NJPW ON AXS (12/16/16) – Wrestling Dontaku 2016 Part 1
Special Singles Match: Hirooki Goto vs. EVIL (5/3/16)
Hearing good ol’ JR talk New Japan remains a trip throughout this run. Here you get to hear him explaining EVIL, and saying Hirooki Goto is the Bret “The Hitman” Hart of New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was a sprint, baby, no screwing around – having the fellas go at it pre-bell on the entrance ramp was a good way to make a Goto match interesting. These are two guys who have no problem laying their shit in and EVIL’s fireman’s carry powerbomb is a sight to see. Still though, what was so SPECIAL about this Singles Match?***
Special Singles Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA (5/3/16)
This match has super impressive athleticism, wild counters, put a guy over… good stuff. Great great showcase of SANADA early … Okada momentarily pauses, thinking about a clean break, and SANADA goes at it – impressive leapfrogs and rope-running and springboarding and tope’ing, all leading to a piledriver on the floor. Okada got himself a little run afterwards and they had the crowd popping for everything as they countered their way towards the finish. Nice near fall off the SANADA Dragon sleeper, followed by a tombstone and Rainmaker to show everybody who’s boss. ***1/2
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: KUSHIDA [c] vs. Jushin Thunder Liger (5/3/16)
Liger isn’t there to be having all-timers anymore but he is still the very best. There’s something about classic New Japan juniors wrestling, with sweet Liger matwork (SURFBOARD!), KUSHIDA going after the arm to setup the Hoverboard Lock, Liger finding an opening when KUSHIDA stumbles off a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and going after the knee. Liger works the leg like the master he is, while KUSHIDA takes a MASSIVE shotei bump towards the end. KUSHIDA having to resort to just trying to snap Liger’s arm to win was incredible. ***1/2
NJPW ON AXS (12/16/16) – Wrestling Dontaku 2016 Part 2
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Michael Elgin & Yoshitatsu [c] vs. Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks (5/3/16)
NEVER Openweight matches seem a lot like any ol’ RAW or SmackDown 8-man tag team match – fun, solid action, totally forgettable. Like, a lot of wrestling is inherently forgettable, but still… ya hope for something just a little bit better. Either way though – the 6-man titles are a good way to give some stars something to do when there isn’t. Elgin does some wild strength spots on the Bucks… the falcon arrow catch where he held up Buck #1 by his pants was amazing. The Omega/Bucks act is fun-ish but too winky winky for me. They spray cold spray in fella’s eyes, low blow people – there might be something to be said for ELITE as The Comedy of pro wrestling, a movie about what the folks laugh at and how hollow it might really be – regardless, it works and endures. Or, as Good Ol’ JR would say, “It’s denigrated into wrestling hell, ladies and gentleman.” **3/4
NEVER Openweight Title: Katsuyori Shibata [c] vs. Yuji Nagata (5/3/16)
Nagata, Nakanishi, Kojima and Tenzan coming together towards the end of their careers is so great, as is them feuding with this young piece of shit Shibata. This was a fun match – hard strikes, snug submissions – it was REAL. Leg locks, struggles out of holds, a running kick right to the ribs. Gorgeous freakin’ backdrop suplex hold by Shibata towards the end. Finish really puts this over the top – Nagata CATCHES a PK and they throw shots at each other until Nagata hits a backdrop and Shibata kicks out at ONE. Shibata blocks kicks, slaps Nagata (who’s selling all match of these shots and holds is awesome… does weird shit with his eyes that makes it all feel legit), Nagata hits an enzuigiri and a PK of his own, then a backdrop suplex hold for the 3. ***1/4
NJPW ON AXS (12/16/16) – Wrestling Dontaku 2016 Part 3
IWGP Heavyweight Title: Tetsuya Naito [c] vs. Tomohiro Ishii (5/3/16)
Parts of this were completely epic, parts of it were also kind of a drag. I can see liking this A LOT more if following Ishii for the last 10 years; as a stand-alone match I thought it was really good. The intros set the stage for this – Naito in the white suit and mask, Ishii staring Naito down like a bull, Naito looking elsewhere. Most of this was Naito cheating and Ishii selling his ass off, which was pretty good but not super engaging for the 30 minutes it lasted. Last 10 or so are freakin’ great. Naito took some wild bumps here, the one he took off a reverse DDT where he landed on his head had Tanahashi flipping out from commentary. Ishii as per usual does not seem like a human being with the amount of punishment he takes. Near falls towards the end are really really great, though the actual finish weirdly felt like came a little quick. ***3/4
