|
|
Post by bossrock on Aug 16, 2019 21:29:56 GMT -5
Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue (AJPW - 10/15/1995)
The second time these two teams went broadway in 1995 but arguably even better than the January match. Some great callbacks to 6/9/95 with the apron chokeslam to Misawa, only this time in the opening minutes of the match! I feel like Misawa is out of the action a bit too long in the opening 15-20 minutes (especially considering Taue and Kawada only go after him a few more times after the chokeslam), but he does a tremendous job selling the accumulated damage throughout as he appears more and more winded as the match goes on. He's just a bit slower every time he tries to follow-up on a move until he's basically running on fumes. Kobashi also has some great, resilient face work in a 2-on-1 situation and there's a pretty awesome role reversal of Taue getting isolated when Kawada gets choked out. This then transitions to some extended arm work on Kobashi who sells it wonderfully. Even though it seems a bit strange that Kawada and Taue go after the left arm and not the right arm (Kobashi's lariat and chop arm), Kawada was in such a frenzy to get payback he grabs the nearest arm and they just decide to keep working it over. If your opponent has an injured limb, it only makes sense to continue to go after it. It all escalates to a wonderful crescendo of all four throwing their heaviest shots while on the brink of total exhaustion. It's not very often you hear Misawa make an audible cry, but when he nails Taue with a running elbow, you know he means business.
It's a testament to all four of these guys' greatness that they could wrestle a 60-minute match with zero downtime and yet keep it enthralling throughout with so many twists and turns. Then again, you probably knew to expect that with these two teams.
|
|
|
|
Post by superstarsleeze on Jul 4, 2020 23:08:18 GMT -5
Not for me. I think there is plenty of great work in here. I like the idea of the start. Tiger Suplex on Kawada and the Nodowa of Death on Misawa. Do the big bombs early to make sure no one thinks you are going a full 60 minutes. I think logically they did the right things. I just didnt feel like their hearts were in it. This felt flat to me. The ending felt like NOAH maximalist overkill. I liked their first stab at this better. I greatly preferred the December Real World Tag League from 1995, which has the same structure as this but they condense it down to 30 minutes and put a feel-good finish on it. I know this is generally considered their fourth best outing, but for me it is their 7th best outing. Everyone should watch but not for me.
AJPW World Tag Team Champions Holy Demon Army vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi - AJPW 10/15/95
Besides the fact that this is an hour long draw, I have no idea what happens in this match.
At the 15 minute mark, things look bleak for the Super Generation Army, Taue has DDT'd Misawa on exposed floor and Kawada powerbombed Kobashi on the floor. How did we get there? Well besides Misawa hitting Kawada with a Tiger Suplex at the outset of the match everything went the Holy Demon Army's way. Kawada did a great job selling this Tiger Suplex as a big deal, but the ante got upped. Taue and Kobashi were having a good wrestling sequence. Taue won a Greco-Roman contest while Kobashi won the Judo contest. AIR TAUE~! Misawa came to help with the Tiger Mask feint. Kawada kicked him in the head on the apron, this phased him enough for Taue to eventually his the NODOWA OF DEATH FROM THE APRON!!!! In 1995, thats typically a match ender! Kobashi is pissed and revvs himself up because he know he is in there two on one. Basically the next two minutes is a handicap match. Kobashi acquits himself well dumping both Kawada and Taue on their asses. Lots of Tests of Strength which I love. On the traditional All Japan Surfboard, Kawada decks him with an Axe Bomber. Big Mack Truck Lariat from Kawada. Taue wants the NODOWA but Kobashi successfully avoids it. Misawa makes an appearance on the apron and gets kicked in this face. This how we end up the stereo attack on the outside. Very auspicious start with lots of drama with the Tiger Suplex and Apron NODOWA early keeping the viewer on their toes.
Fifteen minutes later and it has been an amazing reversal of fortunes for the Super Generation Army. Misawa has recovered enough to be a force in the match and now they have a commanding lead. Taue's & Kawada's heat segment was solid, but a bit uninspiring. I thought they had Misawa & Kobashi too thoroughly beaten and undercut the drama. The offense was good for the most part but could have used more hope spots. One has to wonder why Taue hits a normal Powerbomb when he could make it DYNAMIC~!?? After ten minutes of this, Misawa made his triumphant re-entry into the match and it was ELBOWS GALORE~! He looked great while still selling well, stretch that back out. Tiger Driver, nope, Elbows Kawada in the knee, great selling. Tiger Driver nope, pins anyways, nada. Labored breathing was a great touch from Misawa. FACELOCK~! Kobashi sleeper on Kawada! Kawada sells this really well having the young boys drag him off the battlefield. Misawa tags out and Kobashi hits a DDT on the floor and now it is Taue's turn to die. Kawada unconscious from the Sleeper and Taue was dead in the water. Looked like there was no hope for the Holy Demon Army. One last ditch effort from Taue saves himself from a powerbom, but Misawa SMOKES him with an elbow. Kobashi hits a powerbomb, but Taue rolls out of the way of the moonsault. Tag into Misawa, who hits a Frogsplash Not the most efficient match, but there have been momentous moments.
DOOMSDAY NODOWA~! ALL THE STARS! That was wicked cool! Just as Taue was taking an asskicking of a lifetime, Kawada made a miraculous recovery and ran across the ring and smoked Kobashi with a big boot. Perhaps he was pissed about the Sleeper but he decides to try to break Kobashi's arm with a cross armbreaker on the floor. Misawa breaks it up and checks on Kobashi. Taue tags in Kawada. I dont remember why Misawa tagged in Kobashi but it doesnt seem like a good idea. Kawada goes after the arm. This was a wicked fun heat segment! Blows the one from 20 minutes ago out of the water. It is focused and energetic. Great selling especially verbally from Kobashi. Kawada goes after the arm with Cross-Armbreakers, kicks and a nice Fujiwara Armbar. Taue is in his wheelhouse as the despicable henchman attacking the arm inside and outside the ring. Kobashi tags out after about ten minutes of great work. Misawa comes in but is overwhelmed by the rejuvenated Holy Demon Army. This is when the Doomsday Nodowa happens! Misawa powders. Taue wants another Apron Nodowa, but Misawa hangs on and Taue crashes to the floor himself, I liked that, but it didnt lead anywhere as Kawada impedes the Elbow Suicida with an Axe Bomber. Taue hits NODOWA back in the ring. Just like the Holy Demon Army are back in control. Best Quarter of the match so far, which ends with Kawada holding Misawa in the Stretch Plum and Taue knocks the injured Kobashi off the apron.
Someone has given Kobashi an elbow pad for his injured left arm! Japan Number One! Forever! Kawada Powerbomb...MISAWA-RANA! Kobashi tags in and Kawada kicks the bad arm. Kobashi catches his kick...death stare...elbows extended knee and dragon leg screw! Kawada sells like a champ. Dueling Limb Psychology! Kobashi is relentless and is chopping the shit out of both men! Kawada gets the opes on Dragon Suplex, Elbow Suicida for Taue! Kawada German but his leg is too injured to capitalize. Adding some great layers down the stretch. Taue saves the Geran and Misawa blows him away, MISAWA CLOBBERS KAWADA! Bodyslam...fist pump...MOONSAULT! 1-2-NO! Great nearfall! Kawada is trying to pull himself up using the ropes tag in to Misawa. Another fold in half German on poor Kawada who is dead weight. Another one! Kawada is taking a pounding. Kobashi looks like a video game character standing guard for a Misawa pinfall as Taue is too exhausted to even try. GREAT drama as Misawa is holding the ankle trying to prevent the tag but to no avail. Misawa elbows are not match for undeniable power of the NODOWA! Dynamic Bomb...MISAWA-RANA! YOU CANT POWERBOMB MISAWA BABY! Big time Elbow for two. Tiger Driver but Kawada saves at the last second great nearfall. The best nearfall of the match is next. Misawa hits a Tiger Suplex as Kobashi detains Kawada and I totally bit on it even though I knew it was a draw. The way Kawada was so helpless and the Tiger Suplex is a such a big deal really sold it. Best spot of the match. The match there's another 7 minutes is an issue. The match peters out. Kobashi wants a moonsault this time on Taue, but Taue just rolls to the sanctuary of the ropes so Kobashi legdrops him. Kobashi powerbomb. Taue makes it to ropes. Kobashi German. This has reached NOAH levels. They are just hitting bombs for the sake of it. It is a shame because they were rocking. Double Tiger Driver was cool. Misawa takes a page out of Jumbo's book and eats a Hotshot. Kawada tags in ok maybe this will freshen things up. Kawada Fucking Trucks Misawa with a Lariat! Kawada returns the favor and dumps Misawa on his head with a German and Misawa is dead weight. Jumping High Kick another German and Kobashi saves. Kawada tries to block tag but to no avail. Chop battle. KOPPOU KICK! Ok that was badass as was going for the Cross-Armbreaker on Kobashi. Heat has dwindled. Taue NODOWA on outside! All this feels like it should be more epic. Kobashi Nodowa's Taue on the floor! DRAGON SUPLEX! Great save by Taue. Two minutes to go. KAWADA SWEEPS THE LEG! Misawa vs Taue down the stretch. Elbow Flurry! 1-2-NO! One minute to go...SLEEPER SUPLEX...1...2...NO! Good heat on that. 30 Seconds left and nothing happens...Elbow nearfall..bell rings.
I did some checking and this typically gets more love than the 60 minute 1/25/95 match and I can see why. This is more epic. This match was a portent of things to come in NOAH in how the stretch was just astronomical in the offense they dish out. There was some really nice shit they could not get me to care about like the Double Tiger Driver, Dragon Suplex (that Kobashi built so well to) and Sleeper Suplex. Part of it was they looked exhausted and things didnt look as urgent. I really did think the Tiger Suplex on Taue was money and a great spot. I remember really liking the 1/25/95 closing 30 minutes, if I recall it was like a 20 minute Kobashi face in peril that just rocked. There was so much I felt like I should have liked the big bombs early...Tiger Suplex & Apron Nodowa...Misawa's Hot Tag...Kobashi arm psychology...Doomsday Nodowa. It was mechanically sound and the plot/layout/narrative however you want to say it was well-constructed...it just felt I dont know flat. I am going to give it the same rating as the earlier Broadway because it is a great match and great effort, but yeah it falls a little short for me. ***3/4
|
|
|
|
Post by elliott on Sept 15, 2023 0:58:47 GMT -5
No way.
|
|
