Kenta Kobashi vs Steve Williams 8/31/93
This was a fantastic match filled with intensity and great spots. Williams had the best singles match of his career, at least up to this point, and Kobashi was at his working peak churning out one great match after another. As expected, they played up the toughman vs underdog storyline to perfection. The two started quick and Williams gave Kobashi a spine buster. Kobashi German suplexed Williams and DDTd him on the floor. He hit a lariat off the top turnbuckle to the floor and continued his dominance of Williams back in the ring. Both men exchanged stiff chops. Williams press-slammed Kobashi clear out of the ring. He gave Kobashi a handspring elbow outside the ring at the 10 minute mark. Williams then suplexed Kobashi for a near fall and maintained his dominance until the 15 minute mark. Kobashi gave Williams a slew of slaps and gave him a DDT off the ringside barricade on the floor. However, Williams came back with a powerslam on the floor. Kobashi fought back with a bulldog and a slew of slaps in the corner. Kobashi applied a sleeper on Williams as crowd heat picked up. Kobashi superplexed Williams for a near fall and gained another near fall after a pair of DDTs. Kobashi gave Williams three legdrops and a German suplex for another near fall. Kobashi hit his moonsault for a dramatic near fall. After two legdrops, Kobashi attempted another moonsault but met the knees of Williams. Kobashi gained a near fall with a lariat but Williams then gained a near fall with his Oklahoma stampede. Williams then gave Kobashi the sickest backdrop driver I have ever seen for a dramatic near fall. Williams then gave Kobashi two more backdrop drivers and pinned him at 27:16. Great finish with the backdrop drivers. Great pacing throughout as they got the fans into the match early on. ****3/4