[2005-04-24-NJPW-New Japan Cup] Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

[Superstar Sleeze]

Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Hiroshi Tanahashi- NJPW 4/24/05 New Japan Cup Semifinals

Winner faces Nakanishi in the finals. These two has a stone cold classic the year prior in the G-1 Climax they don’t quite hit those levels but this is still very good. 
 

Tenzan just brings a certain energy to his matches and sets that tone early that his opponent will be in a fight. Tanahashi is no asskicker like Kawada but he can stick and move (reverse crossbody) and grab holds (headlocks and armbar). Tenzan is in all his clubbering glory in this match. Tanahashi gets caught going up top with a super plex and now it really all Tenzan. TENZAN FALLING HEADBUTT TO THE BALLS! My wife is asleep next to me while I watched this and it took all it had in me not to pop for that. What an awesome high spot. The best part is he argues to the ref it was to the inner thigh brilliant. Top Rope Headbutt. Tenzan looks to be cruising to an easy win when he MISSES the moonsault which is classic Tenzan. Tanahashi is off to the races. Hurling his body at Tenzan. German Suplex! Dragon Sleeper! Tanahahsi goes for a running small package but Tenzan quashes this comeback with a Tenzan Driver then a moonsault. Anaconda Vice and it looks like it is all she wrote. I love how he throws Tanahashi down with the standing Anaconda Vice. I forgot to mention I loved how Tanahashi popped free when Tenzan originally put it on. It touches like that make pro wrestling just so much more intriguing. Tanahashi is able to stand and as Tenzan goes to throw him down Tanahashi reverses into a small package for the win! What an upset!

Tenzan was the most recent IWGP Champion and would go onto regain it from Kojima in less than a months time. Basically until he drops it to Fujita I would say Tenzan was the biggest star in New Japan from December 2004-July 2005 as Nagata was barely used in 2005. So this was a big win for Tanahashi! I thought they did a good job telling the story of the plucky underdog versus the bully heel plus that falling Headbutt to the balls was epic! *** 3/4