ALL JAPAN PRO WRESTLING 30

9/7/97

1. All Japan Triple Crown Title: Mitsuharu Misawa (c) vs Jun Akiyama

Akiyama held his own against Misawa on the mat early. Akiyama dropkicked Misawa out of the ring and gave him an elbow off the apron. Akiyama came off the top rope but Misawa elbowed him in mid-flight. Misawa back suplexed Akiyama and came off the top rope but Akiyama dropkicked him in mid-air. Misawa recovered and DDTd Akiyama. Misawa gained a near fall with a tiger splash after which he applied a facelock. Misawa landed several elbows and went for a tiger driver but Akiyama blocked it. Misawa knocked Akiyama out of the ring with a kick and hit an elbow suicida. Misawa gained a near fall with a tiger driver. He won an exchange of elbows and German suplexed Akiyama but Akiyama responded with a running elbow. Misawa hit a standing senton and went for a tiger suplex but Akiyama countered and hit a lariat. Akiyama hit a released German suplex and a jumping knee. Akiyama gained a near fall with an exploder. Misawa countered a second rope exploder attempt and hit a second rope dropkick. Akiyama scored with a second exploder and gave Misawa a knee drive off the apron. Akiyama hit two German suplexes, a jumping knee and blue thunder for a heated near fall. Misawa countered an exploder but Akiyama dropkicked him and gave him a jumping knee in the corner. Akiyama gained a near fall with an exploder and another with a second exploder. Misawa blocked dragon and German suplex attempts by Akiyama. Akiyama piledrove Misawa and gave him two swinging neckbreakers. Akiyama DDTd Misawa twice and hit a top rope elbow strike for a heated near fall. Misawa fought back and scored with a running elbow. Misawa gave Akiyama a tiger suplex, a roaring elbow, and gained a near fall with a tiger driver. Akiyama dropkicked Misawa’s left knee and hit an exploder. Misawa fought back with an enzuguiri and a released German suplex. Misawa flattened Akiyama with an elbow and won another exchange of elbows. Misawa gained a near fall with a German suplex. He countered an exploder attempt and hit a running elbow. Misawa gained a near fall with a tiger driver and pinned Akiyama at 24:57 after a second tiger driver (20:59 aired). An excellent match befitting of Akiyama’s first Triple Crown title shot. They could have worked more dramatic storylines into the match, but that would not have been appropriate at this point. The lack of heat, especially early, hurt a bit. ****

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