Date: May 5th, 2015
Location: Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium in Yokohama, Japan
Announced Attendance:  1,649

Since I reviewed the finals of the Death Match Survivor Tournament, it only made sense to also review the show that gave the winner their shot at the BJW Death Match Heavyweight Championship.  Besides that championship match we also get a Tag Team Championship defense as well as Okabayashi vs. Kawakami in a Strong match.  So this should be good.  Here is the full card:

- Koji Kanemoto and Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Shinobu and Kazuki Hashimoto
- TLC and Barbed Wire Board Death Match:  Jaki Numazawa, Masashi Takeda, and Takumi Tsukamoto vs. Ryuji Ito, Masaya Takahashi, and Takayuki Ueki
- Great Kojika, Kankuro Hoshino, and Masato Inaba vs. Isami Kodaka, Saburo Inematsu, and Ryuichi Sekine
- BJW Strong World Heavyweight #1 Contendership: Ryuichi Kawakami vs. Yuji Okabayashi
- BJW Tag Team Championship: Kohei Sato and Shuji Ishikawa vs. Sekimoto and Kamitani
- BJW Death Match Heavyweight Championship: Yuko Miyamoto vs. Abdullah Kobayashi

The opener either wasn’t recorded or wasn’t uploaded but it was just a rookies match so no harm done.  Onto the review!

Koji Kanemoto and Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Shinobu and Kazuki Hashimoto
Kanemoto and Hashimoto start off and immediately start trading elbows, kick combination by Kanemoto and he tags in Takaiwa.  Takaiwa elbows Hashimoto but Hashimoto hits a DDT and tags in Shinobu.  Shinobu picks up Takaiwa and chops him but Takaiwa chops him back.  Dropkick by Shinobu and he dropkicks Takaiwa into the corner.  Shoulderblock by Takaiwa and he tags in Kanemoto.  Hashimoto is also tagged in and both wrestlers lariat each other.  Kanemoto punches Hashimoto in the corner but Hashimoto delivers a jumping kick.  Hashimoto and Kanemoto both go for jumping kicks and Kanemoto slaps on an ankle hold.  Shinobu breaks it up, Hashimoto tags in Shinobu but Kanemoto kicks down Shinobu in the corner.  Face washes by Kanemoto and he boots Hashimoto in the face.  Kanemoto then dives out onto Hashimoto with a tope suicida and then he tags in Takaiwa. 

Takaiwa chops Shinobu into the corner and he hits a lariat.  Shinobu gets up to the top turnbuckle and he hits a missile dropkick on Takaiwa.  Hashimoto comes in and both attack Takaiwa in the corner.  Lariat by Shinobu to Takaiwa and Hashimoto hits a PK for a two count.  Shinobu throws Kanemoto out of the ring and he hits an Asai Moonsault.  In the ring, Hashimoto picks up Takaiwa and he hits a fisherman buster for two.  Hashimoto charges Takaiwa but Takaiwa hits a Takaiwa Driver.  Shinobu comes in but Takaiwa plants him with a powerbomb.  Kanemoto hits a tiger suplex on Shinobu, Takaiwa goes off the ropes and he lariats Hashimoto.  Takaiwa picks up Hashimoto and he nails the Death Valley Bomb for the three count!  They did all they could with seven minutes, Kanemoto is tons of fun to watch and Shinobu played this one straight.  Not a long match but action packed, lots of hard strikes and constant action.  Good stuff.  Mildly Recommended

Jaki Numazawa, Masashi Takeda, and Tsukamoto vs. Ryuji Ito, Masaya Takahashi, and Ueki
This is a TLC and Barbed Wire Board Death Match.  Ito and Takeda start the match and Takeda hits a shoulderblock.  They go out to the floor as Numazawa and company gain control of the match, Tsukamoto puts Ito on a table at ringside before going up top and hitting a splash down to the floor.  Numazawa slides Ueki into the ring and Numazawa throws Ueki into a barbed wire board.  Numazawa puts the board onto Ueki and everyone hits him with steel chairs.  Cover by Numazawa but Ueki kicks out.  Takeda hits Ueki with a piece of board a few times, Tsukamoto comes in and he throws a board at Ueki.  Snapmare by Tsukamoto onto the barbed wire board and he pushes a piece of wire into Ueki’s head.  Ueki fights back against Numazawa but Numazawa throws a ladder at him.  Numazawa drops the ladder onto Ueki and he tags in Tsukamoto.  Numazawa puts a board onto Ueki and they throw Tsukamoto onto the board that is on top of Ueki.  They play rock, paper, scissors again but again Tsukamoto loses and he gets slammed onto Ueki again (they have it barbed wire up for some reason).  Tsukamoto picks up Ueki and throws him into the corner and he hits Ueki with a ladder.  Tsukamoto puts the ladder around Ueki’s neck and slams it into the mat.  Tsukamoto hits the ladder with a chair but Ueki pushes Tsukamoto back into the corner and tags in Takahashi. 

Numazawa comes in but Takahashi hits a spear on both of them.  Jumping elbow by Takahashi in the corner, he puts a board against Tsukamoto and he hits a cannonball into it.  Scoop slam by Takahashi and he puts a ladder and chair as well as the board before hitting a senton down onto the pile.  Takahashi picks up Tsukamoto but Tsukamoto suplexes Takahashi onto the chair and tags in Numazawa.  Takahashi is triple teamed in the corner but Ito runs into help.  Tsukamoto kicks Takeda by accident, then Ito hits a pescado down onto Tsukamoto.  Numazawa lariats Takahashi in the ring and sets up a ladder, he slams Takahashi in front of it and goes up top, but Takahashi recovers and joins him.  Superplex by Takahashi and he tags in Ueki.  Numazawa tags in Takeda and they trade blows, crossbody by Ueki and Ito comes in to clear the apron.  Tsukamoto hiptosses Takeda into a barbed wire board, Ueki picks up Takeda and he hits a Samoan Drop onto the board for two.  Ueki goes off the ropes and hits a spear, Ueki puts a board down but Takeda knees him.  Takeda picks up Ueki and drills him with a Reverse U Crash, and he gets the three count.  While I do like barbed wire board matches more than lighttube matches, they started to run out of things to do.  Ueki as the whipping boy made sense, no issues there, but it got a bit repetitive. Some good carnage but nothing that really stuck out as memorable.

Great Kojika, Hoshino, and Masato Inaba vs. Isami Kodaka, Inematsu, and Ryuichi Sekine
Kodaka and Kojika start off and they trade holds, Kojika gets Kodaka’s arm but Kodaka gets to the ropes.  Kodaka punches Kojika down in the corner and he hits his running elbow strike.  Kodaka tags in Inematsu and chokes Kojika with his boot.  They keep working over the old man until Hoshino and Inaba come in to help.  Kodaka throws them into each other and he tags in Inematsu.  Inematsu elbows Hoshino and Inaba and he hits a body avalanche in the corner.  Knee drop by Inematsu, cover, but it gets two.  Inaba hits a uranage and he makes the hot tag to Hoshino.  Kojika comes in too and he knees Inematsu.  Cover, but it gets two.  Hoshino and Inematsu trade elbows but Inematsu clubs him in the chest.  He tags in Inematsu, and Inematsu punches Inaba in the corner.  Inematsu hits a backdrop suplex, Kodaka runs in and Hoshino is triple teamed in the corner.  Inematsu clubs Inaba in the chest but Inaba hits an STO.  Kojika comes in and he knees Kodaka before hitting a chokeslam.  Hoshino and Sekine stay in the ring, Sekine picks up Hoshino but Hoshino avoids the kick and Inaba lariats him.  Hoshino goes up top and he hits a diving senton, picking up the three count.  I might have mixed up Inematsu and Sekine at some point in my play by play but it isn’t important.  This entire match just wasn’t important, just mid-card filler but not entertaining mid-card filler.  No reason whatsoever to watch this, it just wasn’t interesting and I really have seen more than enough Kojika for one lifetime.

Ryuichi Kawakami vs. Yuji Okabayashi
This match is a BJW Strong World Heavyweight #1 Contendership Match.   They tie-up to start, Okabayashi gets Kawakami in the corner and he slaps him in the face.  They lock knuckles, Kawakami gets Okabayashi to the mat but he lets him up.  Kawakami applies a side headlock and he shoulderblocks Okabayashi to the mat.  Scoop slam by Okabayashi and he hits an elbow drop.  Okabayashi applies a chinlock and then a stretch hold, Kawakami gets back up and he gets into the ropes.  Okabayashi clubs Kawakami in the chest and kicks him in the head.  Chops by Okabayashi and he covers Kawakami for a two count.  More chops by Okabayashi and he applies a chinlock but Kawakami gets back up and they trade chops.  Okabayashi strikes Kawakami to the mat and he applies a chinlock, they get back up and Kawakami catches him with a slam.  Kawakami chops Okabayashi into the corner and they trade punches while the referee fusses at them.  Running elbow by Kawakami and he covers Okabayashi for two.  Okabayashi gets Kawakami up in the Argentine Backbreaker but Kawakami knees out of it. 

Vertical suplex by Okabayashi and he covers Kawakami for two.  Okabayashi and Kawakami trade strikes back and forth but Kawakami catches Okabayashi with a German suplex.  Okabayashi fires back with a lariat and both wrestlers are slow to get up.  Kawakami clubs on Okabayashi but Okabayashi catches him with a powerslam for two.  Scoop slam by Okabayashi, he goes up top but Kawakami gets his knees up on the Golem Splash.  German suplex by Kawakami but Okabayashi hits a lariat.  Another lariat by Okabayashi but Kawakami stays up, Okabayashi goes for a suplex but Kawakami hits a brainbuster onto his knee for a two count.  Running elbow by Kawakami but it gets a two as well.  Kawakami picks up Okabayashi but Okabayashi gets away, Okabayashi puts Kawakami up in the Argentine Backbreaker as Kawakami tries to squeeze Okabayashi’s head to get out of it.  Okabayashi doesn’t let go however and Kawakami goes out, causing the referee to call for the bell!  Okabayashi is your winner and the #1 Contender.  This was a really solid “Strong” match.  It wasn’t off the charts but it had a good slow build and they really made every big move mean something.  I like Okabayashi matches as even a vertical suplex feels like an important spot and Kawakami came out of it looking really good in defeat.  Entertaining all the way around, if you enjoy the style you’ll like this one.  Recommended

(c) Kohei Sato and Shuji Ishikawa vs. Daisuke Sekimoto and Kamitani
This match is for the BJW Tag Team Championship.  Sato and Sekimoto start off and they trade wristlocks but they stop that and start trading strikes as Sato is already bleeding from the head (he had a cut coming into the match).  Sekimoto hits a big lariat to win the exchange.  Ishikawa and Kamitani are tagged in, Kamitani gets Ishikawa into the ropes and he hits a series of elbows, but Ishikawa elbows him back.  Dropkick by Kamitani but he finally shoulderblocks Ishikawa off his feet.  Kamitani tags in Sekimoto, chops by Sekimoto to Ishikawa and Sekimoto hits a dropkick.  Sekimoto tags Kamitani back in and Kamitani applies a reverse chinlock.  Ishikawa gets away and he knees Kamitani in the stomach.  Ishikawa tags in Sato and they trade chops, Sato knocks Kamitani to the mat and kicks Kamitani in the back.  Sato tags in Ishikawa and Sato headbutts Ishikawa.  Footstomp by Ishikawa and he tags in Sato.  The attack on Kamitani continues until Kamitani hits a vertical suplex on Ishikawa.  Kamitani tags in Sekimoto, Sekimoto punches Sato but Sato comes in the ring.  Sekimoto lariats both of them to the mat, he throws Ishikawa into the corner and he hits a lariat.  Another lariat by Sekimoto and he hits a vertical suplex.  Sekimoto puts Ishikawa up in the Argentine Backbreaker by Sato breaks it up.  Ishikawa headbutts Sekimoto and he hits a missile dropkick off the second turnbuckle.  Ishikawa tags in Sato, and Sato kicks Sekimoto in the chest. 

Falcon Arrow by Sato to Sekimoto, he goes for a powerbomb but Sekimoto hits a back bodydrop.  Sato goes off the ropes but Sekimoto catches him with a big lariat.  Sekimoto tags in Kamitani, he hits a judo throw on Sato and goes up top, hitting a diving shoulderblock.  Kamitani picks up Sato, elbows by Kamitani but Sato catches him with a big elbow.  Ishikawa comes in and they both knee Kamitani in the stomach, but Sekimoto breaks up the pin.  Ishikawa knees Sekimoto in the corner as does Sato, they pick up Kamitani but Kamitani hits a backdrop suplex on Ishikawa.  Sekimoto comes in and Sato is double teamed in the corner.  Sekimoto grabs Sato and he slams him to the mat, Kamitani goes up top and he hits a diving elbow drop.  Ishikawa comes in and he hits Sekimoto with a release dragon suplex, but Sekimoto fires back with a lariat.  Kamitani elbows Sato and he hits an enzigieri.  Backdrop suplex to Kamitani, cover, but it gets a two count.  Kamitani elbows Ishikawa but Ishikawa hits him with a running headbutt.  Ishikawa picks up Kamitani and Sato hits a release German on Kamitani.  Running knee by Ishikawa to Kamitani, Sato picks up Kamitani and he plants him with a piledriver.  Sato picks up Kamitani and nails the German suplex hold, picking up the three count!  Sato and Ishikawa are still your champions.  This was a small step down from the last match but still entertaining.  Kamitani was out of his league here, he isn’t bad but he just isn’t on everyone else’s level.  So the outcome was never in doubt but there were still plenty of hard hits to go around even if it was a bit anti-climatic.  Mildly Recommended

(c) Yuko Miyamoto vs. Abdullah Kobayashi
This match is for the BJW Death Match Heavyweight Championship.    Half the ropes have barbed wire wrapped in them, half have lighttubes, and there is a bed of nails in the ring (just to set the stage).  They end up on the mat to start, back up Kobayashi tries to throw Miyamoto into the nails but Miyamoto blocks it.  Kobayashi tries to throw Miyamoto into the concrete blocks in one of the corners (those are there too), Miyamoto blocks it at first but Kobayashi kicks him into them.  Miyamoto rolls out of the ring but Kobayashi goes out after him and throws him into a row of chairs.  Miyamoto gets back in the ring and Kobayashi comes back with a chair.  Kobayashi headbutts a lighttube into Miyamoto’s head a few times, and Kobayashi throws Miyamoto into the barbed wire side of the ropes.  Miyamoto pushes Kobayashi into the barbed wire and chops lighttubes into his back.  Kobayashi picks up Miyamoto but Miyamoto hits a snapmare onto some of the broken tubes.  Miyamoto Irish whips Kobayashi into the lighttubes, and he then throws Kobayashi into the bed or nails.  Miyamoto pushes the bed of nails onto Kobayashi’s back and then stands on top of it.  Cover by Miyamoto but it gets two.  Miyamoto applies an abdominal stretch, he grabs a few lighttubes and hits Kobayashi in the head with them.  Kobayashi is drooling everywhere as Miyamoto smashes a concrete block on his back.  Kobayashi recovers and chops Miyamoto in the throat, elbow drop by Kobayashi but it gets two.  Kobayashi picks up Miyamoto and he hits a sidewalk slam, he grabs Miyamoto but Miyamoto flips him onto the board of nails.  Miyamoto goes up top but Kobayashi tosses him off. 

Miyamoto avoids Kobayashi’s double chop attempt and he knees lighttubes into Kobayashi’s chest.  Lariat by Miyamoto and he lays out a few rows of concrete blocks.  Miyamoto puts Kobayashi on them and goes up top, but Kobayashi moves and Miyamoto hits a senton onto the blocks.  Shining Wizard by Kobayashi, cover, but it gets a two count.  Kobayashi throws Miyamoto into the barbed wire side of the ropes and he hits a Uraken.  Kobayashi goes up top and he hits a diving elbow drop.  Kobayashi applies a crab hold but Miyamoto gets to the ropes.  Irish whip by Kobayashi, Miyamoto goes for a handspring attack but Kobayashi catches him.  Miyamoto rolls up Kobayashi but Kobayashi gets a shoulder up, he hits La Magistral but that also gets two.  Headbutts by Miyamoto and he drops Kobayashi with the Yankee Driver.  Miyamoto puts the bed of nails onto Kobayashi, he goes up top and he hits the corkscrew senton!  Cover, but Kobayashi gets a shoulder up.  Miyamoto tries to pick up Kobayashi but Kobayashi blocks it, he grabs Miyamoto but Miyamoto blocks the powerbomb and back bodydrops Kobayashi onto the bed of nails.  Miyamoto charges Kobayashi but Kobayashi back bodydrops Miyamoto onto the nails.  Kobayashi applies a crab hold, pushing Miyamoto down onto the nails in the process.  Miyamoto is literally stuck and he has no choice but to submit!  Kobayashi is your new champion!  I am not the biggest fan of Kobayashi but he worked his ass off here.  The spots stayed a bit varied since they had the blocks, barbed wire, lighttubes, and nails so it never got dull, and they didn’t really waste time setting up complicated spots.  As far as death matches go this is probably about as good as you’re going to see in current Big Japan, even though I’m still not thrilled that Kobayashi won the title.  Recommended

Final Thoughts:

There was certainly a lot to like about this show.  There were the same number of Death Matches as Strong matches which is good (for me anyway) and the opener was a pleasant surprise.  There were still two skippable matches but both of the Strong matches delivered and the main event was probably as good as it could have possibly been considering the participants.  While I don’t think any of these matches will be on any MOTY lists, there was definitely some solid action here.  If you are into BJW, don’t skip this one.

Grade:  B-

Back to Big Japan Reviews

event reviewed on 5/7/15