Jushin Liger vs El Samurai (NJPW - 4/30/1992)

A match that might make my Top 5. From the initial all time great rudoing from Samurai to Liger's wrath to Samurai trying to prove he is not just a cheating nobody to Liger pulling out all the stops. Perfect mix of storytelling, action, hate and stiffness.

I really liked this but I dont think this is great as some people think. I think Sammy just does not have enough to have a lengthy, compelling heat segment. The opening rudo work is great, but he does NOT sustain the heeling. I really break it down in my review so I am not going to belabor my points. Wont make my list. I highly recommend the PWO thread associated with this match as it is the best PWO thread on the board.

Jushin "Thunder" Liger vs El Samurai - NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 4/30/92

A very polarizing match in the circle of puroresu fans whether this is a hate-filled brawling classic or a tedious, tone deaf chore. I fall in the former camp, BUT the criticisms of the latter camp is what keeps me from giving this *****.

The easiest match to compare this to Naoki Sano, 1/31/90 where Liger takes a hellacious beating and is rendered a bloody pulp. Wouldnt you know that was the last match I watched five hours ago. So how do they compare? Well in the Sano my main criticism is they did too much, too early and it kinda made the match drag not from an action standpoint (Sano delivered that in spade), but in a plot stand point. We were just in heat for a while and we wanted to get our rocks off already damnit. What this match does better is Sammy does not beat Liger past the point of no return like Sano does. Thus I buy into Liger making a comeback and kicking Samurai's ass. In fact, I am looking forward to it. Now here is where I want my cake and eat it too. Samurai does not kick Liger's ass thoroughly enough. Wait I thought that was a good thing? It was until it wasnt. At some point, you have to find that next gear and Samurai just did not have it and thus I thought finish was a little anticlimatic. A lot of the people that really enjoy this match point to the first minute...Sammy spits in Liger's face, rips his mask, hits him with a beer bottle in the back of the head and then a tombstone piledriver on the outside and then inside. That's heallacious, thats GREAT heel stuff. However, the fans of the match all stop talking about Samurai. The critics of the match point out the big issue Samurai does not have a whole lot of gas in the latter stages. There is nothing that makes me believe in Samurai in his second heat segment. He does a beautiful somersault plancha, but whats his finish? Whats he building towards? It is better than Sano as I can believe in Liger's comeback, but worse because I dont believe Samurai can get the job done and also I think the hate fades where Sano does not. I would give the nod to the Sano match that even though I had an issue it was a real asskicker.

This match was indeed great so lets get past that famous first minute. I liked opening heat segment it was more focused on choking and holds so it didnt feel like Liger was dying. Samurai needed an outlet for the hate. This all gets Liger revved up and he unleashes the MUTHA OF ALL SHOTEI OUT OF THE CORNER! He smoked Samurai. Suplexes him to the floor. Exposes the concrete and THROWS HIS ASS DOWN ON THE CONCRETE! One proponent said that this was the first time we see Liger this vicious. I disagree, I think that could clearly be seen throughout the Sano feud. This is blood feud Liger. I think the first half of this match is the classic part. The way Samurai's rudo work sets up this ferocious comeback from Liger where he rips Samurai's mask, powerbombs him, and how about that SOMERSAULT from the Top Rope to Sammy just laying on the floor. Then Liger tries to break Sammy's arm with a double wristlock then a cross armbreaker. Thats great shit. I think the second half is where some of the criticism of it being tedious come into play but I think they are a bit over stated. Samurai gets back on offense and just does not do much. He has lost that fire. It does feel like that match stalls. Even Samurai's transition is not that cool is just a flying burrito on a criss cross. He hits a missile dropkick and then a dive to the floor. The hate is gone they have returned to Workrate City. Samurai goes for 3-Handled Moss-Covered Grenduzla and I like how much struggle Liger takes to break it. Then we get the sleeper this what I mean it just feels like Samurai does not have much left. Then it is over for him Liger pushes him off the top rope (never give your opponent the high ground) hits a beautiful splash. Liger is ready to take this match home, he throws Samurai down in a powerbomb and then hits a series of moves from the top rope. Samurai has one German Suplex as a nearfall before missing a move from the top rope and crashing & burning. Top Rope DDT, Top Rope Back Suplex. By the last Top Rope Frankensteiner even the crowd feels like this match has been over for minutes and just wanted Liger to end it.

First half is tremendous, I do think it peters out a little because Samurai really does not have enough bombs to go toe-to-toe with Liger and I think Liger was thinking let me just hit as many moves off the top rope as possible and that will be sweet, which in 1992 it was but only holds up so much. It was warranted because Samurai beat him by low blow earlier in the tournament and clearly disrespected earlier in the match so running up the score so to speak was justified. Great early heel work by Samurai, Liger's ferocious comeback is the best part and then match finishes out as a solid 90s workrate match, all and all worth your time to watch and discuss. ****1/4