More 1986 New Japan

Yoshiaki Fujiwara v Akira Maeda (New Japan, 2/5/86)

I had this at #36 on my New Japan 80s ballot, way back in the faraway time of 2009. I don't think it would be as low thirteen years later, though of all the Fujiwara/Maeda matches this is the one that's always failed to really grab me for whatever reason. Not that it wasn't still quality. The first half is worked fairly even and doesn't have the amazing hook of their '87 match (what a fucking wrestling match, btw), but the work is tight and all of the grappling is good. I mean come on, of course it's GOOD. Tempers flare at a couple points as Fujiwara throws some kicks to a downed Maeda's back, then Maeda responds with his own. Then they both grab a kneebar and roll out to the floor. They're counted out and you're thinking "okay that was a nifty 12 minutes," but then the ref' restarts the match as things are about to be different from now on and from there it gets pretty awesome. The second half is much more niggly and I loved the close-quarter body shots. You can almost see the wheels turning with Fujiwara as he starts picking openings for the armbar, then the finish is one of the best ever. Maeda grabs a rear naked choke and sinks it in deep, but as he wraps his legs around Fujiwara's waist he leaves a foot to be grabbed. Fujiwara's lights are dimming and he's drooling his way to unconsciousness yet he'll twist that ankle right up until he no longer can. Does Fujiwara pass out or does Maeda tap out? I'm not sure these two have ever had a bad match together. 

Tatsumi Fujinami, Kengo Kimura & Kantaro Hoshino v Akira Maeda, Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Nobuhiko Takada (New Japan, 3/14/86)

Not really a standout for 1986 New Japan, but they had an incredible year so that's not much of a knock. All of the exchanges were good without being red hot, kind of like table-setting for the big elimination match later in the month. Takada seems to take a stray low blow right at the start and Hoshino has no sympathy whatsoever, yet Takada never immediately tried to start a riot like Hoshino would've if the roles were reversed. So that was somewhat disappointing. Fujiwara was my MVP here. He had fun exchanges with Hoshino where he'd just blitz the wee fella with headbutts, has real nice chemistry with Kimura, and of course every time he and Fujinami match up you question how in the name of christ there was never a singles match. There was an interesting part where Kimura and Maeda were in together, before Fujinami had gotten in at all, and Kimura basically declined Fujinami's initial invite to tag in. Maeda nailed Kimura with a mean leg kick and Kimura half backpedalled into his own corner, so Fujinami just tagged himself in then and Kimura gave him this "I told you I've got it man" look while Fujinami basically shoed him out. "I'll handle it." No wonder Kimura wound up turning on him.