ALL JAPAN PRO WRESTLING 30 TV
September 13, 1998
1) All Japan Triple Crown Championship: Kenta Kobashi (c) vs Akira Taue
Taue dropkicked Kobashi to the apron and booted him into the barricade. Taue then hit a tope suicida and dropped Kobashi neck-first onto the barricade. Taue gained a near fall with a high kick. Kobashi tried to fight back with chops but Taue booted him again. Taue scored with two more boots and a dropkick in the corner. Taue attempted to give Kobashi a nodowa off the apron to the floor but Kobashi countered and DDTd Taue on the apron. Kobashi went for a plancha but Taue caught him and attempted to give him a nodowa but Kobashi regained the advantage with a spinning chop. Kobashi powerbombed Taue on the floor and gained a near fall back in the ring. After a series of counters Taue dropped Kobashi neck-first on the top rope. Both men exchanged DDTs. Kobashi German suplexed Taue but Taue then booted Kobashi for a pop. Kobashi gained a near fall with an inverted DDT and another with a powerbomb. Taue fought back with a dropkick as Kobashi was going up for a moonsault attempt. Taue gave Kobashi a double underhook/belly to belly suplex twice for a near fall. Taue German suplexed Kobashi and hit a running jumping boot for a near fall as heat picked up. Taue gave Kobashi a nodowa off the apron to the floor and gained a near fall in the ring. Kobashi blocked a nodowa attempt and Taue blocked a sunset flip attempt. Taue gained a heated near fall with a nodowa and another with a dynamic bomb. Kobashi fought back with a lariat but Taue recovered. Taue hit another high kick but missed one in the corner and Kobashi gave him a released tiger suplex. Taue scored with a couple high kicks but Kobashi responded with a lariat for a near fall. Kobashi moonsaulted Taue for a great near fall. Taue tried to fight back but Kobashi flattened him with a lariat and pinned him at 25:39 (18:48 aired). This turned out to be a super match that was maybe even better than their 7/24/96 match in which Kobashi won the TC for the first time. ****1/4