Microstatistics

That's a fair point, watching a larger sample of matches would probably better indicate if he really was individually worse than the other three during the 2000s. And the regular overlap of Misawa, Kobashi and Taue is a good point, especially in tags that included Akiyama, Tenryu etc., and definitely would have been a factor for the higher match quality.

Superb match with Terry Funk giving one of the best performances in wrestling history. Brillant selling, doing little things to put Hansen over as a monster (for example nearly falling backwards after slamming Hansen to emphasize how difficult it was) and generally making himself look like the most sympathetic babyface ever. Hansen's intensity is great too but him no selling Funk's work on his knee everytime he went on the offensive is one thing that has always bothered me about this match. Still a must-see classic.

I'm starting to feel that way as well. You can make a case for Negro Casas as top ten in the world for at least 25 years. Does anybody else have that kind of longevity? I have never watched Negro Casas and thought nothing but good thoughts. The man is insanely charismatic, is a great rudo, a great technico, can brawl, can mat wrestle, can bring the emotion, has great offense and amazing selling. Even as a super old dude in 2015, he can still do great matches when given the chance in a long singles. I think after my last week of watching it is down to a Casas-Hansen battle for number one. Maybe Jun Akiyama but his case would be closer to 20 years compared to Casas's 25+ years.

Anyone know where I can find this match? It doesn't seem to be anywhere online. Also, I found a total of around 11 out of the 16 minutes of the Maeda vs. Funaki match but was looking for the complete version of that too.

For me, she is up there with Kobashi and Steamboat as contender for best babyface ever. One of the best wrestlers of the 1980s from what I have seen so far.

Not to be redundant, but his consistency and longevity are insane. Watched his Maximo match from earlier this year and he is just as good as he was in the 1987 Santo match (if not better).

I mean I didn't think Kawada was bad or anything like that, just slightly disappointing post-2000. I would rank Kobashi and Misawa above him anyways even when excluding everyone's 2000's stuff but Taue's 2003-2006 bolstered his case enough for him to be #3, IMO.

This might be an unusual order but 1) Kobashi 2) Misawa 3) Taue 4) Kawada For me what hurts Kawada is that his 2000s run is lacking and the other three easily surpass him in that area. Taue's 2003-2006 run is really terrific and is what made me put him over Kawada.