Misawa Vs Kawada (06/03/1994)
Posted by Justin Baisden on 06.03.1994
Quite possibly the greatest match ever!
TOSHIAKI KAWADA vs MITSUHARU MISAWA (Triple Crown) 06/03/1994
I was doing "inventory" on my tape collection and noticed that I was missing a "Best of Early Misawa" compilation. It was one of the first tapes I had ever picked up. A search of my home turned up nothing. So I went to my friend Joe and once again picked up his copy of the tape (Joe got me started in puroresu collecting and loaned me my first few shows). Well… the tape turned out to be the first two parts of the "Misawa Memorial Fight Collection." A rather large treasure was hidden within the second half of this tape as I chanced upon Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jumbo Tseruta from 06/08/1990. It was a phenomenal match made all the better by the fact it would hold up as great by today’s standards, nevermind nearly eleven years ago. At the end of that match, Misawa is held up in victory on the shoulders of Kenta Kobashi (no surprise) and Toshiaki Kawada (they were friends once… I’m serious). Even Akira Taue was in the ring celebrating. When I turned off my VCR, I thought to myself it’s been ages since I’ve watched Misawa vs Kawada. Well… I’ve seen a lot of Misawa vs Kawada but not "the" match. The result of my pondering? A single match tape review. This’ll be of a slightly different style to my usual stuff. I hope you enjoy it. Don’t get too used to it though, I still prefer to review entire tapes.
BACKGROUND
The original Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama) had retired from pro wrestling and the gimmick was sold to All Japan Pro Wrestling. The Tiger Mask gimmick was given to Mitsuharu Misawa and he debuted under the mask on 08/23/1984. He steadily moved up the ranks of AJPW and was considered to be a great young prospect in the company. Meanwhile, Toshiaki Kawada, who had premiered with AJPW back on 10/04/1982 was also moving up in the ranks. Kawada caught his major break when he joined then main eventer Genichiro Tenryu’s "Revolution" group in 1987 (sorry, no specific date). After #2 Revolution man Ashura Hara was expelled from AJPW due to gambling debts, Kawada moved up to the #2 spot and had a memorable tag match with Tenryu vs Stan Hansen and Terry Gordy during the Real World Tag League 1988. Kawada and Misawa (still under the Tiger Mask II gimmick) began teaming up after that point. When 1990 rolled around, Tenryu left AJPW to form SWS leaving Kawada as the lone wolf. One month later on 05/14/1990, Misawa tells Kawada to unmask him as he attacks then #1 AJPW man Jumbo Tseruta, setting off the Jumbo & co. vs Misawa & co. feud. Kawada became Misawa’s #2 man, winning the Double Tag Titles on two occasions (07/24/1991 and 12/04/1992). The only problem in between all of this success was the fact that Misawa was moving up the ladder in singles competition much faster than Kawada.
Misawa beat Stan Hansen for the Triple Crown on 08/22/1992 and would hold onto the titles for an unprecedented twenty-three months. During this title reign, Kawada broke away from Misawa and joined up with one time rival Akira Taue. Misawa took a very young Kenta Kobashi as his #2 man. These two teams would go at it numerous times over the next three years, having some truly stellar matches. If you ever go looking for Misawa/Kobashi vs Kawada/Taue matches, I recommend their RWTL match from 12/03/1993, their Double Tag Titles match on 06/09/1995, and their Double Tag Titles match from 10/15/1995. They are all ***** classic matches.
By the time 1994 rolled around, it was obvious that Kawada was playing #2 native in AJPW to Misawa. Kawada did not hold a win over Misawa in either tag or singles matches. Kawada won the 1994 Champions Carnival, defeating Steve Williams in a ***** match. On a side note, not too far away, Wild Pegasus was taking on The Great Sasuke in the finals of the Super J Cup 1994. It was a good night to be a wrestling fan on 04/16/1994. With the momentum from his Champions Carnival victory and considering the fact that Kawada still did not have a win over Misawa, the stage was set for what some call the greatest singles match ever.
ATMOSPHERE
Nippon Budoken had some truly great fans this night. From the moment that Kawada’s music hit and the chants of "KA WA DA, KA WA DA" started, there was never a point where there wasn’t some significant amount of noise in the building. You get the feeling going into this match that Kawada was playing the sympathetic face. Despite all his hard work, he still had not gained the coveted Triple Crown nor had he beaten his former partner. If there ever was a time when Kawada should go over Misawa, it was this night, June 3rd, 1994.
THE BEGINNING
This crowd was warmed up right from the beginning and would stay that way for the rest of the night. Misawa and Kawada start out exchanging elbows and chops respectively. Irish whip, Misawa goes for the elbow but Kawada holds the ropes. He comes in for a running high kick but Misawa backs away. Surprised no one got in the first shot? Of course not. These two knew each other like no other and know what to expect. Irish whip, Kawada ducks the spin kick and comes back with a running high kick followed up with a roundhouse kick. He goes for a suplex but Misawa slips out and hits a gorgeous backdrop suplex. #2 man Kawada takes #1 man Misawa’s backdrop suplex just as #2 man Misawa once took #1 man Tseruta’s trademark backdrop a few years ago. A reminder that Kawada know his role in the scheme of things. Back to a vertical base as Kawada gets in a wristlock, Misawa kips out and hits an elbow strike followed with a dropkick. Kawada to the outside and Misawa comes off the apron but Kawada catches him with an elbow strike in mid air. Misawa manages to recover, and send Kawada crashing into the guardrail but he has none of it and comes right back with a BIG TIME lariat. They return to the ring and Kawada’s contempt is released. He lays in lots of stiff chops and nasty kicks. He even slaps on a half crab, takes is very high and stands on Misawa’s head. There is no desire to win at this point. This is about letting off some frustration. Kawada hits a few more kicks including a brutal one right to Misawa’s mouth. No holding back here.
OLD INJURIES NEVER HEAL
Finally Misawa has enough of this beating and lays in some stiff kicks to Kawada’s left leg. Going to back to the previous December during the Kobashi/Misawa vs Kawada/Taue match, Misawa and Kobashi worked over Kawada’s leg to no end. The sell job by Kawada in that match was one of the best I have ever seen. He continued to sell the leg injury throughout all of 1994 and into this match as Misawa goes to work. Misawa slaps on a half crab but Kawada’s flexibility proves helpful as he manages to kick Misawa in the mouth from the prone position. That’s the second time Misawa had been kicked flush in the mouth and he is not pleased at all. He works over the leg with various grapevine submissions. The old adage of "respect flying out the window in the face of anger" comes forth as Misawa lets Kawada up on a couple of occasions only to kick him in the leg and watch him tumble in pain. The sympathetic face gains the support of the crowds as "KA WA DA, KA WA DA" rings out through Nippon Budoken.
HARD HITTING ACTION
Irish whip and Misawa hits a spin kick. He goes for the Tiger Driver but Kawada forces him into the corner. Misawa comes right back with a couple of elbow strikes. Irish whip and Misawa goes for a dropkick but Kawada holds the ropes and hits another spot on running high kick. Kawada hits the first big move of the night with his trademark jumping head kick for a 2 and ½ count. He goes for the powerbomb but gets backdropped. Kawada comes right back with a dropkick to the head. Kawada comes off the second turnbuckle on the inside with a kneedrop to the back of the head. The pain from Misawa’s earlier leg work comes through as Kawada limps away from his prone victim. Kawada hits four consecutive sets of mini chops and that nets a 2 and ½ count. Back to a vertical base, Misawa goes for a roundhouse kick but gets caught. However Misawa recovers with an enzugiri. The camera gets a beautiful shot as Misawa is bleeding hardway from his left ear. A probable result of one of Kawada’s many kicks to the head.
AN ONSLAUGHT UNLEASHED
Misawa goes for the Tiger Driver but Kawada backdrops him. Misawa lands on his feet and goes for the Tiger Suplex but gets hip toss. Kawada goes for the jumping head kick but it’s blocked and Misawa hits a dropkick to the face. Now Misawa hits the Tiger Driver for 2 and ¾. This crowd is really starting to warm up. Misawa hits a Frog Splash for 2 and ¾. Misawa comes off the top for a diving elbow but Misawa hits a jumping high kick in mid air. Kawada goes for his powerbomb but it’s blocked. They go back and forth with elbows until Kawada hits a high kick and then a LARIATOOOOOO! Kawada hits THE DANGEROUS BACKDROP followed up with the high angle powerbomb. 1… 2… 2.999999! The crowd appreciates every second as the decival level raises another notch. Kawada hits two consecutive jumping head kicks followed up with a NASTY released German suplex. Kawada cinches Misawa up and hits another high angle powerbomb. 1… 2… 2.999999! He goes for yet another but Misawa reaches the ropes. Ever determined, Kawada pulls Misawa into the middle of the ring and slaps on the Stretch Plum. Battered and beaten, Misawa finds the resolve to slowly make the ropes. Kawada will not be denied his victory as he again pulls Misawa away from salvation into the hell mouth that is the middle of the ring. This time a torture style Stretch Plum is the harbinger of pain. The crowd plays their role to perfection as the chant of "MI SA WA, MI SA WA" rings throughout the building. Frustrated with the lack of submission, Kawada lets go and gets a count of 2 and ¾.
A CHAMPION DETERMINED
Misawa is picked up and returns to his primary weapon, the elbow smash. He follows up with a twirling clothesline. Misawa goes for a German suplex but it’s blocked. Not to be denied, Misawa hits a flurry of elbows and then hits a released German suplex. The big guns are brought into battle as Misawa hits the Tiger Suplex for 2 and 9/10. Misawa goes for another German suplex but it’s blocked. Kawada hits a chop and then fires off a Koppo kick. They go back and forth with elbow strikes and Misawa is sent reeling into the corner. Kawada brings unleashes the fury with multiple kicks to the head. Misawa will have none of it. He no sells, fires off a couple of elbow shots and then hits a spot on Rolling Elbow. The challenger is in trouble. Kawada gives one last ditch effort as he lets loose with his trusty kicks. The will is there but the body has nothing more to give, as the kicks don’t phase Misawa. He hits a few more elbow smashes and then uses a weapon not used in three years; THE TIGER DRIVER ’91. Kawada gave it everything he could but there just wasn’t enough to survive the awesome power of this move. Each count from the referee hammers a nail in the coffin of Kawada’s valiant quest. BANG… 1, BANG… 2, BANG… 3!
FINAL ANALYSIS
This match isn’t about lots of flashy moves. This match was about story. The psychology strewn throughout this match is like nothing I have ever witnessed. The chant of the crowds as Kawada entered brought forth the sympathy for the determined warrior. The nasty assault by Kawada to humiliate rather than defeat Misawa brought forth two years of frustration. Misawa’s assault on Kawada’s leg showed that the Champion does not, and never would forget an opening. Kawada, though looking to be healthy, was not able to withstand an onslaught started six months ago. After that, the truly new chapter in this feud was written, this time a chapter in determination. Kawada was determined to have his victory. This became especially evident in the way he would keep pulling Misawa to the middle of the ring. After that, it was Misawa’s turn. He unleashed all of his weapons, only to have Kawada keep coming back. By the end, Kawada was truly spent. His once formidable kicks had nothing left. The match was to end, and Misawa made sure there would be no more comebacks as he pulled out a move not used in years to ensure victory.
It would be an insult to your intelligence to peg this match with a rating. If you’ve read this review from start to finish, and you understand the history, the psychology, and the match itself, you understand why this was considered the greatest match in history.
