My first japanese tape

[Guest]

My friend used his video to make a video tape with the top 20 matches in wrestling history. All of them are Japanese. I have never seen Japanese wrestling so here we go.

 

Match 1

Genichiro Tenryu © vs. Keiji Muto for the Triple Crown

Muto is going nuts with dropkicks to start off on the leg of Tenryu. Way to start. He gets Tenryu blocks and hits some FUCKING BRUTAL CHOPS ! Man ! He goes for a Dragon Screw but Muto hits a CRAZY move. They call it a Shining Wizard. Muto hits a backbreaker and goes to the top but Tenryu rolls away and Muto does not do anything. Muto goes into a series of submissions in an attempt to KILL Tenryu. He gets a Side Headlock and then INSTANTLY Snapmares Tenryu. He then hits a quick elbow drop. This is good. Muto rolls under a lariat and dropkicks Tenryu. Cool. He sends Tenryu into a corner and follows with his handspring back elbow, but Tenryu gets a boot up. HA ! He powerbomb's Muto for just 2. Hmmm. Tenryu kills Muto with a chop. Muto comes back with some sort of kick which the commentator explains is a Koppou Kick. Tenryu rolls out but Muto goes out with a Pescado ! WHOO ! Muto tries to suplex Tenryu back in, but Tenryu reverses and suplexes Muto out, Muto's neck hitting the apron on the way down ! Crazy ! Danger pay is a good couple of words.

Some guy beside me is telling me move names so I will be able to do a good review now. Tenryu then hits a Top Rope Suicida ! THIS GUY IS OLD ! Tenryu climbs back on the apron, but the insanity continues, Muto sending him down to the floor with a dragon screw leg whip from the apron ! THIS IS NUTS ! Another dragon screw in the ring follows, then a figure-four leglock, which puts Tenryu in trouble. Good psychology. Tenryu goes crazy with the move and flies for the ropes as if he is being shot at. Tenryu blocks another dragon screw, then... dropkick's a knee ! Then... hits a dragon screw ! Then... puts on a figure-four leglock ! HOLY FUCK THIS IS AMAZING ! Tenryu lets go and goes into a Texas Cloverleaf. Tenryu breaks it and puts Muto on top. SPIDER GERMAN SUPLEX ! WHAT THE #### ! Tenryu SWINGS BACK UP ! He hits a Back Elbow Drop for two. Tenryu runs the ropes, right into a Frankensteiner. Muto stands, measures Tenryu up, then tries the Shining Wizard, but Tenryu seems to block with his hands. He grabs Muto and spikes him with a Northern Lights Bomb for 2 1/2 ! Tenryu sits Muto on top and I have a sad feeling for Muto. OLD MAN AVALANCHE-STYLE FRANKENSTEINER ! Is that a move name ? My friend says you will know what I am talking about. He covers for 2 3/4 ! Tenryu attempts a second Northern Lights Bomb, but this time Muto counters, kneeing Tenryu in the face. Jesus. Tenryu strikes Muto again, but the challenger hits an overhead kick ! He follows with a Shining Wizard for 2 3/4 ! YES ! He backs off, then hits ANOTHER Shining Wizard for... 2 3/4 ! WOW ! He goes up and... MOONSAULT PRESS! Muto covers, hooks a leg, and wins.

Winner : Keiji Muto

Match Rating : *****

Match Comments : This is number 20. Holy crap. I wonder what the other matches are like.  

 

Next up

BOSJ Final

Jushin Liger v Minoru Tanaka

 

Match 2

Minoru Tanaka v Jushin Liger

They implement some very basic teases, such as Tanaka's cross armbreaker, which Liger has no problems blocking early on. A while later, Tanaka brilliantly counters a running shotei with the Minoru Special ! Cool ! Liger is taken down and his arm is captured in the cross armbreaker, but he's able to scramble to the ropes. Tanaka focuses his attacks on the arm now, throwing some hard, vicious kicks at it. Vile ! Liger is taken down into a wakigatame, but is able to stand out of it and dropkick's a leg from under Minoru. That will probably be Liger's limb of choice. He applies a figure-four leglock, Tanaka making a lengthy struggle to the ropes. Told ya. Back in, he manages to ground Liger in the corner and STANDS on the bad arm ! HOLY #### !

Tanaka connects with a second rope dropkick, then uses his snap suplex/jumping kneedrop combination, dropping the knee on Liger's arm ! Good moves. Liger puts the brakes on, when being Irish whipped into a corner, and shotei's Tanaka on the turn. A corner charge shotei follows, then a big high-angle powerbomb for 2 1/2 ! He could have hit the Liger Bomb there ! Liger goes up and drops a diving body press for 2 1/2. He tries a running shotei and gets caught by a high kick from Tanaka for 1, Minoru transitioning straight into a cross armbreaker. The fans are going nuts for Liger. Tanaka is caught up top and holds off Liger's repeated attempts to join him with some stiff headbutts ! HE HITS HIM WITH THESE HEADBUTTS ! After Liger is knocked down for a third time, Tanaka connects with a missile dropkick to his back. Liger quickly breaks a full nelson and throws some slaps. Tanaka ducks under a running shotei, turns and counters a short-ranged shotei with a backslide for 2. . A savate kick sends Liger down for 2. They reverse waistlocks, then Liger has the misfortune of running into a high kick again.

Tanaka performs the Minoru Special, taking Liger down into a cross armbreaker! Liger thrashes, struggles and... finds the ropes ! I thought that was it. Minoru kicks the arms, but a leg is caught and Liger dragon screw's him down. A rolling koppou kick on the charge hits Tanaka and gets a 2 count. A beautiful and huge jumping Liger bomb gets 2 1/2! Liger's arm selling is impressive. He misses a running shotei once again and Tanaka lands a stiff punch. OUCH ! Liger sucks in the pain and throws a short-ranged shotei for 2 1/2 ! Tanaka is lifted and... brainbuster ! Liger covers for 2 1/2 ! OOHH ! Tanaka won't stay down ! Liger shakes his head in disbelief and has another brainbuster countered with a wakigatame, which Tanaka turns into the Minoru Special ! GO TANAKA ! Liger SOMEHOW reaches the ropes. Tanaka kicks the arm and when one is caught, takes Liger down into a reverse achilles tendon hold. That was unexpected. Liger pulls out a shotei from nowhere, then runs, catches a kick from Tanaka and plants him with a fisherman buster. He picks Tanaka up and spikes him with a second brainbuster. STAY DOWN ! ONE ! TWO ! THREE !

Winner : Jushin Liger

Match Rating : ****3/4

Match Comments : Not as good as Match 1 but it was good enough for the above rating.

[Guest wolverine]

I'm sorry, neither of those matches are REMOTELY CLOSE to being in the "top 20 of wrestling history."  That's ludicrous.  I've maintained that the Mutoh-Tenryu match is one of the worst Triple Crown matches I've seen that didn't involve Steve Williams.

[Guest dawho5]

I think you're missing the point.  Olympic_Hero hadn't seen puro until this point, so let him enjoy it.  I thought the Mutoh/Tenryu match was really good for a couple of old geezers.  I have yet to see Liger/Tanaka, but I like both, so I don't doubt I'd enjoy it.

[Guest wolverine]

I think you're missing the point.  Olympic_Hero hadn't seen puro until this point, so let him enjoy it.  I thought the Mutoh/Tenryu match was really good for a couple of old geezers.  I have yet to see Liger/Tanaka, but I like both, so I don't doubt I'd enjoy it.

Yeah, but the "top 20 in wrestling history" part is bullshit.

[Guest wolverine]

BTW, if you want to check out a *great* Top 100 list for the 90's, check out this site:  

 

http://hometown.aol.com/puroresu1king/myhomepage/index.html

 

He did an awesome job with the list, very informative and credible.

[Guest Jubuki]

It's an awesome job... if you discuss matches in terms of snowflakes, rather than analyzing the events of the match and explaining why something is working.  I wouldn't call that 'credible' - no more than I'd say that about the reviews that spawned this thread.

[Guest wolverine]

It's an awesome job... if you discuss matches in terms of snowflakes, rather than analyzing the events of the match and explaining why something is working.  I wouldn't call that 'credible' - no more than I'd say that about the reviews that spawned this thread.

Obviously its credibility is subject to the viewer, but to this viewer, aside from the low placement of 6/9/95 and 12/6/96, I largely agree with a lot of his match placements.

 

Regarding the matches in this thread, I think it loses all credibility when the first two you name are Mutoh-Tenryu and Liger-Tanaka.  If there's going to be a Tenryu match listed, it's going to be with Jumbo in some form.  As far as Liger, he's had plenty of matches that would be worthy, but it's all subject to debate.  I personally feel that his best match was either 4/30/92 vs. Samurai or 2/9/97 vs. Ohtani, but I can't say where I'd put those on a "best in wrestling history" list....

[Guest Carbon Tiger]

I think it's a great thing to see a fan getting into puro and loving it. Greatest matches in history probally not. but Mutoh/Tenryu was in the running MOTYC and Liger vs. Tanaka probally rules.

 

No need to be cynical and judgemental just yet lets just enjoy seeing another fan coming over tp the puro side.

[Guest wolverine]

I think it's a great thing to see a fan getting into puro and loving it. Greatest matches in history probally not. but Mutoh/Tenryu was in the running MOTYC and Liger vs. Tanaka probally rules.

 

No need to be cynical and judgemental just yet lets just enjoy seeing another fan coming over tp the puro side.

The only thing that bothered me was suggesting that these were among the 20 best in wrestling history, because it's so nuts to say that.

[Guest Jubuki]

That he felt the need to "rate" the only two foreign matches he'd seen (up to that point) says it all, if you ask me.

 

Mutoh/Tenryu was never in the running on my MOTYC list - not after Hokuto/Satomura & Toyota/Ito ran away and hid. And no, that Liger/Tanaka doesn't exactly rule; they didn't screw anything up, it went long, and Tanaka's something of a Net favorite, so it got treated like it was the second coming of the New Japan Jrs. division.  Honestly, their 3/17 match was better, though neither was great.

[Guest Vyce]

I like you guys, I really do.

 

But sometimes, you're just TOO fucking cynical for your own good.

 

If this guy has never seen puro before, who's he to know if Mutoh / Tenryu is the best match EVER or not?  Let him get a foundation, then he can become just as rabidly bitter and cynical as the rest of you because someone rated a non-Tsurata Tenryu with 5 snowflakes.

 

Let him actually become a puro fan first, before you start getting anal about which match is "The Best".

[Guest wolverine]

Mutoh/Tenryu was never in the running on my MOTYC list - not after Hokuto/Satomura & Toyota/Ito ran away and hid. And no, that Liger/Tanaka doesn't exactly rule; they didn't screw anything up, it went long, and Tanaka's something of a Net favorite, so it got treated like it was the second coming of the New Japan Jrs. division.  Honestly, their 3/17 match was better, though neither was great.

I need to get that Toyota-Ito match, after I read your review.  From what I understand, their match last month was pretty choice as well.  Speaking of Zenjo, I need to get my hands on all those Momoe matches with Maekawa, or as you like to call her, the Queen Pixie Asskicker

 

[Guest Jubuki]

I like you guys, I really do.

 

Funny way of showing it...

 

But sometimes, you're just TOO fucking cynical for your own good.

 

I'm not cynical when it comes to wrestling...I just think about it when I'm asking myself is something really is good or not, is all.

 

If this guy has never seen puro before, who's he to know if Mutoh / Tenryu is the best match EVER or not?

 

It's quite simple, actually.

 

Such as the 'knee to the face' out of NLB spot in the match.  There's a few things wrong with that:

 

1) Mutoh always uses the right knee for the Shining Wizard (as evidenced by this match); he hit Tenryu with the left.

 

2) Tenryu had been dropkicking and working over Mutoh's left knee for a good part of the match - it's the "weak" knee now.

 

3) After using the weak knee for that shot, Mutoh goes down, but completely ignores it.  Tenryu, on the other hand, after getting hit with said weak knee, acts more like he'd been hit with another Shining Wizard, when it would've been more appropriate to sell along the lines of an eye gouge (because of reasons 1 & 2 above).

 

One doesn't need a wide base of viewing to tell something is wrong there; there are those who've seen much more than I have and thought the match was the best Triple Crown change ever.  All it takes is attention to details, and maybe a rewatch.  I caught it the first time, rewound, and thought to myself, "When the #### has he ever hit someone with that knee?"

 

Speaking of Zenjo, I need to get my hands on all those Momoe matches with Maekawa, or as you like to call her, the Queen Pixie Asskicker

 

Eh...the whole JGP 01 show is worth getting, and their 12-min. match on that is at least good...but their 2 draws are either just OK or #### frustrating.  The one they just wrestled might be better by virtue of having an ending, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Guest]

THAT WAS NUMBER TWENTY IN THE LIST ! IT GOES IN ORDER OF WORST MATCH FIRST !!!!!!!!!!!

 

I have more to review so do not moan and groan about this.

 

Koji Kanemoto © vs. Jushin Thunder Liger for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title

Liger asks for a handshake and Koji accepts, though you know any friendliness between them won't last long. It doesn't take but a minute for this match to get good, the two doing some nice moving exchanges. Kanemoto catches Liger with a crisp overhead belly to belly. Thats speed. Liger rolls out. Kanemoto doesn't give him time to blink, following out with a pescado ! He goes up and hits a plancha ! Go crazy ! Back in, Koji connects with a missile dropkick, then ties Liger to the tree of woe. He backs off and throws a dropkick to Liger's right leg. I always expect fast as #### pacing and I dont get it. Liger uses his tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but when he goes to pick the champion up, gets a boot in the side of his head ! STIFF ! Kanemoto targets Liger's right leg, using several techniques to attack it, including a figure-four leglock. Liger sells the figure-four huge, screaming and thrashing. I mean it. He is going NUTS ! Kanemoto eventually gets too idle with his chops, allowing Liger to shotei him down. Kanemoto escapes a headscissors hold and applies a tight grounded headlock. He tries transitioning to a cross armbreaker, but Liger blocks and reaches the ropes quickly. That reminds me of the last match.

Liger sends Kanemoto into the corner and follows with a rolling koppou kick. He sits Koji up and ties his legs around the ropes, giving Kanemoto nowhere to go as he connects with a second rolling koppou ! My god. He brings Kanemoto down with a rana for 2. He then proceeds to just kill Kanemoto with FOUR consecutive fisherman busters ! OK. He is going to kill Koji now. A brainbuster gets 2. Kanemoto hops out of a brainbuster attempt, but Liger puts on a waistlock and drops him on his head with a release German suplex ! FUCK ! Koji goes outside. Liger follows with a baseball slide dropkick. He goes up and out with a plancha ! Koji gets in at 19 ! Cool rule. Liger tries another avalanche-style rana on Kanemoto, but Koji blocks and Liger crashes down. Kanemoto poses and after a spinning heel kick, goes back up and drops his diving twisting senton. The follow up fails as he misses a moonsault, Liger capitalizing with a dropkick to Kanemoto's bad knee. The slaughter continues. He puts Kanemoto up yet again and spikes him with an almost-brainbuster for 2 3/4 ! This is crazy. Liger hits a backbreaker and goes up again. Kanemoto catches him though, and goes up to meet him. He gets slapped down, but gets both feet up when Liger dives. Koji rana's Liger from the top and follows with a dropkick to his face ! Koji hits a LIGER BOMB ! He gets a nearfall.

Kanemoto hops up top and hits a moonsault press for 2 ! Koji quickly hooks the arms and uses a release Tiger suplex ! ). A second moonsault press gets 2 1/2 ! He slams Liger down, but misses a second diving twisting senton. Liger stands and cradle's Kanemoto with a la magistral for a heated 2 1/2 count ! I thought that was it. Koji tries a comeback, but Liger counters a diving body attack with an elbow to an arm. Two Liger bomb's follow for consecutive 2 1/2 counts ! A third for 2 3/4 ! WHAT IS KANEMOTO ON ! Liger decides to do something big. He goes up and hits what looks to be a Phoenix splash/Stardust Press ! HOLY MOTHER OF GOD ! Liger gets the win.

Winner : Jushin Liger

Match Rating : *****

Match Comments : WHAT A MATCH ! Why is the US nothing like this !

 

Next up . . .

Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Mike Barton & Jim Steele

 

Match 4

Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Mike Barton & Jim Steele

Steele ducks a lariat and sends Tenzan down with a jumping shoulderblock. Steele poses. Tenzan hits a second rope Mongolian press, so very cool. Steele takes a huge bump for a guy his size, missing a corner charge and lunging to the outside. Crazy man. They do some suplex teases, Steele almost taking Tenzan over the top with one. Tenzan eventually suplexes Steele in the ring, but only after a struggle. Barton and Kojima take over, chopping each other. Kojima uses a hiptoss, then a running sommersault senton. Tenkoji, as my friend calls them, hit their slingshot elbow drop/running and falling headbutt combination, Kojima covering for 2. Steele hits a Russian legsweep for a near fall. Steele shows good agility with a rolling neck snap, then drops an elbow for another close count. Kojima desperately reaches for his corner, but is pulled back. Old School Psychology. Barton seems a little lost, so just bodyslam's Kojima a few times, before landing a trio of rapid fire elbow drops for 2. An attempted comeback is cut short when Barton elbow's him down. Kojima slides out of a suplex and hits a backdrop suplex. He crawls and tags Tenzan ! HOT TAG ! Tenzan lariat's Barton down and clears out Steele. He throws Mongolian chops and a headbutt at Barton, before hitting a corner charge lariat. He goes up top and plants Barton with a knee-assisted face driver for 2. Cool move.

Barton fires back with a rotating side suplex for 2 1/2 ! The fans are going nuts. Barton kicks Tenzan out of the ring, clears Kojima off the apron, then hits Tenzan with a plancha. Back in, Steele covers twice for consecutive 2 1/2 counts. He locks on a camel clutch and when Kojima stomps him, he's reluctant to break, and it takes three kicks. He wants blood me thinks. Barton drops Tenzan with a delayed vertical suplex for 2, Kojima making the save. When Steele returns, Tenzan catches him with a sunset flip for 2, but Steele reverts to offense, since sunset flips don't really hurt. It hurts everywhere else but here folks. He throws three hard lariats in the corner, then DDT's Tenzan nastily. A second BRUTAL DDT follows, then a third for 2 1/2 ! THATS A DDT ! Steele lifts Tenzan and hits the Turbo Drop II for 2 1/2, Kojima making a LUNGING save ! Barton lariat's Kojima in the corner, then applies a sleeper hold to keep him out of the main action. Steele raises Tenzan into a Canadian backbreaker ! I havent actually seen someone pull that off. Tenzan fights ! Kojima breaks the sleeper hold, prompting an eruption from the fans, as he is able to save Tenzan ! The heat is through the roof. Kojima has had enough and Koji Cutter's Steele ! Steele charges, but is dropped with a Mountain bomb. Tenzan crawls... Tenzan tags Kojima ! Kojima busts out a dropkick to Steele ! He connects with a corner charge elbow, throws Steele down, shouts and hits a Diving Elbow for 2. Kojima and Steele exchange groggy elbow smashes, until Steele dashes into an inverted atomic drop. He catches a kick and dragon screw's Steele down. Kojima corner charges into a boot and Steele leaps to the top, coming off it with a diving shoulderblock.

Barton is tagged and goes up. Steele bodyslam's Kojima in position and goes up himself. He connects with a diving body press (which looks awesome) and Barton with his own, hooking a leg deeply for 2 1/2 ! This match kicks ass. Barton throws a body blow to the gut and hits the Barton Buster (big release powerbomb) ! It beat Kojima in the group stages I am told ! Barton covers for... 2 1/2 ! Barton sprints off the ropes, into a super-stiff lariat, which causes big man Barton to almost flip on his neck ! Man ! Kojima rolls to his back and struggles for his senses. Tenzan reaches out desperately. Kojima... tags Tenzan! And Barton tags Steele ! They kill each other with Lariats. Again ! Again ! Steele runs for a fourth dueling lariat exchange, but Tenzan is ready with a spinning heel kick for 2, Barton saving. Tenzan raises Barton for an assisted Koji Cutter/3D, which is executed ! Kojima enzuilariat's Steele and Tenzan follows with the Tenzan Tombstone Driver ! He hooks a leg for 2 3/4 ! LAST MICROSECOND KICKOUT ! They have it now ! Tenzan goes up... MOONSAULT PRESS ! Fittingly, it hits perfectly! He pulls the leg back and gets the 3 count.

Winners : Tenzan and Kojima

Match Rating : *****

Match Comments : Bring on the next match and make it excellent.

 

Match 5

3 Way Board Falls Count Anywhere Death Match for the BJPW Death Match Title

Ryuji Yamakawa © vs. Tomoaki Honma  

They start with some struggling and Honma straight away tries to send Yamakawa into a board, but the champion slides out before making contact. I'm shitting it already. Honma whacks Yamakawa with a chair to the gut and then to the small of the back. He tries a harder shot, but makes contact with the ring post. Soon, they return to the ring, where Yamakawa lands a kneedrop and two legdrops in rapid succession, but gets a 0 count from the pinfall attempt. After a double reversal, Honma takes the first big bump, throwing himself into a barbed wire board to make the spot look that much greater. FUCK ! Honma loses a ton of skin off his back and goes outside. The champion follows and lands an elbow to the head, before another chairshot. He stacks some chairs up on the floor, but before he can do anything, Honma grabs him and they fight to the merchandise stand. Yamakawa sends Honma head into an upright table and Honma decides it's time to lose a pint of blood ! Yamakawa completes the huge stack of chairs and after some slight resistance, hits a Tiger Driver, sending Honma into the chairs, and gets a 2 count ! This is Hardcore, fuck Goldust.

At ringside, Yamakawa briefly pushes Honma's head into the bed of nails to draw some more blood ! In the ring, Yamakawa grabs a bulb and twirls it skillfully, like a kendo stick. Rather than just hit Honma with it, he whip's him off the ropes, but misses when swinging. Honma desperately strikes Yamakawa with kicks to the leg to take him down. He succeeds and grabs a bulb of his own and as the two see each other. They circle each other, before Honma swings, misses and Yamakawa does likewise. Honma then whacks Yamakawa in the gut with his bulb and the champion smashes his own over Honma's arm. Honma loses blood from a 50th body part. Yamakawa tries to suplex Honma over the top and to the bed of nails, but the challenger clings on, inches from the spikes. Yamakawa charges, in hopes of sending Honma on to them, but Honma springboard's back in and catches Yamakawa on the move with a lariat. He grabs a barbed wire board and throws it down for later use. He hits Yamakawa with an elbow smash, a face crusher and a piledriver consecutively, resulting in a bunch of 2 counts. They go outside, where Honma tries to push Yamakawa on to the nails and floors him. For some reason Honma goes back into the ring... AND HITS A TOPE CON HILO OVER THE TOP ROPE, OVER THE NAILS AND ON TO YAMAKAWA ! HOLY SHIT ! Honma gasps for breath, his face an absolute disaster area. Back in the ring and Honma hits a springboard light bulb smash over Yamakawa's head ! WOW ! The glass flies everywhere. It hurts to watch. Honma props a barbed wire board on two chairs and puts Yamakawa on the top. He then rana's Yamakawa down through the board and sandwiches him in barbed wire, covering for 2 1/2 ! This is fucking crazy. Honma returns to trying to impale Yamakawa on the spikes, before climbing up some steps to the balcony. He appears again with a bulb... ON FIRE ! He jumps off the balcony, but misses Yamakawa with the bulb, which kills the spot. However, he masks it well by smashing it over Yamakawa's already bloodied head, half a second later. Honma rolls him up beneath the balcony for 2 1/2.

Honma props another barbed wire board on two chairs, except this time at ringside. Also a bunch of bulbs are stacked on top of the board. Honma hits a jumping tombstone piledriver off the apron and down through the board and on the barbed wire also. Additionally, the bulbs shatter with glass flying everywhere. Yamakawa's head meanwhile is etched somewhere within all of this chaos, as are Honma's knees. OH MY GOD ! THE SICKEST BUMP EVER ! Back in the ring, Honma hits a Blockbuster for 2 1/2 ! He lays in to Yamakawa with some kicks, but the champion catches one of his legs and drags him over the top rope and on to the apron, with the nails just below. Honma struggles to hold on and Yamakawa hits two baseball slide dropkicks. Honma is now clinging on with a thumb literally. Yamakawa hits a third... HONMA FALLS ONTO THE NAILS ! Yamakawa actually helps him stand up and throws him back into the ring. He hits his awesome finisher, a reverse Tiger Driver, but only gets 2 3/4! He hits it again with more impact and delay and this time pins Honma for the win.

Winner : Ryuji Yamakawa  

Match Rating : *****+

Match Comments : I cant comment on that match. It was ill and twisted.

[Guest]

This was originally on Wrestleforum so if there is swearing, I sincerely apologize.

 

Match 6

Minoru Tanaka v TAKA Michinoku

They go face to face and Tanaka INSTANTLY hits a high kick that nearly ends the match straight away. TAKA isn't able to answer the 10 count and rolls out of the ring at 9, so that he has the fresh 20 count to work with. I still like that rule. Tanaka throws some kicks and TAKA gets frustrated, so charges with aggressive slaps. TAKA pushes him down and goes for a sleeper hold. They try armwork, but that goes nowhere. Tanaka reverses an attempted cross armbreaker by lifting TAKA and powerbombing him down. TAKA with an AWESOME Irish whip counter into a wakigatame takedown. He goes backwards and locks on an ankle lock, turned into an reverse achilles tendon hold. Tanaka tries reversing into his own, but they get tangled in the ropes and break. Some good stuff here. TAKA uses a snapmare and dropkick to the FACE of the sitting Tanaka, instead of the neck like he would usually do. Tanaka does his own snapmere and then a uses kneedrop to the face. They do some quick stuff on the mat. Tanaka gets his arm around TAKA's throat and locks on a choke sleeper! TAKA desperately kicks Tanaka, but has to get to the ropes to break the hold. Tanaka throws some slaps and then kicks TAKA in the face. He follows with a kick to the back and TAKA stands in defiance. Elbow smash by Tanaka. TAKA won't go down ! tendon hold! Tanaka lands a spin kick and TAKA goes down for the 6 count. He gets up but wishes he hasn't. BRUTAL backdrop suplex by Tanaka! TAKA is folded in half. Tanaka goes up and connects with a missile dropkick. He follows with a high kick and TAKA is down again. He answers at the 9 1/2 count.

TAKA's eyes have a distant look in them. Tanaka charges with a lariat, misses, and Tanaka gets some neck-dropping revenge of his own with a release German suplex ! Sick. Sleeper hold by TAKA and he takes Tanaka down with it, putting on bodyscissors to lock him up. Tanaka breaks and slaps on his own reverse achilles tendon hold. TAKA is FRANTIC and reaches the ropes in agony. Gotta love Japanese psychology. Tanaka strikes with vicious kicks to the injured leg. TAKA catches a leg, but Tanaka uses that as an excuse to take TAKA back into the tendon hold. Tanaka turns it into a regular heel hold and TAKA gets to the ropes once more. Kicks by Tanaka, TAKA catches a leg and takes him down with a dragon screw ! I love that move. TAKA dropkick's the knee, then slaps on a figure-four. Another long struggle for Tanaka. He tries a German suplex, but TAKA lands on his feet, charges, and is taken down with the Minoru Special II ! GOOD LORD, THE HEAT ! TAKA gets a foot over the bottom rope. Both guys get to their knees in exhaustion and exchange slaps. TAKA mounts and delivers punches. He goes up and hits a missile dropkick, then signals for the Michinoku Driver. He tries and Tanaka grabs a leg! Tanaka attempts to take TAKA down but it ends up with TAKA applying the leg submission and Tanaka is forced to scramble. He gets up and hits TWO high kicks, but walks straight into the Michinoku Driver II ! The referee starts the 10 count, but TAKA wants none of it. He goes to grab Tanaka who is laying in wait! He grabs the arm and tries another cross armbreaker, but TAKA lifts him a little and slams him down to break the hold. Single-leg crab hold by TAKA into a camel clutch choke! Tanaka almost instantly taps, giving TAKA the win !

Winner : TAKA Michinoku

Match Rating : ****1/2

Match Comments : Not as good as the others but it is good enough.

 

Tatsuhito Takaiwa © vs. Naomichi Marufuji for the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title

The bell rings and Takaiwa charges, hitting a lariat! He lifts Marufuji up and gives him the Endless Powerbomb, THE THIRD OVER THE TOP AND ON TO THE RAMP ! KICK ASS MOVE ! Marufuji's head bounces off the ramp! Absolutely ruthless! He joins Marufuji on the ramp and goes for another powerbomb, but Marufuji counters with a rana, then lands a thrust kick to the face. Both guys crawl back to the ring, Marufuji barely beating the 20 count. After the stunning start, the match slows down to the regular early pace. Marufuji does some flashy flipping to escape a wristlock and throws a dropkick. He backs into a corner, hurting, but Takaiwa shows no pity, throwing him throat-first on to the ropes. They have some stiff strike exchanges, ending with a short lariat from Takaiwa, which gets a near fall. He spikes Marufuji with a delayed brainbuster, covering with one knee for 2 1/2.

Takaiwa gets jeered when he pushes his knee into Marufuji's face. They scuffle on the outside, Marufuji ramming Takaiwa into the rail. He sends Takaiwa down with another thrust kick, then when he tries to re-enter, dropkick's him off the apron. Marufuji backs off, but dives back out with a running pescado ! Good move. The hellacious bumps continue, an apron struggle leading to Takaiwa suplexing Marufuji over the top ! WOW ! Yet even this doesn't give Marufuji a rest from dying, as he stands up top and Takaiwa lariat's the legs, causing Marufuji to take a NASTY forward fall to the mat ! Takaiwa lands two diving elbow drops on the ailing left knee, then applies an extended figure-four leglock. Takaiwa sits Marufuji up top and tries a spider German suplex, but Marufuji does a HUGE backflip from the top. He sells his knee for a moment, then slides at Takaiwa with a dropkick, so the spider wrap-around backfired for Takaiwa. Good psychology AGAIN. Marufuji goes to the apron at the opposite side of the ring and hits a springboard dropkick to the face (Van Terminator without the chair)! Marufuji isn't able to follow up with a pin, his leg hurting again. NEVER forget an injury. However, he does strike next, connecting with a missile dropkick to Takaiwa's neck for a 2 count. Takaiwa ducks a short-arm lariat and crosses Marufuji's arms around his body, then hits an Aztecan (cross arm) suplex hold for 2 1/2! Marufuji ducks a lariat and in a LIGHTNING FAST instant, seems to spin around and sunset flip's Takaiwa for 2 1/2 ! GREAT pace there. He tries another hurricanrana, but Takaiwa lifts him back up and hits a Death Valley Bomb, hooking a leg deep for 2 3/4 ! He sits Marufuji up top and SENDS HIM TO #### with an avalanche-style Death Valley Bomb, covering with one knee, but repeatedly lifting Marufuji by the hair, so arrogant and confident that this match is his now. That was a VERY sick move.

Takaiwa crosses Marufuji's arms and performs a modified Endless Powerbomb ! Marufuji escapes the third, but Takaiwa TAKES HIS HEAD OFF with a brutal short lariat for 2 1/2 ! The fans are going nuts. They go to the apron, from where Takaiwa sits Marufuji on the top turnbuckle. He joins Marufuji up top and tries to position him for a Death Valley Bomb (to the outside!). Marufuji fights off and drops into the ring, then dropkick's Takaiwa, who is still sat on the top. Marufuji joins him on the top and tries a rana, but Takaiwa blocks it and drags him back up. He jumps off the top with Marufuji, a powerbomb in mind, but Marufuji rana's him RIGHT ON HIS HEAD ! WHAT AN EXCHANGE ! Marufuji superkick's Takaiwa and hits the Shiranui for... 1 ! Marufuji goes to the top and dives on to Takaiwa's shoulders for a rana, but is caught. Takaiwa sends Marufuji back from where he came, VICIOUSLY powerbombing him full speed into the turnbuckles ! MY MOVE ! I HAVE FINALLY SEEN IT ! He applies a Scorpion Deathlock, dragging Marufuji to the center of the ring. Marufuji struggles and reaches the ropes to a pop. Takaiwa tries to re-apply it, but Marufuji counters with an inside cradle for 2 1/2. Marufuji gets fired up and runs... into another super-stiff lariat! Takaiwa hooks a leg for 2 1/2! Takaiwa sits Marufuji on the top and tries a backdrop suplex. Marufuji fights it and counters with a SUPER SHIRANUI ! WHAT THE #### WAS THAT ! Marufuji drags Takaiwa to the corner and goes up. SHOOTING STAR PRESS ! Marufuji hooks a leg and wins.

Winner : Naomichi Marufuji  

Match Rating : *****

Match Comments : GREAT ! GREAT ! GREAT !

[Guest]

I have been handed the top five. Here we go !

 

Number 5

Spike Nail & Barbed Wire Board Death Match for the BJPW Death Match Title

Ryuji Yamakawa © vs. Tomoaki Honma

The two lock up and go to a sequence of amateur wrestling, before standing and struggling for position, with Yamakawa almost being pushed into one of the boards early on. You can FEEL the tension. They start headbutting each other, before Yamakawa lands two consecutive rapid fire legdrops and then goes to the weardown holds. This is different from the last one I reviewed. Honma counters the reverse chinlock with a backdrop suplex and gets a 2 count. Yamakawa is sent towards a board, but hits the mat before reaching it. Honma misses a follow up dropkick and the two square off again. Yamakawa whips the challenger to a barbed wire board but Honma JUMPS ON THE BOARD and BACKFLIP'S OFF IT. WOW !

Yamakawa stares open-mouthed for about three seconds, before realizing where he is and charges, but is caught with a kick. Honma whips the champion back first into one of the boards. Yamakawa tears off flesh getting out of the mess, but is pushed straight back into it. OOHHH ! Honma charges and nails Yamakawa with a high impact elbow dash which nearly sends Honma himself over the top, such is the force. They then go out and fight around the ring, Honma landing some chairshots to the back of the champion. The fans chant "Dai Nihon" (Big Japan) as they brawl through the merchandise area. Still in the crowd, Yamakawa lands a Liger bomb, followed by a delayed vertical suplex on the concrete. OUCH ! Honma walks around all groggy and dazed from having his skull smashed on concrete. They finally return to the ring, where Yamakawa tries to suplex Honma out on to the spike nail board. Instead, Honma gets the upper hands with another of his killer jumping elbow smashes, which sends Yamakawa over the spikes and to the floor. So close. Honma repeats the INSANE/KILLER/GREAT/AMAZING spot from their last match by hitting a tope con hilo over the nails and on to Yamakawa ! Except this time the tope was one of THE best I have ever seen. Credit to him. Honma then pushes Yamakawa's forehead into the nails and he bleeds.

Back in the ring and Honma SWERVEZ the crowd by setting a chair up and lifting Yamakawa, seemingly for a Death Valley Bomb on it. Instead, he hits a Samoan drop, putting Yamakawa through another barbed wire board for 2 1/2 ! Now this is a death match. He eventually escapes, but misses a lariat when Honma does a forward roll to escape it and actually kicks the arm of Yamakawa to make it looks so great. Honma hits an enzuigiri and a loud SMACK can be heard as boot hits head. OUCH ! Honma connects with a lariat and does a flip to sell the impact of him hitting it. He sandwiches Yamakawa between the ring and a barbed wire board, then comes off the top rope with a diving headbutt. He sets up a board across a couple of chairs outside with something suicidal seemingly on the way. Honma steps through the ropes and sits Yamakawa on the top. SUPER RANA from the top and sending him through the barbed wire board outside ! HOLY #### ! Back in the ring and Honma hits two big running elbows for 2 1/2. Both are really slow up, selling the injuries accumulated in the match. Honma hits Fire Thunder for 2 3/4, before Yamakawa fights back with a German suplex. MORE big moves ! Honma blocks a lariat and tries a rolling elbow, but is nailed with a lariat before connecting and is covered for 2 3/4! He goes out and sets up a table next to the spike nail board and puts a barbed wire board on the apron and table, thus propping it up over the nails.

Both struggle on the edge of the ring, Honma blocking Yamakawa's attempts to lift him for the powerbomb. They elbow each other in the face and then Honma skips off the apron, scoops up Yamakawa and POWERBOMB'S HIM THROUGH THE BOARD TO THE NAILS ! WOW ! He follows with another and gets 2 3/4 ! Both get up slow and end up lariating each other, but stay up, their minds dazed. Honma summons everything and hits HIS LIMIT BREAK, THE STIFFEST ELBOW YOU WILL EVER SEE, WHICH WOULD KNOCK OUT ALL OF YAMAKAWA'S FRONT TEETH ! He covers and hooks the leg as much as possible, Tomoaki Honma winning the match.

Winner : Tomoaki Honma

Match Rating : *****

Match Comments : MUCH better than the last death match.

[Guest HopeSpot]

"Tenryu had been dropkicking and working over Mutoh's left knee for a good part of the match - it's the "weak" knee now."

 

What? Mutoh was working Tenryu's knee with dragon screws and drop kicks for #### near five minutes. Tenryu did a dragon screw and a drop kick on Mutoh's knee as a way of telling him to fuck of and get of his god #### leg. Tenryu was making a statement when he was working Mutoh's knee not trying to win the match, so Mutoh not selling the Shining Wizard and hitting the moonsault to win the match worked.

 

And Jubi you've gotten so fucking cyncical I feel like I'm reading the observor, if it's not obscure Joshi you don't like it.

[Guest Jubuki]

"Tenryu had been dropkicking and working over Mutoh's left knee for a good part of the match - it's the "weak" knee now."

 

What?

 

Are we working the Austin crowd participation bit?  I just want to know so I'll know to play along.

 

Mutoh was working Tenryu's knee with dragon screws and drop kicks for #### near five minutes. Tenryu did a dragon screw and a drop kick on Mutoh's knee as a way of telling him to fuck of and get of his god #### leg. Tenryu was making a statement when he was working Mutoh's knee not trying to win the match

 

Maybe I'm totally off base here, but the last I checked, the point of wrestling was to win, yes?  So...if something's in a match and it doesn't lead to opportunities for one wrestler or the other to win, maybe it shouldn't be there...am I right?  So, by your rationale, Tenryu shouldn't have worked the knee.  By my reasoning, Tenryu's work was fine - it was giving him an opening to hit bigger spots - but Mutoh didn't follow up on it by recognizing that it had any effect on him, as many better wrestlers -- Misawa, Kawada, Kobashi, Taue, Hokuto, Aja, Jumbo, Flair, Steamboat, Destroyer, Funk, etc. -- would have, in some small way, in a similar situation.  I thought that was relatively clear from what I said, but I guess I have to be totally transparent with every sentence I write to be understood in these parts.

 

, so Mutoh not selling the Shining Wizard and hitting the moonsault to win the match worked.

 

It worked if you're willing to accept his mediocrity as excellence, sure.  I'm not willing to accept that, I can back up my claims with analysis and evidence, and when I do back them up, I'm "cynical"...no, sorry, kids, I just take the time to understand what I'm seeing - that's it.

 

And Jubi you've gotten so fucking cyncical I feel like I'm reading the observor,

 

Strange that you mention this, considering I often find myself being much less lenient with matches than Meltzer is.  I typically don't read his stuff, but he's been watching for 20+ years and I have some idea of how good a match really is by looking at his track record.  It's amusing you compare me to him; I don't often agree with him, but I know he has some idea of what he's talking about, which is more than I can say for those who enjoy criticizing and can't/don't formulate a half-decent argument outside of "you're cynical," littered with numerous spelling mishaps.

 

if it's not obscure Joshi you don't like it.

 

Oh, is that so?  Well, that's interesting, because it seems I've handed out snowflakes to plenty of stuff aside from Joshi.  In fact, here's the non-Joshi stuff I've rated **** and above that's A) from 2001 or B) been reviewed on my site since the first of the year:

 

American Dragon/Lo-Ki' 2/24/01 & 7/21/01 -- ECWA

Mutoh/Tenryu 6/8/01 -- AJPW (where have I heard of this before?  Hmm...)

Tanaka/Murahama 4/20/01 -- NJPW

Tenzan/Kojima vs. Barton/Steele 12/11/01 -- NJPW

Santo/Casas vs. Ultimo Guerrero/Rey Bucanero 12/15/00 & 11/2/01 -- CMLL

Hansen/Kobashi 7/29/93 -- AJPW

Flair/Tsuruta 4/24/85 -- AJPW

Benoit/Samurai 6/15/93 -- NJPW

Backlund/Takada 12/22/88 -- UWF

Hashimoto/Mutoh 8/15/95 -- NJPW

Misawa/Kobashi 4/19/97 -- AJPW

Kawada/Kobashi 4/19/97 -- AJPW

SUWA/Dragon Kid 8/22/00 -- Toryumon

Tsuruta/Funk 6/11/76 -- AJPW

Santo/Casas 9/19/97 -- CMLL

Mutoh/Chono 8/11/91 -- NJPW

Misawa/Kawada 7/29/93 -- AJPW

 

Hmmm...let's see; that's 19 matches from 6 promotions, each with their own distinct style.  Yep, all I like is that "obscure" Joshi...which is only obscure because those who have good things to say about it only find an audience full of fuckwands, each with the imagination of a doorknob, who can't see past their own biases far enough to understand the difference between decent and great.

[Guest J*ingus]

Or maybe they just like different things than you.  If they loved how Mutoh (no)sold everything, great, it means that it was entertaining and it made sense to them.  

 

So you love your steak medium-rare, great.  Why do you insist that we're stupid if we like ours well done?

[Guest TopSecretMan]

WHY MUST YOU INSIST ON BEING A CRYING BITCH

[Guest HopeSpot]

"I thought that was relatively clear from what I said, but I guess I have to be totally transparent with every sentence I write to be understood in these parts."

 

That's great Jubi, I guess were not big enough wrestling fans for you then?

 

"It worked if you're willing to accept his mediocrity as excellence, sure.  I'm not willing to accept that, I can back up my claims with analysis and evidence, and when I do back them up, I'm "cynical"...no, sorry, kids, I just take the time to understand what I'm seeing - that's it."

 

That was fantastic! I like Mutoh, you don't like Mutoh as simple as that. Mediocrity as excellence? You're so far of base you're insulting my grammar and comparing Mutoh to guys like Steamboat. What you're seeing? You back up your claims with analysis and evidence? It's pro wrestling Jubi not Picasso. I don't know what you've got against Mutoh Jubi. Mutoh's a great worker and if you're to jaded to see that, fine it's not my problem, go watch and Aja Kong match.

 

"Strange that you mention this, considering I often find myself being much less lenient with matches than Meltzer is.  I typically don't read his stuff, but he's been watching for 20+ years and I have some idea of how good a match really is by looking at his track record.  It's amusing you compare me to him;"

 

That pissed me off some-what, compare you to Meltzer? A guy that influenced Bill Watts and whose work is read by everyone from Jericho to Austin to some 40 year old virgin with a site that no one gives a shit about. Yes I compared you to Meltzer Jubi.

 

You actually went through your reviews and found the matches that your rated ****+ just to prove me wrong???!!! Jubi I'm flattered but you really need to get a life.

 

"all I like is that "obscure" Joshi...which is only obscure because those who have good things to say about it only find an audience full of fuckwands, each with the imagination of a doorknob, who can't see past their own biases far enough to understand the difference between decent and great."

 

First of all I don't follow Joshi so it all seems some what obscure to me. And I'm not even going to bother with the rest, I mean it's obvious you're a puro elitist ( a wrestling geek) who knows more about the business than anyone else. I mean if someone disagrees with the all mighty dork on an IknoBoard chatroom they must surely be a mark? Ahh Jubi, I guess I'm just a fuckwand with the imigination of a doorknob. You win Jubi, now start making psuedo intellctual comments so you can prove you're a bigger wrestling fan than I am because I really just don't give a fuck. and FEEEEL FREe TOOOO Insulty my grammar FUCKWAND!!!

[Guest SuicidalAfterBash91]

I'm only just getting in to Puro but I have to say that when something with Mike Barton in it gets the perfect five, this guy's a little wasily pleased or b) I have no idea how good this guy can be and need to get a few of his tapes.

[Guest Black Tiger]

I think a newcomer to Puro should probably wait until they get some more tapes before they start to rate matches. Before you start to rate try to see the following matches, My experience is almost completely Juniors so if someone wants to add some heavy matches then go ahead.

 

Benoit VS Samauri BOSJ 1993

Benoit VS Sasuke J Cup 1994

Dragon VS Ohtani J Crown

Samauri VS Kanemoto BOSJ 1997

Steiners VS Hase/Sasuke NJ Starcade 91

Misawa VS Jumbo Tsuruta 6/9/90

Misawa VS Kawada 6/3/94

Combat Toyota VS Megumi Kudo 5/5/96

 

These are all 4-5 Star matches, the last one is a barbed wire death match, death matches are usualy hated by Workrate fans but this one is AWESOME!

[Guest McLeary]

If I guy wants to rate matches, let him rate matches, and if he's that pleased with everything he's seen so far, then more power to him. If a guy enjoys something, le him enjoy it(if you try to tell him he's wrong he'll just think you're an ass anyway). I wish it was easier for me, but whatevs.

 

That's all I have to say, now Jubuki and Hopespot may continue with the long-winded flaming.

[Guest The Son of Sting]

If I guy wants to rate matches, let him rate matches, and if he's that pleased with everything he's seen so far, then more power to him. If a guy enjoys something, le him enjoy it(if you try to tell him he's wrong he'll just think you're an ass anyway). I wish it was easier for me, but whatevs.

 

Got to agree, telling someone they are wrong because they enjoy something is just plain stupid. They are his ratings so how can they be wrong?

[Guest Ace309]

As someone who hasn't seen much Junior stuff and even less heavyweight stuff, I still think ratings are provisional until someone's seen a lot of stuff. I think all the ***** rankings are a bit dubious, which is maybe a sign that he's just a purohead waiting to happen... but then again, I rate the Barely Legal 6-man ****3/4, Sasuke vs. Lyger J-Cup 2000 ****1/2 and Ohtani/Takaiwa vs. Kanemoto/Tanaka 10/11/99 ****1/2, so hey, kettle, you're black.

[Guest Jubuki]

Or a pothead waiting to happen...