[2005-08-04-NJPW G-1 Climax] Toshiaki Kawada vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan

[Superstar Sleeze]

Toshiaki Kawada vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan- NJPW 8/4/05

Tenzan really brought the fire out of Kawada in this match. I have seen this piss & vinegar out of Kawada in quite some time. What Tenzan does so well is he always threatening to eat Kawada alive which is not a sensation you get in today’s sanitized overly choreographed version of pro wrestling. Kawada is fighting for his life in there against the one of best bully wrestlers. 
 

They set the tone early with some lively chain wrestling. A lot of New Japan chaining can feel perfunctory but there was energy in this. Tenzan bowls Kawada over with a shoulder tackle. Now Kawada is a bit wary of Tenzan. They go into a strike battle. Kawada throws a mean elbow. All Japan boys really let it fly. Tenzan Mongolian Chop bun Kawada Spin Heel Kick wins the battle. Tenzan does some great bully wrestling crowding Kawada in the corner hitting some big back elbows. Then it is classic Tenzan with the clubbering headbutts and stomps. He misses a top rope headbutt. Kawada drops him on his head with two Dangerous Backdrop Drivers and when Tenzan powders Kawada adds wicked big boot to prove he is King of the Mountain. What really kicks this match into the next gear is this next segment. 
 

Kawada goes for his usual Single Leg Crab with a the foot on the head. Tenzan is having nothing of it. Kawada POUNCES on Tenzan with a side headlock. Tenzan goes for the eyes. This becomes a terrific scrap. Tenzan is struggling with everything he has to break free. Kawada is suffocating Tenzan with different looks on the holds. This is my type of pro wrestling. Tenzan throws a Mongolian Chop and Kawada unleashes a fury of kicks not seen from him since 20th Century. Tenzan like the Creature of the Black Lagoon just keeps rising. He keeps back dropping Kawada out of the powerbomb. At one point he grabs a Kawada kick unleashes hell on the knee and punches to the midsection. Tenzan comes roaring back. Top Rope Headbutt and when that doesn’t get it done. Anaconda Vice. He is really wrenching. He misses the Moonsault. Kawada POWERBOMB! He really had to work for it. He is going for the Brainbuster but Tenzan fights through it. TENZAN DRIVER! Ugly But Effective Moonsault. Tenzan Right Knee Crushed Kawada’s Chest! Nasty! ANACONDA VICE! They really milk this! This feels like the finish. Kawada makes the ropes. This one part I didn’t like in an otherwise great match Kawada just gets up and starts throwing ‘bows. They are great strikes. It takes a shit ton of jumping head kicks and a PK to win it but goddamn Kawada gets it done. 
 

Fabulous performance by Tenzan to really bring the asskicker back out of Kawada! Really dug this. ****