[2004-09-03-AJPW] Keiji Muto vs Satoshi Kojima

[Ma Stump Puller]

Not the greatest match between these two but I appreciated how different they worked this in comparison to their usual matchups. Between this and Nishimura/Kawada this card was really quite something impressive. We start off with filler Muto grappling but he also smartly breaks that tradition by nailing Koji with a surprise Shining Wizard for a early advantage when his opponent gets complacent sitting in holds. Koji tries again after recovering and again gets caught out with a surprise mule kick after trying for his leg. Knowing he can't really win on that end he attacks Muto with strikes, which he gets the edge over. 

The match only really picks up when the two brawl on the outside, with Muto eating a lariat to the back of the head and hitting the turnbuckle post. He blades afterwards; it's pretty gross as he seems to cut a minor artery, meaning he's just pissing blood from here. There's a amazing spot where Koji keeps beating on Muto so badly that he falls on his ass and spits out a faint mist of blood due to how much he has on his face, which popped the crowd good. But yeah, the entire second part of the match is based around Muto's wounds, and how Koji just refuses to let him recover for even a moment; he knows Muto is a tricky bugger, so stays on top consistently. 

His selling is....not going to fly with everyone but I did like how Muto would do the glassy eye stares and shaky legs; he's fairly good at showcasing just how unsteady the blood/beating has made him. Koji follows up that energy with more heelish antics like closed fists, rubbing his forearm in Muto's face during pins and really working the cut in places to ramp up sympathy. Muto's comebacks were also fairly modified here: he's almost working off muscular instinct in places as he can't really follow up on his typical leg work and almost seems confused afterwards, like he didn't even know what happened. Half of this is because, well, his face is leaking blood at a extremely fast rate, but still. Koji uses stiff headbutts and backdrops to hone in on the cut, as well as a rough piledriver that Muto groans afterwards at. I also loved how primal Muto becomes as his comebacks go from his usual standard leg work to wild strikes that barely hit the mark (he even stumbles over at points trying to fire them off) his selling turns into manic screaming, etc. He almost forgets about his gameplan, just wanting to make Koji suffer like he is, highlighted especially by a spot where he's just endlessly headbutting the shit out of him. 

Last few minutes becomes more typical from the two as Koji lands lariats while Muto tries to get around them, even pulling out a Frankensteiner that gets reversed into a nasty powerbomb. The finish is fairly controversial as Muto counters a third lariat into a flying knee, Koji powers out of a Wizard at one before eating two more for the conclusive pin. Some could see this as more proof of Koji getting short-changed in AJPW as he couldn't even beat Muto essentially bleeding out and barely conscious, but the pacing of this does make sense: Koji tries ending this early and goes for big bombs for big risks.....those risks costing him the match. This match will also be the catalyst to Kojima's "Loser Revival" gauntlet as he would intentionally start back on the undercard to get his mojo back. Muto is great in these kind of more character-based matches as he gets to show off his selling and snappy comebacks, playing a good underdog throughout. Muto's formula was admittedly getting a bit old at this point so matches like these were VERY much welcomed. If you fancy a more unconventional brawl between these two this'll definitely fit the bill.