[1996-08-04-BattlARTS] Yuki Ishikawa vs Daisuke Ikeda

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Strong match, as always, but a little on the short side. Ikeda's kicks are crazy.

[Tim Evans]

Ishikawa's punches were might nice. It's funny that Battlarts seemed to have better production back then then they do now. I guess that's cause they had a tv deal?

[Ditch]

TV deal, more fans/revenue.

[KB8]

This is pretty much everything I could want out of these two going eight minutes. There's usually always at least one "that might've been the stiffest version of that thing in wrestling history" moment in every Ikeda/Ishikawa match, and there were about four in this, including the hurricanrana that landed Ikeda square on the crown of his head. Ikeda's short lariat was completely nuts, and I can't think of many things in wrestling that'd suck worse than eating Ikeda's kicks. I loved this.

[PeteF3]

This was quite the war, and makes for two very strong BattlArts matches that I've found in '96.

[soup23]

This really feels like the genesis of what will be one of the better feuds of the next decade. Short but violent. It does appear we had some clipping in here. They provided a nice contrast of the wrestling and submission ability of Ishikawa vs. the strikes of Ikeda.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Yuki Ishikawa vs Daisuke Ikeda - BattlArts 8/4/96

 

These two are still feuding right now, right? The match-up that would define BattleArts forever, the brutal kicks and strikes of Daisuke Ikeda against the lethal mat wizardy of Yuki Ishikawa. I always hesitate to call BattlArts shoot-style. It is more like ultra-stiff pro wrestling. You can see that hybridization in what I believe is the first match on tape we have these two in BattlArts. Ikeda is just blasting Ishikawa with those kicks and holy shit those clotheslines. Ishikawa is not afraid to throw some serious hands as well and also bests Ikeda on the mat. Ikeda shows he knows his way around the mat as he gets a heel hook. These two are the masters of their own realm, but what makes this a great feud is their very proficient in the other's strong suit. It gets pro wrestling with Ishikawa using a rana and a Fisherman Buster to set up his choke. Great portent of the amazing things to come. ***3/4

[tim]

This match ruled, as you should expect. This is a short version of their match, which is cool to see. They bring everything you expect -- nasty strikes, gritty mat work and some big pro wrestling spots. There's an especially great strike exchange toward the end that sees Ikeda land one of the better wrestling slaps you'll ever see. Ishikawa really kills Ikeda for the win.

[superkix]

This had about two or three minutes clipped but it was still quite the doozy, as expected. Here, they establish their respective roles, with Ishikawa being the aggressive matworker and Ikeda the gruff striker. Ishikawa uses some cool suplex throws, including a deadlift belly-to-belly and a pretty dope capture suplex counter. I loved Ishikawa’s grumpy foot stomps in the corner, and also the the way he steps over into the single leg crab. He starts peppering Ikeda with these big face slaps and punches and then Ikeda destroys him with a lariat, followed by some nasty knees for a knockdown. After a big headbutt to the back of the head, Ishikawa chokes out Ikeda for the win.