1993 New Japan Top of the Super Junior Tournament Final: Chris Benoit vs El Samurai 6/14/93
This was a match that started slowly, but built well and got better and better as it progressed, reaching a crescendo in the final minutes. By the time it was over, both wrestlers had put together a classic match. They started out with the usual fast, smooth exchanges before going to the mat. The two traded camel clutches and then Benoit worked on Samurai's left arm for a brief period. Benoit fought back with headbutts and a back suplex for an early near fall. Benoit focused on Samurai's legs, using a sharpshooter followed by a half crab. Samurai floored Benoit with a stiff forearm smash. Benoit then dominated Samurai in and out of the ring and gained a near fall with a German suplex. Benoit gained another near fall with a powerbomb as crowd heat picked up. Benoit gave Samurai a second rope legdrop for a near fall but Samurai then gained a near fall with a tombstone piledriver. Samurai hit a Russian legsweep and applied an armlock submission on Benoit. Benoit escaped, but Samurai reapplied the hold. Samurai missed a top rope headbutt but Benoit then missed a diving headbutt of his own. Samurai belly to belly suplexed Benoit and followed up with a springboard plancha. Benoit knocked Samurai out of the ring and gave him a plancha. Back in the ring Samurai gained a near fall with a German suplex. Benoit retalliated by giving Samurai a dragon suplex for a near fall. Benoit gained another near fall with a northern lights suplex but Samurai then rolled him up for a dramatic near fall. Samurai gained a near fall with a top rope huracanrana. After powerbombing Benoit, Samurai hit a back superplex for a great near fall. Samurai went for a superplex, Benoit blocked it, and then gave Samurai a top rope powerbomb. Benoit then scored the pin at 19:14 to win the tournament. Super closing stretch and a memorable finish. ****1/2