Hiromu Takahashi vs. Ryu Lee (NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2020 2/9/20)

Couldn’t tell you too much about this rivalry even if I wanted too. I only know it by the reputation it has among most fans: oh dear God, why would you do that to each other? The last time these two wrestled, Hiromu sustained a devastating neck injury that kept him out of action for over a year when Lee hit him with a Phoenix-Plex gone horribly wrong. That lent a lot of tension every time Lee went for the move in the finishing stretch of this match. He never hits it but we get an abundance of wild bumps as we expect from these two. Bumps to the floor, to the apron, all that wild stuff. Mixed in, a first act built around the Kobashi-Sasaki chop off that left both men’s chests bruised for the rest of the match. Weird choice considering they drop that going into the second act into what’s much more traditionally they’re style of match. I think it did go a little too long, a few bumps too many down the stretch that it started to leave me a little numb. Otherwise, a good bubble gum match that gets a little bland to end.