[1996-01-04-NJPW-Wrestling World 1996] Shinya Hashimoto vs Kazuo Yamazaki

[PeteF3]

A goddamned 1991 Worldwide main event in the Tokyo Dome. I love it.

[Superstar Sleeze]

I have watched this match before?!?! Lol.

 

Shinya Hashimoto vs Kazuo Yamazaki - NJPW 1/4/96

 

Well Hashimoto had to wrestle someone at the biggest show of the year since Mutoh would be defending the championship against Takada. I really liked their 1998 match. I am disappointed by this because of that. The kicks in this were phenomenal. Both guys brought their A+ kicking game. I just thought everything was fine. Yamazaki working the arm and Hashimoto making him earn is something I love in principle, but Hashimoto didn't really sell long term and didn't feel like Yamazaki had a game plan involving the arm. Basically, the match was Yamazaki escapes the first brainbuster gets a rear naked choke, which Hashimoto gets the ropes. Then I think what really kills the match for me is how Hashimoto no sells the cross armbreaker. Disappointing. I will say Hashimoto's Overhand Chop as a response to Yamazaki was GLORIOUS! Great kick and killer brainbuster to follow. Great finish stretch. ***1/4

[Stiva]

A match where one guy aggressively works the arm and the other guy responds by punching him in the throat is going to be a **1/2 affair at minimum. The hot finish puts it beyond that. Great fun

[Superstar Sleeze]

lol I watched this match again!

 

Shinya Hashimoto vs Kazuo Yamazaki - NJPW 1/4/96

Inoki vs Vader and Mutoh vs Takada take center stage but Hashimoto has to fight someone. Their 98 match is the classic but this is very good. Kickboxing to start. Yamasaki is the first to get in a head rocket and targets the arm. Lots of great struggle over arm wringers and armbar takedowns. Hashimoto is not giving an inch. He sells really well for Yamazaki. He powders. He uses the point of fingers to throat thrust which is illegal which puts over the desperation. Yamazaki stays on the Arm. Then moves to sleeper/choke to set up the cross Arm Breaker But nothing doing. Yamazaki head rocking kick but that just WAKES UP HASHIMOTO THE DESTROYER! RIGHT HAND OF HASHIMOTO! BIG KICK! BRAINBUSTER! Great badass Dome match! *** 1/2 

On 1/17/2018 at 7:49 PM, Superstar Sleeze said:

I have watched this match before?!?! Lol.

 

Shinya Hashimoto vs Kazuo Yamazaki - NJPW 1/4/96

 

Well Hashimoto had to wrestle someone at the biggest show of the year since Mutoh would be defending the championship against Takada. I really liked their 1998 match. I am disappointed by this because of that. The kicks in this were phenomenal. Both guys brought their A+ kicking game. I just thought everything was fine. Yamazaki working the arm and Hashimoto making him earn is something I love in principle, but Hashimoto didn't really sell long term and didn't feel like Yamazaki had a game plan involving the arm. Basically, the match was Yamazaki escapes the first brainbuster gets a rear naked choke, which Hashimoto gets the ropes. Then I think what really kills the match for me is how Hashimoto no sells the cross armbreaker. Disappointing. I will say Hashimoto's Overhand Chop as a response to Yamazaki was GLORIOUS! Great kick and killer brainbuster to follow. Great finish stretch. ***1/4