Microstatistics

The right decision (assuming it is real), health should be the priority and we don't want him to end up like Dynamite Kid or worse, Misawa.

Miyato is usually terrific in the underdog role but here he excels at playing a bully as well. Typical awesome matwork and Tamura's selling in the final stages was masterful stuff. ****

It's Ikeda vs. Taue and it is just as much fun as you would expect. Yone takes a monster beating in this one. Includes a cool shot of Misawa watching from the back. ****

Very good match with Kagestu and Kaho desperately trying to overcome the heels and their dastardly cronies. Tons of fun all around. *** 3/4

Some of Marufuji's weakish looking offense doesn't bother me, he wrestles like a junior so it doesn't really matter if it isn't hardhitting. It's funny because I consider KENTA to be the all action guy prone to overkill. Also even though he and his opponent go way overboard in the finishing stretches of some of his matches, I think Marufuji paces his matches better. His selling also much better, I don't like the way KENTA often blows off damage and injuries and suddenly goes full speed. Different strokes. He played heel in some tags in 2005 and multi-man tags in 2008

Am I the only one who thinks Marufuji is far better than KENTA? KENTA works a stiffer style but Marufuji is much more compelling to watch: more versatile, a better underdog and a better heel. I do like fast paced wrestling but KENTA's non-stop action stuff isn't very compelling and he is not a particularly good seller, IMO. Some of his character work is good though I will admit.

In his defense, he was pretty much a supporting player in those matches with the main focus being on Kobashi vs. Tenryu and also on a fired up Taue in the September match. Also Tenryu is an awfully high standard to compare to .

Quoting something I found posted somewhere online which really helped me understand the feud and the roles of the two better. "You gotta understand some of Japanese culture to understand the feud. In Japan, politics and seniority is usually more important than skill and knowledge. (I'm sure some people would say it's the same in the U.S., but let's just say Japan is so more than the U.S.) Choshu, although he turned pro with a successful amateur record, didn't get much push. Fujinami, on the other hand, had always been "Inoki's boy" and was promised the top position in the future. After Fujinami moved up to the heavyweight division, he was still getting push by winning WWF International Heavyweight title, and there wasn't really a place for Choshu to fit in. Choshu went to Mexico and captured the prestigeous UWA World Heavyweight Title and claimed that he should now be on the same status as Fujinami. After coming back to Japan, he was still treated as "lower" than Fujinami, and it lead to the breakup between them during the 6man tag team match with Inoki against Abdullah, Bad News Allen, and SD Jones. Choshu immediately became a big hero by breaking "the rule of the society". Known as "Revolutionary", he was one of the main factors for New Japan's golden era in early 80s."

On rewatch, I thought Hansen's refusal to sell the knee was really really frustrating. I am usually not too stern when it comes to ignored limb selling but it seriously impacted the match here because it made Terry's comeback attempts pretty much worthless. Terry grabbed the spinning toe hold a bunch of times after doing some initial work on the leg but whenever Hansen escaped he would immediately start throwing kicks and dropping knees with that leg with no discomfort. Occasionally grabbing at your leg while you are in the hold does not really count as selling. As a result this was pretty much a squash instead of a veteran underdog vs monster match which is such a shame because the relentlessness and mean streak displayed were so great and Terry's performance was pure genius, so this misses out on all time classic territory. **** 1/4

Just wanted to add that him going into a frenzy after realizing his opponent has bloodied him and going nuts on his opponent to exact revenge is the greatest pro wrestling trope ever.

No problem, I would recommend Akiyama/Tenryu vs. Kobashi/Go 4/24/2005 and Akiyama/Tenryu vs. Kobashi/Taue 9/18/2005 as well to show that he is excellent in the supporting role as well.

Any reasons for Hogan above Akiyama? Not being judgmental just curious because Jun is just outside my Top 10 right now while Hogan would be nowhere near a list like this for me. Absolutely! One very good reason!!! ... A major fucking glitch in the matrix... Akiyama won't come close to my top 10, but he's absolutely going higher than 88. I have scrambled this list around endlessly, so my butterfingers have fucked a few rankings I see. Akiyama is higher, Panther is higher. LA Park is close to dropping off the list. Hogan is lower, Piper is lower, Undertaker might drop off the list again. ... I'm always interested in the best argument, so I'd gladly take a closer look at Akiyama, if you think he could go all the way to the edge of the top 10. I'm pretty up to date on his 90's stuff. I definetely see him as more than just a sidekick there. Really like a lot of that stuff. I'm not super well versed in his post-2000 stuff. I'll have another look at some of the links in his nominations thread, but if there's anything in particular you think makes his case, then please let me know. For me right now, I see him around 40-50. But if the case is strong, I could go a little higher. No clue what the fuck happened to place him at 88... But in general (not just with Akiyama): I'm stronger on anything pre-2000 than anything post. So any guidance there is more than welcome. I'm not sure the last 5 years are going to have too much of an influence. Stuff needs to stand the test of time a little more. But like others my age range, I guess I can't pretend that 2000 was only 5 years ago anymore :-) The near Top 10 thing was referring more to my list so that is probably too much of a leap but I would recommend more to see if he can make 25-50. Like you said, his 1990's stuff is awesome but he is arguably the best Japanese wrestler since 2000: great in big matches, against lower ranked opponents, in tags. A ton of variety and many high quality matches. http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/32874-jimmy-redmans-boot-camp/ includes some recommendations for him. Edit: The 2000+ thing reinforced by Childs.

Any reasons for Hogan above Akiyama? Not being judgmental just curious because Jun is just outside my Top 10 right now while Hogan would be nowhere near a list like this for me.

Whoops, my mistake haven't seen that match so just assumed it was him.

Kung Fu http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/17898-atlantis-vs-kung-fu-emll-102690/ http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/28669-jim-breaks/?hl=kung (Includes review of Jim Breaks vs. Kung Fu 9/3/86) http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/blog/8/entry-379-dvdvr-best-of-the-80s-7/ Review of Kato Kung Lee vs. Kung Fu (Mask vs. Hair) (4/29/88) http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/blog/8/entry-392-1992-cmll/ (Kato Kung Lee y Shogun vs. Kung Fu y Xavier Monarca Cruz, 10/2/92)

Cena and Brock. Bryan would have made mine anyways too.

Kiyoshi Tamura

I thought I was the only one. Kawada seems to be the most accessible of the four for people. Even people who don't enjoy the style like him a lot. His peak is amazing but that is the only phase of his career I personally am fond of.

Yes I noticed he took quite a beating in the Top Japanese Wrestlers and best workers of the 80s threads. But he is still gonna be in tons of Top 20's, Top 10's with a bunch of #1s so he should be fine in the final tally.

Wow, I got the impression that you didn't like Takada based on some of the match reviews I read.

I have never heard that. People have said they found him boring or aimless but acknowledged he always worked hard.

Even though he will be in many Top 20 and some Top 10s, pretty sure I will be the high vote for Jushin Liger at #2 or #3. He is still very well regarded, but I don't see anyone having him near #1 (could be wrong though) and his stock has dropped a good amount in part due to the backlash against the New Japan Juniors style.

Which Japanese wrestler will you rank highest? Tenryu. Easy #1 on my list Which Japanese wrestlers do you expect to make your list? There will be 50-60 on my final list. Who was the best of the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s to come out of Japan? 70s probably Jumbo or Fujinami 80s would be Fujinami 90s is harder, but I'll actually go Liger I agree with GOTNW that 2000s and 2010s is Jun Akiyama Who was your favorite Ace? Misawa Who was your favorite top challenger? Not sure what this covers exactly but I will go Tenryu or Kobashi if it means challenging the ace Edit: Actually, I will go with Kawada even though I picked him for the most disappointing because the 1992-1995 Kawada chasing Misawa arc is the greatest ever. Who was your favorite under the radar guy? Alexander Otsuka Who was the best at their peak? Akira Hokuto 1993-1994 Who has disappointed you the most? Kawada to be honest. He was a different beast during his peak (late 93-1996) but outside of that I am not that high on him.

#6 with possible #4-5

No votes for Jumbo so far is a surprise.