[1998-08-02-NJPW-G1 Climax] Shinya Hashimoto vs Satoshi Kojima

[Superstar Sleeze]

Shinya Hashimoto vs Satoshi Kojima - NJPW 8/2/98 G-1 Climax Semifinals

 

Hashimoto is on the road to doing the one thing he has never done before in New Japan, win the G-1 Climax. Standing in his way his a young bull named Satoshi Kojima. They had a really damn good match in 2003 for the Triple Crown in All Japan. Very underrated match that peoples should check out.

 

I don't think Kojima is NWO 4 LIfe yet; I think that happens a little later this year. This match is definitely a portent to come. Lots of defiance. Lots of lariats. Lots of fighting spirit. Lots of standing and bellowing. Lots of strike exchanges. It works because Hashimoto is God. This is definitely the beginnings of Modern Puro. I think it really all starts with Hashimoto vs Choshu. This is pretty much worked as the poor man's Hashimoto vs Choshu. A lot of New Japan young lions were modeled in the fashion of Choshu: Tenzan, Kojima, and Nakanishi. Lots of power. Only Nagata was more in the mold of an Inoki with his submission stylings. I really enjoyed the match because they beat the piss out of each other. They don't bother with the traditional New Japan matwork they just go balls out from jump. I do like little touches like Hash going for a double wristlock because Kojima's biggest weapon is the lariat and Kojima attacking the leg because Hashimoto's kicks. Hashimoto's double stomp on Kojima is great. I loved Kojima's top rope elbow on Hashimoto's leg. Great drama on the figure-4 on Hashimoto. Kojima makes the fatal mistake of deviating from the leg strategy and trying to win via Lariat. Bad idea, brutha. Hashimoto literally tries to chop off Kojima's arm. He goes bezerk at one point. It is just great Hashimoto standing taking the lariat and then beating the shit out of somebody. Like Modern Puro it takes three DDTs and a cross armbreaker to get the win. I liked Kojima's sell of the DDT, it makes sense and I like that all chopping of the arm was worked into the finish. The layout worked the crowd was chanting for Kojima on multiple occasions. It is poor man's Hashimoto/Choshu, but Hashimoto is still awesome and Kojima had good leg psychology, meaty lariats and good selling. Definite recommendation. ***3/4

[Zenjo]

Hashimoto was involved in two G1 classics during his triumphant 1998 campaign. So he was at the peak of his form. This was the match sandwiched between them and is a fine bout in its own right. There was strong psychology with the fiery underdog against the great champion fighting to overcome a curse. Unlike previous years he was totally focused, but his body took the usual battering. Kozy attacked the knee which was expertly sold. Plenty of lariato's were also delivered, but Hash refused to stay down and counter-attacked the right arm. The stretch put the youngster over as he survived a lot before falling.

 

Kojima was certainly pre-prime at this stage. If he were further along in his development this could've been really good. Still Hash carried him and it was well planned and constructed. A worthy Semi Final.

[Jetlag]

Damn, I didn't expect this to be so good. I mean, I did expect Hashimoto to absolutely beat Kojimas ass, but didn't expect him to build such a genuinely exciting match around that little chump. The first half of this is solid with Hash administering said assbeating and beating Kojima so bad he looked blown out about 7 minutes in. This also includes a gritty unexpected kimura. Kojima is fine giving and taking stiff smacks altough for a chubby guy his elbow drop looks a little weak. I liked how he would turn to the crowd to pose only to turn around and get his chest caved in again. Kojima strikes gold when hits a huge elbow drop to Hashimotos leg which sets up the great 2^nd half with Hashimoto doing some great desperation selling and basically dragging Kojima to a poor mans version of his Choshu matches. Kojima has one annoying moment where he just pops up without bothering to transition or anything but Hashimoto makes it all good by beating the pop tarts off of him with crazy chops and DDTs. Especially liked Kojima grabbing his arm and clutching it like his annoying little brother. Absolutely great finish. Best Kojima match ever? I certainly prefer in this kind of unpredictable, exciting little clash over Tenryu trying to carry him through a drawn out epic.

[Superstar Sleeze]

They actually have even better match in 2003 for the Triple Crown if you wanna check that out. They have good chemistry 

[KB8]

Agreed with you both that this felt almost Hashimoto-v-Choshu-Lite, not just for the parts with the lariats and Hashimoto staring them in the face but also for the parts with the lariats and Hashimoto staring them in the face. But hey, if you're going to work a low carb version of a famous match-up then I'm on board with a low carb Hashimoto v Choshu. For real though, Hashimoto was stupid great in this. Any time he gets pissed off enough to double stomp someone's intestines out their mouth you know you're onto a winner. Kojima isn't particularly good nor interesting but he'll at least throw lariats that make a thud, and really that was about all Hash needed to make this work. It's never not amazing to see how Hash will sell progressive damage, how those shots take their toll over the course of a match. He is so good at it. I don't think anybody's ever held a candle to him in making those "let me stand here while you take your best swing at me" spots not look cliche or downright stupid. We've already established that he's a man of honour and a man of honour will give an adversary fair opportunity. But son, you better make the most of it because he will vaporize you if you don't. Match went up a level when Kojima hit the top rope elbow to the knee. Kojima going after the leg made sense if for no reason other than to lessen how hard he'd be kicked in the sternum. Hashimoto's sell of it was impeccable, especially during the figure four, really walking that line between embellishment to ramp up the drama while maintaining a sense of realism. His response of moving away from the kicks in favour of trying to overhand chop Kojima's arm off was of course great. The way he used it in the first instance to block an attempted lariat ruled, as did him going berserk a bit later with a huge flurry to the shoulder. I could've done without Kojima's goofy no-sell Jetlag mentions, but I guess it's still Kojima and you make peace with that fact. Hash going to the cross armbreaker to seal the deal after the previous DDTs hadn't put Kojima away was a smart finish as well. I should check out that Triple Crown match at some point.