This is a quick blog, but chock full o' facts and nuts, as it has occurred to me that some readers do not understand the importance of the two most devastating weapons in Japan: The Lariat (or LARIATO) and the Roaring Elbow. I am here, now, before I post any more entries, to quickly explain these and their importance not only to Puroresu but the Japanese people as a culture.
In the USA, we have our be-all, end-all wrestlers and their finishing moves. On an average Monday Night Raw, you'll rarely see someone kick out of a Pedigree, or a Stunner, or a 619, etc. At WrestleMania, it may take two of those, but the job usually gets done (see Tombstone Piledriver). Keep this in mind.
Now, without going into the cultural and historical ramifications, the Japanese wrestling world has accepted this one endearing principal that you should know and respect before you go any further: At anytime, in any wrestling ring in The Far East, any match can end with a lariat if it's bad-ass enough. This goes back to the origins of the sport and Rikidozan (sp?), the Godfather of Japanese Wrestling.
Enter Mitsuharu Misawa, who would add the spinning, stiff-as-balls elbow that list. I suppose, for argument's sake, you could say Keiji Mutoh threw the Shining Wizard in that group as well. But, no matter. Just remember that like a Tombstone, or a Pedigree, or a Stunner, or a Super Kick, it's widely accepted in Puroresu that the Lariat, Roaring Elbow, and Shining Wizard can beat anybody at anytime, and are huge spots in a match. Got it? Awesome. Here's a little lesson in that type of thinking.
YUJI NAGATA vs TOMOHIRO ISHII - 01/17/10
This is a little known match from a relatively small promotion, relative to Pro Wresting-Guerilla here in the States. But this match is extremely important for two reasons. First, this match is indeed a lesson in how basic, hard-hitting strikes can make a match more exciting than a million flip-spots and planchas.
Second, because this is the prelude to a match that I will be reviewing later on, and the set-up to what may go down as the best wrestling match, all year, in any promotion, in any country. Plus, this features a rather unique story, considering the competitors involved.
Yuji Nagata, former (and one of the greatest) IWGP Champion and all-around feared Strong Style bad-ass (Yes, he also worked for WCW and was managed by Sonny Ono, but, really... who wasn't? I'm pretty sure both Norman Smiley and Steve McMichael were managed by Ono while they were feuding with each other.) The man can throw a side kick like most throw a lariat, it's that hard hitting. Like, 'doesn't have to slap his leg to get that sound that's how hard he kicks' type of hard hitting.
Then, you have Tomohiro Ishii, who is an up-and-coming heavy hitter looking for his excuse to break into the upper card. Even though I don't dig on his "weight-lifting belt without the buckle" thing he has going on, the man can sell like murder, and does it in full-on spades here.
I think the next inevitable step for this thing is to post something unbelievably EPIC. It has occurred to me that I cannot operate a blog on Puroresu if I do not mention one of four things: Keiji Mutoh, Hiroshi Tanahashi, The IWGP Heavyweight Title, or the January 4th Tokyo Dome show. So... why not all of the above?
Keep in mind, I will no doubt post separate blogs delving into every aspect of this at later times, but for now, I'm going to be as brief as I can be, for the sake of talking about this one match.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
KEIJI MUTOH (c) vs HIROSHI TANAHASHI
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom III, 01/04/2009
To set up the what, who, and why, we have to set up the where and the when. The 'where'? The Tokyo Dome. The 'when'? January 4th. Why, you're now allowed to ask, is supposed to mean anything? Well, allow to educate you to the best of my ability.
In layman's terms, every year since 1992, New Japan Pro Wrestling has run their equivalent to WrestleMania on January 4th. Its arguably viewed as the biggest show held all year, and has traditionally seen Japan's biggest matches happen at this event. It also has seen pivotal moments in Puroresu history take place here, as it has been the site for many "first-ever" inter-promotion events with the likes of All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, ZERO-1, former wrestling promotion WCW, and soon-to-be-former wrestling promotion TNA (I kid... maybe. I'm not sure, actually. Come back and read this in three years and let me know if it was a joke.)
This match just so happens to be the main event at this card in 2009, and is for one of the most prestigious championships in all of pro wrestling, much less Japan, the IWGP Heavyweight Title. The top NJPW title, and along with the AJPW Triple Crown and maybe the GHC Heavyweight Title (PW NOAH), make up the top Heavyweight championships in the Far East. Past IWGP Champions include Antonio Inoki, Vader, Masahiro Chono, and Brock Lesnar.
The challenger is Hiroshi Tanahashi. A lot can be said about this guy, and most of it will be positive. A great technical wrestler with that blend of brutal striking and an aerial attacks that's needed for the main event. How this wrestler has progressed since his first IWGP title win in 2006 to his latest matches with the likes of Hirooki Goto is just amazing. Quite the image change as well, from clean cut baby face to confident baby face with an Emo-Mullet. But an Emo-Mullet that works. Going into this match, Hiroshi had already won the IWGP title on a few occasions, but either injury or regime changes prevented his reigns from really taking off. All the while, he was evolving in and out of the ring, gaining a more original persona that connected with Puroresu's fan base. The time was right, and it was now or never for Tanahashi, as he would be stood against the measuring stick of modern Puroresu.
That stick's name is Keiji Mutoh, and he enters the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2009 as the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Mutoh, better known to American fans as The Great Muta, or even better known to WCW fans as the guy who kicked Sting's head so hard it landed in a Church of Latter Day Saints. Mutoh's career really has no parallel for me to present you, he's done that much that uniquely. The closest, and perhaps broadest statement I could give you, with all due respect, is that Keiji Mutoh is like Japan's equivalent of The Undertaker. Not only in character, both being hard-hitting, technically capable competitors who happen to have super powers, but in terms of respect and regard, in relation to the fans and fellow wrestlers. Like his counter-part from Death Valley, Mutoh has re-invented himself several times, some by choice, others forced by injury, but every time he steps in the ring it's a lesson of some kind. He displays such a unique, rare psychology that you get lost in just watch Mutoh toy not only with Tanahashi, but the referee and the photographers at ringside. He is one of those wrestlers that carries himself like a champion, title belt or not.
A huge part of the story line and build up for this match was Hiroshi Tanahashi's respect/idolization of Keiji Mutoh. The opening video emphasizes this, showing how the two had similar rises to the top, similar size fan base, etc. The match proper really plays on this, as a frequent spot seems to be Mutoh hitting one of his standard moves only for Tanahashi to no-sell it and drop Keiji with one of his own. It makes for an interesting cat-and-mouse scenario, where the roles keep switching.
If they write a text book on this stuff, this match deserves a mention under limb psychology. How both wrestlers choose to work the leg in this match is more of an analogy for the mind-set and offensive styles of both wrestlers. Tanahashi attacks quickly and often, all of his attacks laced with a building aggression. Keiji Mutoh slows it down, choosing his spots and then wrecking Hiroshi's knee. The match serves itself well, building anticipation until it inevitably comes down to two warriors, dropping bombs on each other to see who survives.
All in all, a great match and either a fantastic way introduce you all these elements, or it's a nice reminder that a giant belt with a spinning "W" isn't the only important championship in wrestling.
Welcome to the first official blog! I'm not going to rant on and on at you, so I'll lay it out like this. I'm a huge fan of Puroresu (this is Japanese Pro Wrestling, for those who don't know.) I still watch American pro wrestling, ala WWE, ROH, Etc. (Please note: ETC is not an actual wrestling promotion, but rather an abbreviation for 'etcetera'... even though naming a promotion ETC could be clever.) However, puroresu offers a completely different product, and fulfills a completely different need than it's American counter-part. As anyone reading this probably knows, many 'IWC' fans (that stands for Internet Wrestling Community, also not an actual promotion) tend to pick apart the McMahon/Carter ventures, citing various complaints. I personally don't think any one thing can be everything all at once. So a long time ago I learned that if I want a wrestling program that is in-ring based and offers storytelling mainly through competition, I best look past the western hemisphere (No disrespect to ROH, which is a tad self-obsessed for my tastes, and Canada, which is a tad too Canadian for my tastes.)
Enter Japan. The purpose of this blog will be simple: It's an appropriate forum for me to share my favorite Puroresu matches, thoughts on them and their heat, and anything else that may make you laugh and somehow pertains to Japanese Pro Wrestling. So, sit back, and prepare to moderately enjoy yourself.
ANOTHER THING TO KNOW: Unless the stars are aligned into a perpendicular angle and the moon spins backwards, I will not post the winner(s) of matches posted here. I will discuss build up, psychology, actual moves performed, but never tell you the finish. That is for me to know and you to shut the hell up and watch. If you will.
The first thing I want to share with you is a fun match featuring a couple of names you might have heard of.
MASATO TANAKA vs SAMOA JOE - FIRE FESTIVAL 2001, ZERO-1
Know this first, the Japanese love leagues and tournament. If you think The World Cup is tedious, try stretching that over a two month tour with a heavily monitored points system. You get some points for winning, no points for losing, a point or two for drawing, and if you don't show up at all you get half a point of and a single Mentos. No, not the whole pack... Just one. Anyway, the Fire Festival is indeed one of said leagues, and keep in mind this match happens right smack dab in the middle of it.
Masato Tanaka, is a former ECW World Heavyweight Champion and all-around accepted bad ass. The Master of the Roaring Elbow has sustained broken bones and deep lacerations for pro wrestling, and his strong, rush-in style reflects that. Coming in to this match, ECW has just folded mere months ago, and Tanaka returned to Japan as a heel with a LOT of fire. Tanaka's Philly exploits were just getting major Japanese press and he rode that momentum into ZERO-1's Fire Festival league, where he took a commanding lead in his block right off the gate.
Samoa Joe, is a current TNA superstar and former TNA & ROH World Champion. This is well before all of that, however, as here in 2001 Joe is a young man looking for the experience and knowledge that a prestigious Japanese tour will bring. He has been working in Japan as a heel for the better part of two years at this point and the Fire Festival is proving to be a platform for which he can endear himself to the Puroresu crowds. Joe has had moderate success in the league, taking 2nd place entering into this match with Tanaka.
This match itself is very deliberate. Immediately you get the feeling that Joe is outmatched by Tanaka, and Masato does not waste a minute inflicting much needed damage to Joe. Joe is green but still The Samoan Submission machine, however, and occasionally fires back with short but effective offense. It's interesting watching the progression of this match, as so many of Samoa Joe's matches from 2003 - 2009 had the same psychology. Joe would destroy his foe with offense, dropping bomb after bomb while they try to 'weather the storm'. Eventually, Joe would get tired, make a mistake, and then it was the victim's turn to inflict pain. However, in this match, the show was on the other foot. Tanaka picks up Joe, only to continuously put him back down, only for Joe to kick out. Tanaka sells the professional deliberation he's been known for like a master, and the match moves very quickly to a nice, tidy conclusion.
I hope you've enjoyed the inaugural blog, and the match to boot. I'll be posting lots of matches on here in the coming weeks so check back for great matches1
