[1992-04-14-AJPW-Championship Carnival] Mitsuharu Misawa vs Terry Gordy

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Gordy is good here, but this is really more Misawa vs capable opponent than Misawa vs Gordy. It feels like the Taue match from 2/93 in that regard, in that I loved this match, but mostly because of what Misawa did. Gordy more than held his own, but Misawa gave a fantastic performance. The German on Gordy was awesome, and I loved the crucifix pin to finish.

[jdw]

This was 04/14/92.

[Tim Evans]

This felt different than most other Misawa vs foreigner singles matches. I loved when Gordy punched Misawa after the finish. Almost like he didn't know it was the finish?

[shoe]

I thought this was really good. I thought it was really cookin when we went to the roll up that seemed anti climatic, but does need to be done so the finish is still believable when done on occasion, and that people will by as a false finish. I think Gordy might be getting a little short shafted by Loss. Gordy does a solid job getting the heat on Misawa earlier. Misawa does his flying elbow smash to the outside and takes control. Here I thought we were going to get Misawa in control for about 5-8 minutes. Instead we get him in control for two minutes or so. Gordy cuts him off with a nice looking clothesline and we see Gordy go to work on Misawa's neck. We eventually go into the finishing run, and instead of finishing Gordyoff with a big move, we get a simple crucifix pin.

[jdw]

Misawa would go to the crucifix pin on rare occassion. He used it to take the TC back from Hansen in 1995.

 

John

[Kevin Ridge]

I liked the finish myself with the crucifix roll up as allows for something different. Thought Gordy was pretty good here in this match. Was wondering if he does have a better singles match after this one?

[Zenjo]

Not deficient in the stiffness department as they layed into each other with forearms. Gordy always looked stoned but knew what he was doing in there. The pacing was good and it was a satisfying overall match. Gordy used the powerbomb a bit too early as once Misawa survived that it was always going to be his day.

[MikeCampbell]

I liked this, but I didn't love it. Both guys were game, Misawa much more than Gordy. I loved the spot where Misawa was turning for an elbow and Gordy saw it coming and dropped him with lariat.

[WingedEagle]

The crowd is amped for this before they even start. Misawa sold for the bulk of this, painting Gordy as a monster and doing a fantastic job of it. After trading strikes and eating a lot of Gordy's offense, which sets up some huge pops when Misawa reverses a suplex, power bomb and then kicks out of the 2nd power bomb. I liked the crucifix finish -- kind of a call back to 6/8/90 even if Misawa wasn't working as a LHW here.

 

***3/4

[PeteF3]

Count me as another one who liked the finish. Fit in with the story of the match, with Misawa having to get his shots in when he can. A good flash finish in an AJPW setting makes for a refreshing change of pace.

 

Probably a stronger overall match than their bout the previous year, though that one was maybe a little more action-packed. This was a little more psychologically fulfilling and organic, with a good build to the closing stretch and Misawa doing a terrific job of working underneath.

[garretta]

I thought Gordy made this one, as he absolutely murdered Misawa with some of the forearms he threw. He was a tag guy for the most part by now, but he dusted off his singles boots and made Misawa work for everything he got. I liked the work on Misawa's neck, which was a nice callback to the TC match against Hansen where Stan brutalized it. Maybe the old partners shared a secret or two.

 

Misawa got a much-needed victory after his near-miss against Hansen. They have a rematch coming up, so Misawa now has the momentum going in. Although the match is non-title due to being a tournament final, a win makes him the unquestioned number-one contender for the Triple Crown.

 

I liked the crucifix pin; it's the kind of quick win we don't often get in All-Japan anymore. I also liked Gordy covering a prone Misawa afterward, as if he expected the bout to still be going on and was trying to fool the ref into believing the same.

 

One word of advice for Misawa: This is two bouts in a row where you've nearly been killed by lariats after pushing off the second turnbuckle for momentum. Either don't do that anymore or at least try not to make it look so obvious.

[dawho5]

I thought Gordy looked really good here.  He didn't lay on the mat in rest holds, but went after Misawa with varied (and big!) offense.  I was a little concerned when he hit 2 backdrops a few minutes into the match, should have saved those for later.  I will give Gordy a lot of credit for setting Misawa's offense up great by being in perfect position for the next move.  I liked the callback to 6/8/90 for the finish.