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Keiji Mutoh, Hashimoto, and Chono vs. Fujinami, Kimura, and Koshinaka
on July 29th, 1988

Event: New Japan TV Taping
Location: Tokyo Ariake Colisseum
Announced Attendance: Unknown

They brawl to start the match, with the Musketeers getting the better of it. The match officially starts with Mutoh against Fujinami, back kick by Mutoh and he tags in Chono. Kicks by Chono in the corner to Fujinami but Fujinami punches his way out of it and hits a backdrop suplex. Fujinami tags in Koshinaka, stomp to the chest by Koshinaka, Irish whip, and he deliver a hip attack. Koshinaka slams Chono and tags in Kimura, who comes off he top rope with a knee drop. Inazuma Leg Lariat by Kimura, but Hashimoto comes in the ring and starts fighting with Kimura. Irish whip by Hashimoto and he kicks Kimura in the chest. Kimura manages to tag in Koshinaka, sleeper hold by Koshinaka to Hashimoto but Hashimoto backs into his corner and tags in Mutoh. Irish whip by Mutoh and he hits a back bodydrop. Mutoh applies the figure four leglock to Koshinaka before tagging in Hashimoto. Hashimoto and Mutoh snap back on Koshinaka's legs, Irish whip by Hashimoto and he hits a gutbuster. Tie-up, side headlock by Hashimoto and he tags in Chono. Stomps by Chono, Irish whip to Koshinaka and Chono delivers a spinebuster. Kick by Chono but Koshinaka comes back with a dropkick. Koshinaka tags in Fujinami, who pushes Chono back into his corner. Chono tags in Hashimoto, knees by Hashimoto but Fujinami punches him off. Punches by Fujinami, he picks up Hashimoto and delivers a slap. Backbreaker by Hashimoto and he throws Fujinami out of the ring. Mutoh throws Fujinami into the railing and goes for a backdrop suplex, but Fujinami blocks it. Mutoh and Fujinami roll back in the ring, scoop slam by Fujinami and he tags in Kimura. Kicks by Kimura and he hits a backdrop suplex. Kimura applies a single leg crab hold, but Mutoh gets out of it and tags in Chono. Chono and Kimura tie-up, Chono pushes Kimura into the corner, kicks by Chono and he stomps on Kimura on the mat. Kimura manages to tag in Koshinaka, suplex hold by Koshinaka but it gets a two count. Backbreaker by Koshinaka, cover, but Hashimoto breaks it up. Koshinaka tags in Fujinami, and they hit a double dropkick onto Chono. Irish whip by Fujinami and he hits another dropkick. Fujinami delivers the Dragon Backbreaker, cover, but it gets a two count. Scoop slam by Fujinami to Chono and he applies the Scorpion Deathlock. Hashimoto runs in the ring and all six brawl, with Kimura and Koshinaka assaulting Hashimoto outside the ring. In the ring, Koshinaka is getting the better of things as they all end up brawling outside the ring with Mutoh and Fujinami in the ring. In the ring the Musketeers isolate Fujinami and give him a triple dropkick. At some point in all this the match got tossed and as the vets get the better of things the match is ruled a No Contest.

Match Thoughts: The Three Musketeers unite! As far as I know this is the only match of the three teaming together to make TV, as by a few years after this Hashimoto and Mutoh were generally opposed, not on the same page. This really wasn't much of a match, it was in the middle of Mutoh's excursion to Puerto Rico and later the US so it was more a one off return for him before he left again. But it did assert that these three were the future of the promotion and one day would be forces to be reckoned with. Which turned out to be quite true. But for just this match, it was a seven minute-ish brawl with an inclusive ending to leave the crowd excited for the next time, which is a goal I think it accomplished. Score: 6.5


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