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Post by fxnj on Mar 12, 2019 2:07:29 GMT -5
These two had a great rivalry in the 2000's and this might be there best match. What sets it apart is a classic Kawada leg selling performance that's right up there with his best from the 90's. Mutoh is Mutoh, busting out all kinds of moves with some impressive explosiveness in an attempt to overwhelm. I love all the drama in the stretch run with Fuchi considering throwing in the towel, and Kawada's selling on his comeback is excellent. Him getting the win feels like this epic moment where he did just enough to barely squeak by.
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Post by fxnj on May 5, 2023 15:28:21 GMT -5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7yEL7IIvdcFinding out that GAORA has posted a bunch of early 2000's Kawada matches on their Youtube has pretty much brought me back, at least for a bit. I love their 2002 match, but watching them back-to-back I have to say this is their masterpiece. Where the 2002 match takes a bit to get going, this is engaging from the beginning with the matwork clearly having a lot more thought and struggle put into it. I took Kawada's strategy of working over Mutoh's arm instead of the leg as him betting on that Mutoh will eventually fuck up his knees on his own anyway, which is what happens. Mutoh comes back with working over Kawada's legs and we're treated to a classic leg sell performance. Somehow I feel like Kawada's selling performance actually got upstaged by Mutoh here, though. He is just incredible in this selling the full gamut of emotions in his face and having an otherwordly explosiveness in his movements. Lots of nice drama down the stretch run as well with the crowd getting big into it. Now that it's up on Youtube, highly recommended for anyone who slept on it before.
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Post by elliott on Sept 21, 2023 20:35:40 GMT -5
Boring match.. I thought both guys looked off. Sloppy, slow & disinterested.
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