Fuminori Abe vs Takuya Nomura

FUMINORI ABE VS TAKUYA NOMURA (10/12/2023)

 I don't think a match has captivated me like this one has, because this was not a match. This was two best friends fighting for superiority over one another, a fight for the approval of their mentors and idols, and a fight for fucking survival. One of the most beautiful works of art that humanity has ever built. Every moment in human history led to these two beating the shit out of each other.

Let's start with the individuals. Fuminori Abe was absolutely brilliant. Abe held nothing back against his tag partner, and whether that would be with ferocious punches, rim checks, biting his nipple, grabbing his hair, it didn't matter for Abe. He was willing to do anything to beat Nomura, and vice versa, and that's part of what makes this match so good! It's a common trope in wrestling tag partners or friends whenever put up against one another will go all out in stiffness and tactics, and that concept is fully utilized here. Takuya Nomura was an amazing silent killer. He didn't go for the antics and tactics of Abe. He relied on beating the piss out of him. 

This match is goddamn brutal man. Every single strike hit with just top-notch passion, velocity, and placement. It really elevates the match.

This match EXCELS on the smaller details, in fact, that is what sets this above the rest. Every movement progressively gets more desperate from either man, the facial expressions (especially from Abe) are top-notch, a notable one is the selling of the hands because they are punching each other so damn hard. 

This is not the main reason I like the match, but the finish was absolutely fantastic. Nomura has Abe in a half-crab, and after Abe desperately crawls for the ropes, Nomura steps back and locks it in again in the middle of the ring. Abe crawls to the ropes again, except when Nomura steps back Abe rolls through and gets in a heel hook. It's gratifying how Nomura groans in pain, reaching for the ropes and having a face that shows he is going through hell. Abe eventually rotates all the way onto his stomach while somehow keeping the hold in, and Nomura slowly and beautifully crumbles and taps. Just poetry in motion.

All in all, it's perfect. It's just perfect. WE ARE THE FIGHTING DETECTIVES, AND LIFE IS A BATI-BATI!!!!

My rating: 5*