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Post by elliott on Dec 19, 2017 1:10:02 GMT -5
Great Muta vs Hiroshi Hase (NJPW - 12/14/1992)
Famous for being the blood match. I'm still a mark for the Muta gimmick to this day. Whenever I've pulled out an old Muta being Muta match like this or the Liger or Shinzaki match, I've found myself enjoying them way more than I expected. People talk about this match being more than the blood and I get that. There are some great moves and hot nearfalls. But this is about the blood. And holy fuck what a gruesome blade job. I could see this getting a least a few votes. Maybe. Something I'll consider for my last few "mostly favorites but still some legit merit" slots. I'd definitely rate this ahead of some of the Misawa/Kobashi matches already nominated.
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Post by Cap on Jan 3, 2018 17:09:01 GMT -5
Second
I actually really love both their blood bath matches. Part of it is because I am a vampire and a sucker (pun intended) for blood in a match, but part of it is because I think they play up having a good blood bath. A bloody match is different than a not bloody match in that it adds a different dynamic and different demands to the psychology of the match. They do that well. I really enjoy this match a lot, probably more than their 1990 match, but both of them are going to get a good look from me.
Also... damn you and your Misawa/Kobashi hate.
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Post by texanspaniard on Jan 4, 2018 19:14:40 GMT -5
Third
I am a big fan of the Great Muta ever since I first saw him in NWA/WCW in 1989, so of course I love this match. For proper context I feel one does a disservice if they do not watch the 1990 match before this one because this match plays off of that one. Hase does a lot of the things to Muta in this match that Muta had done to him in the 1990 match. Being a Muta mark when I first saw this in the late 90's, even I cheered for Hase getting some revenge here. While the amount of blood in this match has been topped who knows how many times over by this point it is still a lot of blood and worth the creation of the "Muta scale" that it created. Super match!
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jul 29, 2018 19:19:04 GMT -5
The "Muta Scale" Bloodbath match, but this is so much more. Muta is in the midst of his title reign as The Great Muta. He is in full horror movie character, when he is on, there is few better. He owns this match.
I agree with Parv; this is complete classic.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion The Great Muta vs Hiroshi Hase - NJPW 12/14/92
Probably the most famous New Japan heavyweight match of the 90s stateside as this is famous for developing the famed Muta Scale where Great Muta does a five alarm bladejob bleeding like a stuck pig. From the reviews I recently read, this match is no longer regarded as a classic and is more of a novelty for the sheer gore of the match. I disagree. I think this is a match that benefits greatly from watching a lot of Great Muta during this time period. Great Muta wrestles unlike any other wrestler in New Japan or anywhere else in the world except for the Undertaker. He is a horror movie character come to life. Most violent wrestlers we think of are wildmen like The Sheik and Tiger Jeet Sngh. Great Muta brings the violence of these men with a dimension of stalking dread that is more reminiscent of Frankenstein or the Creature From The Black Lagoon. There is no selling when you wrestle Muta. There is no grappling holds or traditional pro wrestling struggle. The struggle is in the survival. Hasimoto, asskicked extraordinaire, learnt this lesson take Muta lightly and you will be blinded with a broken back. The Sting match did not feature as great of a finish but again Muta beat the hell out of Sting. Muta chokes, claws, blinds his opponents using railings, chairs, mist and his spike. The spike has been a foreign object that Muta loads his boot with and he will come down across your back with a kneedrop to setup his backbreaker/moonsault combo. The first couple times, I really wanted the spike be used to carve up an opponent. Little did I know Muta's comeuppance would come at the hand of his favorite weapon.
Hase's strategy early is smart he dropkicks Muta at the beginning of his prematch ritual, the mist blow. He doesn't let up. Wicked urnage. He takes him to the outside whips him into a railing. He grabs a table brings it on his side of the railing and drives Muta into it. Unlike any other opponent, Hase knows the demonic nature of Great Muta better than anybody as Muta bloodied him up in 1990. The problem is at some point he does run out of steam in the ring and thats when Mutas strike with rapid fire kicks and chops. I thought Mutas speed and strikes looked great. What was uncharacteristic for Muta is that he grabbed a hold instead of taking his opponent outside. Muta does his bridging Indian Deathlock and I loved Hases counter the smother of Muta and then a wicked neck clamp. Now Muta does what does Muta best be weird. He goes looking for his spike. Going each of the four sides and he cant find it. Hase lies in the ring and welcomes to come back into the ring. Muta takes Hase back outside and drives him head first into the concrete. Then anytime Hase gets chippy Muta crotches him on the ring rope or then the steel railing. This is really both of them no selling, but I think when you are in there with a monster like Muta you need to throw everything at him. Muta throws in a chair. Hase grapples with the ref for it and then Muta bashes him with the chair and then backbreaker, but Hase pushes him off the top rope. Hase constant suplexing Muta and especially this instance after a chair shot is what drops this match from perfect status he was no selling too much. Muta gets the spike, but before he can put it in his boot. Hase gets it and carves Muta open. NASTY BLADEJOB! Crimson Mask has never been so appropriate. Piledriver, sleeper, and biting lots and lots of biting. Hase mocks Mutas mist spew with Mutas blood. Thats sick. Hases body looks like a murder scene. Muta starts suplexing the shit out of Hase. Four back drop drivers. Muta crashes and burns on the moonsault! There is still life in Hiroshi Hase! Mutas sell is so great. He looks like a fish completely spent from flopping around and died. Hase hits a wicked urnage. 1-2-NO! Powerbomb! 1-2-NO! Hase goes for another Urnage, but Muta snaps off a Dragon Suplex, bridge 1-2-NO! Even Muta is shocked! Another snap one with bridge for two. Muta is ready to destroy. Backbreaker/moonsault and it is over. Hase came closer than any men before him, but all fall before The Great Muta. ****1/2
NWA World Heavyweight Champion Masa Chono makes the challenge for 1/4/93 Dome show.
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