[2000-02-04-NJPW] Genichiro Tenryu & Shiro Koshinaka vs Kensuke Sasaki & Kenzo Suzuki

[soup23]

Kenzo Suzuki…. Lol. Someone I haven’t thought about in ten plus years but here he is in a trial series matchup with Sasaki vs. Tenryu and Koshinaka. Sasaki starts out with some good fire and taking the fight to Tenryu. Suzuki even shows some good glimpses here and he is the main whipping boy for Tenryu as he gets his throat chopped repeatedly. Suzuki is able to gather his bearings and tag in Sasaki. Sasaki again comes in fired up and I know a lot has to be the pairing against Tenryu but Ive enjoyed him more so far in 2000 than any year in the 90’s. Suzuki spears Tenryu and the crowd goes nuts. Koshinaka just says fuck this tag structure and comes in with a flying butt butt off the top. Tenryu gives his stiff lariat, pins Suzuki, then does his prickish hand gesture to dismiss the up can comers. Watching this, I can see how you would be high on Suzuki. Really fun match here. ***1/2

[Superstar Sleeze]

When it was first announced Kenzo was going to join WWE in like 2005, I mistakenly got really excited it would be Kensuke Sasaki. Then I saw him and I was like damn wrong guy. That's my Kenzo Suzuki story.

[Loss]

This was ridiculous fun while it lasted. Tenryu is as casual while demolishing people as Vincent and Jules standing outside someone's door discussing pop culture before performing a hit. He's chopping guys and throwing chairs like it's just another day at the office. Sasaki looks really great here and I marked out for him refusing to sell or take a bump for Shiro Koshinaka's ass. Finally, someone does what needs to be done. Kenzo Suzuki looks nervous as hell and looks like he almost kills Tenryu on that overhead throw. Tenryu sort of sighs, as if to say, "Do we have to do this?" and just gets up and starts chopping the young fellow. I liked how both Tenryu and Koshinaka found ways to put over Sasaki at every turn, even while Suzuki dropped the fall. Really good stuff. ***1/2

[AstroBoy]

God there are some meaty lariats and chops in this match courtesy of Tenryu and Sasaki. I loved the snap on Sasaki's rope run bulldog out of the corner. Those Tenryu chops to the throat area of Suzuki were brutal looking. This is paced perfectly and each new turn seems to yield a satisfying strike exchange. Only really didn't care for some of endless chop battles at the beginning of the match. I thought Tenryu and Sasaki were really good here and yeah it's a really solid ten minute wrestling experience.

[cramerjason87]

When Sasaki was in this was a really fun tag. Kenzo Suzuki didn't have the selling or the fire to carry the match structure. I wonder how good this would have been with a different young wrestler because Tenryu and Koshinaka brought it.

[Moonsault Marvin]

Fun match. Tenryu's chops beat the stuffing out of Suzuki. Sasaki really brought a lot of energy when he tagged in, and it was the best section of this match.

[jasch]

Tale of two matches. Top shelf when Sasaki was in. Suzuki took it down at least a couple notches when he was in. 5 weeks into the year 2000 and Tenryu has been as good as anyone. *** 1/2

[Tim Evans]

I don't think I've ever seen pre WWE Kenzo before. After watching this, it doesn't look like I missed much. Tenyru just kills the poor guy with stiff shots and chops. Tenyru and Sasaki going at it is always a delight and i'm a mark for ASS BASED OFFENSE. Fun short match.