Guest PlatypusFool Report post Posted April 29, 2002 Recently I have seen both the CC 95 and the Dreamslam 1, here are some random thoughts on both, to encourage discussion hopefully. Champions Carnival 1995... 1) Like everyone says, Taue really impressed me throughout. His mannerisms and execution were way above anything I've seen him do elsewhere, and he actually contributed to the matches being good rather than just allow himself to go along with the flow offered by the goodness surounding him. This is especially highlighted by his work against Misawa in the league match they had (I am yet to see the finals), with his adding of face work to submissions to play on the orbital bone injury. A truly class act. 2) Kobashi, Akiyama & Shiga vs. Kroffat, Ace & Eagle. To my mind this is a bit of an ignored match in the tape set, but it really shouldn't be. Kobashi and Ace built a rivalry throughout the match, which I can only assume was a build towards some future singles encounter, and if it wasn't then it should have been. The story around Shiga was stunningly done, well built and executed by all parties involved. Kobashi covering Shiga with his own body, protecting him against attack, was a particularly iconic gesture, and one that pre-empted the now legendary moments in the 6/9/95 tag match. This match set up the aspect of Kobashi's character that allows him to help out his team mates at his own expense, an aspect which was used to such effect in the later tag match. 3) Baba is a slug. I don't understand how he could have ever been a good worker, I just don't get it. I understand how his 'honourable' character could get very over with the Japanese audience, but his workrate could never have been close to Misawa's or Kawada's surely. And by god, that tag match which is advertised after each tape in the CC 95 tape set, I would not like to see that. Andre The Giant & Stan Hansen vs. Giant Baba and Abdulla The Butcher - good lord that must have been the single slowest match of all time. 4) Nice, subtle, progression on Akiyama's pescado spot. In every match he attempted the pescado. The first time he hit it no problems. The second his opponent moved out of the way. The third he was expecting to miss it and landed on his feet. The fourth he kicked his opponent, which allowed him to hit it. This is just a great example of the sort of thing AJPW is damn good at. Dreamslam 1... 1) The sloppiness throughout the first half of the show, caused, presumably, by the workers never having worked with their opponents before the matches, really hurt the show in my opinion. All of the early matches were plagued by this, highlighted especially by the interaction between KAORU and Shimoda during their lucha-esque match. Thankfully this improved after the memorial superfight, but in my opinion, the damage was done. 2) The latter half of the card was rediculously good though, with enough energy and emotion to fuel a million matched condensed into just a few. 3) Hokuto vs. Kandori. I don't know exactly what positive things I can say about this that hasn't been said a million times before, but I'll do it anyway. I have never seen a match with such amazing passion, selling or sheer determination. Hokuto is a GREAT wrestler, the way she sold that arm lock was the best. Kandori, while she didn't make such an impact one me, was also superb in her role... However, I do have one criticism to make. After watching the match I did not, as I was expecting, feel like I had watched one of the best matches of all time, although it was certainly close. I read Chris Coey's review after watching it to see if I missed some vital psychology point, and saw that I had missed the entire background to the fight, which hindered my enjoyment of it slightly but significantly. This just highlights how necessary it is to try and go through puroresu in chronological order, as I just didn't understand the backstory with Hokuto's injuries. Anyhoo, that's all I've really got to say, now make comments, this board needs discussion... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wolverine Report post Posted April 29, 2002 "After watching the match I did not, as I was expecting, feel like I had watched one of the best matches of all time, although it was certainly close." Watch Toyota/Yamada vs. Kansai/Ozaki 11/26/92 and you will. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dangerous A Report post Posted April 29, 2002 I own the CC'95 and agree with you on most things. The carnival was Taue's coming out party. I still haven't seen the finals though and I hear it's great. The six man with Kobashi, Shiga and Akiyama was also a gem. I liked that six man better than the one on the first tape with Kobashi, Misawa, and Hansen vs Baba, Kawada, and Taue although that was a very good six man too. The only thing I could say about Baba is that I guess because he was such an icon, people didnt mind that his in ring work sucked. I cannot comment on whether he was any good back in the 70's or 80's because I havent' seen his work then. I found it sad to see Tsuruta in comedy six man tags not being able to do the things that made him so great. I have not had the pleasure of watching dream slam I, but look forward to it someday, however I have seen Dream slam II and that kicked ass, especially the main event. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tim Cooke Report post Posted April 29, 2002 CC 1995 was all about Taue. It is still amazing to me how someone of his ability could get so great. Get some Baba in the 70's. Watch Destroyer bring him to greatness in theri 1969 1 hr draw. I haven't seen it yet but have also heard great things about the 11/30/93 Hansen/Baba v Misawa/Kobashi being terrific, no doubt due to the other 3 but Baba was smart enough to be able to do his part effectivly. Tim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wolverine Report post Posted April 29, 2002 "I haven't seen it yet but have also heard great things about the 11/30/93 Hansen/Baba v Misawa/Kobashi being terrific, no doubt due to the other 3 but Baba was smart enough to be able to do his part effectivly." I don't know, the Kobashi/Baba vs. Misawa/Kawada from 11/92 was nothing special, largely due to Baba. The other three were great of course, but he simply didn't belong in those types of matches at that stage of his career. Meltzer was definitely hitting the ratings stash with an inexplicable ****3/4 for that match. I don't know why they couldn't just put Kikuchi as Kobashi's partner in the RWTL after their string of great matches that year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wolverine Report post Posted April 30, 2002 1) Like everyone says, Taue really impressed me throughout. His mannerisms and execution were way above anything I've seen him do elsewhere, and he actually contributed to the matches being good rather than just allow himself to go along with the flow offered by the goodness surounding him. This is especially highlighted by his work against Misawa in the league match they had (I am yet to see the finals), with his adding of face work to submissions to play on the orbital bone injury. A truly class act. If you really want to see Taue at his best, you should check out his 9/10/95 match with Misawa. The Carny finals are awesome too, but in 9/95, Taue is noticibly better. My only gripe is that it's only 20 minutes, as with about 5 more minutes, they probably were going to hit *****. Oh well, ****3/4 is nothing to be ashamed about, especially when Kobashi 10/95 couldn't even approach that level with Misawa. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
