Superstar Sleeze

Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Jun Akiyama & KENTA - NOAH 10/03/09 The Holy Demon Army reunites to pay tribute to their great rival and compatriot, Mitsuharu Misawa. Unfortunately, Kenta Kobashi is unable to compete and KENTA has been selected to take his place as Akiyama's partner. Unlike the emotion of the Kobashi return match in 2007, the mood is very somber and it is hard to fist pump at the action like in that match. Still, it is very enjoyable to see Kawada and Taue return face off against Akiyama and KENTA. The match is wrestled closer to the classic All Japan tag style with KENTA in the asshole heel role and playing it perfectly. Kawada/KENTA would have actually been a great match they could built to in 2010 and actually would have been a nice retirement feud for him. KENTA throws out any notion this may face vs face when he slaps Kawada in the ropes and pulls his head down to hit Kawada Kicks on the man who made them famous. This draws Oooooooooooos from the crowd and wild, stiff slaps from Kawada. KENTA is not going to shy from the moment and Kawada is not going to let him away with such a slight. A really good opening. I thought the Akiyama strike exchange that they lost a little bit. Taue gets a deep, deep ab stretch and I love how Kawada follows that by grabbing KENTA's leg while he is in the ab stretch to apply his signature single half crab. There was no way he was going to let KENTA slip through his fingers. My major hang up in this match is that KENTA was sort of treated like he was Kobashi. He was shooting Taue in the ropes, deadweighting him on a powerbomb and backdropping out of it. Respect size differences and be creative and work around them, Akiyama hits an exploder on Taue and this turns the match in favor of Akiyama & KENTA. I love this sequence and it is just so All Japan. Kawada breaks up a pretty snug chinlock by Akiyama on Taue. In a normal tag match, no harm, no foul. KENTA comes in and his misdirection big boot right in Kawada's face. He blasts him off the apron and then keeps attacking him. KENTA returns and figure-4s Taue head. Now Kawada is hot and kneedrops KENTA in the face. I love the perpetuation of violence. Kawada tagged in and KENTA goes to cut him off at the pass and Kawada just overwhelms him with wicked chops and kicks even Kawada Kicks! STRETCH PLUM!!! Akiyama senses end might be near and hits Kawada with an exploder and Kawada is double teamed. He hits a couple knee lifts and collapses into a Taue tag. I like how KENTA uses his high flying offense to keep Taue off balance and set up his quick big boots. It was a creative, credible way to get Taue vulnerable and leverage KENTA's fast paced offense in logical fashion. KENTA hits his exploding knee to get a nearfall on Taue. Kawada comes in to block a Go 2 Sleep and he wipes him out with a wicked jumping head kick. It was awesome. NODOWA~! to Akiyama. KENTA is left for the pickings. Taue hits a Tiger Driver in honor of Misawa and just like MIsawa he only gets a two count. Kawada/Taue Backdrop Driver/Nodowa on KENTA gets a nearfall and then Taue hits the backdrop driver Nodowa solo version for the win, This is a really great tribute match to the All Japan 90s style where there is great struggle between teams for the victory. KENTA really made this something special with his energy and being a prick. Unfortunately, I felt like Akiyama was just there to hit Exploders to cause turning points. Taue was a fun feel good wrestler, whose Nodowa was the counterpoint to Akiyama's exploder. It was Kawada that really took the match to the next level because he was going to kick this punk kid's ass and teach him some respect. That is at the cornerstone of so many early 90s All Japan tags. It is a fun sprint feel and especially with the great compact finish run. It is a MOTYC for 2009, but just the next rung down. ****1/4

Kensuke Office (Sasaki, Nakajima, Okita, Miyahara) vs Burning (Kobashi, KENTA, Aoki, Ito) - KO 8/17/08 The long running Kobashi/Sasaki feud finally comes to a head in an elimination gauntlet match which sees two members of each team start in a tag match and a one member replacing the fallen member of their team. Going into this match, Kobashi/KENTA went to a 30 minute draw with Sasaki and Nakajima. Now each side takes two young lions under its wings and we see if Burning or Kensuke Office is better. Kensuke Office sends out its two weakest wrestlers. Okita and Miyahara. I believe Miyahara has had a quite year for himself this year in All Japan taking on Akiyama, but this being a rookie year I was not expecting much. Okita I think has an American football gimmick as he is built like Sasaki, but does a lot of shoulder tackles. Miyahara's offense was pretty basic and his selling was good, but in the role of rookie getting his ass beat and making a comeback I have seen better. KENTA and Aoki start for Burning and they are awesome as the heel prick tag team. I really enjoyed this opening 15 minute contest. KENTA was a violent bully and a Aoki cocky asshole who normally would get his ass beat, but has confidence bolstered by KENTA's presence. I was worried about the hot tag, but Okita was great with all his shoulder tackles. KENTA sticks up his knee and Okita runs into it, which was a good spot. Aoki gets a double wristlock on him, but they go with an extended finish with Miyahara trying to prove himself, but his offense is pretty basic and it is not the same as the awesome Miyahara or Shiga performances. Aoki forces the submission with an armbar. I liked this opening a good deal and would have given it. ***1/2 just for that. Kensuke Office elects to send out its heavy hitter Kensuke Sasaki to stop the bleeding. The KENTA/Sasaki showdown with Kensuke repeatedly throwing down Aoki was fucking awesome and the best part of the match. Sasaki destroys KENTA with a lariat. Sasaki applies a Boston Crab to Aoki to force a submission. Just like that it is not only tied, but I would say Kensuke Office has a slight lead. Ito, who I have never heard of, comes in and becomes tangled in the streams drawing audible laughter from me and the crowd. Kensuke bowls him over to eliminate him, which means Burning is down to its last two. However, Sasaki looks gassed and needs Okita to come in, but here comes Kobashi. Okita try as he might with an early double takedown was no match for the Almighty Kobashi. Kobashi eliminates with a sleeper. Going into the final match, we have KENTA spent, but basically just had a ten minute respite. Sasaki a bit worn, but in overall good health. Kobashi expended little to no energy and Nakajima is fresh as a daisy. Guess what that first 25 minutes barely has any bearing on this match. Which begs the question why didn't they just do this tag match instead of having the jabronis? Surprisingly even though this was 5 minutes longer than the previous tag match, I liked this one better because of KENTA's selling and the general urgency of the wrestlers in trying to win the match. The beginning is the usual establishing that these two teams are very very equal. The victory will come in how the heavyweight vs junior heavyweight contests go. Kobashi forces Nakajima to come in, but Nakajima being relatively fresh weathers the storm and forces Kobashi into the Kobashi corner to tag in KENTA. I would say that is a considerable victory for Kensuke Office. Nakajima and KENTA fire off some wicked stiff slaps and I actually get pretty into it. Nakajima wins and tags Sasaki in. That's the turning point, Sasaki consolidates it by mauling KENTA and now Kensuke Office looks fully in command. Already, the match feels more important with each segment having consequence. Plus Nakajima seems really motivated. I really liked this beatdown on KENTA and constant attacks on Kobashi on the apron. It was not as good as a BatBat tag, but it felt like a full court press. KENTA wins a suplex struggle by hanging Nakajima out to dry and Kobashi holds him as he hits his kneedrop. I liked that transition and a fresh Kobashi kicks Nakajima's ass on the outside. I thought the Nakajima heat segment went on too long, but KENTA was selling so psychologically sound that I was so pumped. Whenever he did not want to be tagged in he would drop to the floor, but he sensed Kobashi was getting tired he would tag in and hit the chinlock so as to keep Nakajima under control and regain his own energy. Then he would tag back out. That was really superb shit. Kobashi worked strong with some tight submission holds, but lacked the urgency of the others. I think more Nakajima hope spots could have saved this. KENTA finally feels ready to hit some big moves to take Nakajima out, but Nakajima sweeps the leg and tags in Sasaki. SASAKI DESTROYS KENTA~! Again, Nakajima weathering the storm sets Sasaki up to maul KENTA and put Kensuke Office in control. However, KENTA snaps off a powerslam and we get the dreaded Kobashi/Sasaki matchup. Once the Kobashi/Sasaki is over, KENTA and Nakajima just trade highspots with each other. It is fast and frantic, but the moves lack consequence because no long term selling. I loved Nakajima's Germans and his rainbow kick looked great. Nakajima PINS KENTA!!!!!! WAHOO~! The match just ends even though Kobashi was never eliminated. They could not do a Sasaki/Kobashi double countout so KENTA and Nakajima could take the main spot. It really feels like a major deal for Nakajima and should have kicked off the best Junior Matches of the Decade, but those turned out to be disappointing. I hate how the first 25 minutes really had no bearing on the last 35 minutes, but the first 15 minutes was pretty good. Also this tag match was definitely the better version than one from the previous month. All the wrestlers besides Kobashi seemed urgent in their actions and each segment of the match seemed important. Still for 35 minutes, it was not that compelling. There was no real hook to the match. The Nakajima segment while psychologically sound, dragged. The finish run did not really build off anything else they just started going home. Given that it was an hour total, it needed to be a lot better to make my list. Watch this once if you like the participants, but does not warrant a rewatch. ****

Katsuhiko Nakajima & GHC Tag Champions Kensuke Sasaki & Takeshi Morishima vs Genichiro Tenryu, Yoshinari Ogawa, Kotaro Suzuki - NOAH 9/27/09 From the get go, the heels were totally overwhelmed by the power of the babyfaces, but this did not stop it from being a fun popcorn match. It is ironic that Misawa, perhaps the greatest Ace in puroresu history, hung out with two of the bigger chickenshit scuzzballs of NOAH (Ogawa & Suzuki) and thus it was Suzuki who was selected to pay tribute to him even though he plays a chickenshit early. The early goofing around with Morishima is awesome. Ogawa and Suzuki are both outmatched by the even bigger looking Morishima and bail. When Ogawa's shoulder tackles go nowhere, he calmly tags Tenryu. Tenryu try as he might, he gets nowhere either and when he rolls to his corner to tag out he realizes "Oh fuck". Tenryu gets frustrated because he can't win a chop battle with Sasaki and chops Nakajima out of frustration. I like that sore sport moment. Nakajima gets hot when he is tagged and that leaves him prone for a Rat Boy dragon leg screw. The Nakajima heat segment is decent with the usual trappings, double teams and Tenryu punches. The transition is pretty weak as he hits a little dropkick to tag in Sasaki. Sasaki kills Ogawa and when Tenryu breaks up an armbar with punches. He decks the both of them with lariats in a fun spot. Tenryu and Sasaki pay tribute to Kobashi with a long chop battle where both men find themselves tuckered out. Tenryu is so much better at these than anyone else because he sells so well during them and he outs over how much pain he is in. Suzuki goes off on a Misawa tribute run with a diving elbow to outside, a facelock, and elbow combinations. He even goes for a Tiger Driver on Morishima. Morishima decks him with a lariat and a back drop driver to win the match. It is a fun match, but nothing to go out of your way to see. *** This match is a part of the Misawa tribute tour that was a consequence of his tragic in ring death in the middle of 2009.I was expecting more emotion from the wrestlers, the crowd and especially myself. I found myself very moved by Kobashi's return from cancer match. I expected a similar emotional outbreak for this from me. I think I will get that from Kawada & Taue vs. Akiyama & KENTA, which I specifically saved for the very last match I will watch from this decade.

Burning (Kenta Kobashi & KENTA) vs Kensuke Office (Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima) - NOAH 6/14/08 The end of the decade NOAH matches definitely wear on you. Taking a break from the style definitely helps digest these "epics". As I enjoyed this match more on a second go around then the first time when I could not even bring myself to write a review. I actually thought this was superbly laid out and well-timed up until the finish. Everytime, I thought this needs a hope spot or a transition, it was there for me. I thought the Nakajima transition to the Sasaki hot tag was perfect. Nakajima had been getting his ass handed to him and selling really, but they were on the verge of going too long and they worked this great struggle where Nakajima had to three counters to finally get the hot tag. What a hot tag it was! The best part of the match was just Sasaki exploding out of the gate and destroying KENTA. It was the only time the match really felt like it had a sense of urgency, which is crazy since the match went to a draw so you would think that at least the last two minutes would be urgent. Coming off the amazing New Japan vs All Japan 2000 tag, that was a match where those two teams earned a time limit draw. This was the type of time limit draw where you roll your eyes. Too much of the match just felt mechanical and like they were going through the motions. I love Kobashi, but he just did not bring it here at all. He was trying to fire up, but he could not get to the level of emotion that he can achieve. He wrestled so well in the earlier tags of his comebacks, but it was not here for him on this night. I thought Sasaki was really good against KENTA, but Kobashi/Sasaki was pretty brutal anytime they were paired up. KENTA/Nakajima had a pretty fun finish run that featured a lot of cool mirror spots to put over how equal they were to build to their series of singles matches that really should have been the Junior's Matches of the Decade, but they were disappointing. Again, it was fun stuff, but there was not enough struggle or that will to win. It is funny, it felt like a long 30 minutes, but going over my notes, it does not feel like a whole lot happened. It was pretty entertaining because I enjoy Sasaki's offense and Nakajima as a total package. The layout was there to have a great match, but not enough heat and Kobashi looking rundown killed it for them. Sasaki destroying KENTA was the highlight, but nothing to watch again. ***1/2

WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels vs Sycho Sid - RAW 9/11/95 The main event of the first RAW of the Monday Night Wars and that dirty, low-down, egg-sucking Eric Bischoff gives a way the result?!?!?!!? This really is a war! Shawn beating the big guy with three superkicks is a bit reductionist because Sid actually gave a pretty good performance for the big lug. His punches looked way better and he was moving around really well (especially since he usually seems so awkward). Hell, I thought he looked good against HOG at the PPV working on his back and ultimately beating him with a powerbomb. It was a decent power match. Something was in the water for Sid in September of 1995. I thought this was very reminiscent of Shawn working Demolition or Powers of Pain. Not quite at that level, but one of Shawn's biggest strengths is getting good matches out of stiffs like Sid. He knows how to work a smart shine to get himself over and in turn still not undercutting the monster heel, which only gets him more over. That is the ticket folks by making Sid an obstacle, Shawn only has more to gain. Why did he switch to a left handed jab when his right hand cross is way better? Shawn's selling and bumping for two make the normally boring Sid control segments look great. The finish was a unique way for Shawn to use Sweet Chin Music to win. I thought he needed three in succession instead he used two kicks to set up for the grand finale, which was really smart. This is definitely a strong Shawn performance. *** The striptease is something else. I am actually partial to all the zebra print, mirrors, sparkles and dancing on the entrance. I think color and fun are a very important part of wrestling. In 1995, Shawn Michaels looked like he was from 1987 so he was a little behind the curve, but hey I think it was a cool aspect of the character and it was clearly over with a segment of the fanbase. The striptease to end this show goes a little too far. This is not the Attitude Era and there are a lot of kids in attendance. Overall, I am pro Shawn Michaels entrance. I think it is fun and campy. An actual striptease would clearly be too much.

Bret Hart vs Jean-Pierre Lafitte - In Your House III 9/24/95 I have watched this match three times and everytime I watch it my thoughts initially are always "why did I like this match so much again?". Oh yeah because the finish stretch is so badass. I have no idea what got into Bret, but he was out to prove something in this match. It was probably all the months since Royal Rumble 95 being condemned to midcard hell. This is my favorite Bret Hart match of that period between Rumble '95 and Survivor Series '95. He was throwing himself into bumps and he was keeping everything moving. I liked his constant attempts for victory. Basically he was pissed off at the beginning of the match, he got his jacket back and then he just wanted to get the victory. This was not Bret's greatest long term selling performance and the match was more structured around Bret trying to win the match with veteran tactics and Jean Pierre's bumps. I liked Jean Pierre's look. I just don't think you should have called him a pirate. On the RAW before this PPV, Bret Hart basically undercut the entire gimmick when he said he did not know pirates still existed. It is a cool look, but no reason to say he is out and out a pirate. As for being underpushed, I am not buying it. Besides Pierre's bumps, this was the Bret Hart show. Pierre looked lost when he was working a control segment and Bret was carrying it via selling and feeding smart cutoffs. The initial arm posting by Bret and then the consequent quick succession of whips was so well-done to cement Pierre, but Pierre then ran out of things to do. Underutilized, I would buy as I loved the Quebecers and I think Pierre in a tag team where he can be the big bumper and hide his weaknesses in a heel tag team would be perfect. Pierre gets up top and hits a legdrop instead of the Cannonball well that was not too bright. CANNONBALLLLLL!!! MISSES!!! Bret goes for the Sharpshooter because he is angling for a quick victory. The spot of the match is Pierre doing a somersault plancha to the outside floor with no protection because Bret moved. Bret takes over and looks great mixing his Five Moves and his pinnning combinations. Pierre catches him on a crucifix and plants him with a somersault. Folks, I think we have established that Pierre can indeed do a somersault. Pierre looks pretty strong, but whiffs on a top rope splash should have went CANNONBALLLLLL!!! and Bret gets the Sharpshooter from on the mat. This is an incredible finish stretch especially in 1995. There is not a ton of really classic selling, but it is not mindless either because there is a real sense of struggle to win the match. Bret is going for pinning combinations and his Sharpshooter. Pierre is going for his big knockout blow. It just that Bret is getting countered and Pierre is whiffing. It comes down to if Pierre hits a big move he will win, but what toll are these misses taking on him and eventually if he keeps missing Bret will take advantage with a pinning combination or Sharpshooter. I would not call this a spotfest even though the match is totally structured around spots and bumps and not selling, but there is still a psychology of winning behind it where each man has his own strategy and the other wrestler is responding to that strategy, which is lacking in today's product. ****

So I am not saying everyone will have Misawa vs Akiyama as their match of decade for Japan, but do people think that their personal selection for Japan Match of the Decade is the Match of the Decade for the world. I can't think of anything in America from 2000-2009 that would break my top 5 here. I don't watch much Lucha, I know Atlantis vs Villano III could challenge it. So what do people think? Even though it is a down decade for Japan is their best still better than everyone else's?

I thought Kobashi vs Takayama 2004 could challenge this, but who am I to doubt Misawa vs Akiyama? This match and Kobashi vs Takayama 2004 are the only two matches of 2000s in Japan that can hang with the 90s All Japan classics in my opinion. I rated a total of seven matches 5 stars, but not all 5 star matches are created equal. I think these two matches separated themselves from the pack. So the question becomes is Misawa vs Akiyama the match of the decade in any country or in any promotion? I don't watch much lucha (I know Atlantis vs Villano III was in 2000 also) so maybe there something there, but there is nothing in America I can think of that touches this.

I thought I overrated this, but nope loved on the second go-around. In 2004, Takayama is a credible main eventer having won major titles and main evented huge shows. He feels like the first challenger that can really push Kobashi. In 2000, the hook is that Takayama is a giant bully and will use any underhanded tactic to defeat Kobashi. Kobashi at the top of his game fighting out of multiple holes to finally vanquish the monster. His selling and comeback with those left backfists and only using the right-handed Burning Lariat was so awesome. This is one of the most engaging and entertaining matches of the decade. Lock for the top ten and a contender for the number one spot because of the incredible back half of the match. *****

This is a tremendous offensive spectacle. Omori's leg work is very good, but he can't really keep up with Kobashi in terms of high end offense, but few can. Kobashi throws some amazing bombs. The last Burning Lariat maybe the best of all time. Hot damn! Fun heavyweight spotfest ****

I liked this match significantly better than 2004 Dome Match. The Dome match had so much time and they built drama through the extended periods of lying around. This match was more about the struggle and reacting to each other. It was wrestled almost as "big" as the Dome match (not as much Clash of Titans). My major complaint is that it feels removed from the storyline, which started on the first ever NOAH show where Akiyama drilled his tag partner, Kobashi after the match and then choked him out the next night. You would have expected Kobashi to be red hot looking for revenge and Akiyama looking to prove once and for all there is a new Sheriff in town. Instead it felt like a very good epic championship match not a personal grudge match. Overall, the match is very engaging and entertaining. The big difference is the amount of urgency with Akiyama never wanting to fall too far behind and Kobashi looking to prove he is still a level above Akiyama. Akiyama dropkicks the knee to stun Kobashi before attacking the arm. That really becomes the hook and you see Kobashi is fighting through the pain, but his stuff does not have the same oomph. Then when he goes for the Moonsault (no arm needed) Akiyama turns the tide and basically knocks Kobashi out with an Exploder to the floor. Ever resilient Kobashi fights Akiyama on everything the choke and wrist clutch exploder. One last wild swing of the arm sends Akiyama tumbling down onto the back of his head. Akiyama had injured the back of his head earlier and he never stood a chance. This match featured great selling, offense and escalation that built to a dramatic conclusion. There is definitely some fat to trim back, but still an excellent match. ****1/2

By far one of the toughest matches to rank of the decade because there are stretches where they are wrestling at Match of the Decade quality, but there are enough mistakes to detract from the quality. DaWho, really hits the nail on the head on how the layout could have been improved. It really feels like they are wrestling two classic matches in one and that takes you out of the match. Kawada is always great in these "proving himself" matches.He has spent an entire decade trying to prove he was The Man to Misawa and now Misawa is gone so everyone thinks Kawada will ascend to his rightful place until the Old Big Dog has come back to his yard and he is ready to rule again. The tentative start with the tempers flaring was awesome, awesome. There was a great urgency and struggle to their movements. Tenryu kicking from the ground, Kawada with spirited kicks. Tenryu sees that he is losing his grasp and goes for the knee. That is fine with me. Tenryu is not Misawa. He is in fact a lot older than Misawa. It makes sense his grasp on the match is tenuous at best. Yes Tenryu is Kawada's senior, but this is a match that is for the Vacant Championship, they are very much equals. My problem is that after the great leg work and those amazing punches, they reset the match to where Tenryu is The Man and that Kawada has to prove himself, but he is not selling the effects of Tenryu's beatdown. Kawada uses the closed fist to take control and it tells Tenryu that he can give as good as he gets. The finish stretch is really well done with tons of stiff shots and grit and great mirror spots. Kawada blasting Tenryu off the apron and busting up his nose is all you need to know how important this match is. My other big issue is that once Kawada gets him back in the ring he does not do much. Why is he not trying polish Tenryu off and Tenryu is able to make his comeback. The match is too disjointed to be considered a MOTYC in a loaded year or even in a weak year. This should sneak into the top half though. ****1/4

I going to submit one and I'll have watched a little north of 200 matches. The end is in sight. 4 more matches to watch for the first time and 5 matches to rewatch. I hear you. During this project I would take weird breaks to watch wrestling as different as possible from this like 1998 WCW.

I underrated this match a bit on first watch. I felt the struggle more the second time around. Nobody was taking anything lying down. They were coming each other at full force. Just when you thought one team got the advantage there was a momentum shift, but it was always felt earned. Finally Kawada was in peril, but he modulated selling and this is why Kawada is damn near the best wrestler of all time. Few grasp the degree of selling as well as Kawada especially in these days of pop-up/possum comebacks by Cena and Ziggler. Kawada earns his comebacks and has gritty struggles before he hits the spin kick to wipe out Mossman. Tenryu and Hansen going at it was awesome to see one last time before Hansen retired. Hansen is a nut. He actually chopped the steel ring post. That's dedication! I liked finish run with everyone hitting finishers until Kawada crushed Kea with a nasty powerbomb. This will make the top half, good shit that set the tone that All Japan could survive the mass defection. Kawada is my puroresu wrestler of the year in 2000 in a year that was absolutely stacked with great matches. ****1/4

Does one tend to be the FIP and the other hot tag? Or do they switch off?

Holy shit, this match is incredible especially on second watch. What really stood out to me this time was how great Kawada/Nagata's first exchange was. The matwresting was intense and organic. The best I have ever seen Nagata on the mat. The sense of urgency was there. Two dickish heels kicking the junior babyface's ass is one of my favorite puroresu themes, but this is taken to the next level by AJPW's full court press on Nagata and the incredible selling by everyone. Fuchi sells exhaustion and the sleeper better than anyone. Iizuka modulates his selling never to totally die, but also he is totally being pummeled. Nagata sells his frustration and his inability to help well. The sleeper and tag to Nagata is crazy awesome. It is just one of the best ten minute finish stretches in history with incredible selling and action. Perfect pro wrestling. The battle for the top spot has seven contestants, but there can only be one. I thought Misawa/Akiyama had this on lock, but at this point any of the seven could end up anywhere from 1-7. Love, love this match. *****

I liked this match before, but I love it now. I like how it was not so much hatred, but pride that was at stake. In wrestling, it is all too common for things to quickly become a personal hatred, but in real life that does not necessarily. I love how wrestling is an exaggerated form of real life, but it is refreshing that these are just two badass wrestlers wrestling for pride and the pride of their company. They are going to throw some closed fists and it is going to get heated, but this is about who is the best: Kawada or Sasaki and All Japan or New Japan. They play to each other's strengths perfectly. Sasaki is that powerhouse, but he can get duped into Kawada's game and when Kawada unloads that roundhouse close fist he does not let up. My only complaint is that I just don't buy into the Stretch Plum as a finish in 2000 and if he had some other weapon to milk drama that really would have sent this to the next level. Sasaki's comeback was awesome. The crowd backs me up because they did not care for the Stretch Plum, but they were on their feet for the Scorpion Deathlock. The lariat battle was a perfect way to end a match that was all about pride. Who blinks first? Kawada with that jelly leg selling makes you believe that he won't win this one, but he has that one last gasp. Still Sasaki looks locked into win, but it is how own momentum that costs him the match. The cherry on top is that Sasaki vacates the title because he does not deserve to be champion if he is not truly the best in the world. Great booking and a great match in Japan 2000s that is more rare than it should be. Shocking this is not even my pick for best New Japan match of the year or best Kawada match of the year. If only rest of the decade was as good as 2000. ****3/4

I would imagine most people would disagree with me, but I actually enjoyed this more than Hashimoto/Ogawa tag. Hashimoto/Ogawa is an amazing spectacle with a lot of twists and turns, but I think Ogawa and Murakami have produced better matches this decade (Kawada and Nagata). That tag ultimately feels incomplete, but will still make my top 30, this match will be in a similar ballpark, but slightly higher. I just loved the Clash of the Titans, tit for tat one upmanship of the match. Sasaki just looked like he was not going to be denied. You got the feeling from Tenryu from the get go when he pushed the ref down that he was going to go for broke because he knew Sasaki was here to play. Sasaki did not let the veteran champion or the opponent get to him. You want to punch me in the face, well muthaufcka, I have got no problem with that.This is the match Kobashi/Akiyama wished they had. Every spot felt huge and critical to the course of the match and building the star of Sasaki. Probably the second best Sasaki match of the decade behind the Kawada Dome match. He should have NEVER cut the Mullet. ****1/2

Heat, struggle, urgency, chaos put that altogether and you got a badass match. Murakami is the best heel that never made it. He is only 41 today! There is still hope someone push this man. Murakami & The Two Ogawas would be the greatest puroresu stable ever. There is an out of control feel that is hard to replicate or ever capture and this match has it in spades. The only complaint is that the climax is a little lackluster, but it is still befitting of the match as Murakami gets his comeuppance. It feels like a consolation prize because Ogawa still stands tall against Hashimoto. I really want to watch the rest of the Hashimoto/Ogawa matches.****1/2

I love Kobashi. I love Akiyama. I just don't like them together. They both seem to lose all emotion when facing each other. The match is dramatic, but it lack of urgency really kills it for me. Akiyama reached an out of this world level in February of 2000 and he never really got there again it feels. The beginning Clash of the Titans work is really great from the test of the strength to Kobashi demanding they do it in the ring and Kobashi chopping Akiyama down when he is going for an early choke. I thought Akiyama's transitions were too lackluster throughout the match. Akiyama's heat segment felt too by the numbers and Kobashi was unusually reserved. Kobashi did an amazing job on a long transition to his offense. From the sustained headlock to the sleeper suplex to the gnarly vertical suplex off the apron where Akiyama bounced off the floor. It was a great crescendo and Kobashi is looking to build to the Burning Hammer. Again, instead of using the Exploder to the floor as his transition, he hits some moves before the Exploder to the floor that do not make that spot pop out. Akiyama's finish stretch is loooooooooooong and I just don't buy it. The exploder/half-nelson suplex was a bit much. Kobashi works through his big finishers to win. Kobashi was doing more of the deadfish sell with less struggle, which sucks because he is so much more dynamic than that. Akiyama had no urgency. Weirdly lethargic match, but it had its big moments and was definitely dramatic. It is one of the big losers of the rewatch falling into the 40s. ****1/4

The match is better than I initially gave it credit for, which I think was hurt by the fact I was not totally bought into Honda. I still found some things about Honda awkward: his strikes and some of his submissions especially that top wristlock in the middle, it really never looked properly applied to cause damage. It is nice to see Kobashi work in this most minimalist setting. Personally, I am going to be partial the spectacle matches against Misawa, Ogawa and Takayama. He is such a great larger than life character, but damn if he does not have one helluva headlock. I love how he dominates with holds but is looking to use these holds to setup his offense. Very smartly, Honda is not one to lay down and take it he tries to use these opening, but damn how about those quick quashes by Kobashi like the ab stretch and Russian Legsweep. I know Honda gets a lot of due in this match, which he deserves for the great armwork and suplexes. Maybe I am just swinging the counterweight back in my boy, Kobashi's direction, but after watching this twice there is no way Honda outworked Kobashi. The cross armbreaker sell, the arm selling, fighting through the pain to retain his title injured, Kobashi was on fire making people believe that Honda had a shot. Honda had some neat characteristics that forced Kobashi out of his comfort zone, but so did Minoru Suzuki. I think match is better than the Suzuki match, but this not just solely great because of Honda or Kobashi's presence. It is Kobashi putting Honda's ability early with quick transitions, working holds, and then selling his ass off, before hitting the finish. It is a cool title defense, but does not do it for me in the way of the upper tier of Kobashi title defenses. Still rewatching this did raise it 30 spots and put it in my 30s. Very good Kobashi title defense.

I agree the selling sucked in this match, but I didn't think the story was too badly affected by it. Ohtani and Takaiwa were vicious badasses out for blood and they were always moving forward. It created a tension and anxiety for Kanemoto and Minoru that would be overwhelmed, but then you get moments like Kanemoto's axe kick and Minoru's cross arm breaker. These hope spots seem larger than life because how unstoppable Ohtani and Takaiwa seem. Then there is great payback spot with Ohtani and telling him to eat shit basically. The finish run is a departure because they go into juniors flying around mode, but it is still some violent shit like the Ohtani powerbomb. I liked that dynamic even if the match was low on selling they told a compelling story with a great conclusion of Minoru using Ohtani's moves against him to win the match.

It was the feel good match of the 2000s in Japan and I know it is a time-honored tradition that he who returns jobs, but fuck Kobashi should have won. They chanted Kobashi during Misawa's theme during the exit. If there was ever time to break with tradition, it was now. The crowd was just on fire for Kobashi. I was going crazy for a second time for the moonsault. What a reaction! Takayama was destroying everything, Akiyama was kneeing everything and Misawa elbowing everything. I never thought I hear Misawa get booed AND Takayama cheered for suplexing Misawa. Crazy! I loved Kobashi showing vulnerability and being that never say die Kobashi of the 90s. It is 2007 so everybody is a half step slower that keeps it in the #15-25 range, but for pure emotion this match needs to be watched.

I am not even sure why they went all 'Extreme Rules' with it this year. I don't seem to remember them making EVERY match a gimmick match on the TLC PPVs in the past. They had the tag match, women and a Rusev match to break up the five gimmick matches, but none of which were really able to cleanse my palate. My point was they were all weapons-based gimmick matches. At Extreme Rules, you usually get a stipulation or two that will be different enough to separate (Cage, Ladder, Street Fight, are different enough). I feel like this past Extreme Rules only half the card was gimmick matches, but I could be remembering wrong. It is more of the lack of variety in how all were weapons matches that killed the PPV by the end for me.

I think I did the impossible and I underrated a 5 star match. I rewatched this and a completely new appreciation for how badass this match is. Everybody knows about the arm work through the finish as why this match is considered a Match of the Decade Contender, but the beginning is why it is the complete package. Now that Kobashi has defeated Misawa decisively about a year ago, Kobashi is The Man. He wrestles like The Man. However, Takayama is the first opponent where Kobashi seems to question himself. Takayama is bigger, he has shoot credentials and is a former GHC & IWGP Champion. Kobashi cannot just go out assert his dominance. So for the first time in his reign, you have a sense of desperation in the early going. Almost like Kobashi is playing not to lose. It is very reminiscent of his matches against Hansen. He tries for bombs early, but Takayama catches an overzealous Kobashi with a knee lift. Then Kobashi goes for holds. He is trying to contain Takayama and sap him from his energy. This opens up the chop game and an DDT to the outside. Kobashi gets cocky and goes for a delayed vertical and Takayama applies a choke. Now Takayama is a big, bad bleach blond giant, but like Kobashi he recognizes his opponent has got game. So he is pressing the advantage quickly with covers and then applying holds again to sap energy and open up the kick game. I am just thoroughly impressed at how well this is being worked. Then they launch this match to the Stratusphere once Takayama wrenches Kobashi's knee and then when Kobashi tries to chop his way out of trouble, it is bye bye arm. The finishing stretch is legendary and the hope spots and cutoffs are immaculately timed. Takayama going shoot-style crazy only for Kobashi to comeback with Burning Lariats is why we watch wrestling. On top of all that the response Kobashi gets for signaling an delivering the moonsault means that this match has leaped over 03/01/03 and Misawa/Akiyama into the top spot. I have rewatched 03/01/03 and I am going back and forth with it. That match is the Moment of the Decade, but this is such a flawless match. Misawa/Akiyama needs to be rewatched. It is anybody's ballgame among those three. *****