The Criterion Collection of Puroresu

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

If your interested in All Japan, I would recommend you try these matches. You don't really have to understand the back story to enjoy them.

 

Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi (7/31/93)

This match probably best defines the All Japan Style. Grueling and brutal match with simple moves, great pacing, and deep storytelling. But don't worry, the story is pretty straight forward.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown - 7/24/95)

6/3/94 is all story, and is not a good place to start. This one is fast, brutal, and wild with great selling and bad ass moves and strikes from the opening second.

 

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Gary Albright (10/25/95)

Tons of reversals and counters throughout to make a quick and exciting match.

 

Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi (12/03/93)

Kawada's surreal selling, a deep move set, and some cool double team spots make this essential viewing. Watch it before the 6/9/95 match.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (06/09/95)

You don't have to really know the backstory to understand the emotion, drama, and story of this match. Despite being 42 mintues long, the match has a quick pace and some cool highspots.

 

 

I'am not to familiar with young Jumbo just yet, but he's done some awesome work in the 90s.

 

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (06/08/90)

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (09/01/90)

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown ­ 10/24/91)

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Kenta Kobashi (5/24/91)

Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi (4/20/91)

[Guest CanadianHorseman]

Thanks for the input, BlackTiger and HBK16. I think I'll begin with Super J Cup '94 and work my way in from there. I know I'll also pick up that FMW tape dealer's extensive "Best Of" tape covering Hayabusa's career, as well as some Tanaka/Awesome goodness, Matsunaga and Onita mayhem and some of the ladies as well.

 

CoffinSurfer and EvilAsh: My preconceptions of puroresu have seemingly always been as follows: I'll enjoy the Juniors, be enthralled by the shooters, but ultimately shell out the cash for the All-Japan Heavyweights, particularly Kawada. Also, because of the fact that I'm a huge Vader mark, I'll probably be checking out NOAH as well. Would anyone care to recommend anything from NOAH?

 

Also, if anyone knows where I can find a comp. of Vader's matches in Japan, it would be greatly appreciated. I've checked GoldenBoy, prowrestlingtapes.com and WrestlinGods, but I've come up with nada so far.

 

Thanks, everyone.

[Guest J*ingus]

I think Highspots has a Vader comp. And if you're desperate, you could always go to (shudder) RFVideo.

 

As for NOAH, a good overview tape would be the "History of the GHC Title" that Highspots and some other places sell, it has all the GHC title changes as well as some defenses, seven matches total, two with Vader, all full and unclipped.

[Guest CanadianHorseman]

Jingus: Holy Shit! Highspots has EVERYTHING! I'm surprised I've never heard of that site until now. I just found a Vader comp. entitled "Gaijin Legend." Thanks for the help, man. And thank God I didn't have to try Rob Feinstein's website.

[Guest CanadianHorseman]

As I continue my little research project, I realize there are several wrestlers of which I am hopelessly uninformed. While many of these names can be found prominently high on DVDVR's 500 list, I was hoping that some of you could validate the quality of these performers: CIMA, the Great Sasuke, Minoru Tanaka, El Samurai, Gado, Jedo, Magnum Tokyo, and Tiger Mask IV.

 

Any background info., opinions, etc., are appreciated.

 

Thanks.

[Guest TheyCallMeMark]

You'll be familiar with Sasuke after watching Super J '94. And get '95, too, it's better IMO. Jedo is Gedo's little buddy tag partner and all three of their tag matchs I've seen sucked complete ass. Gedo's singles stuff is ok, though.

 

That's all I know anything about.

[Guest HBK16]

As I continue my little research project, I realize there are several wrestlers of which I am hopelessly uninformed. While many of these names can be found prominently high on DVDVR's 500 list, I was hoping that some of you could validate the quality of these performers: CIMA, the Great Sasuke, Minoru Tanaka, El Samurai, Gado, Jedo, Magnum Tokyo, and Tiger Mask IV.

 

Any background info., opinions, etc., are appreciated.

 

Thanks.

Magnum Tokyo is one of my favorite wrestlers. If you are going to get into Toryumon get the Dragon Kid comp that can be found at Highspots. It's a great comp and he's a great wrestler. Get Toryumon comes to Japan. Thats the tape I started with and it got me hooked. The Great Sasuke is probably the second best junior in Japan. In my opinion he comes pretty close to Jushin Lyger. El Samurai was great in 1993 and around that time.

[EL DANDY~!]

CIMA-He is a really good wrestler. Check out his stuff with Magnum. (Toryumon)

The Great Sasuke-Don't really know where to start...I guess his Super J 94 semi with Lyger would be in order now, wouldnt it?

Minoru Tanak-Pretty much anything you find on him is good.

El Samurai-Get what Tiger said, because it all rocks, and then track down his October 97 match with Koji Kanemoto, which is one of the greatest matches in juniors history.

Gado and Jedo-They aren't as good as people give them credit.

Magnum Tokyo-Great wrestler, as a lot of his stuff with Toryumon is choice, especially his match with Sasuke (I think it was at Toryumon goes to America)

Tiger Mask IV-You want the ultimate starter for that guy? 10/10/96. I'm a mark for that match. I reviewed (WHEW!) and is posted up in the Smarks Krew AND this folder. Go read it, and it is a great match worth picking up.

[Guest Tim Cooke]

"El Samurai was great in 1993"

 

Sammy sucked until 1996. Benoit carried him through the BOSJ 1993 match. His first great match came on 1/21/96 v Otani.

 

Also, the Fall of 1997 match is really 6/5/97 v Kanemoto and it blows. Lots of neat spots, but no selling and no psych = no good.

 

Tim

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Yeah, both the '92 and '93 finals with him were really one-man performances, with Sammy along for the ride. On his own, he was more on the sucky side than anything.

[EL DANDY~!]

Hmmmmmmmm...I was also thinking along the lines of anything Kobashi did in 1993. It was usually guaranteed to be great.