Shinya Hashimoto vs Masato Tanaka (ZERO1 3/2/2002)
Tanaka disrespects the belt, and Hashimoto makes an example of him. This
is among the greatest squash matches of all time, as Hashimoto looks
like an unstoppable killing machine, and Tanaka looks like the gutsiest
dude on earth for surviving. Tanaka is „deathmatch tough“ so you buy him
surviving all the punishing blows and maybe decking Hashimoto with a
potatoe of his own. Him being unable to hold on to a sleeper simply
because he took a beating to every part of his body was pretty great
aswell. Still this was all about Hashimoto destroying a poor fella. He
may be the best ever at utilizing a basic karate chop to look like a
badass.
Shinjiro Otani & Masato Tanaka vs. Wataru Sakata & Hirotaka Yokoi (ZERO1 7/7/2002)
Two shooters demolish a pair of established stars. Really fun
uncooperative stiff battle. Tanaka potatoeing shooters is certainly way
more interesting than what he is usually doing. Really good babyface
performance from him as he absorbed a nasty nasty assbeating, all his
throws were really well timed. And Sakata is basically a violent killing
machine in 2002. His high knee has become one of my favourite strikes
in pro wrestling ever. Yokoi was pretty game as a guy with gloves
pounding on dudes. Otani outgrappling Yokoi repeatedly was really fun.
Also, that out of nowhere missile dropkick was just amazing and one of
the best spots of the year. Yokoi being able to hang with Otani for a
bit by beating him silly during the finishing during the finishing
section was really cool. The finish itself has Otani rolling out the
Dragon Suplex and while a Dragon Suplex is pretty much a transition move
now here it felt like you were watching the poor guy get killed.
Shinya Hashimoto & Katsuhiko Ogasawara vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Tatsuhito Takaiwa (ZERO1 8/2/2002)
Plenty brutal match that was characterized by Hashimoto looking great
and and Ogasawara having an absolute meltdown, resulting in some gritty
highly uncooperative exchanges. Ogasawara seemed too concerned with
protecting himself so Takaiwa at one point just starts decking him for
real. To make up for the chaos surrounding the karateka, there were some
damn good exchanges between Takaiwa and Hashimoto. Hashimoto looked
peak level sharp, including busting out some awesome submission counters
dropping his full weight on Takaiwas shoulder, and Takaiwa looked great
as a gutsy underdog trying to cut through him with lariats. There were
some choice Fujiwara/Hash exchanges too altough Fujiwara went to his
comedy later.
Ryouji Sai vs. Hirotaka Yokoi (ZERO1 6/27/2002)
Another fun, scrappy, hate filled bout. Both guys were spitting venom
and fighting like maniacs. Sai was pretty lively here, way better than
the duller Nagata I've seen him be in other matches, he was throwing
fists at Yokoi and putting up a major fight. His suplexes ruled. Yokoi
aside from being a glove wearing shooter who will batter opponents with
punches and chokes has really fun mugging facial expressions here. I
loved all the non-clean hit strikes. Best 5 minute match of the year?
Shinjiro Ohtani & Masato Tanaka vs. Shinya Hashimoto & Katsuhiko Ogasawara (ZERO1 9/16/2002)
This was pretty much 4 guys potatoeing each other hard to great
entertainment value. I am digging Ogasawara, as anytime he's in the ring
guys crank up the intensity and really crowbar him across the ring.
Ohtani is especially nasty in this. Ogasawara also dishes out some
pretty great looking kicks here. Tanaka looked damn good here, as his
exchanges with Hashimoto were reminescent of their singles match. Tanaka
tried working the leg, and he is quite good at basic things like
shooting in for a takedown to get a leg, and then Hashimoto would feel
disrespected and just maul him. The sports entertainment moment with
Tanaka turning on Otani and leaving the match was stupid and prevents
this from being higher on the list, although the nasty 2 on 1 thrashing
Otani ate after that was one of the more harrowing pay offs to such an
angle I can remember.
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