The Match Facts
The Match: Mitsuharu Misawa (c) vs Toshiaki Kawada
The Event: Day 16 of the Super Power Series 1994
The Stipulation: Singles Match for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship
Meltzer Rating: 5 stars (Cagematch.net lists it at 6 stars, but Dave Meltzer himself has stated it's 5 stars)
Cagematch.net Rating: 9.72/10 (#11 on Cagematch's Top 100 Matches)
Where to Watch: YouTube
How We Got Here
Misawa and Kawada would both debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling in the early 80s, with Misawa debuting in 1981 and Kowada in 1982. From their debuts until 1990, both men would be staples of All Japan's midcard, each winning the All Asia Tag Team Championship (Kowada three times, Misawa once) while Misawa would also hold the PWF World Tag Team Championship (with Jumbo Tsuruta) and the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship (as Tiger Mask II) once each.
In 1990, All Japan experienced an exodus of top talent (get used to reading that when I cover All Japan) when Genichiro Tenryu departed the company to form Super World of Sports, with names such as Yoshiaki Yatsu and Ashura Hara going with him. With a gap in the main event, All Japan's owner Giant Baba would elevate four of his young stars up the card; Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, and Akira Taue. Those four would go on to be known as "The Four Pillars of Heaven", a quartet that put on, almost unanimously, the best matches of the 1990s. Each man is among the top 100 highest-rated wrestlers on Cagematch (Kobashi, Misawa, and Kawada hold the top three spots, in that order, while Taue is #100), and if you take away modern wrestlers, the top four wrestlers with the most 5-star matches from Dave Meltzer is entirely made up of these four.
Misawa would be the first of the Four Pillars to ascend to the main event, forming the Super Generation Army alongside his fellow pillars Kowada, Kobashi, and Taue, among others, to feud with his former tag partner Jumbo Tsuruta and his Tsuruta-gun stable. It was during this feud that Misawa & Kawada would form a semi-regular tag team, winning the company's World Tag Team Championship twice. In 1992, Misawa won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the first time from Stan Hansen, which he would hold for a record 705 days. In the early days of this reign, Misawa would successfully defend the title against Kawada. As Jumbo Tsuruta left All Japan following a hepatitis diagnosis at the end of 1992, Kawada was picked as Misawa's next major rival, as he split from the Super Generation Army in 1993 to form the Holy Demon Army with Akira Taue (who also left the Super Generation Army to join Tsuruta-gun.)
Now on opposite sides of a multi-man feud, Misawa would team with Kenta Kobashi to feud with Kawada & Taue, with each team feuding over the World Tag Team Championships. During that time, Kawada would once again challenge Misawa for the title, but once again was defeated. In 1994, Kawada would cement his status as a main eventer when he won the Champion Carnival tournament, setting up one more match with Misawa for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship that had alluded him for two years.
The Match
The two stare each other down to start, circling the ring before locking up. The two wrestle into the ropes before breaking. Another staredown leads to another lock-up. Misawa strikes first with a forearm, so Kawada responds with a chop. The two trade strikes before Misawa hits two forearms and goes for and whips Kawada to the ropes. Kawada halts himself by grabbing the ropes before going for a big boot. Misawa steps back to avoid it. The two stare each other down again.
The two lock up, this time seeing Kawada force Misawa into the ropes before chopping him three times. Kawada tries to whip Misawa across the ring, but Misawa reverses it, sending Kawada to the ropes. Misawa goes for a spinning heel kick, but Kawada ducks it. Kawada hits the ropes, bouncing off and hitting a running big boot. Misawa stays on his feet and hits the ropes, but Kawada catches him with a big spin kick, getting a huge pop from the crowd. Kawada tries to follow up with a suplex, but Misawa lands on his feet. Kawada tries to keep control with a sleeper hold, but Misawa quickly slips out and hits a big back suplex, Kawada landing on his neck & head. Kawada stays down for a good 30 seconds before getting to his feet.
The two stare each other down before locking up. Misawa quickly grabs a waistlock on Kawada, with Kawada slowly reversing it into an over-the-shoulder armbar. I really like that, makes it look like he's really fighting for the reversal. Kawada transitions into a wristlock, but Misawa quickly escapes it with a handspring. Misawa connects with a forearm strike before shoving Kawada down to the mat. Misawa quickly picks Kawada up and whips him to the ropes, catching him with a dropkick when he bounces back. Kawada rolls out of the ring, leading to Misawa revving up for a dive. Kawada moves, leading to a fun bit where Misawa flips over the ropes to the apron, then back over into the ring when Kawada runs at him.
Misawa catches Kawada with a dropkick through the ropes before climbing onto the apron. Misawa dives at Kawada, but Kawada catches him with a forearm, causing him to crash to the ground. Kawada tries to follow up by whipping Misawa into the guard rail, but Misawa reverses it and sends Kawada into the rail. Kawada no sells, however, shrugging off the contact and quickly clotheslining Misawa to the ground. Kawada rolls back in the ring, with Misawa rolling back in soon after.
Kawada quickly takes control, elbowing Misawa in the back of the head before axe kicking him across the back. Kawada locks in a crossface from a camel clutch position before hitting a seated senton. Kawada stomps Misawa across the back before booting him in the face twice. Kawada chops Misawa across the back twice before locking in the Kawada Crab (a Half-Crab while stepping on Misawa's head.)
Misawa is able to force a break by sticking his free leg onto the bottom rope. Kawada kicks away at Misawa's head & chest before punching him in the head. Kawada knocks Misawa down to his knees with a boot to the head before slamming his head into the top turnbuckle. Kawada connects with a big chop, but Misawa fires back with a forearm strike. Kawada keeps control with a kick to the face, and continues kicking away at Misawa, knocking him down to the mat. Kawada makes the first pin attempt of the match, but Misawa kicks out at two.
Misawa rolls out of the ring to recover before climbing back in. Kawada quickly pounces, kicking him as soon as gets through the ropes. Kawada boots Misawa in the face before locking in a sleeper hold, quickly adding a body scissor as he does. Misawa struggles, but gets to the ropes to break the hold. Kawada kicks Misawa in the chest, but Misawa fires back with quick leg kicks to the left leg, eventually knocking Kawada down to the mat. With Kawada clutching the leg, Misawa targets it, repeatedly kicking & stomping it before locking in a Half Crab. Kawada escapes the hold, however, in a unique way by kicking his free leg up and catching Misawa in the face.
Misawa keeps control, locking in a toe hold. Kawada tries to escape the hold, once again kicking Misawa's head with his free leg, but Misawa keeps control and continues working the leg. Kawada eventually breaks the hold by applying a crossface, forcing Misawa to let go. Misawa keeps control, kicking away at Kawada's left leg. Kawada fires back with a kick with his right leg, but crumples to the mat after putting weight on his left leg. Misawa stomps away at Kawada's leg before dropping a knee on it.
Misawa keeps his knee across Kawada's leg as he applies another toe hold. Kawada tries to fight out, kicking Misawa in the back with his free leg before pressing his boot into his face. He's able to knock Misawa off his leg, but Misawa keeps the toe hold locked in. I complain a lot in the Worst in the World about holds that go on for a long time, but I think it works here because it always feels like the person in the hold is trying to fight out, especially here. Without Misawa's weight on him, Kawada muscles his way to the ropes to force a break. Kawada gets to his feet, but is clearly limping and trying to get feeling back in his leg. Kawada's great at selling damage. Misawa lands a roundhouse kick before going back to the leg, kicking away until Kawada falls to the mat, clutching his knee.
Kawada gets to his feet, and Misawa quickly picks the leg. Kawada stays on his feet and escapes Misawa's grasp, quickly giving him a forearm strike to the back of the head and knocking him down to the mat. Kawada follows up with two elbow drops. Kawada drags Misawa to his feet and goes for a suplex. Misawa blocks it and goes for one of his own. He gets Kawada off his feet, but Kawada is able to block it. Misawa goes for it again, but Kawada blocks it again before going for a wristlock. Misawa quickly escapes with a roll before whipping Kawada to the ropes, catching him with a spinning heel kick when he bounces back.
Misawa tries to follow up with a Tiger Driver (a double underhook powerbomb), but Kawada blocks it by rushing Misawa back into the corner. Misawa tries to keep control with elbows to the back, but Kawada responds with two chops. Kawada runs Misawa to the opposite corner, slamming his head into the top turnbuckle before hitting a step-up kick. Kawada tries to run Misawa's head into the opposite corner's top turnbuckle, but Misawa blocks it and floors Kawada with a forearm smash. Misawa follows up with an Irish whip to the ropes, catching Kawada with a dropkick when he bounces back. Kawada stays on his feet, however, and floors Misawa with a big boot. Misawa fires back with a forearm strike, but Kawada knocks him back down with a jumping enziguri. Kawada makes the cover, but Misawa kicks out at two.
Kawada sets up for a Powerbomb, but Misawa powers out and back drops Kawada. Kawada keeps control, however, by dropkicking Misawa in the back of the head. Kawada follows up by climbing to the second rope and hitting a diving knee drop. Kawada picks Misawa up, rapidly chopping him in the neck and knocking him down. Kawada does this two more times, then once more as Misawa's on the mat before making the cover. Misawa kicks out at two. Kawada tries for the Powerbomb again, but Misawa blocks it. Kawada keeps control with a kick to the face. I love how the reversals aren't always to switch control, but just to avoid a huge move and force their opponent to keep fighting for that move.
Kawada follows up with a kick to the back before setting up for the Powerbomb. Misawa blocks it again, double-legging Kawada before stomping him in the head. Kawada gets to his feet and fires back with forearms. Misawa fires back with forearms of his own before going for the spinning heel kick. Kawada catches it, but Misawa follows through with an enziguri, knocking Kawada down to the mat. It's here we see that one of those forearms busted Misawa's ear open.
Misawa tries to follow up with the Tiger Driver, but Kawada powers out and back drops him. Misawa lands on his feet and goes for the Tiger Suplex (a double-arm German suplex), but Kawada blocks that as well and tosses Misawa away. Kawada kicks Misawa's leg, and Misawa responds with a forearm before hitting the ropes. Kawada tries to catch him with the jumping enziguri, but Misawa blocks it before hitting a low dropkick. Misawa follows up with the Tiger Driver before climbing to the top rope and hitting the Tiger Body Press (a Frog Splash.) Misawa makes the cover, but Kawada kicks out at two.
Misawa applies a crossface, but Kawada is able to slip out before rolling out of the ring. Misawa follows him to the outside, forearm smashing before rolling him back in the ring. Misawa climbs back to the top rope and dives at Kawada, but Kawada catches him with a kick in mid-air. Kawada tries for the Powerbomb, but Misawa blocks it, so he punches him down to the mat. Kawada tries for the Powerbomb again, but Misawa blocks it. Kawada tries to punch him again, but Misawa blocks it and floors him with a punch of his own.
Kawada gets back up and lays into Misawa with forearms. The two trade forearms before Misawa hits the ropes. Kawada catches him with a big boot when he bounces back. Misawa stays on his feet, so Kawada hits the ropes before knocking him down with a clothesline. Kawada follows up with a huge back suplex. Misawa's out as Kawada picks him up and finally hits the Powerbomb. Kawada puts all his weight on Misawa as the referee makes the count, but Misawa kicks out.
Kawada picks Misawa up, putting him in place for a jumping enziguri. Kawada quickly hits another jumping enziguri before hitting a German suplex, causing Misawa to roll out of the ring. Kawada follows him out of the ring and rolls him back in the ring, where he goes for another Powerbomb. Misawa blocks it twice, but Kawada gets him up on the third attempt. Kawada again puts all his weight on Misawa as he makes the cover, but Misawa kicks out again. Kawada goes for a third Powerbomb, but Misawa blocks it. Instead, Kawada locks in an abdominal stretch. Misawa manages to fight to the ropes, but Kawada quickly drags him back to the center of the ring and locks in an arm-trap dragon sleeper.
Misawa attempts to fight out and starts to break free, but Kawada quickly locks the hold back in. Misawa fades, prompting Kawada to make the cover, but Misawa kicks out. Kawada drags Misawa back to his feet, only for Misawa to spring to life with a forearm strike, knocking Kawada down. Kawada fires back with a running kick, but Misawa floors him again with a forearm smash before hitting the ropes, bouncing back with a jumping clothesline. Misawa goes for a German suplex, but Kawada blocks it. Misawa opts to soften him up with forearms to the back before hitting a spinning back fist. Misawa hits another forearm smash before hitting the German suplex. Misawa picks Kawada up and hits the Tiger Suplex, bridging for the pin, but Kawada kicks out at two.
Misawa goes for another German suplex, but Kawada quickly fights to the ropes to break it. Misawa drags them back to the center, but Kawada frees himself with back elbows & chops before hitting a rolling kick, leaving both men down. Kawada's the first to his feet, quickly hitting another rolling kick that sends Misawa rolling out of the ring. Misawa recuperates outside the ring before climbing back in. Kawada lays Misawa with forearms, so Misawa responds with forearms of his own. Misawa goes for a Roaring Elbow, but Kawada blocks and repeatedly headbutts him.
Kawada sends Misawa into the corner, chopping and kicking away at him. Misawa fires back with a forearm smash before hitting the Roaring Elbow. Misawa lays into Kawada with repeated forearms before hitting another Roaring Elbow. Misawa goes for another Tiger Driver, but Kawada blocks it by forcing him into the ropes. Misawa kicks Kawada, but Kawada fires back with kicks of his own. Misawa responds with forearms, so Kawada tries for another rolling kick. Misawa blocks it before hitting the ropes and flooring Kawada with a big forearm strike. Misawa quickly sets up for & delivers, probably, the nastiest-looking move in wrestling history; the Tiger Driver '91.
Misawa lifts Kawada halfway up in a double hook, then drops down to his knees, Kawada crashing down on his head & shoulders. It's brutal to watch and I love it. Misawa makes the cover, gets the three, and the win to retain the title.
The Verdict
Absolutely incredible. The offense is hard-hitting and looks great the entire time, with no noticeable botches whatsoever. The holds, usually the weakest part of matches, are all entertaining, as they're always struggling & fighting, and it never feels like they're just resting. The same goes for the blocked attempts at big moves, which almost always feel like they're done to survive in the match and put over the moves in a big way. Establishing those big moves like that makes every pinfall after them feel like it can be the end. There are only eight pinfalls in a nearly 36-minute match, and the majority of them are believable. This is a must-see match, and is going above Gargano vs Cole for the top spot early in the series.
My Rating: 10/10
The Rankings (Best to Worst)
- Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada-AJPW Super Power Series 1994 (Day 16)
- Johnny Gargano vs Adam Cole-NXT TakeOver: New York
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I haven't seen a lot of AJPW but I'm no doubt going to look up this match as it sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteThe Vince McMahon allegations were quite a f'ed up if any of them are true hopefully he, Brock Lesnar and Johnny Ace are erased from WWE history like how Chris Benoit was and are arrested.