The difference between a guy like Kawada and a guy like Kobashi is that everything Kawada does is for a reason. His selling ability and build are unprecedented, and will not be surpassed for sometime. Kobashi, like Muto, was more of a spotty guy, while Kawada is gritty, tough, and looks like he's been through the wars, but sells things brilliantly, while making a game plan that is cohesive. Kobashi is good, but especially early on, he was not much for psychology. One big move after another.
Toshiaki Kawada is the greatest wrestler of all-time. Nobody could tell a story in the ring quite like him, and he was very well rounded and had great psychology. Misawa comes close, but both Kobashi and Muto are second class compared to him. Muto is actually third class compared to Kawada, Misawa, Kobashi, Akiyama, Tsuruta, and Baba. Chono and Hashimoto are above him, in my book, but he did create one of the most influential characters ever, no doubt.
@TheJoe2Guy I like how you state your opinion as though it's fact.
In my opinion, especially when it came to working with bigger guys like Hansen, Williams and Sasaki, Kobashi made Kawada look downright boring. I agree that Kawada is one of the most underrated workers ever, but Kobashi isn't "second rate" compared to anyone.
Jumbo Tsuruta is not only the best Japanese wrestler of all-time, but the very best pf all-time imo. Founder of Kings Road that would lay the groundwork for the like of Misawa, Kawada and Kobashi to have the great matches they did. Not to mention Tsuruta's matches with Brisco, Tenryu and Misawa being some of my favourite of all-time.
Plus Keiji Mutoh hasn't had a match that come anywhere near touching this imo.
Japan has produce the finiest wrestler ever.but for my money The Best wrestler from Japan is Jumbo Tsuruta and in the second place Misawa..Inoki is a whole other world because he is one of the founders of mma.with his fight with Ali and the Russian Judoka he plant the seed for what is today mma
it makes you think why wwe et al screw up in the way that they do . . yes there is pomp and circumstance here but backed up with the stiffest action around. . . and all from 20 years ago . . .
Just a little foreward for anyone watching this match the first time: Without knowing what happened before, and without knowing what happens after, this really isn't that great. I know you'll all hate me, but it's not. That being said, knowing what happened less than a week earlier, and what happens for the next 10 years or so makes this spine tingling.
Thanks for posting this!!! I have a 6500 tape collection, mostly Japan, but never got this match, for some reason.... I'm planning on vegging out on the comp for the next 30+ minutes and watch this... THANKS!!! BTW, I'm doing videos on wrestling trivia, mostly Japanese, would love all subscriptions if puro is your thing. Damn, I miss Jumbo, he always was my fav.
y'know. If WWE are trying to save $20 million, they should watch this video (along with many others). 1. Get rid of the expensive entrance ramps. 2. Be more creative with lighting & music. 3. Gather up the best wrestlers in the world, pay them well so they'll come back, and don't try to mould them into your image. 4. wrestle less often to put on better quality matches, which would gain better stadium attendance & PPV buy rates. Sometimes less is more :)
I love all of your uploads. Huge fan of puro. Could you possibly upload Kobashi vs. Misawa from either 10/31/98 or 6/11/99? I've been DYING to see those. Thanks!
Pretty sure this is a Dave Meltzer 5 star match. Even if it's not, totally awesome anyway. Thanks for posting.
williambbertram 5 months ago
Anyone watching this because of Meltzer discussing it on Wrestling Observer Radio today?
JMCS88 5 months ago
@JMCS88 i am lol
tommyg99hhh 5 months ago
Two of the 5 best wrestlers ever, along with Tenryu, Kawada and Kenta, IMO.
mike2tosu 9 months ago
The difference between a guy like Kawada and a guy like Kobashi is that everything Kawada does is for a reason. His selling ability and build are unprecedented, and will not be surpassed for sometime. Kobashi, like Muto, was more of a spotty guy, while Kawada is gritty, tough, and looks like he's been through the wars, but sells things brilliantly, while making a game plan that is cohesive. Kobashi is good, but especially early on, he was not much for psychology. One big move after another.
TheJoe2Guy 1 year ago
Toshiaki Kawada is the greatest wrestler of all-time. Nobody could tell a story in the ring quite like him, and he was very well rounded and had great psychology. Misawa comes close, but both Kobashi and Muto are second class compared to him. Muto is actually third class compared to Kawada, Misawa, Kobashi, Akiyama, Tsuruta, and Baba. Chono and Hashimoto are above him, in my book, but he did create one of the most influential characters ever, no doubt.
TheJoe2Guy 1 year ago
@TheJoe2Guy I like how you state your opinion as though it's fact.
In my opinion, especially when it came to working with bigger guys like Hansen, Williams and Sasaki, Kobashi made Kawada look downright boring. I agree that Kawada is one of the most underrated workers ever, but Kobashi isn't "second rate" compared to anyone.
TheCrimsonKing92 1 year ago
And to think this was only the beginning of the decade. All Japan in the 90s was perhaps the best wrestling promotion we will ever see!
KingOfPuroresu 1 year ago
Jumbo Tsuruta is not only the best Japanese wrestler of all-time, but the very best pf all-time imo. Founder of Kings Road that would lay the groundwork for the like of Misawa, Kawada and Kobashi to have the great matches they did. Not to mention Tsuruta's matches with Brisco, Tenryu and Misawa being some of my favourite of all-time.
Plus Keiji Mutoh hasn't had a match that come anywhere near touching this imo.
RizoSaysAha 1 year ago
Japan has produce the finiest wrestler ever.but for my money The Best wrestler from Japan is Jumbo Tsuruta and in the second place Misawa..Inoki is a whole other world because he is one of the founders of mma.with his fight with Ali and the Russian Judoka he plant the seed for what is today mma
Ferpero 1 year ago
a very important wrestling match indeed. god i miss these guys. RIP to both of them. *bows head in respect*
Rush888 2 years ago
Commentator at 8:06 scared the shit out of me.
SoulOfRuby 2 years ago
it makes you think why wwe et al screw up in the way that they do . . yes there is pomp and circumstance here but backed up with the stiffest action around. . . and all from 20 years ago . . .
mitch5by5 2 years ago
Translation: Spanish » English MrWrestlingFan thank you very much for uploading the great fights of all time.
ibaitxotxo 2 years ago
Just a little foreward for anyone watching this match the first time: Without knowing what happened before, and without knowing what happens after, this really isn't that great. I know you'll all hate me, but it's not. That being said, knowing what happened less than a week earlier, and what happens for the next 10 years or so makes this spine tingling.
brocklock09 2 years ago
That should be month, not week.
brocklock09 2 years ago
To expand on that, Misawa had just removed his mask, and this was his first main event at the Budokan. It's seen as is rise to stardom really.
LastRider2006 2 years ago
Awesome. Definitely a great match between 2 Japanese wrestling greats. Time for Part 2. Hail Japan.
Chuloloc 2 years ago
As good as Misawa was, Jumbo was better.
BrickhouseB2 2 years ago 2
And I mean no disrespect to the great Misawa with that comment: he was GREAT!
But in my opinion, Jumbo was the greatest Japanese wrestler of all time, perhaps the greatest wrestler ever, period.
BrickhouseB2 2 years ago
Jumbo was in fact amazing.
MrWrestlingFan 2 years ago
He was the best in the 80's and early 90's easily
cainan88 2 years ago
The Greatest Japanese Wrestler of all time is Keiji Mutoh. Sorry, just my opinion.
JZS88 2 years ago
Ahhh a lot of Japan smart mark fans would love to butt heads with you on that argument.
MrWrestlingFan 2 years ago 7
Not a bad opinion...
But not my opinion.
BrickhouseB2 2 years ago
@JZS88 actually that would be kenta kobashi
WrestlingFanCritic 1 year ago
i was 3 when this happened, makes me wish i was older... and japanese. rip misawa
chaquank 2 years ago
2 all-time greats. Both left too soon. RIP Jumbo & Misawa!
CadillacL 2 years ago 13
RIP Misawa.
lmarshalljr04 2 years ago
RIP both of you.
hellslinger1 2 years ago
Both men are gone now.
Rest in peace to both, two of the best ever.
theperfectone 2 years ago 5
r.i.p misawa
kickycrowbar 2 years ago
この試合はすごいね。ジャンボが全力で戦ってるよね。三沢選手のポテンシャルの高さがわかります。ご冥福をお祈りします
itaosansilva 2 years ago
この頃のプロレスが一番良かったね＾＾
aki6411 2 years ago 3
Yes! It really was a great time for wrestling.
MrWrestlingFan 2 years ago
Thanks for posting this!!! I have a 6500 tape collection, mostly Japan, but never got this match, for some reason.... I'm planning on vegging out on the comp for the next 30+ minutes and watch this... THANKS!!! BTW, I'm doing videos on wrestling trivia, mostly Japanese, would love all subscriptions if puro is your thing. Damn, I miss Jumbo, he always was my fav.
roylucier 3 years ago
y'know. If WWE are trying to save $20 million, they should watch this video (along with many others). 1. Get rid of the expensive entrance ramps. 2. Be more creative with lighting & music. 3. Gather up the best wrestlers in the world, pay them well so they'll come back, and don't try to mould them into your image. 4. wrestle less often to put on better quality matches, which would gain better stadium attendance & PPV buy rates. Sometimes less is more :)
azrielseclements 3 years ago
NO! NO!!! YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY MY PYRO.
MrWrestlingFan 3 years ago
I wonder how many would actually say that in real life...if they did, then they missed the whole point in being there, lol
azrielseclements 3 years ago
この頃（90年代前半）の全日が好きです。若い選手が強い相手にぶつかっていって、1戦1戦強くなっていくプロセスを見ているのが楽しかったです。
mirusuwa 3 years ago 2
Glad you enjoyed it :)
MrWrestlingFan 3 years ago
三沢達の全日本はビッグボディチームにしか見えねえ
akskmik 3 years ago
DO YOU HAVE Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Genichiro Tenryu match from June 6, 1989?
dj20000000000 3 years ago
I sent you a PM, with the links, a Japanese YouTuber put that up and I was just watching it earlier, haha.
DoubleMiz 3 years ago
I love all of your uploads. Huge fan of puro. Could you possibly upload Kobashi vs. Misawa from either 10/31/98 or 6/11/99? I've been DYING to see those. Thanks!
aachhu1112 3 years ago
the 1998 match will be uploaded in a few hours.
MrWrestlingFan 3 years ago
THANK YOU!
aachhu1112 3 years ago
no problem.
I'll upload the 6/11/99 match in the next few days also.
MrWrestlingFan 3 years ago