In 2003 Kenta Kobashi won the GHC title. At the time there was an intense competition in the ranks of top heavyweight companies, with five all vying for support. By 2004, one of those companies was dead and the other was dramatically smaller. By 2005 it was a two-horse race between NOAH and New Japan. Kobashi’s title reign, along with his reliable post-reign big match performances, made him the most important wrestler in Japan. Inside, a look at top Kobashi matches between 2004 and 2006, plus his return last year.
Section 1- Results
Dragon Gate: Dragon Kid beat K-ness on Sunday to get a title shot against Doi on 11/16.
New Japan/Zero-One: Nagata defended the Zero-One belt on today’s Z-1 show against Sato, who oddly enough had the shot right before Nagata.
NOAH: Marufuji vs KENTA was made a title vs title match and moved to the main event. They went to a 30 minute draw. Saito & Smith retained over Akiyama & Rikio. Meltzer reports they drew 10,000, or a little under the show two years ago.
Pro Wrestling Expo: I would be in remiss if I didn’t mention this gem. On Saturday and Sunday, Sumo Hall was booked three times for a gaijin-heavy “eventâ€. First On Stage (HUSTLE/Zero-One) and Chono (and Corino) were brought in to run things, but a different company was behind everything including the talent. By all indications it was a historic disaster, with total attendance around 2000 (out of a possible 33000) and horrible wrestling. At least they got Scott Norton back in Japan, for whatever that’s worth. Also they had Masato Tanaka & Daisuke Sekimoto vs Shelley & Sabin as the final main event.
Section 2- News
All Japan: Marufuji will defend their junior title against Kondo, who just did a face turn.
Dragon Gate: To round things out for the 11/16 show, Cyber Kong & YAMATO defend the tag titles against Doi & Tanisaki.
NOAH: It looks like the December 7th Budokan show will be headlined by Sasaki defending against Saito. I trust you can guess my opinion on that one. At least it might be a good slugfest.
Section 3- Dead But Shilling
This went up mere seconds before my last column.
Hey more Glazer. And more Kobashi Kontent. Will wonders never cease?
Section 4- Kobashi, Seven of Seven of Eight
I started this in February, when Kobashi was freshly back and everything was looking up. Now, who knows when he’ll be back, and if he’ll need to step back even more from big matches. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the rest of the series!
Before proceeding, here is a new and improved version of a match from the first set: Can-Am Express vs Joe Malenko & Kobashi, October 11th 1989.
44. Kobashi vs Takayama, GHC title, April 25th 2004
Importance: On paper, Kobashi was an overwhelming favorite to beat Misawa, Honda, Chono, Bison Smith, Nagata, Ogawa, Sano and Rikio. Takayama was the first big-time threat, having already having proven himself by winning the GHC, NWF and IWGP belts in 2002 and 2003. Plus Takayama has the firepower needed to get the job done. After a year of Kobashi his number just might be up.
Uniqueness: It’s more unique for Takayama, probably the most epic of his career. Both men dig deep into their arsenals in an effort to win, on top of the hard hits you’d expect. This match kicked Kobashi into another gear singles-wise.
Why it’s a good match: It delivers exactly what you want, and has a couple surprises to boot. It’s more Takayama’s match than it is Kobashi’s, and since this was during Takayama’s great two year run that’s a good thing.
45. Kobashi vs Akiyama, GHC title, July 10th 2004
Importance: The first and only Tokyo Dome main event for Kobashi (!!!), Akiyama’s biggest match in All Japan or NOAH, yes I think this gets the nod for ‘importance’.
Uniqueness: One might call this the end of an era for the big match style pioneered by Misawa and Kobashi. Sure, there have been other attempts at epic main events, but none that had the expectations or end result of this. Both men have had big matches, but never any that went as long or went quite so far.
Why it’s a good match: Sheer brute force. They throw everything at each other for over half an hour. I don’t think it’s the best match of 2004, but it is certainly worthwhile.
46. Kobashi vs Taue, GHC title, September 10th 2004
Importance: Kobashi has survived two huge defenses in a row. Now comes Taue, who has shown a knack for putting Kobashi’s shoulders to the mat. Big Red has added a new suplex-to-chokeslam finisher, and has all kinds of tricks up his sleeve to try and rip the belt away.
Uniqueness: The first ‘epic’ Taue match in years, and likely the last Taue singles match at a match-of-the-year-candidate level. Also, perhaps the last Kobashi of their series of matches dating back to the late ‘80s.
Why it’s a good match: Taue has his annual great performance, leaving it all in the ring. On paper there was no reason he should have been able to match Takayama and Akiyama for physicality, but somehow he does. As usual Kobashi gives and takes as only he can, delivering in the clutch for the umpteenth time.
47. Kobashi vs Sasaki, September 18th 2005
Importance: When they announced this three months earlier, the crowd roared. Kobashi and Sasaki, almost mirror images as chop-and-lariat powerhouses, would go at it in a dream match at the Tokyo Dome. This match in the semi-main event probably outdrew Kobashi vs Akiyama in the previous year’s main event.
Uniqueness: Although we’ve now seen Kobashi and Sasaki go at it several more times, this takes it to the absolute limit. They set a standard for chop battles here that hasn’t been attempted, let alone bettered, in the history of wrestling.
Why it’s a good match: They beat the daylights out of each other. Nothing more, nothing less.
48. Kobashi & Shiozaki vs Sasaki & Nakajima, November 5th 2005
Importance: Sasaki returns to NOAH after (for no apparent reason) not being brought back for several months. He and Nakajima come in as All Asia tag champs, something Kobashi held many times early in his career. Shiozaki gets another big match in a series of them in 2005, as he went from a rookie to a high-profile prospect in just one year.
Uniqueness: I can’t think of another match that captures the dynamic of this as well. Balanced superstar/supernova team battles have happened before and after, but everything meshes perfectly. And that despite the total lack of experience with each other besides the Kobashi vs Sasaki singles match!
Why it’s a good match: Every matchup is great, meaning the match is great from start to finish. You’ve got Kobashi and Sasaki re-igniting their rivalry, but more importantly, two top rising talents seeking to prove themselves and being put over in a big way by the 2005 MVPs. It revolves around top-notch striking but also features some dramatic big moves. My favorite Japanese match of 2005, and lots of others agree with me.
49. Kobashi vs Marufuji, April 23rd 2006
Importance: Kobashi’s last singles match (including after the return). This was a de facto #1 contenders match, as Kobashi beat KENTA and Marufuji beat Taue at the March event. There had been plans for Kobashi vs Bob Sapp, but those were scrapped. The result of the match was supposed to generate the July Budokan main event, but fate intervened there as well.
Uniqueness: I include this not as one of the 50 best Kobashi matches, but rather to demonstrate Kobashi’s condition before he left. He had declined quite a bit from just two years earlier, and that in turn was a shell of the athletic ability he had in his 20’s.
Why it’s a good match: Marufuji wrestles smartly, taking a technical approach since he can’t possibly go toe-to-toe. The finishing stretch is quite good considering how lopsided the matchup is.
50. Kobashi & Takayama vs Misawa & Akiyama, December 2nd 2007
Importance: Duh.
Uniqueness: Not the best Kobashi match, but likely the most emotional.
Why it’s a good match: I was SURE that it would be the first-ever Match of the Year to take place early in a WON voting cycle, but Meltzer gave it ****1/4 and that has since been passed several times. He’s given ***** to matches with less going for it than this, but let’s not get hung up on that. Why it’s good? The crowd, for one thing. The way Kobashi reacts to Misawa’s first elbow smash. The way Misawa and Akiyama go heel a bit, breaking up what could have been a dry love-fest. The big finish, when we didn’t know what Kobashi would be up to. As it turns out they might have gone a little too far. The end result isn’t perfection but is still something every Kobashi fan needs to see.
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In our final installment we’ll take a look at what Kobashi did this year before injuring his hand. He had a very good 8 1/5th months.
