Tanomusaku Toba Documentation #7

 Tanomusaku Toba & MIKAMI vs. Kota Ibushi & Daichi Kakimoto, DDT 12/28/2005 - EPIC

Spectacular indy match upgraded to a Toba-style stifffest. Ibushi was way better here than in their 2008 singles. In that match he played kind of a moronic overdog to Tobas underdog, here he is underdog while Toba demolishes him and it’s way more compelling. Tobas initial flurry of KO’ing Ibushi over and over was great and it set up a great Ibushi offense where he was kicking the crap out of Toba with a serious sense of pissed offness. So obviously I loved the Ibushi/Toba slaughtering each other sections, but MIKAMI and Kakimoto hold up their own. Kakimoto is a really fun thick guy who throws suplex and potatoes people with elbows and lariats, which is exactly the kind of simplistic pro wrestlers. I’ve seen people call MIKAMI a poor mans Marufuji before but from everything I’ve seen he is worlds better than Marufuji. MIKAMI really knows how to time his stuff, knows how to fly into the scene with a thudding missile dropkick or flying rana at just the right moment. He knew Ibushi and Toba were gonna be stiff and understood he had to land his stuff with real oomph to it. His senton to Kakimoto may have been among the most crushing moves I’ve ever seen. He and Toba also exhibit great veteran chemistry working several cool cutoffs against Ibushi and Kakimoto. The finishing run was grand with several twists and turns and a few epic saves, but didn’t overstay its welcome. I’m surprised this match doesn’t get more play, really stiff, compelling action with enough athletic moves to keep even a more casual audience entertained, the perfect hybrid of 90s and 2000s Japan indy action.

Asian Cougar & Tomohiko Hashimoto v Showa & Tanomusaku Toba (Onita Pro 10/28/2001) - GREAT

DDT crew bringing the goods on a random Onita mark show. I am 99% sure Showa is just Phantom Funakoshi in a cheap mask doing a tribute gimmick, which is not as cool as him just being a guy who happens to wrestle like the old stylists. Still, match was quality shit between 4 juniors who all have unique styles and personalities.. Starts great with Hashimoto ragdolling Toba around and dropping him on his head with a crazy Randleman like throw. We get everyone doing their cool shit, Toba busts out his apron kick, nice dive train etc. Asian Cougar seemed to be holding back at first, and it made his big spots later seem cooler. There was an unfortunate moment where Toba slipped on a double team move, but other than that he was the Toba we all love, kicking hard, punching guys in the face, and getting spiked with some of these throws.

Tanomusaku Toba vs. Shintaro Karasu, Onita Pro 5/4/2001- FUN

Shintaro Karasu is a flier who looks like a mini Hayabusa but with a weird birdlike mask. Normally he’s just your average spotty undercarder, but he takes a pretty big asskicking from Toba here and responds in kind with big swinging open hand strikes and a nasy solebutt. They only showed a few minutes from a short match, would’ve liked to see the whole thing, but it serves as a nice career highlight for the mysterious Shintaro Karasu.

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