Osamu Nishimura vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (NJPW 8/10/2002)
I may be in the complete minority here, but I thought this wasn't as good a Nishimura/Rutten in some aspects, particularily because Takayama came across as holding back. This was still some pretty great character driven pro wrestling with a technical edge. Takayama doing those bridge up spots is wonderous. I wish he had sold the legwork a little more. Nishimuras throwback spots for massive reactions ruled as usual. Nishimura can actually set up a move or hit a pin combo that decides the match, so he never comes across as exhibitiony. Liked Takayama just kicking him like a dog, but this is largely the Nishimura show aside from the novelty of Takayama doing technical wrestling.
Osamu Nishimura vs. Takashi Iizuka (NJPW/MUGA 10/6/2002)
Iizuka returns to wrestling. And he gets to fight Nishimura in a long technical battle! Is this the longest singles match Iizuka has ever been in? Does anyone even remember any significantly long Iizuka singles matches?? As far as lesser known 2002 Nishimura singles matches go, I'd say this was better than Nishimura/Shiga. Iizuka was much less luggage than Shiga, instead he was actively trying to crack the stoic grappler, while Nishimura seemed to have an answer to everything. Iizuka finally found what he was looking for when he got Nish in one of his sambo leg locks. An awesome battle of leg entanglements ensued that left both guys struggling to get up. Couple brilliant nearfalls down the stretch that I bit on. Nishimura was the man in 2002 and Iizuka more than held up.
Yuki Ishikawa vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (ZERO1 4/27/2002)
YO! This match is two sided. First of all, they level some epic beatings on eachother here. No doubt about it. Ohtani goes at Ishikawa like he just caught him with his daughter. Just punishing him with kicks, slaps, bloodying him, some nasty as hell face grinding, and he slaps the ring boys too for good measure. Ishikawa makes one or two epic comebacks, including one where he just punches Ohtani square in the face and another where he hits one of his stiffest enzuigiris ever and then tries to break Otanis arm in several places. So you feel like you are watching an epic fight, but then the match seemed to be lacking in well thought out transitions or some kind of twist and also it's all over in less than 9 minutes. For that there is plenty of asskicking going on here, but other than that – I guess I just expect deeper material from Ishikawa who is a master of the neat touch even in a short wild brawl. Then again this was largely the Otani show. But – if you want to tune out and watch two surely elderly japanese men throw the kitchen sink, this is your stuff.
Masayuki Naruse vs. Takehiro Murahama (NJPW 8/29/2002)
Naruse has to be in the running for most under utilized Japanese worker ever (you know, excluding guys who only worked Z-indies and only made tape a few times in 10 years). He didn't have a problem at all hitting the mat and trading nasty strikes for 20 minutes. This was some cool modern shootstyle action. There was a big size difference, but Murahama more than held his own with some lightning quick strikes. There was some slick U-Style matwork as well as plenty of manly kicks and suplexes. I thought the match was hurt a bit by NJPW being undecided whether it wanted to be a shootstyle or pro style company at this time and there were some slightly melodramatic touches towards the end.
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