[2016-01-24-NJPW-Fantasticamania] Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi

[cactus]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o67vi

 

I'm surprised someone hasn't already made a topic for this, as a lot of people love it a lot more than I do.

 

Man, sometimes I feel like I've seen every spot imaginable that can take place within the confides of a pro-wrestling match, then a match like this comes along and reminds me that I haven't seen shit yet. There's not too much I can say which hasn't already been said. I do feel like in the later parts of the match descended into the guys just getting their shit in because the crowd was buying it, but it was all high-drama action, so you can't hate on it too much. I still hate that C4 move though.

★★★★

[ShittyLittleBoots]

Really good match. Fast paced action from start to finish. I did like Kamaitachi going after Dragon Lee's knee/leg, and if Dragon Lee had sold it better and if it had come into the play in the finish, this could've been a legit ****+ MOTYC. While it was not that, it was still a VERY good match. ***1/2

[superkix]

This was fun -- quick, crisp, innovative. This was the first time I'd seen these either of these two wrestle and there was some neat offense like Kamaitachi's wrist-clutch dragon screws or Dragon Lee's roll-through Regal Plex. The legwork was whatever but it still played a decent role in the match and wasn't completely ignored, although Lee's selling could've added something. But as a high spot lucha match, this delivered.

[Superstar Sleeze]

CMLL World Lightweight Champion Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi - NJPW 1/24/16

According to the New Japan World Translation, Kamaitachi means "Cut by Whirlwind" which I love. I have seen Dragon Lee live this year at MSG for NJPW show. I thought he was one of the wrestlers that stood out to me. A possible heir to Rey Mysterio, obviously huge shoes to fill, but I enjoyed his triple threat match and he had real babyface charisma. Kamaitachi looks familiar but I dont think I have seen him wrestle. 

Some of have compared this to Rey vs Psicosis, but this falls way short of that for me. Ill start with negatives because I'd rather end on a high note. I thought Kamaitachi was not a very interesting rudo. Not much in the way of bumping. No clowning. He was not a very vicious rudo either. I liked his overhand chop. There was a really good one in the corner at one point. It really felt like he struck down Dragon Lee. His transitions to offense were not interesting. Working leg psychology in a match with a high flyer is risky to say the least. Honestly, I dont think Dragon Lee is at fault. He is trying to become a star. He should blow off this bullshit. Dont do fucking a dragon leg screw to me while trying to get myself over. This was Dragon Lee's first tour of Japan. Why hamstring him? I found myself zoning out down the stretch. A horrible time to zone out. I am writing this five minutes after finishing the match. I cant remember the finish. I know Kamaitachi won. Alright, I am going to go back and watch. Hold on a minute. Man, how did I forget the Powerbomb into the Canadian Destroyer. Oh because I saw it 8 million times in 2019 over Mania Weekend. Call it unfair, but that's why these matches dont hold up because if you are relying on moves the match tends to not stand the test of time. You know what spot I hate. That stupid Del Rio spot. Where he hits the double stomp in the corner from the top rope. It is so stupid. They did it twice here. Once to the outside, which was a little cooler, still dumb. 

So what did I like? I liked Dragon Lee a lot. He is a great pure technico. Two really sweet dives at the beginning. The rana from the apron was the one of the two best spots of the match. I really like Kamaitachi's Senton from the top to the floor to a standing Dragon Lee. Down the stretch, I thought Dragon Lee was the more interesting of the two wrestlers. That being said I dont think this was a balls to the wall spotfest. There were highspots but they were measured out and the shit in between was not very good quite frankly. Down the stretch, they were throwing out a ton of highspots and to me it didnt feel interesting. Not for me, I guess.