|
Post by puropotsy on Jun 27, 2023 13:07:50 GMT -5
An epic match with both guys throwing everything they have at each other. Even knowing the result it was still easy to get behind Kawada as he fought to take down Misawa. Kawada’s spin-kicks were well-timed throughout and Misawa’s late elbow onslaught felt vital. A great match that will finish high for me.
|
|
|
Post by KB8 on Jul 12, 2023 10:09:41 GMT -5
I wanted to watch this before the last deadline and never got the chance. I think my last watch of it was about 2006 and 2006 me was certainly into different things in wrestling than 2023 me. There was still plenty about it that I thought was good, stuff that I thought was great, nothing that I could possibly say about it offering a fresh perspective on the most talked about match in the history of the internet. I thought the beginning was great, the way they played up how familiar they are with each other without it being an obvious reversal routine. Kawada about took Misawa's head off with that spin kick and you're thinking Misawa might not have it all his own way this time. It felt significant in my own 90s All Japan re-watch chronology because the last two matches I watched with Kawada and Misawa opposite each other were the '93 Tag League final and 5/21/94. And in the former Kawada was thoroughly outclassed and in the latter he only fared marginally better. And he lost both of them. After the first exchange Misawa responds quickly with a backdrop and you're maybe reconsidering how close this contest might be, BUT Kawada fires back again and shuts Misawa down on a whip into the rail and Misawa's attempted forearm off the apron. It was cool table-setting. As a whole this felt as even as their rivalry has to this point, largely because of Kawada's aggressiveness. He was a pitbull and you got the sense he knew it was imperative to stay on Misawa, to never give him an opening or a chance to recover. Misawa might've been untouchable as the king at this point but the way he started booting Kawada in the leg was an amazing moment and, the fact he even needed to go there, maybe the first real chink in his armour, or at least the first chink Kawada has put in it. Compare that to the '93 Tag League final where Misawa was almost derisory in how he *didn't* touch it despite the fact Kawada was hobbled. I don't think I was aware of Misawa's bad neck the last time I watched this, so that's another cool layer. I don't find either guy particularly compelling at working holds, but those parts weren't extensive and Kawada spent more time using brute force to exploit the neck than working the facelock. The striking was absolutely world class, which probably isn't a surprise. It may not be as harrowing as Battlarts/FUTEN, but the selling really is top fucking drawer and there's the struggle and the blocking and it all makes every strike exchange feel massive. As pretentious as it might sound, it does feel pretty layered and even NUANCED~ if you know their history. Or as nuanced as two people kicking and elbowing each in the face can be and at the end of the day that's where the bread is buttered. The point where Kawada punched Misawa in the jaw was spectacular, really just a perfect fuck off and die outburst, and then Misawa responding in kind a minute later is one of the best "do you actually know who I am?" moments he's ever had, and he's has a whole lot of those throughout his career. He also hit a rolling elbow to the back of Kawada's head at one point which was sort of disgusting. The enziguri to the nose, the head kicks in the corner after Misawa's ear had already split open, the forearms and European uppercuts. Basically there were about two dozen incredible strikes in this match. I thought Kawada was really great at showing desperation the longer it went as well, going back to those strike exchanges even though in the long run he'd never win that particular war. Then there were the momentum shifts and the transitions and how they all had the right amount of selling and WEIGHT around them so it never really felt like they were just trading bombs. Even after all this time, that's something 90s All Japan does better than just about anyone ever has. That reset spot leading to the final stretch with Misawa gathering himself on the floor while Kawada glares at him in unveiled contempt - basically a perfect visual. You wonder if Kawada realised then, after hitting those powerbombs and not getting the job done, after knowing he couldn't let Misawa regroup at any point just to see it happen there and then, that maybe it had slipped away from him. And then you've got him feebly trying to fight out of the double underhooks, trying to force Misawa back to the corner, knowing what's coming, only to get put on his neck anyway. I guess this is still okay.
|
|
|
Post by lemming on Nov 24, 2023 8:41:45 GMT -5
I voted this #35 this year.
Famously not-bad match that everyone has probably seen a bunch. The definitive Misawa/Kawada singles and probably the peak narratively of their feud, even if it continued for years afterwards. You know what you're getting - the violent rage of Kawada vs the slightly aloof perfection of Misawa, paying off with the wonderful spot where Misawa's mask slips and he goes for Kawada's injury in desperation and you realise that yeah, the ace must be in serious trouble right now. The strikes and selling are excellent throughout and this builds to a hell of a climax.
I did watch this again for the nth time recently, and will note that it didn't hold up for me as well as it always has before. Specifically, the first half was less engaging than I remembered. The final stretch is still an absolute banger though and still a fine match overall of course, but it might slide a bit for me next time.
|
|