Zero-One Max 2/17/08
ZERO1-MAX, 17.02.2008
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,400 Fans
1. Super Dragon Wall 3rd:
Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Ueda Shito
Squash match for Takaiwa. I am starting to see what I have read, the guy’s dearth of talent and charisma. Deecent showing for Shito. SQUASH.
2. Mecha Mummy Try-Out Match - Mechanic vs. Robot:
Mecha Mummy vs. Shock Wave the Robot
My first look at Shock Wave the Robot. Hopefully he can have a match with someone not as highly specialized. Made for a boring match that seemed more performance art then puro. Anywho, nothing can beat Mecha-Mummy vs. Minoru Suzuki. Even TWO Mecha-Mummys 1/2*
3. Shota Takanishi, Munenori Sawa & Saki Maemura vs. KAMIKAZE, Osamu Namiguchi & Hikaru
This match must have been left off, too bad I was looking forward to it.
4. Ikuto Hidaka vs. Sandy Beach
The plodding jr. heavyweight style of Sandy Beach doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Ikuto Hidaka throws some shitty punches. Sandy has some flashes of talent and the surfer gimmick is worth a chuckle. Hidaka doesn’t impress me and I know his tag team with Fujita was highly lauded. This match has a decent finish although it does tend to drag a bit. **1/2
5. First-On Stage Nomination Match - Sword Army vs. Axe Army:
Masato Tanaka & Shinjiro Otani vs. Takuya Sugawara & Minoru Fujita
I expected more from Sugawara and especially Fujita. They seem lazy and their offense looks very indy spot-tastic. Ohtani and Tanaka show tons more ability, timing, better execution, and much more charisma then their younger counterparts. Ohtani especially was working well and had the crowd in the palm of his hand the whole time. Simple paint-by-numbers tag match. **1/4
6. ZERO1-MAX vs. New Japan:
Takao Omori & Hugohugoyumeji vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Mitsuhide Hirasawa
I dunno who Huo is but he got his ass kicke in about 3 minutes and NJPW won the match. That in turn brought out Kamikaze, one of my favorite Z-1 wrestlers. They started the match over and had a hell of a stiff match. I am not a Nakanishi fan but he played the big bruiser very well and hit some nasty head-dropping moves on Omori and Kamikaze. Hirasawa was pretty non-existent. **1/2
7. Sword Army vs. Axe Army:
Ryouji Sai & Kengo Mashimo vs. Yoshihito Sasaki & Kohei Sato
Kengo and Sasaki have some good chemistry going in their little feud here. This was a step aove the last tag match, as the participants were a little more mobile. Some stiff clotheslines vicious suplexes, but typical puro fare overall for a decent hard-hitting tag match.**1/2
