Well, here it is! The first part of the big one, here on TH-cam at last. Misawa vs. Kawada originally arrived on Patreon in 2021, but this is a new version of Part 1 complete with various additions compared to what's on there, as well as the odd correction. Naturally the same will happen with the other four parts. Enjoy!
I'm curious about something you said in part one. You mention why Misawa R.I.P., Kawada and Taue wore the certain colors they did in their attires. Why did Kobashi wear the colors that he did? Also, I know Misawa, Kawada, and Kobashi all held the AJPW World belt (or Triple Crown). Did Taue also have his time as Champion in AJPW? GREAT CONTENT AS ALWAYS, AND AN EXCELLENT START TO PART 1!! CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE!!
@@PontFlair Maybe Kobashi was a mark for the Ultimate Warrior's look, so he adopted the orange trunks Warrior wore at WrestleMania 6? Kobashi was very into bodybuilding (as was Kawada). He trained with the Road Warriors, who also introduced Kawada to steroids.
Ah, Misawa and Kawada, a heartwarming tale about friendship, jealousy, broken bones, hitting your former friend as hard as you possibly can, and then dropping them on their neck.
I had no idea that Kawada defeated the guy who would become Jushin Liger in a high school amateur wrestling contest, I wonder if Kawada ever encountered Liger backstage and just think "I don't know why, but I get the feeling that I know you from somewhere?". This is a fucking awesome start to the series and I'm so excited to see the next parts of it.
Kawada is the perfect representation of people in the late 80s and early 90s, one moment you are a young man with colorful clothes and the next you are a complete crazy person
Great work as per usual. Id also recommend Joseph Monticello. He does walking the kings road. He breaks the matches down. I think between the two channels you can get your four pillars fix.
You're really good at these documentaries. I didn't have the $$ to buy tapes of AJPW as a kid but with magazines I was aware of ,and now thanks to your vids to solidify, the greatest era of pro wrestling.
There was always something about Kawada that i felt sympathy for. He was NEVER "The Guy"" in Baba's eyes. But of all the Pillars, he was the one who garnered sympathy. It didn't hurt that he was one of the GREATEST sellers of all time, something Misawa was NOT. As always, Kim brings the 🔥🔥🔥🔥 on 90's AJPW.
A four part series! You're spoiling us Kim :D But in all seriousness I'm really looking forward to seeing how this story pans out. We might only be one video in, but it's already shaping up to be one of those tales that I'd point to when anyone claims wrestling is "fake". The fighting might be a performance, but the human drama behind it all is way too real.
I have been waiting so long for this and I'm so, so happy that I got the notification for it I'm genuinely excited to relive one of the greatest and most iconic rivalries in not just Puroresu, but Pro Wrestling as a whole
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! oh my god all i've wanted was a great comprehensive history for perhaps my favorite period of wrestling history. jumbo is still the ace, but the young up-and-comers vying for his spot is prob my favorite time in AJPW. can't wait!!!!
I've been singing the praises of you and this channel to anyone who hears it, and I'm happy to say it succeeded. Thanks again for the incredible video, and I can't wait to hear your retelling of my favourite rivalry of all time.
Dear lord, I've watched documentaries on TV that weren't as thorough as this is. With all that dialog, you'd need a script as thick as the yellow pages - and this is only part 1!!! 😵🤯 Respect, mate 👍
Damn Benoit,Misawa,Jericho and Koji all wore mask during their early years and hated it that’s a shame cause masks are very respected in Lucha and Mexico but I do get wrestling in one can be a bit difficult
I hope you keep doing series covering Misawa, Kobashi, and Kawada! This was excellent and so entertaining! I just recently started playing catch up with AJPW and NOAH in the 90's but even though I can find videos of matches and what not sometimes it's hard to find contacts so thank you so much and please keep up the great work
Fun fact: Toshiaki Kawada was actually deported from Mexico to Japan after an excursion from the US with other American wrestlers in the late 1980s went wrong. He was deported to Japan rather than the US because he couldn't speak Spanish or English.
I love your storytelling as well as theirs in the ring !!! A nice parallel here , as I can watch your Puro vids over and over just like I have those AJPW matches . That is saying something right there friend . Thank you .
It's so interesting as watching this i see some of the best of what i love about wrestling today but at the same time some of the bad habits that use to be
I'm not an expert but I know enough to question the idea that Kawada was a better junior. If he was, he would have been Tigermask. They always picked the most capable junior to wear that mask.
I meant more that Kawada was more of a high-flying wrestler at the time than the style that he'd come to be known for. He wasn't as good a junior as Tiger Mask Misawa, no.
This might be a trigger warning for some. But I would just like to add, during the time of Kawada's excursion, he contemplated... shall we say, unaliving himself. He REALLY hated it, Kawada bounced around from promotion to promotion and had a horrible time away.
@@thewrestlingroad that's amazing that at one point, the guys who carried AJPW into their future were all in a group together. I hate to say this, but that lineup in hindsight, makes them the most accomplished and Legendary Stable of all-time.
Well, here it is! The first part of the big one, here on TH-cam at last. Misawa vs. Kawada originally arrived on Patreon in 2021, but this is a new version of Part 1 complete with various additions compared to what's on there, as well as the odd correction. Naturally the same will happen with the other four parts. Enjoy!
I'm curious about something you said in part one.
You mention why Misawa R.I.P., Kawada and Taue wore the certain colors they did in their attires. Why did Kobashi wear the colors that he did?
Also, I know Misawa, Kawada, and Kobashi all held the AJPW World belt (or Triple Crown). Did Taue also have his time as Champion in AJPW?
GREAT CONTENT AS ALWAYS, AND AN EXCELLENT START TO PART 1!! CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE!!
@@PontFlair Maybe Kobashi was a mark for the Ultimate Warrior's look, so he adopted the orange trunks Warrior wore at WrestleMania 6? Kobashi was very into bodybuilding (as was Kawada). He trained with the Road Warriors, who also introduced Kawada to steroids.
Ah, Misawa and Kawada, a heartwarming tale about friendship, jealousy, broken bones, hitting your former friend as hard as you possibly can, and then dropping them on their neck.
Sounds like a hell of a friendship to me
Imagine what they did to people they didn't like it
@@mrowley7300 lets ask Rob Van Dam? Kawada REALLY didn't like him, and that was long before RVD joined ECW.
@@blitzerblazinoah6838 wonder why
@@blitzerblazinoah6838Thanks to you, I learned something new today
I had no idea that Kawada defeated the guy who would become Jushin Liger in a high school amateur wrestling contest, I wonder if Kawada ever encountered Liger backstage and just think "I don't know why, but I get the feeling that I know you from somewhere?". This is a fucking awesome start to the series and I'm so excited to see the next parts of it.
Kawada is the perfect representation of people in the late 80s and early 90s, one moment you are a young man with colorful clothes and the next you are a complete crazy person
Kawada being managed by Gary Hart is surreal but also makes sense
Gary Hart R.I.P. and managing Asian pro-wrestlers goes together like peanut butter and ladies.
“Not too sure about the zebra pants, though.”
Yoshinari Ogawa: excuse me?
You have no idea how fast I clicked on this. This is gonna be another excellent ride through a very beloved time in history.
Great work as per usual. Id also recommend Joseph Monticello. He does walking the kings road. He breaks the matches down. I think between the two channels you can get your four pillars fix.
Had Bret and Shawn acted more professionally. We could had this caliber of rivalry in WWE
Oh HELL YES. The greatest feud in pro wrestling history. Cannot wait for this ride!
Tanahashi vs. Okada is better, but THIS was the template for the former.
@@blitzerblazinoah6838 loved Okada/Tana, but I respectfully disagree.
You're really good at these documentaries. I didn't have the $$ to buy tapes of AJPW as a kid but with magazines I was aware of ,and now thanks to your vids to solidify, the greatest era of pro wrestling.
There was always something about Kawada that i felt sympathy for. He was NEVER "The Guy"" in Baba's eyes. But of all the Pillars, he was the one who garnered sympathy. It didn't hurt that he was one of the GREATEST sellers of all time, something Misawa was NOT.
As always, Kim brings the 🔥🔥🔥🔥 on 90's AJPW.
Kawada always radiated "anime-villain you want to turn to the good side"-energy. The Vegeta to Misawa's Goku.
A four part series! You're spoiling us Kim :D
But in all seriousness I'm really looking forward to seeing how this story pans out. We might only be one video in, but it's already shaping up to be one of those tales that I'd point to when anyone claims wrestling is "fake". The fighting might be a performance, but the human drama behind it all is way too real.
I have been waiting so long for this and I'm so, so happy that I got the notification for it
I'm genuinely excited to relive one of the greatest and most iconic rivalries in not just Puroresu, but Pro Wrestling as a whole
Easily becoming one of my favourite channels on TH-cam, can’t wait for the next one!
Wait, I know that guy 👀
Going back and watch a bunch of jumbo. Jumbo is my third favorite wrestler that inspire my style of wrestling.
Kawada flipping off Fuchi will always be my favorite AJPW moment 😂😂
HBK: I refuse to job to that Japanese guy.
*Kawada kicks HBK in the face*
HBK: I've lost my smile.
You are my number one for Noah recommendations please never stop doing what you’re doing
Of all the British pro wrestling channels there are on TH-cam, yours is the only one I like.
I have been waiting for a new video from this channel.
If it wasn't for this channel, i would know nothing about japanese wrestling history
Truth. Absolutely love learning about Japanese Wrestling. It's like discovering the Attitude Era for the very first time.
Thanks for the informative video ❤
I bet Baba was licking his lips with delight when one of his top young prospect convinced another hot young prospect to defect from the hated Inoki.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! oh my god all i've wanted was a great comprehensive history for perhaps my favorite period of wrestling history. jumbo is still the ace, but the young up-and-comers vying for his spot is prob my favorite time in AJPW. can't wait!!!!
This video is very good, check out Joseph Montecillos videos also, some of the best AJPW content out there.
@@HAM-sb2ns I have!
It's about someone does this feud because I been waiting for someone to do this feud and I want to thank you
The Adventures of Batman and Robin Sega Genesis is the goated soundtrack!
I've been singing the praises of you and this channel to anyone who hears it, and I'm happy to say it succeeded.
Thanks again for the incredible video, and I can't wait to hear your retelling of my favourite rivalry of all time.
Yes! Ive always wanted a definitive telling of their story
Here because Eddie Kingston watched this
Dear lord, I've watched documentaries on TV that weren't as thorough as this is. With all that dialog, you'd need a script as thick as the yellow pages - and this is only part 1!!! 😵🤯
Respect, mate 👍
Massive rush seeing this pop up on my notifications Thanks Kim x
Damn Benoit,Misawa,Jericho and Koji all wore mask during their early years and hated it that’s a shame cause masks are very respected in Lucha and Mexico but I do get wrestling in one can be a bit difficult
So hyped for part 2 🙌🏻
When I see you've uploaded I stop what I'm doing and watch.
Finally, a good fucking wrestling channel.
I can't imagine how hard it must of been to be Kawada who everyone knew was great but his whole life since high school was seeing Misawa above him
I hope you keep doing series covering Misawa, Kobashi, and Kawada! This was excellent and so entertaining! I just recently started playing catch up with AJPW and NOAH in the 90's but even though I can find videos of matches and what not sometimes it's hard to find contacts so thank you so much and please keep up the great work
NOAH wasn't around in the 90s. It began in 2000.
Godlike content thanks Kim, along with the sensi doc one of my favourite things I've ever found on youtube.
Kim, your passion for Puroresu is infectious! I’ve already watched these guys fight on archived videos, and I’m hungry for more.
OUTSTANDING I love your work ❤
Fun fact: Toshiaki Kawada was actually deported from Mexico to Japan after an excursion from the US with other American wrestlers in the late 1980s went wrong. He was deported to Japan rather than the US because he couldn't speak Spanish or English.
Why was he deported?
@@duckmercy11 probably because they were drunk on the wrong side of the local border town.
Thankyou for telling this story. Masterfully done.
I love your storytelling as well as theirs in the ring !!! A nice parallel here , as I can watch your Puro vids over and over just like I have those AJPW matches . That is saying something right there friend . Thank you .
This is so fascinating
Excellent video, and I cannot wait until part 2!
Good work, Kim. You told a compelling story really well.
:)
23:15 that's absolutely hilarious🤣 I wish I could have seen the interviewer's face when he said that
At 39:15, is my favorite part of the story, why the colors chosen by the Four Pillars? :)
P.S. Favorite color is Blue.
amazing channel. cant wait to see the other parts
Another amazing job from the goat🇯🇵(btw thanks for putting this up the day before returning b-day)
very needed channel
Amazing job. Excited to see the next three episodes.
So pumped for this one
asking once again in case i need to find the information real quick: who were the original JWA Four Pillars alongside with Baba and Inoki??
Kintaro Ohki and "Fireball Kid" Michiaki Yoshimura. :)
The legend himself his back
Great work man!
Brilliant video.
It's so interesting as watching this i see some of the best of what i love about wrestling today but at the same time some of the bad habits that use to be
Love you 🤟
"I was in fear for my life." - Giant Baba... Oh wait, that was Tony Khan.
Click play, click like, then enjoy.
Great work as always. I would love to see you do a video on FMW, or on Japanese Deathmatch promotions in general.
Check out Grapplevision. He has great videos on Hayabusa, The Gladiator and the story of Arai.
I'm not an expert but I know enough to question the idea that Kawada was a better junior. If he was, he would have been Tigermask. They always picked the most capable junior to wear that mask.
I meant more that Kawada was more of a high-flying wrestler at the time than the style that he'd come to be known for. He wasn't as good a junior as Tiger Mask Misawa, no.
This might be a trigger warning for some. But I would just like to add, during the time of Kawada's excursion, he contemplated... shall we say, unaliving himself. He REALLY hated it, Kawada bounced around from promotion to promotion and had a horrible time away.
Great work ❤❤❤
Bret Hart is a Toshiaki Kawada guy then?
Bret was right about Misawa as Tiger Mask.
Speaking in hindsight, I think Kawada would've been a better Tiger Mask 2 and taken to the role better.
THE CONTENT I CRAVE
could you do a video on AJPW relationship with the awa?
Shiro Koshinaka, he was Tag-Team Champions with Great Muta in NJPW, right?
I like .
Thank For the Story Video 📖🙊🤯🥰😍😁💐🌟🥇🏆
Akira had the dynamite boot
*3:10*
I see Misawa R.I.P., Kobashi, Kawada.. is the 4th person Taue? Sorry if I misspelled the last name.
Yeah, Taue's the 4th person there.
@@thewrestlingroad that's amazing that at one point, the guys who carried AJPW into their future were all in a group together.
I hate to say this, but that lineup in hindsight, makes them the most accomplished and Legendary Stable of all-time.
Misawa the REAL final boss
Kodo Fuyuki is often the other guy in these historic Japanese wrestling moments. I truly hated him in FMW.
Is EMLL a different promotion than CMLL?
Nope - EMLL was CMLL's original name until it was changed in 1991. Stands for Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre.
@@thewrestlingroad damn. So CMLL is the equivalent to NWA/JCP changing its name to WCW. Except of course, CMLL is still here.
So Kawada taught Benoit to be a killer?
The crowd didnt care that much.
B. A
But Mexico is in North America…
Kiss the Kim
austin rock is bigger
9/10. Loses a point for failing to name drop Kenny Omega to trigger the haters.
Man, I really wish I could go back in time and stop Misawa from taking that bump. Watching ts just makes me wanna cry.
Another great video. Thank you!!
pogie wogie