THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA

ARTICLE #20
DECEMBER 31, 2001

The Misawa-Kobashi Classics

This is probably the greatest one-sided feud in All Japan history. After all, Kawada gained a couple wins over Misawa late in their feud. Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi were actually tag team partners from 1993-1995, and were arguably the most dominant team in All Japan history winning three consecutive Real World Tag League tournaments. Their matches against each other during that period were always great, but they lacked the chemistry that both men could generate against their archrival Toshiaki Kawada. When the team split, however, that would change. Their Carnival tournament match on 3/31/96 (which I don�t have on tape) was the first indication that they had found their rhythm with each other. Yet how could anyone have predicted that they would put out arguably the match of the year for 1997, 1998 and 1999? Many of their best matches were showdowns over the Triple Crown title, and five of the six matches reviewed here had that title on the line.

10/25/95 Triple Crown Title: Misawa (c) vs Kobashi

Kobashi hit a lariat early and the two had a hot exchange of offense. Misawa dominated Kobashi as footage picked up towards the middle of the match. Misawa hit an elbow suicida on Kobashi and gained a near fall with a tiger splash. Misawa tiger suplexed Kobashi for a near fall at 20:00. Misawa gave Kobashi a brutal released tiger suplex for a pop and Kobashi rolled out of the ring. Misawa gained a heated near fall after a roaring elbow. Kobashi fought back and legdropped Misawa. Kobashi German suplexed Misawa for a near fall as heat picked up. Kobashi powerbombed Misawa and added a dropkick for a near fall. Kobashi gave Misawa another powerbomb for a near fall. Kobashi legdropped Misawa 3 times and moonsaulted him for a dramatic near fall as fans went nuts. He landed a second moonsault but hurt himself in the process. Misawa kicked Kobashi but Kobashi responded with a lariat. He gave Misawa a second lariat and an elbow. Kobashi gave Misawa a released German suplex but Misawa responded with a stiff elbow, yet Kobashi then dropkicked Misawa for a near fall in a fantastic sequence. Kobashi went for a powerbomb but Misawa countered with a huracanrana. Misawa scored with a series of elbows and gained a near fall. Misawa dropped Kobashi on his head with a released tiger suplex for a near fall. Misawa gave Kobashi several more elbow strikes. Kobashi kept trying to fight back and scored with a chop to Misawa�s neck. Kobashi gave Misawa something of a dangerous backdrop but Misawa knocked him down with a roaring elbow. Finally Misawa dropped Kobashi on his head with a tiger driver �91 and pinned him at 35:50 to retain the title. A great match with a super final ten minutes. They did a great job portraying Kobashi�s tenacity and it was also interesting to see Misawa use his tiger driver �91 instead of his regular and less dangerous tiger driver to put Kobashi away. ****1/2

1/20/97 Triple Crown Title: Kobashi (c) vs Misawa

Misawa and Kobashi traded chops early. Kobashi tackled Misawa but Misawa fought back with a ton of elbows and a dropkick. Misawa knocked Kobashi out of the ring with a baseball slide kick and hit his elbow suicida. Misawa back suplexed Kobashi back into the ring and gave him a standing senton for an early near fall. Kobashi blocked a tiger driver attempt and won an exchange with a spinning chop and a DDT for a near fall. Kobashi threw a bunch of chops, Misawa landed a couple elbows but Kobashi scored with a couple spinning chops. Misawa countered a vertical suplex attempt but Kobashi gave him a kneelift. Kobashi gave Misawa two more knees to the gut and a Russian legsweep for a near fall. Kobashi landed a chop, Misawa responded with an elbow, but Kobashi then kneed him in the gut again. Kobashi gave Misawa a face front vertical suplex and applied an overknee surfboard of sorts on Misawa. Misawa landed an elbow but Kobashi tackled him. Kobashi gave Misawa another knee to the gut and applied an abdominal stretch. Kobashi landed a couple chops and superkicked Misawa but Misawa then knocked Kobashi down with an elbow. Misawa landed a couple elbows and a spinning kick for a near fall. Misawa applied a conventional surfboard but Kobashi turned the hold around once they regained their feet. Misawa then hit a cool dropkick and Kobashi ran right into an elbow strike, although Misawa appeared to hurt his elbow at that moment. Misawa hit a twisting dropkick off the second rope and Kobashi rolled out of the ring. Back in the ring Misawa double arm suplexed Kobashi. Kobashi landed some chops but Misawa won the exchange with his elbows. Misawa slammed Kobashi and hit a second rope elbow and a top rope tiger splash for a near fall. Misawa applied a camel clutch at 11:40. Misawa then applied his old facelock submission. Misawa landed a couple elbows and kicks but Kobashi responded with several chops. Misawa threw more elbows but Kobashi responded with some chops. They traded high kicks. Misawa won a heated exchange of strikes with an elbow that sent Kobashi out of the ring. Misawa jumped off the apron but Kobashi moved and Misawa crashed right elbow-first onto the barricade to commence one of the main stories of the match. As Misawa got on the apron, Kobashi gave him a lariat that sent him crashing back into the barricade. Kobashi then gained a near fall back in the ring as heat mounted. Misawa fired back with an elbow but Kobashi aborted his comeback and dropkicked Misawa�s bad elbow in the corner. Kobashi then pushed Misawa elbow-first into the barricade and repeatedly attacked the bad elbow using the barricade as a weapon-like prop. Kobashi further attacked Misawa�s elbow with a pumphandle armbreaker in the corner. Kobashi gave Misawa a single arm DDT while holding onto Misawa�s injured right elbow. Kobashi went for a cross armbreaker but Misawa reached the ropes. Kobashi attacked the elbow with a couple chops in the corner and another single arm DDT for a near fall. Kobashi used the pumphandle move three times as Misawa unsuccessfully tried to fight back. Misawa landed an elbow at ringside but it had no effect. Kobashi threw a couple kicks and dropped Misawa on his head with a half nelson German suplex. Kobashi then applied an armbar similar to the Nagata lock in WCW. Misawa fired back with an elbow but Kobashi then caught him and applied a Fujiwara armbar. Kobashi landed more chops and continued to attack Misawa�s right elbow. Kobashi gave Misawa a released German suplex but Misawa rolled through. Misawa charged with an attempted elbow strike but Kobashi gave him a judo throw and applied a cross armbreaker. Kobashi threw more chops, blocked a kick and gave Misawa a captured back suplex of sorts. Misawa kicked a charging Kobashi. Kobashi attempted a lariat but Misawa elbowed his outstretched arm, establishing another �injury� storyline in the match. Right after the impact both men sold their injuries to perfection as heat reached a fever pitch. Misawa knocked Kobashi into the barricade with a baseball slide kick and followed with a twisting tope. Misawa gained a near fall back in the ring and hit a flying lariat. Kobashi blocked a tiger driver attempt and again went for a lariat but Misawa elbowed his arm. Misawa gave Kobashi a released German suplex and a tiger driver for a near fall. Misawa won an exchange with an elbow strike. He attempted a top rope dropkick but Kobashi countered with a lariat in mid-air with his bad arm, after which he gained a near fall yet continued to sell the damage to his arm. Kobashi powerbombed Misawa for a heated near fall. Kobashi gave Misawa two legdrops and a vertical suplex dropped into a powerbomb for a near fall. Misawa blocked a lariat attempt with his elbow again but Kobashi maintained the advantage. Kobashi attempted to powerbomb Misawa from the apron to the floor but Misawa countered with a huracanrana in perhaps the spot of the match. Both men were slow to roll back into the ring. Misawa gave Kobashi a couple elbows, a lariat and a German suplex. Misawa gave Kobashi two roaring elbows but missed a third and Kobashi gave him a lariat. Misawa landed more elbows but Kobashi dropped him on his head with a brutal released German suplex. Misawa fought back with an elbow to Kobashi�s back and gave him a released tiger suplex for a near fall. Kobashi missed a roundhouse chop and Misawa gave him a tiger driver �91 for a super near fall. Kobashi hit a desperation lariat but it didn�t have much effect. Misawa gave Kobashi a released dragon suplex. He then knocked out Kobashi with a running elbow strike and pinned him at 42:06 to win the title for the third time. A definitive, textbook All Japan classic. Their selling was so great in that they never overlooked the details of their �injuries�, and that they also varied in their selling. For example, when Misawa�s elbow was first damaged, he reacted almost as if the arm went numb because Kobashi had caused so much damage as opposed to crying out in pain. When Misawa elbowed Kobashi�s arm, Kobashi more or less cried out in pain, but that worked perfectly since it was such a spontaneous counter that not only did he not �expect� Misawa to be capable of, Kobashi had a look of panic as if to temporarily say �there just went my most dependable weapon�. The pacing was perfect and disguised the match length so well until the very end since they mixed key spots, near falls, and injury spots so effectively throughout the match. Not as many near falls as many other ***** All Japan classics, but every near fall in the last 20 minutes had a sense of urgency. Although Misawa vs Kawada from 1994 might have been more technically flawless in some respects, this match would likely appeal to an �outsider� fan unfamiliar with the All Japan genre more than that match. *****

4/12/97 Carnival Tournament Finals Match 1: Misawa vs Kobashi

This was far from their best match. Then again, they had four ***** classics between 1997 and 1999. All the great moves and psychology were present, just not at their very top level. The start was great as both men countered or negated each other's moves. Misawa hit his 360 degree tope at 1:55. He dominated Kobashi for the next few minutes. Kobashi hit a DDT and a German suplex for an early but heated near fall. Kobashi gained a near fall with some type of captured backdrop driver. He then applied a sleeper on Misawa for two minutes. Misawa finally fought back with a released German suplex at 13:07. Misawa followed up with an elbow suicida and a top rope flip bodypress for a near fall as crowd heat began to pick up. He gained subsequent near falls on Kobashi with a tiger splash and a top rope lariat. Kobashi dropped Misawa on his head with a released German suplex and followed up with a brutal half nelson German suplex for a dramatic near fall. Kobashi powerbombed Misawa twice for a great near fall. Kobashi went for a lariat, but Misawa elbowed the arm after which both men sold the damage to their limbs. Misawa gave Kobashi an elbow and two tiger suplexes for a great near fall at 21:40. Misawa then gained a near fall with a tiger driver. Misawa gained a near fall on Kobashi using another tiger driver. He went for a running elboe but Kobashi countered with a lariat yet continued to sell his bad arm. Kobashi powerbombed Misawa for a near fall. Kobashi gave Misawa a move that started out as a suplex but ended as a released powerbomb for a heated near fall. Kobashi gained another near fall with a dropkick. Kobashi DDTd Misawa and went for a lariat but Misawa blocked it with his elbow. Kobashi gained another near fall before time expired at 30:00. Excellent match with a great second half. ****1/2

10/21/97 Triple Crown Title: Misawa (c) vs Kobashi

From a technical standpoint this is probably their second best match against each other trailing only their epic from the previous January. This match had all the spots and drama you would expect from these two. Misawa gave Kobashi an Ace crusher as television footage began and then gave him an elbow suicida. Misawa continued to dominate the action and won an exchange of strikes. Kobashi turned things around and hit a plancha for a pop. Kobashi attempted a powerbomb but Misawa turned it into a huracanrana for a near fall. Kobashi's chops to Misawa's neck were brutally stiff. He powerbombed Misawa for a near fall. Misawa gave Kobashi a cool reverse kick reminiscent of his days as Tiger Mask. Misawa then hit a plancha on Kobashi, hitting him with his elbow in the process. Misawa gained a near fall on Kobashi with his tiger driver. Kobashi gave Misawa a great German suplex dropping him on his head and then locked him in a sleeper. In the move of the match, Kobashi powerbombed Misawa, dropping him head first onto the top turnbuckle. He then gained a dramatic near fall after a pair of German suplexes. Kobashi powerbombed Misawa and then moonsaulted him for a great near fall as fans started to go nuts. Misawa fought back with an elbow and a rolling kick. Misawa used his unique version of a tiger suplex on Kobashi. The two exchanged stiff blows with Misawa coming out on top. The two lariated each other in a dramatic spot. Misawa dragon suplexed Kobashi and gained a near fall with a tiger driver and another with a rolling elbow. They exchanged blows again and Kobashi gained a near fall with a lariat. Misawa elbowed Kobashi for a dramatic near fall before pinning him at 32:55 after a tiger driver. Super match that built in spots, drama and selling as it progressed. Basically the two best workers in wrestling delivering their expected potential quality match. *****

10/31/98 Triple Crown Title: Kobashi (c) vs Misawa

This was their typical classic match with super spots, pacing and selling. Kobashi was heavier than ever coming off a knee injury, yet he had a super outing nonetheless. Misawa dropkicked Kobashi out of the ring but met a dropkick himself when jumping off the ring apron. Kobashi worked on Misawa's neck for a stretch and gave him two backdrop drivers for a near fall. Misawa gave Kobashi his elbow suicida about 25 minutes into the match. The two had an exchange of stiff chops and elbows. Misawa German suplexed Kobashi and elbowed him. Misawa then scored a near fall on Kobashi with a tiger driver. Both men lariated each other as Misawa came off the top rope. Kobashi gave Misawa a brutal half-nelson German suplex and then powerbombed him head-first on the top turnbuckle. Kobashi dragon suplexed Misawa for a dramatic near fall. Kobashi lariated Misawa for a near fall and gained another after a top rope legdrop. Kobashi again went to powerbomb Misawa head-first on the turnbuckle but Misawa countered with a huracanrana. In the biggest spot of the match, Misawa gave Kobashi a tiger driver off the ring apron to the floor. Both men sold that move huge. The two exchanged chops and elbows again. Misawa gave Kobashi two somersault legdrops and a tiger driver 91 for a super near fall. Misawa and Kobashi elbowed and lariated each other at the same time at the 40 minute mark. Misawa won another exchange of stiff blows and gained a near fall with a tiger driver. Misawa used a running elbow for a great near fall. Misawa then knocked Kobashi out with a series of killer elbows and scored the pin at 43:29 to regain the Triple Crown. Super finish and Misawa's elbows are the most credible in the business. Also, there was great psychology playing off the finishes of their previous classic matches. *****

6/11/99 Triple Crown Title: Misawa (c) vs Kobashi

Misawa was moving around really stiff, like he was carrying lead weights throughout his body, ad did not have a look of comfort on his face before the match. Kobashi landed a bunch of chops but Misawa responded with a bunch of elbows as footage began. Kobashi scored with a spinning mule kick and a spinning chop to Misawa�s neck. Kobashi gave Misawa two kneelitfs and dropped him gut first on his knee for an early near fall. He then applied a Boston crab on Misawa briefly. Kobashi gave Misawa a vertical face front suplex for a near fall. Kobashi scored with another kneelift but Misawa fought back with an elbow and a flying lariat. Misawa hit a standing senton and knocked Kobashi out of the ring with a baseball slide kick. Misawa jumped off the apron but Kobashi caught him and powerslammed him on the floor. Kobashi whipped Misawa into the barricade. Misawa blocked an attempted powerbomb off the apron and landed an elbow, but Kobashi then attacked his elbow with a pumphandle. He then drove Misawa right elbow-first onto the barricade. Kobashi continued to attack the elbow and also gave Misawa a kick against the barricade. Kobashi attacked the elbow with more pumphandles and drove it right onto the turnbuckle bolt in the corner. Back in the ring Kobashi gave Misawa two single arm DDTs while holding Misawa�s damaged right elbow. Kobashi then applied a figure 4 armbar of sorts. Misawa tried to fight back with an elbow but it had no effect. Misawa blocked a half nelson German suplex but Kobashi rolled over him into a cross armbreaker in a really neat spot as heat reached a fever pitch due in part to Misawa�s dramatic selling. Misawa fought back with several kicks and knocked Kobashi down with a high kick. Kobashi caught Misawa and dropped him with a released German suplex. Misawa got right back up and charged but Kobashi gave him a judo throw. Kobashi blocked an elbow and dropped Misawa on his head with a half nelson German suplex. Kobashi then applied a Nagata lock armbar as heat again reached a fever pitch. Kobashi attempted to apply a Fujiwara armbar but Misawa rolled through and fought back with a DDT. Misawa gave Kobashi a kick reminiscent of his Tiger Mask days and Kobashi rolled out of the ring. Kobashi attacked Misawa�s elbow and neck with chops and tried to suplex him over the top rope to the floor but Misawa landed on his feet at ringside, elbowed Kobashi�s knee and back suplexed him from the apron to the floor. Misawa hit his elbow suicida and hit a top rope dropkick back in the ring. Misawa hit a tiger splash for a near fall. Kobashi countered a tiger driver with a backdrop but Misawa recovered and gave Kobashi a tiger driver on a second attempt but further damaged his right elbow in the process. Misawa attempted to give Kobashi a tiger driver from the apron to the floor but Kobashi countered with a backdrop. Kobashi whipped Misawa towards the barricade, Misawa put on the brakes and turned, Misawa went for an elbow strike but Kobashi caught him and dropped him on his head with a brutal half nelson German suplex on the floor. Kobashi attempted to suplex Misawa back into the ring but Misawa countered. Kobashi recovered and German suplexed Misawa for a near fall. Kobashi powerbombed Misawa and then went for a second powerbomb and turned it into a stun gun on Misawa on the top rope. Kobashi lifted Misawa in a brainbuster position but dropped him like a sideways powerbomb for a near fall. Kobashi moonsaulted Misawa for a dramatic near fall. Kobashi missed a lariat but landed an enzu-lariat. Kobashi attempted his burning hammer out of the corner but Misawa repeatedly countered. Kobashi knocked Misawa off the top rope to the canvas with a stiff short lariat almost reminiscent of the classic 1993 Hansen-Kobashi match where that very move did Kobashi in. Kobashi gained a heated near fall and Misawa rolled out of the ring. After a series if counters, Kobashi attempted a powerbomb on the floor but Misawa countered with a huracanrana that sent Kobashi into the barricade in an amazing spot by All Japan standards. Back in the ring Kobashi hit a jumping knee but missed a lariat. Misawa gave Kobashi a released German suplex, Kobashi bounced right back up and went for a lariat but Misawa blocked it with his elbow, which hurt Kobashi�s arm in a spot reminiscent of their 1/97 classic. Kobashi blocked a tiger driver attempt but Misawa then gave him a tiger suplex for a near fall. Misawa hit a running elbow strike. Kobashi blocked a tiger driver attempt but Misawa gave him a somersault axe kick and then a tiger driver �91 for a super near fall where the fans yelled �three� since they were so sure it would be the finish. Misawa missed a roaring elbow and Kobashi dropped him almost straight down on his head with a brutal released dragon suplex. Kobashi gave Misawa a lariat for a heated near fall. Kobashi attempted another lariat but ran into several elbows including a roaring elbow. Misawa came off the second rope with a somersault body attack and gave Kobashi his tiger suplex �85 for a near fall. Kobashi tried to fight back with a ton of chops but Misawa landed several elbows and gave Kobashi an emerald erosion for the pin at 43:40 (about 31 minutes aired). Just an amazing display of guts, stamina and everything that made the All Japan style great. Not as great as the 1/20/97 epic because the heat and excitement weren�t as constant in the first half of this match, nor did the content in the first half of this match have as much meaning as in the 1/97 match. However, the pacing was still perfect, the selling top-notch, and the collection of spots in this match may have been the most spectacular of any of their classic matches. Most of all, this was one of Misawa�s most amazing performances. He walked so rigidly to the ring, almost like he was in a body cast, and clearly was in discomfort with every movement. Yet he somehow gutted out a performance which, taking into consideration his biggest bumps, should have put him in traction, but ended up being perhaps his most underrated performance. Kobashi was at his very best as well. They did something here that not even the amazing Misawa-Kawada feud accomplished- this became the third Misawa-Kobashi classic to become match of the year- and for the third consecutive year! *****

Next Issue: Do You Believe In Miracles?!

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