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Post by stunninggrover on Jan 18, 2018 2:05:54 GMT -5
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (IWGP Heavyweight Championship - NJPW - 6/11/2017)
This was part of the New Japan Dominion event in Osaka, Japan. This was the second match in the 2017 Okada vs. Omega trilogy. It was a bit like their Wrestle Kingdom 11 match, but I felt this match from Dominion was worked at an even higher level than their Wrestle Kingdom 11 match. I like that the way they worked this match didn't make it obvious that it was going to be a 60-minute time limit draw (which sometimes is the case with 60-minute time limit draws) and that was one of the reasons it didn't even really feel like a 60-minute match. This match will probably end high on my list.
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Post by bossrock on Jan 18, 2018 10:00:14 GMT -5
Second.
I understand the criticisms regarding this match because going 60 minutes is always tough to pull off, but I really think they nailed it. Despite being longer, it actually seemed less padded than the WK match and the first 30 minutes moved fairly quickly. Some great role reversals and callbacks such as the table spot and excellent selling of exhaustion from both men once we got to the super hot finishing stretch. Some minor criticisms I'd throw in would be the leg work that was dropped early and the Cody spot, but other than that this was a pretty damn spectacular match and one of the high points of 2017.
Will definitely make my list.
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Post by J. (aka El-P) on Jan 18, 2018 10:59:37 GMT -5
I went in with negative preconceptions. Not a huge fan of either. Not a big fan of the first match. Insane hype. One hour...
And yeah. Turned my head around. MOTYC, easy. All-time classic ? Probably. They did a wonderful job pacing the hour, made a great use of teasing two huge spots from the first match, gaining time in the process. Great selling down the stretch (come on, who cares about the knee stuff, it was nice to waste a bit of time at the beginning with a sub-plot and Okada was terrific selling it, but it wasn't to be the whole story, especially when you go one hour). Nice twist with the Cody Rhodes stuff which allowed that Rainmaker to be protected. Awesome, classic finish. Not a dull moment in the entire hour, and although you can pinpoint a few flaws (average execution at times, yeah, sorry, it counts; typical no-sell stuff inherited from Kobashi), it was a pleasure from start to finish.
Yeah. Pro-wrestling at its best.
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Post by makaiclub on Apr 16, 2021 21:05:08 GMT -5
60 minutes is a lengthy time. It’s hard to fill it when you’re telegraphically going that long. But they do a good job at filling it with exciting wrestling without only minimal costing and use of crutches. There is a little of the headlock padding but Okada is hitting Tope Con Hilos soon enough into the match like he was wrestling in the Junior Heavyweight title match. Kenny opts for a different approach this time around, attacking Okada’s leg for large periods until Okada finds a way to counter that and then hurts Kenny enough for Bullet Club to come out. This is where the match loses me as Cody comes out with a white towel teasing ending it or Kenny Omega - ugh - and there is a lot of repetitive coasting. The match ends on a huge high with a great scramble for each other’s finishers. ***3/4
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Post by elliott on Oct 13, 2023 12:33:41 GMT -5
Gave it a shot, not a fan.
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