Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Shinya Hashimoto

[8.0] "It'll be easy to confuse this with the G1 Final between the two in 1998, but this is a nice table dressing for that match. Yamazaki is the ultimate unassuming wrestler. Doesn't look that much of a threat but proves it with his skill. Hashimoto's kicks are infamous but Yamazaki is able to thwart them early with a great heel hook counter. Yamazaki continues utilising his submission knowledge to control Hashimoto but nothing will stop Hashimoto from throwing the hardest kicks known to man. So Yamazaki transitions to the arm, going from defence to offence. He locks on the cross arm breaker and kicks the arm several times. Hashimoto tries to fight back with chops but gets caught with a Fujiwara for an awesome false finish. There was a great Fujiwara like sequence that followed actually, where Yamazaki headbutted the arm of Hash and Hash replied kindly with one of his own. From there it turns into Hashimoto going for the win which is all kinds of awesome. Maybe lacks the next level drama for a greater match but it's a wonderful example of the compact Hashimoto and New Japan style. ****"

[9.0] "One of the top matches of the Hashimoto era, and one that is seemingly forgotten. Truly the best Musketeer ****3/4"