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Wrestle Kingdom III at the Tokyo Dome
An Enhanced Review by Kevin Wilson
Date: January 4th, 2009 It is that time of the year again....it is the biggest puroresu event of the year, the New Japan Tokyo Dome show. This is an even bigger show then usual as it is after a great year by New Japan that saw their popularity grow as Mutoh being champion helped freshen up their product. Mutoh was supported by other great feuds (such as Iizuka vs. Tenzan) and the young wrestlers really getting a chance to shine (such as NO LIMIT). It truly was a great year, but what will 2009 bring? Will they be able to continue their momentum in the Tokyo Dome? Here is the complete card: - Averno, Jado, and Gedo vs. Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Prince Devitt As you can see, we have NOAH invading for the first time in years, and also the annual TNA invasion with many of their stars making the trip. Let's get started!
Averno, Jado, and Gedo vs. Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Prince Devitt
Devitt manages to tag in Mistico, who comes in the ring with a top rope crossbody onto Averno and Jado. He then launches himself off of Averno and dropkicks Jado. Mistico charges Averno, Averno sees him coming and back bodydrops him over the top rope but Mistico lands on the apron. Mistico then kicks Averno over the top rope and delivers a swandive headscissors. Averno falls out of the ring, Mistico gets a running start and sails out onto Averno with a crazy tope suicida. In the ring Devitt is getting double teamed, but Taguchi helps him and Devitt hits a missile dropkick on both of them. They fall out of the ring, Taguchi and Devitt go to dive out of the ring on them but they are grabbed and pulled out of the ring instead. Averno and Mistico are back in the ring by now, Mistico goes off the ropes but avoids Averno. Rebound headscissors by Mistico, he goes off the ropes and hits his multiple rotation headscissors (he rotates around one arm instead of the body) which sends Averno out of the ring. Mistico then goes out to the apron and delivers a perfect Asai Moonsault. Back in the ring Jado and Taguchi are battling, and Taguchi delivers a dropkick. He then goes off the side ropes and hits a plancha suicida onto Jado. Jado falls to the other side of the guardrail, and Devitt goes up to the top turnbuckle, jumping off and hitting an insane somersault over the railing onto Jado. Meanwhile Mistico has gotten back in the ring with Averno, Mistico goes for a headscissors but Averno plants him face-first into the mat. Averno charges Mistico but Mistico moves out of the way, Averno back bodydrops Mistico over the top rope but Mistico lands on the apron and kicks him back. He goes for a swandive hurricanrana but Averno catches him and powerbombs Mistico to the mat for a two count. Irish whip by Averno but Mistico avoids his attack. Mistico arrives back on the apron and goes for a moonsault off the top turnbuckle, but Averno rolls out of the way. Mistico lands on his feet and goes for La Magistral, but Averno gets out of it and applies La Magistral himself for a two count. Averno goes off the ropes but Mistico nails La Mistica and Averno submits! Your winners: Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Prince Devitt Match Thoughts: First of all, anyone that says that Jr. Heavyweights can't get a reaction in the Dome clearly haven't seen this match as the crowd was extremely into Mistico. And for good reason, as he hit all his trademarks perfectly. For anyone that doesn't know who Mistico is, a few years ago he was the next big thing in Mexico (still probably is) and a lot of his matches were heavily pimped here in the States. Talk has died down for him a bit due to some injuries he had but his skill level hasn't diminished and he is extremely fun to watch. Anyway, this match was designed to show off Mistico, which it accomplished perfectly, and to get the crowd into the show, which it accomplished as well. Devitt's crazy dive was great, apparently he didn't want Mistico to have the only highlights of the match. Very fun opener. Score: 6.0
Jushin Thunder Liger and Takuma Sano vs. Wataru Inoue and Koji Kanemoto
Back up they trade elbows, Sano hits the sole butt kick, Inoue goes off the ropes and Sano hits a second one. Sano goes up to the top turnbuckle but Inoue is up and joins him. Superplex by Inoue, cover, but it gets a two count. Sano and Inoue trade strikes, but Inoue delivers a spear. Sole butt kick by Sano but Inoue fires back with another spear, and both wrestlers crawl to their corners to tag out. Liger and Kanemoto collide twice with no result, Liger goes for a shotei but Kanemoto ducks, delivering a kick. Kanemoto pushes Liger into the corner and delivers a knee, but when he goes off the ropes Liger nails a shotei. Sano comes in the ring and hits a sole butt kick with Liger following with a shotei. Release German suplex by Sano, Inoue comes in the ring but he eats a dropkick by Sano and Liger. Sano then gets a running start and sails out onto Inoue with a tope suicida. Liger picks up Kanemoto in the ring and goes for a powerbomb, but Kanemoto goes down his back and rolls him up for a two count. Liger goes for a brainbuster but Kanemoto again slides down his back and slaps on the ankle lock. Sano finally makes the save but Inoue comes in to retrieve him, while in the ring Kanemoto slams Liger in front of the corner and delivers a moonsault. Cover, but Liger kicks out. Kanemoto picks up Liger, but Sano gets in the ring and he is double teamed. Northern Lights Bomb by Sano onto Kanemoto, Liger then picks him Kanemoto and hits a brainbuster. Cover, but Kanemoto gets a shoulder up. Liger picks up Kanemoto, he puts him onto the top turnbuckle and nails an avalanche brainbuster. Cover, and he picks up the three count. Your winners: Jushin Thunder Liger and Takuma Sano Match Thoughts: I will go ahead and be that whiny person, since Liger is one of my favorite wrestlers ever. Liger deserved a better match to be billed as his 20th Anniversary match. This not only wasn't a good match, but it was just not made to be a big deal at all. Not only was it the second match on the card, but it was a short match against two opponents that really do nothing to represent Liger's career (yea, he has wrestled both before, but they weren't his heated rivals for the bulk of it). I'd rather have his 20th Anniversary match be the main event of a smaller show then celebrated at the Tokyo Dome in such unspectacular faction. Rant aside, the match was still below average as Sano didn't have any chemistry with Inoue or Kanemoto and there were a few miscommunications that dragged down the match. Kanemoto was in control but then the magic signal was given, Sano comes in the ring and you have a quick finishing stretch with little heat or build up to it. Really disappointing. Score: 4.0
(c) Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito vs. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin
Naito tags in Yujiro, Irish whip by Yujiro to Sabin and he hits a powerslam. Yujiro then Irish whips Shelley and he gives him a powerslam as well for a two count, he picks up Shelley immediately in a gutwrench hold and slams him to the mat again. Leg drop by Yujiro and he hits a lariat with Shelley sitting up on the mat for a two count cover. Yujiro picks up Shelley and goes for the Intercollege Slam, but Shelley reverses it into a pin for a two count. Kick combination by Shelley but Yujiro catches one and drops Shelley on his head with an overhead suplex. Yujiro goes off the ropes but Shelley ducks the lariat and applies a backslide for a two count. Backdrop suplex by Shelley, he goes off the ropes but Yujiro catches him with a lariat. Both wrestlers make the tag to their partners, Sabin and Naito trade blows but Naito wins the battle with a powerslam. Irish whip by Yujiro to Sabin to the corner and Naito hits a catapult dropkick. Naito goes up to the top turnbuckle and delivers a missile dropkick, he picks up Sabin and hits a German suplex hold for a two count. Double Irish whip to Sabin but Shelley runs back in the ring and rescues his partner. Shelley drops Naito with a neckbreaker but Yujiro hits Shelley with a spinning side slam. Sabin has recovered and connects with a springboard DDT to Yujiro, Irish whip by Sabin to Naito but Naito hits a jumping elbow strike. Naito picks up Sabin, scoop slam, he goes up to the top turnbuckle but Shelley runs in the ring and puts Naito in the Tree of Woe. Shelley back up but Yujiro grabs him, but Sabin runs over and kicks Yujiro. He then turns his attention to Naito and nails the Hesitation Dropkick. Sabin gets Naito out of the Tree of Woe, but Naito fights off Shelley and Sabin. Yujiro comes back in the ring and hits a Waterwheel Suplex onto Shelley, they pick up Sabin, Irish whip, and deliver their swinging slam for a two count when Shelley breaks it up. Naito picks up Sabin, scoop slam, he goes for the Stardust Press but Sabin rolls out of the way. Yujiro runs in the ring but Sabin drops him with a cutter. Sabin then waits for Naito to get up and with Shelley they nail simultaneous superkicks. Cover by Sabin, but it gets a two count. Sabin picks up Naito and puts him onto the second turnbuckle, and with Shelley they nail the Made in Detroit. Cover, and Sabin picks up the three count! Your winners and new champions: Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin Match Thoughts: A really fun and exciting match. I still remember back in 2002 or so, Sabin was heavily praised by a columnist and promoter from Michigan (Jim Hall) that wrote for 1wrestling.com back in the day. And from the first time I saw Sabin in TNA back in 2003, I completely agreed with him. If you haven't seen them before, Sabin and Shelley are really fun to watch, and here was more of the same. They didn't seem at all nervous wrestling in front of the largest crowd in their careers, and they hit their moves flawlessly. NO LIMIT are great as well, and together they put together a really exciting title match. I have no problem with the Motor City Machine Guns winning the championships as that means I will get to see more of them down the line. Not much for long term selling or anything like that, but they wrestled bell to bell and there was never a dull moment. I loved it. Score: 7.5
(c) Low Ki vs. Tiger Mask
Low Ki falls outside the ring but Tiger Mask goes up to the top turnbuckle and sails out onto him with a plancha suicida. Tiger Mask rolls back into the ring with Low Ki slowly following, kicks by Tiger Mask in the corner and he charges Low Ki, but Low Ki elbows him back. Tidal Krush by Low Ki, cover, but Tiger Mask gets a foot on the bottom rope. Low Ki drags Tiger Mask to his feet and front slam from a backdrop suplex position. Cover, but it gets a two count. Low Ki positions Tiger Mask in front of the corner, he goes up to the second turnbuckle but Tiger Mask rolls out of the way of the Warrior's Way. Back kick by Tiger Mask and he delivers a running kick in the corner. Tiger Mask puts Low Ki up on the top turnbuckle before joining him, but Low Ki pushes him off. Warrior's Way by Low Ki, cover, but Tiger Mask barely kicks out in time. Low Ki applies the Dragon Sleeper but Tiger Mask muscles out of it and drives Low Ki into the corner. Tiger Mask goes for the Millennium Suplex but Low Ki pushes out of it. Low Ki attempts another Ki Krusher but Tiger Mask slides down his back and nails the Millennium Suplex! Cover, but Low Ki kicks out. Tiger Mask picks up Low Ki and hits a Tiger Suplex Hold, but again Low Ki gets a shoulder up. Tiger Mask calls for the end of the match, he picks up Low Ki and debuts a modified Tiger Suplex Hold for the three count pinfall! Your winner and new champion: Tiger Mask Match Thoughts: A read some people knocking this match, but I don't see it. It had a really hot start, a solid middle, and a decisive ending. It was a little too short for a title match (around 8 minutes), but Tiger Mask actually looked motivated which doesn't happen too often and both wrestlers hit their moves very crisply. Tiger Mask did a good job making the belt seem important by hitting all his big moves and then inventing one just to keep Low Ki down for the three count. Its a shame that this was Low Ki's last New Japan match for the time being as he helped freshen up things quite a bit and he can go in the ring. Nothing that will be memorable in the long run due to its length, but it was still an entertaining match with two wrestlers that work very well together. Score: 6.5
Riki Choshu, Chono, Kurt Angle, and Kevin Nash vs. Giant Bernard, Iizuka, Ishii, and Karl Anderson
Choshu tries to find someone to tag him, but only Chono takes him up on the offer. Atomic drop by Chono onto Anderson, cover, but it gets a two count. Chono tags in Angle, double Irish whip to Anderson and they shoulderblock him to the mat. Vertical suplex by Angle, cover, but it gets a two count. Angle picks up Anderson but Anderson grabs the ropes to force a break. Anderson tries to fight back but Angle punches him down to the mat. Stomps by Angle, he picks up Anderson and tags in Choshu. Anderson drives Choshu back to his corner and tags in Bernard, and Bernard hits a series of shoulder tackles in the corner. Bernard picks up Choshu, he slams him in front of the corner and delivers the reverse splash for a two count. Bernard tags in Iizuka, who punches Choshu in the corner. All the members of GBH get in the ring and they hit running strikes on Choshu in the corner, but Choshu kicks Anderson back when Anderson goes for his. Choshu goes off the ropes and nails the lariat onto Anderson, cover, but Bernard breaks it up. Nash runs (!) across the ring to take out Bernard, and they brawl outside the ring. Back in the ring Angle is tagged in, and he knocks down Anderson before hitting German suplexes onto Iizuka and Ishii. Angle applies the ankle lock with a grapevine to Anderson, and Anderson taps out! Your winners: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle, and Kevin Nash Post match: Bernard gives Angle the Bernard Driver, showing that the rivalry is far from over. Match Thoughts: This is a staple of the Tokyo Dome, always has been, so no real point in complaining about it too loudly. Yes, seven minutes is not enough time for an eight man tag match, but for what it was the match was fine. While I did chuckle at Nash shaking his head when Choshu asked for the tag, he did wrestle the first section of the match so he wasn't refusing to work. It just wasn't his turn. Anderson seemed the most out of place so naturally he got pinned, and overall it was pointless but watchable which is more then I was expecting. Score: 4.5
(c) Yuji Nagata vs. Masato Tanaka
Nagata and Tanaka slowly get up, knees by Nagata and Tanaka falls to the mat. Hard kicks to the chest by Nagata but Tanaka catches one and the two trade elbows. Tanaka goes off the ropes, big boot by Nagata but Tanaka fires back with a lariat. Both wrestlers slowly get up and they trade headbutts and elbows while on their knees. Back up, knee by Nagata and he nails a Dragon Screw Neck Whip. Nagata picks up Tanaka and goes for a suplex, but Tanaka gets out of it and delivers a Sliding D to the back of Nagata's head. Running lariat by Tanaka in the corner and he delivers the Diamond Dust. Lariat by Tanaka, cover, but it gets a two count. Jumping elbow to the back of the head by Tanaka, he puts Nagata onto the top turnbuckle and hits an avalanche backdrop suplex. Cover, but Nagata gets a shoulder up. Tanaka sits Nagata up and nails the Sliding D, cover, but Nagata kicks out. He goes for a second one and hits it, but again Nagata won't stay down as he grabs Tanaka's arm and applies the Demon Armbar. Tanaka inches to the ropes and finally reaches them to force the break, enzigieri by Nagata and he hits a backdrop suplex. Cover, but it gets a two count. Nagata waits for Tanaka to get up and kicks him right in the head, backdrop suplex by Nagata, he waits for Tanaka to get up and delivers the backdrop suplex hold for the three count. Your winner and still champion: Yuji Nagata Match Thoughts: Not quite as good as their last match but still entertaining. I was hoping Tanaka would kick out of the backdrop suplex hold and Nagata would do something else to get the win, as that is the exact same combination (including the reaction from Tanaka) that they did a few months ago. They seemed to transition too quickly to change control, but its possible that since they had less time then they had before that the wrestlers felt a little rushed to get in the spots they wanted to. They were really stiff with each other, which was great fun, and the blood always makes matches seem more intense. Definitely a very good match, they were just a victim of the time constraints that is always a problem at the Tokyo Dome. Score: 6.5
Manabu Nakanishi vs. Jun Akiyama
Club to the back by Nakanishi, Irish whip, but Akiyama applies a standing front facelock. Nakanishi pushes Akiyama back into the ropes to force a break, but Akiyama knees Nakanishi in the chest. Another knee by Akiyama and he delivers an exploder, cover, but it gets a two count. Grounded front facelock by Akiyama but Nakanishi muscles out of it. Elbows by Nakanishi, Irish whip, and he delivers a lariat. Nakanishi picks up Akiyama and chops him into the corner, Irish whip, and he hits another lariat. Verticals suplex throw by Nakanishi and he hits a knee drop, cover, but it gets a two count. Nakanishi picks up Akiyama and applies a waistlock, but Akiyama elbows out of it. Akiyama and Nakanishi trade chops, Akiyama kicks Nakanishi back into the corner, Irish whip, he goes for a jumping knee but Nakanishi catches him and throws him to the mat. German suplex by Nakanishi, cover, but Akiyama gets a foot on the ropes. Nakanishi goes up to the top turnbuckle but Akiyama recovers and joins him. Avalanche exploder by Akiyama, but Nakanishi recovers and applies an Argentine Backbreaker. Akiyama gets out of it with a DDT, jumping knees by Akiyama and he hits another exploder, cover, but it gets a two. Akiyama picks up Nakanishi and hits a third exploder, but Nakanishi kicks out at one. Jumping knee by Akiyama, but Nakanishi won't stay down. Akiyama drags Nakanishi to his feet and nails a wrist-clutch exploder, cover, and he finally gets the three count. Your winner: Jun Akiyama Match Thoughts: A real up and down match, I enjoyed parts of it but others fell flat. Nakanishi no-selling some of Akiyama's big moves, such as the avalanche exploder, was ridiculous and took away from some of my enjoyment for the match as it was just too "out there" for my head to wrap around. I also thought they had too many strike exchanges as that isn't Nakanishi's strong suit. On the plus side it was fine when Akiyama was controlling the match and Nakanishi had a lot of fire. I also thought the ending was well done, it showed Nakanishi being tough but he still wasn't able to overcome all of Akiyama's moves. Akiyama is a favorite of mine but this match wasn't as good as I was hoping. Score: 5.0
(c) Togi Makabe and Yano vs. “Team 3D” Brother Ray and Brother Devon
Eye rake by Makabe and he Irish whips Devon into the bare turnbuckle. Ray runs into the ring to try to help, but Devon gets cut off. Irish whip by Makabe to Devon to the corner but Devon avoids Yano and knocks down Makabe. This gives him time to tag in Ray, and Ray punches down both Yano and Makabe. Back bodydrops by Ray, he picks up Makabe, Irish whip to the corner and he hits a running body splash followed by a side slam. Cover, but it gets a two count. Makabe hits a low blow onto Ray before knocking Devon off the apron, he then gets a trash can (with Yano) and they hit Ray in the head with the trash can. They go off the rope but Ray knocks them both down with a double lariat. Ray comes in the ring and they hit a double chokeslam onto Yano, and they then hit an assisted neckbreaker onto Makabe. Double Irish whip to Makabe, but Makabe ducks the lariat and spears Devon while Yano spears Ray. Cover by Yano but it gets a two count. All four men battle in the ring until Ray dumps Yano outside. Ray hits Makabe in the head with a trash can lid, he then slams Makabe to the mat and hits the WAZZUP on him with Devon. Devon goes outside the ring and slides in a table, but they are attacked from behind while they set it up. Makabe and Yano grab Ray and they flapjack Ray through the table. Cover by Makabe but it gets a two count. They get another table and set it up, but Devon has recovered and knocks down Yano. Makabe hits a lariat onto Devon, cover, but it gets a two count. Makabe puts Devon onto the table and goes up to the top turnbuckle, but Ray has recovered. Ray grabs Makabe and powerbombs him through the table, body press by Ray but it gets a two count. Team 3D goes off the ropes but Yano grabs Ray from the floor while Makabe hits a powerslam onto Devon for a two count. Yano returns to the ring while Makabe gets his chain, Makabe grabs the chain around his arm but when Yano tries to Irish whip Devon into Makabe, Devon reverses it and Makabe accidentally hits Yano with the chain. School boy by Devon, but it gets a two count. Makabe knocks down Devon, he grabs the chain around his arm and goes for the lariat, but Devon ducks it and with Ray they nail the 3D! Cover by Ray and he picks up the three count! Your winners and new champions: Team 3D Match Thoughts: Obviously I wasn't thrilled with Team 3D winning, but with TenKoji pulling out just days before the event I don't know how much that changed their plans. This wasn't very good, Team 3D I thought used to be really entertaining back in the day and have had moments since then, but they looked worn out here. Actually soon after this it was announced that Brother Ray was taking a break from wrestling due to wear and tear, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. All four wrestlers were trying hard, the effort was there, but the action itself was pretty lackluster. They also over-did the weapons, I like the use of the tables but the trash can lids really need to go away for at least a few years. Overall it was pretty flat and I am not sure where they will go from here with champions that don't tour and one that will be out for an undetermined amount of time. Score: 4.0
Shinsuke Nakamura and Hirooki Goto vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Takashi Sugiura
Sugiura boots Nakamura off the apron, he puts Goto onto the top rope before knocking Nakamura off the apron again and then suplexing Goto. Cover, but it gets a two count. Irish whip by Sugiura to the corner and he hits a shoulder tackle followed by an over head suplex. Cover, but Nakamura kicks out. Gutwrench suplex by Sugiura, he picks up Goto, waistlock, reversed, Sugiura kicks Goto back, Sugiura goes off the ropes and they trade misdirection rope running until Goto delivers a lariat. This gives Goto time to tag in Nakamura. Nakamura kicks Misawa off the apron before suplexing Sugiura to the mat. Cover by Nakamura but it gets two. Nakamura picks Sugiura in the legs and chest before pushing him back into the corner, Irish whip, reversed, but Nakamura boots Sugiura when he charges in. Nakamura goes after Sugiura but Sugiura blocks his kick and slams him into the turnbuckles. Misawa then comes in and Misawa hits an elbow in the corner followed by an Sugiura shoulder tackle. Diving body press by Misawa, and Sugiura applies the ankle lock to Nakamura. Nakamura struggles for a moment but he eventually gets a hand on the ropes. Sugiura picks up Nakamura and hits a German suplex hold, he then rolls through it and delivers a dragon suplex hold for a two count. Sugiura goes for the Olympic Slam, but Nakamura pushes him into Goto who nails the Shouten! Misawa comes in the ring and plants Goto with the Emerald Frosion, but Nakamura grabs Misawa and hits the Landslide. Nakamura and Sugiura are left in the ring, and they trade elbows. They then trade slaps, Nakamura goes for a sleeper but Sugiura gets out of it and knocks out Nakamura with a knee to the face. Sugiura drags Nakamura to his feet and hits the Olympic Slam, cover, but Nakamura barely gets a shoulder up. Sugiura picks up Nakamura and goes for it again, but Nakamura arm drags out of it. Nakamura goes for the Landslide but Sugiura slides out of it and hits a German suplex. Nakamura quickly gets back to his feet however, high kick by Nakamura, and when Sugiura goes for a lariat he grabs his arm and applies the cross armbreaker! Sugiura tries to get to the ropes but he isn't able to reach them and is forced to tap out! Your winners: Shinsuke Nakamura and Hirooki Goto Match Thoughts: A great match, as all four wrestlers played their roles perfectly but for once the time constraint helped as it didn't seem too short but it left you wanting more. Sugiura and Goto were on fire, probably realizing that they were not the focus of the match they decided to make sure that people noticed them by putting on a great show. The Nakamura and Misawa exchanges were well done, with Misawa winning when it came to elbows (as it should have) but with Nakamura getting the last laugh when he planted Misawa with the Landslide. The only knock on the match is Goto's strikes were not anywhere near as impressive as Sugiura's or Misawa's, but that is due to a different style of training so I don't hold that against him. Hopefully this isn't the end of New Japan vs. NOAH, as this match had the most excitement of any match so far as all four wrestlers worked hard to positively represent their respective promotions. Score: 8.0
(c) Keiji Mutoh vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
He finally makes it back in at 14, but Mutoh promptly dropkicks him in the knee. Tanahashi slides out to the apron, but Mutoh dropkicks him in the knee again. Tanahashi stands up, but Mutoh grabs his leg and delivers a dragon screw leg whip with his leg on the second rope, pulling Tanahashi back into the ring. Dragon screw leg whip by Mutoh and he slaps on the figure four leg lock. After a minute or so Tanahashi makes it to the ropes, so Mutoh breaks the hold and dropkicks Tanahashi in the knee. He goes for another dragon screw but Tanahashi slaps him and the two trade blows. Mutoh dropkicks Tanahashi in the knee but Tanahashi fires right back with his own dropkick to the knee. They trade dropkicks again, Tanahashi goes for a kick but Mutoh catches his leg and hits a dragon screw leg whip. Dropkick to the knee by Mutoh while Tanahashi is lying on the mat, he waits for Tanahashi to get up and hits a dragon screw leg whip before applying the figure four leg lock again. Again Tanahashi makes it to the ropes and Mutoh has to break the hold, Mutoh goes up to the second turnbuckle and dropkicks Tanahashi in the leg. Mutoh grabs Tanahashi's leg but Tanahashi slaps him away. Waistlock by Tanahashi, Mutoh blocks the suplex so Tanahashi delivers a chop block. Tanahashi picks up Mutoh and delivers a series of elbows and kicks, scoop slam in front of the corner and he hits a rolling senton off the second turnbuckle. Cover, but Mutoh has a foot on the second rope. Tanahashi picks up Mutoh and hits an uppercut, Irish whip by Tanahashi to the corner, reversed, and Mutoh knocks Tanahashi out with a Shining Wizard. Mutoh grabs Tanahashi's leg and hits a dragon screw leg whip, he goes for his trio of Shining Wizards (front, back, and finishing one to the front) but Tanahashi blocks the third one and elbows Mutoh in the knee. Texas Cloverleaf attempt by Tanahashi, but Mutoh blocks it. Elbow drops by Tanahashi and he dropkicks Mutoh in the leg. Tanahashi goes off the ropes and hits the Sling Blade, cover, but Mutoh gets a shoulder up. Tanahashi goes for the dragon suplex, Mutoh blocks it, but Tanahashi connects with the trapped German suplex for a two count. Tanahashi goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits the High Fly Flow, but he hit his knee on the landing and can't cover. Both wrestlers slowly get up, Mutoh hits a Shining Wizard but Tanahashi fires back with a Sling Blade. Both wrestlers slowly get up, dropkick to the knee by Mutoh but Tanahashi ducks the Shining Wizard and delivers another Sling Blade. Tanahashi goes back up to the top turnbuckle but Mutoh has recovered and he grabs Tanahashi, hitting a dragon screw leg whip from the top turnbuckle down to the mat. Shining Wizard by Mutoh, cover, but Tanahashi manages to kick out. Mutoh goes up to the top turnbuckle to try a dropkick, but his knees buckle, causing him to drop down into the ring. Mutoh dropkicks Tanahashi in the knee anyway and hits a dragon screw leg whip, and he re-applies the figure four. The referee grabs the referee as he asks him if he wants to give up, but he manages to get to the ropes as the crowd roars its approval. Mutoh grabs Tanahashi, he puts his legs onto the top rope and hits the dragon screw neck whip. Mutoh runs at Tanahashi to do a Shining Wizard but Tanahashi reverses it with a hurricanrana for a two count. Mutoh picks up Tanahashi and goes for the dragon screw neck whip again, but Tanahashi reverses positions with him and hits a dragon screw neck whip of his own. Tanahashi is fired up as he drags Mutoh to his feet, German suplex hold by Tanahashi but he can't hold the bridge due to his injured knee. Mutoh rolls to his feet but Tanahashi grabs him and hits the dragon suplex hold for a two count. Tanahashi goes off the ropes and hits the Sling Blade, he goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits the High Fly Flow. He quickly jumps to his feet and goes for a second one, but Mutoh rolls out of the way and hits a Shining Wizard. Mutoh quickly goes up to the top turnbuckle but he didn't take the time to position Tanahashi and Tanahashi easily rolls out of the way of the moonsault. Tanahashi goes up top and hits the High Fly Flow to Mutoh's back, and as Mutoh rolls over Tanahashi nails a final High Fly Flow for the three count! Your winner and new champion: Hiroshi Tanahashi Match Thoughts: Epic. This match was everything that it should have been. Mutoh has used the same basic formula to win hundreds of matches, and it looks like it will work here as well as he completely destroys Tanahashi's knee in more ways then one could imagine. Tanahashi though doesn't stay down, and Mutoh makes the mistake that has cost him big matches in the past... going for the moonsault at the wrong time as a desperation move. Tanahashi quickly capitalized on Mutoh's mistake, and the ending stretch of the match was almost perfect as Tanahashi defeated his former mentor for the first time. They had a few mishaps, which always happens in a match that is over 30 minutes long, but for the vast majority of the time they were very focused on what they were doing and both knew how important this match was not only for the promotion but for Tanahashi. I could write a paper about the things I liked in this match, but I'll give you a couple examples. I thought it was smart that Tanahashi went for Mutoh's leg, due to Mutoh's well known leg issues. I always appreciate it when wrestlers incorporate injuries into their normal spots, such as when Tanahashi was too hurt to cover after the first High Fly Flow and when he can't hold the bridge on the German suplex due to his knee. Mutoh's leg work generally sets up two things: the figure four and the Trio of Shining Wizards, and here he tried both of those, but Tanahashi got out of it both times. I know some people don't like it, but Mutoh hitting the same moves repeatedly (such as the dragon screw) makes too much sense in the story of the match for me not to appreciate it, if he is trying to weaken Tanahashi's leg what move would be better? Plus he hit at least five different variations of the move in the match as he fit it into any situation. The crowd being extremely into it helped, as I don't think 10 seconds passed when someone in the crowd didn't yell something and they popped for the parts they were expected to. Not the nuclear heat you can get in smaller locations, but they were definitely vocal. I loved it, as I've always enjoyed Mutoh's methodical style of putting his opponent away and Tanahashi provided plenty of flash and selling to help keep the crowd into it. Great way to start the new year for New Japan. Score: 9.0
Final Thoughts: Highly Recommended review completed on 1/11/09 |
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