KENTA KOBASHI vs. MITSUHARU MISAWA
From 1993-'95, Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa (a.k.a. Tiger Mask II) were one of Japan's top tag teams, but in late '95, they broke up, sparking what many call the greatest All Japan Professional Wrestling (or AJPW, for short) feud, ever. Their first match match came on October 25, 1995, and Misawa's AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Title was on the line. The Triple Crown Title is one of the business' most prestigious belts, ever, consisting of the National Wrestling Alliance (or NWA, for short) World Heavyweight Title, NWA United National Heavyweight Title, and the Pacific Wrestling Federation (or PWF, for short) World Heavyweight Title. Legends like Jumbo Tsutra, Genichiro Tenryu, Vader, and the late Stan Hansen and Terry Gordy have held the title.
The match began with Kobashi grounding Misawa with a lariat. He gets back up and the two exchange offense for about 15 minutes, until Misawa begins gaining the upperhand and the action really gets hot. Misawa hits an elbow suicida on Kobashi, followed by a Tiger Splash for the near fall. A Tiger Suplex gets the same results twenty minutes in. A stiff release tiger suplex sent Kobashi outside. He entered back in, only to get hit with a roaring elbow for another near fall. Kobashi fights back with a leg drop, followed by a german suplex for the near fall. A powerbomb, followed by a dropkick got the same result, and so did a second powerbomb. Three consecutive leg drops, followed by a top-rope moonsault gets a near fall as the fans really start getting into it. Kobashi nails a second moonsault, but hurt himslf int he process. Misawa took this oppurtunity to kick him, only to be grounded again with a lariat. Another lariat and an elbow drop, followed by a release german suplex only maddens Misawa, who responds with a stiff elbow smash. Kobashi sends him back down with a dropkcik for the near fall, making for a great sequence.
Kobashi's powerbomb attempt is reversed into a hurricanrana takeover, followed by a series of elbow smashes for another near fall., and a release tiger suplex gets the same result. Several more elbow smashes are responded to with a chop to the neck and modified Dangerous Backdrop, but Misawa takes back the advantage with a roaring elbow. He finally drops Kobashi on his head with the Tiger Driver '91 (Double Underhook Piledriver), making for the easy pinfall win at 35:50 to retain the Triple Crown. The last ten minutes were spectacular, and the two did a great job of portraying the tenacity of Kobashi. The finish was also interesting, as Misawa used his Tiger Driver '91, which is considerably less dangerous than his usual finisher, a regular Tiger Driver. Nonetheless, out of a possible ***** (stars) (that being the best, DUD being the worst), the two made for a great ****1/2 main event (according to PuroresuKing).
Their next match came on January 20, 1997, and it saw Kobashi defending the Triple Crown against Misawa. The match began with the two exchanging chops (Kobashi) and elbow smashes (Misawa), until Kobashi overpowers Misawa with a shoulderblock, sending him to the ground. Misawa easily springed back up to his feet and attacks his opponent with a flurry of elbow smashes. He nails a dropkick, followed by a modified baseball slide, sending Kobashi to the outside, where his (Misawa's) elbow smash suicida makes perfect comtact. He goes back into the ring, and when Kobashi climbs up onto the ring apron, he's brought back in with a backdrop suplex. Misawa continues the punishment with a top-rope senton bomb for the two count, and attempts an early tiger driver, but Kobashi escapes to the ring ropes. He ducks a spinning lariat attempt and, when Misawa turns around, he's hit with a stiff knife edge chop. Kobashi follows with a savate kick and a jumping DDT for the two count.
Misawa's now the one that's stunned, and he rolls out of the ring to gather his composure. When he comes back in, the abuse doesn't get any better for him, as Kobashi keeps the advantage with the chops, and when Misawa attempts some elbow smashes, Kobashi nails him with two rolling chops, which put Misawa down on his knees. He manages to escape an attempted suplex, but is caught with a knee smash to his midsection. Kobashi keeps his focus on the stomach area, connecting with some punches. He drops Misawa face first with a front suplex, and follows with a bow-and-arrow submission hold. Kobashi eventually escapes it and hits a diving spear takedown to Misawa, and he doesn't relent one bit, as he keeps nailing some more hits, before locking in a cobra twist submission. He eventually lets go, but continues hammering Misawa with various chops.
Kobashi attempts a running corner splash on Misawa, but eats foot via a big boot, but doesn't hit the deck quite yet. He does, however, when he turns around, as he's once again introduced to the big foot via a powerful superkick. Misawa continues the assault with some elbow smashes, and picks him back up, setting up a great sequence featuring an elbow smash, a rolling back elbow smash, and, lastly, a rolling spinkick, which sends Kobashi to the mat. As he begins to get to his feet, Misawa locks him in a standing surfboard stretch, pulling his arms dangerously far back, while using his (Misawa's) knee to push the lower body forward, making for a very painful submission hold. In a great reversal, Kobashi twists his way out of the hold, but instead of letting ago, he locks Misawa in the same hold, switching positions. A double-leg mulekick allows Misawa to escape this position, and when kobashi charges him with an attempted spear takedown, he's met with an elbow smash, which sends hom down tot he mat.
Misawa climbs to the top turnbuckle, perching himself there, and when Kobashi gets to his feet, he's met with a unique spinning mulekick, sending hom down. Misawa picks him back up and throws him with a double-arm overhead suplex. He follows with some elbow smashes, which Kobashi tries to counters with chops and elbows of his own, but another flurry begins, and he's overwhelmed. Misawa climbs to the second rope and comes off with a diving elbow smash, and once again climbs up, this time to the top, and flies off with a Frogsplash! He attempts the cover, but Kobashi escapes at two. Misawa continues the abuse with a camel clutch submission, but Kobashi's able to crawl his way to the ropes fairly quickly, breaking the hold. A snapmare keeps him grounded, and so does a stepover facelock, a trademark of Misawa.
The fans begin to get behind the defending champion with a "KOBASHI!" chant, and their encouragement seems to work as Misawa breaks the hold and throws some jumping kciks to the champ's face. Kobashi catches a leg on one attempt and thows some knife edge chops to Misawa's head, before releasing his foot. Misawa fights back with some more elbow smashes, and they continue exchanging jumping high kicks. Kobashi gets in some knee lifts, but Misawa's elbow smashes overpower him, and another flurry sends Kobashi out of the ring. Misawa runs the ropes and flips over the top, landing on the outside ring apron. Kobashi grabs a leg, but a kick sends him down near the guardrail. Misawa attempts an apron-dive elbow smash, but is introduced to the godawful guardrail. Misawa gets to his feet first, and climbs back onto the ring apron, but Kobashi meets him there and hits him with a lariat, sending him off the apron and into the guardrail!
Misawa's thrown back in, and Kobashi goes for the cover, getting two. A dropkick sends him into the corner, and the two again roll to the outside. Kobashi works on Misawa's arm, throwing it into the guardrail. He then wraps it around the guardrail and delivers a leg drop on it, sending it down onto the unforgiving concrete floor! The abuse on Misawa's arm continues back in the ring, where some stomps easily connect. He throws it down on the turnbuckle repeatedly, and takes him down with a jumping armbreaker, which he immediately transitions into a cross armbreaker. He isn't able to fully lock it in, as Misawa uses his free arm to fight it off and wrap his leg around the ropes. Kobashi continues the abuse with some knife edge chops to Misawa's head, and follows with some more armbreakers. Misawa tries to form a comeback with some elbow smashes, but immediately hurts it and relents. Kobashi continues working on his arm, but Misawa finds partial safety on the outside.
Kobashi follows rather quickly, though, and is hit with another elbow smash, which doesn't seem to daze him one bit, as he grabs Misawa and tosses him back into he ring. Two running kicks connect, but he's never able to attempt the third consecutive, as Misawa meets him with a back elbow smash. He again realizes how weak his elbow is, and begins moaning in agony. Kobashi comes back and drops Misawa right on his neck with a very stiff Half Nelson Suplex! He picks him back up and nails him in the head with some shots, and applies a stepover armbar. The referee scrambles his way from side to side, asking Misawa if he wants to give out, doing a great job of acting as if the match might end via tap out at any moment. Misawa finally finds some brief safety as he graps the rope, and clutches at it. He gets back to his feet and nails Kobashi with an elbow smash, but a second is caught and reversed into a wakigatame!
Misawa can't break it, and is forced to absorb the pain until Kobashi decides to give him a short break and release the hold. Another armbreaker follows, and so does a release german suplex. Misawa, demonstrating how the heel must use questionable (and somewhat stupid) tactics, springs back up rather quickly and charges straight into an ipponzei (modified shoulderthrow). Kobashi locks in another cross armbreaker, and Misawa's unable to fight it off. Kobashi eventually breaks the hold and begins attacking the arm again, including a nice rolling chop. Misawa tries to come back with a rolling spinkick, but Kobashi catches the leg and throws Misawa backwards, right onto his head with a cool-looking suplex of sorts. Kobashi charges Misawa with a lariat, but Misawa, who's in the corner, gets a foot up and boots him away. Another attempt and Kobashi's arm meets a powerful elbow smash.
The match really begins getting interesting, now, as both have arms that are injured (albeit Misawa's more than Kobashi, up to now). Kobashi rolls out of the ring, and is met with Misawa's baseball slide, sending him into the guardrail. Misawa follows that up with a beautiful corkscrew pescado! Back in the ring, Misawa covers and gets two. He climbs the top-rope and attempts another corkscrew pescado, but Misawa catches him with a spinning lariat, and it's obvious that his arm is really hurting, now, as he's moaning in what looks to be legit pain. Misawa hooks Kobashi's arms, looking for a Tiger Driver, but Kobashi escapes. Misawa blocks an attempted lariat by lifting his arms, prompting Kobashi to again moan in pain, which is, once again, probably legit. Misawa uses this to his advantage as he drops Kobashi with a release German Suplex, and follows up with a Tiger Driver, which gets two.
Misawa seems to have hurt his arm (and, again, that's probably legit, too), and begins clutching at it. He rolls under the ropes onto the ring apron. When he stands, Kobashi tries some chops, which are clearly weak due to his injured arm. Misawa sends him down to the mat with some elbow smashes. He climbs to the top-rope, and when Kobashi rises, Misawa flies off with a missle dropkick, but Kobashi's ready as he steps aside and catches Misawa with a lariat as he's coming down! He begins clutching at his arm, and when he's able to drape the arm over Misawa's prone body, he only gets 2.5. The fans are now stomping their feet in appreciation of the spectacular effort of the two athletes. Kobashi covers once again this time hooking the leg, but gets the same result.
He picks up his opponent and goes for a powerbomb twice, but isn't able to lift him. He does on his third try, dropping Misawa with a High-Angle PowerBomb. He again covers, this time for 2.75! When he tries another, Misawa fights it, but Kobashi insists and throws him down to the mat, which he follows with a leg drop on his opponen'ts prone neck. Kobashi backs into a corner and charges, landing a running leg drop. He locks in a front neck lock, and begins to stand, all the while keeping the hold applied. It seems that the fans know what's next, and they're right, as Kobashi lifts Misawa high into the air with a Vertical Suplex, and then, in quite an incredible site, flips him into an amazingly brutal Sitdown PowerBomb, a move that he calls the "Orange Crush!" He covers him and he's retained...2.75!!! Mitsuharu Misawa has kicked out of Kenta Kobashi's Orange Crush!!!
Kobashi is in shock. He covers again, this time getting only 2.5! He begins panicking, unable to think of how he can keep him down for the three count. Kobashi picks Misawa up and attempts the Burning Lariat, but it's blocked, and Misawa sends Kobashi down to the mat, damaging his arm even worse that it already was, which is pretty darn bad. It also took a lot out of Misawa, too, as he topples down. He's clearly still trying to recover from the Orange Crush's effects, which allows Kobashi to get to his feet before him. Kobashi brings Misawa through the ropes and onto the ring apron. He goes for a PowerBomb off it, but Misawa counters it, sending Kobashi off the apron and onto the cold, hard concrete floor with a Hurricanrana!!! Once again, the move took a lot out of Misawa, as he clutches at his right leg, clearly in considerable pain.
Both are eventually able to roll back in, obviously hurt and extremely exhausted. Misawa's the first to get a hit in, which consists of an elbow smash, followed by a quick lariat, sending Kobashi down. Misawa's obviously in considerable pain, as he grips at his right leg. He's able to pick Kobashi up and drop him with a release German Suplex, but it's not as stiff as usual, as his elbow is probably darn-near broken, as he again clutches at it for awhile. He continues albeit the undoubtedly legitimate pain, nailing Kobashi with two consecutive rolling elbow smashes. In between each, he grips at his elbow. He attempts a third, but Kobashi counters it with a Burning Lariat. Misawa is sent down to the mat, and Kobashi collapses due to the unimaginable exhaustion that's been setting in for the last 30+ minutes. Both are left staring up at the bright, hot TV lights.
Both are barely able to get to their feet, but when they do, Kobashi's able to absorb several elbow smashes before, out of desperation, dropping Misawa with another release German Suplex! They're both slow to rise, again, and Misawa gets in the first hit with another elbow smash. Kobashi tries a running charge, but Misawa is so incredible exhausted that he can barely think, as he takes the bump by just falling forward and throwing his shoulders into Kobashi's midsection at the same time, sending Misawa to the mat, also. Misawa eventually gets up and gets in the first hit, that being another rolling elbow, this one being straight into the neck of the champion. Misawa's able to hook one Kobashi's arms behind his back, but Kobashi uses his free arm to grab the top-rope, and doesn't let go, which was a bad move, as all Misawa had to do was drop down, which allowed him to hit a release Tiger Suplex! He slowly crawls over him for the...2.5!
Kobashi sells his exhaustion by throwing an attempted chop that goes nowhere near Misawa and isn't nearly as powerful as usual. Misawa waits, and when Kobashi attempts a rolling chop, he ducks, and immediately hooks his opponent's arms and drops down, landing a TIGER DRIVER '91!!! He covers and...1...2...NO!!!!! 2 9/10!!! Kenta Kobashi has kicked out of Misawa's Tiger Driver '91! What a match!!! What an effort!!! The fans are absolutely going berserk, shouting Kobashi's names at the top of their lungs. Misawa lifts Kobashi back up and throws a rather weak-looking lariat, but it's enough to temporarily keep Kobashi at bay. A second has the same effect. A third, though, is ducked, and Kobashi locks in a half nelson crossface, but, hey, wait a second...If he's already locked in a half nelson crossface hold, then he's gotten himself into position for...what the (?!)...TIGER SUPLEX '85 (Belly-To-Back Half Nelson Chickenwing Suplex)!!!! HOLY SHIT!!! Kobashi is able to get back up, albeit stumbling around and seconds away from fainting from exhaustion! He's not the only one up, though, as Misawa is, too, and he charges...RUNNING ELBOW SMASH!!! Kobashi just collapses to the mat, not moving an inch after contact. 1...2...3!!!
There's a BRAND-NEW All Japan Professional Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, and, for the third time, it's Mitsuharu Misawa!!! 42:06 of absolutely non-stop action made for an undoubted ***** match, which is...well...it's perfect, or as perfect as perfect can possibly be! These two went for almost 45 minutes, and this match was just plain incredible. Many have hailed it as the "Match of the Decade," and while there is some doubt to that claim, there is no doubt that it was an instant classic, and there is no doubt that all who have seen it rank it as one of top five matches in the history of lucha-libre, sports-entertainment, and puroresu history (anotherwards, one of the top five matches in professional wrestling history!!!). These two gave such an effort that they didn't even move for several minutes. Misawa eventually was able to climb to his feet, but was too exhausted and too hurt to take the title. He practically had to be dragged to the backstage area. The Japanese fans then exploded in a "KOBASHI!" chant, showing their unending appreciation for his incredible effort.
The drama in this match is almost impossible to be matched. The emotion in it drew in the crowd, which knew within the first 15 minutes that the match would go down as an instant classic. Both superstars hit all of their big moves (except Kobashi and his Burning Hammer), including Kobashi's Orange Crush, and, for one of the first times ever, the viewer was able to see Misawa use all of his big three moves (the Tiger Driver, Tiger Driver '91, and Tiger Driver '85). The selling was just off the charts, the elbow smashes and chops were right on target, the desperation moves were sold very well, and the bumps taken by the athletes have left many with dropped jaws. This was one of the greatest matches in this incredible business, and I wish that I could leave this feud recap at that, but it's not over, as the two had many more battles, and I am going to go indepth on those, too, so don't leave quite yet.
Their next next match came on April 12, 1997 in Match #1of the final round of the AJPW Carnival Tournament. The two began with various holds and counterholds, and 1:55 in, Misawa hit a 360° Tope. Kobashi was dominated by Misawa for the next few minutes, but eventually gained control with a DDT, followed by a German Suplex for the early near fall. Kobashi hit a modified Backdrop Diver for another near fall. A sleeperhold then kept Misawa at bay for two minutes, but he finally dropped Misawa with a release German Suplex at 13:07. He followed this with an elbow suicida and a Top-Rope Somersault Bodypress for a near fall, just as the crowd really began getting interested. A Tiger Splash and Top-Rope Flying Clothesline both got near falls.
Kobashi got in another release German Suplex, followed with a stiff Half-Nelson German Suplex for the near fall as the crowd began roaring their approval. Two powerbombs got another near fall. An attempted lariat by Kobashi was countered with an elbow smash to his arm, causing both men to sell injuries. Misawa took back control with another elbow smash, followed by two Tiger Suplexes for a dramatic near fall at 21:40. Two Tiger-Drivers both got the same results. A running elbow smash was countered by Kobashi's lariat, causing him to once again sell the injury to his arm. A powerbomb got a near fall, and Kobashi did a spectacular suplex/release powerbomb combo for another dramatic near fall. A dropkick got the same result, but after a DDT, Kobashi attempted a lariat but ate an elbow smash for another near fall, just as time expired at 30:00.
PuroresuKing rated the match ****1/2 (stars), which made for a top-notch bout, but, for their standards against eachother, around average, which is nothing to be ashamed of, considering that it's rating makes it one of the top 100 matches ever, if not much better.
The next match between the two occurred on October 21, 1997, and it featured Misawa defending his Triple Crown against Kobashi. The action really began getting hot as Misawa gave Kobashi a 3/4 Falling Frontfaced Neckbreaker, followed by an elbow suicida. He continued dominating with several chops and punches. Kobashi hit a plancha to take the advantage, but when he attempted a powerbomb, Misawa reversed it into a hurricanrana for a near fall. Kobashi stiff-chopped Misawa in the neck a few times, and successfully powerbombed him for a near fall. Misawa took back control with a Tiger Mask-like reverse kick, followed by an elbow smash plancha. He got the near fall with a Tiger-Driver, but Kobashi hit him with a stiff German Suplex, and then proceeded to lock him in a sleeperhold.
The two took a very dangerous risk as Kobashi powerbombed Misawa head first on the top turnbuckle. Two German Suplexes were followed with a near fall, and a powerbomb followed by a moonsault got the same result, just as the fans were really getting into it. After awhile, Misawa took back the advantage with some elbow smashes followed by a rolling kick. Misawa's trademark modified Tiger Suplex was followed by some stiff blows by both, with Misawa eventually coming out on top. The two soon stiff-clotheslined eachother down, and Misawa was the first to rise, Dragon-Suplexing Kobashi. He then hit a Tiger-Driver followed by a rolling elbow smash for the near fall. Some more blows were exchanged before Kobashi connected with a lariat for a near fall. Misawa took back control with an elbow smash, which made for a near fall. Kobashi couldn't hang in anymore, though, as he fell victim to a three count after Misawa's trademark Tiger-Driver at 32:55, allowing Misawa to retain his Triple Crown Title.
PuroresuKing rated this match *****, which, at the time, was their second with that rating.
Their next match came on October 31, 1998, boasting Kobashi defending his Triple Crown against Misawa. Misawa dropkicked Kobashi out of the ring early, but ate foot when he leaped off the ring apron and was hit with Kobashi's own dropkick on the concrete! Kobashi put a submission hold on Misawa's neck and hit him with two backdrop-drivers for the near fall. Misawa caught Kobashi with his trademark elbow smash suicida 25 minutes in. The two then exchanged stiff chops and elbow smashes. Misawa dropped Kobashi with a German Suplex, followed by an elbow smash. He scored a near fall after a Tiger-Driver, and the two then fell victim to a double clothesline when Misawa leaped off the top-rope.
Kobashi hit a stiff Half Nelson German Suplex, followed by a head first powerbomb on the top-turnbuckle. His Dragon-Suplex gained a near fall, and so did a lariat and a Top-Rope Flying Leg Drop. Another head first Powerbomb attempt was countered with a hurricanrana takeover. The highlight of the match then occurred when Misawa Tiger-Drove Kobashi off of the ring apron and onto the concrete floor! It hurt both grapplers, but they soon were back in the ring trading chops and elbow smashes once again. Misawa hit Kobashi two flying somersault leg drops followed by a Tiger-Driver '91, but Kobashi kicked out at 2.9!
They again began exchanging elbow smashes and lariats at the 40:00 mark, and Misawa got a near fall after some more stiff hits followed by a Tiger-Driver, and a running elbow drop got the same result. Some stiff elbow smashes were enough to keep Kobashi down for the 1-2-3 title win, allowing Misawa to regain the Triple Crown Title. Once again, PuroresuKing rated this match *****.
Their next match came on June 11, 1999, and it featured Misawa defending his Triple Crown against Kobashi. Kobashi hit several chops, but Misawa fought back with several elbow smashes. Kobashi connected with a spinning mulekick and spinning chop to Misawa's neck, and followed with two kneelifts before dropping him gut first on his knee for the near fall, early in the match. He locked in a Boston Crab, but released it rather quickly. A painful-looking vertical front suplex got a near fall for Kobashi. Kobashi connected with another kneelift, but Misawa took back control with an elbow smash and leaping lariat. A standing senton bomb connected, knocking Kobashi out of the ring, which didn't provide much safety as he was hit with a baseball slide. Misawa leaped off the apron, but Kobashi caught him in midair and powerslammed him on the concrete floor.
After some more brawling outside of the ring, Kobashi connected with two straight single arm DDT's, focusing on Misawa's injured elbow that had been whipped into the barricade on the outside ring area earlier in the match. A Figure Four Armbar did further damage, and when Kobashi attempted his trademark Half Nelson German-Suplex, only to have it blocked by Misawa, Kobashi rolled him over into a cross-armbreaker. Misawa took back control with several high kicks which eventually knocked Kobashi down, but he was caught with a release German Suplex. When Misawa charged him, Kobashi caught him with a judo throw. Koabshi blocked an elbow smash and hit a Half Nelson German Suplex. He then locked in a Nagata Lock Armbar, and went for a Fujiwara Armbar, only to have Misawa take control back with a DDT. Misawa once again used a Tiger Mask-like kick, which sent Kobashi out of the ring.
Kobashi focused on Misawa's elbow and neck with some stiff chops, but when he tried to suplex him over the top-rope, he landed on his feet and elbow smashed Misawa's knee, and then dropped him off of the ring apron onto the concrete floor with a brutal back suplex drop. Misawa hit his elboiw smash suicida, followed by a Missle Dropkick, as the two went at it back inside the ring. Misawa hit a Tiger Splash, but Kobashi reversed an attempted Tiger-Driver into a back bodydrop. Misawa hit the Tiger-Driver on his second try, but hurt his elbow worse at the same time. He attempted a Tiger-Driver off of the ring apron, but Kobashi back bodydropped him onto the concrete floor. Kobashi reversed an attempted elbow smash into a horrifying Half Nelson German Suplex on the concrete floor!
Back in the ring, an attempted suplex was escaped by Misawa, who turned out getting German Suplexed for the near fall. Kobashi's powerbomb connected, and so did a Top-Rope Powerbomb/Stun Gun combo. He then lifted Misawa up in a vertical suplex, but dropped him into a side-shoulder powerbomb. Kobashi connected with a moonsault for a dramatic near fall. Kobashi missed a lariat, but didn't miss an enzui (back) lariat. Kobashi attempted his Burning Hammer, but Misawa escaped it. He climbed to the top-rope, only to be knocked off and back onto the mat with a short lariat. This resulted in a near fall, which caused Misawa to roll out of the ring to think about. Kobashi attempted a powerbomb on the outside ring area, but Misawa countered it into a hurricanrana which sent Kobashi into the steel barricade.
Back in the ring, Kobashi connected with a leaping knee smash, but missed a lariat, allowing Misawa to drop him with a release German Suplex. Kobashi went for another lariat, but Misawa blocked it and nailed him with an elbow smash, hurting Kobashi's arm relatively badly. Kobashi blocked an attempted Tiger-Driver, but he succumbed to a Tiger Suplex for the near fall. Misawa hit a running elbow smash, and when Kobashi blocked another Tiger-Driver, he was hit with a flying somersault axe-kcik, followed by a Tiger-Driver '91 for 2.9. Misawa missed a roaring elbow smash, allowing Kobashi to drop him right on his head with a stiff release Dragon-Suplex. Kobashi hit a lariat for a near fall, and attempted a lariat, only to get hit with several elbow smashes, including one roaring elbow smash.
Misawa hit a second-rope flying somersault body attack and hit his Tiger-Suplex '85, but Kobashi again kicked out! Kobashi fought back with several chops. Misawa's elbow smashes overpowered him, though, and made him prone for an Emerald Erosion/Frosion/Fusion (Over-The-Shoulder Side Tombstone Piledriver) for the 1-2-3, allowing Misawa to retain his Triple Crown. Yet again, for the third straight time, PuroresuKing rated this match *****. The shocking thing about this performance was that Misawa walked to the ring as if he was in a body cast. His body looked to be extremely stiff and he looked to be in considerable pain, but he and Kobashi managed to put on another ***** match.
The Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa feud will go down as one of the greatest in All Japan Professional Wrestling's illustrious history. Not once did they put on a match that was below ****1/2 (stars), which is something that not Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat, or Ric Flair and Sting were able to do. So, it's pretty simple, as these two put their bodies at considerable risk, and their reward was simple: fan appreciation. In Japan, the fan's attention and praise is all that matters, as they don't look for great storylines or hot chick, but instead, for top-notch work ethic, painful bump-taking, and tremendous emotion. The Kenta Kobashi/Mitsuharu Misawa feud had just that, and that's why these two grapplers will go down as two of the greatest puroresu legends to ever live.
One-On-One Match Results
FINAL TALLY: Kobashi: 0 wins; Misawa: 5 wins; Non-Decisions: 1 time limit draw
UNDISPUTED WINNER of the KENTA KOBASHI vs. MITSUHARU MISAWA feud: Mitsuharu Misawa: 5 wins