|
|
Post by nintendologic on Jun 25, 2019 21:49:05 GMT -5
One of the true standouts from the ridiculously loaded 2014 G1. They begin by colliding with each other like a couple of runaway freight trains and never let up from there. Although the match is worked fairly evenly, there's no doubt that Honma is a massive underdog. Every time Honma achieves a minor victory, he reacts like he just won the lottery, while Shibata never seems concerned that that match might be slipping away. It's as if he figures that Honma's willingness to turn himself into a human missile means it'll only be a matter of time before he crashes and burns (which he does in particularly brutal fashion). The violence and intensity are what drive this, but the underlying intelligence is what makes it a classic. There are no mindless counters or transitions, and the desperation in Honma's face makes this feel like a real life-or-death struggle rather than a macho pissing contest. This is almost certainly the pinnacle of modern strong style.
|
|
|
|
Post by KB8 on Aug 29, 2019 14:57:29 GMT -5
Second.
A deeply brutal sprint. No wonder Shibata's brain is putty. On the surface this isn't totally my thing, but if I'm watching 2010s boom period New Japan then I guess I'm way more likely to appreciate it if they just get right to the murdering each other and don't bother dicking about for fifty minutes first. And this was pretty much ten minutes of two guys murdering each other, with the cool and obvious wrinkle of Honma fighting waaaay above his station against a truly Bad Motherfucker. I remember first seeing Honma forever ago when he was getting popped with light tubes and chucked through flaming tables. He was probably one of the first indie sleaze guys I paid much attention to. But that was then and by 2014 he'd given up the light tubes and barbed wire; a man on a different journey though one clearly no less perilous. I don't know whether he wanted to show the world he was every bit as tough as Shibata or he's just a psychopath, but he went hell on wheels right from the start and was determined to go blow for blow all the way. Some of these strikes were disgusting and there was one forearm that scored a full "that might be the nastiest forearm I've ever seen" Battlarts point. Honma would stumble at several hurdles, usually when trying to connect on headbutts, but he would pick himself up again and keep on trucking, possibly with brains too scrambled to know any better. Shibata never really reacted to Honma's persistence with frustration, he mostly continued doing his thing in the face of it knowing he'll always have the advantage in a fight like this, but there was one amazing sell of a slap where he landed on his butt with this "what the fuck was THAT?" expression. At that point he had no choice but to take Honma seriously. Honma diving face first into Shibata's boots was completely screwball and one of the best bumps like it ever. In the end I suppose you can only stand against the tide for so long before it drowns you. "Go back to poachin' gators. It's safer."
|
|
|
|
Post by elliott on Oct 7, 2023 23:46:39 GMT -5
Not for me.
|
|
