Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Masato Tanaka & Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Atsushi Ohashi & Yuji Okabayashi (Big Japan 3/12/09)

Match story is simple. Sekimoto (fast becoming my new favorite new star to follow behind Sami Callihan) had won the Big Japan Tag belts with some guy I’ve nicknamed retarded mini-Jumbo Tsuruta. The guys they beat looked like weekend warriors on the indy circuit here, so it was probably a good call. Anyway, that guy messed up his neck, so Sekimoto got on the phone to Zero-1 and got him some Tanaka. I’m familiar with Tanaka from his stay in ECW. I think I even saw him live a few times. Joy joy. Let’s get to the wrestling.

I’m digging that Ohashi & partner come in to American pop-punk. I’m a sucker for my younger days. Tanaka looks leaner and more cut than I’ve ever seen him. Good for his career. He’s evolved (or got a trainer).

Tanaka actually dwarfs Ohashi in size. Tanaka basically outclasses the smaller opponents. He’s worlds better than this young kid in blue tights. Sekimoto goes in with the bald partner, Okabayashi. This guy is bigger, but doesn’t seem as quick as his partner. They work some power stuff with Sekimoto showing more than the bald guy. I think what I like about Sekimoto is not only does he have a good wrestlers look and compact Deam Malenko-esque build, but he reminds me of Taz in ECW work wise. I really dig the power, suplexs, and judo throws.

Tanaka no-sells Ohashi’s offense and he and Seki beat the man down for an extended period. The story is his fighting spirit won’t let him stay down, but the match has a house show feel a lot of the time. Not bad, just very scaled back and controlled. Decent story though. I like Okabayashi more at this point, in that Killer Khan mid card brawler type. Just a cool big lug. Ohashi does get to show some fighting spirit in getting the crap kicked out of him, but I’m not so impressed with not selling after a while, so fighting spirit ain’t always my thing. Ya hear?

Tanaka and Sekimoto do okay playing the Road Warriors, but it’s pretty uninspired stuff. Tanaka works the hardest, and Ohashi tries, but he’s not there yet with his timing, selling, or bumping.

Okabayashi gets a hot tsag for some meathead power offense, complete with Torture Rack. They take his leg out and the match gets more interesting as they work the knee. Seki uses the Scorpion Death lock/Sharp Shooter. The knee really isn’t sold. I give up. The little guy is getting a hot tag? Well, the audience dug that for all of 3 seconds. Seki isn’t the best with selling himself yet, though he’s farther along than the younger two. Seki does the power bomb into a boston crab spot. I’m reminded of when I use to love to sit down and watch a Samoa Joe match. Ohashi get to kick out of a double Superfly Splash off the top for whatever reason. Nevermind, it gets a lot better from there as he gets flash pin attemots and his last comeback before falling to the Sekimoto Torture Rack. The crowd was so hot for the underdog and then he tapped to the rack in it was deafly silent. Oh well, first few and last minute was good. In between was hit and miss.