[2005-02-16-AJPW-REALIZE] Keiji Mutoh vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

[Superstar Sleeze]

Keiji Mutoh vs Hiroshi Tanahashi - AJPW 2/16/05

In his quest to be just like his hero, Tanahashi completed the final mission by having no knees. But this 2005 and he still has knees! I think these two have a more famous match at the Dome in 2008-ish which I have seen but not sure I reviewed. This match is on the undercard of the Kawada vs Kojima which in a lot of ways was the last heralded All Japan Main Event. Business wise I found it interesting that even with this 1-2 punch they only drew 6000, one year prior Kawada vs Hashimoto drew 10+ and Mutoh’s 20th Anniversary with Misawa, Hase and Sasaki also 10k. They are at about 50% on what is probably the most stacked card they could do. I guess they could have had Sasaki in a not prominent position. Tanahashi was fresh of main eventing the 1/4 Dome show and inter promotional usually does well. Post-split All Japan was always destined to flame out but 2004 is where the cracks start to show and 2005 it is when it was officially distant 3rd promotion.
 

As for the match there is really not much to see here. As most know Mutoh is a very bimodal wrestler and this was far from his most inspired performance. He was content to be a rag doll for Tanahashi and really didn’t sell much. You know how kids wrestle Teddy bears (well I did at least) you know big ones the size of a kid that’s what this match was. I thought I was watching my younger brother wrestle his teddy bear. First five minutes is the Perfunctory New Japan chain wrestling. Mutoh hears the 5 minute time call. Wakes up power driver elbow. Dropkick to the knee which Tanahashi oversells but it is hero and it is Mutoh’s schtick. Tanahashi slaps him on a Dragon Leg Screw hits his own. Then hits a Dragon Suplex on the outside. I thought they were  going to cruise to a 3.5-4 star match but man it was just Tanahashi hitting duplexes and Dragon Sleepers on Mutoh’s lifeless body. Mutoh says it is time to go home. Flips out of a German barrage of Shining Wizards from different angles when that doesn’t get it done. Backbreaker moonsault.

Very disappointing as I think their Dome match is much better. Both wrestlers incorporate a lot of attacks on the knee I was interested to see how that story would play out but what we got was a totally lifeless performance from Mutoh. Depends what day you get him on as he was much more energetic against Kojima in July. Tanahashi looked good. Recommendation to skip.