[1990-02-27-UWF-Road] Nobuhiko Takada vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Phil Schneider]

Incredible match, ranks up with the great virtuoso Fujiwara performances. Fujiwara worked this match as a wily veteran who is going to need to use style and guile in the face of a physically stronger, more athletic younger opponent. In the early part of this match, Fujiwara was completely defensive, subtly moving and blocking Takada’s shots so they never landed flush, he really reminded me of how James Toney would roll his shoulders and catch punches on his arms. Takada however eventually began to overwhelm his opponent with his activity and power. Fujiwara was still catching his body kicks, but they was more impact as he caught them, he was still blocking the head kicks, but just a second slower. It really looked like that despite all of his skill, he wasn’t going to be able to win this one. As the shots started landing, Fujiwara started dancing and taunting, the way a fighter will smile when he gets hit with a good shot. He knew his time was running short, and he needed to taunt Takada into making a mistake. Finish was awesome, Takada is chasing him around the ring, landing big shots, and he grabs a kneebar, Fujiwara kind of lies in the ring defeated, and then you can see him muster his final reserves, negotiate to his feet and reverse the kneebar wrenching it with all of his might and getting the submission. The crowd goes completely insane, chanting FUJIWARA, FUJIWARA, and Fujiwara celebrates with tears in his eyes. Really a one man show, but goddamn what a one man show.

[Loss]

Beautiful wrestling match. Takada is a bull, and Fujiwara gets in a few moments of hope, but Takada is just too good and keeps dominating. The story of the match, with Fujiwara as sympathetic and somehow accomplishing the impossible, is what drew me in. But even on a surface level, just the mat exchanges are awesome. The post-match celebration is one for the ages, with the crowd coming unglued, and Fujiwara seeming more shocked than anyone that he brought victory home.

[PeteF3]

This is getting into arguing over ice cream flavor territory and I really don't want to come across this way in every post about this promotion, but this was FF material all the way. I'm trying to give this stuff a chance, I really am, but after 100+ '80s matches and a few so far into 1990 my opinion isn't getting any more favorable. The most enjoyable UWF matches invariably involve Bob Backlund, the Brits, or some other outsider shaking things up. The rest, even the good matches, are just a bunch of guys in a blender of matwork that almost never goes anywhere long-term or gets me invested in who wins or the consequences of such. The post-match really was good, though.

[Childs]

There was a moment near the end of this that epitomized why Takada pisses me off. He was rocking Fujiwara with kicks, and Fujiwara put them over with some great staggering around selling. So what did Takada do? He dropped down into one of his limp-noodle leg locks. Seriously, fuck that guy. This was an excellent performance by Fujiwara and a mostly lousy one by Takada (though I dug his receipt headbutt).

[soup23]

This match really requires a lot of paying attention to the structure of the beginning and subtleties to get over the storyline. What a rewarding payoff to with the finish. I really loved everything on from Fujiwara trapping Takada in the corner and dancing around looking like a Tiger stalking his prey. The ending submission was an amazing resourceful move that got me fist pumping in my living room in celebration. What a three match stretch to end February.

[Kevin Ridge]

They really work the elbow/collar lock up early. Heavy breathing! Takada misses consecutive wild kick attempts and Fujiwara is just waiting for third one to turn into a submission. Fujiwara has some interesting strike defense by just turning his body to the side and shrugging off the blows. Takada is one of my least favorite wrestlers on these yearbooks but I'm getting into Fujiwara. Disappointed that he didn’t get headbutted to the face more.

[Zenjo]

A gentle, meandering stroll. Fujiwara was in full defensive mode and little happened over it's 23m duration. Passed the time, but they had much better encounters in the 80's.

[Laney]

I can understand how this may not be for everybody, but I thought this was an excellent match. Great story of the veteran using his skill to overcome the odds against a more powerful and quicker opponent. Fujiwara took his time in this match and would wait on Takada to make a mistake so that he could capitalize. In the end this proved effective and the crowd loved it.

[garretta]

There was almost nothing going on until Fujiwara's headbutt in the corner; then business really picked up. I guess I saw a different match than some of you did, because by the UWF scoring system as I understand it, Fujiwara clearly controlled, if not dominated. That made his win not much of a shock at all, because Takada looked clearly outclassed the whole way.

 

The postmatch was beautiful even if you, like me, don't understand a word of Japanese. Nice to see Fujiwara in tears as he cuddled the picture of someone I assume was either his wife or daughter.

 

What was he holding up at the end of the bout and during his celebration? It looked like a check.

[El-P]

Excellent match, but I totally understand the criticism of people who got bored by it. Plus, I actually think Takada was clearly the better of the two here, as Fujiwara just didn't play the outclassed veteran that well like garetta said. He never really put over Takada's kicks as dangerous and was pretty much no-selling them the entire match. I know that can be interpreted as "playing defensive", but the issue is that the end of the match really had nothing to do with that. More to come about that. Takada really was the one pushing the pace and feeding Fuji, sometime with no answer from the "virtuoso of shoot-style". Now, there's a moment in this thread that epitomized why the Takada hatred/blind Fujiwara love pisses me off :

 

There was a moment near the end of this that epitomized why Takada pisses me off. He was rocking Fujiwara with kicks, and Fujiwara put them over with some great staggering around selling. So what did Takada do? He dropped down into one of his limp-noodle leg locks. Seriously, fuck that guy.

 

Takada was indeed rocking Fujiwara with kicks, but like he did before, Fuji really wasn't putting them over, and certainly did no great staggering nor selling. Actually, after the high kick straight to the head, Fuji just stood there, not even hinting at going down. It happened once before in the match, and Takada got the same reaction then : putting Fuji into one of his "limp-noddle leg locks", which infact really looked limped that time. That being said, he was effectively feeding Fujiwara one of his legs, which is something he's a master at, but Fuji just didn't do anything, to the point Takada had to let the hold go, grab an arm and slap Fuji's back of the head like a bitch, then go to a jujigatame to then have Fuji counter it and jump to the ropes. Ok, that was before.

 

Now, this time. What matters is that it's actually the ending sequence. So, what do we have here ? We have Takada rocking Fuji with kicks in the corner, and Fuji just standing around like he did pretty much the entire match when they did kicking sequences. Great defensive storytelling ? Waiting for a mistake to capitalize ? Not quite to me. What I see is Fuji not doing shit with Takada's kicks, and instead of going down for a dramatic near KO, Fuji just stands there. Ok, so what does Takada do ? He takes Fuji by the hand, litteraly, almost like he would irish-whip him, but simply grabs him into the center of the ring and "drops into one of his limp-noodle leg locks". Because Fuji ain't doing shit with the hot kicks. He's not capitalizing on Takada's flurry of youthful offense either. He's just standing there and Takada has to drag him at the center of the ring to get into something else. So, "limp-noddle leg lock" we are into now. Fuji doesn't sell much, I guess he's kinda KOed by the kicks. Well, except he didn't go down at all (as opposed to say, Koshinaka in 96 ?). So, we get Fuji slowly getting up to his feet and countering Takada's hold into a heel hold of his own. It's deliberate, it's not done with much urgency nor "mustering his final reserve". It's well done, but it's not particulary special. So then, Takada twists his body, search for the ropes, making it dramatic like he knows how, tries to undo the hold but can't and finally taps out. That's the sequence. It's not even an interpretation, that's what happens.

 

Of course, you can always have various definition of "great staggering and selling", but in all honesty (and I love Fujiwara, so really…) Fuji was just standing there, not selling the kicks much and Takada had to drag him in the center of the ring because Fuji would just not go down, just like he did before in the match. Takada was going for a dramatic near knock-downs, Fuji wasn't doing shit at this moment. And as far as the "subtle" storytelling, well, not quite. In the end, Fuji didn't lure Takada into a false sense of security to get a hold. He basically just reversed a "limp-noddle leg lock" like he usually would. The "defensive strategy" really didn't play a role in the finish, and Fuji didn't came off like an old guy doing his best to stop the young bull. He never put over the kicks really strong, came off better on the mat (like he should) and got a knock-down on Takada with his running headbutt (a classic pure shoot-style spot if there's one). He was also doing this great obnoxious tiger dance like it's been said, which is terrific underdog character work. Fuji didn't came off like the veteran having to dig into his knowledge here. Takada did look a bit outclassed because Fuji wasn't into going down for dramatic near knock downs like Takada was aiming for twice in the match. Takada clearly pushed the pace and the work here, and Fuji was not up to speed at points .

 

I love Fujiwara and think he was a great worker in the 80's, but by 90 he was already a bit passed his prime although still mostly excellent. This is not one of his best showing. Their match in October is great and there Fujiwara delivers a great performance. Not here, although the match was still excellent and Fuji had some great moments in it, as always.

[jdw]

At this point, you might need to take the entire UWF 2.0 body of work card-by-card top-to-bottom from the first to the last card and watch all of it for a thread like you did with WCW Suckville.

[El-P]

Well, I went threw a bunch of entire cards from 1990 already, and it was really fun for the most part. UWF 2.0 was a terrific promotion, probably the best shoot-style promotion top to bottom (Tamura in RINGS remains my favourite, ever, but the undercards were often marred with awful stuff)

[ohtani's jacket]

Well, that forced a re-watch.

 

I don't buy that Fujiwara was no-selling the kicks. He put over both Takada's kicks and also his palm strikes. Even when he was absorbing the blows it was obvious they were hurting. He was continuously on the back foot and little by little he couldn't block them to the point where he was taking a battering and simply trying to shield his face. He went down twice. Once he sprang back up immediately and started mocking Takada's fighting stance and the second time he was hurt but did one of his carny tricks of tying up his shoelaces while still under the count. I do agree that his selling of the leg lock was weird both times. The first time he let out an audible "fuck" and lay on his back with his arms covering his face, and the second time was similar. He could have done more in that situation, though it was a go-to Takada spot, and he did it in every match regardless of whether he'd gotten a down from corner strikes. He loved that leg lock. It's a stupid hold and signature Takada shittiness; both times they transitioned into something better, but I agree that Fujiwara could have done more with the initial hold as each time it stuck out like a sore thumb. I also thought he could have teased a knock out properly and done more to put Takada over, but for whatever reason he wasn't in the mood.

 

I don't believe there was any great story to this and I think by and large it's a mistake looking for story in worked shoots. I don't think Fujiwara weathered the storm, outfoxed the youngster, or won because of any wily veteran tricks. It was a striker vs. mat wrestler bout that was a little rough around the edges. The only reason Takada appeared to be pushing the pace is because the only time he looks good is when he's on the offensive. Take away his stand-up game and he's a bit of a slug. Having said that, this wasn't a top drawer Fujiwara performance either, and I think Jerome is right that Fujiwara's selling was weird in those holds.

[El-P]

When I say he wasn't selling the kicks *that much*, I'm talking about both time he was in the corner eating a flurry. He was just standing there instead of putting them over.

 

As far as Takada only looking good when he's on offensive, that's very wrong, as Takada's biggest strenght is actually on "defense", making every big KO he takes and every submissions he's put on look like death and milk them Onita style. Takada can be awesome on offensive too, especially standing up, kicking or punching you in the face (the headbutt revenge spot here was great), and although he's not a mat wizard like Fujiwara is, he's excellent at feeding holds to his opponent. And that's what his game is about : he doesn't want to look like a great technician, he doesn't care about that like John Cena doesn't care to work like Steven Regal. He wants to create drama, be put into holds so he can get into the ropes in a frenzy and sell every knock down to the maximum effect. That's Takada's game. Pro-wrestling mentality vs shoot-style mentality ? Who cares. He's terrific at what he does.

[ohtani's jacket]

Just standing there implies that he was literally standing there doing nothing when he was clearly recoiled and taking a battering. There was a marked difference between how he sold those flurries and the early strikes when his legs were still fresh and he could absorb the impact or the times that he was able to block or evade them, and a clear escalation in terms of Takada being able to break through his defences and the effect his strikes were having. Protecting your head while taking a beating isn't doing nothing. Doing nothing would be learning back against the turnbuckle or just standing there while you're being kicked. He was in a compromised position; he just didn't go down for a count.

 

Takada is a brilliant defensive wrestler? We must have different definitions of what a defensive wrestler is. Even you admit he doesn't have the mat ability to pull off a brilliant defensive counter and I don't think he's brilliant at selling by any means. I'll take your word for it on him feeding holds, but you're describing things that are all flash and designed to push the match forward and not defensive minded strategies.

[El-P]

Takada is a brilliant defensive wrestler? We must have different definitions of what a defensive wrestler is. Even you admit he doesn't have the mat ability to pull off a brilliant defensive counter and I don't think he's brilliant at selling by any means. I'll take your word for it on him feeding holds, but you're describing things that are all flash and designed to push the match forward and not defensive minded strategies.

 

Yeah, defensive wasn't the right word, hence the " ". I explained what I meant afterward. Oh yeah, he's awesome at selling the escapes and KOs. And yeah, he's about flash and drama. I've been saying that for 15 years now.

[ohtani's jacket]

Takada wasn't all that bad in this just as he wasn't all that bad in the Tenryu matches I watched. Time to call a truce on all this Takada bashing.

[Childs]

I had to go back and watch this too. And I really don't think my description of what Takada did was off base. He hit Fujiwara with a knee out of the clinch. Fujiwara staggered along the ropes and into the corner. Takada attacked with a flurry of strikes, the force of which Fujiwara sold with his entire body. The crowd loved this, anticipating a potential knockout. Fujiwara then stood up for a second. Takada responded by taking his hand. leading him to the middle of the ring and dropping into the shitty leglock. The crowd died.

 

Now, Fujiwara probably deserved some of the blame for that as well, whether they planned the finishing sequence beforehand or whether he just went along with it. But I've seen Takada do the same thing in too many matches--including earlier in this one--not to put a lot of the onus on him.

 

Big picture, I was wrong to focus only on that one sequence. Takada delivered a fine performance, with that nasty receipt headbutt and his selling of Fujiwara's final reversal standing as highlights. He was often very good in 1990, with the June match against Maeda and the Oct. rematch against Fujiwara ranking among his best career performances.

 

Just don't try to convince me his leglock was OK

[El-P]

Takada attacked with a flurry of strikes, the force of which Fujiwara sold with his entire body. The crowd loved this, anticipating a potential knockout. Fujiwara then stood up for a second. Takada responded by taking his hand. leading him to the middle of the ring and dropping into the shitty leglock. The crowd died.

 

Ok, I rewatch the sequence, because I'm annoying like that. Listening to the crowd noise, it's not really accurate, sorry. The crowd noise lowers exactly when Takada takes Fuji by the hand to drag him at the center of the ring. So I blame Fuji, who didn't go for the knock down in what could/should have been a dramatic moment. Then Takada grabs his "shitty" leglock, crowd reacts mildly. Fuji doesn't do shit. Crowd dies. Fuji does nothing while it's the ending sequence that should be hot. Takada feeds him his legs so Fuji counters the right one and grabs the left one and finally puts on his submission. Crowd pops. But the entire sequence came off anticlimatic because of Fuji's reluctance to 1) go down for the kicks 2)immediately counter the "shitty" submission. And really, if the submission was that shitty, Fuji should have said "fuck this" and counter it immediately instead of lying on the back while the crowd was dying. Or he could have sold it like death. That's what great workers do, they sell, and even if the execution of the hold is not top notch (and you won't get an argument from me that Takada is that great matworker with super tight holds, because he's not), it works because the selling does the entire job. He did neither.

 

 

He was often very good in 1990, with the June match against Maeda and the Oct. rematch against Fujiwara ranking among his best career performances.

 

We can agree on that.

 

Just don't try to convince me his leglock was OK

 

It was just that. Ok. Not very good. Not noodly either. Just ok.

[ohtani's jacket]

You're overlooking the fact that it's a stupid hold to put on someone during the finishing stretch as it never gets a submission. Since Fujiwara was so shaken, if he'd gone for a proper submission hold like an arm bar or a different sort of leg lock, he would have gotten a pop, but the crowd knew that Takada's leg lock was a base hold he used whenever he was pooped. That doesn't excuse Fujiwara's selling as he could have grimaced more and fought to free his leg, or gone for the reversal sooner, but nobody's popping for that leg lock as the finish.

 

And even if Fujiwara had gone down on the corner kicks, the chances are Takada would have still had to take it to the mat. The leg lock was his go-to takedown. It was like muscle memory for him. Unless they worked a finish where Fujiwara caught a kick and countered with a take down or submission, or went back to the headbutt, that leg lock was coming into play.

[drew wardlaw]

I watched this before I read the thread. I read the thread and need to re-watch the match now.

[Microstatistics]

I like Takada a ton but he was completely at fault for that spot because it did not make any sense. He blasts Fujiwara with a bunch of great kicks and instead of going for the kill, he grabs the leglock which was basically a resthold in that context. Fujiwara actually does a nice job selling by selling the after-effects of the kicks while in the hold instead of selling the weak hold itself.

 

Takada was great in the rest of the match though. Wily veteran vs. younger, stronger opponent story presented really well. **** 1/4

[JKWebb]

http://placetobenation.com/countdown-top-500-matches-of-the-90s-300-251/

 

#282

 

Dropping in to add where this dropped on the list above (Top 500 of the 90's by Loss). I recently watched this in the YB, and didn't feel the need to revisit right now.

[dawho5]

I thought that Fujiwara was in charge early because it was 95% on the mat. Reason being Takada didn't want to give him the openings he would have to when he went on offensive flurries. So once Takada realized that he had to either take Fujiwara down with big flurries or eventually get caught for playing too safe, Fujiwara egged him on with the corner sequence. Takada going for the leglock at the end was strange for sure, given the only time he was in charge was after a big flurry. Fujiwara's selling is really strange and not what you'd be used to as a wrestling fan. But he does sell for everything but that one leg lock. Also, his use of body and head movement to slip big strikes is incredible.