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[2017-06-11-NJPW-Dominion] Hiromu Takahashi vs KUSHIDA


soup23

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Took the recklessness of the Tokyo Dome match and toned that down ever so slightly. Made up for that by adding in a health dose of hate and sick strikes. KUSHIDA's new attitude after getting embarrassed at Sakura Genesis was great and he showed this punk who was boss. Back to the Future was such a big move throughout the BOSJ tournament that him going back tot he Hoverboard Lock to secure the win here was just the icing on the cake. ****1/2

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  • 5 weeks later...

I loved this - a good bit more than the Dome match too (went **** there). Ultra aggressive KUSHIDA early as they just strike each all around the ring. We get a great chair spot (with a great kick to get Hiromu to sit down) with the diving dropkick into the crowd. I loved how this was laid out - KUSHIDA avoids the sunset bomb, works the arm, hits the big overhead suplex holding the arm off the top rope. Looks like the end, but they morph this into another pretty lengthy segment with Hiromu getting the sunset bomb (sick thud on his head) and starting to run through his stuff just like Genesis. Timebomb reversed and then we get SUPER BACK TO THE FUTURE off the middle rope, into another slugout in a callback to the beginning of the match. KUSHIDA looks rocked here, but he just decimates Hiromu with stomps and then ratchets on the hoverboard to get the win. Easy ****1/2 from me.

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One of my favorite matches this year and the perfect way to cap off the feud (although Hiromu being a break-out star for NJPW could have used the rub). That being said, KUSHIDA was every bit as aggressive as he was at Sakura Genesis but a little wiser this time around. I was surprised he won with the Hoverboard Lock as opposed to Back to the Future considering that was being presented as his unbeatable move (similar to Kobashi and the necessity of the Burning Hammer), but like soup23 mentioned, this might have been a more fitting end. KUSHIDA was finally able to put Hiromu away with the move he never could before.

 

Great spots, tons of aggression, and excellent storytelling? ****3/4.

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Kushida coming full circle here from the loss at Sakura Genesis was a really great moment, even if it could've been stretched out a bit longer. I'm still just not drinking the Hiromu Kool Aid and preferred Kushida's matches with Liger and Ospreay in the BOSJ better than anything in the Hiromu series. These are perfectly solid, enjoyable matches that undoubtedly feature a ton of violent, breathtaking spots. The way they're put together just comes off very cold without a ton of impact on most occasions.

 

***3/4

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  • 2 weeks later...

Holy crow this was awesome! The anger and intensity from both was totally believable, and KUSHIDA acts like he's lost his mind, with things like the dropkick into the stands, and stomping the hell out of Takahashi before trying for the Hoverboard lock. KUSHIDA's attack on the arm was relentless, and Takahashi's selling and reactions were awesome.

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  • GSR changed the title to [2017-06-11-NJPW-Dominion] Hiromu Takahashi vs KUSHIDA

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