In the 2nd part of our look at the rivalry between Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada, they go at it. Following a friendlier 1st big title bout in October 1992, the Super Generation Army break up, the Holy Demon Army are born, and the former friends go down a road that ultimately leads to 06/03/94 — possibly the greatest singles match in the history of Japanese wrestling.
For extensive further info, please check out KinchStalker’s exceptional translation of the 2019 Four Pillars Biography on PWO: https://forums.prowrestlingonly.com/forum/1539-2019-four-pillars-bio/
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0:00 Introduction: Misawa Reaches the Top
4:05 Misawa and Kawada’s Continued Tag Success
8:45 October 21st, 1992: The First Dance for the Triple Crown
16:59 The End of One Army…and the Beginning of Another
25:56 July 29th, 1993: The Second Bout Caps Off An All-Time Show
32:49 The State of AJPW and Puroresu, and the State of Misawa and Kawada’s Friendship
45:28 June 3rd, 1994: The Very Pinnacle of Puroresu
#kimjustice #wrestling #puroresu #ajpw
37 Comments
Thanks for watching this second part. What are your memories of first watching these incredible matches, of perhaps finding them on the Internet at random or being curious after hearing them talked about? Have a shout about it here. 🙂
HELL YES
YESS!
I was so excited when I saw the notification and clicked immediately! (the first part might be my favorite of your wrestling documentaries)
I know this one's gonna be fantastic as well since this is when the Misawa vs Kawada rivalry REALLY starts to heat up
Hansen's faceplant is the greatest sell of a knock out strike ever.
Another case of dropping all i was doing to watch this belting Video as always Kim
Is it possible to cover on Keiji Mutoh’s Pro-wrestling love era of AJPW? It’s either loved or hated by puro fans, I personally find it entertaining and enjoyable than the 90’s AJPW (blasphemy)
Thanks! Keep up the great content as well.
One of the few that can upload hour long videos on damn near anything and keep my undivided attention the entire time
Thank you Kim for all the work you have done. This channel is amazing!👏👏👏👏
Thanks for the amazing video ❤
2:12
Misawa's. Elbow. Is. God.
The way this rivalry, both in kayfabe and reality, builds and builds over years to points of such explosivity that both their bodies and the standard crack and break under the strain is what makes this my favourite rivalry of all time.
The personification of King's Road itself.
Can't wait to see more, I don't think you've had a single video on this channel that hasn't been less than excellent.
Boy could Stan Hansen sell. That was sublime.
AJPW was about big men slapping man meat. And I'm all right with that.
Yeah pt. 2!!
Let's Go, #Kim!! Been looking forward to THIS!!
Your retelling of this story has been a joy through two episodes. Wild to think there's going to be two more. Very excited for when those come out.
The Young Veteran Jun Aikyama.
Your story telling is always the thing I enjoy the most Kim. To a self-confessed wrestling noob like me, you have a talent for investing in the human drama of wrestling, which without your contextualizing and oratory prowess would probably just seem like fifty minutes of beefy lads smacking each other to my uncomprehending eyes :3 Thanks Kim!
I'm loving your stuff, mate🙏🏻. Keep up the great work! Maybe something like "The Rise and Fall of Pro Wrestling Noah" would be awesome🤔.
Kim really is the best puro documentary maker I've come across. Insightful, factual, fun and upbeat. Thanks as always Kim! Your work, as stellar as it always is, only ever seems to improve. Truly the best.
Would like a video on Ajpw's early relationship with the NWA championship
i jsut started this ass job and iv been waiting for this since the last. appreciate you!
i absolutely love your wrestling videos, especially the ajpw ones. being my favorite promotion, you do it justice (pun intended) with deep research and detailed analysis. can’t wait for the next part!
26:54 my face when watching videos about professional wrestling that weren't made by Kim Justice
Always enjoy the videos on this channel. Some great insight and context to events going on
I've learned so much from your videos keep up the great work
Your enthusiasm is contagious.
The opening to that first Misaw/Kawada match might be my favorite opening to any match in the history of wrestling. Like so many people wouldve justifably expected a respectful beginjing where they go through technical sequences — but you still think, what are these two best friends willing to do to each other to win?
And the answer comes in a sudden backdrop driver that deservingly gets highlighted with a pause in the action and Kawada staring a hole through a dazed and bewildered Misawa , with the commentary and the crowd losing their collective minds. Absolutely masterful stuff from two of the best ever.
Great documentary grey history. This is the reason why I love Japan wrestling that is so much involved so much behind-the-scenes politics, but then yeah, did bring you great product and that’s all matters right put on a great show for people to pay and enjoy.
This recap is so fucking good but I honestly never even considered Kobashi to be a "country boy" until it was brought up in the section about Misawa and Kawada's fractured friendship and it gave me the image of an alternate timeline where Kobashi has a Stan Hansen like cowboy gimmick.
Great work. Thank you.
Thanks so much for this channel. I'm learning so much about the history of Puroresu that I didn't know before.
I've always liked Puroresu but I've definitely gained a new appreciation of it feom watching some of the matches you've suggested.
Really enjoying the Misawa vs Kawada matches I've been finding on YouTube.
Jun Akiyama being the 5th Pillar of Heaven has a nice ring to it. It's like Kensuke Sasaki being called the 4th Musketeer, since both of them filled voids.
For Sasaki, he filled in Shinya Hashimoto's spot in 2005 when the latter died.
For Akiyama, he took Kawada's spot after the Noah exodus in 2000, then 9 years later after Misawa's death.
I believe the June 3rd 1994 match is what made Eddie Kingston see Toshiaki Kawada as his ultimate idol.
love your vids Kim. Would love to see some more 3 musketeers stuff in the future (unless you've done them on patreon already)
Man I love these documentaries. Thanks Kim
I'm going to send a complaint to Nippon TV's switchboard that you've broken this amazing retrospective up into parts 😂
Love your videos man, keep it up!