[2001-05-29-Osaka Pro] Jushin Liger & El Samurai vs Super Delphin & Takehiro Murahama

[superkix]

Liger and Samurai working dirty, rubbing wrist tape in eyeballs and breaking tag rules. Throw in a fiery babyfaced Murahama with his stiff kicks and submissions and hometown Osaka hero, Super Delphin, doing what Super Delphin always does, and you're in for a neat treat. The exchanges between Liger and Muraham are the definite highlight of the match, and boy, does anyone hit a better tilt-a-whirl backbreaker than Liger? He also powerbombs the shit out of Delphin later in the match. At one point, Liger has Murahama in a leglock and Murahama's trying to slap his way out of it and Liger pokes him in the eyes! Classic heel. Samurai and Delphin are the weaker links of the match but Samurai does hit a sweet jumping piledriver on Murahama. Liger sells Murahama's submissions so well and really gets the crowd behind the younger shooter. When he's working the arm late in the match, utilizing the double wristlock against Liger, it's pretty great. In the end, he takes out Samurai with a somersault plancha which allows Delphin to hit a weak ass swinging DDT on Liger and a pair of shoteis for the satisfying victory.

[ohtani's jacket]

This was a fun match. I really want to see Liger vs. Murahama after watching this match. Actually, I want to see Murahama vs. the World at this point. Is there a more exciting wrestler on the Japanese scene than Murahama? Liger and Samurai do their visiting rudo act similar to the year before. Samurai, in particular, seems to revel in the role. Deflin hasn't been at his world beating best this year (compared to 2000), but the real story here is Liger vs. Murahama. Did it happen? If not, why not?

[soup23]

I thought this was awesome and gripping from the start. In the middle of a BOSJ tournament, Samurai and Liger are here to rain on the Tokyo parade of the Osaka contingent. Samurai's best role is as the underappreciated, fuck you wrestler and he shows that off here trying to bully Murahama and giving him that great piledriver in the middle of the heat. LIger of course is awesome as the cocky ace and Murahama is again building a top 10 WOTY case. His strikes are pristine, his speed is intoxicating and beyond that, he has all the storyline elements down to a science. He tags in Delphin with the right amount of desperation. THe leg lock sub on Samurai feels like a bonafide finish. The guy is incredible. Delphin is also a fav of mine but he was the weakest here. Still, it was really nice to see him get the victory and kudos to LIger for doing the job. ****1/4 (8.4)