NJPW 01/04/1997 Tokyo Dome Show
Posted by Justin Baisden on 01.04.1997
Two words: Super... Lyger!
01/04/1997 TOKYO DOME SHOW
This was easily one of the hardest dome shows to find thus far. You see, I’m not big of TV blocks so I refuse to take that route. I’m also a relatively poor college student so I can’t afford to be paying through the ears from the big boys like Jeff Lynch or Mike Lorifice. So I’m forced to look around the net for someone that a) has masters or 1st generations and b) is selling copies at a relatively low price. Well only one web site met both criteria. I paid a bit more than I would like for the set but sometimes you make sacrifices for the hobby you enjoy. BTW, if you do find someone that has MASTERS of this tape set, drop me a line. I’ll probably upgrade my copy.
This set was ALMOST brought to you by the new spicy cheetos. Unfortunately for the new Cheetos, THEY SUCK! Cheetos should have taken some time to steal Doritos recipe because Flaming Crunchits or whatever they’re called were pretty bad. Two thumbs down for those things. Speaking of thumbs down, let’s get to the first tape on this set.
TAPE #1 – MAN DID THIS EVER SUCK!
OK… here’s the deal. After watching the show and having a talk with NJPW guru Stuart over at Strong Style Spirit, I was able to figure out that NJPW entered a short term deal with Big Japan Pro Wrestling. At that point, BJPW wasn’t anywhere near as big as it is now. So they entered into the deal with NJPW. They got monster exposure being on the signature show for New Japan, but would take a shit kicking as a result. Due to the fact Big Japan is basically a “garbage fed” and I consider that to be the lowest form or pro wrestling, there’s going to be a slight (ie a huge) bias against them. I just don’t see the point in carving people up with sickles, thumbtacks, barb wire, etc. Nor do I see a point in dropping people in tanks of water with Pirahnas or a tank full of Scorpions. it’s not wrestling, it’s just mindless violence. Whatever, on with the show.
KOJIMA/NAKANISHI/NISHMURA/HIRATA vs YAMAKAZI/IIZUKA/KIDOH/NAGATA
We’re starting off with the obligatory six and/or eight man tag team match. It’s interesting looking at the pool of talent though. Kojima would eventually team with Hiroyoshi Tenzan and become one of the most successful tag teams in NJPW history. Nakanishi would go on to win the G-1 Climax tournament in 1999. Nishmura would suffer a long bout with cancer but make his return and now he’s ½ of the IWGP Tag Team Champions with Tatsumi Fujinami. Hirata went under a mask earlier in the year and is now called T-2000 Machine. I can’t say as I know what happened to Yamakazi. Iizuka is toiling in the heavyweight division after his partner Nagata moved up the ladder. Kidoh is on the road to retirement, doing the last couple of tours before calling it quits to a solid career. Yugi Nagata was the 2001 G-1 Climax winner and is headed to the #1 spot in the fed in the relatively near future. Like I said, interesting pool of talent. It’s the usual eight man stuff with fun work but it doesn’t really lead anywhere. That’s why I never really get into these kinds of tag matches. You hope it’ll at least be solid but unless there’s an underlying feud, the wrestling is nothing but an exhibition. Jump to the end as Hirata hits a sit out powerbomb for 2 and ¾ on Nagata and puts it away with a lariat. Eh… I don’t really care either way. **
YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI (BJPW) vs SHINJIRO OHTANI (NJPW)
YES YES YES! THE JAPANESE BUZZSAW vs THE BITCHMASTER! THIS CAN’T SUCK! Tajiri goes right on the attack and it’s kicks a plenty including a BRUTAL shot to the head. Ohtani sells it like it’s the end of the world. Tajiri gets all Lucha nutty with a reverse arm bar kiwi roll segued into a German suplex for 2 and ½. You see? This is why I don’t worry about Tajiri in the WWF. Right now he’s so over because his moveset is unlike anyone else. But when it starts to get tired, he’ll still be able to pull whacked out shit like that to wake everyone up. Irish whip but Tajiri misses the lariat and Ohtani hits a dropkick to the knee. Ohtani works the leg like a mad man and makes sure everyone remembers he’s THE BITCHMASTER by letting Tajiri get to the ropes only to hold on past the five count. SHUT UP REF! Funny stuff as they end up bitchslapping each other into a double knockout spot. HA! You just don’t see that anywhere. Ohtani recovers first and looks for the springboard dropkick but it misses (sacriledge) and Tajiri hits a Dragon suplex for 2 and ¾. Ohtani to the outside and Tajiri hits a gorgeous Quebrada moonsault. Ohtani climbs to the apron and Tajiri tries a roundhouse but Ohtani gets in an ANKLE LOCK FROM THE APRON! HA! I love stuff like that. It’s already in the ropes, what’s the ref going to do about it? Ohtani throws him away and hits the springboard dropkick. Ohtani with the Dragon suplex but it’s blocked and Tajiri gets in a sunset flip into a kiwi roll for 2 and ¾. I love the kiwi roll, he should be using that move in the WWF. A top rope Frankensteiner gets 2 and ¾. He looks for another but Japan rule #1 kicks in (you can’t do the same move twice in a row) and Ohtani hits a powerbomb followed up with a sit out powerbomb and ends it with the springboard leg lariat. Fun stuff for the whole family. They’d have another match of the same calibre in the BOSJ 1997. ***1/4
KENDO NAGASAKI (BJPW) vs TATSUTOSHI GOTO (NJPW)
AAAAHHH! GOTO! SINGLES MATCH! RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! Both guys look identical save for Goto’s Hitler moustache. And just like I figured, this match sucks rocks. Goto controls almost all of it. SO SLOOOOOW! Then everything breaks down with chair shots and attacking the ref but there’s no DQ. I can’t believe I’m looking for a DQ, how sad is this match? Nagasaki wins with a piledriver on the chair! Wow, this was even worse than I ever imagined. CRAP CRAP CRAP! -*
SHOIJI NAKAMAKI (BJPW) vs MASAHIRO CHONO (NJPW) (Barbed Wire Death Match)
If the name Nakamaki rings a bell, you probably read Mick Foley’s autobiography. He’s the guy Foley referred to as “Danger Man” when talking about the IWA King Of The Death Match tournament. LORD… THIS IS WORSE THAN THE LAST MATCH! Chono beats the high holy hell out of Nakamaki. Nakamaki brings all of his bullshit death match offense but Chono is all “fuck that shit, I’m MOTHERFUCKING CHONO!” He sells NOTHING and hits the Yakuza kick for the victory! HA HA! CHONO’S THE KING! And we get his kick ass music to boot. I soooooo need that theme music. -*1/2
SHINYA KOJIKA (BJPW) vs MASA SAITO (NJPW)
Kojika is the owner of the fed. He also disgraces himself by wearing a tuxedo in the ring and pretty much refuses to take it off. Why me lord? I’m starting to lose my faith in pro wrestling. THIS IS WORSE THAN THE CHONO MATCH! WHY OH WHY IS IT WORSE THAN THE CHONO MATCH?! Saito beats Kojika from pillar to post. Kojika’s goons come in and attack Saito but he fights them all off. Then Kojika gets a chain and tries to choke him out but the ref slaps him around. THIS IS TOTAL SHIT! Saito makes the comeback and wins with an ankle lock. IT CAN’T GET WORSE! PLEASE SAY IT CAN’T GET WORSE! -**
KENGO KIMURA/TATSUMI FUJINAMI vs MASAHIRO CHONO/HIROYOSHI TENZAN (IWGP Tag Team Titles)
Praise God, there’s no way in hell this match can be a the “level” of the last three matches. You know what makes the Barbed Wire match all the worse? Chono ran roughshod in that one and is still in perfect shape for his title defence. We even get more kick ass Chono theme music, which raises my spirits a bit. The champs play total dick heels; attacking before the bell and pulling out old school heel tactics (distract ref, blatant low blow, blah blah blah). I lose respect for the commentary crew as they start on the New World Order and Hulk Hogan. Oy… not even Japan is safe from this guy. Finally the old guys make the comeback and slap out the young punk Tenzan for a while. Grumpy Old Men get in some plodding offense until Tenzan makes the comeback with a powerbomb. It’s all double team work after that. The veterans are in serious trouble. Fujinami comes back with Dragon Screws but miscommunication (between faces? That’s odd) leads to Kimra nailing Fujinami. Chono goes on the attack but telegraphs a backdrop and Kimura hits a powerbomb but Tenzan saves. Chono heads up top but he takes a Superplex. Fujinami gets the tag and slaps on the Sleeper – Dragon Sleeper combo. Tenzan tries to save with the swandive headbutt but he ends up hitting Chono. Tenzan is thrown out, Kimura hits the big running knee smash and Fujinami gets the surprise tap out with the Dragon Sleeper. WHOA! I was not expecting that one at all. This was pretty solid stuff. Chono and Tenzan controlled the pace and it was definitely the right way to go as Kimura and Fujinami aren’t exactly speed demons. Besides, anything looks good compared to the last three matches. **3/4
WILLIE WILLIAMS vs ANTONIO INOKI
This was yet another match in Inoki’s “Final Retirement Road.” The road started in 1994 and ended in 1998. Damn, that’s a hell of a long road. I guess it’s better than saying “I’m retiring after this match” and then come back six months later though. As for this waste of six minutes, It’s not a match; It’s just a stupid exhibition. Does Inoki have a legit shoot background? Why does he keep doing these matches? WHY DOES HE KEEP GOING OVER?! Inoki wins with the Cobra Twist. Whatever, this wasn’t a match so I won’t rate it.
Halftime Report: Overall, this is probably the worst NJPW tape I have ever seen. Three matches in the negatives and a stupid exhibition match make me want to cry. I don’t think I’ve ever been so disappointed in a commercial tape. It would take a miracle beyond miracles to salvage this tape set.
TAPE 2 – THE TAPE THAT’S GOT TO BE BETTER THAN THE FIRST TAPE THROUGH THE SIMPLE REASONING THAT ANY TAPE IS BETTER THAN THE FIRST TAPE.
KOJI KANEMOTO vs SUPER LYGER
Ah yes… how in the world did I go this long without making a Super Lyger joke? Here’s the quick backstory. NJPW wanted to create a foil for the super over babyface Jushin “Thunder” Lyger. So they took someone with the relative same build, put him in a white costume (white = power? Sure… run with that idea) and let him do his thing. Oh before you ask who it was… drumroll please… CHRIS JERICHO! I took one look at Jericho and thought of Dragon Ball Z and the whole Super Saiyan thing. The problem is Jericho was never comfortable in the body suit and was really limited in his offense. He also couldn’t do a Shooting Star Press (#1 desperation when all else fails Lyger move) and nearly broke him arm trying to get it down. NJPW ran the whole Kanemoto vs “Mr. X” thing and made Super Lyger a surprise. Too bad no one cared and everyone realized who it was within 30 seconds in the match. BTW, “Super Lyger” will now be referred to as “Jericho” for the rest of my review because Jericho is easier to type and I get the feeling people will relate to the name “Jericho” a bit easier. They play the ground game for a bit. Jericho breaks things open with a spin wheel kick, sending Kanemoto to the apron. Jericho tries his usual springboard dropkick but botches it horribly. You just have to shake your head in shame after seeing that piss poor attempt. He tries to suplex Kanemoto back in but takes a hardcore suplex for his trouble. Back in the ring and Kanemoto tries a Monkey Flip but Jericho counters by putting him on the top and trying a rana only to have Kanemoto hit a SUPERBOMB! Finally, something wakes the crowd up. He MAULS Jericho with stiff kicks and hits the slam – senton combo for a near fall. He hits the slam – Moonsault combo but pulls Jericho up. OOOHHH! THAT’LL COST YOU LATER! Kanemoto hits a Tiger Suplex for 2 and 9/10. Well that’s it, Kanemoto’s out of moves. CUE THE COMEBACK! Jericho hulks up (this is so Dragon Ball Z) and hits a lariat for 2 and ½. Jericho puts Kanemoto on the top and hits a SUPER DOUBLE ARM SUPLEX but pulls Kanemoto up. Hmm? That’s a little odd. Jericho totally out punks Kanemoto by finishing it with the Tiger suplex. Well… the match was good once they got going but the crowd was beyond dead. **3/4
JINSEI SHINZAKI vs MICHIYOSHI OHARA
Ugh… the last time I saw Shinzaki in a dome match, he was facing The Great Muta in what could possibly be the worst major match at a dome show that I’ve ever come across. Ooohhh… Shinzaki marked out Muta’s grave. Ooohhh… the match sucked. Ooohhh… hopefully they buried the memories of the match in that grave. So now Shinzaki is back, this time as the face taking on the evil Ohara who is doing the Dark Monk gimmick. Hmm… and here I thought Mr. Gannosuke out of FMW came up with that brilliant idea. Hey… can you say “Ohara sucks like no other?” I think you can, it just takes practice. Ohara attacks before the bell and hits a couple of Shinzaki’s trademark moves. My respect for the match goes out the window when Ohara’s goons attack Shinaki on the outside. I hate outside interference, especially within the match. If it results in a DQ, it makes sense, but it’s got no place within the match. Ohara dominates for nearly the entire match with his usual shitty offense until mercifully Shinaki makes the comeback with the praying ropewalk and the slam – pump splash combo for 2 and ½. He goes for a flying chop but Ohara counters with a HUGE Chokeslam for 2 and ¾. Ohara hits another chokeslam and then it breaks down again as Ohara’s goons attack again. WHAT IS FUCKING POINT?! Ohara was in control of the match, why the interference? IT MAKES NO SENSE! I HATE OHARA AND EVERYONE AROUND HIM! Of course the interference backfires! GOOD! FUCK THIS SHIT! Shinzaki capitalizes with a Praying chain of shoulderblock, swandive headbutt and powerbomb for the victory. Whatever… Shinzaki worked hard but there’s only so much he could do. *1/2
JUSHIN “THUNDER” LYGER vs ULTIMO DRAGON (J* Crown)
Lyger was on the comeback trail after successfully getting through surgery for a brain tumour. Ultimo Dragon was making a name for himself in both Japan and WCW. He beat The Great Sasuke to win the J* Crown on 10/11/1996 and then defeated Dean Malenko at Starrcade 1996 for the WCW Cruiserweight Title. As such, he was holding NINE different junior titles at once. That’s got to be a record for most belts held at a single point. The WCW title was not up for grabs in this match as I doubt Bischoff would want what was fast becoming a great division to be put on hold while New Japan used the belt as another notch in the J* Crown. They start off with an awesome sequence of flip flop leading into a play off from the opening round of the J* Crown tournament. This time Lyger is smart enough to escape both tries at La Majistral instead of the surprise upset. Lyger takes control off a tilt a whirl backbreaker and KILLS Dragon with a powerbomb. They settle it down with lots of fun ground work. They break it open going back and forth with chops until Lyger stops it cold with a shotei. An Irish whip is reversed and Dragon tries a Monkey flip but Lyger counters by putting him on the top (popular counter tonight) only to have Dragon block a shotei and hit a head scissors. Just beautiful chain wrestling here. Irish whip is reversed and Dragon hits the Moonsault bodyblock for 2 and ½. They play off the J* Crown yet again as Dragon tries the handspring elbow but that’s reversed into a BRUTAL released German suplex for 2 and ½. A Fisherman’s Buster gets 2 and ¾. The Brainbuster is reversed into a Wakigatame segued into La Majistral cradle for 2 and ¾. NEAR FALLS! NEAR FALLS! Dragon goes for a lariat but it’s ducked and Lyger hits a BIG TIME shotei for 2 and 9/10. Lyger looks for a top rope rana but Dragon holds the ropes and comes back with a rana followed up with a Hardcore Rana. He follows that up with a Tope Suicida and tops that with a Somersault Plancha. AWESOME! Back in the ring and Dragon hits a Blockbuster Suplex followed up with The Moonsault and THE TIGER SUPLEX! 1… 2… 2.999999! TWISTING TOP ROPE FRANKENSTEINER! 1… 2… 2.999999! RUNNING DRAGON BOMB! 1… 2… 2.999999! Japan rule #1 again kicks in as a running Dragonbomb is countered into a Frankensteiner. Lyger looks dead, Dragon looks worse. What’s left in the tank? A LYGER SCREWDRIVER! 1… 2… 3! This was a spectacular match. Despite the lack of major heat that this would have got in a smaller building, the crowd did their best to back this up. I’d say I like this match just as much as their Super J Cup 1995 Semi Final. ****1/2
POWER WARRIOR vs THE GREAT MUTA
I’m pretty sure we all know who The Great Muta is. However, if you’re not sure; Power Warrior is otherwise known as Kensuke Sasaki. Back in the early nineties, after the Legion of Doom left the WWF, Hawk ended up in New Japan. Sasaki had been teaming with Hiroshi Hase and/or Keiji Mutoh on a regular basis. However, with Mutoh moving on during his first IWGP Heavyweight Title run and Hiroshi Hase moving on to more singles work, Sasaki was left on his own. So he became Power Warrior and teamed with Hawk to become the Hellraisers. With that little lesson behind us, let’s get to the match. Muta wows the crowd by spraying mist a lot. OOOHHH… we’re all scared now. Sasaki is all about kicking ass and Muta is all about stalling until we’re bored to tears. They do this three or four times and drive me insane. Then when the stalling is done, Muta elects to turn it into a garbage match by burying Sasaki under tables and chairs. But wait… THERE’S MORE! Each guy gets a piledriver on a table that doesn’t break. Mercifully, we get into the ring; but wait, THERE’S EVEN MORE CRAP! Chair shots a plenty complete with more no selling from each guy. Finally Mutoh pulls out his usual stuff (handspring elbow, moonsault, top rope Frankensteiner) except it’s all with tables. WOW! FEEL THE EXCITEMENT! Sasaki makes the comeback after a missed Muta Moonsault and hits the Northern Lights Bomb onto a table for the victory. Shitty match can’t be saved by nutty spots at the end. *
RIKI CHOSYU vs SHINYA HASHIMOTO (IWGP Heavyweight Title)
A battle between the two most over guys in the fed. Well… it could be argued (and argued well at that) that Inoki is the most over man in the fed but he’s “on the road to retirement” so we’ll just let my statement stand. These two always work stiff as hell against each other and this was no different. Chosyu goes on the attack with some heavy duty punches and Hash comes back with heavy duty chops and stiff ass kicks. Chosyu makes the comeback working the leg for a bit and slaps on the Sasurigatame but Hash won’t quit. After that, the big guns are brought out as Chosyu wails on him with the trademark RIKI LARIATOOOOOOO! He’s just firing off bomb after bomb and Hash absorbs most but falls for a few of them for some big near falls and big pops from the crowd. Hashimoto makes the comeback with his trademark kicks and paves his own road to victory as he hits a DDT, then an Implant DDT and puts it away with the Vertical Drop DDT. I figured a summary would be easier than Play By Play because it’s a lot of chop chop, punch punch, kick kick. It’s fun to watch because it’s really stiff but you’d be bored to tears if I ran the review that way. ***
Final Analysis: You know, if this show only consisted of the second tape, I’d probably recommend it. However, it comes in a set and the first tape totally killed any and all chances of me recommending this show. There was just too much crap, and high levels of crap at that. I don’t think I’ve given out negative stars for three matches on one tape before. It was a little disheartening. If you’re lucky enough to find someone that has the set, ask him/her if they’ll sell/trade you a copy of the second tape with Ohtani vs Tajiri tacked on. If they won’t, avoid the 01/04/1997 Tokyo Dome Show at all costs, the first tape isn’t worth the money or mental trauma.
