NJPW Power Struggle 2018 Review and Results: Chris Jericho vs EVIL

from njpw1972.com

RPW British Heavyweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii(c) vs Minoru Suzuki

Ishii gets ahead right away with a flurry of shoulder tackles and strikes. Suzuki fires back but Tom isn’t phased. They come to a stalemate and meet in the middle to trade heavy forearms. Suzuki’s rocked and retreats.

Ishii keeps up the pressure with knees to the body and chops. The King leans in and lays in chops of his own, taunting the champion. More Suzuki offense, and Ishii looks hurt.

Eventually, the Stone Pitbull gets fed up, lands some nasty chops, and taunts. Suzuki isn’t at all amused, and they’re back to trading forearms. One at a time, the blows become heavier until both men are rocked and wobbly. Ishii finally collapses after a pair of particularly stiff strikes.

Suzuki continues as Ishii slowly recovers and begins no selling. They go back and forth again. Ishii looks to be gaining some momentum, but a big boot stops him. Middle of the ring, they trade palm strikes. These two are completely insane.

Suzuki goes for the sleeper. Ishii counters, but gets caught with a sudden dropkick. Another sleeper, followed by the GSP attempt. Ishii gets free again, but eats more forearms. Another GSP is countered, and the champ drops the challenger on his head.

Brainbuster attempt. Suzuki slips out and goes for another sleeper, but Ishii frees himself and connects with an enziguri. Two lariats and the vertical drop brainbuster finishes it.

Tomohiro Ishii def Minoru Suzuki 

I don’t know much about the belt they were fighting for or the promotion the belt’s from, but I do know that I love watching Ishii and Suzuki beat the brakes off of each other.

Nobody in wrestling can execute this kind of match better than these two- just twenty minutes of no nonsense strike exchanges, high impact offense, and well-timed, meaningful no selling. I loved every second of it.

The build to the finish didn’t have many dramatic near falls or back and forth reversals, but it didn’t need any of that. Both guys took loads of punishment, so the quick and sudden ending felt completely appropriate.

****1/2