10 Wrestling Matches Much Better Than Their Reputations
5. Taichi Vs. TAKA Michinoku (NJPW BOSJ XXIV Night 2)
No screencap can possibly sum up the TAKA Michinoku vs. Taichi farce better than the above. This was an anti-match characterised by inaction, as the two Suzuki-gun stablemates went to extreme lengths to avoid engaging with each other. They literally did nothing but slowly walk around the ring for the first few minutes. No strikes, no holds, no lock-ups. Nothing.
TAKA was the first to lose his cool. Calling Taichi back into the ring after his opponent had taken a powder, he booted the middle rope as the bigger man was climbing through. An indirect low blow, and the rest of the "action" unfolded in similar fashion, with the only real bump coming when Michinoku smashed his shoulder into the ring post.
It was, for many, an exercise in frustration. The polar opposite of what fans have come to expect from modern New Japan, it drew widespread hatred from many corners of the fandom, but sparking outrage is exactly what the two sentimental WhatCulture office favourites set out to do. Their psychological battle of trying to out-d*ck themselves without actively hurting each other was executed perfectly.