Best Matches All Japan Pro Wrestling (2000-2009)

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

This will be a living blog post that details what I, Martin Boulevard (@superstarsleeze), believes are the best matches for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 2000-2009. As I continue watching 2010 and beyond and from 1999 back to the 1970s, this list will be updated.

Matches will be grouped based on star rating level. Within a star rating level they will be list chronologically. Links to reviews will eventually be posted.

***** Matches

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama - Budokan 02/27/00

All Japan Triple Crown Champion Kenta Kobashi vs Yoshihiro Takayama - All Japan 05/26/00

All Japan Triple Crown Champion Genichiro Tenryu vs Keiji Mutoh - Budokan 6/8/01

****3/4 Matches

****1/2 Matches

Keiji Mutoh vs Toshiaki Kawada - Champions Carnival 04/01

Break The Rules: Jun Akiyama, Go Shiozaki (All Japan Pro Wrestling, 2014-2015)

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

One of the biggest disappointments in pop music for me this past year was Charli XCX's major solo single debut "Boom Clap". It was a solid pop song and I was entertained by it for the first couple listens. I think pairing with Fault in Our Stars for your first major American release was the smart business decision. However, at the end of the day, it did not sound unique. Charli has been a part of the writing and performing the hooks of two of the biggest songs of the past couple years, Iconapop's "I Love It" and Iggy Azalea's "Fancy". Two wildly different songs that are immediately recognizable and stand out from the pack. I eagerly anticipated Charli XCX's solo efforts and try as I might, Boom Clap fell short for me. As I was looking through some of her music videos recently, she is a total babe in case you were unaware, I found "Break The Rules", which I think was a perfect blend of snot-nosed punk and current electronic-based dance pop music. I hope that song gets a harder push in the current music scene as I think it could make a big splash with the huge anthemic chorus and because I am a pretty big Charli XCX fan.

My new future ex-wife

I am also a big Jun Akiyama fan. The last remaining Pillar of Heaven of the 90s All Japan scene has returned home to All Japan Pro Wrestling ousting Keiji Mutoh as president. Mutoh & Co. departed to form Wrestle-1 while Akiyama was left with an interesting hodgepodge of older All Japan talent (Akiyama & Omori), NOAH talent (Shiozaki), Mutoh-era AJPW (Suwama, Doering & Akebono) and Kensuke Office (Miyahara). All Japan of the 90s showed that you could run an effective promotion with 6-8 top wrestlers and while All Japan looks a bit thin they pack enough punch to put on quality matches.

It all begins and ends with Jun Akiyama, who is one of the greatest wrestlers to ever live Akiyama continues to add to his legacy by owning Jumbo Tsuruta/Mitusharu Misawa role of respect veteran legend that is going to beat respect into these punks. Akiyama is still more than capable of performing in this role as I think he was the God King of Offense in 2014. The Five Pillars of Heaven had crazy deep offensive arsenals. Even though offense is more critical than ever in America and Japan with "innovative" moves ruling the roost, no one comes close to the arsenal that Akiyama still possesses and  there is nothing "innovative" about it. It is about delivering maximum pain as his strategy dictates to win a match. It stands out even moreso without Misawa, Kobashi and Taue as opponents because it feels like he has too much offense. He is delivering such a beating to his opponent that when his opponent makes a comeback it is not credible, which was the problem with Omori especially. 

Takao Omori is one of the most pedestrian, lifeless puroresu stars of the 90s and 00s. His heralded 2000 classic against Kobashi in the Champion Carnival felt more like a Kobashi offensive exhibition. He just does not bring anything special to the table.  He was totally exposed in the Akiyama match with such mundane selling and comeback in what was the biggest match of his career. He is much better suited to be a bruiser in a tag team match like in the instant classic from December against Shiozaki & Miyahara where Akiyama and Miyahara can bring the personality.

Kento Miyahara is the great All Japan hope. If he can mature into a big star and they can put some pieces in place around him then All Japan has a shot at least competing for the number two promotion in Japan. I did not like the Akiyama/Miyahara match as much as some because it was a bit too back and forth, but Miyahara showed a ton of charisma and energy in the match that kept me engaged throughout the match. That finish is one of the best finishes of the year. Definitely check out the match! Then in a match where he is paired with the current ace of All Japan, Go Shiozaki, he totally stole the show by trying to prove himself to Akiyama sometimes to expense of winning the match. I love that attitude. The Akiyama/Miyahara story was compelling and I hope they continue to follow it up with more Akiyama & Miyahara tags ala Jumbo/Misawa in 1990-1992. 

Kento Miyahara: Next Big Thing?

Due to Miyahara's youth, the smart play is to use veteran and former GHC Champion, Go Shiozaki as the interim Ace. You can't deny Shiozaki's experience as a heavyweight champion of a major promotion, but I found him to very disinterested in the three matches I saw from the past year. He was totally hidden in the classic tag for the most part. In the Doering & Suwama matches, he looked like the second best wrestler by far. He reminds me of Nakamura circa 2008 just someone there to hit a few big moves and collect a paycheck. I hope he can add a some fire going forward as I am trying to keep up with All Japan this year.

His singles opponents, Suwama & Joe Doering, a couple powerhouses impressed me in their matches. Doering has a good bit of Stan Hansen of him and I have no problem with that. I liked how he was always moving forward in that Triple Crown match and he was very effective in selling Shiozaki's offense. He has a great cross-body and I definitely like him as a gaijin powerhouse on the roster. Suwama is someone that impressed me during Best of 2000s Japan project when he appeared. He is a stout powerhouse, but versatile enough to have interesting matches with people as different Tanahashi, Takayama and Shiozaki. In the Shiozaki, I really got to see him lead a match and I thought he did a fantastic job. His use of the sleeper as a way to sap energy of Shiozaki to set him up for bigger and bigger moves was a genius strategy and he was on top of his timing of cut offs and selling for Shiozaki.

Going forward, I think All Japan needs about two more pieces to flesh out its roster (*cough* Katsuhiko Nakajima *cough* *cough* Naoya Ogawa *cough*), but they are a great heavyweight alternative to New Japan and I look forward to dig back into their archives between 2010-2014 and look forward to watching their future work.

Match Lisitng:

Jun Akiyama vs Takao Omori - AJPW 6/15/2014 Vacant Triple Crown Championship ***1/2

Kawada/Kojima II. Cant believe Akiyama choked. Akiyama offense great. Omori <<< Kojima.

Jun Akiyama vs Kento Miyahara - AJPW 9/15/14 ****

Superb finish. Great veteran vs rookie match. Too many momentum shifts

Go Shiozaki vs Suwama - AJPW 9/15/14 Royal Road Tournament ****1/4

Best use of the sleeper. Suwama on point with cutoff and selling. Go Shiozaki needs to add emotion

Wild Burning (Akiyama & Omori) vs. Xceed (Shiozaki & Miyahara) -AJPW 12/6/14 ****1/2

Akiyama/Miyahara story rules all. Feels like Jumbo/Misawa of this generation. Exciting

AJPW Triple Crown Champion Joe Doering vs Go Shiozaki -  AJPW  01/03/15 ****

Doering's urgency engages while Shiozaki's disinterest hurts this. 

Akiyama may have lost his hair, but he has not lost a step in the ring

Jun Akiyama vs Takao Omori - AJPW 6/15/2014 Vacant Triple Crown Championship

Wow, this is like an exact copy of Kawada vs Kojima 2005 for the Triple Crown. You have the super worker kick the dogshit out of the generic create a puroresu  wrestler in really entertaining fashion only to choke in ridiculous fashion to a barrage of lariats. The only difference was that Kojima was actually over. In defense of this match, I think if you plug in a wrestler with more charisma than Omori this match would be a lot better. Omori is about the most bland wrestler I think I have ever seen. He does the bare minimum in almost every regard, but never really excels at any one thing and especially anything involving emotion. Nothing he did felt earned or like he was overcoming anything because he just started hitting moves. To give Kojima some credit, he does have charisma and there is an energy when he starts to make his comeback. Omori is just so flat. On the other hand, I thought Akiyama's asskicking of Omori was more entertaining than Kawada's asskicking. Akiyama just absolutely destroyed the arm. I love he would just take Omori down at will by the arm whenever he tried to fire up. Akiyama has so many weapons at his disposal strikes, submissions and my favorite throwing Omori's arm into steel objects. At one point, Akiyama hits a crazy cool combination of piledriver into a Boma Ye Knee so sick. Akiyama is grooving into his usual finish stretch (Boma Ye Knee, Guillotine Choke, Exploders)  and I am just like this is way too easy and alarm bells start going off. Akiyama is going to choke. Choke big time. Omori hits some weird lariats, which I am going to chock up to selling. Akiyama bursts out with an Exploder, a quick Boma Ye Knee and then another Exploder. Omori kicks out? Bullshit! Omori wins with a barrage of lariats, wow, that was lame. I have said this before matches like don't make Omori look resilient, it makes Akiyama looks like a choke for not being able to polish him off with all his big moves. Omori was perfectly fine at selling, but his comeback was pathetic. Akiyama crushed it offensively. This was probably the best offensive performance of the year in terms of limb psychology and the two EXPLOSIVE big move combinations.  Did I watch the wrong match? It is a good match and worth to match Akiyama be a boss, but this seems far away from match of the year to me. I am disappointed because I really want All Japan and Akiyama to be awesome. Here's hoping the rest is great. ***1/2

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Jun Akiyama vs Kento Miyahara - AJPW 9/15/14

In 2014, Akiyama was the God King of Offense. Usually, offense is one of the first things to go for the greats, but I would argue he actually almost has too much good offense that it has been working to the detriment of these matches until the unbelievably awesome finish. The problem with Akiyama dissecting opponents like Omori or Miyahara is that they don't have the cache of a Misawa or Kobashi that I believe in that comeback as much. Miyahara was way better at showing fire than Omori, which helped greatly. I loved the beginning the sense of urgency of both to pounce on each other's mistakes. Then it devolves into who will back down first in an elbow where neither gives an inch. Akiyama wins the battle and then slams Miyahara onto the parquet floor. I love Akiyama jawing with the ref while wrenching Miyahara's head around the railing. Akiyama has so many ways to hurt you and they were all on display as he kicked some Miyahara ass. Miyahara wins a suplex struggle and begins a comeback, but just does not have much in the tank. I have to say Akiyama seems to lost his ability to sell well. This is the guy who made Tenzan tolerable by selling, I would have liked to seen more of that selling here. Stuff like Akiyama walking over to hit a superplex just killed the spot for me. I don't mind more explosive type cutoffs like his Exploder off the apron. Then were selling issues with Miyahara who takes a huge knee to the chin and then armdrags out of an Exploder to hit a nice scissors kick, but before you know it Akiyama is back on offense. It is not like these cutoffs felt like they were fighting through something rather they were just false momentum shifts and they were used a couple times too many. I have decided against giving away the finish because the finish is what takes the match to the next level. What I will say it is the perfect credible ending to to how match had been built at that point. Akiyama rocked on offense per usual. Miyahara gave a pretty good young lion performance, he definitely has a lot of potential. I think what was missing was a more rousing comeback for Miyahara, who I think has it in him. There were too many momentum shifts for their own good. Still that finish takes this from a very good match to a great match. ****

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Go Shiozaki vs Suwama - AJPW 9/15/14 Royal Road Tournament

I really enjoyed Suwama in the two matches I watched for the Best of Japan in the 2000s and the trend continued here. Suwama understood Shiozaki's greatest asset to be his energy. He continually sapped that by effectively using the sleeper. This did not achieve the level of the famous sleepers match between Pegasus Kid and Black Tiger in 1996, but it was a perfect use of the sleeper. The sleeper/chinlock is best used to drain the energy of an explosive babyface and let a heel regain his wind. Too often it is misused and thus triggers people's attention to drift. Shiozaki is all about those chops, but Suwama is going to make sure there is nothing behind those chops after the sleeper. You see how Suwama modulates his selling. Suwama sells the chops at the beginning of the match, but after the sleeper he stands tall. Shiozaki did a great job selling the first sleeper as really knocking him out. He is great at peppering in the hope spots, but his selling leaves a lot to be desired. He just does not have enough emotion. As good as Shiozaki's chops look, Suwama's double chop is so sick and maybe my favorite move in wrestling now. Suwama was wrestling perfectly. He took his time and was cocky when it was time, but anytime Shizaki started to fire off, he would immediately snuff the fire out with  a double chop or a powerslam. Go finally mounts a bit of a comeback and is looking for a macho pissing contest so Suwama says fuck that and grabs him by the hair and applies a sleeper. Suwama is my hero. Suwama obliterates Shiozaki with a lariat and then a belly to belly suplex. With the match firmly back in his hand, Suwama looks to polish him off with his powerbomb. Shiozaki escapes and looks for refuge on the apron. Suwama comes flying across the ring with a HUGE dropkick and follows up with a suicide dive. Suwama returns to the sleeper to set up the powerbomb, but Misawa-rana. Man copying Misawa AND Kobashi, now that is just not fair! Suwama immediately clamps on a sleeper. I love Suwama's urgency. Suwama tries to gain the pin three times. Go busts out the classic collapse on a rope run and he really exaggerates his chops not having much. This is some really good shit here. Suwama is all over him, but looks to get a running start and Go roars out of the corner with a lariat. Ruh roh! Shiozaki hits a big lariat to send Suwama tumbling out and HUGE plancha by Go! Shiozaki goes all in on the lariat. Suwama is not going down without a fight, but he is on jelly legs. Suwama is selling like a boss. The double chop crushing a roaring burning lariat attempt was awesome! Eventually, Go hits a big time lariat to set up the Go Flasher & Limit Break for the win.

Suwama totally outclassed Shiozaki here carrying him to a great match and the second best AJPW match of the year. Suwama was wrestling at such a high level. He was using the sleeper to debilitate his opponent and set himself up for the powerbomb. He was cocky when it was time and snuffed out Go when appropriate. Go Shiozaki needs more emotion and his selling for the majority of the match left a lot to be desired. The finish run was typical late 2000s puroresu and was fine for what it was. Suwama is underrated and this is a great showcase for him. ****1/4

Suwama: Master of the Sleeper

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Wild Burning (Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori) vs. Xceed (Go Shiozaki & Kento Miyahara) 

AJPW 12/6/14

There have been strecthes in all these 2014 AJPW matches where they are wrestling at a ***** level and it feels like you are watching 90s AJPW again. The action is explosive, urgent, but also with a sense of purpose directed towards winning the match. The best example of this high-caliber of work is towards the beginning. Miyahara has out worked the bigger, older Omori exposing a midsection weakness. This was not enough for Miyahara who was became obsessed with getting his shots in on Akiyama on the apron. Of course, he paid for his negliglence in the form of a wicked big boot by Omori. Akiyama without missing a beat, seized Miyahara and flung him outside to whip him in the railing. He explosively DDTs him all over the floor. It was like nothing else you would see in modern wrestling landscape. Maybe Brock is that explosive, but that is the only thing that comes close. The problem is unlike 90s AJPW they can not maintain the caliber of wrestling throughout a match rather these are fleeting moments of excellence. These stretches elevate the matches from the usual late 00s NOAH fare. I would say the matches are more similart to early NOAH than anything else.

Back to the match, I am 100% sure now that Akiyama was the best offensive wrestler in the world last year. It is scary how deep his arsenal is, but without Misawa, Kobashi, and Taue it is going to waste. Akiyama blasts Miyahara with knees and hits a piledriver in short order. When he does not get the pin, he tags out with authority. I am sure Akiyama has a chip on his shoulder regarding Miyahara. Omori bouncing Miyahara head off the top of the steel post for the super back suplex was the best thing Omori has ever done. Miyahara is such a great young talent. I love how when he gets piledriven he is searching for the bottom rope because he knows he does not have the power to kick out. That is a wrestling acumen very few ever reach. As always, since 2000, a suplex struggle signals Miyahara hitting a hard-fought suplex to tag Shiozaki. I will give Akiyama-Miyahara their suple struggles look hard-fought and having seen a lot of perfunctory suplex struggles I am appreciative of it. Miyahara does the smart thing and tags in Shiozaki.

I like Shiozaki's hot tag. It is simple but effective. His chop is the great equalizer. It is the only thing Akiyama has consistently sold all year so it feels like a real weapon. He actually blasts through both Akiyama and Omori. I like Akiyama's desperation to stop the bleeding with one of his bombs but Shiozaki has too much spunk to go for that. Shiozaki is looking lariat but eats a knee and Akiyama clamps on a choke. That is good shit. Shiozaki looks to put his team firmly in position to win, but gets caught quickly. Shiozaki powers out. I like how they are putting over Go. Omori comes in and hits his generic offense and the heat dissapates quickly. Shiozaki chops Omori's lariat arm and tags out to Miyahara.

After the tag to Miyahara he trades some moves with Omori. One second Miyahara eats a superplex and the next he is kicking off someone's head with a scissors kick. Once Akiyama is in, he is looking for the win and the match kicks into the big finish stretch. I like Akiyama looking for the Exploder seeing Go coming so he lets go to cut him off, but it is too late and eats the lariat. Miyahara gets a flash triangle and his scissor kick/deadlift German combo as nearfalls. He goes for his kill finish the Butterfly Piledriver, but nothing doing and Omori BLASTS him with a wicked lariat. Omori is good for something. I liked the Boma Ye knee/Lariat combo to a sitting up opponent. Go saves. Akiyama runs through his usual offense of knees to the head and an Exploder head drop to polish off the young hotshot.

Easily my favorite of the touted 2014 All Japan match as this one combined a ton of action with the great Akiyama/Miyahara story. Omori dragged shit down a bit. I thought Go wrestled well in the beginning and was a decent hot tag. I liked how they treated his chop and his interactions with Akiyama were good. Still, Akiyama/Miyahara made this match special. If they could just replace Omori with the recently retired Sasaki or someone like that, this match would have a real shot at match of the year. As is, it stands as the one All Japan match that can hang with the best of New Japan. ****1/2

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AJPW Triple Crown Champion Joe Doering vs Go Shiozaki -  AJPW  01/03/15

Hansen vs Kobashi 2014?

Hey if you are going to imitate, then imitate the best and there ain't much better than Hansen/Kobashi. Shiozaki is not nearly as histrionic as Kobashi and Doering is not as wild as Hansen, but together they still put together a great match. Unusual for a puroresu match, the eventual winner actually takes most of the offense in this one, but it still feels like Doering was a big mountain to climb. Early on, Go just could not get anything going with his vicious chops. Doering would just steamroll him with shoulder tackles and overwhelm him with power. Go got pissed off after one too many shoulder tackle and took it to Doering with some rapid fire chops. A thrust kick to the head finally stuns the big man. The one thing Doering really captured from Stan was always moving forward. Even when wounded, he was still coming at Shiozaki and you always felt like Go was in trouble. Three DDTs were not enough to keep the champion down because he just kept coming. Finally, Shiozaki threw a lariat so fierce that Doering just collapsed. It was one of the best sell jobs of the short year of 2015 so far with him just hanging out on the middle rope only to topple over. Doering tries to regroup with tag partner, Suwama, but is obviously discombobulated. Shiozaki lets him back in the ring, what a gentleman, only to dump him back over with a lariat and hitting a monster plancha over the top rope. I don't like the Frankensteiner at all during a comeback sequence. As a transition fine, but in the middle of the sequence, it just does not make sense. First Go Flasher only gets two and when he goes for Limit Break (put away Suwama back in September), Doering pushes off and hits a spinebuster to level the playing field. Doering gives Bray Wyatt a run for his money in the best cross body department. He hit two vicious ones. Shiozaki teases the Burning Hammer, which gets the announcers, the crowd and me excited, but he just hits a normal slam. Lame. Doering collapses on his own powerbomb and things do not look good for the champion. Go Shiozaki pays tribute to Kobashi with spinning back chops and a Burning Lariat to win the match and his first Triple Crown Championship.

There were way too many strike exchanges in this one for me. I thought Doering outworked Shiozaki, but Shiozaki had looked like the lesser of the workers in all his matches of the past year. Doering sold the wounded animal lashing out really well and you really believed that one of his big bombs could take out Go. Go was able to persevere, keep him at bay, until he could crush him with a Burning Lariat. Go is just bereft of emotion and the needless strike exchanges keep this from being a true classic, but Doering is awesome and this is a great match. ****

Revolution Calling: Jumbo Tsuruta, Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada

Hey yo Gypsy Queens and Stud Muffins Du Jour,

In the 1980s, All Japan drew around the babyface acts of Jumbo Tsuruta, Genichiro Tenryu, and the Funks (the only gaijin act at the time to be a babyface draw in All Japan and you thought America was xenophobic) against gaijin talent usually the NWA or AWA World Heavyweight Champions or Stan Muthafuckin Hansen. This changed in the mid-80s when Riki Choshu invaded the promotion and the NWA and AWA collapsed. All Japan could not longer rely on a steady stream of gaijin talent and Choshu proved native vs native could draw. So Baba (promoter of All Japan) decided to pit his top two native stars against each other: Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu.

Assuring me positive views

Beats Up Young Punks For A Living

Jumbo was Tenryu’s senior and the bigger star of All Japan thus cast as the ace of the promotion and the man who forged the Triple Crown out of the NWA International Title, NWA United National Title and the PWF Title when Tsuruta beat Stan Hansen. Tenryu and his stable (Toshiaki Kawada was in this stable) attempted to lead an insurgency against the establishment centered around Jumbo Tsuruta. Tenryu finally usurped Jumbo on June 5, 1989 in what is considered one of the best matches of the 80s. His success would be short-lived as he would leave to create his own promotion in 1990 and drop the titles back to Jumbo in April. Seeing the void with Tenryu’s departure, Baba realized he had to push a new native star: Mitsuharu Misawa.

Around this time, Tiger Mask II (a member of Jumbo’s stable) in an attempt to make a name for himself joined himself with Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi to lead a New Generation Army against Jumbo and the veterans. This was no longer Jumbo facing off against a contemporary but another a whole new, younger generation of stars. In May of 1990, Kawada unmasked Tiger Mask II to be Mitsuharu Misawa and it was set for All Japan’s next trip to Budokan that Jumbo would defend the titles against Misawa. However, three days before this match Jumbo lost the belts to Terry Gordy thus rendering the Misawa match a non-title affair. Regardless, the match would go down as one of the most important matches in the history of pro wrestling.

Jumbo Tsuruta vs Mitsuharu Misawa

June 8, 1990 Budokan Hall

My birthday, I officially turned one year old on this day. Weird to think I was celebrating my first birthday and unbeknownst to me all the way in Japan one of the most important matches in history was about to unfold.

The match is designed to make the young, tenacious upstart Mitsuharu Misawa a star, plain and simple. He is basically a completely new wrestler due to his unmasking and thus they wanted Misawa to have a big impact on his first show at the Budokan. Tsuruta was more than up to the task as the grizzled veteran, who treats Misawa as a human who treat a gnat only for him to gain more and more respect for him as the match progressed. The audience sees the world much through the eyes of Jumbo the more he takes Misawa seriously the more they take him seriously. Even before the match, there were loud chants of “Mi-saw-a”, but I do not know how many believed he actually had a chance in the match against the established Jumbo Tsuruta as he was not treated as a main event level talent until the past month. Going into the match, you feel Jumbo is trying to humiliate Misawa not by toying with him, but instead beating him within five minutes by going for all his big offense early. This is a tactic I have not seen utilized in the WWE. Most times they were do the heel gets cocky and toys with his opponent. The heel instead trying to put away the face early and often and face evading the heel would actually be much more effective in getting the face over.

 The first quarter or so of the match establishes Misawa as a force to be reckoned with as he uses his quickness and his knowledge of Jumbo’s tendencies (the high-knee and counter-weighting the back body driver) to evade him and connect with aerial offense. The climax of this early shine is Misawa’s now classic head-and-shoulders fake flip over the ropes into a dropkick here (eventually be an elbow, a little difference in proto-Misawa) and his plancha onto Jumbo.

The match feels almost to reset after this early flurry. Jumbo knows it will be tougher than he thought at the outset; Misawa has gained confidence; the audience believes they are watching a star be born. Jumbo looking to stymie Misawa goes back to what he knows: a Jumbo Tsuruta (an All-Japan?) staple: the surfboard spot, which is preferred way to do a test of strength in All Japan. Much to his chagrin, Misawa wins and then promptly mule kicks him before Tsuruta re-establishes control. Jumbo cant catch a break!

In a moment to prove Misawa has a big set of hairy balls, Misawa slaps Tsuruta off a rope break twice and the crowd loves it. Jumbo says you don’t do that shit to me and obliterates him with his trademark high-knee and grabs the abdominal stretch. Misawa reverses that and does a proper abdominal stretch. GORILLA WOULD BE SO PROUD! Jumbo is still not taking Misawa fully seriously as he attempts to whip Misawa off the ropes and pick him up and drop him twice and the second time Misawa counters with a dropkick. Misawa tries really hard to finally hit a frogsplash and when he does he only gets a 2 in it is the type of anti-climax within a wrestling match that really builds tension. With Misawa having shot his load, Jumbo takes advantage of his indecision to hotshot Misawa in a great moment because the hotshot is usually the move that turns the tide against Jumbo.

Now the Jumbo control segment is in full swing: piledriver, Thesz Press, dropkick, big boot, a flying knee, and a powerbomb all with near-falls after each one as Jumbo is just pouring it on. Misawa is able to negotiate a backslide and then hit a wicked elbow as both men fall to the mat in a great moment. Misawa does another aerial sequence with a baseball slide setting up a cross body block from the top onto the floor. Misawa is wrestling much more like Tiger Mask here than the Misawa we know and love and it is really cool to watch. Misawa hits a wicked spinkick (I am not a fan of Misawa’s kicks but this one was good) to set up another frogsplash, but eats the knees as he went to the well once too often.

Jumbo goes for his trademark Boston Crab and follows it up with a pair of wicked lariats. You get the feeling Jumbo is now a bit worried that he might not win this thing and he is really putting some extra mustard on his moves. He goes for his kill: Backdrop Driver, but Misawa climbs the turnbuckles to partially block it. Misawa connects with a  bridging German suplex, but that does not put him away and attempts for his kill: Tiger Driver attempt, BUT Jumbo back body drops him out of that. Jumbo obliterates him with a high-knee and then crushes him with an elbow when Misawa tries a springboard back elbow. The ending feels like Misawa is in full desperation mode and Jumbo is in control with stiff shots. Then Jumbo goes for a high-risk putaway as he epically misses a dropkick into the ropes. With both weary, Misawa drops down his back on a suplex attempts and tries a Backdrop Driver, but Jumbo counterweights him and at 2 Misawa reverses the cover and WINS!!!! HOLY SHIT!!! MISAWA WON!!!

This is such an excellent first of a series match because it is both satisfying as a match unto itself, but you want to see the next one. Misawa was the definitive winner both in the kayfabe sense and in the eyes of the fans, but he did not vault over Jumbo he just proved he was on his level. In the beginning, Misawa comes off as an offensive dynamo, but after he prematurely climaxes with a frogsplash that does not get a win, he shows off his resiliency and selling skills as he eats all of Jumbo’s big offense. So in the course of the match, the fans know Misawa has fighting spirit and the offense to compete with the big dog. The finish is worked beautifully with both men countering one another finishers. You get a real sense of parity, but in a good way and it just so happens that Misawa falls on top on the last counter. However, it deftly constructed not to feel like a fluke because of how much offense Misawa got and how he was portrayed as Jumbo’s peer through the match. It just felt that both men had expended so much energy in this war of attrition that fatigue was the factor that led to Jumbo’s demise.

This leads to great questions for a rematch: Has Misawa surpassed Jumbo? I think to answer that question Misawa will have to dominate Jumbo, which you never get the feel of here. Misawa is working up to Jumbo, but not looking down on him. Can Misawa withstand a Jumbo killshot? Remember we never saw Misawa take the Backdrop Driver. So the rematch was set for All Japan’s return to Budokan on Septmeber 1, 1990 with number one contendership to Stan Hansen’s Triple Crown at stake. 

Jumbo decking Misawa in mid-air with an elbow as he tries a springboard back elbow 

Jumbo Tsuruta vs Mitsuharu Misawa

Number One Contender to All Japan Triple Crown 

September 1, 1990

The first portion of the match is wrestled much more tentatively as both men better understand each other. Jumbo seems to target Misawa’s mid-section and is looking to set himself up rather than commit himself to the kill early only to have Misawa sting him with counters. They work the same perfunctory surfboard spot. Misawa delivers some big elbows that inspire some “Mi-saw-a” chants only for Jumbo to cut him off with a big boot. Jumbo runs through his ground offense: Boston Crab and abdominal stretch in hopes of grounding the quicker Misawa. It seems Jumbo has learned that in the last match he had played right into Misawa’s hands and is wrestling a much smarter match by taking his time and letting things develop.

The Misawa elbows are established moreso in this match as Misawa’s sort of cure-all to any of his problems. Misawa much like Jumbo is using them to set up a ground based attack. Jumbo says “Enough of that shit” and rolls him with a couple big elbows. Jumbo is running through his offense, but Misawa makes sure to time his hope spots well to keep the crowd guessing. They even play on the finish to the last match with Misawa counterweighting a Backdrop Driver only for Jumbo to roll over this time and almost capture the victory. This sequence had more heat than normal due to the inter-match storytelling, very smart.

Jumbo wins a strike exchange with some vicious open hand slaps over Misawa’s elbows and Misawa powders for an artificial timeout. On the outside, Jumbo goes so far as to hit Misawa with a chair, which illustrates not just the resiliency of Misawa, but also the lengths Jumbo needs to and is willing to go to defeat Misawa. Misawa, ever the fighter, returns the favor with even more elbows. Having Jumbo staggered delivers a diving elbow from the top and then a plancha onto the floor. Misawa’s rope-a-dope tactics seemingly paid off as he is absolute control of Jumbo for the first time in either of their matches. He dominates Jumbo in the corner with elbows in a way that neither man has ever had the advantage over the other in either match.

Jumbo, ever the veteran, busts out some desperation headbutts and a dropkick to create some breathing room for himself as things look bleak. Misawa is able to perform a hurricanrana out of a powerbomb and then execute a bridging German suplex and it seems that Misawa will be taking the mantle of Ace from Jumbo. Jumbo blocks the Tiger Driver and off a fucked up exchange of what appeared to be a victory roll, Jumbo obliterates Misawa with two high-knees. This sets up a superplex into the Backdrop Driver and the commentator absolutely loses his shit when Misawa kicks out along with the crowd. Does Jumbo have what it takes? What more does he have to do? Has Misawa surpassed him? Misawa with elbows, but Jumbo wont be denied as he hits a LARIATOOOOOOOO and now a second Backdrop Driver to finally beat Misawa.

Jumbo proved in this match that Misawa does not have his number and that he too can take a lickin and keep on tickin. In addition, Jumbo still has the bigger bomb so to speak in the form of the Backdrop Driver, while Misawa has the set-up shot with his vaunted elbows.  Misawa proved that the victory was not a fluke and the actually had Jumbo dominated in the corner, but could not put together a winning combination. Misawa needs to a bomb to his amazing flurry of elbows because he feels like he is one move away.

Everyone always says that 6/8/90 is first among equals of these two matches, but I think that 6/8/90 is distinctly better (pretty much the difference between a 5 star match and 4.5 star match, not too much better, but still noticeable). I feel like they sort of went through the motions at the beginning and almost squandered it before Jumbo went on offense. Plus, I liked the story of the first one better, which something they could never re-capture and it has such a great finish. Still an incredible match and I am really splitting hairs here, but I definitely like 6/8/90 better.  

Jumbo Tsuruta would go to win the Triple Crown from Stan Hansen in January of 1991 holding it into the October anniversary show. Jumbo continued his feud with Misawa and Co. At the show, Jumbo would be taking on Misawa’s right-hand man: Toshiaki Kawada in a title match.

All this man on man action: I need a Boob Break. Ok back to elbows!

All Japan Triple Crown Champion Jumbo Tsuruta vs Toshiaki Kawada

October 24, 1991

The thing I was really looking out for here is what Kawada is going to bring to the table that is different than Misawa because clearly the match will have a similar theme to the Misawa matches (young upstart vs grizzled veteran), but since I consider Kawada elite I believe he should be able to put his stamp on this match. By the same token, would Jumbo be willing to adjust for Kawada or would he pull a Flair and just fit Kawada into the formula.

There are two running themes throughout this match that differentiate it from the Misawa matches. The match almost has a Jumbo cosplay feel with Kawada performing the same moves as Jumbo as to prove anything Jumbo could do, Kawada could do better ( ab stretch (2x, I love the second time as a rebound move off the rail), half crab, knee lifts to head, sleeper ). Secondly, Kawada establishes a tenacious side-headlock early and goes back to striking the left side of Jumbo’s face whenever he is in trouble. That is the bit of traditional All Japan psychology I felt was missing in the Misawa matches. Kawada, instead of using high-flying moves like Misawa, is going to attempt to grind it out against the bigger Jumbo and earn his respect and hopefully a victory that way.

Kawada is able to withstand some high-knees to his first big spot about half through a back elbow from the top for a 2 count (one of his mentor’s, Genichiro Tenyru’s, favorite moves). They do the famous Misawa/Jumbo finishing sequence, which was still over with crowd even though it was a year and a half later. The finish sequence is Jumbo attempting to wrangle Kawada into the Backdrop Driver and Kawada doing his damnest to avoid it by cutting off Jumbo with stiff shots to the face. Kawada gets a big pop for kicking out of the first Backdrop Driver and with a well-timed kick to the head it seems like he may have a shot. Except Jumbo wins a lariat battle and hits a finishing combo of Thesz Press, dropkick and Backdrop Driver.

The match is very much different in that Kawada never seems to pose a serious threat to Jumbo Tsuruta. It is much like an underdog that is always hanging around in a game. You never feel like the favorite has let the game out of control, but you know the underdog still has a puncher’s chance. The problem is Kawada had no knockout blow and when it came to crunch time Jumbo still had the big bomb in his arsenal. This match definitely established Kawada as Misawa’s junior, but established Kawada as a gritty, tenacious warrior with fighting spirit (he did kick out of a Backdrop Driver). So even though Kawada never posed a serious threat to Jumbo, you did not feel like he was out of his league you just felt as if he was a year or two away from being big-time player (like lets say the Thunder this past year). The Misawa matches are much better, but they are supposed to be better. This match also suffered from the cosplay as occasionally Kawada would lose focus and do abdominal stretches and half-crabs when it is not warranted. This match is very good for what it is and a very good introduction to Kawada. I need to get this in here somewhere but some of the best selling I have seen happened in this match with great work from Jumbo selling the left side of his head (how many wrestlers actually sell a side-headlock) and Kawada per usual being the master of the loopy, fatigued sell.

In 1992, the New Generation finally climbed the mountain top as Misawa became Triple Crown champion by defeating Stan Hansen. Unfortunately, Jumbo Tsuruta was diagnosed with Hepatitis B in 1992 and would be forced to fade away from the All Japan eventually passing away in 2000. This left the New Generation army to transition into the Four Corners of Heaven, but Kawada would not yet leave Misawa side. Once again during All Japan’s anniversary month (October), Kawada would challenge for the Triple Crown, but this time against his friend and leader, Mitsuharu Misawa.

From their 2005 match, 13 years of fighting, cant we all just get along?

All Japan Triple Crown Champion Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada

October 21, 1992 20^th Anniversary Show Budokan Hall

I will be covering every available match between these matches whilst chronicling the story of All Japan because how integral their story is to understanding All Japan. This match unlike the other matches will be presented as a match where a young Ace is trying to establish a firm grasp on his throne against another claimant (rather than a generational storyline).

Weird note, in what I believe was Andre The Giant’s last match was actually the match before this match on the night. He teamed with the ailing Jumbo Tsuruta, Terry Gordy against Giant Baba, Stan Hansen and Dory Funk Jr. I think I need to check that match out just out of curiosity. For those curious about Kenta Kobashi (noticeable by his absence in this blog), he was on the losing side of his match with The Patriot against Dr. Death and Danny Spivey.

Kawada strikes first and violently with a Backdrop Driver within the first 30 seconds as if to say “I am not fucking around. For the next 30 minutes or so, we aren’t friends, bitch. I am coming for your title and am going to do anything to get it.” Misawa is rolling his neck all like “Ok, punk bitch, if that’s how you want to play…” and the commentator is all like “DANGEROUSSSSSSSS” and Ernie Anastos was all like “Keep Fucking That Chicken”. Kawada seems to designate the arm as his point of attack. He cheapshots Misawa off a rope break and MISAWA IS PISSED~! He unloads with elbows on Kawada’s face.

They do a surfboard spot, man All Japan just dug that with Kawada winning with the mule kick. Misawa targets Kawada’s lower back with some submission moves like a Liontamer and a camel clutch. Kawada regains control with a short spinning heel kick. For those who have never seen a spinning heel kick from Kawada do yourself a favor and seek that shit out. It is so explosive and always comes off as a great sudden momentum swing. Kawada wants to give Misawa a taste of his own medicine applies a Scorpion Deathlock (such a better name than Sharpshooter) and then a Bow & Arrow move. Whenever things get out of hand, Kawada goes back to that short spinning heel kick to set up his offense and it seems like Misawa has not answer for Kawada’s tenacious facelock. Even Misawa’s elbows are not creating sustained offense as Kawada uses his kicks to unleash his first powerbomb, which gets the first big pop of the match.

Kawada applies his preferred submission move: the stretch plum as time went on the stretch plum would be seen as a formality in their matches and not elicit a crowd reaction. However, here it is still very much over and the announcer treats it as a big deal. Kawada seems flusters that he can string together a winning combination when Misawa delivers a HUGE German suplex for a 2 count in Misawa’s first big hope spot. Misawa hits a Tiger Driver, but still only get two. Then he applies a facelock that commentator loses his shit over. It is funny listening to the Japanese commentary because 90% of the time it is in Japanese and I just kind of tune it out. Then all of sudden this guy will be screaming in your ear “FACELOCK! FAAAAACELLOOOOOOOOCCCCKKKKKK!!!” It always makes my chuckle.

Here comes Misawa as he connects with the frogsplash and Kawada powders. You definitely get the feeling the end is near for Kawada and that he missed his opportunity to put his stable-mate away. Misawa flies outside the ring with a diving elbow onto Kawada showing him that he can run, but he cant hide from Misawa’s elbows. Kawada answers the call with a German suplex of his own and then a Dragon Suplex, but still cant hold him down. Misawa elbows him in the back of the head and hits him with a  Tiger Driver and Tiger Suplex and now he cant hold him down. There is an excellent moment where Kawada cant stand and keeps falling down on his ass so he just starts kicking Misawa in the head from the ground. Kawada is so bitchin. Another Tiger Suplex finally does the trick and Misawa wins.

This was a good first installment in the feud that would define All Japan as the greatest in ring promotion in the world throughout the 90s. Once again, you get the feeling Kawada is on the cusp of greatness, but still is not fully extending his opponent. Kawada is in control of most of the match and comes off as a star, but besides the powerbomb never really had any credible nearfall attempts. Even towards the end when he was coming on strong, you could just feel that Misawa was not going to be denied tonight and had delivered too much punishment to Kawada for him to be able to hold him down. The match also set up the split between the two very well. You definitely get the feeling that Kawada wants to step out of Misawa’s shadow and openly disrespects him with cheapshots. As the matches progressed, Kawada would grow even more sadistic as he attempted not only to beat Misawa, but punish him. Kawada’s selling at the end was simply sublime as he struggled to get to his feet only to resort to kicking Misawa from the ground. Misawa for his part timed his hope spots well and sold Kawada’s offense well. Misawa had just won the titles in May and it was important to establish him as the ace of the promotion. This match proved he was the undisputed number one native in the promotion and it was important that crowd credibly believed in him as the standard bearer of All Japan. This match accomplished that. This match lacked drama I would say, if I had to point to one thing holding this match back. Misawa had not perfected his extended comeback and Kawada was not yet the surly bastard to really challenge Misawa. Instead, it feels like a proto-Misawa vs proto-Kawada, which is still better than 90% of all matches ever, but the problem is their name carries such weight you cant help compare it to other matches of the era. It is a great match, but it is not all-time All Japan classic like the Jumbo/Misawa series. However, give it time, as Misawa/Kawada would surpass the Jumbo/Misawa series in quality.

Since the 15^th anniversary of the Montreal Screwjob was this past weekend, I have some late 1997 WWF on the docket. Plus I want to do a big write-up on 1993 All Japan, which is when Stan Hansen (one of my all-time favorites) just tears the house down throughout the year.