taped 1/13/08 Yahaba Townsman Gymnasium
Kagetora & Rasse vs. Mototsugu Shimizu & Shibaten 2:52 of 12:15
The Great Sasuke vs. Kesen Numajiro 5:36 of 15:42
Fujita "Jr." Hayato & Shu Sato & Kei Sato vs. Yoshitsune & Takeshi Minamino & Shinjitsu Nohashi 12:19 of 12:50. Nice little tag match between Michinoku's new generation. As Sasuke did before him, Yoshitsune excels in these bigger tags where he can simply sprint and fly. Unlike the old days, this was more of a striking match. That's great when Fujita is in, as he's spot on and blistering. The Sato's need to step up their striking if that's mainly what they are going to do though. They were mainly in the average to good range, with nothing really impressive and, along with Minamino, way too many off target blows. Minamino was much more impressive here than as HAPPY-MAN. His offense was similar, but he looked much more comfortable in the ring, moving in a much more fluid and coordinated manner. **1/2
16 Man New Year Battle Royal with Jinsei Shinzaki, Yoshiyasu Shimizu, Kagetora, Takeshi Minamino, ken45, Rui Hiugaji, Mototsugu Shimizu, Fujita "Jr." Hayato, Shu Sato, Kei Sato, The Great Sasuke, Rasse, Kesen Numajiro, Shinjitsu Nohashi, Shibaten, Takayuki Aizawa 10:23 of 14:24
1/14/08 Sendai Harbor International Business Center
Takayuki Aizawa vs. Yoshiyasu Shimizu 3:00 of 8:06
Jinsei Shinzaki vs. Kesen Numajiro 3:15 of 14:09
Fujita "Jr." Hayato & Shu Sato & Kei Sato vs. Takeshi Minamino & Shinjitsu Nohashi & Mototsugu Shimizu 8:01 of 11:26
Tohoku Tag Title Match: Kagetora & Rasse vs. The Great Sasuke & Yoshitsune 17:43 of 28:43. Sasuke & Yoshitsune aren't the ideal team because their styles are too similar. On the other hand, if you are going to pick two Michinoku Pro wrestlers to defend the company honor and regain the tag titles from Osaka Pro, they're the obvious selections. Yoshitsune wound up selling a lot, the old Sasuke role, but was allowed to regularly counter with a single flying move. Kagetora & Rasse generally controlled, mixing strikes with running moves. Kagetora is the most ground based, so he took the initiative, controlling and structuring the match. He didn't do that good a job, as it just kind of went along without being particularly dramatic or dynamic. However, the others showed enough spots to keep it entertaining. ***
taped 1/19/08 Tokyo Shinkiba 1st RING
The Great Sasuke vs. Naoshi Sano 2:48
Naoshi Sano vs. Mecha Mummy 4:48 of 5:09. Starts as Sasuke vs. Mecha, but Sano takes over after being offended by a Mecha fist hitting a banner for him.
Kei Sato & Shu Sato & Fujita "Jr." Hayato vs. Yoshitsune & Kagetora & Rasse 13:59 of 16:05. A much better match than the Satos had with Yoshitsune on 1/13/08 in pretty much every way. The striking was stiffer, and there was more intensity all around. It was a more spirited effort, worked at a faster pace and with more impressive moves. Kagetora looked better than he has in the tag title matches, as he was a technico here. Satos were the ones roughing people up, but they upped the pace and threw in a few suplexes to mix things up. I love Yoshitsune's swandive firebird splash. Hayato started out on fire, but then pretty much disappeared, which was a shame. ***1/4
taped 2/17/08 Tokyo Shinjuku Face
Yoshiyasu Shimizu vs. Takayuki Aizawa 2:41 of 7:01
Tsubo Genjin vs. Jinsei Shinzaki 3:07 of 9:37
Yoshitsune & Yuki Sato vs. Ken45 & Daisuke Sasaki 7:21 of 11:51
Royal Rumble Battle Royal 27:16
Ou Kobushi & Takayuki Aizawa vs. Dynamite Tohoku VIII & Rui Hiugaji 10:28
Chinnen Revival Match: Tsubo Genjin vs. Chinnen Hokkai 6:10
GAINA vs. Minoru Fujita 11:02
Delfin Army Revival: Super Delfin & Jinsei Shinzaki & Yone Genjin & Gran Naniwa vs. Gran Hamada & HANZO & Macho*Pump & Garuda 12:37
Tiger Mask vs. Shinjitsu Nohashi 11:13
Sekigun vs. Kawloon: Yoshitsune & Kagetora & Rasse & Takeshi Minamino & Rei vs. Fujita "Jr." Hayato & Shu Sato & Kei Sato & ken45 & Maguro Oma 11:39
15th Anniversay Special Match ~ First Confrontation! Strongest Heel Army Confrontation!!: SASUKE & Masaaki Mochizuki & Sasuke The Great vs. Dick Togo & MEN's Teio & Shiryu (Kaz Hayashi) 20:15. There was more brawling than ever with the two heel factions, which didn't lead to the best of what Michinoku has to offer being featured. The pacing was erratic, and the match wasn't really building or even gaining momentum even in the later stages when the moves kept improving. SASUKE and Orihara were never nearly as good doing their heel gimmicks, and some things haven't changed. SASUKE was in most of the match, but his work was nothing special and he didn't do as many hot moves since he wasn't a face. Shiryu & Togo are still in their prime, and stole the show. Along with Mochizuki, everything they did was explosive and crisp. Teio had a few moments, but wasn't playing a big role, and Orihara was so non descript I was forgetting he was even in the match. Early on, SASUKE spent so much time instructing Mochizuki & Great the proper hand position for the team pose that KDX recovered and took the offensive. Don Fujii was at ringside supporting Mochizuki, and at one point gave Togo a nodowa for a near fall. Toward the end, SASUKE missed a rolling senton onto a ladder, and Teio backdropped him while his head was still in between the rungs. ***
6/20/08 Korakuen Hall
Keno & Takayuki Aizawa vs. Dynamite Tohoku VIII & Rui Hiugaji 10:28
Tsubo Genjin vs. Chinnen Hokkai 6:10
GAINA vs. Minoru Fujita 11:02
Gran Naniwa & Jinsei Shinzaki & Super Delfin & Yone Genjin vs. Garuda & Gran Hamada & HANZO & Macho Pump 12:37
Tiger Mask vs. Shinjitsu Nohashi 11:37
Fujita Hayato & Kei Sato & Ken45 & Maguro Ooma & Shu Sato vs. Kagetora & Rasse & Rei & Takeshi Minamino & Yoshitsune 11:39
Dick Togo & MEN'S Teio & Shiryu vs. Masaaki Mochizuki & SASUKE & Sasuke The Great 20:15
7/12/08 Fukushima City Gym
Jinsei Shinzaki & Super Delfin & The Great Sasuke vs. Fujita Hayato & Kei Sato & Shu Sato 12:43
Dick Togo & MEN'S Teio & Shiryu vs. Kagetora & Shinjitsu Nohashi & Yoshitsune 12:22
7/13/08 Aomori City Big Site
Jinsei Shinzaki & Super Delfin vs. MEN'S Teio & TAKA Michinoku 15:00
Fujita Hayato & Kei Sato & Shu Sato vs. Sato & Shiryu & The Great Sasuke 6:21
MPW Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Title: Yoshitsune vs. Rasse 18:17
7/18/08 Yamagata Sun Pier Skating Center
Tsubo Genjin vs. Chinnen Hokkai by Count Out 10:48 + 0:05
Dick Togo & Jinsei Shinzaki & MEN'S Teio vs. Gran Hamada & The Great Sasuke & Yone Genjin 15:44
MPW Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Title: Yoshitsune vs. Takeshi Minamino 16:42
7/19/08 Akita Theorin
Fujita Hayato & Kei Sato & Ken45 & Maguro Ooma & Shu Sato vs. Gran Hamada & Jinsei Shinzaki & Super Delfin & The Great Sasuke & Yone Genjin 15:08
Dick Togo & MEN'S Teio vs. Kagetora & Rasse 11:53
MPW Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Title: Yoshitsune vs. Shinjitsu Nohashi 24:33
7/20/08 Sendai Harbor International Business Center Accelerator
Tsubo Genjin vs. Chinnen Hokkai 8:42
Dick Togo & MEN'S Teio vs. Kei Sato & Shu Sato 10:19
Jinsei Shinzaki & Shinjitsu Nohashi & Super Delfin vs. Rasse & The Great Sasuke & Yoshitsune 16:24
7/21/08 Yahaba Townsman Synthesis Gymnasium in Yahaba
Chinnen Hokkai vs. Tsubo Genjin 8:41
Jinsei Shinzaki & Super Delfin vs. Dynamite Tohoku VIII & Yone Genjin 10:35
Fujita Hayato & Kei Sato & Ken45 & Maguro Ooma & Shu Sato vs. Kagetora & Rasse & Rui Hiugaji & Shinjitsu Nohashi & Takeshi Minamino 13:20
Dick Togo & MEN'S Teio & Shiryu vs. Gran Hamada & The Great Sasuke & Yoshitsune 7:08
Dick Togo & Gran Hamada & Jinsei Shinzaki & MEN'S Teio & Shiryu & The Great Sasuke vs. Fujita Hayato & Kei Sato & Ken45 & Maguro Ooma & Shu Sato & Takeshi Minamino 6:21
Rui Hiugaji vs. Dynamite Tohoku VIII 9:27 of 10:25
Kesen Numajiro vs. Aizawa NO.1 9:42 of 9:47
Shinjitsu Nohashi & Rasse & Kagetora vs. Ken45 & Maguro Oma & Takeshi Minamino 13:01 of 14:18
Ultimo Dragon & The Great Sasuke & Jinsei Shinzaki vs. Fujita "Jr." Hayato & Shu Sato & Kei Sato 9:19
Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Title: Yoshitsune vs. Tigers Mask 15:24. Tiger took Yoshitsune out of his game, wrestling a kick, suplex, and submission style. He carried the match, dominating but giving Yoshitsune openings to counter. Yoshitsune had a few nice counters, but was never able to mount a consistent offense, which wasn't to the benefit of the match quality. I thought Tiger was solid, but he's not the attraction, and Yoshitsune never having a run and just putting him away too easily with three moves, albeit neat ones, was a disappointment. ***
Shibaten vs. Rei 1:51 of 4:53
3 Way Match: Rui Hiugaji vs. MEN's Teio vs. Shinobu 4:10 of 10:21
Kesen Numajiro vs. Jinsei Shinzaki 10:33
Kagetora & Rasse & Shinjitsu Nohashi vs. Takeshi Minamino & ken45 & Maguro Oma 7:50 of 13:29
Final Decisive Great Space War ~ Operation to Rescue Ultraman Robin: The Great Sasuke & Survival Tobita vs. Shu Sato & Kei Sato 19:56 of 20:17
Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Title: Yoshitsune vs. Fujita "Jr." Hayato 28:30