Before you even begin this review, let me assure you, Fukushima has now been rendered mute. Every match in Hiroshima was mechanically and performance-wise superior. I bear no ill will to those men on the previous show, several factors were working against them. But, enough of the negatives, let's continue the New Japan Summer tour with the war between Suzuki-Gun and Taguchi Japan.Spoilers; Suzuki-Gun got wrecked. For real this time.
CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, Jado, and YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Thunder Liger, and Tiger Mask IV
Liger's music played his team in this night, so we didn't get to bask in Tenzan's musical glory this time. CHAOS played the heels in this match, and both Goto and HASHI were very uncomfortable in the situation. Jado was excellent in the role, as he should have been. Speaking of the former two, clues are lending to them being World Tag League partners every day, which I'm not a fan of. But I already talked about my love of Ride The Lightning last time. This was a stock 6-man otherwise, still better paced than the opening tags from Fukushima. Action broke down before YOSHI tapped Tiger Mask out with the dreaded Butterfly Lock.
*1/4, the extra quarter was given because they're trying to keep that submission strong.
Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale and Leo Tonga) vs. Taguchi Japan (Juice Robinson and David Finlay)
Kevin Kelley was hinting that Juice and Finlay may be teaming up for the World Tag League this year. I am 300% in for this team of leg warmers and dreadlocks. Again, this match was better than the match from Fukushima mechanically, but it didn't have the same charm of Fale teaching Leo how to be a monster heel. Tonga got Stunned then Switched. Simple process, Juice/Omega will be pristine.
*1/2
Bullet Club (Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens) vs Roppongi Vice (Baretta and Rocky Romero)
I'll be blunt: if there was gonna be a final RPG Vice match, it should have been Destruction, or the long Beach show. Those were quality, high quality, that would be a great capstone on any team's career. Here we had a middle of the show average match. Yujiro, perhaps sensing a noose around his neck ever since not being on the G1 tour, has been going at 100% for this whole run. Which is 60% of Chase's natural speed. Seriously, if there's a man to win most underrated in all this New Japan faction war, it'd be either Chase Owens or El Desperado (as we'll see). There was a really great point where Trent had his half of the Strong Zero ready, and was superkicked into a lazy Code Red. It was a great set up that didn't feel contrived at all, and fit with the pace of the match. Strong Zero was eventually hit, and at least Roppongi went out with a win.
*1/2, out of respect
Kota Ibushi, Michael Elgin, and Togi Makabe vs. Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka, and TAKA Michinoku)
Ibushi's just here now, which I'm okay with. Elgin didn't do much in this match, and visibly had tape on his arm. It's terrible luck if he'd have to go out on injury reserve again for the second time in a working year. We at the Imporium hope that Michael heals up well and soon. Makabe got the hot tag and got a good load on Suzuki. I'm skipping a lot of this because I always blank on Iizuka matches, and overall i'm getting tired of Suzuki-Gun matches. Ibushi smashed his knee into Iizuka, that was cathartic, after Elgin knocked the steel claw from his hands.
**, because even with Iizuka and a half speed Big Mike,the action was good. Plus we're building to Makabe and Suzuki fighting and I'm ecstatic about this development.
It was mentioned that Ibushi was back in New Japan supposedly Full Time. Exciting news if there ever was some.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships [1st Title Defense]
Taguchi Japan (Ricochet and Ryuske Taguchi) (c) vs. Suzuki-Gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Taichi)
I maintain that Taichi's best match was against TAKA Michinoku in this year's Best of The Super Juniors. However, this was the best tag match I've seen him involved in. I've seen a certain conversation floating around recently, one that always comes up when Taguchi's involved in a title picture. There's a major difference between a wrestler using comedy to mask a lack of quality, which sometimes works, and a good wrestler who has found comedy spots that work. Taguchi is the latter, and I understand the grievance some take with this. But Ryuske, and Yano, will still be wrestling in 15-20 years. Probably at the pace they're setting now, honestly making them some of the smartest men in the company. Just remember that when you're grieving over the end of Hiromu or Ospreay's careers sooner than that. Speaking of Ryuske, has it been disproven that Kenemaru is an alternate universe's Taguchi? One where he's evil and doesn't like Funk? Anyway, Yoshinoubu and Taichi have clicked really well, and each honestly makes up for what the other is lacking. Taguchi and Ricochet are both very good babyfaces, and each managed to make their own babyface comebacks during the match, which was ridiculous. Action was great, and the near falls were fantastic on both sides. The last five minutes put the whole match over the top, with Taguchi finally getting the submission on Kanemaru. Sublime.
***3/4
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships [3rd Title Defense]
War Machine (Hanson and Raymond Rowe) vs. Killer Elite Squadron (Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith, Jr.) vs. Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa)
This match was approximately 400% better than the first three way. The Chaos was a lot smoother and went over a lot better than in Fukushima. Everyone looked good, and there were no action-stopping mistakes. War Machine has gotten amazing at their presentation. I used to think they were akin to thawed vikings before, but now they've become thawed vikings who learned what we perceive vikings to be, so they dress as them to scare the piss out of people. KES fucked people up, GoD fucked people up, but War Machine fucked people up the most. Fallout on Smith Jr., then pinned. I understated how great this carnage was, go watch it.
***1/2
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, Will Ospreay, and Gedo) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, BUSHI, and Hiromu Takahashi)
This was the continuation of four feuds going on at once, with Gedo and BUSHI in there because you need LIJ at full power and Jado was busy. Speaking of, BUSHI can go on that list of underrated men lost in the Faction wars. Every feud in here was highlighted for a minute or two, I'm still excited for Naito/Ishii and Okada/EVIL. LIJ broke it down the way they always do, and Gedo was pinned after the MX by BUSHI. Two important points to take away from this match are that while Gedo was pinned, EVIL had layed Okada out with the STO from Hell, and had a foot on his chest while Gedo was being pinned. EVIL has visually pinned Okada twice now, and he mau do it a third time. Also, after the match Naito decided that Ishii didn't need two legs, and continued to destroy Pitbull after the match. King of Pro Wrestling is going to be awesome.
**3/4
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship [2nd title Defense]
Kushida (c) vs El Desperado
This was the biggest match of Desperado's career, and he brought everything to the stage. The match was great, with the clear setup that the challenger was a flying junior that had a submission, and the champion was a ground and pound grappler that could fly if he were persuaded to. the Suzuki-Gun interference was minimal in this match, and when it was used it was at least clever. Despy faked Red Shoes out, making him think Kushida ripped his mask off (which, I don't remember if it's like this, but it's really ornate in how it's strapped to his head) and followed it up with a Mexican Foul. I always love a good kick to the dick, but this was not the finish. There was a great moment with simultaneous HoverBoard/Stretch Muffler, each man cranking hard to loosen the other's submission. I was really digging this match all the way up to the finish. Rolling Kimuras, Desperado was trying hard to escape, then got caught with the Back to the Future. It was a great great great match. Go find it.
****
Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs Zack Sabre, Jr.
One of the best things about New Japan, at least to me, is that there are so many unique styles present on the roster. Ishii is not Ospreay, who in turn is not Tanahashi. This match, more than most, was a great example of that. I watch Sabre doing what he does the way someone goes to a concert and listens to a Symphony Orchestra; I sit, almost in awe, watching the legitimate best technician in the world. I took two notes on this match, so 50% of my thoughts on this match were that I love watching Zack take people apart. Tanahashi, to an immense credit for a one armed man, actively worked with Sabre and conformed to his style, occasionally counter wrestling Zack. I really thought there was a good chance he'd take the intercontinental title on this one. Sadly, it was not to be as it broke down, and eventually Minoru Suzuki himself came out once things started turning against his man. This is when Tetsuhiro Yagi, the bravest of the Young Lions, tried to stop Minoru Suzuki. Condolences will be sent to his family. Elgin came out to take Suzuki away, and after a few more attempts by Sabre to pull an arm off, Tanahashi put the match away with a High Fly Flow. It was a snug, serious match, not for everyone I understand, but it was a very intense and a delight for the people who enjoy professional wrestling.
****
Hiroshima definitely made up for the relative flop that was Fukushima's show. It gave a great show that was, even when not particularly "good" by say Dominion or Wrestle Kingdom standards, always entertaining. I'm excited for Kobe, which is looking to be a show just as fun.
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