Kazunari Murakami

[Nevermortal]

I need som edcuated Puro opinions on this guy. I've read that he's a total bitchmaster in the ring ala Ohtani, and quite frankly, I'm a big mark for Ohtani.

 

So yeah, is he any good? And does he mainly wrestle a 'shoot' style because of his Judo background?

[Guest Black Tiger]

Murakami is best described as Shinjiro Ohtani crossed with Bruiser Brody. Murakami has all the skills of a great wrestler like Ohtani and in terms of being a "bitchmaster" he probably does it a lot better than Ohtani.

 

Murakami doesn't really use his skills that often and just relates to brawling ala Brody.

[Nevermortal]

Any recommended matches, BT? And do you know if any site sells a Best of tape (besides RF)?

[Guest Black Tiger]

I don't know of any sites off hand but you can have one custom made by Jeff Lynch. I can only recommend one match to you. I haven't really dwelled into the career of Murakami.

 

Try Strong Style Symphony they can help you out with some good Murakami matches. The only good one I know is Murakami/Ogawa vs Iizuka/Hashimoto from 1/4/00

[Guest RickyChosyu]

I'm not a big fan of Murakami, especially when comparing him to someone like Ohtani. The problem with Murakami is that he has no wrestling ability to go along with his attitude. With classic Ohtani, you've got amazing wrestling ability and work ethic combined with his strong personality and dramatic selling. It's the entire package that allowed Ohtani to become such a great wrestler. If you go in expecting Ohtani-like performances from Murakami, you'll probably be dissapointed.

 

If I were to name someone who reminds me the most of Ohtani, it would probably be American Dragon. He brings the theatrical bumping, prickish undertones, high end offense, and focused work that Ohtani was known for at his peak as a worker in 1996.