[2006-08-12-NJPW-G1 Climax] Yuji Nagata vs Koji Kanemoto

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Yuji Nagata vs Koji Kanemoto - NJPW G-1 Climax 08/12/06

 

Nagata has really come into his own as the New Japan ace in these interim years of 2006-2007. He is not on par with Choshu or Hashimoto and few are, but he is wrestling more confidently and decisively. There were times like in 2001 Mutoh match where he would take Mutoh down and just not have a clue what to do like Dan Severn in an early UFC fight. Here and later in the Makabe fight, Nagata takes charge and ownership of the match. Now Kanemoto is no slouch and someone I need to explore more, but is a very good junior heavyweight.

 

Since weight classification means more in Japan than in America, Nagata works on top most of the match similar to how I have seen Tanahashi work and similar to a Bruno or Backlund where the "better" wrestler is actually "winning" the majority of the match. Nagata gained his advantage during the opening matwork sequence when he was able to grab an arm and apply short arm scissors and a deep armbar. For pretty much the rest of the match, Nagata would hone in on that arm for a cutoff or pressing an advantage. Kanemoto sold this really well immediately and realizing the trouble he was in would fire off a couple quick hope spots like a roundhouse kick to the head, but Nagata would respond with these home run shots by coming up swinging and never letting Kanemoto land combinations. Again, Kanemoto would have an opening by hitting a dragon leg screw and following up with dropkicks to the knee, but Nagata had taken so much out of him that Nagata was able to cut off a suplex attempt and suplex him out on the floor and then an Exploder onto the floor. Make no mistake about it, Nagata was not just no selling these hope spots, he sold the roundhouse kick for an 8 count and sold the knee once he finished his rally for a minute or two after. He was fighting through the pain and taking advantage of Kanemoto's weakened state.

Now we arrive at my problem with that match. At around this point, Kanemoto sells too much and what I mean is that he looks so beaten to a pulp that it seems impossible for him to make a comeback. I would say that ends up hurting the finish. Kanemoto finally hits a combination of a jumping knee, facewash and senton, but Nagata catches him with a super exploder and a Shining Wizard for two. If that was the finish then I would rate this match a lot higher. Kanemoto had his last gasp and Nagata finally had enough of this and demolished him with two huge moves. Instead the match goes on for another 5 superfluous minutes. We move into the submission trading section of the match with Kanemoto's heel hook and Nagata's crippler crossface competing for dominance. Now they trade bombs with Kanemoto getting his wicked pretty moonsault and Nagata hitting a back drop driver and two brianbusters. Then I hear the time announcement. I roll eyes. They run through some small packages, which is smart and Nagata grabs a pitch perfect cross-armbreaker, but time expires.

 

I have no problem with a draw finish, but it just did not jive with this match. Instead of making, Kanemoto look string hanging with Nagata, it made Nagata look like a chump for not being able to take out Kanemoto when he kicked his ass for 75% of the match. If Kanemoto did not die halfway through and instead kept struggling and fighting like a Steamboat maybe I could buy it. The first 75% of this was great and was the best Nagata has looked. Like I said, they had a perfectly fine finish with the super exploder and Shining Wizard, but the extra 5 minutes and draw finish just felt forced. ****

[dawho5]

The early parts of this match were really, really good. Kanemoto tries to strike with Nagata, who really has upped his game since I last watched a match of his. Nagata kicks Koji's ass all over the ring for a good while. Koji gets some hope spots, going to the leg easily being the strongest. Then Kanemoto finally gets his big opening and he....goes into "I'm hitting all my spots" mode instead of working within the match and attacking the leg for all he's worth. Nagata hits moves that should put Koji away, but he kicks out anyway. Koji finally gets his big legwork segment that you knew was coming all along and it's good, but it's after the match should be over. Nagata takes advantage of Kanemoto getting cocky and hits the backdrop, but he's not able to cover in time to finish and you just know this is going to a draw. And whaddya know, there's the bell while nothing interesting is going on. A lot of the late nearfalls looked thrown together and without meaning. They had a really good underdog match with Koji doing great work during his heat segment, then pissed the match down their leg.

 

Edit:

 

Just to make a point about why "big finishing runs" are not necessary, here's how my finish goes. Koji attacks the leg after Nagata misses the corner knee. For a while. Without using the anklelock. He gets cocky, goes back to Koji mode and tries the moonsault to prove a point. Nagata gets out of the way or catches him on the ropes, whatever. Nagata hits some big elbows and an exploder. He can't get the cover right away because of the leg and Koji barely kicks out despite that. Nagat starts elbowing Koji again. who throws elbows back. Nagata gets into the exchange and Koji goes low with a dropkick. More legwork. This time, though, Koji isn't interested in anything else. Koji tries the anklelock, but Nagata is a step ahead and turns it around into the Nagatalock 3 (crossface). Koji scrambles to the ropes, Nagata follows up and looks like he may get the backdrop, but Koji backflips out and goes to the knee again. Selling by Koji before going back to the leg. Nagata's spirit kicks in after a while and he gets the big backdrop hold. But his leg gives out on the bridge. Koji is down & out, but Nagata is struggling to get him up becaus of the leg. Nagata starts blasting Kanemoto with non-kick strikes and has him leaning on the ropes barely standing. He pauses to tell the crowd he's going for the backdrop again. Koji explodes off the ropes and hits a low dropkick. He grabs the anklelock, but Yuji is grabbing the ropes. Koji tears Nagata off the ropes, falling down in the process, barely able to actually get the anklelock on because of it. Nagata is scrambling for the ropes, but Kanemoto pulls him back to the center and re-applies the hold. Nagata is on his way to the ropes and...bell.

 

It tells the same story as the beginning of the match, is compelling, puts Koji over in a way that in no way degrades Nagata because his big setup weapon (kicks) is being attacked, AND sets up a rematch. Nobody's finisher looks weak, both look like they wrestled a smart match. I honestly don't get the need for just throwing bombs in a match when you could do something like this.