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Post by fxnj on Mar 12, 2019 3:18:20 GMT -5
The full version of this is a holy grail for me, but the 23 (of 30) that aired is still easily worth a nomination. Just a fun as hell match with everyone looking motivated and the crowd reacting big. Hansen was at the tail end of his big 1993 run and he brought it here. Baba brought a good presence when he was in, and he was always over the crowd. Misawa/Kobashi didn't exactly disappoint either. Misawa looked the part as the ace, and young and hungry Kobashi is always a sight to behold.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jun 9, 2020 20:26:58 GMT -5
I'll second this somehow they make old, broke ass Baba work in this match and on top of that Hansen gives a stellar performance. I know this match gets all the praise, but shockingly the even longer 1994 Budokan main event, I like better.
Mistuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Stan Hansen & Giant Baba - AJPW 11/30/93
Didnt think this could live up to the hype in a zillion years, but hear I am to tell you believe the hype Giant Baba in 1993 had a damn great match. The part that really sold me was when Kobashi has this menacing look on his face that he is about to unload a Lariat onto Baba. Kobashi comes charging only to eat a BIG Chop from Baba! I popped huge!
Baba's aura added a lot to this match and increased the novelty. Also the crowd was wicked invested into Baba. It turned Stan Hansen into a super babyface and turned Misawa into a super heel. I did seem to notice that crowd had a harder time bringing itself to boo Kobashi, but they loved booing Misawa. The match is JIP by 6 minutes or so and we are already in a Kobashi heat segment. Misawa interrupts and attacks Baba draws boos. I know it is serious that when Misawa goes into elbow Hansen during a Boston Crab it draws major boos. I was like "Ok so we are flipping everything on its head". I think Misawa was a good subtle heel, BUT Hansen really embraced his newfound babyface popularity with the crowd. He was a great cheerleader for Baba on the apron.
Even though this is a 30 minute draw they NEVER telegraph it and thats another secret to this being great. I figured around the 25 minute time call they were going to a draw but I never had an inkling before that. Hansen teased his Lariat twice. Kobashi nailed his moonsault on BABA!!! Baba was hitting his Russian LegSweep, Lariat and Kick of Fear. You can usually sniff out a draw but everyone went balls to the wall and was trying to win the match. Other things that stood out to me was the Rolling Cradle by Kobashi on Baba! Loved Baba/Hansen double teams like the double chop and the Can-Can Big Boot together. During the heat segment on Baba, Hansen just comes in and THROWS KOBASHI DOWN IN A POWERBOMB! Hansen BLASTING Kobashi with the LARIAT to the outside! Misawa held nothing back in this match. He was blasting everyone. There was a great Hansen splash from the top rope on Misawa. It felt like a very fat splash. Lots of body weight. Down the stretch you get classic Baba overhand chop to Misawa and Russian Legsweep, huge heat on the nearfall. Misawa just unleashes three brutal spinning elbows on Hansen. Misawa elbows Baba down for 2! It was just a great bomb-throwing sprint down the last ten minutes. At end of it all, it is Baba standing tall. He knocks Kobashi down with an elbow and then Misawa with a Kick of Fear. Kobashi bumped and sold so hard for Baba.
If you love workrate-heavy matches with a ton of drama and focus on competition this match is for you. They just let it rip. ****1/4
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Post by elliott on Sept 12, 2023 16:05:31 GMT -5
Of course this is awesome.
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Post by club on Mar 28, 2024 9:48:31 GMT -5
Injecting Baba into these 90s workrate matches shouldn't work yet never disappoints. Love this though I think I love the Jan 94 six man more.
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