4 Ups & 1 Down From Last Night's WWE 205 Live (Jan 3)

Ups...

4. TAJIRI!

TAJIRI Kick II
WWE.com

The return of the Japanese Buzzsaw is a welcome one.

One of the most popular midcarders of the Attitude Era, Tajiri was equally effective as comic foil as he was entering fully believable ten minute matches. Everything he did looked legitimate, and he expanded the very oeuvre of wrestling with his innovated Tarantula signature move. He was by no means the first to use stiff kicks excessively, but for many an ECW fan in the early 2000s, the man popularised the Strong Style that is so fashionable in 2017.

His match on this week’s episode, the opening contest opposite Sean Maluta, was not so much a contest as a reintroduction - a brief reminder of the man’s eclectic and credible particular set of skills. At the grand old age of 46, the smoothness of his handspring back elbow was a beautiful thing. He has lost a step - but he was so quick in his pomp that it reads more like his successors have only just caught up with him.

In the post-match, WWE planted the seeds of a rivalry with Brian Kendrick, who was sprayed in the face with Tajiri’s green mist. The prospect of that feud is a little blah, in-ring, but the foundations - who is the true veteran of the division? - are solid.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!