UnWrest Focus REWIND: Minoru Suzuki vs. Tomohiro Ishii (British Heavyweight Championship, Rev Pro/NJPW Strong Style Evolved UK); 7/1/18

The two toughest men in professional wrestling, in my opinion, wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling. One is a man called The Stone Pitbull, Tomohiro Ishii: a man who lives up to his pitbull moniker and delivers some of the roughest shots in pro wrestling. The other man is Minoru Suzuki, a MMA fighter from the Pancrase days who legitimately tapped out Ken Shamrock twice and is one of the most torturous wrestlers to ever step into a ring. When these two collide, it is like watching a work of art (if you consider watching two bulls just beat the hell out of each other a "work of art"). So, I decided to go back a few months and catch one of their matches for Ishii's British Heavyweight Championship. 

Let's do this!

Strong Style Evolved United Kingdom
Manchester, England
July 1, 2018

British Heavyweight Championship
Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki

The bell rings. And there's an awkward pause between the two. Both tease tying up. Suzuki gets Ishii in the ropes and CHOPS THE HELL out of his chest. Suzuki asks for one back. The chop contest is on! They keep going to the applause of the crowd. Both men tease hitting signature kicks on the other until they break off again. And they're back at it with the chops again!!!! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! Ishii gets trapped in an over the top rope armbar by Suzuki.
Suzuki takes Ishii to the floor and throws him into the audience. Suzuki uses a steel chair to whack Ishii with and goes after the referee who tried to stop him. Suzuki brings Ishii back to the ring apron and elbows Ishii right on the throat. Running knee now to Ishii's head sends the Pitbull to the floor. Ishii rolls himself back in to the ring. Suzuki continues the attack. Suzuki slaps Ishii in the face, and Ishii spits up at Suzuki. Now Suzuki goes to work on the arm of Ishii with a series of arm locks. The referee plays coward to Suzuki. Ishii gets a vertical suplex on Suzuki to stop the offense.
Ishii now starts mounting offense. Chops and clothesline into the corner. Suzuki is put on the top of the corner. Suzuki catches Ishii climbing up and gets in an ABDOMINAL STRETCH on the corner! That's new. Ishii falls back to the mat. Suzuki goes back to work. Running boot into the corner and PK Kick only get a 2. Suzuki now mocks Ishii with kicks to the head of Ishii. Ishii gets up in Suzuki's face. A series of reversals leads to Ishii getting a back suplex on Suzuki. Suzuki is placed back on the corner, but Suzuki catches Ishii again this time with another over the rope armbar. Suzuki goes back on the corner and continues the lock on the arm. ISHII REVERSES IT AND DEADLIFTS SUZUKI INTO A POWERBOMB IN THE RING!
Forearms are now going back and forth between the two men. Ishii now kicks mockingly at the head of Suzuki, and Suzuki is po'ed! The crowd even tells Ishii that he messed up. Forearms are firing and echoing off the walls of the building! God these guys are great at what they do. Both men milking the moment of each forearm and selling the other's forearm to the best extent possible without it becoming comical. This is great storytelling, the type of stuff any wrestling fan or non-fan can appreciate. Now they just knock the hell out of each other with slaps and shots until they both collapse in the ring to the applause of the audience.
They are now on their knees going at it again with forearms. They get to their feet and continue the duel. A HUGE SHOT by Suzuki nails, but he makes the mistake of headbutting Ishii! But Suzuki gets the Rear Naked Choke on Ishii. He transitions Ishii over for the Gotch Style Piledriver, but Ishii avoids it. Headbutt to the chest of Suzuki. BIG lariat! 1-2-kickout. Sliding lariat similarly only gets a 2 for Ishii. Brainbuster avoided by Suzuki. Suzuki shakes off an Ishii lariat. BIG FOREARM to the head of Ishii knocks Ishii down. Rear Naked Choke for a second. Gotch Style Piledriver CONNECTS! Ishii tried to kick out of it, but Suzuki drilled him! 1-2-3!

Winner: Minoru Suzuki (NEW British Heavyweight Champion)
Match Grade: A-. God these two can put on a show. These guys know how to blend MMA, boxing, shoot fighting, and wrestling all into one and tell a great in-ring story all at the same time. These two were simply made to fight each other forever and knock each other's teeth out whether they mean to or not. While I like their Power Struggle match more than this, this is another classic in their series of confrontations.

After the match, Suzuki-Gun celebrates their clean sweep of CHAOS that night. And Ishii gets knocked out by WALTER. But remember: Suzuki-Gun ICHIBAN!

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Hope you all enjoyed the review of this match. If you want to watch the match, check out the match on the embedded YouTube video (if it is still available when you check this out).


Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness!