UnWrest Focus REWIND: Minoru Suzuki vs. Tomohiro Ishii (RevPro/NJPW Global Wars UK 2018), 10/14/2018

As I'm writing this, I have just finished watching the first match for the British Heavyweight Championship between Ishii and Suzuki. (Click HERE to see the full review of that epic match.) So, I decided that I didn't have enough of the Strong Style epic-ness that it happens whenever these two tough hombres collide. Therefore, I'm moving up a few months ahead to the October 14, 2018 rematch between the champion Minoru Suzuki and the challenger Tomohiro Ishii. Teeth will fly. Flesh will be pounded. And in all likelihood, there will be innocent civilian casualties in the process.

Let's do this!

RevPro/NJPW Global Wars UK 2018
London, England
10/14/2018

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

Suzuki and Ishii get a ton of respect from the crowd coming to the ring, which is always great to see and well earned.

The bell rings. Both men slowly meet in the middle AND BEGIN THE FOREARM EXCHANGES IMMEDIATELY!!!! And they aren't stopping for 30-35 seconds. Ishii runs into the boot of Suzuki. Ishii ducks one of Suzuki's moves, and Suzuki runs to the floor to avoid any contact. Suzuki is playing mind games with Ishii who impatiently waits in the ring for Suzuki to get back in. Suzuki suckers Ishii into the ropes and catches him with the armbar over the ropes. They are on the floor and brawling into the audience. It's a Suzuki match! WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?! Suzuki smacks Ishii around. BOTH MEN HAVE CHAIR AND ARE DUELING CHAIRS!!! Suzuki gets the better of it and nails Ishii with it!!!! In a hilarious moment, Suzuki begs the referee not to DQ him and shakes his hand disingenuously. The referee is later pushed down.
Back in the ring, Suzuki continues the attack on Ishii. The arm of Ishii is being twisted and tortured by Suzuki. Ishii fires back on Suzuki, but Ishii gets locked into a chinlock seconds later. Another .... I don't even know what the hell you call that lock!!!! Ok. Ankle lock by Suzuki. I can call that now. Lol. DEEP Ankle Lock now turned into a DEEP Single-Leg Boston Crab by Suzuki. He has it locked in for a long time on Ishii, but The Stone Pitbull gets to the rope.
Suzuki kicks at the knee of Ishii repeatedly. Ishii gets on his feet and unleashes a bunch of chops. Suzuki kicks and chops back. Suzuki is in clear control at this point as Ishii is still trying to get up. Brainbuster by Ishii gets a break. Ishii gets on his feet and snap-slams Suzuki. Chops by Ishii which sound horrific bouncing off the walls of the building. The acoustics lend themselves to these chops. The crowd gets quiet as Suzuki and Ishii TRADE SHOTS back and forth! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! FASTER AND FASTER! Suzuki is loving this! These hits are downright b-r-utal. Running boot in the corner followed by the PK kick. 2 count for Suzuki.
A kimura lock is now used by Suzuki. Ishii gets out of the hold as Suzuki starts punting the back of Ishii. Rear Naked Choke by Suzuki. Gotch Style Piledriver is teased for a few moments. Suzuki can't lift him, and he settles for the paintbrush mocking kicks. And we're back to the forearm exchange! Elbow to the back of Suzuki's head followed by paintbrush kicks by Ishii. Suzuki is angry. Ishii just SPITS at Suzuki! Forearms by Ishii in rapid succession. Ishii just tells Suzuki to give him his best shot. Suzuki obliges with a big forearm. Back and forth forearms by the two men. Ishii is so great at selling this type of offense and getting the crowd behind him. More strikes by both men, and they knock each other to the mat. God, I love these matches. (If the formula isn't broke, why the hell would you fix it in a match like this?!)
Both men charge in the center of the ring. Rear Naked Choke by Suzuki. Ishii collapses in the ring as Suzuki continues to apply the hold. Ishii's arm drops twice, but Ishii is still in the match. Suzuki cranks it in harder. He turns Ishii around for the Gotch Style Piledriver, but Ishii gets out! Headbutt to Suzuki. Another sick headbutt by Ishii. Suzuki unleashes palm strikes to Ishii knocking him down to the mat. Rear Naked Choke back in by Suzuki. Gotch Style Piledriver is backdropped out of. GERMAN SUPLEX by Ishii. Lariat by Ishii! 1-2-Suzuki kicks out! Sliding Lariat only gets a 2 as well. Brainbuster countered into a Guillotine, and now Ishii just unleashes with a flurry of palm strikes. Enziguri! LARIAT! BRAINBUSTER BY ISHII!!!! 1-2-3!  NEW CHAMPION!

Winner: Tomohiro Ishii (NEW British Heavyweight Champion)
Match Grade: B+. These two can not have a bad match with this formula. It's impossible. It's not my favorite match of theirs, but it is still one hell of an encounter. It's basically a repeat of their match from July only with a slightly different finish.

If you want to watch the match, here's the video embedded from YouTube:

_ _ _ _ _

These two men would meet again at NJPW's Power Struggle in November for the British Heavyweight Championship. Click HERE to read the review of that event and the epic encounter between Suzuki and Ishii there.


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