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Keiji Mutoh, Funaki, and Sanada vs. Kea, Minoru Suzuki, and NOSAWA
on January 11th, 2010

Event: All Japan "New Year Shining Series 2010"
Location: Hamakita Citizen Gymnasium
Announced Attendance: 2,300

Before the match can even start, Funaki attacks Suzuki as he gets into the ring. Suzuki's friends quickly jump in however, and Suzuki goes to work on Funaki's arm. For a minute or so he applies various arm holds to Funaki, including locking in a cross armbreaker outside the ring. Funaki's arm is put in a sling and he goes to the back, so he won't be present when the match begins. Sanada and NOSAWA start things off, Irish whip by NOSAWA but Sanada ducks the lariat and hits a jumping elbow. Irish whip by NOSAWA, shoulderblock by Sanada and he goes off the ropes, NOSAWA trips Sanada but Sanada returns the favor. Kick by NOSAWA as Sanada stumbles into the corner, stomps by NOSAWA and he tags in Suzuki. Forearm shots by Suzuki but Sanada returns fire. Sanada catches Suzuki's kick, spins him around and hits a backdrop suplex. Sanada tags in Mutoh, dropkicks to the knee by Mutoh to Suzuki and then he gives dragon screws to NOSAWA and Kea. He tries to give one to Suzuki but Suzuki blocks it and goes for the cross armbreaker. Mutoh gets a foot on the ropes to break it up. Stomps to the arm by Suzuki and he tags in Kea. Irish whip by Kea but Mutoh rolls under the lariat and dropkicks him in the knee. Quick Shining Wizard by Mutoh and he makes the tag to Sanada. Dropkick by Sanada to Kea, Irish whip, and Sanada delivers an elbow followed by a standing moonsault for a two count. Sanada goes for the backdrop suplex but Kea elbows out of it, Irish whip by Kea, Sanada flips himself out to the apron, Kea goes to suplex him back in but Sanada lands on his feet. Backdrop suplex by Sanada, cover, but it gets a two count. Sanada picks up Kea, forearms by Sanada but Kea kicks him back. DDT by Kea and he tags in Suzuki. Kicks by Suzuki to Sanada followed by a series of slaps, but Sanada dropkicks him in the corner. Sanada tags in Mutoh, dragon screw leg whip by Mutoh to Suzuki and he goes for the figure four, but Suzuki blocks it and applies the cross armbreaker. Sanada quickly breaks it up, punches by Suzuki to Sanada and Suzuki tags in NOSAWA. NOSAWA knocks Sanada out of the ring and they all take turns hitting strikes on Mutoh. Cover by NOSAWA but Sanada breaks it up. Irish whip by Suzuki to Sanada and Kea nails him with a lariat. Back to Mutoh, he is thrown in the corner and all three of his opponents deliver running strikes. Roll-up by NOSAWA, but Mutoh barely kicks out. Kea picks up Mutoh and hits the TKO, then Suzuki picks up Mutoh but Funaki comes roaring back and rolls into the ring. Funaki drops all three with high kicks, then stomps on Suzuki before pushing him out of the ring. Funaki goes out with Suzuki, then Sanada flies out of the ring onto Kea. In the ring, Mutoh decks NOSAWA with Shining Wizard, cover, and he picks up the three count. Your winners: Keiji Mutoh, Masakatsu Funaki, and Seiya Sanada

Post match: Suzuki is out cold but Funaki keeps hitting him anyway.

Match Thoughts: I thought this match was very solid and helped promote a number of different storylines in the promotion. First, we get Suzuki and Funaki, who hate each other quite a bit and destroy each other with Funaki getting the better of it in the end. Also, the Regular Army team was getting badly double teamed and was about to lose, when Funaki makes the heroic save which directly leads to his team winning the match. And finally, we still have spunky Sanada who while isn't on the level of Kea or Suzuki does manage to get some offense in on both of them. That is a lot going on in a 10 minute match, and I think it accomplished its goals very well and put on an entertaining match at the same time. Score: 7.0


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