Shinya Hashimoto vs. Kazuo Yamazaki (NJ 1/4/96)
I love matches like this where it is just two big bulls going at it. Yamazaki focused on Hashimoto's arm, Hashimoto fought it off with kicks and got the brainbuster for the win. This was a very simple match and a test of wills. It might be everyone's cup of tea due to the slower pace, however I loved this.
Vader vs. Antonio Inoki (NJ 1/4/96)
You would be hard pressed to find a wrestler in Japan, short of Giant Baba, more legendary than Antonio Inoki. This is the fifth stop in Inoki's Final Countdown Retirement Tour ending his 35 year career. The story through the match is Inoki dealing with the size and ferocity of Vader. Ionki's strategy for doing this is by wrapping up Vader and chocking certainly doesn't hurt either, Inoki has the most awesome death sell of a suplex. He literally did not move for a minute. They went outside where Vader was walloped with a chair that caused him to bleed. Vader, understandably, let Inoki have everything including a powerbomb, Vader Bomb, and a moonsault. Inoki kicked out of everything and body slammed Vader and put him in a cross arm breaker for the win. The building was so hot for Inoki you can tell even watching 16 years later how much the people loved him. This match is so awesome and is my first real MOTY candidate.
Keiji Muto vs Nobuhiko Takada - IWGP World Heaveyweight Title(JIP) (NJ 1/4/96)
This was a huge match in the NJPW vs UWFi feud, which may be the most money making feud in history. Takada is one of the forefathers of the MMA boom in Japan. What is shown here is beautiful, I love exchanges of holds and grappling. There was one point where Muto had Takada in a figure four and Takada had a funky heel hookish hold on Muto. That hold looked painful like it could rip both your ankle and knee apart with its twisting motion. The fan were solidly behind Muto and the heat was incredible. Muto gets his big moves in (power drive elbow, moonsault) but the grappling of Takada eventually gets Muto in a position he is incapable of getting out of and he submits to the cross armbreaker. Takada wins the IWGP World Title. After the match Hashimoto gets in Takada's face and we have our next big feud set. I need to track down the full version of this match, as I mentioned before this looks right up my alley. I bet the full Dome show is good too.
Raven + Beulah + Tommy Dreamer Angle (ECW 1/5/96)
This might be the most famous angle in ECW history. Stevie had been making out with Missy Hyatt the previous week and tries to kiss Beulah (Raven's girlfriend) and she vehemently rejects him. She reveals she is pregnant which draws out Raven who is pissed and blames Beulah, she then reveals it isn't his. This enrages Raven and he attacks Richards who would have the closest access to Beulah besides Raven. She tells Raven to stop it isn't Richards.....It's Tommy's! Tommy responds as the noble hero protecting his lady. We get the famous "Tommy use my sign" sign spot which contains a stop sign underneath and used on Raven, as is a pie. Everything is built so well, progresses logically and takes one step at a time. It is such a fun moment and a lights a new fire under the already hot Raven/Dreamer feud, I should note that I love this time period. I was in sixth grade and had the world by the balls. I had a flannel shirt I wore virtually everyday for a year or two. I really enjoy watching 96 ECW since it captures everything I was about at the time.
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