The Nice Sasuke, Gran Hamada & Masato Yakushiji defeat Taka Michinoku, Males’s Teioh & Dick Togo
April 13, 1997
ECW Barely Authorized 1997
Reviewed by Lee Malone (VOW Writer Web page / Co-host of Days of Thunder podcast)
Gifted by Andrew Sinclair (VOW Writer Web page / @AMSinclair97 on the the whole lot app)
I do know I’ve seen this match earlier than. I do know as a result of I’ve watched the ECW Barely Authorized ppv from begin to end at the very least twice if not thrice. And but now in 2024 the match hit for me in a approach I’d by no means have anticipated.
In 2024, I’ve most likely watched much less fashionable, modern wrestling than I ever have in my life. That’s as a result of a mixture of labor, marriage, children & Days of Thunder duties taking over all of my time. One other main issue is wrestling in 2024 simply isn’t doing it for me, WWE fucking sucks for a mess of causes, AEW hasn’t been nice and regardless of some vivid moments hasn’t been what I’ve wished this yr. I don’t have time to decide to CMLL, DragonGate or NJPW. So 2024 gained’t be a basic wrestling yr in my reminiscence. Nonetheless, typically a match comes alongside to reignite your love for wrestling and kick you within the ass and shout “HEY DUMBASS,THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHY YOU HAVE SPENT YOUR LIFE WATCHING THIS SHIT”. That is a kind of matches.
Three issues actually stood out to me about this match. To begin with, how far forward the in ring fashion and high quality of wrestling being produced in Japan in comparison with the large 3 in America was in 1997. The Cruiserweights have been getting some alternatives in WCW however what these 6 males did with 16 minuted on PPV completely blew away all however 1 or 2 WCW Cruiserweight matches within the yr.
Secondly, this match jogged my memory that wrestling doesn’t should be easy and each motion timed and executed completely. Hell there’s an argument, I prefer to name it the Sasha Banks precedent, that matches are higher when they’re a bit of bit sloppy and harmful. I really like watching Will Ospreay & Ricochet for instance however they’re nearly too good and make the whole lot look too straightforward at occasions. Gran Hamada moved with a smoothness most couldn’t even dream of however there was nonetheless some sloppiness to his work. And I do know that sounds contradictory however if you watch him you’ll perceive what I’m saying. Sasuke too may do unimaginable issues however he additionally has that harmful, nearly Sabu-esque vibe of you don’t fairly know what’s subsequent and also you don’t know the way it’s going to look however you’re not wanting away. In an period when WWE and the broader wrestling world as a complete insist on producing perfection, we’d like extra wrestlers with that sense of unpredictability.
Lastly, the third standout level of this match is how a lot circumstance and historical past issues. It would shock some that learn this however in 1997 Taka Michinoku was being talked about on the identical stage as Mysterio, Liger, Sasuke and so forth. He was a prodigy. Watch this match and you may inform he was that good already. The place historical past issues is that by the top of 1997 Taka Michinoku was a WWF Celebrity heading up the ill-fated WWF Gentle Heavyweight division. This was to be WWFs reply to WCWs Cruiserweight division, as a substitute it was Vince McMahon reserving small international guys, do I even must let you know how badly that went. Taka would stay in WWF till 2001 with out ever being put able to make a distinction or have a present stealing match.
So the place as followers who of their life have by no means watched an ECW present will let you know all about Rey Mysterio in ECW and the hurricanrana off the automobile as a result of that’s part of WWEs authorised historical past of wrestling. This match that tops something Rey did in ECW, isn’t remembered fondly or talked about in a historic context as a result of Taka and the remainder of the fellows within the match by no means went on to have profitable WWE careers. It is a match that would and perhaps ought to be spoken about in the identical phrases because the unimaginable Dragon Gate six man tags from ROH in 2006. It may have been the purpose that the Lucharesu fashion was launched into the mainstream, as a substitute Taka signed with WWE and have become a comedy character and we needed to wait 9 years for the Dragon Gate WrestleMania weekend matches.
I don’t know who my Secret Santa was however thanks to them for giving me the chance to revisit a match I had forgotten and permitting me to see it in a complete new approach. An superior match that everybody studying this could exit of their strategy to watch.