New Japan 01/04/1996 Tokyo Dome Show
Posted by Justin Baisden on 01.04.1996
Vader dishes out a beating for the ages.
01/04/1996 TOKYO DOME SHOW
January 4th is always a big day for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Since 1993, NJPW has put out what some consider to be the Wrestlemania of New Japan. The January Dome show is always stacked with loads of great matches (at least on paper) and more often than not, delivers on the goods. Case in point, the 1996 Tokyo Dome Show. New Japan was in the midst of its war with UWFI and many of the matches on this card was UWFI vs NJPW. On paper, it looked to be a hell of a card. How was it in execution? You’re about to find out.
This tape review is brought to you by the good people at Cheetos. They FINALLY brought out Jumbo Puffs for the cheese snack related goods. These cheese sticks rock the body that rocks the party! I needed some form of snack as I wasn’t going to sit through a two tape set in one sitting without something to chow down on.
PART 1
OHTANI/NAGATA/ISHIZAWA vs SAKURABA/YAMAMOTO/KANEHARA
Wow… now this is an interesting lot of fighters. I’ll be honest in telling you that I don’t know Yamamoto and Kanehara very well but everyone else is very familiar to me. Just look at the breakdown: Shinjiro Ohtani is the one and only BITCHMASTER who moved up from the junior division (BOOOOO) and is now second in command in the Zero One promotion with Shinya Hashimoto. Yugi Nagata recently started to get the push that he has deserved for some time as he won the 2001 G-1 Climax tournament, defeating Keiji Mutoh (The Great Muta if that name doesn’t ring a bell) in the finals. I’ve heard the match is the leading MOTYC, I’ll have to track that down. Tokimitsu Ishizawa would go on to become Kendo Ka Shin, a perennial thorn in my side for the last couple of years. He recently got a huge upset win over the youngest fighter out of the highly heralded Gracie family at PRIDE XV. Odds are that he’ll be pushed to the moon now that he’s got some serious shoot heat behind him. Speaking of shoot heat, there’s Kazushi Sakuraba who’s become a heavy fan favourite among shoot fans. He went an ungodly hour and ten minutes with Jui Jitsu legend Royce Gracie before getting the victory. It’s propelled him to great heights in the eyes of fans. I bet he’ll make PRIDE a lot of money over the next couple of years. Oh shit… the match. Well it’s nothing too major considering it’s the obligatory six man tag. The match had no real flow. They all went for the worked shoot style with lots of stiff shots and submissions. Nagata eventually gets tired of taking a pounding from Yamamoto and punks him out with an overhead belly to belly suplex followed up with a Juji Gatame (a move to keep an eye on during this show) for the tap out. Eh… I’m sure these guys could have done more. *1/2
JUSHIN "THUNDER" LYGER vs KOJI KANEMOTO (IWGP Jr. Title)
These two had an interesting history. Lyger had defeated Kanemoto at the 01/04/1994 Tokyo Dome show. I’m not 100% sure but I believe it was a mask vs title match. In which case, Lyger retained the IWGP Jr. Title and Kanemoto was forced to forego his Tiger Mask III persona. Lyger would break his leg in September of 1994 and Norio Honaga would win the title in a match with Wild Pegasus. Kanemoto defeated Honaga six months later, lost the title to Sabu (believe the hype, Sabu WAS good at one point) and regained the title a month later. December rolled around and Lyger wins the Super J Cup 1995 tournament. So what’s the likely next step? You guessed it, an IWGP Jr. Title match. As many people that watch junior matches will tell you, a dome is not the best setting for a junior match. Personally, I don’t believe the large facility can capture the amount of heat that a smaller venue can get with say 5000 screaming fans. When you’ve got a dome holding 64000 people, you’re not going to capture that same essence. Case in point is this match as Kanemoto goes right to work on the leg and hits his patented overhead belly to belly suplex sending Lyger to the outside. Kanemoto brings the noise with a pescado followed up with another plancha. Dang, someone lit a fire under his ass for this one. Back in the ring and the leg work continues. Lots of fun stuff including leg bars, spinning toe holds and a figure four leg lock. He lets up and there’s a mistake as Lyger goes on the attack with a shotei. Two Koppo kicks and a top rope Frankensteiner nets 2 and ½. Lyger pulls out FOUR CONSECUTIVE FISHERMAN’S BUSTERS for 2 and ¾. A Brainbuster gets 2 and ¾. A released German suplex sends Kanemoto outside and Lyger flies with a plancha. Kanemoto is a total mess. He barely makes it in the ring at the 19 count. Back in the ring and Lyger tries another top rope Frankensteiner but Kanemoto brilliantly holds onto the ropes. And to paraphrase Jerry Lawler during the IMM at Wrestlemania XII, here comes vintage Koji Kanemoto. He hits the front slam followed up with the springboard senton. He heads up top but misses the moonsault. Lyger goes on the attack and hits a SUPER FISHERMAN’S BUSTER for 2 and 9/10. He heads back up but a diving headbutt only gets a foot in the face. Now Kanemoto pays back the favour with a top rope rana complete with arrogant cover for 2 and ½. He hits a gorgeous sit out powerbomb followed up with THE MOONSAULT for 2 and 9/10. Kanemoto hits a released Tiger suplex and another Moonsault for 2 and 9/10. Kanemoto with the front slam and goes for a Phoenix Senton but Lyger moves out of the way and here comes LA MAJISTRAL! 1… 2… 2 and 9/10. LYGERBOMB! 1… 2… 2 and 9/10. SECOND LYGERBOMB! A THIRD LYGERBOMB! 1… 2… 2.999999! Lyger hits a front slam and hits THE STAR… DUST… PRESS! Near fall? Nah, with a move like that you just know it’s over. If this were in a smaller venue, it would have rocked bells. As it is, it was still excellent and gets ****1/4.
YOJI ANJOH vs KODO FUYUKI
Hmm… how do I put this? Ah yes, I know… SHIT! BIG PILE OF SHIT! Fuyuki’s two buddies interfere over and over and over, killing the match on levels I didn’t think possible. What a travesty of a match! Fuyuki mercifully goes over with a lariat. You want to know what really pisses me off? The UWFI guys hit the ring after the match is over. WHERE THE FUCK WERE THEY DURING THE MATCH?! -*
MASAHITO KAKIHARA vs RIKI CHOSYU
Oh boy… I knew as soon as I looked at the match list how this match was going to turn out. Kakihara was a young gun in UWFI loaded with talent. Of course he’s facing Chosyu so that means dick all. You could call this match a mile away as Kakihara throws everything but the kitchen sink at Chosyu but it’s all no sold. Chosyu pulls out his usual offense and the crowd eats it up with three spoons (I can’t figure out the Chosyu phenomenon). Chosyu puts it away with a belly to back followed up with (are you ready for this big surprise?) the Riki Lariat. BOOOOO! I don’t think Chosyu could have done a better job of devaluing his opponent. *
NOBUHIKO TAKADA vs KEIJI MUTOH (IWGP Heavyweight Title)
This was an interesting match. The first portion is basically an extremely long feel out process. The ground game is played very well but with a slight change of pace. Instead of constant transitions between various holds, the moves that are pulled out are done in stages with an heir of caution to them. I would venture to guess they were trying to give off a feeling of realism. For instance, Mutoh attempts the figure four leg lock at one point but it’s done in stages. He gets in the step over toe hold but is cautious of a retaliation by Takada and takes it slowly towards completing the figure four. Once the feel out is over, Takada goes on the attack with a focus on Mutoh’s arm. It’s solid psych as the Juji Gatame (one of Takada’s big submissions) was played up heavily during this show. Previous matches had more than assured that the crowd would recognize the Juji Gatame as a serious threat and all preceding work on the arm was a precursor to the arm breaker. Mutoh eventually takes control and the match takes a massive shift in style as Mutoh pulls out the pro stuff. He hits a backdrop suplex followed up with his trademark moonsault. He goes into a keylock segued into a Juji Gatame. The crowd loves every minute of it and responds accordingly as the Tokyo Dome is washed over with the yells and screams of sixty four thousand fans. Takada makes the ropes and pays Mutoh back with loads of stiff kicks followed up with a backdrop suplex and an anklelock – legbar combination. It’s a sick looking move as Mutoh’s foot looks like it’s been twisted inward. The crowd is loving every second of it but Mutoh reaches the ropes. Takada rains down with stiff kicks and Mutoh keeps trying to grab the leg. The crowd jumps just a little as they’re anticipating the ever dangerous Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Finally after what seems like an eternity of punishment, Mutoh grasps the leg and hits his dreaded move. He moves right into the Figure Four and unlike before, where the heir of caution was present, the potency of the dragon screw has assured that the figure four will receive no retaliation. Takada again makes the ropes and the crowd is loving every second. Mutoh tries for the Dragon Screw but Takada’s got it scouted and counters with some knee strikes followed up with a Judo throw segued into the Juji Gatame. Mutoh manages to make the ropes but Takada is not to be denied as more strikes come down and Takada clamps on the Juji Gatame. This time it’s in the middle of the ring and there’s no where for Mutoh to go as he must relent to the power of the cross arm scissors. I thought the match was extremely well done with a nice slow shoot style build that transitioned into a faster paced pro style in the latter stages. The crowd appreciated it as well as the noise in the building at certain points was off the wall. From what I’ve read from others, this is a match you either love or you hate with no room for the middle. I am of the sect that loved this match and I have no problem giving it ****.
PART 2
SATOSHI KOJIMA vs HIROYOSHI TENZAN
Before they were running roughshod as the IWGP Tag Team Champions, Kojima was an up and comer and Tenzan was Chono’s right hand man moving his way up the ladder. Of course somewhere along the line, Tenzan got stuck on the ladder, Kojima caught up and now they’re on the second to highest rung, waiting for the old guard to jump off. Such is life in pro wrestling. Anyway, this match is solid as they go back and forth for the first half. Kojima takes the advantage off a nasty released German suplex. Irish whip and he hits a sit out Spinebuster followed up with a flying elbowdrop for 2 and ½. He heads to the top and hits a Moonsault for 2 and ¾. He goes back up but Tenzan meets him with a Super Samoan Drop for 2 and ½. Tenzan hits the Moonsault for 2 and ¾ An Irish whip and the Mountain Bomb followed up with the Swandive Headbutt puts and end to a solid outing. **1/2
MASAHIRO CHONO vs SHIRO KOSHINAKA
Chono didn’t have his kick ass T-2000 pipe organ music at this point. BOOOOOO! They play the ground game with Chono working the arm vs Koshinaka working the leg. Chono takes the advantage off a Yakuza kick and follows up with a flying shoulderblock. Chono charges in but it’s THE DREADED ASS ATTACK! Some people will tell you it’s a "hip attack." Hey… even the NJPW announcers call it a "hip attack." But COME ON, LOOK AT THE FRIGGIN MOVE! He hits him with the Gluts people, that’s all there is to it. Koshinaka goes for another but Chono counters with a reverse DDT. Chono slaps on the STF and I’m falling asleep with this match. Ugh… Chono heads up top but gets cut off and Koshinaka hits a superplex. Koshinaka charges in but Chono counters with a Samoan Drop only to have Koshinaka slip out and hit a German suplex for 2 and ¾. Koshinaka hits a SUPER ASS ATTACK followed up with a Powerbomb for 2 and 9/10 and manages to put it away with an inside cradle? Uh… what? Whatever, this was BOOOOORING! They didn’t click very well and if it wasn’t for Koshinaka trying his hardest to pull Chono to something decent, this could have been horrible instead of just boring. *1/4
SHINYA HASHIMOTO vs KAZUO YAMAZAKI
THIS IS STIFF CITY! Some of the kicks these guys were firing off were making me cringe. Yamazaki goes to work on the left arm and that’s the main focus of the match as he fires off a few arm breakers with various kicks strewn in between. Hashimoto makes the comeback with some hefty chops (with the right hand, making sure to sell the left, good work). He goes for the big Implant DDT but Yamazaki blocks so Hashimoto switches up into the Vertical Drop DDT but Yamazaki slips out and clamps on a Rear Naked Choke. Hashimoto makes the ropes but Yamazaki pulls Hash back into the middle and slaps on a sleeper segued into a Juji Gatame. MONSTER POP! (see my thoughts on the Juji Gatame back in the Mutoh vs Takada match) Hashimoto uses some awesome power as he lifts Yamazaki out of the scissors and drops him. Yamazaki won’t have any of it as he hits a DISGUSTING Roundhouse kick to the face and some more brutal kicks. He goes for another roundhouse but Hashimoto brings the big chop. He hits another stiff kick and now THE…. VERTICAL… DROP! It’s been fun. ***
HIROSHI HASE vs KENSUKE SASAKI
This was Hase’s last match under NJPW. I suppose you could consider him to be working for NJPW now under BATT but I’d consider him more of a freelancer considering he still has his political career. I thought Sasaki was a fine choice for Hase’s last NJPW opponent considering how often Sasaki and Hase had teamed up over the last six years. If you want a real treat, track down Sasaki/Hase vs Mutoh/Chono from 11/01//1990. It was AWESOME to say the least. Anyway, back to this match as Hase works the left leg. They break it open as they go back and forth with chops. Sasaki goes on the advantage with boot shots. Uh oh… I’m not liking where this is going. Luckily, Hase reassumes control with his trademark Uranage (is the Rock Bottom classified as a Uranage?) followed up with a Missile Dropkick. Then it’s one of the most over moves in Japanese wrestling; THE GIANT SWING! Today’s number of choice? 16! Hase goes for another Uranage but it’s reversed into a Judo throw. He hits a bulldog followed up with the Sasurigatame but Hase makes the ropes. Sasaki goes for a Powerbomb but Hase falls on top of him and hits a German suplex for 2 and ½. The Northern Lights suplex nets 2 and ¾. Hase goes for the Dragon Suplex but it’s reversed into a Uranage. Sasaki goes for the Strangle Hold Gamma but it’s reversed into a leg grapevine – choke combination. Sasaki makes the ropes and goes on the attack with a powerslam followed up with a BIG TIME lariat and the head dropping goodness that is the Northern Lights Bomb puts it away. Not bad, but these two were familiar enough with each other to put on a far better match. **3/4
VADER vs ANTONIO INOKI
I’m curious if anyone can help me on a bit of trivia; was Vader considered a member of UWFI in this match? I would venture to guess he was just freelance as he transitioned from WCW into the WWF but it wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to pawn him off as a UWFI representative considering his history with the fed. To put it quite plainly, this wasn’t just a match, it was a slaughter. It was like watching the brutal ass kicking that Vader used to heap on Sting in the early – mid nineties except this was a far worse beating. Add that fact that Inoki was the fine young age of FIFTY THREE and you can understand why so many people love this match. They even throw in some blood as Vader blades from a brutal chair shot on the floor and Inoki bleeds hardway from the right eye after one of numerous Vader Hammers. Vader kills Inoki for about 90% of the match with lots of stiff punches and Vader Hammers. Every so often he throws out a wrestling move that would kill some people including the single most brutal released German suplex I have ever seen and a Nodowa Otoshi that nearly dropped Inoki on his head. Vader even pulls out the big guns such as the Moonsault but it’s not enough as Inoki manages to just barely kick out of everything Vader has to offer. Inoki’s offense is sparse at best but the crowd loves each and every punch, kick and trademark Enzugiri that Inoki can muster. After a hailstorm of punishment, Inoki manages to get the tap out from what? You got it; the Juji Gatame. They show the press conference after the match and Inoki is so fucked up that I don’t think he even knows where he’s at. He’s got this wide-eyed look on his face that just screams delirious. If you ever wanted to watch a man take a beating, this is the match to watch. ****
FINAL ANALYSIS: Well this turned out pretty well when it was all said and done. Some of the matches on the first tape really made me want to hit the stop button on the remote and find something else to watch. Thank god for the two awesome title matches on that tape though. They literally saved the tape from taking a serious thrashing. As for the second tape, just about everything was solid – excellent. Chono vs Koshinaka was kind of a drag, as I know those two could do a lot better but sometimes you just have a bad night. Three **** matches including the most brutal pro wrestling ass kicking I’ve ever seen guarantee the 01/04/1996 Tokyo Dome Show gets a high recommendation.
