Guest Xias Report post Posted July 14, 2004 From the posts I've read on this board, seems like there's a lot more negativity than positivity around here, so here's a post by the new guy dedicated to positivity. What matches have you seen recently (i.e. that happened recently) that you actually did like? For me, I just saw Kawada vs. Hashimoto for the Triple Crown from AJPW 02/22/04 that really surprised me. I wasn't expecting to like it, and I did, and I'd give it a solid ***1/4-***1/2. It was a good match, with great selling by both men and the psychology was sound. While not an all-time classic or anything, I did get into it and found it to be a good match. My favorite matches of the year so far both come from NOAH's 4/25 show. The Main Event of Kobashi vs. Takayama was an example of an excellent NOAH main event. Sure, the selling is suspect sometimes, but the match is just intense and draws you in if you allow it to (and don't nitpick). I'd give it **** very easily. But that match is outshined by my early pick for MOTY, Misawa/Ogawa vs. Marufuji/KENTA for the GHC Tag Titles. This match tells a very clear story of two underdogs overmatched against the veterans, and everything is worked so well you can just feel the crowd get completely behind Marufuji and KENTA. The work is so sound, the selling so amazing, and the heat by the Budokan fans so great, that everything comes together to make a ****1/2 MOTYC. This is an absolute must-see. So those are mine, what are some of your favorites? -Xias Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tekcop 0 Report post Posted July 14, 2004 I don't watch a whole lot of newer puro. Other than the Hustle shows, the NOAH show with Taue/Nagata would be my most recent one. Anyways, I did like Goldberg/Ogawa from Hustle 1, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ray Report post Posted July 14, 2004 I don't get to see much current stuff (laziness, mostly...). 4/25/04 - Misawa/Ogawa vs. KENTA/Marufuji was amazing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Xias Report post Posted July 14, 2004 4/25/04 - Misawa/Ogawa vs. KENTA/Marufuji was amazing. It really was. It's way too bad that too many people nowadays are just so gung-ho on hating current Misawa and Ogawa in general that they don't know an amazing match when they see it.... -Xias Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted July 14, 2004 4/25/04 - Misawa/Ogawa vs. KENTA/Marufuji was amazing. It really was. It's way too bad that too many people nowadays are just so gung-ho on hating current Misawa and Ogawa in general that they don't know an amazing match when they see it.... -Xias Xias, Honestly I've heard nothing but good things from people about the Misawa/Ogawa v. KENTA/Marafuji 4/25/04 match. It's probably my candidate for the MOTY at least in Japan. I haven't seen everything so it's hard for me to make a total decision. But I would definately say that it is my favorite puro match of the year for sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tekcop 0 Report post Posted July 16, 2004 I don't get to see much current stuff (laziness, mostly...). 4/25/04 - Misawa/Ogawa vs. KENTA/Marufuji was amazing. I just got that show from Lynch. I haven't watched it yet as I also got some recent WWE PPV's and better quality copies of Survivor Series '96 and AAA WWC and I've been watching them. Anyways, is it really as good as its been pimped as? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Black Tiger Report post Posted July 16, 2004 Well you have the tape, so you'll have to watch it and judge for yourself Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JebusNassedar Report post Posted July 16, 2004 I'm going with KENTA/Marufuji Vs. Misawa/Ogawa Favorite moment: The Kawada-style step kicks, running kicks, and Stretch Plum on Misawa. KENTA has balls of steel for pulling that shit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Black Tiger Report post Posted July 16, 2004 I personally prefered Marufuji catching Misawa with the Shiranui on the ramp, and then KENTA catching Ogawa sleeping, with the Busaiku Knee. They hit both their finishers in a span of fifteen seconds Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DangerousKing Report post Posted July 16, 2004 I haven't seen anything from '04 yet, but I sent out an order today for NOAH “Encountering Navigation ‘04” 4/25/04 after hearing all the positive stuff people are saying about it. I would have got it eventually anyway due to the Kobashi/Takayama match but I decided to get it now because I'm hyped up about the tag match. I also should get 2/4/04 Tamura/Kohsaka from U-style next week which I hear is great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 2pacallyps Report post Posted July 16, 2004 My favorite Japanese match this year is easily KENTA/Marufuji vs Misawa/Ogawa. It certainly tops the **** mark and the story is amazing. The way the teams disrespect each other is great. The other good thing is KENTA pulling out Kawada's trademark moves and the way cockiness costs both teams to loose an advantage at certain points in the match. Misawa/Ogawa give enough offense to KENTA/Marufuji to keep them credible but the story I get from the match is when Misawa/Ogawa take the Junior heavyweights seriously they can still decisively beat them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecha Mummy 0 Report post Posted July 16, 2004 Damn. What'd Xias do to get banned so quick? Anyways, I haven't scene any puro from '04 yet, so the most recent puroresu match that I really liked was probably most of the matches from the Toryumon PPV in Yoyogi in December. The only two matches that I can remember as straight-up not being good were Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Araken and the Florida Brothers match, and you don't watch the Florida Brothers for good wrestling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
