Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Vader (AJPW - 5/2/1999)

When I think “big fight feel,” this is what comes to mind. It doesn’t get much bigger than the greatest ace of the modern era trying to pay tribute to Giant Baba by reclaiming the Triple Crown from the greatest foreign monster of the modern era at the Tokyo Dome. I’m convinced that Misawa was Vader’s second-best opponent, which is pretty remarkable given how broken-down they both were when they first met. He just clicked with Vader in a way he never really did with Hansen. Part of that was due to Vader being a much bigger bumper than Hansen, enabling Misawa to perform his suplexes and Tiger Drivers. They also benefited from having shorter matches, so Misawa didn’t have to kill time with front facelocks and the like. Vader’s strike combo on a cornered opponent was one of his trademarks, and the one he unleashed on Misawa about three minutes in was like George Foreman demolishing a tomato can. I thought it was nifty how after Misawa’s initial comeback, he turned the tables with a release German, which was over as a death move in Japan thanks to the Inoki match. Misawa was such a lunatic that he even bumped huge while delivering offense. That springboard splash to the floor had to have been murder on his knees. This does drag at points, and Misawa no-selling a butt splash to throw mounted elbows at the end was disappointing. Overall, though, this was a heavyweight bombfest worthy of the Tokyo Dome.