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Post by childs on Jan 12, 2018 12:48:41 GMT -5
And here we have the first match in one of the best series of the 1980s. It's a cool artifact because it foreshadowed a lot of the best elements that would define shootstyle, but it also featured plenty of pro-style traces. You see them figuring it out in real time. The dynamic was slightly different than in their later matches, with Fujiwara working as a dominant grappler and Sayama more as an athletic young counterpuncher. But it was a fantastic opening chapter with a dramatic finish.
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Post by microstatistics on Jan 15, 2018 1:51:25 GMT -5
Not sure if I'll rank it but it's one of the multiple Fujiwara singles matches I'm considering. Need to rewatch 12/5/84 but this is my favorite of the series at this point. Childs has basically covered all the main points: the tremendous the high ranked grappler vs. underdog striker dynamic, the finish, the pro-style aspects (so even if shoot-style isn't for you, I'd really recommend this).
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Post by fxnj on Jul 24, 2018 4:21:30 GMT -5
I have seen this match a few times before and it never really did much for me, an I have no clue why. What a classic this was. The dynamic is one of athleticism vs technique with Tiger as the freak athlete who's already achieved while Fujiwara is the technical wizard Fujiwara who hasn't had as much success, but has a big bag of tricks that he can unload. In the beginning you've got Fujiwara just toying with Tiger, effortlessly throwing him around and eating him up on the mat. Tiger tries to hold his own, but it quickly becomes apparent that he's outmatched on the ground. There's even a point where he grabs Tiger's leg and looks like he could easily take him down but just lets it go to make a statement. He turns to his stiff kicks to turn the tide an manages to score some big shots just from how fast he can throw strikes, but it just manages to make Fujiwara angrier and he goes to town on Tiger's legs. The finish is some epic stuff with Tiger really digging deep to turn the tide where he can barely even stand. Through the whole way, they do such a great job of making everything look hard fought. They work in a lot of pro wrestling style moves in unique shooty ways, and in a way that's even more compelling than just straight shoot-style. It's the kind of match where you really have to pay full attention to what's going on to appreciate all the little details they work in, and you can't just zone out. ****3/4
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Post by superstarsleeze on Oct 10, 2018 22:19:31 GMT -5
The rematch is a classic and maybe the greatest & most influential match of all time, but this still an incredible match in its own right. These two just go together like peanut butter & jelly. It is the best MMA story the standup striker which can KO at any second vs grappling, counterwrestling maestro. At this point, they are still figuring out what shoot-style is and this is still very 1980s New Japan pro style wrestling, but it is a very elite version of that style. This will definitely make my list.
Super Tiger vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara - UWF 9/7/84
Fujiwara is such a gritty badass and I love that you can hear him snarling throughout this match. Coming off the tag match, I fully expected Super Tiger to control the majority of the match. He seemed to have no problem gaining an advantage and the match felt like a star making vehicle for him. Instead, he was totally gobbled up by the stronger, bigger Fujiwara. Fujiwara threw Super Tiger around at will and was countering him on the mat like it was nothing. At first, I could not make sense of Super Tiger's strategy from a kayfabe standpoint. Fujiwara was murdering him on the mat with wristlocks, triangle chokes and cross armbreakers. Tiger was playing right into it. He needed to use his karate kicks to establish some sort of game, but trying to fight Fujiwara on the mat was silly. He gets a big slap, but again plays into Fujiwara's head. Then he gets a WICKED kick to the head. Fujiwara sells it perfectly. Shocked, rattled and falls to one knee. Again, Tiger tries for a double wristlock, but once Fujiwara regains his wits he easily counters to a position of strength. Somewhere in here, Fujiwara counters a Triangle with a fucking piledriver. Mark Out City! Third time is a charm as Tiger strings a combination of kicks then a Tombstone Piledriver. One of the best Tombstones ever! He goes for a top rope kneedrop, but misses. Fujiwara pissed about the Tombstone nails his own piledriver. It has now morphed into a standard New Japan, which I am totally fine with. Tiger makes for a great underdog and Fujiwara is an excellent no-nonsense shooter. Pele by Tiger and misses the moonsault. Fujiwara does not fuck around and goes after the knee viciously with single leg crabs and figure-4s. I love how everything he does has struggle to it. The struggle over the German was excellent. Super Tiger fighting with everything he had to avoid was great. Fujiwara looks to finish him off and Super Tiger hits a roundhouse kick to the face. Nasty. Then knocks his head off before applying a Crossface Chickenwing for the Upset, come from behind victory.
Loved the grappling early that really exploited the styles difference and weight difference. I think the pro-style finish run complemented it perfectly. Super Tiger could have sold the moments better. Selling the fact that he was overwhelmed, then he on top being pumped and then knee selling could have been better. He just kinda did he standard, nothing is wrong floating on his feet routine. He felt very hollow. Fujiwara was excellent. Classic match. ****3/4
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Post by makaiclub on Mar 29, 2021 13:09:29 GMT -5
First match of the Fujiwara vs Super Tiger series is a good ‘un. Both wrestlers’ strengths came out to the front in the match. Fujiwara was super focused on ripping Tiger’s arm apart in the early parts, being laser focused on submissions and grappling while Super Tiger worked from beneath, selling and coming back with flurries of strikes and other submissions. The counters in this are really good. Especially the deadlift into a piledriver counter by Fujiwara against Tiger’s triangle choke attempt. The last exchange for the finish was awesome - Tiger struggling away from Fujiwara’s dreaded holds before hitting a stiff head kick and getting the win via chickenwing. ****1/4
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Post by elliott on Sept 3, 2023 22:37:22 GMT -5
Another one of those rivalries where literally every match is worth checking it. I don't think this is their best match, but they set a hell of a standard the first time out.
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