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[2002-08-11-NJPW-G1 Climax] Masa Chono vs Yoshihiro Takayama


Loss

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  • 4 months later...

I can't believe nobody has commented on this. This is Takayama's miracle match. Chono is VERY physically limited but Takayama works his ass off and makes Chono look like a real threat. The beginning and body of the match have dull moments but then the finishing stretch comes and they hit it right out the park. Nothing in the first two thirds of the match is bad but it isn't going to blow your mind. It's the last chunk that feels like one of the best Japanese matches of the decade. The emotional atmosphere helps but Takayama is such a force he didn't really need it. A shorter match would have been a top 20 contender but as it stands this is a great match that is a lock for my ballot.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Masahiro Chono vs Yoshihiro Takayama - 2002 G-1 Climax


Chono is rover like fucking over with the crowd. Come to think of it, Kojima was wicked over in All Japan and Tenzan had the crowd in the frenzy during the 2003 G-1 Climax. Team 2000 was the ticket to being hugely popular in 00s Japan. I will have say they have a very unique, cool badass aura for Japan. Not to takeaway anything from the ultimate badass, the Big, Bad Bleach Blond Giant of Yoshihiro Takayama, who was so locked in 2002 that he even got a good match out of Chono.


The beginning was pretty boring with Takayama just asserting his dominance with his size and on the mat. Takayama works in his usual heels spots like eyerakes and one foot cover. Any and all Chono offense gets wildly cheered, but pretty much sucks especially that shitty armbar. Takayama hits his huge knee lift, which Chono sells like a million bucks. It is picking up now. Chono in full on desperation mode draws blood with repeated Yakuza Kicks. Takayama storms back with knee lifts with the ref having to pull him off and Team 2000 is irate at ringside. He goes for the Everest to finish him, but knows the ballshot is coming and avoids it. I love it. Chono gets the spinwheel kick and a drop toehold. Huge Pop! Everybody knows what is coming: STF, BABY! Chono is good at ratcheting up the STF and Takayama sold great. Takayama dead weight after making the ropes. A barrage of Yakuza Kicks wins Chono his blank G-1 Climax to the delight of the crowd.


The key with 00s Chono is keep him off offense and let him hit his big spots to please the crowd. Takayama was just so locked in at this point that he could have a great match with anybody. ***1/4
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  • 3 years later...

Hey look, it's a match from the "dark ages" of NJPW! This match is a seemingly impossible achievement, as it's Chono in a long match that's actually good! And not only does Chono NOT look like a decrepit fossil of yesterdecade, he actually manages to go toe to toe with Takayama in some memorable exchanges! Chono for once gives a shit and sells Takayama like the huge deal that he is, getting the crowd solidly behind him in the process as he gets his ASS kicked. Takayama was tremendous here as a kickpadded cocky Stan Hansen to Chono's Baba. In fact he did beat the crap out of Chono far worse than Hansen ever did to Baba. I loved that after Chono had overwhelmed Takayama with punches and controlled with some holds for a beat, Takayama lands a single knee and it looks like Chono is seconds away from having his lights turned out. Chono getting destroyed and actually selling all this (for SYMPATHY~!) was great, and they are clever enough not to go too epic for the finish. There is ONE great transition and awesome destruction, teeth are gnashed and noses are bloodied, and that's all you need. Just some good old japanese wrestling destruction and that never gets old. A MILLION STARS!

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  • GSR changed the title to [2002-08-11-NJPW-G1 Climax] Masa Chono vs Yoshihiro Takayama
  • 4 years later...

Fuck I didn’t know I had already watched this match. I’m about the same ballpark as I was before I think I was going to go 2.5 stars or 3 stars once I finished writing.

The first 12 minutes of this match are utterly pointless. They don’t establish a hook or anything. It is broken up into little segments that don’t connect and are not that interesting on their own. Nominally I’d say they are going for Chono is the legend that is out-gunned by the giant shooter badass. Takayama picks him Up out of the guillotine and drops him off the top turnbuckle to slap him. Or in a firefight Chono strikes are over but is eventually a losing battle. But then he will randomly win a strike exchange or apply a really shitty reverse surfboard. The selling in segment was good but not between segments.

The finish run was good: Takayama kneelifts, the Everest German, the big Jumping Knee. The spinning heel kick for Chono to take over was bad but I LOVED THE STF! I wish he won it with the STF rather than the barrage of Yakuza Kicks. I’ll be generous and go ***. I had zero recollection of watching lol

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