View Full Version : Japanese Match Recommendations
The Law
March 10th, 2015, 10:33 PM
Want to get better acquainted with Japanese wrestling. Particularly interested in current New Japan and All Japan from the 90s. What should I watch?
Defrost
March 10th, 2015, 11:25 PM
If you want to get into 1990s All Japan Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jumbo Tsuruta from June 1990 is the place to start.
As for current New Japan did you watch this year's Tokyo Dome and have you been watching the AXS show?
The Law
March 10th, 2015, 11:27 PM
Watched the Dome show and loved it. Should start checking out the AXS show.
Just watched Hansen and Brody vs. The Funks. Liked it, but didn't think it was the classic that I've seen it rated as. Watched Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi from July 1993 and it was pretty epic.
Beer-Belly
March 11th, 2015, 12:07 AM
Have seen Hansen vs. Andre the Giant? I really like that one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP2yMV2KVbQ
Tainted Eclipse
March 11th, 2015, 12:15 AM
misawa/kobashi vs. kawada/taue from 6/9/95 is the single best match of all time
The Law
March 11th, 2015, 1:18 AM
Misawa vs. Jumbo melted my brain it was so awesome. Can totally see how that heated up All Japan. What makes that match so great is I could follow the story of it without knowing anything going in. They made it that clear what was happening during the match. Finish did seem a little random and I thought Jumbo had gotten a shoulder up, but that's really not much of a complaint.
Defrost
March 11th, 2015, 1:33 AM
I think it's Dave Meltzer's favorite match. He was there for it and loves telling the story where this was just after Tiger Mask II took the mask off as Misawa. The day of the show Jumbo being the senior was supposed to win, but Giant Baba, booker/owner of All Japan, was in the concession area and everywhere in the building there were massive Misawa chants. So he sends word back to Jumbo that he's losing. Jumbo asks if it can be by countout. Baba said no. People were crying in happiness in the stands afterward. Everyone immediately bought tickets for the next Budokan show. Misawa in Tokyo after this was bigger than Bruno in New York. Seriously for a man in one single city no one beats Misawa in Tokyo.
JRSlim21
March 11th, 2015, 9:47 PM
I believe if you have Comcast, they have some NJPW matches available on Demand.
DDT
March 12th, 2015, 9:00 AM
misawa/kobashi vs. kawada/taue from 6/9/95 is the single best match of all time
That match needs a LOT of context, though.
Tainted Eclipse
March 12th, 2015, 8:39 PM
it can benefit from a lot of context but it's still always the first match i recommend to people for getting into japanese wrestling. it was the first tape i bought and i saw it with no knowledge of other stuff in AJPW and without having seen any japanese wrestling other than the matches on the benoit dvd, and it still hooked me immediately. all the story stuff helps it but even judging the work itself in a vacuum its STILL the best match ever.
The Law
March 12th, 2015, 8:44 PM
I really appreciate the Japanese approach to wrestling. The matches are easy to follow even with Japanese commentary because the stories seem to overwhelmingly told in the ring. It doesn't seem like the guys have much in the way of characters, instead they're just presented as serious professional athletes competing with each other. I'm interested in digging into some of the more Strong Style and worked shoot-fighting stuff.
I love the legitimacy of the sport. The guys aren't treated any different than boxers or martial artists. We can't ever have that in America, but I'd like to see somebody try.
Tainted Eclipse
March 12th, 2015, 8:50 PM
If you're liking shoot style check out this match. Best crowd I've ever heard for a shoot style match. They go fucking MAD for just ATTEMPTED submissions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixWw3SSjK3c
DDT
March 12th, 2015, 10:37 PM
Recommending RINGS matches. Not recommending Volk Han.
For shame Tainted; for shame. Thought better of you. :nono:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMPtiGO16ME
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1wvyj0_volk-han-vs-kiyoshi-tamura-rings-01-22-1997_sport
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1wwngs_volk-han-vs-kiyoshi-tamura-rings-09-26-1997_sport
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9je0t_volk-han-vs-tsuyoshi-kohsaka-rings_sport
Panther52
March 12th, 2015, 11:46 PM
here's a few classic shoot style matches between the masters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-dJngBfpEY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juTC0lwaves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdwSyX2o5kY
Panther52
March 12th, 2015, 11:48 PM
part 2 of the third match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bDLqmXfNEg
Beer-Belly
March 13th, 2015, 12:50 AM
I'm open to any suggestions involving Stan Hansen. I've seen a handful, including his brawl with Vader and the 7/29/93 match with Kobashi. The more Hansen, the merrier, though.
Matthew
March 13th, 2015, 1:03 AM
i recommend these matches:
http://www.ufunk.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/kokeshi-allumettes-japonaises-8.jpg
Beer-Belly
March 13th, 2015, 1:04 AM
You old so and so.
Tainted Eclipse
March 13th, 2015, 1:12 AM
I'm open to any suggestions involving Stan Hansen. I've seen a handful, including his brawl with Vader and the 7/29/93 match with Kobashi. The more Hansen, the merrier, though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECgmYQI249Y
Beer-Belly
March 13th, 2015, 1:16 AM
Nice. Thanks.
Tainted Eclipse
March 13th, 2015, 1:23 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PmYSrnBcY8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNGscfLR-6Q
Tainted Eclipse
March 13th, 2015, 1:31 AM
Last great Hansen match I can think of, heck of a gaijin team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXUFEXHjPYI
Beer-Belly
March 13th, 2015, 2:10 AM
That dive that Hansen does to Kawada through the middle and bottom ropes... Christ on cracker.
Ringo
March 13th, 2015, 4:31 AM
I see that no one has recommended Kobashi & Kikuchi vs. Can-Am Express yet. One of the most famous crowds in history, a huge moment in the career of Kenta Kobashi, and a hell of a match... for what were the secondary tag titles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KOvSvhxoRk
Once one has a taste for it all, I'd definitely recommend watching the Misawa/Jumbo (the big singles and the best 6-mans), Misawa/Kawada (singles + tag) and Misawa/Kobashi feuds in order. The matches are great on their own but they're even more meaningful if you know what came before.
Beer-Belly
March 13th, 2015, 4:36 AM
Best of Shinsuke? Preferably once he started doing the SWAG shit.
Ringo
March 13th, 2015, 4:36 AM
Also, there's a load of reading that helped me understand what was going on when I started watching, most of which was posted on here in the Puro thread. The testimonials on ditch's site, some other reviews and summaries.
http://theditch.biz/testim.html
And this is a terrific write-up with backstory to the 12/6/96 tag final:
http://www.quebrada.net/columns/34/34.html
Which I don't think was linked yet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQUFHpk3rWU
...
Finally, I wanted to post these neat little packages again :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYQzcfVeUnE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcK_pww96ao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6DAmPplYGE
Ringo
May 30th, 2015, 5:19 AM
If you're liking shoot style check out this match. Best crowd I've ever heard for a shoot style match. They go fucking MAD for just ATTEMPTED submissions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixWw3SSjK3c
Can someone explain to me what the deal is with RINGS and whether or not any given match is a shoot or worked? I know it began as wrestling and shifted to MMA in the late 90s - but clearly they were still doing worked matches. This Yamamoto/Tamura match, for example, is listed as a legitimate MMA fight on Sherdog and therefore everywhere else. I wonder if it's because RINGS would have insisted they were legit shoots at the time? Weird.
Tainted Eclipse
May 30th, 2015, 10:30 AM
http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/29755-rings/
RINGS was primarily a worked company through mid-1996. They occasionally had an undercard kickboxing match or prelim shoot prior to that, but they were rarer. Shoots started to appear more regularly, at a higher frequency by July 1996. The August 1996 card has 2-3 shoots (maybe even 4, can't remember off the top of my head at work).
The promotion became all shoot in October 1999, though it was 60-70% shoot by February 1999.
I'll add more to this tonight but here are the questionable fights which can be argued either way:
8/96 Tamura vs. Smith
12/96 Tamura vs. Yamamoto
4/97 Tamura vs. Kohsaka
6/99 Tamura vs. Yamamoto (I lean towards work)
i cant imagine that tamura/yamamoto was a shoot
DDT
May 30th, 2015, 10:43 AM
Can someone explain to me what the deal is with RINGS and whether or not any given match is a shoot or worked? I know it began as wrestling and shifted to MMA in the late 90s - but clearly they were still doing worked matches. This Yamamoto/Tamura match, for example, is listed as a legitimate MMA fight on Sherdog and therefore everywhere else. I wonder if it's because RINGS would have insisted they were legit shoots at the time? Weird.
Oh, this is an easy answer. A-hem. RINGS was working people, and Sherdog is comprised of idiots. There you go. RINGS can "claim" they were shoot in 1999 but I call all the bullshit. All of it.
Ringo
May 30th, 2015, 11:36 AM
Suspected as much.
No way is Tamura/Yamamoto shoot. Sherdog dumb.
Hero!
June 3rd, 2015, 11:34 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqftofXcukE&feature=youtu.be
21 years ago today. Let's all watch together. :D
Nash Diesel
June 10th, 2015, 9:52 AM
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHJLkYlUIAAs_ZX.jpg
Someone explain to me the dude in drag.
DDT
June 10th, 2015, 9:58 AM
What, Nosawa? He's just weird.
Hero!
June 10th, 2015, 10:02 AM
To the right of the E. The guy in a bra & skirt.
Nash Diesel
June 10th, 2015, 10:17 AM
I follow Nosawa on twitter which is where I got the picture from and I see a lot of interesting characters but I don't think I've seen this cat yet. Brought back memories of Cloudy from the Bodydonnas days lol.
DDT
June 10th, 2015, 11:09 AM
Oh him? Completely missed him for some reason. That's Ladybeard.
http://kotaku.com/ladybeard-is-one-pretty-pin-up-model-and-wrestler-1621434278
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