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NJPW, 11/23/02 (SXW) (Buy)
Fujisawa City Akiba Bunka Gymnasium 2,500 Fans
1. Toru Yano beat Naofumi Yamamoto (4:52) with a Canadian backbreaker.
The first and only SXW taping of "TRIATHLON SURVIVOR 2002" was the second show of the tour. Both the events before (11/22) and after (11/24) it were WPW tapings, but I don't have either yet, so this is my first look at the series. The Triathlon Survivor concept was trialed on the last tour with the juniors, and perfected, system-wise (reversing the orders of falls to good effect), in time for the heavyweight version. It was a risky move, because it replaced the G1 Tag League, which has been a proven success and drew big numbers in 2001. Even with the interesting way the six man tags were set up, trios matches in heavyweight Japanese promotions are less attractive than regular tags, whereas in Mexico or Japanese lucha style promotions like Toryumon Japan, trios matches can draw just as well as singles or regular tags. This taping took place at Fujisawa City Akiba Bunka Gymnasium, which seemed around half full, maybe a little more. It's one of those spacious buildings used for secondary tapings, and looks nice on camera. The opening match, for me, was one of the most enjoyable of the convention. Yano and Yamamoto fought over their moves really well, showing a great deal of intensity for opening match rookies. Their motion was really good, and Yamamoto was again quick on his feet, showing impressive agility. The finish was cool, with Yano lifting Yamamoto up into a Canadian backbreaker. Unlike some other versions of the hold, this one had a lot of impact, with Yano viciously SHAKING Yamamoto on his shoulders. Yamamoto was quick to tap, and Yano dropped him down nearly on his neck. Backstage, Yano cut a short promo, and showed the potential to be a good punk, acting kind of grumpy. These two aren't as talked about as much as Tanahashi, Wolf, and Nakamura yet, but are two good heavyweight prospects to look out for. They showed about 8 1/2 minutes of the junior six man tag, and it was my first look at Super Crazy and TJ "Stampede Kid" Wilson in New Japan. Crazy has gained some weight since his ECW days, while Stampede is in very good shape, and wears both a cowboy hat and tassles on his boots to the ring. These two replaced Jado & Gedo, who weren't booked for the tour, so lineups were fresher. We didn't get to see much of the newcomers on offense, as Kanemoto controlled most of it when his team was on the attack, looking as brilliant as always. Crazy did next to nothing in the portion showed, but Stampede looked very good defensively. Offensively, he didn't get to show much, as he had his shields up for much of the match, but he is very quick and slick on the move, and seems like a very big prospect. Can't wait to see some more of him. Today's SXW feature was the third and final look at AKIRA's acting career. After showing the physical training and rehearsals, it was time for "MAKOTO" to hit the stage. Of course, the focus was on AKIRA, and he seemed to steal the show, but that is no surprise. The highlight was his big fight scene, with Queen's "We Are The Champions" playing. When their blades slash, the music suddenly halts, and both men stand still. AKIRA drops his blade, and dramatically turns. He was hit. They seem to be friends, perhaps fighting after an argument. The other fighter tries to catch AKIRA, but AKIRA lunges down a flight of stairs, and ends up on his back. His friend cradles his head, and AKIRA mutters some last words before dying. *wipes a tear away*. The actors congratulate each other backstage, and there you have it. AKIRA, a man of many talents. Liger & Samurai vs. Hiro & GOKU-DO was a very old style tag match. It was slow until later on, and there wasn't much to write about, but it was okay (especially when Mr. Senton was in instead of his partner). Hiro's senton bomb may be the most popular move in New Japan. No matter how quiet a crowd is, whenever he goes for it, the crowd responds. Liger dropped GOKU-DO with a beautiful Liger bomb to seal this match. Nagata & Koshinaka vs. Iizuka & Nishimura was the match I anticipated most on the show. Four established heavyweights, no easy-to-pick loser. Unfortunately, they only showed 8 1/2 minutes of the 14+ it lasted, so we didn't get to see everything. What was shown was good, if not their best (except maybe Koshinaka). Nagata, Iizuka, and Nishimura all looked very good, and Koshinaka came alive later on, involving the crowd with his hip attacks. Nagata and Iizuka finished the match with one of those classic reversal sequences that won their 2000 series such heavy praise. The final reversal saw Nagata slide under Iizuka's sleeper hold, and lock on his Nagata Lock II for the tap. Good match, I wish they hadn't clipped it though. Nakanishi & Yoshie vs. Barton & Steele was the Americans' second match as New Japan regulars, oddly enough on the tour equivalent of the 2001 G1 Tag League, where they were loaned to New Japan from All Japan, in exchange for Muto. I didn't like their All Japan matches in 2002, finding them long and boring, because they dominated them for 15-18 minutes. They showed about half of this, and in the footage shown, it was better than any of their All Japan matches from 2002. Nakanishi was really cool again here, working well with both opponents. In this form, it was a see-saw match, with Nak & Yoshie's crazy double teams (Nakanishi racks Yoshie and throws him down on to opponent, and Nakanishi lifts Yoshie for an atomic drop and Thesz press' him down on to opponent) a highlight. Barton & Steele won a close match when Barton pinned Yoshie, and from what was shown, this was fun. If Barton & Steele adapt to the New Japan system like they did in the 2001 G1 Tag League, they will fit in nicely. The first of two Triathlon Survivor matches had Kings of the Hill (Kenzo, Tanahashi & Wolf) against the power fighting team of Norton, Steiner & Makabe. This was really slow paced in the first fall, with Steiner looking absolutely terrible. Norton did okay, and Makabe was the best on the team, but is still trying to adjust to his bulk, so is slower than he used to be, and probably one day will again be. Things always improved when KOTH got on the attack, but a lot of the time they were defending. Makabe hit a German, then Dragon suplex (hold) to pin Tanahashi, putting those two out of the match. Kenzo & Wolf vs. Norton & Steiner was a short final fall. Watching Wolf throw Steiner around with Exploder suplexes was so great. Steiner came back out of nowhere though, and hit a Death Valley bomb for the win. Norton is a credible and respectable figure to keep around, even if he is outdated and dry, but Steiner is terrible and living off past reputation now. The main event and final Triathlon Survivor match was Fujinami, Chono & Tenzan vs. Yasuda, Yanagisawa & Makai #1. This was another slow match, but was more interesting than the last one because it was SHIN NIHON VS. MAKAI, one of the hottest feuds in wrestling. Still, the show needed a really good wrestling match now, and this wasn't it. There was a lot of brawling, and the fans were all over Makai whenever they did something questionable (especially Yasuda). Yasuda got himself DQ'd in the first fall for refusing to release a forearm choke on Fujinami. The second fall was pretty long, about 8 minutes, and was better than the first. Yanagisawa looked really awkward though, pausing a lot. He and Makai #1 upset the tag champs, Chono & Tenzan, when Yanagisawa hit Chono with a jumping knee kick for the surprise three count. So it came down to Tenzan and Super Strong Makai. #1 took cheap shots at Tenzan, but he fought back. He hit a diving headbutt, but Yasuda pulled the referee away to break the count. Then he hit a picture perfect moonsault press, but Yasuda stomped him to break up the pin. Tenzan dodged another Yasuda attack, and Makai #1 was struck. Tenzan cleared Yasuda out, and finished #1 off with the TTD, giving Fujinami & T2000 a big opening day win. A disappointing show. I enjoy nearly every New Japan broadcast, but this one dragged and the wrong matches were clipped. There was some good wrestling, and the AKIRA feature again ruled, but the last two matches finished things on a cold note. I think the 12/1 show in Kyoto would have been a better one to tape for SXW, with Gotch-ism and Team Fujinami/Chono in a 32+ minute Triathlon Survivor main event.
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