[2016-05-21-AJPW] Jun Akiyama vs Daichi Hashimoto

[GOTNW]

Very good match. D-Hash has grown to the point where this isn't a total squash but he still has no chance of winning (though with how unselfishly Akiyama books himself he'll get there in about six months). Akiyama's willingness to express peril often carries his strike exchanges against younger opponents and it was similar here. In particular him wobbling after a Daichi elbow turned what could've been a dull sequence into an interesting and meaningful one. What really stood out here is the way Akiyama utilized his knees, using variations he'd never used before to stay in control. All of his attacks were brutal, and structurally it was what it should've been but I felt it was too restricted to be truly great. Akiyama has developed an efficient formula against opponent like Daichi but I think this match would have been better if it took place either a year earlier or later. ***1/2