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Post by stunninggrover on Apr 27, 2018 22:46:54 GMT -5
1994-04-16 Wild Pegasus vs. Great Sasuke (NJPW Super J Cup @ Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan)
This was the final of the famous Super J Cup tournament. Back in the 1990s, this event used to be the most recommended event for wrestling fans who wanted to try to get into puroresu. It was a great match, especially when you consider these two had never met before this match (I believe Chris Benoit didn’t even know who Great Sasuke was prior to this tournament). Great Sasuke was the hottest commodity in the Japanese indy wrestling scene (he was the top star of Michinoku Pro, which was a promotion that started getting a bit of an underground cult reputation). This night was the night he became somewhat of a national star in the junior heavyweight scene of puroresu. Benoit was one of the top gaijin in the New Japan junior heavyweight division and he was regarded as one of the best junior heavyweight workers in the world at that time. The match resembled the famous battles from the 1980s between the influential Dynamite Kid and Satoru Sayama.
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Post by bossrock on Apr 30, 2018 10:15:06 GMT -5
Second.
I don't think it's as good as Liger-Sasuke, but definitely a great match and fitting conclusion to the tournament. Even if the wrong guy went over (at least in my opinion), there's lots of great offense and exciting high-flying sequences. Could end up just missing the cut on my list, but definitely eager to give it another shot.
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Post by microstatistics on May 2, 2018 0:57:46 GMT -5
Fun workrate match with great heat and but not in the same universe as Liger vs. Sasuke. Third.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Feb 3, 2019 20:45:34 GMT -5
Benoit kicks ass. Sasuke Wows the Crowd! Finish. Great intro into Puro which is what it ended up being in the 90s, but not the best ever. Still a fun watch.
Wild Pegasus vs The Great Sasuke - NJPW Super J Cup Finals 4/16/94
Probably one of the most famous puro matches, Stateside, pitting the 90s North American wrestling Idol against the Upstart Junior who just beat the Beast God of Juniors Wrestling. Fun Fact NJPW World translates "Jushin" as "Beast God" well thats just the best thing ever! I think this is a great match, but I am worried this sends the wrong message about how to have a great match and what it means to be over. I saw this match a lot as a teenager as I think it is on the Benoit DVD or it was one of the early Youtube videos. I used to enjoy it for what it was "FLYING SPACE TIGER DROP!" "SUPER GUTWRENCH SUPLEX!". This is probably the first time I have watched it in ten years and I really enjoyed it as an exhibition, but they missing that struggle. The Liger/Sasuke suffered from the same problem, but it had a much stronger underpinning story. Sasuke as the Cinderella Darling of the tournament taking down Liger and now going up against the Top Gaijin is a great story, but when it came time to execute that story I feel that just went for I'll hit my spots then you hit yours. In fairness, they are great spots.
The beginning of the match, they do try to establish power vs speed. I really liked how Benoit how yanked that snapmare only for Sasuke to do a front flip and land on his feet that sent a good message. Benoit was wary of Sasuke's dives and avoids that early. Can Sasuke not properly do a leapfrog? Benoit catches Sasuke with badass lariats twice on criss cross sequences where Sasuke got too fancy for his own good. This opens up the Benoit portion of the asskicking. German & Dragon Suplexes, THUNDEROUS POWERBOMB (Benoit may be the greatest Powerbomber ever and I love a good powerbomb), Sharpshooter (but he just releases the hold) and the top rope diving headbutt. There is no struggle it is just Benoit kicking ass. Benoit misses a dropkick and this leads to a contested sequence. Sasuke does the worst leapfrog ever with a even shittier lariat. Benoit hits a wicked German for two. Now Sasuke gets a reverse crossbody and a reverse jumping karate kick to the floor. Guess who's turn it is now? The crowd is HYPED! FLYING SPACE TIGER DROP! CROWD LOSES THEIR MINDS! Sasuke then suplexes Benoit from the apron to the floor in a gnarly spot and then a TOP ROPE MISSILE DROPKICK TO THE FLOOR! I remembered the Flying Space Tiger Drop, but I forgot about that spot and I lost my mind on that one. I dont think Sasuke is selling his hip. I think he is in a lot of pain for a shoot. Sasuke hits an ugly moonsault for two. Then Benoit meets him up top for a SUPER GUTWRENCH SUPLEX! Ok that spot needs to be stolen ASAP.
The finish comes out of nowhere. It is Benoit kicks ass. Sasuke Wows The Crowd! Finish. Nothing wrong with that, but Sasuke was already over from the Liger match and his spots were next level. You shouldnt think just because you have highspots you will get over. It is still a great match to watch, but not a contender for the Greatest Match Ever. ****
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