Keiji Mutoh vs Big Van Vader from G1 Semifinal 1991
8/10/1991
it's insane how over Mutoh was here. Vader is pretty over too.
Quote:
Pillows immediately start raining down from the crowd as Mutoh stays on the mat, beaten and exhausted. Vader stomps around the ring amongst the pillows as finally Mutoh gets up and pumps his arm into the air. Vader offers him his hand and shakes it before raising his arm into the air. Vader then storms off and leaves the ring as Mutoh celebrates in all four corners with his music playing and the crowd on their feet. Mutoh had passed the test and defeated the great Vader to reach the finals of the first G1 Climax.
In terms of big singles matches, the G1 Climax proved to be critical in the development of Mutoh's career. First he defeated the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and then he defeated the most dominate gaijin perhaps ever to win a tournament block that most had assumed he had no chance of winning. The crowd understood the importance of these events, which is clear by the way the pillows came flying into the ring. At Sumo Hall, the fans used to sit on pillows, and if the match was great or a big upset occurred that the fans were happy about they would throw the pillows in the ring. This happened very rarely, but here there was no hesitation by the crowd as the pillows were hitting the ring seconds after the bell had rung.
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