Superstar Sleeze

I liked the Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge stuff the best here. Cactus' straight edge promo was really good, but he had done so many incredible promos in 1995 this seemed more in the good category. Rock & Grunge was pretty funny. The best part is Rocco doesnt want beat up Mikey for the World Title. Then him and Johnny realize all three belts is a lot of gold, hos, and dough, the assonance cracked me up. "You hold him, Ill hit him. I never liked him that much anyways" - Rocco Rock popped me pretty big.

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 57: Best of All Japan Pro Wrestling 1993-1994 vol. 1 I was first introduced to the existence of Japanese Pro Wrestling through the 1998 edition of PWI 500. Stone Cold and Goldberg topped the list as 9-year old Martin expected, but who is this "Mitsuharu Misawa" that is third? I was immediately intrigued at this idea that pro wrestling existed outside of America. In the PWI Almanac 1997, I learned more about All Japan and New Japan Pro Wrestling, the wrestlers, titles and matches. I found websites like ProWrestlingHistory.com and Great Hisa's Wrestling-Titles.com (both of which are still in existence today) and I learned all I could about the vaunted All Japan Pro Wrestling. In my learning, I found out that All Japan in the 90s was praised as the greatest pro wrestling that has ever existed. I had no clue as a child how the hell to go about procuring a tape of wrestling from Japan and I was not about to ask my Dad either. So I was content reading reviews about the Misawa/Kawada rivalry or Kobashi's legendary matches with Stan Hansen and dreaming in my head of what it must be like. Then it happened, the greatest thing ever: Youtube unlocking the floodgates of Japanese Pro Wrestling goodness. I was watching 6/3/94 and 6/9/95 without any primary source context but in complete child-like wonderment of these gods among men. By college, I started to flesh out my understanding of the vaunted 90s All Japan catalog, which widely remains what most wrestling fans consider the greatest wrestling of all time. I sat down watched 37 matches from 1993-1994, the heart of era, and it was such a moving experience and unlike previous viewings I think I was finally ready to truly appreciate the greatness of the storytelling and character work by the major wrestlers of All Japan Pro Wrestling: Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, Akira Taue, Stan Hansen and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, domo arigato. All Japan ICHIBAN~! https://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2020/05/pro-wrestling-love-vol-57-best-of-all.html

Rey Misterio Jr vs Juventud Guerrera - ECW Big Apple Blizzard 2/3/96 The last of the "classic" ECW Workrate matches that I have yet to see. The bar is pretty high as I often compare these to Rey vs Psicosis. I thought the Big Ass Extreme Bash match is a big improvement on this. This is very spot-heavy with weak transitions. They try to bring the hate with the Middle Fingers, Spitting and Slapping, they do the famous upside down slap exchange. Still I dont feel the hate as much as the aestheticism, which is not a problem per se as their execution is flawless and breath-taking. I liked how each sequence was really punctuated by a big Rey spot like the Rana off the apron or the Top Rope Slingshot Somersault Splash. Juventud did hit the most insane spot. He deadlifts Rey into a Military Press holds it, drops him back down, catches and hits a bridging fallaway slam...little dude is fucking strong! Holy shit! Rey just came up chopping and basically said my turn. Thats an example of a shitty transition. Juvy goes for Splash Mountain and Rey counters with the Rana for the win. They sure did love that spot! Has anyone ever hit Splash Mountain ever? After the match Taz and Fonzie gloat about roughing up 911 and Rey who guess is buds with 911 defends his honor. Rey lasts longer than I expect with Taz. I just do not like Taz as a wrestler. There is nothing organic about how he bumps or feeds. Finally he makes Rey go splat. Check out the Big Ass Extreme Bash. This is fine just to see some cool spots...that Juvy strength spot is worth it. ***1/2

Terry Funk vs Tommy Rich - ECW 2/1/97 I am pretty sure I have seen this before as this is a pretty famous match both because it is great and because it is TERRY FUNK VS TOMMY RICH in ECW of all places! Funk was in the last Showdown in the OK Corral phase of his ECW career to make a big push for him winning the Title at Barely Legal one last time. Tommy Rich was actually getting a bit of a push at the start of his ECW career before settling in as a comedy role in the Full-Blooded Italians. Rich was in full heat-seeking mode. He goes out into the crowd to jaw with the fans and Funk gives chase and decks him right in the crowd drawing blood. There's no confusion what this match was going to be. It was a Southern-fried, bloody brawl between two old men. I liked that because they were so old, they didnt bump a lot. It gave more of a barroom brawl feel. Funk works the leg, but the best part is he sits down in a chair and lectures Rich while giving him a shellacking. The transition to Rich's heat segment could have been better. He just started punching Funk and brawling on the outside to bust him open. It was DDTs galore as Rich DDT Funk and the ref twice. Rich works the leg with a chair to set up the Spinning Toe Hold, Funk's own move! How dastardly! Funk makes his comeback, knees him in the balls and makes him submit to the Spinning Toe Hold. Simple, violent pro wrestling. This will always get over. ***1/2

In fairness, he did create the "Fuck The World" title. So it was pretty on brand for Taz. Fun fact: I thought the acronym FTW (For The Win) which was popular in the Mid-00s stood for Fuck The World because of Taz and I was confused for a good couple months.

Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Steve Williams & Johnny Ace - AJPW RWTL 12/10/94 Between this and the July match, I don't know guys, I am starting to think Johnny Ace is pretty damn good at this wrestling thing. I was coming in expecting him to be Brutus Beefcake but he can keep up with the workrate and on top of that adds some nice American heel touches. The crowd doesnt bite but if he was in the South this would have killed. The Scorpion Deathlock, Kobashi comes to break it up, Higuchi sends him out so Doc kicks Misawa in the head while he is in the Deathlock is the most Southern thing I have ever seen in a Japanese ring. On top of that, we get Ace laying in shots while Misawa is stradling the ropes, we get a double team on the outside, Ace is the first to knock Kobashi off the apron then Doc follows suit and we get Ace setting up a Tree of Woe so he can go outside the ring and choke Misawa. It is top notch heel stuff. Like I said he can definitely keep up with the workrate and stiffness (at least in his chops) so definitely a worthy addition to these main event matches. Early on, they were really trying to push Doc/Misawa as a hot feud. Slapping the shit out of each other. They end up pulling each other's hair. They let Kobashi in for a minute and then it is Misawa vs Ace which seems like the biggest mismatch on paper but Ace gets a boot up and next thing you know we get like a 12 minute Misawa face in peril. I covered most of the heel shit they did to Misawa. Doc got some nice nearfalls on him with a Spinebuster and a top rope shoulder tackle. They were working holds and cheating for the most part. It was very Southern and very appreciated. Kobashi is great on apron. Kobashi is the most suited for American style wrestling because he is the most emotional. So he won't take any shit lying down and keeps coming over to protect Misawa even if it ends up hurting Misawa. He is very active and I like that. I feel like Kobashi was an easy sell on Doc/Ace calling an American style match even if the Japanese crowd is not reacting as strongly to this. JOHNNY ACE STOLE KOBASHI'S MOONSAULT SPOT COMPLETE WITH FIST PUMP!!! ALL THE STARS! LET THE SNOWFLAKES FALL! IT'S A BLIZZARD! I have long thought the Kobashi fist-pump->moonsault is the ultimate in babyface spots. I never thought someone should steal it for heel heat because that's just not how Japan works, BUT Ace doing that was so fucking awesome! I popped huge and was pissed at the same time. It was so perfect. He does connect (it is a damn good moonsault, not a sidesault), Kobashi kicks out. Amazing sequence! It is official Johnny Ace is my new favorite wrestler. There is a great sequence prior to this when Misawa fights out of being double team with WICKED Elbows! He was just nailing people. In the fracas, he grabs Ace into a Tiger Driver, Doc bowls him over. Kobashi comes in does his business, as he turns his back to go to his corner, Doc just SPLASH him with all his body weight and then chucks him with a WICKED GERMAN! WOW! Great stuff. Then Ace/Doc do a Double Team Back Drop Driver! Misawa is fucking insane. These Back Drop Drivers he is taking are disgusting. We all know what happens so it is hard to watch. Misawa does kick out. Kobashi shows us shades of 6/9/95 then way he desperately tries to save Misawa from the Oklahoma Stampede and the Second Back Drop Driver by grabbing Dr. Death's leg. I lap that stuff up with a spoon. After what I think was 20 minutes, Misawa finally tags out to Kobashi. I love that Kobashi's first thing is to measure Doc up for a HELLACIOUS LARIAT! The Lariat is approaching Burning. Then he immediately goes for the Moonsault. Fucking smart to start throwing bombs and red hot. Doc is not beat up enough to stay down and he bullies Kobashi in the corner. He tags out to Ace. ACE CRUSHER~! How do I know the move name because Ace is a Hip Hop OG and shouts out the name at the top of his lungs! Which is great marketing! This is when Ace does the Kobashi moonsault steal. Rocker Dropper and a DoctorBomb by Ace. Lost Super Worker of the 90s, Johnny Fucking Ace! Misawa saves. Kobashi hits his moonsault and Johnny Ace kicks out because he is a stud. Ace has kicked out of the Tiger Driver in July and the Moonsault now. Kobashi tags out. I smell Misawa smoking Ace en route to win. Ace teases Ace Crusher on Misawa after Doc interferes. Kobashi looks like he really rings Doc's bell with a Spinning Back Chop. The fans bite hard on Misawa German nearfall, Frogsplash + Tiger Driver win it for the good guys! I was thinking I liked the July match a little more because it was more upbeat and then the Moonsault spot happened. I will give a nod to this match, but both matches are awesome and underrated. The July is more the standard great All Japan workrate tag. This one has more Southern elements, Kobashi desperately trying to save Misawa showing shades of 6/9/95, wicked hot finish stretch especially the Ace moonsault and the final hurrah! Dont sleep on this! ****1/2

Triple Crown Champion Steve Williams vs Toshiaki Kawada - AJPW 10/22/94 Much to my surprise, I have seen this before! I have zero recollection of that. Not to my surprise, I pretty much agree with what I wrote back in 2012. I liked this match more than most people and I thought it was a good change of pace from the usual Triple Crown Budokan King's Road main event style. I appreciated the opening 5 minutes of chain wrestlers. Lots of good takedowns. Kawada gets a good kick square in the knee early. They keep wrestling, I feel like Kawada is showing up the Champ a little which makes sense as Kawada is the native babyface. Dropkick to the knee sends us into the next phase. Doc sells the knee really well on the powder. Tells the ref to get the challenger back as he re-enters but Kawada pounces. Great knee work by Kawada here, punishing. Again great selling on the outside by Doc taking off the knee pad and inspecting his knee. I will echo my comments from 2012 that Dr. Death's Dangerous Back Drop Driver is so well-booked. He is able to counter a Facelock by getting to his feet and then teasing the Back Drop Driver which whips the crowd into a frenzy. This freaks Kawada out and makes him make a mistake. Nothing has changed since 2012, I am still a mark for a mean drop toehold and Doc has a beauty here. He starts working the knee. This turns into the classic All Japan Surfboard spot which has been absent from recent matches. Amazing test of strength. Kawada does a great job vocally selling. Doc ends up winning and throwing Kawada with a Tiger Suplex. Great sell by Kawada who acts like he is going to no-sell only for it to take effect and drops out of the ring. First big bomb goes to Doc. I enjoyed the first 15 minutes. Lets see how the match progresses but this has been a good change of pace thus far. Doc works a great heat segment here very explosive. That Military Press Onto The Top Rope! BATSHIT INSANE! He fucking Javelin Threw Kawada! It was scary. Loved the rushing behind an Irish Whip Clothesline in Corner ala the Hulkster and then his version of the Stinger Splash. On the Brainbuster his knee gives out a little. We get a Dr. Death Back Drop Driver, this causes the scramble and in the chaos...BANG! Spinning Heel Kick! Kawada's trademark transition. Now from there, we do get a really stand up fight, lots of intensity and stiffness. I really like how Doc sells his own dropkicks. You can see he is in a lot of pain from his knee and he guts through it to hit the dropkick.I dont need someone to necessarily sell the knee the whole time pain ebbs and flows, but it was clear after Brainbuster something was up and I am glad he started to sell it on his own moves. He goes for Oklahoma Stampede hits both ring posts, but his knee gives out before he finish the execution. Great stuff! Kawada dropkicks him out. Doc tries to come back in with a Flying Shoulder Tackle, Kawada hits a Jumping High Kick. Better in theory than execution. Kawada TRUCKS him with a Lariat and draws blood (more likely from the previous kick). Kawada hits his own Dangerous Back Drop Driver but it is not quite as Dangerous as Dr. Death's. Only gets two. Lots of Stretch Plumming going on. There is a great moment when Kawda goes for his second Back Drop Driver, Dr. Death breaks free and tries running by starts hobbling and Kawada catches him in a sleeper. Kawada ever the cheating prick turns this into a choke twice. I liked that touch of heel vs heel. Kawada cant get him up for the Powerbomb yet. Dr. Death powers up and throws him down with a vicious double leg takedown. Tiger Suplex! Great sell by Kawada ass in the air! Doc snatches him into the Doctoromb for the first really hot nearfall. My big complaint thus far is that there has been a lot of inconsequential punching by both men, moreso Dr. Death. Closed fists are illegal and when used sparingly can draw a big reaction and be meaningful turning points. They were throwing them out like candy. Much like the Doc/Kobashi '94 criticism of this being long, I think is overstated. This has been moving throughout and is entertaining. Dr. Death hits a quick, snap Dangerous Back Drop Driver. I liked how he hit it through Kawada's struggle and defense. Made it feel sudden and earned. Kawada had an amazing sell of this. On the outside, Kawada countered a Dangerous Back Drop Driver on the floor by pushing off the railing so they both took a nasty bump against the railing with the back of their heads. Doc did hit a wicked snap powerslam as his last nearfall. Kawada threw a couple kicks from his back to Williams' head. Then stood up and bowed up. Crowd reacted big. It felt like it was Kawada's turn. I wish there was a better transition. KAPPO KICK~! (Great callback to the Carny Finals) He smoked with his heel to the temple. Kawada looked poised for victory of course this being All Japan it takes a bit longer than necessary but he gets there. The Powebomb almost ends up being a Ganso Bomb. There is a great moment when Doc is mounting a comeback and Kawada is holding onto the rope for dear life. He lets go with his right and turns it into a THUNDEROUS Back Fist to the face. I loved Doc showing some Fighting Spirit until the end...blocking the Jumping High Kick and blocking the Kappo Kick, but finally Kawada broke through nailing a Jumping High Kick, Axe Bomber and a Jumping High Kick under the chin to win his first Triple Crown! I wish that Thunderous Back Fist to the face was the transition to a Kappo Kick and the final Kick barrage to win the match but beggars cant be choosers. Lots of great stuff here. Transitions could have been tighter and the action more efficient but there are more hits than misses. Dr. Death has the decided power advantage. Kawada negates that with the attack on the knee. Doc overcomes because he is a freak superhuman and unleashes some really badass offense. When it comes times, Kawada just goes back to the basics and what brought him to the dance kicking people's heads off. Underrated match. ****

Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Holy Demon Army - AJPW 11/25/94 Couldnt find the complete version so just watching the JIP pro shot version (sounds like I am missing about 8 minutes) doesnt sound like I am missing much. The match has definitely been the Four Corners in First Gear, but their first gear is better than most in overdrive. Structurally this is similar to most Four Corners matches. Lots of Holy Demon Army working on top in short face in peril segments where hot tags are very short lead to another face in peril segment. I thought two things stand out. There are some new moves you dont see too often (Taue headutts, top rope elbow drop and tope, Misawa double underhood suplex and Kawada's short-arm knife-edge chops in repeated succession) and the other is there is decided uptick in heat when Kawada gets in there with Misawa. Kawada is the Triple Crown Champion by virtue of beating Dr. Death in October but he has not gotten the monkey off his back of beating Misawa. So when he gets in there with Misawa, he is much more urgent and really bring his A-Game. Compared to when Kobashi is in there, he is much more willing to play with his food. In the fourth face in peril (second with Misawa), I liked how Misawa missed both his Spinning Clothesline and his Elbow, it was an interesting wrinkle. The latter almost resulted in the Nodowa/Back Drop Driver combo, but Kobashi saved. Taue took care of Kobashi with a suicide dive. Then they hit the Dangerous Nodowa/Back Drop Driver for two. I think that should have been a Kobashi save to protect the move but it is ok. Here comes Kobashi on the Strech Plum so Taue slaps him in the abdominal stretch. Kobashi breaks free and saves. Misawa crushes Taue with a back elbow and tags out to Kobashi. This would be great for any other four men but for these four, it is below average but there average is so high. Misawa/Kobashi get their first control segment on Taue and they rattle off some hot nearfalls. Kobashi gets a Jackknife Powerbomb that was extra hot because of a dangerously late kickout, then a stereo Misawa Frogsplash/Kobashi Plancha, Misawa Facelock and Misawa Tiger Driver. We got some Greatest Hits. On the Tiger Drive, Kawada gets his shit together and saves with a Jumping High Kick. He comes in all piss & vinegar against Misawa, but Misawa blocks his Jumping High Kick. Misawa-Rana out of the Powerbomb, a spot we have not seen a lot in 93 and 94 I feel it becomes very prevalent later. and Misawa & Kobashi play pinball with him. Kobashi almost takes him out with a moonsault for a hot nearfall. On the second attempt, Taue hits a Super NODOWA~! for a hot nearfall for Holy Demon Army. They hit a Powerbomb/Nodowa combo thats their final nearfall. Kobashi sits out on a second Taue powerbomb. Kawada and Misawa together at the end. Kawada pops off two WICKED Back Drop Drivers as time expires. It pales in comparison to the balls out nature of their other classics and also lacks the high drama of the others. Last ten minutes of this is still red-hot plus the Kawada/Misawa interactions are great and maybe the closest Kawada ever come to pinning Misawa. I still think that Powerbomb at 5/21 if Kobashi doesnt save ranks high but two Back Drop Drivers if that is a minute earlier does Misawa survive? These are questions for the next Misawa vs Kawada match. As a huge Kobashi fanboy, I cant believe I am going to say this but I thought Kobashi was a clear #4 in this match. He took a back seat to the other three which never happens due to his oversized personality. He kinda just coasted. I thought Taue gave a great henchman performance in this. Never seen this before and I enjoyed it. ****

I am not too surprised by my 2012 review, just watched the first 15 minutes of this and it flew by for me, but I can see other people finding this boring. Triple Crown Champion Steve WIlliams vs Kenta Kobashi - AJPW 9/3/94 Well they picked a helluva night to go long because it looks like it is a hot one in the Budokan is fanning themselves. Your mileage may vary but as someone who loves big, beefy power wrestling with a heaping side of macho posturing this is pretty damn great. Besides the cuteness of the Rolling Cradle, this match is made of Mighty, Mighty Man's Stuff. It has all the trappings of testosterone-addled, dumb jock wrestling: the staredowns, flexing through chops, a HUGE test of strength, the shouldertackles. It is all Manly Glory. Kobashi launches himself at Dr. Death and knocks Doc off his feet. DDT on the floor, legdrop on the railing and crossbody block to the floor. Doc comes back with a wicked Brainbuster and starts kicking ass on the outside. The first 15 minutes is very, very simple compared to the hyper-workrate culture of All Japan, but I think it delivers an engaging performance if you like the hoss, beefcake style. I really love how they are pacing this match. They are not just throwing out 40 minutes worth of highspots. They are really building. Doc works a strong heat segment built around his power. Great spinebuster. Look at his ridiculous power chucking Kobashi overhead on a Bearhug that was insane. He gets caught charging out of a three point stance with a Baba-Style Lariat. I love how Doc takes this bump he really kicks his feet out. Lots of great manliness here. Loved Kobashi potatoing Doc right back after Doc used a closed fist. Lots of head shots from Kobashi with DDT and loved the immediate Lariat response after Doc takes him over with an explosive armdrag. It is not quite Burning yet but Kobashi's lariat is progressing nicely. There are a lot of good spontaneous blocks and Doc is really making Kobashi earn his offense. Then Doc just EXPLODES out of the blocks with a lunging tackle. Kobashi tries to come right back and meet fire with fire and fucking Doc just upends him and sends him ass over tea kettle in an insane spot that I am not sure how Kobashi does not have a broken neck. THEN DOC JUST FUCKING THROWS KOBASHI OUT OF THE RING VIA MILITARY PRESS! BATSHIT INSANITY~! Doc just starts flying around and it is awesome. He wipes Kobashi out with an out of nowhere shouldertackle from the apron and then there was the TOP ROPE BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX! Kurt Angle eat your heart out. That just gave me a though imagine Barbarian in 90s All Japan. O my God, someone build a time machine pronto. SNATCH DOCTORBOMB~! 1-2-NO! Doc knows whats up! He wants the Back Drop Driver, big tease, then he goes for the Oklahoma Stampede and that gets blocked too. Kobashi hits an enziguiri and dropkick to the knee. Budokan pops huge! Doc did a great job his knee buckled convincingly and he really sold it. We get the first moonsault attempt, but Doc still has too much juice left. We are at the 30 minute mark and they plenty of gas left in the tank. I dont see them as going long just for the sake of going long. They are organically building a meathead's dream match. Kobashi really pours it on to secure the chance to hit the Moonsault. He really earns the Back Drop Driver but Doc is a load and it is more of a normal back suplex. Doc does take a wicked German suplex for two. MOONSAULT~! Only gets two. Doc moves out of the second one and Kobashi crashes and burns. I thought for sure they would transition to Doc since Kobashi got his big nearfall. Williams sidesteps the first dropkick, but the second dropkick finds its mark on the injured knee. Doc powders and is doing a great job writhing in pain. Kobashi keeps pressing, he cant negotiate the brainbuster, but he does hit a Jackknife Powerbomb. Then is a great moment when Doc is too far away for Kobashi's Top Rope Legdrop. Doc rolls over one body width and is in perfect position. Doc is the Real MVP! Then in what is the story of this match when you least expect it DOC EXPLODES~! This time Kobashi turns his back on Doc and he just lunges at him steamrolls him. Great spot. Doc hits his big splash in the corner and IMMEDIATELY pops off a wicked Belly 2 Belly that almost wipes out the ref. Crazy power. 1-2-NO! Backdrop Driver time. Kobashi fights back. Kobashi has been using the Spinning Back Chop throughout the match. Doc ducks and DAAAAAAANNNNGGGGGERRRRRROUSSSSSSS BACK DROP DRIVER! That was wicked! Obviously that should have been the finish, but it is not. The match only goes two minutes longer so I cant complain too much. Kobashi dropkicks the knee again and Doc sells it well, but it is too little, too late. Doc hits the DANGEROUS Back Drop Driver on the TURNBUCKLES! Death Wish Kobashi! Doc hobbles over to the disoriented, crawling Kobashi to hit one last Back Drop Driver to win. How do these two manly men cap off their glorious match? With what else but a big 'ol manly hug! I loved this! Could it have been shorter, yeah sure, but never did I feel they ran out of ideas or were they throwing out too much. The first 15 minutes is very rudimentary but it establishes the tone and narrative that this is a hoss fight. Doc was in such a zone offensively in 1994. He was popping off suplexes like it was nothing and coming with creative ways to shouldertackle. Kobashi was great at selling all this and firing up. They were both great at making one another earn it. The first nearfall wasnt until the DoctorBomb around the 25 minute mark and Kobashi's first moonsault attemtp was not until the 30 minute mark. It is like this was a 30 minute finish run. It was a 10-15 minute finish run which built really well and showed some innovation from Kobashi (Top Rope Legdrop, Spinning Back Chop) and his resiliency. I dont really feel they went long for the sake of going long, they had a story and the momentum to go this long. When people say "When Men were Men", they are referring to September 3, 1994 in Budokan Hall: when Dr. Death and Kenta Kobashi clashed! ****3/4

This was my first post?!? Weird, I could have sworn it was to defend the criminally criticized Brock Lesnar vs HHH -Summerslam 2012. Anyways, over 4000 posts and 7.5 years later lets watch this match again. All Japan Triple Crown Champion Mitusharu Misawa vs Steve Williams - AJPW 7/28/94 My sleeper pick for the best All Japan match of the 90s. Incidentally this match was the subject of my first post at PWO 7.5 years ago. How time flies! Also history does render certain things murky I thought for sure it was to defend the awesome Brock Lesnar vs Triple H match from Summerslam 2012, but nope it looks like this was the match inspired me to join PWO, which I am ever grateful for. Besides the my initial viewing of wrestling and WrestleMania XIX (which brought me back into the fold permanently), I dont think there was a more important moment in my pro wrestling fandom than finding and joining Pro Wrestling Only. Thank you Loss (Charles) & Goodhelmet (Will) for founding such a badass, invaluable website. What makes this match special in my opinion is how Dr. Death is able to combine speed, power & precision into one unique explosive package. I think what makes Williams different from Hansen is Hansen has a lot of energy, but he is not as quick to snatch someone. I think thats what it is that Doc is quick whereas Hansen is energetic. Also, Doc's amateur and athletic comes into play in how fluid, precise and coordinated his attacks are. The way he can gobble Misawa up and with one of pop of the hips turn that into a Spinebuster is crazy. I compared this to Kobashi/Hansen and how Kobashi approach was bullheaded offense. Whereas Misawa's approach was to try to contain the explosive Doc with the facelocks. I really liked the struggle within these holds. It would be easy for this portion of the match to become boring or listless, but it never does because they are always working within the hold. They are always flexing and struggling. You can see how much strain it puts on Misawa to restrain the explosiveness of Dr. Death. On the flips side, you can see Dr. Death work hard to throw off the shackles. You see that the first time Doc is able to make a dent in Misawa is when he bullies him into the turnbuckles hard and Misawa is left clutching the back. Doc hits a great dropkick back into the turnbuckles and then a bodyslam with a HUGE running elbow and then a Cowboy Kick. I think another thing this match does exceptionally well is how they set up Doc's offense so that he looks like an absolute monster. Twice Misawa goes for running/charging offense and twice it is converted into either a MASSIVE powerslam or spinebuter by Doc who snatches Misawa up and turns these into big time power offense. This works well with Misawa's preferred method of working which is underneath with a lot of hope spots that build to a grand finale. Now Misawa did get more offense in than just front facelocks in this front half. Anytime it did look like Doc was going to run away with the match, Misawa always had his trusty elbow. This is another thing that made Doc look like a monster was his ability to absorb these massive elbows and keep on tickin. Misawa hits his Elbow Suicida and the diving elbow from the top. In fact Misawa looks like he strung enough Elbows together to make short work of Dr. Death. However, Doc back drops out of the Tiger Driver. This is when that aforementioned Spinebuster took place. This is what makes Doc so lethal. That rare combination of size, strength, power and speed when you mix that into a concoction it becomes explosive. We are left at the 15 minutes with Dr. Death decidedly in control as he pops off a wicked belly to belly suplex. Then in a great moment that I cant believe I forgot, he does Oklahoma Stampede on the outside using the Steel Ring Post. Again working that back, so much happens in the next five minutes. Dr. Death works a heat segment that everyone wishes they could work. It is focused, varied and energetic. Focused on the back. Slamming Misawa into turnbuckles, trying for the Oklahoma Stampede, a massive powerslam, Boston Crab, a huge Stinger Splash in the corner, Backdrop Driver teases, Suicide Dive to the floor (yes Doc did that!), top rope shoulder tackle and an explosive DoctorBomb for a red hot nearfall. It was incredible and it feels so urgent. Misawa for his part was selling well but also really struggling. He was scrambling for the ropes on the Oklahoma Stampede and the Back Drop Driver. When Doc deadlift pressed him high over his shoulders, Misawa caught the ropes before Snake Eyes and turns around SMOKED Doc with an Elbow. It was just enough to stun Dr. Death, but he started to make in-roads. Here comes the Misawa Elbow combination only for Doc to resort to a four or five loopy right closed fists to put Misawa down. Really excellent burst of energy from both men in this 5 minutes. Dr. Death mimes the Back Drop Driver to the audience and there is a big reaction. Misawa hooks the leg and this trips Doc causing him to land hard on the back of his head and this knocks him loopy. Misawa is able to take advantage of this with his Trusty Elbow. Tiger Driver gets two. I think what makes this match work so well is because Misawa's reign was over 700 days old at this point so when you enter this portion of the match theres a certain rhythm to it. A comfort. That all will be well in the world and Misawa will reign victorious. It is the same rhythm Patriots fans feel when Tom Brady would drive down the field with two minutes left to win the game. So we get the Frogsplash 1-2-No, thats ok Senton, Frogsplash another 2 count. Everything is under control. It is time for another Tiger Driver. Doc deadweights. That's fine, Misawa will blow him away with a bunch of Elbows and we will get out of here. First elbow, Misawa winds up for the BIG ONE and Doc ducks under and in one fell swoop HOISTS MISAWA OVER FOR A DAAAAANNNNGGGGGEROUS BACK DROP DRIVER! You ever want to hear 16,000 people collectively lose their breath at once watch that spot. Brady threw an interception at the goal line and everyone is in shellshock. Misawa's sell is terrific. The way limply collapses to the outside. Now the game is only tied so Dr. Death has to complete the drive down his field on his own. As you would expect that first Back Drop Driver was not enough. Misawa had too much time to recover. It was the beginning of the end. Misawa got token elbows to give the fans some hope and half-countered the next Back Drop Driver, but when Doc hits the Oklahoma Stampede and then a final Back Drop Driver, the historic Misawa Triple Crown reign was over. The unlikely, burly Oklahoman had unseated the Ace! Steve Williams sure as hell picked a great time to have the match of his life. He was explosive throughout the match. He worked an excellent heat segment that was the perfect combination of focus, energy and variety. It built to a great climax with the Doctor Bomb and then Misawa's Back Drop Driver Block. It lulls you into a false sense of security. Thats what this match does so well. You believe you have seen this story before. You fully believe Misawa will comeback and win. It was actually an Elbow that did Misawa in. Throughout the match, Doc had been quickly and explosively countering Misawa and we see it here when he ducks under and in one motion drops Misawa on his head in the single greatest Back Drop Driver spot. Dont make me choose between all the classics. Just know this match is right up there with 6/3/93, 7/29/93, 12/3/93 and 5/21/94. It should be a match known by its date, 7/28/94 the day Dr. Death shocked the world! *****

Triple Crown Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada - AJPW 6/3/94 I am writing this part after I have written my review. I think what makes this match so special is that build to the First Powerbomb I rave about below. I think the whole pro wrestling business, wrestlers & fans alike, have been chasing that Nearfall high for 26 years now. I have not seen this match in 7-9 years. I remembered three things: Misawa's Insane Elbow Barrage, Tiger Driver '91 and that Powerbomb. That Powerbomb had Hydrogen Bomb Heat. You will see the very first people to ever chase that Dragon were Misawa & Kawada when Kawada after a couple more moves hit a second Powerbomb. Didnt have the same heat, brutha. Only mistake in the match. They chased the Dragon. They didnt need to. Ever since the Japanese style has been imported to America, Americans have been chasing that Dragon, man. Let me tell you something, no one is coming close to that Powerbomb. The Greatest Match Ever? I have seen this probably ten times over the course of 2006-2011. I dont think I've seen it 9 years and definitely not in 7 years. It has a huge reputation and I just watched 5/21/94. Lets fucking go! They trade bombs to start. Kawada catches with Misawa with his famous Spinning Heel Kick, but Misawa counters into a Back Drop Driver. Kawada is left clutching his head on the apron. Kawada decides to slow the pace down with an arm bar. Sensible given that he could have lost the match with that Back Drop Driver and so I understand being tentative. Misawa clocks him with an Elbow. Misawa is decidedly more offensive-minded. Perhaps he was spooked by Kawada taking him to a draw in April and that Kawada almost pinned him on 5/21. This plays against Misawa who sends Kawada packing. Misawa is on a fast break. When he dives off the apron and Kawada nails him on the chin! A common Misawa transition that I believe at the time is novel. We saw this in April. Kawada trucks him with a Lariat on the outside. Kawada focuses on the neck and head. Lots of various kicks to Misawa's face and wicked & nasty. I missed the kick that caused it but as Misawa takes a powder, you see Misawa's ear is bleeding. Kawada was blasting him. Kawada just keeps kicking Misawa and finally Misawa has enough starts kicking the shit out of Kawada's knee. From a kayfabe standpoint, very smart as it takes away Kawada's best weapon and you could tell he was pissed about how much he was getting kicked. From a non-Kayfabe perspective, very smart because Kawada is absolutely sublime at selling the knee. Misawa locks on a Single Crab and in a great moment Kawada kicks him right in the mush with his free leg. Talk about body control that was unbelievable. Still Misawa stays on top of him. There's a great almost Super Tiger/Fujiwara like spot from Misawa where Kawada is so tentative on the stand up that Misawa just fucking picks him apart with a three kick combination that leaves Kawada laying. It is the closest thing I have seen from All Japan shoot style. Genius. Misawa is living Kawada's head rent-free. The best part is Misawa just walks away as if to say. Count his ass out like if it was a shoot fight. Misawa looks for single leg pick up and Kawada cracks him in the back of the head/neck to level the playing field. Seems like a good time to take a break from the review. I dont agree with people that say Misawa was desperate in this match. I see a Champion that's cool as a cucumber. The Misawa-Jordan comparison is so apt. They are just two champions of supreme confidence. I didnt see the knee work as desperate. I saw it as STOP FUCKING KICKING ME YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE! He was more pissed than anything else. I see Kawada's action as far more desperate. Thats the difference between the two. It is not talent. It is what is going on between the ears. Being able to maneuver behind Misawa and deck from in his weak spot was genius and shows Kawada still has his wits about him. I remember the finish stretch quite well, but it is murky how we get there so lets see what happens! They meander a bit after this until they get to this point when Misawa pops off his first Elbow! Down goes Kawada! Down goes Kawada! Then theres this cool moment when Misawa dropkicks Kawada, but he doesnt get all over it, it is more like a shove than a strike. Kawada rebounds off the ropes and SMOKES him with a boot to the face. He follows it up with a Jumping High Kick and Misawa is out! Down goes Misawa! Down goes Misawa! Kawada even checks him. Picks up his head and Misawa slumps back down. Kawada covers for two. Then begins one of the most epic struggles in history to hit a move. Kawada tries for the next 5 minutes or so to hit a fucking powerbomb. Misawa does everything in his power to avoid this powerbomb. It is such great pro wrestling. Kawada first attempt, his knee is still fucked. He who hesitates is lost. Misawa back drops out. Kawada responds with a dropkick to a Misawa who is on his knees. Misawa just goes full dead man's float on us. For the first time, since I have started my All Japan re-watch Misawa looks fucked. Like I have no idea who is going to overcome. Great selling by both men after Kawada's knee drop. Kawada goes to town on Misawa's neck with chops still only two. Kawada goes for the powerbomb a 2nd time still nothing doing. Kawada Kicks Misawa and rifles him with a Cowboy Kick. Frustration is building in Kawada. Goes for the Powerbomb a 3rd time, Misawa double legs him and STOMPS him in the head. Very similar to the attack on Kawada's knee. This screams to me STOP KICKING ME IN THE FUCKING HEAD, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE! They have a big stand up fight. Looks like Kawada has more left when Misawa snaps off a kick to the face ala Kawada and he is bleeding from the ear more profusely but the Ace is back in charge. Now it is Misawa turn to be thwarted bot for the Tiger Suplex and Tiger Driver. Kawada goes for his great equalizer the Jumping High kick and Misawa blocks with his arms. Great Dropkick to the mush and it is Misawa, NOT Kawada that lands the first big bomb. A Tiger Driver for 2. Now a Frogsplash for two. Has Kawada choked the match away? Misawa FACELOOOOOCCCKKKKK. Misawa releases. Kawada just rolls out to the floor because he is spent. Misawa sends him back in. Then... As Misawa is coming off the top rope, Kawada leaps up and hits that signature Jumping High Kick, his version of the Roaring Elbow. It took everything Kawada had to hit that. Misawa still wont go up for the Powerbomb. Punch to the face. Misawa comes back with a freakin' elbow. Kawada has to FIGHT THROUGH MISAWA'S VAUNTED ELBOW BARRAGE to finally STEAMROLL him with a Lariat. WOW! EPIC! DAAAAANGGGGGGEROOOOUSSS BACK DROP DRIVER! KAWADA THROWS MISAWA DOWN WITH A MASSIVE POWERBOMB! 1-2-NO! The greatest nearfall in the history of pro wrestling. The way they built to it in this match and playing off 5/21 where Kawada had Misawa beat with the Powerbomb, but Kobashi saves together makes this the best nearfall. That nearfall is why this is a ***** classic. That nearfall embodies everything great about 90s All Japan. My complaint is here and it is super nitpicky, but they kept Kawada on offense. There was no way they could recapture the magic of that powerbomb. Misawa should have started his comeback immediately and in America, he would have had. In All Japan, they can go a little long. A couple more Jumping High Kicks, A WICKED German, a second Powerbomb and Stretch Plum none of it feels as heated as the first Powerbomb. It is a all great work. Misawa bump on the German is amazing he just goes limp and lands on his head. Then sells it like a million bucks. Awesome work! Stretch Plum is so logical given the head/neck. It is super nitpicky but I think Misawa needs to go back on offense sooner. I think you do a second Kawada finish run after the Kappo Kicks. Misawa starts rattling off those elbows. Spinning clothesline. He is getting into that groove. He feels like a Tom Brady-led Patriots squad driving down the field with two minutes left ready to break the heart of the opposing team. German Suplex! Kawada is folded in half. Kawada is just a deer in the headlights. It's happening. Brady will break you. Tiger Suplex 1-2-NO! Even Tom throws an incompletion now and then. Misawa is not too worried as he fixes his Elbow pad. Loved Kawada's desperate struggle to avoid the German suplex, chop to the neck, KAPPO KICK! The Kappo Kick popped me huge in Dr. Death match and it did so again here. There's life in Kawada! Kappo Kick again! Misawa rolls to the outside. Misawa looks fucked. The moment where Misawa is standing on the outside and Kawada is on one knee in the ring and they are staring daggers into each others' eyes is just epic. Both men know what they need to do. Misawa looks like a more confident. Kawada BLOCKS the elbow. Kawada bullies him in the corner. Kawada is going all Vader on Misawa but with Kicks. Misawa EXPLODES OUT OF THE CORNER WITH A HUGE ELBOW! ROARING FUCKING ELBOW! HOLY FUCKING SHIT! HOW IS KAWADA NOT KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT! MISAWA WITH AN UNGODLY, UNHOLY ELBOW BARRAGE! MISAWA BLOCKS THE KAPPO KICK! ELBOW TO KAWADA! TIGER DRIVER '91~! FOR FUCKS SAKE! I still think Tiger Driver '91 looks gnarlier than the Ganso Bomb! How the flying fuck was Kawada still conscious after all that. Misawa was fucking furious! All Japan is so good at working finishing stretches that take you on this roller coaster ride. The build to that first Powerbomb was great. Then the build to Misawa's win was great because those Kappo Kicks came out of nowhere. When they fought, they fucking went after each other. That was the stand up fire fight we wanted to see since they brawled in the middle of that tag match with Akiyama and Fuchi. So is this the greatest match of all time? I dont know. It is definitely a contender. What hurts it is the beginning. I am a big believer in the beginning of the match is just as important as the end. That first 15 minutes is not wrestled at *****-caliber. There are other matches in totality I think are better, but from that build to the Powerbomb to the Insane, Ungodly Misawa Elbow Barrage it is hard to find something better. Definitely going to have a think on this. *****

All Japan World Tag Team Champions Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue - AJPW 5/21/94 I remember 12/3/93 & 6/9/95 clearly but this one has never resonated with me quite like those two. Lets see how it goes on this watch especially now that Ive watched a lot of All Japan. We start with Kawada & Kobashi which is a unique pairing. Kobashi outsmarts Kawada holding onto the ropes to fake him out and then hits a shoulder tackle. They each tag out and in a similar manner, Misawa fakes out Taue on a wristlock sequence stopping to elbow the hell out of Taue. Misawa and Kobashi have their way with Taue hitting their low-key stock spots (Senton and Legdrop). Taue gets a Tenryu-style enziguiri. Kawada comes in and toys with Kobashi and smokes him with his Spinning Heel Kick. I thought the overconfident Kawada was about to make the cardinal mistake of letting Kobashi tag out but he ROCKS Misawa with a Boot to the face. Kawada continues messing with Kobashi as Misawa is hot. At one point, Kawada blows right by Kobashi and SMOKE Misawa with another Kick of Fear right to the face! Wicked! Then he turns around and tries to take Kobashi's head off with the same move. Kawada unwisely has his back to Misawa on an abdominal stretch and Misawa comes in and BLASTS him with elbows to a chorus of boos. Japanese fans are harsh. Kobashi tags out and Misawa is out for blood. He overwhelms Kawada with elbows. Misawa looks really good. Theres a good slingshot splash by him on Kawada. Misawa looks to spring backwards with a reverse elbow but Kawada catches him with a wicked kick! Misawa sells the back. Tag out to Taue. Taue CHUCKS Misawa halfway across the ring in the suplex position in an impressive spot. Kawada hits a senton at this point as an F-U to Misawa. I forget the how the tag out happens, but the heat segment does not last too long. Taue's throw was the most impressive thing about it. Kawada immediately quells Kobashi's fire. They are struggling over a suplex and then afterwards Kawada kicks Kobashi's knee. Unlike in 12/3/93, Kobashi does not fire back instead Kawada is able to chop him down. He tags out to Taue and this is when it gets really good. Taue is such a great henchman. He does a kneecrusher on the table and then wrenches the knee over the railing and then pins the steel gate so that knee is trapped and then starts kicking the gate. That actually looked really painful to the knee. Back then Holy Demon Army slams Kobashi's knee to the mat repeatedly. Thus far, Kawada's asshole Kicks to Misawa's face while Misawa was on the apron and the Kobashi knee work has been the most memorable. Apparently the finish stretch is when this gets really good so lets see what happens. Kobashi's heat segment is really great. Awesome Kobashi selling as he was trying to desperately to get away from the cruel clutches of the Holy Demon Army. Misawa had to save him twice from painful holds twice to a chorus of boos, but when Taue put Kobashi in a Tree of Woe they booed that too. So they dont rule-breaking no matter who it is. The announcer even mentions the booing during the Tree of Woe which I dont think I have ever heard before. There is a great spot where Kobashi gets a hope spot in and is trying to crawl to make the tag, but Taue has his foot and Kawada charges across the ring and blasts Misawa off the apron with an elbow. Kawada is a total prick. Kawada gets in and toys with Kobashi with playful kicks, bad idea. Kobashi PUNCHES him right in the face! Dropkicks the knee! A Double Dose of His Own Medicine! Tag out to Misawa! Misawa rolls baby! Looking for that Tiger Driver after some elbows. Diving Elbow through the ropes onto Taue. Kobashi kneecrusher on Kawada on the outside. Kobashi is pissed. He really wants Kawada to feel his pain. Kawada starts kicking Misawa in the head from his back and a Jumping High Kick stuns Misawa long enough to tag out to Taue. Taue rolls Snake Eyes. Misawa smokes Taue with an elbow, but Taue sidesteps the next move and DRIVES Misawa head first into the mat. He is thinking Nodowa but Kobashi comes in and Taue owns him complete with a kick to the bad knee. I love Taue. Taue gets in on the fun and Kick of Fear to Misawa's face and Bulldog. Tag out to Kawada who Chops the Shit out of Misawa's neck. All the focus is now on the head & neck of Misawa. Kawada slaps on the Stretch Plum which is logical for the current strategy. Misawa starts to hulk up and when Kawada does Kawada Kicks, Misawa unleashes the beast and the crowd pops huge. No-Selling is awesome. It can be a cheap heat trick but when done right it can create those goosebumps. They trade some WICKED Elbows! Both of them Pop the other Huge in the face with elbows! Misawa wins and Kawada ends up on his ass. Misawa tags out to Kobashi. I wouldnt say there have hit the finish stretch yet. That was pretty solid heat segment on Misawa and it felt like a great breakdown to a thrash metal song but he have not hit the fiery outro just yet. Kobashi trade chops with Kawada. Kawada really wants to go toe to toe with these dudes. Kawada hits a wicked Short Spinning Heel Kick to bail himself out and tag out to Taue. Kobashi & Taue is when the finish stretch begins. Things get really heated in the corner. Kobashi chops and Taue throws his ass down. Rinse, lather, repeat. They sure worked the crowd into a lather. Kobashi turns the tide especially on a DDT, but his knee is fucked. He is punching, desperately trying to get it to work. He goes for the Moonsault and the crowd comes alive! Moonsault but his knee is fucked. Epic sell by Kobashi. The finish run has officially begun and it is INSANE! I just let it wash over me and went along for the ride, it was killer. I am going to rewatch it now. Kobashi wisely tags out to Misawa, Taue unwisely stands up and eats a DIving Elbow from Misawa and Spinning Clothesline and Misawa is grooving. Misawa flicks the sweat from his eyebrows, shit is on folks. Misawa hits that the springboard reverse elbow. Misawa FACELOOOOOCCCKKKKKKKK! Kobashi rushes in to cut Kawada off at the pass. Sleeper. Kawada breaks free to break it up. Kobashi wrangles him back in the sleeper and they roll out. Misawa FACELOOOOOOCCCKKKKKK! Taue is fading. Kawada smokes Kobashi on the floor with a lariat. Misawa bodyslam and you think he is going for the routine Frogsplah but Kawada BOLTS over there and heads him off at the top rope. Taue joins in and hits a Superplex. They start Feeding Misawa to each other. First it is a Kawada Lariat, but Misawa armdrags out of NODOWA and Kawada runs over and TRUCKS HIM WITH A LARIAT! DANGEROOUUUUSSSSSSS BACKDROP DRIVER! KOBASHI SAVES! THIS IS INSANE. NODOWA~! ON KOBASHI! POWERBOMB ON MISAWA! 1-2-NO! I CANNOT STOP TYPING IN CAPS LOCK! KAWADA POWERBOMB! KOBASHI LAST MINUTE LUNGE AND BOWLS KAWADA OFF MISAWA! Kobashi suplexes Taue on the floor. Kobashi saves Misawa from certain doom when he lariats Kawada to stop a powerbomb. Misawa shifts his weight on a Back Drop Driver. Misawa elbows and ROARING ELBOW~! HE OBLITERATED KAWADA! Kawada dropkicks Kobashi's bum leg! KOBASHI IS PISSED~! He rattles off a ton of kicks to Kawada and Back Drop Driver on Kawada. Kawada Sweeps The Leg! To tag Taue! Taue Powerslam! 1-2-NO! Taue lifts Kobashi in a Firemans Carry and Misawa comes in and elbows Taue. Kobashi German gets two. They play Pinball with Taue. TIGER DRIVER~! Kawada saves Taue! This is ferocious! Bodyslam. FIst Pump. MOONSAULT! Shitty cover because his knee is fucked. Kobashi feels like shit, he NEVER GIVES UP! Moonsault, BUT CRASHES AND BURNS! Kawada comes in illegally and Back Drop Drivers Kobashi. Misawa says Fuck You but Kawada dumps him to the outside. DAAAAANNNGEERRROUS NODOWA/BACK DROP DRIVER COMBO! 1-2-NO! That was insane. I thought Kobashi was dead. Misawa saves the second time. Misawa Germans Kawada as Taue NODOWAS Kobashi! Misawa kicks Taue in the head to break up the pin. Kobashi covers after a Baba-style neckbreaker lariat, but Kawada saves. JACKKNIFE POWERBOMB! Bodylsam. Fist Pump. Moonsault. 1-2-3! Kobashi has now pinned Kawada and Taue. The Kobashi push is on. Lots of growth from Kobashi here. On 12/3/93, Misawa basically handed Kobashi the pin on a silver platter with a barrage of elbows. Here, Kobashi had to survive his hurt knee, which he injured further on a Moonsault, survive Kawada/Taue's double team finish and then on his own mount a comeback. Yes Misawa held Kawada at bay, but it was Kobashi who never gave up overcame the obstacles and overwhelmed Taue on his own. Huge Moment for Kobashi! On top of that, Kobashi had the most epic save of the match on the second Kawada powerbomb that looked like curtains for Misawa but Kobashi in a last minute save he bowls Kawada over. That would have been Kawada's first pinfall over Misawa and major momentum going into the Triple Crown. Here's the wrinkle, Kawada still has confidence going into 6/3/94 because if Kobashi does not save then Kawada wins. Kawada thinks he can win in a singles bout. Kawada as fully embraced being a dick heel in this. In 1993, it was like trying on a new pair of pants but he has broken them in and is kicking fools in the face left, right and center. Taue is a great henchmen but he kinda took a backseat in this one. Misawa was terrific in this. He would light Kawada up when it called for it and he would be that game-changer, but he also let Kawada get one up on him in the finish run which in turn let Kobashi shine. Personally, I liked 12/3/93 better. It is more of a sprint, efficient and I really liked the the chaos caused by Kawada's knee injury. I thought Kobashi's knee injury was an interesting revenge plot by Holy Demon Army but it was not as pervasive as Kawada's knee. ****3/4

All Japan World Tag Team Champions Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Giant Baba & Stan Hansen - AJPW 3/5/94 Not watching for workrate but a pretty important match, Hansen is being transitioned into a legend role and would have a diminished role as the year progressed though he was still used as a transitional champion in 1995. I think teaming with Baba, a legend is a part of Hansen slowing down so to speak. This is at the Budokan and it is pretty big deal that Kobashi is getting to main event with Baba & Hansen. It is a fucking Baba main event in Budokan. It is a generational match. The two biggest stars of the 70s & 80s vs the stars of the 90s. The Hansen/Kobashi stuff is typically great, intense dripping with struggle & effort exchanges. So far, I have thought they did a better job hiding Baba's limitations on 11/30/93 here were some very weak strikes have to be sold as death because it is Baba. I did like the opening Misawa/Baba exchange where Misawa hits a flying forearm on Baba and knocks him to his knees. Baba has this great look on his face as if to say "Oh so thats how we are going to play it". A point in Baba's favor, I thought the arm work on Misawa was legitimately great. European Uppercuts under the armpits, armbreakers, armdrags into a cross-armbreaker I would be ecstatic if more wrestler did that. Kobashi went full tilt against Baba it was great. I loved Baba's Fujiwara Armbar takedown of Kobashi! Baba is bringing some great limb work to the table. Towards the end of the first 15 minutes, we see Hansen/Kobashi brawl, neither gets the upper hand but when Hansen THROWS MISAWA DOWN ON THE POWERBOMB! Hansen & Baba take charge! Great big boot by Baba on Misawa. I am bit surprised and not sot surprised that Misawa is doing most of the sell. Surprised because Kobashi is definitively lower on the pecking order, not surprised because thats how Misawa likes to work. So far, so good...but this is a long match, lets see what happens next. COWBOY KICK! Exposed Knee! Goes for the Boston Crab, lets Baba do it. Then Hansen comes in and really sits down on it. Kobashi saves to BOOs! Misawa floats over on a suplex attempts and SMOKES Hansen in the back of the head with an elbow. Kobashi is chomping at the bit and DDTs galore! They work over Hansen for the majority of this segment. Misawa gets his FACELOOOOOCCCKKKKK Baba breaks free to save and gets cheered! Usually the Japanese do not cheer saves, Baba can do no wrong! Stereo suplexes on the legends. Hansen trucks Misawa off the apron, dropkick to Kobashi tag to Baba. Baba takes the rapid fire Kobashi chops in the corner and then ROLLING CRADLE~! That was awesome! This has gotten pretty damn good and it has been 25 minutes. It is amazing how All Japan can make 25 minutes feel like 10 minutes. The last ten minutes or so of this is INCREDIBLE! They took you on an emotional roller coaster thats just wild. I think that's really the difference between all the American Indies that try so hard to recapture the glory of 90s All Japan is that it feels mechanical and sterile. This match takes you up and down and all around! Just watch the couple in the front row having the time of their life! You can see desperately how all four men want to win! It becomes important to all the fans and to me. I didnt want anyone to lose after how emotionally invested they made me. Once Kobashi goes up for that the first moonsault attempt, this match goes into overdrive. Hansen saves leads to a Baba back suplex and then a stereo Hansen powerbomb on Misawa and Baba PILEDRIVES Kobashi! Let the nuclear chain reaction of nearfalls begin. My favorite sequence was this. Hansen and Baba take turns feeding Kobashi to one another ending with a LARIAOTOOOOO! Misawa immediately DECKS Hansen with an Elbow to boos. Misawa is desperately trying to drag Kobashi to his corner, but Kobashi is a load. Baba comes over and attacks Misawa. Hansen rolls over and covers Kobashi. 1-2-Foot on the ropes! I popped huge! I figured he kick it out, but for some reason the foot on the ropes instead of the kick out really sold the moment for me. From there it was just gangbusters. Hansen was fighting off Misawa who kept trying to save and finally Kobashi built up enough gumption to tag out. I thought Baba going to the abdominal stretch on Misawa was a bad choice because it would quell the fire boy was I wrong. Kobashi trying to save Misawa with chops got NUCLEAR HEEL HEAT! Baba;s big comeback where he took out both of them got over like rover! Baba hitting the neckbreaker lariat was HUGE! Biggest nearfall heat and I just went bonkers for it! The Old Man still got it! They moved into the young bucks pouring it on with back suplexes. We get the big Kobashi nearfall on Baba with a Moonsault. That had me going crazy. Misawa gets a HUGE pin on Baba after a top rope version of Baba's neckbreaker lariat (I noticed he used this against Doc/Ace in July). There were very few feathers left to put in Misawa's cap but a clean pin on Baba in Budokan, wow, just wow! Definitely watch the whole match, it is really good, but if that last ten minutes doesnt move you, you dont have a soul! Some damn good pro wrestling right there! ****1/4

All Japan World Tag Team Champions Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Steve Williams & Johnny Ace - AJPW 7/22/94 I touched on this a little during the Carnival matches with Kawada, but the biggest difference between Williams in 93 and 94 is that confidence. He was just letting that crazy personality through. Sticking his tongue put, shaking the railing after a massive lariat, bowing up. Give me all that shit! I loved it all! I have seen much of Mrs. Baba's favorite wrestler in my day, but apparently I am watching one of his better performances according to my friends. It shows! Halfway through the match I was wondering if Johnny Fucking Ace is the lost superworker of the 90s. Busting out Cockscrew elbows, complicated DDTs and taking head drops. I loved his energy. He was getting all sorts of fucking macho with Kobashi and I was lapping it up. So far so good, lots of charisma from those three. This is the lead in to the famous Misawa vs Doc match. Loved the opening with Doc blocking the Roaring Elbow, showing he has it scouted. Misawa catches Doc at one point with an elbow that literally was a slobber knocker! The Williams vs Kobashi exchanges have been ELECTRIC! Excited to see them hook up in September. The way Doc won that suplex struggle, bullied Kobashi over and then THREW KOBASHI DOWN ON THAT POWERBOMB! Holy shit! Kobashi had the best "Where the fuck am I" look on his face. Then they beat the tar out of Misawa. That Lariat on the outside by Doc was sickkkk. Explosive Spinebuster in the ring. Loved Misawa trying to elbow his way out of the gaijin corner, but two on one was too much for the champ. Raucous front half to a great match! Johnny Ace as a Workrate God is something I need more of. Rushing in to scoop up Misawa off Snake Eyes to hit a Back Drop Driver. ACE CRUSHER~! It is crazy that all this craziness around that move started with Johnny Ace! Doctor Bomb! Crazy double teams! Dude rocked it in there! Doc was fucking awesome in this match! Trucking people left, right and center. He was a one man gang! When he broke a pin, he broke up a pin! Thats how you do it! I loved Misawa busting up the Oklahoma Stampede with a Elbow. That was sick. Watch Doc SNATCH Kobashi on that powerslam and then on the armdrag. That's crazy speed and strength. Misawa tries to free up Kobashi to put Ace away and he just made Doc mad! Dr. Death STEAMROLLED FOOLS! Great Double Team Oklahoma Slam from the top and then the double team Oklahoma Stampede. Eventually Ace gets left alone with Misawa. Ace shows some gumption kicking out of a Tiger Driver but a flying clothesline does him in. Definitely an unsung All Japan match! Absolute BANGER! I hope Johnny Ace and keep it up in the coming years. I am really looking forward to both Doc vs Misawa and Doc vs Kobashi. ****1/2

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada - AJPW 4/11/94 I actually thought the back half of this 30 minute draw was quite good. It got me thinking if the reason why me and others found this match to be so flat was because the commentary team was so listless. I love Japanese commentary even though I dont understand Japanese because there is a certain rhythm to it that enhances the match. I voluntarily choose Japanese commentary over English commentary on New Japan World. Good commentary should like a good rhythm section to a song, driving you forward and keeping your tempo. The not Carny Match! Basically, my understanding is Baba & Co. worked a Misawa "injury" to take him out of the tournament to free up the desired Kawada/Doc Finals to build up two new challengers to Misawa. I guess you say the Kayfabe explanation for this match is they are both going "easy" because this is not counted towards the Carny. Kawada is a front-runner and doesnt want to expend energy before his other Carny matches and Misawa wants to coast because he has been Champion for over a year and needs to recover. The result a very standard match that feels flat. They do a transition that would become very popular but could be the first time it was done, which is Kawada catching Misawa with an elbow to the neck as he is diving off the apron. I dont remember seeing that in 1993, but it could have been done earlier. Kawada is content to work holds and not necessarily around the neck (Ab stretch, Single leg crab). Good Kawada kick variants such as Axe Kick, round kick to the face, Cowboy Kick, Spinwheel Kick and the Kick of Fear straight to the face worked very well for him. Misawa would just randomly fire off an elbow, take over and then cool back down. It felt abrupt and shoehorned. Like it was "my turn" ok back to you. Kawada smoked him with a Lariat, did a Knee Drop off the apron and hit a powerbomb for two. Misawa started selling the neck a lot I'd say around the 10 minute mark or so. Kawada started targeting it more with chops and kicks and such. It made the Stretch Plum more meaningful. Misawa hiptossed out and did a Cowboy Kick himself to give him a taste of his own medicine. The work is fine and the moves make sense. Just not a whole lot of passion behind them. The second half things start pick up which makes me wonder if it is the commentary team thats letting this match down. Kawada returns fire with a Jumping High Kick which is treated like his Elbow Equivalent that down Misawa. He works more holds. Misawa starts to fire up and blows him away with an elbow that sends him to the outside and Misawa succeeds in hitting his diving elbow through the ropes to the floor and from the top rope to the mat. One wrinkle I liked was Misawa having counters to Kawada's kick whether it was catching a kick & summarily dumping him on his ass or elbowing a kick. Good work. Misawa spinning his spinning springboard plancha which I have always liked. Cool spot you dont see them do a lot is back in Kawada meets him at the top rope with a punch (the commentary should have been going wild) and Superplexes him. Kawada goes through his finish run, hits another Lariat, no Powerbomb, but a German Suplex folds him in half. The crowd was really getting hot after the Superplex and I was enjoying it a lot too. Thats when I started to blame commentary of all things even thought I dont even understand Japanese. There is a certain cadence to good Japanese commentary thats like the rhythm section of a song it drives your forward and picks up your tempo. Stretch Plum! But nothing doing. It ended with Misawa standing tall, Roaring Elbow and Tiger Driver for 2. Kawada is saved by the bell. I have watched enough great American matches with bad English commentary to still know when I am seeing a great match. I thought this ended up being great but not anywhere near the classics they usually have. I probably wont ever watch it again, but the last 20 minutes are strong and great work from Kawada on top. ****

WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Champion Greg Valentine vs Miguel Perez Jr - WWC 01/06/92 From what I gleaned from the commentators (my Spanish is non-existent) is that Miguel Perez Sr is outside and he is handcuffed from some masked man and Valentine is the Caribbean Heavyweight Champion. My big take home was that Valentine was wasted in the early 90s. He was just left to languish in WWF and WCW as some sort of over the hill 80s wrestler but he had so much more left to give. He still moved great and packed a punch. His selling of the atomic drop was entertaining, he did his TIMBAAAAAAAHHHHHH spots at the right time. They had a great elbow firefight. I loved his stump puller transition right into the Figure-4. I have seen Perez Jr before in like Los Boriquas but I didnt see much to pass judgment one way or another. The finish was great. The masked luchador slugs Miguel Sr. with a foreign object. The ref uncuffs him. Perez has Valentine in a sleeper and he turns at the last second so the masked man crashes down on Valentine. Ref counts three! Miguelito wins the title and Senior wallops the masked man all over the baseball diamond and sends him scurrying back to the dugout. Feelgood ending. Nothing that will change your world but you wish there was a world where Valentine was having long midcard matches or getting a tag team push somewhere in the world. ***

Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Holy Demon Army (Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue) - AJPW 12/3/93 The match is famous for Kawada's sublime knee selling. I think what enhanced it this go around for me is watching the Holy Demon Army vs Doc & Bossman tag match that precedes this by two days. Knowing that Kawada is coming in with an injury rather than it happening in the middle of the match was a game changer. In their first tag match together and in their six-mans, traditionally it is Kobashi vs Taue that starts off. Misawa starts off this time. Very strategic. Misawa & Kobashi know that Taue cant tag out because Kawada is injured so this allows them to put heavy hitting Misawa in there first. They immediately reap rewards. Misawa smokes Taue with an elbow. Double Dropkick! Kobashi baseball slide! Misawa diving elbow! Great babyface shine. Holy Demon Army's only hope really is for Taue to get an advantage have Kawada come in and consolidate & isolate one of them preferably Kobashi. We see Taue able to knock Kobashi down. Kawada wisely goads Kobashi into a chopfest wins and that and hits his famous Spinning Heel Kick. He nails, but if you watch carefully he comes up gingerly which I think I missed. This brings me to my favorite part of the psychology of this match...Holy Demon Army try to sprint to the finish line. This is not la dee da lets build to finish. This Kawada's knee is fucked...lets get the hell out of Dodge. So we get Kawada's Mack Truck Lariat (good knee sell from Kawada here too, great subtlety) and Stretch Plum and the SIngle Leg Crab with Kawada stepping on his head. We get Snake Eyes galore from Taue. We get the bodyslam on the floor. We bodyslams and Cowboy Kicks! This was a ferocious ass kicking Kobashi took. It all made sense. The idea was to hit every bomb and get the win as fast as possible. This made for a very urgent match which I love. The game changer is Kawada lets his foot off the gas. This time it is a clear hubris flaw. He thought he had it in the bag so he playfully kicks Kobashi in the head. He chops the neck but Kobashi fires up. As Kawada would he snaps off a kick to Kobashi's leg. What is the immediate, natural response, Kobashi rifles Kawada's injured knee. Kawada flies into a FURIOUS RAGE! That is incredible. Kobashi has SPOOKED Kawada as much as he has hurt him. Kawada knows he is vulnerable and needs to snuff this out. Kawada translates that fear into ANGER and unloads on Kobashi pelting him with illegal closed fists. It is an amazing moment. Once the initial anger subsides, Kawada is left hobbling & powerless and Kobashi POUNCES on him and starts punching the hell out of the bad knee. This is one of all time favorite sequences. So awesome and emotional! Taue tries to stop the bleeding by knocking Misawa off the apron, but Kobashi traps Taue and Misawa knocks him out and Kobashi tags in Misawa with Kawada still on his ass. Kawada looks like easy pickin's. Kawada tries to fire up and tries to potato Misawa. Misawa absorbs and smokes him with an Elbow. Tiger Driver gets two, Taue saves Kawada on the Tiger Suplex otherwise it may have been a short day at the office for the Holy Demon Army. This affords Kawada the opportunity to hit a Lariat and crawl to make a tag. Taue is rolling Snake Eyes on everything that moves. Misawa and Kobashi are just feeding him. Taue looks like a world-beater and he understands the dire straits his team is in. NODOWA/BACKDROP DRIVER COMBO! Gets two! Not as hot of a nearfall as I was expecting. I thought it was red hot in my living room. Kobashi saves. Taue hits a powerbomb on Misawa, but it is not quite the Dynamic Bomb so it is only a 2 count. He feeds Misawa into Kawada's lariat. Kawada's selling is so, so good. Kawada tries to feed Misawa in for a Nodowa, but Misawa elbows out of trouble and tags in Kobashi! This match rocks! Kobashi is a house ablaze...chops...DDTs...he even Snake Eyes Taue! Which I popped huge for! I think the fans hate that move so much they didnt pop for it, but I loved Kobashi throwing that in Taue's face. Taue has used that move SIX times in this match. It was high time he got a taste of his own medicine. We also found out that Taue is a load. Kobashi had a hard time getting him up. Leg Drop...MOONSAULT! 1-2-NO! This match has been at a break neck pace but everything still feels logical, earned and it is breathing. Really incredible. Taue chops and lariats his way out of trouble. Here comes Kawada. Lets see what he can do on a bum wheel. Taue bough him about 5 minutes to recover will that be enough? Kawada back drops Kobashi immediately. Trainer helps him work out his leg. His second attempt on the Back Drop Driver his knee gives out causing him to smack the back of his head on the mat hard. What a nice touch! Kobashi has the opening to tag out. Kawada grits his teeth through out and hits trusty Spinning Heel Kick to stun Misawa but his knee is all sorts of messed up. He cant hold on the German Suplex bridge. He has to release the Stretch Plum gets two. The Powerbomb ends up with Misawa sitting on his face. It was all bad for business. Kawada is trying to be a gamer but he is fucked. Kobashi dropkicks the knee. This is the first time Kobashi can really get a hold of the knee. Misawa is more sporting perhaps or maybe more pig-headed that it is elbow or death. Kobashi has no shame and dropkicks the knee to a smattering of boos I believe if my ears dont deceive me. Kawada the babyface who wouldve thunk it. Kobashi throws the Single Leg Crab complete with stomps to the head back in Kawada's face and then switches to a Texas Cloverleaf. Great stuff! Jackknife Powerbomb for two! WOW! Kobashi crashes & burns on the moonsault! Kawada desperately needs to tag out, but Kobashi drop toeholds Kawada. Instead Kobashi is the one that tags out, oh shit! Misawa sention...frogsplash...TIGER SUPLEX! 1-2-NO! Misawa exits like he has taken a beating, lol, dude you dont know the half of it and here comes Kobashi. Kobashi lunging flying shouldertackle eats THE JUMPING HIGH KICK! One more, but Kobashi hits the Lariat that is not yet Burning! Kawada has had two cracks in the sky but cant get that tag out. Stereo Germans! It doesnt look good. Misawa ROARING ELBOW TO TAUE! ROARING ELBOW TO KAWADA! Kawada goes full limp seel on German Suplex. Misawa Diving Elbow. Backdrop Driver and Kobashi gets the pin on Kawada! They win the Real World Tag League and the Double Cup (World Tag Team Championship)! Can you say greatest match ever? Because I sure can. Ok, maybe a little hyperbole, I had have to give it a good think. It is definitely Top 20 all time and probably Top 10. It is my 1993 Match of the Year over either Hansen/Kobashi. Kawada's knee selling is so sublime, but it is so much more than that. It is Kawada/Taue urgently trying to close this out early. It is Kawada's reaction to the first kick to the knee. It is Taue desperately trying to salvage the match. It is Kawada trying to be a gamer and grit through this. It is Kobashi trying to close it out and prove he belongs. Outstanding. *****

Toshiaki Kawada vs Steve Williams - AJPW 4/16/94 The match that is a part of the classic core of the All Japan canon that I never really got. I always saw this match as a great match but never quite at the level of the other vaunted All Japan matches. Let's see what fresh eyes and having really enjoyed the 3/29/94 lead-in does for this match. This is the final for the 1994 Champions Carnival, which is difference than the previous year's #1 Native vs #1 Gaijin in Misawa vs Hansen. Here they go with #2 Native vs #2 Gaijin, I think thats a conscious decision to build up two challengers for Misawa and the fact that Hansen was slowing down. The 3/29 lead-in round robin match between the two went to a draw. Doc showed his power but did not hit his Oklahoma Stampede or his Back Drop Driver. Kawada hit his best shots: lots of head kicks, powerbomb, Stretch Plum even threw in a Fujiwara Armbar but couldnt get the job done. Lets see what happens here. They stick in the first 15 minutes to the story I really liked in the first match, it is Williams' power advantage against Kawada's Dangerous Head Kicks. Doc steamrolls Kawada early with some tackle. He is feeling confident and goes for the Back Drop Driver early. This always elicits a good crowd reaction and announcer reaction. I love early finisher teases makes believe that the wrestler wants to win. Kawada scrambles and punches/slaps Williams in the head and then hits his own Back Drop Driver. Great combination of a head shot and head drop from Kawada. Thats what it comes down to. Is Kawada needs to contain Williams' explosiveness by constantly rocking the head. Once Doc gets a head of steam on Kawada it is over for him. We see a lot of counter punching from Kawada that is focused on head kicks. What I didnt like about this is that Kawada seems to like set up transitions to Doc by taking his foot off the gas pedal. I dont know if this is supposed to be a kayfabe character flaw or if this is just not having a good transition but I didnt like it. The match definitely picks up when the powerful Doc traps Kawada in a double chickenwing and hoists him over in a Tiger Suplex. Great sell by Kawada they get the nearfall and then further milk it by having Kawada powder. Doc misses a top rope splash. Kawada hits his famous Spinning Heel Kick to the head. Nice middle rope kneedrop. I liked that when Doc struggled against the suplex Kawada quickly changed gears into a Fujiwara Armabr takedown and a nice callback to the 3/29 match. The transition back to Doc was a little too telegraphed again with Kawada seemingly letting up for no reason and Doc hitting a Spinebuster. Great stuff from Williams here. I liked the scramble on the Oklahoma Stampede with Kawada going for the ropes immediately. So Doc switches gears, hits his BIG Splash in the corner and then SNATCHES Kawada into an explosive Powerslam in a way he completed the Oklahoma Stampede for two. The way he snatched Kawada and took him over in that Powerslam was Brock Lesnar-esque and it was explosive! Again it is the combination of two head-kicks that rock Dr. Death enough for Kawada to command with a Stretch Plum which I think is smart. A hold like this will do a better job containing the explosive power of Doc and also sap his energy than head kicks. Kawada Kicks! Doc No Sells them because he is all man. Kawada is pissed about this and goes for an illegal Closed Fist, but Doc blocks and tees off on him with his own! Epic Kawada fall on his ass sell! The ref admonishes him but Doc throws a couple right jabs and a looping left knocks Kawada out. Where was that against Bart? Big Press Slam onto the top rope and the crowd is solidly behind Kawada chanting his name. Williams applies the Octopus Stretch. The match gets really, really good here. Doc has had the momentum ever since he punched Kawada's lights out and has built up enough momentum to go for the Back Drop Driver. Kawada furiously fights out and Kawada hits a Jumping High Kick to the head. Doc sells this like he is out cold. Total limp, dead man's float sell. Really puts over the kick. Kawada winds up like he is going to deliver his Mack Truck Lariat. Doc ducks and BACK DROP DRIVER! Only Doc cant capitalize because of the head kick and Kawada wisely rolls out of the ring. Very effective way to pop the crowd but also protect the move. Now because they took the starch out of the nearfall by milking all the damage they wisely have Doc hit the Doctor Bomb for a hot nearfall. Now you have gotten a little bit of everything. You explain why Doc couldnt capitalize the head kick. You explain why Kawada still has a shot, the head kick. You still get the Back Drop Driver because instantly the fans are like Oh Fuck. The realize both men need to sell. You get the great visual of Kawada rolling out of the ring. You protect the Back Drop Driver. You still get the hot nearfall from the Doctor Bomb. Really genius. Now of course Dr. Death wants to hit the Back Drop Driver again, big scramble to the ropes. Williams rips him off the ropes. There's this great drama is he going to hit it or not. Kawada has his leg grapevine and then all of sudden Kawada breaks free, Spinning Back Hand Chop to the head and then ROLLING KAPPO KICK TO THE HEAD! I marked out so hard for this. They do all the necessary nearfalls but for all intents and purposes it was over. A Stretch Plum, some more head kicks and Three Powerbombs (last Powerbomb was the best from a power stand point). I really liked the story they told. Kawada was outclassed in the power department, but he is an excellent counterpuncher and just kept kicking that head. All this only works if Doc sells. Misawa's elbow is only as powerful as his opponents make it. So it is important that Doc did NOT oversell in the beginning, but when the time was right he sold the right head kick as death. In the lone rung it protected him and his finish. The Rolling Kappo Kick was the cherry on top. It was a different style and Kawada pulling deep from his bag of tricks but it fit the theme of the match, keeping kicking the powerhouse in the head. I definitely see the appeal of this match now, excellent match. ****3/4

I can actually see someone saying this is their favorite 90s All Japan match because it is so different. I like the King Road's style generally so this would be a step down for me, but this is a fantastic match and in most promotions a match of the year candidate. Very shocked at how low Loss & others had this rated. Stan Hansen vs Akira Taue - AJPW 4/11/94 If there's anyone that can babyface Stan Hansen, it is Akira Taue. In the Hansen/Kobashi match a day prior, Hansen injured his ribs by doing a diving shouldertackle from the apron and connecting with the guardrail. When Hansen enters, there is only one whip of his bull rope and he is walking not running to the ring clutching his ribs. I will say this there's a talking point, which I believe to be asserted by JDW that no one else could have had this match by Taue which I believe to mean that he was absolutely laser focused on the ribs. I do take umbrage with that slightly as a Kobashi fan. I think Kobashi fan acquitted himself well the night before with a lot of body shots, kicks, dropkicks all to the ribs and even shouldertackles to the ribs to set up the moonsault. Were there leg drops and sleepers? Yes, but Kobashi was committed to the ribs until the very end of the match. Just like Taue used the ribs to set up his finish. Two very different matches and both phenomenal, but I just want to point this out. Kobashi is NOT this scattered-brain, "get my stuff in" wrestler that some people say. The criticism that Misawa could not work this match because he would want to sell and make his extended comeback I would agree with. I think Kawada would also be fine and well-suited for a match like this. This match is about Taue who is undersung anyways and we should let his spotlight get stolen by the other three. Taue and Hansen both rock pretty hard in this. I know Hansen lariats with his left hand but I am not sure if he uses an Unorthodox stance because I have seen him punch right. Anyways he uses an Unorthodox stance here to keep his left side (injured side) further away from Taue. I always love touches like that. Taue ultimately crowds Hansen in the corner. Hansen does his best to bully his way out, but the bully got bullied here and Taue started unloading on the left side with some good shots. If there is one thing that Japanese fans cant stand, it is when Taue "hotshots" opponents on the top rope or railing. It always draws boos. Even though they were chanting for Taue at the end, I found that interesting. Some great work here from that standpoint. Hansen is a big mutha trucker and for Taue to get him up and launch him in such a way that it was his abdomen that landed on the railing and top rope was impressive. That's a tough bump for Hansen to take even if his ribs arent actually injured. We of course get stomach claws and abdominal stretches. Hansen tried this cat and mouse strategy luring Taue to the outside and then getting back in the ring to the get the high ground. Still Taue fought through his King of the Mountain by attacking the left side. All in all, excellent work. I liked the transition to Hansen on offense. Taue misses an elbow drop from the top rope and then Hansen hits a trademark lunging shouldertackle that sends Taue flying to the outside. Perfect. Hansen BOUNCES a chair off Taue! Perfect. DDT on the exposed concrete. Perfect! Cant suplex him on exposed concrete because of the injured ribs so he settles for wrenching his head into the railing. Perfect, Perfect, Perfect! Hansen's selling through his comeback is sublime. You never lose sight of the fact he is in tremendous pain but that means he is also tremendously furious. Exposed knee. Two WICKED Stiff, Swift Cowboy Kicks! The way he has to gear himself up for the a suplex and then ultimately a Powerbomb. The sell after that powerbomb is tremendous. Hansen gets two and then tugs at the elbow pad to let everyone know whats coming. Taue kicks him right in the left side and gets a powerslam for two. NODOWA~! Great struggle there with Taue earning it. Hot nearfall and the crowd is clearly behind Taue. Hansen shifts his weight on a back suplex. Gnarly headbutts from Hansen and SMOKES Taue with a diving right elbow to the point where I bit on that nearfall even though the crowd didn't. I thought it was his way of doing a lariat without using his left side. He goes for the Lariat by holding Taue's head but Taue is able to punch the left side repeatedly and NODOWA~! 1-2-3! If someone wanted to say this is their favorite 90s All Japan match or even the best, I would not bat an eye. King's Road is not for everyone. I happen to generally like the style and do think it is my personal favorite style. For those that like a more minimalist approach with heavy emphasis on body part psychology both from a laser-focused offensive perspective and a great selling perspective this match meets those needs. Hansen's stock is really rising in my book (he was already in my Top 5 wrestlers of all time) he has so many more layers than a Bull in the China Shop brawler, really effective seller and more than one-dimensional tool. Taue (also in my Top 25) really showed his ability to carry a singles match on top here. Taue is a man of efficiency. We saw that NOAH where he had great singles bouts with Misawa, Nagata and Kobashi. This was a very efficient and tidy match. It is not one of the more pimped matches so if you have not watched it ever or in a while, I definitely implore to give this a watch. ****1/2

Stan Hansen vs Kenta Kobashi - AJPW 4/10/94 The beginning of this match has a Hansen vs Kawada 2/28/93 vibe to it although not quite as stiff. What do I mean by that? There were a lot of momentum shifts and there were not a lot of highspots. It was just a lot of general pummeling and attrition selling. There were also not a lot of pinfall attempts. Kobashi was going to the thrust kick a lot. There were some whips into the railing. Hansen was using a lot of head shots, elbows and what not. It was just a lot of strong brawling, but not much in the way of story. There were excellent moments like Kobashi fighting through Stan's kicks as Stan was on his back near the apron and Kobashi was trying to enter the ring. Kobashi fights through it and slaps him a ton. Hansen FIGHTS through that and starts headbutting. I am a mark for sequences like that. Anytime people are fighting through offense, I love it. Kobashi has sort of control with some leg drops and the sleeper. Hansen ends up bowling him over with a lunging tackle. Hansen really starts to rock Kobashi with those headbutts, we get a glassy eyed sell that pops the announcer and Baba. He slams Kobashi's head into the steel post. Then he slams a chair off his back. I love a Hansen chair shot. Slams him into the table and THROWS THE TABLE DOWN ONTO HIM! POWERBOMBS KOBASHI ON THE EXPOSED CONCRETE! He has whipped the crowd into a frenzy and the crowd wants to kill Hansen. Hansen ends up diving off the apron on a shouldertackle only to eat the railing. This has turned into an excellent match. Looking forward to the second half and seeing if Kobashi can make the comeback and get his first win over Stan Hansen? Absolutely TERRIFIC ENDING! Call me a mark for the series all you want, but fuck that was awesome and this shit right here is why I am pro wrestling fan and why pro wrestling is the greatest thing ever. Hansen has been a total prick to Kobashi and honestly should have been DQ'd because of the chair and table throws. The crowd was pissed. When Hansen clutching his ribs tries to enter the ring, Kobash shows NO MERCY, illegal closed fists to the ribs and a lot of hair pulling. Fuck that prick and Kobashi lights him up. Kobashi turned Hansen's drum into a punching bag at one point. There was a great suplex struggle where Kobashi kneelifts the injured abdomen and is able to hoist Hansen over. Kobashi DECKS Hansen with a lariat for a hot nearfall. I mean Double Hot! The whole building was ringing out with "KO-BASH-I" chants! Hansen's selling here has been sublime. This is on the order of Kawada doing his best knee selling. Just great work from Stan. Boston Crab from Kobashi and punts Hansen in the ribs. You can feel it and you know Hansen had one more run left in him. You knew to ratchet up the drama you needed that and they did a great job picking when it was. It came right after this once Kobashi had gotten his nuclear nearfall. Hansen reverses an Irish Whip hard into the buckles such that Kobashi takes the Bret Bump. Big back suplex. Crowd oooh and aaahs and gets a little worried. Hansen gets a good nearfall here. He tugs on the elbow pad. You can tell the crowd is anxious. They have seen this story before. It felt different because Hansen had seriously injured himself but it looked like it was going to end the same with Hansen crushing Kobashi. Kobashi evades the first Lariat but Hansen gets the back suplex. Hansen decides for the powerbomb, but Kobashi back drops out to a big pop. Hansen lunging elbow to the head gets a nearfall. Curiously Hansen wants the big splash from the top even though his ribs hurt. Great selling from Hansen who manages to fight through the pain and Powerbomb Kobashi again only two. Crowd breathes a sigh of relief. Hansen goes for the big splash from the top. Eats Knees! Me and the crowd go fucking apeshit! This is best part here. Because I totally thought Kobashi was going to fire up win, but NO out of nowhere Hansen swings that BIG BEARPAW LARIAT! It was such a great catch you out of nowhere spot. Took my breathe way, but this time was different. He did NOT have as much Oomph behind he was the one hurting. It was defense mechanism and Kobashi absorbed the blow and just kept marching forward. That bodyslam and that little fist pump. God, I was emotional then and I am man enough to admit I am emotional now. What a powerful moment! You could tell how badly the crowd wanted it. You could tell how badly he wanted it. It took two Moonsaults but Kenta Kobashi finally got his victory over Stan Hansen. Kobashi is my favorite Japanese wrestler of all time and definitely in my top 5 overall, I was so happy for him fucking 26 years later it is crazy. I am so glad he got that moment. Hansen knocked it out of the park. He was an ornery, sadistic prick then sold his ass off like a champ and still had that compelling finish run to make you doubt the feel-good ending. Nobody in my opinion is better at transcending language, culture and time to elicit emotion than Kenta Kobashi! Yet another sublime performance from in my eyes the undisputed GOAT of pro wrestling history. ****3/4

Toshiaki Kawada vs Steve Williams - AJPW 3/29/94 It is the #2 Native vs #2 Gaijin, though you could make the case that Doc had overtaken Hansen at this point, but I dont think that was truly cemented until Dr. Death made the Carny Final. Baed on the time call, we are 8minutes JIP to Kawada kicking the tar out of Williams and playing a very effective King of the Mountain, Bockwinkel would be proud. The King falls off his perch when he kicks the ring post! Doc smells blood. He does a KneeCrusher to the Table and then wrenches the knee over the guardrail. Kawada's selling is sublime per usual. The face he makes when Williams elbows his knee on the railing screams pain. He makes another great wide-eyed face when Williams traps him in a leg lace. Kawada is so good at incorporating leg selling into how he moves and how it affects his strikes. It is him and Randy Savage that are my go-tos for leg selling. Speaking about how it affects his moves. Kawada never dies. He immediately tries to go to his bread & butter to turn the tide: that impressive spinning heel kick and his Mack Truck Lariat. You can see how each move doesn't hit with the same oomph and he can't capitalize. It is Dr. Death that makes to his feet first. To quote Jesse the Body, "That's gotta be depressing as hell". A lot of people say Doc really picked up his game in late 93 and especially in '94 so what has changed? I think this match layout really helps Williams. Doc has the amateur pedigree he can go on the mat. I think people didnt like all the headlocks and guzzling on the mat. It is an effect kayfabe strategy to have your opponent carry your weight, but it is NOT an entertaining strategy. The fact that Kawada injured his knee gave Doc a body part to zero in on and use those mat techniques to stretch. Wrestling fans like when they think a hold as a point and is inflicting visible damage. That I think helps. The other I think Doc became a Man, a Mighty, Mighty Man. He was more sure of himself and more confident. No selling is such an underrated form of selling. It gets a bum rap because of the narrative Meltzer & Co. pushed in the 90s, but it can really supercharge a crowd. There's nothing quite like a Man All Bowed Up absorbing punishment, death stare and the exploding into fury. It works for a reason. It is pure masculine energy! We see that Kawada using his Jumping High Kicks and Williams just shrugging them off and exploding from a three point stance to bowl over Kawada. We get the splash in the corner. There was a great floatover suplex that would make Barry Windham jealous. The Oklahoma Stampede and Back Drop Driver were teased. The Back Drop Driver teases especially from Doc get such great heat. I loved Kawada's response to all this. He went head-hunting. He was using that Jumping High Kick, which is has been equated to Misawa's elbow, as a way to make in-roads. Yes, Doc gritted through it and MANNED UP through the first couple flurries, but eventually he did ring that bell and that set him up with time to recover and take advantage. It is shows the importance of commitment to a strategy from Kawada. He nailed his own Back Drop Driver again a head shot. He wanted the powerbomb, but Williams was too strong and I think the knee was not there yet. So he went to the Stretch Plum a great hold to sap the big man of his energy and recover. The levelling the playing field spot is on the outside Doc gets whipped into the railing, BUT explodes furiously into a lariat to trigger the count of both men on the floor. I have really, really enjoyed this thus far. Back in the ring, Williams is a little less worse for wear and hits a top rope shouldertackle. Williams is favoring his leg and clutching the back of his head. He doing a great job selling overall attrition. DoctorBomb is his big nearfall for two. The Back Drop Driver we see three counters: the scramble to the ropes, the weight-shift counter and a Fujiwara Armbar. We first see the Fujiwara Armbar takedown earlier in the finish stretch when Kawada applies it on a charging Doc, but a Doc who is charging gingerly due to his bum wheel. So thats how Kawada has the opportunity to take him down. I liked the Fujiwara Armbar I thought it was sold well by both men. The Second One as a counter to the Back Drop Driver was RAUCOUS! The way Kawada was wrenching it and selling it with his eyes had the girls in the front going wild! The crowd was wicked into it. I HATED that he released. Honestly, I thought Doc had either given up or the ref had called the match in Kawada's favor. I dont like when holds are just released for the hell of it. We see Kawada MASSIVE Mack Truck Lariat and the Powerbomb down the stretch. All nuclear nearfalls! The crowd was whipped into a frenzy at this point. Doc is saved by the bell and then tackles Kawada as the credits roll. I think the story going into the match is Doc took all of Kawada's best shots: Lariat, Head Kicks, Fujiwara Armbar and the Powerbomb and Kawada still couldnt put him away. Whereas Doc did NOT hit Oklahoma Stampede or the vaunted Dangerous Back Drop Driver. If he could hit those, it could be lights out for Kawada. Sets up the Carny Final very well. Loved the work in this. Really made sense. Dr. Death look like a big time main eventer the way he was executing offense, choosing the right times to sell and no sell. Kawada sold the knee well and when it came time to make a comeback he chose smart transitions. I hate that this is JIP, but I liked it a lot. ****1/4

Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi - AJPW 10/23/93 I see this time and time again, Kawada was the best of the Pillars on the mat. Kobashi is very underrated on the mat and I think he is Kawada's peer very much. We get a great single leg/back heel trip seamlessly into a Spinning Toehold and then into a figure-4. We get two prior sequences of good chain wrestling from Kobashi. The King's Road style minimizes chaining and matwork but I think Kobashi is every bit Kawada's equal. I liked the babyface shine. Kawada is surprised he cant bowl over Kobashi and then chops him in frustration. Then Kobashi does not succeed and then eats a boot, but after all that he is the one who is able to tackle Kawada. Kawada, ever the sore sport (remember those fists against Misawa in July), double legs Kobashi for being shown up. Good stuff even if they end up in my least favorite position a bundle of leglocks. Another great Kawada is a sore sport moment is Kobashi steals Kawada's Cowboy Kick. So Kawada pissed gets up bodyslams him and UNCORKS TWO Cowboy Kicks for good measure! Kobashi looks to target the leg after his figure-4 but Kawada returns in kind rifling Kobashi's leg with kicks. Kawada gets the damn deepest Single Leg Crab you'd ever see. The transitions were kind of weak. Kawada lets his foot off the gas and then Kobashi starts firing off kicks and chops. Kawada damn near takes his head with his patented Spinning Heel Kick. Kawada moves into a Boston Crab and then an abdominal stretch. Kawada goes for it again, but Kobashi tries for a Rolling Cradle, Kawada elbows out. Kawada sells the dizziness though! That was fun! They go all Kobashi/Sasaki on us 12 years before that was a thing and the Budokan goes wild. The Japanese sure just love watching men stand there and pelt each other with stiff shots. Kawada just stops. There have been a lot of peculiar pauses in this match. Kobashi ends up DDTing Kawada a bunch. Kobashi is a pretty sizeable underdog here so he does the smart thing and that is go for his killshot, the moonsault. Gotta strike while the iron is hot, but ends up crashing and burning. Kobashi still manages to Lariat and Legdrop Kawada. Goes for the moonsault again, but sees Kawada stirring turns it into a John Cena legdrop. Kobashi connects with the moonsault for a two count! He is incredulous! Hit Kawada with his best shot, still doesnt get it done. Kawada rolls out of the ring. The front half has been damn good and it feels different than a lot of All Japan with the stronger mat focus and less bombs. Kawada is a good sore sport jerk and Kobashi is always pure infectious energy. Going forward to see where they go with this. Kobashi rolls him back in and kicks him a bunch and Kawada falls back out of the ring. Again another strange moment, Kawada is suddenly revitalized and pulls Kobashi's head down for Kawada kicks. Bizarre. There's a great chop exchange where Kawada gets a little high on his chop close to the throat and Kobashi gets pissed and unloads chops to the forearm, thats gotta hurt his hand. Kawada STRIKES HIM DOWN WHERE HE STANDS! Wicked chop to the side of the neck. That would become common in All Japan. Was this the start? Kawada and Kobashi keep at it and Kawada PUNCHES Kobashi! Two Jumping High Kicks, which they have been treating as sort of equal maybe a half-step below Misawa's Elbow. Kawada wrestles for a Stretch Plum but Kobashi makes the ropes. Kawada, the sore sport, goes for another punch, Kobashi blocks and PUNCHES him! Ok between this and the dangerous chops, this shit is lit! Kobashi wraps on a sleeper which his answer to Misawa's FACELOCK and Kawada's Stretch Plum. He is tenacious withstanding a back suplex. He hits two back drop drivers and a proper Jackknife Powerbomb for two. He is almost in tears that didnt win the match. Honestly, I think they have gone overboard. I think Kawada has survived too much and it is hurting the credibility of the match if he ends up winning. Kobashi clamps the Sleeper back on and here comes Kawada. THREE Backdrop Drivers and a Powerbomb still cant get the job done! Put me out of my misery, TWO More Backdrop Drivers, a Jumping High Kicks, Two Illegal Closed Fists and a Stretch Plum put Kobashi down. Holy Overkill, Batman! Pro Wrestling NOAH was born in 1993. Theres a lot to like about this match. I really liked the beginning and how Kobashi had to earn that moonsault. I LOVED how heated it became in the middle with the crazy chops to the head and the punches! Kawada died and resurrected himself twice in this match! Dying is the cardinal sin. It kills a match's credibility. I can handle it after the Moonsault, you really want to sell that. Cmon a sleeper, two Backdrop Drivers and a Powerbomb...stretching reality and Kawada still had to go all out to beat Die Hard Kobashi. Matches like this are always so tough for me to rate because the first 15 minutes are great. The back half still had some good stuff, I did like the sleeper work. Lets go ***1/2, I did enjoy most of it, but the finish was excess galore.

Triple Crown Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada - AJPW 7/29/93 Here we go! I know I have seen this before, but I dont remember it. I have really loved the build to this. I know because it is All Japan they arent going to let it rip right away but man I wish they kept out guns blazing and just had a 10 minute brawl after what went down in that tag a couple weeks prior. I think the beginning of the match is very telling. Both men on rope breaks go for their signature break and the other blocks it. Neither man was coming to wrestle clean and this made apparent that Misawa was the first to do this. He was not reacting. He was instigating. Kawada was the first to lay in some leather with a Cowboy Kick off a rope break. It was a cheapshot. Misawa responds with an elbow and Kawada grits his teeth through it. Kawada catches Misawa a kick to the jaw that drops Misawa to a knee. I feel like all this psychological stuff was to make you believe Kawada was every bit Misawa's equal and willing to go the extra mile. They introduce some arm psychology which is common in Misawa matches because his elbow is such a weapon so it is logical for an opponent to want to neutralize that. Kawada wrenches the arm over the shoulder, a Japanese favorite tactic. I thought the Cross-Armbreaker was treated with respect, good struggle over the clasp and when Kawada got it in, good struggle from Misawa to escape. I liked Misawa's all kick-flurry as means to mount his comeback punctuated with a dropkick. Misawa has underrated kicks. They look good, make contact and make a good sound. Kawada catches him with a powerslam to take back over. Kawada actually starts to enter his finish run, which makes sense given that he had the lead almost lost to that kick flurry so he may be anxious to put the match away and not choke. We see his Mack Truck Lariat and an Axe Bomber after a failed Powerbomb attempt (a play off that prior July tag). He teases his powerbomb twice. I really liked the Catch of Misawa Elbow/Arm Drag/Cowboy Kick combination. I like how Misawa has to earn his Frogsplash it was not enough with just a spinwheel kick. He really needs to slug him with an elbow (great falls on his ass sell by Kawada) and hits not one but two frogsplashes. He gets the FACELOCCCCKKKKK for two. They have added some nice psychological wrinkles in the beginning. It has become a little Greatest Hits but they are definitely hitting each other with vim & vigor. Interested to see where they go in the second half. Misawa senses it is time to go home and rocks his shit with an elbow and Tiger Driver for two. Tiger Suplex gets a big reaction and Kawada's struggle for the ropes is epic. I love that when Kawada does make the ropes he quickly gets behind Misawa once he is free and BLASTS him an Axe Bomber. Theres a great struggle for the Stretch Plum it takes Kawada three tries and specifically his specialty jumping high kick to apply it. Then comes the Powerbomb for two. I think this is the best part of the match. The Powerbomb is pretty much Kawada's finish so you are left thinking where can he go now that Misawa has kicked out of that. Kawada was clearly thinking the same thing so he just PUNCHES HIM RIGHT IN THE FACE! Well thats one way to solve your problems. He gets a German for two. Goes back to the Powerbomb and when that doesnt work, he punches him again in the face for two. Kawada is feeling empowered by the power of the punch goes for a third time this time Misawa is prepared blocked it and SMOKES him with an ELBOW! A lot of people have said why did Misawa sell after that elbow if Kawada had not worked his arm recently. I think he was trying to put over just how hard he hit him. Kawada did his powder off the elbow to put over that he was fucked up. I think they wanted to really show this was THE ELBOW that was the game changer. Tiger Suplex 1-2-NO! I think that should have been the finish. They get cinematic down the stretch. I am sure Shawn Michaels would enjoy this if you showed him. Roaring Elbow->Kawada does these limp kick outs. Kawada double legs him out of defiance. Whats weird is Kawada hits a Dangerous Back Drop Driver and his Jumping High Kick, but Misawa is the one who gets up first and just starts German Suplexing him to the death. He really folded him up on a couple of those drawing Oooooohs and Aaaaaahs from the crowd. I guess they were trying to show that Kawada had Fighting Spirit but was too spent to capitalize it was very odd. The whole Kawada deadweighting going limp as Misawa threw him one last time for the win was a little much. The finish stretch aside I think there were a lot of cool macho psychological elements to this. I think the beginning was great about this. I think Kawada's stooping to using a closed fist three times was a very cool and I loved how Misawa adapted and overcame and showed the Power of the Elbow. I liked how they really had to earn their offense. I thought this was humming a long really well, but I found the finish stretch to be peculiar at times and overwrought. Still excellent and definitely an unsung classic because of how awesome this entire rivalry is. ****1/2

Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Masa Fuchi - AJPW 7/19/93 The march to Misawa vs Kawada in the Budokan continues. Misawa & Kawada bring two of their lower-ranked lieutenants into their fight, but that does not lessen the heat. This match is mostly famous for the brawl in the middle of the match, but lets work up to it. Unlike New Japan, All Japan had pretty much abandoned chain wrestling in the 90s so it was refreshing to see Fuchi work a great headlock sequence with Akiyama to begin the match and to have it end with Akiyama winning a top wristlock test of strength was just the cherry on top for a great throwback exchange. Misawa and Kawada have their first skirmish nothing to noteworthy. Misawa gets the better of it and tags out to Akiyama. Akiyama misses a dropkick and Kawada tags out to Fuchi. After a quick drop toehold by Fuchi, this becomes the stretch Akiyama show every similar to the Kawada/Akiyama singles match ten days prior to this. At one point Kawada tries to mash Akiyama head and knee together it looked painful. Kawada does not take the bait the first time Misawa breaks a hold. Kawada starts unleashing his famous stiff kicks and now locks on his Stretch Plum. Misawa breaks it up and this time Kawada does NOT take too kindly to this and BLASTS Misawa from behind with Lariat. Misawa does a great sell and drops to the floor to be massaged. There's a great spot where Akiyama actually breaks free from Fuchi and is looking for the tag BUT Misawa is NOT there, very Southern and I loved it. Fuchi hits a back suplex and they are back on top. This is the part that is famous. Misawa is seeing RED and comes in and lights up Fuchi who has Akiyama in a single leg crab and Kawada. He is BLITZING Kawada, Fuchi tries to pull him off, KO Elbow to Fuchi. Misawa is a man POSSESSED and even his own tag partner Akiyama tries to pull him off because he realizes this excessive and Misawa SHOVES Akiyama!?! Kawada takes this moment to PUNCH Misawa and then the KO Punch and then a Fuck You Cowboy Kick sends Misawa back to the floor! Epic ***** exchange that everyone needs to see. The usually stoic Misawa SNAPS and then their tag partner turmoil and Kawada unleashes two wicked punches! Akiyama does use this skirmish to his advantage as he is able to string enough offense against Fuchi that forces a Fuchi tag out and gives him time to tag Misawa. Meaning MISAWA VS KAWADA~! Red fucking hot! Kawada Kicks and Misawa responds with knees! I thought Kawada was going to OBLITERATE Misawa with a Lariat, but he WHIFFS. Elbow...TIGER DRIVER~! 1-2-NO! Nuclear Nearfall! FACELOOOOCCCCCKKKKKKK complete with FACELOOOOCCCCKKKKK call from the announcer. This little tease of an exchange ends with Akiyama tagging in. This makes you want to see Misawa vs Kawada in the Budokan bad. Akiyama hits his first High Knee which would become his trademark. Tags Misawa back in for his Frogsplash and back to FACELOOOCCKKKKK! Now it is Kawada turn to save his dumps Akiyama out but Misawa releases to SMOKE Kawada with an ELBOW! Kawada great sell of it on his ass. Misawa definitely got the last laugh in this match. Two Northern Lights Suplexes and Das Wunderkid picks up a big victory over Fuchi! Very unusual for a rookie to get the duke, very cool. Misawa vs Kawada light each other up! If this doesnt make you want to see Misawa vs Kawada, I dont know what will! Excellent match! ****1/4

Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama vs Holy Demon Army (Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue, Yoshinari Ogawa) - AJPW 7/2/93 Unbeknownst to me this is apparently the greatest six man tag match of all-time, I always thought that distinction went to a matches either in '91 or '92. I am inclined to agree with this is great, but that not that great crowd. It is balls to the wall action, but it feel more consumable & easily digestible like a Summer Action Movie Blockbuster than that Oscar Award movie that sticks with you like some of their classics. Das Wunderkid Jun Akiyama replaces Kikuchi in this six-man line up. The first big interaction is the Misawa vs Kawada fight. Unlike their previous initial interactions, it is not as even (i.e. shit goes down). At first Kawada takes the lead with kicks, but Misawa storms back. Misawa end up hitting his diving elbow outside the ring. Taue stops Kobashi from diving out but Akiyama crashes down on Kawada from the top rope. Good babyface shine! Misawa tags out to Akiyama bad idea. Kawada is able to overcome with kicks near his corner and tag out to Taue. Taue hits a Jumbo High Knee, which Akiyama would eventually take for himself. Single leg crab, but Kobashi breaks to a smattering of boos with a bulldog, honestly it felt unwarranted. Ogawa begins working the midsection, love a good double stomp. Kawada & Taue continue their torture of the Supernova Rookie with Kawada unleashing a wicked Cowboy Kick on Akiyama. Akiyama wins a suplex struggle over Ogawa for a weak transition. Misawa uncorks on Ogawa. Misawa & Kobashi beat the tar out of Ogawa. Misawa gets distract by Taue constantly threatening to interfere. Ogawa counters from the top rope long enough to tag out to Kawada. Kawada comes in all piss & vinegar. Kawada Kicks. Misawa Hulks Up! Kawada CLOBBERS him with his spinning heel kick. Misawa/Kawada has been definitely been the highlight of this match. Taue comes in and rolls Snake Eyes. As Jumbo knows you cannot suplex Misawa, he slides out the back, spin wheel kick and tag out to Kobashi. Who has not seen much action and is raring to go. Big shouldertackle from Orange Crush. Suplex struggle and Taue comes out the winner with a DDT. This is when the match picks up. Kobashi/Kawada go on a tear with each other. This is a firefight brawl I am looking for. Kneelifts and kicks. Kawada wins and does a Stretch Plum. Misawa kicks Kawada in the face a bunch, but Dangerous K is unyielding. Eventually Kawada releases to say what the fuck is your problem. Firefight breaks out that Kawada wins with a jumping high kick to the face. Powerbomb on Kobashi. Misawa/Akiyama break up cover. Melee ensues. Misawa DECKS Kawada with an elbow who sells for a while. Kobashi is in a rough way. Taue and Ogawa keep him down while Kawada recovers. General heat on Kobashi who has a nice hope spot sequence where he shows life but is QUASHED by a NODOWA~! I really liked how he turned the second Nodowa attempt into a Russian Legsweep to tag out to Misawa. Misawa/Kawada meet in and it is awesome! Kawada TRUCKS Misawa with a Lariat, but you cant powerbomb Misawa. I thought you couldnt German Suplex Kawada but Misawa proves me wrong, but when Akiyama tries it, Kawada unleashes his kick counter. Akiyama misses a flying elbow in the corner I thought he was dead meat. Taue rolls Snake Eyes but Akiyama sitouts on a powerbomb and tags in Kobashi. Kobashi ends up with Rat Boy alone. Fracas ending which was great and Kobashi Moonsault Wins the match. Taue & Akiyama are still brawling. I am glad I watched this. Kawada has kinda disappointed me in 1993 but this has me revved up for 7/29/93 which is exactly its purpose. The Misawa/Kawada exchanges were lit. By far the best parts. Kobashi was also engaging, loved his face in peril and great finish stretch from him. The major problem is they sacrificed story for action. Lots of action for the workrate marks but for those wanting a little more meat on the bone, this falls short of classic status. ****