Pro Wrestling Chronicle

I’m attempting to drag my pal Gene Boyer onto the site to do a dueling review of the big Keiji Mutoh vs Shinsuke Nakamura IWGP Title match from over the weekend. We’ll see how I do soon enough. As for the match, I watched it, and I try to figure out between us (not Gene and I, but the two minds I have on most things) if you should Steal This Match

Keiji Mutoh vs Shinsuke Nakamura 4/27/08 (IWGP Title Match)

Didn’t Mutoh have his Andre Agassi comeback and run already? I could have sworn I saw the broken down old champion recreate himself with the bald head, win the All Japan title, and have his final great run. Could he be any more Kenta Kobashi!?

The television presentation is just great. They have a five minute hype video package with footage of both and interviews. Great music too that gives this a big time epic feel before they even go to the ring. The story they push seems to depict Mutoh as a returning legend. They show video of his (first?) IWGP title win over Hashimoto, as well as Mutoh at big shows and beating major names. They show him as a champion and a legend above other legends during the New Japan glory period in the 1990s. Nakamura is put over at the future. The new champion who ushers in a new era. The table is set and we go to the ring.

Crowd is hot already as Mutoh comes out. Man, not only is he over as hell but he has the facial expression of a man about to have a great moment. The facial expression just caught me, knowing the eventual outcome, because the narrative is in motion and Mutoh makes it feel real as he walks out. Cool touch.

So this is Nakamura? They are so high on this guy? Okay, I’ll bite. He’s not terribly physically imposing, nor does he have much of a look, but it’s tough to get out of Mutoh’s shadow here. Nakamura genuinely looks intimidated by the legend of Mutoh as the get ready. Mutoh getting loose and giving the idea of “one more time up the mountain” gives me some goose bumps. He does have a small belly now, and his legs are a bit thinner, but his look is still cool.

Early stuff is run of the mill wrestling holds and submission stuff. I could look at this and see a lack of anything world class, but that would be missing the aura of what’s going on here. They only need to be decent here. It’s a glass is half full opening, leading to Nakamura working on Mutoh’s arm with kicks and holds.

Mutoh’s two rolls out of the ring and walk of frustration help Nakamura. It legitimizes him to me, as says the vet isn’t quite ready for the young guy. Crowd gets behind the aging vet. Nakamura makes the mistake of going to the outside and gets dropkicked in the knee. Then we get a Shining Wizard from the floor knocking Nak. over the guardrail. Dragon Screw Leg Whip on the guardrail tweaks the leg. Mutoh is bringing the big guns tonight. Great comeback.

Mutoh’s leg work is so BOSS. He does very impactful moves that all mean something, ans his motions during the moves have a purpose his movements don’t have when he’s not trying to work a hold/move. He has a presence, and with one or two glances the crowd reacts. I didn’t think Nakamura was going to sell the leg when he got back in and Mutoh made him. To his credit, he sells like the champ he is. The phrase “Crafty Veteran” comes to mind.

Nakamura catches Mutoh for a moment and transitions from a quick choke to an armbar in seconds. He really turned it on when he caught him. He turns it into a triangle choke-looking move, but it’s all focused on that arm/shoulder region from earlier. I like that this match is making some sense. Mutoh fights out with a dropkick to the leg and a Dragon Screw. Craft vet was taking some stiff MMA-influenced kicks and knees that were well done.

Mutoh grabs for the leg but Nakamura catches him in the triangle choke submission again. This time he pushes the head down, but does hold Mutoh’s arm. Rope break.

Nakamura takes over and starts hitting the ropes. I realize how little they’ve used the ropes for the last ten minutes. Interesting choice. He gives the old guy some good quick hope spots and fights them off while he works Mutoh over. Not sure if he’s mocking Mutoh or referencing, but he hits a moonsault on him, before Nakamura misses the second right on his knees. Mutoh goes right back to the knees, as he has all match. The pacing and build to this match has been perfect so far, and everything has made sense and been at just the right time to emotionally effect an audience. Though Japanses audiences don’t react as much the first half of the match as some American indy crowds, they do draw something out of the jaded fans. This would be much more over in NYC and an ROH show though.

15 minutes in Mutoh grabs his second Figure Four. He’s done about 25-30 offensive moves/holds and maybe 2 were non-leg related. He’s wrestling the perfect match for him at this level and age. The legend thing helps. Nakamura yells at him. I wish I spoke Japanese.

Nakamura comes back with desperation kicks the the head and three German suplexes. He gets a hot nearfall with a Michunoku driver. Fans are keyed into this now. I’ve been all match.

Back and forth they go. Nakamura no-sells a Shining Wizard and does a flying armbar that looks goofy to me but is over with the crowd. They think Mutoh might tap. I forget the only snafu of the match quickly. The chant “Mutoh” a bunch, and don’t react to Nakamura as much. Well, you don’t get alot of boos in Japan.

Mutoh places another beautiful dropkick to Nakamura’s face before selling the arm big. He’s hit about 40 of them, and they get over every time. It’s like Flair with the chops. Mutoh knows how to sit on his butt after a move and give a look one way, and then the other, after each one, and have that mean something. Like he’s seening if you thought he wouldn’t go that far, but won’t show you whether he’s happy with himself or not. The man goes to work.

New Move: Motoh with a beautiful neck breaker-like move, followed by THREE Shining Wizards, and a false finish. Great nearfall.

The big finish involves Motoh actually limping around a bit, before hitting (Onot quite) a back breaker, and then pulling out a moonsault. It looked Terry Funk - level ugly when his knees hit the mat. He comes Nakamura for the pinfall. Nakamura’s shoulder wasn’t even really down, and Mutoh got slightly sloppy at the end, but it was to the detriment of the match.

Match is awesome. Go out of your way to see it. Seriously a 4 and 1/4 star match. I enjoyed it so much, and if you’ve ever liked Mutoh, this gives you a good feeling because he pulls out a great match that Nakamura meets with his skills, especially the last ten minutes. Steal This Match (So glad I could actually say that).