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[2004-08-08-NJPW-G1 Climax] Koji Kanemoto vs Osamu Nishimura


Loss

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  • 3 months later...

This is like some kind of hidden gem. Unlike the Takayama match, Koji has very little interest in wrestling the way Nishimura would prefer to. He is a complete and total dick for 90% of the match. And it leads to some amazing things. Nishimura throwing big elbows that rock Koji is so very unexpected and awesome. Nishimura's selling is tremendous throughout. Koji cutting off all of Nishimura's comebacks with his own counters to Nishimura's counters is all kinds of fun. The finish is off the charts good, and the crowd is hot and solidly behind Nishmura. Koji is gracious after the match, raising Nishimura's arm despite kicking the shit out of him for a good 10 minutes of the match. Really great underdog match that's on the bubble of top 50 for me.

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  • 2 months later...

This is awesome. I love both of these guys and it's nice to see them match up so well. Kanemoto wouldn't be believable fighting Takayama or Sasaki like this but Nishimura is just small enough to put Kanemoto over at the beginning of the tournament. It's smart booking because it allowed Kanemoto to look much stronger against other heavyweights as the tournament went on. Nishimura still gets to do some of the grappling I love but he also gets to show off those awesome uppercuts as well.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Koji Kanemoto vs Osamu Nishimura - NJPW G-1 Climax '04

 

Kanemoto really blew this one. Kanemoto avoided Nishimura on the mat and dominated with kicks. I was waiting for Nishimura to kick it up a notch, which he did with his amazing European Uppercuts, but Kanemoto answered with facewashs and planchas. Nishimura almost seemed cocky against the junior heavyweight Kanemoto and before he knew he was in a big hole. Nishimura was really great at selling and not just the eventual leg selling, but selling throughout the match. He was putting Kanemoto and his offense over huge in hanging with the heavyweights by demonstrating that he has underestimated Kanemoto. Nishimura is always dangerous with his millions of pinning combinations and he applied one, but Kanemoto countered into a heel hook. Nishimura sells this like a million bucks. Kanemoto ramps up to the moonsault, but cant get the job done. Nishimura goes for a banana split cradle, which Kanemoto counters into the heel hook and just when you thinks he has it, Nishimura rolls him onto his shoulder and Kanemoto does not let go. It was a cool little story that put Kanemoto over. Nishimura's selling really made this special. Kanemoto can run cold with me and this was one of those performances. Against somebody who was not selling as well, this would not have been as good. Regardless, definitely a match to watch if you appreciate great selling and a neat 15 minute story. ***3/4

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  • 3 years later...

Similar to the Minoru Suzuki, this match sees Nishimura's spellbook constantly countered by Kanemoto, who works with this perpetual shit eating grin. He's pretty great here with his fakeout spins, reversals, and overall cocky demeanor. He overwhelms Nishimura with kicks, primarily targeting the leg, but also figuring in a couple of facewash spots. There's a point in the match where the ref tries to prevent Kanemoto from attacking Nishimura on the apron...so Kanemoto leapfrogs the ref, dropkicking Nishimura, before following up with a plancha. Osamu can't catch a break as Kanemoto seemingly has an answer for everything. Osamu eats a corkscrew senton to the face and then Kanemoto really digs in with the legwork, with some terrific selling from Osamu. Kanemoto slips out of the backslide attempt, kicks Nishimura in the head and slaps on the grapevined ankle hold. Koji lands his moonsault press for a nearfall and counters Osamu's roll up by grabbing the injured ankle and bending it...but in true Osamu fashion, he's able to pin Kanemoto's shoulders to the mat to pick up the win. A solid match with a little bit of slop.

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  • GSR changed the title to [2004-08-08-NJPW-G1 Climax] Koji Kanemoto vs Osamu Nishimura

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