[2002-10-14-AJPW] Genichiro Tenryu vs Keiji Mutoh

[Superstar Sleeze]

Genichiro Tenryu vs Keiji Mutoh - AJPW 10/14/2002

Just when you think you have seen every Tenryu/Mutoh match from the 2000s another pops up. I wonder what the promotional strategy was here. They run the Budokan two weeks later with these two headlining in a Triple Crown Title Defense, but with Mutoh as The Great Muta. This match here is non-title. I assume the booking here is that Mutoh is 0-3 versus Tenryu coming out of this match in 2002. Thus he needs to call upon The Great Muta in order to win the Triple Crown at Budokan in two weeks. That makes sense, but had they not yet announced the main event for their biggest show of the year? Did they announce it as Tenryu/Mutoh and then make the switch to Muta, but why have a non-title match two weeks out? Was it always Tenryu vs Muta and this is just to reinforce the story that Mutoh cant beat Tenryu as Mutoh and he needs to become The Great Muta. Anyways, booking be damned, this is a very good match which is to be expected as they two have very good chemistry with each other. 

These two usually opt for a hot start, but they stick to a standard New Japan style opening wrestling. Mutoh is targeting the leg but more with leg laces than anything else. Tenryu tries to get something going with potatoes but ends up eating a bunch of dropkicks to the knee. I love his retaliatory fuck you dropkicks to Mutoh's knee but that doesnt last long. We get the Dragon Leg Screws and two Figure-4s. Pretty good standard 21st Century Mutoh front half. I thought the back half they picked it up with the fireworks, but didnt reach 4/1/02 levels. Tenryu goes to the eyes as he is sick of the knee attacks. Love the 'ol lumpy bastard. Here come the chops and potatoes. Superplex and the Spider German at his age, fuckkkkkk. Misses the Reverse Elbow. Mutoh goes for the Moonsault too soon after and eats not one but two Powerbombs. Tenryu is signals to the crowd he is going to polish him off with a Brainbuster but a well-placed knee to the head leads to SHINING WIZARD~! then the Mutoh Moonsault. I am digging this finish run. We get the blocked Shining Wizard. Two Tenryu Brainbusters and now a Shining Wizard to level the playing field. 

BICYCLE KICK BY MUTOH! Crash & Burn on the Moonsault. Tenryu hits the Giant Baba Lariat, Jumbo Tsuruta Back Drop Driver and Tenryu Brainbuster to win. I recognized the Giant Baba Lariat but kudos to the announcer for making the call on Back Drop Driver being a tribute to Jumbo. This was a very good non-title match that felt like a title match. 6/8/01 and WAR match are in my Top 100, I think 4/1/02 is worth seeing. I dont think you need to go out of your way to see it, but it is enjoyable way to spend 17 minutes and it sets up why Mutoh had to become Great Muta to win the Triple Crown. *** 3/4