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superkix

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Everything posted by superkix

  1. superkix
    The modern BJW Strong six-man tags are some of my favorite matches to watch and the build to Nomura/Okabayashi has me stoked. One of my most anticipated matches of the year. But man, they are ready to kill each other. This was great - you've got bald-headed Kikuta looking like the Japanese Vulture and punching people and plenty of good, hard-hitting house show filler between Hashimoto, Kamitani and Kawakami. Punches to the face, headbutts, suplexes, etc. But Nomura throwing Daichi into the corner like a chew toy to call out Okabayashi is what you signed up for. Fun technique vs. power grappling to start, with Nomura adding a cool rolling double wristlock set-up to his repertoire, but then the slaps come out. Tons of nasty open hands from both but particularly Okabayashi. Nomura's kicks looked very crisp and stiff. And the finish put Okayabashi over like a beast - Nomura smacking Okabayashi when Yuji's got the leg and then Yuji destroying him with gnarly slaps and a spear and an Argentine backbreaker to end it. It's like 8 minute, it's brutal, check it out.
  2. superkix
    Top two for 2019 so far. I feel like 2019 is even worse than 2018 in terms of quality. I still need to finish my 90's - 00's adventure, which feels impossible at this point but I'll keep chugging away.
  3. superkix
    Another good striker vs. submission dynamic that we saw early on with the Vrij/Han matches. Although not as compelling, this was still fun, with big Dick landing some nasty kicks and knees and a couple of real dirty elbows to the face. It's the usual dominant Vrij performance upfront, with TK getting beat down, until he finally starts striking back with hard mid kicks and finally takes Dick down with the rear necklock for the submission. Solid stuff.
  4. superkix
    Bakouri rules. He throws Todorov with a great suplex early on and follows that up with a big Karelin lift. The ground stuff in this match is whatever but when they're throwing slaps and throws, it's a lot of fun. Poor Todor gets kneed in the nuts but Bakouri is sorry, it's all good. Todorov's gut punch > armbar takedown was pretty cool and rhe finish was neat, with Bakouri hitting a necklock suplex and holding on for the submission. Good stuff.
  5. superkix
    One of Naruse's best RINGS performances thus far and another feather in Volk Han's ushanka. So many cool moments throughout. There's a really great counter-for-counter exchange in the first minute - loved when Naruse tries to set up the STF and Han says "nuh-huh" and grabs the arm. And then Naruse straight punches Han in the gut, which is, of course, Han's kryptonite. You've got Naruse's 2019-esque flipout of the armbar, which was unexpected, and then Han immediately throws him over his shoulder with a gnarly looking hip throw into the leglock. Han's inverted STF is always a thing of beauty and the hammerlock>hammerlock suplex>rear necklock. There's a great spot where Han has Naruse in an armbar and he's using his feet to keep Naruse from escaping. Naruse gets some neat offense in - I liked his gator roll and him blasting Han with the palm strike and rolling backhand. A fed up Han flipping him over the ropes was another great moment, which leads to the back-and-forth finish before Han traps him within inches from the ropes...and Naruse passes out. Terrific match.
  6. superkix
    Nice Tamura showcase, where you've got Iloukhine trying to grab him but Tamura's not letting that happen, instead putting Mikhail in a variety of predicaments. I mean, Mikhail will sometimes grab a leglock or a knee crusher, but Tamura finds ways out - loved his dope joint lock counter. He's just so quick and fluid, at one point, floating all around Mikhail with headlocks, armbars, headscissors, etc. So slick. He doesn't land a whole lot of strikes but he gets a couple of good face slaps and finally taps him with the rear choke.
  7. superkix
    I've needed more Hideki Suzuki squash matches in my life. It's the simple things like not letting Inamura tie him up in the ropes, slipping out of headlock attempts, making Inamura work hard for everything and not just giving him offense. What offense Inamura does get off is your typical young beefy dude offense and it's okay but what you're here for is Hideki's armwork and some nasty strikes in the corner and stomps to the face. Love the finish, with Hideki setting up the takedown with multiple mini headbutts before he hits the rolling double wristlock into a modified neck crank. Very dope. Nothing high end but Hideki's still one of the best guys working today.
  8. superkix
    Yeah, NJPW has badly been missing a Shibata-type so hopefully, KENTA can somewhat fill that role by just kicking the shit out of people.
  9. superkix
    Ishikawa in 2019 has ruled so far and another chapter in Ishikawa/Ikeda's storied rivalry is always a good thing. That's the highlight of this match for sure - Yone is good for a random kick or two, Otsuka has been hanging out at Disneyland a lot lately but he can still throw a good German or two and giant swing somebody. But the Ishikawa vs. Ikeda was great, from the opening groundwork, to the final encounter where we see Ikeda solebutt kick the shit out of Ishikawa's face. Ikeda has slowed down quite a bit but his selling was great throughout - gotta love the "I'm an old man still doing stiff shit but the stiff shit hurts now" selling. And he straight punches Yone in the face, so that's a plus. The final few minutes between Ikeda/Ishikawa was the highlight for sure and we get that kick and a brainbuster and Ishikawa working the holds and submitting Ikeda with the manjigatame. Definitely a fun bati-bati treat unlike most things you'll see in 2019.
  10. superkix
    Fresh off Yamamoto's utter shoot annihilation, the once golden child of RINGS faces gruff Russian submission dad Kopilov in a predictably solid match-up. They work through some decent holds in the early going - nothing super slick. It picks up when Yamamoto starts paintbrushing Kopilov with face slaps, and then slides in for the takedown into the rear choke, which he works into an armbar. In general, the takedowns look weak and the transitions sloppy but when they're both on their feet, slapping away at each other, it's pretty great. Kopilov's lip gets busted and he comes at Yamamoto hard and pissy with the open hands. By the end of it, Kopilov is spent but poor Yamamoto still can't put him away and after eating some more face palms in the corner, Kopilov grabs the kneebar for the win. Solid but underwhelming.
  11. superkix
    Nagai was very aggressive throughout, battering TK with nasty head kicks and face palms and knee strikes in the corners. TK's trying to find a way to the mat, where he excels, and at one point, he usues a quasi-capture suplex but Nagai continues dominating up top, targeting TK's midsection and popping him in the head with more palsm and knees. TK manages a nice scissors takedown into the kneebar, a front necklock, and some slick maneuvering to set up the armbar, but Nagai manages to escape each attempt, finally kneeing TK for the KO. TK's poor gut couldn't take it anymore. Good stuff.
  12. superkix
    Incredible. The two of them slip slidin' in and out of submission attempts, the drama built around the escapes and counters, Han's usual attempts being thwarted by the younger, quicker Tamura. I mean, right out of the gate, you've got Han carrying Tamura around in a hammerlock before he throws him down and the scramble begins. Loved Han slipping under the kicks to grab the choke and drag Tamura down, only for Tamura to snag a heel hook to force the break. Han's armbar out of the knee crusher attempt was so slick but Tamura doesn't let it breath and fights his way into his own armbar. Tamura's straight kick to the gut ruled. By the end of it, they're both fairly exhausted and missing their executions, and Han seems fed up when he starts peppering Tamura with face palms and knees. Great finish too, with Tamura's last choke effort and Han extending the arm with the double wristlock for the win. What a match.
  13. superkix
    Match of the Year - Yuki Ishikawa vs. Timothy Thatcher (wXw, 3/9) Runner Up - Hideki Suzuki vs. Timothy Thatcher (Bloodsport, 4/4) Best Major Wrestling Show - Bloodsport (4/4) Best Promotion - BJW Most Improved - Shotaro Ashino Wrestler of the Year - Timothy Thatcher?
  14. superkix
    Ishii/Shingo and Ibushi/KENTA sound interesting on paper so we'll see. Bummed no Suzuki. Bummed we don't get Ishii/KENTA. Bummed Ospreay's in it again and not Liger.
  15. superkix
    This was your fun Ohtani showcase match with Sekimoto playing the subtle heel monster. I liked how Ohtani used the legwork to squash Sekimoto's big comeback attempts - I liked Sekimoto trying to stomp out of the leg hold with Ohtnai hanging on and slapping his chest. Sekimoto's best selling came when he was chopping away at Ohtani and then Ohtani smacks the shit out of him. But the legwork becomes more about the transitions, and less about the actual legwork. Plenty of classic Ohtani spots, typical Sekimoto control segments (although his Sharpshooter spot is still so dumb), and some bombs to build the finish. I liked Ohtani scrambling around the ring at the end in true underdog fashion before Sekimoto ends the dream. Fun old man Ohtani match but nothing classic.
  16. superkix
    The last thirty seconds of this match are worth the price of admission alone. Things are slow going initially, as they test the waters with kicks, which leads to some messy scrambling and some hesitancy on Inoue’s part, having never worked a “worked” match before. But after Egan takes a shot to the eye, he comes back into this match SUPER pissy and the chaos of the final strike exchanges is awesome. Tons of nasty knees and palm strikes, especially from Naruse, and then Egan gets himself disqualified by pounding a grounded Naruse with body shots. Fun stuff.
  17. superkix
    Yup, this one ruled, right from the opening. TK's initial counter to Han's armwhip takedown was the chef's kiss and then Han is like, okay, let me fuck with the leg now, to which TK works his way into control and we're presented this great sequence of them vying for control. Beautiful counter submission wrestling and if that's your thing, welcome. Han is just so good at adapting to his opponent's movements and escape attempts. He'll snap off an armbar but if there is too much squirming, he'll shift his attention to the leg. Love TK's rolling necklock and there's a great moment where Han tries his "step on the foot" extension leglock but gets caught off guard with a heel hook. They pretzel each other with hold, twisting and twerking limbs to try and gain the advantage. Han dragging TK down with the choke was great but then, of course, TK turns the tables with the leglock and sends Han scrambling for the ropes. Beautiful arm takedown into the hammerlock by Volk and he does such a good job of preventing the escape…although it happens, barely. The end was great - Han with the little cat slaps and again another armlock takedown but when TK counters with the kneecrusher, Han is like "shit, I just need to grab the arm and bend it to win." And he does it. Awesome match.
  18. superkix
    Sousserov is spin kicks and suplexes, which he quickly re-establishes within the first minute of this match. He comes off as this big Russian brute, strong right out of the gate, but as the match progresses, his offense usually falls apart with weak takedowns and plenty of whiffed spin kicks. It didn't necessarily happen here - although he whiffed earlier rather than later - and he gor some cool late game takedowns, including a dope German-style uranage. This definitely had more of the pro-wres feel to it, with Naruse playing the scrappy doo, hanging onto Sergei's neck with chokes as Sousserov continually tries to spin him off to no avail. At one point, Naruse hits a SHOOT DRAGON SCREW to set up the heel hook>single leg crab finish. Fun match,
  19. superkix
    Echoing a lot of the same sentiments here -- tons of compelling matwork, with each trying to pretzel the other and win out on the ground. But the strikes added something visceral to the match, especially that final catfight flurry from Han in the corner with the palm shots and knees that end up busting TK open and winning Han the match. We've already established that Han is a master of unique holds and transitions and reversals, as showcased in this match -- I mean, his hammerlocked necklock is so cool. But TK has answers for him and Han has to go to the ropes more times than he's usually used to. Neat rolling necklock from TK and toward the end, he keeps going back to the choke, since Han would turn any leg submission attempt against him. Great stuff.
  20. superkix
    This was Willie Peeters' best performance since 1992 (the '95 Nagai match was pretty good too) but basically, it's Peeters as his shitty best, throwing full rotation suplexes and being aggressive with the strikes. Tamura almost looks lost in there at times as he tries to get stuff going on the mat but Peeters is always near the ropes. Loved Willie's shit-eating grin when Tamura tells the referee to count him down on a missed kick attempt. Of coruse, Willie mocks Tamura's kicks and it becomes clear that Tamura really wants to submit him. Peeters wants none of ti, taps even after he manages an escape, and finally gives up the ghost to a triangle. Good stuff.
  21. superkix
    This was really pretty good. Ashino keeps getting better and I thought his selling of the arm was great here - especially the failed wraparound German suplex attempt. Nice touch. Tachibana's strikes looked pretty weak but then he blasts Ashino with a shoot headbutt and draws blood so he makes up for it. The early armwork was simple but effective, with Tachibana just slamming the arm on the mat and going for pins before switching into the armbar. Current NJPW has soured me on elaborate reversal spots but I though the trading of the arm/ankle submissions toward the end was done really well. They throw in some bombs to break up the submission battles with a cool wrist-clutch Olympic slam and rolling Germans but then bring it back home with the final submission exchange and Ashino winning out with the ankle hold. Perfectly solid pro-wrestling with a simple but effective storyline that never overstayed its welcome. Good stuff.
  22. superkix
    Second best match of the show behind Han/Nagai. The returning Naruse has got a hot crowd behind him and boy, do they both swing for the fences throughout this match-up. Tons of strikes, some great suplex takedowns, and good groundwork as Naruse tries to re-assert himself back in the landscape. Early on, Naruse snags the heel and doesn't let go as Todorov tries to squirm his way out of it and eventually has to roll over for a rope break. Some sweet takedowns, like the chickenwing from Todorov and the flying armbar from naruse. Todorov also delivers a pretty dope armtrap suplex. At one point, poor Todorov gets dick punched and then eats some nasty shoteis but he fires back with knees and kicks. But Naruse is relentless with his strikes and after Todorov seemingly expels his last energy with a semi-powerslam, Naruse takes him to the corner and pummels him until he gets the KO. Great stuff.
  23. superkix
    Tamura's RINGS debut is a short but violent affair, with big Dick landing a ton of kicks and knees and Tamura, more or less, playing it cool and awaiting for his opportunity. He manages to piss off Brig with a rear choke and when Vrij misses a spinning backhand, Tamura takes him down for the armbar but Vrij makes it to the ropes. Dick's knees are nasty and Tamura eats quite a few of them but eventually traps him in the middle of the ring and taps him with the rear choke for the big debut win. Not necessarily a great match but a great moment.
  24. superkix
    While not at the level of their 1993 match, I enjoyed this more than the 1994 match. Nagai delivers yet another top-notch underdog performance and nearly has you (the viewer) convinced that he can beat Han at his own game...or via strikes, which he stuns Han with on a number of occasions. Han goes from his standing leglock to the single leg crab but Nagai counters with the heel hook, albeit briefly, before Han regains control and slaps on a neat cross heel hook. Loved him pulling Nagai down with the rear choke...only for Nagai to fight his way and send Han reeling after the ropes with a modified leglock. Han utilizing the full nelson hold with the legs for added leverage is another key Volk Han characteristic. Great armbar transition out of Nagai's rear waistlock and the finish was great, where you've got Nagai trying to transition his hold into something fancy and Han turning around, looking at him, grabbing the choke and tapping him. Enough playtime. Terrific match.
  25. superkix
    An okay but sloppy power vs. technique dynamic, with Ramazi slamming and the fans eating it up, while Yamamoto is trying to get the job done on the mat. Shits breaks down when Ramazi tries to throw Yamamoto over the ropes but the finishing sleeper hold segment was the best part of the match.
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