NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING
March 30, 1996
1. Masa Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Kazuo Yamazaki & Yuji Nagata
Chono accidentally gave Tenzan a yakuza kick when Yamazaki moved. Yamazaki gave Chono several kicks and a released German suplex. Nagata also German suplexed Tenzan. Chono and Tenzan dominated Yamazaki as the pace slowed. Yamazaki caught Chono with a Fujiwara armbar but Tenzan intervened. Nagata gave Chono a stiff kick and applied an armbar. Nagata threw a slew of kicks at Tenzan. Nagata and Yamazaki held simultaneous leglocks on Chono briefly. Yamazaki scored with several roundhouse kicks on Tenzan and applied a sleeper. Nagata and Chono fought into the crowd briefly. Chono and Tenzan double suplexed Yamazaki. Chono hit Yamazaki with a yakuza kick. Yamazaki countered a powerbomb and backdropped Chono. Yamazaki threw more kicks at Chono but missed an enzuguiri. Chono applied an STF on Yamazaki but Nagata intervened. Nagata spin kicked Tenzan. He then belly to belly suplexed Tenzan and applied a cross armbreaker. Tenzan moved and Nagata spin kicked Yamazaki. Tenzan pinned Nagata at 8:34 after a top rope headbutt. A good match. **1/2
2. UWA Jr. Title: El Samurai (c) vs Koji Kanemoto
Samurai applied a sleeper as footage began but Kanemoto countered with an armbar. Samurai scored with a German suplex but Kanemoto again went after Samurai’s left arm. Kanemoto gained a near fall with a German suplex. He repeatedly slapped Samurai and hit a second rope corkscrew senton. Both men hit simultaneous lariats. Samurai hit a brainbuster. Kanemoto fought back and suplexed Samurai out of the ring. Kanemoto hit a top rope dropkick and German suplexed Samurai on the apron. Kanemoto went for a moonsault but crashed onto Samurai’s knees. Samurai hit a powerbomb and applied a cross armbreaker. Samurai hit a top rope dropkick. He went for a top rope headbutt but Kanemoto lifted his feet and kicked Samurai in mid-air. Kanemoto hit a top rope moonsault and a tiger suplex for the pin at 23:15 to win the title (7:26 aired). From what aired, this was a good match, but disappointing for these two. Maybe ***1/4.
3. IWGP Jr. Title: Jushin Liger (c) vs Shinjiro Otani
A super, nearly flawless match that was a textbook example of the New Japan juniors style. TV footage began about four minutes into the match as Otani held the advantage on the mat. He worked on Liger's left arm for a couple minutes using various submission holds. Liger fought back and dropkicked Otani's left knee, although Liger sold the pain in his arm. The two then traded the advantage with a variety of holds on the mat. Liger hit a koppo kick on Otani and hit a brainbuster about ten minutes into the match. Liger continued to dominate with Otani playing his underdog role well. Otani applied an armlock on Liger's left arm but Liger escaped and hit Otani in the corner with another koppo kick. Liger dropkicked Otani to the floor but Otani sidestepped a pescado. Otani then hit a great springboard plancha on Liger. Otani hit his springboard spin kick (swan dive) on Liger for a near fall as heat picked up. Liger hit a spectacular released German suplex and a koppo kick. Liger gained a near fall with a top rope splash and another more heated near fall with a Liger bomb. Otani countered a second Liger bomb with a huracanrana and hit a spinning savate kick. Otani hit a top rope frankensteiner and a German suplex for a heated near fall. Otani hit his springboard missile dropkick and applied a cross-armbar on Liger as heat reached a fever pitch. Liger surprised Otani with a sleeper and gained a near fall with la magistral. Liger gained another near fall with a fisherman buster. Otani fought back and hit a top rope missile dropkick and two dragon suplexes for a super near fall. Liger blocked another dragon suplex attempt and knocked Otani out with a shoda and scored the pin at 20:27. Exemplary New Japan juniors match with the matwork early and all the big moves and hot near falls in the closing seven minutes. In many ways, this resembled the Otani-Ultimo Dragon classic later in the year, only this was slightly longer. ****3/4
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