[2003-07-21-NJPW Summer Struggle 2003] Josh Barnett vs Scott Norton

[Ma Stump Puller]

I was thinking on what on earth a "Different Style Fight" between these two would tangibly look like. Josh was still pretty green and Norton isn't exactly known for his shoot-style antics. So what do you do? You cheat, of course; this is barely a shoot-style match. Barnett rocks Norton early with kicks and he in turn gets the guy in the corner for gut punches that Barnett DOES NOT sell for in the slightest, so they look like shit. Norton bullrushes Barnett with all of his power moves, including a super early powerbomb! That gets a near 10 count from the ref before he gets up. Norton stupidly trots in and tries for a chokeslam to finish things off, that goes about as well as you'd think as Barnett slips out and into a cross armbreaker in a good spot. He impressively carries Norton up and over for a spinebuster before snapping on the leg for a submission. He throws a few leg kicks before trying for a Capture Suplex...granted it's botched slightly due to Norton being obviously way too big to bump clean alongside Barnett being too close to the ropes when trying to do it, but hey, it's impressive as a attempt at least. Barnett slips on a tight ankle lock, Norton struggles for the ropes again. He makes the mistake of getting cocky: when he tries for a running rolling wheel kick Norton just wrecks him with a stiff lariat in turn.

The pair try for bombs; Norton his powerbomb, Barnett the German suplex; but both manage to hold out long enough to escape. Barnett lands his wheel kick the second time fairly well and makes Norton bump for a meaty gutwrench. The dude is gassed after this bump and just hides outside, forcing Barnett to come after him after taking one glove off. Barnett has to manhandle him into the ring by going for a rope-hung DDT which almost went real bad, Norton is a pro and escapes death via his huge shoulders though. The finish is real cool as Barnett logically tries for a Guillotine, then decides he's got to throw Norton AGAIN so he goes for a one-arm suplex while still in the hold, which magically gets the tap-out win! This was all about pushing Barnett hard and hey, it went as well as I think this could've went. Norton bumps all over the place for sick dangerous suplexes, he gets in some of his own classic hoss shit in turn. It feels like a 90's Vader UWF-I match where his bombs can end things in a instant, but he's clueless about anything else that matters in these sort of matches so things are balanced out. Barnett is a bit awkward in places, you get why they wanted to push him though. He's got a great look, naturally quite athletic, and he loves his MMA, he's basically built for this era of NJPW. Surprisingly quite solid.