Ed's Kings Road Journey - Part 1: Tsuruta-gun Vs Super Generation Army

Over the past few years I have been SLOWLY making my way through 1990s All Japan and documenting my thoughts in a thread over on WrestlingClique.com.  Rather than full blown reviews, my comments were more blurb forms to try and prevent this project taking too long.  2 years later I’ve only reached mid-1994 so that plan really hasn’t worked out!  Anyway, I’m still eager to carry on watching AJPW so my King’s Road Journey will continue on this blog.  However before I get back to it, I’ll be posting my old blurbs first so that everything runs chronologically.  It’s probably going to take a dozen entries before I catch up, the first of which starts now with mid 1990 to Spring '91 and the start of the 4 pillars era.

Jumbo Vs Misawa 8/6/90 – The natural starting point of this journey.  Tiger Mask II has unmasked as Mitsuharu Misawa and looks to have the rocket strapped to him to replace Tenryu as the #2 native and natural rival to Jumbo in the company.  It’s not just a significant match with Misawa getting the surprise win, but it’s a great one with both men playing their roles so well.  Particularly Jumbo who sold for Misawa tremendously well to help get him over and build his credibility. 

Jumbo Vs Misawa 1/9/90 – Following up with the June upset, we’ve got Jumbo’s revenge 3 months later.  This one is much more of a Jumbo focused match with him destroying this punk kid that handed him a shock loss.  There’s more drama in Misawa’s pin attempts this time round as he’s already proved he can beat Jumbo.  This makes for a great 1-2 punch to help establish Misawa as the young heavyweight star of the promotion.  Ironically this match makes me want to go backwards in time to enjoy peak Jumbo more so than go forward in time to the 4 Pillars era.

Kawada Vs Taue 15/1/91 – They may go on to form one of the greatest tag teams of all time, but in 1991 these two were engaged in a brutal war in AJPW.  I loved this rivalry as it offered something a little different to the Jumbo/Misawa rivalry at the top of the card.   In fact, this probably stands out as one of the more unique matches in 90s AJPW for it’s short length and it’s bloody-faced brawl style.

Jumbo Vs Hansen 18/1/91 - This was the Triple Crown title change back to Jumbo.  This might not be as spectacular as Jumbo/Misawa, but I really enjoyed seeing the change of pace to see Jumbo in there with someone that was his size, strength and experience level.  It feels like one of the last main events of it's kind where Jumbo faces a gaijin and it's not a long match filled with excess as we move closer to it being about the next generation.  Smartly worked, really good big man match with some gritty moments, the only criticism I would have is that the ending felt abrupt and flat.  

Misawa Vs Kobashi 5/4/91 - This was a handheld match from the 1991 Champions Carnival, and a really good one at that.  Short and snappy 15 minute match, started off by the numbers but then Kobashi hits a running DDT and they go off from there.  Two Tiger Drivers to win it for Misawa seems a bit excessive, but maybe that's just setting the scene for what comes later in their matches.  

Kawada Vs Taue 18/4/91 – Longer, fleshed out version of their January match for the Carnival.  Kawada wanted to powerbomb Taue on the concrete, but that backfires and he eats a Nodawa on the floor to get counted out

Jumbo Vs Misawa 18/4/91 – Might be the weakest of this trilogy but still very good.  Misawa has more confidence in this matchup now and this match has more of a back and forth, level playing field feel to things.  Jumbo kills Misawa with 3 backdrops to end this one.

Misawa, Kawada and Kobashi Vs Jumbo, Fuchi and Taue 20/4/91 - I wouldn’t be caught dead watching a 50 minute match from 2022 Japan, but this was fantastic and maybe the height of the Tsuratu-Gun Vs Super Generation Army 6 mans.  Yes you’ve got Misawa and Jumbo, but really the interesting combinations come in the form of Taue’s aggression towards Kawada, and Fuchi being a dick to Kobashi.  Great crowd, great performances, great heat and tension between the two stables.  Best trios match ever? Very likely.