Guest Black Tiger Report post Posted July 24, 2002 I have a few questions about 2000 pre-split AJPW. I know that Akiyama was pissed that Kobashi won the TC and upstaged his win over Misawa, did Akiyama "officaly" turn heel at any point or was it all backstage stuff? Who won the last Misawa vs Kawada match? Did anything of note happen after the Excite Series before the split, I'm aware of the Champions Carnival with the Seven Second match and Kobashi finally winning a CC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wolverine Report post Posted July 24, 2002 "Who won the last Misawa vs Kawada match?" Misawa on 3/31/00. Chris rated it ***1/4 which sounds about right. Kawada turned in a pretty damn good performance, but Misawa was just gone by that point, so he wouldn't bump or anything. "Did anything of note happen after the Excite Series before the split, I'm aware of the Champions Carnival with the Seven Second match and Kobashi finally winning a CC." That Kobashi-Omori final is a must see if you're an Omori fan. Really good match, that I'd rate ****. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BigTim2002 Report post Posted July 24, 2002 I think it was a heel turn...because at the end of 2000, Akiyama...who was a heel for sure, faced a big time face in Kobashi...and that was a FUCKING OUTSTANDING MATCH. Scott had at ****3/4, which is exactly what I had it at. Akiyama took bumps that shouldn't be taken by common men. Just watch the neck bumps he takes. Unreal. So yeah, Akiyama did turn heel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Black Tiger Report post Posted July 24, 2002 The Akiyama vs Kobashi match was in NOAH, I know they stopped teaming after Kobashi won the TC, but I was wondering if Akiyama ever did go full heel on him. I figured it was supposed to happen in the CC but Omori got a push instead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wolverine Report post Posted July 25, 2002 Kobashi vs. Akiyama was a very good match. I'd probably rate it ***3/4. Not close to their best match (I still haven't seen their CC '97 match, which is reputed to be one of their best, but I have seen their 7/98 TC bout, which was excellent). I think Jun had a better match on 2/27/00 against Misawa. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RickyChosyu Report post Posted July 25, 2002 Kobashi/Akiyama really was the pinacle of the "head-dropping-one-upsmanship" style the seems to be the norm in NOAH. While no doubt totally self-destructive for Kobashi, it did accomplish what they seemed to be going for, and it was nice to see the arm-work actually pay off in nuetralizing Kobashi's lariat, even though everyone knew that a submision victory was never going to happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest PlatypusFool Report post Posted July 25, 2002 I really enjoyed the match as I don't mind head dropping as much as your typical smart puro fan, but I shall reserve my comments for the review im writing at the moment Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RickyChosyu Report post Posted July 25, 2002 I really enjoyed the match as I don't mind head dropping as much as your typical smart puro fan, but I shall reserve my comments for the review im writing at the moment Head-dropping as something to build to and get across as a point of importance is one thing, but when it's used as the body and structure of the match, it's quite another. I thought Kobashi/Akiyama did a good enough job of not falling too far into that trap (Akiyama's arm work was great) and actually making it mater the match (Kobashi working over the neck as a set-up to his lariat and burning hammer, ect.) but from little else I've seen, and from what I've heard, most NOAH matches aren't as smartly worked as that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
