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[1996-08-06-NJPW-G1 Climax] Masa Chono vs Keiji Muto


Loss

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  • 1 month later...

I'd imagine this isn't as good as their '91 G-1 match, which I haven't seen, but it is still an excellent match with some great moments. Chono is awesome heeling it up, sneaking in a low blow, using Muto's figure four against him and otherwise causing problems. Muto fights from underneath for most of this and it works really well. This isn't the most fun-to-watch of all the matches from the G-1 that made this set, although it is fun to watch for sure, but there's an argument that it's the best match.

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  • 3 years later...

Whilst it could never hope to equal the original, this was a fine effort to honour the classic of 5 years before. They'd had bouts in '92 and '94 that hadn't delivered, so this was a welcome return to form for the rivalry.

 

The stakes were high with a final spot going to the victor. They produced a fairly lengthy encounter that showed the Strong Style near it's best. The construction was excellent and the pacing spot on. A little excitement to start, followed by purposeful matwork with relevant body part work. Then the build up to a crescendo with a smart finish. The crowd were red hot as well. It could have gone down as a G-1 classic, except that Chono and Mutoh weren't the wrestlers of 5 years ago. They brought their best efforts here but there were some blown spots that hurt it a little.

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  • 8 months later...

Good match with two guys who know how to milk every moment for maximum drama. There maybe a little TOO much milking of stuff here, leading to some downtime and repeated spots, but it was a dramatic match that had me thinking of a time limit draw before Chono pulled out a win.

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  • 5 months later...

Finally a match that really delivered for me on this disc compared to other commentators. Really hot action moving into purposeful mat work. Chono was great playing some good heel aspects without going overboard. Everything from the first STF on was highly dramatic. Something about these two together always seems to work and they bring out the best of each other. Another roll up finish which has been a thread throughout this tournament. ****

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  • 2 years later...

Definitely worked as a more traditional "big match" style match than any of the other G1 matches we've seen. In context it really works; I think I liked it much more in context than I would have watching it stand-alone. Crowd was super, super hot, and especially went nuts for the STF, and there was a cool escalation of rule-bending throughout the match. You really get the sense that this is an important, high-stakes match. Muto missing the moonsault ends up actually working really well for the ending -- makes more sense that Chono was able to capitalize and turn the figure four around on him.

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  • GSR changed the title to [1996-08-06-NJPW-G1 Climax] Masa Chono vs Keiji Muto
  • 5 years later...

This had a wicked fast start with Muto hitting a dropkick before almost getting caught with an STF by Chono and that being followed up by a dragon screw and a figure four attempt by Muto, setting up what this match was intending to be. Parity is established further on with both having success with side headlocks and other wear down moves and both having trouble catching the other out once they try to add a little pace to it. They did a great job at getting drama out of simple holds, such as a standard switch around spot where Muto had a full nelson applied and Chono used a classic trick to escape and apply one of his own but rather than Muto escape quickly, Chono kept it locked in. A small but effective way to add to a move’s significance. The match progresses in such a way that keeps the technical wrestling involved but establishes more layers, such as Chono using dirty tricks to gain an advantage over Muto after Muto looks to be getting ahead. The match has a terrific transition to the final portion of the match with Muto setting up for a frankensteiner only for Chono to powerbomb Muto on his head and lock in an STF for an incredible false finish. There is a cool subtle heel moment where Chono gets the STF on Muto on the outside and goes back inside, showing his willingness to win the match in a cheap way like a count out but Muto makes it back in to the crowd relief. Then they fight to the crowd where Muto runs into the entrance way and back, likely to hit a running lariat, but Chono kicks him in the stomach and winds Muto. Muto finally hit the frankensteiner but missed the moonsault! STF is applied but Muto gets the ropes after a moment. Chono tries to follow up with the kick but gets the dragon screw instead. Muto hits the moonsault but has his knee kicked out from under him by Chono in a piece of genius from Chono and rolled up to lose the match. Chono advances!!! Incredible match. Terrific escalation from the grappling to the closing stretch. Great character work from Chono and what a finish. ****1/2

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