4/16/94 All Japan 1994 Carnival Tournament Final: Toshiaki Kawada vs Steve Williams

Williams applied a headlock, but Kawada punched him. Williams tackled Kawada on a criss cross and from a 3 point stance. Kawada countered a backdrop driver, punched Williams and gave him a back suplex for a pop. Kawada gave Williams a roundhouse kick to the back and pounded him. Kawada landed a couple chops but Williams kicked him. Kawada landed a couple kicks to Williams's leg. Kawada chopped Williams repeatedly and gave him elbows to his neck. Williams kicked Kawada and pounded him. Kawada kicked Williams from a prone position and gave him roundhouse kicks in the corner. Kawada gave Williams a savate kick and Williams left the ring. Kawada whipped Williams into the barricade but Williams responded by tackling Kawada on the floor. Williams applied a sleeper in the ring. Williams gave Kawada a northern lights suplex of sorts for an early near fall and stomped him. Kawada scored with a high kick but Williams took him down and kicked him. Williams tried to ram Kawada into the corner but Kawada countered and rammed him into the corner. Kawada kicked Williams in the back of his head for a delayed near fall and applied a chinlock. Kawada kicked and chopped Williams but Williams absorbed the blows. Kawada scored with a couple roundhouse kicks but Williams fought back and gave him a lariat. Williams kneed Kawada's head a couple times and applied a chinlock, which he turned into a double chicken wing and then a great released tiger suplex that was built up so well and differently than usual. Williams gained a near fall and Kawada rolled out of the ring. Williams whipped Kawada into the barricade but ran into a kick at ringside. Williams gained a near fall back in the ring and slammed Kawada. Williams missed a top rope splash. Kawada gave Williams a spinning savate kick and a couple chops. Kawada slammed Williams and gave him a second rope kneedrop for a near fall. Kawada went for a suplex, Williams blocked it but Kawada caught him in a Fujiwara armbar for a while until Williams reached the ropes. Kawada chopped Williams twice but Williams fought back with a spinebuster for a near fall. Williams landed some chops, whipped Kawada into the corner and went for an Oklahoma stampede but Kawada held onto the ropes. Williams gave Kawada a corner splash and powerslammed him for a near fall as heat picked up. Williams gave Kawada a lariat for a near fall. Kawada gave Williams a kick to his leg and an enzuguiri. He gave Williams a high kick and several chops to the neck before applying his stretch plum. Kawada landed several knees to Williams's head but Williams absorbed the blows and punched him. Williams landed more punches and press slammed Kawada neck first onto the top rope. Williams gained a near fall and stomped Kawada. Williams applied an abdominal stretch/armbar combo on Kawada but Kawada reached the ropes. Williams gave Kawada a shart lariat but missed a second and Kawada grabbed his arm. Williams countered and attempted a backdrop driver but Kawada countered with elbows and gave him a jumping kick. Kawada missed a lariat and Williams dropped him on his head with the backdrop driver. Kawada rolled out of the ring before Williams could make a pin and sold the backdrop driver like he was shot. Williams gained a dramatic near fall. He gave Kawada a doctor bomb for a heated near fall. Kawada countered a backdrop driver by lunging for the ropes. Williams pulled him away from the ropes but Kawada hooked Williams's leg with his own. Kawada punched Williams and gave him a koppo kick for a near fall. Kawada powerbombed Williams for a great near fall and applied a stretch plum. Kawada gained a near fall and went for a powerbomb but Williams backdropped him. Kawada recovered but ran into a punch, then kicked Williams on instinct. Kawada hit two jumping kicks and powerbombed Williams for a very dramatic near fall. Kawada powerbombed Williams again and pinned him at 25:48 to win the tournament. This match made Kawada a huge star and really the number two man on the depth chart behind his rival Misawa. A fresh, world-class match that made for a near-perfect tournament final. While Williams achieved one of his biggest singles accomplishments yet by reaching the finals, Kawada was the real story of the tournament, including holding Misawa to a 30-minute draw. With matches like this Kawada began to solidify his spot as wrestling's top worker in 1994, a distinction that would become even more authentic two months later. In some ways a slow building match, but one that never dragged, unlike some Williams matches, probably due to Kawada. Williams looked sharp on offense and seemed to keep his restholds, one of his weaknesses, to a minimum. Great use of the backdrop driver, since it was used during the body and not really the finish itself, and also since Kawada fell out of the ring before the move could be "tested" as a finish, thus leaving some suspense for future matches. The finish established Kawada's signature move as the powerbomb, which would play a key factor in making Misawa vs Kawada on 6/3/94 such an epic match. I prefer Williams's 8/93 and 9/94 matches against Kenta Kobashi, which seemed to contain more action content, but this was technically just as solid and dramatic. More than worthy of the Budokan Hall main event standard, but not quite the all-time classic some call it. ****1/2

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