IGF Genome2 ~ Inoki Fighting Xmas PPV 12.20.07

Tokyo Ariake Coliseum
Attendance 6,233 (“about half full”)

Inoki shows up dressed as Santa aka the mascot for KFC.

AJ Styles vs. Senshi

Oh hello! This would be the last match between these two early 2000s best reasons to tape trade. Neither man would return to IGF, I assume this is to keep the TNA relationship warm.

Both lads start a mighty shove-off which is won by Senshi who politely declines to chop Styles in the corner. They resume the shoving, but this time, Senshi locks in an armbar over the ropes. Senshi gracefully falls outside to land on his feet like a cat that’s hard to book. Senshi kicks Styles around while making it look easy as the crowd are quietly impressed. Styles takes a breather outside, returning inside to take a springboard crossbody and basement dropkick to the back of the head. Oh that looked like no fun to take. Styles finally gets some offence with a delayed suplex…oh no he doesn’t, Senshi forces himself down so an angry Styles takes to eye gauging. A blinded Senshi doesn’t notice Styles landing a second rope moonsault as the commentators yell “AAAAHH”. Styles’ beautiful dropkick gets a round of applause but also some complaining from the Phenomenal One as the ref is slow. That’s not his fault.

Senshi comes back with some knife edge chops that echo through the dark arena like a bad memory. Styles powers out of them to land a springboard elbow. Styles yells at the ref so a fan yells at AJ who silences him by bellowing “SHUT UP”. Senshi lands a springboard overhead chop but focuses on height rather than width and gets some crazy air while doing so. God he was a freak of nature athletically. Senshi brains Styles in the back of the head with another bastard kick to remind us why he never went further. The pair of them show their familiarity with one another when Styles goes for the moonsault-into-a-reverse-DDT spot but Styles is too close so the ropes to execute it, so Senshi turns himself around so Styles can execute it properly. And it was done effortlessly too. Styles locks in the Torture Rack before spinning it into a slam. Crowd “oooos” that one. Senshi counters the Styles Clash with a double stomp, setting up more giant kicks from the bald scary one. Styles lands The Pele but walks into a yelling Rolling Kick from Senshi which gets zero reaction for some reason. Senshi misses a double stomp, with Styles using the ref to distract Senshi and land the rolling Styles Clash for the win at 12:51.

Completely absent crowd reaction aside, this was a wonderful way to start any show with some unreal smoothness from either men who didn’t attempt to do strong style and the match was better for it. Senshi was (and presumably still is) unreasonably talented as well as a prick. Truly the Nick Kyrgios of 2000s indies. Good start to the show!

Post-match The Destroyer consoles Senshi. Well we know Senshi destroyed every chance he was given.

Atsushi Sawada vs. Amazon Blade

Sawada just started this whole wrestling thing. I have no idea who Amazon Blade is but he’s proudly wearing Brazilian gear so I’m not foolish enough to say anything negative about him. Also he’s massive.

Blade’s kicks sail over Sawada’s head, and his punches are all air shots. Oh no. Sawada takes a gentle kick to the mid section for a count from the ref. More punches that wouldn’t knock the skin off a rice pudding results in Sawada taking Blade down with a judo throw (with Blade doing all the work). Blade’s high kicks actually make contact now but they’re at half speed to avoid actual damage. Sawada somehow takes Blade down, only to result in some soft slaps. This is hilarious. Sawada gets a cheeky kick on the break so an angry Blade lands more love taps to end this via 2:47.

OK this was the cheesy, daft, unbelievable fake fighting we’ve been wanting to see more of here at IGF. Endearingly rubbish like Seagal films. Blade wouldn’t return so let’s honour him with three Inokis.

Kazuhiro Hamanaka vs. Danny Iguazu

Hamanaka has victories in PRIDE. I have no idea who or what Danny is.

There’s a foot difference in height here so Danny sensibly leans on Hamanaka to have him waste energy. Danny lands more gentle taps with his wrapped fists while holding his foe. Hamanaka can’t do anything except take knees and fall over. Somehow Hamanaka is able to pick him up and slam him but Danny gets up and walks directly into a takedown before submitting to a hammerlock at 2:53.

Hey if we’re doing big guy vs. little guy contests then I’m all for it if they’re lasting less than three minutes. Inoffensive stuff here, I’ll give it one Inoki for Danny’s sound strategy.

Chris Moore (Chris Masters) vs. Ryushi Yanagisawa

This is Yanagisawa’s retirement match, presumably because he saw he was booked against 2007 Chris Masters and thought “fuck it.”

Yanagisawa strikes Chris who doesn’t appreciate that and retaliates with hilariously safe WWE style overhead punches. That shouldn’t look as hilarious as it should but Chris’ tits are bouncing up and down as he’s firing them. The Masterlock is attempted (to no pop) but Yanagisawa somehow escapes. Chris decides to brawl outside for some reason before taking some kicks to the chest. But on the outside of the ring! Yanagisawa applies an ankle lock which helps Chris as his WWE style selling of it does get the crowd invested. Yanagisawa gets his arm worked but again it’s WWE style so he snaps it over the ring ropes rather than apply a hold. This is such a styles clash. Yanagisawa charges the corner for something but Chris absolutely mauls him with a lariat that I don’t think he was expecting.

Chris helpfully checks on him by delivering another one before locking in the Moorelock. Yanagisawa, a man who went to a thirty minute draw with Yuki Ishikawa, is unable to figure out how to escape a Full Nelson and submits at 5:46.

Another barmy oil & water encounter here, this show is delivering what we were promised. This was Masters’ only match in Japan so it’s good they gave him the rub of retiring Yanagisawa. Yanagisawa would of course not retire after this match so this deserves four solid Inokis.

Taka Kuno vs. Jan “The Giant” Nortje

Kuno is a Jiu-Jitsu guy who makes his entrance to Air on G String which is a nice pallet cleanser. Meanwhile, giant South African kickboxer Nortje heads out to Ich Will and a shirt that reads “big sexy.” Woah hey now.

Nortje sadly removes his shirt so he can box in just his camo shorts, looking like he’s been disturbed by the milkman. He’s not pissing about when it comes to his kicks though unlike Blade earlier, they are a lot faster and harder than Kuno’s probably wanting. Makes this a lot more interesting though, as Kuno suddenly really *is* avoiding those kicks. Kuno takes his foe down down but he’s too close to the ring ropes, but he gets a cheeky kick to a retreating Kuno. Pissed-off Kuno keeps Nortje by the ropes so he can’t do anything, before double legging him and attempting a cross armbreaker. Hey, this has been fun so far. Armbreaker is locked by the tall Saffy is able to get the ropes easily enough. Nortje starts throwing his kicks and Kuno decides that it’s the end and rolls outside. Oh wait, he heroically re-enters to catch one of Nortje’s logs and turn it into an ankle lock! But again, the guy is always in arm’s reach of the ropes so it’s all for nothing. But when they reset, Kuno effortlessly delivers a judo throw on the half-man half-house to take him down for the armbar submission at 5:09.

Genuinely good match that felt like the closest thing to succeeding in the “two dudes pretending to fight while trying to make it convincing” we’ve seen all show. Two happy Inokis for this one.

We get a pre-taped video from Dr. Death Steve Williams wishing Inoki the best of luck in his new company and reminds him of their encounters together! Aw that’s nice. I actually didn’t know they wrestled, turns out they were all back in the eighties before Williams got good. Huh.

2 Cold Scorpio also says hello via video, telling everyone he’s heading to IGF very soon. Spoiler: He wouldn’t make it to IGF.

The Destroyer throws bingo balls into the crowd as the commentators show the prizes are Inoki key-rings and IGF cups. I’d love a IGF mug, it’d go great next to my Herb Abram cookies.

Yuji Nagata has showed up to commentate along with Kiyoshi Tamura. Both of them sound completely fed up.

Yoshiki Takahashi vs. Michiyoshi Ohara

Takahashi heads out to Dead Or Alive’s You Spin Me Around but that’s too subtle for Ohara who prefers Who Let The Dogs Out.

Ohara is nearing the end of his career which explains why he looks so pale and confused. Feeling out process lasts a while with Hara not able to do much as Takahashi prods and studies him. They go to the mat for some slow paced grappling. Ohara takes a knee (to the face, he’s not protesting) but beats the count in time to absorb a punch to the side of the head. This is really lagging. Oh then Hara lands two running headbutts to Takahashi to send him to the mat, waking up the crowd in a big way. Hara tries to headbutt the side of Takahashi but he comes back with multiple strikes to the back of the head, leading to the ref having to stop it at 7:11.

A match bereft of anything until the head-butts started being thrown. Takahashi wouldn’t return so thanks for the rub Ohara. I’m not giving this any Inokis because Ohara looked like he’d rather have spare change.

Josh Barnett vs. Montanha Silva

Barnett’s still using the theme from Fist Of The North Star because he’s a big weeb. You’d think they’d be building up to a match on a bigger show in the future considering the pushes these two have been receiving but I don’t think IGF were too optimistic of their chances of surviving (and then would of course somehow continue until 2022).

Barnett dodges a quick punch before taking Silva to the mat with the greatest of ease. Barnett keeps changing guard to outsmart his larger foe, with Silva able to stand up and get the ropes. Silva’s strikes are thrown convincingly enough for Barnett to feel worry, taking the big lad down again to avoid more strikes coming his way. Barnett lands on the mat after a punch with Silva following with a harsh soccer kick to the face. It’s a good job he’s legit tough. Silva unwisely tries to tangle with Barnett on the mat who wastes no time applying a spinning leglock. Silva goes back to striking which is the story of this match due to Barnett’s willingness to take them and oversell. Crowd love him for it even if half of the strikes are nowhere near him. Silva goes crazy and starts striking Barnett while the ref is counting him down, resulting in the ref taking a punch. Barnett somehow manages a German Suplex which he segues into a hammerlock (with his legs wrapped around Silva’s neck for good measure) for the submission win at 5:04.

It’s like this company was designed around Barnett’s strengths in his grappling, striking and knowing how to please a crowd. Ran out of steam near the end but the first half was grand for the little story it was telling. Deserves 1 Inoki for having a potential big match done so early in a company’s life.

Kurt Angle vs. Booker T

This was supposed to be Angle vs. Booker T, but Booker no-showed. Booker did a video promo on the big screen but everyone was very upset that he wasn’t there. The story I heard was that TNA didn’t get him a work visa in time and so he couldn’t legally make the trip. Welcome to WCW;

Booker provides a video apologizing for not being there, but the poor ring announcer has to translate to the crowd and they respond with vicious booing, which I take it means they advertised him until the event? Oh that’s very bad form for a Japanese promotion, I’m giving this match that didn’t happen four Inokis.

Booker would show up for the next show in February so tonight we get:

Kurt Angle vs. Kendo Kashin

Huh. I’d have been happier with Savio Vega.

I’m surprised Angle’s back, to be fair. I didn’t know he made more than one appearance for IGF but he is technically their champion. Oh, about that:

So after all this time, it finally comes out that New Japan and Antonio Inoki were working together all along as it regards the Inoki Genome Federation. Inoki started the group in June of this year, having supposedly severed all ties with New Japan, and promoted Brock Lesnar as his champion. Lesnar had won the New Japan version of the IWGP Title, but due to issues with the company he walked out. He took the belt with him and ended up working for Inoki as IWGP Champion, which of course New Japan did not recognize (Hiroshi Tanahashi won the belt from Giant Bernard in the tournament, and the current champion is Hiroshi Tanahashi, who beat, coincidentally, Nagata in October). Brock defended the belt against Kurt Angle on the debut show and lost, so Angle took the belt with him to TNA. Strangely, there were never any lawsuits threatened by New Japan. So now that Kurt is defending the belt on a New Japan show and the Inoki side isn’t threatening a lawsuit, well, that answers that question. If Nagata wins, New Japan can do a Tanahashi vs. Nagata rematch with both titles on the line to unify the belts again and I guess, if you care about that sort of thing, restore the damaged lineage. Very weird situation.

Right, that’s enough WON quotes to make Kendo potentially interesting. Angle grapples Kashin to the mat easily enough, but lands outside after Kashin messed with him during a run of the ropes. Ah wait, no Angle runs into the ring to outsmart Kashin who headed outside. A humiliated Kashin offers Angle a handshake before kicking him in the midsection. Angle ignores that as both lads exchange European Uppers. This has had little flow or chemistry so far. Kashin busts out a Triangle Hold over the ropes before attempting to use a chair on the outside. Luckily The Destroyer is there to prevent it. Imagine being schooled by a 77 year old. Angle decides to make this an Angle match with backbreakers and whatnot. Angle goes up top which allows Kashin to take him down with an…armdrag I think. Angle was more focused on not landing on his head than making that look good and I can’t blame him, he’s had to second-guess everything from Kashin so far. Angle escapes an armbar but finds himself running into another one. Oh then Kurt starts landing German Suplex and Angle Slams because I guess it’s time for it? Figure Four Leg Lock is applied in tribute to The Destroyer which Kashin doesn’t escape out of politeness. Ankle Lock is rolled out of though, with Angle having to wriggle around and apply another one out of nowhere to end it at 9:52.

Yeah no. Angle seemed more comfortable when he was allowed to do Angle things near the end, with the rest of the match being disjointed window dressing. Neither Angle nor Kashin would return so give them both three Inokis for managing to have a crap match with 2007 Angle.

Tadao Yasuda vs. Rene Rooze

The pre-match video focuses on Yasuda being a loser which is why he’s fighting a guy he’s lost to twice in K-1. Yasuda is only 44 here but looks like he’d rather be playing dominos in a pub.

Rene instantly goes for the high kick and it looked as legit as any strike on the show so far, so Yasuda exits the ring for a breather. His daughter is at ringside so she can watch her inheritance be delivered quicker. Rene continues firing strikes until Yasuda falls again. Crowd are cheering this poor old man who is about to die. Yasuda shoves Rene against the ropes until both men sail outside. Yasuda smacks Rene with a chair and that’s enough for the match to be stopped? Yasuda wins by TKO at 3:23? And they stretcher him out? After one chair shot?

No time for an Inoki rating because this is immediately followed by:

Naoya Ogawa vs. Tadao Yasuda

Ogawa wastes no time kicking Yasuda into the corner as this is apparently YOUR main event. Is Yasuda the plucky underdog? If so then why was he cheating to win the other match? I hope Ogawa kills him. Yasuda kicks Ogawa low which causes him to roll outside as Yasuda receives boos so I’m not alone. Yasuda and Ogawa both grab chairs with the ref interfering which kills a few minutes (and allows Yasuda to get his breath back after doing nothing for five minutes). Ogawa delivers a rough STO but Yasuda won’t stay down while Ogawa kicks him. Crowd approves of that. YEAH KICK THAT OLD FUCK, KICK HIM SO WE CAN WATCH HIS DAUGHTER CRY. Another STO connects, with the ref being sent outside for daring to check on Yasuda. Ogawa kicks away some more with Yasuda yelling at him to give him more. So he does. The crowd is only quietly chanting for Yasuda while he’s doing nothing but kneeling and taking kicks. Another rubbish STO sets up more kicking but Inoki has seen enough and runs in to choke Ogawa out! The bell rings…with cagematch saying this was a KO win for Ogawa at 8:39? Well that can’t be right. Like everything else in this match.

Ogawa and Inoki threaten to go at it as the show ends so you could at the very least say this was a set-up for Inoki vs. Ogawa which would be a big deal.

But it wouldn’t happen! So I’m giving this madness the full Five Inokis:

Merry Christmas.

Overall: Oh now this is the type of train wreck show I can get behind! Thanks IGF for redeeming yourself before I move on to FMW 1999 next week! You suck!

I’ve been Maffew