THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA

ARTICLE #50
AUGUST 20, 2002

Kawada vs Kobashi

1/19/95 All Japan Triple Crown Title: Toshiaki Kawada (c) vs Kenta Kobashi

Very little of note in the first two minutes, except for a couple tieups. Kawada shoved Kobashi, who responded in kind. Kawada grabbed a headlock, Kobashi shoved him towards the ropes but Kawada tackled Kobashi. Kawada scored with a high kick but Kobashi blocked a second and scored with a spinning chop. Kobashi gave Kawada a lariat but missed a shouldertackle and a dropkick. Kawada landed a high kick but ran into a superkick from Kobashi. Kobashi chopped Kawada and they had a test of strength. Kawada kicked Kobashi's leg to escape. They had a brief mat exchange with neither man sustaining an advantage. Kawada gained the advantage on the mat by riding Kobashi's back and landing some strikes to the back of his head. Kawada applied a surfboard but Kobashi countered and stretched Kawada's arms backwards. Kawada countered and hit a released German suplex for the first real highspot of the match. Kawada hit a sliding dropkick to Kobashi's leg, and Kobashi slumped out of the ring. Kawada bent Kobashi's right leg against the barricade and kicked his knee. Kawada continued to attack the leg in the ring and drove Kobashi's knee into the mat twice. Kobashi fought back with some chops to Kawada's neck. Kawada stretched Kobashi's right leg, and added pressure by pressing his knee against Kobashi's knee (which was bandaged). Kawada went after the leg again but Kobashi countered with elbows to the back of Kawada's neck. Kobashi hit a legdrop on a standing but crouched Kawada, continuing to sell his own knee in the process. Kobashi went after Kawada's neck and legdropped it against the middle rope on the apron. Kobashi whipped Kawada into the barricade and kinda legdropped him against the barricade. Back in the ring Kobashi applied a chinlock and kicked Kawada. Kobashi slammed and legdropped Kawada for a near fall and applied a chinlock. Kobashi went for a dragon sleeper but Kawada reached the ropes. Kobashi gave Kawada a stiff chop to the back of his neck for a near fall. He snapmared Kawada and applied a headscissors. Kobashi kicked Kawada but Kawada responded with a chop. Kobashi gave Kawada a high kick and applied a headlock. Kawada tried to shove Kobashi into the ropes but Kobashi held onto the headlock. Kobashi hit a couple chops and a flying shouldertackle. Kobashi applied a sleeper. Kawada backed Kobashi into a corner and gave him a spinning chop. Kawada landed a few chops and elbows. Kobashi went for a jumping knee in the corner but Kawada blocked it and shoved him to the mat. Kawada rammed Kobashi into opposite corners. Kawada went for a suplex but Kobashi countered with a suplex of his own after much struggling. Kobashi went for a tiger suplex but Kawada reached for the ropes. Kawada absorbed some chopd from Kobashi and Kobashi rammed him into opposite corners. Kawada gave Kobashi a high kick and a dropkick. Kobashi absorbed some chops from Kawada but Kawada scored with a hard chop to Kobashi's neck, which Kobashi sold huge. Kawada slammed Kobashi on the floor and hit a foot stomp off the apron. Back in the ring Kawada slammed Kobashi and hit a second rope foot stomp. Kawada applied a facelock but Kobashi reached the ropes. Kawada gave Kobashi a stiff kick to his back, slammed him and kicked his back again. Kawada applied a sleeper but Kobashi reached the ropes. Kawada then reapplied the sleeper in the middle of the ring and wrapped his legs around Kobashi for leverage. Kawada powerbombed Kobashi and dropped him on his head with a backdrop driver. Kobashi blocked a second powerbomb attempt and dumped Kawada over the top rope. Kawada whipped Kobashi into the barricade but Kobashi responded with a tackle. Kawada met Kobahsi on the apron with an elbow and gave him a lariat, causing Kobashi to collapse back to the floor. Kobashi blocked an elbow and punched Kawada. He went for a top rope shouldertackle but Kawada gave him a roundhouse kick in mid-air. However, Kawada injured his left knee in the process to bring his achille's heel into play. Kobashi dropkicked Kawada's knee as heat increased. Kobashi drove Kawada's knee into the mat twice and applied a figure 4 leglock. Kawada kept trying to push towards the ropes but Kobashi kept pulling him back to the middle of the ring. Kawada finally reached the ropes after a lengthy struggle and Kobashi threw him out of the ring. Kobashi gave Kawada a kneebreaker on a ringside table. Back in the ring Kobashi applied a half crab and stood one foot on Kawada's head. Kawada escaped with a kick to Kobashi's face but Kobashi chopped his knee a few times. They exchanged slaps and Kobashi applied a Texas cloverleaf on Kawada but Kawada quickly grabbed the ropes. Kobashi reapplied the cloverleaf but Kawada reached the ropes again. Kobashi kicked Kawada's knee and grabbed his leg. Kobashi blocked an enzuguiri but Kawada dropkicked his knee twice. Kobashi then kicked Kawada's knee and Kawada sold huge. Kawada slammed Kobashi and gave him alternating chops and roundhouse kicks to his chest and back for a near fall. Kawada landed more chops for a near fall. Kobashi countered a powerbomb with a backdrop. Kawada kicked Kobashi but Kobashi countered a powerbomb with a backdrop again. Kawada gave Kobashi a couple high kicks in the corner. Kobashi chopped Kawada, absorbed a high kick and gave him a lariat. Kobashi gave Kawada a ton of chops to his neck and then gave him Kawada's own trademark chop sequence. Kobashi powerbombed Kawada but Kawada kicked him while on his back. Kobashi landed a couple chops and went for an Irish whip but Kawada collapsed and Kobashi gained a near fall. Kobashi back suplexed Kawada but Kawada countered a second with elbows to the neck. Kawada scored with a spinning chop but Kobashi dropkicked him. Kobashi missed a lariat but bulldogged Kawada. Kobashi gave Kawada two legdrops and slammed him. Kobashi went for a moonsault but Kawada moved away. Kobashi DDTd Kawada twice and slammed him again. Kobashi missed a moonsault. They traded chops but Kobashi gained the advantage with a savate kick. Kawada absorbed a ton of chops from Kobashi and scored with a couple chops of his own. Kobashi blocked a lariat but Kawada gave him a jumping kick. Kawada hit a second jumping kick for a near fall and a powerbomb for a dramatic near fall. Kawada gave Kobashi a back suplex (almost a backdrop driver actually) for a heated near fall. Kobashi blocked a stretch plum and armdragged Kawada. Kawada kicked Kobashi's leg and applied a stretch plum. Kawada gained a near fall with the hold and reapplied the stretch plum for another near fall. Kobashi blocked a jumping kick but Kawada elbowed him and kicked him in the leg. Kawada missed an enzuguiri and Kobashi gave him a running elbow. Kobashi gave Kawada a couple high kicks but Kawada blocked a dragon suplex. Kobashi hit an enzuguiri but Kawada countered a back suplex with elbows to the neck. Kobashi blocked a stretch plum and gave Kawada a rolling cradle for a near fall. Kobashi landed a couple chops and blocked a spin kick from Kawada. Kobashi clotheslined Kawada for a near fall and powerbombed him for a heated near fall. Kobashi slammed Kawada and moonsaulted him for a very dramatic near fall. Kobashi slammed Kawada but missed a second rope legdrop. Kobashi went for a dragon suplex but Kawada reached the ropes. Kawada countered a dragon suplex with a chop and gave Kobashi two koppo kicks for a near fall. Kawada dropped Kobashi on his head with a dragon suplex for a super near fall. Kawada gave Kobashi some knees to the head and went for a back suplex but Kobashi fell on top of him. Kobashi blocked a high kick but missed a spinning chop. He German suplexed Kawada for a near fall. Kawada countered a German suplex and hit an enzuguiri and an ax kick. Kawada gave Kobashi a released German suplex on his head but Kobashi lunged for the ropes to avoid the pin. Kawada hit a second brutal released German suplex and went for a powerbomb but Kobashi blocked it as time expired at 60:00. This is one that old school fans and purists will enjoy. Very different from some of the more recent All Japan classics in that it avoided some of the excesses, such as too much head-dropping and being too spot-intensive, of such matches. Not a ton of high spots in this one, and very little in the way of hot pacing. In fact, much of the match was slow-paced. They milked every hold and move for all they were worth and fans picked up on it, as they responded to just about everything during the second half. Not many near falls, but every one generated good fan heat. Both men looked sharp, with Kawada being right at home in a long match setting. It was clear that Kawada was superior from a story perspective, with Kobashi being the underdog. Kobashi basically looked strong just by surviving 60 minutes and kicking out of the near falls down the stretch. One of the cooler selling spots saw Kawada do the suplexes near the end and having Kobashi lunge for the ropes not only to avoid the pin, but also to avoid another blow. One could interpret this as Kobashi realizing he couldn't put Kawada away, but could try to hang on for a draw, which would be his best result yet in a singles match with Kawada. Both men sold their leg injuries well, Kawada in particular again as he showed off the psychology and selling that made him arguably the greatest physical storyteller ever. I can see some being bored with this match, but it's just not for them. This is the match to track down for learning all the basics and nuances of putting together the flawless match. *****

10/18/96 All Japan Triple Crown Title: Kenta Kobashi (c) vs Toshiaki Kawada

Kawada scored first with a high kick in the corner. Kobashi kicked Kawada in the leg. Kobashi missed a spinning chop and Kawada dropped him on his head with a backdrop driver. Kobashi blocked a jumping kick, Kawada gave him a high kick, but Kobashi responded with a lariat. Kobashi knocked Kawada off the apron with an elbow and gave him a baseball slide kick. Kawada blocked a powerbomb attempt but Kobashi gave him a bunch of chops to the neck. Kobashi applied a sleeper, snapmared Kawada and applied a headscissors. Kobashi stomped Kawada and gave him another chop to the neck but Kawada responded with a chop to Kobashi's neck. Kobashi landed a few chops and both men blocked the other's suplex attempt. Kawada went for an armbar but Kobashi kicked his leg and chopped him. Kawada blocked a high kick and chopped Kobashi right in the ear, which Kobashi sold big. Kobashi fought back with some slaps and gave Kawada a high kick. Kobashi gave Kawada a flying shouldertackle. He missed a lariat but chopped Kawada. Kawada fired back with a sharp jumping kick and landed another hard slap. Kawada kicked Kobashi and gave him a couple knees to the head. Kobashi landed a chop but Kawada responded with two high kicks and more knees to the head. Kawada gave Kobashi some kneelifts to his body and Kobashi rolled out of the ring. Kobashi landed some chops and whipped Kawada into the barricade but ran into a high kick. Kawada scored with two more high kicks on the floor and stomped Kobashi. Kawada kicked Kobashi as Kobashi continued to sell his ear area. Kawada landed two more high kicks at ringside and met him on the apron with more knees to the head. Kawada applied a half crab on Kobashi's left leg but Kobashi soon reached the ropes. Kawada landed a high kick and applied a facelock. Kawada gained a near fall and reapplied the facelock. Kawada took Kobashi down with a headlock and held onto Kobashi when he tried to whip him across the ring. Kawada kneedropped Kobashi and gave him more knees to the head. Kobashi chopped Kawada but Kawada kicked him. Kawada blocked a back suplex but Kobashi blocked a lariat. Kobashi fought back with several chops to Kawada's neck and back suplexed him. Kawada caught Kobashi with a knee to the head, a couple high kicks and more knees to the head but Kobashi stood his ground. Kobashi scored with two spinning chops but continued to sell his injured ear. Kobashi landed a third spinning chop and DDTd Kawada twice. Kobashi legdropped Kawada twice and slammed him. Kawada rolled out of the way before Kobashi could attempt a moonsault. Kobashi landed some kneelifts and vertical suplexed Kawada. Kawada blocked a powerbomb attempt but Kobashi gave him a modified legdrop. Kobashi gave Kawada a savate kick and powerbombed him. Kobashi hit a stiff short lariat for a heated near fall at about the 22:00 mark. Kobashi missed a lariat and Kawada dropped him on his head with a released German suplex. Kobashi got right back up but ran into a jumping kick from Kawada, who gained a near fall. Kobashi countered a powerbomb with a backdrop but Kawada scored with an enzu-lariat. Kawada dropped Kobashi on his head with a backdrop driver and applied the stretch plum. Kawada gained a near fall with the hold and then reapplied it. Kobashi reached the ropes after a lengthy struggle and tumbled out of the ring in a neat psychological spot. Kawada landed some kicks to Kobashi's head as well as a couple roundhouse kicks in the corner. Kawada high kicked Kobashi in the corner and delivered some kicks to his left leg. Kobashi blocked a roundhouse kick and gave Kawada a dragon screw in a great way to revive the story of Kawada's oft-injured knee. Kawada landed some elbows but Kobashi gave him another dragon screw. Kobashi applied a half crab despite some desperation kicks from Kawada. Kobashi kicked Kawada's leg and gave him a kneebreaker. Kobashi dropkicked Kawada's leg and applied a figure 4 leglock after absorbing some kicks to his head. Kawada finally reached the ropes after a lengthy struggle. Kawada countered a kneebreaker with elbows to Kobashi's neck and Kobashi punched Kawada and folded him up with a released German suplex. Kawada blocked a dragon suplex but Kobashi gave him a brutal released German suplex. Kobashi slammed and legdropped Kawada, then moonsaulted him for a heated near fall. Kobashi powerbombed Kawada for a heated near fall. Kobashi gave Kawada a kick, kneelift and a high kick but Kawada fought back with a jumping kick. Kawada scored with a high kick but ran into a superkick and both men hit simultanious lariats. Kobashi blocked a jumping kick but Kawada connected with a second one. Kawada gave Kobashi a jumping knee and powerbombed him for a dramatic near fall. Kobashi blocked a powerbomb attempt but Kawada gave him an ax kick. Kawada finally powerbombed Kobashi after a lengthy struggle for another dramatic near fall. Kobashi landed some kicks to Kawada's left leg and dropkicked it. Kobashi blocked a roundhouse kick and gave Kawada a dragon screw. Kawada and Kobashi exchanged kicks but Kawada scored with a punch. Kobashi chopped Kawada and countered a back suplex by falling on top of him for a near fall. Kobashi hit a lariat but sold his arm like he was injured. Kobashi hit a western lariat (left arm, ala Stan Hansen) while selling his right arm and gained a near fall. Kawada blocked a dragon suplex and a German suplex and elbowed Kobashi. Kawada chopped Kobashi's neck and hit a koppo kick for a delayed near fall. Kawada gave Kobashi several short enzu-lariats and dropped him again with a backdrop driver. Kobashi lunged for the ropes again like in their 1995 match. Kawada went for a powerbomb but his left leg collapsed under the weight. Kobashi blocked a spinning kick and elbowed Kawada's right leg, then dropped him on his head with a back suplex (almost a backdrop driver this time). Kobashi dropped Kawada right on his head with a backdrop driver for a great near fall. Kawada blocked a lariat and armdragged Kobashi, then applied a cross armbreaker. Kawada kicked Kobashi but missed a lariat. Kawada ducked a lariat and applied a Fujiwara armbar on Kobashi, pulling on the arm in dramatic fashion as well. Kobashi escaped and hit an enzuguiri. Kawada scored with two jumping kicks and knocked Kobashi off the apron into the barricade with a high kick. Kobashi went for a tiger suplex but Kawada slumped forwards into the ropes. Kobashi landed two enzu-lariats and tiger suplexed Kawada for a delayed near fall. Kawada blocked a German suplex and Kobashi kicked him. Kobashi gave Kawada a high kick and a lariat for a near fall. Kobashi hit a released German suplex but Kawada responded with a high kick. Kobashi gave Kawada a lariat for a near fall and applied a sleeper. Kobashi gave Kawada an Ace crusher in the only move of the match with shoddy execution. Kobashi went for a moonsault but Kawada held onto his leg. Kawada chopped Kobashi in the neck but Kobashi responded in kind. Kawada high kicked Kobashi and hit a spinning superkick. Kawada hit a top rope kneedrop for a near fall. Kobashi blocked a dragon suplex by grabbing the ropes and Kawada kicked him. Kawada finally dropped Kobashi on his head with a dragon suplex but Kobashi blocked a powerbomb attempt. Kawada high kicked Kobashi in the corner and went for a powerbomb but Kobashi blocked it again. Kobashi kicked kawada in the head a few times and gave him a northern lights suplex for a near fall. Kawada countered a northern lights suplex but Kobashi gave him a backslide for a dramatic near fall. Kobashi gained another near fall but Kawada blocked a powerbomb as time expired at 60:00. This match falls short of their 1/19/95 classic in that it wasn't as flawlessly laid out from start to finish, and not every move had meaning or enough time to register. However, this match beats that one in several ways, in some ways by a wide margin. Many more hot moves and exchanges in this one, and much more head dropping, which makes for a dramatic match but can be annoying to purists. The pacing was much hotter in this match, which had its slow segments but was laid out in such a way that the outcome and match length was in doubt for a much bigger percentage of the match. In other words, while it seemed obvious very early in their 1995 match that they were going long, they did a better job of making the fans guess this time around. Both men had something to prove, Kawada was determined to regain the triple crown after two failed attempts to win the tag team title, while Kobashi still had never gained a singles win over Kawada. Kobashi looked stronger here than in 1995, and did some of his best selling ever because his expressions were focused and not as overdone as usual. Of course Kawada's selling was beautiful as usual for a big match outing. Very well laid-out match that would appeal much more to American fans than the 1995 match, and thus one of the best 60:00 matches ever. *****

4/12/97 1997 Carnival Tournament Final, Match 3: Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi

Kawada took Kobashi down and went for a cross armbreaker but Kobashi escaped. Kawada took Kobashi down with a headlock, Kobashi countered with a headscissors but Kawada escaped. Kobashi went after Kawada with several kneelifts and a couple chops. They exchanged stiff chops. Kobashi blocked a roundhouse kick and gave Kawada a dragon screw. Kawada responded with a high kick but sold his injured leg as well. Kawada landed a high kick but missed a lariat. Kawada blocked a German suplex and went after Kobashi's arm. Kawada kneedropped Kobashi's arm but missed a second kneedrop and Kobashi applied a half crab. Kobashi gave Kawada a kneebreaker and dropkicked his left leg. Kobashi went to apply a figure 4 leglock but Kawada chopped him. Kobashi won an exchange of chops but hurt his arm doing a spinning chop to Kawada's neck. Kobashi vertical suplexed Kawada for a one count. Kawada blocked a powerbomb attempt and applied a Fujiwara armbar on Kobashi. Kobashi reached the ropes and rolled out of the ring. Kawada met Kobashi on the apron with some elbows. Kobashi countered a Fujiwara armbar, so Kawada went for a cross armbreaker, which he applied after a brief struggle. Kobashi reached the ropes but Kawada kneedropped his arm. Kawada landed some roundhouse kicks to Kobashi's arm and rammed the arm into the ringpost. Kawada landed more roundhouse kicks on the floor and back in the ring. Kawada gave Kobashi's arm a couple pumphandles and roundhouse kicks. Kobashi fought back with a couple savate kicks and a shouldertackle. Kobashi hit a flying shouldertackle and a lariat with his injured right arm, which he sold. Kobashi went after Kawada's leg and Kawada tried to kick him away, but Kobashi stomped him. Kobashi folded up Kawada with a released German suplex but ran into a high kick. Kawada gave Kobashi an arm toss and a jumping kick but Kobashi fired back with a lariat before collapsing himself. Kobashi landed a couple elbows but Kawada fought back with more pumphandles on his arm, including one across the top rope. Kawada chopped Kobashi but Kobashi countered a triangle armbar or armbar of some sort. Kobashi blocked a jumping kick but sold his arm and Kawada went for a cross armbreaker, which Kobashi blocked. Kawada kicked Kobashi twice and went for the cross armbreaker again but Kobashi countered with some chops to his neck. Kawada landed a roundhouse kick but Kobashi responded with a chop and two DDTs. Kobashi legdropped Kawada but Kawada blocked a powerbomb attempt. Kobashi legdropped a standing but crouched over Kawada and powerbombed him for a near fall. Kobashi slammed Kawada but Kawada stood up before Kobashi could try a moonsault. Kobashi hit a second rope legdrop on a standing Kawada for a near fall. Kobashi hit an enzu-lariat but ran into a jumping kick. Kawada dropped Kobashi on his head with a backdrop driver and hit a jumping kick for a heated near fall. Kobashi blocked a powerbomb but Kawada then applied a Nagata lock or similar armbar. Kobashi countered but Kawada turned it into a cross armbreaker. Kawada applied a stretch plum and gained a near fall. Kobashi chopped Kawada but Kawada responded with a high kick. Kobashi landed more chops but Kawada responded with an enzu-lariat and an enzuguiri. Kawada countered a lariat but Kobashi rolled out of a Fujiwara armbar attempt. Kawada hit a short lariat for a near fall and a powerbomb for a dramaric near fall. Kawada hit a jumping kick but Kobashi responded with some chops. Kawada chopped Kobashi and hit two koppo kicks. Kawada gave Kobashi a jumping kick and pinned him at 21:27 to win the Carnival Tournament for the second time. Kobashi still failed to get the monkey off his back and pin Kawada for the first time in a singles match. Although Kobashi probably needed the win, it wasn't his time because Kawada would face Misawa for the triple crown in an epic classic two months later, and Kobashi did hold Misawa to a 30:00 draw in his best result to date against the champ. This match is much better appreciated as a continuation of the previous two matches (Misawa vs Kobashi, Misawa vs Kawada) of the Carnival Tournament final series, as both men were physically weakened (Kobashi more than Kawada) before the bell sounded for this finale. Not a ton of great spots or hot sequences, but enough to make for an excallent match. The mechanics, such as psychology and selling were strong as well. Perhaps this could have been more memorable had they gone for more near falls early on, since they could have done so on the premise of both being softened up by their previous matches. A very fitting conclusion to the tournament quality-wise, and excellent on its own standing but not quite a classic like many of their other singles matches. ****1/4

6/12/98 All Japan Triple Crown Title: Toshiaki Kawada (c) vs Kenta Kobashi

Footage began at 15:00, with Kawada countering a German suplex attempt and giving Kobashi a kick to the face. Kawada gave Kobashi a high kick but Kobashi caught Kawada and dropped him on his head with a half nelson German suplex (tiger suplex '85 I think). Kawada blocked a powerbomb attempt and high kicked Kobashi but Kobashi scored with a spinning chop to Kawada's neck. Kobashi then powerbombed Kawada and gave him a brutal released tiger suplex, which Kawada sold beautifully by slumping over in the ropes. Kobashi gained a heated near fall and slammed Kawada. Kobashi climbed the ropes but Kawada grabbed him. Kobashi fought Kawada off with chops and went for a top rope shouldertackle but Kawada gave him a jumping kick in mid-air. Both men traded chops to the neck. Kobashi caught Kawada attempting a spin kick but Kawada kicked him with his free leg ala Misawa. Kawada alternated chops to Kobashi's chest and roundhouse kicks to his back, each of which were stiff as you would expect. Kobashi blocked a vertical suplex and fell on top of Kawada for a near fall. Kawada caught Kobashi with a high kick, gave him an enzu-lariat and gave him a jumping kick. Kawada dropped Kobashi on his head with the backdrop driver for a delayed, heated near fall. Kobashi blocked a powerbomb attempt so Kawada gave him knees to the head and an ax kick. Kawada then powerbombed Kobashi for a great near fall. Kawada gave Kobashi a high kick and powerbombed him after a lengthy struggle for a dramatic near fall. Kawada applied a stretch plum but Kobashi reached the ropes after a few seconds. Kawada landed three roundhouse kicks to Kobashi's back and gave him a near-vertical backdrop driver before reapplying the stretch plum. Kawada gained a near fall after using the hold. Kawada attempted a powerbomb but Kobashi countered with a backdrop after a lengthy struggle, only to have Kawada bounce back up and flatten him with a high kick. Kobashi chopped Kawada but Kawada responded with a high kick, then knocked Kobashi down to win a second exchange. Kawada gave Kobashi a running high kick in the corner and gave him more kicks in the corner. Kobashi blocked a roundhouse kick and grabbed Kawada's leg but Kawada fired back with desperation chops, only to have his fears realized when Kobashi gave him a dragon screw to his chronically injured/attacked left leg. Kawada landed a weak high kick (part of the story, not his inability to execute) but Kobashi fired back with a lariat for a great sudden near fall. Kobashi slammed and legdropped Kawada twice. Kawada rolled away when Kobashi began to climb the ropes for a moonsault. Kobashi won an exchange of chops and powerbombed Kawada for a near fall. Kobashi delivered a second powerbomb and moonsaulted Kawada for a great near fall. Kobashi went for a lariat but ran into a savate kick and Kawada gave him a koppo kick. Kawada hit a high kick but Kobashi blocked a jumping kick and scored with a lariat. Kawada gave Kobashi a jumping kick and both men sold the wear and tear of the match. Kobashi gained a delayed near fall. They exchanged chops but Kawada went for a triangle armbar, then turned it into a cross armbreaker on Kobashi. Kawada landed a bunch of roundhouse kicks but Kobashi responded with a lariat. Kawada blocked a jumping knee and shoved Kobashi to the mat. Kobashi ran into a high kick but missed a lariat and Kawada gave him an enzuguiri in the corner. Kobashi then hit Kawada with a lariat for a very heated near fall. Kobashi absolutely clocked Kawada hard with a short lariat and pinned him at 33:49 (18:00 aired) to win the title. Great post-match scene as fans rushed the ringside area. Just one month after the chase of the century was completed by Kawada pinning Misawa for the first time ever in a singles match (and to win the title), Kobashi finally completed his chase of Kawada with his first singles pin over Kawada, also to win the title. I don't know how this one built, but what aired was very heated and hot most of the time. Lots of head dropping, which might annoy some, but it made sense. After all, Kobashi knew Kawada was stronger than ever after defeating Misawa, while Kawada knew Kobashi was gaining on him in their singles series and was trying to fight time itself. After both men traded all the head drop moves in their arsenal, you had some dramatic exchanges near the end with their knockout blows, in particular Kawada's jumping kick and high kick, and Kobashi's lariat. Many such blows were delivered on pure adrenaline, made apparent by the man delivering the blow often collapsing as well as his victim. As man great near falls as you could ask for, as part of a great sense of urgency displayed by both men with the title on the line. Not nearly as psychologically sound as their previous classics, so this one falls short because of that. Still, this was one of the few matches Dave Meltzer significantly underrated (****), because the work was just too spectacular and dramatic for a grade of excellence. Not the best Kawada-Kobashi match, not the best match of 1998, but a definite classic. ****1/2

1/23/00 Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi

This was Kawada's first match back from his second major injury, suffered the previous July against Misawa, and fans were very excited to see him back. Kawada immediately flattened Kobashi with a high kick at the bell. They traded chops, with neither man giving in. Kawada gave Kobashi a backdrop driver, and Kobashi rolled to the floor. As Kobashi stood up on the apron, Kawada ran across the ring and punted him into the barricade with a high kick. Kobashi got back on the apron, but Kawada gave him a jumping kick. Kawada gave Kobashi some kicks to the head. He chopped Kobashi and gave him two roundhouse kicks. Kawada landed more chops, absorbed a chop from Kobashi and gave him a high kick. Kawada gave Kobashi three kneelifts. Kobashi countered a suplex attempt and vertical suplexed Kawada. Kobashi landed several chops and won an exchange of very stiff slaps. Kobashi gave Kawada a jumping knee in the corner and followed with a couple kneelifts for a near fall. Kobashi applied a Boston crab until Kawada reached the ropes. Kobashi stomped Kawada and chopped him. Kawada fought back with several roundhouse kicks to Kobashi's left leg but Kobashi gave him an enzuguiri while both men were down on the mat. Kawada gave Kobashi a savate kick and a running high kick in the corner, and Kobashi slumped out of the ring. Kawada whipped Kobashi into the barricade and punted him over the barricade into the crowd with a high kick. Kobashi gave Kawada some chops to the neck but Kawada responded with kicks to the head and gave Kobashi an ax kick. Kawada hit an enzuguiri but Kobashi responded with a lariat from the apron for a delayed near fall. Kobashi delivered several chops to Kawada's neck and gave him a svate kick. Kobashi then hit a legdrop on a standing Kawada (almost an ax kick) and slammed him. Kawada caught Kobashi climbing the ropes but Kobashi gave him more chops. Kobashi slammed and legdropped Kawada but Kawada rolled away before Kobashi could attempt a moonsault. Kawada caught Kobashi with a kick to the head and a high kick but Kobashi applied a sleeper. Kawada reached the ropes but Kobashi reapplied the sleeper in the middle of the ring, then gained a near fall after using the hold. Kawada countered a half nelson German suplex with some chops but Kobashi gave him a spinning chop to the neck and powerbombed him for a near fall as heat picked up. Kawada countered a half nelson German suplex by grabbing the ropes, then blocked a tiger suplex attempt. Kawada countered a German suplex with a drop down kick and caught Kobashi with a jumping kick. Kawada began to sell his right leg. Kobashi blocked a powerbomb so Kawada gave him a knee to the head, then a slap, roundhouse kick and jumping kick. Kawada then powerbombed Kobashi for a dramatic near fall. Kobashi countered a backdrop driver with an elbow but Kawada kicked his leg and gave him the backdrop driver. Kawada went for a powerbomb but Kobashi countered right before impact. Kawada landed a couple roundhouse kicks but Kobashi blocked a third and chopped him. Kawada fired back with slaps, a kneedrop and a kneelift. Kobashi missed a lariat anfd Kawada grabbed his arm and maveuvered him around into a cross armbreaker as heat picked up again. Kawada gave Kobashi more kneelifts and a backdrop driver. Kobashi virtually no-sold a high kick and blocked a jumping kick from Kawada. Both men hit simultanious lariats, with Kobashi winning out because he had more momentum behind his. Kobashi gained a delayed near fall and gave Kawada a released tiger suplex. Kawada kicked Kobashi's leg but Kobashi chopped his neck. Kobashi powerbombed Kawada for a near fall and gave him a short lariat for the pin at 18:15 (17:12 aired). It made sense for Kobashi to win within the context of Kawada having his first match back from an injury. Kawada looked really strong and very intense early on, fighting as if he had something to prove after a lengthy injury sabbatical. Since that was the main story, their previous battles seemed to take a back seat in terms of psychology for the most part. In particular, the leg injury storyline for Kawada didn't come into play, and instead his injury (broken eye socket, or eardrum?) was focused on a bit. Smart finish with Kobashi revisiting the finish of their 1998 classic, which was a big turning point in Kobashi's career. Not a long match and much shorter than many of their previous battles, but they took a back seat to the Triple Crown title match (Vader-Akiyama) that followed. The weakest of the five matches in this article from a psychology standpoint, this match also had the weakest sustained heat of the five, with fans quiet at some key times towards the middle of the match. Too bad this would be their final singles match against each other, as fate would separate them five months later with the Noah split. Still, this was a fine way to go out, with yet another classic match. ****1/2

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