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Jado & Gedo vs. Tiger Mask IV & Great Sasuke 8/19/2001
 Today's match will feature the freelance team of Jado & Gedo. Gedo of course is famous (in many cases despised) for his participation in the first two Super J Cups. Jado is simple wrestler who works a technical style. Their opponents are Michinoku Pro's Tiger Mask IV & Great Sasuke. TMIV is considered to be one of the best lightheavyweights in the world today. Recently he was injured at his first New Japan show though. Great Sasuke is the owner of Michinoku Pro and known for his all around greatness. This will be for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles.
TM and Sasuke immediately double dropkick Gedo down. TM & Sasuke get a double running mat slam on Gedo. Sasuke does a sweet shoulderblock/slingshot back elbow smash on Gedo. Sasuke dropkicks Gedo outside and follows up with a SUPER QUEBRADA. In the ring TM gets a dropkick on Gedo. TM then slams Gedo, gets an off the top rope knee drop, and then a backflip double knee drop, but Jado breaks up the pin. Jado takes down TM with a hammerlock after trading arm wringers. TM gets a side headlock and eventually gets an awesome rolling solebutt. TM cross-corner whips Jado, but Jado moves. TM feints up the turnbuckles anyway and backflips off the top rope. TM gets a legsweep and another solebutt. TM puts Jado right into Sasuke's boot. Sasuke gets a snapmare and a quick crossface chickenwing. Sasuke slams and fist drops Jado for a two count. Sasuke slams and legdrops Jado for another two count. Sasuke locks on a sleeper hold and an octopus hold in succession, but Gedo breaks it up. TM & Sasuke do the double team slaps of fury to Jado's back. TM locks a camel clutch on Jado and pounds on him. Gedo hits TM in the back when he goes against the ropes. Jado immediately lariats TM down! Jado throws TM outside. Gedo then works on TM, while Jado works on Sasuke. Jado throws a table right at Sasuke (!) and Gedo throws TM into the ring post. Back in the ring Gedo works on TM choking him in the corner. Jado holds TM while Gedo thrust kicks him in the stomach. Jado & Gedo double shoulderblock TM down. Jado then chops TM down then rubs TM's face across the ropes. Booo! Gedo in. Gedo snapmares TM and levels TM with a THRUST KICK to the head!! Gedo starts ripping TM's mask. Gedo throws TM into the exposed turnbuckle, which has been moved! Jado in. Jado puts TM into the exposed turnbuckle two more times. Jado follows up with a backdrop suplex for a near fall. Jado gets a huge LARIATOOH for a 2 9/10 count! Gedo in. Gedo gets a DDT then cheapshots Sasuke on the apron. Gedo continues the assault by jawbreaking TM and nailing another thrust kick for a 2 3/4 count. TM blocks a german suplex by backflipping on his feet then ducks a lariat, but Gedo then blocks a TM german by landing on his feet!! TM kicks Gedo right in the face and nails Jado as well. TM follows up a sweet tope` suicida through the ropes on Gedo who is outside now. Sasuke hurricanranas Jado and gets a butterfly suplex (underhook suplex) for a 2 3/4 count. Jado blocks a Thunderfire Powerbomb, but Sasuke rolling solebutts him anyway. Sasuke missile dropkicks Jado. Jado rolls outside. Sasuke puts Jado on a table then goes on the top rope. Sasuke then "DIES FOR US ALL" grazing Jado with a Flying Somersault Senton Suicida and landing on the floor!! In the ring TM pounds on Gedo with kicks and then nails a Tiger Driver for a 2 3/4 count. TM slams Gedo, but Gedo moves out of the way of the flying moonsault. TM lands on his feet anyway! Gedo gets out of waistlock with a low blow. Gedo kneecap dropkicks TM and puts on the GEDO CLUTCH for a 2 9/10 count. Sasuke nails an Off the Top Rope Somersault Neckbreaker on Gedo for a 2 3/4 count. Jado stops a Thunderfire Powerbomb. Sasuke ducks a double clothesline and quebrada presses Gedo & Jado. Sasuke goes up top, but Jado stops him and nails a Superplex (Both Standing on Top Rope) for a 1...2..counto 2. Jado gets another LARIATOOH for a near fall. Sasuke blocks a brainbuster suplex, but Jado blocks a clothesline and locks on the Crossface Hold!!! TM breaks it up though. Jado throws TM outside. Gedo gets a running corner back elbow smash then Jado gets a running corner clothesline on Sasuke. Jado & Gedo do their Superbomb on Sasuke for a near fall. Jado tiger drivers Sasuke and Gedo SUPAFLY SPLASHES Sasuke for another near fall. Jado gets a waistlock on Sasuke, but TM missile dropkicks Jado! TM running corner high kicks Gedo in the face then follows up with an awesome Both Standing on the TOP ROPE BUTTERFLY SUPLEX for another 2 3/4 count. TM locks on a vicious hammerlock hold then transitions into the cross armbreaker, but Jado breaks it up. Jado accidentally lariats Gedo then TM dropkicks Jado outside. TM follows with a huge Plancha Suicida. Sasuke TIGER SUPLEXES Gedo for a 1...2..another counto 2! Sasuke Thunderfire Powerbombs Gedo for a 2 9/10 count. Sasuke knocks Gedo down with a spinkick for another near fall. Sasuke goes up top and Jado throws a chair right at Sasuke. Sasuke falls off the top rope right into a Gedo COMPLETE SHOT. Gedo covers 1...2...3 Gedo and Jado win it. They are awarded IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles they defended.
This is one the my favorite tag matches from 2001. Everybody worked hard. TM & Gedo were excellent. Sasuke was suicidal and Jado did his part to perfection. A few stupid heel tactics, useless holds, and Sasuke missing the dive lowered the rating, but the match was very fun to watch anyway. What is different about this kind of match and many of New Japan style matches is that anybody could watch this. You don't have to like mat wrestling to enjoy this one! With that being said I give it:
Rating: ***3/4 |