Kaientai Dojo: 9th August 2008

You know what's better than a show? A super big show. And here's one. Watched this show months ago, and didn't do a write up. Here are a couple of abridged thoughts - the DVD is from WrestlingDVD.net. The recording focuses mainly on the four title matches. Actually, with the time contraints of a GAORA show, even the featured matches are a bit clipped.

The UWA Middleweight Title match between MEN's Teioh and Makoto Oishi (cut down to seven minutes) was a fun little sprint - MEN's doing his veteran schooling the young boys schtick, before the near falls run which was a little one-sided as MEN's killed Oishi dead at the end with about five backdrop drivers and a Miracle Ecstasy. I look forward to the December rematch, especially if its shown near full.

The Independent Jr title match between Madoka and Iibushi was exactly what you expect - lots of kicking, highspots, and little substance. They do loads of avoiding each other's signature stuff (at least early on), playing off how they know each other well, but predictably all that same stuff is hit later on, which just shows how little either guy is interested in doing anything meaningful. Case in point: Iibushi drops Madoka on his head on the apron with a deadlife German. Thirty seconds later, this doesn't matter at all, as Madoka is running around as if nothing happened. A spot like that should mean something.

The STRONGEST-K tag titles match had TAKA Michinoku and JOE against. KAZMA and MIYAWAKI. The clipping left basically a energetic finisher stretch. It turns out this match was voted K-Dojo match of the year by its fans. No clear idea why from what was shown - its fun, back and forth stuff, but not much more than a well executed running through of all four guys main spots and big moves.

The main event is the rematch between Hino and Mashimo. I wasn't overly keen on the first match - I don't think they have worked out how to work together, given their respective strengths. This match was, if anything, less than the first. I think the match was missing about 10 minutes. The match is lost for me when they do that annoying indie thing where they decide to ignore previos body work (Hino's arm, Mashimo's leg) and battle through the pain to hit each other with their best strikes (Hino's lariat, Mashimo's roundhouses). Again and again and again. I don't care how much you dress it up with selling after each strike (and that doesn't even last until the end), if body part work is going to mean anything, it has to impact on a wrestler's moveset or options. They are also not adverse to some fairly dubious non-selling of each others big finishers, though thankfully not with the 1-count kickout (or, as I like to refer to it, the Sekimoto).

I enjoy both guys (Hino is basically my favourite heel in Japan, and I think Mashimo can be fantastic) so I've got to believe there is a better match between them - there is glimpses occassionally, but not enough. I may go back a couple of years and see what they were doing before they were given the top spots - I've heard good things about 2005 Strongest-K final.

Not the best show from the promotion, but four title changes makes this noteworthy at least, and its all good fun throughout, if not deeply satisfying.