[1996-03-01-NJPW vs UWFi: High Tension] Masahito Kakihara vs Shinjiro Ohtani

[superkix]

A fun shoot-inspired pro-wrestling match, with Kaki looking uncharacteristically strong and focused, coming off his frenzied gambit of open hands and a solebutt that downs Ohtani. Ohtani answers with some knees and a German suplex throw, taking Kakihara to the ropes with the cross armbreaker. They fight over a leglock, slapping each other silly, until Kakihara’s able to turn it into a kneebar and continues targeting it throughout. He misses the big spinning heel kick (surprise, surprise) so Ohtani sneaks in with a grounded sleeper but Kaki is able put the pressure back on Ohtani’s leg. Good stuff. Ohtani fires off an awesome backdrop suplex and goes back to the armbar but he can’t close the deal and after the Kaki Cutter, Kaki submits Ohtani with the choke.

[Zenjo]

This was from a UWFI show held on March 1st, 1996.

 

Shinjiro was adapting his style with few problems. Only a short match but it was tight and action packed with an interpromotional crowd. Ohtani was on the form of his life and Ka-Ki was a good hand. I was slightly surprised that the home fighter won. He did a nice celebration after securing the victory.