March 5, 2006, Takeshi Rikio vs. Yoshinari Ogawa

This match should be a train wreck. Rikio is terrible, and I'm really not sure what Misawa was thinking giving him a push. In his matches as champ vs. Misawa, Kobashi, and Taue, only the Taue contest would be considered ***... and that may be only because we wouldn't have to see Rikio as champ anymore. Ogawa was once (by some) considered Misawa's replacement in the late 90's in AJPW; however things never really panned out. He lacks the charisma, and never put on the weight and got caught in a no mans land between heavyweight and junior heavyweight. He can surpise every once and a while and put out a good performance (some of his tag matches with Misawa, for example), but usually just disapoints. Can Rikio start to reclaim his lost glory? Or can Ogawa finally show that he can be the man, and work show he is worthy at matches against the top names? Only time, and possibly this match will tell.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Takeshi
• Rikio
• Yoshinari
• Ogawa
• NOAH
• AJPW
• Puroresu
• GHC
• Budokan
• Hall

[theredraven]

Yes. But I would still take a WWE/TNA show over a UFC PPV with a 1 minute main event.

[cainan88]

Id rather watch Noah than Worst Wrestling EVER (WWE)

[KobashiVsTaker]

Love how you tell the sotry from that side saying both guys are crap and need to reedem themself lol you should have a promotion.

[damiendinnertime]

I think Ogawa a very smart fighter. It's too bad he can't win 'em all!

[ReturnOfRizo]

Yeah argue ignorance...with ignorance. Way to go there.

[ShinjiOh]

You analysis is just terrible. Sorry, but you sound like someone who doesnt understand wrestling or even fully appreciate it.

Im starting to think that all english speakers are completely ignorant and unabashedly dissrespectful towards anything and everything.

[cainan88]

I agree its a really good theme that suits him

[AlSween]

japanese ref bump...weird

[vdd]

love rikio's music

[SaiyanSpiritSeven]

Thats a great variation of a ura-nage.

[armandroh666]

Yeah same here, UFC was only good in the early/mid 1990's now it's just a bunch of b*tch-Slapping