CC 95 Answer

[Guest Jubuki]

First off, WATCH THE MATCHES. Har har.

 

Second, you're using Baisden as a measuring stick - be warned.

 

Third, the only tape I've seen from that set is # 3. I wouldn't go as far as to say Taue was kicking the living shit out of Misawa in their draw, but he was approaching Jumbo-surly in it. He'd toss Misawa in the corner and rub an elbow on the bad part of his face, then stand back and look at the ref like he was doing nothing wrong. Did the same kinds of things later on, where he'd get Misawa on the mat and then step on his face, or he'd work free of Misawa's face lock attempt very quickly and get Misawa in it for a much longer period of time. Taue hadn't had a Triple Crown shot in years, but here he was, taking it to the # 1 Native like he'd been doing it for the past 2 years instead of Kawada and heeling it up with reckless abandon.

 

And speaking of Kawada, if you want to see shit-kickings, the match they had on 4/8 is a fine example of Kawada being his usual self, and against his tag partner, no less. Probably the 3rd-best match from the Carnival, behind the two Misawa/Taue bouts.

[Guest XdojimeX]

"And speaking of Kawada, if you want to see shit-kickings, the match they had on 4/8 is a fine example of Kawada being his usual self, and against his tag partner, no less. Probably the 3rd-best match from the Carnival, behind the two Misawa/Taue bouts."

 

Really great match. I liked it better then the Taue-Misawa league match myself. I mean it's methodical and deliberate as hell, but there isn't a single wasted motion and they cash in everything they're building towards. The rival turned ally turned rival psych is choice, just a great duel. Kawada has sold a lot of great comebacks in his day but this is right up there with his very best work IMO. Taue got a gift that night.

[Guest wolverine]

Chris,

 

Perhaps you can explain this. What the FUCK was Kobashi doing during 10/25/95? He looked like a blithering idiot, staggering around like a drunk man, with wide eyes, and such. This shit is so bad it's funny.

[Guest Jubuki]

Cheap answer: "It's 1995 Kobashi - go figure."

 

Better answer: "It's 1995 Kobashi; I have no fucking clue what he was doing at that point in his career. Go figure."

 

I haven't watched that match in forever, really, but it's right there with the second Doc/Kobashi for matches that should have been really good but went too long/too goofy.

[Guest XdojimeX]

I remember reading somewhere that Kobashi was a big Terry Funk fan (70's, early 80's natch), maybe he was trying to channel the Funker but kept missing the relay?

[Guest Black Tiger]

Look at Misawa, Kawada, and Kobashi. The all have moves that are flashy looking and have a varied offense.

 

Taue's main moves are the Dynamic Bomb and the Nodowa Otoshi. His strikes are almost as weak as Baba's looking at him next to any of the Four Lords of Heaven, and its no wonder he looks like the weak man in the bunch.

[Guest Jubuki]

Uhh, OK, if you like to discount the fact that he was better at selling and pacing out a match than Kobashi was at that time, sure, yeah, Taue was 'weak'...offense ain't shit if you can't make it mean what it needs to. Just ask Lo Ki' or Chris Daniels. Or Koji Kanemoto.

 

And have you seen Taue throw a jumping high kick? He's left a size 14 imprint on Akiyama's face more than a few times. Perfectly acceptable strike, and the Coconut Crush rules it, too.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Uhh, OK, if you like to discount the fact that he was better at selling and pacing out a match than Kobashi was at that time, sure, yeah, Taue was 'weak'...offense ain't shit if you can't make it mean what it needs to. Just ask Lo Ki' or Chris Daniels. Or Koji Kanemoto.

I wasn't talking about a specific time period for Taue. Looking at the four of them the way a casual fan would and Misawa, Kawada, and Kobashi all have more flash and stiffness and that is part of their appeal. Taue comes off looking like Giant Baba without the benefit of owning AJPW to keep him over.

 

During the 1995 CC Taue went Super stiff on Misawa, Kawada, and Kobashi in the round robin and the crowd got totally behind him as a result.

 

I'm not familiar with the coconut crusher, what is it?

[Guest Jubuki]

Pppftttt, if you're spending money on wrestling from another country, you're no longer a casual fan. So screw them and don't bring them up anymore.

 

The coconut crush is when Taue (and Baba, for that matter) grabs someone's head and rams the face into his knee as he steps forward. I didn't care much for it before I really got into Taue, but now it's my favorite throw-away spot in his matches. Misawa knows how to take it and at least make it look painful.

[Guest Black Tiger]

I have the complete 1995 CC on the way, all three tapes and the finals. Is there anything special I should look for in terms of Taue's matches?

 

All I've seen of him thus far is NOAH garbage, a few six man tags from 1991 and 1992, the 1992 RWTL finals, and a 1991 Double title match (Misawa/Kawada vs Jumbo/Taue)

[Guest Jubuki]

Pay attention to his selling, how and when he teases his spots and how/when he finally connects, little details vs. the Other Big 3 that show he's scouted them individually and is looking for a sure way to beat each of them: basically the same level of thought put into the work one might expect to see out of the others.

[Guest J*ingus]

Here's my own CC95 question: where the heck do I buy the whole thing? Most people only have the tournament itself, the finals is rare for reasons that escape me. And yes, I know that Jeff Lynch probably has the whole thing, but how much would he charge for it?

[Guest Jubuki]

Hmm - first three tapes range from 2:15 to 2:45 - they'd all fit on an 8-hour tape with no problems. However, I don't think you could get the finals on there as well. I think I'd probably go for the longest tape (the first, I think), on a T-160 in SP, then get the other 3 on a T-120 in EP. From him, that'd run you $35 ($25 if you send him the 2 tapes). Very much worth it, I would say.

[Guest Black Tiger]

I ordered mine from Goldenboytapes, all three tapes and the finals spread over two tapes for $20.00.

 

Does that 4th part really exist (Kawada vs Kobashi) Jayde8 (who claims to have every AJ video put out by VAP) says no but there are tons of others who say it does and its just really rare.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

HEY! How is Golden Boy Tapes' service and VQ and shit? I am thinkin aboot orderin some shit from 'em in the near future and wouldn't mind some thoughts.

[Guest XdojimeX]

"Does that 4th part really exist (Kawada vs Kobashi) Jayde8 (who claims to have every AJ video put out by VAP) says no but there are tons of others who say it does and its just really rare."

 

There wasn't a fourth part to the Carny tape set (unless you count the finals). The Kawada vs. Kobashi league match aired seperately on an AJ TV special (might have aired live, not sure). I got mine off Lynch, so it's not exactly rare. Video quality wasn't up to par with the regular tv that aired that year though so it might be a fairly rare rip in that he never got it renewed.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Goldenboytapes is great. They have totaly reafirmed my faith in ordering from Canada. The order took three days to process and then took seven days to arrive, most times I when I buy from Canada, it takes a month or more.

[Guest Special K]

I got the CC '95 on 2 tapes as well, and Goldenboy tapes' service IS great, as are their prices. Only complaint I have is that one tape had no sound, but I got like 20 hours of wrestling for $50, so I'm a happy camper.

[Guest Black Tiger]

I got the CC '95 on 2 tapes as well, and Goldenboy tapes' service IS great, as are their prices. Only complaint I have is that one tape had no sound, but I got like 20 hours of wrestling for $50, so I'm a happy camper.

What tape had no sound?

[Guest wolverine]

little details vs. the Other Big 3 that show he's scouted them individually and is looking for a sure way to beat each of them

 

I'm so fucking sick of 1995 Kobashi that I snicker when I hear him mentioned in the same breath as Misawa and Kawada.

 

He just wasn't in their league at that point, which was sad because two years earlier he was better than both (arguably in Kawada's case). Actually, from 1994-1995 I can't even think of a **** singles match with him in it, except for the CC 95 Taue match. Some will point to the 1/95 Kawada TC match, but I personally hated it.