1. Manabu Nakanishi All Japan Pro-Wrestling Final Special Eight Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Manabu Nakanishi, Osamu Nishimura & Yutaka Yoshie vs. Yoshitatsu, Ryouji Sai, TAJIRI & Dan Tamura (AJPW 2/11/20)
This hit for me as both a catch-up with favorites from the past (Akiyama, Nishimura, Yoshie, RYOUJI SAI) and an introduction to young Dan Tamura, ready to attempt an ass-kicking on Nakanishi that only an unseasoned youth would ever try. Yoshie’s face looks younger and happier while his knees are covered in bandages. Nishimura isn’t doing handstands anymore, but he is still doing cool subtle stuff like holding his hands behind his back to absorb elbows. Nakanishi gets in there and gives a shoulder tackle, knife edge chop, top rope chop, chop to the head. The man is Giant Baba now. Argentine Backbreaker, handshakes, Nakanishi takes a bow, pose for pictures, mic work, etc etc. Respect. **
2. RPW British Heavyweight Title: Zack Sabre Jr. [c] vs. Will Ospreay (Rev Pro 2/14/20)
A great pairing seemingly at the top of their games, this didn’t have the close-up stares and classiness of the epic at New Beginning but it did have a straightforwardness that consolidated a bunch of great stuff from that match into this rematch. Will Ospreay is just a totally new boy, a slower, smarter, and most of all stronger version of the raw talent we saw from that youthful little shit the last ten years. They used all of it here – Zack controlled, but Will not only made spirited comebacks but freaked people out as he deadlifted his way out of tricky situations.
Zack is pretty much always on point, it’s just whether the situation calls for him going another level – Will gets him there. Loved ZSJ’s slink into a sleeper to avoid the corner superkick, and his sell off the top rope powerbomb where he folded his body in half was a great touch. ****1/2
3. Manabu Nakanishi Final Korakuen Hall I: Manabu Nakanishi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (2/19/20)
I like the idea of Nakanishi and his bros taking on all the stables in New Japan, but the Senior League opposite Suzuki’s crew of punches and kicks did not make for much of a wrestling match. Good lariat from Kojima on Kanemaru at the end. *1/2
4. Tiger Hattori Referee Retirement Match I: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. Jay White, Bad Luck Fale & The Guerillas of Destiny (2/19/20)
I don’t have a lot to say about Tiger Hattori. That probably means he did his job really well.
The good guys here are a heck of a team, with Cabana and Yano having their shtick down alongside Tanahashi and Ibushi who point at each other early like they’re in Dude, Where’s My Car?. Then the Bullet Club caught a guy and went-a-stompin’. Yano eventually attempts a backslide on Bad Luck Fale and low key grabs Hattori’s arm to help him WIN!! A heck of a thing. **1/4
5. Tiger Hattori Referee Retirement Match II: Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi vs. Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto (2/19/20)
A quality match with all the fellas going hard to give Tiger Hattori the work one last time. Can’t say there’s anything new here, but everyone is good and serious and the finish is as wonderful and frantic as expected. ***1/4
Tiger Hattori Retirement Ceremony
Very fun to see the names they brought to Korakuen Hall for Tiger’s sendoff. Great Kabuki, Hiroshi Hase, Keiji Muto, and Riki Choshu all came to the ring, while a spectacle-wearing Genichiro Tenryu sent in a video from I assume his mansion. Everyone looked all proper and grandpa-like.
