NJPW PPV Review: The New Beginning 2013

The biggest match of Karl Anderson's career

Check after the jump for my thoughts on the latest iPPV from New Japan Pro Wrestling:

 

Match 1: Tiger Mask, Jushin Liger, Tama Tonga, Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata vs. CHAOS (Jado, YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Iishi, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka)

As I predicted, this was the basic multi man opener that New Japan is famous for.  Some solid work with Nagata obviously being the focus and there was a very good performance from Tiger Mask.  Nagata picks up the win after a rather short battle.

Team Nagata def. CHAOS via. pinfall after 8:20 (predictions 1 for 1)

 

Match Rating: **1/2

Quite the motley crew in this photo

 

Match 2:: IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship match: Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA)(c) vs. Forever Hooligans (Rocky Romero & Alex Kozlov)

I'm a big fan of both these teams, leaning more towards the Hooligans.  If you haven't seen the press conference for this match, you should seek it out as it was very entertaining.  Kozlov singing the Russian National Anthem was a hilarious bit of heel work and things kicked into high gear from there.  The match was exactly what you'd imagine with both teams hitting their usual spots.  Nothing better than anything they've done in the past, but a very welcome addition to the show.

 

Time Splitters def. Forever Hooligans via. pinfall after 11:26 (predictions 2 for 2)

 

Match Rating: ***1/2

The Machine Guns 2.0 score another big win

 

Match 3: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match: Prince Devitt(c) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi

The backstory to this one is simple.  Two tag team partners squaring off to see who the better wrestler is with the division's top prize being the centerpiece.  I don't think anyone thought Taguchi had a shot here as Devitt has proven to be the Ace of the Juniors division for quite some time now.  Devitt has bulked up visibly over the past few months and if called upon, he could be a very good main event player.  That being said, the outcome here was pretty obvious from the get-go.

Prince Devitt def. Ryusuke Taguchi via. pinfall after 14:01 (predictions 3 for 3)

 

Match Rating: ***3/4

Is the noticeably beefed up Devitt IWGP Heavyweight title bound?

 

Match 4:: IWGP Tag Team Championship match: Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr)(c) vs. Ten-Koji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima)

This has been pushed as the peak of a long standing rivalry between the top two teams in the company.  The legendary Ten-Koji have done wonders to put the two former WWE superstars over as NJPW's next big gaijin duo and there's more of the same here.  Some very good ring work highlighted by the continued character development that Archer and to a lesser extent, Smith have been putting in as champions.

 

Killer Elite Squad def. Ten-Koji via. pinfall after 14:16 (predictions 4 for 4)

 

Match Rating: ***1/2

The K.E.S. put their names in the hat for the best monster heel team in the world right now

Match 5: Togi Makabe vs. Yujiro Takahashi

This was a bit of a filler match with Makabe playing a role similar to something the WWE would do with Randy Orton if he was not involved in a major feud.  He's a bit of a heat magnet so they had to take advantage and book him high on the card, even if it's in a bit of a throwaway match.  A bit sad this wasn't the war I was expecting.  Nothing special here, I recommend you skip it if your anxious to see the main event.

Togi Makabe def. Yujiro Takahashi via. pinfall after 8:00 (predictions 5 for 5)

 

Match Rating: **1/4

A forgettable victory has Makabe pondering his next challenge

Match 6: Wataru Inoue & Hirooku Goto vs. Laughter7 (Kazushi Sakuraba & Katsuyori Shibata)

Hirooki Goto is one of those wrestlers fans are split on.  Some love him and find him to be one of the better workers in the company.  Others, think he's stale and his character work is uninspired.  Whatever side you find yourself on, you will enjoy Hirooki Goto in this match.  His performance here was one of the night's best.  Everytime he and Shibata touched, magic happened.  I hope these two get a singles match at the next show because they were the only thing good about their matchup here.

 

Laughter7 & def. Goto & Inoue via. pinfall after 11:07 (predictions 6 for 6)

 

Match Rating: ***

The two MMA invaders again make an impact

 

 

 

Match 7::IWGP Intercontinental Championship match: Shinsuke Nakamura(c) vs. Kengo Mashimo

Yet another match that is carried by the supreme awesomeness of Shinsuke Nakamura.  Anyone witnessing Nakamura for the first time will find even his weaker matches to be one of the greatest things they've ever seen.  His character work is just that good.  Something like Dean Ambrose here in the States.  The match ended before it even started and the only real event of note was Lance Archer challenging Nakamura for the IC strap post match.

 

Shinsuke Nakamura def. Kengo Mashimo via. pinfall after 11:21 (predictions 7 for 7)

 

Match Rating: ***

Nakamura's done a spectacular job elevating the IC title

 

 

Match 8: Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki

I'm struggling with the fact that I was both pleased and let down with this match.  Okada is my favourite wrestler in NJPW right now and Suzuki isn't far behind so I think I may have set my expectations a bit too high.  That being said, this was still a very good match.  I loved the way Suzuki focused his attack on Okada's arm to prevent the use of The Rainmaker and without his most dangerous weapon, Okada's chances would lower considerably.  Okada's reversal of the Gotch Piledriver into that over-the-shoulder belly-to-back knee pilderiver thing he does was SIIIICCCCKKKK.  I fucking love the shit out of that move.  Aside from the main event, this is pretty much the only match worth seeking out.  Not the best match ever, but there's some real quality here.  As per usual with Okada's matches, the finishing stretch was fantastic as well.

Minoru Suzuki def. Kazuchika Okada via. pinfall after 15:59 (predictions 7 for 8)

 

Match Rating: ****

Suzuki looks down at a now humbled Okada

There was an amazing video package on Karl Anderson's journey from unassuming tag team competitor to legitimate world title contender that was an awesome way to signal that it is now time for our

 MAIN EVENT

Match 9:: IWGP Heavyweight Championship match: Hiroshi Tanahashi(c) vs. Karl Anderson

This was an unbelievably good main event.  Karl Anderson came out of this match looking better than ever.  Most of this was due to the fact that Hiroshi Tanahashi is on a 90s Bret Hart, 80's Ric Flair-esque main event run that is unrivaled by anyone in the sport right now.  Seriously.  It's fucking ridiculous how good a champion this guy has been and even more mind boggling how long he's been that good.  I cant put into words how much I enjoyed this match.  An excellent back and forth thrill ride that you absolutely MUST see for yourself.  A true clinic on how a world title match should be properly constructed and executed with both guys coming out strong.  If you're a Karl Anderson fan then seek this out immediately.  It's his best work.

 

Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Karl Anderson via. pinfall after 25:10 (predictions 8 for 9)

 

Match Rating: ****3/4

Years from now we'll look back on this reign as the measuring stick for every one that follows

 

Final Thoughts

This isn't the weakest NJPW iPPV event (I'd probably say Power Struggle was), but it's definitely beneath King Of Pro Wrestling and damn well no where near Wrestle Kingdom VII.  Okada-Suzuki was noteworthy, but you absolutely MUST see the main event.  I'm not saying this is a one match show, but this is a solid MOTY candidate and it's more than likely the best match you're going to see this month.  Not a letdown of a show by any means due to the fact that no one was really expecting an epic here, but I wouldn't knock anyone who ordered the show for one real reason.  Tanahashi is on a main event roll that must be witnessed because it may never be seen again.  The sheer brilliance of this reign alone makes each match can't miss material.  Everything else ranged from passable to very good and overall it's still pretty much better than anything else any other promotion put out so far this year.

Overall PPV Score: 8.25/10

 

 

 

**Bonus**

 

You can view the main event in it's entirety below: