[2000-07-13-WAR] Masaaki Mochizuki vs Tomohiro Ishii

[soup23]

Two young guys going out there and having a killer match. The strikes here were insane with loud thuds and snaps to them with no thigh slapping and other shortcuts. Mochizuki in particular is such a bruiser. Ishii is someone with a ton of hype in current day and he still had some of the same stuff down in this time as he is beloved for today. I can't wait to track him throughout the 2000's. Mochi seems to have the match in hand for the most part of the match and Ishii works good at getting his spots in to create intrigue. Mochi is able to put him away. Humorous moment post match as Mochi cuts a promo and spikes the microphone and it bounces right into Ishii's hands. I say if you like either of these guys now, this is a piece of history in their career that certainly holds up. ***3/4 (7.6)

[AstroBoy]

Mochizuki was really killing Ishii with those kicks and this tells a fine story with Mochizuki really effectively dominating and controlling Ishii for an extended amount of time leading to a very rewarding comeback when Ishii fires off a german suplex. Both guys strikes were incredible and Ishii specifically inhabits the area of looking strong while portraying a sensible vulnerability. This was good stuff.

 

***1/4

[ohtani's jacket]

Ishii may have been close to unrecognizable with his full head of hair and his fluorescent get-up but this was exactly the time of hard-hitting match he likes to work. The shots came thick and fast and there was plenty of oomph to this undercard match. Solid bout

[superkix]

A neat little exhibition with tons of shotgun kicks from Mochizuki and some heavy elbows from Ishii. I don't think I've ever seen Ishii deliver a tiger suplex hold but he does so here, and it's a beaut. Very much worked like an early 00's indie match. Pretty fun stuff.