Kenny Omega & Yukihiro Abe vs. Gota Ihashi & Kota Ibushi (DDT, 1/24/2010)

DDT -「January Special」(1/24/2010)

Kenny Omega & Yukihiro Abe vs. Gota Ihashi & Kota Ibushi

This was loads of fun. The Golden Lovers don't want to fight each other, which created some interesting moments. Of course, they eventually have to and it's awesome when they do. Abe was a standout in this match, it's a shame that he never went anywhere and ended up in Ganpuro. Also, Gota!

***3/4

Keisuke Ishii vs. Soma Takao (DDT, 11/28/2010)

DDT - God Bless DDT 2010 (11/28/2010)

Young Drama Cup 2010 - Finals: Keisuke Ishii vs. Soma Takao

The crowd could not give less of a shit about these two, the reaction is not unlike the match they had at AJPW's ryogoku in 2016. Solid young lion battle, there's a couple of good, stiff hits. Soma unfortunately has not grown a lot, his performance still lacks to this day, while Ishii has improved tremendously.

**1/2

Daisuke Sekimoto vs. HARASHIMA (DDT, 7/25/2010)

DDT - Ryogoku Peter Pan 2010 ~ Summer Vacation (7/25/2010)

KO-D Openweight Championship: Daisuke Sekimoto (c) vs. HARASHIMA

Great match. It was an intense and competitive championship bout, where HARASHIMA shows off a wide range of facial expressions. The finishing run probably went overkill with headbutt trading and HARASHIMA kicking out of a CROSS-ARM GERMAN SUPLEX, but I was totally into it.

****

Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Masa Takanashi (DDT, 4/4/2010)

DDT (4/4/2010)

KO-D Openweight Championship: Daisuke Sekimoto (c) vs. Masa Takanashi

This was a star-making performance for Masa Takanashi at the time, critically acclaimed by Japanese smarks. I don't rate it quite as high as I did when I first watched it, but I still found enjoyment in it. The underdog performance from Masa was spectacular -- DDT is the best when it comes to unproven talent stepping their game up and delivering when they're given an opportunity.

***1/2

Golden☆Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi) (DDT, 11/14/2010)

DDT - Osaka Bay Blues Special (11/14/2010)

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Golden☆Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) (c) vs. Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi)

This was basically a mini version of their New Japan matches. It's a fast-paced sprint that lasts for just 9-minutes. The action was smooth (save for Taguchi's early fuck-up) and the crowd was really hot.

***1/4

HARASHIMA vs. Daisuke Sasaki (DDT, 8/29/2010)

DDT - Memories of Summer Vacation 2010 (8/29/2010)

KO-D Openweight Championship: HARASHIMA (c) vs. Daisuke Sasaki

This was Sasaki first ever KO-D Openweight Title shot so he was fighting hard, but I didn't find his underdog performance compelling -- there was no emotional depth here. Just a solid match between two wrestlers.

***

Kenny Omega vs. Naomichi Marufuji (DDT, 7/25/2010)

DDT - Ryogoku Peter Pan 2010 Summer Vacation (7/25/2010)

Kenny Omega vs. Naomichi Marufuji 

Ibushi introduces Omega. How cute. Marufuji fucks up his shoulder when Omega hurls him knee-first into the turnbuckle, and he's not happy. He goes through with the spots, and there are massive spots here (avalanche Croyt's Wraith!!!), but he is upset about his shoulder and doesn't show any emotion. In the finish, Marufuji does a one-armed Emerald Flowsion where he just tosses Omega on top of his head. They show mutual respect after the match, so all is well, I think.

****

Kenny Omega vs. Yoshihiko (DDT, 5/5/2010)

DDT (5/5/2010)

Kenny Omega vs. Yoshihiko 

Yoshihiko was a wonderful underdog here, getting wrecked by violent brainbusters and having their face punted off. Kenny hits this running powerbomb that bounces Yoshihiko's head off of the canvas, and I was honestly stunned the match continued after that. The finishing stretch is wild; they go overkill with high spots and it's glorious superman wrestling.

****

HARASHIMA vs. Hikaru Sato (DDT, 11/14/2010)

DDT - Osaka Bay Blues Special (11/14/2010)

KO-D Openweight Championship: HARASHIMA (c) vs. Hikaru Sato

The dueling limbwork with HARASHIMA working the leg and Sato targeting the arm was sold brilliantly, and the slap exchanges were some of the best I have ever seen. HARASHIMA gives Sato a horrible beating, and Sato more than earns his comeback. There were also cruel shoot-style moments that gave the match a sense of danger. What an epic battle!

*****