Tag Archives: Japan

Apr 30 2013
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Wrestling Clips

Okada Keeps it Raining in April

by Daniel Johnson

NJPW Invasion Attack Hype Video

Sometimes when a person is given too much in too little time they self-destruct. Even worse this dilemma is not just limited to people with the first name, “Warrior,” but has affected people ranging from Corey Haim to Axl Rose to Dave Chappelle, sometimes tragically, sometimes in cases that bring out schadenfreude in just about anyone.

Kazuchika Okada undoubtedly had the most successful year of his career last year. That is until at least this year ends as the last few weeks have shown Okada may eclipse his previous success. Aside from winning the NJPW New Japan Cup 2013 in March, earlier this month he earned his second IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

Let’s back up a bit.

Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata vs. Riki Choshu and Kazuchika Okada

This match is from 2009, which doesn’t seem so long ago until you look at how different Okada looks from the previous hype video. Yet, Okada’s performance shows his talent even back then. He starts off with a killer looking dropkick, does a plancha over the top rope to the floor and sells like a champ throughout. Having been ready for so much more at this point and being given so much less has no doubt at least in part shaped his mindset to keep his success. Of course Chappelle, Rose and yes even Haim had to work on their craft to some extent before breaking through…and later breaking down. So far it looks like Okada can only reach higher ground as he helps carry NJPW, but no matter where he goes, the Rainmaker has already made his mark.

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Apr 29 2013
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Site News

Site News 4/29/13

by Daniel Johnson

Hey boys and girls! It’s been a while since the site has been updated daily, but that will resume…in time. This site should have new posts featured daily at some point ranging from either a few weeks to a few months. In the meantime there will at minimum be some sporadic updates each month. After all the world of wrestling keep trudging on no matter what. Of course, since early March not a lot has actually happened. Just the same old, same old as some guy returned, another guy or two got injured and some obscure event took place. Admittedly, there has been at least one sweet new champion crowned.

For the updates over the next few weeks (or months) look for mostly new posts to pop up in the Wrestling Clips section. However, when the daily updates comeback just about every section should build up a wealth of new material including the Wrestling Interviews, Wrestling Lists, Wrestling Reviews sections and even some odd bits in the Smooth Runs section. Also, the poll for The Crown J will finally take place…sometime before the end of 2013. There may be a shortage of independent wrestling, stuff from Japan and of course the occasional reference or two to WWE and TNA around here for a bit, but only for a bit.

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Feb 24 2013
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Wrestling Clips

SMOP Attempts to Smoosh Muta

by Daniel Johnson

The Great Muta and KENSO vs. Akebono and Ryota Hama

Despite being so big that the size of their lunch would make most men cower in fear, the Super Megaton Ohzumo Powers (SMOP) aka Akebono and Ryota Hama have their work cut out for them going against The Great Muta. Oddly enough Muta wears a mask that is from an animal nearly the size of Akebono.

The match quality is all over the place in this one. Muta hits a shinning wizard seconds into the contest on Akebono, which Akebono shakes off. KENSO, who is hardly a ring technician, uses an offense that consists of mostly slapping Ryota Hama in the face. Not that, that is necessarily a bad thing considering the way that Hama sells them it makes this bout more entertaining than around 95 percent of KENSO’s matches.

All the best action happens in about the last minute of the match. Prior to that the clip is mostly a lot of slow moving by SMOP and a lot of smacking by KENSO (again not necessarily bad). Hama hits a running stink face on Muta and a big splash, but Muta just manages to kick out. Muta then attempts to spray Hama with some mist, but Hama has it scouted and is wearing goggles. KENSO snatches Hama’s goggles and delivers a not necessarily bad slap to Hama’s face. Muta finishes it all with some mist followed by a shinning wizard to bookend it.

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Feb 16 2013
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Wrestling Clips

Tanahashi Sweeps the Leg

by Daniel Johnson

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Prince Devitt

Yes, in this bout Tanahashi uses the same strategy that the fearsome Cobra Kai used on poor Ralph Macchio. As talented as Tanahashi and Devitt are the logic behind this bout is baffling. Sure, Tanahashi targeting Devitt’s leg makes sense since Devitt is an incredible high-flyer, but then…Devitt completely no-sells it. Okay, well not completely, but there are athletes who could train for the rest of their lives and never hit a pele kick. Yet, Devitt lands one with a bad wheel? It’s kind of tough to suspend disbelief for that. By the same token if Devitt sold the injury it would be even worse since spectators would miss out on all his high-flying awesomeness. It’s lose-lose, really.

As flawed as it is at least the match has psychology. Tanahashi goes after Devitt’s leg early after Prince gets it caught in the ropes. Despite being a way less hated Japanese version of John Cena, Tanahashi busts out some heel moves by slamming Devitt’s leg against the ringpost. Devitt acts hurt, but unrealistically waves it off to dropkick Tanahashi out of the ring and then flip over the top rope to land on his opponent. Some more dropkicks are thrown along with the aforementioned pele kick and a double stomp for Tanahashi.

At least Devitt shows Tanahashi some respect in this match from the 2010 G1 Climax. He only wins after barely managing to roll Tanahashi up after Tanahashi had him beaten.

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Feb 09 2013
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Wrestling Clips

Stay Warm

by Daniel Johnson

The Great Muta vs. Yoshihiro Takayama

I dislike straying too far from the topic of wrestling on this blog, but Nemo is absolutely laying the smack down on the American Northeast aka the area that includes the headquarters of The Johnson Transcript. Just take a look at an actual picture of my car that I took today:

nemosnowstorm

Despite what the picture shows I’m actually not set up in a log cabin. The car is parked on a suburban street in Quincy, Massachusetts just south of Boston.

Anyway, that is probably not what you came here to read about. If you’re experiencing snowstorm Nemo there’s probably more practical places you can go for news than a humble wrestling blog and if you’re not experiencing this snowstorm then maybe you just came here to read about wrestling so I won’t disappoint! I just wanted to mention this snowstorm in case the updates get postponed in the near future. Either I lost power again or more likely The Yeti got me (and hopefully it’s not Ron Reis!).

I decided to post this clip as it is one that I’ve been meaning to get to for a long time, but wanted to save it for a special occasion. Since my power might go out at any moment and leave me without Internet for goodness knows how long…well, I’d say that’s special.

Getting to the actual match…The Great Muta has the reputation he does for a few reasons. Longevity plays a part in it as does the uniqueness of his gimmick. Yet, for me what makes Muta stand out more than anything is the overall package. Even when Muta isn’t stripping his face paint off and wrestling as Keiji Mutoh he can do it all from technical wrestling to high-flying to brawling. This last category has the most significance as it relates to this match.

While Muta is a skilled brawler, Yoshihiro Takayama is nothing to scoff at. The guy is not just legitimately tough, but may in fact be legitimately insane as well. Just check out the chair shot to the face he takes near the beginning of this match. Did I mention this bout took place in 2009? Yes, Takayama knew all the dangers that an unprotected chair shot could have, but he gladly took one anyway? Still, this bout is not a backyard affair and the two do more than put their bodies on the line. Both manage to pack some psychology into this less than fifteen minute bout. At times the psychology looks to be nothing more than who can get more blood out of the others’ forehead, but it is psychology nonetheless.

So if you’re reading this during Nemo stay warm, eat something warm and enjoy two of the best Japan has to offer fight for the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. If you’re reading this after the fact than just enjoy the clip!

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Feb 08 2013
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Wrestling Clips

The (Big) Boys Are Back in Town

by Daniel Johnson

Ryota Hama and Akebono vs. Daisuke Sekimoto and Yuji Okabayashi

If you’re like me and live in the American Northeast then you can appreciate the ridiculous amount of snow that we’re getting today. To go hand in hand with this are two guys who look like they permanently have their winter coats on: Ryota Hama and Akebono. Without a doubt the reason this team sticks out the most is their immense size. It is a case of Booking 101. Have two big guys that you need something to do with? Stick them together. Not that random grouping doesn’t have it’s benefits. Without randomness we never would have had Team Hell No or this clip I found on the FAN forum.

As for the match Daisuke and Yuji jump the big boys at the start. The saying the bigger they are, the harder they fall really speaks volumes here. Hama looks like he is still getting up from this attack nearly three minutes into the match. The big spots of the match include Daisuke and Yuji suplexing Akebono and then giving him a belly-to-back suplex. At one point Daisuke even manages to powerbomb Hama! Maybe, I shouldn’t have put that exclamation point there. It is not nearly as exciting as it sounds since Hama was standing on the second rope to set up the powerbomb. After plenty of punishment, Yuji scores the pin following three lariats.

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Feb 03 2013
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Wrestling Clips

Mighty Joe Doering

by Daniel Johnson

Joe Doering vs. Jun Akiyama

With his brute strength this new age Mike Awesome comes off less like mighty Joe Doering and more like Mighty Joe Young in this clip. Perhaps he was in the mindset of being a gigantic ape when he nailed the smaller Akiyama twice with a gorilla press slam. The first one he does almost lovingly by slamming Akiyama’s neck onto the ropes (okay, maybe lovingly is the wrong word). The second is all the more vicious which Doering appears to rejoice in when he launches Akiyama from ringside right into the guardrail.

With all this offense, Doering casually struts around the ring like a beast and Akiyama is selling his pain like a champ. Actually, the way some of Doering’s attacks were laid in, Akiyama probably doesn’t have to try that hard to sell. This set up pays off with a great surprise when Jun hits a flying. From there Jun gains a little momentum until he is planted down with an Arn Anderson approved spinebuster. Joe appears cocky again and lifts Jun up to the heavens for a powerbomb. Unfortunately, for Joe he lifted Jun a little too high and Jun rolls him up for a victory. The clip cuts off right after the pin, but I’m sure the loss made Doering go bananas.

On a random note this also happened yesterday. I don’t think any of the competitors threw feces at each other so alas there are no more monkey references to be made.

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Feb 02 2013
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Wrestling Clips

Choshu in His Fifties

by Daniel Johnson

Riki Choshu vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Here is a nifty exhibition from yesteryear. In this case the yesteryear of 2007 is not that long ago though this clip features current 61 year old grappler, Riki Choshu. He is in his mid fifties here, but aside from the gut he barely looks it. The action is methodical with not a lot of fast paced action, but plenty of Choshu and Ishii feeling each other out.

Choshu gains the early advantage by pushing Ishii to the ground with a shoulder block. Ishii’s first successful offense is pretty weak as he performs a light chopfest in the corner. Tomohiro then adds insult to injury by placing Choshu in a sharpshooter, which of course Choshu helped innovate in the East. From there Ishii gets Riki back in the corner and this time comes alive with his blows. He must have thought of Kenta Kobashi because the forearms and Kenta-esque chops he lays in are vicious!

All these attacks eventually cause Choshu’s temper to go off. Choshu begins his comeback after Ishii fails to deliver a top rope move and instead gets punched to the mat by the wily veteran. From there Choshu wallops Ishii with not one, not two, but three lariats! The last of these moves looks like they nearly take Ishii’s head off! After the bout Choshu no doubt celebrated his spot as one of the cornerstones of modern Japanese wrestling and also as master of the Asian shake weight.

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Jan 28 2013
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Wrestling Clips

Tanaka and Ishii Live Strong Style

by Daniel Johnson

Masato Tanaka vs. Tomohiro Ishii

For American wrestling fans the smoke is still clearing from WWE’s 2013 Royal Rumble. While there was plenty of entertaining action and even more for people to complain about there was no match quite like this on the card. The entire bout is Tanaka and Ishii trying to one-up each other while being as stiff as possible. First they begin by slugging it out. From there the two move onto chops. This is just one chopfest of several that leads both competitors with beat red chests. Before long both are on all fours and are headbutting each other in an attempt to see who is tougher. Really, this looks barely like a worked match.

As far as wrestling moves go they appear rarely. Ishii delivers a powerbomb at one point that must bring up some memories of Mike Awesome for Tanaka. Tanaka also at one point is able to reverse a German suplex. Other than those and a few trademark moves used in Japanese strong style bouts (brainbusters, lariats, etc.) it all goes back to the striking. So who is more man? Only one way to find out, watch the clip!

On a random note also look out for one spectator trying in vain to start a Japanese ECW chant.

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Jan 26 2013
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Wrestling Clips

Kanemoto Wrecks Yamato

by Daniel Johnson

Koji Kanemoto vs. Hiroshi Yamato

From the moment Hiroshi Yamato flips in the ring he feels the wrath of Koji Kanemoto. Kanemoto assaults him with a variety of stiff kicks and punches. Yamato gets in little offense throughout, but the moves he accomplishes he makes count. The Orange Iguanas member forces Kanemoto from the ring at one point and hits an excellent suicide dive.

When the bout moves back inside Kanemoto soon takes back control. Tiger Mask fans may be disappointed because aside from the trademark stiff striking that all Tiger Masks are known for, Kanemoto, the former Tiger Masks III, doesn’t pull out a lot of Tiger Masks moves. Before all is said and done Yamato makes a brief comeback and scores two, two counts including one following a German suplex. As sweet as that suplex looked the move of the match may be a toss up between one performed by Kanemoto and one performed by the referee. For the finish Kanemoto looks like he is going to win in the style of Bret Hart with a sharpshooter. Yet, after grabbing Yamato’s legs he puts on a completely different submission move. Yamato makes it to the ropes once, but because Kanemoto then alters the submission it apparently doesn’t count. The ref then pulls out his move by slapping Yamato repeatedly until he taps.

The match goes to Kanemoto with an assist to the ref.

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