WCW-NJPW Supershow II

Will Chosu or Fujinami unify the G18/IWGP title? Can Chono win the WCW World title? Will Muta and Sting keep their peace against the Steiners? Let's find out!

For those unaware, Cat was portrayed by Victor Mar Manuel.
This match was joined in progress as Yamamoto hooked Cat in a German suplex with a bridge for 2.
After a slam, Yamamoto delivered a pair of diving head butts for a 1-count.
He then gave Cat a spinning thrust kick, but Cat blocked a slam.
Next, Cat hit a DDT for 2.
Upon giving Yamamoto a flapjack, Cat sandwiched him sternum-first between himself and the top turnbuckle.

He then gave Yamamoto a powerslam followed by a senton for 2.
Shortly after, Cat countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex for another 2.
He then slammed Yamamoto again but missed a second senton.
When Yamamoto mounted the top turnbuckle, he delivered a flying head butt for 2.
He then attempted a slam, but Cat countered with an inside cradle for 2.
As Yamamoto countered a back drop with a backslide, he got 2.
He then gave Cat a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After Cat slammed Yamamoto a third time, he mounted the second turnbuckle, hit another senton, but only got another 2-count.
He then gave Yamamoto a second DDT but couldn't get 3.
At the ten-minute mark, Cat placed Yamamoto atop the top turnbuckle and delivered a super DDT.
1-2-3.
Cat won.

Match 2: Osamu Kido & Kuniaki Kobayashi versus Kantaro Hoshino & Kengo Kimura

This match was also joined in progress around the five-minute mark.
Kobayashi tagged in but ate a knee lift from Kimura.
As Hoshino tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle while Kimura slammed Kobayashi.
He then hit a flying knee drop on Kobayashi.
While tags were exchanged on both sides, Kido delivered a swinging neckbreaker to Kimura for a 1-count.
Shortly after, Kobayashi tagged in but received a flying knee from Kimura.
Speaking of Kimura, he gave Kobayashi a cross corner whip but ate a kick on his follow-through.
At the ten-minute mark, Kobyashi delivered a flying kick to Kimura's midsection.
Kimura then reversed an Irish whip and hit a powerbomb on Kobayashi for 2.
When Kido tagged in, he hooked a Fujiwara arm bar until Hoshino made the save.
He then made a second attempt, but Kimura rolled him up for 2.
After Kimura hit a leg lariat, Hoshino tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and delivered a missile dropkick.
All four wrestlers were in the ring.
Kido then hooked a Fujiwara arm bar on Hoshino until Kimura made the save.
He then gave Hoshino a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
As he hooked a rollup on Hoshino, Kido pinned him.
Kido and Kobayashi won.

Summary: Good match where Kido brought the submission style whereas Hoshino attached his high-flying technique.

Match 3 (six-man): Hiro Saito, Super Strong Machine, & Norio Honaga versus WCW Light Heavyweight champion Jushin “Thunder” Liger, Akira Nogami, & Masashi Aoyagi

This match was joined in progress at about the five-minute mark.
Nogami reversed a cross corner whip and dropkicked Saito in the corner.
As Liger tagged in, he gave Saito a somersault senton for a 1-count.
He then delivered a backbreaker, mounted the second turnbuckle, and hit a moonsault for 2.
When Aoyagi, wearing a karategi, tagged in, he hooked Saito in a Boston crab, but Saito made the ropes.
He then slammed Saito and tagged in Nogami.
After Nogami mounted the top turnbuckle, he hit a big elbow.
He then hooked an abdominal stretch followed by a single-leg crab.
As Liger tagged in, he and Nogami broke the wishbone on Saito.
Speaking of Saito, he reversed an Irish whip and powerbombed Liger.
When Strong Machine tagged in, he delivered a delayed vertical suplex to Liger.
He then followed with an elbow drop for 2.
After Honaga tagged in, he and Saito gave Liger a double flapjack.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle, but Liger caught and joined him.
Upon sending Liger down to the mat, Honaga hit a lariat for 2.
Liger came back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, placed Honaga atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and delivered a superplex.
As Nogami tagged in, he hooked Honaga in a full nelson until Honaga used his trick knee to escape.

Strong Machine tagged in, and he, along with Honaga, gave Nogami a spike piledriver for 2.
When Liger tagged in, he and Nogami returned the favor to Strong Machine.
Speaking of Strong Machine, he blocked a slam and gave Liger a vertical suplex.
Saito tagged in and hit a snap suplex on Liger for 2.
After Honaga tagged in, Liger double-dropkicked both Honaga and Saito.
Tags were exchanged on both sides while Strong Machine blocked a thrust kick from Aoyagi and clotheslined him.
As he slammed Aoyagi, Strong Machine mounted the top turnbuckle but missed a diving head butt.
Nogami tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a missile dropkick.
When Saito tagged in, he ate a dropkick from Nogami.
He then reversed an Irish whip as he and Honaga gave Nogami a back drop/powerbomb combo for 2.
After Saito delivered a senton, he got another 2 on Nogami.
All six wrestlers were in the ring.
As Saito slammed Nogami, he mounted the second turnbuckle, hit a second senton, but couldn't get 3.
Nogami then hooked a dragon suplex and pinned Saito.
Nogami, Liger, and Aoyagi won.

Summary: Liger and Nogami showcased themselves well while Saito took a shitkicking.

While my Japanese listening skills aren't sharp, I understood the broadcast crew talking about Zbyszko's previous defeat in the Tokyo Dome back on February 10, 1990. He lost the AWA World title to Masa Saito.

After Zbyszko's stalling tactics didn't work, Arn tagged in while the Tokyo faithful booed Zbyszko.
Koshinaka tagged in, but Arn delivered a knee drop followed by a neck snap.
As Arn gave Koshinaka a single-arm DDT, Zbyszko tagged in and hooked an abdominal stretch.
He then took Ohara down for a 2-count.
When Zbyszko attempted a hip toss, Koshinaka blocked it and gave him one of his own.
Ever the heel, Zbyszko repeatedly called the anonymous referee a "jerk."

Arn tagged in, but Koshinaka reversed a cross corner whip and backdropped him.
Next, Koshinaka delivered a pair of dropkicks before Arn took respite in the heel corner.
Ohara tagged in, won a test-of-strength against Arn, and got a 1-count.
Shortly after, Zbyszko tagged in but received a side-Russian leg sweep from Ohara.
Koshinaka tagged in and suplexed Zbyszko .
Afterward, Ohara and Koshinaka double-clotheslined Zbyszko.
Arn tagged in and gave Koshinaka a backbreaker followed by a leg drop.
As he delivered a hangman's neckbreaker, Arn tagged out.
Zbyszko then suplexed Koshinaka for 2.
When Zbyszko hooked a Boston crab, Ohara made the save.
Arn tagged in and secured a Zbyszko-assisted Boston crab. SNEAKY!
After Zbyszko tagged in, he trapped Koshinaka in an Arn-assisted abdominal stretch.
Tags were exchanged on both sides while Ohara slammed Arn.
As Ohara hit an elbow drop, he got 2 on Arn.
He then gave Arn a second side-Russian leg sweep for another 2.
When Ohara hooked Arn in a Boston crab, Zbyszko made the save.
Ohara then hit a pair of elbow drops, slammed Arn, and mounted the top turnbuckle.
Despite hitting the big elbow, he only got 2 on Arn.
Koshinaka tagged in and gave Arn a butt butt for 2.
After Ohara tagged in, he slammed Arn and suplexed an incoming Zbyszko.
Speaking of Zbyszko, he put a knee into Ohara's back.
That allowed Arn to hit the SPINEBUSTER.
1-2-3.
The Enforcers won.

Summary: This match proves that Japanese and American audiences are completely different since the Japanese audiences didn't respond to Zbyszko's heel shtick.

I would be remiss if I didn't note that NJPW World refers to Dustin as "Dusty Rhodes, Jr."

For those unaware, Kim Duk was also known as Tiger Chung Lee in the WWF.

After a criss-cross, Dustin almost fucked up a leap frog but slammed Duk.
He then took Duk down with a flying headscissors followed by a hip toss.
Next, he dropkicked Duk out of the ring and brought him back in the hard way.
When Duk tried to tag out, Saito instructed him to stay in.

He tried to tag out again, and Saito motioned him to soften Dustin up further.
As Dusty tagged in, the Tokyo faithful showed their appreciation.
Dusty then tossed Duk into his own corner while charismatically requesting Saito.
After Saito tagged in, he took exception to a chop from Dusty.
That earned him a bionic elbow.
Dusty then tossed Saito to the ramp and slammed him.
When Dusty gave him an elbow drop on the ramp, Saito barely beat the 20-count.
He then requested a tag, but Duk refused.
As Dusty head-butted Saito twice, he wobbled and fell down. I guess while Terry Funk can refer to Dusty as an "egg-sucking dog," no one can call him a Weeble.

Dusty then delivered a back elbow, a bionic elbow, and a vertical suplex for 2.
Shortly after, some heel miscommunication led to Saito nailing Duk.
Dustin tagged in and gave Saito a lariat for 2.
After Dustin gave Saito and Duk a double noggin knocker, Duk tagged in so that the Asians could double-suplex Dustin.
Duk then delivered a piledriver to Dustin for 2.
When Dustin attempted a cross body block, Duk ducked, and Dustin rolled to the ramp.

Upon Dustin's return, Duk gave Dustin a vertical suplex for another 2.
He then slammed Dustin, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got caught.
As Dustin tossed Duk down to the mat, he got 2.
He then gave Duk an elbow drop for another 2.
Shortly after, Dustin tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and lowered the boom on Saito.
Speaking of Saito, he countered a side head lock with a Saito suplex for 2.
When he hit a second Saito suplex, Saito only got 2 thanks to a save by Dusty.
Following that, a mid-ring collision occurred until Duk tagged in.
Dustin then dropkicked Duk for 2.
Upon reversing a cross corner whip, Dustin hit the bulldog.
1-2-3.
Dusty and Dustin won.

Summary: The Tokyo faithful enjoyed the battle of charisma between Dusty and Saito, and Dustin didn't look awful among the grizzled veterans. Raise your hand if you knew Duk would take the fall.

Whew! I'm glad The Equalizer didn't return for a rematch.
For those unaware, Halme would gain fame later in the WWF as Ludvig Borga. Said fame would translate to a position within the Finnish parliament.

Believe it or not, Halme DWARFED Norton.
When Halme gave Norton a clean break in the corner, the Tokyo faithful appreciated it.
However, when Halme didn't provide a clean break the next time, they booed him out of the Tokyo Dome.
Norton then gave Halme a cross corner whip followed by an avalanche.
Shortly after, Norton delivered a flying shoulder block taking Halme off his feet.
He then gave Halme a three-point stance shoulder block followed by a back elbow.
After Halme no-sold it, Norton clotheslined him.

He then head-butted Halme and clotheslined him again.
Due to the head butt, Halme was BUSTED OPEN.
Norton then delivered a hangman's neckbreaker for 2.
As Halme blocked a slam, he dealt some liver punches and followed with a Samoan drop.
He then gave Norton a cross corner whip and hit a running cross body block.
When he slammed Norton, Halme came off the ropes with an elbow drop for 2.
He then missed a short-arm clothesline, but Norton came back with a third clothesline.
Afterward, he gave Halme a back drop for 2.
He then delivered a spinebuster for another 2.
As he hit a short-arm clothesline, Norton mounted the top turnbuckle.
On the other hand, Halme upset his balance crotching him.
He then tossed Norton down to the mat, mounted the top turnbuckle, and hit a flying clothesline.
1-2-3.
Halme won.

Summary: Not a bad match between two super-heavyweights, yet I'm surprised Halme went over.

After a slam, Kazmaier no-sold a series of kicks from Hashimoto.
He then reversed a cross corner whip sending Hashimoto sternum-first into the corner.
As the camera went to EXTREME WIDE ANGLE, Hashimoto came back with a slam and an elbow drop.
When the camera angle returned to normal, Kazmaier gave Hashimoto a back drop.
He then delivered a backbreaker followed by a clothesline.
After powerslamming Hashimoto, Kazmaier got 2.
He then hooked a bear hug and followed with a Torture Rack.
When he made a second attempt at a Torture Rack, Hashimoto escaped and took Kazmaier down twice with double leg takedowns.
He then hit a pair of spinning heel kicks for 2.
Next, he gave Kazmaier a DDT for another 2.
He then delivered a jumping spike DDT.
1-2-3.
Hashimoto won.

Summary: Methinks that since Kazmaier couldn't sell a life preserver to a drowning person, he got the bulk of the offense in the match until the finish. In addition, this could potentially be Kazmaier's last pro wrestling match.

Afterward, Kazmaier clotheslines Hashimoto. When officials try to restrain him, Kazmaier tosses them down to the mat.

Wow! Vader actually got the Tokyo faithful to chant his name. He's OVER in Japan.
For some reason, Liger joined the broadcast table for this match. I don't think he'll be evaluating any huracanranas or flying headscissors in this match.
Vader hit an avalanche from a three-point stance, took down El Gigante, and delivered an elbow drop.
When he splashed El Gigante, Vader got 2.
He then charged El Gigante in the corner but ate boot.

As El Gigante applied the claw, the Tokyo faithful got behind Vader.
El Gigante then delivered a clothesline and shoulder-blocked Vader over the top rope to the ramp.
After El Gigante joined him on the apron, he gave Vader a pair of head butts.

Vader then delivered a pair of running body blocks, but both wrestlers got counted out.

After the match, Vader blinds El Gigante with smoke from his mastodon helmet. How dastardly!

Hase gave Inoki an overhead belly-to-belly suplex much to the dismay of the Tokyo faithful.
Next, he attempted a snap mare, but Inoki reversed it into a choke sleeper knocking Hase OUT COLD.
After Hase regained his senses and allegedly had a cold sake, Inoki charged and hit an abisegeri.

He then backdropped Hase and gave him a double underhook suplex for 2.
As Hase came back with a series of head butts, he hooked a bridging inverted Indian death lock.
After Inoki escaped, Hase delivered a pair of uranages.
When he hit uranage #3, Hase only got 2.
He then gave Inoki uranage #4 while the Tokyo faithful chanted "I-no-ki."
As Inoki blocked uranage #5, he delivered an enziguri.
Referee Tiger Hatori then prevented him from choking Hase again, so Inoki hit another enziguri.
Afterward, Inoki hooked a manjigatame, but Hase made the ropes.
He then delivered another pair of enziguris before securing another manjigatame.
Ultimately, Hase submitted.

Summary: Inoki had the Tokyo faithful eating up everything with a spoon. Unfortunately, Hase didn't get to showcase much, but since he was facing the crowd favorite, it wouldn't have gone over well.

As the match began, Muta blew blue mist.
When Scott grabbed Muta's left leg, Muta delivered an enziguri.
Scott then leap-frogged Muta but ate a spinning thrust kick.
After Muta hit a dropkick, he attempted a second one but missed.
Tags were exchanged on both sides as Rick hip-tossed Sting.
As he gave Sting a Steinerline, Rick mounted the top turnbuckle and bulldogged Sting for 2.
He then gave Sting a cross corner whip but ate a clothesline.
When Sting face-planted Rick, he followed with a Rick sandwich in the corner.

He then attempted the Stinger splash, but Rick evaded him.
After Scott tagged in, he delivered a double underhook powerbomb.
He then gave Sting a tilt-a-whirl slam for 2.
As Scott attempted a tombstone piledriver, Sting reversed it into one of his own.
Sting then hit an elbow drop for 2.
When Muta tagged in, he leaped to the top turnbuckle and lowered the boom on Scott.
He then delivered a flashing elbow, but Scott retaliated with a T-bone suplex.
After Rick tagged in, he placed Muta atop the top turnbuckle and joined him.
He then gave Muta an overhead belly-to-belly suplex followed by a release German suplex for 2.
As Scott tagged in, he gave Muta a pumphandle slam.
He then placed Muta atop the top turnbuckle and hit a super Samoan drop.
Although Scott hooked a dragon sleeper, Muta made the ropes.
While Scott hoisted Muta over his shoulder, Rick mounted the top turnbuckle and elbow-dropped him for 2. Sweet!
When Rick made a Muta sandwich in the corner, he got another 2.
Scott tagged in and gave Muta a belly-to-belly suplex and tossed him to the floor.
After Scott distracted referee Bill Alfonso, Rick delivered a belly-to-belly suplex to Muta on the floor.
Muta returned to the ring, ducked a Steinerline, and gave Scott a belly-to-back suplex.
As tags were exchanged on both sides, Sting gave Rick a Stinger splash.
Muta tagged in, attempted his handspring elbow, but Rick caught and German-suplexed him for 2.
With all four wrestlers in the ring, Sting sent Rick into the corner sternum-first.
Sting and Muta then gave Scott a double face-plant.
When Sting gorilla-pressed him overhead, he tossed Muta into Rick causing both to fly over the top rope to the floor. Wow!
Sting then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a tope to Rick.
After Scott nailed Sting on the floor, Muta delivered a plancha. Woohoo!
Sting then made Rick taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Amatriciana at Paddy's Junction.
As Sting and Muta re-entered the ring, Rick and Scott mounted the same top turnbuckle and hit stereo Steinerlines.
Sting then countered a tilt-a-whirl slam with a victory roll.
Simultaneously, Rick delivered a belly-to-belly suplex on Muta.
1-2-3.
Who won?
Alfonso then raised Sting's arm.
Since Sting was the legal man for his team, he and Muta won.

Summary: Awesome match where three out of the four wrestlers showcased themselves well. While Muta got the dog meat beat out of him by the Steiners, the Tokyo faithful enjoyed the match.

Match 11 for the WCW World title: The “Total Package” Lex Luger (champion) versus Masahiro Chono

In his last act as Executive Vice-President, Jim Herd presented the WCW World title belt.

For those only familiar with Chono during the Monday NIght War, he looked considerably smaller here.
After Luger gave him a gorilla press slam, Chono attempted the STF, but Luger hurriedly made the ropes.
Shortly after, Chono reversed a cross corner whip, and Luger took him down. That did NOT look crisp.
Luger then hit an elbow drop for 2.
As Chono reversed an Irish whip, he gave Luger a back drop.
Luger then gave Chono a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
When Chono reversed a cross corner whip, Luger exploded from the corner with a clothesline.

My apologies, Ken. Keep up the great work!
Nonetheless, Luger guillotined Chono with the top rope.
Upon clotheslining Chono again, Luger hit an elbow smash for 2.
He then delivered a vertical suplex for another 2.
After Chono came back with an enziguri, he gave Luger a belly-to-back suplex.
Luger then caught Chono with a powerslam and followed with a DDT.
As he signaled for the Torture Rack, the Tokyo faithful was not pleased.
Chono then escaped the Torture Rack and hooked a backslide.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Chono then hit the Yakuza kick and hooked the STF.
When Luger made the ropes to break the hold, Chono delivered a flying forearm.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a flying shoulder block.
As he attempted a cross body block, Luger ducked sending Chono over the top rope to the floor.
Chono then returned immediately and rolled up Luger for 2.
After Luger rolled up Chono, he also got 2.
He then attempted a slam, but Chono hooked an inside cradle for 2.
When Chono mounted the top turnbuckle, he leaped, but Luger evaded him.
He then secured the Torture Rack, but both wrestlers spilled over the top rope.
After both wrestlers were on the floor, Luger sent Chono back-first into the steel railing.
He then applied the Torture Rack on the floor but released it in hopes of a countout.
As Chono returned at 19, Luger attempted a vertical suplex.
Chono then escaped, attempted a belly-to-back suplex, but fell prey to Luger's trick knee.
When Luger mounted the second turnbuckle, he delivered a double axe handle.
1-2-3.
Luger retained.

Summary: Despite the entire Tokyo Dome's being in Chono's corner, Luger's methodical high-impact offense allowed him to retain. Not to spoil the main event of SuperBrawl II, but this match marked the final successful title defense for Luger as WCW World champion.

Match 12 (champion versus champion): Riki Chosu (G18) versus Tatsumi Fujinami (IWGP)

After some mat wrestling, Fujinami slammed Chosu for a 1-count.
Chosu then countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex.
When he put a knee into Fujinami's midsection, Chosu hooked the sasorigatame.
For those who ask "which came first, the Sharpshooter or the Scorpion death lock?" The answer is the sasorigatame thanks to Chosu.
As Fujinami refused to submit, he gave Chosu a dragon screw leg whip.
He then hooked his own sasorigatame.
Suddenly, Vince McMahon came to the ring and yelled "ring the bell...ring the fucking bell!" Unfortunately, the timekeeper didn't speak English so it didn't happen.

Nevertheless, Chosu also refused to submit, so Fujinami delivered a dropkick.
After Chosu attempted another belly-to-back suplex, Fujinami fell on top.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a flying knee drop.
Upon piledriving Chosu, Fujinami secured a dragon sleeper.
Chosu then made the ropes to break the hold so Fujinami hooked a regular sleeper.
As Fujinami transitioned back to a dragon sleeper, Chosu ultimately escaped.
Fujinami then hooked a manjigatame, but Chosu powered out.
After Fujinami slammed Chosu, he mounted the top turnbuckle.
However, Chosu met him up there and hooked a superplex. Woohoo!
Fujinami came back with a dropkick for 2.
When he hooked a rollup, Fujinami could only obtain a 1-count.
He then grabbed a side head lock only to fall victim to another belly-to-back suplex from Chosu.
As Chosu hit belly-to-back suplex #3, he hit a series of Riki-lariats.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Chosu unified the IWGP and G18 World titles.

Summary: While it wasn't the match of the night, the outcome certainly was in doubt up until the finish.

After the match, Inoki returns to the ring, gets on the microphone, and leads the Tokyo faithful in a "ichi-ni-san-da" chant.

Conclusion: Compared to last year's show, this show doesn't stand up; however, there are only two bad matches among the twelve, so I would still recommend it. Definitely check out the Steiners-Sting/Muta match if you've never seen it.