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Post by microstatistics on Jan 15, 2018 16:05:43 GMT -5
Excellent wily veteran vs. underdog bout with super violent strike exchanges, classic Fujiwara mannerisms and slick mat exchanges.
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Post by microstatistics on Mar 11, 2019 19:29:18 GMT -5
A great tale of resiliency and perseverance. Yamazaki gets schooled by the master in condescending fashion for most of the match. There is a fantastic spot where, during a standup, Yamazaki has this defeated look as though he just wants it to be over. But he continues on, gets an opening near the end and the rest is history. Interesting layout as it's a quasi-squash followed by a sudden comeback.
Fujiwara casually pulling his socks up in response to Yamazaki almost breaking him in half with a half crab is why pro wrestling is so special to me. The postmatch celebration is a cool contrast and a nice touch.
7/24/1989 is considered the classic but I find this to be far superior. I understand the appeal with all that defensive positioning, methodical stuff but this is similar narrative-wise and more direct and focused. This is also much closer to UWF1 than RINGS so one for non-shoot fans to check out.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Sept 1, 2019 20:13:09 GMT -5
Hmmmm, I guess I am breaking from the crowd, thought this was great but not elite level UWF II stuff. I thought their 1989 match is the classic.
Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Kazuo Yamazaki - UWF II 4/15/90
Fujiwara tools on Yamazaki hard for the first sixteen minutes of this match. Fujiwara forces six rope breaks and one knockdown on Yamazaki. It was not that Fujiwara was taking him down at will and then applying the submission. Yamazaki more often than not was taking Fujiwara down and applying submissions. Fujiwara was countering every single submission and it was Yamazaki was the one needing the ropes. That is just depressing as hell. There was one point when the crowd "Ooooooohs" a Yamazaki deep toehold, but Fujiwara kinda just smiles and stands up and counters. That was just a microcosm of the match. This was a major league ass whuppin. With each rope break, Fujiwara had more bounce in his step and Yamazaki looked more dejected. Then it changes around the 15 minute mark. Yamazaki counters out of a Fujiwara armbar and then in another mat sequence he actually gets the better of Fujiwara when Fujiwara surprisingly rolls to his stomach in a toehold leading to a single leg crab and the first Fujiwara rope break. Fujiwara pulls his socks up as if to say "You aint nuthin, kid". The finish is great. Fujiwara clearly shaken by the single leg crab unleashes that signature Fujiwara barrage of strikes to the body and head. Yamazaki is on jelly legs, but Fujiwara does not have that killer instinct. When he goes back to finish the job, GERMAN SUPLEX! Yamazaki with a swift kick to the back of the neck. Yamazaki taking a page of out of Sayama's playbook and the ref admonishes him for hitting the neck. Fujiwara get back up and BANG! Beautiful head kick sends him down for the ten count. Basically a pretty good 15 minute squash match with 3 minutes of insanity at the end. Pretty unique layout, I dug it, not as good as the one man Fujiwara show from 1989, but this is interesting. ****
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 1, 2019 22:48:02 GMT -5
I think that view is consistent with the majority. Most prefer 7/24/1989.
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Post by fxnj on Sept 1, 2023 2:09:25 GMT -5
7/24/1989 is considered the classic but I find this to be far superior. I understand the appeal with all that defensive positioning, methodical stuff but this is similar narrative-wise and more direct and focused. This is also much closer to UWF1 than RINGS so one for non-shoot fans to check out. This actually hits pretty accurately at why this didn't land for me like I wanted it to. I could see they tried to tighten it up and make it more action-packed, but by doing that they took away the things that made the 1989 match such a masterpiece. I also don't feel the matwork holds up that well compared to the stuff later in the decade, with Fujiwara selling for some sloppy looking leg locks and the transitions between holds not being that great. The post-match is probably the best thing about the match. Yamazaki looks so legitimately happy. |
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Post by elliott on Sept 8, 2023 0:54:39 GMT -5
Good one. Not my favorite of their rivalry but these guys fall out of bed having good matches.
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