New Japan/WCW "Starrcade '91" at the Tokyo Dome March 21st, 1991- Part 2 (by Justin Lee) Introduction If you missed
the first part of this review, I suggest you go back and take a
look at it. It was a good amount of talent performing
well in front of the huge crowd of the Egg Dome. The
second tape is even more of the same. Thanks again to
Ultimo Tape World for having this tape available in
fantastic 1) Shiro Koshinaka/Kunaki Kobayashi/Takayuki Iizuka vs Tim Horner/Brian Pillman/"The Z Man" Tom Zenk I've seen two guys on each team before (Koshinaka, Kobayashi, Pillman, and Zenk), so I had a somewhat high expectation for this match. Koshinaka is clearly the most over guy in this match, and I am pleased to see that. His butt attacks rule, and the crowd knows it. Pillman would have to qualify for the second most over guy there. Although his offense didn't get over much at first, one he took to the air the crowd went nuts. Tim Horner, who I have never, ever heard of before, is the breakout star of this match. He must have some experience in Japan, as he wrestles like an NJPW junior (and a very good one at that). This match ends when perhaps the greenest guy of the 6, Takayuki Iizuka, hits Horner with a dragon suplex for the pin. Right now, Iizuka is the biggest star of all 6, so this match makes lots of sense historically. Now, I haven't seen any recent Iizuka matches, but considering the work he did here, I don't think he deserves the push he has. Here, I suppose he has to go over anyway, as Koshinaka and Kobayashi are already over. And I'm rambling... WINNERS: Iizuka/Kobayashi/Koshinaka (Iizuka -dragon suplex- Horner) RATING: *** 2) IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match: Jushin Lyger vs AKIRA (that's Akira Nogami to you and me) (Note: To this day, I cannot decide on how I will spell the aforementioned masked man's name, so I will just use every possible spelling I can think of) Jyushin is always good, and, as an added bonus, is in top form here (remember, its 1991), being young, full of energy, and not injured. AKIRA is a fine, fine wrestler as well. This is practically a complete technical contest, with a wide variety of holds being implemented. Most of the moves are just aimless, as no part of the body is being targeted... ...until Laiger hits a plancha and "injures" his ankle. AKIRA is all over it for the rest of the match. In the end, Liegah makes a comeback, and kicks out of a million AKIRA pin attempts before hitting a mean-looking top rope DDT to retain the title. For those of you who saw Dean Malenko vs Scott Taylor at Backlash this year, you know what this sucker looked like. Whoo...WINNER: Lygurr (top rope DDT) RATING: **** After the match, Lyger is handed what I swear to everything holy on this Earth is the King of the Deathmatch trophy. Liiger is carried out by Nogami, and chances are he will never see that damned trophy again. 3) El Gigante vs Cutis Hughes Okay, we all know this one sucks without even watching it. The crowd loves Gigante, because he has that "friendly giant that helps the small peaceful elves get through the cave by moving a big rock and saving the day" aura. Sort of like Giant Baba, I guess. Bill Alfonso is the referee, which just makes this match all the more absurd. Some pointless shitty pounding by Gigante. Some fighting back by Hughes. Gigante no-sells, and teases a suplex for about a year. When he does hit the thing, it turns out to be the infamous WORST SUPLEX EVER. Of course, this is followed by the WORST KICK EVER. Somewhere in Osaka, Akira Taue tosses his TV out the window. Finally, the Giant Gonzales, whoops, wrong promotion, El Gigante locks on a "brain claw" for the pin in about 3 minutes. WINNER: El Gigante (brain claw) RATING: 1/4* Everyone, go check out the Giant Gonzales and El Gigante articles at WrestleCrap.com, that is, after you finish this.... Seriously, don't let that one scare you away, the next two matches ROCK.... 4) The Great Muta vs Sting Muta starts with a string of his big moves (corkscrew elbow, spin kick, backbreaker, moonsault), but misses the moonsault. Luckily, he lands on his feet and doesn't miss a stride. Sting comes back with a HUGE plancha before locking on a goddamned headlock to slow things down. Fuck. Muta rakes the Stinger's eyes and lays in a few kicks, but a big Stinger bulldog stops him again. Sting tries for the scorpion deathlock, but Muta reaches the ropes with ease. Muta hits his spinkick and elbow in retaliation. Its Muta on the offensive until he misses his corkscrew moonsault. Sting then goes for the stinger splash, and misses that too. Muta then goes for the moonsault again after the customary backbreaker, and Sting lifts his knees. Muta doesn't learn his lesson and goes for a THIRD moonsault. The Stinger teaches him a lesson a backdrop suplexes his ass off that top rope for a 2 1/2 count. Near fall time has begun! A Sting backslide gets 2. A Muta inside cradle gets 2. Muta breaks the scorpion deathlock again. Sting takes Muta into the corner, goes for another stinger splash, Muta catches him with the mist and hits a flying body press off the top rope for the win! WINNER: The Great Muta RATING: ****1/4 5) IWGP Heavyweight Title vs NWA Heavyweight Title: Tatsumi Fujinami vs Ric Flair I was going to review this one move for move, but halfway in I gave up, and just enjoyed this thing. What an epic match it was. The Dragon and Flair trade stiff chops throughout it, with both hitting all of their big moves at least once. Flair gets busted open, and the crowd goes nuts for their boy Fujinami. In the end, Flair bumps the ref (who was Fonzie, once again) and Fujinami pins him about 4 times, until the real ref comes in and counts the final pin, which looks like an octopus hold falling back into a pin, for the double titles. WINNER: Tatsumi Fujinami (?) *new NWA champion* RATING: ***** I'll overlook some minor flaws in this, as it all worked out in the end. Let's review... -Best Match: Flair vs Fujinami -Worst Match: El Gigante vs Curtis Hughes -Memorable Moment/Historical Significance: Fujinami unifies two of the biggest belts in wrestling. -Is it worth 10 bucks? YES! After the first tape, which is only better than doing nothing for an hour and a half, this one is in a completely different league. This one is a must-see. Buy this tape at http://www.ultimotapes.com/tapes/tape202.htm Email Justin Lee at GnXn282@aol.com Back To The ShootAngle Main Page
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