1995 Recommendations

[kjh]

WWF is mostly obvious stuff with some outliers. Basically anything that looks intriguing on paper, like one of the Heavenly Bodies in a singles match or a Buddy Landel match, is worth including. Also, Bam Bam Bigelow vs 1-2-3 Kid in January might get overlooked because it was on Challenge during a really uneventful period for the show.

Yeah, there may be more hidden gems to be found from Raw/Superstars/Action Zone. The Kid & Holly tag team had lots of good matches early in the year, Jarrett working competitive matches with all the undercard babyfaces as IC champion teasing title switches, any time Shawn appeared on TV, etc.

[Loss]

So we're planning on releasing 1995 after 1992.

 

We're also trying to get all the matchlists finalized by early summer for every year so goodhelmet can go comp crazy over summer. So, keep those recommendations coming.

[jdw]

Dynamite over Aja for Big Red in August. Dynamite was 0-3 going in. Basically the point of putting the belt back on Aja so quickly: having meaning for Dynamite's win, and then set her up for Toyota in December. Frankly they pulled the trigger on getting the belt off her so fast, but by that point the working relationship was fading.

 

I'd also put in the Grand Prix final of Toyota-Hotta. Basically three big singles matches in a week or so: Dynamite-Aja, Toyota-Hokuto, Toyota-Hotta. They make for interesting contrasts.

 

John

[rainmakerrtv]

So we're planning on releasing 1995 after 1992.

 

We're also trying to get all the matchlists finalized by early summer for every year so goodhelmet can go comp crazy over summer. So, keep those recommendations coming.

GAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! You people are going to bankrupt me!

[Loss]

Does anyone know where I can find a fairly comprehensive match list for WCW Saturday Night in 1995? It would need to include promos as well. Everything I have come across so far has been incomplete.

[ohtani's jacket]

This --- Volk Han vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto (6/15/95)

[smkelly]

1-4-95 Shinjiro Ohtani vs. El Samurai NJPW – I might be confusing this with their 1-96 match.

1-4-95 Steiner Brothers vs. Muto & Hase NJPW - Naylor approved.

1-8-95 Terry Funk vs. Cactus Jack IWA Japan - A taste of what they are capable of.

1-13-95 Sabu vs. Cactus Jack NWC (Cage) - The two craziest dudes in America hurting each other for our viewing pleasure.

1-19-95 Akira Taue vs. Tommy Dreamer AJPW – For shock value alone for people who haven’t seen it yet.

1-19-95 Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi AJPW (Triple Crown) - Hour long, I know. But it is a good hour spent.

1-24-95 Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue AJPW - Eh, just another Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue tag. Nothing special.

1-25-95 Volk Han vs. Akira Maeda RINGS

 

2-4-95 Chris Benoit vs. Al Snow ECW - Pretty famous.

2-25-95 Benoit & Malenko vs. Taz & Sabu ECW - First superbomb ever?

2-25-95 Shane Douglas vs. Marty Jannetty ECW

 

3-4-95 Stan Hansen vs. Toshiaki Kawada AJPW (Triple Crown) - I loved this match almost as much as their 2-93 match.

3-4-95 Misawa & Kobashi vs. Williams & Ace AJPW - Famous match.

3-13-95 Wild Pegasus vs. Koji Kanemoto NJPW

3-16-95 Mysterio/Santo/Octagon vs. Panther/Psicosis/F. Guerrera AAA

3-17-95 Dynamite Kansai vs. Mayumi Ozaki JWP (Street Fight)

3-24-95 Misawa/Kobashi/Hansen vs. Kawada/Taue/Baba AJPW - I know it isn't AJ sponsored, but the match is awesome nonetheless. I think some of the other matches on the card were cool too, but can't remember any additional info on 'em.

3-26-95 Yumiko Hotta vs. Lioness Asuka AJW (UFC Rules) - The more I watch Joshi the more I fear women.

3-26-95 Manami Toyota vs. Aja Kong AJW

 

4-6-95 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada AJPW - Famous for the face breaking and stellar match that followed after said face breaking.

4-8-95 Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue AJPW

4-8-95 Eddy Guerrero vs. Too Cold Scorpio ECW

4-12-95 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue AJPW - Not quite as good as 4-15, but who are you to judge Taue?

4-13-95 Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi AJPW

4-15-95 Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko ECW (ECW Television Championship) - A lot of people dislike this, but this was like Flair vs. Steamboat to me when I first saw it.

4-15-95 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue AJPW - Taue's best match ever?

4-16-95 Shinjiro Ohtani vs. Koji Kanemoto NJPW

4-20-95 Nobuhiko Takada vs. Vader UWFI

4-21-95 Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera (WWA Lightweight)

4-29-95 Steiner Brothers vs. Hase & Sasaki NJPW

 

5-3-95 El Hijo del Santo vs. Psicosis AAA - Often cited as the best lucha match. VERY good.

5-7-95 Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue AJW

5-13-95 Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko ECW (ECW Television Championship)

5-26-95 Stan Hansen vs. Mitsuharu Misawa AJPW (Triple Crown) - I might be confusing this with their '93 TC match.

 

6-9-95 Rob Van Dam vs. Dan Kroffat AJPW (PWF Junior Title) - I had a hard time remembering this because of the tag match which needs no explanation.

6-9-95 Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue AJPW

6-16-95 Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera (WWA Lightweight) - Not as good as their 4-21 or ECW matches in my opinion, but still really good.

6-18-95 Mysterio/Santo/Parka/Octagon vs. Psicosis/Panther/Pentagon/F. Guerrera AAA

6-23-95 Silver King vs. Apolo Dantes

6-23-95 Shinjiro Ohtani vs. Koji Kanemoto NJPW

6-25-95 Black Tiger II vs. Koji Kanemoto NJPW

6-27-95 Manami Toyota vs. Aja Kong AJW

 

7-1-95 Shopping Mall Brawl Big Japan - Crazy.

7-1-95 Ian Rotten vs. Axl Rotten ECW (Taipei Death Match) - Stupid crazy.

7-4-95 Black Tiger II vs. Chris Benoit NJPW

7-7-95 Chris Benoit vs. El Samurai NJPW

7-7-95 Black Tiger II vs. Dean Malenko NJPW

7-7-95 Lion Heart vs. Ultimo Dragon WAR

7-13-95 Shinjiro Ohtani vs. Chris Benoit NJPW

7-15-95 Gangstas vs. Public Enemy ECW (Cage)

7-23-95 Jeff Jarrett vs. Shawn Michaels WWF

7-24-95 Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue AJPW

7-24-95 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada AJPW (Triple Crown) - A very good, yet not praised nearly enough TC match.

 

8-4-95 Heavenly Bodies vs. Tracy Smothers & Dirty White Boy SMW

8-5-95 Eddy Guerrero & The Steiner Brothers vs. Dean Malenko, Too Cold Scorpio & Cactus Jack ECW - Love it.

8-11-95 Jushin Liger & El Samurai vs. Shinjiro Ohtani & Koji Kanemoto NJPW

8-20-95 Cactus Jack vs. Terry Funk IWA Japan - Stupid crazy vol. II

8-26-95 Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko ECW (2 out of 3 Falls) - I think this is an awesome match.

8-27-95 Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon WWF (Ladder + WWF Intercontinental)

8-30-95 Double Inoues vs. Toyota & Hasegawa AJW

8-30-95 Dynamite Kansai vs. Aja Kong AJW

 

9-2-95 Manami Toyota vs. Akira Hokuto AJW

9-3-95 Yumiko Hotta vs. Manami Toyota AJW

9-5-95 Megumi Kudo & Combat Toyoda vs. Miwa Sato, Nurse Nakamura & Shark Tsuchiya FMW (Barbed Wire)

9-10-95 Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa AJPW (Triple Crown) - Taue's "Ace up his sleeve"?

9-16-95 Rey Misterio Jr vs. Psicosis ECW - MY favorite type of lucha.

9-16-95 Raven & Stevie Richards vs. The Pit Bulls ECW (2 out of 3 Falls + Double Dog-Collar + ECW Tag Team Titles)

9-17-95 Ric Flair vs. Arn Anderson WCW

9-22-95 Rey Mysterio Jr vs. Psicosis AAA - SUPERB.

9-23-95 Steven Regal vs. Wild Pegasus NJPW

9-25-95 Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani NJPW

 

10-7-95 Rey Misterio Jr vs. Psicosis ECW (2 out of 3 Falls)

10-9-95 Ric Flair vs. Arn Anderson WCW (Cage)

10-15-95 Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue AJPW - One of the best tag matches in ever.

10-25-95 Gary Albright vs. Toshiaki Kawada AJPW - The violence is alright.

10-25-95 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi AJPW (Triple Crown)

10-28-95 Sabu vs. Devon Storm NWA - Still think this is an awesome match.

 

11-18-95 Jushin Liger vs. Barry Houston WCW - I believed the hype man. Liger makes Houston be someone he could have never dreamed of being.

11-18-95 Rey Misterio Jr vs. Psicosis ECW (Mexican Death Match) - Probably my favorite lucha match of all-time. Makes rainy cold days enjoyable.

 

12-4-95 Kyoko Inoue vs. Aja Kong AJW

12-9-95 Steve Austin vs. Sandman vs. Mikey Whipwreck (ECW World Heavyweight)

12-9-95 Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue AJPW - It is Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue. 'Nuff said.

12-13-95 Shinjiro Ohtani vs. Ultimo Dragon WAR

12-13-95 Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit WAR

12-13-95 Rey Mysterio Jr vs. Psicosis WAR

12-13-95 Jushin Liger vs. Ultimo Dragon WAR

12-17-95 Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith (WWF World Heavyweight) WWF

12-19-95 Volk Han vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto RINGS

12-25-95 Psicosis & Halloween vs. Leon Negro & Ultraman 2000 AAA (No Rope Barbed Wire Street Fight Cage Match) - Best match on Christmas?

12-27-95 Eddy Guerrero vs. Shinjiro Ohtani WCW

 

February, May, and November are weak spots for me. Couldn't think of anything that I had seen to put on it. Hope this helps somewhat, if anything.

[smkelly]

Bueller?

[Ditch]

Bueller?

It would help your cause if you bothered to look at what was already nominated, or a mortal lock to be on.

[ohtani's jacket]

5-3-95 El Hijo del Santo vs. Psicosis AAA - Often cited as the best lucha match. VERY good.

I think you're getting confused with the Rey Mysterio Jr./Psicosis match from '95. I can't think of anyone who cites Santo vs. Psicosis as the best lucha match and in truth it's not very good.

[smkelly]

Bueller?

It would help your cause if you bothered to look at what was already nominated, or a mortal lock to be on.

Yeah, you're right. I do read all of the posts, though. I just...like making enormous lists for some reason.

 

5-3-95 El Hijo del Santo vs. Psicosis AAA - Often cited as the best lucha match. VERY good.

I think you're getting confused with the Rey Mysterio Jr./Psicosis match from '95. I can't think of anyone who cites Santo vs. Psicosis as the best lucha match and in truth it's not very good.

Yeah, you're also right...but to an extent. The match, to me, is excellent. One of my favorite lucha matches. Mr. Schneider loves it too!

Great lucha singles match, probably the best Psicosis match ever. Most of the great Psic matches depend on huge bumps and crazy highspots, this match was mostly on the mat, and Psicosis hung with Santo. Meanwhile, Santo out highspots Psicosis hitting a tope, a plancha and a flying tope-con-hilo on a prone Psicosis. The first fall rules, with both guys rocking it on the mat, and Psicosis getting a submission with Santos camel clutch. These two have had a bunch of great singles matches, and I think they meld even better then Rey Jr. and Psicosis.

 

EDIT: I have been going through Lynch's 2,609 page list the last few days. There are so many matches I haven't seen or heard of. Many of them seem like they would be an awesome match. For example: Finlay vs. Brad Armstrong from Germany #58 stood out to me. I see it is on the Finlay comp, but listed as incomplete. Will - did you get it from Lynch?

 

At any rate, is there an interest in a list of matches like that from Lynch's list? List making is a hobby of mine.

[Loss]

If there's anything from '95 that looks intriguing on paper that you've never heard of, sure, that would be great. We can go from there and make edits. Thanks for your efforts by the way.

[smkelly]

I appreciate it, man. Thank you.

 

Here's what I've found today from Lynch's list (pertaining to 1995 & stuff I've never heard of):

 

1-2-95 Stan Hansen & Johnny Smith vs. Can-Am Express AJPW

This match stuck out to me because all four competitors are awesome workers.

 

1-2-95 Steve Williams & Johnny Ace vs. Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi AJPW

Again, all four wrestlers are top flight workers. Ace and Williams had already had some excellent matches in '94, and they are further destined for excellence in March of '95 and then another classic in June of '96. Kobashi and Kikuchi had years of experience together.

 

1-19-95 Johnny Smith, Steve Williams & Johnny Ace vs. Doug Furnas, Dan Kroffat & Stan Hansen AJPW

I'm drooling here.

 

1-22-95 Great Sasuke & Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs. TAKA Michinoku & El Samurai Tokyo (Best of Michinoku Pro #4)

People 'round these parts love them Fujiwara. I'd like to see Fujiwara in M-Pro working against two crazy bumpers like TAKA and Samurai and to have a partner like the insane Sasuke.

 

1-29-95 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. Can-Am Express AJPW

Two of the top five tag teams are going at it.

 

3-4-95 Dan Kroffat vs. Yoshinari Ogawa AJPW

They are not known for their awesome singles matches, but they are known as excellent tag workers. I'm willing to bet they can impress in singles matches though.

 

4-13-95 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Dan Spivey AJPW

I think this would be an awesome slugfest. Although it may be too dated for Spivey.

 

4-15-95 Stan Hansen, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada, Johnny Ace & Takao Omori AJPW

Anytime Kawada faces the other big names in All Japan really good things happen.

 

7-20-95 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. Can-Am Express AJPW

Two of the top five tag teams are going at it. Again.

 

9-2-95 Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tamon Honda AJPW

Again, I am drooling. All they need is Akiyama and they have 7-2-93 replicated. Honda is no Akiyama, but the dude can up his game when in the midsts of greatness.

 

9-10-95 Dan Kroffat vs. Yoshinari Ogawa AJPW

I have a gut feeling Kroffat vs. Ogawa is better than most pimped cruiserweight matches in American history.

 

9-10-95 Survival Tag Series

I think this would be awesome because All Japan very rarely jobs guys and/or teams out in short order. I don't have a clue if the match lasts that long but what I know of All Japan, my experiences tell me the match is not on the short side. Long tag matches in All Japan are typically awesome.

 

9-30-95 Stan Hansen & Johnny Smith vs. Can-Am Express AJPW

Those same four awesome workers are beating each other again.

 

11-18-95 Stan Hansen & Gary Albright vs. Can-Am Express AJPW

I think they will hit each other very hard in this match.

 

11-18-95 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Johnny Smith & Rob Van Dam AJPW

One of the best tag teams ever versus a underrated worker (Smith) and Bob Van Dammit. I think it would be a really good match.

 

11-29-95 Stan Hansen & Gary Albright vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi AJPW

Two of the best foreigners in Japan versus one of Japan's top teams ever.

 

12-14-95 Too Cold Scorpio vs. Jim Neidhart Bremen (Germany #60) (Street Fight)

Too Cold has become a cult favorite lately. Neidhart was a capable hand. I think a gimmick setting where extended periods of selling (aka Neidhart catching his breath) are needed, Anvil would be an awesome worker.

 

12-15-95 Dave Finlay vs. Too Cold Scorpio Bremen (Germany #60)

Two cult favorites. Is this their only match against each other?

 

12-16-95 Keiji Mutoh vs. Jim Neidhart Bremen (Germany #62)

Thought this looked intriguing. I'm not high on the Mutoh scale of workrate, and I've already described Neidhart. Still. It looks neat.

 

 

Looking through Lynch's list has really hit me. It is a humbling experience. That dude has too much wrestling I want. He just has too much wrestling. A book that has 2,609 pages of wrestling listings is insane. No wonder Will gets pissed when people don't open their mouths before he releases a set. He has to brave that beast alone.

[Loss]

Anyone know the date for the Cactus/Sabu Desert Death Match from NWC Total Chaos? (Not the cage match.)

 

At that point, I think the '95 list is pretty sewn up.

[goodhelmet]

Finlay-Armstrong - I converted the majority of Lynch's Germany for him and no complete version exists.

[smkelly]

Anyone know the date for the Cactus/Sabu Desert Death Match from NWC Total Chaos? (Not the cage match.)

 

At that point, I think the '95 list is pretty sewn up.

This is what I have: 10-29-94 Sabu vs. Cactus Jack NWC (Desert Death Match)

[FLIK]

Some more joshi recomendations

 

Hopefully not too late bringing this up but i'd hate to see GAEA miss the cut again.

 

(Some of my dates for these might be off as i've got some stuff listed by air date and others by taping date)

 

For GAEA

 

Debut show main event from 4/15/95 is a must include. (Street Fight) Devil & Ozaki vs Chigusa & Kansai. Just as good, if not better then the famous Kansai/OZ Street Fight from a month earlier in JWP.

 

Then of course there's the debut matches for all the rookies on the undercard, Chikayo Nagashima vs Toshie Uematsu, Meiko Satomura vs Sonoko Kato & Sugar Sato vs Maiko Narita. Nagashima/Toshie is the best of the 3 and a really good match period. The other 2 are decent but nothing special. I bring those 2 up more because they're short (combined 10 mins maybe) and they have the historical significance of being the 1st matches for Kato, Meiko & Sugar who'd go on to become 3 of the bigger names in joshi over the next 10-15 years so hopefully they could be squeazed on the set too.

 

You can really tell the diffrence in how GAEA pushed/treated their rookies compared to AJW as GAEA didn't have many vets or any drawing names besides Chiggy to start out with so they had to rely a lot on outside talent the 1st few years and needed their youngsters to advance at a faster pace

 

6/17/1995 Miki Handa & Michiko Nagashima vs Kaoru & Sonoko Kato. Not the greatest match ever but really good, kind of a borderline pick.

 

6/18/1995 Chigusa Nagayo vs Devil Masami. Won't comare to their 80's stuff but this is great on it's own. Another i'd say is a must include.

 

8/12/1995 Chigusa Nagayo vs Bad Burse Nakamura - GAEA was in a big feud with FMW women at the time and this is a great little brawl. Way better then it looks on paper.

 

8/26/1995 Chigusa Nagayo, Sonoko Kato & Meiko Satomura vs Devil Masami, Tomoko Kuzumi & Tomoko Miyaguchi - Kuzuki & Miyaguchi would go on to become Azyumi Hyuga & Ran YuYu. You'll find a lot of these GAEA vs JWP 6 woman tags around this time frame and this is one of the best. Awesome match, one of the better ones of the year.

 

9/17/1995 Hikari Fukuoka & KAORU vs Devil Masami & Dynamite Kansai - Right around the time Fukuoka & KAORU, one of my fav joshi teams ever started clicking together.

 

9/17/1995 (Street Fight) Mayumi Ozaki vs Chigusa Nagayo - Another in a series of great brawling matches for this year.

 

11/25/1995 Devil Masami & Mayumi Ozaki vs Hikari Fukuoka & KAORU - 45 min draw (around 30 aired) One of my fav tag matches ever and a huge giant hidden gem as I never hear anyone else pimping this like it deserves to be.

 

JWP

 

Only the 3/17 street fight & 3/21 tag have been mentioned in the thread so far but there was a bunch of other good stuff that year.

 

The main event from 3/17 Candy Okutsu & Devil Masami vs Cuty Suzuki & Hikari Fukuoka is a pretty damn awesome tag in it's own right. Random kick ass tags were kind of staple of JWP for a while, especially if it was the main event and this is a great example of their "style" of match.

 

6/16/1995 (JWP Junior Title Tournament Final) Candy Okutsu vs Hiromi Yagi - Only 6 mins but it's a rockin 6 mins.

 

6/16/1995 Devil Masami & Mayumi Ozaki vs Hikari Fukuoka & Kaoru - their match later in the year is better (they only get like 1/3 the time here) but this is great in it's own right.

 

6/16/1995 Dynamite Kansai vs Chigusa Nagayo - Awesome big match/main event style match if that makes sense.

 

7/23/1995 (Street Fight) Mayumi Ozaki vs Dynamite Kansai - I love 3/17 but fuck 3/17 THIS shits all over it and in a year of a billion awesome joshi brawls this is the greatest joshi street fight match ever period.

 

11/11/1995 Devil Masami, Hikari Fukuoka & Candy Okutsu vs Mayumi Ozaki, Cuty Suzuki & Hiromi Yagi - Another really good JWP style tag.

 

11/11/1995 (3WA Title) Dynamite Kansai © vs Takako Inoue - Kansai's only succesful title defense. Begining of Tak being handed the role of designated 3WA title sacraficial lamb. Not a top 10 or 20 contender but a good match none the less.

 

12/16/1995 (Street Fight) Devil Masami vs Mayumi Ozaki - In a year of a billion awesome joshi brawls this is the least of them but again, judged on it's own still a good match.

 

12/16/1995 (JWP Tag Titles) Dynamite Kansai & Cuty Suzuki © vs Kaou & Hikari Fukuoka - lack of crowd heat hurts this a little but otherwise another really good KAORU/Fukuoka tag.

[goodhelmet]

I'll make sure some of those get on the set.

[JadedWrestling]

Too late for suggestions? From what I remember Bret Hart vs Hakushi at In Your House #1 (5/14/1995) was really good, featuring a lot of high flying stuff that was pretty new to the WWF at that point. Admittedly it's been a long time since I've seen it so it may be a case of me overrating it in the past but thought I'd throw it out there.

[jdw]

Don't know if this is closed yet... looking at the AJPW suggestions with some comments and tossing a few more out.

 

Both of the one hour draws from January should be there for historical value even if we debate the qualities. First TC draw, and first Tag Title match to go an hour since the 70s.

 

These are TV dates:

 

02/11/95 Omori & Akiyama vs. Rogers & Fulton (All Asia final)

02/11/95 Kawada & Taue vs. Kroffat & Furnas

 

The first is a nice little match, and a nice chance to see what the Fantastics are up to. I don't think it eats up a ton of TV time. But so much of AJPW in 1995 is The Usual Suspects that it's a nice change of pace.

 

Misawa, Kobashi & Akiyama vs Williams, Ace & RVD, 2/17

 

Don't remember tat one at all.

 

Misawa/Kobashi vs Williams/Ace, AJ 3/4

 

Of course that needs to be on there.

 

1995 Carnival

 

This is really the Carny that can be covered well in a yearbook due to the commercial tape.

 

Kawada/Akiyama 3/21

Taue vs Kobashi, AJ 3/21

 

The Taue match needs to be there. He debuts the nodowa off the apron, and it's a direct comp to the Taue-Kawada and Taue-Misawa matches coming up.

 

Kobashi/Misawa 3/26

Kawada/Misawa 4/6

 

I'd strongly advocate that bring on there. This really is the one time you can see *all* of the Four Corners facing each other within a month's time in full matches. It is unique in that way.

 

Kawada vs Taue, 4/8

 

Of course.

 

Kawada vs Kobashi, 4/13

 

This isn't on the commercial and is chopped up on Original NTV. There is a special show, and I think Ditch mentioned that it also just came out in Classics.

 

Others that may have been mentioned but that I didn't copy and paste:

 

Misawa vs. Taue

 

This is their league draw. A fine match. The reason to include this in addtion to the Final is that it gives you the come to the other 30 minutes draws: Misawa-Kawada and Kawada-Kobashi.

 

Misawa vs. Akiyama (commercial)

Taue vs. Akiyama (commercial)

Kobashi vs Akiyama (NTV)

Akiyama vs. Omari (commercial)

 

I think all of those go hand-in-hand with the Kawada-Akiyama mentioned earlier. None of these are 25 minute matches, so they don't eat up a ton of space. But 1996 is Jun's Big Jump Up. This gives context of where he was in 1995. None better since he's not a factor at all in much of the rest of the year: the All Asia tag goes to sleep, there aren't a ton of six men, and they don't give him any singles matches of much note the rest of the year. This really is the time to see him... and to allow people to contrast Jun 1995 with say Kobashi 1990 when they were at the same stages of their career. Also lets people see the gap between the Big Four and Jun.

 

Misawa vs Taue, AJ 4/15

 

Final... of course.

 

 

Non-Carny Carny tags:

 

Mitsuharu Misawa / Stan Hansen / Kenta Kobashi vs. Shoehi Baba / Toshiaki Kawada / Akira Taue

Hansen, Kobashi & Akiyama vs Kawada, Ace & Omori, 4/15

 

The six man on Finals Night is perfectly okay. But I think the 60 minute draw at Korakuen Hall is more interesting, and has funny stuff like Baba sending one of the Boys to the back to get him something to drink. It's also very much a special surprise for Fans as Doc was out of the Carny, they booked this sort of on the fly, and then Kept Going. None of the fans expected it to keep going as it pretty much worked like a normal six man, a bit extend deeper into the 20s building towards a climax... then Kept Going. It's one of those where you could kind of imagine being in the building, a little disappointed that Doc was out, looking at this match... then they toss you something Special. It's a cool little match in that way. Does run out of a little steam down the stretch, but that's a hell of a long time into it.

 

Also need to consider the six man of the Dome show.

 

The Misawa-Kobashi from 10/95 needs to make it. First TC between the two, and follows the Kawada-Albright on the card.

 

The Kobashi-Taue from the 7/95 Budokan is a contrast to the Misawa-Kawada on the same show.

 

Some other things to consider:

 

3/95 Hansen-Kawada

5/95 Hansen-Misawa

 

Stan wins the title for the last time. Stan-Kawada goes way too long. Misawa-Hansen is shorter, but not a load of fun either. At least clips. If it were an AJPW Yearbook, they both would go on in full for historical value and as people should see them. But with your space, the balance of these matches would be better served on something else. Clips...

 

There was a mini-series between Ace and Kobashi. If I recall, the keeper was the same night as the Hansen-Misawa. It does play into Kobashi's bad leg, and nicely leads into El Super Classico later on the series. Since so much of 1995 AJPW is Four Corners, I'd actually recommend is as a contrast. I only wish the Kawada-Ace that I saw during Carny was out there since it would be a keeper.

 

I like the Albright-Honda match from the year end Budokan. Not terribly long.

 

If the year seems Carny-centric, consider:

 

* the Tag Title was a two team feud after March, and kicked out just two more defenses on the set

* a one-match Tag League relative to every other year

* no Doc in the last 6 series of the year

* very limited Hansen, and no one stepping up

* tv killed off the six-man tag format for the most part

* All Asia tag, which was cool in the first four years of the decade, went to its death this year

 

In addition to the Usual Suspect Big Matches, the only real period of interesting, non-Usual Suspect stuff is Carny. And it presents a unique chance to see *very* itteration of:

 

Misawa vs Kawada vs Taue vs Kobashi vs Jun

 

In their original Four Corners roles before things changed next year. At this point:

 

* Kawada had never pinned Misawa

* Kobashi had never pinned Taue

* Taue had never made a "big stand" as a singles

* Misawa had never won Carny

* Jun hadn't broken out from being the #3 on his side

 

It's 10 matches, but I think worthwhile to carve out space for them in addition to the Usual Suspect Big Matches.

 

John

[Loss]

I wouldn't say this is "closed", but this is definitely the thread with the highest urgency for recommendations, as it will likely be the next set. I have some questions.

 

Misawa vs. Taue

 

This is their league draw. A fine match. The reason to include this in addtion to the Final is that it gives you the come to the other 30 minutes draws: Misawa-Kawada and Kawada-Kobashi.

 

Misawa vs. Akiyama (commercial)

Taue vs. Akiyama (commercial)

Kobashi vs Akiyama (NTV)

Akiyama vs. Omari (commercial)

 

I think all of those go hand-in-hand with the Kawada-Akiyama mentioned earlier. None of these are 25 minute matches, so they don't eat up a ton of space. But 1996 is Jun's Big Jump Up. This gives context of where he was in 1995. None better since he's not a factor at all in much of the rest of the year: the All Asia tag goes to sleep, there aren't a ton of six men, and they don't give him any singles matches of much note the rest of the year. This really is the time to see him... and to allow people to contrast Jun 1995 with say Kobashi 1990 when they were at the same stages of their career. Also lets people see the gap between the Big Four and Jun.

Because so many of these matches repeat throughout the year, could you confirm the dates for these to make sure I get the right ones?

 

There was a mini-series between Ace and Kobashi. If I recall, the keeper was the same night as the Hansen-Misawa. It does play into Kobashi's bad leg, and nicely leads into El Super Classico later on the series. Since so much of 1995 AJPW is Four Corners, I'd actually recommend is as a contrast. I only wish the Kawada-Ace that I saw during Carny was out there since it would be a keeper.

In May?

 

Everything else you mentioned I already have listed.

[Ditch]

Kobashi vs Ace happened in March (Carny), May, and July (TC contender tournament). I think only the May iteration is available, and it's good.

[jdw]

There was a mini-series between Ace and Kobashi. If I recall, the keeper was the same night as the Hansen-Misawa. It does play into Kobashi's bad leg, and nicely leads into El Super Classico later on the series. Since so much of 1995 AJPW is Four Corners, I'd actually recommend is as a contrast. I only wish the Kawada-Ace that I saw during Carny was out there since it would be a keeper.

In May?

From Dan's list:

 

716. AJ Burned comm. 5/26/95

Stan Hansen vs. Mitsuharu Misawa

Kenta Kobashi vs. Johnny Ace

 

Here is Carny, though it sounds like you have it:

 

1174. AJ Converted comm. 1995 Champion Carnival Vol. 1 Pt. 1

1175. AJ Converted comm. 1995 Champion Carnival Vol. 1 Pt. 2

Stan Hansen vs Takao Omori, 3/21/95

Mitsuhara Misawa vs Doug Furnas, 3/21/95

Toshiaki Kawada vs Jun Akiyama, 3/21/95

Akira Taue vs Kenta Kobashi, 3/21/95

Dan Kroffat vs Doug Furnas (Clipped), 3/24/95

Jun Akiyama vs Takao Omori, 3/24/95

Danny Spivey vs Johnny Ace (JIP), 3/24/95

Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuhara Misawa, / Stan Hansen vs Akira Taue,

Toshiaki Kawada, / Giant Baba, 3/24/95

 

1176. AJ Converted comm. 1995 Champion Carnival Vol. 2 Pt. 1

1177. AJ Converted comm. 1995 Champion Carnival Vol. 2 Pt. 2

Masao Inoue, Haruka Eigen, / Masa Fuchi vs Mitsuo Momota, Rusher Kimura / Jumbo Tsuruta,

3/26/95 (clipped)

Jun Akiyama vs Doug Furnas, 3/26/95

Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue, / Yoshinari Ogawa vs Giant Baba, Stan Hansen / Takao Omori,

3/26/95

Mitsuhara Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi, 3/26/95

Doug Furnas / Dan Kroffat vs Kenta Kobashi / Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, 4/8/95 (Clipped)

Stan Hansen vs Johnny Ace, 4/8/95 (clipped)

Mitsuhara Misawa vs Jun Akiyama, 4/8/95

Toshiaki Kawada vs Akira Taue, 4/8/95

 

1178. AJ Converted comm. 1995 Champion Carnival Vol. 3 Pt. 1

1179. AJ Converted comm. 1995 Champion Carnival Vol. 3 Pt. 2

Kenta Kobashi vs Takao Omori, 4/6/95

Jun Akiyama vs Akira Taue, 4/6/95

Johnny Ace, Dan Kroffat, / The Eagle vs Stan Hansen, Giant Baba, / Yoshinari Ogawa, 4/6/95

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada, 4/6/95

Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama, / Kentaro Shiga vs Johnny Ace, Dan Kroffat,/ ???, 4/12/95

Toshiaki Kawada vs Takao Omori, 4/12/95

Stan Hansen vs Doug Furnas, 4/12/95

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Akira Taue, 4/12/95

 

Singles matches in Red, the six-man in Blue.

 

I'm also highlighting the Kobashi-Omori and Kawada-Omori matches. I haven't watched them since 1995 so don't have a clear image of whether they're any good. But worth you and Will checking them out, and if they're good including them. Rare chance in that era to see Kawada and Kobashi work against a "young boy" similar to Jumbo working against them several years earlier. Also to see what Omori had at that moment. Not a strong recommendation.

 

The Akiyama-Furnas is probably worth a similar watch. Again, don't recall if it's any good. Might have a decent match. Things like Kawada-Taue stood out to me at the time, Jun-Misawa a few days after Misawa's eye was crushed, the uniqueness (at the time) of the six-man draw, etc. The rest of the disk is a little fuzzy.

 

John

[jdw]

The full Kawada-Kobashi Carny 30:00 draw was a special TV show. Buried somewhere on Lynch's list. The version Will references on his Kawada set:

 

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi (5/13/95 TV)

 

That would be the chop-o version of it. The full version was much less circulated at the time.

 

Kobashi-Akiyama was on the 4/2 NTV:

 

4/2/95 - All Japan:

Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama

Akira Taue/Masao Inoue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Satoru Asako

 

I suspect JIP to a degree, but since it ties in with Jun's other matches, it will do. Meltzer had it listed as 4/1/95 TV, so it might be reference as either.

 

When you get down to the final list and before Will burns it, shoot me a list of the AJPW/NJPW matches you're looking for actual dates of and I'll look them up in the WON. For 1994 and earlier, I have the JWJ which is reasonably easy to look dates up for the non-joshi matches in Japan.

 

John

[MJH]

Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama, / Kentaro Shiga vs Johnny Ace, Dan Kroffat,/ ???, 4/12/95

 

??? is Eagle/George Hines.

 

As far as change of paces go I think this is a keeper. Tremendous fun.