[2000-09-17-NJPW] Yuji Nagata & Takashi Ilzuka vs Masa Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

[soup23]

With how horrid a lot of clipping for NJPW has been, it was rewarding to get this match in full. A lot of hate was on display as the opening work is uncooperative and then we get a crowd brawling segment before things settle down inside the ring. Ilzuka plays a strong lieutenant to Nagata and Tenzan also looks on as a concerned son for his father when Chono is getting worked over. Even though he looked a little goofy doing it, Nagata really riles the crowd up while Ilzuka has Chono in the crossface by taunting Tenzan and daring him to break the attempt up. Chono was really worked over a lot more in this match than I would have imagined. Nagata does a crossface of his on and Tenzan tries his hand now only to be punked down by Ilzuka. Nagata takes over on his figure four salute and looks to have the match in hand when Tenzan is able to hit the diving headbutt to break that up. Chono Team 2000 is on the prowl now and Chono locks in the STF on Ilzuka for a near finish. Nagata is dispatched and two yakuza kicks and a low blow are enough to pin Ilzuka. Very good tag match. ***1/2 (7)

[AstroBoy]

This was fairly middling until Nagata did his damndest to to singlehandedly elevate the whole thing and make the crowd come unglued. It starts with him pointing down Chono before he locks the STF on Tenzan. Then while Tenzan is being worked over by Iizuka, Nagata taunts Chono without mercy, even shadowboxing at one point. He is just a supreme cocky dick and it really helped push the match to another level. Everybody else was kind of along for the ride and I thought Iizuka looked pretty weak here to be honest.

 

***1/4