AJPW's 90's

[Guest DangerousKing]

1. -Overall, just fantastic. With everyone growing into their roles so well and taking it to another level in terms of work.

1993

Favorites...

2/28/93 -Kawada VS Hansen

3/27/93 -Misawa VS Kawada

4/14/93 -Kobashi VS Kawada

4/16/93 -Kobashi VS Hansen

5/21/93 -Hansen VS Misawa

6/1/93 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue

7/2/93 -Misawa/Kobashi/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue/Ogawa

7/29/93 -Misawa VS Kawada

7/29/93 -Hansen VS Kobashi

11/31/93 -Baba/Hansen VS Misawa/Kobashi

12/3/93 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue

 

2.

1995

Favorites...

1/24/95 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue

3/4/95 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Williams/Ace

3/26/95 -Misawa VS Kobashi

4/8/95 -Kawada VS Taue

4/15/95 -Misawa VS Taue

6/9/95 –Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue

7/24/95 -Misawa VS Kawada

9/10/95 -Misawa VS Taue

10/15/95 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue

10/25/95 -Kawada VS Albright

 

3.

1991 -The MM & company/Tsuruta & company 6-mans were the hightlight. There were so many roles, combos and rivalries within them that they never got old.

Favorites...

1/27/91 -Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi VS MM/Kawada/Kikuchi

4/20/91 –Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada VS Tsuruta/Fuchi/Taue

5/24/91 -Tsuruta VS Kobashi

7/26/91 -Tsuruta/Ogawa/Fuchi VS Misawa/Kawada/Kikuchi

9/4/91 -Misawa/Kawada VS Tsuruta/Taue

10/24/91 -Tsuruta VS Kawada

 

4.

1994

Favorites...

4/10/94 -Hansen VS Kobashi

4/16/94 -Kawada VS Williams

5/21/94 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue

6/3/94 -Misawa VS Kawada

7/28/94 -Misawa VS Williams

 

5.

1992

Favorites...

1/10/92 -Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada VS Tsuruta/Ogawa/Fuchi

1/26/92 -Tsuruta/Taue VS Kobashi/Kikuchi

5/25/92 -Cannam Express VS Kobashi/Kikuchi

6/5/92 -Tsuruta/Taue VS Kobashi/Misawa

10/21/92 -Misawa VS Kawada

 

6. -I love the atmosphere of '90. With Tenryu's leaving, Misawa's unmasking and elevation and Jumbo's role in it.

1990

Favorites...

5/26/90 –Misawa/Kobashi/Taue VS Tsuruta/Fuchi/Kabuki

6/8/90 -Misawa VS Tsuruta

8/19/90 –Misawa/Kawada/Kikuchi VS Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi

9/1/90 –Misawa VS Tsuruta

12/7/90 -Misawa/Kawada VS Tsuruta/Taue

 

7.

1996 -I still have many tag matches to see (3/2, 7/9, 9/5, 11/22, 11/29) so this might move up a spot eventually.

Favorites...

3/31/96 -Misawa VS Kobashi

5/23/96 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue

6/7/96 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Williams/Ace

12/6/96 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue

 

8.

1997

Favorites...

1/20/97 -Misawa VS Kobashi

3/30/97 -Misawa VS Kawada

4/19/97 -Misawa VS Kobashi & Kawada VS Kobashi

10/21/97 -Misawa VS Kobashi

12/5/97 MM/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue

 

9.

1998

Favorites...

6/12/98 -Kawada VS Kobashi

7/24/98 -Kobashi VS Akiyama

10/31/98 -Misawa VS Kobashi

 

 

10.

1999

Favorites...

6/11/99 -Kobashi VS Misawa

[Guest momoracci]

I'd probably have the years in a similar order but I wouldn't have bothered listing the 1/95 tag or the 10/98 & 6/99 Misawa/Kobashi matches - they're all not worth watching more than once if you ask me.

[Guest DangerousKing]

I dig the 1/95 tag draw a lot. I accept it's inferiority to 10/95, but I've seen it three times and have enjoyed it each time. I guess Taue's performance is people's biggest complaint with them pointing out how improved Taue was in the 10/95 match. Taue's performance on 1/95 has never bothered me.

 

The 10/98 and 6/99 MM/KK matches are inferior to their '96 - '97 matches, but I still like them although less then I did. As far as a recommendations goes they would be be low on my list. I just didn't have much to choose from in '98 - '99 which is why they remain some of my favorites from those years.

 

 

Here's my to-be-converted list so far. It changes as I continue to find new matches that interest me.

 

1. 1993

1/24/93 -Kobashi/Kikuchi VS Ogawa/Akiyama

1/26/93 -Kawada VS Akiyama

1/26/93 -Kobashi VS Taue

2/14/93 -Misawa/Kawada VS Gordy/Williams

2/19/93 -RVD/Hansen VS Kawada/Kobashi

2/28/93 -Kawada VS Hansen

2/28/93 –Misawa VS Taue

2/28/93(AD) -Patriot/Eagle VS Kobashi/Kikuchi

2/28/93(AD) -Misawa/Kawada VS Taue/Fuchi

3/18/93 -Kobashi VS Furnas (JIP) (6:04 shown)

3/18/93 -Kawada VS Williams (JIP) (13:39 of 30:00) + Misawa/Kikuchi VS Taue/Ogawa (14:13)

3/27/93 -Misawa VS Kawada (21:56)

4/12/93 -Kawada VS Taue (JIP) (15:00 of 30:00)

4/12/93 -Misawa VS Kobashi (JIP) (9:33 of 21:16)

4/14/93 -Kobashi VS Kawada (JIP) (10:25 shown)

4/14/93 -Hansen VS Taue (JIP) (9:29 shown) + 4/14/93 –Misawa VS Gordy (JIP)

4/16/93 -Hansen VS Kobashi (HH) (24:42)

5/21/93 -Kawada VS Williams (JIP) (6:27 shown)

5/21/93 -Hansen VS Misawa

5/21/93 -Kobashi VS Gordy

6/1/93 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue (29:09)

6/13/93 -Misawa/Kobashi/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue/Ogawa

7/2/93 -Misawa/Kobashi/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue/Ogawa (25:32)

7/9/93 -Kawada VS Akiyama

7/9/93 –Hansen/Rogers VS Kobashi/Misawa

7/25/93 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Kawada/Fuchi

7/29/93 -Hansen VS Kobashi (22:30)

7/29/93 –Misawa VS Kawada

8/20/93 -Kobashi/Asako VS Cannam Express (CL) (10:10 shown)

8/20/93 -Kawada/Taue/Fuchi VS Misawa/Akiyama/Kikuchi (22:43)

8/23/93 -Misawa/Kobashi/Kikuchi VS Williams/Deaton/Smothers (17:05)

8/31/93 -Kobashi VS Williams (27:14)

9/3/93 –Misawa VS Williams

10/23/93 -Kobashi VS Kawada (29:35)

11/28/93 –Misawa/Kobashi VS Williams/Bossman

11/31/93 -Baba/Hansen VS Misawa/Kobashi (JIP) (23:17 of 30:00)

12/1/93 –Williams/Bossman VS Kawada/Taue

12/3/93 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue

 

2. 1995

1/19/95 -Kobashi VS Kawada (60:00)

1/24/95 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue (60:00)

3/4/95 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Williams/Ace (36:07)

3/21/95 -Akiyama VS Kawada (15:20)

3/21/95 -Kobashi VS Taue (25:22)

3/24/95 -Misawa/Hansen/Kobashi VS Baba/Kawada/Taue (60:00)

3/26/95 -Misawa VS Kobashi (22:31)

3/30/95 –Kobashi VS Akiyama

4/6/95 – Kobashi VS Omori (14:46)

4/6/95 –Taue VS Akiyama (10:26)

4/6/95 -Misawa VS Kawada (30:00)

4/8/95 -Kroffat/Furnas VS Kobashi/Kikuchi (CL) (7:07 of 21:24)

4/8/95 -Misawa VS Akiyama (12:28)

4/8/95 -Kawada VS Taue (30:00)

4/12/95 –Kobashi/Akiyama/Shiga VS Kroffat/Ace/Eagle (18:58)

4/12/95 -Misawa VS Taue (30:00)

4/13/95 -Kobashi VS Kawada (30:00) [PQ=VG]

4/15/95 -Misawa VS Taue (27:03)

5/26/95 -Kobashi VS Ace

6/9/95 –Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue (42:37)

6/30/95 -Misawa/Kobashi/Asako VS Kawada/Taue/Honda

7/24/95 -Misawa VS Kawada (24:16)

7/24/95 -Kobashi VS Taue (30:00)

9/10/95 -Misawa VS Taue (20:44)

10/15/95 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue (60:00)

10/25/95 -Misawa VS Kobashi (35:51)

10/25/95 -Kawada VS Albright (15:33)

12/9/95 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue (27:04)

 

3. 1991

1/15/91 –Kawada VS Taue

1/15/91 –Inoue/Fuchi/Tsuruta VS Misawa/Kobashi/Kikuchi

1/26/91 -Misawa VS Taue (7:23)

1/26/91 -Kawada/Kobashi VS Tsuruta/Inoue (JIP) (9:17 shown)

1/27/91 -Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi VS MM/Kawada/Kikuchi (CL) (20:25S] + 2/24/91 –Kawada/Kikuchi VS Taue/Ogawa (JIP) [7:53S]

2/24/91 -Gordy/Williams VS Misawa/Kobashi (JIP) (12:26 shown)

3/23/91 -Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi VS Misawa/Kobashi/Kikuchi (JIP) (13:52 shown)

4/5/91 -Misawa VS Kobashi (HH) (12:53)

4/18/91 -Misawa VS Tsuruta (30:00)

4/20/91 –Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada VS Tsuruta/Fuchi/Taue (JIP) (20:49 of 51:36)

5/24/91 -Tsuruta VS Kobashi (JIP) (9:29S) + 6/16/91 –Williams VS Kawada (JIP) (15:52S)

6/1/91 -Misawa VS Gordy

7/24/91 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Williams/Gordy

7/26/91 -Kobashi VS Taue (JIP) (10:13 of 30:00)

7/26/91 -Deaton/Black VS Furnas/Kroffat (JIP) (6:01 shown)

7/26/91 -Tsuruta/Ogawa/Fuchi VS Misawa/Kawada/Kikuchi (JIP) (13:54 shown)

9/4/91 -Kobashi VS Hansen (CL) (4:44 shown)

9/4/91 -Misawa/Kawada VS Tsuruta/Taue

10/15/91 -Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi VS Misawa/Kawada/Kikuchi (10/20/91 AD)

10/24/91 -Tsuruta VS Kawada (19:05)

10/29/91 -Tsuruta/Taue VS Misawa/Kawada

 

4. 1994

1/29/94 -Misawa/Kobashi/Baba VS Kawada/Taue/Fuchi (JIP) (20:59 shown)

3/5/94 -Baba/Hansen VS Kobashi/Misawa (35:11)

3/24/94 -Kobashi VS Taue (JIP) (21:25 of 30:00)

3/24/94 -Hansen VS Kawada (19:34)

3/29/94 -Kawada VS Williams (JIP) (21:47 of 30:00)

4/10/94 -Hansen VS Kobashi (26:55)

4/11/94 -Misawa VS Kawada (30:00)

4/16/94 -Kawada VS Williams (25:43)

5/21/94 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue (40:25)

6/3/94 -Misawa VS Kawada (35:50)

7/28/94 -Misawa VS Williams (JIP) (22:19 of 27:39)

9/3/94 -Kobashi VS Williams (41:23)

10/15/94 -Kobashi/Misawa/Akiyama VS Taue/Kawada/Ogawa (23:21)

10/22/94 -Hansen/Misawa VS Taue/Kobashi

10/22/94 -Williams VS Kawada (37:58)

11/19/94 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Cannam Express

11/25/94 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Kawada/Taue (JIP) (22:30 of 30:00)

12/10/94 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Williams/Ace (27:43)

12/10/94 -Baba/Hansen VS Kawada/Taue

 

5. 1992

1/10/92 -Hansen VS Taue

1/10/92 -Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada VS Tsuruta/Ogawa/Fuchi (JIP) (19:27 shown)

1/21/92 -Misawa VS Fuchi

1/21/92 -Kawada VS Tsuruta

1/24/92 -Hansen VS Kikuchi (2/2AD)

1/24/92 -Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi VS Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada (2/2AD)

1/26/92 -Tsuruta/Taue VS Kobashi/Kikuchi (22:21) + 7/1/89 -Kobashi VS Kawada (11:21)

2/22/92 -Kawada/Kikuchi VS Cannam Express (2/23AD)

2/22/92 -Misawa/Kobashi VS Hansen/Ace (2/23AD)

3/1/92 -Tsuruta VS Kobashi

3/1/92 –Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi VS Misawa/Kawada/Kikuchi

3/4/92 -Misawa VS Hansen

3/20/92 -Kawada VS Kobashi (20:44)

3/27/92 -Hansen VS Kobashi (14:39) + 7/19/92 –Hansen VS Kobashi (20:02)

4/17/92 -Hansen VS Misawa

5/22/92 -Kawada/Misawa/Kobashi VS Tsuruta/Fuchi/Taue (5/24 AD)

5/25/92 -Cannam Express VS Kobashi/Kikuchi (JIP) (12:35 shown)

6/5/92 -Tsuruta/Taue VS Kobashi/Misawa (27:09)

8/22/92 -Misawa VS Hansen

10/7/92 -Kobashi/Kikuchi VS Cannam Express (JIP) (4:24 of 20:22)

10/7/92 -Tsuruta/Taue VS Gordy/Williams (25:35)

10/21/92 -Misawa VS Kawada

11/27/92 -Baba/Kobashi VS Misawa/Kawada

12/4/92 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue (23:53)

 

6. 1990

2/21/90 –Hansen VS KK (4:07) + 7/1/90 –Hansen VS KK (JIP) (8:05S) + 1/22/91 –Hansen VS KK (9:26)

3/6/90 –TM II VS Kobashi (15:40)

3/31/90 –Kobashi/J. Malenko VS Cannam Express

5/20/90 –Tiger Mask II/Kawada VS Yatsu/Fuyuki (JIP) (8:40 shown)

5/26/90 –Misawa/Kobashi/Taue VS Tsuruta/Fuchi/Kabuki

6/8/90 -Misawa VS Tsuruta

7/12/90 –Tsuruta/Kabuki/Inoue VS Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada

8/19/90 -Kobashi VS Kroffat

8/19/90 –Misawa/Kawada/Kikuchi VS Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi

8/31/90 -Tsuruta VS Kobashi

8/31/90 -Misawa/Kawada/Kikuchi VS Taue/Fuchi/Inoue

9/1/90 –J. Malenko/Kikuchi VS Fantastics (JIP) (11:04S)

9/1/90 –Misawa VS Tsuruta

9/30/90 -Misawa/Kawada VS Tsuruta/Taue (CL) (41:42 of 45:00)

10/7/90 –Tsuruta/Taue VS Kobashi/Ace

10/7/90 –Misawa/Kawada VS Williams/Gordy

10/19/90 -Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi VS Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada (25:45)

12/7/90 -Misawa/Kawada VS Tsuruta/Taue (23:00)

 

7. 1996

3/2/96 –Kawada/Taue VS Kobashi/Akiyama (20:42)

3/31/96 -Misawa VS Kobashi (24:07)

3/31/96 -Kawada VS Taue (JIP) (22:37 of 30:00)

4/20/96 -Taue VS Williams

5/23/96 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue (CL) (22:41 shown)

5/24/96 -Misawa VS Taue (16:02)

5/24/96 -Kobashi VS Kawada

6/7/96 -Kawada VS Taue (17:37)

6/7/96 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Williams/Ace (CL) (22:43 shown)

7/9/96 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue

7/24/96 -Kobashi VS Taue

9/5/96 -Kobashi VS Hansen (CL) (22:04 of 26:07)

9/5/96 –Williams/Ace VS Misawa/Akiyama

11/22/96 –Kawada/Taue VS Williams/Ace

11/22/96 –Misawa/Akiyama VS Kobashi/Patriot

11/29/96 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue (20:33)

12/6/96 -Misawa/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue (31:37)

 

8. 1997

1/20/97 -Misawa VS Kobashi (42:06)

1/20/97 -Akiyama VS Taue (5:00)

3/30/97 -Misawa VS Kawada (30:00)

3/30/97 -Kobashi VS Akiyama (20:13)

4/19/97 -Misawa VS Kobashi (30:00) + Misawa VS Kawada (6:09) + Kawada VS Kobashi (21:27)

6/6/97 -Misawa VS Kawada (31:22)

7/25/97 -Misawa VS Taue (20:25)

10/21/97 -Misawa VS Kobashi (32:55)

11/15/97 –Misawa/Akiyama VS Kobashi/Ace

11/28/97 -MM/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue (JIP) + 12/5/97 MM/Akiyama VS Kawada/Taue (30:52)

 

9. 1998

1/26/98 -Akiyama VS Misawa (23:09)

1/25/98 -Kobashi/Ace VS Kawada/Taue (32:06)

3/29/98 -Misawa VS Kawada (30:00)

5/1/98 -Misawa VS Kawada (28:05)

6/5/98 -Kawada/Taue VS Kobashi/Ace (30:26)

6/12/98 -Kawada VS Kobashi (33:49)

7/24/98 -Kobashi VS Akiyama (32:50)

9/11/98 -Kobashi VS Taue

10/24/98 -Misawa/Omori VS Kobashi/Shinzaki (5:00 of 19:07)

10/31/98 -Misawa VS Kobashi (43:29)

10/11/98 -Kawada/Taue VS Kobashi/Akiyama (29:51)

 

10. 1999

1/22/99 -Misawa VS Kawada (24:15)

1/7/99 -Kawada/Taue VS Kobashi/Akiyama (JIP) (18:00+ of 25:58)

1/15/99 -Kobashi VS Vader (16:59)

1/15/99 –Ogawa VS Kakihara

5/2/99 -Misawa VS Vader (18:07)

6/11/99 -Kobashi VS Misawa (43:40)

6/4/99 -Misawa/Taue VS Kobashi/Kawada (24:24)

6/9/99 -Shinzaki/Hayabusa VS No Fear (27:11)

7/23/99 -Misawa VS Kawada (21:58)

10/30/99 -Misawa VS Vader (12:12)

10/23/99 -Misawa/Ogawa VS Kobashi/Akiyama (27:25)

10/30/99 -Kobashi/Akiyama VS No Fear (14:54)

 

 

 

 

1989

1/28/89 -Tsuruta/Yatsu/Fuchi VS Tenryu/Footloose

4/20/89 -Tsuruta VS Tenryu (16:03)

6/5/89 -Footloose VS Cannam Express (JIP) (12:49 shown)

6/5/89 -Tsuruta VS Tenryu (24:03)

7/11/89 -Hansen/Tenryu VS Tsuruta/Yatsu (21:28)

7/15/89 -Hansen/Tenryu VS Kobashi/Tsuruta

9/15/89 –Kobashi/Kabuki VS Tsuruta/Yatsu (18:25)

10/11/89 –Kobashi/J. Malenko VS Cannam Express

10/11/89 –Tsuruta VS Tenryu

12/6/89 –Tsuruta/Yatsu VS Hansen/Tenryu

[Guest NoMercy]

From looking at all these match ups, I find it interesting how you never see triangle matches in Japan. Compared to how the 20th Wrestlemania was main evented by a 3 way dance. I don't think I've ever seen a triangle match in puro, and just imagine a Kawada/Misawa/Kobashi triple threat... sounds intriguing to me.

[Guest DangerousKing]

From looking at all these match ups, I find it interesting how you never see triangle matches in Japan. Compared to how the 20th Wrestlemania was main evented by a 3 way dance. I don't think I've ever seen a triangle match in puro, and just imagine a Kawada/Misawa/Kobashi triple threat... sounds intriguing to me.

 

 

To closest they got to that was on 4/19/97.

 

The only gimmick matches, if you can even call them that, I would have to liked to see in AJ in the 90's would be best of 3 falls matches. I think they could have used the concept that had AJ tradition behind it to do some interesting things, both in singles and in tags.

 

The Ironman concept in place of the '96 hour-long draw between Kobashi & Kawada might have been interesting. They each had such deep arsenals that it would have made sense that they'd get multiple falls in 1-hour instead of zero.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Three way matches suck. The lack of decent three way matches should be a clear indication of that.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Three way matches suck. The lack of decent three way matches should be a clear indication of that.

I think you mistook him Ricky........I think he meant 2/3 falls.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Actully Dynamite, I think Ricky was replying to No Mercy's post, and not DangerousKing's.

[Guest deadbeater]

Three way matches suck. The lack of decent three way matches should be a clear indication of that.

I think you mistook him Ricky........I think he meant 2/3 falls.

Paul Heyman had it right--Three Way DANCE is the best type of match. Triple Threat, even those Benoit was involved in, is a diluted version.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

It's the same thing, just that eventually it becomes a singles match. And really, they're just as bad, since you have to get around the logic gap of "why don't two of them just team and eliminate the third guy?" which never happens, at least, not in ECW.

 

The three-way-dance was perfect for ECW's spot-spot-spot style, because it avoided the awkward in-between portions of the match where they're setting up the next spot. Instead, they could just fire off spots one after the other with little to no downtime. Mutants ate it up, so I guess you could say Heyman was smart for booking them.

 

But if you want a match that goes beyond spot-spot-spot, three-way dances are just as worthless as Triple threats.

[Guest Paul H.]

All-Japan had zero gimmick matches and only clean finishes?Always?What bout storylines what did they do to build fueds?

 

3-ways do suck as well ,it's just a handicapped match in reality.I always liked the 4 corners match though.

[Guest krazykat72]

All-Japan had zero gimmick matches and only clean finishes?Always?What bout storylines what did they do to build fueds?

 

3-ways do suck as well ,it's just a handicapped match in reality.I always liked the 4 corners match though.

Easy. The motivation is to be better than the other guys.

 

Kawada was always #2 to Misawa, so his quest *for years* was to somehow be able to beat him. He came up short time and time again until he finally scored a pinfall in the 6/9/95 match.

 

Kobashi was Misawa's partner and eventually struck out on his own, but he had to go through the established veteran (Misawa) to get to the top.

 

Misawa took over the number 1 native spot from Jumbo Tsuruta and had to hold onto it by constantly staying ahead of his opponents (ie creating new moves or busting out deadly ones like the TD '91 in the 6/3/94 match)

 

This is a really dumbed down version of things, but hopefully you see their logic.

Perhaps someone else will jump in with a very detailed post.

 

-Paul Jacobi-

[Guest Loss]

Oh, and don't forget about Mitsuharu Misawa raping the dead corpse of Kawada's ex-girlfriend.

 

[Guest RickyChosyu]

"All-Japan had zero gimmick matches and only clean finishes?Always?"

 

Aside from the occasional time limit draw, yes.

 

"What bout storylines what did they do to build fueds?"

 

The matches were the stage for the various feuds. A novel concept, eh?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

A bit of warning though, it does make the viewing experience (coupled with the subdued crowd and foriegn commentary) very dry and sometimes, even dull. It rarely happens in the top King's Road matches, but don't be surprised if you find the undercards a tad dull.

[Coffin Surfer 0]

A bit of warning though, it does make the viewing experience (coupled with the subdued crowd and foriegn commentary)

 

 

Until about 97, All Japan usually had some of the hottest crowds ever, I really don't know where that baffling statement is coming from. Late 90s matches perhaps?

 

but don't be surprised if you find the undercards a tad dull.

 

Until 94, All Japan had one of the deeper rosters around, producing some of the best and most exciting undercard matches of all time.

 

Lets see here:

 

Fantastics vs. J. Malenko/Kikuchi

Can Ams vs. Kobashi/Kikuchi-watch out for the subdued crowd.(rolls eyes)

Can Ams vs. Kawada/Kikuchi

Kobashi/Kikuchi vs. Ogawa/Akiyama

 

and literally tons more great undercard stuff that smokes the main events of most promotions from that time period. They also did a really geat job of mixing the undercard guys with the upper tier guys in six man and regular tags, giving guys like Fuchi a chance to shine.

[Guest Paul H.]

Ok,they sound very intersting but i've read they moved away from that and apprently NOAH is the new AJ ..forgive the simplicity..

 

So what do they do know?And how succesful where they back then compared to the other leagues anways?

[Coffin Surfer 0]

Ok,they sound very intersting but i've read they moved away from that and apprently NOAH is the new AJ ..forgive the simplicity..

 

From what I understand NOAH's just a continuation of the boring, brain dead, head dropathons of the late 90s, it's just now there older and slower. The only NOAH match I bothered to get my hands on was Taue/Nagata, which was an excellent match.

 

The Kobashi bump fests didn't do anything for me in the late 90s when he was younger and healthier, so I have no desire to track down the bump fests he's doing now as a broken down cripple.

 

So what do they do know?And how succesful where they back then compared to the other leagues anways?

 

As far as match quality goes, All Japan has always been more than a few steps ahead of everybody else, going all the way back to the 60s. As the years passed, the gap in quality gradually got wider, perhaps reaching it's peak in the mid 90s.

 

As far as success, I never bothered to look up the actual figures. But they were very successful until the late 90s. Bad booking, injuries, Baba's death, and of course Misawa's NOAH nearly is said to have nearly killed All Japan.

[Guest krazykat72]

AJPW and NJPW were very close for a long time. In the early 80's, NJPW started kicking AJPW's ass until Riki Choshu defected to All Japan while taking some of the mid card with him. Choshu's Army was a hot gimmick and shifted the balance of power into All Japan's favor.

A few years later, he jumped back to NJPW and the balance of power shifted again. Both companies were very successful in the 90's, but NJPW was a "bigger" company, making more money and generally regarded as the more successful. However, All Japan had a ton of strong, strong years and they were never really looked at as a weak #2 in the 90's.

When Giant Baba died (founder of All Japan), there was a power struggle with his widow and Mitsiharu Misawa, the biggest star. Misawa left and took over half the roster with him to form Pro Wrestling NOAH. All Japan looked to be on it's last legs until the end of 2000, when Mutoh jumped from NJPW along with Kojima and Kendo Kashin. 2001 was a strong year for All Japan, but Mutoh's booking style of Americanizing the product and free spending ways hurt the company in the long run and now they're in serious trouble, barely a blip on the radar, no longer running Budokan Hall (think WWE no longer being able to run MSG b/c business is so bad)and are far behind NOAH and NJPW.

NJPW on the other hand is still the #1 company in Japan, but they're having trouble too, particularly with Inoki diluting the company with so much "work-shoot" matches and angles. However, they're still the highest profile company.

NOAH is somewhere in the middle. They're a solid #2, but they're going to be having serious problems in a few years when Kobashi, Misawa etc finally can't go anymore because they haven't really made any viable new stars.

 

-Paul Jacobi-

[Tim Cooke 0]

"2001 was a strong year for All Japan, but Mutoh's booking style of Americanizing the product and free spending ways hurt the company in the long run"

 

Strong year in terms of drawing, good matches, both? Mutoh also didn't get the book until spring of 2002 at the earliest. He made his full time jump with Kojima/Kaz/KaShin at the beginning of 2002.

 

Tim