Opinions on Takeshi Morishima

['Sweet n' Sour' A. A. Estrada]

Both as a wrestler and as ROH World Champion.

As a wrestler, I think he's tremendously agile for his size. He can do catwheels into corner lariats, dropkicks off the turnbuckles, and bump really well for such a heavy individual.

I think his arsenal is missing a senton, but that's just me.

My only beef with him is that his move set seems ... well, very much like a 'move set'. Every match of his that I've seen has all the same spots - rolling hip press, cartwheel butt-butt, missile dropkick, scrapbuster, Bonzai drop, Backdrop Driver. While all wrestlers have their signature moves, the best mix it up so that it doesn't feel like you're watching the same match every time. However, Morishima seems to wrestle matches that last less than twenty minutes, so I suppose it's understandable that things feel compressed.

Also, I'd like to see him interact with the crowd a bit, or even with his opponents. Aside from roaring occasionally, he doesn't really seem to say much. Even with the language barrier, if he's playing a heel, he could stand to make a few rude hand gestures now and again.

Now, as ROH World Champion, I'm kind of mixed. On one hand, anyone who beats him at this point will look like a beast. On the other hand, he really needs a good opponent with some personality to make his matches seem special. He doesn't make his opponents look good like Danielson or Aries could.

Well, opinions?

As an aside, I have no problem with his appearance, which many people jokingly point to as his main failing (i.e. he 'looks like a fat girl'). He doesn't need a beard or tattoos or big muscles, or a scary face to be a tough, unstoppable heel. He just needs to beat people up.

[HMARK Center]

I love his stuff. Great psychology, uses his size pretty nicely, but manages to combine being a monster with being slightly vulnerable at the same time.

And I don't have problems with "move sets", really; hell, my favorite wrestler of all, Bret Hart, is often accused of "Five Moves of Doom" syndrome, so whatever. Point is, Morishima uses his arsenal well and in a timely manner most of the time.

[blackstussyshirt]

I think he is very small for a wrestler and if he was ever forced to wrestle anything but a stiff style he would fade from wrestling all together. He kind of also looks like a fat Korean girl I used to know. Also his moveset is horrid. He makes Cena look like Malenko.

['Sweet n' Sour' A. A. Estrada]

blackstussyshirt said:

I think he is very small for a wrestler and if he was ever forced to wrestle anything but a stiff style he would fade from wrestling all together. He kind of also looks like a fat Korean girl I used to know.

Very small?

He's huge!

[HMARK Center]

blackstussyshirt said:

I think he is very small for a wrestler and if he was ever forced to wrestle anything but a stiff style he would fade from wrestling all together. He kind of also looks like a fat Korean girl I used to know. Also his moveset is horrid. He makes Cena look like Malenko.

A) He's enormous.

B) He's not all that stiff, especially compared to many other puro wrestlers. Clubbing forearms, sure, but he gets by more on psychology and smarts.

[blackstussyshirt]

vanvader said:

blackstussyshirt said:

I think he is very small for a wrestler and if he was ever forced to wrestle anything but a stiff style he would fade from wrestling all together. He kind of also looks like a fat Korean girl I used to know.

Very small?

He's huge!

I know he supposedly weighs over 300lbs. but he just "looks" really small to me. I don't think he's 6'3 or whatever he is billed at...I don't know what it is but he looks small. Not Spike Dudley small but small.

[HMARK Center]

blackstussyshirt said:

vanvader said:

Very small?

He's huge!

I know he supposedly weighs over 300lbs. but he just "looks" really small to me. I don't think he's 6'3 or whatever he is billed at...I don't know what it is but he looks small. Not Spike Dudley small but small.

I've seen him live on multiple occasions.

He's enormous.

['Sweet n' Sour' A. A. Estrada]

blackstussyshirt said:

vanvader said:

Very small?

He's huge!

I know he supposedly weighs over 300lbs. but he just "looks" really small to me. I don't think he's 6'3 or whatever he is billed at...I don't know what it is but he looks small. Not Spike Dudley small but small.

Well, now that you mention it that way, I can kind of see what you're getting at. He doesn't radiate 'size' like some guys manage to do, like Nigel or even Claudio, for instance.

[thestinger]

Take my opinion with a grain of salt -- I've only seen Morishima lost to Samoa Joe during Joe's ROH "Farewell Tour."

He didn't impress me much. He did a dropkick off the top, and that's all he did that made me go 'wow.'

I'm not going to judge him on one match, though. I figure if he's this popular, his other matches must be good -- he was probably told to make Joe look like a god.

Also it's possible his 'moveset' requires an opponant who is much smaller than he is.

['Sweet n' Sour' A. A. Estrada]

thestinger said:

Take my opinion with a grain of salt -- I've only seen Morishima lost to Samoa Joe during Joe's ROH "Farewell Tour."

He didn't impress me much. He did a dropkick off the top, and that's all he did that made me go 'wow.'

I'm not going to judge him on one match, though. I figure if he's this popular, his other matches must be good -- he was probably told to make Joe look like a god.

Also it's possible his 'moveset' requires an opponant who is much smaller than he is.

You're in luck! A fellow poster uploaded no less than four 'Shima matches yesterday.

officialfan.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=wrestling&action=display&thread=1191181017

If you only watch one, I'd recommend either Danielson/Morishima or Claudio/Morishima.

[blackstussyshirt]

vanvader said:

blackstussyshirt said:

I know he supposedly weighs over 300lbs. but he just "looks" really small to me. I don't think he's 6'3 or whatever he is billed at...I don't know what it is but he looks small. Not Spike Dudley small but small.

Well, now that you mention it that way, I can kind of see what you're getting at. He doesn't radiate 'size' like some guys manage to do, like Nigel or even Claudio, for instance.

That is kind of what I'm talking about. You said it better than me. Thanks.

[Baixo Astral]

vanvader said:

blackstussyshirt said:

I know he supposedly weighs over 300lbs. but he just "looks" really small to me. I don't think he's 6'3 or whatever he is billed at...I don't know what it is but he looks small. Not Spike Dudley small but small.

Well, now that you mention it that way, I can kind of see what you're getting at. He doesn't radiate 'size' like some guys manage to do, like Nigel or even Claudio, for instance.

You're not radiating sense right now ;p

['Sweet n' Sour' A. A. Estrada]

blackstussyshirt said:

vanvader said:

Well, now that you mention it that way, I can kind of see what you're getting at. He doesn't radiate 'size' like some guys manage to do, like Nigel or even Claudio, for instance.

That is kind of what I'm talking about. You said it better than me. Thanks.

I think it comes down to the fact that Morishima is pretty wide, so his height isn't exaggerated as the leanrer, more muscular individuals in ROH.

I don't hold it against him, though. Seeing Brent Albright deadlift him into a German Suplex is pretty damn impressive.

[imnotbooked]

I think he's great for this point in his carerer, but he still a long ways away below from being the best big man worker, who in my mind is Bam Bam Biggelow. And he definately needs to interact with the crowd more. Hopefully him almost blindin' Dragon forces 'em to get into people's faces more...

[thestinger]

vanvader said:

You're in luck! A fellow poster uploaded no less than four 'Shima matches yesterday.

Nice. Thanks!

[Munkie91087]

I really like Morishima (if you couldn't tell from my sig) He is in my opinion the most impressive ge big man in wrestling today. For a person to be 6'3 300+ to be able to do some of the moves he does is amazing. Plus I really think he looks like he could legit kick your ass. I also like that he has almost a babyface appeal. I can't remember who said it on here, but Morishima looks like a big cuddily teddy bear...that can kick your ass whenever he wants to.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Excellent wrestler, good with selling, but can get a little too formulaic. Seriously, "don't superplex Morishima" should become the new "don't put Hogan in a sleeper hold."

['Sweet n' Sour' A. A. Estrada]

hardcorehick said:

Excellent wrestler, good with selling, but can get a little too formulaic. Seriously, "don't superplex Morishima" should become the new "don't put Hogan in a sleeper hold."

More like 'don't try to Sunset Flip Morishima!!!'

[Z-A Sandbaggin' Son of a b!%@h]

I really Like Morishima... and when he first won the title I hated it. I was pissed because he just won out of no where, and I really had no idea who he was... HOWEVER... in his time as champ i've grown to love his stuff. He is huge, i've seen him live a few times as well, and I think he uses his size well. As someone once said, he reminds me of Terry Gordy.

Plus, I love being ringside for his matches and someone will club him and he'll just Roar at them... to which I shout "RUN AWAY!!!!" which I tried to get over on 2 diferent shows but no one would pick up on... so I guess it's just mine haha. But yeah, 'Shima is a-ok in my book.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

vanvader said:

hardcorehick said:

Excellent wrestler, good with selling, but can get a little too formulaic. Seriously, "don't superplex Morishima" should become the new "don't put Hogan in a sleeper hold."

More like 'don't try to Sunset Flip Morishima!!!'

That's more akin to "don't charge Joe in the corner" and "don't powerbomb Rey Mysterio." Morishima taking a superplex almost always transitions directly into his victory...