AJPW Real World Tag League 1997
Real World Tag League 1997 Match: Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki vs. Holy Demon Army (Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada) - AJPW Real World Tag League 1997 - Day 7 - 23/11/1997
Hayabusa time and time again always seems to underwhelm and not deliver, in All Japan or FMW, but he does click in this match, as does Shinzaki, who together are the crowd favourites for this smarky crowd who was firmly behind the independent team. In a fun way, Kawada and Taue react to both the crowd and the opponents, playing up the heelish side of their characters, which they are easily capable of. Some of the more interesting aspect of the match was Taue and Kawada being very hesitant to let Shinzaki do his rope walking taunt/move, which is likely based on real life thoughts, but I found that they played into it in a fun and interesting way that allowed them not to do the move while putting it over as a move to be reckoned with. The match doesn’t stray too long in its closing stretch, allowing Team Indie to get a few nearfalls that the crowd bye into before HDA finishes them off. ****
GET (Johnny Ace & Kenta Kobashi) vs. Super Generation Army (Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa) - AJPW Real World Tag League 1997 - Day 7 - 23/11/1997
A little more plodding and slow than the prior match but it was still well worked, largely building to a climactic finish where they teased a 30 minute time limit before Misawa pinned Ace at 29 minutes 50 seconds. A well timed finish. Despite its down points, the crowd was into the match and it didn’t feel like a match that only aimed to do the finish, there were bright moments throughout the match to enjoy. ***1/2
Real World Tag League 1997 Match: Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki vs. Super Generation Army (Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa) - AJPW Real World Tag League 1997 - Day 10 - 27/11/1997
Good tag team match. Everyone impressed, except Shinzaki. Hayabusa doing Hayabusa things, diving around the place. Akiyama throwing suplexes left and right and Misawa hitting his elbows. Good stuff. Great ending too which included a lovely 450 splash from Hayabusa. The start was rough to get through though and this match lacked intensity or any emotion for most part . ***1/2
Real World Tag League 1997 Match: Holy Demon Army (Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada) vs. Super Generation Army (Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa) - AJPW Real World Tag League 1997 - Day 11 - 28/11/1997
A strong main event for one of the smaller shows. It was both compact and heated, which many aren’t so. It made great use of the Akiyama FIP role with HDA’s aggressive manner being accentuated by the junior’s peril. Misawa was more on the sidelines in this match but it adds to the story of the match that begins with a big table bump that kicks off the assault on Akiyama and ends with him losing after a long Stretch Plum. A cool match, indeed. ***3/4
Real World Tag League 1997 Final Match: Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa - AJPW Real World Tag League 1997 - Day 15 - 05/12/1997
A cool way to end the year but this spot as the finals of the tag league comes with expectations and this didn’t meet them. However, I enjoyed the match as it did something different. Disappointment is minimal because of the brisk pace from the two teams, action heavy style of match and satisfying conclusion. I liked the call backs to their tournament block match, including Akiyama almost being beaten with the stretch plum, kicking out for the close two count. Plus Taue gets the deciding pinfall. All is good! ***1/2
Year End Award
Match Of The Year: Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa - AJPW New Year Giant Series 1997 - Day 14 - 20/01/1997
I think this is the easy choice. It set a really high bar at the start of the year and it wasn’t really met. The closest was Hiroshi Hase’s and Kenta Kobashi’s match but that’s it. Top notch wrestling that proved why these two are all time legends in wrestling. It’s just a shame Misawa regained the title to have a good but hardly spectacular title reign. This is where Baba’s waiting policy can affect a product.
Wrestler Of The Year: Mitsuharu Misawa
Not really a strong year, as noted by how long it took me to get through it. Everyone was good but never stood out. Misawa has a lot of good work but Kobashi has the better matches and performances of the year. Kawada didn’t do too much but still did some strong work. I’m not too fussed about picking a winner so I’ll go Misawa because he was central to the bigger feuds and angles.
Feud Of The Year: Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi
Limited options, of course because there is only a few wrestlers that get meaty feuds but Kobashi and Misawa finally clicked as opponents and set the foundations of a great rivalry that people remember instead of the worst paring of the pillars that they used to be.
Most Disappointing Match Of The Year: Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jun Akiyama - AJPW Summer Action Series II 1997 - Day 15 - 06/09/1997
The more obvious choice is probably Misawa v Dr Death but I didn’t expect much, but I did for Misawa and Akiyama. Misawa just didn’t put Akiyama over as a challenger enough. He sold but he didn’t make it a compelling performance and felt very much “it’s upto you, kid” which is flawed. Akiyama could’ve showed a little bit more but he did well against a ghost.
Top 5 Matches
1) Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa - 20/1/1997 - ****3/4
2) Hiroshi Hase vs. Kenta Kobashi - 26/08/1997 - ****1/2
3) Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa - 21/10/1997 - ****1/4
4) Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki - 23/11/1997 - ****
5 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada - 30/3/1997 - ****
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