Loss Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 Talk about it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted April 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2011 Kawada tricking Akiyama into doing the pescado and then casually walking away is officially one of my favorite wrestling spots ever. Really a thinking man's match, a case of skilled young guy going against guy at his peak who's been around the block a few times and has some nice tricks up his sleeve. Akiyama may be every bit as determined, but Kawada is smarter. I also love Kawada putting Akiyama away with the same type of lariat Hansen used to put him away earlier in the year. This isn't the best match on the set, but at this point, it's my favorite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Ridge Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Kawada tricking Akiyama into doing the pescado and then casually walking away is officially one of my favorite wrestling spots ever. Yeah, cute spot but I did like that eventually Akiyama hits a big cross body off the top tope to the outside on Kawada. A good Jumbo like performance from Kawada giving a lot to a lower level guy. I liked Jun getting those close pinfall attempts with the rolls up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteF3 Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 Like the 6-man WCWSN--very basic and workmanlike, but good. This was worked almost like an undercard U.S. match, with Akiyama mostly working basic holds and mid-range moves toward the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdw Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 It's basically Top Star Vet (Kawada is now the Top Rival to Misawa) vs Rookie. Jun still hasn't hit the anniversary of his debut yet. So it makes sense for Jun to be working basic stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soup23 Posted June 11, 2015 Report Share Posted June 11, 2015 Pretty awesome match with Kawada giving just enough to Akiyama in a Jumbo/Kobashi type way. Kawada is a prick here and Akiyama shows some fire and is able to capitalize on some openings throughout the match. I am starting to wonder if 93 All Japan will have a disappointing match the whole year in my eyes as everything has held up wonderfully for me so far. **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawho5 Posted July 6, 2015 Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 This was cookie cutter veteran vs. rookie All Japan stuff, but executed in a way that made it incredible. I loved Akiyama working back to a dive after Kawada's baiting. Every transition was fought for. Kawada as a giant prick helped make this match what it was, but you can't take away Akiyama's side of things given he had been wrestling for less than 10 months at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garretta Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 I agree with most of the sentiment about this match. Even the moves on the outside were basic stuff, but they were done well enough to be compelling. It's hard to believe that Akiyama was still a rookie, as he carried himself like an experienced midcarder here (which is by no means a criticism). Kawada really had to dig deep to put him away, but looked good enough in doing it that his spot as Misawa's number one contender was never seriously jeopardized. Excellent work from everyone. I thought that Akiyama was still on the Kawada/Taue side at this point, but I guess he'd served his heel apprenticeship and was ready to join Misawa's side. I'm not sure what it says about Team Misawa's depth that he's automatically number three behind Misawa and Kobashi. which is a hell of a spot for someone so inexperienced. That boot Kawada caught Akiyama with when Jun tried to come off the top might have been the most brutal kick of the year so far. How it didn't legitimately crack a couple of ribs, even by accident, I'll never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKWebb Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 http://placetobenation.com/countdown-top-500-matches-of-the-90s-250-201/2/ #214 I agree it's a great match. ****. I thought Akiyama was really awesome, great selling and awesome facial expressions. Kawada's offense is always fun to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted April 22, 2020 Report Share Posted April 22, 2020 Toshiaki Kawada vs Jun Akiyama - AJPW 7/9/93 Kawada should have sent this match in as a video application to work Stu Hart's Dungeon stretching people. Those were some gnarly submissions! Supernova Rookie Jun Akiyama is not something I have yet experienced. Halfway it hit me, the reason this is so special because you feel like you are watching any other Akiyama match and you have to remember he is a legit rookie and making this all look easy. Akiyama looked great in this. Look at all that hair! What happened, brutha? I liked the beginning with Akiyama showing his dogged determination. It was a great string of "It must be nice to be young" spots. Even though he totally whiffs on a pescado because Kawada moves and Kawada whips into the railing, it doesnt matter because Akiyama is 24 so he doesnt feel pain. He just gets back up and starts hurling lunging elbows at Kawada. It really showed the youth vs experience element. We often talk about the advantages of experience, but youth can recover a helluva lot quicker as you see with Akiyama bouncing back like rubber man. Akiyama starts targetting the arm. The work is basic but really well-done. I thought Kawada looked bored and listless. The more I watch the more the gap widens between Misawa & Kobashi from Kawada. He just does not bring the same level of work. Akiyama elbowed the arm and you wouldnt know anything happened from looking at Kawada's face. Kawada was definitely a lot more home on offense. Akiyama shows that dogged determination after some hiptoss and bodyslams by Kawada. Kawada eventually starts pelting Akiyama with Cowboy Kicks and then he bodyslams him hard on the floor. Kawada goes full Stu Hart and stretches the fuck out of Akiyama in a bunch of gnarly ways. Kawada gets complacent and stands him up and Irish Whips him. Never Irish Whip this allows Akiyama to build some momentum. We get the big Akiyama finish run. Northern Lights Suplex was a nice nearfall as was the German. He has not developed his patented high knee or Exploder yet. Kawada uses his well-schooled feet (TM Chris Jericho, color commentator extraordinaire) to counters Akiyama first with a kick to the midsection coming off the top and then a jumping high kick. Kawada had to use both of his key counters to take down the Supernova Rookie was a good way to make Akiyama look competitive in one of his first big matches. Kawada measures and MOWS HIS ASS DOWN WITH A WICKED LARIAT! Kawada was much more motivated on offense, but I felt like he slept through selling and bumping for Akiyama. Akiyama looked like a wrestler well beyond his years. Fun rookie vs. veteran match especially when Kawada is on offense. ***3/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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