PdW2kX
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Joined on: Jan 8, 2007 23:34:52 GMT -5
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Post by PdW2kX on Oct 29, 2007 23:28:29 GMT -5
A Small Note: Well, this will probably be my last review done here at WF. They're not going over too well, which is just the nature of the beast sometimes. I've always said I'm open to feedback, but some obvious trolling/flaming comments I've received really irk me when all I'm trying to do... is give my honest opinion on a show, so people can take it for what it's worth and, hopefully, use it as a tool when they're trying to decide how to spend their hard-earned money. So, in this case, any and all feedback really is appreciated: if you want me to stop posting my reviews here, ask and it shall be done. But if this is my final one, I figured I'd go out with a bang: a sure-fire classic, Kobashi and Misawa vs. Taue and Kawada. Feedback is appreciated...hopefully ya'll will enjoy this one.
All Japan Pro Wrestling- May 21, 1994
Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada
From the opening second, Kobashi and Kawada want to murder each other, as each man quickly brings out the big guns: chops for Kobashi and kicks for Kawada. Misawa wastes no time in elbowing Taue something fierce, and Kobashi keeps the offense going strong. Kobashi makes a pivotal mistake in trying to stiff Taue, which leaves Kobashi at the mercy of Kawada, who quickly picks him apart. Misawa saves Kobashi, then Kobashi comes back later on to get his revenge. Everything steamrolls from there: Misawa eats a knee to the spine after attempting a back elbow, and sensing some real damage being done, Kawada and Taue target Kobashi's long-held weak point: his knees. Taue borders on disqualification as he unmercifully weakens Kobashi's knees. Kobashi is saved by Misawa multiple times, ending with Misawa tagging in and going ape-**** on everybody. Kobashi nearly wins it with a Moonsault to Taue, but his knees finally and completely give out on him. After increasingly desperate killer moves and increasingly dramatic killer saves, Misawa and Kobashi win it when Kobashi hits a Moonsault.
Analysis: Breathtaking. Exhilarating. Stupendous. Fantastic. Simply put, everything you love about wrestling can be found in this match. I feel like kicking myself for procrastinating as long as I did to watch this. This is simply a beautiful match: tag team wrestling at its finest. Misawa and Kobashi had something to prove: they were the champions, and they were tired of Taue and Kawada always in their face and always being a thorn in their side. Kobashi and Misawa were quite simply angry that nothing they did could stop Kawada or Taue from being a major threat to their championships, so they wanted a firm defeat to send the challengers packing and get them off their backs. Kawada's hatred towards Misawa at this point was nearly biblical… Kawada simply wouldn't go down. Call it pride or stupidity, but he didn't care one single bit about any damage done to him- that's how badly he wanted a piece of Misawa. Taue? Taue just wanted to go along for the ride: Taue hated everybody anyway, and winning some tag team gold certainly seemed nice. The fact that such a multi-layered and progressive story is coupled with some simply fantastic wrestling makes the match even more breathtaking. All Japan broke new ground on epic main events during this time period, coupling fantastic wrestling with constantly-evolving yet easily-understandable storylines that felt larger than life. It's a true testament to All Japan's fantastic run in the 90's that this is just one of several incredible matches between four men that are considered four of the greatest wrestlers of all time, having competed in some of the best matches of all time. While this match isn't "Best of All Time" worthy, at least not to me, the simple fact is this: despite being nearly thirteen and a half years old… with commentary in Japanese (meaning most people have no idea what is being said)… and even with somewhat grainy footage…this match is still able to kick the crap out of most of what you see today. ****
Final Thoughts: Now comes the tough decision. With only one match, anyone would be asking themselves the following: should I really purchase this? Maybe I could just download it instead. Maybe I could float over to a message board and see if any tape-traders have a compilation out that has this match included in it. Maybe I could hit up YouTube or DailyMotion or even RapidShare and do some digging to see if I can find this buried gem. The match is excellent, the footage is a bit grainy but no major gripe, the match is excellent, the DVD plays fine, the match is excellent…did I mention the excellence of the match? So, here's the question: why buy one disc if it only contains one match? Simple: because it's easy.
Let's be honest: IVP is cheap as hell anyway. It's not like this thing is priced ridiculously. In a world where the quick hit is preferred over the lasting effect, who wants to roam the internet to find a match for free when you can just save the time and hassle and get it on DVD? Techies would say that finding this match online is easy…but they're speaking out of personal preference. Techies find everything on the internet easy. The average internet wrestling fan is the same as every other average sports fan that roams the internet: they've got a general idea of where to go and basically know how to find what they want, but the details of finding Website X with download Y at location Z that needs programs A, B, and C to run? Why bother with all the complicated mumbo-jumbo when you could just get the match on DVD anyway? It's a bargain-bin price to start with, so it's not like your wallet will take a pounding and you'll be kicking yourself over the fact that you chose the easy way instead of hitting up the message boards or the websites or the leet haxxor chatrooms to find a single match.
So, here's the deal: is the match great? Abso-****ing-lutely. Could you find it online? Probably. Do you know how to find it online? That's up to you. If you know where to go to get your mid-90's AJPW fix, this match should be simple enough to find. If you're breaking into Puro? There are a lot worse options out there, and that's including the fact that this DVD contains only one match. Why take your chances on a weird Puro show that may or may not pan out? All Japan during the 90's was the greatest wrestling promotion to have ever existed, in my opinion. Kobashi will steal your heart with his strong desire to never quit. Misawa is a bigger hero than most fiction books. Taue, you will love to hate. Kawada is more of a badass than most video game anti-heroes. So, here's the deal: the match is excellent. But in the end, it's only one match, so I'm docking a fourth of a point due to that fact. Second, a lot of people could find the match online and avoid purchasing this set. So, that's got to factor into the overall rating as well, which will cost the DVD another fourth of a point. That's the rating that will stand. Despite all its setbacks, despite all the other options you have in front of you that will lead to you watching this match…at the end of the day, 90's AJPW ages like a fine wine. This will find a welcome home in your collection if you decide to take the plunge and strike up a purchase.
Final Rating for All Japan Pro Wrestling- May 21, 1994: ***½
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Post by James Hetfield on Oct 29, 2007 23:35:56 GMT -5
The DVD has one match because thats how AJPW put the VHS out.
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PdW2kX
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Joined on: Jan 8, 2007 23:34:52 GMT -5
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Post by PdW2kX on Oct 29, 2007 23:41:00 GMT -5
Ah, thank you. That explains the quality of the footage...it definitely felt like a VHS.
The only reason I brought up the "one match" argument, though, was due to the whole "why pay for it when I could find it online" argument.
The guy who runs IVP is a friend of mine, I've even interviewed him, so if he's selling a good product I'm gonna try and spread the word that it's a good option to buy the DVD even if it's just a VHS transfer and has only one match. Hopefully that doesn't make me sound too terribly selfish.
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Post by James Hetfield on Oct 30, 2007 0:10:52 GMT -5
I have the original VHS tape of that match I won off ebay. AJPW did that quite a bit with their old matches. Usually they have one match on a tape if the match is rather long, such as 1-hour draws.
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PdW2kX
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Post by PdW2kX on Oct 30, 2007 0:24:15 GMT -5
Thanks for that, that explains why some of the other DVD's I'll be reviewing are also one-match-only DVD's.
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PdW2kX
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Post by PdW2kX on Oct 31, 2007 17:12:05 GMT -5
Aside from JH's helpful comments, I can appreciate that sometimes no reaction is better than a negative reaction. So, in that vein, I guess I'll post another review. This is another one-match-only DVD review, but it's an even better match than the last one: Kawada vs. Misawa, 6/3/94. Comments and feedback are welcome and appreciated.
All Japan Pro Wrestling- June 3, 1994
Triple Crown Championship Match: Mitsuharu Misawa © vs. Toshiaki Kawada
After some stiffness, Misawa eats a spinning kick but answers right back with a stiff backdrop. Both men are very evenly matched, but Kawada begins to wear down Misawa with kicks, elbows, and submission maneuvers. Faced with an almost-unstoppable onslaught from Kawada, Misawa takes a step off the high road and swiftly targets an old crutch: Kawada's legs. Kawada's hatred of Misawa targeting his weak spot is only matched by self-hatred at how effective targeting the weak spot turns out to be. Kawada fights back with a super-sick Ganmengiri, then a barrage of kesagiri chops. Misawa won't go down, and fights back for all he's worth. Both men, near the breaking point, start tossing out their big offense, resulting in closer and closer nearfalls that eventually leaves both men almost completely drained. Misawa hits Kawada with everything in his arsenal, from the Rolling Elbow to the Tiger Driver. Misawa's final salvo comes in the form of multiple elbow shots, two Rolling Elbows, and the dreaded Tiger Driver '91 to finally and unquestionably put Kawada down. After the match, both men shake hands.
Analysis: No wonder this match has been called "the greatest singles match of all time". If it's not, it comes pretty damn close. In my entire history of reviewing, short though it may seem, the only other match that comes close in terms of singles competition is the classic Steamboat/Savage match from WrestleMania III. This match can be best summed up as the story of a merciless hero taking on a nigh-unbeatable champion. The fans were salivating for Kawada to win this one, and he nearly did, time and time again. But Misawa proved what he is made of, never backing down, taking every advantage possible, and utilizing every last technique in his vast arsenal of moves, including one he hadn't used in years (the Tiger Driver '91) to finally send Kawada down to the mat. Kawada, on the other hand, did everything he could, never surrendered, never backed down, and on any other night, against anybody else, Kawada could have pulled out the victory. The progression of the match is slow and methodic: both men come out firing, Kawada wins out of sheer brutal hatred, then Misawa targets a long-held weakness, sacrificing personal pride and a sense of decency to attack his hated foe's weakest point. Kawada is picked apart piece by piece, but refuses to back down and finally launches an all-out onslaught that, had it been fully powered, would have meant doom for Misawa. But the gradual weakening of Kawada led Misawa to fire off a final salvo of his own, using a last-ditch ultra-move to finally get Kawada to stay down. Simply put, this match has a story as rich and fulfilling as most works of fiction, be it books, movies, or video games. The only real thing holding this match back is a bit of the "big move overkill", but even that figures into the story well: it took everything, and I do mean eeeeeeeeverything, to bring Kawada down. All in all, these two men gave us some of the greatest matches of all time, and this one could certainly be worthy of such praise. ****½
Final Thoughts: Another classic, another prime example why 90's AJPW gave us some of the best wrestling on the planet…as well as some of the greatest matches of all time. Misawa vs. Kawada is no minor storyline…years upon years upon years of gradual development, twists and turns, and exciting match-ups gave us one of the greatest feuds of all time. From humble tag-team origins to a level of hate almost unfathomable, the Kawada/Misawa wars gave us a legacy of sheer brilliance. Not only does my personal Greatest Match of All Time (6/9/95) come straight from the Kawada/Misawa wars, the plain fact is that, in the 90's, any match that featured Kawada and Misawa in it, no matter if it was straight-up against each other or with any assortment of tag partners, is guaranteed to be a fantastic match. 6/3/94 is no exception. Many have called it the greatest singles match of all time. If it isn't, it's closer to that accolade than just about anything I've ever seen.
But like other single-match DVD's, two problems arise in purchasing this. First, being one of the most-known and most-praised singles matches on the planet, it's probably even easier to find this one online than my last review, which featured Kobashi and Misawa vs. Kawada and Taue. Whether it be on YouTube or other streaming media, RapidShare or P2P programs, or even part of a compilation, the way this match utterly captivates both grizzled veteran and questioning newbie means that it is available online in many forms, in many ways. The other problem is that this is one match on one full-price DVD. And yet, that particular fact is countered by two things: first, IVP is cheap anyway. Second, you're basically getting one of the greatest matches of all time. It's a bargain either way.
So, like the review before it, I'm taking off half a point from the match rating and using that for the "overall" rating. The reason is just a bit different this time, though. On my last review, I raised two points: being only one match on one DVD cost it a fourth of a point, and the "why pay for it when I could find it online" argument cost it a fourth of a point. Here, the whole "one match on one DVD" argument is moot, because this one match is one of the greatest matches of all time. But, being one of the greatest matches of all time, it is even easier to find this thing online and not have to pay for it. Just about anyone could find this bad boy with no more than half an hour of digging, if even that. So, that'll cost it half a point.
Yet in the end, let's review the facts: Kawada plays the big anti-hero never-say-die take-no-prisoners challenger with offense that is effective, brutal, and brutally effective. Misawa is the permanently-stoic no-backing-down champion that sacrificed a personal sense of decency to finally prove to Kawada that he was better than him. At the end of the night, Misawa reigned victorious, Kawada knew this fact, so Kawada shook Misawa's hand man-to-man and left to lick his wounds, ready and willing to come back harder and more vicious until he finally proved to himself and all the world that he could defiantly and emphatically beat his hated rival. It's a story so rich and fulfilling that it made 90's AJPW the greatest wrestling promotion to have ever existed, as well as the best promotion during the 90's period, when wrestling was at its zenith. Sure, you can find it online, but IVP has it for dirt cheap anyway, and any online footage will likely be computerized VHS footage, so the video quality lost in the transfer from VHS to DVD won't likely be as bad as the transfer from VHS to computer. This is one of the greatest matches of all time: if you've never seen it, see it now. Even if it has to be online. Your wrestling collection will never truly be complete unless you own at least one Misawa/Kawada match. If you choose to buy this one, you'll never regret taking the plunge. Those new to wrestling and wanting to break into Puroresu would probably prefer high-flying competition from the likes of Hayabusa and Dragon's Gate, but those familiar with wrestling and wondering if Puroresu is right for them? This is, without a single doubt in my mind, the perfect reason to get a Puro collection started.
Final Rating for All Japan Pro Wrestling- June 3, 1994: ****
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Post by James Hetfield on Oct 31, 2007 19:54:03 GMT -5
All of the Kawada vs. Misawa matches are fun to watch. You should see the one from 1999 when Kawada breaks his arm on Misawa's head.
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Post by HHH316 on Nov 1, 2007 14:04:28 GMT -5
Dont stop with the reviews as I'm really enjoying them. I've only been into puro for about 8 months so reading more reviews gives me more ideas as to what I should look for. Dont be surprised about the lack of comments. I started a show review thread a while back & while it seemed like a good idea, it bombed.
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PdW2kX
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Post by PdW2kX on Nov 1, 2007 15:03:27 GMT -5
Thanks for the vote of confidence, I sincerely appreciate it. The next review should continue the goodness, as it's gonna feature Kobashi vs. Kawada
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PdW2kX
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Post by PdW2kX on Dec 4, 2007 17:37:22 GMT -5
Note: Although it's been over a month since my last reply, I've gotten back on track and will update this topic with a brand-new review. As always, feedback is appreciated. Next up is 1/24/95, which will feature another Kawada/Taue vs. Kobashi/Misawa match. Should be fun. But for now...
All Japan Pro Wrestling- January 19, 1995
Akira Taue vs. Tommy Dreamer
Dreamer gets the early advantage, but Taue release-presses Dreamer over the top rope to assert himself. Dreamer hits a flurry of offense but almost none of it affects Taue. After battling back into the lead, Taue hits a quick Nodawa Atoshi to score the pinfall.
Analysis: And so we're off to a bit of a slow start. It's a rather plodding match, with no real flow and a definite lack of charisma or emotion. Tommy felt greener than a forest, even Taue sensed this. The bad thing is that, instead of pushing Tommy to bring out his best, Taue figured he had an easy night and put the match on the backburner. Nothing much happened here, so there's no real reason to watch this except to pass the time. Although there's nothing particularly wrong with it, lazy Taue and green Tommy does not a good match make. **
Stan Hansen, Doug Furnas, and Dan Kroffat vs. Steve Williams, Johnny Ace, and Johnny Smith
Stan and Steve brawl and trade elbow drops, then Doug and Ace trade kicks. Outside, Johnny Smith dodges a powerbomb only to get clipped with a flying clothesline. Doug Furnas is isolated from his teammates, even taking a pretty nasty Piledriver. Stan tags in and tears into Ace, which prompts a mini-cluster that sees Stan tease the Western Lariat. After a bit, Stan manages to hit the Western Lariat and picks up the victory.
Analysis: This was a good "big man" match, in the promotional style and with the promotional flare of mid-90's AJPW. All six men were larger than life, ranging from huge powerhouses to burly brawlers to muscled men that could move. You'll get a lot of power moves in this match, but you'll also get some good drama that helps evens things out. Although it stunk a little bit of the dreaded "Let's put six random guys together so everyone can get camera time" mentality, the overall quality of wrestlers involved means we still get an enjoyable encounter. ***
Giant Baba, Mitsuharu Misawa, and Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Jun Akiyama, Takao Omori, and Tamon Honda
Akiyama is able to dominate Misawa in the early going, but barely manages to hold on to his lead, and Honda loses the lead altogether after a big elbow. Baba tags in and isn't afraid to rough up Honda, causing Honda to headbutt his chest repeatedly. Jumbo tags in and manages to hit a few Jumping Knee's, but Omori is able to incapacitate Misawa even though he expends a lot of energy doing so. This draw on Omori's energy takes its toll, as he falls after only one well-placed elbow. Jun and Baba mix it up, with Jun really laying into Baba. After Omori is double-teamed, Baba gets double-teamed a bit as well, but Misawa ends up taking the victory after a Tiger Driver on Takao Omori.
Analysis: Other than Honda mysteriously disappearing halfway through the match, this was another good six-man tag pairing two of AJPW's legends with a legend-in-the-making (at the time) while the opposing team consisted of the newest generation of AJPW stars. Although they lost, Baba and Jumbo made their opponents look and feel like major threats. Just competing in a match with the likes of Baba and Tsuruta elevates your status, but the unselfishness of Baba and Tsuruta made Akiyama, Honda, and Omori look like they could be major players given time (this, of course, would prove true for the most part). Baba and Tsuruta certainly got their shots in, it wouldn't make sense if they didn't, but when it was time for them to be on the losing end, both legends bumped and sold their butts off for their opponents. Misawa did neither, but then again, he's Misawa- he's the biggest star of AJPW's 90's era, so he wasn't quite ready for the "passing the torch" role that Baba and Tsuruta took. Misawa was all about being Misawa, and at this point in time, just being himself guarantees us a good outing. All told, everyone in this match (including the losing team) looked great and gave us something worth watching. ***
Triple Crown Championship Match: Toshiaki Kawada © vs. Kenta Kobashi
Before the match even starts, you can practically feel the hatred oozing out of these two. Both bring out their big guns early on, and both go into stand-offs frequently. Kawada looks to attack Kobashi's bum leg, but Kobashi is ready for him. Lots of grappling follows, with Kawada finally getting a lead after nailing a German Suplex and immediately going to attack Kobashi's leg. Kobashi battles through the pain, part of his strength lies in BURNING SPIRIT~ and part of it is good 'ol hate-induced rage. Kobashi goes after Kawada's head and neck, leading into a long line of stiffness. Both are evenly-matched until Kawada gets a dose of his own medicine: Kobashi begins to relentlessly pick apart the knees of his opponent. Kawada is reduced to attempting short flurries of offense followed by quick pins; they do some damage but not enough to put Kobashi down and out. Kobashi begins a series of final salvo's, hitting Kawada with everything he has left in the hopes of finally putting down his rival. After numerous nearfalls and some highly-dramatic submission spots, the 60-Minute Time Limit expires, giving neither man the victory. However, they do mange to shake hands post-match, and Kawada even raises Kobashi's hand.
Analysis: Although it wasn't Kobashi's night to win the Triple Crown, everything about this match carries the strength and wonder of 90's AJPW. It's a classic of epic storytelling, a constantly-shifting story that changes to suit some very contrasting styles. Both men had a game-plan, but were forced to adapt time and time again, to the point where the start and end of the match felt completely different. Kobashi and Kawada hated each other so much during the opening bouts that you could practically feel their rage transmit through the television screen. They completely annihilated each other, and a sense of respect was slowly forged from their repeated beatings. Kawada, usually stoic despite the direst of situations, began to lose his calm as Kobashi wouldn't go down. Kawada wanted that big victory, and you could sense his frustration and growing urgency as time ticked down and Kawada still couldn’t beat his rival. This match is a testament to Kobashi's enduring character- the whole "Burning Spirit" thing isn't an act. Kobashi is legitimately one of the toughest wrestlers I've ever had the pleasure to watch, and his will to survive is only matched by the way he draws you into his relentless assaults and epic comebacks. Kawada's character is just as fantastic, an amazingly brutal anti-hero that does not know the meaning of "give up" or "stay down". Everything you love about wrestling is here, loud and clear, giving further credence to my belief that AJPW during the 90's was the greatest promotion to have ever existed. ****
Final Thoughts: With the inclusion of three matches, this edition holds up slightly better than the other "single-match only" AJPW DVD reviews I've done. Although one of those reviews did feature what many regard as one of the greatest matches of all time, this set still features some classic goodness, rounded out with a somewhat-subpar singles match and two good tag-team matches. Taue/Dreamer was nothing major, but it's something, at least. The first six-man match pitted six huge guys beating the crap out of each other, while the second six-man match featured two legends putting over the newest generation of AJPW stars, further proof that Baba and Tsuruta should be commended for their altruism at creating new stars as well as their long history of fantastic matches. And in the main event, Kobashi and Kawada absolutely tore the house down and proved that there was nothing finer in the 90's than a big AJPW main event. With two good matches, one slightly bun match, and one match that excels in sheer brilliance, this one easily deserves a place in your collection. My love and appreciation at this era of AJPW continues to grow, so pick this up and see for yourself why there is no "greatest match/wrestler of all time" discussion without a mention of folks like Kawada, Kobashi, and Misawa.
Final Rating for All Japan Pro Wrestling- January 19, 1995: ***¾
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Post by fallenhero on Dec 4, 2007 22:09:31 GMT -5
I strongly disagree with Kobashi/Kawada being four stars. The pacing behind it was terrible, and it's a chore to sit through. I'll give you the point that it tells a great story, but the wrestling in it leaves a lot to be desired at some points. I'll also agree that you can feel the hatred between the two, but again, at some points, it's a chore to sit through waiting for it to heat back up. It's just a case of differing opinions in this case. I agree about the rest of the show, though.
You're one of my favorite reviewers, you really know what you're talking about.
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PdW2kX
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Post by PdW2kX on Dec 4, 2007 22:41:46 GMT -5
Thanks a lot, BH. I definitely appreciate the warm sentiments.
We all have our opinions, I definitely respect yours. I admit that the wrestling is certainly one of the weaker aspects, as both men could've been a lot stiffer and used way more moves that they did. The story was what really got me, as I'm a sucker for a great storyline.
As an update, since it's a one-match DVD again, 1/24/95 should be up within the the next couple of days.
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PdW2kX
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Post by PdW2kX on Dec 7, 2007 23:16:17 GMT -5
New review. For those wondering, topic title wouldn't allow the full "Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada" due to length, so HDA is the shortened form of Holy Demon Army, which is what the Taue/Kawada tandem used to be called. Either way, next up is Giant Series '97, featuring Kobashi/Misawa.
All Japan Pro Wrestling- January 24, 1995
Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada
Kobashi and Kawada start off with grudging respect for one another, but quickly lose it in the heat of the moment and begin to ruthlessly assault each other. Taue, meanwhile, gets a look of shock on his face as Misawa out-wrestles him. Kobashi is in a bad way before long, but Misawa saves his partner, leading us into a short melee that sees both Misawa and Kobashi hit some dives to the outside. Kawada is isolated momentarily, then Taue is able to do some pretty effective damage to Misawa, despite most of the damage resulting from heelish antics. For a long, long time, Kenta Kobashi is cut off from his partner. Taue and Kawada then throw everything but the kitchen sink at Kobashi, ruthlessly working over his legs to the point where he can barely stand, but somehow Kobashi keeps kicking out. After God knows how long, Misawa is finally able to tag back in, and "cleaning house" does no justice to Misawa's flurry of offense. "Seeing how many times you can elbow two men in the face before your arm breaks" is a much better description. A pair of Rolling Elbows carries us into a long line of last-ditch, last-stand offense that results in all four men barely having the energy to stand, but still finding the sheer will that allows them to not get pinned. In the end, no one wins the night, as the 60-Minute Time Limit expires.
Analysis: All told, this is one of my favorite matches of recent memory. It's an astounding match with an astounding story, and has got to be one of the greatest tag-team matches of all time. Although I liked the 6/9/95 match-up better, I consider that match the greatest match of all time, period, and coming in close to the greatest match of all time has got to say something about the quality witnessed here. Even the parts that stalled were perfectly placed- the match started out very slow, as both teams knew they were going to go the distance. Instead of burning out, all four men managed to save their energy for the long haul, while still hitting some very impressive and expertly-placed offense. Then the match immediately picked up as both teams found their flow, kicking and punching and chopping and all-around stiffing the ever-living hell out of each other to the point where all four were drenched in sweat. Kobashi was brutalized for an unmercifully long amount of time, only for Misawa to finally tag back in and get one of the greatest "hot tag" pops I've ever heard. Then, in the very end, all four men were reduced to semi-lifeless shells that could barely move. This match really exemplifies the limits all four men were willing to go in order to prove whose team was dominant, which one was strongest, etc. It's a completely-involving, completely jaw-dropping match that's excellent in every way. This is one of those matches that simply needs watching, no matter your preference. ****¼
Final Thoughts: Unlike some of the others, I really have no problem with this being a one-match-only DVD. It's 60 minutes of top-notch top-flight wrestling, featuring four of the greatest wrestlers of any era of professional wrestling. The video quality is actually better than some of the other single-match DVD's I've reviewed, and it seems that the idea of single-match DVD's loses its bite after time. Technically you should be entitled to more, even if it's an IVP DVD (which, admit it, are super-cheap anyway), but you find very little to complain about when the only match on this thing is the only match needed to justify purchasing this DVD. Anytime you see Kobashi/Misawa vs. Kawada/Taue, you've got something that needs purchasing, no matter the price tag, video quality, or length. Although my two main arguments of all single-match mid-90's AJPW DVD's still pertain to this set- it's only one match, and it can probably be found online- both arguments lose their luster over time, because I'm consistently blow away by the quality of these single-match DVD's. Face facts: no matter if it can be found online, no matter if it's only one match, this DVD simply must be picked up.
Final Rating for All Japan Pro Wrestling- January 24, 1995: ****
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PdW2kX
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Post by PdW2kX on Dec 21, 2007 0:55:53 GMT -5
Note: Continuing a line of classic AJPW reviews, here's my latest installment. I'm particularly proud of this one. Feedback and comments are always appreciated and will be answered to the best of my ability.
All Japan Pro Wrestling Presents "Giant Series 1997"
Assorted Dates and Events
Triple Crown Championship Match: Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa ©
Kobashi knows he's facing an uphill battle, so he rushes right out of the gate and begins ruthlessly assaulting his former mentor. Kobashi becomes too overzealous, allowing Misawa to easily counter a powerbomb on the outside with a Huracanrana. From there, Misawa dominates, which is the exact thing Kobashi was trying to prevent. Alas, a multitude of hard-hitting and high-flying offense begins to take its toll on Kobashi.
Somehow, Kobashi nails an insane Avalanche Splash off the top rope to the outside, and follows it up with some chain moves to keep the heat on Misawa. Misawa takes an insanely stiff Half Nelson Suplex outside the ring, and sells it like his neck is broken. Plenty of nearfalls follow, with Misawa working his way back via a variety of offense, including Diving and Rolling Elbows. Misawa's vaunted Tiger Driver gets 2¾, but Kobashi fires back with a huge Powerbomb into a corner of the ring, followed by a Moonsault that gets an ultra-close 2¾! Misawa elbows Kobashi right as Kobashi lariats Misawa, and both are down! Misawa with a Tiger Suplex, Rolling Elbow, and a Tiger Driver… 2¾!!! A Burning Lariat by Kobashi gets 2¾! TIGER DRIVER '91! MISAWA HITS THE TIGER DRIVER '91! Misawa is finally and unquestionably able to hold Kobashi down, pinning him after one of the most insane matches I've ever seen. Both men can barely stand (Misawa needs the help of at least four men to even attempt to stand), and sweat literally pours off of both. Despite the absolute hell these two put each other through, they end up shaking hands and both are literally carried away to recuperate.
Analysis: This, ladies and gentlemen, is what pro wrestling is all about. "Without a doubt in my mind", "bar none", and all my other lovingly-attached cliché's give way to the following statement: this is one of the greatest matches of all time. It is now one of my favorite matches, as I actually feel privileged to watch this thing, no matter how weird this sounds. This wasn't a wrestling match, this thing was a masterpiece of pain. I got goose-bumps watching this match, and the only other time that ever happened to me is when I was watching what I consider the greatest match of all time. The level these two pushed each other toward…nothing can fully describe it. This kind of chemistry and emotion comes by once, maybe twice, in a generation of wrestling. It's an epic battle that fired on all fronts, assaulted my senses, left me breathless, and in the end, I felt just as drained and emotionally spent as the two men that made this match happen. This match deserves to be put on a pedestal…it makes me proud to say "I'm a wrestling fan". This type of magic simply can't be put into words- nothing I say could do justice to something like this. Had I not seen 6/9/95, I truly think this would be my current Greatest Match of All Time. ****¾
Stan Hansen, Shohei "Giant" Baba, and Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Giant Kimara, Tamon Honda, and Masanobu Fuchi
Baba looks to be enjoying himself as he tangles with Kimara, better known as Kamala of WWE fame. Jumbo and Hansen work over Fuchi, but Honda brings the pain with numerous headbutts to Baba, plus a few slams. Kimara takes a pounding and gives it back, but ends up admiring some fine Japanese ceiling more than once. Honda gets double-teamed, but responds with lots and lots and lots of headbutts. After a cluster-****, Honda ends up taking the finishers of all three of his opponents, so it's basically a mercy killing when he's pinned.
Analysis: Although it's a fun little match, that's really all it has going for it. It felt like "one last run" for the good guys, designed to both put over talent and give the fans some good memories. Although Honda did the job, simply being in the ring with three of AJPW's greatest made the opposing team seem very important. Although, as stated before, this match was far from serious, despite a few points where things got a little heated. Generally, Stan and Jumbo were very laid-back, and Baba seemed to only be in the match to have fun- he seemed to particularly enjoy Kimara's wild-man antics, as I caught Baba smiling openly numerous times. I like that this 6-Man has some of AJPW's greatest talent in it, but in the end, all three greats were pretty much on their way out, and while they gave us a decent match, realistically this encounter is nothing to get especially excited over. **½
Triple Crown Championship Match: "Dr. Death" Steve Williams vs. Mitsuharu Misawa ©
After a bit more "chain" wrestling (it's actually a lot more like two guys rolling around) than I would like, Misawa and Dr. Death work in a small-level brawl until Steve targets the legs. Williams eventually heels it up big-time with underhanded tactics designed to take out Misawa's lower ligaments. Misawa reverses a backdrop into a DDT, then begins making Steve pay for his cheap tactics in a variety of ways, most of which involve gratuitous use of elbows. Somehow, Dr. Death is actually able to Tiger Suplex the former Tiger Mask II, and follows it up with a Doctor Bomb that gets 2¾. After a particularly brutal Dangerous Backdrop, Misawa hits a flurry of elbows, including a Rolling Elbow, and ends up winning the match after no less than three Tiger Driver's.
Analysis: The match had some good animosity, and despite being a mismatch in my eyes, it basically worked. Its psychology was that of the classic "dirty American vs. valiant Japanese" story, a story that has roots in the very foundation of Puroresu. Although the logic is dated, it definitely works, as Williams got a strong heel reaction and everyone popped crazy for heroic Misawa. The only thing I particularly disliked about this match was the stalling…the "testing each other out" part of this match just dragged and dragged. Yet, compare it to a good story and a nice finish. In fact, you'll see that much of the positives counter-balance (and at times, outweigh) the negatives. While it's not a particularly notable or vaunted Misawa Triple Crown defense, it's definitely not a bad one. ***
Final Thoughts: After so much AJPW goodness, there's really not a lot more I can say. When I started, part of me thought that referring to my upcoming set of AJPW reviews as "The Best" was a little presumptuous. Since then, I've watched some of the greatest wrestling that has ever existed, and have tried to be as fair and balanced as possible, despite much of what I reviewed being a wrestling fan's wet dream. None of these sets, even the single-match DVD's, have let me down, not in the least bit. This particular set features one of the highest-rated matches I've ever reviewed, a match I feel is one of the greatest matches of all time.
Although it took me almost a year to finally crack them open, my line of classic AJPW reviews has honestly been the highlight of my time as a reviewer of pro wrestling. Consider this, then consider the fact that I have three shows left. This isn't a joke, or hyperbole, or anything that could be construed as false…now more than ever, 90's All Japan Pro Wrestling is the greatest promotion that has ever existed. As I watch more and more from this era, I feel more and more confident that nothing even comes close to 90's AJPW, at least in my own experience as a watcher and reviewer. If you need a pick-me-up, watch this stuff. I can't even describe how proud I feel at matches like Kobashi/Misawa. Watching a match like that….it restores your faith in wrestling. This is essential viewing, no matter if it's $3 or $30 or even $300. Despite being only three matches long, and despite having one decent and one good match, the inclusion of Kobashi/Misawa leads me to give this DVD one of the highest ratings I've ever given.
Final Rating for All Japan Pro Wrestling "Giant Series 1997": ****½
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Post by fallenhero on Dec 21, 2007 8:58:20 GMT -5
I think that Doc/Misawa was a little better than you gave it credit for being, but then again, I'm super biased because I'm a huge Williams fan. I agree 100% with what you said about Misawa/Kobashi from this event, it was a great match.
I hope you do more 1991 based stuff, just due to that being the golden era for MVC.
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PdW2kX
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 8, 2007 23:34:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,551
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Post by PdW2kX on Dec 22, 2007 13:40:28 GMT -5
Thanks a lot for the positive feedback, it's always a pleasure to hear.
Misawa/Williams was a good match, and I may have rated it just a bit low due to context. It was a good title defense, but Kobashi/Misawa was so good that it simply paled in comparison. That's not a knock on Williams, though. While I'm not particularly well-versed on Dr. Death, so I may not "get" his style as well as fans of him, I will admit that what I've seen has always been good.
In regards to more 1991 AJPW stuff, I'll definitely look more up when I do my next batch of Puro buying. My last three shows will be a show from '98, then '99, then '04. After that I had a lot of other Puro to go through, including some classic NJPW stuff, my first foray into Dragon Gate, and finally some NOAH. Add to this the two or three remaining indy shows I have left to review, and I've got a solid schedule in front of me.
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Post by James Hetfield on Dec 23, 2007 13:54:38 GMT -5
Yuck, Dragon Gate. That statement made me shiver.
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PdW2kX
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 8, 2007 23:34:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,551
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Post by PdW2kX on Dec 23, 2007 14:19:59 GMT -5
Well, I had heard some good stuff about WrestleJam, so I decided to pick it up.
Not to worry, a Best of Low Ki comp, NJPW Jr. Classics, Collision in Korea, and the famed '95 J Cup will likely come before WrestleJam.
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Post by James Hetfield on Dec 23, 2007 15:09:05 GMT -5
That's good. No need for any Dragon Gate here.  |
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PdW2kX
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 8, 2007 23:34:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,551
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Post by PdW2kX on Jan 1, 2008 21:56:50 GMT -5
I'm down to two events left in "The Best", my look at 90's AJPW. There'll probably be a "The Best, Volume 2" since I know there's plenty of classics left. For now, let's look at AJPW in '98...a strange departure or an evolution of the style?
Up next is Giant Series 1999, followed by an '04 show so I can get a taste of "modern" AJPW. And yes, I know four years ago no loner qualifies as "modern". I procrastinated so long in doing this set that I could've argued it being "modern enough" if I had done it when I planned to. But I digress. As always: read, enjoy (hate?), leave feedback. It's all appreciated.
All Japan Pro Wrestling - May 1, 1998
The Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
58,300 Fans
Triple Crown Championship Match: Mitsuharu Misawa © vs. Toshiaki Kawada
Both hit hard from the opening bell, but make it clear that we've got a long night ahead of us: neither backs down from some serious bodily harm. Misawa keeps trying to hit the Tiger Driver, and this comes back to haunt him as it gives Kawada the opportunity to nail an insanely stiff kick. After a Yakuza Kick and a Brainbuster, we get some STRONG STYLE~ no-selling, which temporarily gives Misawa the lead until Kawada scrambles his brains with a Ganmengiri. After a Dragon Screw, Kawada focuses on working the legs. A Tiger Suplex by Misawa gets 2¾, and Kawada answers right back with a Ganmengiri for 2¾. Kawada launches a last-chance assault, firing at Misawa with everything in his arsenal, and Kawada is finally able to hold Misawa down for the count with a pinning powerbomb.
Analysis: The finish is definitely a feel-good moment, but this match felt eerily similar to the Kawada/Misawa match at the NOAH "Destiny" show, despite being years apart. It was a good match, no mistake about that, but it was a strange departure from the AJPW I've grown to regard as the greatest promotion ever. In a way, this reflected the changing of the times more than it did the Kawada/Misawa feud. Instead of smart psychology centered around a constantly-evolving, constantly-changing storyline… this match's central point of focus was two guys trying to outdo each other by doing stuff that became progressively more dangerous. In a nutshell, this match was all about the head drops. Lots of head drops. Brutal head drops. Cringe-inducing head drops. Lots of brutal, cringe-inducing head drops. The flow of the match was all over the place, as one man would stay down after the smallest move only to no-sell a head drop seconds later. Unlike their previous epics, which many (including myself) consider some of the best matches ever, this one was more about DANGEROUS~ moves than an epic story. All of the other Misawa/Kawada matches had a touch of the DANGEROUS~, of course, but many of them also featured the classic AJPW storytelling that I hold so dear to my heart. This one…didn't. I still liked it, and the final moments were particularly breathtaking, but I must stress that this wasn't the AJPW I know and love. Although a pretty good match, it's a strong departure from the classics of yesteryear. Most people will still see it as a fantastic match, and it would be a flat-out lie if I said this match held no enjoyment, but this isn't what I wanted or was expecting. I'll still give it a good rating, because it's a good match, but this will probably be one of my more controversial ratings. I certainly struggled for a while to determine a good rating for this one. So, I'll end with this: despite all the mixed-up emotions I have towards this match, from a stand-alone standpoint, it's got plenty to offer. ***¼
Hiroshi Hase vs. Jun Akiyama
After wrestling around to no real conclusion, some stiff-slapping brings the crowd and the match to life. Hase stretches Akiyama something fierce, but Jun doesn't give even the slightest hint of a tap-out. Hase enters Jun's domain and is pummeled accordingly, but does manage to get in a multiple-rotation Giant Swing before the two get into a stiff-slap exchange so stiff that it's basically a shoot-slap exchange. A Golden Arm Bomber/Exploder Suplex exchange sends the crowd into a frenzy, and Jun begins to dominate the match. A nearfall exchange brings us to the match's conclusion, as Akiyama hits a Wrist-Clutch Exploder to get the pinfall.
Analysis: I felt that this match took its sweet time to get good, but get good it did. Hase had a perfect character for the match: faced against a younger and more tenacious opponent, Hase's arrogance caused him to completely forego his gameplan of smart mat wrestling and damage over time in order to gain the satisfaction of beating Akiyama at his own game. Hase's frustration at Akiyama not going down should've been the turning point where Hase went back to basics, stretching and occasionally brutalizing Jun until he had Jun begging for mercy. But instead, he couldn't deal with someone like Akiyama showing him up. Akiyama capitalized perfectly on this, picking and choosing his spots with pin-point accuracy. Then again, the match itself is not without flaws, even though I liked the story and enjoyed the psychology. There was almost a bit too much stiffness and over-selling, and the opening minutes were nothing more than a chore, since it was basic mat wrestling that ended up having no effect at all in the coming minutes of stiffness and slams. In the end, though, it's a pretty dramatic match that I ended up enjoying thoroughly. ***¼
Akira Taue, Takao Omori, and Masao Inoue vs. The Gladiator (Mike Awesome), Hideki Hosaka, and Tetsuhiro Kuroda
Mike (RIP) starts out with a bang, hitting his huge No-Hands Suicide Splash over the top rope and to the outside, knocking both himself and Akira Taue over the guardrail. Taue, not to be outdone, fires back with some big kicks and a couple of Enzugiri's. Omori and Kuroda stiff each other, while Inoue and Hosaka chain-wrestle. Omori is worked over something vicious, even taking an Awesome Bomb, but his tag partners keep saving him. The inevitable "hot tag" follows after an Awesome Bomb from the ring to the outside through a table is teased (though never hit), and the crowd erupts as everyone starts cluster-****ing. Omori ends up taking the win with a Diving Knee Drop.
Analysis: Nothing groundbreaking here, but none too shabby either. It achieves a lot more than most random 6-Man tags. This one featured not only six unique characters that all brought something different (and good) to the match, but a real sense of team unity given by the nice "hot tag" and "save your partner from getting pinned" spots. Everyone had their fair share of strengths and flaws… Awesome was a great hoss but little else, Omori was a great stiff worker but kinda hard to get behind as the guy that gets beat on, Taue is Taue but he never really gives his all in 6-Man tags, etc… but everyone also covered for each other really well, allowing the best parts to shine while the not-so-great parts were thankfully sporadic and short. Given the hundreds upon thousands (and that's probably not a hyperbole) of random semi-decent 6-Man-Tags that have been prevalent in AJPW and later Pro Wrestling NOAH, this one manages to earn some points for having good talent, good flow, and loads of intensity. ***
The Headhunters vs. Tamon Honda and Shigeo Okamura
The match is clipped and comes in with the Headhunters double-teaming Okamura. Okamura takes quite a beating from his hugely oversized opponents, but Honda continues to save him from getting pinned. Honda gets a hot tag and goes headbutt-and-backdrop-crazy. Okamura comes back in with a head of steam, but takes a Crucifix Bomb. Okamura is basically crushed into dust by a MAMMOTH, GARGANTUAN Moonsault that puts him down for the 1-2-3.
Analysis: Short, but I liked it. It had a decent story, and both teams surprisingly had a lot of chemistry every which way. The Headhunters meshed very well with Honda and Okamura, but also meshed well with each other. Honda played the veteran to Okamura's plucky rookie, and both knew how to precisely get over the Headhunters as gargantuan behemoths of destruction. I was particularly impressed by the Headhunters, had a marginal liking of Okamura, and have always liked Tamon Honda. Aside from the clipping, nothing really holds this match back. Overall it's fairly average, but it's pretty fun throughout. **½
Satoru Asako vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Again we get a clipped match, this time cutting to Kanemaru shoulder blocking Asako. Asako rebounds and begins to inflict his will on Kanemaru. Yoshinobu is all over the place, but a couple of highspots bring him back into the fold. The night belongs to Asako, however, as he takes the win with an Over-Shoulder Inverted Piledriver.
Analysis: Randomness for the…average? This match is a pretty decent exchange between two Junior Heavyweights, but Yoshinobu was very spastic. To put it mildly, Kanemaru's major problem was that he thought he could get over by doing as many crazy highspots as possible. Since practically nothing phases me anymore, this came off as a cheap attempt to pop the crowd. Instead of actually trying to win their respect and earn their admiration, Kanemaru was content to give them glitz and glamour with no substance to back it up. Still, AJPW had a notorious lack of focus on their Junior Heavyweight division throughout this era, so this is a welcome break from the constant heavyweight (and in some cases superheavyweight) matches. **½
Final Thoughts: Well, this certainly was…interesting. I'll admit, I only bought this one for Misawa/Kawada. I knew that almost all the Misawa/Kawada matches are guaranteed classics. Unfortunately, the "almost all" comes into play here. In all honesty, I was expecting so much more- not because I have high standards, but because many of the previous Misawa/Kawada matches had all been epic clashes between two dire rivals. Misawa and Kawada still had the chemistry, still had the intensity, and still had the hatred…but they lacked the soul. The match had paper-thin psychology- "let's kill each other with head drops and stiffness!"
No matter if it's a bottom-rung indy fed or AJPW during the prime of its existence, "head drop fests" usually don't do anything for me. It's a testament to both Misawa and Kawada that I found the match as enjoyable as I did. The other matches round out the package, although there's nothing too outstanding. I did particularly enjoy the Hase/Akiyama and Headhunters matches, though. Add in a good 6-Man Tag and some decent Junior Heavyweight action, and you've got a recipe for good times…mostly.
In the end, this is a good addition to anyone's collection, although by no means is it my favorite AJPW show. It's actually one of my least-favorite. It must be said, though, that AJPW had so much quality during the 90's that even a least-favorite turns out to be a pretty good deal all in all. There's no real DVD-selling match here, but there're far worse shows out there, and far worse ways to break into AJPW or even Puro in general. Despite its setbacks, this is another solid look into the famed 90's period of All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Final Rating for All Japan Pro Wrestling - May 1, 1998 : ***
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