Misawa and Akiyama vs. Williams and Ace (AJPW - 6/7/1996)
Aug 3, 2018 20:39:25 GMT -5
Post by bossrock on Aug 3, 2018 20:39:25 GMT -5
Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams and Johnny Ace (AJPW - 6/7/1996)
While not quite on the level of the Holy Demon Army bouts Jun and Misawa had that year, this is still a tremendous tag match. Very much follows the formula of Jun proving his worth as a top-level competitor while Misawa looks on and provides assistance when Jun gets in a bit over his head. The mentor/mentee relationship between Jun and Misawa is really one of my favorite tag dynamics and gives both guys plenty of time to shine while sticking to their designated roles.
This match does a good job utilizing the Southern tag match formula with Jun often working as the face in peril before Misawa has to come in and clean house with forearms. Jun plays an awesome resilient face; him fighting off Ace and Williams at once while trapped in their corner stands out in particular. And while Williams is the star of his team by playing the dominant monster who can lay out an opponent with a single swipe, Ace complements him well with his quickness and surprising athleticism. Jun finally makes it back to his corner and Misawa proceeds with one of the most underrated hot tags of all-time. While Misawa wasn't always the star of these tag matches, he played his role to perfection as the world's greatest clean-up hitter evening up the odds until his partner can get the pin. This match is no exception as he tries to kill Williams with any move he can until Jun can finally finish off a surprisingly tough Ace. His selling is also next level, appearing legit knocked out after a devastating gutwrench powerbomb.
Despite winning Match of the Year for 1996 in the WON awards, I feel like this match tends to get overlooked when it comes to the 5/23 and 12/6 Holy Demon Army tags. And while I would certainly hold those matches higher due to their masterful storytelling and psychology, this is still probably one of the greatest Southern style tag matches I've ever seen. Wrestling isn't rocket science. Sometimes the basic story of mentor/mentee facing the dominant heel team works best. It's just an added bonus that there's some fantastic AJPW bomb-throwing.
While not quite on the level of the Holy Demon Army bouts Jun and Misawa had that year, this is still a tremendous tag match. Very much follows the formula of Jun proving his worth as a top-level competitor while Misawa looks on and provides assistance when Jun gets in a bit over his head. The mentor/mentee relationship between Jun and Misawa is really one of my favorite tag dynamics and gives both guys plenty of time to shine while sticking to their designated roles.
This match does a good job utilizing the Southern tag match formula with Jun often working as the face in peril before Misawa has to come in and clean house with forearms. Jun plays an awesome resilient face; him fighting off Ace and Williams at once while trapped in their corner stands out in particular. And while Williams is the star of his team by playing the dominant monster who can lay out an opponent with a single swipe, Ace complements him well with his quickness and surprising athleticism. Jun finally makes it back to his corner and Misawa proceeds with one of the most underrated hot tags of all-time. While Misawa wasn't always the star of these tag matches, he played his role to perfection as the world's greatest clean-up hitter evening up the odds until his partner can get the pin. This match is no exception as he tries to kill Williams with any move he can until Jun can finally finish off a surprisingly tough Ace. His selling is also next level, appearing legit knocked out after a devastating gutwrench powerbomb.
Despite winning Match of the Year for 1996 in the WON awards, I feel like this match tends to get overlooked when it comes to the 5/23 and 12/6 Holy Demon Army tags. And while I would certainly hold those matches higher due to their masterful storytelling and psychology, this is still probably one of the greatest Southern style tag matches I've ever seen. Wrestling isn't rocket science. Sometimes the basic story of mentor/mentee facing the dominant heel team works best. It's just an added bonus that there's some fantastic AJPW bomb-throwing.
Misawa goes off on his hot tag...Spinning Plancha...Tiger Driver. Dr. Death THROWS MISAWA ASS DOWN WITH A GUTWRENCH POWERBOMB! HOLY SHIT! I think one of the main reasons I love All Japan is because I am a such a Powerbomb Mark and that was a great Powerbomb. That feels like a game changer. They build to Doc's Back Drop Driver but Akiyama dropkicks him in the head...great dropkick. Akiyama is game, but Doc hits a DANGEROUS BACK DROP DRIVER on him! Again what a game changer! Dr. Death feels like he is partying like it is 1994 again! Such a force of nature! Misawa senses Akiyama is in grave danger, Elbows out of trouble and rolls Akiyama out. I dont think he would have ever done this with Kobashi. He always let Kobashi sink or swim. Misawa tries to hold the big, burly Americans at bay only to eat a DOOMSDAY DEVICE~!