[1996-06-17-NJPW-Skydiving J] Shinjiro Ohtani vs Kazuhiro Sakaruba

[Superstar Sleeze]

Shinjiro Ohtani vs Kazushi Sakaruba - NJPW Skydiving J UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship 

1996 was the high water mark of Junior wrestling. The Skydiving J shoe drew 13,500 at the Budokan an impressive number for all-Juniors show. This is the lead up show to the famous J-Crown Tournament which still resonates with modern fans…Ultimo Mone anyone? Every match on this show is a championship match and thus essentially a qualifying match for the J-Crown tournament. This match was for the vacant UWA title winner qualifies for the J-Crown so the stakes are high.

Sakuraba is famous for being the Gracie Hunter and probably the most successful puroresu wrestler in MMA history. However it looks like the Gracie Hunting didnt start until 1999 so he is a midcarder. Similar to Fujita, I don’t think either was famous or over before the MMA success. So Ohtani is a heavy favorite. I was thinking of a comp for Ohtani and I think Ken Griffey Jr is the best. Incredible 90s and a disappointing 2000s. But just watching this reminded me that when Ohtani burned he burned as bright as anyone just not for very long.

Contender for one the best sub-ten minute matches of all time. The perfect match to watch on a Sunday morning before wifey wakes up. Juniors Shoot-Style is such an underperformed style but it bangs hard. Sakuraba comes out swinging and says “Muthafucka we are doing this my way”. It is uncooperative strikes and vicious submission and throws. He was going through Ohtani. He catches Ohtani with a German early and it rings Ohtani’s bell. He powders and Ohtani sells his bell being rung so well. He knows he is at risk of being eaten alive so he wrestling hard for Arm and leg submissions but he keeps clutching his head. He snaps off a suplex of his own which he thinks can set up for a pro style high spot his springboard dropkick but Sakaruba traps him in a Scorpion Deathlock! Fuck should I wake up my wife and make sweet love to her because these muthafuckas got me horny now! Excellent work. Sakaruba goes full Tasmanian Devil just overwhelms Ohtani with a maelstrom of strikes. Ohtani ROARS ALIVE AND RETALIATES WITH AN UNHOLY BARRAGE CLIMAXING WITH A HEADBUTT! The PERFECT SETUP FOR SPRINGBOARD DROPKICK! BANG~! DRAGON SUPLEX~! Rear Naked Choke! OHTANI-SAN WINS! The Heavens Opened And Snow Fell From the Sky **** 1/4