Kazuyuki Fujita vs Hiroshi Tanahashi-NJPW 5.6.2004.

I absolutely love this match. A mismatch in styles creates a special type of energy. I can imagine Tanahashi doing something like grabbing his neck in fear after avoiding a kick against Goto/Shibata/Nakamura 5-10 years later but it evokes a much stronger reaction when he's fighting one of PRIDE's top heavyweights and also playing a proper FIP that sells most of the time. Because Fujita is so dominant for so long he can let Tanahashi shine during comebacks without losing credibility, but he's also not going to let Tanahashi pull of twisting nonsense moves on him. Tanahashi's performance here is good-the tackle countered into a flash pin ruled and the rabid suicide dives ruled and even the running small package felt like the appropriate thing to do in the moment. The only thing they have in similar is the amateur background whic they use as a meeting point (as well as the strike exchanges). Fujita brings the violence you'd want out of a badass shooter-his soccer kicks and knee lifts are second to none, and the smug expressions he makes after he bodies Tanahashi are just priceless. ****1/4