Pre-show

1) “Dirty” Ernie Osiris & Bobby Shields defeated Ninja Yellow & Alex “Sugarfoot” Payne. Osiris pinned the ninja.

2) Grizzley Redwood defeated Ninja Blue. The littlest lumberjack chopped his opponent down with a double axe handle.

Main Show

1) Kenny Omega defeated Rhett Titus. Omega won the opener with his signature electric chair German suplex.

2) Chris Hero defeated Erick Stevens. Hero switched up his usual formula and used the loaded elbow pad on his foot to enhance a kick for the win. Good match.

3) Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima defeated Roderick Strong & Brent Albright. Sasaki pinned Albright with the Northern Lights Bomb. Excellent match by all accounts.

4) Takeshi Morishima defeated Go Shiozaki. Good match, won by the former ROH champ with the Backdrop Driver.

5) Jay & Mark Briscoe defeated Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards and Nigel McGuinness & Claudio Castagnoli. Edwards pinned Claudio with a roll-up following a blind tag to eliminate his team first, and was later pinned after a Jay Driller. Larry Sweeney berated him for the loss. Mark may have injured his knee.

Intermission

6) Naomichi Marufuji defeated Austin Aries. “Really good.”

Prince Nana made an appearance and was thrown out of the building.

7) Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black and Delirious defeated Kevin Steen, El Generico and Necro Butcher. Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards interfered against Steenerico, allowing Jacobs to apply the End Time to Steen for the submission win.

8 ) Bryan Danielson defeated Jerry Lynn. In a near double-pin finish, Danielson won with a small package. Very good match. Afterward, both guys cut promos and put each other over.

117. Dick Murdoch & Masked Superstar vs. Brett Sawyer & Al Perez (1/19/86) [JGP-14]
118. The Fantastics vs. Buzz Sawyer & Dick Slater (10/27/85) [BW-7]
119. Jake Roberts vs. Lord Humongous (Cage Match) (11/29/85) [JGP-1]
120. Chavo & Hector Guerrero vs. The Fabulous Ones (Texas Tornado Cage Match) (2/28/86) [TB-8]
121. Adrian Street vs. Terry Taylor (Loser Leaves Town) (12/7/84) [BR-4]
122. Adrian Street vs. Chris Adams (10/10/84) [SDM-12]
123. Mr. Olympia vs. Bob Roop (7/15/82) [PTB-5]
124. Stagger Lee & Mr. Olympia vs. Ted DiBiase & Matt Borne (12/18/82) [PTB-9]
125. Hacksaw Duggan & Dick Murdoch vs. Kamala & Kareem Muhammad (7/14/85) [TSGDIA-6]
126. Chavo Guerrero vs. Buzz Sawyer (6/13/86) [TB-16]
127. Dick Murdoch vs. Dr. Death (9/20/85) [TSGDIA-12]
128. The Fantastics vs. Dutch Mantell & Bill Dundee (10/4/85) [BW-2]
129. Chavo Guerrero vs. Steve Keirn (no DQ loser is painted yellow match) (1/31/86) [TB-2]
130. Dusty Rhodes & Jim Duggan vs. Butch Reed & Hercules Hernandez (8/19/84) [SDM-8]
131. Butch Reed vs. Skip Young (9/23/84) [SDM-10]
132. Bob Roop vs. Mike George (12/16/81) [PTB-1]
133. Jim Duggan, Dick Murdoch & Bill Watts vs. Kamala, Kareem Muhammad & Skandor Akbar (7/28/85)[TSGDIA-9]
134. Dick Slater vs. Butch Reed (No DQ) (12/13/85) [JGP-2]
135. One Man Gang vs. Buck Robley (Lumberjack Match) (9/15/82) [PTB-7]
136. Rock N Roll Express vs. Midnight Express (Scaffold Match) (12/2/84) [BR-3]

Part 1 (50 minutes) (Right click to download)

It’s preview time in Part 2, and with another Midwest swing coming up this weekend, we run through the Cleveland and Chicago Ridge cards. Jobber Twin powers, activate!

Part 2 (30 minutes) (Right click to download)

We finally put show 19 to bed with our reviews of Tag Wars 2008 and Return Engagement. Check out all our thoughts on the Machine Guns’ big matches, Kota Ibushi’s tour wrapping up, “The Jimmy Jacobs Show”, and more, including match scores on the Machine Gun Meter.

Part 3 (75 minutes) (Right click to download)

1) Kevin Steen defeated Kenny King “Mr. Wrestling” made King tap to the Sharpshooter after 7 minutes.

Daizee Haze came to the ring and asked Delirious out. The Age of the Fall came out, but Delirious stayed in the back. MsChif gave Daizee a DDT, and Jimmy Jacobs said that Delirious listens to him now, and was staying in the back where Daizee couldn’t mess with his head.

Delirious & Pelle Primeau were originally scheduled to compete in the Tag Team Scramble, but that would appear to be out the window due to Delirious’ heel turn. Pelle came out for the match without Delirious, who then confirmed our suspicion by delivering a beat-down to Primeau.

2) Tag Team Scramble: Jigsaw & Ruckus defeated Tweak & Dash Phoenix, Jay & Mark Briscoe, and Trik Davis & Mitch Franklin Jigsaw pinned one of the Phoenix twins to win it. Hot match while it lasted, but only 6 minutes long.

3) El Generico defeated Tyler Black Generico scored the uno-dos-tres in 15 minutes with a brainbuster to make it a 2-0 night for Steenerico.

4) Erick Stevens defeated Chris Hero to retain the FIP World Championship Hero was in control for the whole match, hitting a lot of Misawa-like elbows and working a methodical pace. Stevens won it out of nowhere with a top rope powerslam at the 21 minute mark.

The Chicago Ridge return date was announced as a PPV taping on November 22.

5) Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries defeated Nigel McGuinness & Claudio Castagnoli Really good match, but very short at only 13 minutes. Danielson made Nigel tap out to Cattle Mutilation. Afterwards, Claudio stomped Dragon’s head in a chair again.

Intermission Notes – In addition to the half-full bleachers, there are only 5-7 rows of floor seats as opposed to the usual 10 or so. Bob estimates the attendance at 550. Looks like Jacobs vs. Necro Butcher will be the main event.

6) Sweet & Sour Inc. defeated Roderick Strong in the Sweet & Sour Gauntlet.
6A) Strong defeated Bobby Dempsey after distracting Larry Sweeney, and Dempsey allowing Strong to pin him.
6B) Strong defeated Shane Hagadorn with a running boot.
6C) Strong defeated Adam Pearce with a roll-up in 8 minutes.
6D) Strong defeated Chris Hero quickly by DQ due to a low blow.
6E) Larry Sweeney defeated Strong immediately after Hero continued to beat Strong down following his DQ.

7) Brent Albright defeated Go Shiozaki to retain the NWA World Championship The match was a little dull. There were a lot of suplexes at the end, and Albright won via ref stoppage with knees to the head.

8 ) Jimmy Jacobs defeated Necro Butcher in a No DQ match They brawled through the crowd and did some slow-paced weapons brawling in the ring. Eventually, Tyler Black and Austin Aries each interfered, with Black preventing Necro from superplexes Jacobs onto a chair, and Aries evening the odds. Necro ended up bent over a table, and Aries was powerbombed onto him so that both went through the table, leading to Necro being pinned.

After the match, Steen, Generico, and the Briscoes came out for a big brawl with a few dives.

Overall, Bob says the show wasn’t very good, largely due to the most promising matches (Black-Generico and the tag match) being shorter than the weaker matches.

1) Jay & Mark Briscoe defeated Jigsaw & Ruckus. The Briscoes win a hot opener with the springboard Doomsday Device. Lots of high flying moves in the match.

Sweet & Sour Inc. came out to cut a promo with the Briscoes still in the ring.

2) Chris Hero defeated Delirious. “Methodical” match.

Larry Sweeney cut a promo trashing Roderick Strong.

3) Eddie Edwards defeated Roderick Strong. “Die Hard” scores the upset win thanks to interference by Hero. Stiff, tight match.

Sweeney cuts another promo and brings out Adam Pearce, who cuts a promo of his own leading to…

4) Brent Albright defeated Adam Pearce to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Both men bled. Sweeney attempted to hit Albright with a chair, but Strong came back to stop him, and the crowd finally started getting into it. Albright was put through a table, but was able to answer the ten count and continue. He hit rolling German suplexes and then won the title with the Crowbar in 20+ minutes to a huge pop. Great match! John says it was probably the best of each guy’s ROH career.

5) Austin Aries defeated Jimmy Jacobs and Necro Butcher. Jacobs and Necro entered together. The whole match was built around who Necro would side with. Aries eventually did a classic Eddie Guerrero spot where he hit Necro from behind with a chair (accidentally, I gather), then threw the chair to Jacobs and played possum. This was the final straw for Necro and he attacked Jacobs and left. Aries then hit his usual finishing combo to pin Jacobs around the 12 minute mark.

Intermission

In an in-ring segment after intermission, Delirious asked Daizee Haze out again. Rhett Titus was also there and was kicked out of the show. Daizee told Delirious that she just wants to be friends, and drew big heel heat.

6) Naomichi Marufuji defeated Go Shiozaki. Very good match which the crowd really liked.

7) Kevin Steen & El Generico defeated Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley. Steen made Sabin tap out to the Sharpshooter. Great match with a hot finish. Shelley was helped to the back afterwards.

8 ) ROH World Championship Elimination Match: Nigel McGuinness defeated Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black to retain. Danielson eliminated Claudio with a small package, then Claudio turned heel and attacked Danielson. He stomped on Dragon’s head with a chair and had to be dragged out. A helpless Danielson was then quickly eliminated by Nigel. The finish was similar to Take No Prisoners, with Nigel hitting several lariats and his other big moves on Black, eventually wearing him down and winning to retain the title.

Part 1 (59 minutes) (Right click to download)

Part 2 is our review of the Take No Prisoners DVD. A rookie becomes a star, a veteran is unceremoniously shoved aside, and things get crazy in Orlando. We’ve got all the details on these developments and the rest of the PPV and bonus matches, including match ratings on (spoiler alert!) the Black Meter.

Part 2 (60 minutes) (Right click to download)

Results:

1.) Quack and Storm defeated Osirian Portal with a Shining Wizard and a QuackenDriver 3. “Awesome match. Crowd heat off the charts for it’s size”.

2.) Vin Gerard beat Jimmy Olsen with a roll up holding the ropes.

3.) Cheech and Cloudy beat Super Smash Bros. “Another awesome match. Match was so great that the fans gave them a standing ovation afterwards. Match of the night so far”.

4.) Jorge “Skyde” Rivera over Turboman. The former Skyde tapped out Turboman with a modified armbar. Bryce Remsberg rang the bell, but apparently that wasn’t the finish. They kept going and Rivera pinned Turbo with a crucifix roll-up.

INTERMISSION

5.) Tim Donst & Hydra defeated Los Ice Creams with a Double Hydra Lock. “Neo Solar Temple now have 3 points”. Apparently they get a point for a win and a point taken away for a loss.

-Steve “The Turtle” Weiner is announced as the latest entrant into the Young Lion’s Cup

6.) F.I.S.T. defeats The Colony with the Yoshi Tonic – Soul Food combo on Worker Ant. “Awesome match. Chuck Taylor used a ‘grenade’ to kill everyone including Remsberg during the match. Incredible match.

7.) Fabulous 2 defeated Lince & Pantera. Ryder hit Lince with with a low blow and a roll up. Fab 2 now have 3 points as well.

8.) Claudio Castagnoli beats Brodie Lee by DQ after Brodie Lee accidentally kicked Bryce Remsber in the face.

Return date to Virginia is August 1st. The NYC return date is August 2nd.

1. Chris Hero defeats Pelle Primeau with a roaring elbow and a big boot. Bobby Dempsey thrown under the ring by his Sweet N Sour stablemates for getting to much attention from crowd. Apparently Sara Del Rey looked like Sensational Sherri circa Macho Queen days. Hair done and face paint. She chokeslammed Ernie Osirus. She is still part of Sweet N Sour Inc.

2) Rhett Titus & Rex Sterling defeat Mitch Franklin & Sean Denny Titus pinned Mitch Franklin with a Razor’s Edge. Mitch “looks like Ryan from The Office“. Sean Denny was way over.

3) Brent Albright defeated Nigel McGuinness, Claudio Castagnoli, and Damien Wayne in a Four Corner Survival Match. Albright kneed Wayne from the clinch for the KO. Lots of teases of Nigel and Claudio Castagnoli fighting, but not much action. Claudio hit a Euro uppercut. Damien Wayne was really over, and took a beating in the match.

-Aries out in street clothes. Calls out Jimmy Jacobs, but scheduled opponent Erick Stevens comes out instead.

4) Austin Aries defeats Erick Stevens with the End Time (Jacobs’ submission finisher). No Jimmy Jacobs yet. Aries hit the Brain buster and the Horns of Aries, but Stevens didn’t tap. That’s when Aries took a page out of Jimmy Jacobs book for the finish.

5) Necro Butcher defeated Jack Evans in a No DQ match with a side walk slam on two back-to-back chairs. Jack hit 630, but Necro kicked out. He went for the springboard and got punched in the face. Then the finish.

INTERMISSION

Crowd is said to be very hot and about the size “of a typical Edison, NJ crowd”. I’m hearing 350-400 packed for a small venue. Matches have all been relatively shorter, as the no DQ match was only around 9 minutes. The rest were said to be about the same or slightly longer.

After intermission there was a brawl between AOTF and Aries. Jay Briscoe ran out and the brawl eventually became the next match…

6) Jimmy Jacobs beats Jay Briscoe in a Relaxed Rules Match. Finish was the End Game from Jacobs through 3 stacked chairs. Necro also interfered at the end of the match.

-Aries out again when Jacobs doesn’t release Briscoe from the finisher. Another Aries/Jay Briscoe vs AOTF brawl, with AOTF being run off.

7) Bryan Danielson beat Tyler Black with a Heel Hook/Canadian Maple Leaf combo. “Awesome match that trumps their match from Breakout. The crowd is great tonight, and was especially vocal here. At least 4 stars”.

8 ) Naomichi Marufuji, Takeshi Morishima, & Go Shiozaki beat the No Remorse Corp when Marufuji hits 3 superkicks and a shiranui. “Amazing match. Crowd was going nuts. A hell of a show!”

A couple years back a bunch of people voted this match into the top 5 of all matches produced in the 1990s in the All Japan promotion. Just this year 14 people took a look back at the decade again, and this time the 6.9.95 Kawada/Taue vs Misawa/Kobashi tag match won the match of the decade honor. Tough title to live up to for any match, but especially in a promotion like All Japan that has so many great matches scattered throughout 1995, let alone the 90s. So I just had to take a look having never watched the match in it’s entirety.

Misawa/Kobashi vs Kawada/Taue (6/9/95)
Misawa is the ace by now. He’s been the singles champ and he’s your resident big man on campus. His partner is a pre-big time Kenta Kobashi, who is becoming big time in this period as we speak. He’s a semi-main event guy who has been an important part of the promotion for the last five years under Misawa. He was third in Misawa’s group, but has since replaced the man across the ring (Kawada) as Misawa’s tag partner.

Toshiaki Kawada was Misawa’s partner, and now his chief rival. Coming out of the Jumbo Tsuruta & friends vs Misawa & friends feud Kawada decided to make nice with his chief rival, Taue, in April 1993. They form a partnership and away they go. A few years pass and this is what we get.

Crowd at Budokon Hall is electric from the start. Kobashi has his leg (thigh) taped up. He and Taue start. Akira Taue is an acquired taste. He’s kinda like a better version of Giant Babba. Both were awkward but succeeded in this environment. Taue was a sumo wrestler before getting into pro wrerstling through the Baba family.

Taue wins the early exchange and tags out, having shown up Kobashi after stiff exchanges. Kawda in. He won’t cooperate. Stiff chop battle. Kawda says screw it and gives a Yakuza Kick to Misawa on the apron. Kawada was an awesome prick. He gets to play subtle heel, as they don’t really have heels as much as the guy who isn’t as over as Misawa. The story is that he wants at Misawa, who is the “quarterback” of the team. Kawada and Misawa came up together and were a unit together in JV, but once Misawa was firmly the star Kawada came calling many times to prove he could be the starting quarterback too. He went out on his own, apparently it got bitter, and started then Holy Demon Army (with Taue) as we see here.

Misawa immediately tags in, but still sells the kick to the face. He’s up to the challenge. They go toe to toe strong, with Misawa taking what Kawada gives and having the answer every time. So Kawada says all things equal, I’m Yakuza kicking Kobashi on the apron. Kawada has made it known he’s here for real, and the Misawa/Kobashi team better bring their A games. Both teams face off in the center but don’t touch. Crowd reacts. Kawada won’t back down.

Misawa and Taue. Misawa kills him with an elbow smash. Taue sells big. His team is making the elbow smash look like a death move tonight. Kobashi in. He brings it fierce too. Misawa/Kobashi tag in and out effectively. Looks like Taue is getting the punishment for Kawada throwing down the gauntlet. He tries to fight off Misawa, but can’t pin attempt gets a two count.

Kobashi in with a big suplex/Brain Buster. He works an ab stretch, his second short submission of the night. Misawa back in. Really well thought out hope spot for Taue. He ends up on the floor where Misawa fakes the tope suicida, and it’s Kobashi who shoulder block dives him off the apron. Good movement. Kawada tries to go after Misawa, but one big elbow smash sends him down. Elbow shivers of death tonight. The cherry on top is Misawa does hit the elbow suicida dive on Taue.

Back in a double suplex and pin gets a two count. They are really doing alot without doing big moves that should kill. Alot of thought goes into these matches and the subtle touches I like are all here. The circling, milking the crowd with looks, stares/glares at opponents, and focused confrontations that don’t destroy a guy because of frequent tags and good pacing. Match is headed down a great direction.

Kobashi misses a second rope shoulder block and poor Taue gets the hell out of there. Kawada comes in on a mission. Before Kobashi can fully stand he gets shoot kicks to the bad left leg/thigh. Ten minutes gone by. Kawada is using the Yakuza kick (the big boot to the face) as his death move tonight, as a counter wieght to Misawa’s elbow strikes. Kobashi tries one of his own but planting his foot hurts the leg and he goes down. Awesome. Kawada still sells being momentary stunned.

Kawada focuses on striking and stretching out Kobashi’s bad leg. Taue tags in and enjoys the same thing. sharpshooter on Kobashi and the fans are already hot, fearing a possible tap. Man, Kobashi is great as babyface in peril. Hopespot is a chop battle with Kawada, but he just gets annoyed and kicks the knee of Kobashi to ALOT of crowd heat. text book selling and “heel” ring control/tags.

Taue can’t get the knee breaker and Kobashi uses some flashy moves before making the hot tag. Misawa is in! Crowd pop! Do I have to tell you what this man does with his elbows? Good side show as Misawa goes after Kawada, who drops off the apron. A minute later Misawa hangs onto the ropes and hits an unsuspecting Kawada with an elbow smash, knocking him off the apron. The minute Kawada recovers he rushes into the ring and kicks Misawa right in the face, breaking his Boston Crab on Taue. Is it a Yokahama crab in Japan?

Kawada tags in while it’s Misawa’s turn to sell big. Now he’s gonna get it. HUGE Yakuza kick, followed by knees to the head. He even shoves the ref out of the way. Misawa takes the shots and starts to glare up. He rises. He takes one more shot, you think he’s going to make a comeback, but then the benches clear. Taue grabs Misawa while Kawada and Kobashi scrap. Taue face-choke slams Misawa (varation of his Nodowa, like a Rock Bottom), and kicks out Kobashi’s knee. Misawa comeback with a elbow strike, but Kawada cuts him off. Kawada ends up feeling harsh elbow strikes, but again Taue comes over to give him a Nodowa. Again Kobashi comes to the rescue, where his leg becomes his undoing. Misawa save? He gets slammed onto Kobashi’s knee in a strong spot, and then Kawada comes off the top to deliver his knee to Kobashi’s leg. That’s the end of the rally. Kobashi is on the floor selling big.

Kawada with he spin kick for two, then a submission more to annoy Misawa than anything else. Taue/Kawada in full control. Stiff work from Taue that looks great on Misawa. Good camera work as Kobashi is taping up the thigh again as Kawada face-washes Misawa in the ring on the canvas. Twenty minutes in and this is an amazing match.

I like the strategy that’s employed here. Taue does an impactful move and goes for a pin. Impactful and another pin attempt. Tag out. Kawada is mindful of Kobashi and sends him off the minute he tries to climb the apron. Misawa hope spot gets dashed by a lariat. Kawada goes for one of his finishers, the powerbomb, but Kobashi saves. Nope, Taue sends him out and Kawada hits it. Great nearfall people bought into.

This match is the shit. Kobashi strains and pains all the way back in while Kawada has his finisher submission (stretch plum) locked in, and Taue walks up to protect the hold in the middle. He nails Kobashi twice, but ‘boshi takes him out. Then grimacing in pain the throws punches as Kawada takes the beating to keep the hold on. Kawada lets go and starts punking the kid, and it ends in a double clothesline. Outstanding.

Kobashi ends up hot tagged in with Kawada, down selling a Misawa kick. Kawada is a demon tonight, as he takes the chops and just kicks Kobashi’s bad leg out. This whole match has been him as the leader saying, “is that all you got kid? I want Misawa” with a stoic Taue behind him maximizing his pros and cutting out his cons.

Place is electric for Kobashi’s comebacks and “hulk ups”. We’re 25 minutes in and Kobashi will not stop coming at a freshly tagged Taue. Taue keeps sending him off, but once Kobashi gets control it’s Taue who won’t stop coming at Kobashi. This is tough guy stuff done to maximize the stiff stuff as the moves they do to each other are similar and “one upping” to show dominance. Kobashi comes out the victor.

Misawa in to help with a big move that goes straight to a pin. nice. Kawada has to break it up. Then Kobashi teases his finisher move, the moonsault, but Kawada from the apron kicks hi in the head. They’ve teased alot of finisher stuff, which is great, and Misawa has kicked out of the powerbomb. Both men sell as the crowd comes alive.

Misawa in on Taue to a pop. Lariets and elbows. All of it works because it looks awesome and it’s sold big. Tiger Driver! Great false finish, so now Misawa has hit his finisher. Misawa puts his submission move on Taue while Kawada is detained by Kobashi. Kawada breaks it up, and in the 2-on-one, he hits Misawa with a back drop driver. Kobashi is smart here, as he takes out the tag opportunity of Taue tagging Kawada (these guys actually do go back to the corners after they interfere, so there are rules continuity), and then gets back in time to take a tag from Misawa.

Kobashi throws a belly-to-back suplex folding up Taue, but only gets two. He goes for the moonsault again, but Kawada is in to chokeslam him down. Kawada then is mindful himself, going back and getting Taue to tag him in, and immediate goes for the back drop driver again. Kobashi panics and hits elbows to stop Kawada, knowing that would destroy him. We’re over 30 minutes in at this point. Kawada goes for it anyway, but Kobashi reverses to land on Kawada. two count actually gets not buy in from the crowd. Not big enough I guess.

They climb to there feet. Kawada grabs the waste and Kobashi elbows to stop the backdrop. Off the ropes Kawada goes for it again, but it’s reversed and Kawada takes the back drop driver. What’s so great is Kobashi immediately grabs him leg as if planting it really hurt him. He slams down Kawda and goes for the moonsault a third or fourth time. This is clever – Taue stops him so Misawa comes in and places Kawada on the other side. He hits the frog splash, but he isn’t the legal man, so he can’t cover Kawada!

Kobashi goes up for the moonsault, Misawa sentons to keep Kawada hurt, and Kobashi FINALLY hits the moonsault! Huge nearfall. Misawa tagged in. Tries for a tiger suplex, Tiger Driver, before hitting a German suplex, Tiger suplex, and finally a Tiger driver. Taue breaks up the sure pin just in time. He then uses his chokeslam move on Misawa, and again from the top rope.

Taue and Kobashi get out of the ring, and at 35 minutes we have Misawa and Kawada down selling in the ring as the crowd goes nuts. Kawada blocks Misawa shots and bicycle kicks him to hell. On the apron Taue attempts a chokeslam, Kobashi saves, but Kawada takes his bad leg out. Taue chokeslams Misawa to the floor! Kobashi, already down, crawls over and covers Misaw to protect him from further harm or a pin in the ring. Taue takes him out, and rolls Misawa in. Awesome detail – Misawa keeps rolling as a desperate Kawada tries to pin him. He rolls out and when he’s brought back in kicks out at two. His instincts save him.

Kawada goes for the powerbomb but Misawa makes the ropes. Again, but Kobashi grabs his leg. A third time he hits, but can’t get the pin. 40 minutes in Kawada pulls him up again. Misawa back drops him to avoid a third powerbomb. Kawada is pissed, stomping on his face. Kobashi tries again to cover Misawa from a beating, but instead takes a chokeslam/Back Drop Driver from the opposition. Misawa mounts a comeback on Taue, but Kawada kicks him in the face. Near fall. Misawa throws desperation elbows. Kawada won’t be denied. He hits a back drop driver of death! Misawa kicks out at 2.999! Kawada pulls him up and kicks him in the face. They tease the powerbomb, and finally Kawada hits it for the pin in 42:37. Kawada/Taue win the belts! Kobashi was crawling to Misawa’s aid as Taue held his legs at the end.

Unbelievable match. I fact, see it and believe it happened. this may actually be 5 stars, but as it’s hard for me to ever say a match is perfect, it’s one of those 12-15 I’ve watched and thought “you are one of the best ever”. 4 3/4 stars. loved it to no end. So smart and so well layed out. Athletically and psychologically ahead of it’s time and yet old school. Timeless classic. Period!