"Overrated/Uderrated"

[Guest DragonflyKid]

One of the places I used as a guide on what matches I should get was DVDVR Best of the 90's , it has led me to a lot of great matches but I also disagree with the results of the polls here and there. I'll list the AJPW, Joshi and NJPW polls and me oipinion on them.

 

 

TOP 20 ALL JAPAN MATCHES OF THE 90s

 

1) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown - 6/3/94) – 507 Points (5-9-5) -Great match, my favorite men's singles match behind 1/20/97 MM/KK. After watching alot of the ,matches that contribute to 6/94 I feel I can fully appreciate it, I just slightly prefer 1/20 although I can't argue 6/94 as the top choice. I would be #4 on my list.

 

2) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue (6/9/95 - World Tag Titles) - 504 (9-4-2) -My favorite prowres match ever, #1.

 

 

3) Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama (RWTL 96 Finals - 12/6/96) – 423 (5-2-2) -My 2nd favorite men's tag match ever, just below 6/95.

 

4) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (Triple Crown - 1/20/97) – 286 (1-1-3) -The kind of epic match that remains my favorite singles match.

 

The top four in the poll are also my top 4 just in a different order.

 

5) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi - 25th Anniversary Show (Triple Crown - 10/21/97) – 250 (2-0-2) -Loved this match and agree with it's placement.

 

6) Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (9/1/90) – 189 (1-0-1) -I prefer the Kobashi/Hansen matches to the the Tsuruta/Misawa matches but think they're great and historically significant.

 

7) Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown - 6/12/98) – 155 (0-1-0) -The first Japanese match I ever loved. Probably my 4th favorite AJ singles match.

 

8) Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (6/8/90) – 143 (0-0-1) -Not as good as their 9/90 match but still a wonderful match that told a great story. I would have had this lower but still in the top 20.

 

9) Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi (7/29/93) – 133 (0-1-1) -My third favorite AJ singles match, I'd have this higher but top ten is reasonable.

 

10) Steve Williams/Johnny Ace vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama (6/7/96 -World Tag Titles) – 128 (0-0-1) -I don't have much of a problem with it being on the list, a great match but I would have had it in the 15-20 range.

 

11) Doug Furnas/Dan Kroffat vs. Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (5/25/92 - All Asia Tag Titles) - 127 -Funnest match I've ever seen with everyone playing their roles perfectly. Good placement.

 

12) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi - 26th Anniversary Show (Triple Crown - 10/31/98) – 126 (0-2-0) -The first time I watched this it was a top 5 match, when I rewatchced it it fell on my list but I still love it. I prefer the '99 match to this and prefer the 1/97 and 10/97 matches to that so it remains in my top 15.

 

13) Steve Williams vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Carnival 94 Final - 4/16/94) - 122 -Slow start but great finish, I'd have ths lower due to my preference of certain types of matches. I can see the flaws in te KK/Wiliams matches but still prefer them to this match.

 

14) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue (5/21/94 - World Tag Titles) – 121 (0-1-2) -I'd have this in my top ten.

 

15) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue/Toshiaki Kawada (RWTL 93 - 12/3/93) - 117 -Also a top 10 pick, I prefer 5/94 though.

 

16) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (Carnival 95 Final - 4/15/95) - 115 - I'd move this up over 6/8/90, 6/7/96, 10/98, 4/94 and 5/25/92.

 

17) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Steve Williams/Johnny Ace (3/4/95 - World Tag Titles) – 101 (0-1-0) -Would put it lower but not by much.

 

18) Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue (1/26/92) - 100 -Great match with everyone playing their roles great. A good top 20 pick.

 

19) Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi (Triple Crown - 9/3/94) - 94 -I'd hae this higer, I can see why people wouldn't like this as much as I did but I'd have in my top 15.

 

20) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown - 1/22/99) - 82 -I prefered at least three of their singles matches that missed being in the top 20 over this.

 

 

Top 20 Matches

 

1) Great Sasuke vs. Wild Pegasus - Super J Cup '94 (4/16/94 - Finals) - 476 Points (7-5-2, 22) -I haven't seen as many juniors matches as I would like but this neverlived up to the hype for me.

 

2) Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Ohtani - J-Crown Tourney (8/4/96 - Semis) - 318 (0-5-1, 18) -Based on the matches Ive seen this would be #2.

 

3) Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai - TOSJ '92 (4/30/92 - Finals) - 276 (3-5-1, 12) -This would be #1.

 

4) Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (1/31/90 - IWGP Jr. Title) - 259 (2-1-3, 16) Great match, I prefer their 8/89 match in the series.

 

5) Pegasus Kid vs. El Samurai - TOSJ '93 (6/15/93 - Finals) - 186 (2-2-0, 12) -Thought it was very good but I prefer several matches later on the list to this.

 

6) Great Sasuke/Black Tiger vs. Wild Pegasus/Shinjiro Ohtani - SG Jr. Tag League '94 (10/16/94 - Finals) - 185 (1-01, 14) -Haven't seen it.

 

7) Great Sasuke vs. Jushin Liger - Super J Cup '94 (4/16/94 - Semis) - 173 (0-0-2, 15) -This drops, liked it but not on the level of some.

 

8) El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto - TOSJ '97 (6/5/97 - Finals) - 155 (2-0-1, 10) -Have only seen the clipped form but liked it alot.

 

9) Keiji Mutoh vs. Masa Chono - G-1 '91 (8/11/91 - Finals) - 142 (10) -Haven't seen it, have seen afew of their other matches and wasn't impressed.

 

10) Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (2/9/97 - J-Crown) - 126 (0-3-0, 7) -I wish I would have seen the JIP version because the last 15 minutes would have made it seem better than it was.

 

11) Jushin Liger vs. Owen Hart - TOSJ '91 (4/27/91) - 115 (1-0-0, 10) -Haven't seen it but liked a few of their earlier meetigs.

 

12) Hiroshi Hase/Kensuke Sasaki vs. Steiners Brothers - "Starcade '91" (3/21/91 - IWGP Tag Titles) - 115 (11) -Haven't seen it.

 

13) Shinya Hashimoto vs. Genichiro Tenryu - G-1 '98 (8/1/98 - Quarters) - 102 (0-0-1, 8) -Haven't seen it.

 

14) Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (3/17/96 - IWGP Jr. Title) - 96 (0-0-1, 8) -I loved this match, I'd have it higher than their 2/97 match.

 

15) Great Sasuke vs. Ultimo Dragon - J-Crown Tourney (8/5/96 - Finals) - 92 (1-0-1, 7) -I liked it but haven't seen enough NJ to rate it against enough of the other matches on the list.

 

16) Vader vs. Antonio Inoki (1/4/96) - 90 (10) -Good pick but I wasn't blow away by this match.

 

17) Keiji Mutoh/Masa Chono vs. Hiroshi Hase/Kensuke Sasaki (11/1/90 - IWGP Tag Titles) - 84 (7) Haven't seen it.

18) Hiroshi Hase vs. Great Muta (12/14/92) - 77 (11) I think it's overrated, then again the style didn't do much for me.

 

19) Big Van Vader vs. Stan Hansen - "Super Fight" (2/10/90 - IWGP Title) - 74 (5) -Haven't seen it.

 

20) El Samurai vs. Shinjiro Ohtani (1/29/96 - UWA Title) - 65 (1-0-1, 3) - I only have seen a clipped version but liked it a great deal.

 

 

 

TOP 20 JOSHI MATCHES OF THE 90’s

 

1) Shinobu Kandori vs. Akira Hokuto - AJW "Dream Slam 1" (4/2/93) = 465 points (7-7-2) -I'd have this at #3 or 4.

 

2) Kong/Inoue/Inoue/Hasegawa vs. Kansai/Ozaki/Suzuki/Fukuoka - JWP (7/31/93 - Thunder Queen) = 382 (5-3-4) -Didn't like this as much as most, still top ten.

 

3) Manami Toyota/Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai/Mayumi Ozaki - AJW "Dream Slam 2" (4/11/93) = 272 (2-2-3) -Top 10 easily, I prefered Dream Rush.

 

4) Manami Toyota/Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai/Mayumi Ozaki - AJW "Dream Rush" (11/26/92 - 2/3 Falls WWWA Tag Titles) = 251 (2-2-4) #1.

 

5) Yumiko Hotta vs. Lioness Asuka - AJW "Queendom III" (3/26/95 - UFC rules) = 198 (0-1-2) -Haven't seen it.

 

6) Mima Shimoda/Etsuko Mita vs. Kaoru Ito/Tomoko Watanabe - AJW 9/21/97 - Cage Death Match) = 189 (0-1-0) -I'd have this lower, top 15.

 

7) Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota - AJW "V*Top Tournament" (11/20/94) = 165 (0-0-1) My alternates with Kandori/Hokuto Dreamslam as my favorite female singles match. #3 or 4.

 

8) Bull Nakano vs. Aja Kong - AJW "WrestleMarinpiad II" (11/14/90 - WWWA Title Cage Match) = 158 (1-0-0) -I'd have this much lower, I prefered their Dreamrush match to this. Wouldn't be in my top 20.

 

9) Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada - AJW (8/15/92 - Hair vs. Hair) = 155 (1-0-0) Definite top ten.

 

10) Double Inoues vs. Manami Toyota/Sakie Hasegawa - AJW "Queen's Holy Night" (8/30/95 - 2/3 Falls WWWA Tag Title) = 144 (0-1-0) -Definite top ten.

 

11) Meiko Satomura vs. Aja Kong - GAEA (9/15/99) = 112 Great match, agree with the placement.

 

12) Mayumi Ozaki vs. Dynamite Kansai - JWP (3/17/95 - Street Fight) = 103 Like the Kong/Bull cage match I couldn't get into this like some, much lower but I will rewatch it soon.

 

13) Akira Hokuto/Shinobu Kandori vs. Aja Kong/Bull Nakano - AJW "Queendom II" (3/27/94) = 94-#2. My first viewing of this was the greatest wrestling experience of my life. I was unaware of it as it came on a comp and I didn't research it so I didn't know how it ended so I was on the edge of my seat for alot of it.

 

14) Manami Toyota vs. Akira Hokuto - AJW "Destiny" (9/2/95) = 81 (0-0-1) Ater watching this and their '93 math back-to-back I will agree with others by saying '93 was better. I still liked this alot but nowhere near the ***** I've seen it rated.

 

15) Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue - AJW (5/7/95 - WWWA Title) = 80 (0-1-0) _haven't seen it, ead i great but als that it's not so great. It is on my next order.

 

16) Megumi Kudo vs. Combat Toyoda - FMW (5/5/96 - Exploding Barbed Wire) = 65 (0-0-1) -Haven't seen it.

 

17) Manami Toyota vs. Aja Kong - AJW "Queendom III" (3/26/95 - WWWA Title) = 65 - I loved their Best*One match but haven't seen this.

 

18) Dynamite Kansai vs. Aja Kong - AJW "Queen's Holy Night" (8/30/95 - WWWA Title) = 63 -Great, top 20.

 

19) KAORU/Yamada vs. Etsuko Mita/Mima Shimoda - GAEA (4/4/99 - Street Fight) = 63 Probably wouldn't make my top 20 but good nontheless.

 

20) Manami Toyota/Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai/Mayumi Ozaki - AJW "St. Battle Final" (12/6/93 - WWWA Tag Title) = 62 #20 sounds good, there are other matches not on the list I'd have above it.

[Guest wolverine]

For the 1990's Joshi, my picks:

 

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

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

3. Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota, V-Top Quarterfinals, AJW Big Egg Universe, 11/20/94 - ****3/4

4. 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

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

6. Akira Hokuto vs. Manami Toyota, JGP ’93 Semi-Final, 8/21/93 - ****1/2

7. Kyoko Inoue/Takako Inoue vs. Manami Toyota/Sakie Hasegawa, WWWA Tag Titles, AJW Championship Night, 8/30/95 - ****1/2

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

9. Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada, Hair vs. Hair, AJW Mid Summer Typhoon, 8/15/92 - ****1/2

10. Manami Toyota vs. Aja Kong, WWWA Title, AJW Best One, 6/27/95 - ****1/2

11. Aja Kong vs. Meiko Satomura, AAAW Title, GAEA Double Destiny, 9/15/99 - ****1/2

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

13. Akira Hokuto vs. Kyoko Inoue, All Pacific Title, AJW Dream Rush, 11/26/92 - ****1/4

14. Mariko Yoshida vs. Mika Akino, Queen of Arsion Title, ARSION Stardom ’99, 1/17/99 - ****1/4

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

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

17 Dynamite Kansai vs. Kyoko Inoue, V-Top Quarterfinals, AJW Big Egg Universe, 11/20/94 - ****1/4

18 Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada, JGP ’92, 6/21/92 - ****1/4

19 Aja Kong/Bull Nakano vs. Akira Hokuto/Toshiyo Yamada, AJW Mid Summer Typhoon, Fuji TV Tourney Finals, 8/15/92 - ****

20. Mariko Yoshida vs. Mikiko Futagami, Queen of Arsion Title, ARSION Starlet '99, 4/14/99 - ****

 

For the 2000's Joshi, my picks:

 

1. Kaoru Ito vs. Momoe Nakanishi, WWWA Title, AJW Odaiba W Explosion, 9/16/01 - ****1/2

2. Ito/Nakanishi/Takahashi vs. Mita/Shimoda/Maekawa, AJW W Fusion Requiem, Cage Match, 11/23/00 - ****1/4

3. Kaoru Ito vs. Manami Toyota, AJW JGP '01, 8/17/01 - ****1/4

4. Kaoru Ito vs. Momoe Nakanishi, AJW JGP '01, 7/8/01 - ****1/4

5. Akira Hokuto vs. Meiko Satomura, GAEA, 4/29/01 - ****

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

Steve Williams vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Carnival 94 Final - 4/16/94) - 122 -Slow start but great finish, I'd have ths lower due to my preference of certain types of matches. I can see the flaws in te KK/Wiliams matches but still prefer them to this match.

 

 

 

O.K. here's a criticism of the match that I have yet to comprehend. The Rolling German's dude says this as well, but how is the match a slow start? I just don't get it.

 

They start off with a Backdrop Driver tease, ending with Kawada hitting his own(sort of). Williams murders Kawada with a Tiger Suplex very early if I remember correctly. They trade chops and stuff, with very few wear down holds thoughout most of the beginning.

 

The middle is also pretty good, the Octupus Stretch and Fujiwara Armbar are the only real slow parts that kind of drag. In other words there is a hell of lot more to the match than a great finish, IMO.

[Guest DragonflyKid]

I didn't say I thought the build was boring or bad but I wanted to emphasize the latter half of the match being the highlight. The build was well done but compared to other great AJ matches it had a slower pace. One thing I love about AJ is the great battle of strikes and counters to those strikes which are found throughout Misawa, Kawada, Taue and Kobashi's matches with each other. One of my biggest dislikes of the NJ juniors is the build which has alot of matwork that usually goes nowhere, in AJ they use little rest holds while using many strikes. Williams doesn't have Misawa's elbows, Kawada's kicks, etc. so his matches can't have those great strike sequences that are exciting parts of the early portions of other AJ matches.

 

I feel the build portion of a great match should have me enthralled and the dramatic portion should have me at the edge of my seat. The Williams/Kawada build did what it should have but I didn't find it on the level of other AJ matches excitement-wise.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

I didn't say I thought the build was boring or bad but I wanted to emphasize the latter half of the match being the highlight. The build was well done but compared to other great AJ matches it had a slower pace. One thing I love about AJ is the great battle of strikes and counters to those strikes which are found throughout Misawa, Kawada, Taue and Kobashi's matches with each other. One of my biggest dislikes of the NJ juniors is the build which has alot of matwork that usually goes nowhere, in AJ they use little rest holds while using many strikes. Williams doesn't have Misawa's elbows, Kawada's kicks, etc. so his matches can't have those great strike sequences that are exciting parts of the early portions of other AJ matches.

 

I feel the build portion of a great match should have me enthralled and the dramatic portion should have me at the edge of my seat. The Williams/Kawada build did what it should have but I didn't find it on the level of other AJ matches excitement-wise.

Well of course the bulid is going to seem lacking when compared to the 95 Main Event stuff like Misawa/Kawada, Kawada/Albright and Misawa/Taue since their busting out high spots and credible match enders from the get go.

 

The 94 match is built much more traditional and when compared to other matches of that nature it holds up very well.

[Guest Pegasus Kid]

O.K. here's a criticism of the match that I have yet to comprehend.  The Rolling German's dude says this as well, but how is the match a slow start?  I just don't get it.

Um... I never reviewed the CC 1994 Finals. I don't own the commercial set either.

[Guest Jubuki]

Hadn't really done this before - instead of criticizing others' picks, I was always more concerned with making my own list make sense. What the Hell - time to bash the troglodytes!

 

1) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown - 6/3/94) – 507 Points (5-9-5)

 

I can't argue with anyone putting this # 1. It wouldn't be there for me, but I can't argue it.

 

2) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue (6/9/95 - World Tag Titles) - 504 (9-4-2)

 

See #1.

 

3) Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama (RWTL 96 Finals - 12/6/96) – 423 (5-2-2)

 

See #1 and #2.

 

4) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (Triple Crown - 1/20/97) – 286 (1-1-3)

 

The first one I'd drop... though not by much. This wasn't the pinnacle of All Japan fast-paced heavyweight style - it was just all the further these two could take it.

 

5) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi - 25th Anniversary Show (Triple Crown - 10/21/97)

 

Haven't watched in forever, can't say.

 

6) Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (9/1/90) – 189 (1-0-1)

 

Same to this, though I remember liking 6/8 more.

 

7) Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown - 6/12/98)

 

I've always thought a lot of this match, probably more than others. About right, maybe 2 spots lower.

 

8) Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (6/8/90) – 143 (0-0-1)

 

Again, in need of a rewatch, but about right.

 

9) Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi (7/29/93) – 133 (0-1-1)

 

This goes up, way up, for me. Probably #5, ahead of 1/20/97. I'll take simplicity over bumping any day.

 

10) Steve Williams/Johnny Ace vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama (6/7/96 -World Tag Titles) – 128 (0-0-1)

 

Still haven't watched this.

 

11) Doug Furnas/Dan Kroffat vs. Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (5/25/92 - All Asia Tag Titles) - 127 -Funnest match I've ever seen with everyone playing their roles perfectly. Good placement.

 

No kidding.

 

12) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi - 26th Anniversary Show (Triple Crown - 10/31/98) – 126 (0-2-0)

 

Haven't watched, but I hated the 6/99 match. I can't imagine this is better than any of their others.

 

13) Steve Williams vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Carnival 94 Final - 4/16/94) - 122

 

Bottom 5 pick, but deserving.

 

14) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue (5/21/94 - World Tag Titles) – 121 (0-1-2)

 

Wouldn't make it for me. The 10/95 draw is so much more impressive. Everyone has their roles down in that, and Taue is so much better there.

 

15) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue/Toshiaki Kawada (RWTL 93 - 12/3/93) - 117 -

 

#4 with a bullet. Best individual performance in men's history.

 

16) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (Carnival 95 Final - 4/15/95) - 115 -

 

Maybe a little high, though I suppose someone wanting to represent Taue singles matches would have to choose this, or the 9/95, or the 4/95 Kawada match.

 

17) Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Steve Williams/Johnny Ace (3/4/95 - World Tag Titles) – 101 (0-1-0)

 

Wouldn't make it, not when Kawada/Albright or one of the other Misawa/Kawada matches or the 7/2/93 trios or 4/20/91 trios isn't here.

 

18) Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue (1/26/92) - 100

 

Have it, was bored by it when I tried to watch. I should really give it another go, but I don't know if it'd make it.

 

19) Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi (Triple Crown - 9/3/94) - 94

 

Has no business on the list.

 

20) Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown - 1/22/99) - 82

 

See #19.

[Guest TheGame2705]

Alright I'll probably get laughed at but why isn't Kawada/Williams 4/16/94 on any of the champion carnival tapes. I'm searching at Tabe's and can't find it.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Kawada vs. Williams 4/16/94 was the 1994 CC finals, its on its own tape. Check Triple Crown Tapes

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

O.K. here's a criticism of the match that I have yet to comprehend.  The Rolling German's dude says this as well, but how is the match a slow start?  I just don't get it.

Um... I never reviewed the CC 1994 Finals. I don't own the commercial set either.

On the Rolling German's site there is a review of Kawada vs. Williams Champions Carnival Finals 94 by some guy named Jason. I didn't say it was you, I said some Rolling German's dude, sorry should have been more specific.

 

Anyway the bastard only gave it ***3/4, WTF?

[Guest Black Tiger]

Anyway the bastard only gave it ***3/4, WTF?

***3/4 is probably too high a rating for that match. Thank Kawada though for any enjoyment you may get out of it.

[Guest wolverine]

I've done several All Japan lists over the last couple of years, but I feel pretty comfortable with what I can come up with at this point:

 

1. Misawa/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue, 12/6/96 *****

 

Has been #1 since the day I first saw it. Pretty much the deepest match I've ever seen from a story standpoint, including the best performance of Akira Taue's career. I can only describe Kawada & Taue during the stretch run of this as some sort of Two Man Wrecking Crew.

 

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

 

A match that didn't sink in with me until getting deep down with AJ's history. What puts this over the top is everything that took place after the powerbomb at the 25 minute mark, with the look on Kawada's face just before he begins to kick the shit out of Misawa being one of the most memorable things I've ever seen. Classic doesn't even begin to describe this.

 

3. Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue, 6/9/95 *****

 

Although I'm not as high on this match as most (Kobashi's crying act while his leg was being dismantled was a bit too goofy for my tastes), everything the other three did in carrying out the story was some of the greatest stuff I've ever seen in wrestling.

 

4. Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue, 12/3/93 *****

 

My favorite match, my favorite performance, my favorite year of wrestling. What's more to love?

 

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

 

I'll echo what I said previously. Just a fantastic performance by Hansen with his selling of Kobashi's offense, combined with the greatest transition I've ever seen (Kobashi's face meets boot). Fucking great.

 

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

 

Has dropped off considerably since I first watched. Incredible match, but just doesn't kick you in the balls like the ones above. These two had their best singles matches together in 1997, and this was as top-of-the-line as they got.

 

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

 

Like I said, best 6 man tag I've ever seen. Extremely fun.

 

8. Tsuruta vs. Misawa, 9/1/90 ****3/4

 

Awe inspiring the first time I watched. Jumbo was surly as hell here, bashing young Misawa into oblivion, with white hot heat to boot. Goddamn, I need to watch this again TONIGHT.

 

9. Misawa/Akiyama vs. Williams/Ace, 6/7/96 ****3/4

 

Sure it's clipped, but it still features the best tag team ever carrying two guys to as good a match as they were ever going to be involved in. The Akiyama Show at its finest up to this point.

 

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

 

Best 60-minute match ever. OK, maybe. Should go watch Aja punting people in Thunderqueen again, I guess.

 

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

 

Pretty much fell in love with All Japan after seeing this. Fuck the headdropping late 90's style. This is my type of wrestling, taking place during an era that I wish I had been old enough to experience as it was taking place.

 

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

 

The last great All Japan match - Kawada basically works for two, as Kobashi's knee was blown, but in the typical AJ mentality, he refused to have it fixed for years. An awesome performance by Tosh (though I've never been that big a fan of the early matwork portion...it's pure gold after that, though).

 

13. Hansen vs. Kawada, 2/28/93 ****3/4

 

Greatest brawl I've ever seen. These guys, I swear, seriously portrayed a palpable hate that was just ready to explode in the weeks leading up to this. And they delivered in a huge way here.

 

14. Kobashi/Kikuchi vs. Kroffat/Furnas, 5/25/92 ****1/2

 

I had Lynch throw this thing on a Juniors comp a few years back, and I was just blown away by not just the work, not just the crowd, but Akira Fukuzawa, the greatest announcer that ever lived, with his incredible call. What a superb piece of business this is.

 

15. Kawada vs. Williams, 4/16/94 ****1/2

 

jdw was right - this WAS the best match on this night. Kawada in another one of his god-like selling efforts (and it helped that Doc didn't get as nutty as he usually would get). The finish plays a huge role in understanding the significance of the same move during 6/3/94.

 

16. Misawa vs. Taue, 9/10/95 ****1/2

 

Extremely smart work from Taue, who was seriously hitting his stride here. Absolutely smokes the Misawa/Kobashi Budokan match the next month. Which leads us to....

 

17. Kawada vs. Albright 10/25/95 ****1/2

 

Yeah, so does this. Probably Kawada's greatest performance in a singles match. But enough has been said about it already. Next.

 

18. Misawa vs. Kawada, 7/24/95 ****1/2

 

Super fast paced heavyweight bout, with them clicking to scary degree. This is the Misawa/Kawada match you show to a new fan.

 

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

 

The peak of the Jumbo & Co. vs. Misawa & Co. feud.

 

20. Misawa vs. Kawada, 7/29/93 ****1/2

 

These two had a hell of task in trying to follow Hansen/Kobashi, but they more than did so, with the state-of-the-art work that was two be expected at the time. I love All Japan during 1993. But there I go repeating myself again!

[Guest wildpegasus]

About the 4/16/94 Kawada Williams match. Can anyone give a quick desription of this match? I have one Kawada Williams match but it's on a compilation tape and I'm not sure what date it is.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

Anyway the bastard only gave it ***3/4, WTF?

***3/4 is probably too high a rating for that match. Thank Kawada though for any enjoyment you may get out of it.

 

What the hell? The match was brilliant, and is the best peformance of Steven Williams' career and one of Kawada's best efforts as well. The selling from both guys was damn near perfect, putting over every move extremely well. The match was short, brutal, and too the point, and I get alot of enjoyment out of it thanks to both guys efforts. Thank you very much.

 

Oh and for the description. It's the one that ends with Kawada unloading everthing he has on Steven Williams: There's a Stretch Plum, The Koppo Kicks to switch the momentum that Wolverine mentions as being significant to 6/3/94, Two Gamengiris, and no less than Three Powerbombs over like a 5 minute stretch. Yeah, ***3/4 my ass.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

To be different, these matches may not be top 20, but damn there still great.

 

Kawada vs. Kobashi 4/93

-The 98 match is smarter and more important, but as far as work rate goes there is very few heavyweight matches that can touch this. Sure it's JIP, but you get like 9 minutes of both guys busting out every move in their aresenal while still properly selling them. Awesome stuff.

 

Akiyama vs. Kawada 7/93

-Kawada has never been better as a grumpy vet, kicking the shit out of a young pretty boy. Rather than bust out tons of stiff strikes and high spots, they choose a much more low key smarter approach that I love.

 

Misawa vs. Kawada 3/93

-Overall I dig this more than the 7/93 match. Fast, wild action, with only one headdrop in the whole match and it comes at the very end for a super hot near fall. Really stands out from the pack, with the Holy Shit out of nowhere ending.

 

Jumbo/Taue/Fuchi vs. Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi 10/28/90

-I actually enjoy this more than the 91 match. This match also oddly enough made me into a huge Taue mark, he is such an asshole in this match. Everything involving him and Kawada is pure gold as they take turns cheating against each other. Plus you get to see Kobashi get his nose broke with a DDT, and get his face stiffly stomped by Fuchi while the fans strangley enough chant "FUCHI! FUCHI! FUCHI!"

 

Misawa/Kobashi vs. Williams/Ace 3/95

-"ACE, LET ME TAKE HIM!". I just get sucked into this match every time I watch it. Though I have no idea what the hell Ace thinks he's doing with that freaky ass selling at the end, it's still one hell of a match. The role playing is excellent, and I actually start to feel bad for Ace as he tries again and again to prove himself only to get his ass handed to him each time. Williams tugging on Ace by his arm in one last attempt to save him from the massacre near the end of the match, really moves me which is weird considering it's Williams and Ace.

 

Jumbo/Taue vs. Misawa/Kobashi 6/92

-There are so many damn near falls at the end it's unreal. Very fun and exciting match.

[Guest Pegasus Kid]

Akiyama vs. Kawada 7/93

-Kawada has never been better as a grumpy vet, kicking the shit out of a young pretty boy. Rather than bust out tons of stiff strikes and high spots, they choose a much more low key smarter approach that I love.

I'd beg to differ here. I thought their 3/95 match was a far better example of (as you put it) of "grumpy vet kicking the shit out of a young pretty boy." Granted Jun had come a long way over the last few years but the story is principally the same. Jun is a house of fire right from the get go doing everything he can to take Kawada down and out, taking a beating and then keeps coming, but the vet keeps breaking him down over and over. The application, break and then re-applying of the Stretch Plum is a strong culmination of the overall story of the match.

 

I never really took a great liking to 7/93. The match was simple as you said but I don't know where this "smarter approach" comes from. Care to elaborate a bit more? It just came off as an above average match to me.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

Akiyama vs. Kawada 7/93

-Kawada has never been better as a grumpy vet, kicking the shit out of a young pretty boy.  Rather than bust out tons of stiff strikes and high spots, they choose a much more low key smarter approach that I love.

I'd beg to differ here. I thought their 3/95 match was a far better example of (as you put it) of "grumpy vet kicking the shit out of a young pretty boy." Granted Jun had come a long way over the last few years but the story is principally the same. Jun is a house of fire right from the get go doing everything he can to take Kawada down and out, taking a beating and then keeps coming, but the vet keeps breaking him down over and over. The application, break and then re-applying of the Stretch Plum is a strong culmination of the overall story of the match.

 

I never really took a great liking to 7/93. The match was simple as you said but I don't know where this "smarter approach" comes from. Care to elaborate a bit more? It just came off as an above average match to me.

No, I disagree. 7/93 and the 95 Carnie match are two completely different storylines.

 

 

In the 95 match Jun was feeling alot more confident, so he attempted to over come his lack of experience, by overwhelming Kawada rather than playing defense. Kawada isn't really playing a grumpy vet, who's kicking the shit out of a young star, he's just tyring to stop the onslaught, and estinguish Jun's fire. Which is really exactly how you described it.

 

7/93 match, Jun is a rookie going up against the #2 native. He has no fucking chance of winning at all, it's not even a dream. Back in January, Kawada pretty much squashed Jun, whelping the hell out of his back with kicks.

 

He knows first what will happen if Kawada gets turned lose, so he goes out there on the defense, doing his best to control Kawada with the Armbar. Probably the best arm work I've ever seen btw, all the spots are pure genius that does nothing but add to the match and the guy's roles. It's simple, but it's used in a very complex way to show the guy's roles, the trademark of all the classic All Japan underdog vs. vet matches.

 

Unlike 95, Kawada isn't trying to keep Jun off, he's out there to punish him. Hence the grumpy vet phrase. Kawada is beyond dickish in this match, he's straight up evil. Toying with Jun, torturing him with painful wear down holds, giving him the chance to get up, just so he can floor him again with a stiff ass chop or kick.

 

The crowd heat is amazing for such a one sided match, as Kawada excellently times the use of the wear down holds, so that it doesn't bore the crowd, but actually makes it hotter. Which is why I feel it's the smartest Jun vs. Kawada match. They don't need high spot teases or insane stiffness to draw you into the match, they are just using basic stuff to it's fullest potenital with expert timing. Why some people may not be into this, and understandably so, while I'm absolutely facisinated by it.

 

Plus you got to love the "you are not worthy" ending. Kawada doesn't even need to use his finishers, he just knocks the living shit out of Jun.

 

I this is the same as the Kawada/Jumbo 10/91 and Kobashi/Jumbo 5/91 matches. Both peferctly accomplish what they set out to do, it just depends on which style and story you prefer the most.