Highspots "Best Ever..." collections

[thecitythesky 0]

what do you guys think of these collections...?

 

my exposure to puro has mostly been in the form of New Japan juniors and such, but mid-nineties All Japan has always intrigued me. now, i know that the proper way would be to start all the way back with Choshu's Army stuff and go up from there... but, i don't want to wade through a mountain of tapes just to see what are regarded by many as the best ever. and plus, the collections are a perfect mix of things i know i like (Liger/Sano, other NJ Junoir stuff) and things i haven't seen.

 

... so anyway, what do you guys think of the series? is the VQ good? i've never had any problems with highspots before. but getting all the stuff i'd want to would be about $150. and i'd hate to get fucked.

 

Thanks for whatever input you can give.

[Guest Black Tiger]

I'm looking on Highspots and I'm not seeing any videos with the title "best ever" can you either link to it, or just c/p the matchlist?

[thecitythesky 0]

http://www.highspots.com/www/stores_app/Br...parent_ids=0,52

 

they are all the way at the bottom.

 

... i'm not getting 82-83... as i already have 5 of the matches

 

and everything after after 97.

[Guest Ray]

The VQ from highspots is great.

 

The 1989-1991 has Misawa vs Tsuruta 6/8/90, one of the best mens heavyweight singles matches ever. Brilliant legend vs new star storytelling. *****. Get that first if you want to get into AJPW.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Which one are you looking to get? If you're just looking for a list of the Usual Suspects of great matches, I suppose some of them would be worth it.

 

Others, like 1994 Part 1, look like rotten deals. It only features four matches, two off AJW 1/24 and two off of the J-Cup for that year - both of which you'd be better off purchasing in full for the other matches on the card.

 

The problem with the 1989-'91 tape is that it leaves off a bunch of worthy matches to make room for the three Liger/Sano matches. If the tape is supposed to be just a collection of big matches, I can't see why all of those are neccesary, especially since not all of them were great.

 

Instead, they could have put on Jumbo/Tenryu 6/5/89, which not only is a great match and worth including on its own, but a great precursor to Jumbo/Misawa, and Misawa/Kawada. Things like that make it less valuable as a "This is everything you NEED" type list.

Edited December 25, 2003 by RickyChosyu

[Guest Black Tiger]

1992 and 1993 both look good, 1st part of 1995 you should avoid. 2nd part of 1995 looks like a keeper though.

 

Without a doubt get both parts of 1996.

[Guest Colonel Meez]

To be honest with you, the VQ is pretty weak, youre better off picking up masters from elsewhere. I rarely have problems with them, but I was quite disappointed in these tapes, they looked like 3rd gen dubs! The matches are definite classics, without a doubt, but if youre looking for quality (and im not talking VQ marks here), I wouldnt suggest it. Its possible I just had a bad experience, but im just putting in my 2 cents...

[theintensifier 0]

I've never had a problem with HighSpots. It's top five dealers on the net.

[Guest NANIWA*]

I give Highspots ***** in video and delivery quality...

 

It's become my main resource for Puro tapes recently, and I find it the fastest and most reliable way to aquire Puro off the internet. I'm guessing Colonel Meez just had a bad experience, as I've order about 10 tapes from Highspots in the last few months and not one of them have been below superb quality...

[Coffin Surfer 0]

93 tape looks great for All Japan, but still, there's a shit load left off. You'd be better off getting all the 93 T.V. shows from All Japan, trust me, it's worth it.

 

If your looking to get into mid 90s All Japan, these tapes really aren't a good introduction.

 

94 tape is obviously missing the Kawada/Williams Carnie draw, and their masterpeice of a match at the finals. The superhot Williams/Misawa 94 TC match is also missing. The excellent 5/94 tag match that leads into 6/3/94 is also missing.

 

I would get the 95 Champion Carnival, since it not only contains classics not featured on the tapes like Kawada vs. Akiyama, Misawa vs. Kobashi, Kawada vs. Taue, and Misawa vs. Taue, the matches also help to set up the story leading into 6/9/95.

 

On the bright side, the 96 tape does have:

 

5/23/96 and 12/6/96. 12/6/96 is in an all time classic, while the other match helps to set it up.

 

Other great 95-96 stuff not included on tapes:

 

Kawada vs. Kobashi 95 Carnies

Sold seperately, worth going out of your way to see.

 

Kawada vs. Misawa 7/95

-Bombs away. 20 minutes of signature moves and surreal selling.

 

Taue vs. Misawa 9/95

-See above.

 

Kawada vs. Albright 10/95

-Unique All Japan/UWFi hybrid with a huge emphasis on flash submissions. Probably one of Kawada's top 3 greatest performances.

 

Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue 10/15/95

-Despite the epic length, all four men do a great job of keeping the match interesting with very smart work.

 

Kawada vs. Taue 96 Carnies

-Super smart work from the masters.

 

Misawa vs. Kobashi 96 Carnies

-Fun, fast, and loaded with action.

 

Taue vs. Misawa 5/96 TC

-Fun 16 minute sprint that plays off their pevious matches: including their unreleased Carnie match where Misawa goes over with a Diving Neckbreaker Drop leading to the big shocking finish.

 

Misawa/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue 11/29/96

-MUST SEE match that perfectly sets up 12/6/96.

 

Unworthy matches included on the tapes:

 

Kawada vs. Kobashi 95 and 96 draws

-95 match is solid, but terribly boring. 96 match is a total mess...a 60 minute mess.

 

Kobashi vs. Taue 96 TC

-Fun to see the supposedly limited Taue use a gigantic bad ass moveset that puts most wrestlers to shame, while also doing his fair share of bumping. Still, Kobashi brings the usual goofiness, and the match turns into a no sell a thon during the final run. Good, but nowhere near the best of the year. Exceptional perfromance from Taue, however.

 

 

Also: Highspots tape quality is lacking, when compared to dealers like Jeff Lynch, but they are very cheap, so that is to be expected.

Edited December 26, 2003 by Coffin Surfer

[Guest wildpegasus]

.

 

 

Kawada vs. Kobashi 95 and 96 draws

-95 match is solid, but terribly boring. 96 match is a total mess...a 60 minute mess.

 

 

I didn't find the 1995 Kobashi vs Kawada match boring at all. In fact, I found it pretty exciting. To each their own I guess.

 

To thecitythesky:

 

It's almost impossable to go wrong with All Japan from the 90s. There's just so much fantastic stuff to choose from. Enjoy it all.

[theintensifier 0]

The 10/18/96 60 minute draw is an amazing match.

[Coffin Surfer 0]

The 10/18/96 60 minute draw is an amazing match.

How could anyone find that match entertaining in the least?

 

I'm sad to say that I've sat down, and watched that piece of shit two times in my life in one sitting. The only conclusion that I came up with is that I want those 120 minutes of my life back.

 

The match is operated at a very......slow........sluggish..............snail pace, yet they still blow their load, and finish the match by the thirty minute mark(a pretty dull by the numbers Kawada/Kobashi match at that). As a result the last thirty minutes is pointless sloppy head dropping, inbetween endless resting and laying around. I prefer to watch Kawada and Kobashi wrestle as opposed to lying on their backs for extend periods of time with their stomachs pumping up and down like their dying. This match is a fucking mess with no redeming qualities. Even the opening hot spot is unwatchable because of Kobashi's retarded selling of the Backdrop Driver, where he frantically crawls back and forth the ring like 3 times, like he's doing laps or something.

 

Compare this to 4/93 where they do more in 10 minutes than in the entire 60 minutes of that adbomination of a match. Or even compare it to Taue/Kobashi 96 TC, which smokes it in every single way. The 96 draw sucks!

 

The 95 draw on the other is a good match, actually better than the highly praised Flair/Steamboat Clash 2/3 falls match. A much more advanced match that continuously progresses despite the extreme length. Still, I have no desire to watch either match ever again.

 

Meanwhile, I could sit down and watch the 10/95 60 minute tag draw, over and over again.

Edited December 26, 2003 by Coffin Surfer

[Guest RickyChosyu]

I give Highspots ***** in video and delivery quality...

 

It's become my main resource for Puro tapes recently, and I find it the fastest and most reliable way to aquire Puro off the internet. I'm guessing Colonel Meez just had a bad experience, as I've order about 10 tapes from Highspots in the last few months and not one of them have been below superb quality...

That "bad experience" relates directly to thecitythesky's question, which was whether the video quality on these "Best Ever" tapes is any good. I haven't ordered from high spots before, but even if they are good most of the time, their VQ on these tapes is, apparently, pretty far from good. I'd say that's grounds for thecitythesky to keep his $150 for something else.

[thecitythesky 0]

thanks for all the opinions. i may end up just getting a few choice ones thanks to various advice. check out the VQ on these collections to see if that was just a bad experience or not.

 

as for CoffinSurfer's comments... while i'd love to/and do plan on getting the entire mid-90s All Japan TV spots if i like the matches on these collections; i'd like to see the big ones first. i know that i won't enjoy a lot of the depth that is apparently there, but i just want to know if the style appeals to me first. granted, from what i've heard/read, the matches in question are universally good... i'd still rather not commit to a project i may end up having no desire of finishing. at least this way i'll get some stuff that (on the collections) that i know i like but don't have.

 

also... as per someone's recommendation. i am going to forgo buy 1994 Part I as i already have that years J-Cup and just order the 01-24-03 AJW show along with Dreamslam I and II.

 

Thanks again.

[Coffin Surfer 0]

as for CoffinSurfer's comments... while i'd love to/and do plan on getting the entire mid-90s All Japan TV spots if i like the matches on these collections; i'd like to see the big ones first.  i know that i won't enjoy a lot of the depth that is apparently there, but i just want to know if the style appeals to me first.  granted, from what i've heard/read, the matches in question are universally good... i'd still rather not commit to a project i may end up having no desire of finishing.  at least this way i'll get some stuff that (on the collections) that i know i like but don't have.

 

also... as per someone's recommendation.  i am going to forgo buy 1994 Part I as i already have that years J-Cup and just order the 01-24-03 AJW show along with Dreamslam I and II.

 

Thanks again.

The ones I listed are the big ones, certaintly bigger than those Kobashi/Kawada borefests on the tapes.

 

For just the same ten bucks, you can get the April-July 93 T.V. block, that has a shitload of great must see matches on it.

 

Or get some of 95 Champion Carnival for the same ten bucks. Once again, tons of great matches.

 

Not just a handful of matches. Those tapes are a complete ripoff.

 

The 95 Carnival and 93 T.V. are loaded with "big matches", not to mention, they are very easy to get into without sarcrificing drama of the big three: 6/3/94, 6/9/95, 12/6/96. You should check out the other matches to see if you like the style, since you can see more variety, rather than just the big pay off matches.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Oh, and some advice to buying tapes on highspots or anywhere for that matter. Look to see if matches are clipped or not, you don't wanna buy a tape for a match and then find out it's totally butchered. This always bothers me so I figured I'd mention it.