[2001-05-18-NOAH-Navigation With Breeze] Mitsuharu Misawa vs Akira Taue

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[dawho5]

This is similar to their 96 Triple Crown match in a lot of ways. It's all about Taue knowing Misawa's strengths and doing his best to stay away from them while playing to his own. This time Misawa comes away with the 3, but he takes Misawa to his limits within 15 minutes. Taue is definitely looking old, but the ring smarts make this a damn good match. It'll probably be right around the 50 range.

[Graham Crackers]

This matchup never disappoints. 2000s Taue always steps it up for big matches and as a result we get a really good heavyweight main event.

[Superstar Sleeze]

GHC Heavyweight Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Akira Taue - NOAH 05/18/01

 

A GHC Championship match that goes 15 minutes, CALLOOH! CALLAY! Taue has Misawa scouted, he ain't going to fall for any of this elbow bullshit. He is absolutely suffocating on offense taking to Misawa obliterating him with big boots and hitting a NODOWA~! from the ramp to the timekeeper's table. This 2001 match is much more aligned with the usual Misawa takes a shitkicking and keeps on tickin. Misawa gets his Misawa-Rana and counters like this, but you got to get up pretty early in the morning to get one over on Taue, who just keeps pressing with boots to the head. DYNAMIC BOMB~! Misawa kicks out and tries to powder, but Taue gets a hold of him on the apron. RUH ROH! Misawa's elbow saves him and he collapses back into the safety of the ring. Taue was not the only one with a scouting report. So much for safety as he eats two NODOWA~!, but kicks out. Misawa spinkick Taue and he powders. INCOMING! Here comes Misawa with two diving elbows. TAUE BACKDROP NODOWA~! only gets two. That is pretty much a death sentence. Elbows rock Taue -> Emerald Flowsion -> Obliteration Elbow ->2->Emerald Flowsion -> 3. Taue was on fire in this match as he had answer for all the usual Misawa tricks. I would have liked to seen Misawa dig deep into bag of tricks to beat Taue instead of just patiently sticking with the elbow, but that is Misawa's modus operandi. I would say that is what hurt the match the most you have Taue hitting huge bombs and really responding well to Misawa, but the finish is just the same 'ol same with Misawa hitting his elbows to set up Emerald Flowsion now instead of the Tiger Driver. Still a very fun, tidy and efficient bout. ****1/4

[Edwin]

I'd rank this a notch bellow the previous Misawa vs. Takayama singles match for the vacant title in the title tournament final, but this is still a great match.

[superkix]

This was a lot of fun, and I'm always into a condensed Taue bombfest, with him giving Misawa everything he has in the arsenal while also playing smart defense and avoiding a lot of Misawa's offense. Taue always knows how to make the most of what he's dishing out to get the fans behind him. The chokeslam from the rampway onto the table was pretty gnarly, and I liked his clothesline wristhold into the back-to-back chokeslams. He keeps squashing Misawa's momentum until Misawa starts firing off elbows from all directions, ultimately finishing off Taue with the Emerald Flowsion.

[ohtani's jacket]

This was okay, I guess, but I'd rather watch their classics then watch them run through their greatest hits.