Matches to Check out

[Guest Black Tiger]

Every few posts, someone mentions a thread to list matches that they think people ought to see. Well I'll start one.

 

Lets remember that we all have our own oppinons and some of us love matches others hate.

 

 

All Japan:

 

Misawa vs Jumbo (6/8/90)

Misawa vs Jumbo (9/1/90)

Kobashi/Kikuchi vs Can Am Express (5/25/92)

Kobashi vs Hansen (7/29/93)

Misawa/Kobashi vs Kawada/Taue (12/3/93)

Kawada vs Williams (4/16/94)

Kawada vs Misawa (6/3/94)

Kawada/Taue vs Misawa/Kobashi (6/9/95)

Kawada vs Taue (1995 Carny)

Misawa vs Taue (9/10/95)

Misawa vs Taue (5/24/96)

Kawada/Taue vs Misawa/Akiyama (12/6/96)

Misawa vs Kobashi (1/20/97)

Burning vs No Fear (Oct 1999)

Misawa vs Akiyama (2/27/00)

Vader vs Kobahi (2/27/00)

Kojima vs Hase (11/27/02)

 

New Japan:

Lyger vs Sasuke (4/16/94)

Benoit vs Sasuke (4/16/94)

Benoit vs Black Tiger (BOSJ 1995)

Ohtani vs Sakuraba (6/17/96)

Ohtani vs Dragon (8/4/96)

Nagata/Iizuka vs Kawada/Fuchi (12/14/00)

Kawada vs Sasaki (10/9/00)

 

NOAH:

 

Akiyama vs Kobashi (12/23/00)

Takayama vs Misawa (4/15/01)

Marfuji vs Takaiwa (12/9/01)

 

Here are a few more that I think should be seen:

 

Steiners vs. Hase/Sasaki (3/21/91)

Lyger vs. Great Muta (10/20/96)

[Guest wolverine]

Men's singles matches:

 

1. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, RINGS, 6/27/98 *****

2. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, AJPW, 6/3/94 *****

3. Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi, AJPW, 7/29/93 ****3/4

4. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Volk Han, RINGS, 1/22/97 ****3/4

5. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi, AJPW, 1/20/97 ****3/4

 

Women's singles matches:

 

1. Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori, AJW Dreamslam I, 4/2/93 *****

2. Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota, AJW Big Egg Universe, 11/20/94 ****3/4

3. Akira Hokuto vs. Manami Toyota, AJW JGP '93 semis, 8/21/93 ****1/2

4. Toshiyo Yamada vs. Manami Toyota, AJW Mid Summer Typhoon "hair vs. hair", 8/15/92 ****1/2

5. Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota, AJW Best*One, 6/27/95 ****1/2

 

Men's tag matches:

 

1. Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue, AJPW RWTL 1996 Final, 12/6/96 *****

2. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue, AJPW, 6/9/95 *****

3. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue, AJPW RWTL 1993, 12/3/93 *****

4. Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams/Johnny Ace, AJPW, 6/7/96 ****3/4

5. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue, AJPW, 10/15/95 ****3/4

 

Women's tag matches:

 

1. Manami Toyota/Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai/Mayumi Ozaki, AJW Dream Rush, 11/26/92 *****

2. Aja Kong/Bull Nakano vs. Akira Hokuto/Shinobu Kandori, AJW Queendom '94, 3/27/94 ****1/2

3. Kyoko Inoue/Takako Inoue vs. Manami Toyota/Sakie Hasegawa, AJW Championship Night, 8/30/95 ****1/2

4. Manami Toyota/Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai/Mayumi Ozaki, AJW Dreamslam II, 4/11/93 ****1/2

5. Manami Toyota/Toshiyo Yamada vs. Aja Kong/Kyoko Inoue, TLTB '92 Finals, 12/13/92 ****1/4

 

Junior heavyweights:

 

1. Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai, NJPW Top of the Super Junior '92 Final, 4/30/92 ****3/4

2. El Samurai vs. Shinjiro Ohtani, NJPW, 1/21/96 ****1/2

3. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani, NJPW, 3/17/96 ****1/2

4. Chris Benoit vs. Great Sasuke, NJPW Super J Cup '94, 4/16/94, ****1/2

5. Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Ohtani, NJPW J-Crown semis, 8/4/96 ****1/2

 

Multi-person matches:

 

1. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi/Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue/Yoshinari Ogawa, AJPW, 7/2/93 ****3/4

2. Aja Kong/Kyoko Inoue/Takako Inoue/Sakie Hasegawa vs. Dynamite Kansai/Mayumi Ozaki/Hikari Fukuoka/Cuty Suzuki, JWP Thunderqueen Battle, 7/31/93 ****1/2

3. Jumbo Tsuruta/Masa Fuchi/Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Kenta Kobashi, AJPW, 4/20/91 ****1/2

 

Other Recommended 1990's All Japan Matches:

 

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, 6/8/90

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, 9/1/90

Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Dan Kroffat/Doug Furnas, 5/25/92

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 10/21/92

Stan Hansen vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 2/28/93

Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi, 4/16/93

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 7/29/93

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Steve Williams, 4/16/94

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue, 4/15/95

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 7/24/95

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue, 9/10/95

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Gary Albright, 10/25/95

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi, 10/21/97

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi, 6/12/98

 

Other Recommended 1990's/2000's Joshi Matches:

 

Toshiyo Yamada vs. Manami Toyota, AJW, 6/21/92

Aja Kong vs. Dynamite Kansai, AJW, 8/30/95

Mariko Yoshida vs. Mika Akino, Arsion, 1/17/99

Aja Kong vs. Meiko Satomura, GAEA, 9/15/99

Kaoru Ito/Momoe Nakanishi/Nanae Takahashi vs. Etsuko Mita/Mima Shimoda/Kumiko Maekawa - Cage Match, AJW, 11/23/00

Kaoru Ito vs. Momoe Nakanishi, AJW, 7/8/01

Kaoru Ito vs. Manami Toyota, AJW, 8/17/01

Kaoru Ito vs. Momoe Nakanishi, AJW, 9/16/01

 

Other Recommended Shootstyle Matches:

 

Nobuhiko Takada vs. Vader, UWFi, 8/18/94

Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Volk Han, RINGS, 9/25/96

Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Volk Han, RINGS, 9/26/97

 

OVERALL TOP 5:

 

1. Tamura vs. Kohsaka, 6/27/98

2. Misawa/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue, 12/6/96

3. Toyota/Yamada vs. Kansai/Ozaki, 11/26/92

4. Misawa vs. Kawada, 6/3/94

5. Hokuto vs. Kandori, 4/2/93

[Guest Jubuki]

The Kobashi/Kikuchi vs. Furnas/Kroffat was 5/25/92. The GHC decision match was 4/15/01. The Super Juniors match was 7/13/95. The Misawa/Ogawa vs. Kobashi/Akiyama was 10/23/99. Jumbo/Misawa 1 was 6/8. Ohtani/Sakuraba was 6/17, and Ohtani/Dragon was 8/4. Marufuji/Takaiwa was 12/9.

 

If this is getting pinned, let's try to keep the nomenclature and dating as accurate and informative as possible. I'll edit this to add my own lists.

 

I can't completely vouch for the veracity of these lists. They're essentially Top 20's (or less, depending on what I've seen) I put together a long while ago and have taken the time to pare down and reorganize as I've seen more and as my opinions have changed. I wouldn't put much stock in the snowflakes here (though I won't edit them out because I'm lazy), unless I've taken the time to review the match, and I'm certainly not sure of their placement. However, I do feel quite comfortable about the worthiness of inclusion for each match. Anyway.

 

1990's Joshi

 

1. Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori, AJW, All-Star Dream Slam I, 4/2/93 - *****

2. Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue vs. Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa, AJW, WWWA Tag Titles, Championship Night, 8/30/95 - *****

3. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki vs. Toshiyo Yamada & Manami Toyota, AJW, WWWA Tag Titles, Dream Rush, 11/26/92 - *****

4. Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota, AJW, Quarterfinals of V*Top Tournament at Big Egg Universe, 11/20/94 - *****

5. Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota, AJW, Sapporo Best*One, 6/27/95 - ****3/4

6. Dynamite Kansai/Cuty Suzuki/Mayumi Ozaki/Hikari Fukuoka vs. Aja Kong/Sakie Hasegawa/Kyoko Inoue/Takako Inoue, JWP, Thunder Queen Match, Single Attack Rules, 7/31/93 - ****1/2

7. Aja Kong & Bull Nakano vs. Shinobu Kandori & Akira Hokuto, AJW, Wrestling Queendom, 3/27/94 - ****1/2

8. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki vs. Toshiyo Yamada & Manami Toyota, WWWA Tag Titles, AJW, All-Star Dream Slam II, 4/11/93 - ****1/2

9. Akira Hokuto vs. Manami Toyota, AJW, Japan Grand Prix Semifinals, 8/21/93 - ****1/2

10. Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, Hair vs. Hair IWA Title Match, 8/15/92 - ****1/2

11. Kaoru Ito/Tomoko Watanabe vs. Mima Shimoda/Etsuko Mita, AJW, Rage in the Cage, 9/21/97 - ****1/2

12. Akira Hokuto vs. Kyoko Inoue, AJW, All-Pacific Title, Dream Rush, 11/26/92 - ****1/2

13. Aja Kong vs. Dynamite Kansai, AJW, WWWA Title, Championship Night, 8/30/95 - ****1/4?

14. Kyoko Inoue vs. Dynamite Kansai, AJW, Quarterfinals of V*Top Tournament at Big Egg Universe, 11/20/94 - ****1/2

15. Aja Kong vs. Meiko Satomura, GAEA Japan, AAAW Title, 9/17/99 - ****1/2

16. Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue vs. Toshiyo Yamada & Manami Toyota, AJW, Tag League the Best, 12/13/92 - ****1/4

17. Bull Nakano vs. Devil Masami, JWP, 4/18/93 - ****1/4

18. Takako Inoue & Kyoko Inoue vs. Mayumi Ozaki & Cuty Suzuki, AJW, All-Star Dream Slam I, 4/2/93 - ****1/4

19. Akira Hokuto vs. Bull Nakano, AJW, WWWA Title, 1/4/91 - ****1/4

20. Mariko Yoshida vs. AKINO, ARSION, Queen of ARSION Title, 1/17/99 - ****1/4

 

 

1990's All Japan

 

1. Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue, 12/6/96 *****

2. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 6/3/94 *****

3. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue, 6/9/95 *****

4. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue, 12/3/93 ****3/4

5. Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi, 7/29/93 ****3/4

6. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi, 1/20/97 ****3/4

7. Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 6/12/98 ****3/4

8. Misawa/Kobashi/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue/Ogawa, 7/2/93 ****3/4

9. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue, 10/15/95 ****3/4

10. Stan Hansen vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 2/28/93 ****3/4

11. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, 6/8/90 ****3/4

12. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, 9/1/90 ****3/4

13. Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Dan Kroffat/Doug Furnas, 5/25/92 ****1/2

14. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Gary Albright, 10/25/95 ****1/2

15. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue, 4/15/95 ****1/2

16. Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi, 4/16/93 ****1/2

17. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Steve Williams, 4/16/94 ****1/2

18. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 7/29/93 ****1/2

19. Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi vs. Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi, 4/20/91 ****1/2

20. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 7/24/95 ****1/2

 

 

1990's New Japan

 

1. Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai, TOSJ IV, 4/30/92 - ****3/4

2. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani, IWGP Jr. Title, 3/17/96 - ****1/2

3. Shinjiro Ohtani vs. El Samurai, UWA Jr. Title, 1/21/96 - ****1/2

4. Great Sasuke vs. Chris Benoit, Super J-Cup Finals, 4/16/94 - ****1/2

5. Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Ohtani, J*Crown Semifinals, 8/4/96 - ****1/2

6. Keiji Mutoh vs. Masahiro Chono, G1 Climax Final, 8/11/91 - ****1/2

7. Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano, IWGP Jr. Title, 1/31/90 - ****1/2

8. Chris Benoit vs. Shinjiro Ohtani, WCW Cruiserweight Title decision match, 3/20/96 - ****1/4

9. Keiji Mutoh vs. Shin'ya Hashimoto, G1 Climax Final, 8/15/95 - ****1/4

10. Vader vs. Antonio Inoki, 1/4/96 - ****1/4

11. Keiji Mutoh vs. Hiroshi Hase, 12/14/92 - ****1/4

12. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani, IWGP Jr. Title, 2/9/97 - ****

13. Riki Choshu vs. Shin'ya Hashimoto, G1 Climax, 8/2/96 - ****

14. Dick TOGO vs. Jushin Liger, British Commonwealth Title, 6/17/96

15. Koji Kanemoto vs. Dr. Wagner, Jr. BOSJ IX Finals, 6/5/98

16. Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Liger, Super J-Cup Semifinal, 4/16/94 - ****

17. TAKA Michinoku vs. Super Delfin, CMLL Welterweight Title, 6/17/96 - ****

18. Hiroshi Hase vs. Shin'ya Hashimoto, IWGP Title, 12/13/94 - ***3/4

19. El Samurai vs. Chris Benoit, TOSJ IV, 6/15/93 - ****

20. Shin'ya Hashimoto vs. Nobuhiko Takada, IWGP Title, 4/29/96 - ***3/4

 

 

UWF, UWFi, RINGS, & BattlARTS

 

In no particular order:

 

RINGS:

Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Volk Han, 1/22/97 & 9/26/97

Volk Han vs. Akira Maeda, 1/25/95

Volk Han vs. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, 5/29/98

Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, 6/27/98

 

UWF:

Nobuhiko Takada vs. Akira Maeda, 11/10/88

Akira Maeda vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara, 8/13/89

 

UWFi:

Nobuhiko Takada vs. Vader, 12/5/93 & 8/18/94

Nobuhiko Takada vs. Naoki Sano, 10/14/94

Nobuhiko Takada vs. Gary Albright, 6/10/94

 

BattlARTS:

Daisuke Ikeda vs. Yuki Ishikawa, 5/27/98

 

 

Other 1990's Joshi & All Japan Matches

 

Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, 6/21/92

Dynamite Kansai vs. Mayumi Ozaki, JWP, NEO Street Fight, 3/17/95

Etsuko Mita/Mima Shimoda vs. Ayako Hamada/AKINO, 12/11/99 - biggest bloodletting there is

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue - 4/12/95, 9/10/95, & 5/24/96

Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue - 6/1/93 & 5/21/94

Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue - 5/23/96 & 11/24(?)/96

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Kenta Kobashi, 5/24/91

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 10/21/92

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi, 4/19/97 & 10/21/97

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 10/24/91

 

 

60's, 70's, & 80's Footage

 

The Destroyer vs. Giant Baba, JWA, 2/3 Falls, 3/5/69

The Destroyer vs. Mil Mascaras, AJPW, 2/3 Falls, 7/25/74

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Rusher Kimura, AJPW, 3/28/76

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Terry Funk, AJPW, 2/3 Falls, 6/12/76

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Harley Race, AJPW, 2/3 Falls, 6/11/77

Jumbo Tsuruta/Gen'ichiro Tenryu vs. Riki Choshu/Yoshiaki Yatsu, AJPW, 1/28/86

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Tiger Mask (Misawa), 3/5/88

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Gen'ichiro Tenryu, 10/28/88 & 6/5/89

[Guest XdojimeX]

Assorted NJ recommendations. Not all MOTY type stuff but some otherwise nifty matches I think are worthwhile viewing that might not catch you're eye at first...you're mileage may vary on the snowflakes.

 

Takada vs. Shiro Koshinaka 2/2/87 ****1/4

Takada vs. Hiro Hase 8/18/88 ****1/2

Hase/Sasaki vs. Mutoh/Chono 11/1/90 ****3/4

Hase/Sasaki vs. Koshinaka/Iizuka 3/14/91 ****

Jushin Liger vs. Hiro Hase 5/6/91 ****1/2

(This is on handheld only but its a gorgeous match. Goes like 30+ min. longest I've seen Liger work a singles and they tear the house down)

 

R. Steiner/Norton vs. Mutoh/Hase 11/05/91 ***3/4 (miracle match)

Koshinaka vs. Masaji Aoyagi 5/1/92 ***1/2 (another miracle )

Vader/Bigelow vs. Mutoh/Hase 5/1/92 ****

Liger/Kanemoto vs. Dragon/Orihara 12/11/92 ****1/4

Koshinaka vs. Tenryu 12/14/92 ***3/4

Hashimoto vs. Tenryu 2/24/94 ****1/4

Hashimoto vs. Liger 3/05/94 ***3/4

Liger vs. Sasuke 7/23/94 ****1/2

Koshinaka vs. Hase 8/05/94 **** (G1)

Pegasus vs. Kanemoto 3/13/95 ****

Pegasus vs. Black Tiger 7/4/95 ****1/4 (Rewatched this a couple days ago...great BosJ league match nobody talks about.)

 

Hashimoto/Hirata vs. Chono/Tenzan 12/23/95 **** (Hash/Hirata was a pretty fun team there for a bit)

 

Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Keiji Muto 8/3/96 (G1...only match to get the Sumo Hall pillow treatment that tournament.)

 

try to get some more in later...

[Guest Tim Cooke]

UWF Recommendations

 

12/5/84 Takada v Yamazaki

8/13/88 Takada v Yamazaki

 

RINGS Recommendations

 

1/22/97 Volk Han v Tamura

9/26/97 Volk Han v Tamura

6/28/97 Tamura v Kohsaka

 

I'll add a ton more and clean this list up later on today.

 

Tim

[Guest Tim Cooke]

My AJPW Top 20 of the 1990's

 

Nothing etched in stone but I am fairly set on these picks being top 20 material.

 

Keep in mind I still need to see 3/4/95 Williams/Ace v Misawa/Kobashi which could break 20 possibly.

 

Misawa/Akiyama v Kawada/Taue 12/6/96

Misawa v Kawada 6/3/94

Misawa/Kobashi v Kawada/Taue 6/9/95

Misawa/Kobashi v Kawada/Taue 12/3/93

Kobashi v Hansen 7/29/93

Misawa v Kobashi 1/20/97

Kawada v Williams 4/16/94

Misawa/Kobashi v Kawada/Taue 10/15/95

Misawa/Kobashi/Akiyama v Kawada/Taue/Ogawa 7/2/93

Misawa v Tsuruta 9/1/90

Kobashi v Kawada 6/12/98

Can Am Express v Kobashi/Kikuchi 5/25/92

Misawa/Akiyama v Williams/Ace 6/7/96

Misawa v Kawada 7/24/95

Misawa v Taue 9/10/95

Hansen v Kawada 2/28/93

Misawa v Tsuruta 6/8/90

Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi v Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi 4/20/91

Kawada v Albright 10/25/95

 

Tim

[Guest Tim Cooke]

Top NJPW Juniors Matches of the 1990's

 

1. Jushin Liger v El Samurai (4/30/92) ****3/4

2. Ultimo Dragon v Shinjiro Otani (8/4/96) ****3/4

3. Jushin Liger v Shinjiro Otani (3/17/96) ****3/4

4. Shinjiro Otani v El Samurai (1/21/96) ****1/2

 

Top AAA Lucha Match Recommendations

 

1. Rey Misterio Jr. v Juventud Guerrera (3/16/96) *****

2. Juventud Guerrera v Perro Aguayo Jr. (6/18/95) ***1/2

(NOTE) - This is on the list to showcase Juventud's carrying ability, his ability to work a smart match, and to show his versitality in styles.

 

Top UWF Versions 1.0 and 2.0

 

1. Takada v Yamazaki (8/13/88) ****3/4

2. Takada v Yamazaki (12/5/84) ****3/4

3. Takada v Maeda (11/10/88) ****1/4

4. Takada v Backlund (12/22/88) ****

 

Top UWF-I Matches

 

1. Takada v Vader (12/5/93) ****1/2

2. Takada v Vader (8/18/94) ****1/4

3. Takada v Albright (6/10/94) ****1/4

 

Top RINGS Matches

 

1. Tamura v Kohsaka (6/27/98) *****

2. Tamura v Volk Han (9/26/97) *****

3. Tamura v Volk Han (1/22/97) ****3/4

 

My PERSONAL Top 5

 

1. Toyota/Yamada v Ozaki/Kansai (11/26/92) *****

2. Misawa/Akiyama v Kawada/Taue (12/6/96) *****

3. Misawa v Kawada (6/3/94) *****

4. Hokuto v Kandori (4/2/93) *****

5. Tamura v Kohsaka (6/27/98) *****

[Guest BAR]

NJPW (In Chronological Order)

Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid (5/8/82)

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask (21/4/83)

Jushin Lyger vs. Owen Hart (27/4/91)

Jushin Lyger vs. Pegasus Kid (12/8/92)

Pegasus Kid vs. El Samurai (15/6/93)

Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Lyger (16/4/94)

Wild Pegasus vs. Great Sasuke (16/4/94)

Black Tiger vs. Wild Pegasus (13/7/95)

Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Otani (4/8/96)

 

AJPW (In Chronological Order)

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (3/6/94)

Kawada & Taue vs. Misawa & Akiyama (6/12/96)

Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (20/1/97)

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (31/10/98)

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (11/6/99)

 

Other (In Chronological Order)

Terry Funk vs. Cactus Jack - (IWA 10/1/95)

Shinjiro Otani vs. Masato Tanaka (Zero-One 31/7/02)

Edited August 5, 2003 by BAR

[Guest Jubuki]

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbc...ic;f=1;t=029809

 

If you scan down to the All Japan posts, you'll see a little bit more variety to the 20 Favorites list that's there compared to what I've already added in. Plus, you'll get a little more reasoning behind why some of the matches are worth seeing. Pretty much all of them are great in their own right, though I'd say that some of them are a half-step behind most of these lists in the "must-see" department.

[Guest XdojimeX]

"Can someone list the dates of some classic Benoit/Lyger encounters?"

 

They never really had that defining 'classic' between the two for some reason (I think it's the 'two anchor' effect myself) but a whole lot of excellent work between the two worth tracking down. Ones of note...

 

06/02/90- I believe this is their first or second meeting. Not really worth getting unless you're in completist mode, they're still getting a feel for each other and it's Benoit's first full year in New Japan as well as working under a mask for the first time. Liger's there but Benoit 'el super worker' is still blossoming.

 

09/19/90- A couple notches better then the first one. Chemistry growing between the two. Good stuff.

 

11/01/90- First real excellent match of the rivalry with them really finding their groove and Benoit getting assimilated into his role. This was also part of one of the great cards in Sumo Hall history. You had Benoit/Liger, Hase/Sasaki vs. Chono/Mutoh in a classic tag match (which if you havent seen go get it yesterday) and Hashimoto vs. Choshu on top in a hot main. Get the whole TV show if you can.

 

07/04/91- Mask (Pegasus) vs. Title (Liger). My personal fav of their series. I think it's in Korukuen Hall, wherever it is they tear the house down. High end Jr.'s work for the time, ages exceptionally well. Benoit was growing by leaps and bounds, probably his best match up to that point.

 

02/22/92- A bit of a let down compared to the mask match IMO, but still excellent. I remember it seeming a bit too short for these two. Solid piece to the rivalry.

 

08/12/92- This was on the undercard of the G1 Climax with the heavy gaijin contigent. I think I remember reading this is the match that really popped Austin when he was over there. Anyhow another Sumo Hall barn burner. Maybe their best match. State of the Art for 1992. SUPERBOMB~!

 

08/21/93- Bit of a let down compared to their match at last year's G1. This seemed to mark the two outgrowing the rivarly and moving on. They closed the book here more or less, not with as much of a bang as one would hope but still very good. Notable for the uber-insane diving headbutt to the floor by Benoit and an early cameo by Black Tiger Eddy doing a rare run-in at the end.

 

There's some matches in between those I missed or can't remember but those are the highlights I think if you're looking to throw them on a comp.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

As almost anyone around here can tell you, it's not a good idea to start off with alot of the acclaimed All Japan story matches from the 90s such as 6/3/94 and 12/6/96. While they are great matches and it is very much possible to enjoy them on their own, a lack of knowledge in the style and backstory can water down the experience greatly and may leave the viewer wondering what the big deal is.

 

So if you are looking to get into All Japan, a good starting place would be to email Jeff Lynch(address available on the New to Puro thread) and ask him to make you a comp with a few of these matches:

 

Jumbo vs. Kobashi 5/24/91

-JIP, a fun little sprint with near falls aplently. A great introduction to Jumbo and his brilliant series of early 90s matches with the young, hungry, underdogs(Kobashi, Kawada, Misawa).

 

Kroffat/Furnas vs. Kobashi/Kikuchi 5/25/92

-JIP, an exciting fast paced face in peril match that features one of the hottest crowds in history.

 

Kobashi vs. Kawada 4/14/93

-JIP, a wild final run that features Kobashi desperatley throwing everything he has at Kawada in hopes of scoring his first pinfall over him. Just a hint of the greatness that is Kawada.

 

Misawa/Kobashi/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue/Ogawa 7/2/93

shown in full, possibly one of the best introductions to 90s All Japan your gonna get. All the key guys are here, playing their roles to perfection in a fun, action packed match.

 

Kobashi vs. Hansen7/28/93

shown in full, one of the greatest singles matches the company has ever produced. No backstory is really required to understand this brutal monster vs. underdog match. A good way to become familar with the more low key, grueling side of All Japan.

 

If you like what you see, you should really get your hands on as much All Japan T.V. blocks as possible from 90-93(I would highly recommend April-July 93). And than move on up to the great Main Event matches from 94-97.

 

Sure it sounds expensive, but if you like good wrestling, it's a great investment.

 

edit: dates changed, must have had T.V. dates or something.

[Guest DragonflyKid]

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask 4/23/81 **3/4

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask 1/1/82 ***

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask 1/28/82 ***

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask 7/23/82 ***1/2

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask 8/5/82 ****

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask 8/30/82 (CL) **1/2+

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask 4/21/83 ***1/2

 

-Fun and revolutionary series, great start for one wanting to get into juniors. One can also look forward to seeing much better stuff down the line.

 

 

Liger vs. Sano 7/13/89

Liger/Nogami vs.Sano/Hoshino 8/8/89

Liger vs. Sano 8/10/89

Liger vs. Sano 9/30/89

Liger vs. Sano 1/30/90

 

-8/8/89 and 8/10/89 feature some classic selling performances by Liger. Some must-see junior action. I didn'put down the ratings because I didn't put my * rating because I don't have any of them in full but I will be looking to see if all were releashed in full as part of NJ Classics. I would put them consistently at ****+ and liked them better than the DK/TM series.

 

 

Ohtani vs. Liger 11/4/95 ***+(Have only seen the last 7 1/2 minutes of this, Ohtani showed how much he was ready to challenge Liger, finish plays into a great near-fall in their 3/96 match)

Liger vs. Ohtani 3/17/96 ****1/2

Liger vs. Ohtani 2/9/97 ****1/2

 

 

Tiger Mask 2 vs. Kobashi 3/6/90 ***

Misawa vs. Kobashi 4/5/91 (Handheld) ***

Misawa vs. Kobashi 4/12/93 (JIP) ****+

Misawa vs. Kobashi 3/26/95 ****1/4

Misawa vs. Kobashi 10/25/95 ****

Misawa vs. Kobashi 3/31/96 ****1/2

Misawa vs. Kobashi 1/20/97 *****

Misawa vs. Kobashi 4/19/97 ****1/2

Misawa vs. Kobashi 10/21/97 ****3/4

Misawa vs. Kobashi 10/31/98 ****1/2

Misawa vs. Kobashi 6/11/99 ****1/2

Misawa vs. Kobashi 4/11/00 ***1/2

 

-More accesible for a newbie than the Misawa/Kawada fued beause the psycholgy isn't deep.

 

 

Kawada VS Misawa 10/21/92 (JIP) ****+

Misawa VS Kawada 3/27/93 ****1/2

Misawa VS Kawada 7/29/93 ****1/4

Kawada vs. Misawa 6/3/94 *****

Misawa vs. Kawada 7/24/95 ****3/4

Misawa vs. Kawada 6/7/97 ****1/4

Misawa vs. Kawada 5/1/98 ****

Misawa vs. Kawada 1/22/99 ****

Misawa VS Kawada 8/1/99 (Haven't seen it in a while, I remeber liking it though)

 

Misawa/Kobashi VS Taue/Kawada 12/3/93 ****3/4

Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue 5/21/94 ****3/4

Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue 1/24/95 ****1/4

Misawa/Kobashi VS Taue/Kawada 6/9/95 *****

Misawa/Kawada VS Taue/Kawada 10/15/95 ****3/4

 

The Dangerous Queen Story(Tape chronicling Hokuto's rise and evolution into being the Dangerous Queen)

Kandori VS Hokuto Dreamslam *****

Kandori/Sawai VS Hokuto/Kong Dreamslam II ****1/4

Kandori VS Kandori 12/6/93 ****1/2

Kandori/Hokuto VS Kong/Nakano ****3/4

 

-There are other matches that help build up the story, including Hokuto's confrontations with LLPW wrestlers; a familiarity with Kandori is also recommended.

[Guest Tim Cooke]

For Lynch or Highspots buyers, here are a few custom ideas that will get you great matches in a themed comp for the best prices.

 

Highspots Custom (4 matches- 20.00)

- This series would take 40.00 to buy the 4 individual tapes

- These are all from the New Japan Classics series new edition which is airing full matches from 1995-1996 currently

 

1/21/96 El Samurai v Shinjiro Otani

3/17/96 Jushin Liger v Shinjiro Otani

3/20/96 Shinjiro Otani v Wild Pegasus

6/11/96 Wild Pegasus v Black Tiger

 

Lynch Juniors Custom (2:00 - 25.00)

 

4/30/92 El Samurai v Jushin Liger

6/12/96 Jushin Liger v Black Tiger

8/4/96 Ultimo Dragon v Shinjiro Otani

11/24/96 Rey Misterio Jr. v Ultimo Dragon

2/9/97 Jushin Liger v Shinjiro Otani (COMPLETE)

 

Get the Liger/Sano from Barnett on his old Liger comp as he has them all compiled and get as much 1994-3/96 Juvi from him as well to see the Lucha equiv of Liger and Otani in their golden years.

 

Tim

[Guest ligerbomb03]

Keiji Mutoh vs. Masahiro Chono - 1991 G1 Climax Final

 

Antonio Inoki vs. Hulk Hogan - NJPW 1983

 

Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Akira Maeda - (Fujinami blood loss match)

 

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Ric Flair - 1982

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

I had to add this one.

 

Misawa vs. Kobashi 3/1/03 - ****

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Might as well put in my two cents:

 

All Japan (in chronological order)

 

4-82-Harley Race vs. Jumbo Tsuruta-****1/4

12-83-Real World Tag League Finals-Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen vs. Geni'ichiro Tenryu and Jumbo Tsuruta-****1/2

12-88-RWTL-Toshiaki Kawada and Geni'ichiro Tenryu vs. Stan Hansen and Terry Gordy-****1/2

10-24-91-Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada-****

3-4-95-Johnny Ace and Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa-****1/2

10-28-00-Toshiaki Kawada vs. Geni'ichiro Tenryu-****

 

New Japan

 

9-21-83-Stan Hansen vs. Andre The Giant

4-21-91-Owen Hart vs. Jyushin Lyger

Super J Cup-1995-Ultimo Dragon vs. The Great Sasuke

 

That's all for now. More will be coming up soon enough.

[Guest Jimbo]

Recent NOAH Junior action:

 

- Jushin Liger & Ricky Marvin & Naomichi Marufuji vs KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji & Kotaro Suzuki - 6-29-03

 

- Ricky Marvin & Juventud Guerrera vs. KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji

 

Terrific action from from the next generation of junior's.

 

If anyone would like them, IM or PM or whatever and maybe I can send 'em your way.

[Coffin Surfer 0]

10-24-91-Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada-****

So it wasn't even a MOTYC? One of the greatest singles matches of the 90s that could be argued as being better than the Misawa/Jumbo classics is just ****?

 

Worse, you have the goofy 95 tag rated better considerably higher than it. Great match, but not as great as Jumbo/Kawada, which is a fantastic super smart match from the two of the greatest workers of all time.

[Michrome 0]

10-24-91-Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada-****

3-4-95-Johnny Ace and Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa-****1/2

 

This is absurd. Tsuruta-Kawada was just a slight bit less than Tsuruta-Misawa in my opinion, and is definitely one of the best matches of the nineties. The tag being rated higher than it is insane.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Well, I just felt that the Kawada/Tsuruta match didn't have the same drama that the Jumbo/Misawa matches had. I mean, I loved the story, I thought it was well played how Kawada used a lot of Misawa's strategies with the headlocks, and the corner counter off the backdrop, but I'm gonna have to go look at this again. Maybe I'm missing something.

 

And that tag match isn't goofy. It's one of the better tag matches I've seen, and frankly, anytime you get JOHHNY F'N ACE to come out and put on the match he did when he frankly could have gotten SMOKED, I'm definitely proud of it. But I'll go back and watch the Kawada match to see if I can't find something that'll boost that rating a little bit.

[Coffin Surfer 0]

Well, I just felt that the Kawada/Tsuruta match didn't have the same drama that the Jumbo/Misawa matches had. I mean, I loved the story, I thought it was well played how Kawada used a lot of Misawa's strategies with the headlocks, and the corner counter off the backdrop, but I'm gonna have to go look at this again. Maybe I'm missing something.

 

And that tag match isn't goofy. It's one of the better tag matches I've seen, and frankly, anytime you get JOHHNY F'N ACE to come out and put on the match he did when he frankly could have gotten SMOKED, I'm definitely proud of it. But I'll go back and watch the Kawada match to see if I can't find something that'll boost that rating a little bit.

Well what's your rating for Misawa/Jumbo....****1/4. Of course it lacked the drama, but it's still one of the smartest matches of the past decade, and Kawada and Jumbo's selling is off the charts fantastic.

 

 

Yes that tag match was very goofy. The staredown spots were pretty goofy, mostly because of Ace's sad attempts at being "intense". You also have all that silly bull shit tough guy stuff at the beginning. Williams and Kobashi doing their usually nuttiness with a double reversed Super Belly to Belly Suplex. And of course, you get Ace's shitty idea that selling is thrashing your arms about and acting like a retard, some of the goofiest selling I've ever seen.

 

It's a really fun great match, but this is All Japan were talking about, and there are plenty better matches. Williams/Ace vs. Misawa/Akiyama comes to mind as a way better match, where Ace does a much better job of playing his role, while not acting like a total goofball.

[Guest Dave O'Neill, Journalist]

For a puro n00bs perspective, Golden Boy's Best of Collections are, if nothing else, a decent introduction to the product

[Guest Black Tiger]

For a puro n00bs perspective, Golden Boy's Best of Collections are, if nothing else, a decent introduction to the product

 

Not really, because you're getting a bunch of workers you don't know, and as a result you don't know what to look for in their matches. Puroresu at its absolute best is all about taking psychology and storytelling and weaving it into the match. If your just looking at a "best of" then you don't know anything that preceeded said match your watching and cannot grasp any of the psychology.

[Guest Dave O'Neill, Journalist]

Well, sorta.....

 

However, my experience has been..well, I liked this match "Chono/Tenzan vs Nishimura/Nakanishi"....so now I'm gonna find as much stuff as I can with these guys in it

 

Well, okay, Nishimura and Nakanishi. Fuck Tenzan (until I see the big fucking deal with his G1 Final with Akiyama)

[Guest momoracci]

90s Joshi

 

1. 04/02/93 - Hokuto vs. Kandori *****

2. 11/26/92 - Toyota/Yamada vs. Kansai/Ozaki *****

3. 01/15/93 - Kansai/Ozaki vs. Hotta/T. Inoue ****1/2

4. 07/31/93 - JWP Thunderqueen Battle ****1/2

5. 03/27/94 - Kong/Nakano vs. Hokuto/Kandori ****1/2

6. 11/26/92 - Hokuto vs. K. Inoue ****1/2

7. 08/21/93 - Hokuto vs. Toyota ****1/2

8. 11/20/94 - Kong vs. Toyota ****1/2

9. 09/05/93 - Hokuto/Minami vs. Hotta/T. Inoue ****1/2

10. 04/11/93 - Toyota/Yamada vs. Kansai/Ozaki ****1/2

 

90s All Japan

 

1. 12/06/96 - Misawa/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue *****

2. 06/03/94 - Misawa vs. Kawada *****

3. 06/09/95 - Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue *****

4. 12/03/93 - Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue *****

5. 07/29/93 - Hansen vs. Kobashi ****3/4

6. 01/20/97 - Kobashi vs. Misawa ****3/4

7. 10/15/95 - Kawada/Taue vs. Misawa/Kobashi ****3/4

8. 07/02/93 - Misawa/Kobashi/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue/Ogawa ****3/4

9. 06/08/90 - Tsuruta vs. Misawa ****3/4

10. 09/01/90 - Tsuruta vs. Misawa ****3/4

 

90s New Japan

 

1. 01/21/96 - Samurai vs. Ohtani ****3/4

2. 03/17/96 - Liger vs. Ohtani ****1/2

3. 04/30/92 - Liger vs. Samurai ****1/2

4. 08/04/96 - Dragon vs. Ohtani ****1/2

5. 04/16/94 - Pegasus vs. Sasuke ****1/2

6. 06/11/96 - Pegasus vs. B. Tiger ****1/4

7. 06/12/96 - Hashimoto/Hirata vs. Yamazaki/Iizuka ****1/4

8. 01/04/96 - Vader vs. Inoki ****1/4

9. 10/09/94 - Pegasus/Ohtani vs. Sasuke/B. Tiger ****1/4

10. 10/18/94 - Pegasus/Ohtani vs. Sasuke/B. Tiger ****1/4

 

90s Shootstyle

 

1. 06/27/98 - Tamura vs. Kohsaka (RINGS) *****

2. 01/22/97 - Han vs. Tamura (RINGS) ****3/4

3. 09/25/96 - Han vs. Tamura (RINGS) ****1/2

4. 10/14/94 - Takada vs. Sano (UWFi) ****1/2

5. 08/18/94 - Takada vs. Vader (UWFi) ****1/2

 

-Anthony

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

I wanted to add this. This past weekend I watched the NOAH 7/10 Departure show.....and I really enjoyed it.

 

Try this one on for size:

 

Kobashi v. Akiyama 7/10/04.....definately a MOTYC

[Special K 0]

I would say the 95' Champions Carnival is a great way to get into AJPW, maybe with some Jumbo matches as prep. Here you have the big 4 Hansen and Akiyama all looking great-fantastic, all kinds of combinations of great matches.

 

The only downside is the 60-minute tag draw which will go over noobs heads, and I frankly don't have the patience for, even now. PLus people will be mystified by the POWER of BABA.

[Pegasus Kid 0]

This thread hasn't been updated in TWO FUCKING YEARS! WHAT'S EVERYONE BEEN WATCHING?!

 

Let's get the ball rolling on stuff people have seen in the last month in the very least. I heart Suzuki's TC win was really good. Anyone else seen it? KENTA vs Danielson or Marufuji vs McGuinness? Anyone think Akiyama vs Marufuji is low end MOTYC?

[Guest CWMwasmurdered]

I may have seen KENTA vs Danielson but it might have been an earlier match. I haven't seen the Triple Crown switch yet. my puro MOTYC off the top of my head is Morishima/Rikio Vs Kenta/Marufuji.

[Hawk 34 0]

Having watched every DVD released by ROH this year, I can't begin to describe how awesome the Danielson/McGuinness series has been and they still have two matches yet to be released.

 

The KENTA excursion has been nothing short of awesome and the blow-off to the well worked CZW/ROH program at DBD IV was fantastic.

 

I haven't seen enough NOAH this year but I will safely say that ROH 2006 is probably the best complete product for a wrestling promotion of this decade.