NJC '15 - Round 2

New Japan Cup 2015

(2015/3/8)

1.       YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jay White

***1/4

2.       10-MAN TAG: Satoshi Kojima, Tiger Mask, Manabu Nakanishi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Mascara Dorada vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Liger, Tomoaki Honma, Cpt. New Japan, KUSHIDA

***1/4

3.       Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yohei Komatsu

Damn good match with some great moments, the Young Lions were on FIRE here as they got a big chance to prove themselves tough against the big dogs. It led to few truly amazing moments playing off the age and pecking order differences. Now I really want to see Nagata/Komatsu and Tanahashi/Tanaka.

***3/4

4.       8-MAN TAG: Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Bullet Club (Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Tama Tonga, Cody Hall)

Average match that should’ve been much better. There were some glaring botches and timing issues, Tonga was very bad here.

**1/4

5.       NJC 2015 – Round 2: Yujiro Takahashi vs. Togi Makabe

A Yujiro Takahashi snoozefest.

bad

6.       NJC 2015 – Round 2: Toru Yano vs. Kota Ibushi

Yano got Yanoed, haha. I loved this.

***1/4

7.       NJC 2015 – Round 2: Bad Luck Fale vs. Tetsuya Naito

Great shit and right up there with the last year’s NJC Finale as the best Fale match. The body of work was very clever with Naito attacking Fale’s leg after being outpowered on multiple occasions. They even grappled and struggled for control on the mat for a little bit, very unusual for a Fale match. The finish was beautiful.

****

8.       NJC 2015 – Round 2: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hirooki Goto

Finally these two didn’t work their usual strikefest style for once, instead they worked a traditional match and it rocked. I loved all the ground game and power struggle, limbs were attacked and everything looked very organic and coherent. They still found time to smack each other silly, but that wasn’t the theme of the match, no, it was pound-for-pound wrestling. Excellent match!

****1/4