.:: Toryumon 'Vamanos Amigos', 22nd March 2002 ::.
Review by Ben, 1st August 2002

Well, here is the other Toryumon tape that Niall provided me when I ordered tapes off him. I'm an avid watcher of the !VAMANOS AMIGOS! shows as instead of having to go out and buy every television block, it shows the month's main headlines in a two hour show. Not that I am saying you shouldn't be buying very piece of Toryumon footage if you have the money - I'm a student saving for university though, I have an excuse!!!

One thing worth mentioning - this was the heyday of SUWA taking on the company. If your sensitive towards the fact that he hates Crazy MAX at this minute, don't buy this tape.... what am I saying - BUY THE TAPE YOU WUSS!!!!

Show starts with the usual credits, and then shows the big story of Toryumon. SUWA has shown clear signs of his disgust with Sumo Fuji. He hates the fact that Sumo always has to be silly and not serious. The reason for this? Sumo teaming up with Ryo Saito as the Bicycle Brothers. Things get even more nasty as TARU tries to stop the two bickering, and SUWA tosses rubbish at Sumo Fuji. Later on in the month, SUWA returns to the ring in a smart outfit, while Sumo Fuji shouts at SUWA even more, irate at the treatment he's received. SUWA basically tells TARU and everyone he's through Crazy MAX (at this point in time). The other big story is that there is dissention in the M2K ranks, with Susumu believing that Masaaki's a has been since losing the Hair vs. Hair match against CIMA and that M2K can do better without him. One scene worth mentioning is the usual M2K entrance where they come down on scooters - Masaaki and Susumu collide, adding more animosity to the tale.

Today's studio guest is SUWA - think of this tape as a mini SUWA highlight  video!!!


SUWA  vs. Masaaki Mochizuki

An entertaining match which highlights even more SUWA's rise from resident bad boy of Crazy MAX to all out one man crime wave in Toryumon. Masaaki these days piles his trade as a member of the Toryumon army, and this features the beginning of his face turn (which becomes more and more evident later in the tape). Mochizuki turns on the style in this match and almost looks to have the match won when Susumu interferes and clocks Masaaki whilst he goes for the Triangle Enzuigiri. The M2K guys walk to the back while Masaaki tries to regroup, but is then hit with the (very popular) John Woo for a three count. SUWA looks relentless in this match playing a very over heel - yes, he's more impressive as an antagonist here than with Crazy MAX


SUWA  vs. Shigeo Okumura

I hate to say it, but this was basically a squash match. SUWA yet again plays the big heel and just destroys Okumura. For a few months, SUWA's main purpose in Toryumon was to just destroy everything in his path as the "monster" heel (complete with very weird haircut) buy levelling all competitors in under five minutes (aside from a select few). The FFF was slapped on for a very  convincing win here, but WAIT... Okumura kicked out of the FFF to a stunned crowd. SUWA cannot believe it and so goes to the top rope to execute a diving elbow drop and finally gets the three. Excellent match going back and forth, no doubt SUWA's reputation yet again on the increase. Of course he deserves it - he's one of the best wrestlers in the company


Stoker Ichikawa vs. Mitsuhiro Matsunaga

Matsunaga must have his work cut out - he's not facing Stoker Ichikawa today, oh no. He's facing cult IWA Deathmatch legend Tiger Jeet..... Ichikawa.... Yes indeed, it's gimmick time for Stoker as he comes out with the turban, sword and beard to challenge Matsunaga. Is this funny? Yes. Is this a match? Define what you mean by match - because only on some occasions does Stoker perform an actual match and not a comedy laugh riot in the ring. After some roughing up from "Mr. Danger", Stoker immediately taps out when he bears witness to Matsunaga's latest implement of death - a small knife. Stoker does the wise thing and opts out of becoming heir to the Abdullah The Butcher throne.


Darkness Dragon & Genki Horiguchi vs. Magnum TOKYO & Super Shiisa

Excellent fast paced match which shows Shiisa's ever growing talent. Darkness Dragon is as awesome as ever, and do I need to put Genki over? Hell no! Genki's the man, of course he's going to perform. And half a year on, he's not slipped being the punk heel, as he gives the crowd his cocky grins (a far cry from his happy-go-lucky surfer grins) every time he hurts the new guy (Shiisa). Credit to Magnum Tokyo in this match, as he pulls out all the stops as per usual to giver a stellar performance. VERY innovative in parts (the handstand top rope rana was a site to see) and it's always good to see hard hitting action, such as Magnum's back flip enzuigiri. I marked out especially for a spot which has Darkness Dragon and Shiisa reversing their pinfalls, which ends with Shiisa down on one knee - now if you've seen Dragon's WICKED enzuigiris before, my god you know how wicked they can be - and this was no exception. Shining Wizard eat your heart out - THIS is a dangerous shot to the head. After a flurry of near pinfalls, Magnum TOKYO hits his famed Erect Smash (straightjacket hold Rock Bottom) on Genki for a two count only, but executes the Viagra Driver for the win. An excellent match, but SUWA enters after the match and gives Magnum TOKYO the FFF and throws Shiisa out of the ring.


Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Susumu Mochizuki

This is in my view the best match on the tape - the story behind it is  fitting, the fact that the loser has to drop the Mochizuki moniker puts some more suspense in the tale and it's one of those matches where Masaaki has to fight against all the odds - a younger agile fighter who was taken under his wing, and his old team mates showing signs of utter disgust and dissent against their leader. Masaaki (coming off a loss in a Hair vs. Hair match against CIMA, hence the crew cut) gets seven shades of poop kicked out of him in this match, which is good because it puts him over as the underdog. Unlike other older wrestlers (Undertaker for example, who is much much older) who demand that they always dominate the youngster, in this case the roles have been reversed - Susumu dominates Masaaki a lot of the time while also taking a fair few nasty kicks in the process. Thumbs up (as always) to Genki who interferes with Kanda on the outside, but meets a horrible demise getting an axe kicked over the head while holding a blue box, then flopping to the outside. The reversals are terrific, almost like watching a martial arts movie with the sweeps, jumping kicks and then the sheer dynamic suplexes and Yokosuka Cutters. Masaaki surprises us all by executing a Hurricanrana on Susumu for the three count, thus Susumu must drop his last name. The Toryumon army enter the ring, as Masaaki tries to make amends with them. Dragon Kid, Shiisa and Ryo Saito all accept his apology, but he has trouble making his peace with Arai and TOKYO. Arai does the right thing and accepts Masaaki's sincerity, but Magnum TOKYO doesn't believe Mochizuki for one moment as he tries to talk sense into the other members of "his" army.


Susumu Yokosuka & Darkness Dragon & Genki Horiguchi vs.Magnum TOKYO & Dragon Kid & Ryo Saito

Very good six man tag match, with some excellent double and triple team moves. Susumu debuts here with his new name (Yokosuka) as he throws TOKYO around a lot here. Each man in this match has his own nemesis: Yokosuka ends up taking TOKYO due to the histories between Dragon Kid and Darkness Dragon, and the bitter rivalry between Genki and Saito. Yasushi Kanda (god we are all waiting for you to come back after your horrific neck injury) is on the outside and, like all heel managers in Japan, feels the need to get involved whenever the opportunity arises. What is it with M2K and those blue boxes? They are ALWAYS using them for gods sakes!!! Some really wickedly stiff shots during this match, and Genki makes me mark out as always when he hits the Rollercoaster (but he nearly messes it up in this match but makes it look ever more cooler. That is how awesome Mr. Horiguchi is). Ryo nearly wins it for the home army, when he gets out of the Beach Break and almost hits a powerbomb, but while setting it up, Darkness hits that awesome enzuigiri, dazing the budding delivery boy. Susumu comes off both sets of ropes to hit a lariat and then a jack-knife pin by Genki ensures a M2K win. After the match Genki gets on the microphone to taunt Ryo Saito. Ryo then says something which irritates TOKYO, who gets on the microphone to be quite frank with his fellow team mates. It gets even more hectic - SUWA enters the ring to insult the Adult Movie star. Out comes Crazy MAX and Ultimo Doragon to sort out the mess that's ensuing, and when CIMA enters the ring, SUWA leaves. Looks like there will be a match coming up at the next show - SUWA and CIMA vs. Sumo Fuji and TARU.


CONCLUSION

Bewildering. The angles, the action, the way it's presented is a sheer attack on all the senses. Wince with pain as you see the kicks delivered by Masaaki Mochizuki and Magnum TOKYO. Innovation at it's best, and Toryumon is one of a few feds that is keeping my interest in wrestling alive. Well, all Japanese companies are managing to do that (with the odd exception), but it's the sheer innovative moves that all the athletes pull off that makes you keep coming back for more. The work ethics are through the roof. I've NEVER recalled anyone making the other wrestler's life a hard time by not selling. Toryumon is one of those companies that prides itself on the fact everyone gets along and there is no politics backstage. That's why it remains entertaining. And as for booking, Ultimo Dragon's made his doubters have to eat their words - his heel turns are picture perfect, shocking the crowd and viewers alike. This is another definite Toryumon purchase as it shows SUWA's disgust towards the company, M2K's evolution after dropping it's founder, and the possibility of Magnum TOKYO leaving the home army because he's getting far to big for his own good.

ENTERTAINMENT - 8 - Unlike the Genki heel turn, there isn't anything really on this tape worth noting. There were a few angles that I mentioned, but nothing really struck a chord with me. SUWA's always been the bad ass of the company and it was about time they made him this unstoppable maniac hell bent on destroying the company. There was no real major angles aside from the SUWA monster heel run, going through literally anyone and everyone. 8 isn't a bad score for a product that relies on it's workrate.

WORKRATE - 10 - I'm not showing any signs of hyperbole here, this tape was picture perfect. EVERYONE pulled out the stops to put on good performances. Okumura shows that those in managerial positions are not always musclebound freaks who cannot sell to save their lives (coughVinceMcMahoncough). Masaaki vs. Susumu really showed how much effort these people put in to providing the fans with an awesome display of high flying and ground work with some jaw breaking kicks for good measure.

.:: FINAL RECOMMENDATION - Well worth the money spent. Entertaining and priceless. This is a must to watch the lead up to Magnum's heel turn, without question ::.