New Japan Tape Reviews

Kuramae Kokugikan (4/23/81) - Tiger Mask vs. El Gran Hamada

Kuramae Kokugikan (4/21/83) - Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid (2/3 Falls)

_ - Tiger Mask vs. Kenta Kobayashi

_ - The Great Muta & Hulk Hogan vs. Hellraisers

New Japan TV - Yuji Nagata vs. Scott Norton (IWGP World Championship)

This is the much talked about match to fill the vacancy of the IWGP World title. Nagata was a fast rising star and Norton was an established gaijin, but as anyone knows the right man did not win, mostly to set up the eventually Norton-Muto/nWo rift.
Norton comes out with a nice portion of nWo Japan and Nagata comes out alone and the crowd is pretty hot for him. Yuji stick and moves with some kicks and a back suplex. Norton no-sells and rushes Nagata with a lariat, which evens things out. They reapproach and Nagata starts working over the arm of the big man, but Norton drops him with a side slam. Norton hits a Samoan Drop and slows things down with a chinlock.
The big American attacks the neck with a Neckbreaker and a Dragon Sleeper, but knees help Nagata out of that predicament. They start to brawl, but Nagata works the kicks and locks on a Cross Armbreaker and then a Shortarm Scissors. Norton regains control and pounds on the young native, hits his Flashback Shoulderbreaker, and locks on a Fujiwara Armbar.
Nagata escapes to the floor, where Nakanishi and Sasaki hustle him back in. Norton catches him coming in with the Shoulderbreaker again and slaps on a Cross Armbreaker. The youngster sells it beautifully as he claws his way to the ropes. Nagata comes back and tries to continue his assault on Norton's arm with a Triangle Chokehold.
When the big man fights his way free, no-sells Nagata's kicks, and hits two big lariats. Norton is fired up and scoops Nagata up for the Powerbomb, three count, and his first IWGP title reign. The nWo gets the title, which is a big positive for the group, but their brightest young star was put on the backburner. As unfortunate as that is, Nagata would have his day and by then Norton would be just another gaijin. This match was really short, especially for its importance, but Nagata worked hard.
Rating: **1/4

New Japan TV - Jushin Lyger vs. Kaz Hayashi (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship)

New Japan TV - Keiji Muto vs. Shinya Hashimoto

Here is a classic battle between two of the Three Muskateers and it will obviously be a good one. Muto has been in the nWo for sometime and is unarguably their star, though it is Chono's group. Hashimoto has been going strong the past few years and it was around this time his career started to reach a stand-still.
Hashimoto jump starts the match with a DDT out of a knucklelock, which send Muto out. The nWo star jumps back in and comes back strong with brawling, then locks on a Fujiwara Armbar. Hash breaks out and gets into the corner, but Keiji continues pounding away and hits his Handspring Elbow and Bulldog combination. The onslaught continues with a Springboard Dropkick, which really dazes Hashimoto.
With the big man down, Keiji Muto goes for the moonsault, but its cut off by a Spin Wheel Kick. The kicks continue and quickly turn the match around. A big chop and DDT give Hashimoto the nearfall, but Muto's got a lot left in the tank. A few more hard kicks and another DDT have Muto reeling and Hashimoto goes to the top rope.
The lightning quick Muto jumps up and brings Hash down with a Dragon Screw Legwhip that is a hard fall for both men, but Keiji quickly hooks on his Figure-Four. After hauling himself to the ropes, Hashimoto is caught with a dropkick to the knee, another legwhip, and is locked into the Figure-Four again. After another ropebreak, Muto jumps up ready to pounce his injured foe.
Hash hits a backchop from the kneeling position and sends Muto down. The nWo wrestler plays a little possum and catches Hashimoto with two dropkicks. Then he continues with brawling, but draws Hashimoto, the superior striker, into a fight. Hash beats him down with chops and slaps on the fourth DDT of the night for a nearfall.
Hash rushes Muto again, but is huracanrana'd and transitions into a cross armbreaker. After a ropebreak, Hashimoto recovers with a chop and grabs Muto for the Dangerous Brainbuster. Muto kicks free once, but Hash grabs him again and drops him hard for the 1,2,3. This was a really good match between the two, which is definately worth checking out.
Rating: ***1/2

Battle of Last Summer - Koji Kanemoto vs. Kendo Ka Shin (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship)

Battle of Last Summer - Masa Chono vs. Shinya Hashimoto

This is a nice outside arena show that really adds to this particular match. Chono comes out with his boys and Hashimoto comes out solo and fires a kick right at the face of Chono. They have the introductions and two of the fabled "Three Muskateers" are ready to square off.
They lock up and Chono gets in an eyerake on the break. The two grapple back and fourth, but Hash eventually gets the edge with chops and the two begin going at each other missing spin wheel kicks and dropkicks. Chono finally gets the advantage by attacking Hashimoto's knees.
The big man escapes to the floor and does a few Hindu squats to shake off the pain. He climbs back in the ring and Chono comes right at him, but is DDT'd putting Hash on the offensive. They finally go back to a stand-up and start going chop for chop, but the big man slams him down, but misses a big elbow.
Chono comes back strong with a Yakuza Kick to the shoulder and starts working on Hash's arm. The big man tries to fire in some chops, but they don't have the same steam behind them. The Team 2000's leader continues to assault the arm and shoulder with a Flying Shoulder Tackle and another Yakuza Kick.
Hashimoto's selling his arm very well, but it's time to summon his fighting spirit. He hits a big overhead chop to stun Hash and follows up with nineteen more that leave Masa Chono laying prone. This gives him a short break as he has done a lot of damage to his own shoulder. As he staggers back in towards Chono, he is taken down and hooked into the STF. Chono then realizes that he shoulder target the shoulder and slaps on a Cross Armbreaker. Hash manages to fight his way to the ropes.
Chono tries to follow up his attacks, but Hashimoto comes back with kicks and they exchange enzugiris with Chono getting in the latter. Hash recovers quickly and hits a succession of shots: spinning chop, leg sweep, and three stiff mid kicks. Chono goes down and Hashimoto looks on his Triangle Chokehold. The man in black gets a ropebreak, but Hash is on fire with another kick and his Dangerous Brainbuster.
Then in a very un-puroresu move, T2000 distracts the referee and Hash goes after them. He predictably turns around into a Yakuza Kick for a nearfall. Chono goes low and slaps the STF on Hashimoto again. Then Don Frye jumps on the apron, but the hold stays on. The match is finally stopped and Masa Chono is the victor.
This was awesome stuff, especially Hashimoto's selling of the shoulder injury. One of Chono's last great matches with one of his greatest opponents. I think the Jingu Climax show was very hit-and-miss, but this one was dead on.
Rating: ****

Tokyo Dome (1/4/00) - Naoya Ogawa & Kazunari Murakami vs. Shinya Hashimoto & Takeshi Iizuka

Talk about your hot angles, the Hashimoto-Ogawa feud did more for that company in the 90s than any other storyline. The package before this is awesome with Hashimoto over turning a table at a press conference and President Fujinami slapping him. They show highlights of their last match, which Inoki jumped in and stopped. Then the build between the four men and the awesome introductions. Hash is so over it's unbelievable and Ogawa's just Inoki's boy.
In an odd gesture, Iizuka cuts off his bangs and throws the hair at his UFO oppositin. There is a lot of intensity early on and Murakami jumps all over Iizuka and refuses to let up on him. He shoves away the ref and pounds away, he kicks him as he tries to get up, raising the ire of Hash. Murakami backs off as Hashimoto tends to his partner, but gets on the mic and further reveals his arrogance.
Hashimoto gets up and comes at Murakami full-tilt with kicks and knees. The youngster backs into his corner and Ogawa bails him out. He kicks Hash down and celebrates as a result. While the big man composes himself, Ogawa kicks at Iizuka. Hash is pissed and comes at him again, but all the ringside people break things up. Nakanishi pushes Murakami into the corner and Hash tries to get his guys off Ogawa. Once free, the Judo standout rushes and attacks Nakanishi, w who then has to be restrained.
Fujinami jumps in and clears the people out and is followed by Inoki. Iizuka is now back up and ready to go, so Inoki restarts the match. Murakami rushes with a knee and takes Iizuka down, but finds himself in a Cross Armbreaker. This time its the UFO youngster getting the ropebreak and Iizuka does not let up with punches. Murakami manages to twist around and lock on an Armbar of his own, which forces Iizuka to make his way to the ropes.
They get back to their feet and Iizuka forces Murakami into the corner. They comes out and the New Japan shooter takes the UFO guy down and locks on a Achilles Hold. The crowd is really going nuts, but Murakami makes his way to the ropes. As a result, Iizuka drags him into the corner and Hashimoto makes his entrace. Murakami wants no part of him and goes back after Iizuka, who he hip throws and mounts him with punches.
Then the inevitable happens, Hashimoto blasts Kazunari Murakami with a kick to the chest that stuns him. Hash doesn't let up and knock him off Iizuka with a head kick. Murakami rolls to the apron and Hashimoto calls out Ogawa to a huge pop.
Though Ogawa's been dominant in the feud he plays off his heel role. Hash seems ready, but finds himself in a front choke. After a ropebreak and a clean seperation, they go back to strikes, which Hashimoto wins out with knees and overhead chops. Ogawa retreats to the rampway and doesn't fair much better when he climbs back in. He attempts a hip throw, but Hash counters it with a back suplex. Ogawa rolls out again and paces around in pain and disappointment.
He returns a third time and is quickly taken down. This time, Inoki's protege is ready with a Triangle that he has to break. They return to their feet and Hash hits a powerful leg kick, but is caught in the STO! Iizuka rushes in to help his partner, but finds himself on the receiving end of an STO too. Hashimoto recovers, but is STO'd down again and mounted. Iizuka dropkicks him off, sending him to the floor.
Murakami jumps in and nails Iizuka with a hard kick to the midsection and hip throws him down. Hash recovers and goes after his nemisis on the outside. The camera shows nice overhead shots of Hash working an armbar on the outside and Murakami kicking away at Iizuka in the ring. Back in the ring, Iizuka counters a hip throw with a Scissored Chokehold for a win at 8:59. A huge triumph for Iizuka, but Hashimoto-Ogawa is far from done. In fact they go at it after the match, but the UFO boys go home losers.
Rating: ****

Tokyo Dome (1/4/00) - Keiji Muto vs. Masa Chono

Chono and Muto, two of the "Three Muskateers," who have had some of the greatest heavyweight matches New Japan has ever seen. Their partnership in nWo Japan was a huge deal in the company and even spilled over into the WCW. The split seemed inevitable and when Masa Chono's Team 2000 was formed the two butted heads. The video package before this is excellent and the entrances is awesome as well.
They square off in opposite corners - Chono in his black trenchcoat and Muto in his "Natural Born Master" coat. They have a tedious approach with a slow pace, but you know things will get going. Chono grazes Muto with a Yakuza Kick and Muto does the same with his Knee Dropkick. They go back to the knucklelock, but Muto gains control with a headlock.
He continues with a Shortarm Scissors, but after that the action picks up. Chono dodges Muto's Handspring Elbow and lays it on. He looks for the Yakuza Kick, but a stunned Keiji Muto hits a huracanrana. Chono is only down for a while, but Muto's neck is hurting. Chono goes right after it with Muto's own Cradle Piledriver and hooks his own Butterfly Lock.
Muto makes his way to the ropes, but is quickly Yakuza Kicked back down. A follow-up kick was stopped by Muto, who looking to hit his Dragon Screw Legwhip fell backwards, but Chono escapes and slaps on a Cross Armbreaker. Chono hits another piledriver and locks on his Butterfly Hold again. After another ropebreak, Muto escaped to the apron, but Chono was ready with an unusually highrisk flying shoulder tackle that takes both men to the floor.
Chono drags Muto over to a line of those small Japanese tables and brings him on top of it. He goes for a piledriver, but Muto counters with a legwhip that equals a nasty spill for both men. Chono clutches his knee and struggles to the apron, where Muto is waiting. A knee dropkick, legwhip, then throws Chono back in. The nWo Japan leader comes in with a Springboard Dropkick sending the Team 2000 leader down.
Masa Chono is really out of it and Muto looks for the kill. He takes Chono to the top and hits a big top rope rana. Muto then looks for the submission with another legwhip and this time follows up with his Figure-Four Leglock. Chono fights it hard though nearly turning it over and then scooting his way to the ropes. Muto hits another Legwhip, but the second is countered when Chono rolls back with Muto and slaps on his Butterfly Hold.
Muto makes his way to the ropes and a dazed Chono comes in at him again. Another Legwhip/Figure-Four combination seriously wears down Chono's knee, but he escapes. The nWo star rushes Chono, but is nailed with a Spin Wheel Kick. These guys are really hurting and its turned into a war of atrition.
Muto, like a cat, hops to the top rope and hits his Moonsault for a nearfall. He grabs Chono, but is taken over again and finds himself in the Butterfly Hold yet again. Another escape and Chono is ready for the tired Muto with a Yakuza Kick, but he is waiting for him with a rana and transitions into a Cross Armbreaker, which Chono escapes. Muto goes for another Moonsault, but this time Chono is waiting and gets the knees up. Then he locks on his real trademark, the Lou Thesz-taught STF.
Chono's facials are really good, but Muto escapes once, but his legs are folded up the second time and Chono gains a submission victory at 25:00. This was a hot see-saw match that was a huge step for Team 2000. Chono's selling was as good as I've ever seen it and Muto looked awesome as always. These two showed even though they've aged and their bodies are on the decline, they can work hard and have a classic.
Rating: ****

Tokyo Dome (1/4/00) - Genichiro Tenryu vs. Kensuke Sasaki (IWGP Championship)

A great video package leads into this huge Dome match. This is a great story with Tenryu slowly working his way up and then beating Keiji Muto for the IWGP title. Sasaki has had his gold, but beating "Mr. Puroresu" in the Dome for it would be a career-making match. This was not as big to him as his Dome match towards the end of the year, but big nonetheless.
I mark out for the big ramp entrances and the old-school (well to Americans) introductions, which really makes this a huge title match. Sasaki looks pretty bad ass and I definately like him that much more with the all-black look. Anyone can tell Tenryu's getting up there, but he doesn't look as haggard as he does only a year later.
The old man comes out fast with a lariat and sends Sasaki down. He hits a second, but this time the young man stands up to it. Tenryu goes to chops, but Sasaki chops him right back and takes him down with a bulldog. Tenryu absorbs this and they lock up, but Sasaki gets the advantage and they take it to the floor. They quickly hustle back in an go it again, but Sasaki dominates with a headlock.
The veteran finally gets out and backs the youngster in the corner and starts chopping and punching away, but Sasaki comes back with a big right hand. The old man recovers and they go fist for fist with Kensuke Sasaki coming out on top. Tenryu gets himself up again and chops his young opponent down. The champ than works a headlock hoping to regain his wits. The challenger is fired up though and backs Tenryu off with another punch.
"Mr. Puroresu" is only being held up by the ropes and Sasaki comes at him with more punches. Finally he blocks a chop and fires back with a few punches and a big chop. Both men are really on rubber legs, but Sasaki comes back with a suplex, lariat, and locks on Strangehold Gamma. Tenryu escapes, but is lariated down again and put in the Sasorigatame. The old man shows what he's made of and breaks his way free.
The champ knows he's in trouble and fires some jabs at Sasaki and then backs him into the corner and goes to town. His young opponent comes right back and both men throw slap after slap until they're holding each other up, when Tenryu nails a enzugiri. Tenryu finally gets Sasaki up on the top rope and hits his Spider German Suplex. Sasaki falls hard, but the following Flying Elbowdrop and nonchalant cover are not enough.
The aging champ knows he has to finish this challanger up and tries with a powerbomb, but only get a 2 3/4. Tenryu looks really upset and jumps up and beats Sasaki to the lariat and follows up with a Northern Lights Bomb. Looking very confident with himself, bu to his shock and amazement the youngster kicks out again. Tenryu beats Sasaki into the corner and takes him up top looking for a rana, but the challenger reverses it into a powerbomb.
The champion is in trouble and gets lariated back into the corner and Sasaki hits a top rope rana! Both men are hurting, but the Fighting Spirit forces Kensuke Sasaki to his feet. He follows up with his Judo throw, but Tenryu recovers and starts throwing slaps. Sasaki fights right back with his own slaps and a lariat, which the old man absorbs.
Sasaki rushes him with him a second lariat, but Tenryu catches him with an enzugiri. The champion quickly gets up and goes for Sasaki's own Northern Lights Bomb. The challenger reverses it and hits his own. Tenryu is in trouble and Sasaki scoops him up for a second Bomb and covers him for the 1,2,3 at 14:43. A new champion, who beat a true puroresu legend in the Dome in one of his best matches to date. Sasaki looked better than normal, but Tenryu looked bad considering the venue and stuff.
Rating: **3/4

Do Judge - Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kensuke Sasaki

Second Judgement PPV - Toshiaki Kawada & Masa Fuchi vs. Yuji Nagata & Takeshi Iizuka

6/6/01 NJ-AJ 5-on-5 - Toshiaki Kawada vs. Satoshi Kojima

6/6/01 NJ-AJ 5-on-5 - Keiji Mutoh vs. Hiroshi Hase

6/6/01 NJ-AJ 5-on-5 - Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Yuji Nagata (IWGP Championship)

6/30/01 Television - Scott Norton, Super J, & Masa Chono vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, & Tatsumi Fujinami

7/20/01 Television - Jushin Liger & El Samurai vs. Jado & Gedo

7/20/01 Television - Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Taiyo Kea & Jinsei Shinzaki

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