Shigehiro Irie’s recent trip to Europe led to some appearances in the UK – and we’re going to take a look at his main event against Dan Moloney this time around.
We’ve not spoken much of MDRN NMD on this site – the spiritual successor to the old Schadenfreude and Friends shows, but, unlike the old Schadengraps shows that turned their lack of a VOD into a meme (for the most part), they’re actually posting their shows online.
Their latest card came from the Bread Shed in Manchester, featuring the likes of Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi, Aussie Open and a couple of ex-NXT UK names.
Shigehiro Irie vs. Dan Moloney
Entrances for the main event start 1h 33m into the VOD… and it’s a rare chance in Europe to hear Shigehiro Irie’s “proper” music, while Dan Moloney came out to Gangsta’s Paradise following the passing of Coolio earlier that day.
This one gets going with the big lads lock-up as Irie’s backed into the corner… a side headlock out of the corner from Irie’s pushed off, but his shoulder tackle sent Moloney back into the ropes, before one in return sent Irie backwards. A thrust kick has Irie stunned, but he’s quickly back to slam Moloney by the ropes ahead of the slingshot splash for a two-count.
Irie followed that up with a sit-out splash for another two-count, but Moloney powered up to shove Irie off of him. Moloney’s back with a leapfrog and a dropkick off the ropes for a two-count, before he began to sting Irie with chops… and of course, Irie wanted more. So he got one, after a snapmare and a kick to the back, that is. A PK from Moloney keeps Irie down, before Irie lifted Moloney onto the apron… then sat him down for the crossbody through the ropes (and Moloney) to the outside.
Rolling Moloney back inside, Irie tees up for a cannonball into the corner, which found its mark for a near-fall. An enziguiri from Moloney prevents a Beast Bomber attempt, as Irie’s taken into the corner, then thrown down to the mat for a two-count as the locker room began to head out to watch from ringside. Irie tries to come back in with another cannonball, before he powered up out of a Drilla to hit a Last Ride-style powerbomb. Bloody hell, Irie…
The pair get to their knees to trade forearms, with Moloney popping up to throw some more… but Irie knocks him back into the corner as the back-and-forth continued. Dan’s knocked to his knees with a chop, so Irie tees up for a Beast Bomber, and got stopped in the ropes again, before Moloney hit a stomp to break up a sunset flip attempt.
Thunderous clotheslines follow as Irie knocked Moloney into the ropes for a cannonball to the back, before one more crack at the Beast Bomber finally connected… but Moloney was able to kick out by the ropes. Another clothesline from Irie’s ducked as Moloney fired back with a spear, before a Drilla forced a near-fall. A second Drilla’s teased, but instead Moloney pulled Irie into a piledriver before the second Drilla put Irie away.
Result: Dan Moloney pinned Shigehiro Irie in 11:56 (****)
Just under 12 minutes long, this was a cracking sprint of a match, with an atmosphere more reminiscent of what the British scene used to offer on a regular basis… and a match that makes me sad that Shigehiro Irie isn’t touring the UK and Europe as often as he used to (save for the last few wXw festivals!)