The absolute top 5 puro matches list?

[Slayer 0]

I know there's the "Matches to check out list" up at the top, but I think there's just too many matches to swallow at one time for a puro n00b (which I am not, but I'm not expert either)...

 

Now, in my five years as an internet mark, I've pretty much seen the same 5 US matches get cited as the absolute classics to check out in US wrestling:

 

Savage-Steamboat

Flair-Steamboat III (or II, depending, but either one)

Hart-Hart (WMX)

Michaels-Hall (WMX)

Hart-Austin (WM13)

 

I know you might think a puro list would be more divisive due to the stronger divisions in weight and gender in Japan, but still, I want the absolute best.

 

Two I keep seeing pop up that I believe would be on the list would be Misawa-Kobashi 1/20/97 (which I've seen and believe it would be up there) and Misawa-Kawada 6/94 (which I have not seen)

 

So what would the list for puro be?

[Guest two_tuff_toddy]

I have not seen nearly as much puro as a lot of people on here but based on what I have seen I would say the following matches.

 

1. Mitsuhara Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi - 1/20/97

2. Mitsuhara Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada - 6/3/94

3. Mitsuhara Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue - 6/9/95

4. Akira Hokuto vs Shinobu Kandori - Dreamslam

5. Kenta Kobashi vs Stan Hansen - 1993 CC Final

 

I would also have to recommend the next 2 matches as ythey are also amongst the ten best matches I have ever saeen.

 

6. Mitsuhara Misawa/Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue - 12/6/96

7. Mitsuhara Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue - 12/3/93

[Guest Black Tiger]

5. Kenta Kobashi vs Stan Hansen - 1993 CC Final

 

That was actually Misawa and Hansen in the 1993 Finals, Kobashi wouldn't see the finals until the 1997 Round Robin style final.

 

1. Misawa vs Kobashi 1/20/97

 

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

 

3. Kawada vs Akiyama (CC 95), this one is personal preference

 

4. Ohtani vs Dragon (J*Crown)

 

5. Benoit/Ohtani vs Black Tiger/Sasuke (Finals of Jr Tag League 1994)

[Coffin Surfer 0]

If were talking about a noob, I wouldn't start with the big matches for obvious reasons that have been beaten into the ground over and over and over again.

 

So the top essential five matches I would recommened a noob view first:

 

1. Kobashi/Kikukchi vs. Can Am Connection 5/25/95

-A really fun match that everyone should see.

 

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

-Intro to 90s All Japan

 

3. Toyota vs. Kong 11/20/94

-Joshi introduction.

 

4. Lyger vs. Sasuke JCup 94

-Junior introduction.

 

5. Vadar vs. Takada 8/18/94

-Good shoot style intro since it has a familar face, and alot of pro style moves smoothly incorporated into it.

 

 

The top five greatest matches:

 

1. Hokuto vs. Kandori 4/2/93

 

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

 

3. Tamura vs. Kohsaka 6/27/98

 

4. Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue 6/9/95

 

5. Liger vs. Samurai 4/30/92

-Really shouldn't be here, but you need at least one junior match thrown in, and this is probably the greatest one you'll find.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Surfer, great noob list, man, I'd recommend just about the same list, although you COULD put in 7/23/93 in there just because it doesn't really have too much story behind it. Just that Kobashi is young and spunky, Hansen is big, ugly, and nasty, and there you go.

 

My list:

 

1)6/5/95-Kawada/Taue vs. Misawa/Kobashi

2)4/2/93-Kandori vs. Hokuto

3)6/3/94-Kawada vs. Misawa

4)12/6/96-Kawada/Taue vs. Misawa/Akiyama

5)tie (just because I couldn't pick)-6/8/90-Misawa vs. Tsuruta and 6/11/76-Funk vs. Tsuruta

 

Jumbo is REQUIRED VIEWING for all.

[Guest BAR]

Here's my top 5. My number 1 isn't nearly as good a wrestling match as number 2 but I'm not a puro-head so whatever.

 

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

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

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

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

5. Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuahru Misawa (20/1/97)