Two Hits In One Tour - AJPW Super Power Series 1994 (Misawa vs Kobashi & Super Gen Army vs Holy Demon Army)

 AJPW World Tag Team Title Match: Super Generation Army (Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa) (c) vs. Holy Demon Army (Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada) - AJPW Super Power Series 1994 - Day 6 21/01/1994

Still a total classic. Probably one of the first extended finishing stretches that All Japan is known for, it could’ve gone wrong and turned into something very tiresome and indulgent but they get it just right, knocking it out of the park. Kobashi’s was a riot to watch. His slightly heelish tactics early on in the match was a surprise and it worked well into the match. Kawada is nothing but an asshole towards him so why shouldn’t Kobashi unleash closed fists? But then he reverts back into the sympathetic, never say die Kobashi that we all love so much. But the star of the match, as always, is Kawada. More heelish and angry than ever before. The cheap kick to Misawa off the apron, a staple in future matches to come, the picking apart of Kobashi’s knee, his teamwork with Taue the entire match. The whole ensemble was tremendous thanks to Kawada drive. Misawa usually does the least work in these matches but he works his role efficiently, especially when faced off with Kawada. Taue threw his weight around in this match which is always great. He ragged-dolled Misawa and Kobashi effortlessly at times. I love his vertical suplex where he basically throws Misawa across the ring like he was an empty suitcase. They took their time - with the run time being 40 minutes - and built and built up the match pacing, exploding in one big fiery finish. *****

Triple Crown Title Match: Mitsuharu Misawa (c) vs. Toshiaki Kawada - AJPW Super Power Series 1994 - Day 16 03/06/1994

The big talking point in this match is that booking, as well as the incredibly high quality wrestling. 

“Kawada should’ve won the title in this match”. “It was time”. 

And while I’ll agree, even more so now I’ve followed the booking and shows chronologically, I can see the arguments against it. Kawada had all the momentum in the world and his heat is honestly never as big as it was on this show. The crowd is rabid for him and for his potential title win. But according to Baba’s booking philosophy, it’s unlikely that a native vs native match will produce a title change. Not impossible as there are examples but it’s been the pattern with Gordy, Hansen and eventually Dr Death being transitional champions for that purpose. Kawada also would eventually get title reigns down the line, but that’s another topic entirely, and there is perhaps a bit too much variables to attribute this to 98 booking and draws houses.  Misawa is the ace and this only improves his standing as that focal figure in the promotion. But nevertheless, Kawada should’ve won this match, dammit. 

Oh what I would give to be in that crowd. Even just watching it on my laptop, you could feel the nerve racking tension of the result - it was so palpable. The crowd’s uncertainty of who was walking away the winner is so infectious that you can’t help but get sucked in even 26 years later, you can feel that. And Misawa and Kawada were able to present that story in their in-ring work. The ride matched everything else perfectly. Misawa vs Kawada is a lot of people’s greatest match of all time, it’s a true contender for that for me as well (It currently ranks in my Top 5 personally). There are so many moments in the match that are just of the highest of quality. And not just the finishing stretch either, but throughout the match too. There is a litany of great things that compound together to make this the all time great match that it well deservedly is heralded as. The use of strikes in this match is outstanding and most likely the best use of them you’re going to get out of the style that uses frequent high-risk bomb throwing. Misawa was relentless with elbows towards the end but Misawa also kicked the heck out of Kawada’s need to limit the effectiveness of Kawada’s knee which proved successful for a large chunk of the match. Kawada continued firing off his kicks to soften Misawa up, focusing on Misawa’s bleeding ear and injured neck. The work on the neck was critical to the building of the first powerbomb, and it paid off in a spectacular way with one of the hottest nearfall of all time. But the match doesn’t give up there. Misawa’s journey to making a comeback was equally as compelling as Kawada struggling against it. The aforementioned barrage of elbow strikes (add in a few uppercuts in there too) with Kawada refusing to fall down, the powerbomb nearfalls, Kawada throwing game changing Kappo kicks but being unable to follow up on them, the struggle for the german suplex and finally, the neck crunching Tiger Driver to finish off the match. Such a bombastic finishing stretch to match an epic build. *****