Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 New Japan and All Japan each have their own respective annual tournaments. In the past they've both been very important and prestigious, but in recent years they've fallen on hard times, and aren't seen in quite the light they once were. Nevertheless, each tournament has a great deal of history to it, with both having their share of classic matches. What have been your favorite tournaments? Which tournament do you most look forward to each year? What matches from either tournament have stood out over the years? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Decemberists 0 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 Champion Carnival 97 stands out for me, although that's probably as I'm such a mark for Misawa, Kawada and Kobashi. Despite the final matches not being that brilliant, I loved the idea of those three being perfectly matched and having to have the mini-Carnival to seperate them. And Kawada winning was cool considering the bad luck he had with his Triple Crown reigns in the 90s with injuries etc. As for which one I look forward to each yeah, it's still the Champion Carnival for me. Even though I know that NJPW is so much better than ALPW at the minute I still consider myself more of a AJ fan than NJ fan, in the same way I watched WWF in the mid-90s even though WCW was putting on much the better product. Plus Chono seems to win the G1 every single fucking time! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
World's Worst Man 0 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 Can't go wrong with Champion Carnival 1993. Misawa-Kawada, Misawa-Hansen, Kawada-Taue, Misawa-Kobashi, Kawada-Kobashi, Misawa-Gordy were all ****+ for my money. Kawada-Williams was supposed to be up there too, but I haven't seen it yet. That's 6, possibly 7 matches that would stand as MOTYCs in this day and age. Of course, 1995 had 7 too. Kawada-Akiyama, Taue-Kobashi, Misawa-Kobashi, Kawada-Taue, Misawa-Kawada, Misawa-Taue and Misawa-Taue in the finals. As for G-1's, it's been so long since I've seen any of the older ones. 1991 had the great finals and 1998 was an all around solid tournament, but I don't really remember anything more specific. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cuban Linx 0 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 I'm a big fan of the 1995 Champions Carnival, it was my first taste of AJPW and being the shameless Taue mark that i am it's great to watch his performance throughout the tournament. Numerous great matches, both Kawada/Taue and the Misawa/Taue finals are among my very favorites, and i'm still yet to see the Kawada/Kobashi 30 minute draw, which is supposed to be their second best match behind the 6/12/98 TC match and close to the best from the 95 CC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous A 0 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 Well, I think Carnival 95 is probrably the best of all the Champion Carnivals and G-1's and the finals ends with a ***** match with Taue v Misawa. However, G-1 has more prestige and a better number of tourney's. Memorable G-1 Matches.. Muto v Vader 91 Chono v Muto 91 Chono v Rude 92 Hashimoto v Hase 93 Muto v Hashimoto Finals 95 Choshu v Hashimoto 96 Hashimoto v Tenryu 98 Hashimoto v Yamazaki 98 Nagata v Muto 01 Takayama v Nishimura 02 Takayama v Chono 02 Tenzan v Akiyama 03 (both block match and finals) I haven't seen G-1 '04 or '05, so I couldn't tell you if there were any kick ass matches there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted August 31, 2005 I'm a big fan of the 1995 Champions Carnival, it was my first taste of AJPW and being the shameless Taue mark that i am it's great to watch his performance throughout the tournament. Numerous great matches, both Kawada/Taue and the Misawa/Taue finals are among my very favorites, and i'm still yet to see the Kawada/Kobashi 30 minute draw, which is supposed to be their second best match behind the 6/12/98 TC match and close to the best from the 95 CC. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have to call the 1995 CC my favorite. Kawada v Taue is one of the few matches I've rated at *****, with Misawa v Kobashi coming very close to that level with a match that I think may be their best ever singles match. Even though I have the CC 95 tape set, I've not yet seen the Misawa v Taue final, which is primarily because I'm not a fan of Taue, but I'll give it a look soon. Can't go wrong with Champion Carnival 1993. Misawa-Kawada, Misawa-Hansen, Kawada-Taue, Misawa-Kobashi, Kawada-Kobashi, Misawa-Gordy were all ****+ for my money. Kawada-Williams was supposed to be up there too, but I haven't seen it yet. That's 6, possibly 7 matches that would stand as MOTYCs in this day and age. I've got a tape All Japan TV that covers that CC, and there are some really great matches on it. I haven't seen it in a while, but I think I liked Misawa v Gordy the most, and it really is a shame that Gordy went down how he did, because he would have been a real asset to All Japan. For G1's, I'm a fan of most of them. My favorite is the 1996 G1, with 1998 close behind. My favorite G1 match is Choshu v Hashimoto from 1996, but Muto v Tenryu and Hashimoto v Tenryu from 1998 are both close behind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted August 31, 2005 Rick Rude was in the G1? Wow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous A 0 Report post Posted August 31, 2005 Yes, he was.1992. He made it to the finals, falling to Masahiro Chono in a very heated match up. The G-1 that year also crowned a new NWA Heavyweight champ as well. Probrably one of Rude's top 3 matches in his career. Rude actually went over Super Strong Machine, Hashimoto, and Kensuke Sasaki to get to the finals before falling to the power of Chono. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted August 31, 2005 You know, I've been meaning to ask, but where can I find a site or a place that sells NJPW/AJPW stuff? I've been meaning to get into Puro even though I hear puro today is not as strong as in the 1990s. Also anyone know where I can find stuff from the 1990s? I've severely missed out on Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada/Hansen/etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted August 31, 2005 Puro DVD Source has a lot of current Japan stuff, but they can take their time in shipping. Bob Barnett has tons of Japanese stuff. He mostly has stuff from the mid 80s to a year or so ago. Ships the next day too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted August 31, 2005 Thanks HTQ. Anything in particular I should start out on? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted August 31, 2005 If you're in it for long haul, you could start with Barnett's first Japan tv comp which has this listing: 1985 Muraco-Snuka feud 1-91 Vader/Machine v Fujinami Choshu Starrcade-Tiger Jeet Singh entrance Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada v Tsuruta/Taue/Fuchi Bulldogs v Fuchi/Kobashi Liger v Nogami Norton/Samoans v Muto/Choshu/Chono Memphis Trash Can circus Liger v Owen Hart Steiners v Hase/Sasaki Muto/Choshu/Fujinami v Norton/Samoans Hansen/Spivey v Gordy/Williams 12-13-90 Lightning Kid v Jerry Lynn 5* 6-1-91 Steiners v Hase/Sasaki 6-16-91 Kroffat/Furnas v Kobashi/Kikuchi 6-30-91 Tsuruta/Taue v Kobashi/Kikuchi Hansen/Spivey v Misawa/Kawada 7-20-91 Deaton/Black v Ace/Kobashi 7-14-91 Deaton/Black v Kroffat/Furnas Tsuruta/Taue v Ace/Kobashi Gordy/Williams/Rude v Misawa/Kikuchi/Kawada Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted August 31, 2005 Sounds good. Once again, thanks HTQ. I appreciate it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
