This was a really interesting set of matches. Each match involves the defense of a Junior Heavyweight Title from a different federation. It was the precursor to one of the biggest junior heavyweight tournaments in wrestling history. It will all be explained at the end of this review.
LANCE STORM & YUJI YASURAOKA vs EL SAMURAI & NORIO HONAGA (WAR Jr. Tag Titles)
Storm is sporting that stupid tail at the end of his buzzcut. Thank god he got rid of that thing. I don’t really like Yasuroaoka. I’ve only seen him twice before this. One of matches was against Rey Misterio Jr. and if you can’t pull out ** with Misterio during 1996, then you’ve got a problem. Samurai was actually wrestling pretty well by this point so he’s not going to get too much disrespect from me. Honaga is crap, nuff said. We start out with Samurai working over Yasuroaoka’s leg for a bit. Tag to Honaga and they hit a wishbone spot. Honaga hits a snap mare and a rolling neck breaker "Hennig style." Yasuroaoka retaliates with some stiff kicks and tags in Storm. Storm gets in a bodyslam and then tags in Yasuroaoka who hits a sweet slingshot senton. Yuji with a gut buster for two. Tag to storm who hits a rolling slam. Irish whip but Storm misses the "stinger splash" by more than kilometer. Honaga tags in Samurai. He hits a hangman’s neckbreaker for two. Samurai with a Waistlock suplex for two. Storm manages to tag and Yasuroaoka hits a springboard diamond dust. WOW!!! That’s impressive. Either that or he botched something else to the point where I couldn’t even tell. Samurai to the outside and Yuji hits a double jump plancha. Back in the ring, Samurai hits a dropkick and then hits a Tope Suicida. Back in, and Samurai tags in Honaga. They hit Yuji with a double "hang out to dry" suplex and Honaga slaps on the dreaded GRABBING OF STOMACH FAT NERVE HOLD OF DESTRUCTION! Nice spot as Samurai backdrops Yuji into a waiting Honaga who hits a powerbomb. Another great spot as Honaga and Samurai hit stereo missile dropkicks "Rockers style" on Yuji. Samurai hits The Thunderfire Powerbomb but Storm makes the save at 2 and ½. Honaga goes to the top but Yuji cuts him off and hits a superplex. Wicked spot as Storm hits a powerbomb, lifts up Honaga and Yuji hits a German suplex. That gets two after Samurai makes the save. Storm hits his handspring splash and follows up with a Northern Lights Suplex but Samurai makes the save at two. Storm hits the wicked roll through Boston crab but Samurai makes the save again. Storm goes for a powerbomb but Honaga reverses into a rana, which is again reversed into a sunset flip for the three count. The spots were cool but the match was just below solid. **1/2
MASAYOSHI MOTEGI vs SHIRYU (NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title)
Man did WCW really drop the ball with Kaz Hayashi. I’ve recently picked up quite a bit of footage with Shiryu/Hayashi and it’s all been great stuff. This guy should be Cruiserweight champion instead of Scott Steiner’s Jung Dragon recliner bitch. Motegi has all of one good move; The Rolling German Suplexes. And guess what boys and girls, he doesn’t use it in this match. Motegi uses a lot of mat stuff to start. Motegi with an abdominal stretch but Hayashi hip locks him out of it. Shiryu slaps on a disgusting Boston crab – surfboard combination move. I’ve never seen that move before. Shiryu slaps on a side headlock; he segues that into a dragon sleeper, which he then converts into reverse DDT. Shiryu and Motegi get into a slugfest on the apron and Motegi hits a really sloppy waistlock suplex from the apron to the floor. Motegi the dirty bastard hits Shiryu with the NWA Jr. Title while on the floor. Back in the ring where Motegi lays in a lariat and a dropkick. Shiryu is outside and gets nailed with a Tope Suicida. Nice sequence as Motegi tries to suplex Shiryu back from the apron to the ring but Shiryu slips out. He goes for a German suplex but Motegi gets a standing switch and goes for a German suplex of his own but that’s flipped out of by Shiryu. He hits Motegi with a dropkick and he’s out on the floor. Shiryu hits a SOMERSAULT TOPE SUICIDA! Holy shit that was awesome. This was not somersault plancha or a tope con hilo. Hayashi managed to do a somersault after going through (not over) the ropes. WOW! Back in the ring and Shiryu hits a JUMPING Fisherman’s Buster. Shiryu goes for a belly to back suplex but Motegi rolls out. Shiryu kicks him in the ribs and nails a tombstone piledriver. Shiryu follows up with a gorgeous moonsault for 2 and ½. Shiryu charges in but Motegi catches him in a Uranage for 2 and ½. Motegi hits a powerbomb for 2 and ¾. Motegi hits a delayed brainbuster for 2 and 9/10. Motegi with a jumping tombstone piledriver but misses with a flying headbutt. Shiryu goes to the top but Motegi catches him and hits a top rope powerbomb. UGH… that didn’t look like it was done very well. In any case, it gets the three count. The match started out pretty sloppy but had decent buildup and a good finish. **3/4
GRAN HAMADA vs TATSUHITO TAKAIWA (WWA Jr. Heavyweight Title)
Oh my god, you’ve got to see what Takaiwa looks like on this tape. He’s got a full head of hair, he’s clean shaven, he’s built like a brick house and he has non-rookie tights on. I didn’t recognize him until halfway through the match when his usual stuff was starting to get pulled out. Hamada of course is the greatest fifty-year-old wrestler in the history of the planet. They start out with a Grecko roman knuckle lock, which Hamada dropkicks out of. Takaiwa lays in some stiff punches, kicks, and stomps. Yep… that’s the Takaiwa I know alright. Hamada responds with his trademark MEGA HEADBUTT! Irish whip and Hamada goes for a leapfrog but Takaiwa catches him in a powerslam. Irish whip by Takaiwa into the corner but Hamada hits a second rope moonsault bodyblock. WOW… remember this guy is about forty-eight years old at the time of this show. Takaiwa to the outside and Hamada hits a pescado. Hamada back in the ring, to the top rope where he hits another plancha. Back in the ring and Hamada hits three consecutive lariats. Hamada with a top rope rana. Hamada goes for another rana but Takaiwa reverses into a sit out powerbomb for 2 and ½. Takaiwa hits a bodyslam and top rope elbow drop for 2 and ½. Awesome spot as Takaiwa looks to flapjack Hamada but catches him in mid air and hits a Death Valley Driver. Takaiwa hits an Aztecan suplex for 2 and ½. Really nice spot as Takaiwa heads to the top but Hamada handstands up and hits a rana. Hamada hits a leaping swinging DDT for three. This match was solid all throughout and gets ***
SHINJIRO OHTANI vs KAZUSHI SAKURABA (UWA Light Heavyweight Title)
Uh oh… I don’t like this. Sakuraba has a shooter stance. Shooter stance means Ohtani is going to have the shit beat out of him with various stiff kicks and rough punches. Remember the Super J Cup 1995? They stuck Ohtani against that Mockizuki guy who took the liberty of pelting Ohtani with kicks that might as well have been bricks. Ah well… I’m sure THE BITCHMASTER is up to the task once again. Shooter boy in the J Cup couldn’t handle Ohtani and shooter boy in the Skydiving J isn’t going to handle him either. On to the match where Sakuraba lays in some NASTY kicks. Ohtani tries to turn his back to decrease the pain but Sakuraba lays in a GODDAMN YOU’RE TOASTED RELEASED GERMAN SUPLEX! Oh my god, Misawa take note, Ohtani just took a sicker bump than you will ever take. This is stiff city. Sakuraba lays in some more brutal kicks. Ohtani is dead on his feet. Sakuraba lays in some rough punches and some knees to the head. Sakuraba goes for a leg bar but Ohtani rolls through and slaps on a leg bar of his own. DAMN RIGHT!!! Back to a vertical base and Sakuraba goes for another one of his stiff kicks but Ohtani the PHD of everything on the planet is too smart for that and slaps on an anklelock submission. Sakuraba goes for the ropes but Ohtani pulls him back into the middle of the ring and slaps on an anklelock – kneelock combination. Sakuraba eventually reaches the ropes but Ohtani refuses to let go of the hold. The crowd is booing him. SHUT UP YOU IDIOTS! Ohtani lays in some kicks to the leg but Sakuraba catches him and applies a leg bar. Sakuraba segues that into a wristlock – elbowlock submission. Ohtani is SCREAMING in pain. Ohtani gets to the ropes but Sakuraba the bastard pulls Ohtani away (bias? NO…) and slaps on a Boston Crab. Ohtani reverses into a leg bar. Sakuraba tries to kick Ohtani but it only pisses him off more. Sakuraba eventually gets to the ropes. Ohtani lays in a spin wheel kick and hits a released German suplex. He heads to the top for a missile dropkick but it misses. Sakuraba slaps on a Sasumegatime but Ohtani reaches the ropes. The crowd is really into this match. Sakuraba has the move cinched in really well. Ohtani reaches the ropes and Sakuraba lays in three stiff knees to the head and then a BRUTAL kick to the head. Oh lord… this is really ugly. Ohtani passes out and rolls to the apron. Sakuraba tries to punch Ohtani while on the apron but Ohtani blocks, gets in a forearm shot and fires off the springboard dropkick to the back of the head. Ohtani hits a released Dragon suplex. He slaps on a choke bodyscissors and that’s the ball game. This match was fucking stiff as hell and shows that you don’t need big flashy spots to make a match something to remember. ***1/2
SUPER DELPHIN vs TAKA MICHINOKU (CMLL Welterweight Title)
They start out really quick. TAKA charges at Delphin but gets backdropped to the outside. Delphin goes for a pescado but TAKA moves out of the way. TAKA hits a beautiful Quebrada moonsault to the outside. Back in the ring, TAKA hits a nice flying forearm. He snapmares Delphin over and hits a quick dropkick to the back of the head. TAKA works over the leg for a bit. TAKA lets go and Delphin takes control. He hits a snapmare and lays in a stiff kick to the back. TAKA no sells and responds with a slap in the face. Now he snapmares Delphin and hits a stiff kick of his own. Delphin hits a nice dropkick and a spinning head scissors. TAKA rolls to the outside and Delphin looks to go for a plancha but stops in the middle of the ring and does that stupid pose. The crowd pops HUGE for that one though. Back in the ring and Delphin hits a couple of forearm shots. TAKA hits a couple forearms of his own. TAKA hits a snap belly-to-belly suplex. He goes for a German suplex but Delphin gets a standing switch, TAKA reverses that into a leg bar. Delphin gets to the ropes and then rolls out like a pussy. WUSS!!! Back in the ring and TAKA fires off a sweet dropkick to the knee. TAKA slaps on a cross leg bar and Delphin gets to the ropes. TAKA hits knee breaker and then slaps on a figure four leg lock but Delphin gets to the ropes. SWEET spot as Delphin rolls outside, TAKA goes for his springboard plancha but Delphin moves to the other side of the ring so TAKA springboards to the other rope and then hits the plancha. Back in the ring where TAKA goes for his half of The Dream Sequence but Delphin knocks him off the ropes as TAKA goes for the springboard dropkick. Delphin hits a top rope plancha. Back in the ring and Delphin hits a Bridging belly to back suplex. NICE!!! TAKA kicks out at 2 and ½. Delphin gets a flying body press for 2 and ½. Delphin hits a really delayed brainbuster for 2 and ½. Delphin hits a wicked Tornado DDT and goes for the Delphin Clutch but TAKA manages to get an inside cradle for two. TAKA hits La Majistral cradle for 2 and ¾. TAKA goes for the Michinoku Driver but Delphin slips out and hits a German suplex for two. Delphin hits a huracanrana for 2 and ½. TAKA rolls through that for a sunset flip for 2 and ¾. TAKA hits a springboard dropkick for 2 and ¾. TAKA hits the Michinoku Driver II for 2 and 9/10. TAKA goes for another Michinoku Driver but Delphin reverses into a tornado reverse DDT for 2 and 9/10. WOW!!! THAT WAS AN AWESOME MOVE! Delphin hits The Delphin Special II for the victory. This match rocked. Coming from someone that doesn’t like Delphin very much that means a lot. ****1/4
GRAN NANIWA vs ULTIMO DRAGON (WAR International Jr Heavyweight Title)
Naniwa is someone that I like but bugs the hell out of me. He’s really talented but devotes so much time to so called "comedy" that it detracts from the match. A prime example is that stupid crab walk elbow. Ugh… Dragon on the other hand is one of my favourite wrestlers ever. Those rat bastards in WCW should be hung for what they did to him. ANWYAY… on to the match. Naniwa hits a dropkick right off of the bat. Naniwa hits a top rope rana but Dragon no sells and hits a lariat. Irish whip and Dragon hits a tilt a whirl back breaker. He segues that into a half Boston, which he then turns into an Indian deathlock complete with bridge. Dragon hits an inverted surfboard – dragon sleeper combo. Uh oh... clipping. That’s not good. We find Naniwa in control with a figure four leg lock applied. Naniwa lets go, hits a front slam and then goes for the STUPID, IDIOTIC, WORSE THAN THE DELPHIN CLUTCH, CRAB WALK ELBOW! God I HATE that move. Anyone that disrespects The Rock’s People’s Elbow but gets a kick out of Naniwa’s crab walk elbow is an idiot and a hypocrite. Anyway, Ultimo gets the feet up in Naniwa’s face. GOOD, THAT’LL TEACH YOU! Dragon hits a dropkick, which sends Naniwa to the outside. Dragon hits the asai moonsault. Back in the ring and Ultimo Dragon gets a brainbuster for 2 and ¼. Dragon gets a backdrop suplex for 2 and ½. Dragon slaps on a sasumegatime but Naniwa gets to the ropes. Dragon hits a snap suplex and attempts a springboard dropkick but Naniwa knocks him to the floor. Naniwa hits a somersault bodyblock from the apron to the floor. Naniwa hits a top rope plancha. Back in the ring and Naniwa hits a doctor bomb for 2 and ¾. Naniwa hits a Tiger suplex for 2 and 9/10. Naniwa goes for another but we all know what happens when you try two moves in a row. Dragon kicks him, and lays in a spin wheel kick. Dragon hits a front slam and then a moonsault for 2 and ¾. Dragon hits a butterfly suplex and goes to the top for another moonsault but Naniwa cuts him off. Naniwa goes for a rana from the top to the floor but Dragon throws him off. Dragon hits a somersault plancha from the top. Back in the ring and Dragon hits a running Lyger bomb for 2 and 9/10. He goes for another but Naniwa reverses into a rana for 2 and ¾. Dragon hits the shoulderblock – moonsault combo and then slaps on La Majistral cradle for three. This was just above solid. ***1/4
DICK TOGO vs JUSHIN "THUNDER" LYGER (British Jr. Heavyweight Title)
Remember how I said WCW dropped the ball with Hayashi? Substitute WWF for WCW and substitute Kaientai for Hayashi and you understand everything. I’m glad that Togo is having a good time beating the shit out of Delphin over in Osaka Pro. TEACH HIM SOME RESPECT! Mega clipping to start. I really hate clipping. We start out with Togo hitting a huracanrana on Lyger, which sends him to the floor. Togo hits a tope suicida. Togo pulls away the ring mat and hits Lyger with DDT on the floor. OUCH!!! Back in the ring and Togo hits the kitchen sink and follows up with a slam and hits a double stomp on the chest from the second rope. UGH...that probably hurt as badly as it looked. Irish whip but Lyger reverses and hits a monkey flip. He follows up with a Koppo kick. Togo goes for a lariat but Lyger ducks and hits a VICIOUS released German suplex. Lyger hits a rough powerbomb for 2 and ½. Lyger works over the arm for a while. Lyger hits a front slam and hits a top rope stomp on the arm. Lyger hits a Koppo kick and follows up with a juji gatime but Togo gets to the ropes. To the outside we go as Lyger hits a plancha from the top. Back in the ring and Lyger hits a brainbuster for 2 and ½. Irish whip but it’s reversed and Lyger gets backdropped to the outside. Togo hits a baseball slide and hits a SICKENING slingshot senton from the ring to the floor. Togo goes for a rana from the apron but Lyger powerbombs him on the floor. NASTY!!! Lyger hits Togo with a powerbomb on the concrete. Lyger gets back in the ring and does a "Jeff Jarrett" strut. Ooohhh... now that’s cocky. Lyger rolls Togo back in the ring and goes for a German suplex but Togo hits a low blow. Togo hits a BRUTAL powerbomb and follows up with a top rope senton. The arrogant bastard doesn’t want the cover though. He hits a second top rope senton and that gets 2 and ¾. Togo goes back to the top but misses a senton. Lyger hits a missile dropkick to the arm. Lyger is the king of arm innovation. Lyger goes for a running palm strike but Togo gets a drop toehold and slaps on La Majistral cradle for 2 and ¾. Togo charges but Lyger kicks him in the midsection and hits The Fisherman’s Buster for 2 and 2/4. Lyger hits a SUPER FISHERMAN’S BUSTER and hits a rough shotei for the three count. This match was really good and gets ****
BLACK TIGER vs THE GREAT SASUKE (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title)
I don’t understand why the WWF never explored a better relationship with Michinoku Pro. We could be seeing this match today if McMahon would loosen up. Think about this: Sasuke, TMIV, Gran Hamada, TAKA Michinoku, Masato Yakushigi vs Jeff Hardy, Eddie Guerrero, Essa Rios, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. OH MY GOD!!! Just think about that. Excuse me while I drool for a second. Oh yeah… the match. They start out with some mat stuff. Eddie works over the arm while Sasuke works over the leg. Eddie takes control with a belly-to-belly suplex. Nice sequence of moves as Eddie slaps on an arm bar, which he turns into a hammerlock, which is then turned into a shoulder breaker, which is then followed up with the slingshot senton. Eddie goes for a suplex but it’s reversed and Sasuke hits a sleeper – armbar combination. Eddie gets out and hits a side waistlock suplex. Irish whip and he hits the jumping rolling elbow. Irish whip by Eddie but it’s reversed and Sasuke goes for a rana but Eddie reverses that into a variation on the spinebuster. I’m not sure if they just recovered from a botched sequence or not. It looked a little weird. Sasuke charges but Eddie hits a tilt a whirl slam for two. Eddie goes for a suplex but Sasuke slips out and goes for a German. Standing switch by Eddie who goes for a belly to back suplex but Sasuke rolls out of that and hits a hardcore suplex. Sasuke heads to the top and hits a top rope jumpkick. Back in the ring and Sasuke hits the shoulderblock – moonsault combo for 2 and ½. Sasuke goes for The Thunder Fire powerbomb but Eddie slips out. He runs into the ropes but Sasuke meets him with the handspring bodyblock. However Eddie catches him and hits a belly-to-belly suplex, which is then followed up with a juji gatime. Sasuke reaches the ropes and Tiger hits a VICIOUS brainbuster. They try for something on the top but it doesn’t seem to work. Sasuke goes for a top rope rana but it’s reversed into a powerbomb. Eddie follows up with a STF. Black Tiger hits the Crucifix powerbomb for 2 and 9/10. Eddie goes for Splash Mountain but Sasuke reverses into The Jericho Spike and that gets the three count. The ending was anti climatic but the rest was really good. ***3/4
And now we witness one of the most historical moments in junior wrestling history. All of the junior champions lay their belts around a giant trophy symbolizing they’ll put it all on the line in the J Crown tournament.
Final Analysis: Nothing sucked on this show, which is a definite plus. The best match involved Delphin, which really surprises me. I’ll attribute that to TAKA’s great ring work even though I’m sure others will be more than happy to tell me that Delphin is just really good and I won’t admit it. This tape is recommended to all junior fans. If you have the extra cash, pick up the J Crown as well as it’s the direct follow up to this show and involves one of the best junior matches in history between Ultimo Dragon and Shinjiro Ohtani.
