NJPW on AXS TV: Episode 11

New Japan Pro-Wrestling on AXS TV

Episode 11, March 27th 2015

They aired the very clipped version of Naito/Ishii from Invasion Attack 2014. Shame, it was a great match, but I do realize it was a warm-up for the main event. We still got to see Ishii dropping Naito on his head repeatedly. Damn, that was nasty! Go and check the full version of this match!

Somewhere in the studio, Tana is talking about the third Nakamura match in only three months.

Invasion Attack 2014

(2014/4/6)

IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi ©

The very best Nakamura/Tanahashi match, the ultimate edition, the pinnacle of the rivalry, I gave it five stars last year and was pretty much alone in doing so, I literally don’t remember anyone other than me going full boat on this masterpiece of pro-wrestling. Hopefully there’s someone out there who came around. I bet that in 20-30 years there will be some kids on some message board discussing about “hidden gems” of pro-wrestling and this match is going to be a hot topic for awhile, someone will dig it out beneath all the famous Ishii, Shibata and Okada well-known classics.

They start things with some neat catch wrestling packed in the feeling out process, there were sweet reversals and patient, defensive wrestling, but then Tana gets bored and goes into semi-full heel mode. He goes after Nakamura’s left leg and is fucking relentless in doing so. Think a honey badger attacking a cobra. He just won’t let it go. Tanahashi puts on the Tanahashi pace and makes everyone know this is a Tanahashi match, through and through. Basically, he’s a dick. He’s sick of working with Shinsuke again and doesn’t care from the crowd boos, he’s just here to fuck up Shinsuke’s leg. Shit man, it is a thing of beauty watching him work over it, every time Shinsuke is about to make a proper comeback, Tanahashi simply goes after his leg again and again and again… Truly relentless. The match is full of amazing little details that display their big wrestling IQs, full of twists and turns, but the main plot is still Tana destroying the challenger’s left leg. There’s an occasion or two with Shinsuke kind of “forgetting” the previous legwork, but Tana always “kindly” reminds him what the match is all about. Shinsuke eventually makes a proper comeback after working from behind for a whole match and throws a plethora of super nasty blasts, including punches, and then a series of Boma Yes brings Tana down and bang – Nakamura regains his white strap.

What a fucking masterpiece!

*****

Backstage, Tana mumbles about something.

Inside the ring, the Gracie duo arrives and Daniel challenges Nakamura. But first, it’s the Gracies vs. Nakamura and Sakuraba!

Somewhere in the studio, Tana is reflecting on the match, he’s talking about respect Shinsuke’s grown for him and how it was an honor to hold the IC strap.