96-03-31 Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi

[Guest Breetai]

Just finished watching the match for the first time, and I've got a few questions.

 

1. What's the name of that half-nelson german suplex that Kobashi uses? It's not QUITE a tiger suplex, but...

 

2. What's with the ending? Is the diving neckbreaker actually a big move (ie. legitimate match ender) as a part of Misawa's moveset, or did it win via the Japanese selling philosophy of "Finishers may not actually end the match, but they have a telling cumulative effect"?

 

3. Slightly unrelated; in the match where Kobashi was the first (and I think to this day only) person to kick out of the TD'91, did the match end immediately after with Misawa hitting another move, or did Kobashi actually get some offence in?

 

4. In the match I just saw, what was the deal with Kobashi hitting the Tiger Driver? Was it a case of "I can't finish you with my own moves, so let's see how you can withstand one of your own", or was Kobashi just being a dick?

 

5. What's with the green cartoon piggies on the turnbuckle covers?

 

 

Thanks.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

Just finished watching the match for the first time, and I've got a few questions.

 

1. What's the name of that half-nelson german suplex that Kobashi uses? It's not QUITE a tiger suplex, but...

 

2. What's with the ending? Is the diving neckbreaker actually a big move (ie. legitimate match ender) as a part of Misawa's moveset, or did it win via the Japanese selling philosophy of "Finishers may not actually end the match, but they have a telling cumulative effect"?

 

3. Slightly unrelated; in the match where Kobashi was the first (and I think to this day only) person to kick out of the TD'91, did the match end immediately after with Misawa hitting another move, or did Kobashi actually get some offence in?

 

4. In the match I just saw, what was the deal with Kobashi hitting the Tiger Driver? Was it a case of "I can't finish you with my own moves, so let's see how you can withstand one of your own", or was Kobashi just being a dick?

 

5. What's with the green cartoon piggies on the turnbuckle covers?

 

 

Thanks.

1. Half Nelson Suplex, I believe Kobashi invented it.

 

2. The Neckbreaker Drop was over because Baba, Jumbo and others had used it as a finisher. Also, it once beat Hansen, and any move that beats Hansen becomes instantly Mega over, because he's one bad mother fucker. Plus this goes into the whole, accumulated damage selling that you mentioned. Misawa rarely used it, maybe once or twice from what I've seen.

 

3. 1/97. No, Misawa was still fucked up, and laid around for a little. Much like 6/3/94, a half dead Kobashi attempts to turn the tide with his most reliable weapon, the Burning Lariat, but it doesn't have anything on it. Misawa gets behind him and hits a nasty Tiger Suplex 85. Too tired to do anything else, Misawa lets Kobashi stumble to his feet, and than summons his power for a final Running Elbow that keeps Kobashi down for the three.

[Guest Dangerous Back Drop]

The diving neckbreaker drop wasn't really Baba's move - it was, however, a theme for Misawa that particular Carny. Baba would have never come off the top, but Misawa was a flyer, and it was his way of taking the move and making it his own, in rather effective fashion. He also beat Taue with it in their League match, which eventually played into Taue's hands in May.

[Guest Breetai]

Can anyone answer #4 or #5?

[Guest Riots bloodlust]

I can't speak directly to it, as I haven't seen much puro for a while, but as for #4, I would wager that it was Kobashi being a dick, or from a different angle it was Kobashi trying to drill psychologically into Misawa, to disrupt his game.

 

#5. I think that the piggies are a sponsorship thing. If not that, then I would guess it's some weird logo/mascot.

 

These are really just guesses though.