[2003-05-02-NJPW-Ultimate Crush] Yuji Nagata vs Yoshihiro Takayama

[Superstar Sleeze]

IWGP Champion Yuji Nagata vs NWF Heavyweight Champion Yoshihiro Takayama - NJPW Tokyo Dome 5/2/03

One of those watched this in the morning before the girlfriend woke up, but only getting to the review 12 hours later so sorry in advance if shit is out of order. 

Nagata successfully defended his IWGP title last year to the day against Takayama at the last May 2nd Tokyo Dome. Here's how things have changed since then. Nagata is still champ and successfully defended against numerous challengers most recently Yasuda. Takayama won the resurrected NWF title at the 1/4/03 Tokyo Dome show (the show Nagata defended against Barnett). After he Nagata/Barnett match, Takayama/Nagata had a staredown. After Nagata defeated Yasuda in a bloody war, Takayama came in and suplexed the defeated Yasuda only to be drilled with a Saito Suplex leading to a pull-apart. Pretty good build here. 

Pretty standard New Japan start with the feeling out grappling. Takayama rocks Nagata with a head kick early, but doesnt lead to much. The big opening early was a Takayama knee lift to the head. The knee lift is always a Takayama bread & butter and it is important in this match. Takayama pummels Nagata and goes for King of Mountain. He knocks Nagata off the apron twice, but Takayama goes for a Sheamus-style Ten Beats of the Balrog, Nagata snaps the arm over his shoulder and then over the top rope. I love that spot so much. There's so much drama to it and the guy usually taking it really sells the shit out of it. This leads to the big limb psychology of the match as Nagata really goes after the arm with kicks and submissions. It is something he goes back to quite a bit. Takayama sells it down the stretch during the strike exchanges. Takayama's big comeback spot is a huge knee lift into the breadbasket. Nagata's two best chances at winning are Super Exploder (not much heat, I dont think Nagata was going to lose and figured it would take more) and a round kick that damn near takes Takayama's head off late. Takayama's selling of the arm down the home stretch is so good.  Takayama weathers some Kawada-style enziguiris and STEAMROLLS Nagata with a Kneelift. A barrage of kneelifts later and an Everest German and we have a new IWGP Champion!

My recollection is the 2002 match is better, but this is still pretty good. Good, stiff strikes. It is lacking some sort of hook or cool aspect to take it to the next level. It is a good meat & potatoes match. ***1/2