I think I found my favorite match for the year so far, maybe being edged out by Mashimo/Madoka versus MEN's Teioh/Shinobu from BJW, which was an amazing tag contest that was highlighted by great execution, story, and something that you don't see much in puro, long-term selling with no breaks. Anyways, I'll probably do a write up for that match later, that's not today's subject.
Hirooki Goto and Tetsuya Naito versus Shinsuke Nakamura and Hiroshi Tanahashi, 8/26/08 "Red Shoes Unno 20th Anniversary Show".
You want to see why New Japan has the brightest future out of the three major companies? This match will illustrate that. Four young wrestlers, two of them former IWGP Heavyweight champions who have nowhere to go but up (Nakamura & Tanahashi) , the 2008 G1 Climax winner (Goto) and the standout rookie of 2006 (Naito). Naito, despite having just over two years experience under his belt, is amazing. He hangs in this match so well with his peers, you'd think he was brought up with them. This match is highlighted by several things, for one, the crowd heat is perfect. Screams for all four men, pops for all the major moments, and overwhelming support for Naito. The match starts with great feeling out sections between Tanahashi and Naito, and picks up pace when Goto and Nakamura get in there. Naito is in over his head against both opponents, but he never says die and gets some great nearfalls (particularly the Goto lariat assisted German Suplex). He even nails a picture perfect Stardust Press (with faster rotation than usual) on Nakamura, getting an unbelievably close nearfall for a two year wrestler against a two time IWGP Heavyweight champion who has almost always been considered the future of the company (hence the nickname "Supernova"). The finish pays a lot of respect to Naito, as he is hit with both Tanahashi's High Fly Flow and Nakamura's Landslide before being put away. Tag wrestling needs to return to this simplicity, there are no over complicated spots, no real dead time, and a focused story. Highest recommendation.
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