[1994-12-13-NJPW-Final Battle] Hiroshi Hase vs Shinya Hashimoto

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[NintendoLogic]

I've softened my stance on Hashimoto somewhat. I can get into his matches that are primarily strike-based, but he loses me when he spends too much time on the mat. This match is a particularly egregious example of the latter. Having to sit through the two of them playing grabass on the mat for 15 minutes was torture.

[jdw]

Their G1 match the year before cracked Loss' Top 100 for 1993:

 

#66 - Hiroshi Hase vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/03/93)

 

The odds are that this one will crack his 1994 Top 100.

 

Though... there are a lot of good matches in 1994... it's pretty loaded. But New Japan isn't really strong in quality heavyweight matches after August, the match will be late in the year (i.e. the order of Loss watching stuff), and probably have a bit of an impression.

 

Still a good bet to make it. Seem to recall the last time I saw folks talking about it the comments were rather positive about the match.

 

John

[Loss]

This match definitely had a slow start, but once it got cooking, it really got cooking. The final 15 minutes or so of this were excellent. That said, Hashimoto had better singles matches with Liger, Tenryu and Koshinaka in 1994. If I remember right, this aired over two episodes of New Japan TV, and I could understand seeing the second half and praising the hell out of this. But the matwork is pretty bland and does go a little long, and I'm someone who likes Hashimoto matwork as a rule. Post-match, Sasaki challenges Hashimoto at the Dome in what turned out to be a far better match than this from my view.

[Kevin Ridge]

This felt like two different matches to me. I could barely pay attention to the long mat work at the beginning of the match and was ready to fast forward. Then second half is pretty incredible to watch. I really can't remember going from one extreme to the other on my viewing experience of a single match while watching it. Wished they just trimmed some of the earlier mat work down in time.

[soup23]

Opening matwork is fine but forgettable. If it would have been engaging or the leg work would have been played up, this could have been a top 10 contender of the year because I thought the closing stretch was one of the best ones we have seen in the year with the crowd buying a lot of spots as finishes and both Hase and Hash looking strong. Ending angle to set up Tokyo Dome was nice

[Frankensteiner]

I actually enjoyed the matwork in this. It was significant in the story of the match. Hase wanted to take Hashimoto down to avoid going at him in stand-up. Though Hashimoto eventually countered all of Hase's ground-work to his advantage, leaving Hase no choice but to be the one to initiate the strikes. This really put over Hash as a guy who has few weaknesses. Probably my favorite Hashimoto title defense.

[Jetlag]

Actually, I thought the matwork in this was brilliant. Hashimoto may look clumsy, but anytime he did something it felt innovative, while Hase was really aggressive and trying to use his powerful takedowns to his advantage. Once they stood up this turned into a festival of pure distillated death. If I had been asked who threw the hardest chops before I probably would've said Tenryu or Kobashi, but Hase of all people may outdo them both in this one, just trying to fell a tree. The look Hashimoto gives him before getting up and damn near splitting Hase in half with one of his own says it all. That's the kinda moments why Hash is the fucking greatest. Then I believe to take Hase's speed advantage away he decides to knock the wind out of him in the nastiest manner possible. He really establishes basic moves like toe kicks or body scissors as deadly by doing them in the most violent manner possible. The last couple minutes felt like Shinya putting on some AJPW-ish touches to his game by busting out variations on his signature moves, but it had that distinct NJPW feel where they fight over posture and mini details like that, in between absolutely nuking eachother. Hard to believe anyone could get up from that spin kick alone. Badass match, Hashimoto is the king.

[PeteF3]

Count me as someone who liked the matwork too. That could be colored by me coming off watching some 2014 G1 Climax stuff where it seemed every match was fought stand-up with strike exchanges, and this felt like a breath of fresh air by comparison. These guys are just so good at the fundamentals that even the more deliberate, less dynamic work can be compelling. Great psychology once they start unleashing the bombs too. Hashimoto works over Hase's ribs while Hase seems to have scouted all of Hash's big moves--he rolls through the DDT and blocks a superplex attempt. After a hot run by Hase he attempts one Northern Lights too many (this is where that rib work pays off!), but with Hash not able to execute his DDTs he turns it around into an inverted DDT instead. Awesome stuff. He then absolutely kills Hase with a spin kick and then a fisherman buster to decisively put him away, but not without earning it. This was Hase's one and only shot at the IWGP title and he really deserved more of them.

[Jimmy Redman]

I actually enjoyed the matwork in this. It was significant in the story of the match. Hase wanted to take Hashimoto down to avoid going at him in stand-up. Though Hashimoto eventually countered all of Hase's ground-work to his advantage, leaving Hase no choice but to be the one to initiate the strikes. This really put over Hash as a guy who has few weaknesses..

 

This is a great point and a big factor in why I loved the matwork part. I really did love the matwork, and that's saying something coming from me because I usually can't handle sitting through guys laying on the mat forever.

 

Here it works for me because Hash is such a...Hash that Hase had no choice but to take it to the mat, lest be he killed to death by strikes. But if he can grab a leg and lay on the big bear for long enough, he might have a shot. So he does this, and he does it expertly, always countering Hash, always going straight back to the leg when they get stood up. Hase did not want to be vertical this entire match. But he works the mat, works and works...and it's just not working. Hash starts getting a little of his own back on the mat, he's not really making a dent in him, so eventually his frustration boils over and he slaps Hash.

 

He slaps Hash. This was my favourite moment of the entire match. Even in Hash's generally expressionless face you can see him thinking "What a stupid, stupid motherfucker, he's just blown it.' And he had. Hase opened the game up for strikes, and the moment he did that he sealed his fate, no matter how long it took for him to go down.

 

My second favourite moment of the entire match was just before this I think, when Hash finally countered something on the mat, and Holy Shit, the speed and fury with which he countered, got on top and grabbed something was just frightening. Literally frightening, to see how powerful he is, how easily he could kill someone before he even realised what happened. Hash is one scary motherfucker.

 

Anyway, then of course the strikes began and Hash just proceeds to beat the living shit out of him. Those body kicks were disgusting. I liked Hase throwing the hardest chops he could, but again it was futile trying to engage in striking with Hash. Hase's Plan B was having counters for Hash's big moves, and I liked that it forced Hash to bust out things like a reverse DDT instead. That spin kick that set the finish up was wicked.

 

I fucking loved this. It's easily my favourite NJ heavyweight match.

[Zenjo]

For the most part a highly technical bout that was all about holds, counter-holds, damage and selling. A lengthy period of matwork could've been boring were it not in the hands of two highly skilled practitioners. I can understand why it would get a mixed reaction. From my perspective it was refreshing and fulfilling. The work was thoughtful and nuanced. The structure sound.

 

Hase came in with a clear game plan to ground the champion and neutralise his strikes. This defensive strategy gradually wore Hash down over time. After a slow burning build the pace shot up as the challenger unloaded all his artillery and gave everything he had. It wasn't quite enough. I really dug how quickly and decisively Hash then turned it around. The result had effectively been revealed when Hase couldn't ride the momentum home. They usually then have a couple of token kickouts before the pinfall. No need.

 

They played off the prior G1 encounter nicely. In the end it was proven that Hase couldn't win without a surprise tactic. Excellence all around.

[JKWebb]

#373

 

http://placetobenation.com/countdown-top-500-matches-of-the-90s-400-351/2/

 

I personally couldn't get into this one. I must have missed how the matwork that lasted the majority of the match came into play at all in how it finished. I might have to come back to it someday because certainly there are others that have found something I wasn't able to uncover or enjoy here.

 

I did read how others interpreted it, but not before I watched it. So, it didn't come across as very entertaining to me. Maybe watching it more linear would have an impact.

[Jordan]

I love this match more every time I see it. Hase and Hashimoto just have phenomenal chemistry on the mat. When Hase would find some way to ground Hashimoto, he'd always find a smart way to get out of it that puts over the danger of Hase while making you aware that Hash knows what he's doing down there. It's very much a chess match. And then....Hase starts to try and strike with him. Jimmy Redman already talked about it earlier in the thread but it really is this "well it's over now" sort of moment where you know he can't get back in control after this. From here they move into the finishing run which is extraordinary and filled with incredible drama and the sort of back and forth that feels earned and well crafted and not some your turn, my turn. Hell Hase does two straight no sells of Hashimoto's DDTs and I don't even care because of how it's executed. Finish is brutal and definitive and Sasaki coming in the ring and challenging Hash to a showdown at the Dome next month made me hyped for a match that happened 22 years ago.

[Microstatistics]

I enjoyed the initial matwork, it wasn't RINGS or the best of lucha or anything but it was intense and purposeful. Really great match with Hase bringing the urgency and Hashimoto bringing the brutality and expressive body language. The rib work and closing drama are great. I wouldn't consider it the Hashimoto classic or anything since he has had better singles matches but it is a really nice addition to his (and Hase's) resume. **** 1/4

[Superstar Sleeze]

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs Hiroshi Hase

 

In a diner in London just hitting highlights

 

-Same layout as 93 match organic matwork Hase is the better technical wrestler but Hash has size. Bomb throwing at the end is much better.

 

-Bundle of legs locks way too much, way too boring and who is being hurt when they are both hugging each other's legs.

 

-Hashimoto great selling the first ankle cross and figure-4 love how he pancakes Hase

 

-Hase undersized but had great takedowns, picks and trips. A marvel

 

-Hase tries to get all Macho with Hashimoto and HASHIMOTO OBLITERATES HIM! It was glorious how he crushed his midsection. The double foot stomp from the top and Denton were gnarly.

 

-Hashimoto walking into an urnage...LAME!

 

-Hase tornado DDT was a much better transition to his offense. He gets the big man up for some BIG bombs and the choke was OVER!

 

-Hashimoto HUGE Kneelifts to injured midsection. ANNIHILATES him with a spin wheel kick. Huge Fisherman Brainbuster kills him dead.

 

Thought the back half of this was awesome and way more focused. Hashimoto The Destroyer In All His Reigning Glory. ****1/4

[Makai Club #1]

This is Hiroshi Hase’s 1st IWGP Heavyweight title challenge (and presumably his last) and it’s an absolute blast. The crowd was buzzing when Hase came out. Hase is really under-pushed compared to his opponents when he was maybe the best wrestler in New Japan until he left the company, so him getting a huge spot like this does seem like a big deal. Hase is now sporting a new haircut or the occasion as well, adding the spectacle. The match is definitely Hase’s game, too. The match is mostly grappling that goes back and forth between the two wrestlers, with neither willing to give up so easily, creating this never ending struggle for most of it. It wasn’t particularly complicated; it was more the struggle and each of them presented it that made the mat-work so interesting. To me, it seemed like Hase really wanted to smother Hashimoto and make him tap out Hashimoto, being stubborn, and decided to face Hase head on ia the work on the ribs (the double foot stomp needs a mention because OUCH!). This led to the explosie closing stretch. This is where Hase always shines as well. Hase slaps Hashimoto, making Hashimoto ire ack and then the match turns into a nail biting test of who's going to all irst. Hase does get a little overzealous when he pops up after two DDTs but it's an incredible “Holy Shit” moment and Hashimoto reacts really well to carry on his momentum towards his eventual win. Hase’s chops were lethal and he was ready for Hashimoto's barrage but Hashimoto continued on and scored the win with a ile spinning wheel kick and a leg hooked brainbuster. What a classic bout. ****3/4