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Post by fxnj on Mar 13, 2019 5:58:53 GMT -5
I really should make more of an effort to watch some of these matches in proper context. I noticed some people saying how much this stands out when compared to other CC 1994 matches, and I do remember this feeling pretty epic when I saw it while going through AJPW chronologically, but it's kind of hard for it to replicate that feel when it's just some random match I'm watching for the project. Anyway, I have to admit to being skeptical at first due to how slow it started, but as the match went on they made me feel like a fool for how they masterfully built on the seeds they planted in those opening minutes. A recurring theme of this match is how Williams mocks Kawada during his beatdowns, which angers Kawada and leads to Williams finding some opening to capitalize on. Though it seems innocent at first, as the match goes on the moves that Williams get bigger until they culminate in him hitting the backdrop driver late in the match. Backing up a bit, those first few minutes also play host to a really cool chinlock oneupsmanship thing, with both guys trying to applying chinlocks to try to outdo each other until Williams turns his into a tiger suplex that kills Kawada in the first big moment of the match. They started trading big moves after that and it started to feel like the match may have been nearing its end. Instead, the match kicked into overdrive as Williams fought out of an stretch plum attempt (or abdominal stretch) and did some awesome punches that really felt like an epic moment for how rare it is to see punches in AJPW and in how both Kawada and the ref sold them. Then, Williams followed it up with his own sick abdominal stretch variation where he had his leg over Kawada's head and while yanking on Kawada's arm. The last 10 minutes of the match that follow are some incredible stuff with tons of amazing counters (including the backdrop driver moment mentioned above) and both guys really selling in a way that makes this match feel like a big deal. The backdrop driver is treated like a key moment in the match. Either you could say that Kawada really starts adapting to Doc's offense, or he's taken Doc's best shots and isn't as prone to being psyched out as earlier, but the last few minutes are all about Kawada finding ways to reverse Williams's big moves and getting the match into his favor. This match is pinned as an incredible Kawada performance, and he steps up you'd expect him to for such a match, but I was really impressed with Williams's performance here, especially his selling. When Kawada hit those two powerbombs for the finish, Williams did such an amazing job playing it like he was concussed and clueless of what was going on. ****1/2
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jun 9, 2020 21:01:07 GMT -5
I am surprised this match was nominated so late and only has one post about it. I always considered this apart of the Canon. I will say it was the one match of the Canon that I thought was overrated 10-15 years ago when I was watching this stuff. It really clicked with me this time. It will not make my Top 100, but I do think it is a Top 10 match of All Japan between 1993-1994 and that's might high praise. Doc had such a fucking great year in 1994.
Toshiaki Kawada vs Steve Williams - AJPW 4/16/94
The match that is a part of the classic core of the All Japan canon that I never really got. I always saw this match as a great match but never quite at the level of the other vaunted All Japan matches. Let's see what fresh eyes and having really enjoyed the 3/29/94 lead-in does for this match.
This is the final for the 1994 Champions Carnival, which is difference than the previous year's #1 Native vs #1 Gaijin in Misawa vs Hansen. Here they go with #2 Native vs #2 Gaijin, I think thats a conscious decision to build up two challengers for Misawa and the fact that Hansen was slowing down. The 3/29 lead-in round robin match between the two went to a draw. Doc showed his power but did not hit his Oklahoma Stampede or his Back Drop Driver. Kawada hit his best shots: lots of head kicks, powerbomb, Stretch Plum even threw in a Fujiwara Armbar but couldnt get the job done. Lets see what happens here.
They stick in the first 15 minutes to the story I really liked in the first match, it is Williams' power advantage against Kawada's Dangerous Head Kicks. Doc steamrolls Kawada early with some tackle. He is feeling confident and goes for the Back Drop Driver early. This always elicits a good crowd reaction and announcer reaction. I love early finisher teases makes believe that the wrestler wants to win. Kawada scrambles and punches/slaps Williams in the head and then hits his own Back Drop Driver. Great combination of a head shot and head drop from Kawada. Thats what it comes down to. Is Kawada needs to contain Williams' explosiveness by constantly rocking the head. Once Doc gets a head of steam on Kawada it is over for him. We see a lot of counter punching from Kawada that is focused on head kicks. What I didnt like about this is that Kawada seems to like set up transitions to Doc by taking his foot off the gas pedal. I dont know if this is supposed to be a kayfabe character flaw or if this is just not having a good transition but I didnt like it.
The match definitely picks up when the powerful Doc traps Kawada in a double chickenwing and hoists him over in a Tiger Suplex. Great sell by Kawada they get the nearfall and then further milk it by having Kawada powder. Doc misses a top rope splash. Kawada hits his famous Spinning Heel Kick to the head. Nice middle rope kneedrop. I liked that when Doc struggled against the suplex Kawada quickly changed gears into a Fujiwara Armabr takedown and a nice callback to the 3/29 match. The transition back to Doc was a little too telegraphed again with Kawada seemingly letting up for no reason and Doc hitting a Spinebuster. Great stuff from Williams here. I liked the scramble on the Oklahoma Stampede with Kawada going for the ropes immediately. So Doc switches gears, hits his BIG Splash in the corner and then SNATCHES Kawada into an explosive Powerslam in a way he completed the Oklahoma Stampede for two. The way he snatched Kawada and took him over in that Powerslam was Brock Lesnar-esque and it was explosive!
Again it is the combination of two head-kicks that rock Dr. Death enough for Kawada to command with a Stretch Plum which I think is smart. A hold like this will do a better job containing the explosive power of Doc and also sap his energy than head kicks. Kawada Kicks! Doc No Sells them because he is all man. Kawada is pissed about this and goes for an illegal Closed Fist, but Doc blocks and tees off on him with his own! Epic Kawada fall on his ass sell! The ref admonishes him but Doc throws a couple right jabs and a looping left knocks Kawada out. Where was that against Bart? Big Press Slam onto the top rope and the crowd is solidly behind Kawada chanting his name. Williams applies the Octopus Stretch.
The match gets really, really good here. Doc has had the momentum ever since he punched Kawada's lights out and has built up enough momentum to go for the Back Drop Driver. Kawada furiously fights out and Kawada hits a Jumping High Kick to the head. Doc sells this like he is out cold. Total limp, dead man's float sell. Really puts over the kick. Kawada winds up like he is going to deliver his Mack Truck Lariat. Doc ducks and BACK DROP DRIVER! Only Doc cant capitalize because of the head kick and Kawada wisely rolls out of the ring. Very effective way to pop the crowd but also protect the move. Now because they took the starch out of the nearfall by milking all the damage they wisely have Doc hit the Doctor Bomb for a hot nearfall. Now you have gotten a little bit of everything. You explain why Doc couldnt capitalize the head kick. You explain why Kawada still has a shot, the head kick. You still get the Back Drop Driver because instantly the fans are like Oh Fuck. The realize both men need to sell. You get the great visual of Kawada rolling out of the ring. You protect the Back Drop Driver. You still get the hot nearfall from the Doctor Bomb. Really genius.
Now of course Dr. Death wants to hit the Back Drop Driver again, big scramble to the ropes. Williams rips him off the ropes. There's this great drama is he going to hit it or not. Kawada has his leg grapevine and then all of sudden Kawada breaks free, Spinning Back Hand Chop to the head and then ROLLING KAPPO KICK TO THE HEAD! I marked out so hard for this. They do all the necessary nearfalls but for all intents and purposes it was over. A Stretch Plum, some more head kicks and Three Powerbombs (last Powerbomb was the best from a power stand point).
I really liked the story they told. Kawada was outclassed in the power department, but he is an excellent counterpuncher and just kept kicking that head. All this only works if Doc sells. Misawa's elbow is only as powerful as his opponents make it. So it is important that Doc did NOT oversell in the beginning, but when the time was right he sold the right head kick as death. In the lone rung it protected him and his finish. The Rolling Kappo Kick was the cherry on top. It was a different style and Kawada pulling deep from his bag of tricks but it fit the theme of the match, keeping kicking the powerhouse in the head. I definitely see the appeal of this match now, excellent match. ****3/4
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Post by KB8 on Mar 13, 2023 10:40:45 GMT -5
The first thing I noticed here is that Kawada has all of his teeth. Truly a sign that I've spent too long talking about wrestling with our good man elliott. I thought this was mostly good and in points really good. Williams was pretty awesome as the human embodiment of a mountain you need to scale, especially if that mountain was almost entirely comprised of cliff faces that were actively trying to throw you off them. All of his little shuffling on the spot was fun jock shit and at a couple points he'd pick up Kawada and throw him with legitimately absurd ease, the Doctor Bomb being the prime example but there was another moment where he just hoisted Kawada up and planted him with a powerslam that made Kawada look like a small child. The best parts of the match were when he'd haul off and punch Kawada dead in the face. The first time he did it was a single shot by way of response to one of Kawada's kicks, and the Kawada KO sell is as dead a horse around these parts as any horse can be but I thought this was one of his better KO sells ever. Then later Williams threw an ungodly flurry where the final roundhouse about took the fuckin jaw clean off Kawada's face. It was an awesome mess with the bull and you get the horns performance from Doc. I thought Kawada was excellent at getting across how dangerous Williams was too, and especially how dangerous his big bombs were. The first time Williams even attempts to grab Kawada's waist Kawada scrambles away, then every instance after that he would try and buck or twist or outright leap for the ropes if there was a hint of backdrop driver (or Oklahoma Stampede at another point). The one time he couldn't he was already half out on his feet and by christ did Williams murder him with this thing. Kawada rolling to the floor made sense because at that point what the hell else do you do? The first tiger suplex was also one of the nastiest versions of that move ever. Williams sold being slowly chipped away at really well down the stretch and I loved him trying to fight off that last powerbomb by almost going dead weight, probably not even sure where he was but instinct telling him he didn't want to be there wherever it might be.
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Post by elliott on Sept 13, 2023 13:30:38 GMT -5
Probably the best Kawada singles match.
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