[1993-10-15-NJPW-Super Grade Tag League] Jushin Liger & Wild Pegasus vs Shinya Hashimoto & Masa Chono

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

These are the right guys to deliver a strong juniors vs heavies match, especially because Hash and Chono actually work with them and sell for them. If anything, I sometimes think Liger holds back against heavies more than I wish he would. He gives quite a bit of offense up when working larger guys. But at the same time, it always works, he ends up somewhat sympathetic and it fits the match dynamic, so who am I to argue? This really feels like the last 10 minutes of a really hot final stretch even though it's a full length tag. The finish was a HUGE shock, with Liger catching Chono in a crucifix for the win while Hash's back is turned, and then doing the most obnoxious celebration of all time! Kind of craptastic to get the pin with no build to it at all, but Liger's post-match celebration is hilarious and makes it all worthwhile.

[Zenjo]

They clipped 6m off and I'd rather they hadn't. It was Heavies vs Juniors but Chono wasn't that much bigger than Benoit and Liger. They had a lot more success against him than against Hash. The Juniors put up a good showing and were holding off the eventual kill. Then Liger shocks Chono with a cradle for a huge upset! Very nicely done and the fans loved it.

[Kevin Ridge]

I do not watch much current stuff but was wondering if wrestlers still use the Dragon screw leg whip. Big move from the 90s. For not being a regular team, Liger and Benoit come pretty close to hitting the double drop kick off the top rope. Double flying headbutt too! After the juniors initial advantage it ends up being Chono/Hashimoto beating down Liger for rest of match. Benoit keeps trying get involved but getting thrown out of the ring and blocked from getting back in which plays into the finish. Heavyweights just dominating in the ring. Really cool flash reversal win by Liger. An upset that I was pleasantly surprised by.

[PeteF3]

One of the best Rockers matches in the history of Japan. Seriously, Liger and Benoit work the opening shine right out of their playbook. Then it's time for Liger to pay, and he does, big-time. But he gets a few kickouts and Benoit makes a few timely saves, and the crowd gets more jazzed with each one. Liger still looks about dead, though, and Hash is constantly there to keep Benoit at bay. So at this point I'm thinking, "If only Liger could come back and make the hot tag so Benoit could get in a run before the inevitable finish, this will be a darkhorse top 10 MOTYC candidate." Then Liger turns an attempted Samoan drop into a crucifix and GETS THE PIN??! Holy living fuck, one of the biggest shock results of any Yearbook match so far. Really, really fun--I don't know if it can finish in the top 10 in good conscience but this was a true feel-good match all the way (Benoit is pretty minimized here, by the way, for anyone interested in checking this out but not interested in watching him wrestle). 20 minutes that just flew by.

[Guest TheGreatPuma]

There is also footage of Lyger and Benoit celebrating backstage after the match. It adds to the match and is a great moment. Lyger will always be one of the best ever.

[garretta]

This was a match with two distict halves. I thought that the juniors would roll until Benoit accidentally nailed Liger with that dropkick off the top, then I thought that the heavies would take over and wear down Liger before pinning him. Intead, Chono's incredible string of bad losses continued as he was surprised and pinned by Liger seemingly out of nowhere. The camera didn't clearly catch the crucifix, which added to the surprise.

 

It was great to see Liger again; I'm not even sure he's had a match on the set so far. We haven't seen a whole lot of Benoit either. I guess the NJPW juniors have had an off year in '93.

 

Benoit and Liger's doubleteams are something else; they'll likely pose plenty of problems for the rest of the teams in the tournament, and I hope a few of their matches made the rest of the set.

 

I can't wait to see if Hash and Chono can get their act together for their match against Tenryu and Hara. Chono needs a win somewhere quickly in order to maintain his reputation, as this hasn't exactly been the best month of his career so far.

[soup23]

Fun match watching the juniors mix it up with the heavies. I liked Chono and Hash taking a more bully role and being pretty dismissive of the junior contingent. The finish did come out of nowhere but that was kind of the point and it led to the great moment of Liger clowning around throwing it in Chono's face that he lost. ***1/4