July 28th, 2024: Book Club - Session 4

Match 1: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kenoh (NOAH, 03.10.2021)

2021 N-1 Victory Tournament Finals

The NOAH product has always fascinated me.

I always found my enjoyment of them fleeting and unpredictable. When they're on, they are on. When they're off, they feel off, spectacularly. There is no in between, and it always feels like something is happening, for good and for bad, leading to my lack of commitment to the product.

2021 was a fascinating year for NOAH. One year past the LIDET-run era of NOAH, which saw the company bring in unique names from the indies to supplement their strong home-grown roster, and one year into COVID-19, which... You already know how this song goes.

Like NOAH's product, my enjoyment of Katsuhiko Nakajima's work has been inconsistent at best. I have always felt a disconnect with his work, especially his work after 2022. Nakajima falls under an unfortunate distinction in classifications of wrestlers within the scope of my personal enjoyment, in that he is a wrestler that I would like on paper, but cannot get into, in practice.

Kenoh on the other hand, is someone who has caught my eye since seeing clips of his in his junior heavyweight days. Hard kicks and a fiery intensity driven by anger make him always a compelling character whenever I come by his work.

Both men, going into this match, are members of KONGO, a red-clad unit that presented themselves as NOAH's "diamonds in the rough".

I could also describe this match in the same way.

In the past, I would typically overlook a match like this due to multiple factors. My disconnect with Nakajima's work, clap crowds, main event in an era where the in-ring style begins to follow a certain big-match formula; things of that nature.

Amidst all my (admittedly biased) preconceptions, this match was a diamond in the rough. I was presented with a mutual display of one-upmanship, a sense of competition present that was lacking in other matches. This was a match that was a test of worthiness, asking the question: "Do you have what it takes to take this opportunity away from me?"

This was a story of contrasts told in the most symphonic, percussive way; through their deafening kicks. There was a contrast told in the sounds of their kicks, magnified by a quietness in the clap-only crowd that accented the gravity of the situation. Nakajima's kicks filling the air, heavy and almost bass-like in quality, whilst Kenoh's kicks were quick and sharp. Kenoh's brash fury, to Nakajima's laser-like confidence. Yet, in their differences was a united want to continue upping the ante, to push themselves to as close to the limit as they can possibly be.

After a flurry of slaps from both men that leaves Kenoh staggering and struggling to get to his feet, Nakajima hits a Diamond Bomb (his fireman's carry brainbuster), winning the match and the tournament, with an emphatic cover, a glint in his eye, and the biggest chip on his shoulder.

I have never once simply listened to a match and have it be able to tell such a story without words. Simply fantastic.

Verdict: Loved, would recommend

Match 2: Yuma Anzai (c) vs. Hideki Suzuki (AJPW, 24.06.2024)

Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship

"Yuma Anzai is the future of All Japan."

This is something you've probably heard within the circle, and what the promotion is emphasizing. Yuma Anzai, the face of the new generation, changing the landscape of All Japan forever.

It has a pretty nice ring to it. Anzai, personally scouted out of university by previous main-event stalwart Suwama, has always had a rocket strapped to his back and big shoes to fill regarding his positioning. Once a nervous junior who struggled to even introduce himself, now a cool, confident, fledgling ace with a certain sort of swagger in the way he carries himself.

Winning the Triple Crown at a little over one year into his career, becoming the youngest champ in the history of the title's lineage, is one hell of an achievement; and simultaneously, the ultimate test to put a young man through.

So, does Anzai hold up?

Acting as his proctor that day was Hideki Suzuki, the last disciple of legendary grappler Billy Robinson. Suzuki, who has been a perennial freelancer since his departure from WWE, has closely tied himself to the aforementioned Suwama, whenever he comes by to AJPW. Both Anzai and Suzuki come from different realms of wrestling; where Anzai was a prolific amateur wrestler emphasizing throws and suplexes, Suzuki excels in the catch-as-catch-can style of wrestling, emphasizing grappling, submissions, and crafty takedowns.

This match felt like a natural progression of what the King's Road style once was; a slow build, trading larger and larger hits; the naturalistic progression of strength and endurance. With the two's shared wrestling backgrounds, you could see each of the subtleties between their similar styles. Anzai has a great sense of timing for someone so early into his career, and Suzuki is always compelling with the level of his grappling; methodically slowing down the pace, but never once dipping the energy below what it needs to be at the moment.

My only big gripe with this match is that it began a little too slowly, but once it worked its way up, it delivered. The second half of the match especially delivered, Suzuki originally taking the reigns from the residual damage of his submissions, even hitting the trademark butterfly suplex for a nearfall that I admittedly bit on, to Anzai finding his momentum via some well-timed jumping knee strikes, eventually culminating in a struggle of Suzuki trying his damndest to escape from Anzai's Gimlet (side electric chair dropped into a sitout powerbomb), before it was too late.

To me, despite the flaw, I think Anzai has passed the test. While I think that his initial title match with Nakajima was lackluster through no fault of his own, I believe that this was the type of match Anzai needed to cement himself as the guy.

Verdict: Liked