Keiji Mutoh a man at the forefront of NJPW and one of its long time main event headliners against someone I genuinely know nothing about. Wikipedia tells me Junji Hirata a veteran, was once known as Super Strong Machine before losing the mask. He isn't a rank of wrestler who is likely to get a title shot often so its quite the surprising match up.
Collar and elbow tie up, which Hirata forces in to the ropes before taking control over Mutoh's arm. They tussle over control and Mutoh comes out on top now working on Hirata's arm and a cross arm breaker attempt leads to them struggling to grasp each others legs, no clear advantage just yet for either.
Hirata topples Mutoh with a shoulder block and continues to run the ropes until his momentum is cut short by a drop toe hold by Mutoh. More jockeying for position by both on the ground with it not going anywhere. Mutoh applies a full nelson but its countered by a side headlock and both are continuing this struggle to find an opening with very little happening early on with lots of ground holds. All this is nothing more than a very long feeling out process.
Hirata whips Mutoh and hits a hard back elbow and a lariat and the crowd are very much pro Hirata. A sudden Hirata DDT sends Mutoh fleeing to the outside in pain. Mutoh regains control back inside very quickly with a series of kicks followed up by dropping his flashing elbow and then putting on a tight ki lock to the grounded Hirata. Hirata forces himself free and Mutoh bails to the outside again, but once he re-enters he is greeted by a series of stiff Hirata headbutts. Its all for nothing though as a dragon screw takes Hirata down and he tumbles towards the corner, as he stands Mutoh dashes towards him with his handspring elbow but Hirata actually catches Mutoh from behind and attempts to suplex him. Mutoh struggles to escape the sudden predicament he found himself in by elbowing Hirata in the face but Hirata holds on and german suplex hims anyway!
A running Hirata lariat picks up a two count. So he follows it up for a german suplex hold and it too only gets a two count. Hirata is looking far more competitive than I think anyone expected at this point but a diving headbutt from Hirata misses the mark and allows Mutoh back to his feet. A Mutoh dropkick and patent frankensteiner only gives Mutoh a two count.
Top rope missile dropkick by Mutoh sends Hirata flying but he is instantly up (fighting spirit!!!) and levels Mutoh with a hard lariat as the crowd erupt with cheers. Mutoh gets back to his feet and connects with a spinning back kick and Hirata is looking worst for wear, very tired even though he himself hasn't took that much punishment. A sudden surge of energy forces Hirata forward hitting Mutoh again with another lariat.
Another lariat attempt is blocked with a drop kick, and as Mutoh runs back towards Hirata he is caught by a headbutt to the chest which allows Hirata to hit thunderous sit out powerbomb for a super close near fall and the crowd is buzzed and ready for an upset win,backed up by chanting Hirata's name loudly. A german suplex slams Mutoh down and Hirata climbs the top rope looking for his diving headbutt and it actually connects!
Crowd chanting along now, 1....2....ohhh kickout. Stomping feet echo throughout as the crowd really were excited by that sequence and thought Hirata had it won. Back on their feet Hirata sees his chance to go for his hammerlock DDT though Mutoh wriggles free and lays in some boots. Hirata is having none of it and lifts up Mutoh for another devastating powerbomb but Mutoh reverses into his frankensteiner hold and that just nets him a two count.
Missile dropkick pummels Hirata from behind and sends him crashing down, so Mutoh lifts him up to the top to deliver a top rope frankensteiner sending Hirata crashing again down hard to the mat. Without a moment wasted Mutoh is back to the top and hits his moonsault press for the three and victory.
Hirata very much was the underdog but the crowd loved it and Hirata made his presence known by trying to stay ahead of Mutoh's assault though as a valiant effort as it was, it just wasn't enough. It was a great match built on the drama of hope and the idea of an upset victory made for a captivating watch. The early part of the match didn't do any favours for anyone but once that gigantic sitout powerbomb was hit then the whole match became alive making for an exciting contest.
