[2001-02-18-NJPW-Fighting Spirit, Night 12] Kensuke Sasaki vs Shinjiro Ohtani

[Superstar Sleeze]

IWGP Champion Kensuke Sasaki vs Shinjiro Ohtani -  NJPW 2/18/01

This match should be shown in every pro wrestling training school and all fans should watch it. No one will be blown away by it. No one will think it is the greatest match of all time. They make every right decision. They execute fundamental flawlessly and they build match organically. A truly special match that is so basic but so beautiful and satisfying to watch.

Ohtani jumps Sasaki before the introductions are over so he still has his jacket on and Sasaki is still wearing the IWGP title. Ohtani pummels him in the corner and focuses on the arm. The arm is the instant hook of the match. Ohtani can always go back there for cutoffs. Sasaki as the valiant champion needs to figure out a way to over come it.

Ohtani plays a great heel vacillating between cocky, desperate and despicable. Take note how most of Ohtani’s offense is in the ropes and the corner. Not only is this technically illegal but it prevents the bigger, stronger Sasaki from muster any offense in such close quarters.

The transitions in this are impeccable. The way Sasaki is finds opportunities for hope spots and Ohtani uses the arm as a cutoff is pitch perfect pro wrestling. The first hope spot arises from Ohtani running away from his opponent to hit the ropes to gain some momentum. Sasaki is able to use this space against the charging Ohtani with a kneelift. This is pro wrestling 101. Wrestlers should not be rewarded for running away and creating space for their opponents they should be punished. 

Next Sasaki throws kicks which anyone who has seen a Sasaki knows is not his forte. Shinya Hashimoto he is not. However he has a bad wing so he is adapting. He throws a chop with his bad arm and winces. He tries an overly convoluted move where he tries to time Ohtani ricochet out of the corner with his own off the ropes and whiffs on a lariat. Ohtani is able to get a hold of the arm and slam it into the turnbuckles. Ohtani was punished for creating space for go opponent. Sasaki is punished for being overly complicated. 

Now Ohtani has earned the springboard DROPKICK to the arm. Sasaki is in so much pain he can do it. He goes for a cross armbreaker but Sasaki blocks. Ohtani sticks his tongue out and starts to get cocky. Sasaki

Slaps the taste out his mouth. He winces but Ohtani let his guard down and paid for it. Sasaki hits a sledge and works hard for a vertical suplex but can’t follow up as Ohtani goes back to the arm. Charging boot to the arm. Sasaki is now prone to these attacks. Ohtani puts his boot in Sasaki’s face in the corner. Ohtani gets cocky and the ref’s count distracts him long enough that Sasaki throws him down on his ass and then with reckless abandon DROPKICKs him. 

He didn’t wait for Ohtani to get into the right place. Ohtani didn’t move into place for the next spot. Sasaki knew where Ohtani would be and Ohtani knew to look for the DROPKICK. Pro wrestling 101 but when done right is spectacular. Now Sasaki getting in a head shot can start to open up his offense with a power slam. Sasaki scrambles to the cover but can’t get it. He is really selling how much his arm is bothering him. Once he can work up the gumption to hit the ropes for a lariat, BANG! DROPKICK to the bad arm!

Again a charging wrestler pays for giving his opponent space. I am not saying all charges should fail but when charges fails it does two things: 1. It creates compelling transitions and 2. Makes you appreciate when charges work. 

Ohtani goes for a cobra clutch but Sasaki battles him off. Next they do a Strong Style breakdown. Look it is a New Japan staple I don’t like it, it doesn’t do anything for this match. I’ve seen better, I’ve seen worse. Ohtani wins it. Moving on.

Ohtani goes for a springboard DROPKICK but on the apron Sasaki blasts him with a lariat. This is a moment of transition where your back is turned and Ohtani pays for it. Then they do a very creative 180 off this. Ohtani gets back on the apron but Sasaki is caught charging and Ohtani smashes the bad arm off the exposed part of the turnbuckle. Sasaki could not follow up his lariat but this left Ohtani in perfect position to not one but two springboard DROPKICKs to the bad arm and back of Sasaki! This was genius! They establish this is a difficult move to hit. They come up with a creative way for Ohtani to deliver enough pain to Sasaki to cause him to writhe. Beautiful pro wrestling. 

Unfortunately they get a little lazy down the home stretch. It is still very good just not as tight. The transitions aren’t as interesting. The first “near fall” is a cobra clutch by Ohtani which he tried earlier but now has been earned. They did good teases Will Sasaki make the ropes or not and the crowd got invested at this point. Ohtani tries something else but Sasaki simply elbows out of it which is not as cool as some of the other transitions. He DEMOLISHES Ohtani with two badass lariats which totally makes up for it. He goes for the Northern Lights Bomb but Ohtani just bunny hops out of it which is kinda lame everyday transition. Ohtani goes back to the Cobra Clutch and back to the ropes. They do a slap battle and Sasaki OBLITERATES Ohtani with a lariat. Sick gutwrench Powerbomb and Northern Lights Bomb and Sasaki TAKES THAT DREAM!

There’s an alternate reality where the shooters do not come in and Sasaki goes on a monster run and is considered a bonafide GOAT candidate. The home stretch they went the easy way. All of Sasaki’s bombs looked killer but they didn’t pay off the arm work nor were they set up In An interesting  manner. Ohtani’s cobra clutch was perfect for his work but would’ve liked to seen the second near fall set up better. The first 75% of this match flirts with ***** but the home stretch is awesome but not extraordinary. It is ****1/2 for me and I could see lower BUT I think there is so much to appreciate and learn in the first 75% of this match I implore you to watch it. Bravo to Sasaki and Ohtani!