BATTLE FORMATION 1997
After reviewing the 01/04/1997 Tokyo Dome Show, I was set to do the “Evolution in Osaka Dome” show. The problem is a few of those matches are a result from matches at the April “Battle Formation” Dome show. My conflict comes in the fact that I HATE TV blocks. It mainly circles around my hatred of clipping and/or matches that are joined in progress. I will always gun for the commercial release before even considering getting a TV block. Anyway, I can’t seem to find the commercial release for this show anywhere (help? Please? Trade? I give you money?) and for some odd reason I have the TV block (who did I get this from?). So this can fill in the blanks before I dive into the Osaka Dome show.
I’d have to say the one redeeming value of getting NJPW TV blocks is the KICK ASS commercial segments. This one had an awesome commercial with a guy having a fit in a tub after getting the “rush” from opening a beer bottle. I LOVE THIS SHIT!
ANTONIO INOKI vs TIGER KING
This is yet another stage in Inoki’s ever running road to retirement. This is stage seven if I recall correctly. For those that need clarification, Tiger King is none other than the legendary Satoru Sayama, AKA Tiger Mask. Of course by this point in time, the gimmick was owned by Michinoku Pro, so New Japan had to “tweak” the gimmick slightly to avoid any copyright issues. It’s almost like they get the last laugh though when you think about it. Why have plain old “Tiger Mask” when you can up the ante and have a “Tiger King?” Those crafty guys in New Japan, it’s like they tap the head 24/7. Onto the match as Sayama floats like the a butterfly and stings likes a FREIGHT TRAIN! Dang, he really knows how to fire off the kicks. Even as a man a decade past his prime, he still manages to move incredibly fast. I broke out a Tiger Mask vs Dynamite Kid comp after watching this match and it doesn’t look like he’s lost much in the speed department. That’s just scary. Inoki settles things down with some ground work but Sayama works his way through and lays in more kicks. Inoki heads out and Sayama offers the crowd a treat as he pulls the old in and out plancha fake. BIG POP for that one. I’ve got to admit, it brought a smile to my face as well. Inoki back in and Sayama unleashes a nasty spinning roundhouse kick to the head. UGH… that can’t be pleasant. He hits a cartwheel – arm breaker combo but Inoki reverses into a hammerlock only to have Sayama hit the flying snapmare reversal. He tries for another but Inoki is too smart for that and he puts Sayama away with the Cobra Twist. WHOA! That was kind of out of nowhere. You know the sad part though? As soon as I saw Inoki clamp down on the Cobra Twist, I knew it was over. He barely worked Sayama over and yet I, like any other fan who has watched Inoki, knew the match was over at that point. Whatever, it was fun watching Sayama, and Inoki kept up for the mostpart. **
THE GREAT SASUKE vs JUSHIN “THUNDER” LYGER (J* Crown)
ROCK ON! Lyger had defeated Ultimo Dragon back at the 01/04/1997 dome show and was on a roll at this point. He had defeated THE BITCHMASTER in early February (****3/4) and defeated Koji Kanemoto a week later in another kick ass match (****1/2). So now it’s early April and Sasuke has come for his shot at the titles he unified back in August of the previous year. They start out fast as they do a criss cross leading to Sasuke trying a spin kick only to have Lyger duck and try a shotei but Sasuke ducks and hits a dropkick sending Lyger outside, where Sasuke follows up with the Quebrada. Whew.. got all that? Good, because heeeeeeere’s CLIPPING! They cut a good 2/3 into the match where Lyger goes for a shotei but Sasuke ducks and goes for a German suplex only to have Lyger get a standing switch and a BRUTAL Unprotected German suplex. SASUKE IS FUCKED! Lyger hits a tombstone and heads up top but Sasuke sends him to the floor with a dropkick and follows up with the OH… SO… SWEET Space Flying Tiger Drop. Well… it was 9/10 sweet as the slow motion replay shows Sasuke hit his head pretty hard on the edge of the apron. The crazy Sasuke, always trying to crack that noggin. Back in the ring and Sasuke hits the shoulderblock – moonsault combo for 2 and ½. Sasuke tries for the Thunderfire Powerbomb but Lyger slips out and hits a Koppo kick, sending Sasuke to the floor. Now it’s Lyger’s turn to fly as he hits a top rope plancha followed up with a Somersault bodyblock. These two are going all out. Back in the ring where Lyger hits a NASTY Fisherman’s Buster for 2 and ¾. Lyger DRILLS Sasuke with a Brainbuster and follows up with a Frog Splash for 2 and ¾. NEAR FALLS! NEAR FALLS! SHOTEEEEEEEI! 1… 2… 2 and 9/10! Lyger goes for a Top Rope Frankensteiner but Sasuke holds the ropes. I LOVE THAT COUNTER! It’s the simple stuff that always brings a smile to my face. Like when someone goes for a Pescado and the opponent just steps two feet to the left and watches him go SPLAT on the floor. Anyway, Sasuke hits a front slam and tries for my personal favourite flying move; the Stardust Press. Unfortunately Sasuke misses (remember the SPLAT?) and Lyger hits a DISGUSTING Lygerbomb for 2 and 9/10. Lyger mercifully puts it away with an AVALANCHE BRAINBUSTER! Lyger beat the high holy shit out of Sasuke through just about the whole thing. It reminded me of their Super J Cup 1994 bout quite a bit except there was no fluke rana at the end to save Sasuke’s ass. Ah well… no complaints here. ****
MASAHIRO CHONO vs THE GREAT MUTA
KICK ASS CHONO MUSIC is unfortunately the biggest highlight of this match (at least for me). The match is Joined In Progress (of course) where Chono is in control. He hits a Yakuza kick and breaks out the black spray paint (remember, he’s leader of the Japanese New World Order at this point) but Muta catches him with a spin kick. He gets a chuckle out of the crowd and myself as he sprays “N W O” on Chono’s back and then adds insult to injury by hitting black mist on top of it. OOOHHH! EEEEVIL! More clipping (God, this is SOOOOO annoying) as Muta tries for the patented ramp lariat but Chono hits him in the gut. Back in the ring and Chono hits another Yakuza kick but gets cut off on the top and takes a Superplex. Mutoh hits the old handspring – bulldog combo but a blind charge nets another Yakuza kick in the face. Chono hits a Piledriver and tries a standing achilles hold but Muta gets the low blow. UGH… this is falling apart really fast. Muta heads out and brings in a table. Wait… I was wrong earlier. NOW this is really falling apart. Muta tries to hit the handspring into the table but Japan rule #1 kicks in and he misses. Chono tries to use the table but the ref stops him. You see? That is total BULLSHIT! The ref lets Muta bring in the table and use it as a weapon but Chono can’t do the same? WHY THE FUCK NOT?! It’s not like Chono was the pure face and would lose people’s respect. STUPID REF! Whatever, obviously Muta capitalizes with a springboard dropkick and puts it away with the backbreaker – Moonsault combo. BUUUUUULLSHIT! The match was pretty slow, Muta had to be the idiot who brings in a weapon (see any Muta match to see what I mean) and the stupid double standard of the referee pissed me off to no end. *3/4
RIKI CHOSYU/KENSUKE SASAKI vs TATSUMI FUJINAMI/KENGO KIMURA (IWGP Tag Team Titles)
We’re joined in progress. FUCK FUCK FUCK! I HATE TV BLOCKS! The challengers are in control as they pull out some power stuff and sell none of the old man offense (what a surprise). They try for a Spike Piledriver but Fujinami cuts them off and throws Chosyu off the top. Kimura goes on the attack with his patented running knee smash and the champs hit their own Spike Piledriver. Wassupwitdat? Kimura nails Chosyu with a piledriver for 2 and ¾. He goes into a side headlock but Chosyu reverses into a NICE Backdrop suplex. Sasaki gets the tag and gets a HUGE lariat followed up with the Ippon Seionage. He goes for the Strangle Hold Gamma but Fujinami breaks it up. Chosyu gets the tag and it’s THE RIKI LARIATOOOOOOO! 1… 2… 2 and 9/10. Fujinami jumps in but Sasaki cuts him off; sending him to the floor. You can see the end is near as Sasaki hits another HUGE lariat and Chosyu puts an end to this one with another RIKI LARIATOOOOOO! This was better than I was expecting considering it was the Grumpy Old Men vs the No Selling Lariat Machines. **1/2
NAOYA OGAWA vs SHINYA HASHIMOTO
This was the first chapter in the long running feud between Ogawa and Hash. At this point in time, they were all friendly and “hey… let’s shake hands. I respect you as a person.” Of course, that mentality would go down the crapper as time passed and would degrade into something along the lines of “FUCK YOU! I HATE YOUR GUTS! EAT MY KICK ASSHOLE! By the time their match at the “Final Dome 1999” show rolled around (read my review, you’ll see what I mean). This wasn’t too bad a match. Hashimoto controlled for the most part with his usual stiff kicks and chops. Ogawa makes the sporadic comeback with a few different Judo style throws. You’ll have to excuse my less than clear descriptions of Ogawa’s offense. I’m pretty sure he trained in the Judo style; And under that premise, I don’t take Judo or follow the style well enough to be able to name the different throws he uses. anyway, back to the match as Hash continues to bring the pain with kicks and chops. He finally breaks it open with a Backdrop suplex to a MONSTER POP! He goes for his patented DDT but Ogawa reverses into the ever deadly STO. Hashimoto is on dream street (after one move?) and Ogawa capitalizes with the even more dangerous Rear Naked Choke. Yep, this one is over folks. Not long at all (just under ten minutes) but it had mega heat and was stiff as hell. I don’t ask for much more than that in a style of match such as this. **1/2
Final Analysis: Hey, there is one more plus side to TV blocks; they’re pretty short. This was just over one hour in length. Of course I still prefer the usual three hour commercial tape set but this served it’s purpose. It was like a WWF recap show without the inane chatter and commercials with Tazz holding up fat burning products. HA! Anyway, this was solid with three matches at ** and one kick ass juniors match at ****. If you’re into TV blocks, go for it. If you’re not into TV blocks, there isn’t much point in tracking this down. Someone has GOT to have the commercial release. PLEASE HELP ME!
Justin Baisden
Rolling Germans Wrestling
