[2000-08-12-NJPW-G1 Climax] Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Osamu Nishimura

[soup23]

Tenzan was lively here having come in as one of the top leaders of his block. Nishimura provides the perfect underdog for this type of storytelling with his constant motion and danger with the submissions. The Octopus hold was well executed in that Tenzan didn’t escape as more as he collapsed forcing a break. The counter of the back suplex when Nishimura goes for the hold again was also expertly done. Nishimura kicking out the moonsault is a big moment for him and really brings Sumo Hall alive. Nishimura keeps the action going and gets Tenzan locked in a capture cradle for the pin. We see Nakanishi on the outside looking on and that sets the table for tomorrows shows. This was a pretty damn good match based on what we saw. NR.

[AstroBoy]

Nishimura with another awesome outing. He brings such a sense of pace and desire to win, it feels like a real competition and he's always either actively surviving or actively finding a way to try to win the match. The octopus provides such a good counter that doesn't require him to just blow off exhaustion or pain but instead allows him to sneak in a desperation move and try to assert his advantage. And after a nearfall he just goes right to the corner and follows up with a missile dropkick. Always looking to win, always moving the match along in some way. Some of these G-1 matches seem like a collection of nearfalls out of context but they really did bring the crowd to their feet for an insane ovation when Nishimura wins on a great pinning combination after surviving some burly lariats.