ALL JAPAN PRO WRESTLING 30
March 10, 1996
1) Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama
Taue punted Akiyama with a high kick and dropped him neck first on the top rope. Kawada dominated Akiyama with moves such as a high kick and an enzuguiri. Taue gave Akiyama another high kick and a four way fight broke out. Taue gave Kobashi a nodowa and powerbombed Akiyama for an early near fall as heat picked up. Taue went to give Akiyama a nodowa off the second rope but Akiyama countered with an armdrag. Taue high kicked Akiyama and Kawada just chopped and kicked the crap out of Akiyama. Akiyama fought back with a ton of elbows and finally got the better of Kawada with a lariat for a pop. Kobashi threw a bunch of chops at Taue and hit a jumping knee in the corner. Kobashi gained a near fall on Taue with a legdrop. Kobashi gave Taue a lariat and a tackle for a near fall. Kobashi hit two legdrops on Taue but Taue fought back. Kawada and Kobashi exchanged matwork, which was solid but sucked the heat out of the match. The heat picked up when Akiyama tagged in. Kawada was stiff on the mat but Akiyama held his own. Kawada gave Akiyama tons of kicks and knees but Akiyama responded with a northern lights suplex. Akiyama gave Kawada an exploder. Akiyama and Taue had a heated and spirited exchange ending with Akiyama hitting an exploder for a pop. Akiyama gave Kawada a jumping knee. Akiyama and Kobashi gave their opponents simultaneous German suplexes and Akiyama gained a near fall on Kawada. Kawada slugged Akiyama but Kobashi tagged in and gave Kawada his own chop-drop sequence as well as a series of kicks and chops for a near fall. Kobashi legdropped Kawada and moonsaulted him for a near fall. Kobashi missed a second moonsault and Taue gained a near fall on Kobashi with a nodowa. Taue tried to give Kobashi a nodowa off the apron to the floor but Akiyama intervened. Akiyama knocked Taue off the apron with an elbow and gave him a northern lights suplex for a near fall. Taue fought back and Kawada held Kobashi at bay with a jumping kick. Kawada hit Akiyama with a lariat and a high kick. Taue powerbombed Akiyama and dropped him head first on the top turnbuckle. Taue went to powerbomb Akiyama but Kobashi gave him a lariat. Kawada dropped Kobashi on his head with a backdrop driver. Taue and Kawada gave Akiyama a nodowa-back suplex combo and Taue gained a heated near fall. Taue gained a near fall on Akiyama with a dynamic bomb. Kawada locked a stretch plum on Kobashi as Taue gave Akiyama a second dynamic bomb for the pin at 20:39. An excellent match with the only weak point being Kobashi vs Kawada on the mat. The main focus was Akiyama, and he was fantastic in his underdog/rising star role. Kawada was at his best as well. ****1/4
BACK TO MY TV REVIEWS MENU
HOME