[2004-06-23-NOAH-Accomplish Our 4th Navigation] Jun Izumida & Yoshihiro Takayama vs Takeshi Morishima & Takeshi Rikio

[Ma Stump Puller]

If a A.I. had to be programmed to make hoss matches that appeal to the beef-inclined side of myself, this would probably be their first pick lol. I mean with these four you aren't gonna get anything less than great, but let's see why this hits that mark in the first place.  Izumida just runs in pre-match and starts throwing hands, allowing the pair to isolate out Rikio and get him on the outside. Awesome spot where Izumida and Takayama hurl rapid fire stiff elbows and headbutts before Takayama counts the three for his partner after a final headbutt, and they have a goofy little celebration afterwards. Morishima gets worked over for the start until he hits Izumida with a big stiff boot to the head, allowing Rikio in. Him and Izumida have a solid exchange where Rikio asks for Takayama but ends up getting ambushed, so he needs to push his way past Izumida. The two have some already existing tension which helps them a ton here, getting some actual emotion out of Rikio for once as he powers though Izu's brute force with his own. Takayama eventually gets in at last and him and Rikio also have some fairly good sequences, namely a test of strength and a strike exchange, which Rikio surprisingly wins? Takayama actually spends a good portion of this bumping for WILD, having to creep out of multiple lariats from Morishima before eventually escaping with a loose knee. Izumida gets the big tag, and Takayama takes advantage with a awesome bulldog assisted headbutt to a grounded Morishima thanks to his tag partner having a hard head. Izumida steps in to have a good brawl, with a brutal stiff-arm lariat to a running Morishima being a particular highlight.

When Izumida can't get his opponent down for a STO, Takayama assists with a kick to knock him over into position. Rikio breaks up a Meteorite pin and the commotion gives Morishima enough time to power out of a bulldog attempt with a terrifying backdrop driver, dumping Izumida right on the top of his head. Takayama tries to bully him back to his pecking post, but Morishima's rage allows him to power through his knees and boots, landing a huge lariat of his own. Rikio gets the tag at last, lands a huge powerbomb on Takayama, who sells it like a legit KO. Izumida takes a Amaze Impact and two lariats from Morishima to put down for the win. Rikio poses with Takayama's limp body for the cameras before booting him out. All in all, a REALLY fun big man match with some big slams, stiff shots, and the usual stuff you'd expect from everyone involved. This is more of a build-up for later matches (namely in Rikio's case) but this is still a solid match that definitely gets good early and stays as such all the way to the explosive ending. It's just a shame that the build for a potential Rikio/Takayama or even a rematch between him and Morishima will never come due to impending injuries putting the giant away for a long while.