[1996-08-02-NJPW-G1 Climax] Keiji Muto vs Kazuo Yamazaki

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Yamazaki is awesome! I love the early matwork. Yamazaki is outclassing Muto every step of the way, so Muto steps on his hand to get away. Lots of restarts and standoffs, which I usually hate, but the matwork is so strong that it really doesn't matter. The leg work and figure four set up is brief, but really nice done, and played well for drama with all the attempts to turn it over that didn't work. Yamazaki winning has to be a bit of an upset. Muto kind of no-sells the finish, which takes away from this, and this is a bit of an up-and-down match, but there are flashes of brilliance here. It doesn't get to the next level because it doesn't sustain, but I still really enjoyed this match.

[Tim Evans]

Yeah what's the deal with Muto walking out again after the finish? Did he have heat with Yamazaki or something? And why does the topic say Muto vs Koshinaka?

[Loss]

Yeah what's the deal with Muto walking out again after the finish? Did he have heat with Yamazaki or something? And why does the topic say Muto vs Koshinaka?

Fixed.

[Zenjo]

Such an intelligent storytelling match. Really good stuff. Yamazaki came in with two fingers taped together, and Mutoh had been around the block too many times not to take advantage of that. It wasn't just painful, it also meant he couldn't fully lock in his dangerous submissions. With those weapons neutralised Keiji also attacked the knee so he couldn't be kicked either. However he couldn't disable his opponents fighting spirit. Kazuo hung on grimly and then thought something along the lines of: 'Fuck it. I don't care how much it hurts, I've got to give everything on this submission.' And it worked. It reminded me of some of the psychology from Misawa vs Kobashi 1/97, which can't be a bad thing. Afterwards Mutoh was furious at himself for getting complacent and failing to finish off his ailing foe.

[PeteF3]

Great match all about the little things--Yamazaki being a superior mat worker full of deadly submissions, and Muto resorting to stomping on his hand to gain advantages. Yamazaki withstanding the dragon screw->moonsault->figure four combo was a shocker, as that really seemed to be the finish. Then once again he pulls a submission out of his ass for an upset victory. Muto walking out was a little weird but his actual selling while in the cross armbreaker was gold.

[soup23]

I liked this a lot more than I expected as it was starting. The constant hand work and arm bars really had me invested and Yamazaki picking the win felt deserved and him not giving in to the aura of Muto overall. I agree that Muto popping up and vanishing at the finish took some wind out of this match overall but it was a really pleasant surprise and a great match for Yamazaki as a whole. ***1/2

[Jordan]

Loved the handwork from Muto and especially when he blocked an armbar attempt by literally stepping on the bad hand and then stomping it. Might be my favorite thing I've seen him do in a match. Nice match overall.

[tim]

I totally loved this match. Yamazaki brings a unique feel to the match and both guys have clear strategies; Yamazaki relies on his kicks and is going after the arm, while Muto is after the leg and works on Yamazaki's fingers a bit for good measure, always coming across really nasty while doing so. Both themes are established early on and are important to the match up to the end. Very good mat work in the beginning. Ending stretch is awesome and especially Muto trying to escape the armbar; Yamazaki sure has been bringing it with the come-from-behind armbar finishes this year!

[Superstar Sleeze]

Keiji Mutoh Vs Kazuo Yamazaki - NJPW 8/2/96 G-1 Climax

WWF 96 PPVs done for now it is onto something different. 96 was not an explosive year for our old pal Mutoh losing the title to Takada on 1/4 and ceding the title of Ace & Defender back to Hashimoto after holding it for most of 95. Mutoh’s two big matches were dream matches against Hakushi and Liger and the gnarly street fight against Tenryu which is a Top 100 match of all time in my opinion. So an interesting year for Mutoh. He goes up against UWFi #2 and now NJPW stalwart in G-1 Climax.

I don’t know if I am in a good mood as work winds down and anticipation for my first child grows but I loved this match. The opening wrestling was so good. Great chaining lots of struggle. Mutoh wins out with the a Short Arm Scissors then works the leg. Yamazaki starts throwing kicks with reckless abandon. Some great shots. Mutoh goes for a single leg takedown but Yamazaki nails him in the head great Stuff. Mutoh says Fuck It and stomps the injured hand of Yamazaki. Yamazaki comes back with arm bar and cross arm breaker attempts. I love how Low-Fi this is. It is not about getting in all your high spots but taking what the match gives you. We get shades of 2001 Mutoh with Dragon Leg Screw and loved the Moonsault into the Figure-4. I thought he had it but we get a Yamazaki Flying Cross-Armbreaker for the win. Genius match with dueling psychologies and each man staying true to their strategy and characters. ****