Revisiting WON’s 2012 Match of the Year between Hiroshi Tanahashi defending his IWGP Heavyweight Title against challenger and Puro legend Minoru Suzuk, New Japan Pro Wrestling 40th Anniversary event, 2012. Catch Wrestling U Patrons have access to the entire gif archive downloadable here.
The great Minoru Suzuki prepares to challenge the Ace of NJPW. pic.twitter.com/XmibgJGLgK
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The opening of this match is all standing wrist work from a Double Knucklelock ('Greco Roman') hold.
In US wrasslin' this is typically just a worked test of strength spot, but here both Suzuki and Tanahashi show it can be a base of technical wrestling. pic.twitter.com/nOIVXlcXep
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More work from the Double Knucklelock, and Tanahashi performs a nice Swing Single to behind before Ankle Picking Suzuki to the mat. pic.twitter.com/dZALDwdD7I
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Tanahashi escapes out of the Hammerlock with a Front Scissors Trip – a reverse version of the Drop Toe Hold – before tying Suzuki up with a Double Leg Hold or Japanese Figure Four.
This sequence was a favourite of Antonio Inoki, he does it to Jack Brisco in 1971. pic.twitter.com/ZXe7W4T5E2
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Suzuki looks for a classic standing Top Wrist Lock counter to the Side Headhold, but the younger and stronger Tanahashi overpowers him. pic.twitter.com/8IzvAzMnig
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More work from the Double Knucklelock, Suzuki scores a nice armdrag to go behind and a brief waistlock before looking to crossface Tanahashi. pic.twitter.com/HRX9wkn4eK
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Suzuki backs Tanahashi into the ropes again, but has an Irish Whip before being wrestled into a standing Cobra Twist (Abdominal Stretch).
Note Suzuki doesn't just let Tanahashi smoothly into the hold, they make it look like it's contested first with Suzuki working to block. pic.twitter.com/ZNK4EJYrrD
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Tanahashi just made Suzuki angry and the match quickly breaks down into a brawl. This is another staple of classic NJPW matches with Antonio Inoki, and I can't help but feel this was a nod to him because of the 40th Anniversary factor. pic.twitter.com/IAxWxPcz3a
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The match is descending into chaos as Suzuki matches have a want to do, with the ogre of Puroresu using the barricade to assist a variation of a sitting reverse armlock.
Sidenote: Tanahashi went into this match with his left arm taped up due to 'injury'. pic.twitter.com/ovoDRyMoNs
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Suzuki living his character, mean mugging the referee before swiftly kicking Tanahashi in his injured left arm. pic.twitter.com/ZnSQTXyrQ0
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Suzuki working a Razor Lock – a legit straight arm lock popular in classic Japanese Shoot fighting. Not surprising as he was a founder of Pancrase and trained by Karl Gotch's best student, Yoshiaki Fujiwara. pic.twitter.com/kE0sFTkhFX
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Back to standing after the rope break and Suzuki has cruel intentions as he resumes landing shots to Tanahashi's arm and body.
Tanahashi fires back with his good arm, but his bad arm is held low and limp after the damage that has been done. pic.twitter.com/uJQ5KXgRcp
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Suzuki works a DWL on Tanahashi, who toughs it out as he makes it to the ropes for a break.
This is a bugbear of mine as it's the typically classic American Wrasslin' approach to submission holds: it's all a battle of wills, ignoring the breaking aspect of the techniques. pic.twitter.com/N66sdZLPWR
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Suzuki begins to unwrap the tape of Tanahashi before leaning further into a Sitting Reverse Armlock.
Targetting and exposing a vulnerability is something that will never get old – we just have to dig deep to suspend disbelief that Suzuki simply doesn't just break the arm. pic.twitter.com/lvAjMzT1Cw
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After the rope break, Tanahashi show's his warrior's heart by fighting back with his one good arm while his bad arm hangs limp. It also means he can't raise it to block the forearm of Suzuki. pic.twitter.com/sN31Xic8jJ
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This was the break Tanahashi needed to get back in the match: injuring the leg of Suzuki was a needed balancing of the scales as he battles through his own arm injury. pic.twitter.com/ur159bOvJ3
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The momentum has clearly swung in favour of Tanahashi as he's now able to counter Suzuki with his athletic offense – something Suzuki was able to side step earlier, but now can not because of his bad leg. pic.twitter.com/YZenluEASF
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Suzuki using every means available to him, including his teeth to attack the taping of Tanahashi. pic.twitter.com/xxQUT0BO4B
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Tanahashi throws Suzuki off of him with a Flying Mare; Suzuki counters Tanahashi charging at him with a Flying Armbar. pic.twitter.com/thEzMF2i9a
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Suzuki looks for another standing Sleeper, but Tanahashi counters with one of his own that he turns into a version of his Sling Blade. pic.twitter.com/PRw6Yr7HAL
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Tanahashi looks for one of his signature holds, the Texas Cloverleaf. He struggles to posture up and Suzuki fends him off, only for Tanahashi to change to a classic Figure Four Leglock.
The Right leg (injured) is the one that's straight! The correct leg is being worked! ? pic.twitter.com/lPDqSRAn3S
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Suzuki wills his way to the ropes, and the match continues. pic.twitter.com/Hd19MUHWcx
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Suzuki amps himself up while trying to slap life back into his broken wheel. pic.twitter.com/ENQ772qJGg
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And now we have to endure some Sleeper hold drama, with Tanahashi seemingly going out cold, but magically coming back to consciousness to get an eventual rope break.
He doesn't tap, so the match continues. Clip with sound ? pic.twitter.com/DcpTb9LVC5
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A great sequence of reversals, from Suzuki's Front Head Lock choke (arm-in guillotine), to looking for the Gotch Style Piledriver, Tanahashi countering with a Dragon Screw only for Suzuki to recounter with a Sleeper hold.
High end stuff. pic.twitter.com/Sx8jrf7ha4
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Tanahashi catches Suzuki's good leg and dropkicks the bad knee. More innovative limb targeting. pic.twitter.com/mliYvY7Egr
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Tanahashi looks to put Suzuki away with his High Fly Flow finisher – his version of an arching Frog Splash.
Suzuki however gets his knees up to block – but at what cost to his injured leg? pic.twitter.com/XxOE3zg1QQ
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Tanahashi climbs ropes as Suzuki struggles to his feet. Tanahashi lands a High Fly Flow crossbody to a Suzuki too injured to move out of the way.
Tanahashi finishes off Suzuki with a High Fly Flow splash to secure the pin fall victory. Both act near death in the aftermath. pic.twitter.com/jLyaGa78Nw
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This was a good match that was quite the mixed bag of style and content. There were nods to classic Antonio Inoki era NJPW which I loved, there were some shoot style nods to Suzuki’s past and there was generally great story telling. However the American Wrasslin’ elements were often quite jarring and illusion breaking – anyone that is more savvy when it comes to legitimate submission holds know they are not something that can be merely ‘toughed out’. The point of a submission after all is either a snapped bone or ligament, or in the case of chokes and strangles unconsciousness.Submitting is conceding defeat before that can happen.
Still there is plenty here to enjoy and study from.