Yuji Nagata vs Scott Norton | September 23, 1998 NJPW Yokohama Arena
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00:00Hello wrestling fans it is a blast from the past my name is Walker Stewart
00:04alongside Chris Charlton and we're taking a nice flashback in the mood to
00:08the new Japan Pro Wrestling Archive G1 Climax 1998 September 23rd
00:15Yokohama Arena and what we have right here celebrating some of the great
00:22matches of Yuji Nagata as we are here today. Yuji Nagata making his first challenge to the IWGP
00:28Heavyweight Championship which is at the moment in a state of flux Walker. Completely vacant
00:34nobody is the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and this match actually was made official just two days ago
00:42that's the chaotic situation we're in here. Masahiro Chono had finally won his first IWGP
00:50Championship back on August the 8th and was actually part of a tag team tournament they
00:55were crowning number one contenders to the WCW Tag Team Championships and Chono and Tenzan having
01:01to withdraw from that tournament just a legacy of neck injuries piling up and Masahiro Chono
01:08nominated Scott Norton fellow NWO member into this one so he got a free pass. Yuji Nagata has only
01:14just returned from excursion from WCW but pinned Sabine Kazuya Yamazaki two days ago
01:23got on the mic and said I want to be Scott Norton's opponent.
01:31We're going to hear from the great Kero Tanaka or first Seiji Sakaguchi
01:42reading the official proclamation for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship look at the
01:48handsome Seiji Sakaguchi. I'm loving it. He still shows up we see him in the office every now and then. Yeah you're right.
01:58So surrounding ringside in the corner of Scott Norton members of the NWO. Indeed who can you
02:04see there Walker? I think I can see someone with the stuff I think that's Buff with the stuff over
02:11in the corner of Scott Norton. You're dang right it is.
02:28A loaded corner there my goodness Tenzan, Saito, Muto.
02:35Yuji Nagata cutting a much more lonely figure.
02:49We're going to get underway here you know I'm sure Scott Norton felt that he was
02:54doing some assaults thought he would have a very easy ride over here. Yuji Nagata actually
02:58wrestled Scott Norton while he was on excursion just a few months ago on WCW Nitro and Norton
03:04powered through Nagata in one minute and 49 seconds. That was back in Kansas City May 1998
03:10and you know that Yuji Nagata has not forgotten that matchup. As the bell sounds we're officially
03:15underway at this point in time Scott Norton 37 years old Yuji Nagata brisk 30 years old
03:21and you talked about Nagata coming back from his excursion Monday Nitro a
03:25litany of success in singles competition maybe more so on the undercard or on house show
03:30developments. Yeah well he came close he wrestled Booker T over the TV title and well he wrestled
03:38Bill Goldberg I would say he came nearer Booker T than Bill Goldberg over the US championship
03:45but you know I mean a long and lengthy excursion around about 18 months Yuji Nagata spent over in
03:51WCW as well as Manabe Nakanishi who was there at the time too. Oh big old chops there. Previous
03:59champion Masahiro Chono you know was watching out on this pick Scott Norton to compete in
04:04his place here tonight the IWGP heavyweight title of progress. Big spinning nose kick there.
04:19Indeed you know Scott Norton is uh someone who is hungry for his own first IWGP heavyweight
04:27championship here battled Shinya Hashimoto a couple of fantastic challenges for that heavyweight
04:34championship came short. At this point in time Scott Norton two-time IWGP tag team champion
04:42the Jurassic Powers. The Jurassic Powers yes. Yeah Tony Haume as well. The great Tony Haume.
04:50And Yuji Nagata working away when they are on. He wants to work towards a submission.
05:03Scott Norton having absolutely none of it. It's all about the power game for Scott Norton at this
05:07time. All about technique for Yuji Nagata and that's where Nagata credits some of his submission
05:13expertise is having to work from underneath gets the big boys from WCW. Big Samoan drop
05:19there from Scott Norton takes full control on Yuji Nagata. Can you talk to me a little bit about
05:23the you know the upbringing we're celebrating you know the 40th wrestling anniversary for
05:27Yuji Nagata coming up on October 6th in Togane Arena. Yeah indeed so of course the the legacy
05:34that Yuji Nagata has at this point was a young lion cup winner earlier in the uh earlier in the
05:4190s and then a key figure I think in you're part of the younger generation that was fighting for
05:48New Japan against UWFI a few years back. So I think Nagata feels a pride for New Japan Pro Wrestling
05:56especially in the face of the NWO which is kind of a rough shot really. NWO Japan has been a sensation
06:04but at the same time been allowed to do whatever they want to do over the last couple of years.
06:08He strikes the side of the skull Scott Norton meets back with heavy fists of his own.
06:22Could be anything from Scott Norton that puts this match away Chris. It could be I think like
06:27we want a big old powerbomb to Yuji Nagata who's trying to uncork some of those kicks on the big
06:36huge off the chest there and look at that takedown from Yuji Nagata
06:40and right in the cross arm breaker.
06:48Yuji Nagata adding his name to that list of guys like Yoda Tsuji, guys like perhaps
06:57Kazuki Okada back in the day of getting themselves into a championship
07:01opportunity the richest prize very very soon after coming back from excursion.
07:06Scott Norton trying to use his incredible power to lace his fingers stop that arm going straight
07:14of course Scott Norton's arms you're probably his strongest suit.
07:20If you ever seen over the top I know you have. Of course.
07:24Scott Flash Norton of course got that nickname when he was on the more on the fan favorite side
07:31of the fence because of his championship caliber arm wrestling ability. That's what over the top
07:39was why did you say? I'm aware I'm aware. My goodness Philip Stein unknowing over the top.
07:53Yuji Nagata really working that ground game right now Chris. He's got short arm scissors on
07:59there right now and I think that the fans here in Yokohama arena put into
08:07a difficult predicament. I think they understand Yuji Nagata an extreme
08:11underdog in this situation.
08:19Correct in saying the first IWGP heavyweight title challenge for Yuji Nagata.
08:23Yes you're correct there. Only 30 years of age.
08:29Whoa huge chop takes down Yuji Nagata that was a stiff one from Scott Norton there.
08:34Hey you almost heard Scott Norton I think earlier in the corner saying to Yuji Nagata come on fight
08:39back if you think you can and not much relatively speaking and I think Scott Norton almost toying
08:48with Yuji Nagata at this stage. These repeated lariats are going to do one thing weaken down
08:54Yuji Nagata and if Scott Norton can find that powerbomb anytime soon this match is well and done.
09:10Scott Norton or Yuji Nagata rather flashing back we're here in Yokohama arena
09:14a key meeting for Yuji Nagata in Yokohama about a decade or just over before this Nagata now
09:24firing up. Well Yuji Nagata's whole wrestling career was shaped when he met Minoru Suzuki
09:31on the amateur mats. Oh yeah simple but effective. Even you can see Kensuke Sasaki in the background
09:42Wow trying to have a word with the referee and getting rebuked by Scott Norton. Here we go yep
09:50Scott Norton wants it for the IWGP heavyweight championship here tonight.
09:57Shoulder breaker and that's a flashback right there for Scott Norton.
10:06He said that this one could end at an instant didn't think Norton would take the ground game
10:10here tonight but you see him doing so here tonight Chris. I think he's he's young boy Yuji Nagata here
10:17and I think trying to force this submission maybe a little bit receipt as well for the work
10:23Nagata was putting in on the front end Togo Hattori shoving Scott Norton away here.
10:31You see the difference the effects of Yuji Nagata working away across armbar
10:37for so so long. It's a man at the size of Scott Norton. Norton able to put a hold in for just a
10:44few seconds and Nagata incapacitated on the floor. Maybe not spot the young lion but spot the
10:52corner people at least here Walker Stewart. I see Manabu Nakanishi.
10:5713, 14, 15, 16, 17.
11:06Count of 17 and we're bringing this one back inside the ring Scott Norton
11:10powerbomb position could we see it or that shoulder breaker one more time.
11:16One more time and wants to bring it down here and not going to be able to separate those hands of
11:23Yuji Nagata Chris. I mean Nagata having to dig down very very deep indeed.
11:36Of course an amateur wrestling great was Yuji Nagata even before he got into the business his
11:42brother would become an Olympian. Certainly if the timing had been different Nagata would have
11:47been an Olympian as well but still someone I would say out of Yuji Nagata's weight class.
12:09Scott Norton's not letting this old go whatsoever. Just absolutely torturing.
12:13And Saiga Hizori trying to do everything he can to separate this one and he finally does.
12:18Drawing the the ire of the Tokyo Dome crowd or the Yokohama arena crowd there rather.
12:29Of course whoever would win the championship here tonight would be in
12:34very very good shape going into January the 4th 1999.
12:38That's a controversial date in a lot of wrestling fans minds.
12:48Pressure put on Scott Norton chosen by Masahiro Chono the former
12:52champion big scoop power slam and whoa look at this Yuji Nagata caught him.
12:58Underneath there got that arm triangle in.
13:01And this time not not toying with Yuji Nagata going to ground here.
13:14Yeah Scott Norton might be fading here the IWGP heavyweight championship on the line.
13:24I don't see any foreseeable way of Scott Norton making his way out of this one Chris.
13:28You see this that head's turning a bright shade of red right now.
13:37This is getting dangerous Yuji Nagata may become IWGP heavyweight champion
13:41for the first time in his career tonight.
13:43You can see the hansai side starting to feel it over in the opposite corner.
13:48Yokohama arena starting to feel it.
13:51Scott Norton trying to reverse the pressure here.
13:54Put his feet from underneath him now he's gotten free.
14:01Insecure from Yuji Nagata.
14:03And a second that classic offense.
14:09Double lariats take down Yuji Nagata.
14:14Here we go Norton's going for the end throwing him up and toss him down.
14:19It's a powerbomb from Scott Norton.
14:24And we have a new IWGP heavyweight champion.
14:28And folks if you like that you are going to love so much more archive action.
14:32Check out njpworld.com the archives for more Yuji Nagata classics.