Big ovation for these two massive stars that really adds to the atmosphere early on and helps keep that early feeling out process intriguing as it is quite slow to get going, which seems to be a theme so far with these NJPW heavyweight matches.
Excellent moment with Hasimoto bowling over Mutoh, Hashimoto goes for the big kick which is ducked by Mutoh, so Mutoh hits one of his own only for Hashimoto to capture it and bring him crashing down with a leg hold. Crowd responds awesomely to that and I thought it was ace, really digging the sudden nature of the capture and how both know each other so well. Though Mutoh gets the eventual upper hand by laying Hashimoto out with a dragon screw and applying a leg hold of his own.
Mutoh keeps the pressure on Hashimoto for quite some time and working on his legs is a sound way to neutralise those dangerous kicks so it makes sense though once Hashimoto regains control its about working away on Mutoh's arm. A little kick by Hashimoto is more than enough for Mutoh to cut that short and ground Hashimoto again with a single boston crab. A sudden flashing elbow and Mutoh returns to the leg work, in a manner that sort of feels like a rest hold rather than trying to gain an advantage. Hashimoto simply grabs an arm and applies the pressue as he goes back to working on that until Mutoh has had enough and the strikes come in to play which is bit more enjoyable to watch to be honest.
Back on their feet we finally see some action including a massive running dropkick by the large Hashimoto which he then follows up with gigantic kicks that Mutoh no sells until a running spinning wheel kick levels Mutoh to the mat. A DDT gets just a two count. A Hashimoto brainbuster attempt is reversed into an armbar by Mutoh which puts Hashimoto down and screaming. Mutoh hits an ugly backdrop deadlifting the big enemy down hard and missile dropkicking him once he stands up then follows that up with a top rope frankensteiner for a very hot near fall. The action has picked up and its all quite exciting now. Mutoh dashes to the top rope and sees that Hashimoto has moved so backflips to his feet off the moonsault only for Hashimoto to stop him dead by sweeping out his legs real hard. The crowd are really into this.
Here come the kicks and Hashimoto gets a two count. Off the ropes Hashimoto goes and Mutoh lowers his head for a back body drop but Hashimoto grabs Mutoh by the head and drills him straight into the mat with a simply vicious DDT. Super hot near fall there and the crowd are molten. Mutoh is busted open from a taped up wound.
Hashimoto delivers a monster of a brainbuster. Truly insane but it looks like Mutoh hit Hashimoto with his knees on the way down delaying Hashimoto from making the important cover. So he goes to the top rope!!!!! A huge flying body attack is dodged by Mutoh who rolled out of the way and good job too as that would have killed him. Mutoh gets to the top himself and a moonsault misses the target and both guys are knackered yet the crowd are chanting as loud as they can.
Hashimoto charges Mutoh but is caught off guard by a frankensteiner sending him crashing down so seeing his opening Mutoh races up the ropes hitting not one but two moonsaults to pick up the tournament win, and the crowd lose their minds.
The drawn out mat work personally wasn't that great but its that slow build towards the big moments is what makes japanese wrestling what it is. The drama was there and it all felt very important and like both wanted to win and if you have patience the pay off is worth it. Hashimoto was fantastic to watch and someone I've seen very little of.
