[1999-11-27-AJPW-Real World Tag League] Masao Inoue & Tamon Honda vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa

[Ma Stump Puller]

 

This is a really neat gem that doesn't get much credit at all, which is hardly surprising since AJPW coverage bar the mid-90's is scant and hardly respected in regards to the quality of the matches put out. 

Honda and Inoue are two guys who honestly weren't particularly great at this point at all, for the record. Honda would get surprisingly solid when the spotlight was on him in NOAH but as of now he's a goofy mid-card act who can headbutt well, certainly didn't really have much of a grip on how to work a match in any interesting manner. The Olympic stuff just wasn't here yet, so what's on the table is limited and consisting mostly of headlocks and dry work, still doing the turnbuckle corner splash spot that EVERY AJPW rookie has done 5+ years later. Inoue is...well, Inoue. This works partly because they made a good story out of a relatively bleh lineup. Basically Ogawa tries to work fancy with Inoue with the security of Misawa at his side trying for a couple of clever technical spots to goof off for the most part. The issue is that while these two may usually be a easy night by their lonesome Inoue and co were actually currently the tag champs, so their chemistry is far better than anyone would expect. Ogawa ends up getting his ass beat when he realises that Inoue is a lot tougher than he thought then has to spend the majority of the match selling for two guys who aren't exactly well known for devastating offence or being compelling on top; with brief (and I do mean BRIEF) Misawa tags this could have easily been a dull affair with a inevitable finish. Regardless, Ogawa actually manages to get this narrative over! The crowd really get into this very much so when Inoue and Honda start pulling out the big signature spots and Ogawa has to not only survive, but also help out his partner out of some surprisingly dangerous situations. They manage to work a shticky 80's style extended sleeper hold where Honda and Inoue just sit in the hold for a good while and it somehow doesn't kill the crowd in the process, it's great!

It's a great example of Ogawa playing a underdog babyface, but also a established act trying to hold on to that spot against a pair that are willing to do anything to move up in the Tag League, so he plays up his desperateness in trying to protect that with everything he's got on top of everything else. Even some of the best could not make this work, especially with a very much B-show mode Misawa hanging around (who despite his obvious GOAT status to many was a very questionable worker when it came to TV slots) regardless it DOES work, and that's pretty cool all things considered. The second part of the match is Misawa and Ogawa bullying Inoue for a extended sequence as they finally get the ball rolling namely working the back after Ogawa attacks it on the outside using the railings and a scoop slam. Honda makes the hot tag and *almost* scores Misawa with a huge German, Ogawa delays it by him and Misawa holding hands on the ropes to stop it from happening in a cool desperate maneuverer to try to survive. He still scores it: a great delayed German as well: but it's a close 2 count. Inoue tries to also end Misawa with a Torture Rack, Ogawa gets in the way to repay Misawa helping him out. After a extended attempt by both teams to hit double moves it ends with Ogawa catching Inoue with a flush backdrop for the three.

Definitely a Ogawa In Peril match as a whole and all the better for it since this kind of showing got his endurance and durability over fairly well by showing him take a heap of abuse, but also as a essential part of the team with his teamwork and hustle. Misawa (deliberately?) takes a backseat to let the less established lads and as a result we do get to see a bit more out of them than what you would usually expect. Even Inoue, who rest assured was not much good in general managed to get in some moments that actually got me hype outside of just the wacky backbreaker and any match that can do that is definitely a success in my book.