My Introduction into Puroresu..

[Guest BifEverchad]

I've never owned an actual Japan tape. I've seen many, had a loan of some, and have always heard of the regulars and legends of Japan. But not until today have I had my own tape of Puroresu.

 

I recently started a trade with another member of the board, and with that trade, I recieved the All Japan's Best of Strong Style tape. Apparently it's an RF Video production? Anyways, can anyone help me out with a match listing or some additional information.

 

I'm really starting to dig this style, so any help would be nice.

 

Thanks.

Bif

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

That's a really good tape. I believe it has:

 

Hayabusa/Shinzaki vs. Taue/Kawada (awesome)

Akiyama vs. Misawa (I'll just say this, a pedigree is a throwaway move in it )

Kobashi vs. Misawa (LOTS of head dropping_

Kawada vs. Misawa (insane - ganso bomb incident)

Kobashi/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue (this is good, but not as good as the other tag match above)

Taue vs. Kobashi (This is really good)

Kobashi vs. Vader (Ok)

 

I'm not very good with dates, and that's from memory so there might be more matches, but if it's the same tape then it's a really fucking good one and a great introduction to AJPW. It's during the headdropping era (you can particularly notice it in the Kobashi/Misawa, Misawa/Akiyama, Misawa/Kawada matches) which a lot of AJfans don't like - but you'll enjoy it; I know I did.

 

If you like that, look for early 90's AJPW (in particular the Kobashi/Hansen 93 stiff lariat match) and try to get some Jumbo Tsuruta.

[Guest Dangerous A]

I agree with RRR that the RF tape is a fairly good intro to AJ, especially if you've never seen AJ. Most of the matches on that tape are good enough on their own without having to know a lot of the backstories. If the style is good for you, then you can start getting earlier stuff and move up into the 90's.

 

 

As for the matchlist for your tape, here is the link.

 

 

http://rfvideo.com/merchant/index.cfm?acti...oreinfo&id=3734

 

 

Hope that helps.

[Guest BifEverchad]

Sweet, thanks for the match listings and the advice guys.

 

Much appreciated!

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi…10-21-97

-Other than the over kill of the Half Nelson Suplex, great, great, fast paced heavy weight match. Both men are very motivated and work their asses off which is more than what I can say for the nonsense they would toss out in the following years. Look into the rest of their 96 and other 97 matches.

 

Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue

-I have no desire to it track down, but I hear it's surprisenly better than one would expect.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada…1-22-99

-Not bad considering Kawada's broken arm, but it's still light years below their 92-95 matches. Check out all their matches from 92-95 which are faster and smarter.

 

Kenta Kobashi & Jun Kikuchi vs. Doug Furnas & Dan Kraffat…5-25-92…Greatest Crowd Heat Ever?

-A fucking classic if there ever was one. The crowd is unbelievable even by early 90s All Japan standards. Check out more early 90s T.V. if you like this.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jun Akiyama…1-98

-shit. I wasted precious minutes of my life watching this. Check out Misawa's early work, when he gave a damn. Check out Akiyama's matches against Kawada, where somebody actually carried him properly.

 

Akira Taue vs. Kenta Kobashi…7-24-96

-Nuttiness abounds. A perfect example of Taue not being completely innocent in the creation of the spot a thon days, the lanky bastard even does a pop up off a head drop. If you like it, check out Taue's 95 and 96 work during the Carines and against Misawa.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Terry Gordy & Steve Williams…12-91

-Not bad, check out Misawa and Kawada's 90-91 tag work against Jumbo/Taue.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue & Jun Akiyama…12-92

-Maybe overrated, but still pretty good. Check out anything from this era that you can find(92-93).

 

Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue…1-99

-I would check out Kawada/Taue's 96 work against Akiyama/Misawa.

 

Vader vs. Kenta Kobashi…1-15-99

-Solid, but underwhelming. Check out Kobashi's 93 matches against Hansen.

 

Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada…6-12-98.

-CLASSIC! Check out 4/93 to see them operate 10 times faster yet still keep it smart.

[Guest BifEverchad]

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi…10-21-97

-Other than the over kill of the Half Nelson Suplex, great, great, fast paced heavy weight match. Both men are very motivated and work their asses off which is more than what I can say for the nonsense they would toss out in the following years. Look into the rest of their 96 and other 97 matches.

 

Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue

-I have no desire to it track down, but I hear it's surprisenly better than one would expect.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada…1-22-99

-Not bad considering Kawada's broken arm, but it's still light years below their 92-95 matches. Check out all their matches from 92-95 which are faster and smarter.

 

Kenta Kobashi & Jun Kikuchi vs. Doug Furnas & Dan Kraffat…5-25-92…Greatest Crowd Heat Ever?

-A fucking classic if there ever was one. The crowd is unbelievable even by early 90s All Japan standards. Check out more early 90s T.V. if you like this.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jun Akiyama…1-98

-shit. I wasted precious minutes of my life watching this. Check out Misawa's early work, when he gave a damn. Check out Akiyama's matches against Kawada, where somebody actually carried him properly.

 

Akira Taue vs. Kenta Kobashi…7-24-96

-Nuttiness abounds. A perfect example of Taue not being completely innocent in the creation of the spot a thon days, the lanky bastard even does a pop up off a head drop. If you like it, check out Taue's 95 and 96 work during the Carines and against Misawa.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Terry Gordy & Steve Williams…12-91

-Not bad, check out Misawa and Kawada's 90-91 tag work against Jumbo/Taue.

 

Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue & Jun Akiyama…12-92

-Maybe overrated, but still pretty good. Check out anything from this era that you can find(92-93).

 

Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue…1-99

-I would check out Kawada/Taue's 96 work against Akiyama/Misawa.

 

Vader vs. Kenta Kobashi…1-15-99

-Solid, but underwhelming. Check out Kobashi's 93 matches against Hansen.

 

Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada…6-12-98.

-CLASSIC! Check out 4/93 to see them operate 10 times faster yet still keep it smart.

Excellent. THANK YOU VERY MUCH Coffin Surfer.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

HOLY SHIT I can't believe I forgot about Furnas/Kroffat vs. Kobashi/Kikuchi... that match will change your world Bif.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

Normally I'd say it's goofy that a wrestling match could change your life...........but I won't in this case. You'll never look at the term "Hot Crowd" again after seeing this match. Plus, Furnas does a cobra clutch that would make Sgt. Slaughter run in fear and Kroffat hits a standing hurricanrana that schools any and everything you've seen Scott Steiner do.

 

Oh, and Kobashi is the most over muthafucker in the history of the world.

[Guest BifEverchad]

Normally I'd say it's goofy that a wrestling match could change your life...........but I won't in this case. You'll never look at the term "Hot Crowd" again after seeing this match. Plus, Furnas does a cobra clutch that would make Sgt. Slaughter run in fear and Kroffat hits a standing hurricanrana that schools any and everything you've seen Scott Steiner do.

I MUST watch that match NOW!

 

[Guest Memoirs of an Invisible Chevy]

Normally I'd say it's goofy that a wrestling match could change your life...........but I won't in this case. You'll never look at the term "Hot Crowd" again after seeing this match. Plus, Furnas does a cobra clutch that would make Sgt. Slaughter run in fear and Kroffat hits a standing hurricanrana that schools any and everything you've seen Scott Steiner do.

 

Oh, and Kobashi is the most over muthafucker in the history of the world.

I believe Furnas did the Hurricarana and Kroffat did the bitchin' cobra cluth from hell.

[Guest Doyo]

I believe Furnas did the Hurricarana

 

Yup, then the commentator freaks out, "FRRRRANNKENSTEINNNNAHHH!!!"

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

I think the biggest freak out is when Kobashi hits the moonsault and what we get is "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONSAULTOPRESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!~!~!~!~".