A Bunch of: 2010 Japan Indie Title Matches (part one)

What with Shuji Ishikawa and Daisuke Sekimoto's KO-D title runs and several other big title matches and switches over the year so far, I thought work through them in addition to all the Big Japan, Michinoku Pro, Battlarts and K-Dojo shows I'll be reviewing in full. That way, I actually might have seen enough stuff to justify submitting a 2010 Japanese ballot at DVDVR.

Shuji Ishikawa vs. Yoshihito Sasaki, Union Pro, 24th January 2010

First half of this was about Ishikawa taking away Sasaki's lariat and chopping arm and Sasaki taking away Ishikawa's knee strikes and kicking leg. The second half of this was about both guys unloading their heavy weaponry, which included Sasaki's lariat and chops and Ishikawa's knee strikes. So, you can see, this match is problematic. Hard-hitting, perhaps even well-paced, but problematic. Yoshihito Sasaki is also not a guy averse to taking dangerous head drops, nor to completely no-selling them, which given I was already feeling ill-disposed towards the match already really did no it no favours.

Dick Togo vs. Billy Ken Kid, Osaka Pro, 11th February 2010

Tremendous Togo performance. Last year, I thought some of his face-in-peril work was the best in Japan, this year it's a rudo performance that impresses. The match is divided into a series of heat sections with brief comebacks, and Togo finds new and interesting things to do each time, whilst letting BKK to bring a few highspots. The mask theft stuff was great: not a DQ in Japan, but completely disabling as he tries to obscure his face. My biggest problem is that BKK's final comeback - the one where he got his mask back - was disappointing and lacklustre. It really should have been "OK, I've taken 30 minutes of this crap, ENOUGH", but amounted to some weak strikes and the feeling like he almost didn't know what to do next, leaving Togo to take the offence back right where it should have built to the satisfying payoff. Frustrating finish to a great solo performance.


Shuji Ishikawa vs. Daisuke Sekimoto, Union Pro 28th February 2010

I liked this much more that the Sasaki match, and the odd thing about saying that is that, as a match, its much less ambitious. The leg vs. arm story in the Sasaki match is much more interesting, but the execution is weak, which is really such a widespread thing in Japanese wrestling it gets a little depressing. Here, it's very much a case of keeping things simple, leading to a fun power match. Sekimoto is much more worthwhile when against a bigger guy. His power stuff becomes impressive and he doesn't go into finisher overdrive. He's someone I have learned to enjoy in his own way (like in these sort of matches and in tags) - can't expect anything particularly smart, but in certain circumstances his angry-faces and running-around and sort-of-topes have a familiar charm.