To begin with, I’d wish to thank Chris Whitehead for coincidentally bringing again the “For Your Consideration” idea along with his glorious column on the killer matches, reveals, and yr that Sareee is having in 2024. Second, I’ve to thank The Flagship podcast for its rallying cry of needing extra folks in professional wrestling to “discuss ball.” And lastly, I’d wish to thank the Academy…. Okay, sorry—I’ve taken the “For Your Consideration” gimmick too far.
However in that spirit, I’ve been impressed to “discuss ball” and spotlight a current match I’ve watched and would encourage others to take a look at. It’s freely out there on YouTube and can be linked under. I solely pop into Dragongate sometimes, so my assessment doesn’t have any historic context. As a substitute, I deal with the uncooked feelings it introduced out.
For a extra in-depth assessment, try Case Lowe’s assessment of the occasion right here on VOW.
MASAAKI MOCHIZUKI VS. MOCHIZUKI JR.
JULY 5, 2024
KORAKUEN HALL
TOKYO, JAPAN
I’ve lastly watched the Mochizuki vs. Mochizuki Jr. match. I’ve a YouTube playlist of hyped-up matches which are posted on YouTube, and occasionally, I’ll undergo it to compensate for 2024 wrestling and increase my view past AEW and the occasional New Japan. By way of this, I’ve been in a position to see some nice violent canine collar matches, glorious Joshi showcases, and way more.
Over the previous few years, Dragongate has been dependable in getting top-notch matches on YouTube. Whether or not it’s basic Courageous Gate matches like Jacky Funky Kamei vs. SBKento from 2021, Takumi Fujiwara vs. Dragon Dia from 2022, or the all-time nice Shun Skywalker/Diamante vs. Jacky Funky Kamei/Jason Lee Twin Gate match, a number of freely out there YouTube matches from Dragongate typically are in a position to safe a spot in my High 10 Match of the 12 months checklist.
And I feel it has occurred once more with this Korakuen Corridor basic.
It’s clear from watching this match that Jr. has all of the instruments to be a “greatest on the earth” degree wrestler like his father. It’s not simply the match construction, hard-hitting strikes, or typical flawless Dragongate execution – all of which Jr. has in spades.
As well as, his facial expressions and feelings stood out to me and made the most important impression on this match.
From the second he will get within the ring, he has a glance of focus and quiet willpower that speaks to all of the feelings he’s going by way of for this match. You may inform he is aware of that is the most important and most vital match of his profession – and never solely that, however it’s in opposition to his very personal father. His face and physique language completely categorical the dichotomy of this sense. Simply watching him silently stand within the ring, I can inform this can be a match he has been fascinated about and planning for his total life – however on the similar time, there’s a little bit little bit of disbelief and doubt. He offers off the sensation that possibly he’s really not ready to go face-to-face along with his dad in an official Dragongate match. And this isn’t American-style professional wrestling, overacting and conflicting emotions in the best way that he doesn’t wish to battle or damage his father. I hate that I even must carry that up – however I do. On this match Jr. has no drawback preventing his father. I’m positive the 2 have sparred in coaching and possibly even in actual life many instances through the years. However his expression simply completely encapsulates the sensation many us may have in any state of affairs that we all know is coming and possibly have even been preparing for – however as soon as it’s staring you within the face you do have a second the place you suppose “oh shit, that is actually taking place.”
The match begins with some grappling and a feeling-out course of, which completely is smart for all of the feelings that have been expressed above. Once more, although – there is no such thing as a hesitation or conflicted emotions because the match rapidly escalates to laborious strikes, an amazing dive by Jr., and finally some huge suplexes. The strikes have a precision and brutality that remind me at instances of current NOAH at its greatest – consider any one among Katsuhiko Nakajima and KENOH’s greatest matches.
Then, there’s then an change in the midst of the match that even additional demonstrates Jr.’s mastery and instincts as a wrestler and actually took my breath away. The 2 begin to change and reverse strikes within the corners, finally going right into a sequence the place they every chase behind the opposite and hit a operating boot to the face within the nook (just like the Sami Zayn Helluva kick). When Jr. hits his, there’s a nice digital camera shot of Jr. along with his leg nonetheless excessive rope – a glance of exhaustion on his face – together with a shot of Mochizuki completely promoting the large boot – all whereas that foot continues to be proper subsequent to his face. And that shot is held for fairly some time. Jr. has a really feel for the second to only maintain it and completely promote the entire sequence that simply went down. He leaves his foot up on the rope longer than you’ll anticipate, providing you with the time to understand the promoting and actually emphasize the story being informed. It’s nearly like he’s a director watching the match on the monitor and telling the crew to remain on that digital camera shot. Mochizuki then finishes all of it off completely by simply grabbing his son’s foot off his personal face and shoving him to the bottom by the leg. Exhibiting in a single swift transfer simply the place Mochizuki Jr. bought these nice wrestling instincts from.
Jr.’s facial expressions proceed to be subsequent degree all through the match as he reveals wonderful fireplace by way of strike battles, no sells, and extra. And as soon as once more – it’s not overwrought bullshit. He’s not speaking that he has some deep-seated hatred of his father – he simply desires to beat him. He desires to be an amazing professional wrestler. He desires to win a match. He desires to show to his father that he can beat him. That persists into after which even past the end. Jr. is actually scraping and clawing on the finish to stand up. First, he climbs up his father to get into the ultimate strike change after which, as a final gasp on the ropes, tries to beat the ten rely. He doesn’t, and the match ends in a draw as neither man can reply the rely.
Mochizuki Jr. has failed.
He’s bruised and bloodied, with an amazing visible of blood streaking from his nostril on the finish. He’s pissed off – slapping and burying his face within the mat. In the meantime his father is staring up on the lights in exhaustion – with little hints of each delight and possibly even his personal disbelief in there. They share a number of phrases, and Mochizuki embraces his son by the hair in a “you probably did good, child” kind of method. Jr. stays disillusioned and frustrated- however he’s not a petulant little one or brat. He’s a human being and he expresses actual feelings. He’s not a cartoon character or comedian e-book villain. He’s a competitor in an athletic competitors who simply had the most important match of his life in opposition to his very personal father. And he got here up brief. All these emotions and feelings are completely expressed within the physicality. That is the great thing about professional wrestling.
Because of this we watch.