8 Essential Tajiri Matches

Tajiri has a very good summer in 2003, first teaming and then feuding with Eddie Guerrero, before becoming involved in a four-way feud over Eddie's United States Championship (along with Rhyno and Chris Benoit). Once that programme had run its course (following a decent four-way match at SummerSlam), our favourite mist-sprayer was moved back to the cruiserweight division.

Waiting for him was Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio, a man with whom Tajiri had had many entertaining matches with over the previous year. This time out, both men were faces, leading to a good, clean and competitive Cruiserweight Title match on the September 4th episode of Smackdown.

Things started off respectful enough, the combatants exchanging armdrags and legsweeps before a stalemate and sportsmanlike handshake. A referee-assisted headscissors appeared to irk the Japanese Buzzsaw, who responded by kicking the masked man flush in the face as he attempted a springboard.

The challenger began working over the arm of the champion, but a beautiful suicide dive bought him some time. In a wonderful sequence, Tajiri blocked a sunset flip powerbomb, only to miss a head kick and jam his foot on the top turnbuckle, allowing Mysterio to dropkick his standing leg.

The nearfalls began to rack up as Tajiri continued to punish the left arm. A 619 hit, but Mysterio's springboard splash only caught boots to his chin, followed by a Michinoku Driver for a close two count. Tajiri kept on putting the pressure on, but Rey Rey was able to battle back and a West Coast Pop from out of nowhere for the three.

Immediately after the match, Tajiri downed Mysterio with the green mist and a knockout kick to the back of the head, setting up a wonderful series of matches between the two.