#184: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kurt Angle, NJPW Resolution (4/5/2009).
This is for Tanahashi’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Talk about a dream match come true. Hiroshi Tanahashi, the Ace of New Japan on the cusp of being in his absolute prime, going one on one against Kurt Angle, a man that, in my opinion, was in the prime of his career in 2009-2010. Angle had several dream matches during his brief runs in New Japan against Yuji Nagata and Shinsuke Nakamura, but a match against the Once in a Generation Ace is a tantalizing affair to think about. Even better is that it takes place in Sumo Hall!
The bell sounds, and the crowd is firmly behind Tanahashi. They lock up, and Angle quickly takes control of the back. Tana stays active on the mat, and gets to the ropes. Red Shoes calls for a clean break, and we get that. Tana goes for a single leg takedown, but Angle easily fights it off. He takes control of the back again, and we get another clean break. They go to lock up, and Angle goes right for the back. Tana is able to apply a side headlock, and he keeps it cranked, Steamboat style.
Angle tries to send Tana into the ropes, but he keeps it applied. Angle hits a back suplex, and Tana retains hold of the headlock. Big shoulder tackle by Tana, and he pops off a side headlock takedown. I don’t understand commentary in Japanese, but I can tell that they are talking about how Shawn Michaels is one of Tana’s top influences – and that Angle has beaten Michaels before. Angle is on his knees, and Tana cranks the headlock more. Angle is able to escape, and he takes the arm, but Tana executes a hip toss and goes back into the headlock.
Angle sends Tana into the ropes, and catches him with a beautiful belly to belly suplex. Angle holds his head to sell the effects of the headlock. Great psychology from the Gold Medalist! Angle roars, and suplexes Tana for a 2 count. Angle gets Tana in the corner, and drives his shoulder into the midsection. He follows up with a backbreaker to the side for a nearfall. Angle takes the back, and cranks back on the neck.
Angle transitions to a side headlock, and Tana is able to escape, but he runs into a knee to the midsection. That gets the challenger a series of nearfalls. Tana avoids some strikes from Angle, and both men take each other out with a pair of crossbodies. Both men exchange forearms and uppercuts, before Angle kicks the gut. Tana fires back with forearms to the head, followed by one of the diving variety.
Standing senton, followed by a flipping senton by Tana. He scoop slams Angle, then connects with his middle rope senton for a 2 count. Angle rakes the eyes to get back in the lead, then he sends Tana over the top rope, but Tana skins the cat, Shawn Michaels style. Tana connects with the Sling Blade. He misses the next attempt, and Angle goes for the Angle Slam, but Tana is able to counter out of that! He power slams Angle, and goes to the top rope. Angle cuts him off with a top rope Angle Slam! He makes the cover, and Tana is able to kick out.
Angle pops off a series of German Suplexes, and then Tana executes an overhead Dragon Suplex! Tana goes to the top rope, and misses the High Fly Flow. Angle is back up, and hits the Angle Slam! He covers, and Tana is able to kick out somehow. Angle removes the straps, and applies the Ankle Lock to Tana. He tries to kick his way free, but Angle won’t release the hold. Two tries, and two fails from the Ace. Tana is able to reverse out of it with a Dragon Screw Legwhip, and right into the Texas Cloverleaf!
Angle counters out of that back into the Ankle Lock in the middle of the ring. Angle cranks and twists on the ankle, until Tana is able to reverse it into a roll up for a close nearfall. Angle is back up, and tries for the Angle Slam, and Tana escapes. He connects with the Sling Blade again, and Angle just barely gets the shoulder up. Tana sells the ankle, as he goes to the top rope. Angle tries to cut him off again, and Tana pushes him off.
Tana connects with the crossbody High Fly Flow, then returns to the top rope for the rtaditional High Fly Flow, and then he does one more just for good measure, and that’s enough for the win. Tana retains the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
That match was really getting good when it ended, and that’s the only negative I’d say about it. That was a cracker of a match, with good technical wrestling in the beginning, good selling throughout, and a hot closing stretch to finish things out. These two had great chemistry against each other, and it’s a shame this is their only singles meeting, because an entire series between these two in their physical primes would’ve been incredible. As it stands, for a one time only encounter, this worked across the board.
Fun fact: In later interviews following this match, Kurt Angle would refer to Hiroshi Tanahashi as “the Japanese equivalent of Shawn Michaels,” which delighted Tanahashi to no end to be compared to his own idol.