RIPPA Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 If you are going to ask me to rank - it would go Kawada Misawa Taue Kobashi Akiyama Poor poor being loyal to All Japan... Of course - the challenge is seeing how many pages you have to scroll on Youtube to avoid 6/3/94 http://youtu.be/ULrY48n0XsY 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Go find his ramen shop and buy out the place for a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Web Conn Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 vs Jack Olbee w/Tiger Mask II vs Yoshiaki Yatsu and Samson Fuyuki vs Steve Williams vs Misawa '97 vs Kenta Kobashi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingus Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 And oh yeah, no big deal, but the single greatest match ever wrestled: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiji Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Not to mention that he's the MVP of said greatest match ever wrestled. Can't say enough about the guy. He shares a lot of traits with Hokuto. Never backs down, throws really stiff, awesome strikes (awesome because I didn't have to take them), incredibly smart, magnificent selling... Speaking of, his off balanced sell jobs, particularly those where he falls on his ass, are the best. His matches with Hansen were overshadowed by the '93 Kobashi match, which is fair as that match is unbelievable, but are classics in their own right. While Misawa did the whole clinical, calm ace act perfectly, Kawada's impassioned, frustrated Salieri routine was way more fun to watch and said more about life in general. Watching those two wrestle Hansen is a treat because you see both of their strengths shine and the differences in their personalities. Perhaps the best ever at telling stories in the ring without ever needing to say a word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt McGirt Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2xgo6a_toshiaki-kawada-vs-kensuke-sasaki-njpw_sport http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tstq_njpw-toshiaki-kawada-vs-kensuke-sas_sport Dunno if those are the same matches, just the the second cut down, if so tell me. They did two, I know. Kawada showing New Japan what was up is so fucking awesome. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x28m6xa_shinya-hashimoto-vs-toshiaki-kawada-ajpw-2-22-04_sport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt McGirt Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Okay, now we get weird. This exists and I had no idea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5FKwgqDMmw And this... I mean, I knew that existed, that he sang in HUSTLE, but I've never seen it. The great thing is right after he finishes his face goes right back into grumpy mode. It might have affected his singing but he should have sang without the teeth in. Now I'm thinking, what was that match I posted awhile ago in the MISC. thread where it was just Kawada beating the shit out of some dude in eight minutes after the guy tries to no-sell him? I can't remember the other dude, think he was a shoot-style indie wrestler. This was right at the end of All Japan pre-NOAH. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Comedian Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 The only regret I have about Kawada is that we never got to see him beat the holy fuck out of Lance Storm... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.H. Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 The only regret I have about Kawada is that we never got to see him beat the holy fuck out of Lance Storm... That joke is 3/4 legit! James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimLivingston Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 If you thought the MUGA match was weird, he did U-STYLE once. Can't find it to link to, though. Best "Timber" sell ever in this match and the craziest Hansen lariat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPA Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 The lack of Footloose on the internet makes me sad Here is 5 minutes of Footloose vs. the Malenkos http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6w8qk_ajpw-toshiaki-kawada-samson-fuyuki_sport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt McGirt Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Speaking of UWF/strong-style Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 As a HUGE All-Japan mark, it would be easy for me to go on and on about Dangerous K. AJPW in the 90's was something you may never see again. Arguably the three best wrestlers in the world (definitely three of the top 10 in the world) all hitting their primes at the same time in the same promotion. Misawa, Kobashi, and Kawada were world class workers with Kawada being the best of the 3. His offense, his selling, the subtle story telling notes he could hit without saying anything. An unreal talent who worked in some of the most physically taxing matches in the history of the business we love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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