Takeshi Ono Tuesday

Takeshi Ono & Takahiro Oba v Kengo Mashimo & Manabu Suruga (FUTEN, 5/30/10)

What a ridiculous thing. It's kind of wild that wrestling like this even exists, where people are willingly being hit by other people to such ridiculous degrees, yet we treasure it all the same - perhaps somewhat guiltily - as it is the very best wrestling of them all. This was pretty much a classic of the style in all the ways you'd expect from a classic in this style, with an extra little built-in story to really put it over the top. Takahiro Oba is sort of a goofball. A goofball who'll smack you really hard in the face as this is FUTEN at the end of the day, but he's there for some comic relief and provides a bit of light-heartedness in amongst the violence. Well tonight he was made to step up to the plate, to prove he is no mere schmuck and that he can hold his own, even if it only means lending a hand once or twice so Ono can bring home the bacon. He started out acting kind of silly and Mashimo even indulged him a little when Oba was doing his little psych out bit. His goofier strikes at least have a charm to them, like his Mongolian chops, then he'll throw big forearms to the ear or Kikuchi someone with a headbutt just to remind you what you're watching. The first five minutes feature all possible match-ups and Oba comes out victorious in both of his, the exchange with Mashimo being pretty breathtaking in how slick it was, ending with a gorgeous armbar from Oba. Eventually Mashimo and Suruga isolate him and face in PERIL takes on a new meaning in this house. There's one moment where Ono tries to come in for the save and Mashimo, while holding Oba in a rear waist lock, shifts his weight and just thrust kicks him right in the throat. Takeshi Ono as the hot tag guy must be one of the most terrifying things in wrestling as he comes in like a wrecking ball, all limbs and fists, tries to take the jaw off Suruga with punches and then full force punts him in the elbow. The string of German suplexes that Ono takes is insane, culminating with one into the corner where it looked like it gave him a seizure. And then the stretch run is your classic Battlarts/FUTEN finishing run with Ono and Suruga lighting each other to the moon. Oba and Mashimo largely stay out the way for the last five minutes or so, but Oba has to make one big save for his team by breaking up a deep armbar. Even his silliness led to a mean bit of nastiness as he went for a legdrop on Suruga but overshot it and basically did a full senton right right on Suruga's head. Some truly unhinged violence towards the end - uppercuts, backfists, penalty kicks, the whole FUTEN playbook on display. There's that moment right before the finish where Suruga can barely stand and you know Ono is about to unleash hell and then he does and Suruga is dead. The very best wrestling.