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Post by elliott on Oct 21, 2019 2:34:14 GMT -5
Jushin Liger vs Hiroshi Hase (NJPW - 5/6/91)
These two were #1 (Liger) and #2 (Hase) in the 1991 WON Awards for “Most Outstanding Wrestler” directly ahead of Kenta Kobashi & Ric Flair and these were not outrageous results. Liger & Hase were definitely best in the world candidates in the early 90s so a long (almost 30 minutes) match between them from a perfect handheld source is a true gift from the wrestling Gods. This has a ton of mat wrestling and submissions, which you ordinarily wouldn’t be excited to hear about in a 30minute NJPW match, but these guys are the two best mat workers in the company so it is really enjoyable. This also has all the dives and suplexes/bombs during the finishing run you could want. They don’t make much of the heavyweight vs junior matchup, but that makes sense. Hase isn’t too far removed from being a junior himself, as a single he was more of a midcarder, and Liger was king of the juniors. Plus Hase is probably the most selfless person in wrestling history, so he gives plenty of this match to Liger. Really just awesome stuff. This is a real feather in both men’s caps.
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Post by jetlag on Jul 28, 2020 13:29:26 GMT -5
I'd never heard about this match until Classics Road uploaded it 3 days ago, and now I find out people have known about this for years. What the hell? This was fantastic and one of the Top 5, maybe Top 3 best matches Hase been in. It starts out pretty great with about 11 minutes of tight matwork that leads to both guys getting angrier and eventually trying to tear each others arms out. All the matwork felt fresh thanks to both guys having legit ability and doing some things they dropped later (for example, the double arm hold Liger did). The tangling armbreaker spots were great and Hases kneedrops to the elbow joint were insane, looked to turn Ligers arm inside out. Liger hitting a dive and blasting Hase with his rolling kick unexpectedly were a good way to let the audience know Liger could hang and very well upset Hase. The structure here reminded me a bit of a lucha title match, with the opening lengthy matwork and then Liger hitting some nice armdrags before Hase took over working his back. There were some pretty intense back stretches with Liger breaking out of the holds looking painful. Then Liger was able to hit a surprise powerbomb to knock the wind out of Hase. Last 10 minutes were insane, Liger whiping Hase out with huge dives, the crowd going nuts etc. I really liked how Liger, after Hase crashed with a top rope move, wasn't going to make the same mistake and just hit a double stomp, before following up with a dropkick to the ribs. There were lots of nearfalls, but they managed to make rather basic spots like a Camel Clutch or Liger tackling Hase into the turnbuckle feel epic. Also loved the epic nearfall on the Giant Swing and Hase desperately avoiding the suplexes. It reminded me a bit of Liger/Schuhmann in that they mixed in basic sequences for maximum effect.
Match seems insanely underrated to me. On first glance I can't think of a better NJPW match from 1991, maybe not even a better AJPW singles. High recommendation.
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Post by elliott on Jul 28, 2020 14:06:51 GMT -5
2nd
I thought for sure i nominated this in my last huge run of nominations. Amazing match. Totally agree this is one of the more underrated matches ever. Maybe the most underrated major promotion 90s japanese wrestling match.
Jet, did you watch the handheld or did a pro version air at some point?
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Post by jetlag on Jul 28, 2020 15:49:38 GMT -5
I watched a handheld version. The match being handheld may have added to it as you couldn't quite tell which way Ligers arm was contorting when Hase kneedropped him.
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Post by andylfc on Jul 28, 2020 16:02:09 GMT -5
Great to hear a version of this match still exists then.. I had it on a comp tape(handheld) back in the mid 90's from a tape trader. Couldn't find it anywhere online.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2020 0:00:12 GMT -5
Great stuff. This is probably my second favourite Liger match behind Sano 8/10/89 now
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Post by elliott on Feb 1, 2021 20:35:40 GMT -5
Really enjoyed this on a rewatch. These guys are two of the best in the world in 1991 and they have plenty of time to show their stuff. Opening mat work is better and more engaging than your typical 90s NJPW match. Lots of brutal looking submissions before they get into dives and big bombs as the pace picks up. Both guys are in peak form here.
Interesting to see Liger in a position where he's the underdog and is physically overmatched. Alternatively its cool to see Hase in a dominant position able to use strength and power to overwhelm someone, a role we rarely got to see him in.
Liger vs Heavyweights is always great fun and this is one of the great unheralded matches of the decade.
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Post by bossrock on Feb 1, 2021 23:59:06 GMT -5
Excellent title match. Loads of action and a great sense of escalation. AJPW paved the way for the workrate-heavy matches of today, but this match absolutely helped set the table.
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Post by elliott on Feb 3, 2021 19:27:54 GMT -5
What are people's favorite Hiroshi Hase matches these days? This has to be a contender.
I will always love the Muta bloodbath. The Hashimoto IWGP match from 12/94 of course. What else do folks like? I was never a big fan of his AJPW run. Even back when I dug AJPW.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2021 10:06:38 GMT -5
Aside from those already mentioned I like Hase & Sasaki v The Steiners 3/21/91.
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Post by bossrock on Feb 6, 2021 11:06:40 GMT -5
I liked his AJPW run, but either this or the Fujinami match is probably my favorite. I think on my list of all-timers, Hase would rank high.
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Post by tetsujin on Feb 6, 2021 11:15:28 GMT -5
What's the date for the Fujinami match?
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Post by nintendologic on Feb 6, 2021 11:27:14 GMT -5
What's the date for the Fujinami match? If it's the match I think he's referring to, it's 8/7/93 (that year's G1 Climax finals).
Speaking of which, I remember digging the Chono match from that tournament. For the most part, though, I only really care for Hase matches where either he or his opponent is bleeding profusely. The May 1992 tag match where he teams with Mutoh against Vader and Bigelow is at the top of my list.
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Post by elliott on Feb 6, 2021 15:47:41 GMT -5
That tag against Vader and Bigelow is an awesome match.
There are some terrific overlooked tag matches from NJPW in this era. Stuff like Hase & Mutoh vs Hashimoto & Norton 12/16/91 or Hase & Mutoh vs Hash & Chono 11/4/93 (our guy Sleeze has this rated 4 3/4* and Sleeze has really good taste in matches) are well worth watching. There's a pair of Hase & Sasaki vs Chono & Tenzan matches from 2/17/95 and 3/7/95 that are like NJPW does Memphis Brawling that I'd recommend for something different.
I want to rewatch the 3/11/88 match with Takada because last time I did it I thought it was excellent.
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