THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA

ARTICLE # 24
JANUARY 28, 2002

Ultimo Dragon: A Case For The Hall Of Fame

7/7/95: Ultimo Dragon vs Chris Jericho

They started with a cool exchange where they kept landing on their feet on backdrop or monkey flip attempts. They exchanged armdrags and dropkicked each other. Dragon landed a bunch of chops in the corner but Jericho hit a top rope moonsault bodyblock in the opposite corner for a near fall. Jericho spin kicked Dragon out of the ring and hit a great plancha from inside the ring. Jericho gave Dragon somewhat of a modified jackhammer into the ring for a near fall. Jericho hit a top rope splash for a near fall and gained another near fall with a slingshot backdrop driver (not as crazy as it sounds). He applied a sleeper on Dragon. Dragon attempted a backdrop but Jericho kicked him and gave him a tiger driver for a near fall. Jericho dumped Dragon over the top rope to the apron and went for a second rope dive to the outside but Dragon ducked and Jericho crashed onto the floor. Dragon faked a tope and hit a slingshot modified 450 splash on Jericho on the floor. Jericho fought back and piledrove Dragon on the floor. Jericho showboated on the apron and Dagon knocked him to the floor with a great second rope dropkick. Dragon then hit a cool somersault plancha from the second rope, over the top rope onto Jericho. Dragon brought Jericho back into the ring with a brainbuster for a near fall. Dragon hit an in-ring quebrada for a near fall and gained another near fall with a fisherman buster. Dragon applied a sharpshooter briefly. He attempted a top rope huracanrana, Jericho pushed him off but Dragon landed on his feet, only to be hit with a top rope dropkick by Jericho for a near fall. Jericho attempted a lionsault but Dragon tripped him and gave him la magistral for a great near fall. After a series of counters Jericho rolled up Dragon for a near fall but Dragon reversed the rollup for a near fall of his own. Dragon gave Jericho a dragon suplex for a near fall. Dragon attempted a top rope huracanrana but Jericho shoved him off the top rope to the floor and hit a plancha. Back in the ring Jericho hit a lionsault and rolled up Dragon for a heated near fall. Jericho attempted a tiger driver but Dragon countered with a huracanrana for a near fall. Dragon hit a huracanrana for a near fall. Jericho gave Dragon a tiger suplex for a near fall. He attempted a superplex but Dragon fell on top of him for a near fall. Dragon went for a powerbomb, Jericho countered with a huracanrana but Dragon rolled through and gained a heated near fall. Dragon DDTd Jericho but Jericho caught him on the top rope and gave him a top rope powerslam for a near fall. Jericho missed a moonsault but Dragon then missed a twisting moonsault of his own. Jericho then hit a top rope double arm superplex and pinned Dragon at 19:59 (13:16 aired). This is one of those underrated, rarely-mentioned gems. Actually this is perhaps one of the top 5 matches of Jericho�s career and perhaps the match that made him a star. Dragon did a great job carrying the then-unpolished Jericho, and amazingly did it in Jericho�s own style. This was primarily a spotfest without much deep psychology. However, the execution of everything ranged from decent to outstanding, the match was reasonably well-paced in that the crowd was hot for most of it, and some of the counters and reversals were great. This might have also been Dragon�s best singles match to date. ****1/2

8/4/96: J-Crown Tournament Semifinal: Ultimo Dragon vs Shinjiro Otani

This was as flawless a match as I have ever seen a New Japan juniors match. Both men had one of their best singles matches here. In particular, Dragon might have had the best singles match of his career. The two started out with smooth matwork. Dragon attempted la magistral for a pop. Otani's selling of that move was really cool. More fluid matwork followed and Dragon stiffed Otani with his kicks. Most of the first ten minutes saw mostly wear-down and submission moves and a few high spots interspersed in a smart fashion. Dragon dropkicked Otani off the apron to the floor to pick up the action level. Dragon missed a tope and Otani suplexed him on the floor. Otani hit a flip dive off the apron and crowd heat picked up as he gave Dragon a springboard spin kick for a near fall. Otani gave Dragon a tiger suplex for a near fall. Dragon then gave Otani la magistral for a super near fall. Dragon tombstoned Otani and gave him a moonsault for another near fall. Otani reversed a Dragon huracanrana attempt for a great near fall as crowd heat was at a fever pitch. Dragon gave Otani his dragon suplex for a near fall and gave Otani an in-ring quebrada for another near fall. Otani countered a Dragon huracanrana with a powerbomb and hit a perfect springboard missile dropkick. Otani then gained a super near fall with the dragon suplex. Otani kept going for a move off the top rope but Dragon cut him off each time. Finally, Dragon sort of gave Otani a face front suplex off the top rope, but both men fell hard onto the mat. Dragon then gave Otani a Liger bomb and pinned him at 16:04. For execution of moves, this was as flawless a match as you will ever see. Very good psychology for a juniors match and only a few minutes shy of the five star plateau. ****3/4

11/17/96: J-Crown Title: Ultimo Dragon (c) vs Rey Misterio Jr.

After a brief exchange Dragon attacked Misterio�s left arm. Misterio fought back by attacking Dragon�s left leg. Dragon quickly recovered and gained an early near fall. Misterio held his own on the mat. They had a spectacular criss cross exchange with neither man gaining an advantage. Dragon scored with a bunch of stiff kicks in the corner. Misterio attempted a corner splash but Dragon sent him to the apron and knocked him to the floor with a second rope dropkick. Dragon tried to suplex Misterio back into the ring, Misterio countered, but Dragon German suplexed him for a near fall. Dragon threw Misterio high in the air and Misterio crashed onto the canvas. Dragon threw a couple kicks and gave him something of a spinning torture rack and dropped Misterio across his shoulders. Dragon gave Misterio a backbreaker and applied a half crab. Dragon powerbombed Misterio, lifted him back up and dropped him neck first on the top rope in a neat spot. Dragon then gained a near fall. Dragon gave Misterio a spinebuster and a giant swing. He gave Misterio a fisherman buster for a near fall and a standard brainbuster for another near fall. Dragon attempted a third brainbuster but Misterio rolled him up for a near fall. Dragon gave Misterio a couple kicks and applied a leglock. He tombstoned Misterio for a near fall and dropkicked him out of the ring. Dragon faked a tope, kicked Misterio and went for a tope, Misterio sidestepped it but Dragon landed on his feet. Misterio attempted to whip Dragon into the barricade but Dragon reversed the whip. Dragon tombstoned Misterio on the floor and hit a splash over the top rope to the floor. Dragon hit a top rope huracanrana (actually a Misteriorana) for a near fall and gained another near fall with a running Liger bomb. Dragon charged Misterio in the corner but Misterio kicked him and then gave him a spin kick. Misterio hit a springboard split-legged moonsault for a near fall. Misterio knocked Dragon out of the ring with a springboard missile dropkick and hit a somersault plancha from the second rope inside the ring over the top rope onto Dragon for a pop. Misterio hit a top rope sunset flip for a near fall but Dragon then rolled him up for a near fall of his own. Misterio gave Dragon his Misteriorana for a near fall. Dragon dropped Misterio on his head with a dragon suplex and gained a near fall. Dragon went for a powerbomb but Misterio countered with a sunset flip for a near fall. Misterio attempted a springboard huracanrana but Dragon bounced him off the top rope and gave him a Liger bomb for the pin at 13:49 to retain the titles. The only thing that prevented this match from being a top 100 of the 1990s candidate was that the first 10 minutes were too one-sided. The work itself was flawless and that first 10 minutes were fun to watch because Dragon just put on a clinic using just about every one of his signature moves and holds. When it was time for the comeback Misterio was up to the task and his usual spectacular self but the spotlight was clearly on Dragon. ****1/4

12/29/96: 9-Belt Title Match: Ultimo Dragon (J-Crown champion) vs Dean Malenko (WCW Cruiserweight champion)

A tremendous all-around wrestling clinic. Malenko was his usual brilliant self while Dragon was becoming a top 10 caliber worker around this time period. The match started with quick and fluid matwork. Both looked strong, although Dragon was really impressive with his agility. Dragon threw a few stiff kicks but Malenko fought back by dropping Dragon on his head with a backdrop driver. Dragon threw some impressive roundhouse kicks, including a spinning one. Dragon maintained the advantage with some matwork and quick action. Dragon aborted a Malenko comeback by slamming him on the floor and hitting a tope suicida. Malenko suplexed Dragon at 7:00 as crowd heat picked up. Dragon maintained his dominance until Malenko countered a sleeper with another backdrop driver. Malenko gained a near fall with a German suplex before apllying a leglock for a lengthy period of time. Malenko continued to focus his attack on Dragon's left leg until the 13 minute mark. Dragon missed a handspring elbow and Malenko powerslammed him for a big pop. Dragon hit a spin kick and powerbombed Malenko for a near fall. Dragon attempted a tombstone piledriver but Malenko countered with one of his own for a dramatic near fall. Malenko went for the Texas cloverleaf but Dragon escaped. Malenko gave Dragon a tiger driver for a near fall. The action spilled to the floor and Dragon hit his Asai moonsault at 16:15. Dragon missed a moonsault and Malenko applied the Texas cloverleaf for a huge pop. Sonny Onoo briefly distracted Malenko. Dragon surprised Malenko with a small package for a near fall. Malenko hit a brainbuster for a near fall. After a slew of counters by both men, Dragon tiger suplexed Malenko and scored the pin at 19:12 to win the match and titles. Super match with the crowd being almost Japanese-like in popping for the near falls. ****1/2

4/16/97: Ultimo Dagon vs Rey Misterio Jr.

Misterio and Dragon exchanged offense on the mat early. Misterio took down Dragon and applied a modified camel clutch. Dragon fought back and gained a near fall. Dragon scored with a bunch of stiff kicks. He dropkicked Misterio, gained a near fall and worked on Misterio�s arm with a cross armbreaker. Dragon gave Misterio a spinning torture rack into a slam of sorts. Dragon powerbombed Misterio, picked him up and dropped him neck first on the top rope. Dragon applied a sleeper on Misterio. Dragon gave Misterio a running Liger bomb and then a tombstone for a near fall. Dragon reapplied the sleeper on Misterio. Misterio fought back with a spin kick but Dragon recovered and gave Misterio a lariat. Dragon landed a couple stiff kicks and gave Misterio a hard face front suplex. Dragon applied a Mutolock (legs hooked, bridge into a chinlock) and then a Romero special. Dragon gained a near fall and kicked Misterio out of the ring. Dragon attempted to whip Misterio into the barricade but Misterio reversed the whip. Back in the ring Dragon applied another sleeper on Misterio. Misterio escaped and applied a sleeper of his own for a pop. Misterio dropkicked Dragon and spin kicked him out of the ring. Misterio faked a tope but then hit a great somersault plancha from the middle rope inside the ring onto Dragon on the floor. Misterio gave Dragon a springboard somersault Thesz press for a near fall. Misterio tripped Dragon and hit a springboard legdrop for a near fall. Misterio went to the top rope but Dragon then knocked him to the floor with a dropkick. Dragon kicked Misterio through the ropes and hit a tope. Dragon tried to suplex Misterio back into the ring but Misterio countered. Misterio attempted an in-ring quebrada but Dragon dropkicked him in mid-air. Dragon gave Misterio a giant swing but dizzied himself as well. Both men attempted kicks at the same time. Misterio gave Dragon a Misteriorana for a near fall but Dragon reversed the cradle for a near fall of his own. Misterio attempted a backdrop but Dragon landed on his feet and gave Misterio an enzuguiri for a near fall. Dragon hit a running lariat in the corner and gave Misterio a top rope huracanrana for a near fall. Misterio countered powerbomb and tiger suplex attempts and rolled up Dragon but Dragon reversed the rollup for a near fall. Misterio bounced off the second rope with a huracanrana and pinned Dragon at 14:56. Excellent match, but not quite as flawless and smooth as their 11/96 match. The layout was similar with Dragon dominating most of the first 10 minutes. Misterio was given more offense in the closing minutes of this match but didn�t look quite as sharp this time. ****

6/14/97: Ultimo Dragon vs Psicosis (w/Sonny Onoo)

Dragon armdragged Psicosis out of the ring early. Psicosis held his own on the mat but Dragon popped the crowd with his quickness. Dragon went for a leapfrog but Psicosis punched him in mid-air. Psicosis landed a power elbow but Dragon soon responded with one of his own. Dragon landed a couple chops in the corner. Psicosis whipped him into the opposite corner, Dragon did a headstand on the turnbuckle and kicked Psicosis. Dragon then threw a ton of his quick, stiff kicks, including a sharp kick to Psicosis�s jaw for a pop. Dragon gave Psicosis his spinning torture rack slam and more kicks. Psicosis fought back with a kick and hit a running lariat in the corner. Psicosis hit a dropkick, Dragon backdropped him over the top rope, Psicosis landed on the apron and Dragon dropped him neck first on the top rope. Psicosis sidestepped a Dragon tope ad Onoo threw some kicks at Dragon as well. Psicosis gave Dragon a baseball slide kick. He draped Dragon on the middle rope and hit a top rope legdrop onto the apron. Psicosis gained a near fall with Dragon�s own trademark la magistral. Psicosis gave Dragon a backbreaker for a near fall and then threw him out of the ring. Onoo threw more kicks but Dragon caught him and went to suplex Onoo on the floor but Psicosis took out Dragon with a tope. Psicosis went for a backdrop but Dragon landed on his feet and threw more sharp kicks. Dragon gave Psicosis a handspring elbow. He gave Psicosis a headscissors takedown but Psicosis rolled through, yet Dragon then monkey-flipped him over the top rope to the floor in a neat spot. Dragon then hit his Asai moonsault on Psicosis for a pop. Back in the ring Dragon gave Psicosis a brainbuster for a near fall. Dragon tombstoned Psicosis for a heated near fall. Psicosis charged at Dragon in the corner but Dragon sent him over the top rope. Psicosis landed on the apron and knocked Dragon out of the ring with a top rope spin kick. Psicosis then hit his over the top rope tope suicida near the corner. Back in the ring Dragon fought back with a huracanrana but Psicosis reversed the rollup for a near fall. Psicosis came off the top rope attempting a moonsault bodyblock but Dragon dropkicked him in mid-air. Dragon gave Psicosis a top rope huracanrana and then went for a tiger suplex but Onoo distracted him. Psicosis then nailed Dragon with a top rope dropkick for a near fall. Psicosis went to whip Dragon towards Onoo but Dragon reversed the whip and sent Psicosis crashing into a kick from Onoo. Dragon then made Psicosis submit at 14:18 with a Dragon sleeper. An excellent match, but what made it great was the fan heat. The crowd was popping for almost everything and was loud from start to finish as both wrestlers were over. Dragon in particular mixed his top 10 caliber work with interacting with the crowd, which showed his ability to adjust to being a babyface in front of an American crowd. Dragon was a top 10 worker but Psicosis wasn�t far behind and showed his ability in this match as well. ****1/4

NEXT ISSUE: The Michinoku Pro 6-Man Tag Team Match

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