[1996-01-04-NJPW-Wrestling World 1996] Nobuhiko Takada vs Keiji Muto

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

We decided to clip this since the match was a huge draw, but has a bit of a bad rep for Muto's laziness, so it's hard to make any huge judgments here, but this isn't a terrible stretch of wrestling by any means. They have the crowd in the palm of their hands, so they can pretty much do whatever they want. But sadly, that looks to be exactly what they do. Too bad, they probably could have delivered a classic had they wanted.

[Hollinger.]

I don't think I ever saw the full version, but the ten minutes on the disc are a lot of fun. I can totally see Mutoh mailing it in and killing the first half though. He seemed pretty legit upset to be losing.

[rzombie1988]

There's alot of hate for this match, but I always really liked it. I loved the heat and the big match feel of it. Had Mutoh not done his elbow and the moonsault it probably would have been better, but I think Takada got alot out of him. Mutoh's walk of shame after the match really put over how much was on the line in this match.

[Tim Evans]

The best part of the match was the aftermath with Hashimoto and Koshinaka. I'm guessing they were challenging Takada for a shot at the belt?

[jdw]

I'm trying to remember... didn't Sasaki come out and Takada blew him off?

 

With Kosh, he had history so that was nice. And Hash was the Man in NJPW.

 

John

[Jack_Briscoe_Is_My_Hero]

This crowd was molten hot. Hottest crowd I have ever heard in Japan. Makes me was to see Takada/Hashimoto.

[Superstar Sleeze]

I dont blame you guys for clipping this match. I watched the full match and up until the Mutoh headbutts (around 10 minute mark I think) this match was boring as watch the grass grow. The beginning was just sitting in holds with Takada trying a bit harder than Mutoh to make it watchable, but seemed like both were just waiting for the finish. I commend Mutoh going for a double wristlock out of the moonsault so that Takada does not have to kick out of it that is smart protection. Watching the 1995 match first where you understand that Takada had tapped to the Figure 4 it helps build the drama towards the finish. Takada seemed to be going after any limb that was there without any rhyme or reason. The finish seemed anti-climatic. Mutoh gets the Figure 4, which is a great drama then Takada just is like now it is my turn and puts on a cross armbreaker a couple times for the win. I much preferred the October match to this.

[fishbaugh]

Mutoh walking out after the finish all alone up the ramp was a great visual, as was the staredown with Hash. Maybe not the classic you would have hoped for, but still a good ending sequence in front of a super hot crowd.

[Kevin Ridge]

Well done on the clip job as I’ve seen the full and it’s not very good. It wasn’t great but the crowd was into Mutoh versus Takada. If anyone is deserving of being hit by a 40 yard ramp run down it is Takada. Not a victory I am happy about. Thanks for showing up Mutoh.

[Zenjo]

I vaguely remember thinking that this was good in parts and undeserving of the hate it gets. So I watched it in full again. Sure enough Mutoh was complete shit and the whole match sucked.

 

Lazy, unfocused, directionless matwork. Lacking any intensity or urgency. Little chemistry and a poor combining of the two styles. Mutoh hitting his finisher out of nowhere and applying a submission rather than going for the pin. This is NJ rules rather than UWFI. The bad selling at the end and the pathetic sulking because he lost the title. I'm starting to sound like Mike Lorefice here.

[soup23]

Finish looked hot and this was a hell of a show overall from quality as well as historical significance. Muto walking to the back was haunting and Koshinaka and Hashimoto have some heated words with Takada to set up the future.

[PeteF3]

Hot crowd, but these two simply do not have any chemistry at all. The action is better down the stretch than any part of the October match, but isolated from the crowd there isn't much substance here. Controlling a crowd is important--vital, even--so I'm not discounting that. But it takes more than amped crowd to create a true classic.

[tim]

I thought the clip that we have here was great, actually. Very BattlARTS -- moonsault followed up with a kimura and everything. Very different tempo from a regular pro wrestling match. Crowd was super hot and really buying the submissions.