[1995-10-09-NJPW vs UWFi] Keiji Muto vs Nobuhiko Takada

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

This was solid. But the crowd seemed ready to explode the whole time, and they never got the chance, because the match never kicked it into high gear. Solid is fine, but that wasn't enough here -- this really needed to be a classic. I liked the matwork, but it was more UWFI-style than New Japan style, and UWFI doesn't seem in context in an arena this big. Still, Takada gives an inspired performance, although Takada submitting to a figure four doesn't do wonders for his aura. Those who say Muto didn't really care to work here are correct. The crowd erupts for the finish.

[El-P]

The 04/01/96 match was a lot worse.

[Tim Evans]

Good finish but the match wasn't much.

[PeteF3]

Takada and Mutoh sit around on the mat with their thumbs up their asses for awhile, occasionally throwing kicks. Finally a few suplexes pop the crowd, and the turning point comes when Mutoh hits a dragon screw, buggering Takada's leg and setting up a figure four. Takada fights his way to the ropes once, but Mutoh no-sells an enzuigiri and locks him in another one, and in the ultimate indignity Takada has to tap out to a "fake" wrestling hold.

 

AWFUL. Mutoh was in the midst of his best year since 1991 and in one match threw almost every bit of that goodwill out the window with a performance that was both clueless and totally phoned in. Meanwhile Takada finally demonstrates to me, personally, for the first time why so many other people in this community don't like him. This is an absolute dog performance by him as well--Mutoh misses a moonsault and Takada's best follow-up is to sit there picking his nose. His kicks looked uncharacteristically weak and he really didn't do anything at all until it came time to sell the leg at the end.

 

Now, Lord knows 1995 has seen plenty other crap. And this match is certainly heated and the first battle over the figure four, at least, is well-done. But this was every bit as bad as the crap booking of the WCW Invasion, with a finish that's both badly done and something expressly designed by Choshu to stick it to UWFI. After how well WAR was generally booked in '93 and '94, that's not easily forgivable and is one of the first signs that Choshu may truly be losing his booking fastball, booking more for personal spite than for selling tickets. Well, the invasion wasn't sunk after this, as we know, and it ended up being a major influence on one of the pivotal American angles of the '90s. But that's no thanks to this shit show, which is not the year's worst match but with the possible exception of the Hogan-Vader strap match is the worst-worked big match involving big time top-quality workers.

[El-P]

This is not the match is should have been, and it's entirely Mutoh's fault. Here he's in half-"fuck you" mode (as opposed to complete "fuck you" mode in January 96). He works a bit during the mat exchanges, but that's Keiji Mutoh doing NJ matwork, which doens't cut it against the top UWF-I guy, although Takada was never a great mat worker himself. Solid is the right word. Then, Mutoh manages to totally no-sell a heel hold, and that's where it gets problematic. From there, it's been established that the dangerous shoot-style submissions just don't cut it. The finishing stretch of the match is quite good, with the exception of Mutoh selling an arm-bar like it's not that much, and most of all the total no-sell of Takada's enzuigiri (granted it wasn't a great looking one, but still). Yeah, there's a trend here.

 

This is an absolute dog performance by him as well--Mutoh misses a moonsault and Takada's best follow-up is to sit there picking his nose. His kicks looked uncharacteristically weak and he really didn't do anything at all until it came time to sell the leg at the end.

 

Ok, sorry but this is ridiculous. First, Takada just ate a german suplex and a backdrop driver just before the moonsault spot. He rolled out the way, and I guess if he had just gotten up, he would have been criticized for shitty selling. After rolling out of the way, Takada sat up, took a breath and as soon as Mutoh was up he was right there kicking him in the face and the knees. Absolutely nothing wrong with this. Then, his kicks. I just watched his two classic matches with Maeda & Fujiwara from 90 just before this one. He kicked just as hard in the three matches, especially toward the end of the Mutoh match. No difference at all. And yes, Takada worked as much as he could against a guy who just wasn't into selling his shit, he worked the mat early on, tried submissions, kicked a lot and in the end sold that stupid figure-four spot as well as anyone could (I mean seriously, a figure-four submission in Japan in 95 against a shoot-style ace).

 

Takada was game, Mutoh wasn't. They could have had an excellent match together, but Mutoh hates shoot-style as much as Choshu does, and it really showed here. Didn't sell the submissions right, didn't sell the KO right (he was pulling up his kneepads while doing his sole KO spot of the match) and although he did work a bit on the mat, he just wasn't interested in having a good match. Of course it's nothing compared to the following January's episode, where he was doing the job. I like Mutoh more than most, but when he's into "fuck you" mode, good luck. In the end, I'd say this ended up being pretty decent all in spite of Mutoh.

[jdw]

What remains amazing is that as bad as Mutoh is in this, he's on an entirely different hell hole of a planet come January.

[Superstar Sleeze]

I know everyone hates this match, but God I thought it was really damn good. I get the match is not what everyone wanted and I agree, but I don't think it is due to lack of effort on either party's part.

 

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Keiji Mutoh vs Real World Heavyweight Champion Nobuhiko Takada - NJPW/UWFi 10/9/95

 

UWFi is coming! UWFi is coming! UWFi is coming! UWFi was on death's doorstep and one last attempt to cash in, Takada & Co. invade NJPW. I think this had to be the long term goal Takada envision. A couple huge pay days at the Dome invading Inoki's company. It is like when a start-up wants a merger/acquisition or IPO. Takada wanted to get to the Dome to face the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and make his money. Honestly, I think Mutoh was a transitional champion to Takada so that Hashimoto could get the glory of defeating the invader. The two people better suited to have a great match would be Hase (too low on the totem pole) and Fujinami (too old). So we are left with Mutoh. If this was a Great Muta brawl, it would be a much better match but that is not what NJPW vs UWFi is. At the end of the day, Mutoh was not suited to excel in this setting, but contrary to what everyone has said about this match I don't think it is from a lack of effort in fact I think they end up with a pretty good match.

 

There are some bright spots early on like hard-fought takedown defenses and blocked armdrags, but this is brutally boring when they get on the mat. Takada is probably the most boring shoot-style mat worker and Mutoh looked like he had no clue what to do. But I think the back half (last 7-8 minutes or so) is actually much better than people give it credit for. We see Mutoh hits his jumping reverse kick which sends Takada down and Hashimoto is exhorting him on the outside to follow up. Takada starts laying in with the kicks. Takada is really good at kicks. Then we get a good Takada heel hook to show Mutoh is pretty much fucked on the mat and needs to avoid that. Mutoh gets a great hard-fought German, looks like he really has to hoist him. Then a good backdrop driver. Mutoh desperately rushes for the moonsault, but crashes and burns. That tells you everything you need to know. Takada is totally in Mutoh's head. Mutoh knows he cant beat him on the mat (heel hook) and in stand up (Takada's kicks). Bombs & mistakes are Mutoh's only chance. Takada proceeds to kick Mutoh's ass. He totally picks him up apart with one of the greatest kicking exhibitions of all time. He goes for the cross armbreaker twice. One nice thing about UWFi coming to town means submissions especially the cross armbreaker are taken seriously. First time, he cant really get it, second time he does and the crowd gasps, but Mutoh makes the ropes. I literally think to myself the only way Mutoh has a prayer in this match is if he wrestles like 2001 Mutoh. He catches a foot, dragon leg screw. OH SHIT! It is happening! FIGURE-4! THE DOME ERUPTS! I have never heard the Dome so loud. I am popping too. Great selling from both men, Mutoh knowing this is his one chance and Takada the pain. Great stuff. Takada makes it out. Mutoh looks beaten. Takada is just nailing him with kicks. The finish is weird. Takada hits an enziguiri, but lands on the mat and doesn't moves and Mutoh just applies a Figure-4! Great drama and crowd heat again! Huge pop for the Mutoh victory.

 

Yes, the first five-seven minutes was terrible. Mutoh didn't know what to do and Takada is not Volk Han. Once it came down to Takada owning Mutoh with kicks and Mutoh realized Im fucked, I need to hit a moonsault, Mutoh misses and everyone including Mutoh thinks Mutoh is fucked, this is a damn great story. Then Mutoh gets the break of a lifetime catching a kick and ripping off a Dragon Leg Screw. I get it. It is the Dome. It is NJPW vs UWFi. This was supposed to be the Match of the Century. Even 22 years later, it feels like it should be the Match of the Century. it feels huge. It is disappointing, but I don't think it is nearly as bad it is made out to be and I think both guys did try really hard. ***3/4