THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA

ARTICLE #51
SEPTEMBER 2, 2002

Turmoil, Transition and Triumph: All Japan's Best of 2000

2000 was not a kind year to All Japan. With the Noah split towards the middle of the year, as well as the end of their 28 year run on Nippon TV, All Japan was depleted of most of its meaningful talent with a few exceptions and also left without a national weekly TV show. But All Japan survived and weathered the storm, and 2000 has to be looked at as a very successful year for them given the circumstances they faced. Their in-ring product was a big success story on both ends. Before the split, there were only a couple classic matches, but numerous excellent and memorable ones. Even after the split All Japan produced two memorable Budokan Hall main events that compared favorably with the unparallelled standard set before them. Although it could easily fit into this article, the Kawada vs Kobashi match that aired on the same TV show as Vader vs Akiyama will be left to the previous Credenza and not looked at again here. This article takes a look at five of All Japan's best and most significant matches from the year 2000.

1/23/00: All Japan Triple Crown Title: Vader (c) vs Jun Akiyama

Akiyama scored with an elbow right after the bell sounded and stomped Vader. Vader tried to score with one of his clubbing blows but Akiyama scored with more elbows and pummeled Vader in the corner in heelish fashion. Vader gave Akiyama a clubbing forearm and sidestepped an attempted dropkick to his leg. Vader landed several stiff blows on Akiyama but missed a lariat. After a lengthy struggle, Akiyama shocked Vader with a German suplex for a pop and dropkicked his knee before delivering a second German suplex. Akiyama hit a running elbow for a surprisingly heated near fall given how early it was. Vader left the ring but Akiyama gave him a jumping knee off the apron to the floor. Vader fought back with a couple forearm smashes and rammed Akiyama into the announcers' table. Akiyama then rammed Vader into the table and whipped him into the barricade. Akiyama charged but Vader steamrolled through him. Vader landed a couple punches and gave Akiyama a nodowa onto the ringside table. Vader pounded Akiyama and powerbombed him on the floor. Vader went to hit Akiyama with a chair but the ref stopped him. Back in the ring Vader landed several clubbing blows in the corner and slammed Akiyama. Vader gave Akiyama two Vader bombs (2nd rope reverse splashes) for a near fall and two short lariats. He back suplexed Akiyama for a near fall. Vader scored with more stiff body blows and applied a Fujiwara armbar. Vader steamrolled through Akiyama with a bodyblock and hit a big splash for a near fall. Vader applied a chinlock and slammed Akiyama. He went for a Vader bomb but crashed onto Akiyama's knees. Vader kinda blocked a dropkick and elbowsmashed Akiyama for a near fall. Vader missed a corner splash and Akiyama back suplexed him. Akiyama elbowed Vader but Vader blocked an exploder attempt and landed a couple punches. Akiyama caught Vader with a dropkick to the gut and gave him a dragon screw. Akiyama hit a top rope dropkick to Vader's left leg and applied a leglock briefly. Akiyama kicked Vader's leg in the ropes and dropkicked it. Vader freed himself and caught a charging Akiyama with a bodyblock. Vader went up for a Vader bomb but Akiyama caught him on the second rope and powerbombed him for a near fall. Akiyama hit a top rope jumping knee and gave Vader an exploder for a heated near fall. Akiyama hit a jumping knee in the corner and gave Vader an exploder for another heated near fall. Akiyama jumped off the top rope but Vader powerslammed him in mid-air for a near fall. Vader powerbombed Akiyama for a near fall and gave him a nodowa for another near fall but Akiyama surprised Vader by grabbing his arm and applying a cross armbreaker. Akiyama gave Vader's arm a pumphandle but Vader caught him and launched him into orbit with a spectacular released German suplex that folded Akiyama up for a dramatic near fall. Vader gave Akiyama a brutal nodowa and pinned him at 16:13 to retain the title. A fantastic title match, nearly flawless given both men's styles. There were a couple good submission spots, but they weren't effectively included from a psychology standpoint and thus didn't add the the match. Otherwise, the work was exactly what you could ask for with Vader turning in one of his last gems, mainly due to his brutality. Akiyama proved an ideal opponent because he took everything Vader hit him with, only to come back with great intensity. Actually, Akiyama started out attacking Vader with great intensity and confidence, proving he had grown and matured as a worker. It was a nearly perfect performance for Akiyama given the climax of his push that would come one month later. Another plus, and it also proved Akiyama had grown, was the great fan heat. Fans believed right from the start that Akiyama could become the champ, and rarely quieted down for any extended period of time. An excellent match, not quite a classic, but one I think most fans could enjoy. ****1/4

2/27/00: Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jun Akiyama

They started out slowly, feeling each other out. They traded elbows, Misawa blocked a jumping knee, missed a lariat, sidestepped a dropkick to his legs and dropkicked Akiyama. Misawa hit a jumping elbow off the apron. Misawa hit a top rope dropkick and a flying clothesline. Misawa gave Akiyama a standing senton. He blocked a jumping knee in the corner and elbowed Akiyama before applying a chinlock. Misawa landed more elbows but Akiyama responded with an elbow of his own. Misawa gave Akiyama more elbows. Akiyama whipped Misawa into the corner but ran into an elbow. Misawa missed an elbow off the second rope and Akiyama gave him a jumping knee. Misawa left the ring but caught Akiyama and whipped him into the barricade. Misawa charged but Akiyama caught him with a drop toehold sending him face first into the barricade in a neat spot. Akiyama dropped Misawa neck first across the barricade and gave him a kick off the apron into the barricade. Akiyama elbowed Misawa's neck across the apron and gave him a kneedrop on the apron. Akiyama piledrove Misawa on the floor to surprisingly little heat. Akiyama gave Misawa an exploder off the apron to the floor in a spectacular spot I don't recall seeing anywhere else. Akiyama won an exchange of elbows and DDTd Misawa for a near fall. Akiyama applied what looked a little like a cross armbreaker but had his right leg behind Misawa's neck, adding more pressure on the neck as opposed to focusing entirely on the arm. Neat spot again, but fans didn't know how to respond. Akiyama turned it into more of a standing armbar and Misawa reached the ropes. Akiyama gave Misawa several elbows in the corner including some to Misawa's shoulder. Akiyama snapmared Misawa and dropkicked him from behind before applying a neck vice of some sort, then gained a near fall. Akiyama kneedropped Misawa twice and elbowed him in the neck before applying a chinlock. Akiyama applied a headscissors and gained another near fall as he continued to attack Misawa's neck. Akiyama applied a sleeper but Misawa backed him into a corner and elbowed him. Misawa then hit Akiyama so hard in the face with a kick he appeared to break his nose. Misawa hit a running elbow and applied a facelock to little heat because the move has become rather stale. Misawa snapmared Akiyama and reapplied the facelock but fans still didn't respond. Misawa then applied a facelock while holding Akiyama's arm back. Misawa elbowed Akiyama. Akiyama whipped Misawa into the corner but ran into a double boot. Akiyama recovered and knocked Misawa off the top rope to the floor with a dropkick in another spectacular spot by All Japan standards. Akiyama hit a jumping knee off the apron and gave Misawa a knee drive into the barricade. Back in the ring Akiyama gained a near fall. Akiyama gave Misawa a cradle piledriver right on his head which Misawa sold huge. Akiyama then hit a top rope elbow strike and an exploder for a heated near fall as fans came alive. Akiyama applied the modified cross armbar again to better heat. Akiyama went for a brainbuster or suplex but Misawa countered and dropkicked him. Misawa kneedropped Akiyama and hit a tiger splash for a near fall. Akiyama countered a tiger driver but Misawa countered an exploder with an elbow to the back of Akiyama's neck. Misawa German suplexed Akiyama for a near fall. He elbowed Akiyama in the corner and landed more elbows. Misawa then gave Akiyama a tiger driver for a near fall. Akiyama countered an emerald frosien (or erosion?) but Misawa gave him a released German suplex. Misawa gave Akiyama a tiger driver for a heated near fall. Akiyama caught Misawa with a high kick but Misawa responded with an elbow. Akiyama gave Misawa two exploders in quick succession to great heat. Akiyama hit a jumping knee in the corner and an exploder for a dramatic near fall. Akiyama gave Misawa a brainbuster for a near fall and then a wrist clutch exploder '98 for the pin at 23:40. It's too bad, because this was a sensational match with a truly historic result but fans responded to neither like they should have. Ten years earlier, Misawa pulled off the upset of the decade by cleanly pinning Jumbo Tsuruta before a white hot crowd, which reacted to the result with great excitement and emotion as thousands cried. A star was born, and it was the most historical classic match of the decade because it laid the groundwork for All Japan's hot box office and classic matches for most of the 1990s. This time it was Misawa who was the veteran star, not the triple crown champ but still long considered the promotion's cornerstone. Akiyama had been Misawa's main understudy before becoming Kobashi's teammate. Akiyama was the rising star this time, and had never pinned Misawa or even Toshiaki Kawada in a major singles match. Definitely a big upset, but not as monumental because at least one could see this one coming, if only faintly. The work itself wasn't flawless, but very effective in that it was focused and told a compelling story. Akiyama showed unprecedented aggressiveness and creativity, coming up with several new moves or variations of moves. He focused his attack on Misawa's neck, and that work was strong but lacked heat. Fans did respond to most of the near falls down the stretch, and Akiyama showed the fire an form that made him one of my favorite workers from 1996 on. Had fans been more responsive to some of the work towards the middle of the match, this would have been a classic. Instead, it falls just a hair shy of that status, but still one of the most memorable matches of 2000. A very high-end ****1/4.

4/15/00 2000 Carnival Tournament Final: Kenta Kobashi vs Takao Omori

Omori slapped Kobashi early. Kobashi chopped Omori but Omori responded with a kick and European uppercut. Kobashi won an exchange of chops but Omori dropkicked him and kneedropped him. Omori applied a chinlock on Kobashi. Kobashi landed more chops but Omori responded with European uppercuts. Kobashi scored with several chops to Omori's neck and vertical suplexed him before applying a chinlock. Kobashi stomped Omori and whipped him into the barricade. Kobashi chopped Omori clear over the barricade into the crowd. Back in the ring Kobashi stomped Omori and gave him some kneelifts before applying an abdominal stretch. Kobashi landed some chops but Omori tackled him. Both men attempted suplexes but Omori then dropkicked Kobashi's right knee twice. Omori rammed Kobashi's knee into the ringpost twice and whipped him into the barricade. Omori atomic dropped Kobashi onto a ringside table and applied a leglock on the floor. Back in the ring Omori stomped Kobashi's knee and gave it a kneedrop. Omori bent Kobashi's leg back similar to a half crab, and pulled his arm back for added leverage but Kobashi reached the ropes with his free arm. Omori applied a figure 4 leglock on Kobashi, who reached the ropes after a while. Omori rammed Kobashi's knee into the apron twice and rammed him into the barricade. Omori tied up Kobashi's knee in the barricade and kicked the knee. Back in the ring Omori applied a sharpshooter, raking Kobashi;s eyes when he tried to counter in a small heel tactic made more effective within the setting. Heat mounted as Kobashi finally reached the ropes to esacpe. Omori kicked Kobashi's knee repeatedly but Kobashi rose up. Kobashi caught Omori with a chop to the neck and some chops to his head. Kobashi limped around selling his injured knee and delivered more chops to Omori in the corner. Kobashi ran into an elbow and a kick, and Omori gave him a swiniging neckbreaker. Omori hit a top rope dropkick for a near fall. Kobashi countered a German suplex with elbows and chops but missed a chop and Omori dragon suplexed him twice in succession for a very heated near fall as the crowd ignited rather quickly. Now the crowd sounded like in a triple crown match. Omori ran into a couple rolling chops and Kobashi gave him a released German suplex. Kobashi gave Omori a running neckbreaker and a half nelson German suplex for a great near fall. Kobashi slammed Omori but Omori caught him on the top rope and powerbombed him out of the corner. Omori hit a bombs away (top rope kneedrop) for a near fall but ran into a superkick. Kobashi missed a lariat, Omori missed an ax bomber but Omori then scored with a spin kick. Omori hit two ax bombers for a dramatic near fall but went for a third and Kobashi caught him in a sleeper. Kobashi turned it into a brutal cross between a half nelson and a cobra clutch suplex (think of an inverted head and arm Tazplex, with Omori facing away from Kobashi instead of facing him). Kobashi gave Omori a savate kick. Omori countered a powerbomb but Kobashi flattened him with a lariat for a very heated near fall. Kobashi went for a powerbomb and gave Omori one although he tried to counter. Kobashi then hit a powerbomb with Omori going head first into the top turnbuckle for a delayed near fall. Omori threw some hard slaps but Kobashi responded with equally stiff spinning chops. Kobashi gave Omori a half nelson German suplex. Omori landed a lariat but Kobashi absorbed it and flattened him with a lariat of his own. Kobashi then knocked Omori silly with a second lariat for the pin at 25:12 to win the tournament. They could not have done a better match, and this is one I'll probably appreciate more every time I see it. Omori showed a patience, maturity and intelligence in the ring that had been quite overdue, although he had started to mold into a very effective worker during the previous year. His working on Kobashi's leg certainly wasn't exciting, but effective given his heelish persona and not overdone as well. Kobashi's selling of the damage to his leg was some of the better selling I recall seeing from him, and while fans were quiet, you could see them taking this work in. Was the slow build worth it? Fans answered with a most resounding "yes" once they went to their signature spots. Almost instantly the crowd ignited in its heat and didn't quiet down for the rest of the match. Fans popped for every near fall down the stretch in such a way it might as well have been Misawa vs Kawada in the final. Omori's work had been so flawless and mature that fans bought the idea of him winning during the last several minutes. While there was some head dropping, it was kept under control so such spots registered maximum impact with the crowd. Both men looked really sharp in executing their signature moves, including their lariats and ax bombers. I feel like Kobashi was the better worker, but he certainly wasn't carrying Omori at all. Just a beautiful match to watch given how fans responded to it and because they were able to draw enormous heat without being as spot intensive as in the closing stretches of many late 90s All Japan classics. Slightly better than Kobashi vs Kawada (see Credenza 50), mainly given the setting and impact of this match. ****1/2

7/23/00: Stan Hansen & Maunakea Mossman vs Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada

Kawada took Mossman down early but Mossman held his own on the mat. Kawada took Mossman down again and used an armlock. Kawada slammed Mossman and punted his back hard. Mossman threw some sharp roundhouse kicks to Kawada's leg and one to his body. Kawada and Mossman exchanged high kicks but Mossman then scored with more roundhouse kicks. Kawada landed some kneelifts to Mossman's body and his usual stiff roundhouse kick. Mossman fired back with a high kick but Kawada responded with some chops in the corner. Tenryu and Kawada tackled Mossman and then Tenryu went after Hansen, which really popped the crowd. Hansen and Tenryu had a real intense exchange of chops and other strikes. Tenryu landed some chops but Hansen responded with headbutts that knocked Tenryu down. Mossman then formally tagged Hansen into the match. Tenryu threw some stiff chops and gave Hansen a running lariat in the corner. Hansen blocked a chop, elbowed Tenryu and knocked him down with a chop of his own. Hansen punched and elbowed Tenryu as a big "Hansen" chant broke out (and with good reason, more on that later). Tenryu finally got the better of Hansen with a chop and some punches. Kawada gave Hansen several knees to the head but Hansen responded with some punches. Kawada hit Hansen with more knees to the head and gave him a high kick in the corner. Kawada gave Hansen a second high kick and Tenryu followed with an enzuguiri from the apron. Kawada landed a stiff kneedrop to Hansen's face and some roundhouse kicks. Hansen fought back with punches and an elbow, then elbowed Tenryu on the apron. Kawada gave Hansen a high kick but Hansen responded with more punches and elbowed Kawada. Hansen kicked Kawada and tagged Mossman. Mossman landed some kneelifts and dropkicked Kawada. Mossman elbowsmashed Kawada and slammed him. Mossman gave Kawada a Vader bomb (reverse second rope splash). Kawada and Mossman exchanged chops and slaps but Kawada gained the advantage with a savate kick. Kawada high kicked Mossman and Tenryu added a stiff chop. Tenryu chopped Mossman in the corner, snapmared him and punted his back ala Kawada. Tenryu applied what looked like a modified WAR special on Mossman but Hansen interfered. Tenryu applied a chinlock on Mossman and suplexed him for a near fall. Tenryu bent Mossman's arm back with a modified chicken wing but Hansen broke the hold again. Mossman fought back with some elbows, a roundhouse kick and a chop, then dared Tenryu to take his best shot. Mossman absorbed some chops and high kicked Tenryu, then hit him with a barrage of chops, elbows and kicks. Hansen pulled Tenryu out of the ring, chopped him and whipped him into the barricade. Hansen tackled Tenryu and knocked him over the barricade. Hansen landed several punches on Tenryu but Tenryu ducked a chop and Hansen hit the ringpost. Mossman tried to intervene but Tenryu rammed him into the barricade. Kawada gave Hansen a series of chops but Hansen responded, with of all things, an enzuguiri! From a broken down 51 year old man! Well it wasn't pretty, but looked good enough that it worked beautifully and popped the crowd. Kawada wasn't pleased and responded with more stiff kicks but Hansen caught his right leg and kicked it. Hansen gave Kawada a kneelift, an acceptable roundhouse kick and a stiff chop. Hansen held Kawada and Mossman hit him with a running kick. Mossman DDTd Kawada and Kawada rolled out of the ring. Mossman whipped Kawada into the barricade and knocked him over the barricade with a sharp roundhouse kick. Kawada countered a back suplex with elbows but Mossman elbowed Kawada and gave him what looked like a back suplex into a rock bottom. Hansen and Mossman booted Kawada, then gave him duel roundhouse kicks. Hansen elbowsmashed Kawada and kicked his back. That seemed to awaken Kawada as he responded with hard slaps. Hansen won an exchange of punches and gave Kawada some elbows. Hansen gave Kawada a kneelift to the head, which Kawada sold as only he could by slowly slumping down in the corner. Mossman threw a superkick at Tenryu on the apron. Mossman gave Kawada a jumping knee in the corner. Kawada blocked a suplex but Mossman turned it into a Fujiwara armbar attempt. Kawada countered but Mossman stayed with him and went for a cross armbreaker. Kawada countered and landed some slaps from the mount position, but Mossman fired back with slaps of his own. Hansen kicked and kneelifted Kawada. He snapmared Kawada and applied a chinlock while holding Kawada's arms back. Kawada hit Hansen with a kick to the face while both men were down. Hansen back suplexed Kawada for a one count. Mossman and Hansen elbowed Kawada. Mossman gave Kawada his Hawaiian crusher (that's what the announcer called it) and stomped him. Mossman tried to whip Kawada across the ring but Kawada caught him with a great brutal savate kick to the face. Tenryu gave Mossman some punches and a lariat. He gave Mossman an enzuguiri for a near fall and applied the WAR special. Tenryu stiffed Mossman with more chops but Mossman countered a powerbomb with a kick to Tenryu's head as Tenryu started to lift him up. Mossman gave Tenryu a nice mid-ring tornado DDT. Tenryu blocked a German suplex by reaching the ropes but Hansen elbowed him. Mossman kicked Tenryu and German suplexed him for a near fall as heat picked up. Mossman went for a Hawaiian crusher but Kawada intervened with a kick. Tenryu gave Mossman an enzu-lariat and slammed him. Tenryu gave Mossman a top rope elbowsmash and Kawada followed with a kneedrop. Tenryu gave Mossman a northern lights bomb but Hansen intervened before a pin could be attempted. Kawada went after Hansen but Hansen gave him several punches. Kawada high kicked Hansen. Kawada then gave Hansen an enzuguiri right as Tenryu gave him a jumping kick to the face. Hansen gave Tenryu his western lariat but Kawada knocked him down with a jumping kick. Mossman covered Tenryu for a heated near fall. Kawada gave Mossman an enzuguiri and won an intense exchange of slaps. Both men attempted simultaneous kicks and then exchanged kicks. Kawada scored with a lariat on Mossman. They traded roundhouse kicks to each other's legs but Kawada then dropped Mossman on his head with a backdrop driver. Mossman rose up quickly but staggered and Kawada gave him a jumping kick for a heated near fall. Kawada went for a powerbomb but Hansen attacked him. Tenryu gave Hansen a lariat and they fought outside the ring. Kawada gave Mossman a brainbuster and a very high angle powerbomb for the pin at 23:12. This was the first Budokan Hall main event following the Noah split, which severely depleted All Japan of most of its talented workers and top stars. All Japan had to virtually start from scratch, indicated by a main event which would have looked like a makeshift match weeks earlier. Kawada was the only top worker left, and it took the return of Tenryu to assure fans of two strong workers at the top. Mossman had never been in a Budokan Hall main event, and probably wouldn't have until at least a year later had the split not happened. Hansen was physically beyond being a shadow of his former self, with the wear and tear having long since sapped much of his physical ability, but he was the only foreigner remaining who was a star, so they had no choice but to keep him in the spotlight just to survive. When I first heard this would be the main event of the show, I cringed, not just knowing Hansen's condition, but also just how in dire straits All Japan was. But my reaction to this was the complete opposite of what I had expected. This match both laid the groundwork for the future, and in doing so signalled a resurrection of sorts for a promotion most had expected to kiel over and die, and also turned back the clock in a way I couldn't have expected. Mossman looked like a big star for once, with most of his offense being sharp, stiff and spirited. He did look inexperienced in spots, and lacked the major league psychology and timing perhaps needed to make the next step. But given the circumstances, he showed he was definitely ready to make an impact. Kawada looked great, but that was to noone's surprise. His offense was sharp and intense as usual, and his selling was up to its usual excellent standard. Kawada showed he was ready to carry All Japan on his back if necessary, and that he was still arguably the top worker in wrestling. Then there was Tenryu, who continued to defy his age with a super effort. His offense looked so sharp, as he was just beating the crap out of his opponents with his chops. He looked as great as some of his near-miracle performances in New Japan in 1998, and looked really fired up and enthusiastic to be in his old element, back in All Japan and back in the Budokan Hall main event. But it was Hansen who made this such an unforgettable match for me. He was almost 51 years old, and looked every bit of it in his movements, which were about as slow as Hulk Hogan's in his recent WWE tenure. The stamina and mobility were no longer there, but for a fleeting moment or two, that didn't even cross my mind as he turned back the clock with his intensity. All Hansen could do well was exchange stiff strikes with his opponents, but those exchanges were so stiff, dramatic and heated that for a few minutes it was 1988 all over again, with Hansen beating the crap out of his two best opponents, Tenryu and Kawada. It was the most spirited Hansen looked in years, and he looked every bit as spritied as some of his late 80s and early 90s classics. Fans noticed that, and went nuts for Hansen's every move. Hansen even busted out an enzuguiri, which didn't look "good" but worked fine given his age and had to hurt given his bad back. In total, everyone worked as hard as they could and they delivered an excellent match. It wasn't structured perfectly, and structurally didn't even resemble most of the 1990s All Japan classics. But it didn't have to. All they had to do was pour their guts into a match to show that All Japan was still alive and kicking, and they succeeded beyond any reasonable expectation. ****1/4

10/28/00 All Japan Triple Crown Title: Genichiro Tenryu vs Toshiaki Kawada

They started slow, with a test of strength. Kawada teased a kick while Tenryu teased a chop. Tenryu went after Kawada's left arm with a wristlock and armbar. Kawada armdragged Tenryu but Tenryu rolled through and maintained the armbar. Kawada took Tenryu down and grabbed a headlock near the ropes. Kawada tackled Tenryu -and landed some stiff kicks to his back but Tenryu stood up and more or less no-sold them. Kawada kicked Tenryu. They traded elbows and Tenryu floored Kawada with a chop. Tenryu snapmared Kawada and punted his back like Kawada usually does to his opponent. Kawada stood up and threw some kicks to Tenryu's left leg. Kawada slammed Tenryu and landed more kicks to his back. Tenryu backed Kawada into a corner and landed some of his trademark stiff chops and some punches. Kawada responded with chops of his own. They traded stiff chops but Kawada then scored with two high kicks. Tenryu delivered several kicks to Kawada's leg while on his back but Kawada kicked him in return. Kawada kneedropped Tenryu right in the face and Tenryu rolled out of the ring. Kawada gave Tenryu a couple roundhouse kicks and kicks to his leg but Tenryu fought back with punches (called gu-punch by the announcer). Tenryu chopped Kawada but Kawada fired back with an elbow and several roundhouse kicks. Kawada delivered some knees to Tenryu's head but Tenryu gave him a dragon screw to his left leg. Tenryu kicked Kawada and applied a leglock on his left leg, which Kawada had to escape by grabbing the ropes. Tenryu kicked Kawada and reapplied the leglock in the middle of the ring. Tenryu turned it into a figure 4 leglock, which Kawada sold beautifully before reaching the ropes. Tenryu landed more punches and applied a sharpshooter but Kawada quickly grabbed the rope. Tenryu reapplied the sharpshooter but lost his bearings and released it. Kawada blocked a suplex but Tenryu threw several chops and punches at him. Kawada blocked a suplex attempt again and suplexed Tenryu after a struggle. Kawada gave Tenryu two high kicks, including one in the corner. Kawada landed some roundhouse kicks and chops in the corner. Kawada delivered some knees to Tenryu's head and a high kick but Tenryu still stood. Kawada gave Tenryu two lariats and some chops, then floored him with a savate kick. Tenryu stood up and Kawada chopped him. Tenryu and Kawada exchanged chops. Kawada gave Tenryu a high kick but Tenryu responded with a lariat for a near fall. Tenryu gave Kawada an enzuguiri, slammed him and hit a top rope elbowsmash for a near fall. Tenryu applied the WAR special but Kawada countered with knees to his head. Tenryu slammed Kawada and punted his back. Kawada landed some kicks to Tenryu's leg but Tenryu responded with punches. Kawada then scored with a punch of his own, and Tenryu crumbled into the corner. Kawada hit an enzuguiri and kneedropped Tenryu. He gave Tenryu alternating chops and kicks before applying the stretch plum, which had decent heat because it was timed well. Kawada then gained a near fall. Kawada went for a powerbomb but Tenryu blocked it. Kawada kicked Tenryu and scored with a koppo kick. Kawada went for a powerbomb, Tenryu countered with a backdrop, Kawada charged but Tenryu caught him with a lariat for a near fall. Tenryu went for a powerbomb, Kawada blocked it but Tenryu gave him a koppo kick of his own. Tenryu gave Kawada a lariat and powerbombed him for a heated near fall as heat really picked up. Kawada fought back with a savate kick. They traded chops again. Tenryu landed some punches but Kawada responded with a back suplex. Kawada gave Tenryu a second back suplex and Tenryu fell out of the ring. Kawada knocked Tenryu off the apron with a high kick. He whipped Tenryu into the barricade and knocked him over the barricade with a high kick. Tenryu came up with a bloody mouth, so it was a hard kick. Kawada landed some knees to the head and some roundhouse kicks to Tenryu's body and leg. Tenryu blocked a jumping kick but Kawada plowed through him with a high kick. Kawada hit a jumping kick but Tenryu responded with a desperation lariat before collapsing himself. Tenryu missed a second lariat but scored with a punch. Tenryu gave Kawada a northern lights bomb and pinned him at 26:28 to win the title. This was a tournament final to crown a new champ following the Noah split, and they made the right choice to go with Tenryu. He showed he still had lots of gas left in the old tank, delivering a dramatic effort that at the same time was well within his abilities. If you feel that some of the triple crown matches of the late 90s were excessive with big spots and head dropping and were turned off by such matches, you'll probably enjoy this one. This match had a very traditional build, starting slowly and steadily gaining in drama and intensity as it wore on before reaching a crescendo in the final minutes. The work was rather basic, and heat was rather subdued for more than half the match, but not in a bad way. When they did pick up the pace and go to the near falls, fans steadily grew in their reaction to the match before reacting loud to the finish. Tenryu wasn't as daring as in some of his more recent matches, but pretty much used every move in his arsenal and very effectively. His punch (called gu-punch in Japan) was used so effectively it became a credible move down the stretch. Kawada turned in "just another top-notch performance". Which is not to say he was disappointing, but instead continue to be one of the most dependable workers when it came to performing his best in big matches. Less than three weeks after a dramatic win over Kensuke Sasaki in what could end up one of the most historic excellent matches of the decade, Kawada supplied another flawless performance. Actually in many ways this was more technically solid than Kawada vs Sasaki, but not nearly as dramatic. Instead, it was a long, grueling title match that wasn't among the top 20 matches of 2000, but did measure up well to the Budokan Hall standard of excellence. ****

Next Article: Ki-Daniels-Dragon: Setting the Standard of Honor

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