[1995-08-13-NJPW-G1 Climax] Ric Flair vs Keiji Muto

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Joined in progress. This was fantastic! Muto's cut from the Chono match is reopened. This is really cool because Flair is playing the total heel instead of his normal, more subdued Japan act. Muto misses a moonsault and clinches his knee, just giving Flair a huge opening. But Flair decides to work the cut instead, which I think worked out way better. Flair throws some outstanding punches and eventually gets back to the knee before locking in the figure four. Muto's blood covered face while selling the figure four is quite the visual. I love how into the reversal the New Japan crowd gets -- yet another example of '95 New Japan reminding me of JCP. Excellent, excellent, excellent. I don't know how the whole match will look, but now I want to see it, because this was lots of fun, and Flair looked great!

 

I kept looking for Flair scooting in for Muto's moonsault like jdw has talked about, but saw no such thing.

[Tim Evans]

This was good but man, Flair can't even get a win in Japan?

[PeteF3]

Dang, this is like Buddy vs. Armstrong and the Lawler-Dundee Christmas LLT, rolled into one and cranked up. Flair staying in Mutoh's blind spot and peppering him with rights and lefts was absolutely awesome. Flair is a pure heel and Mutoh is a pure babyface, and both play their roles perfectly, though it's clear that Flair has lost a step and that Mutoh is the superior worker at this point. Pains me to admit it, but it's true. Flair still knows what he's doing though, in terms of laying out a match and timing his kickouts and giving Mutoh his hope spots. Mutoh's moonsault actually looks really vicious here, and is a convincing way for him to go over. New Japan carrying the banner of '80s southern wrasslin' in the middle of the '90s is something I can definitely get behind.

[Zenjo]

I would imagine that joining in progress would do this all sorts of favours. The first half was cagey and tactical. Or to phrase it differently; slow paced and underwhelming. It was well worth sticking with it as things got really good in the second half. Mutoh's head wound was reopened and Flair wasn't about to pass up the invitation. Plus the Nature Boy went to work on the leg at the same time. It was pretty awesome when Mutoh was bleeding profusely and selling the leg simultaneously. In classic style the face was energised by the loss of blood and his adrenalin helped Keiji to hulk up for the comeback victory.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Keiji Mutoh vs Ric Flair - NJPW 8/13/95 G-1 Climax

Been watching a lot of Shining Wizard Mutoh rewinding back to Friar Tuck Mutoh. Within a couple minutes, you just know this will be good. Then the match keeps going and im like this is really damn good. By the end I am like this is fucking excellent why does no one talk about this match? I am loving finding a Flair performance I haven’t seen before that still gets me jazzed up. 
 

Flair encroaching on Mutoh’s space early and Mutoh taking time to hit three sides of the Ring before locking up was great psychology. Flair going down to the Knucklelock like he was facing the Hulkster did scare me BUT when Flair started working that all my fears & anxieties were allayed. We were all getting the Nature Boy! WOOOOOO! This is what all the Flair haters want a dominant Flair on top that works his opponent tough. Watch this match. He takes the majority of the match. The arm work is stellar. He works three different wrist locks, a hammerlock and some really good arm wringers. It is just beautiful NWA Championship style wrestling.

He paces the match wonderfully letting Mutoh pop the crowd with uptempo offense, selling that he is overwhelmed but then finding ways to come back. After the Arm work they work a great rope running sequence where Flair sets way too early on a monkey flip and Mutoh evades and dropkicks Flair out the Ring. Flair switches gears and just starts punching Mutoh in the corner crowding him suffocating him. Mutoh is able to rally and the Flair Flip bump to the floor really sends Flair into desperation mode. I LOVE that Flair reaction to this is putting Mutoh into figure-4. No frills. Just go for the kill shot. I love that instead of being climax that just leads to more leg work At this point, as a big Flair fan I am just gobbling this up. He is working more in control than usual, he is feeding hope spots at the right time. Mutoh who is very mercurial wrestler is wrestling like a great White meat babyface and showing fire and vulnerability each in the right moments. 
 

Man after the super plex when all of sudden there is blood streaming down Mutoh’s face and he goes into Stinger in Greensboro mode the match elevates to excellent. He runs through his big offense you think he is going to win with a Backbreaker moonsault BUT he crashes & burns! SO FLAIR WORKS THE CUT! MUTOH IS SPORTING A FULL CRIMSON MASK! Flair turns into like best boxer in the world some amazing punches! Flair re-applies Figure-4 on the bloody Mutoh and the visual is insane! I was losing my mind. Mutoh goes full Great Muta but if Great Muta was a babyface. His Hulk Up with all the blood is like he is fucking Terminator. I wish he really tore into Flair there but Moonsault win was still awesome!

Honestly if it was anyone else we would be ranting and raving about this match but it is Flair and it is such an embarrassment of riches still like this gets overlooked. It is a very good match that becomes a blood-soaked, fist-pumping triumph. Excellent Flair performance and Mutoh shines at the end. **** 1/4