1. The
Brahmans (Shu & Kei) vs. Masaya Takahashi & Takayuki Ueki
Harmless,
loony fun. Ueki’s character is pure comedy gold sometimes.
**
2. Speed
of Sounds (Tsutomu Oosugi & Hercules Senga) vs. MEN’S Teioh & Atsushi
Maruyama
This
was way more light-hearted than expected, and not in a particularly good way.
What a waste of Maruyama.
**
3. Ryuichi
Kawakami & Masato Inaba vs. Kohei Sato & Hideyoshi Kamitani
Damn!
I was really looking forward to see Kohei smack people silly, but the video is
no good motherfucker, such a travesty.
N/A
4. Ikkitousen 2014 ~ Strong Climb ~ Block B:
Kazuki Hashimoto vs. Manabu Soya
Soya
thrives in Big Japan like nowhere else, and I’ve really learned to appreciate
him this year. He’s a perfect match for the style, as evidenced here once
again. And what about K-HASH, you say? Well, he’s turned into a super reliable
wrestler and pretty much the Top 10 WOTY material, immense guy.
***3/4
5. Ryuji
Ito, Jaki Numazawa, Masashi Takeda vs. Yankee Nichokenju (Yuko Miyamoto &
Isami Kodaka) & Kankuro Hoshino
Super
fast deathmatch, seriously, the pace was frantic but coherent. Takeda is the
man. Hoshino can be a good deathmatch underdog when he tones down the
unnecessary comedy.
***1/4
6. Ikkitousen 2014 ~ Strong Climb ~ Block A:
Shuji Ishikawa vs. Shinya Ishikawa
Shuji
is a proven badass behemoth and big pain in the ass for entire Big Japan
roster. First he dominated the DM Division for a whole year, now he’s trying to
do the same with Strong and Tag Divisions, and he’s pretty damn successful so
far. Shinya is the Strong Champion, and if anyone stands a chance against the
big bad bruiser, it’s him. Great match with a logical and effective layout and
strategies.
****
7. Ikkitousen 2014 ~ Strong Climb ~ Block B:
Shinobu vs. Daisuke Sekimoto
One
of the pillars of puroresu is rigid hierarchy and long character arcs about
improving your game and climbing up the totem pole, it usually takes years to
achieve it, but when it finally arrives, the payoff is beautiful. WHAT A MATCH!
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