[1992-04-16-NJPW-Explosion Tour: Top of the Super Juniors] Eddy Guerrero vs Negro Casas

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

This is a complete handheld version, not the clipped version that aired on TV. I love the opening minutes with Casas rolling out some of the matwork I remember him using in longer form in the Dandy match later on this set. Very matwork heavy, which is nice, because it's pretty lucha-influenced. The match is still very much a NJ juniors style match, but because of the background both guys have, they're able to make it unique. Casas ends up winning with a crucifix pin. This could have been way better with more time, but it's still good.

[Tim Evans]

Weird seeing Negro wearing his brothers outfit. Good match but I agree that it was too short.

[shoe]

The mat work here was excellent. Really a lot of cool stuff. Just way too damn short.

[Kevin Ridge]

Good but way too short. Felt like a first fall of a Lucha match. For match in Japan, I figure they would at least get a few more minutes.

[MikeCampbell]

This is probably the best Casas match from Japan that I've seen, no coincidence that it's opposite someone else well versed in the lucha style.

[WingedEagle]

This was a fantastic sub 10 minute match, one of the best I've seen. Its also no surprise that one of Casas' best performances in Japan comes against someone well versed in his style. Casas strikes me as the type of wrestler who if he were a chef, would likely run the single greatest Applebees or Diner in the country. He can take pretty average ingredients (time constraints, card positioning, opponent) and make something excellent out of just about anything. Put him in a first class steakhouse and he'll likely deliver there as well.

 

***3/4

[PeteF3]

Nice combination of lucha matwork and Japan stiffness. Still, it seemed Casas came away with a victory a little too easily.

[xlynwoodx]

I loved this match, everything looked real. The short time kind of made sense, young guy went for a big move too soon on the veteran and Casas took advantage with a quick pin.

[garretta]

Just like in the Samurai match, Eddie looks good for what he is, which is a not-quite-elite worker who's in the tournament to see where he stacks up against the best in the world. Again, his inexperience and recklessness costs him, but he has Casas on the run for a decent part of the match, and instead of fooling around or trying to teach Eddie a lesson, Casas simply cradles him for the win after he misses his big splash off the top.

 

It's nice to have the full match here via handheld, but as with most handhelds, the cameraperson misses some of the important action on the floor, which takes away from the bout quite a bit. That's why I prefer professionally shot matches wherever I can find them.

[dawho5]

Perfectly good match.  Despite the stiff chops I was left thinking this looked more like an exhibition than a really competitive match.  Maybe it was the abruptness of the finish?