Quoted By:
The match between Keiji Muto and Nobuhiko Takada on October 9, 1995 at the Tokyo Dome is often cited as an all-time best match by Japanese wrestling fans and media alike, but it received only a "***1/2" rating from the Wrestling Observer and currently sits at "6.80 (14 votes)" on CAGEMATCH.
>"Looking back on my career so far, the most memorable match was against Nobuhiko Takada, that match raised my status a lot, and that match is what makes me who I am today. I think the match against Takada was the match that had the biggest impact on the professional wrestling world in the 30 years of the Heisei era." - Keiji Muto
If Dave Meltzer had used his platform to properly educate his readers on the theory of "strong style", it is possible that more overseas fans would appreciate the slower, more technical approach to match-building that is characteristic of New Japan.
(Although Keiji Muto rejected "inoki-ism", he had a background in judo and his matches were generally built from ground wrestling which is a New Japan/strong style tradition)
Furthermore, it is possible that a better understanding of New Japan's style could have led to a greater appreciation of Keiji Muto's matches and performances, which are often criticized by discerning overseas fans for being too slow or "lazy".
A deeper understanding of New Japan's style and philosophy could also help fans appreciate the artistry and skill involved in building a match slowly and carefully, rather than only appreciating fast-paced action and high-impact moves.
