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Kenta Kobashi retired seven years ago today. The following thread is 11 of my favorite Kobashi matches. Some obvious picks, some that I think have flown under the radar
1) Kenta Kobashi & Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen 7/15/89
Kobashi's first great match. It doesn't hurt that he's in there with two of the five best wrestlers ever. Even with that in mind, it's clear this kid can go.
Kobashi's first great match. It doesn't hurt that he's in there with two of the five best wrestlers ever. Even with that in mind, it's clear this kid can go.
2) Kobashi & Kikuchi vs. The Can-Ams 5/25/92
GOAT contender. Hottest crowd I've ever heard. Essential viewing if you haven't seen it.
GOAT contender. Hottest crowd I've ever heard. Essential viewing if you haven't seen it.
3) Kobashi & Kikuchi vs. Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa 7/5/92
Insanely great Kobashi performance. He makes a hot tag during this match that is one of the elite hot tags. Fuchi and Ogawa are really great here too.
Insanely great Kobashi performance. He makes a hot tag during this match that is one of the elite hot tags. Fuchi and Ogawa are really great here too.
4) Kobashi vs. Steve Williams 8/31/93
Kobashi is the best wrestler in the world in 93. His match with Hansen from this year is probably better, but I'm not a huge Dr. Death guy, so this match is like a work of art. All-time brutal finish.
Kobashi is the best wrestler in the world in 93. His match with Hansen from this year is probably better, but I'm not a huge Dr. Death guy, so this match is like a work of art. All-time brutal finish.
5) Kobashi & Misawa vs. Kawada & Taue 12/3/93
...I think I like this match more than 6/9/95. At the very least, It's Kobashi's best individual performance ever. He's MASTERFUL in this one.
...I think I like this match more than 6/9/95. At the very least, It's Kobashi's best individual performance ever. He's MASTERFUL in this one.
6) Kobashi & Misawa vs. Kawada & Taue 6/9/95
The clubhouse leader for best match of the Pillars-era of All Japan. At worst, one of the ten greatest matches ever. Four of the top 25 guys ever at the height of their powers.
The clubhouse leader for best match of the Pillars-era of All Japan. At worst, one of the ten greatest matches ever. Four of the top 25 guys ever at the height of their powers.
7) Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada 6/12/98
WHY DOES THIS MATCH GET SLEPT ON? Maybe it's because Kobashi has yet another five star match with Akiyama that July, but this is one of my favorite matches ever. By far the best match these two had with each other
WHY DOES THIS MATCH GET SLEPT ON? Maybe it's because Kobashi has yet another five star match with Akiyama that July, but this is one of my favorite matches ever. By far the best match these two had with each other
8) Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama 8/6/00
Speaking of Akiyama, he and Kobashi have the first great NOAH match here. Kobashi is sneaky good in 2000. He has a Takayama match in May that I really like, but this is even better.
Speaking of Akiyama, he and Kobashi have the first great NOAH match here. Kobashi is sneaky good in 2000. He has a Takayama match in May that I really like, but this is even better.
9) Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa 3/1/03
The greatest professional wrestling encounter I've ever seen.
The greatest professional wrestling encounter I've ever seen.
10) Kobashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
Their match in May 2000 is very good, but this is unbelievably great. Horribly violent. Incredibly stiff. This is his best GHC defense.
Their match in May 2000 is very good, but this is unbelievably great. Horribly violent. Incredibly stiff. This is his best GHC defense.
11) Kobashi vs. Kensuke Sasaki 7/18/05
I think the tag match with Go and Nakajima in November gets more hype now, but this is an all-time heavyweight slugfest. The best chop battle ever. A perfectly stupid, dumb jock-style of match
I think the tag match with Go and Nakajima in November gets more hype now, but this is an all-time heavyweight slugfest. The best chop battle ever. A perfectly stupid, dumb jock-style of match
All in all, I think Kobashi is the greatest of all-time, slightly edging out Stan Hansen and Genichiro Tenryu. No one peaked higher. You can watch his finale too, if you've never seen it
