TV Anime “Tiger Mask W” Special Commemoration Match: Tiger Mask W vs. Red Death Mask (10/10/16)
It’s Kota Ibushi vs. Juice Robinson in a mask and full body suit, oh my GOD! This is pure showcase stuff for Ibushi, nothing exciting but weirdly fun that you’re watchin’ a dude named Red Death Mask. Probably would’ve preferred seeing the NJPW vs. NOAH 8-man or the Tag Titles switch – even if the Briscoes stunk in Japan – but here we are.*3/4
IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada [c] vs. Naomichi Marufuji (10/10/16)
Dug a whole lot of this, this is the New Japan Ace vs. the NOAH Ace, abeilt a NOAH ace who might have seen better days. One of the cool things about wrestlers getting smaller and perceptions of main eventers changing is that Naomichi Marufuji of all people can be portrayed as an absolute monster and you totally buy it. They played up the ace vs. ace story well, with each guy going even until Marufuji just started WRECKING Okada with spots – superkick around the post, insane chops, big knees, piledriver on the apron. Marufuji’s shiny pants slaps help, but oh man does everything he hits seem like it hits HARD. Marufuji had the champ’s number for a lot of this and it rocked. Shiranui countered with the Rainmaker was wild stuff, as was Okada pulling out an Emerald Frosion as a final FUCK YOU before putting Marufuji to bed with another Rainmaker. As Okada describes it int he post-match interview, this was 30-minutes of hell for him. Yes, indeed. ****
