[2006-10-09-NJPW-Explosion] Yoshihiro Takayama & Minoru Suzuki vs Yuji Nagata & Naofumi Yamamoto

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[dawho5]

The key to this whole match is the guy you've never heard of. Yamamoto being so far below both of his opponents is the engine that makes this match go. Takayama and Suzuki do a great job of heeling it up just enough while beating the youngster up. Suzuki in particular is really great, as is the odd chemistry between Suzuki and Takayama. Nagata as the force of nature coming in to save Yamamoto is pretty damn good too. Both the heels make him look great. Suzuki vs. Nagata gets fun, as Nagata starts throwing Suzuki's "messing with your head" spots right back in Suzuki's face. Which sets off Suzuki, who goes into the prideful slaps back and forth mode, which is completely out of character. Then he and Nagata both go back into messing-with-your-head mode in the middle of it. That is a great little curveball. Nagata is cruising and looks like he may be able to put the finishing touches on Takayama, but Yamamoto wants a piece of the big man. Nagata does the right thing and TAGS IN the youngster. The rest is really fun and a nice way to finish this match. I liked how everybody involved kept the match going in a pretty straight line from beginning to end. This wasn't the greatest match ever, but the structure and coherent storytelling were more definitely enough to get this in my bottom 25 or a bit higher.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama vs Yuji Nagata & Naofumi Yamamoto - NJPW 10/09/06

 

YOSHI TATSU~! So finally I review a wrestling match involving the most famous Japanese wrestler in America of the past decade! I always wondered if he ever had any good puroresu matches before he came Stateside. I guess this is best match of the bunch, but he really has nothing to do with why this match is so good. This is one of my favorite genre of matches: Top Face & Overmatched Rookie versus Two Main Event Heels. Miyamoto & Shiga crush this performance in performing the same role as Yamamoto in their tag matches, but this match has Minoru Suzuki and Takayama as the heels, which gives it a unique wrinkle. Suzuki is one of the few heels that can carefully toe the line about adding levity to his matches and still be a total badass. I loved him avoiding Nagata, pegging Yamamoto on the apron and promptly tagging out. Also another bitchy heel move that needs to be stolen is counting along with the ref while he counts back an interfering babyface tag partner. Yet another hidden highlight was when he was holding Nagata in the corner and Takayama came in with the big knee on Nagata he sold the move and the crowd loved it. Takayama is made for these matches where he is the cocky bully that is kicking some hapless chump's ass. What didn't help Yamamoto's case was he bull rushed early and then did Takayama's one foot cover that's a no-no and he got pulverized for that. My biggest complaint was that while Takayama and Suzuki put a new wrinkle on this match they did not really kick the shit out of the kid as much as they could. Nagata was actually pretty good as the top babyface eager to get involved and finally did open a can of whoop-ass. His slapfest with Minoru Suzuki was one of the best of its kind. Nagata looks to finish off Takayama, but Yamamoto wants to exact some revenge so Nagata obliges. Where this match really falters in comparison to the Miyamoto & Shiga matches is that Yamamoto does not get that big false finish that makes you think "Holy shit, the kid is going to pull it off". Instead, he eats a knee lift and an Everest German while Suzuki detains Nagata. It was not as hot a finish as the build was giving them. It is always a joy to watch Suzuki and Takayama work, but the babyfaces fail to get the above just a fun match. This has an outside shot at the Top 100. ***1/2

[NintendoLogic]

I never imagined that Yoshi Tatsu would be in a MOTYC, but here we are. This match deserves a more detailed write-up than I'm giving it right now, but it's one of those matches that works on a number of levels. You have the veterans torturing a young lion aspect, the regulars defending their promotion's honor against the invading outsiders aspect, and the pro wrestler vs. shooter aspect. Suzuki in particular turned in a virtuoso performance as the uncooperative asshole who refused to play by the rules of fake pro wrestling. Him casually sidestepping Tatsu's flurries was a thing of beauty, as was his strike exchange with Nagata. This was fantastic. I loved everything about this. I have a new MOTY for 2006.

[WingedEagle]

. This has an outside shot at the Top 100. ***1/2

 

 

This was fantastic. I loved everything about this. I have a new MOTY for 2006.

 

I love when this happens as it what makes this site so great. Can't wait to watch this match.