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Simon Watches AJPW - 1990s; ELBOOOOOOOOWWWWWW
Topic Started: Jul 20 2009, 03:25 AM (6,031 Views)
Big Tuna
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

Miracle Violence Connection vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi, 2/23/1991
This is great. Not overly so, since it's a sub 15 minute midcard affair, but it plays to everyone's strengths. Kobashi gets to be fiery underdog, the MVC get to use their power and be big foreign bullies, and Misawa gets to be the hero and show tons of fire and be the hot tag. They manage to isolate Kobashi at the end, and he gets beat with the Lariat of Gordy.
***

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, 3/23/1991

This was another really great shorter match from some of the B-level guys. This time Jumbo's side plays heel, meaning we get more of Dick Fuchi and Underdog Kikuchi, which are two of the best motifs the company has at this point. Before that though, they brutalize Kobashi's knee for a bit early on, and then Kikuchi is isolated. Misawa has an INCREDIBLE hot tag, easily handling all three with elbows, and then Kobashi gets back in. AND KIKUCHI HAS AN AMAZING NO HANDS DIVE! He gets in finally and has another amazing underdog nearfall run before Taue hits a proto-Chokeslam to win.
***1/2
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Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue, 4/18/1991
Not as amazingly violent as the January match, but it is still great. Lots more matwork to begin, which wasn't bad, but didn't exactly go much of anywhere. They get into their usual hot fighting and brawling, and the match picks up a lot. The first match got both over as tough but put Kawada over more. This time, Taue gets most of the work done, beating up the knee, and really brutalizing Kawada with stuff on the floor, showing more and more of what Jumbo would have taught him. Kawada's knee selling is amazing again. Unique finish for AJPW too, as Taue hits the Chokeslam on the floor for a count out.
***

Jumbo Tsuruta [c] vs. Mitsuharu Misawa [AJPW Triple Crown Championship], 4/19/1991

This is not on the level of their 1990 stuff either, but it's still these two. It's also their only title match ever and the last singles match between them, due to the unfortunate reality of Jumbo going down with injury forever right before the feud heated up again to go to a fourth match. This is the same idea as September. Jumbo is The Man, and Misawa is not quite there yet, but is even closer than September. This has really hot patches, but they rarely follow up and go back to the mat for stuff. There's a really interesting psychology in play, where Jumbo wants to contain Misawa and wait for him to make a mistake like their last match, but Misawa also tries to keep the pace slow to avoid doing such a thing, which is inventive, but doesn't work so well. Jumbo's policy fails, so he goes cheap and attacks the leg on the floor and then works it over in the ring. Misawa's selling was good, but not overly great like Kawada's. He still runs and jumps, but favors his leg at the same time, and combined with Jumbo only doing knee work for like 4 minutes, it's fine. They finally get to work on a finishing run and that is amazing as you would expect. Like the first match, Jumbo hits a Backdrop Hold and while it's not the end, it's the end of Misawa's chances. This time, Misawa is able to throw a desperate elbow before Jumbo hits another Backdrop, and then he hits a third to make sure he's dead before the pin.
***

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi, 4/20/1991

This is 50 minutes and widely regarded as the greatest six man tag ever. This is probably true, due to the fact that they did their usual great six man, but stretched it 50 minutes with almost no dead space, which is kind of a miracle. Kobashi wants to prove himself, Kawada and Taue want to kill each other, Jumbo and Misawa is still a thing, Fuchi is an asshole, etc. All the classic notes are hit, they just riff longer than in any other meeting. Structure is also really smart. They keep going to the Kawada/Taue issue and Kobashi trying to prove himself on the level of his friends, and build up a Misawa/Jumbo showdown for later in the match. Kawada is isolated a bit, and then Kobashi gets in and does great for himself, even getting in offense on Jumbo. He is then isolated and gets totally torn apart and beat to shit. They kill his knee a lot. Misawa gets the hot tag and Misawa vs. Jumbo finally happens in the match. Taue tags himself in to try and get a big win, but then interference begins from both sides. Kawada sneaks in a Northern Lariat, allowing Misawa to win with the Tiger Suplex.
****
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Mitsuharu Misawa/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Masanobu Fuchi, 5/17/1991
They hit all the usual notes, but there wasn't enough Kikuchi here. They beat the shit out of Kikuchi, Misawa and Jumbo dislike each other, and Fuchi is an asshole who tortures Kikuchi. Kikuchi wants to try and man up and he can do it against Fuchi, but gets KILLED trying it on Jumbo. It's like Tajiri trying to come at 2002 Undertaker. It ruled and is wildly entertaining, but the small Asian is gonna get fucking KILLED. Nice strategy early on, as they try to take out Misawa's arm to eliminate the elbows, but it doesn't work because, elbows. Misawa surprisingly finishes Fuchi with the FACELOOOOOOOOOOOOOCK.
**3/4

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Kenta Kobashi, 5/24/1991

This was great! Classic underdog vs. ace story, and Kobashi continues to improve. He always had a lot of fire, but he's now channeling it better and has more offense so he can hang longer with guys like Jumbo. Of course, he's still a rookie, so he can't contend with Jumbo in a finishing run, and is beat with the Backdrop Hold.
***
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Steve Williams vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 6/1/1991
This is awesome. Doc is a bully, and Kawada has anger problems, so it's a match made in heaven. Kawada tries to prove himself on the level of Misawa again, taking on the big Americans, and they beat the shit out of each other for 15 minutes. They do a good job adding in big moves and they build really well to a finishing run. This is the proper way to this kind of a strike/movefest. Williams dominates as it goes on, until an awesome Kawada comeback in the final minutes. He survives the Oklahoma Stampede and the Doctor Bomb isn't a thing yet, so Kawada looks great there. Williams catches him in midair and hits sort of a Northern Lights Suplex to win.
***

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Terry Gordy, 6/1/1991

This is another really important match to the Misawa ethos, as it takes his elbows from a great offensive weapon into a potential match ender. The beat the shit out of each other, and Gordy is a big bully as well. Not as much of one as Doctor Death is, but still. Misawa fights back with lots of fire, and is able to survive the big offense, showing his progression in the last year. Misawa makes another comeback, and hits a disgustingly great Running Elbow for the pin.
***1/4

Stan Hansen/Danny Spivey [c] vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue [AJPW Unified Tag Team Championship], 6/1/1991

This is good, but not overly great. Takes a while to get going, and Taue isn't exactly an amazing face in peril. Jumbo is still a great hot tag and Jumbo/Hansen rules. Spivey is good other places, but it feels like he's just a fourth body in this match. Taue has a long finishing run against Spivey, and that happens. He loses to a DDT.
**1/2
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Toshiaki Kawada vs. Masanobu Fuchi, 7/18/1991
This is awesome as fuck. It's one of those matches like Finlay vs. Cena where there's a cranky old journeyman against one of the young guys the company is pushing so you know the result, so it's all about how great the journey is. Really great matwork early on. Fuchi goes after the bad knee of Kawada, which is for the best, since Fuchi working a limb and Kawada selling one is the best course they could have gone. Fuchi gets really nasty with his blatant cheating too. Kawada makes a comeback of a Northern Lariat, but Fuchi kicks out, so he puts on a Rear Naked Choke to win.
***

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue, 7/20/1991

This is again great, but not as great as their January match. Probably just a little better than the April match, since what this lacks in length of that, it makes up for in sheer violence and ass kicking. Kawada works the leg a little, but it's more of a "fuck you" gesture for their last few matches than actual strategy. I also love how their hate has evolved. Before, they were throwing down, but using pro wrestling strikes like kicks and elbows and chops, and by this point, they're just punching each other in the face. Taue shows his growth by kicking out of the Powerbomb, but Kawada makes him pass out in the Rear Naked Choke for the win.
***

Miracle Violence Connection [c] vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada [AJPW Unified Tag Team Championship], 7/24/1991

This really didn't need to go 25 minutes, but it was pretty great. Lots of great moments of bullying from Gordy and Doc, and Kawada and Misawa had a ton of fire. They isolated Kawada, and beat the dog shit out of him and abused him. He has the greatest hope spots, and then the hot tag rules. Not a ton of complexity here, just the continued evolution of Misawa and Kawada. They can't end the big guys with their usual stuff, but Misawa counters a Gordy Powerbomb into a Huracanrana for the win while Kawada holds off Doc, and they finally overcome the evil foreigners.
***

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Masanobu Fuchi/Yoshinari Ogawa, 7/26/1991

That ratface fuck Ogawa finally shows up. But fuck him, this is all about Jumbo and Misawa and Jumbo and Kawada and FUCKIN KIKUCHI AND FUCKIN FUCHI. YEAH MOTHERFUCKER. Kawada vs. Jumbo is for once even better than Misawa/Jumbo, which makes sense since this post seems to be all about Kawada. Ogawa is sort of important, since now Jumbo's Team has a rookie to beat the fuck out of too. And my god, Kawada can maim a young guy. Kawada repeatedly gets the best of Jumbo, who sells for Kawada now like he sold for Misawa in 1990. Jumbo SNAPS now, and beats the fuck out of Misawa with a chair. Misawa kicks out of one Backdrop, and Kawada saves in the pin on the second, but the others get Kawada and Kikuchi out, and Jumbo hits another two Backdrops for the win on Misawa.
***1/2
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Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi, 8/18/1991
This is part 1 of the build to the Misawa/Kawada vs. Jumbo/Taue title match in September, and does a great job there. Misawa is PISSED after Jumbo snapped on him in July and is much more violent to both Jumbo and Taue. They work over Misawa's shoulder for a while, and that's a thing now. They also isolate Kobashi and are entertaining beating him to shit. Misawa's hot tag rules and he tries to use kicks to avoid the shoulder. Jumbo goes after it, and they isolate Misawa for once, which hasn't happened once since he unmasked. He has no choice but to go to elbows to survive, and sells amazingly after throwing them. Kobashi is closer to 100%, so he keeps getting back in, but he cannot hope to beat Jumbo and even Taue is above him. Misawa keeps saving, but is eventually blocked, and Taue hits the Chokeslam to win.
***

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, 9/1/1991

This is too short to be amazingly great at like 9 minutes, but motherfucker, it's Jumbo vs. Kikuchi in there. It still rules. Misawa's shoulder is again a focus before the tag title match, and then Kikuchi gets torn up. He and Misawa both have these awesome fiery comebacks. Kikuchi is a fool and tries to man up against Jumbo though and loses to a Backdrop Hold.
***

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada [c] vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue [AJPW Unified Tag Team Championship], 9/4/1991

This is great, and really important. I don't think it's as great as either of the 1990 tags, since it takes a while to get going, but it's still these four in a tag match for 20-25 minutes, so it delivers. This era totally spoils you as a fan, since you've got a handful of the best wrestlers alive constantly putting on *** matches almost every week, so you'll call a match that at this time would be a top 10 match anywhere else merely great and not elaborate because it feels disappointing. Really only WWF 2000-1, ROH 2004-6, and Smackdown Six era SD can pull that kind of thing off. And yeah, the match. Kawada vs. Jumbo is still a big thing, and Misawa's shoulder getting worked on allows Kawada to be the one getting hot tags now. He gets isolated too after his hot tag and Misawa has his shoulder taped up on the floor. Misawa gets back in and they have an awesome finishing run. Kawada manages to turn the tide at the end for once with a Northern Lariat to Jumbo, and Misawa puts on the Facelock. Kawada jumps on Taue's back with a Rear Naked Choke when he's inches away from the save, AND JUMBO TAPS HOLY SHIT!
***1/2

Mitsuharu Misawa/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Yoshinari Ogawa, 9/7/1991

This is good, not great. Jumbo vs. Kikuchi is again fantastic. Jumbo hates Misawa even more now that Misawa's beat him clean, and the shoulder still comes into play. Ogawa still isn't much, but Jumbo does most of the work in beating up Misawa's arm. Misawa traps Ogawa though and wins with the Facelock.
**3/4
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Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue/Yoshinari Ogawa, 10/13/1991
By now, Jumbo vs. Kawada for the belt has been booked for the end of October, so that's the big issue here. This isn't one of the classic six mans at all, but it's 5 great wrestlers in there for some 20-ish minutes working hard, so it's great regardless. This is Jumbo's match as all three pairings with him are amazing. He gives Kawada just as much offense as Misawa, and has some amazing facial expressions like a man losing his place in the world, and going insane as a result. Kawada uses some classic Jumbo offense, AND ACTUALLY SPITS IN HIS FACE! Really great finishing run. Misawa again survives Jumbo's best due to Kawada now being the master of saves and cutting off Jumbo from getting in. Misawa beats Taue with the Tiger Driver.
***1/4

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi, 10/15/1991

This is one of the classic ones, due to a Misawa injury angle. He broke his nose the previous night, so the other team goes after it all match. Misawa is taken out early with the injury, so Kawada has to step up. Kikuchi is isolated early, and Misawa gets back on the apron after 5-10 minutes. Misawa tries to get back in, but Jumbo goes right after his nose. Misawa goes back out hurt, and Kawada picks up the slack. Kikuchi is again isolated and tortured, and they maul him like never before. This is also the first time Jumbo's team outright cheats like mad, using chairs, choking, and even causing Kawada to come in to distract the ref for double teams on poor Kikuchi. Kikuchi gets trapped at the end against Jumbo. He hits a Powerbomb, BUT MISAWA DIVES IN TO SAVE! YEAH! Taue immediately grabs his nose and throws him down on it and Fuchi blocks Kawada, so Jumbo hits the Backdrop Hold to win.
****1/4

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, 10/20/1991

With Misawa taken out of action with a broken nose, Team Jumbo now looks to try the same thing a few days before Kawada gets his title shot. For most of 1990 and 1991, the heel/face divide was ambiguous, and it most often is in Japan since it's a weird cultural thing, but at this point, Jumbo & Co. are clear heels against Misawa's guys. This totally did not need 30 minutes though, and suffers for it. They hit all the usual highs and Kikuchi rules, but it's just too fucking long. As almost anyone could predict, Kikuchi loses, this time to Taue's Chokeslam.
**3/4
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Jumbo Tsuruta [c] vs. Toshiaki Kawada [AJPW Triple Crown Championship], 10/24/1991
This is amazing. Jumbo's last classic singles match too, so that's a shame. Great storytelling too, as to stand a chance, Kawada has to be tenacious in everything. He doesn't have the elbows of Misawa or quickness or anything, he's just an angry kind of pudgy shorter guy against a tall asskicker with tons of experience, so he has to play to his one strength. There's some amazing shots too of Misawa watching in the back of the building, which is also something to consider, as Kawada is desperate to prove he's just as good as his best friend. This is also probably a little better than the Jumbo/Misawa matches from 1990, as Kawada is better here than Misawa was then, and this match wastes less time. They do something brilliant with the storytelling too. First 5-10 minutes, Kawada controls by staying on top of Jumbo with a headlock, but whenever Jumbo can get distance, he can pound on Kawada. So it conditions you to think that if Jumbo can get distance and keep Kawada at bay, he can clobber him with his size and win. Except then they swerve you, and Kawada holds his own there too, so Jumbo has to resort to just trying to contain the kid and wear him out. Kawada doesn't have enough stuff to put Jumbo away however, so he can't end the match. He counters the Backdrop repeatedly and desperately, and survives one, but Jumbo wins with a second.
****1/2

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue vs. Miracle Violence Connection, 11/21/1991

This is really good, but only like 10 minutes shown. MVC again delivers a great bully performance on Taue, and Jumbo shows his insane versatility here as both the hot tag and FIP, three weeks after the performance of a lifetime as aging Ace barely holding onto his spot. However, for all his great qualities at this point and later on, Taue is not a good hot tag. This tends to happen when you spend most of your formative years working heel. Anyways, Jumbo and Doc have amazing strike fests. They get going again at the end, but then time limit expires. BOOOO
**3/4

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, 11/21/1991

This is the only time this happened, and it provides somewhat of a preview of the future, with Kawada beating the fuck out of Kobashi and Kikuchi and Misawa vs. Kobashi being good. Everyone rules, Misawa gets to show off his chops as future Ace, and Kikuchi gets to be the underdog and oh my god, FUCK YEAH KIKUCHI. But man, Kawada is an asshole. Cheap shots to the kids, treating them like piece of shit underlings trying to step up, etc. Which is kind of a great character piece. Misawa only beat Jumbo the one time in a singles match and lost twice, and Kawada came just as close as Misawa, so now Kawada is acting like King Shit too. In contrast, Misawa acts like a babyface, not treating the kids like piece of shit, but just outclassing them and doing his job. Awesome awesome foreshadowing here. Kobashi also shows how he is 100% unwilling to take Kawada's shit, angering Kawada by firing back in response. The match itself isn't amazing or anything, but it's really good. They pick the pace up well and do lots of interesting new stuff, sort of using this match as a testing ground, Misawa especially. Kikuchi's lack of size leads him to accidentally invent a Samoan Crap in an attempt for any kind of leverage. Kikuchi is an incredible FIP and the finishing run is SO goddamned great. You know in your heart that Kobashi and Kikuchi have no chance, but you just want to believe. Kikuchi is the greatest underdog ever. Fuck. The only way he could be in a tag match and have his level of pluck and spunk equaled is if he teamed with fucking Cape Fear. Misawa finally gets fed up with Kikuchi and snaps on him with elbows. RUNNING FOREARM TO KILL KIKUCHI, BUT HOOOOOOLY SHIT HE KICKS OUT?! FUCK YEAH! TIGER DRIVER ENDS IT. :(
***3/4
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Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue, 12/4/1991
This is their last match, and it rules as you would now expect. Since it goes longish, they spend the first third of the match working holds on the mat in a rarity, and that is enjoyable. That inevitably breaks down because of HATE~, and they pick up the pace in the next third, and the final third is a big finishing run mostly. It also features the return of cheating vet Jumbo, as he goes for the previously injured nose of Misawa and rakes his face on the ropes and uses a chair on the floor. Kawada has another of his amazing hot tags and then Misawa vs. Jumbo happens at the end before the buzzer hits at 30:00.
***1/2

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue vs. The Can-Am Express, 12/5/1991

This is only 8 minutes, and it shows since nobody really puts forth a great effort. Basic work as Kroffat and Furnas control Taue and do their awesome offense on him before Jumbo gets the hot tag and kills them. Taue beats one of them with the Chokeslam.
**1/2

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada vs. Miracle Violence Conncetion [Real World Tag League Finals], 12/6/1991

AMAZING. This is the match they were always capable of. They only have 20 minutes or so now, so it's all killer, no filler. Really interesting Kawada performance, as the MVC targeted his knee again. He managed to get free by drawing them into slugfests, in which he got killed, but managed to get the focus off his leg. They manage to figure this out, so they start to avoid strikes to focus on the knee. Kawada sells like Kawada, and Misawa is the best hot tag. ELBOW SUICIDA DEBUTS HERE! Amazing finishing run. Kawada is caught alone after Misawa eats a Tandem Powerbomb on the floor. He survives a lot, and Misawa saves after he's hit with the Tandem Powerbomb in the ring. Doc takes Misawa out to the floor, and Gordy hits another Powerbomb to win.
****
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Toshiaki Kawada/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Masanobu Fuchi/Yoshinari Ogawa, 1/15/1992
This is on the low end of the Misawa/Jumbo totem pole, but I couldn't turn down a match with Kawada, Kikuchi, AND Fuchi. Ogawa is useless still, but him being the rookie of the match allows for the super rare Kikuchi control seg. And since Kikuchi is a great wrestler, it's pretty great. Fuchi is a huge prick as usual, and brings some cool matwork since this is in the midcard on a small house show. Kikuchi rules as FIP and Kawada kicks the shit out of life on the hot tag. Kawada debuts the Stretch Plum as a finish for the win.
***

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Masanobu Fuchi, 1/21/1992

This ruuuuuled. Only 10 minutes, but anything longer wouldn't have felt as real, since it's the new Ace (since he's more or less being shown as better than Jumbo now, just without the singles win) against an old guy. Fuchi has no choice but to cheat a ton. Fuchi injures the knee too and works on it like a motherfucker, and appropriately, Misawa sells like one. He makes Fuchi look great before he comes back and wastes him with elbows. Misawa wins with the Facelock.
***

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue vs. Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikichi, 1/26/1992

This is super fucking great, although Taue has almost nothing to do with it. He does his part and it's fine and whatever, but it's all about Jumbo vs. the kids, and especially Jumbo vs. Kikuchi. Kikuchi is once again the all time greatest underdog. K & K get a lot of offense and shit too, and Kikuchi breaks out lots of cool high flying and a great dive. Kobashi also starts to show the kind of offense he needs to have big finishing runs with top guys. All he had before was a Moonsault, but now he's showing off his big chops, a Lariat, and some throws. Kikuchi has an amazing FIP run and Kobashi's hot tag is his best yet. Kikuchi eventually gets back in, AND GOES AFTER JUMBO! FUCK YEAH! He is inevitably trapped against Taue and Jumbo, and loses to the Backdrop Hold.
***1/4

Jumbo Tsuruta [c] vs. Stan Hansen [AJPW Triple Crown Championship], 1/28/1992

This was enjoyable and what not, but I have a hard time getting into the Jumbo/Hansen feud. They work hard and have great finishing runs, but it leaves me so dry when compared to Jumbo/Misawa and Jumbo/Kawada. That being said, it's clearly their best match. Jumbo works the arm a lot to take out the Lariat, but Hansen kind of ignores it. He works on Tsuruta's knee, and because Jumbo is an all time great, he sells it all match. Great finishing run, and Hansen wins the belt with the Lariat.
**3/4
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The Can-Am Express vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, 2/22/1992
So yeah, awesome. Kikuchi immediately takes an insane bump to the floor to give the match something extra, and they Powerbomb Kawada on the floor to knock him out of the match so Kikuchi can be isolated. They have tons of cool stuff, and it's fucking Kikuchi as a FIP, which is more or less a cheat code to get ***+. Kikuchi having actual comebacks now pushes this over that, as does the INSANE crowd. Kikuchi is almost murdered before Kawada gets his amazing hot tag in. He's good and all, but this is totally Kikuchi's match, and he gets back in. Kroffat saves Furnas from being pinned off a Kawada Powerbomb, so he puts on the Stretch Plum for the win as Kikuchi cuts off the save.
***3/4

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Kenta Kobashi, 2/27/1992

This shows Kobashi's growth, as they had matches in 1990 and 1991 but they weren't much because Kobashi lacked the offense and experience to put forth an effort that made you think he even had a chance. Here, he's beginning to become great, and is able to hang in there in the classic Ace/young guy story. Like Misawa against Kikuchi at the end of 1991, Jumbo uses this kind of as practice, breaking out some different offense than usual since he has the match well in hand. Kobashi tries things that worked for his friends, like Kawada's headlocks and some elbows, but he has the most success when he does his own stuff like chops and power moves. He also has a somewhat new gameplan vs. Jumbo, targeting his knees. Jumbo sells well in transition back on offense, and then the finishing run is good. Jumbo wins with the Backdrop Hold.
***

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi, 3/6/1992

Thanks for the 2nd birthday present, AJPW! You expect the usual good stuff, and they deliver to some extent. They change it up though, as Kawada is FIP for this match, which was nice. The Jumbo Crew continues to be more heelish now and Taue even hits a Chokeslam on the floor. KIKUCHI GETS TO BE HOT TAG! But then yeah, he gets killed with the Chokeslam to win. This wasn't a standout all time great match at all, but I loved the strategy of Jumbo's team. They injured Kawada on the floor and kept Misawa out of the match for all but maybe 1 or 2 minutes, and Kikuchi thusly got trapped.
**3/4
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Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi, 3/1992
The exact date is not in the file or online, but it's part of the 1992 Champions Carnival, so that's why the teammates are now facing off. This is pretty great, but not even a fraction of what they're capable of. Kobashi immediately goes insane with big moves to make the match more equal. Kawada, as he is accustomed to do, responds by beating the everloving fuck out of Kobashi. He targets the knee, but Kobashi keeps him away from it using his power. Kobashi uses a few kicks too, which enrages Kawada to the point where he just about tries to stomp clean through Kobashi's head on the mat. Good finishing run, and Kawada wins with the Stretch Plum.
***

Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi, 3/29/1992

This is also not on the level of their future work together, but it is a fun slugfest. Hansen reliably beats the fuck out of Kobashi, who shows a ton of fight and fire. Kobashi tries to work the arm to take out the Lariat, but he is not experienced enough to pull that off long term, and Hansen shuts it down with a Powerbomb on the floor. Hansen sells well on the transition though. Awesome finishing run, with Kobashi barely avoiding the Lariat repeatedly and grabbing anything he can. He is eventually caught and just about murdered with the Lariat, and Hansen wins.
***

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue, 3/31/1992

Hey, this is a war, once again. In a rarity for Japanese wrestling, they brawl during the ring introductions and immediately begin killing each other with bombs. Taue puts on the best heel performance of his career so far, choking Kawada with his t-shirt, stepping on his face, going to the eyes, using chairs, etc. And you know, Kawada is Kawada. Awesome finishing run, and they manage to do a whole new set of stuff against each other now. Taue takes a page from Jumbo's playback and hits like 3 or 4 Chokeslams in a row for a sure pin for the win.
***1/4
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

Stan Hansen vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 4/6/1992
Amazing slugfest, not shockingly. Really nasty stuff here, between Hansen's blind wild swinging and Kawada being Kawada. Really interesting pace too, as it comes off like a boxing match. They have moments of sizing each other up and moments where they come at each other swinging. Kawada is outgunned, so he goes to the knees. It gets progressively more violent in the second half, and there's a great Kawada performance at the end where he's dead but doesn't know it. He keeps avoiding the Lariat, but then runs right into it for the Hansen win.
****

Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Masanobu Fuchi/Yoshinari Ogawa, 4/18/1992

This is a lower key match, but it's still of quality. Ogawa is still useless, but Kikuchi/Fuchi is always must-see. Kikuchi again turns in another good FIP performance, and credit is due to Fuchi too for stretching him like he does. Kobashi rules as hot tag big brother type, and yeah. Solid finishing run too. OGAWA BEATS KIKUCHI WITH A BACKDROP HOLD? FUCK THIS COMPANY.
**3/4
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi, 5/22/1992
This is the last time this match happens, and it is great yet again. It's fitting that now Jumbo's team are full on heels, interfering behind the ref's back, using chairs, choking, going to the eyes, etc. Kobashi's knee gets most of the focus through the match, and for once, he actually sells well because of it. Kobashi shows himself to be able to handle himself much better than last year, and is able to get the tag without Kawada or Misawa handing it to him. Kawada and Misawa deliver, and both of them against Jumbo is fantastic. Fuchi does his thing, tearing up Kobashi's knee, and Taue is sort of there too. Gets down to Kawada and Taue at the end, and it is great as usual. Taue also gets put over a lot, kicking out of the Kawada Powerbomb. Kawada puts on the Stretch Plum, and Misawa holds Jumbo at bay with the Facelock and Kobashi holds Fuchi back with a Sleeper, so Taue gives.
***3/4

The Can-Am Express [c] vs. Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi [AJPW All-Asia Tag Team Championship], 5/25/1992

This is one of the hottest crowds ever, and it takes what would have been a normally great match and it turns it into an all time great match. It's in Kikuchi's hometown, so people stand up and go nuts whenever he gets ANY offense and just about want to kill the Can-Ams during their control seg on Kikuchi. Tons and tons of amazing moves and double teams on both sides, and the finishing run is incredible. Kikuchi makes some insanely desperate saves, and Kobashi ends up beating Furnas with the Moonsault for the titles!
****1/2

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, 5/30/1992

Kikuchi/Jumbo rules again! There's also a lot of Misawa/Jumbo, and you forget how much it rules, because it's kind of a given. Weirdly, Misawa is FIP in this match, which is fun for how different it is. Jumbo is now willing to blatantly cheat against Misawa too. Kikuchi has an amazing hot tag, despite how futile it is. He gets beaten up too, leading to the final Misawa hot tag. Kikuchi is trapped again though and Taue kills him with a Chokeslam to win.
***
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

Stan Hansen [c] vs. Toshiaki Kawada [AJPW Triple Crown Championship], 6/5/1992
This is not as great as their match in April, but that doesn't mean it isn't fucking great on its own merits. Hansen beats up the knee and Kawada sells really well as usual. Kawada comes back and bombs Hansen with everything he could possibly do, but he just fucking keeps kicking out and Kawada looks lost. Hansen weathers the storm, and goes to the bad knee to come back. It starts to drag a little after 20 minutes in a 25 minute match, but picks up in the final minute or so. Lariat ends it.
***1/4

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue [c] vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi [AJPW Unified Tag Team Championship], 6/5/1992

This rules. You know what you get at this point. This feels like it's finally building to the final Misawa/Jumbo match, and they're presented here as total equals. Lots of great stuff with Jumbo stomping the fuck out of Kobashi, and Kobashi is obviously isolated as the least experienced guy. Misawa's hot tags are fantastic as always. They do a great job playing on the Jumbo/Taue vs. Misawa/Kawada match from last September, with the double submission tease before this time Taue can get free and save Jumbo. Really awesome finishing run, with Kobashi being trapped. Jumbo knocks Misawa off the apron right before he can make a tag, and then Kobashi gets stuck with a Backdrop Hold and Taue's Chokeslam for the win.
***1/2

Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi [c] vs. Masanobu Fuchi/Yoshinari Ogawa [AJPW All-Asia Tag Team Championship], 7/5/1992

And now they get to avenge that disgusting loss from April. Fuchi and Kikuchi get more play than they did in the last match, and the match is better as a result. Ogawa also decided to stop sucking for a match, and has some good moments of dickery as a tiny ratfaced cheating coward. This match seems like it didn't need as long as it got, as 20 minutes is excessive for Ogawa, but they flesh it out with a long period of work on Kobashi's knee. Kikuchi does his thing after that, and Kobashi makes a great hot tag while still selling the leg. Kikuchi gets a roll up on Fuchi to win, AND HOLY FUCK KIKUCHI GETS A PINFALL WIN!
***

Toshiaki Kawada/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi, 7/8/1992

BOTH PAIRINGS ARE AMAZING, AND THIS MATCH RULES! You know what I'm going to write if you've read this. Kikuchi is tortured, Kikuchi is the best, Kawada and Taue beat the fuck out of each other, awesome finishing run. Kikuchi is murdered on the floor, so Kawada is all alone, and Taue beats him with a Chokeslam.
***1/4
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Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi/Yoshinari Ogawa, 7/21/1992
Misawa injures his shoulder early on, so it turns into mostly a handicap match. he gets his arm taped up on the floor, and tries to get in, but it doesn't go well, and Misawa is taken to the back. Kikuchi gets totally killed for a while, AND KAWADA COMES OUT TO REPLACE MISAWA! YEAH! AND KAWADA GOES NUTS ON THE HEELS FOR INJURING HIS FRIEND! FUCK YEAH! Horribly, he then becomes just another guy in the match and Kikuchi has to put that fuck Ogawa over again.
***

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi/Yoshinari Ogawa, 7/28/1992

Misawa is back for revenge. This is somewhat of a lower key match though, so they do some nice matwork in the beginning. Misawa gets in, and they go to town on his taped up arm and shoulder in fantastic form. Fuchi especially is the master of torturing a body part. He gets out and is re-taped on the floor as Kawada takes over as leader. His hot tags rule, but it's still basically 3 on 2 until Misawa comes back in at the end. He can hang on long enough to take Taue out with an elbow and Kobashi gets back in to pin Fuchi with a Moonsault.
***

Stan Hansen [c] vs. Akira Taue [AJPW Triple Crown Championship], 7/31/1992

This is hardly epic or anything, but it is really fun. Taue has no chance, but Hansen does an awesome job putting him over in defeat and making him look like an actual main eventer now. Taue tries Jumbo's game plan of working the arm to take the Lariat out, and does better with it than Jumbo or Kobashi did. It still fails, because Hansen uses a chair on the floor to turn the tide. Hansen's control is violent and great, BUT TAUE COMES BACK WITH A CHAIR SHOT TOO IN REVENGE! They do some more stuff and Taue resorting to Baba offense since he can't lift Hansen for the Chokeslam was fun. Hansen eventually clobbers him with the Lariat to win.
**3/4
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

We've now gotten to the point where I've reviewed a lot of the big Misawa matches through 6/9/1995, so I'll be doing other stuff through then, and then we get back to reviewing everything.

Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi [c] vs. The Fantastics [AJPW All-Asia Tag Team Championship], 8/22/1992
This RUUUUUUUUUUUULED. Only got 7 minutes aired, but my god, so much cool shit. The Fantastics break out tons of amazing moves, Kikuchi DIES as the FIP, and Kobashi is a fantastic hot tag. Perfect formula tag wrestling. Kobashi beats Fulton with the Moonsault.
***

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue vs. Miracle Violence Connection, 8/22/1992

Jumbo is coming back off of an ankle injury, so the MVC targets that and Taue gets to play hero for once, which is a great decision to help his rise up the card to be a viable threat to Misawa as champion. It takes a while for them to get there though, but once it begins, the match picks up a lot. Great finishing run focused on the leg and the MVC isolating Jumbo at the end. Gordy wins with a Powerbomb on Tsuruta.
***

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue [#1 Contender's Match], 9/9/1992

Hey, it's these two killing each other. Weird match though. They start off hot, have hot portions of offense, and then there' weird breaks where Taue grabs a headlock after a Piledriver and Kawada randomly starts working the arm for 2 minutes and it's never brought up again. Probably their worst match against each other. Finishing run is so great that you can still call this a great match though. Kawada makes Taue pass out in the Stretch Plum, thus setting up the first Misawa/Kawada match.
***

Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama, 9/17/1992

This is Akiyama's debut. He does well enough, but it's still someone's first match, so you can only do so much. He has something special and clearly gets it early on. They do basic stuff, and Akiyama cannot hang in a finishing run due to lack of offense. Kobashi uses a new Pumphandle Powerbomb for the win.
**3/4
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

Jumbo Tsuruta/Akira Taue [c] vs. Miracle Violence Connection [AJPW Unified Tag Team Championship], 10/7/1992
This is Jumbo's last big match and his last match as a legitimate talent and not an opening match old guy due to Hep C. So that's sad, but at least he goes out with another great tag match. Gordy and Doc are extra violent here, pretty much mauling Taue. Great finishing run with Taue having to rely on himself now, since Jumbo is sick. Jumbo is able to hold off Doc for long enough that Taue can pop off the Chokeslam on Gordy for a huge win.
***1/4

Toshiaki Kawada/Kenta Kobashi vs. Stan Hansen/Johnny Ace, 10/11/1992

This is a fun sub 10 minute B-show match. Hansen being in and still being Gaijin Ace puts a lot of unpredictability in this, and also gives us more good Kawada/Hansen stuff. There's also not a lot more satisfying than Kawada kicking Johnny Ace in the face full force several times. Hansen has an injured knee to give the Japanese a point of attack and kind of a chance. But Hansen still knocks Kobashi's head off with the Lariat to win.
**3/4
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue/Masanobu Fuchi, 1/15/1993
Taue/Misawa for the belt has been set for February, so there's a lot of build up matches for the next month and a half. Look at the names and the year, and you realize it rules. Kobashi becomes an actual great wrestler in 1993, and Taue progresses even more too. Fuchi and Misawa were already great. Also gets into one of the big themes of 1993, which is Kobashi trying to prove himself as Misawa's new partner. They do a good job balancing Kobashi being built up with Taue/Misawa. TAUE DOES A TOPE SUICIDA! Misawa and Kobashi dominate for once, since Kobashi is now better than Fuchi. Great work getting over the idea that if Taue wants to compete in a tag match, he'll need a much better partner with Jumbo gone, which he soon gets. Taue and Kobashi get in some brawls and Taue Powerbombs Kobashi on the wood floor. Misawa ends up smoking Fuchi with elbows, to the point where he can win with a Frog Splash in a rarity.
***

Akira Taue vs. Kenta Kobashi, 1/23/1993

This isn't super great, but it's probably better than it should have been. Taue puts Kobashi over big by attempting to nuke him early with moves, only for Kobashi to block all of them. As is beginning to be his custom, Kobashi takes retardedly huge bumps for his opponent. There's still that weird AJPW structural flaw where there's a hot start and end and then a slow middle. Kobashi has awesome KO'd selling and Taue wins with a Chokeslam.
***

Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi [c] vs. Jun Akiyama/Yoshinari Ogawa [AJPW All-Asia Tag Team Championship], 1/24/1993

Hey, so this is great. Akiyama already kind of rules. Another match where K & K work a perfect tag formula match with all kinds of cool spots and offense. They pick up the pace well, and Akiyama already has a knack for really fiery and crisp offense. He gets trapped at the end, and with three months of experience, is beat after a Doomsday Missile Dropkick and then a German Suplex from Kikuchi.
***
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

Toshiaki Kawada/Kenta Kobashi vs. Stan Hansen/Rob Van Dam, 2/19/1993
This is more of a novelty than anything, but a young RVD getting murdered is fun. Hansen and Kawada still want each other to die 1000 times. RVD tries his karate, but he's facing the best kicker ever maybe, so it's laughable. Hansen keeps yelling "COME ON GOD DAMNIT" at RVD. Hansen gets pissed at RVD's failure and brings in a chair. He beats up Kobashi with it, but Kawada punches him in the face and runs Hansen off with the chair. He then easily beats RVD with the Powerbomb and punches Hansen in the face to knock him to the floor for good measure. Kawada is God.
**1/2

Masanobu Fuchi vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, 2/28/1993

Really awesome 10 minutes. Kikuchi goes nuts with offense early, AND DEBUTS THE CHRIS BENOIT SPECIAL MISSILE DROPKICK OFF THE APRON! APPARENTLY KIKUCHI INVENTED THAT SHIT 11 YEARS PRIOR. FUCK YEAH KIKUCHI. Inevitably, Fuchi tortures him, and that is beautiful too. He beats up Kikuchi's arm. Kikuchi fights back, and in one of the most ridiculous acts in wrestling history, Fuchi decides that Kikuchi needs to die, so he hits like 10-15 Backdrop Drivers in a row over the course of 5 minutes before pinning him to win.
***

Toshiaki Kawada vs. Stan Hansen, 2/28/1993

This is the best. Even better than their amazing 1992 match. Total war of attrition, constantly beating the piss out of each other. This time, Kawada is treated more as Hansen's equal, which is the kind of nice progression AJPW was known for. Hansen doesn't usually target a body part unless you're a top guy. He did it to Misawa, and now when Kawada isn't bullied around anymore, he tries to go after the historically weak knee. Kawada's selling is amazing as always. STAN HANSEN INVENTS THE LOWER ROPE TOPE SUICIDA! Kawada's comeback fire is the stuff of legend, as is the finishing run, with Kawada slowly chopping Hansen down blow by blow. Hansen knocks himself out of the ring with the momentum of Lariat #1, and gets back in to hit a Northern Lariat to win.
****
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