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Found 13 results

  1. Early on, HARASHIMA played the crafty grappler to Higuchi’s towering behemoth. Higuchi powered HARASHIMA up for a Bear Hug, but HARASHIMA slipped out and took him to the mat. This more methodical approach from HARASHIMA would become the basis of the contest. HARASHIMA’s game plan was cold and calculated: take away Higuchi’s power and neutralize the Brain Claw Slam by honing in his arm. The big man paid a great deal of attention to the injury, keeping his bum wheel close to his body and making HARASHIMA struggle for control. HARASHIMA, for his part, was ruthless, delivering shotgun-blast-like kicks to the arm and bending it at unsightly angles. Of course, it wouldn’t be a HARASHIMA/Higuchi singles match if they didn’t chop and kick the daylights out of each other. But crucially, the strike exchange felt like two embittered rivals not wanting to give the other an inch. Higuchi battered HARASHIMA with a lariat, which made a gross-sounding thud when it hit the latter’s throat. It was a small touch, but attention to detail like Higuchi being unable to make a proper pin attempt due to his bad arm adds so much to a match like this. That led to a satisfying series of counters that built upon each other. HARASHIMA seemed to have won the bout with a nasty Somato but briefly turned his back on Higuchi, who landed a Brain Claw Slam for the win. This was virtually everything I love about professional wrestling wrapped up in a tight thirteen-minute package. The pacing was excellent, and these two accomplished more in that short amount of time than most wrestlers will in bouts that are twice as long. Higuchi’s pained selling and HARASHIMA’s targeted attack on the arm also set it apart from their usual matches. Go out of your way to seek this one out. ****1/4
  2. One of the ring trucks arrived late at the venue, so they were wrestling on exposed wooden boards with no mat or turnbuckle pads. Koroku and Okatani struggled over an Irish Whip, neither wanting to take the full brunt of the turnbuckles. That kind of adaptability to the situation bodes well for their future, and I’m excited to see them develop further. The match was wrestled smartly, with both teams taking extra precautions to avoid getting slammed onto the wooden boards. That’s not to say the action was light, as Higuchi and HARASHIMA battered each other with kicks and chops until the latter’s chest was beet red. You also had the dynamic between Higuchi and former stablemate Okatani, who refused to concede when he was backed into a corner. Every bit of sustained offense felt like it mattered, and the damage gradually built up across the course of the match. HARASHIMA and Koroku got into a scrap on the top rope, causing HARASHIMA to fall onto the exposed boards. Koroku took a risk by diving off the top rope but couldn’t get the cover because of the impact. HARASHIMA won with a running Somato. Not only was this excellently-paced, coming in at under thirteen minutes, it showcased the versatility of everyone involved. The match had a real sense of danger with the exposed boards and turnbuckles, making it feel momentous whenever someone bumped onto them. One of the year’s true hiddden gems. One of the ring trucks arrived late at the venue, so they were wrestling on exposed wooden boards with no mat or turnbuckle pads. Koroku and Okatani struggled over an Irish Whip, neither wanting to take the full brunt of the turnbuckles. That kind of adaptability to the situation bodes well for their future, and I’m excited to see them develop further. The match was wrestled smartly, with both teams taking extra precautions to avoid getting slammed onto the wooden boards. That’s not to say the action was light, as Higuchi and HARASHIMA battered each other with kicks and chops until the latter’s chest was beet red. You also had the dynamic between Higuchi and former stablemate Okatani, who refused to concede when he was backed into a corner. Every bit of sustained offense felt like it mattered, and the damage gradually built up across the course of the match. HARASHIMA and Koroku got into a scrap on the top rope, causing HARASHIMA to fall onto the exposed boards. Koroku took a risk by diving off the top rope but couldn’t get the cover because of the impact. HARASHIMA won with a running Somato. Not only was this excellently-paced, coming in at under thirteen minutes, it showcased the versatility of everyone involved. The match had a real sense of danger with the exposed boards and turnbuckles, making it feel like a momentous occasion whenever someone bumped onto them. One of the year’s true hidden gems and an exercise in getting the most out of a bad situation.
  3. Fun, breezy six-man tag on an outdoor show. They hit all of their moves cleanly and everything moved along at a steady pace. The opening grappling exchange between Kojima and Ishida was buttery smooth. I continue to be impressed by Ishida and how he’s set himself apart from his contemporaries with his sumo-based offense. Katsumata played the face in peril for a bit until he made the tag and The 37KAMIINA rallied. Higuchi ran wild, but Ueno and Katsumata wiped out the two senior members of Harimao with a pair of dives. It would eventually come down to Ishida and Ueno, with the latter hitting the Best Moonsault Ever for the win. I appreciated the fact that when things broke down, it was brief and often served the purpose of setting up a double/triple-team move rather than everyone staying in the ring for extended periods.
  4. This was Kojima's first match with a cheering crowd, having debuted post-COVID-19. All four competitors play with that dynamic, playing to the crowd. Higuchi and Yoshimura are a force to be reckoned with, steamrolling Kojima and cutting off the ring early on. Kojima tries to topple Higuchi, but he's no match for the former sumo and repeatedly gets shoulder-tackled into the ropes. Kojima gives as good as he gets, thrashing Yoshimura with chops and making good use of his limited offensive repertoire. Ueno gets the hot tag and briefly faces off with his former Nautilus partner, Yoshimura. Their sequences are compact and hard-hitting, continuing from where they left off in King of DDT. The counters are also logical, seeing as they have history together and have each other scouted. Yoshimura and Ueno even got the crowd to pop for a body slam! Once they get going, The 37KAMIINA's gameplan is as clear as day: isolate and double-team Higuchi. Higuchi continuously knocks Kojima off the top rope, but Kojima is unrelenting in his desire to make a statement. Ueno attempts a springboard hurricanrana while Higuchi's seated on the top rope, but he nearly counters it with a Brain Claw. Luckily, Kojima makes the save just in time with an Enziguri, and The 37KAMIINA follows up with a superplex. Kojima threw everything he had at Higuchi, including his rarely-seen submission. He scratched and clawed, fighting his way out of Higuchi's chops, but Kojima would eventually succumb to the Brain Claw Slam. Post-match, HARASHIMA and Yukio Sakaguchi gave Yoshimura and Higuchi blessings to leave their units and form a tag team. Thus, Harimao was born. In terms of elevating Kojima in defeat the match was a rousing success. Huge thumbs up for this one. ***3/4
  5. Immediately, this feels like a huge deal, as we'll be crowning a first-time KO-D Openweight champion. The opening lock-up was intense, giving the match a feeling of weight and importance. Yoshimura dominated the early portion with stiff body slams and deafening chops. Yoshimura upped his intensity, clubbing the chest and not allowing Higuchi any time to breathe. I like how Yoshimura controlled the pace, continuing the neck work that Akiyama started in the semi-finals. Yoshimura hit some nasty elbows to the side of the neck, but Higuchi fired back with a lariat. Higuchi fired back with a chop and a pair of power slams. The struggle over the Brain Claw Slam was delightful and made Yoshimura feel like a convincing obstacle for Higuchi to topple. When Higuchi finally hit a Brainbuster, the crowd erupted in applause. Yoshimura's been learning from HARASHIMA's teachings as he countered a top-rope Brain Claw Slam by elbowing Higuchi in the neck. When Higuchi popped up from Yoshimura's stalling superplex, it felt defiant. He wasn't going to give some kid the satisfaction of having one-upped him in one of the biggest matches of his career. The chop exchange that followed felt like an escalation of the action, which is no small feat when you consider how often they feel like checking an item off a checklist. Higuchi got the better of a lariat-off and hit the Doctor Bomb for a nearfall, but Yoshimura's gameplan was near-perfect, and he got caught with a Harai Goshi. Yoshimura gave Higuchi a taste of his own medicine, kicking out at one from a lariat. Higuchi finally hit the Brain Claw Slam, but it wasn't enough. In a last-gasp effort Yoshimura went for another Harai Goshi, but it was blocked, and Higuchi landed one more Brain Claw Slam. Realizing he'd finally reached the top of the mountain, Higuchi made the cover and had the widest grin on his face when the referee's hand hit the mat for the three count. Fantastic heavyweight clash and one of this year's greatest triumphs in wrestling. As great as the match was, the post-match may be even better. Since Higuchi wrapped the belt around Akiyama's waist a little over a year ago, Jun returned the favor. Sanshiro Takagi then brought out a flag adorned with the DDT logo, stating that he was entrusting it to Higuchi as a symbol of DDT's strength. Takagi then gave Higuchi his blessing to lead the company. Higuchi has long been the workhorse of the promotion, delivering in every situation for years on end. 2022 wasn't a stellar year for DDT until the tournament began, so this was a much-needed win for Higuchi fans worldwide. Long live the new King of DDT.
  6. Akiyama played mind games early on, exiting the ring repeatedly until Higuchi went after him and got tripped up on the apron. Akiyama would follow that up with a DDT on the floor. Higuchi fired back out of a suplex attempt on the apron and hit a Brain Claw Slam but ate an exploder on the floor. I didn't mind Akiyama and Higuchi going to the apron/floor moves so quickly, as it showed they were desperate to put their opponent away with the tournament finals still to come. Akiyama immediately stuffed Higuchi with a Piledriver as he entered the ring, continuing to target the neck with a modified sleeper. An exchange of suplexes broke out, but neither competitor would relent. That built up to a Brain Claw Slam from the top rope for a close near-fall. Akiyama stuck with what was working for him, returning to the sleeper. Higuchi's dazed, out-on-his-feet selling was excellent, and you got the sense that the match could end at a moment's notice. Higuchi survived an exploder, caught Akiyama with a few lariats to the back of the head, and hit the Brain Claw Slam for the win. While this wasn't quite as layered as their excellent title bout from last year, it was a great heavyweight meat and potatoes match with enough nuance to put it over the top.
  7. There’s a certain broad appeal to this match that I think just about anyone can enjoy. Everyone lays in their offense and brings a controlled energy to the bout. Sato takes a shellacking from the most proficient striker in the match, Sakaguchi. Sato and Sakaguchi trades kicks, but Sakaguchi always gets the better of his adversary. It builds to a crescendo where HARASHIMA and Higuchi come in, and when they do, boy does the pace ever pick up. Both competitors batter each other, going back-and-forth with chops and kicks. Higuchi’s selling as the unwavering yet beatable giant is phenomenal. He registers the damage of the strikes but stays one step ahead of HARASHIMA. There was one counter where HARASHIMA went for a Somato, and Higuchi chucked him into the mat that nearly had me jumping out of my seat. Higuchi eventually clamped on the Brain Claw and kept HARASHIMA down for three as he frantically struggled to escape. I love that even the finish played into Higuchi outsmarting HARASHIMA at every turn. I loved all of this, really.
  8. KO-D Tag Team Title Match: Eruption (Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi) (c) vs DDT Sauna Club (Konosuke Takeshita & MAO) - DDT Effort, Friendship And Victory In Nagoya 2021 - 23/02/2021 I thought this was excellent. The rating on cagematch raised a few eyebrows, but I'm in no way disappointed with the outcome. Whether it was Higuchi pairing off with MAO or Eruption’s incredible teamwork, this was purely quality. MAO sold for Higuchi’s back based attacks really well, bumping around while using his charisma to shine as an underdog. Sakaguchi was the right partner to compliment Higuchi’s work too. Even outside of the wrestling itself, Sakaguchi made Higuchi step on the gas even more with a few words and a slap. And that he did - just when the match seemed to be peaking, Takeshita and Higuchi match up and ramp up the intensity ever so more with an outstanding, bombastic closing stretch that saw Higuchi pick up the win after plenty of hard suplexes and throws. ****1/4
  9. Another neat HARASHIMA title match. I really like the way he uses matwork to establish the pace of his matches and the matwork itself is always interesting, I can't really think of a proper comparison for it. He demolishes Higuchi's leg here, kicking away at it and twisting it in all sorts of ways. Higuchi looked good as well, he did a solid job of selling the damage and had some great power spots which was enough for HARASHIMA to get them to a very strong match. HARASHIMA is probably the best ace in Japan right now. ***1/2
  10. Eruption (Kazusada Higuchi, Saki Akai & Yukio Sakaguchi) vs. THE HALFEE (Katsuzaki Shunosuke, Moehiko Harumisawa & Washi Sakurai) - DDT Ganbare Pro Hermit Purple 2020 21/03/2020 This looked really good on paper. Eruption have been super solid since their formation in January of 2020. And their opponents mirror them in terms of styles, individually anyway. Sakaguchi and Shunosuke/Shuichiro Katsumura have the MMA influence, Harumisawa/Moeka Haruhi are the slender women of their team and Sakurai/Shuhei Washida are the burly big men of the respective groups. Something they were eager to explore in the opening exchanges. The GanPro team THE HALFEE were on the defensive for most of the match with Eruption asserting their dominance with some systematic tag work. The crowd rallied behind the regulars who responded with quick stretches of offence and some of that underdog flair. They utilized the styles match ups really nicely, as well as blending the pairings together. Sakurai, who was the young guy of the team, impressed me a ton. He and Higuchi were probably the best together out of the lot. His selling was really good, and while his offence was naturally basic, being only two years in, he used it really well. The match went at a super fast pace, making the whole match feel exciting and thrilling to watch. Great use of time and wrestlers involved. ***3/4
  11. This ends up being the de facto block final, and it is very hype. I love a battle of two big guys where one is slightly bigger and slightly higher rated and they actively play into that. The striking towards the end here actually feels like a slugfest - two brawlers trying to win a fight, not just trading shots to see who has the most fighting spirit or whatever. I might be the biggest Higuchi fan around, but his selling ability and athleticism are always impressive as the big man in a match, and in a rare opportunity as the smaller man they really shine. This is my favorite match in the excellent group stage of this tournament. ****1/2
  12. I really like the character Sasaki has developed, the kind of heel that will slap you not cuz he's a coward with a sudden burst of confidence that'll immediately disappear, but because he's thinking two steps ahead for the exact right way to distract you and get the advantage. And I think Higuchi is drastically underrated - a high energy big man who sells well and occasionally busts out a cool headscissors reversal, too. Sasaki's La Mistica is as gorgeous as ever. ***1/2
  13. I've been going through this year's DDT recently, cherry picking interesting-looking things here and there and I haven't been watching every single one of these slightly different tag matches, but I figured I'd check this one because it's for the vacant titles and good god-damn am I glad I did. Higuchi is especially good here, as he gets his arm worked over and sells it really nicely throughout. There's an especially nice subtle spot where he catches Takeshita with a powerslam of sorts but has to let go with one of the arms midway through. The go all out on a fast, intense finishing stretch, including both Irie and Higuchi diving onto Takeshita to try and incapacitate him long enough so can't interfere in a pin attempt. This wildly exceeded my expectations; it's my favorite DDT I've seen so far this year and one of my fav tag matches anywhere. ****1/2
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