Masashi Aoyagi vs. Masanobu Kurisu (NJPW, 2/5/91)

So much to love with this match-up. Aoyagi straight away heel kicking Kurisu, de-robing and then destroying him with kicks and knees is a definite highlight. And then Kurisu busts out the chair, wallops Aoyagi with it and then shows it to the crowd, like "see what I did there?". I thought the DQ finish was pretty great, the way Kurisu throws the referee and then starts swinging at everybody with the chair. A total chaotic blast.

Jushin Liger vs. Masashi Aoyagi (NJPW, 6/12/90)

Jushin Liger with the more ergonomically-designed mask because this isn’t your daddy’s wrestling match. No, this is a contest fought in rounds, against an opponent who doesn’t take to the turnbuckles but who kicks…a lot…because he’s a certified karate master. The first round breezes by as they work the mat and Liger keeps cranking on the arm until Aoyagi’s able to grab a single leg to win the first round. Aoyagi ain’t playing around at the start of the second round and goes right into the mounted strikes, going after Liger’s mask, then landing some big kicks back on his feet. But this time, Liger’s able to snag a leg to take Round 2.

But Round 3 ushers in the violent chaos that makes this match a full-fledged spectacle, with Liger saying “fuck it” and losing the mask before destroying Aoyagi with headbutts on repeat and palm strikes, bloodying him in the onslaught. He’s able to secure a cross armbreaker but Aoyagi boots him off in a last gasp effort. He’s a mess at this point and Liger’s able to choke him out. The final round, Liger immediately returns to the choke, forcing Aoyagi to the ropes, and once he has him on the ground, he drills him with some nasty knee strikes before the ref calls it and awards Liger the victory. A contest that quickly escalates into a pissy Liger beatdown...awesome.

Atsushi Onita vs. Masashi Aoyagi (FMW, 10/6/89)

Anytime Atsushi Onita is involved in something, chaos ensues. The same goes for the so-called "Different Style Fights" and this was no different, taking place on the inaugural FMW show. Onita is such a little shit in this match, only gaining some sort of advantage by cheap shotting Masashi Aoyagi. He attacks him from behind like a coward, avoiding most of Aoyagi's kicks and managing a few takedowns and outlasting the first round with a single leg crab hold. Aoyagi exacts his sweet revenge in the second round, knocking Onita out of the ring with his big flurry of karate kicks. Onita keeps getting pummeled into the corner and when the referee intervenes, Onita takes advantage and clobbers Aoyagi with a lariat.

There are plenty of cheapshots in the ropes and even Aoyagi doesn't care anymore and he's just putting the kicks to the grounded Onita. Onita firs off a backdrop, Aoyagi responds with a koppou kick. The Gi comes off and after Aoyagi spin kicks Onita out of the ring, he follows him out, taking the fight to Onita's familiar grounds, and he comes back busted open. The last few minutes of the match see Onita just getting destroyed by kicks in the ring. Whenever he's able to get up, he's stumbling, hanging onto the ref, before Aoyagi shuts him down again. After Aoyagi takes him out with a big kneel kick, the towel's thrown in and Aoyagi wins via TKO...but Onita ain't happy about it. A wacky, wild clash of styles and Onita being the scummy, low blowing Onita we've all come to love.