AJPW New Year Giant Series 1993

15 Man Battle Royal: Abdullah The Butcher vs. Giant Baba vs. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Johnny Smith vs. Kenta Kobashi vs. Steve Williams vs. Stan Hansen vs. Terry Gordy vs. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Haruka Eigen vs. Akira Taue vs. Butch Masters vs. Johnny Ace vs. Jun Akiyama vs. Rusher Kimura - AJPW New Year Giant Series 1993 - Day 1 02/01/1993

This was super fun. Kobashi winning was a decent option. ***

Super Generation Army (Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi) vs. Tsuruta-gun (Akira Taue, Jun Akiyama & Masanobu Fuchi) - AJPW New Year Giant Series 1993 - Day 6 08/01/1993

It’s fun seeing Kikuchi not be the lowest one on the totem pole in this match with Akiyama in the mix. Kikuchi went to town on young Jun. I’m pretty sure he fluffed a landing on the cross body and landed on Akiyama’s face. Kikuchi gets put back in his place by Fuchi however. There was some good stuff between them - I really like tests of strengths and they did a few in the beginning. Kobashi and Taue have some great exchanges down the stretch of the match as well. Kobashi also beating the hell out of Akiyama with stiff chops and then throwing Kikuchi on him was great. Note: I was typing this as the match progressed and I take back what I said about Kikuchi not being the lowest on the totem pole as Akiyama pins him. Poor Kikuchi. A good match but I thought it was a little tepid at times with Misawa coasting in the background while the other two put in the effort. Tsuruta Gun was a nice functioning team at least. ***1/2

All Asia Tag Team Title Match: Super Generation Army (Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi) (c) vs. Tsuruta-gun (Jun Akiyama & Yoshinari Ogawa) - AJPW New Year Giant Series 1993 - Day 18 24/01/1993

I must say. Akiyama is a great addition to these Tsuruta Gun vs SGA matches. A new name, fresh ideas and moves and someone that’s got more flexibility. Akiyama shows that in the big first part of the match. First exchanging some headlocks and takeovers with Kikuchi and then double teaming with Ogawa on Kobashi. Kobashi was pretty great in this I thought. He chained some great moves together in a big stretch. The match overall built superbly to a big closing stretch with Kikichi hitting all he had to pin Akiyama. Great match. ****

Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue - AJPW New Year Giant Series 1993 - Day 19 26/01/1993

This was pretty decent. But honestly nothing too special. ***

AJPW World Tag Team Title Match: Super Generation Army (Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada) (c) vs. Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams & Terry Gordy) - AJPW New Year Giant Series 1993 - Day 22 30/01/1993

This was super good. It was slowly built but unlike the other slow MVC, this was still compelling and wasn’t filled with aimless amature style holds. Misawa vs Williams was set up nicely at the start before Williams pinned him for the win. The FIP section with the MVC working over Kawada was super compelling, with the offence being super snug with Kawada relying on kicks and holds to keep Gordy at bay. The finishing stretch was good with the duel facelock/stretch plum by the champions and it built well to the Oklahoma Stampede finish. ****

AJPW 90's Project Index