Kenta Kobashi vs. Steve Williams 8/31/93

[Guest wolverine]

For some reason I watched this match TWO times this weekend (which is more times than the past year that I've had it).  Last year I thought it was the most overrated match of the decade, with some people saying it was "one of the greatest matches of all-time" and so on.

 

Well, I put it on and I actually enjoyed it a lot more this time around.  It still isn't a great match, but it's a blast to watch Kobashi back then--so fired up and energized.  Anyways, what KILLS the match is the finish.  The week before, Williams hit Kenta with the backdrop driver in a six-man, and he sold it like he was dead.  This time around, Williams hits the BDD, and then Kenta manages to kick out.  I was okay with that, since it's the FIGHTING SPIRIT~! gimmick.  Then Williams hits a second BDD--an even nastier one--and KENTA GETS UP AND STARTS STAGGERING AROUND.  Fuck.  

 

Make no mistake that Kobashi in 1993 is my favorite wrestler ever, but this is total ass.  But it's still a fun, fun, fun match.

[Guest thefrenchargel]

He was also crawling to the ropes out of desperation. a punch drunk type of sell, acting on instinct, then williams dropped him on his dome a third time.

[Guest wolverine]

So one week that move (just one) knocks you "unconscious" and the next you can take two and still be able to move around? Makes perfect sense.

 

It's moments like this that make me think Kawada was indeed the best worker in AJ that year. In any event, I think it's clear that back then Kawada was far superior to Kobashi in selling department, and would remain for the rest of the decade.

[Guest godthedog]

whenever i think of kawada's selling, this one moment comes to mind from the tag match where kobashi & misawa are working the leg & his leg gives out during the german suplex. the way he grabs his leg & acts hurt just looked so cartoonish to me; it was great in theory, but i thought the execution was poor & it left a sour taste in my mouth.

 

i actually loved kobashi's selling of the backdrop in the williams match, when he jumped up after the second one i got scared cause it looked like he had no idea where the fuck he was or what he was doing. i know it's not consistant with the selling from the tag match, as you said, but it still works for me as a match in itself. so, different strokes for different folks.

[Guest Jubuki]

How is Kobashi popping up and looking like a goof better than making one's opponent look good? Nothing more cartoonish than trying to appear superhuman.

 

Selling >>>> No-selling.

[Guest thefrenchargel]

I think that sell made Williams look even better, Kobashi was obviously dead after the second BDD, and the third one just made Williams look like a sadist.

[Guest The Son of Sting]

I saw it recently and thought it was good but only around ***3/4 or ****.

[Guest thefrenchargel]

Considering AJPW is full of no-selling head drops just long enough to throw a strike, I'm surprised Kobashi's selling in that match bothers people.

[Guest wolverine]

"Considering AJPW is full of no-selling head drops just long enough to throw a strike, I'm surprised Kobashi's selling in that match bothers people."

 

Don't categorize AJPW based on 1998-2000. I hardly ever pimp anything from this time period from them, mostly due to what you just said.

 

Bottom line, EARLY 90's OWNS, late 90's (after '97) doesn't.