Jun Akiyama vs. The Bodyguard – D-Oh Grand Prix (Block A)
There’s a strong possibility that Bodyger snuck into this tournament thanks to his friendship with Uncle Jun. A friendship that was on full display here, as Akiyama regrettably let the man work on top of him for most of this professional wrestling match. Bodyguard’s feather-light corner lariats and assorted bear hugs didn’t exactly light the world on fire, but his dumb musclehead energy eventually won Korakuen over when Akiyama let him kick out of a bunch of shit. That’s what friends are for. **3/4
HARASHIMA vs. Yuji Okabayashi – D-Oh Grand Prix (Block B)
The well-deserved love for Okabayashi/Higuchi has been one of the few highlights on the Wrestling Twitter hellscape in the past month. Here’s the thing: this match is nearly just as good. By ‘nearly just as good’, I mean a quarter of a star short of being just as good. Trust me, I did the math on this.
Initially, it all felt like the spiritual successor to HARASHIMA’s King of DDT match with Yuji Hino. Big Ace HARASHIMA going full leg surgeon on a Very Large Man. You know the deal. However, Okabayashi is not your run of the mill Large Man and his stadium-sized intensity turned this thing into a proper epic. I’m talking high-end NOAH level chop/kick wars, Minoru Suzuki laugh-through-the-pain spots, blood-covered Argentine backbreakers. Epic.
Both guys came off as the very best versions of themselves – HARASHIMA the lovable-but-ruthless main eventer that’ll sneak in a TAKA-level springboard plancha when you’re not looking, Okabayashi the indestructible mass of meat who’ll turn any strike exchange into a must-see Event. Heavy dose of fist-pumping, long-form wrestling – the kind of wrestling that makes tournament-binging 100% worth it. ****1/4
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kazusada Higuchi – D-Oh Grand Prix (Block B)
If you’re going to throw a 30-minute wrestling odyssey in the middle of your Korakuen card, this is how you follow it up. Compact, high-energy ass kicking from two of the tournament’s brightest lights. They went for the kill right off the bat and never let their feet off the gas pedal, Takeshita condensing all of his big match repertoire in 5 minutes and Higuchi responding with his usual iron-headed fury. Loved the unexpected Surprise Rose finish (wrist-clutch Fisherman’s buster-type thing of pure death). Gotta go full brain damage to make a sudden finish against Higuchi feel believable. This was it. ***1/2
Tetsuya Endo vs. Yuki Ueno – D-Oh Grand Prix (Block A)
Wholesome high-flying babyface Ueno is officially Endo’s best opponent. They had a cutting-edge Korakuen main event banger last year and gave us more of that good stuff with this one. Working with Ueno, Endo gets to explore his two most effective roles: Heelish Asshole Top Guy and Crazy Shit Provider. You get a big plate of character-based wrestling with a hefty side of mind-melting high spots and it makes for one hell of a fun meal.
While Endo’s been stuck in background character mode ever since losing the KO-D belt, this was him back at his very best. The guy’s been watching his peak-era ROH tapes and threw all sorts of clever, inventive cut-offs at Ueno in this match. They also weaved in an efficient back-work subplot that somehow got paid off in the absolute craziest way with that slingshot rana/floor boston crab counter of pure white-hot insanity.
Replacing the traditional match-closing forearm duel with a FACE DROPKICK SHOWDOWN was fitting of a match loaded with so many wacky ideas. Ueno also Blizzard suplexed his way out of Endo’s handspring spot at some point? Fuck. Tremendous match that simultaneously reminded you of what Endo’s all about while clearly establishing Ueno as The New Guy. ****
