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Post by tetsujin on Dec 8, 2021 4:49:03 GMT -5
One of the best matches between these two, and that's saying something. This is a 17 minute IWGP Heavyweight Championship match perfectly paced, they tell a great story with two very energetic performances. Fujinami has an answer for everything Choshu tries, but he lets his anger towards him take control, and when he had Choshu bleeding in the center of the ring, the bastard connects a devastating and desperate Saito Suplex. I like how Choshu went for it since the very first lock up of the match, but Fujinami always blocked it, it makes the actual spot mean a lot, great turning point. But here comes a not-that-great turning point, a Fujinami knee injury out of literally nowhere. Choshu obviously kicks the living shit out of that knee, and Fujinami sells it pretty well and they build cool drama around it, but that doesn't change the fact that it could have been implemented in the match with a more powerful transition, instead of "oh, well, bad luck Tatsumi". I don't like the no contest finish either, it makes the IWGP Champ look incompetent and, if they're gonna stop the match because he can't continue, it doesn't make any sense to not give the title to Choshu then. Stupid finish for a pretty cool match, not my favourite in their series but definitely up there. Not close to be considered for my list, but I'm sure some people will think otherwise because this has definitely the appeal for a top 100 if you like short, meaningful, intense, with a bit of everything, title matches between two megastars.
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Post by changoxtreme1982 on Dec 8, 2021 6:28:20 GMT -5
Where can I find this one?
Also, their rematch from June 1988 that followed was awesome as well in my view.
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Post by tetsujin on Dec 8, 2021 7:32:05 GMT -5
I'll definitely watch it, thanks!
This was on the ditch.
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Post by mrjmml on Jul 30, 2023 15:22:29 GMT -5
I forgot about this match completely when I did the review of the august 1987 multi-man, I promise that the next one will be Antonio Inoki vs Tatsumi Fujinami August 8th 1988, the match we have today is Tatsumi Fujinami vs Riki Choshu for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, we’ve come a long way since I covered their first encounter, Fujinami has evolved a lot as a worker as well as New Japan as a whole, that’s the most beautiful thing about projects like this, you get to see not only the progression of a wrestler but also the evolution of wrestling, this wrestler’s journey in particular has been amazing so far, Fujinami helped me understand New Japan’s main event scene and see many flaws in their booking philosophy that wouldn’t be able to see otherwise, my new perception of 80’s New Japan Pro Wrestling isn’t worse necessarily it’s just different, when I started watching Fujinami’s Jr Heavyweight Title run I didn’t expect to grow as attached to his work as I am right now, I don’t regret at all choosing Fujinami as the wrestler I’ll do a deep dive of around two weeks ago now, Grimmas was right when he said there’s something special about watching wrestling in chronological order, after getting that out of the way let’s begin this championship match. Riki Choshu is ruthless targeting Fujinami’s leg, he inmediately gets results and his opponents is visibly hurt during the rest of the match, he’s not only ruthless but relentless as well, he won’t stop until he beats him, Fujinami is going on one leg during the whole affair, his selling is outstanding, he genuinely looks hurt and that’s one of the most difficult thing to do in the wrestling business, the match ends when Fujinami is ruled not capable of continuing the bout prompting a stoppage.
I’d recommend this match to everyone who liked the 1983 trilogy.
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Post by elliott on Sept 6, 2023 23:57:59 GMT -5
Hell of a match. These two rule.
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