G. Badger

I'm a big giant fan of tag team wrestling. I'd say that I prefer tag and 6-man matches over singles competition. All Japan and NOAH are more known for their epic title matches but, have always had great team wrestling. I don't think that's a surprising statement however, there are others worth enjoying besides the classics. Here are some that I've enjoyed: Steve Williams & Terry Gordy vs Stan Hansen & Joel Deaton (06/03/93 AJPW): Although it was only 6 minutes & 47 seconds this match was all action. It was rather one sided though, as Gordy ambushed Hansen and the Miracle Violence Connection double teamed the whole time like it was a Tornado Tag match (maybe it was). Deaton tried his best to save Hansen but he was no match for Gordy & Dr. Death. There was no pacing or a match just a display of violence and Hansen's toughness. Kenta Kobashi, Johnny Ace & Johnny Smith vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Jun Akiyama & Satoru Asako (08/22/97 AJPW): This started out pretty routine although Johnny Smith was the clear bright point. He was very adamant about making the arm work something special. Hes British so, that probably explains a lot ??? It was different, in a good way, and helped slow down Akiyama, who was the fireplug of his team. Jun wanted to take it to Ace and Kobashi but, Smith wasnt going to be ignored. He darn near ripped the Blue boys arm out of the socket. Thats alright because he was pumped and gave the match a little depth. Stop the burgeoning contender! Now, thats not to say the other guys were slouches but, no one else brought the intensity like he did. That is to be expected in a match like this. Akiyama, Smith, Asako are the ones with something to prove. The story was about ranking and status but, ultimately the athletic competition. This set the outcome in question and was exciting as all hell. The execution, pacing and timing was flawless from all. This the type of match Id love to see at night right before going to bed when I was in high school. I'd be so hyped that couldn't sleep. I'd go through the match in my head and marvelling in how much fun it was and how awesome wrestling can be. I highly recommend finding this match to watch. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Gedo & Jado (12/07/02 NOAH): Oh those bastards. Team NO RESPECT!!! Jado & Gedo are some nasty looking dudes. Go back and watch the match they had as Coolie and Bulldog from the 8/19/90 AJW show and scratch your brain. Ok so what happened!? FMW, WAR and all those other mid-90s Indy promotions turned these guys evil! Haha I have not a clue what Im talking about! So the match is kinda like NOAH style American wrestling. It was a ton of fun with Gedo and Jado heeling it up in all those fun US ways. This is stuff that we lost in the 90s as the brawler was phased out of mainstream puroresu because that stuff was left to "garbage" wrestling. Then the hardcore companies gave up quality brawling en lieu of mindless punching in between insane spots. So, Jado and Gedo are a call back to that good stuff from the 70s-80s. And god knows Kikuchi is all for that. Still this is 2002 wrestling so, theres some nice moves from both teams as well. Its a different match especially from this time in wrestling and its damn good! Takayama & Sano vs Misawa & Rikio (11/01/03 NOAH): People have given Rikio a bad reputation. He's not an all time legend but, he's a big dude that bowls people over and throws a mean clothesline. I cannot hate a guy that stays true to who he is. When tagging, especially with a ring deity like Mr. Green Jeans, he can be downright great! Such is the case with this bout. Stiff elbows, kicks, and knees, oh my! UWFi team vs NOAH could have been an amazing feud if only the stars aligned. Takayama and Sano are such a tough meat and potatoes type team. I always try to watch their matches when available. So, I recommend checking this one out. Kenta Kobashi, Tamon Honda & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs Takeshi Morishima, KENTA & Mohammed Yone (02/17/06 NOAH) Oh sweet Jeebus this match was all kinds of fun. In the beginning, Yone seemed to collapse the excitement when he was in ring...the same with Honda & Kanemaru too for that matter. So, when things start to percolate, it just sneaks up on ya and turns into K-Hall pandemonium. It was as if the Funks with Jumbo were fighting Abby, the Sheik and Brody (fantasy dream match anyone?). I never thought that theyd get back in the ring! The highlight and focus was KENTA vs Kobashi, they brought Budokan level stiffness for sure. Oh my goodness this was brutal. Eventually, Honda and Kanemaru were getting hot and Morishima was pure ruler here too. I mean, Morishima vs Kobashi seemed just as great. If they could have generated that excitement in the slow parts in the beginning, this would have been one of those secret Korakuen klassics. Nevertheless, it is a great match and one where Kobashi is clearly the New Mr. Puro!...as of 2006, at least

For the people that picked #1 here or in their mind, are you searching for a match yet to happen or a match you've just not seen? I ask because, if Lucifer is calling the shots, this is a one and done type scenario. Are you delaying the inevitable perfect match viewing or are you forever seeking the perfect match? Can you be satisfied?

I love wrestling from the 70's. Its got that actual sense that the guys are engaged in a grappling contest. That the contestants are actual wrestlers. Well, in most cases. You've got Abdullah the Butcher forking people but, even then, it feels real...or real enough. Here are a couple of my favorites from AJPW in the 1970's: Destroyer vs Abdullah the Butcher - US Title (04/27/74): Put this match behind watching a Dory & Jack Brisco match and you can see why Abby & the Sheik were so feared. It really looks as if they're trying to kill their opponents. I don't know how early of an appearance in Japan this is for Abby but, he makes the Destroyer bleed through his mask! Just tons of blood here and Destroyer brings some excitement with moves too. A basic match but really fun. Recommended Match. Pat O'Connor vs Dick Murdoch (12/15/75): This bout was a really fun match that could be replicated on TV if any of the companies knew anything about good wrestling. Pat and Dick are legends for a reason and this is how one does "comedy wrestling! The emphasis has got to be on the wrestling! Jumbo Tsuruta vs Billy Robinson (3/11/77): A 2 out of 3 falls match. The first fall was edited down as the time shown on the fall was 34+ minutes but that is not what was televised. So, much of the surely excellent mat action was omitted in the favor of more pro-wrestling. It was great stuff nonetheless. There was tons of heat and drama built and the 2nd and 3rd falls kept up. Parity was prominent more than in their 3-5-77 match. The 3rd fall then became quite desperate and physically punishing. Each man could feel how close victory was. Again both were excellent in timing, execution, and selling. A fantastic match! A Classic!

This match was in need of a Cousin It level clip job. Whew...the spots were pretty sick but, everything in between was garbage. No pun intended. I've seen my fair share of sleazy death matches but, this was really poor overall. Kasai is a nutjob who is awesome and that is on full display here. Gage would have really benefited from a monster mask because he is one notch away from backyard wrestler. Frankly, this was backyard wrestling. Well, gravel parking lot wrestling. Zandig looks good from a physique standpoint and is passable but, in essence is from the Sandman school of wrestling. There are some great death matches out there but, this isn't one of 'em.

A couple years ago I found out that my fiancé's college friend (who lives in Japan) was a wrestling fan and regularly goes to shows in Tokyo. Awesome! After talking, it turns out he's good buddies with Kotaro Suzuki. Holy crap, really!? Being the awesome nice guy that he is (both our friend & Kotaro), I received a signed poster and tee shirt in the mail a few weeks later. My mind is still blown I've become a big fan ever since. So, I'd like to repay his kindness in the best way that a wrestle dork with a blog can...Here's a spotlight on some of my favorite Kotaro Suzuki matches: Makoto Hashi vs Kotaro Suzuki (NOAH 06/06/03): A really fun opener for a fantastic show. This match would be great for an American TV match albeit stiffer. Recommended match. Tiger Emperor (Suzuki) vs Ricky Marvin - Mask vs Hair (NOAH 04/02/05): An excellent display of athleticism, speed, and execution. These guys work so well together. I'm really surprised these guys were never brought into ROH at the time. The wager didn't really matter too much to me but, it was amazing lucharesu. Highly recommended. Takuma Sano vs Mushiking Terry (Suzuki) (NOAH 11/05/05): What started out as just a fun match turned into something I would strongly recommend checking out. There was a neat story as it appeared Mushiking has Sano's rolling solebutt to the gut scouted. He's dodging it at every attempt. This is really smart because it has been shown to be equal to Misawa's elbow strike or Kobashi's chop. Not only strong, it is unpredictable. Sano is the master of this move along with the top rope double stomp. In combination, it usually spells the beginning of the end for his opponents. Terry (Suzuki) uses speed and craftiness against the the veteran. Smartly he works on weakening Takuma's legs with a variety of holds. This plan looks really good in pulling the upset. Sano's not out of it completely but, I'm buying a Mushiking win. It doesn't matter how much the kids are yelling for their superhero. He can only dodge that kick so many times. Really good match and two masked gimmicks in one year for Kotaro Low Ki vs Kotaro Suzuki (NOAH 02/17/06): A fun Junior contest between two guys who are brilliant on offense. Their defense was less than developed although Low-Ki showed an avenue of genius. Still this was a fun, highly athletic and competitive bout. Ki was going to win because he out ranked Kotaro but, it was dramatic and exciting. Great match. Kotaro Suzuki & Atsushi Aoki vs Super Crazy & Ricky Marvin (NOAH 07/22/12): Well shit...they went right straight for crazy town here. I mean Super Crazy is in the match so, um I guess its to be expected...They were diving off, over, and through stuff in the first 3 minutes. The balance and timing these guys had was impeccable. There was a bit much in the end especially from Marvin who went full Chaquita Bananas with the finishers. If you enjoy the Young Bucks or the PWG style tag match, this is a highly recommended match. I won't say great but, its something Dave M. would probably give ****1/2 if it was in NJPW today. Joe Doering vs Kotaro Suzuki (AJPW 08/17/13): An under 10 minute gem where a basic story was told with great execution, move selection, and energy. Highly Recommended. Shuji Ishikawa & Daichi Kazato vs Go Shiozaki & Kotaro Suzuki (08/30/15 Union Pro): Nice tag team dynamics at work here. Kotaro was clearly the lowest man on the totem pole but, he impressed me. My favorite pairing was he & Kazato. Their junior offense was really entertaining. Go and Ishikawa were the destroyers so, it gave the bout a sense of urgency whenever the heavyweights were in with the juniors. Highly recommended match. I had a few other under the radar recommendations/reviews for Kotaro in a notebook but, its lost in the boxes of junk from my last move. Kotaro became a freelancer after AJPW and was in Wrestle-1 where he had a really awesome title match at the beginning of 2016 (03/13/16) with Minoru Tanaka. Then, another good match with AKIRA in June 2016. I believe he was then doing a lot of work with Zero-1 and is regularly working for AJPW again according to Cagematch. Looks like some really fun stuff went down in the later part of 2017 so, hopefully I'll be able to track some down and share my take on it in the coming weeks.

I know blogs aren't the hip thing anymore. That's probably been the case for a long time actually. I'll admit that I'm out of it. Anyhow, I've been keeping a journal of my views on puroresu since I got hooked on it 11-12 years ago. I've typed a couple hundred pages of reviews in a Word pad file on a Dell desktop. Then, for some reason a couple years ago, I've regressed into writing reviews into spiral notebooks. I've got to share this with someone, right? Eh, perhaps not the seasoned wrestling fan but, the guy or gal just getting into Puro. Or maybe someone who is looking to branch out from the current NJ style which seems to have become synonymous with Puro the last few years. My goal or aim of this blog is to share my views on Japanese wrestling as well as other related styles or promotions throughout the years. Generally speaking, 1975-2015. I'm sure that I will hit upon some TNA, ROH, PWG, and wXW along the way but, that's why the blog is called Puro + More. I do want to try and cover current (2016-present) Wrestle 1 and Zero 1 via YouTube and Daily Motion as well. I'm certainly going to still participate in the Match Discussion Archives. In fact, there may be some duplication there as well as from the Obscure Japanese Indies and WAR topics. Here I can expand upon them a bit more and ramble. In no way do I want this to be a big old review dump though. I've got a schedule and daily theme set up (in my notebook of course) so, my objective is to post an entry once a day. I want to keep things varied for readers and myself. Plus, I want to keep the blog moving along so, it remains interesting for all. We all know how easy it is to start a project but, keeping up with it can be another matter. Thanks for reading. I'm excited to get started

Ha! Even more reason to skip his matches

Well, this sounds pretty awesome!! And by awesome, I mean that its not a 90 minute video but condensed 15 minutes of bizarro sleaze! Edit: Yeah this is pretty darn fun. The flaming glove bit was great! What puzzles me is that the Demons look like zombies & the Zombies look like demons I hope everyone had a fun time doing this.

Hahaha! I don't want to admit it but same here! My Wushu phase will pass but, it is a blast. I was psyched seeing the choke slam in the above even though the finish was similar. That must be like the Doomsday Device of Wushu I've been watching the Wushu matches (?) with weapons too and thinking, "yeah...this could kinda be a hardcore/deathmatch"

That's a really great story! I cracked up when the 3 regulars stumbled in on the party and then became part of it

I enjoyed this 2-on-1 match. Enjoyed the soccer kicks to the back and chest spot. I think that Sabin & Shelley do that. Plus awesome tag team finisher at the end https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6XEnDcww8Kg

Well, that was pretty awesome... Yeah, that's pro wrestling to me. Insane work rate and spots! Too much no selling for my tastes ;P Thanks for sharing! Gonna watch some more now

Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama vs Kazunari Murakami & Yuji Nagata (show #8) This one, the last match of BML did not disappoint. It is all the striking grappling goodness that I'd hoped for. Minoru Suzuki and Takayama are total awesome destroyer heels. Referee Wada even won't put up with their crap. Nagata is the awesome hero. But, man Murakami was great too. The finish is good but, after the bell was rung and Suzuki starts redecoration of K-hall, that's when I thought this was a damn great match. I'd like to rewatch it because it seems like it could be a mid 2000s Indy classic.

I liked this a little bit more but, it is more about watching Kensuke assault skinny Shibata. Sasaki pulled out a couple special moves here so, he really treated Shibata as a threat and I think is why he bumped for the face kicks when he was kneeling. I think he treated them like Chono's Kenka kicks. I was wholly pleased with the match but, Shibata-bata really needs something more than middle kicks in his arsenal. It got rather repetitive... I was waiting for it to be Kensuke's turn to lay the smack down. All in all it was exactly what I wanted as rank dictated the outcome even before the bell rang...especially since Shibata opted for a brawn over brains approach. Highly recommended despite it's flaws.

Yeah, the Fujiwara tag match was alright but, I quit half way through. I just didn't have the patience for it. Just finished Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Munenori Sawa from show #7. Hot damn this was nifty UWF in NJ type match. Plus its around 7 minutes long so, its all good stuff. Nakajima looks badass in it. Highly recommend checking this one out. Kensuke Sasaki vs. Katsuyori Shibata I was wholly pleased with the match but, Shibata-bata really needs something more than middle kicks in his arsenal. It got rather repetitive... I was waiting for it to be Kensuke's turn to lay the smack down. All in all it was exactly what I wanted as rank dictated the outcome even before the bell rang. Highly recommended despite it's flaws. Kensuke Office's appearances in BML have been a boon to the shows.

This match had a lot of potential but, didn't live up to it. The early stuff with Shibata and team NOAH was great. Unfortunately, Kota Ibushi was totally disregarded to the point where it was a 2 on 1 match. And this wasn't done in a clever or meaningful way. They brushed him off in such a manner that it didn't matter who was in there with Shibata. That's alright if that hubris by the NOAH team comes back around to bite them in the butt. For instance, hot tag towards the end to our ass kicking ace Katsuyori. Ibushi recovers and gets to hit his moves etc. and we get exciting nearfalls and little Kota is more than a whipping boy. Or! They actually pay off the Morishima & Shibata stuff and we get a decent believable end segment. I get no one except Ibushi gets pinned here for political reasons but, man this match just kinda ends outta nowhere. Kota never looked like a threat and gets mauled by the mop headed mammoth. Its stiff as heck but, all in all, that's about it. No sequences of note between Ibushi & Marufuji, only 1 section of good grappling with Shibata & 'Fuji, and no meaningful portion with 'bata & Morishima. It felt like they left a couple minutes of the end off. Below what they were capable of for sure. I'd still recommend it since its 16 minutes and they really hit each other pretty good

Naomichi Marufuji & Takeshi Morishima vs Katsuyori Shibata & Kota Ibushi From show #6. This was pretty good but not great. Shibata was awesome with Marufuji. His stuff was off the charts with Morishima though. Wow, they really just pounded each other. This lost steam as it went on and sorta ended once Big Takeshi was in there alone with Ibushi (who looked to be like 145 pounds soaking wet). 16 minute match should have been a couple longer. Perhaps Shibata was hurt? I'm tempted to watch the Fujiwara & Suzuki tag from the same show. Its 20+ minutes so, it could be great or boring as hell...

At a this point 2018, this shit is a lost gem.

Where Naniwa vs. Lynn was AJW, Caras vs. Sasuke was AJPW. A nice slow building match with exciting matwork built into false finish teases & hellish moves...Sasuke did his awesome flying offense and Caras powerbombed Sasuke 3 times that would make Vader wince. ****

I agree! I had no idea some of these matches existed. I'm looking forward to his match vs Kensuke and the tag match vs the NOAH guys. Also the final tag match with Takayama has potential. BIG MOUTH ILLUSION 5 6/18/06 Tokyo Korakuen Hall (show #6) Mad Dogs (Mad Dog Goto & Mad Dog Ohara) vs. Hiroyuki Ito & Yuki Ishikawa Naomichi Marufuji & Takeshi Morishima vs. Katsuyori Shibata & Kota Ibushi Great Yuta (Yutaka Yoshie) & Kazunari Murakami vs. Minoru Suzuki & Yoshiaki Fujiwara BIG MOUTH ILLUSION 6 taped 7/2/06 Tokyo Korakuen Hall (show #7) Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs. Great Kabukicito (Taro Nohashi) Don Arakawa vs. Riki Sensyu AKIRA vs. Yoshitsune Enson Inoue & Yuki Ishikawa vs. Mad Dogs (Mad Dog Goto & Mad Dog Ohara) Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Munenori Sawa Katsumi Usuda & Kazunari Murakami & Manabu Hara vs. Voodoo Murders (Shuji Kondo & TARU & "brother" YASSHI) Kensuke Sasaki vs. Katsuyori Shibata BIG MOUTH ILLUSION 7 8/20/06 Tokyo Korakuen Hall (show #8, final show...I believe) Hiroyuki Ito & Yuki Ishikawa vs. Mad Dogs (Mad Dog Goto & Mad Dog Ohara) Ikuto Hidaka & Minoru Fujita vs. Katsumi Usuda & Manabu Hara Katsuyori Shibata vs. TARU Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Kazunari Murakami & Yuji Nagata

Totally agree. Awesome Indy dream tag match. ****-**** 1/4 seems about right to me as well. Minoru Suzuki and Fujiwara were just great here. Kensuke at a minimum was a nice touch too. Made his offense seem that much more meaningful.

I'd like to get around to watching the Suzuki vs Fujiwara match from show # 4 but, not today. The rest of the card looks OK. Pretty sure I watched Kido vs Kurisu over the summer I'll skip to show #5 where I watched the dream tag match & the main event. I probably wouldn't watch a Shibata or Nakajima match from this year but, for some reason I'll watch one from 11 years ago Kazunari Murakami & Kensuke Sasaki vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Minoru Suzuki- Wow, this was fantastic! Awesome character & heel work from Suzuki and Fujiwara. Sasaki had minimal in-ring time but, was maximum in his effectiveness. Match showcased some comedy, hard way blood, and a really satisfying finishing stretch. Fujiwara at 100 years old here still was very very dangerous and didn't hold the match back one bit. Great match! Katsuyori Shibata vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - Battle of the young stars in K-Hall! Kicks, slaps, elbows and all the other stuff you'd expect outta these two lads. 'jima is outranked and outclassed in 2006 so its a lotta guts and guile from him...well and kicks...he does kick a bit. 12 minute match is just right. Nice compact stuff. Not sure I would have booked this after the tag but, Shibata is the ace so to speak. Highly recommended. I'll try and finish out BML's brief run in similar fashion. Should be a day or so as there 3 more shows.

All of the BML stuff is loaded. I'll pick up the ball a little bit since there are some really unique, interesting, dream match ups. I don't wanna go through the whole shows like Jetlag has graciously done but, others are more than welcome. I'll post the cards for show #4 & #5 from Quebrada's site. BIG MOUTH ILLUSION 3 taped 3/22/06 Tokyo Korakuen Hall (show #4) Osamu Kido vs Masanobu Kurisu Yoshitsune vs Rasse Yuki Ishikawa & Muneki Sawa vs Manabu Hara & Katsumi Usuda Minoru Suzuki vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara Kensuke Sasaki vs Kazunari Murakami Katsuyori Shibata vs Hidetaka Monma BIG MOUTH ILLUSION 4 taped 4/19/06 Tokyo Korakuen Hall (show # 5) Exhibition Match: Osamu Kido vs. Ultimo Dragon Yuki Ishikawa vs. Hiroyuki Ito Don Arakawa vs. Muneki Sawa Alan Karaev vs. Katsumi Usuda Ensen Inoue vs. Manabu Hara Kazunari Murakami & Kensuke Sasaki vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Minoru Suzuki Katsuyori Shibata vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima

This lived up to expectations but, I didn't think it was a MOTY contender. It was a great match with a different feel (much like Kobashi vs Ogawa '03) but didn't kick into overdrive at the end like I would have liked. Still the match & finish are great just not a classic to me.

I'm with Vinnie B on this match. I thought the exchanges were really good, the outcome was in doubt since you had different levelled wrestlers, etc. Korakuern hall brings out the magic in these 6 man matches. Loved this one. Great stuff.