[2002-04-13-AJPW] Satoshi Kojima vs Taiyo Kea

[Superstar Sleeze]

Satoshi Kojima vs Taiyo Kea - AJPW 4/13/02

There a couple instances of young lions coming up together and rising to the main event, but I think more often than not it usually hurts one. I think a young lion overcoming a veteran main eventer is the better route to getting someone over. Anyways this is the semi-main of the second 2002 Budokan show. With Kawada injured, the logical main event was to go back to Tenryu vs Mutoh for the vacant Triple Crown. This leaves an opening for the two brightest stars of the next generation to have the semi-main event slot. Unfortunately, if this is All Japan best and brightest of the next generation, Mrs. Baba & Mutoh should be worried. I am about as fond of Kojima as I have ever been and watching a shit ton of Kea I think he is serviceable. They are fine as upper midcarders but they arent main eventers that can draw sellout Budokans. Mrs. Baba, Mutoh, Tenryu or Kawada needed to sit down with these and say yes your execution is great, but youre missing those intangibles that takes someone from a solid pro wrestler to main event. Unfortunately either that talk didnt happen or it fell on deaf ears. 

I think this is a very good match, but very good wont cut it when Tenryu, Mutoh and Kawada eventually run out of gas that ends up happening in 2005. These two have no problem hitting their high spots, everything looks good, but this was missing that je ne sais quoi that you can feel from a burgeoning main eventer. 

New Japan style chain wrestling to start. Kea lands the first highspot with a jumping DDT on a leapfrog, which was nice. Kojima powders, but he is able to take cover by whipping Kea into the railing. Kojima has a solid control segment nothing crazy. I was disappointed by Kea's transition. He basically mashes "Square" on his PS2 controller as if he is playing Here Comes The Pain to take over. He runs through a couple of his highspots such as a Vaderbomb. With both being Mutoh disciples, Kojima hits a Dragon Leg Screw. I would be remiss to mention that Cagematch rates this match as Kea's best match of all time. I think the famous tags he is in smokes this and his best singles matches are against Tenryu. I thought the leg psychology might lead to why this match got a high rating, but doesnt really go anywhere. Kojima hits his crowd participation elbow drop. Kea hits a couple kicks again a weak transition. Kea hits a sick splash from like 3/4ths across the ring. 

The finish run starts about here. Kea goes for his TKO. Kojima counters and he hits an Ace Crusher. Kojima starts to ramp up his offense with a Michinoku Driver. We go full 90s All Japan, which is an interesting contrast to Tenryu/Mutoh/Kawada who have really shifted away from that style. Kea responds with a Shining Wizard then a Frankensteiner for 2. Kea needs something big.   He applies a Cobra Clutch and as Kojima is struggling through it. HE DROPS HIM ON HIS HEAD! It has been a while since I seen a head drop suplex, which popped me. Kojima in true All Japan fashion responds with a Lariat. Except Kea is up first and he hits a TKO for 2. Kea is done for. Kojima hits a Lariat! Kea tries a Frankensteiner. POWERBOMB! Love it! KOJIMA LARIAT FTW!

Finish stretch had some fun fireworks, but this is far from the matches Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi were having in the early 90s where they showed they were ready for the main event. *** 1/2