Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue (AJPW - 5/21/1994)

I would have this behind 6/9/95, 12/3/93 and 6/1/93 so I am a little lower on this match than most. But this is still really good for sure. The Kawada-Misawa interactions/teases are epic, Kobashi's selling is great, Kawada's mannerisms are tremendous and the crowd is outstanding. Second.

My order is 6/9/95, 12/3/93 and 5/21/94 so far, I am interested to see where 12/6/96 lands on my list. I think what drops this below 6/9/95 and 12/3/93 is that this is more workrate focused. They tell a great story based on competitive spirit and the will to win. The spot where Kobashi saves Misawa from the Powerbomb pinfall is epic because it is the Ultimate "Will He or Wont He Pin Misawa" nearfall. It plants that seed of doubt in your head so that when Kawada hits the Powerbomb on 6/3/94 and there's no Kobashi to save, you bite extra had on that nearfall. I think that's very valuable in this match. The other thing is the growth of Kobashi. In 12/3/93, Misawa has to hand Kobashi the victory, in this match Kobashi struggled and overcame on his own to win the match. It was a huge personal growth moment for Kobashi.

AJPW Tag Team Champions Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Holy Demon Army Super Power 5/21/94

I remember 12/3/93 & 6/9/95 clearly but this one has never resonated with me quite like those two. Lets see how it goes on this watch especially now that Ive watched a lot of All Japan.

We start with Kawada & Kobashi which is a unique pairing. Kobashi outsmarts Kawada holding onto the ropes to fake him out and then hits a shoulder tackle. They each tag out and in a similar manner, Misawa fakes out Taue on a wristlock sequence stopping to elbow the hell out of Taue. Misawa and Kobashi have their way with Taue hitting their low-key stock spots (Senton and Legdrop). Taue gets a Tenryu-style enziguiri. Kawada comes in and toys with Kobashi and smokes him with his Spinning Heel Kick. I thought the overconfident Kawada was about to make the cardinal mistake of letting Kobashi tag out but he ROCKS Misawa with a Boot to the face. Kawada continues messing with Kobashi as Misawa is hot. At one point, Kawada blows right by Kobashi and SMOKE Misawa with another Kick of Fear right to the face! Wicked! Then he turns around and tries to take Kobashi's head off with the same move. Kawada unwisely has his back to Misawa on an abdominal stretch and Misawa comes in and BLASTS him with elbows to a chorus of boos. Japanese fans are harsh. Kobashi tags out and Misawa is out for blood. He overwhelms Kawada with elbows. Misawa looks really good. Theres a good slingshot splash by him on Kawada. Misawa looks to spring backwards with a reverse elbow but Kawada catches him with a wicked kick! Misawa sells the back. Tag out to Taue. Taue CHUCKS Misawa halfway across the ring in the suplex position in an impressive spot. Kawada hits a senton at this point as an F-U to Misawa. I forget the how the tag out happens, but the heat segment does not last too long. Taue's throw was the most impressive thing about it. Kawada immediately quells Kobashi's fire. They are struggling over a suplex and then afterwards Kawada kicks Kobashi's knee. Unlike in 12/3/93, Kobashi does not fire back instead Kawada is able to chop him down. He tags out to Taue and this is when it gets really good. Taue is such a great henchman. He does a kneecrusher on the table and then wrenches the knee over the railing and then pins the steel gate so that knee is trapped and then starts kicking the gate. That actually looked really painful to the knee. Back then Holy Demon Army slams Kobashi's knee to the mat repeatedly. Thus far, Kawada's asshole Kicks to Misawa's face while Misawa was on the apron and the Kobashi knee work has been the most memorable. Apparently the finish stretch is when this gets really good so lets see what happens.

Kobashi's heat segment is really great. Awesome Kobashi selling as he was trying to desperately to get away from the cruel clutches of the Holy Demon Army. Misawa had to save him twice from painful holds twice to a chorus of boos, but when Taue put Kobashi in a Tree of Woe they booed that too. So they dont rule-breaking no matter who it is. The announcer even mentions the booing during the Tree of Woe which I dont think I have ever heard before. There is a great spot where Kobashi gets a hope spot in and is trying to crawl to make the tag, but Taue has his foot and Kawada charges across the ring and blasts Misawa off the apron with an elbow. Kawada is a total prick. Kawada gets in and toys with Kobashi with playful kicks, bad idea. Kobashi PUNCHES him right in the face! Dropkicks the knee! A Double Dose of His Own Medicine! Tag out to Misawa!

Misawa rolls baby! Looking for that Tiger Driver after some elbows. Diving Elbow through the ropes onto Taue. Kobashi kneecrusher on Kawada on the outside. Kobashi is pissed. He really wants Kawada to feel his pain. Kawada starts kicking Misawa in the head from his back and a Jumping High Kick stuns Misawa long enough to tag out to Taue. Taue rolls Snake Eyes. Misawa smokes Taue with an elbow, but Taue sidesteps the next move and DRIVES Misawa head first into the mat. He is thinking Nodowa but Kobashi comes in and Taue owns him complete with a kick to the bad knee. I love Taue. Taue gets in on the fun and Kick of Fear to Misawa's face and Bulldog. Tag out to Kawada who Chops the Shit out of Misawa's neck. All the focus is now on the head & neck of Misawa. Kawada slaps on the Stretch Plum which is logical for the current strategy. Misawa starts to hulk up and when Kawada does Kawada Kicks, Misawa unleashes the beast and the crowd pops huge. No-Selling is awesome. It can be a cheap heat trick but when done right it can create those goosebumps. They trade some WICKED Elbows! Both of them Pop the other Huge in the face with elbows! Misawa wins and Kawada ends up on his ass. Misawa tags out to Kobashi. I wouldnt say there have hit the finish stretch yet. That was pretty solid heat segment on Misawa and it felt like a great breakdown to a thrash metal song but he have not hit the fiery outro just yet.

Kobashi trade chops with Kawada. Kawada really wants to go toe to toe with these dudes. Kawada hits a wicked Short Spinning Heel Kick to bail himself out and tag out to Taue. Kobashi & Taue is when the finish stretch begins. Things get really heated in the corner. Kobashi chops and Taue throws his ass down. Rinse, lather, repeat. They sure worked the crowd into a lather. Kobashi turns the tide especially on a DDT, but his knee is fucked. He is punching, desperately trying to get it to work. He goes for the Moonsault and the crowd comes alive! Moonsault but his knee is fucked. Epic sell by Kobashi. The finish run has officially begun and it is INSANE! I just let it wash over me and went along for the ride, it was killer. I am going to rewatch it now.

Kobashi wisely tags out to Misawa, Taue unwisely stands up and eats a DIving Elbow from Misawa and Spinning Clothesline and Misawa is grooving. Misawa flicks the sweat from his eyebrows, shit is on folks. Misawa hits that the springboard reverse elbow. Misawa FACELOOOOOCCCKKKKKKKK! Kobashi rushes in to cut Kawada off at the pass. Sleeper. Kawada breaks free to break it up. Kobashi wrangles him back in the sleeper and they roll out. Misawa FACELOOOOOOCCCKKKKKK! Taue is fading. Kawada smokes Kobashi on the floor with a lariat. Misawa bodyslam and you think he is going for the routine Frogsplah but Kawada BOLTS over there and heads him off at the top rope. Taue joins in and hits a Superplex. They start Feeding Misawa to each other. First it is a Kawada Lariat, but Misawa armdrags out of NODOWA and Kawada runs over and TRUCKS HIM WITH A LARIAT! DANGEROOUUUUSSSSSSS BACKDROP DRIVER! KOBASHI SAVES! THIS IS INSANE. NODOWA~! ON KOBASHI! POWERBOMB ON MISAWA! 1-2-NO! I CANNOT STOP TYPING IN CAPS LOCK! KAWADA POWERBOMB! KOBASHI LAST MINUTE LUNGE AND BOWLS KAWADA OFF MISAWA!

Kobashi suplexes Taue on the floor. Kobashi saves Misawa from certain doom when he lariats Kawada to stop a powerbomb. Misawa shifts his weight on a Back Drop Driver. Misawa elbows and ROARING ELBOW~! HE OBLITERATED KAWADA! Kawada dropkicks Kobashi's bum leg! KOBASHI IS PISSED~! He rattles off a ton of kicks to Kawada and Back Drop Driver on Kawada. Kawada Sweeps The Leg! To tag Taue! Taue Powerslam! 1-2-NO! Taue lifts Kobashi in a Firemans Carry and Misawa comes in and elbows Taue. Kobashi German gets two. They play Pinball with Taue. TIGER DRIVER~! Kawada saves Taue! This is ferocious!

Bodyslam. FIst Pump. MOONSAULT! Shitty cover because his knee is fucked. Kobashi feels like shit, he NEVER GIVES UP! Moonsault, BUT CRASHES AND BURNS! Kawada comes in illegally and Back Drop Drivers Kobashi. Misawa says Fuck You but Kawada dumps him to the outside.

DAAAAANNNGEERRROUS NODOWA/BACK DROP DRIVER COMBO! 1-2-NO! That was insane. I thought Kobashi was dead. Misawa saves the second time. Misawa Germans Kawada as Taue NODOWAS Kobashi! Misawa kicks Taue in the head to break up the pin. Kobashi covers after a Baba-style neckbreaker lariat, but Kawada saves. JACKKNIFE POWERBOMB! Bodylsam. Fist Pump. Moonsault. 1-2-3! Kobashi has now pinned Kawada and Taue.

The Kobashi push is on. Lots of growth from Kobashi here. On 12/3/93, Misawa basically handed Kobashi the pin on a silver platter with a barrage of elbows. Here, Kobashi had to survive his hurt knee, which he injured further on a Moonsault, survive Kawada/Taue's double team finish and then on his own mount a comeback. Yes Misawa held Kawada at bay, but it was Kobashi who never gave up overcame the obstacles and overwhelmed Taue on his own. Huge Moment for Kobashi! On top of that, Kobashi had the most epic save of the match on the second Kawada powerbomb that looked like curtains for Misawa but Kobashi in a last minute save he bowls Kawada over. That would have been Kawada's first pinfall over Misawa and major momentum going into the Triple Crown. Here's the wrinkle, Kawada still has confidence going into 6/3/94 because if Kobashi does not save then Kawada wins. Kawada thinks he can win in a singles bout. Kawada as fully embraced being a dick heel in this. In 1993, it was like trying on a new pair of pants but he has broken them in and is kicking fools in the face left, right and center. Taue is a great henchmen but he kinda took a backseat in this one. Misawa was terrific in this. He would light Kawada up when it called for it and he would be that game-changer, but he also let Kawada get one up on him in the finish run which in turn let Kobashi shine. Personally, I liked 12/3/93 better. It is more of a sprint, efficient and I really liked the the chaos caused by Kawada's knee injury. I thought Kobashi's knee injury was an interesting revenge plot by Holy Demon Army but it was not as pervasive as Kawada's knee. ****3/4

Here's the complete version. Goes about 40 minutes -
www.mediafire.com/download.php?dxx7z2kz2869p2u

Having watched the '93 Tag League final a few months ago, this felt like progress. Not just for the HDA but for Kobashi as well; Baba's long-term booking in all its glory. Prolly. In the '93 match there was never really a point where I felt like Kawada - never mind Taue - was on Misawa's level. They were an annoyance to Misawa and even Kobashi's relative inexperience as Misawa's partner wasn't enough to force the latter into much of a sweat. He could've gone at them both alone and won the thing. This felt a bit different, like the gap had been closed somewhat. Misawa was still the unquestioned Man but it didn't feel like anything came easy to him here. Part of that was Kawada and Taue being a little nastier than before, probably a little smarter too. Kawada was as ornery as I've ever seen him, as mean and combative as you'd need to be to step to the Ace at this point in time. You saw it in the early stages when he'd boot Misawa off the apron or when he'd just stomp on Kobashi's kneecap. The work on Kobashi's knee felt like a receipt for the Tag League as well. Kawada didn't forget, not about the beating his own knee took that night and not about how Misawa treated him like an afterthought. In that match there was only one instance where it felt like Misawa even acknowledged Kawada, and in that moment he gave him a quick look of annoyance and shut him down IMMEDIATELY with an elbow. He never needed to do anything else, such was the gap between them. He even fed Kawada's corpse to Kobashi at the end, one last insult. There was a moment here where Misawa was driven past annoyance and into legit anger, which didn't happen often. It was when Kawada started booting him in the face. Misawa's response was one of the best "do you know who the fuck I am?" glares before crumpling the wee fella. Then he tagged in Kobashi, because Kawada was still beneath him. I feel like NARRATIVELY~ speaking people saw Kawada as being closer to Misawa's level at this point, especially leading into the June title match, but having watched the surrounding matches over the last few months I keep getting the impression Misawa is waaaay out in front. Kawada's Napoleon Syndrome has only gotten him wellied in the face. There was a bunch of other good stuff here as well, obviously. Kawada and Taue flipping the script from the Tag League and going after Kobashi's knee was a nice touch and Kobashi largely sold it all the way to the end, even past the point where it was a proper focus, like the moment he hit the first moonsault and couldn't really capitalise because knee hit canvas in the process. Also liked how he paid Kawada in kind a bit later by doing the shinbreaker on the announcer's desk. Having seen all of this stuff before it's easy to project, but it was cool seeing the early formation of the "isolate Misawa's partner and pray we can keep Misawa out the way for a while" strategy here. A couple years later they had to flip that and isolate Misawa while keeping Akiyama out the road, better the devil you know and all that, but for now the smart course of action felt like targeting Kobashi. It never worked but fuck it, you live and learn. Kobashi also felt way more capable of holding his own here. In the Tag League final he wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes without Misawa, but he went toe to toe here and probably came out on top as often as not. That he picked up the win for his team without Misawa actively feeding it to him was a huge step, and there was one save off a powerbomb that was absolutely vital. Great finishing run, btw. I won't vote for this and honestly I'm pretty confident that there are about a dozen styles of wrestling I prefer more at this stage of the game, but it's tough to keep me engaged for a 40-minute match and other than the two times I paused it to go pour more whisky, this pretty well managed it.