Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW - 10/23/1993)

Seconded. I watched this a few weeks ago and I was struck by how this match is never brought up among the classics of the era in All Japan. For my money, it’s Kobashi’s best singles match of 1993, even better than the Hansen and Williams matches. I’d say top 3 match of 1993 after RWTL finals and Hokuto/Kandori. It’s so heated and intense throughout the whole match. The slow parts still are very compelling and the finishing stretch is insane. I agree on it being the best Kobashi/Kawada match.

Probably the most disappointing match I have seen since I dedicated much of the past couple months to watching All Japan. It is one of the few I had never seen before and I was excited at the prospect of being great but I thought it was way too excessive. I think Kawada/Kobashi is my least favorite Four Corners singles pairing.

Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi - AJPW 10/23/93

I see this time and time again, Kawada was the best of the Pillars on the mat. Kobashi is very underrated on the mat and I think he is Kawada's peer very much. We get a great single leg/back heel trip seamlessly into a Spinning Toehold and then into a figure-4. We get two prior sequences of good chain wrestling from Kobashi. The King's Road style minimizes chaining and matwork but I think Kobashi is every bit Kawada's equal.

I liked the babyface shine. Kawada is surprised he cant bowl over Kobashi and then chops him in frustration. Then Kobashi does not succeed and then eats a boot, but after all that he is the one who is able to tackle Kawada. Kawada, ever the sore sport (remember those fists against Misawa in July), double legs Kobashi for being shown up. Good stuff even if they end up in my least favorite position a bundle of leglocks. Another great Kawada is a sore sport moment is Kobashi steals Kawada's Cowboy Kick. So Kawada pissed gets up bodyslams him and UNCORKS TWO Cowboy Kicks for good measure!

Kobashi looks to target the leg after his figure-4 but Kawada returns in kind rifling Kobashi's leg with kicks. Kawada gets the damn deepest Single Leg Crab you'd ever see. The transitions were kind of weak. Kawada lets his foot off the gas and then Kobashi starts firing off kicks and chops. Kawada damn near takes his head with his patented Spinning Heel Kick. Kawada moves into a Boston Crab and then an abdominal stretch. Kawada goes for it again, but Kobashi tries for a Rolling Cradle, Kawada elbows out. Kawada sells the dizziness though! That was fun! They go all Kobashi/Sasaki on us 12 years before that was a thing and the Budokan goes wild. The Japanese sure just love watching men stand there and pelt each other with stiff shots. Kawada just stops. There have been a lot of peculiar pauses in this match.

Kobashi ends up DDTing Kawada a bunch. Kobashi is a pretty sizeable underdog here so he does the smart thing and that is go for his killshot, the moonsault. Gotta strike while the iron is hot, but ends up crashing and burning. Kobashi still manages to Lariat and Legdrop Kawada. Goes for the moonsault again, but sees Kawada stirring turns it into a John Cena legdrop. Kobashi connects with the moonsault for a two count! He is incredulous! Hit Kawada with his best shot, still doesnt get it done. Kawada rolls out of the ring. The front half has been damn good and it feels different than a lot of All Japan with the stronger mat focus and less bombs. Kawada is a good sore sport jerk and Kobashi is always pure infectious energy. Going forward to see where they go with this.

Kobashi rolls him back in and kicks him a bunch and Kawada falls back out of the ring. Again another strange moment, Kawada is suddenly revitalized and pulls Kobashi's head down for Kawada kicks. Bizarre. There's a great chop exchange where Kawada gets a little high on his chop close to the throat and Kobashi gets pissed and unloads chops to the forearm, thats gotta hurt his hand. Kawada STRIKES HIM DOWN WHERE HE STANDS! Wicked chop to the side of the neck. That would become common in All Japan. Was this the start? Kawada and Kobashi keep at it and Kawada PUNCHES Kobashi! Two Jumping High Kicks, which they have been treating as sort of equal maybe a half-step below Misawa's Elbow. Kawada wrestles for a Stretch Plum but Kobashi makes the ropes. Kawada, the sore sport, goes for another punch, Kobashi blocks and PUNCHES him! Ok between this and the dangerous chops, this shit is lit! Kobashi wraps on a sleeper which his answer to Misawa's FACELOCK and Kawada's Stretch Plum. He is tenacious withstanding a back suplex. He hits two back drop drivers and a proper Jackknife Powerbomb for two. He is almost in tears that didnt win the match. Honestly, I think they have gone overboard. I think Kawada has survived too much and it is hurting the credibility of the match if he ends up winning. Kobashi clamps the Sleeper back on and here comes Kawada. THREE Backdrop Drivers and a Powerbomb still cant get the job done! Put me out of my misery, TWO More Backdrop Drivers, a Jumping High Kicks, Two Illegal Closed Fists and a Stretch Plum put Kobashi down.

Holy Overkill, Batman! Pro Wrestling NOAH was born in 1993. Theres a lot to like about this match. I really liked the beginning and how Kobashi had to earn that moonsault. I LOVED how heated it became in the middle with the crazy chops to the head and the punches! Kawada died and resurrected himself twice in this match! Dying is the cardinal sin. It kills a match's credibility. I can handle it after the Moonsault, you really want to sell that. Cmon a sleeper, two Backdrop Drivers and a Powerbomb...stretching reality and Kawada still had to go all out to beat Die Hard Kobashi. Matches like this are always so tough for me to rate because the first 15 minutes are great. The back half still had some good stuff, I did like the sleeper work. Lets go ***1/2, I did enjoy most of it, but the finish was excess galore.