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Post by fxnj on Mar 12, 2019 3:41:05 GMT -5
Really tells you what a high standard these guys set that a match as well put together as this has slipped through the cracks. Features a hot opening with Jun getting put through a table, giving Kawada/Taue control of the match. I say this a lot, but Kawada/Taue really are a fantastic offensive team and they put on a clinic of that here. Misawa doesn't go down without a fight, though, and hangs in there just long enough for Jun to come back in. Instead of being treated as a hot tag with Jun cleaning house, the HDA just goes to town on Jun again almost immediately and it's glorious. They lay in an absolutely vicious beatdown. Great hot tag to Misawa with him busting out all his signature stuff and the crowd going wild. Lots of great near falls for the stretch run.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jul 28, 2020 22:42:55 GMT -5
I watched this many years ago and had no idea if it had rep or not. I was blown away and I gave it the full 5 stars. I remember it being break neck action. I was worried that I was overrating it or something. After seeing 12/6/96 and loving it so much, I am determined to watch this again to see how it holds up, but for now I want to make sure it gets through in case I want to vote for it.
Holy Demon Army (Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue) vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama - AJPW 11/28/97
Holy shit! This was incredible! Like how I have never heard or seen this before, Tremendous individual performances by everybody. When Taue is the least impressive in a tag match, you know you are watching something really special. The urgency, the unique set up, the selling of Akiyama, the will to win from Misawa and the outright sadism of Kawada make this an elite AJPW tag match, which says a lot about this.
This has to be a contender for the hottest opening two minutes in pro wrestling history. Just dripping with urgency and struggle. Both teams want to land a death blow early and they are all running around. Loved the double dropkick from the babyfaces, that massive Spinning Heel Kick by Kawada that sends Misawa to the apron. Of course, the climax, Taue depth charging Akiyama through the table. I love a match where the beginning matters. This beginning sets up everything.
Misawa is left to fend for himself. This is a great heat segment on Misawa. Nice hope spot the reverse springboard headbutt but then realizes he is all alone with Akiyama still out over by the table. All by myself, don't wanna be all by myself. Good balance between Misawa showing life to stave off Holy Demon Army's big moves and Kawada & Taue kicking the shit out of him with their basic, but hard-hitting arsenal. It is basically a great Misawa extended comeback handicap style with the endgame being the hot tag. He finally tags out and Akiyama hits this massive diving elbow, but is clearly favoring his back. He tries Northern Lights but his back gives out. From there, you see some of the best back selling and back work you will ever see. It is cold and merciless as Kawada and Taue zero in on his back and just pound the shit out of it. One of the best vertical suplexes ever by Taue, Kawada stretches Akiyama and two double stomps to the back. Kawada RIFLES Akiyama's back with kicks. He sets up the stretch plum right in front of Misawa, cocky or just bad strategy. That "will he or wont he tag" is so dramatic and when Misawa gets the tag, if you don't get Misawa, this is the match to watch. He comes in just blasts muthafuckas with that elbow. You really feel that sense of pride and that sense that winning means everything to Misawa. I love how he elbows Kawada off the apron of one side of the ring and then goes flying out the other side of the ring with a diving elbow. Insane sequence in terms of electricity. Tiger Driver for Kawada. Taue saves and here come the double teams on the isolated Misawa, NODOWA~! Misawa blocks the next two and a Tiger Driver allows him to tag. Lets see what Akiyama can do. Akiyama mans up hits Northern Lights but no bridge, Exploder and Kawada stomp his bad back on the cover. OW! Akiyama hits a massive high knee which I lost my shit for. Just a great babyface spot. Exploder attempt but Taue hits a Rock Bottom Nodowa. Massive Kawada bodyslam and kicks him really fucking hard in the back. In the background, Taue hits a DDT on Misawa on the exposed concrete so now it is Akiyama by himself. Akiyama has one less gasp when he tags Kawada in the head and Kawada drops ot his knees running the ropes (great Kawada selling) Dropkick to the back of the head, German, on second one, Kawada does his reverse kick to the bad back and Taue attacks the back. Wicked lariat, how is that not the finish. FUCKING HUGE AXE KICK TO THE BACK! That Powerbomb Goddamn! How s that not the finish. Misawa has nothing left and Akiyama succumbs to the best stretch plum ever.
Everyone gives an all star performance. Best Kawada match that I have seen in forever. He has had great matches in 98-99, but not those next level performances that I remember when I ranked him #10 of all time. This was that next level extraordinary performance. Incredible sadistic, hard hitting, energetic, great selling down the stretch. One of the all time greats at working on top. Awesome selling by Akiyama. Misawa trying to dig the team out of the hole was awesome. Loved that early hook, that hot beginning and the table spot totally hook you in. Everything follows naturally and effortlessly from that. Really having trouble reasoning why this is not ***** so it is *****.
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Post by [Darren] on Oct 3, 2021 23:50:42 GMT -5
I can’t find record of this match happening on this date. Sleeze’s review states 11/28/97. Seeing how glowing it is and how much I love 5/23/96 and 12/6/96 is really like to see this one.
Is there any clarification of the match’s date and a of its available. Thanks.
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Post by elliott on Sept 17, 2023 1:03:39 GMT -5
The problems I have with these matches are usually - they're too long, too over the top & Kawada's selling.
This is closer to 20 minutes than 25 and I thought it was awesome mostly. Kawada pulls some absolutely dumbass stuff towards the very end because of course he does. But prior to that this was a really great double face in peril match. Akiayama gets put through a table (!) and so Misawa gets worked over alone to start which is fun. HDM look great here. Akiyama gets the tag & keeps selling the table spot & gets his ass kicked & it continues to be great. Finishing stretch is fun & doesn't last 20 minutes. If not for one fairly annoying Kawada spot and then another extremely annoying Kawada spot this would've been one of the best AJPW matches of the decade.
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