I always intend the best, but events get in the way. Alas, once again the Kobashi installments have come well over a month apart. In part 6 of 8 we take a look at a significant chunk of Kobashi’s time in NOAH: his first battles with turncoat Akiyama, his aborted return from knee surgery, his big match with Misawa, and the unlikely partnership with Tamon Honda. Some of the best matches in the history of the company here.
Section 1- Results
All Japan: Akira Raijin, who was set to spend time in TNA (for reasons I still don’t understand), was knocked out during a farewell match versus Suwama and had to be hospitalized. It doesn’t look too bad at the moment, and Nagata and Kanemura survived similar scares in the last year, but you can’t be too careful about that sort of thing.
New Japan: Bernard, Low Ki and Fuller all turned on Nakamura’s RISE faction to join GBH. Ki beat Tiger Mask on Sunday to win the junior title, while Mutoh retained over Makabe.
NOAH: Bryan Danielson wrested the junior title from Kanemaru at the ROH/NOAH show.
Section 2- News
Dragon Gate: Set for Sunday are Shingo defending against Taka Michinoku, and Real Hazard defending the trios belts against Mochizuki, Fujii & Magnitude.
New Japan: Lots of big matches announced for the 10/13 Sumo Hall event. Mutoh defends against Nakamura; Masato Tanaka defends the Zero-One title against Nagata; Tenzan and Iizuka battle in a chain match; Hirooki Goto looks for revenge against Bernard; the tandem of Nakanishi & Yoshie debut against Chono & Tanahashi; Minoru & Devitt defend the junior tag titles against Yujiro & Naito. Teams announced for the tag league include Makabe & Yano, Tenzan & Kojima, Nakamura & Goto, Nakanishi & Yoshie, and Bernard & Fuller. Meltzer reports that NJ’s quality booking is brought to you by Jado & Gedo. No really. No, REALLY. New Japan, after posting a profit in the 1st quarter, posted a much bigger loss in the 2nd. Last but not least, New Japan is hinting at NOAH participation on the 1/4/09 Tokyo Dome show.
NOAH: Kobashi reiterated his intention to return and eventually get a title shot. He might be out up to a year. Let’s hope he comes back 100% this time. Added to Saturday’s card are Morishima vs Nakajima and KENTA & Ishimori vs Marufuji & Marvin in a 2/3 falls match. Set for the next tour are Aoki vs Kaz Hayashi and Danielson defending against KENTA. Hayashi in NOAH might be a tit-for-tat in exchange for Marufuji in All Japan this weekend, but it could also signal real cooperation.
Section 3- Glaciers shilling in the dead of night
A now outdated ROH-in-Japan preview. Read anyway!
Section 4- Kobashi, Seises de Ocho
When we last left our hero, he was betrayed by the jealous Jun Akiyama. Can he get revenge? Can he survive the damage done by years of moonsaults? Can he have good matches with Tamon M-Fing Honda?!
Before we begin, here’s a new link to the last part of the series, fresh from DVD:
36. Kobashi & Akiyama vs Misawa & Taue, 2/3 falls, August 5th 2000
And now, the new stuff.
37. Kobashi vs Akiyama, August 6th 2000
Importance: This had been brewing all year. Kobashi kept showing up Akiyama, causing his young partner to snap. If Kobashi wins, it means that his status as ace has carried over to NOAH. If Akiyama wins, he will have vaulted to the top.
Uniqueness: Not nearly as high-impact as their other big matches, and being in a smaller venue gives it even more of a different feel.
Why it’s a good match: You might be underwhelmed if you’re expecting an epic, but it’s still plenty solid due to who’s in it.
38. Kobashi vs Akiyama, December 23rd 2000
Importance: The rematch, and in a properly big arena. Main event of NOAH’s first major event.
Uniqueness: The first time Akiyama was in an ‘epic’ along the likes of Misawa vs Kobashi. Meanwhile, Kobashi is clearly running on fumes, his body a wreck. Also this was the match that got me into puro!
Why it’s a good match: Big bumps, huge nearfalls, and they leave it all in the ring.
39. Kobashi & Misawa vs Akiyama & Nagata, February 17th 2002
Importance: Kobashi’s return after having major work done on his knees. The first Misawa/Kobashi tag since 1995. A dream match pitting top ‘90s stars against the top young heavyweights. Oh yeah, that’s important.
Uniqueness: Not too often that Japan produced a big show main event caliber tag match, but this is certainly one of them. Akiyama and Nagata had failed to set the world on fire with their Tokyo Dome main event the month before, and they got another chance to shine.
Why it’s a good match: In addition to the “these four guys in a match†factor, and the crowd heat, there’s a strong story of the young guns aiming right at Kobashi’s weak spot.
40. Misawa & Chono vs Kobashi & Taue, January 10th 2003
Importance: Chono’s first match against NOAH, and another gigantic dream tag.
Uniqueness: Not only a dream match, but also a very effective lead-in to two big singles matches for Kobashi.
Why it’s a good match: Kobashi vs Chono is hot. Kobashi vs Misawa is hot. Crowd is hot. Finish is hot. Taue gives 110%. That’s a lot of hot for January.
41. Misawa vs Kobashi, GHC title, March 1st 2003
Importance: The biggest match in company history to date, their first encounter since the All Japan split, and a super-sellout that was strong enough to overcome a lot of competition for attention on the same night
Uniqueness: The only real Misawa vs Kobashi match of the decade, and a five star-rated Match of the Year. That’s kinda unique.
Why it’s a good match: I might think it’s overrated but it’s still a hell of an effort. A throwback to the late ‘90s All Japan epics, this delivered exactly what the crowd wanted at a point where it wasn’t clear these two could have that kind of match.
42. Kobashi vs Honda, GHC title, April 13th 2003
Importance: Honda, long one of the undercard dregs, had suddenly shown a lot of fire and was winning a lot of matches with a variety of moves. NOAH took a big risk in giving him the first crack at Kobashi, but it paid off.
Uniqueness: Tamon Honda of all people leads Kobashi to a thriller. It’s hard to emphasize how shocking this was to watch at the time, and Honda hasn’t come close to this good a singles match in the time since.
Why it’s a good match: Honda digs deep into his unique bag of grappling tricks to control most of the way, and he bumps harder for Kobashi’s suplexes than anyone I’ve ever seen. Kobashi gives Honda a ton of room to work, and in the end Honda is elevated without Kobashi looking weak for his struggles.
43. Akiyama & Saito vs Kobashi & Honda, tag titles, June 6th 2003
Importance: Honda has replaced Kentaro Shiga as Kobashi’s right-hand man in the Burning vs Sternness stable feud. This tag represents the climax of the feud, and it headlines a sold-out Budokan Hall event. Kobashi is looking to avenge the loss he and Shiga suffered the previous fall.
Uniqueness: Honda got his shot at the big time and came up just short. However he has a second chance to prove himself, and to demonstrate that the match with Kobashi wasn’t a fluke.
Why it’s a good match: Considered by no small number of people to be one of the best in company history, it’s a quality tag battle with the sort of big finish you come to expect from Kobashi at Budokan Hall.
Next Time: More Kobashi? Who knows? I sure don’t
