Kenny Omega vs Kota Ibushi (DDT - 8/18/2012)

Second. I think their G1 match is better but this was still a really good, fast-paced bombfest. The arm work at the beginning feels like meaningless padding at first but they come back to it in a really clever way. If anything one of the best matches of 2012.

I hate to be that guy but is the date for this actually August 18, 2012 from DDT's 15th Anniversary Show? I have watched that match and really liked it even though I thought it went way too long. I just want to make sure I am not missing another of their matches. I really enjoyed the front half and I think they followed it to its logical conclusion that I would call it a classic. Most people prefer the back half, which is mindless fun, but like my pro wrestling to move me not just wow me. As far as spotfests go this is one of the best ever and that's high praise!

King of DDT Openweight Champion Kota Ibushi vs Kenny Omega - DDT 15th Anniversary 8/18/12

I know of DDT for ladders winning titles, people wrestling invisible humans and one of my all-time favorite wrestling gimmicks the demonic, zombie President Ramu, a nine year old girl in Satantic paint with a fascination of Iron Maiden and chokeslamming the hell out of the roster. However, I have always heard murmurs that DDT actually produced quality wrestling, but never pursued it. I knew Ibushi and Omega are stalwarts. I am glad both have gotten chances in NJPW and now Ibushi in WWE. I have seen Omega live in ROH in Detroit against one of my favorites Katsuhiko Nakajima. I cant believe Omega has not been picked up by WWE, good looking, six feet, good body, athletic and lots of charisma.

I would describe this match as All Japan meets a spotfest. There was a ton of selling and milking of spots, but it was still a total spotfest in the back half. The front half was actually really fucking good. I have read some people say this is the greatest match of all time and that El Generico called it the best match he had ever seen live. I kinda scoffed. Then watching the front half, I was like these people may not be crazy. Omega was so great working the arm. He really tortured Ibushi's arm and had a ton of variety. Ibushi was great at selling. They were also weaving this really nice story that whenever could create enough space to create movement he could create a hope spot, but then Omega would quash them by whacking the arm. There were little issues here and there that I did not like. Omega switched arms for a little bit and then went back. My bigger issue was to stop the Triple Jump Moonsault he hit a nasty Half Nelson Suplex on the apron. It was wicked great spot, but they had 30 more minutes to go! Way too early! He went back to arm and worked it so I forgave it. I like Ibushi a lot because he can sell and his spots are breath-taking like the springboard half twist onto Omega on the floor to take control. It was around the second half nelson suplex on the ramp this time by Ibushi I thought this match lots its way. With about twenty minutes left, there was really nothing they could but end the match right then to save it from feeling bloated. It became so bloated. They were selling, but the selling means nothing when they can still hit on their spots and has no consequence on how will do the next move and when the pinfall will happen. The standing full twist layout by Ibushi great, but then Omega running at KENTA speeds does an exchange that without having seen a Kenny Omega match since 2009 that one time I will bet everything is a stock Omega sequence, but feels so shoehorned into here.


Then there is the really big spot where Ibushi does a balcony moonsault onto Omega. It was not as cool as the Shane O Mac jump and Omega looked like an idiot waiting to catch him. The much cooler spot was the springboard hurricanarana while Omega was on the top rope to the floor. I lost my shit for that one! There are a lot of cool spots and it is one of the best spotfests I have ever seen, but there is no analysis necessary. They laid their shit in, they sold, but there is no analysis because it is totally mindless. So watch it, it is super fun, but I am not going to list a bunch of moves. I will say another bonkers high spot was Ibushi looks like he is going to powerbomb Omega off the top, but he is facing the crowd and he throws him backwards. Holy shit! What a bump and what strength! Phoenix Splash wins it!

It is bloated and over the top. There are way too many spots, but it is 2012 this is what fans & wrestlers associate with drama and big main event wrestling. If you are into the style and I can actually see the logic that this is the greatest pro wrestling match of all time because it may be the greatest match I have seen in this style. It started off as something that could have been wicked special, but devolved into one of the best spotfests you will ever see. There is no shame in that. ****1/4

Kota Ibushi vs Kenny Omega (KO-D Openweight Championship – DDT – 8/18/2012)
Current Rank: NA
Trending: Up

This is my first time watching this and I was floored by how much I like this match. Given the way my tastes have been trending in terms of truly top shelf matches, I am even more floored that I think it has a real shot at my list. While I liken myself an Omega fan, I share some of the frustrations his detractors have. However, I thought he was very deliberate in much of this match and integrated some of his best and worst habits into the story in a way that elevated the whole thing. Unsurprisingly, this feels like a prototype for his most hyped NJPW work, but also feels a little more unhinged and rough around the edges. There are crazy feats of athleticism, but everything here is delivered with malice intent. My only complaint is that Ibushi just tables the arm selling after Omega put in some good top work early in the match, but the really impressive escalation of urgency and aggression blended with some truly jaw dropping moments might still push it over the edge. I won’t be surprised if this sneaks on and jumps a few things I know I am taking off the list.

Fired? Noooo. He was, however, banned from wrestling in Budokan Hall for years though before New Japan sorted that out for him. DDT never went back there anyway, so it didn't affect them much.