Wrestling Dream Battles

Hi folks! In case you missed these, I'm posting my full NJPW 1990 reviews/recommendations. These are from the first half of '90. Some you might have seen and some you might have missed. It's NJPW November so there's more to come! Liger vs H. Saito (01/18): Oh man! Loved this finish! This had a lot more in common with ECW than what you'd call NJPW Jr. style. Chair shots, fighting in the crowd, pile driver on a table. Saito's senton's are great and Liger goes off. Very good stuff. Liger vs Akira Nogami (01/20): joined in progress. Now this is your junior vs junior match. And both guys are going for broke on those dives - holy cow! The more that I see of Akira Nogami, the more I like him. Not sure how much we miss but what we see is a ton of fun! Choshu & Hase  vs H. Saito & T. Goto (01/25): Fast and furious tag wrestling done right! Everyone was fantastic since the focus was on beating the crap outta each other. Under 10 minutes of uncomplicated action...

Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki vs Super Strong Machine & Tatsutoshi Goto (12/11/90): Bad-ass classic tag team match! Action packed and full of piss & vinegar! This period of Kensuke might just be my favorite because he's just a big headed dude trying to prove himself. Hase, Strong Machine & Goto are just their awesome normal selves. Everything just clicks here. I wanted to see this for a long ass time and that was a helluva match. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Plus it's under 15 minutes.

Jushin Liger vs Pegasus Kid (11/01) : Oh yes! This was great stuff wrestled at an urgent pace. Each guy was going for the win whether it was from a big move or a quick pinning maneuver. LOVED THIS. Not overwrought or cliche. RECOMMENDED Click the labels below for more stuff you'd like to see!

Animal Hamaguchi vs. Masanobu Kurisu (08/16) - Fuck yes! Animal comes rushing out and it never lets up. Curly Sue beats him with a chair. Neck breaker drops from heaven gets Hamaguchi back in the fight. There's blood and an intensity & pace that sets this apart. Moves are fun and all but coming out like you're aiming to maim is far more important. These guys get that...and under 10 minutes. A great match without a doubt. RECOMMENDED

Jushin Liger, Kensuke Sasaki & Kuniaki Kobayashi vs Pegasus Kid, Super Strong Machine & Tatsutoshi Goto (08/16):  Oh man, I wish we got the full thing! This was an excellent mix of wrestlers. It was as good in the ring as it was on paper. Additionally the "junior" wrestlers were treated as equals to the heavies. Stuff like this is why I am so interested in this period of NJPW! More 1990 New Japan to come! Click the labels below for more 1990, NJPW or 90's wrestling recommendations!

Masa Chono & Keiji Muto vs Wild Samoan & Great Kokena (Yokozuna) (07/19):  Very good to great heel/face tag match. This had excellent pacing, teases and payoffs. It is probably pretty close to an American style tag match but that doesn't diminish this at all. 1990 is that time where I feel the U.S., Japan & Mexico were on the same level of athleticism and quality of work especially with younger talent.