Vader vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW - 4/24/1989)
Mar 11, 2019 10:25:26 GMT -5
Post by superstarsleeze on Mar 11, 2019 10:25:26 GMT -5
In 1988, Inoki injured Vader in a famous encounter and from then on this became Vader's Achilles Heel. Hashimoto was relentless in his attack on Vader's bad arm. Vader true to form was a great seller, hollering and holding his arm. Of course, no one does dangerous wounded bear as well as Vader. This has a great David vs Goliath feel because Hashimoto was so fresh and so young. It is not that he is smaller, but that he is younger so it has the feel of "Can the kid do it?". Man if you watch this with no backstory you never know this was Hashimoto's first big chance at the main event. Had the poise of veteran. Borderline for my list definitely being considered though.
Big Van Vader vs Shinya Hashimoto - NJPW 4/24/89 IWGP Tournament Finals
On a night of fantastic matches, this wins match of the night for me, just two of the greatest asskickers of all time going shot for shot. Hashimoto knows the strategy against Vader never deviates from the opening bell attack the left arm, attack the left arm, attack the left arm. Vader plays keeps away early but Hashimoto wrenches it and Vader screams in pain. Vader gets the ropes. He baits Hashimoto by dangling his bad arm and then hits a wicked spinning back fist to rock the young upstart. Vader smothers Hashimoto on the ropes and then on the mat. Hashimoto fights to his feet but Vader hits him with a straight right and then a lariat that sends Hashimoto out of the ring. Hashimoto is able to collect himself and when he gets back in the ring starts kicking the bad arm. Double wrist lock and Vader is hollering out with painful screams. Hashimoto gets a two count back on their feet Hashimoto tees off with kicks. Vader's selling here reminds me of Brock. Vader flaying wildly in pain and then just hits that wild swinging bear paw to quash the rally. Hashimoto rolls to outside while Vader collapses on the ropes and his second Rheingains massages the injured arm. Great pro wrestling! You can always tell when Vader is really injured by how quickly he goes for covers. Once they square up again straight front kick, Irish Whip, Vader Splash in corner for two. Boom! Safe, economical. Use his weight gets a quick cover. Goes right back to it this time Hashimoto moves and drives left arm to buckle. INSANE HEAT for Hashimoto doing the over the shoulder armbreaker. Vader body slams out of the double wrist lock. Then VADER HITS THE MOTHER OF ALL DROPKICKS! The Big Man has got ups!
Vader deviates from his safe, economical to go up top and is caught by a HUGE SPINNING HEEL KICK! Crowd goes wild! Can the kid do it? CROSS-ARMBREAKER!!! Vader powers out. Hashimoto rifles Vader's arm with kicks. BANG! Vader KNOCKS Hashimoto the fuck out with a right. Two monster lariats (it is a little anti-climatic and Thesz fucks up the count if they just went to the pin after the KO right I think that would have been better) and the Man They Call Vader wins his first IWGP Championship.
Man if you watch this with no backstory you never know this was Hashimoto's first big chance at the main event. Had the poise of veteran. Great offense from him never relented on the arm. He built some big time heat for himself. That cross armbreaker had me believing. But his selling ruled that sell of that KO right wow! Vader rules! Busting out shit like that spinning back fist and dropkick shows his variety! Here not feeding and bumping but focusing on selling that arm and kicking ass. Boy did he kick some serious ass! Match of the year contender in a fucking loaded year. These two rule! ****3/4
Big Van Vader vs Shinya Hashimoto - NJPW 4/24/89 IWGP Tournament Finals
On a night of fantastic matches, this wins match of the night for me, just two of the greatest asskickers of all time going shot for shot. Hashimoto knows the strategy against Vader never deviates from the opening bell attack the left arm, attack the left arm, attack the left arm. Vader plays keeps away early but Hashimoto wrenches it and Vader screams in pain. Vader gets the ropes. He baits Hashimoto by dangling his bad arm and then hits a wicked spinning back fist to rock the young upstart. Vader smothers Hashimoto on the ropes and then on the mat. Hashimoto fights to his feet but Vader hits him with a straight right and then a lariat that sends Hashimoto out of the ring. Hashimoto is able to collect himself and when he gets back in the ring starts kicking the bad arm. Double wrist lock and Vader is hollering out with painful screams. Hashimoto gets a two count back on their feet Hashimoto tees off with kicks. Vader's selling here reminds me of Brock. Vader flaying wildly in pain and then just hits that wild swinging bear paw to quash the rally. Hashimoto rolls to outside while Vader collapses on the ropes and his second Rheingains massages the injured arm. Great pro wrestling! You can always tell when Vader is really injured by how quickly he goes for covers. Once they square up again straight front kick, Irish Whip, Vader Splash in corner for two. Boom! Safe, economical. Use his weight gets a quick cover. Goes right back to it this time Hashimoto moves and drives left arm to buckle. INSANE HEAT for Hashimoto doing the over the shoulder armbreaker. Vader body slams out of the double wrist lock. Then VADER HITS THE MOTHER OF ALL DROPKICKS! The Big Man has got ups!
Vader deviates from his safe, economical to go up top and is caught by a HUGE SPINNING HEEL KICK! Crowd goes wild! Can the kid do it? CROSS-ARMBREAKER!!! Vader powers out. Hashimoto rifles Vader's arm with kicks. BANG! Vader KNOCKS Hashimoto the fuck out with a right. Two monster lariats (it is a little anti-climatic and Thesz fucks up the count if they just went to the pin after the KO right I think that would have been better) and the Man They Call Vader wins his first IWGP Championship.
Man if you watch this with no backstory you never know this was Hashimoto's first big chance at the main event. Had the poise of veteran. Great offense from him never relented on the arm. He built some big time heat for himself. That cross armbreaker had me believing. But his selling ruled that sell of that KO right wow! Vader rules! Busting out shit like that spinning back fist and dropkick shows his variety! Here not feeding and bumping but focusing on selling that arm and kicking ass. Boy did he kick some serious ass! Match of the year contender in a fucking loaded year. These two rule! ****3/4
