Yearbook - NJPW - 1995 - Part 3

Hi wrestling fans! This time we're taking a brief look at the 1995 G1 Climax!

While I don't have the 1995 G1 Climax tournament in full, I do have some footage from a commercial set which should give me a sense of the matches and the best stuff in digest/joined in progress form. Something is better than nothing! I did find a few of the better reviewed matches available with some digging so I'll do full reviews of those and will mention if they're complete. Otherwise, assume they are digest form.

From 08/11:

Shinya Hashimoto vs Scott Norton - Fun stuff with Norton man handling Hash and Hash lighting Norton up with kicks.

Keiji Muto vs. Shiro Koshinaka - I actually started the full version of it but Muto started doing his legwork routine. Koshinaka was going along so I switched to the digest version. I enjoyed that version better with one really killer move!

From 08/12:

Keiji Muto vs. Masahiro Chono - Oh boy, I think this is a great match! Nice story internally and big picture with two rivals facing off. I liked the bit with Saito. Muto bleeding was a nice touch as well. I think the post match stuff tipped the scales and solidified this a great match to me. The fact that this was relatively compact helped it as well. Muto & Chono can work wonders with 15 minutes or less. Full match.

Kensuke Sasaki vs. Shinya Hashimoto - This was good from what I saw but seemed a little sluggish in pace. Still Kensuke took a beating and that was remarkable. 

From 08/13:

Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Shinya Hashimoto - I watched the full version and damn! this was a really, really good match. It's simple. Two guys, one baby face & one heel, beat each other up to prove who's tougher. Sure there's a tournament but this is more about ego than a couple tournament points.

Shiro Koshinaka vs Masa Chono - Oh this was good stuff from what I saw. Two of my favorite wrestlers that no one else likes 😋 This would be one to watch in full, if I found it. The action looked good and they seemed to play up the drama as well.

From 08/14:

Scott Norton vs Keiji Muto - Looked like good stuff! I think if they kept this around 10 minutes, this might be another one worth watching in full. Lotsa good offense shown.

Shinya Hashimoto vs Masa Chono - Broken record but I definitely would check this out in full. It looked fantastic. Chono & Hash are great in displaying emotions. That was evident in this bout.

Keiji Muto vs. Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW G1 Climax Final 08/15) - Great finals despite Muto doing his legwork to fill time. I do think he added spirited flourishes that raised his attacks above the typical fare. Hashimoto is the one who made it work instead of resting in leg holds, he tried escaping, countering, and reversing while on the mat. Both guys showed a lot of toughness. I appreciated the variety of their offense in the finishing stretch. A great match and great finale. Some consider this an all time classic, while I won't go there, I definitely recommend it. Decide for yourself! Full version watched

Hashimoto rolls out of the way of Muto's moonsault!

I'm not as crazy about the G1 as folks have been since New Japan's taken off in the last 10 years. It's probably more fun than a barrel full of monkeys when watching it live. Watching a tournament 30 years after the fact loses it's zip. It is just another batch of matches sometimes. That said, I'm pretty happy with what I watched. Muto, Chono & Hash all came through but Tenzan has been the real story of 1995 for me. 

Thanks for reading!