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Post by elliott on Dec 7, 2017 1:20:51 GMT -5
Shinya Hashimoto vs Riki Choshu (G1 Climax - NJPW - 08/02/96)
One of the simplest matches ever. The Aging Gun Slinger vs The New Baddest Motherfucker Around. This is all about jockeying for position, chopping and lariating the fuck out of each other. But it is one of the greatest matches ever when it comes to psychology. Awesome match. Will make my ballot.
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Post by Cap on Dec 7, 2017 20:40:19 GMT -5
Second
I only relatively recently got into some 90s NJPW and found my deep appreciation for both men, particularly Hashimoto. This is great stuff, a truly nuanced match that incorporates some hard hitting offense without losing the plot at all. I am hopful that this project provides some space to really take a close look at the top shelf of 90s AJPW vs NJPW.
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Post by GOTNW on Jan 5, 2018 13:30:19 GMT -5
Another lock for my list. The peak of the smashmouth style Choshu created and Hashimoto perfected as well as their rivalry. Possible top ten.
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Post by tetsujin on Jan 5, 2018 19:06:29 GMT -5
Ok, this is one of those matches I see in my top 10. Awesome character work from both guys, telling one of the greatest in-ring stories in a record time.
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Post by microstatistics on Mar 11, 2018 0:06:47 GMT -5
This match is a minimalist's dream.
My PWO review:
"Just a really great match which I like more and more with each viewing. Wonderful storytelling, hardhitting action, drama and an epic feel. The in his prime ace Hashimoto dominates as expected but old man Riki's resiliency keeps him in it. The knee injury transition was excellent and a nice way to get across the fact that the match had been turned on its head and Hashimoto was in trouble. "CHOSHU" is one of the great wrestling moments, just an awesome exclamation of pride, frustation and disappointment as, yet again, what should have been a comfortable G-1 Climax win for Hashimoto slipped away"
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Post by bossrock on Jul 11, 2018 21:41:31 GMT -5
Anyone know where I can find this?
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Post by elliott on Jul 11, 2018 23:02:40 GMT -5
Man I wish I knew how to upload shit because its on the 1996 Yearbook. NJ WOrld might be your only option? This really needs to be on youtube or dm. Its a lock for my list. It actually might be my #1 Hashimoto match.
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Post by microstatistics on Jul 11, 2018 23:23:51 GMT -5
Anyone know where I can find this? ditch |
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Post by bossrock on Jul 13, 2018 6:41:12 GMT -5
Anyone know where I can find this? ditch Ditch? |
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Post by microstatistics on Jul 13, 2018 13:35:06 GMT -5
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Post by bossrock on Jul 13, 2018 17:57:32 GMT -5
Thanks! I was actually able to find this somewhere else, and yeah it's great. It's impressive how much of an epic encounter this felt without doing all that much. And stuff like the fighting on the outside managed to enhance the match rather than just done for the sake of doing. It also served as a major turning point to the match. I'm not sure if I have this ahead of the '98 Tenryu encounter which is probably my favorite Hashimoto match, but it's close and a definite contender.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jul 28, 2018 20:07:08 GMT -5
I need to figure out how to get this on my list because this is BADASS.
Shinya Hashimoto vs Riki Choshu - NJPW 8/2/96
"CHOSHUUUUUUUUUU!!!!"
I am so glad I finally watched this. Incredible tour de force. Best Dome match to not take place in a Dome. I look forward to their '97 Dome encounter. The Lock Ups here are just incredible. Tight and snug. I loved Hashimoto getting the headlock and then grapevining the leg causing them to tumble over. This is one of those rough & tumble matches where nothing is gonna be pretty, but you best believe everything will be earned. The battle over that first suplex feels gargantuan. Like whoever gets it will win the match. Oddly enough that is the truth as Choshu gets the Champ over and then applies Scorpion Deathlock.But after that Choshu runs out of gas and this becomes the Hashimoto asskicking show. Hashimoto is OBLITERATING Choshu with kicks. Choshu is left gasping from breathe but he is defiant as ever. He is the Old Gunslinger with one last go around at the OK Corral. No matter how hard Hashimoto hit him and believe you me he hit hard and repeatedly, but Choshu never stayed down. Choshu would not be denied. DDT, massive second rope elbow and a barrage of kicks did not stop Choshu. Hashimoto was literally kicking Choshu so hard he kicked him out of the ring. Choshu kept getting back up. The Old Man was not going down just yet. Hashimoto hurls his entire body at him as Choshu is climbing back on the apron sending Choshu crashing back to the floor. Hashimoto looked ready to destroy the Rockstar of the 80s on the floor, but as he went for his rainbow heel kick Choshu blocked it with a big forearm to the knee. From there, Choshu alternated between attacking the knee and trying to floor the Champ with massive mack truck lariats. Some of the most brutal lariats ever and Hashimoto ate them and his appetite would not be satiated as he kept asking for more. Those lariats, the smack of flesh and Hashimoto not taking a bump is what Clash of the Titans means. Hashimoto blocks a lariat with an overhand chop. Liked the symmetry of how Choshu blocked that rainbow heel kick. Choshu goes back to the knee. I loved the Superplex for Choshu as it is just a huge spot. Choshu only gets two and Hashimoto is great at selling. You can sense he is not just selling the knee, but the fact he knows he is doomed and that The Old Man got one up on him. Hashimoto has his defiant last stand and with one last bellow of "CHOSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!" it was all over as Choshu finally floors Hashimoto with a MONSTER LARIAT!
This is pro wrestling, muthafuckas. ****1/2
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Post by shodate on Sept 6, 2019 18:00:06 GMT -5
This starts with an amazing lockup. These two always had great ones but in this bout it was another level. Just great gritty lockups with a lot of struggle and just two bulls colliding. Both put extra pressure in their arms to bring the other down and they even fall from the grit. Choshu doing an illegal punch at the start ruled. It had the narrative of Choshu, the old dog, doing every tactic but his body breaking down. Both were cautious. Hash trying to start the beatdown only to get punched in the neck was awesome violence, as was Choshu trying to break Hash's neck only to get nuked in half by those fucking brutal chest chops. Hash kicked Choshu down like shit. Just ungodly stiff kicks to the chest which Choshu sold excellently by withering in pain and holding his chest. Choshu trying to absorb the kicks but going down and holding his chest after collapsing was one of the best attempted fire up spots I've ever seen. The match started feeling like boxing when they began just throwing reckless chops at each other. All looked like they were trying to kill each other. The elbow drop got an excellent nearfall and almost crushed Choshu. Match started feeling epic once Hash tried to rip apart the targeted arm of Choshu with a cross armbreaker. He was just trying the rip the socket and joints. Choshu screamed and his struggle to get out was epic with a monstrous chant. Hash hurting his leg was an excellent transition. It got targeted and he sold it perfectly, like his leg just went out. The top rope suplex was an awesome violent spot and a great nearfall. Both just stood up like boxers in their final exchange. Choshu took the leg out and Hash sold like his leg got shot. The final exchange with Choshu trying to pick up his arm and decimate Hash was amazing. He was hitting Hash directly on his neck with some of the stiffest lariats I've seen. Absolutely gnarly stuff. Hash sold each like a deathblow, collapsing with wobbly legs and great facial expressions etc. When he could no longer fight, he just took them directly, playing into his character. Watching him struggle to get up with a red chest was excellent. Both are great at conveying character work and genuine emotion through face expressions. Hash, through his body language and selling, gave some genuine emotion. The final lariat that he took to chest directly was absolutely violent, like a tree crumpling down. "CHOSHUUU" might be my favorite wrestling moment. Why it’s all-time great: Focused, narrative based realistic fight with many amazing violent exchanges and excellent selling, not to mention the fucking amazing crowd heat. What a fucking FIGHT. ****3/4
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Post by tetsujin on Sept 20, 2019 5:57:26 GMT -5
Rewatched this last night. I will never not be in love with this match. Everything they do, literally everything, has such meaning behind. You can feel how important is for Choshu to not loose this one. Hash went from letting the old guy have some momentum to completely destroy him to going too confident and then frustrated. Even when you're the Ace and maybe even the number one in the world, you can always learn another lesson and that's what Hash discovered here. Choshu, the poor old guy, defeated him by not having any honor at all, injuring his knee like there's no tomorrow. What a story, what a character work from both guys. This is a 5* on my book and I don't think is gonna be below my top 20 If i can make a ballot next year.
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Post by mvz on Oct 16, 2021 3:29:34 GMT -5
Not breaking any news here but this match felt huge. Everything Choshu is in feels bigger and more important. Hashimoto carries himself like the dough eat man in the world, and is able to back it up. Stiff shots and big spots throughout lead to the dramatic finish.
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