[2006-12-23-SEM] Naomichi Marufuji vs Go Shiozaki

[MikeCampbell]

I only bothered watching this show for the Sugiura/Takaiwa title change, and found this hidden gem. It's based around Marufuji working over Shiosaki's arm, and being just as crafty as he was with Misawa's knee from the 12/10 GHC match. But, this time it actually matters! Shiosaki sells it the whole match, and when he tries to start a comeback, he'll throw chops and elbows with the other arm, and even remember to sell it when he's in control. There's a really nice part where Shiosaki wears Marufuji down with a sleeper, stuns him with an Oklahoma roll, and then tries a German suplex, but loses the bridge because of his arm. The finish is odd, but goes back to NOAH not really getting submission finishes over, Marufuji gets a juji-gatame out of a Tiger driver, and Shiosaki lingers for a little too long, and grabs at the ref, and the ref winds up calling it. With how much he'd been worked over, Shiosaki really should have maybe held out for about ten seconds and tapped out.