[2000-09-16-NOAH-Exceeding Our Dreams] Jun Akiyama & Yoshihiro Takayama vs Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

[soup23]

Kobashi vs Akiyama rivalry is freaking sweet so far. Jun jumps Kenta on the ramp to start things off heavy here and the fight is on as a carryover from the night before. This match was worked with a lot of urgency and overall it was extremely enjoyable even if it didn’t reach the absolute peaks of the six man the night before. With Kikuchi securing the big win the previous night, the come down was bound to happen but he puts forth a valiant effort getting bloodied up in the mouth and dishing it back out at Kobashi and Akiyama. Kobashi and Akiyama in the finishing stretch are again fantastic and they are making a big push for feud of the year from August onward. Both of them are also making a push to be in consideration for my WOTY. ***1/2 (7.1)

[superkix]

Kikuchi's such an awesome underdog and bumps around like crazy, the way he takes Akiyama's jumping knee or Takayama's knee lift later in the match. Takayama is still really stiff here, and beats the hell out of Kikuchi, who looks legit out of it toward the end. Meanwhile, Akiyama and Kobashi are still at each other's throats, throwing chops and suplexes, but I was invested in the Kikuchi story. In the end, after eating a bunch of merry-go-round knees from Takayama and Akiyama, Takayama pins Kikuchi with his awesome Everest German.

[Edwin]

This was pretty fun too. The Kikuchi and Takayama exchanges continue to deliver and Kikuchi takes another brutal beating that sees him get all bruised up and get his mouth busted up. He's such excellent sympathetic underdog and his comebacks always get a pop from the crowd. Another fun match.

[AstroBoy]

This couldn't hit the level of heat that the six-man had, but it had plenty to like. Akiyama wasting no time jumping Kobashi on the ramp was great and kicked this off with a bang. Kikuchi stepping to Akiyama and winning their elbow exchange was great too and helped set the tone for the eventual asskicking that Kikuchi would take. He puts in a good sympathetic performance too. Kobashi and Akiyama go after each other like pitbulls and it leads to a half nelson suplex on Akiyama to a big pop. Eventually Kikuchi gets trapped and worn down before being put away with the Everest German right on his neck. Good match and good build for the Akiyama/Kobashi stuff.

 

***1/2