Pro Wrestling Chronicle

So, I check out the website on Friday night and see Johnny mentioning doing a dueling review of this match. That’s funny, I talked to him the night before and I don’t remember that being a topic that was discussed. But, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea, as we’ve talked about doing dueling reviews for over a year, but just never seem to get on the same page on it. So, I purposely skipped reading his review and went and stole this match!

I’ve only seen a couple matches of Nakamura. I’m just starting to get into the New Japan product again, after not really watching it much for the past few years. But, nothing I’ve ever seen of Nakamura has stood out as being anything special. And Mutoh? I grew up watching the Great Muta in the NWA and he is one of the main reasons, along with Jushin “Thunder” Liger, that when I started getting Japanese videos in the mid 90’s. But, I haven’t seen much of his work in the last few years, as I haven’t been a fan of the All Japan product in recent years and have only watched some of the matches I was told were must see. But, I definitely have a soft spot for Mutoh, which may show through in this review a little.

The match starts off with a 5 minute video package. Clips of both men’s IWGP victories and other career highlights are shown, with interviews with both men spliced in. A nice preview that gives this match that big match feel.

The first 3 or 4 minutes is just a feeling out process. Some exchanges on the mat, with nobody gaining a clear advantage, until Nakamura starts working on Mutoh’s arm. Mutoh gets frustrated and rolls to the outside a couple of times to shake it off and while trying to get into the ring the second time is caught with a dropkick and knocked back to the floor. Nakamura attempts the plancha, but Mutoh sidesteps it and dropkicks him in the knee. He follows it up by whipping Nakamura into the guardrail and hitting a Shining Wizard. Mutoh then dragon screw leg whips Nakamura onto the guard rail, kind of crotching Nakamura on the rail while extending the knee. And you just get the feeling that now it’s on!

Upon entering the ring, Mutoh catches Nakamura with another dragon screw and for the next couple of minutes works over the leg with a series of dragon screws and dropkicks to the knee before locking in a figure four leglock. Nakamura gets to the ropes to escape. Mutoh attempts to lock in the hold again, but Nakamura counters it, pulling Mutoh briefly into a choke and transitioning into a triangle armbar. Mutoh gets to the ropes to break. They get up and exchange blows, only for Nakamura to jump and pull Mutoh into a triangle again, this time skipping the arm and pulling down on the head for the extra effect. This is where MMA has spoiled things for me a bit, as I got the feeling that this was supposed to be a big moment in the match, but the triangle was so sloppy and loose that I just couldn’t buy into it. Mutoh makes it to the ropes again for the break.

Nakamura hits Mutoh with a couple of lariats for a nearfall. He then pulls out a moonsault, but doesn’t go for a pin. He gets up, goes over to the corner showing a lot of emotion and attempts to hit a second moonsault, but Mutoh gets his knees up. It’s times like this that I wish I spoke Japanese, as I wasn’t sure if the moonsault is part of Nakamura’s regular moveset or if this was done solely to show up the veteran who popularized the moonsault and used it as a finish for most of his New Japan career. I’m inclined to believe that even if he does use it regularly, that it was still the latter, but it’d be nice to know for sure!

Mutoh with more dropkicks to the knee and dragon screws before hooking in another figure four. Can anybody else get so much out of so few moves? Most of his offense has consisted of dragon screws and dropkicks to the knee, but it’s all been completely logical and he’s done a great job of working the leg.

Nakamura get to the ropes for the break and catches Mutoh with an enzugiri when he goes for the leg again. He hits a sloppy looking spin kick and follows it up with a trifecta of German Suplexes for a near fall. Mutoh attempts a comeback, but Nakamura cuts him off and hits a fireman’s carry into a sit out slam (I feel like I should know the proper name of this move, but it’s not coming to me) for another near fall. Nakamura double underhooks Mutoh, who counters with a back drop before hitting a dropkick to the knee and a Shining Wizard in the corner. Mutoh dragon screws Nakamura out of the corner and attempts another Shining Wizard, but Nakamura blocks it and get up and pulls Mutoh into a flying armbar attempt. Now, here’s where that damn MMA spoils things for me again, as this is a sloppy looking armbar. Another rope break saves Mutoh.

Nakamura attempts to lift Mutoh into another fireman’s carry, but gets caught with a knee to the head followed by a dropkick to the face. Nakamura rolls to the apron, but Mutoh pulls him back in, with his feet still draped on the top rope and hits him with what I guess is a dragon screw neckbreaker, as the commentators could be heard saying dragon screw after the move. Whatever it is, it was vicious looking! Mutoh hits 3 Shining Wizards for a great false finish.

Nakamura attempts a desperation flying armbar, but Mutoh counters it with a powerbomb and hits another Shinging Wizard for another near fall. Mutoh scoops up Nakamura and plants him with a backbreaker and goes up top and nails the moonsault for the finish and becomes the 49th IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

Overall, the work in this match was solid. I wish I understood Japanese, as I think understanding the commentary may have made it a little better. But, I go back and forth on that, as their commentary may not really live up to how animated and excited they sound throughout the show. For all I know they were shilling Just For Men hair color for Mutoh’s gray goatee the entire show!

I had a hard time buying into a lot of Nakamura’s offense. While I realize it’s not fair to compare pro wrestling and MMA, I’ve watched a lot of UWFi and other worked shoot style promotions and the work is normally strong enough to be believable. I just didn’t get that feeling from Nakamura. And, while Mutoh spent most of the match shaking out his arm and selling the arm, it seemed like Nakamura forgot about selling the leg for a good part of the match. It probably wouldn’t have seemed so bad to me, but pretty much everything Mutoh did, with the exception of about 4 moves, was working over Nakamura’s leg! Heck, with the way Mutoh was moving in the closing moments you would have thought it was his legs that were worked over the entire match. But, even with those bum knees, he can still go when motivated and I definitely recommend you Steal This Match!