Thursday, June 15, 2017

Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (NJPW, 7/13/89)

Late 80's "God Beast" mode Jushin Liger is one scary motherfucker. The OG mask was creepy enough but this one is straight out of a horror movie. Naoki Sano's jacked and ready to show off his stuff. This was a super duper juniors exhibition, with lots of slick back-and-forth mat-tastics and a bubbling aggression that didn't quite pop. Instead, they unload almost all of their offense and it's pretty great. Liger drops a boss diving elbow, suplexes Sano from inside the ring and drops him to the ground, and then follows that up with a fucking somersault senton from the top rope to the floor like he's 2017 KUSHIDA. Not to be outdone, Sano rallies back with lots of kick variations and he goes up top and uh, maybe slips or maybe kicks Liger on the floor. Some of Sano's stuff isn't as squeaky clean as in later matches but he's trying everything, hitting a German suplex hold and a dope arm trap suplex floatover for a two count. They both collapse on the top rope backdrop attempt and the match ends on a double KO. Weird finish but it works and sets up the subsequent rematch.

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