they want. Both men circle around each other when Chono, still in dickhead mode, punches Kea off the apron. Kea wants back in but cooler heads prevail. Mutoh gets a waistlock and turns Chono to his corner where Kea kicks him in the back. Damn, these two teams don’t like each other. Mutoh gets a snapmare, but can’t capitalize as Chono is right back up. Chono gets some shots in to Mutoh and attempts a Yakuza kick, but Mutoh cartwheels out of the way and gets a dropkick. Chono takes a powder outside and heads to the announce table. Chono tries to rile up Hase by kicking the announce table. Hase gets up and takes off his jacket like he might do something, but sits down instead. Back in and Chono gets body slammed followed up with a Mutoh wind up elbow. Kea is tagged in and starts to kick the shit out of Chono’s chest. He then puts Chono into a corner and proceeds to stomp the proverbial mudhole into Chono. Austin would be proud of that stomp job. Shinzaki is tagged in and gets a body slam followed by a second rope splash for a 2 count. Chono tries to go to the eyes, but Shinzaki quickly recovers and hits an uppercut. Tag into Mutoh who throws Chono outside the ring. He whips Chono towards Hase and the announce table, where Mutoh asks Hase for his chair. Hase obliges and Mutoh hits Chono with said chair. Back in and Mutoh’s attempt at a backdrop is denied and he is met with a Yakuza kick. Tag into Kojima who stomps away at Mutoh. Mutoh fights the T-2000 corner but is met with a Kojima uppercut followed by a suplex. Tenkoji in now to double team. They throw the weakest looking double clothesline which is followed by the shittiest selling of the weakest clothesline making the sequence look dumb. Mutoh did not bring his work boots tonight. Tenkoji attempt their version of the 3-D, but it’s blocked. Tenzan eats a dragon screw and Mutoh tags in Kea. Kea gets his cool looking kick sequence in which is some kicks to the chest followed by a back heel kick to the back of the oppponents head. Tenzan rakes the eyes and attempts a mountain bomb, which is reversed into a swinging DDT. Tag into Shinzaki goes up top and hits a chop . Shinzaki tries to come off the ropes, but is met with Mongolian chops. Shinzaki tries to come at Tenzan, but is met with a mountain bomb. Tag into Kojima and he knocks Kea off the apron. Kojima throws Shinzaki into the buckle hits a running forearm. Kojima tries to go to the top rope, but is dropkicked off by Shinzaki. Chono tries to Yakuza kick Shinzaki, but is met with a dragon screw. Tenzan tries to do run in but is dragon screwed by Kea out of the ring. Kojima makes his way back in but is met with a missle dropkick by Shinzaki for 2. Praying mantis bomb gets 2 ½. At this point, Goto and Saito head to the announce table and attack Hase. Since it is 2 on 1, Mutoh heads over to help fight off the T-2000 guys. Hase gets his jacket off and Hase and Mutoh start to brawl with Goto and Saito. Kea is knocked off the apron, leaving Shinzaki to fend for himself. The plan is now taking effect. Goto and Saito run interference by attacking Hase so when the other BATT members come to the rescue, they can seclude one of them in the ring by themselves. Shinzaki is the victim here. He eats a Yakuza kick for 2. Kea and Mutoh try to get inside the ring, but keep getting knocked off by Kojima and Tenzan. Kojima hits a lariat on Shinzaki and a second Yakuza kick gets the pinfall. After the bell, Hase cleans house by hitting uranage’s on Tenkoji. Chono and Hase exchange pleasantries on the mike before heading off. Match was good. Everything hit and you can feel the hatred the 2 teams have for each other. Unfortunatly there was a sports entertainment-ish ending, so I can only give this ***1/2 in good conscience along with a favoritism curve.

 

 

 

KAZUYUKI FUJITA VS SCOTT NORTON (INOKI PRODUCE)

 

Is it just me or does this sound like this is gonna be a huge vegetable stand food fight because of the title? I know, I know, bad joke. I can’t help it. This is for the IWGP heavyweight title. Norton is the champ coming in. Bad idea. They should’ve just left it on Sasaki until they figured out who they wanted as champ because A) they spent all of 2000 giving Sasaki a killer push to build him up as credible and B) Norton is a terrible choice for a transitional champion. Norton comes to the ring wearing a very dated new world order vest. Damn, he’s not even with the times . Fujita, for all intents and purposes, is the best at the worked shoot style. But him in with someone who can barely work the worked style can be disastrous. Let’s see. Norton has Team 2000 with him. Fujta has Pride guys Gary Goodridge and Brian Johnston with him. Fujita gets a baiana sweep and goes for the ground and pound. Norton reverses

 

and gets the mount. Fujita protects himself from mounted punches and we go back to a standing position. Fujita tries to shoot in, but Norton catches him with a guillotine choke. Norton has the north south position and starts up with the knee strikes. Let’s go of the choke and hits a sloppy lariat. Norton gets the power bomb and Fujita takes a powder outside. On the outside and Norton pounds away on Fujita. Johnston runs over and attempts to break it up but is met by the T-2000 guys. Goodridge comes over and we have a mini-melee. Fujita tries to get back in, but Norton hits him with a lariat that knocks him out again. Norton goes for the guillotine choke on the floor which kills the crowd. He eventually releases and we head back inside the ring. Fujita shoots this time and gets the takedown and tries to ground and pound, but Norton covers up. Norton reverses and starts a ground and pound. Fujita grabs one of the striking arms and goes into the cross arm breaker. Crowd is fired up for that move. Norton, with his free arm grabs the other arm to relieve pressure. Norton drags Fujita to the center of the ring and tries to pound on him. Fujita gets out of that position again and gets Norton’s back. Fujita gets the rear naked choke in the center of the ring and sinks his hooks (feet) in for better leverage and the tap out. New Champ is crowned. Match was short, but with Norton that is probrably a good thing. I actually liked this match the second time better than the first for some odd reason. If you are educated into Mixed Martial Arts, then you might enjoy the match more than the average viewer. Even though it was too damn short (match time was about 6 minutes) it gets **.

 

 

 

SHINYA HASHIMOTO (ZERO ONE) VS KENSUKE SASAKI (ANOTHER INOKI PRODUCE)

 

Hashimoto is accompanied by his Zero One guys. Sasaki comes in by himself. I’ve always been a fan of Hashimoto. Any time my friends attempt to make fun of his appearance because he’s chubby, I start to show them some footage of Hash against Tenryu. That is some stiff ass shit. With Hash I always say, don’t let the smooth taste fool you. A problem I’ve had with Hash since forming Zero One is that he hasn’t had wrestling matches so much as he’s had flat out slug fests and fights. That’s what this is. One big slug fest. There is actually a formula here. They slug it out, one gets the upper hand and goes outside to recover. Eventually it heads back in and more slugging. Then it’s the other person’s turn to head outside. Hash wins this thing by kicking Sasaki straight in the face for the TKO. Match time was about 7 minutes. So you mean to tell me Inoki produced 2 main event matches with a total match time of 13 minutes? No wonder the crowd sounds pissed. Zero One and New Japan guys start another melee in the ring. Inoki breaks it up by grabbing the mike and yelling at everyone to stop. Inoki ends the night by leaving the crowd with his famous countdown, although I could swear they aren’t as spirited because of the drivel they just saw. I can’t rate this match because it wasn’t a match. It was two guys socking each other up and then a lame TKO finish. Don’t get me wrong, I love stiff ass brutality on a stick, but I also want it to lead up to something.

 

 

 

Thoughts: The only reason I see for you to get this tape is if you are a New Japan freak and have to have all their stuff. Matches were wildly inconsistent as far as ratings. Either there was no rating because there wasn’t really a match or it was a ** type of affair. Basically nothing offensive, yet nothing you couldn’t live without. The best match has a sports entertainment finish to it. All in all, not a great tape. But upon second viewing, not a horrible one either. I really need to find a kick ass tape to review.

 

 

 

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