[1996-10-20-NJPW-Super Grade Tag League] Jushin Liger vs Great Muta

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

I expected this to be epic, life-or-death wrestling. The video package was awesome. Then, you get the match, which is a heck of a spectacle, but nothing is really going on for a while. Muta does most of the same stuff he did in the Tenryu match, only he had much better chemistry with Tenryu. Still, not sure if it mattered much, as I think the big part of the appeal here is that it's LIGER VS MUTA! Liger going under the ring after Muta is awesome, even more so when the cameraman follows them. Then Muta attacks Liger with a broom! And starts ripping a mask! And he goes to attack Liger with a chair, realizes Liger is wearing the same face paint, then Liger sprays him in the eyes with mist himself and does his own brawling! This had to be fun for both of them because it was so different, but this match is ass. Still, I'm glad I saw it.

[Tim Evans]

The final 5 minutes of this might be my favorite thing about this set. Liger as Muta was just awesome.

[PeteF3]

One of those matches that defies a star rating but that everyone should probably see once, just because it's so different. I loved Muta's misadventures trying to set up the table on end outside the ring, before deciding "fuck it" and just chucking it at Liger. This is a total sportz-entertainment match with New Japan-level work and layout, and somehow it all works even if sounds silly when described.

[soup23]

A complete spectacle of a match. It is very thematic like Muto and Tenryu and while I don't think it was as good as an overall match as that, I am a sucker for this style in these doses and will rank it accordingly. Both of these guys feel larger than life and perform a match that lives up to that narrative. I especially liked the face paint that Liger had on underneath his mask and that we get the evil red mist from Muta. Muta ends up getting the pin but Liger feels like he belongs inside the ring. ****

[tim]

This isn't an all time classic, but it is an all time must see, for sure. Incredible, ridiculous cinematic spectacle of a match. I did at times feel that strictly as a match it left a bit to be desired, but as an overall presentation, man, this was something else. Liger's face paint reveal was just one of the great spots in wrestling history. And we get an under-the-ring cam! And the ending. And lots of awesome stuff in between it all.

[cactus]

This was the first ever puro match that I watched and it will always have a special place in my heart because of that. This is the perfect Dome match. From the larger than life entrances to, the emphasis on hardcore wrestling and the special moments like Liger getting his mask ripped off, this was New Japan doing sports entertainment and it pays off supremely well. I can't name a better you a better performance from Mutoh as Muta either. He gets frustrated that Liger has got his number and he's a treat to watch. 

★★★★★

[Superstar Sleeze]

Great Muta vs Jushin Thunder Liger - NJPW 10/20/96

I am surprised I never reviewed this before as I know I watched it a couple times in the early 2010s. I would argue this probably the most famous 90s New Japan match Stateside. There are plenty better but the two most famous Japanese wrestlers in America was definitely a draw to hype this match. It both worse and better than I remember. I knew not much happened before the big reveal but it was even less than I remembered. I remembered the Big Reveal but it even better than I remembered. Muta vs Tenryu from 9 days prior smoked this it is not even close. Muta vs Shinzaki from April 96 I also thought was better. It is a Great Muta match and they are wonky but this isn’t up there with his best.

Lots of pageantry to start befitting a match of this pomp & circumstance. Liger in all white. Muta spews Green Mist. One high spot powder repeat. Muta piledrives Liger through a table which is cool but it didn’t have heat because it felt random. We get typical Muta cord choking, ramp running high spot, no selling a piledriver. Liger brings the match to life by evading the back handspring elbow nailing a Kappou Kick and string some dives together. Muta being Muta goes under the Ring and we get under the Ring cam which popped me. No Gate to Hell down there, weird. Muta gets a witch broom and beats Liger with it. He tears the mask to REVAL LIGER IN MUTA FACEPAINT!!! LIGER MIST~! He gets the classic Muta spike and stabs him with it. He crowns with a chair twice. Piledriver on the concrete. This rules! Kill shot with the Spike but stabs into the table. RED MIST~! SPIKE~! MOONSAULT~!
 

From the Liger FACEPAINT reveal to the end is **** but there’s not enough before that to warrant more than a very good grade. Great Muta matches are a genre unto themselves and this is a cinematic epic but falls short of the best Muta matches in history. *** 1/2