Shuji Ishikawa vs. Yuji Nagata

[8.0] "People loved it. But it was not a good one for me. But I'm rating it based on Others opinion. As we can see Nagata is too young, his moves are expected to be slow. This match was very sloppy. Ishikawsa tried to carry but he was also concerning of Nagata's health. As Nagata can be seriously injured in his last time. (***3/4)"

[8.0] "Albeit a slow, but wildly emotional match between two veterans of Japanese pro-wrestling, close to the status of legends. I like that promotions in Japan cooperate so closely. The day before we saw the opposition gleat vs ajpw, now we are seeing the collision of two large stars NJPW and AJPW. I had some concerns that the duel would be too slow due to the age of both of them, but Shuji and Nagato worked well together. I especially liked Ishikawa, but given that this is Yuji's first title defense, he needed this victory more. But I hope that sooner or later Shuji will still be able to win this championship belt. It is also worth praising the good post-match promo from the champion and future participants of the Champion Carnival 2023. ****1/4"

[8.0] "Just straight up hoss fight, my god Nagata took a beating and still battled back. Ages aside for both guys Ishikawa stepped up and had some insane spots including that apron driver spot on Nagata. These two just beat the tar out of one another for 25 straight minutes . You wont be disappointed taking your time to watch this. I was hesitant on what to think with Nagata being champ at 54 but man he can still go its incredible. 4.25 *"

[8.0] "Very good main event between Nagata and Ishikawa right here that I seem to be almost the only one to have enjoyed although I found it super compelling, it was maybe a bit slow at the beginning but the last ten minutes or so were of great quality. I admit it had no reason to last so long, but it was still a big Nagata match like I like to see from time to time, not the same level of greatness as his match against Miyahara last month but I still liked it. A fun title main event match with everyone performing in it and telling an interesting story."

[7.0] "I love me a grumpy old man scrap but for a title match on a fairly big show I think it would have been helpful to have someone a little younger in there with Nagata."

[8.0] "This was a damn good match. The first half was filled with body targeting with Shuji damaging the mid section of Nagata and Nagata on the left knee of Shuji. Nagata's work was great and pretty brutal. Those kicks on Shuji's knee were stiff and the submissions looked good as well. Shuji just completely ignored the selling which is the only thing I didn't like about this match. Rest of the match was filled with them throwing big bombs and stiff strikes at eachother. Always love Shuji busting out a headbutt and here it was done very well to put down Nagata who was kicking and slapping him. The finishing stretch was incredible and loved the high kick by Nagata on the head of Shuji before finishing him with the backdrop hold. 7.50/10"

[7.0] "it was a solid showing for both guys but it was a really slow pace which is to be expected from guys of their age. of course it was a step down from nagatas match with kento but that as well was to be expected. all in all it was a solid but not memorable title defence."

[6.0] "I was worried of this one because Nagata doesn't have Miyahara there to work the faster-paced bits and has to work as the big champ instead of the challenger, so more pressure. Ishikawa wasn't going to win this in a million years given he's equally looking rough, so this was already a match with a big hill to climb. The start of this was all about Nagata trying to find gaps in Ishikawa to exploit: he tries for arm work, and fails. He tries cranking Ishikawa's head with submissions, but fails. He tries rattling him with forearms, but fails. He even tries doing some outside sthick, but Ishikawa simply picks him up and goes for a really nasty apron foot stomp. Nagata sells the foot stomp like death, and equally does so when it keeps getting targeted afterwards for more damage. Eventually Nagata finds something when he intercepts a charge with a knee shot to the leg, which allows him the grapevine to hone in on holds and submissions. It's a excuse for him to lie down but it also works as a way for him to take charge here without relying on shitty forearms. Stiff headbutt and Ishikawa goes for a properly insane apron spot as he does his powerslam piledriver to Nagata there. This gives Nagata a excuse to lie down for a few minutes for a count-out tease before getting back in. Ishikawa keeps control with more shots but they have to do the silly top rope Exploder spot so he goes up to the top rope for no reason other than for Nagata to counter and then do what he does. Dub spot for more rest time. They go for the usual "no selling/exchange finishers" bit but are so gassed that they can't even no sell properly, so they weirdly spring up after a small delay. Another dub spot. Ishikawa goes for some really bad-looking knee strikes for a near fall before doing another piledriver for another one. Splash Mountain attempt is resisted, but Nagata gets hit with a lariat anyway. Second looked really bad as Nagata couldn't get up properly, so it almost looked like Ishikawa was going for a Ganso Bomb instead. Nagata lands a knee shot and works the arm, but sadly this also goes nowhere as the finish simply has Nagata doing his usual bombs and them exchanging forearms, which Nagata loses again. Ishikawa lands a back suplex and a knee to the head but doesn't go for the pin (? ) so that Nagata can win with a rolling wheel kick and two backdrops. The two tried well here, but I thought this was disappointing for a main. They paced this in a way to give the two lots of breathing room and it really shows near the end when the two are stumbling and fumbling a lot. Nagata can still work, but there was no real aim behind his stuff; he worked the arms and then the legs, but did nothing with either outside of crowd-popping spots. Ishikawa looked fine for the first 15 but he gassed up hard and this got really slow. Nagata definitely needs fresher challengers if his reign is to be anything actually great, because this was kinda weak."