[2002-03-24-NJPW-Hyper Battle] Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kensuke Sasaki vs Tadao Yasuda & Yutaka Yoshie

[Ma Stump Puller]

It's a beef party here as we get not only Sasaki and Yoshie, but also Yasuda to add to the lumpy mix! Tana is currently a immature midcarder who's starting to get big breaks against some major acts despite his relative youth. Him and Yasuda interestingly work a Inoki-Ism style into things as Tana shoots for smooth takedowns and the two have a little wrestle that's half-serious until Yasuda lands dirty knees in the side mount. Tana is remarkably shaky as he takes a big boot but awkwardly sells like he's doing a Yokozuna impression before holding onto the back of his opponent for dear life. Yoshie and Sasaki get tagged in and they work a headlock for 2 minutes before landing chops and whatnot: alright if a bit predictable for these two. Tana comes back in and gets a bit overzealous trying to copy his partner by trying to lift Yoshie, and so gets wrecked with a scoop slam and leg drop for his troubles. Their stuff is fine if a bit basic. The audience react strongly to Yasuda's heel antics here as he tries choking out the rookie while struggling for the ropes. The duo work over him for a few minutes with strikes and dual Boston Crabs, with Yasuda throwing out Sasaki when he tries to get involved to break things up. He tries choking Tana out with his signature front face lock Guillotine but Tana scrambles for the corner to escape and Yasuda taunts him to get back up. Tana lands shitty slaps that actually do faze his opponent but Yasuda uses a pretty good-looking illegal closed fist to get back control. Tana makes the hot tag after doing a Frankensteiner off a Tiger Driver attempt.

Said hot tag also has Yasuda do a big roll off a bulldog that was probably one of the best sells of a bulldog I've ever seen. We also get some interference before Yasuda lands a big front dropkick to counter a Sasaki-lariat before teasing the audience by trying to choke Sasaki out, which fails because of Tana hurling in some angry stomps, as well as finally landing his big German suplex as Yasuda hurls himself around for the rookie. Yoshie does more work that no one bites for until Tana gets in the way once again, giving Sasaki enough time to land a Kashin-lite rolling cross armbreaker. Finish has Yasuda flying out out of the ring after a Tana dropkick and then Sasaki landing a lariat/Northern Lights for the win. Surprisingly fun as Tanahashi gets to show off his athleticism and selling, both key factors that will make him a must-see ace in the future. Yasuda bumps like crazy for the guy and really gets the crowd going with his heel work in the middle half, enhancing this from a so-so filler tag to a real strong showcase of his antics. Yoshie and Sasaki are a bit more middling as they do land some good moves but tend to be rather by the numbers, even if said numbers are still admittedly quite solid.