Beauty in Tragedy: Katsuyori Shibata vs Kazuchika Okada

April 9^th marked the two year anniversary of one of the greatest matches in the history of the IWGP almost ending in tragedy. On this night Katsuyori Shibata would make his long awaited challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, almost losing his life in the process. That statement isn’t an exaggeration smothered in kayfabe. A headbutt in the closing stretch would cause a subdural haematoma (where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain) and leave Shibata fighting for his life. Thankfully, Shibata would survive that night and is still with us today. Safe in the knowledge that Shibata lived, the fact he almost fought to the death to win the title adds a strangely poetic mystique to the match.

To mark the two year anniversary of this timeless classic, let’s dive into what makes this encounter one of the greatest in the history of New Japan.

The History

Modern day New Japan is a booming business that is in the midst of a golden era. An incredibly deep and diverse talent pool has led to more eyes on the product, as they continually produce some of the best wrestling on the planet. Backed by a solid streaming service, New Japan has their eyes set on global expansion. But take a look back to the early to mid-2000’s and we see a very different story. The wrestling boom that Japan experienced in the 90’s was dying down. At the turn of the century, Mitsuharu Misawa’s Pro Wrestling NOAH had immerged as the powerhouse in Japanese wrestling. Boasting a combination of the talent that made AJPW a powerhouse in the 90’s and some young talent, NOAH seized control of the smaller market. Coupled with a growing interest in MMA, New Japan was struggling to stay relevant.

To try and capitalise on the MMA boom, New Japan turned to some of the sports stars. However, instead of drawing MMA fans in this experiment only made the situation worse as the wrestling crowd had little interest in seeing these fighters in a wrestling ring. This issue was compounded by the fact that many of the fighters struggled to adapt. The result was very sloppy matches that usually stunk up the arena. With business at an all-time low and the very real threat of closure, New Japan turned to three young wrestlers. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura and Katsuyori Shibata were ear marked as the “New Three Musketeers” who would save the company.

While Tanahashi and Nakamura would remain loyal to New Japan, Shibata would leave the company in 2005 to become a freelancer. Stating that he didn’t want to be a “salary man” wrestler Shibata would carve his own path. One that would lead him to the rival promotion in Pro Wrestling NOAH and by 2007 he had moved on to MMA. These moves were viewed as a betrayal by those within the New Japan office and fan base. So upon Shibata’s return to the company in 2012, he was greeted with some hostility from those who felt he had turned his back on them. He had left them when they needed him the most and only returned when others had rebuilt the company. Undeterred by this reaction, Shibata worked tirelessly to fight his way back up through the ranks of New Japan. This would put him in the path of another wrestler struggling to work his way up, Tomohiro Ishii. Their rivalry would propel both men to greater heights and for Shibata, it would help him to win over the crowd. The passion, fire and fighting spirit Shibata displayed in these encounters earned him the respect of the fans. A throwback to the masters of strong style, Shibata would never back down from any fight.

After signing an exclusive contract with NJPW in 2016 and with his fan support restored, Shibata set his sights on the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. This path would take him on an incredible run through the 2017 New Japan Cup and grant him the opportunity he’d been waiting for. Standing before him was the man who had taken his place in rebuilding New Japan, Kazuchika Okada. For me, this is where the story of this match draws some fascinating parallels. With Shibata gone, NJPW would ear mark a Young Lion to be his replacement. Okada would make his full time return to NJPW in 2012 (the same year Shibata returned) and issue what would become a historic challenge to Tanahashi. The match and feud would catapult Okada into the limelight. Which begs the question, would this have been Shibata’s fate if he’d stayed? It’s a fascinating hypothetical which adds so much intrigue to this match.

To add fuel to this fire, Okada was very dismissive of Shibata’s challenge. After all, Okada was already in his fourth reign with the IWGP Heavyweight title (one which spanned 294 days up to this point) and displayed an ability to deliver on the biggest stage. With his previous defence against Suzuki serving as an excellent primer for this challenge, why would Okada take it seriously?

The Match

An excited Ryogoku crowd, eager to see a title change, sets the stage for the match. One that starts to tell a story before the bell even rings. The iconic shot of the stoic Shibata waiting patiently while the extravagant champion makes it rain truly speaks to the contrast between the two men. One is cold and calculated who lets his actions between the ropes do the talking. The other is a brash young champion who has all the ability in the world to back it up. As the match begins it feels like a role reversal with Shibata playing the seasoned IWGP Champion and Okada being the one to making a rare challenge for the title. In a display of dominance, Shibata takes Okada to the mat early and doesn’t give him any room to breathe. Any attack launched by Okada is quickly countered leading to Okada taking an early walk. Is this Shibata’s response to Okada’s comments?

Even after sliding back into the ring, Okada can do very little against the carefully planned attack of Shibata. The only time he does gain an advantage is by not providing a clean break out of the corner. In the past we’ve seen Tanahashi be willing to bend the rules to gain the advantage in an important title match. Maybe this is a sign of Okada learning from his greatest rival. Either way, this act draws the ire of both the crowd and Shibata as he quickly fires back at the Rainmaker. This outburst and split lack of concentration give Okada the opening he needs. A dropkick takes the action to the floor where Okada wastes little time seizing the advantage with a vicious hangman DDT off the guard rail. Again, Okada shows his willingness to bend the rules as he refuses to break a hold with Shibata in the ropes. A further reflection of the contrast between these two men.

Shibata challenging Okada to hit him

Once again Shibata shows his incredible fighting spirit and fires up on Okada’s shots, even offering free strikes. Okada falls for this trap with Shibata regaining the advantage through vicious strikes. Many of which start targeting the right arm of Okada to weaken his greatest weapon. As with earlier in the match, we see Shibata challenging Okada’s fighting spirit and urging him to fight back. An act you would normally see from a grizzled champion towards his young challenger. In that moment, Okada answers the challenge to show his own fighting spirit and the resiliency that would lead him to a historic reign. This shifts the momentum as Okada looks for the kill shot with a Rainmaker clothesline. Here we see the continuation of a long and slow developing story. In Okada’s previous defences his opponents had found ways to counter the Rainmaker. Shibata is no different as he counters with an STO.

After 30+ minutes we’re back to a stalemate with both men trading the momentum. In an act of defiance, Okada sits down in the ring to welcome the strikes of Shibata. Almost like this is the only way that he can prove himself. Sat cross legged facing each other both champion and challenger rain down brutal blows. Even at this point in the match, there is still no clear cut winner. Okada tries for the Rainmaker but is initially blocked with kicks from Shibata. One last chance shot sees Shibata absorb the Rainmaker followed by a headbutt that would change his life forever. The sickening thud as their heads colliding followed by the blood trickling down Shibata’s head gives hint at the damage done. Remarkably, the match continues for a further seven minutes as Shibata looks to finish the champion. A Rainmaker chop and disrespectful kicks lights a fire under Okada as he avoids the PK to hit his own Rainmaker. Maintaining wrist control, they exchange strikes again which gives an indication to how server Shibata’s injury is. A final Rainmaker seals the win for Okada.

The Aftermath

I’ve never felt such a wide range of emotions after a match as I did after Shibata vs Okada. The elation and buzz of witnessing an incredible match quickly turned to one of concern as Shibata struggled to walk to the back. This wasn’t a wrestler selling the effects of a match but a man in real trouble. My worry turned to horror as the reports surfaced detailing the extent of Shibata’s injuries. The subdural haematoma left the right side of his body paralyzed with a loss of vision in one of his eyes. Thankfully, these side effects weren’t permanent and after several surgeries Shibata would create another timeless moment.

On the final day of the G1 Climax 27 a familiar theme would ring through Ryogoku. To the delight of shocked crowd, Shibata walked down to the ring and declared “I’m alive!!” So powerful was this moment that fans were crying tears of happiness. Their hero, who had almost given his life for them, was alive and happy. In the following years, Shibata would turn his attention to the LA Dojo and passing on his incredible knowledge. Here he seems to have found a certain level of peace with his career ending.

If you have never seen this match then I urge to watch and enjoy one of the very best matches that has ever taken place. More importantly, it’s the perfect tribute to the wonderful legacy of “The Wrestler” Katsuyori Shibata. It can be found on NJPW World by following the link below:
https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00433_1_09

Walking the King’s Road (Part 1)

There are very few periods in wrestling history that are as revered as ‘90’s All Japan Pro Wrestling. Years before I took my first steps into the world of puro, I heard whispers of the legendary matches that took place during this time period. Built around the Four Pillars of Heaven (Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi and Akira Taue), these four men would raise AJPW to heights very few companies have experienced. From 1990 until 2000, AJPW produced 12 five star matches and one six star match as awarded by the Wrestling Observer. Four matches took home the prestigious Best Bout Award from Tokyo Sports with three wrestlers being awarded the publications MVP award.

But how was such an incredible legacy created? What made the company so compelling to watch? Who were the key players? And what were the major feuds? Over the coming weeks I aim to answer those very question. These articles will feature full length matches with the background surrounding them and a brief overview of what to expect. This isn’t a comprehensive guide to AJPW, but more an introduction for those who’ve wanted to explore this wonderful period but have no idea where to start. To cover so much ground without it being an overwhelming experience, I’ve broken our journey into six parts:

• Part 1 – The Birth of a Dynasty
• Part 2 – Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada
• Part 3 – Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi
• Part 4 – Gaijin Greatness
• Part 5 – Tag Team Heaven
• Part 6 – Where Do We Go From Here?

Before we dive in I would just like to take a moment to thank ClassicsPuro83 on YouTube. The majority of the matches you’re about to witness come from the massive library they’ve created. If you enjoy what you see then subscribe to their channel.

Part 1 – The Birth of a Dynasty

As with all dynasties, the formula for success was built over many, many years. AJPW was formed in late 1972 by Giant Baba. Baba was a student of legendary wrestler and the father of Japanese wrestling, Rikidōzan. After Rikidōzan’s death in 1963, the promotion he formed (Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance) went into decline causing Baba to eventually leave and form AJPW. The early years of AJPW where built around Baba who became a true Ace and legendary figure in his own right. By the early 80’s, Baba was able to take a step back from the spotlight as two new faces had emerged. Jumbo Tsuruta became the new Ace of All Japan with Genichiro Tenryu being his greatest rival for that spot. Backed by an impressive collection of gaijin (foreign wrestlers) and a strong working relationship with the NWA, All Japan would rise to challenge NJPW for the number one promotion in Japan.

Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu’s rivalry brings us to the first match we’re going to look at.

AJPW Triple Crown Championship Match: Jumbo Tsuruta (C) vs Genichiro Tenryu – June 5^th 1989

A critically acclaimed match in its own right, this Triple Crown Championship encounter would win the Tokyo Sports Best Bout award for 1989 and receive a 5 star rating from the Wrestling Observer. What truly makes this match special is the style that is on display. The fast paced, hard hitting action is filled with outside brawling, outside dives and moments where fighting spirit is on full display. Such a formula would serve as a blueprint for the King’s Road style of booking that would catapult All Japan to their greatest success. Tenryu would win his first Triple Crown Championship here and was poised to be the new face of All Japan heading into the new decade.

However, this never became reality as Tenryu would lead the first of many talent exoduses from AJPW buy joining the ill-fated Super World of Sports. With his top star gone and an aging Ace in Jumbo, Baba was forced to push a crop of young talent if he wanted to survive. The four men selected to build AJPW’s future where Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi and Akira Taue (known collectively as The Four Pillars of Heaven).

Tiger Mask II & Toshiaki Kawada vs Samson Fuyuki & Yoshiaki Yatsu – May 14^th 1990

Baba chose Misawa to be the new Ace of AJPW but before Misawa could ascend to this status, he had to build his own legacy. Since 1984, Misawa had been wrestling as the second generation Tiger Mask. Starting out as a junior he graduated to the heavyweight ranks in 1986. While Misawa found success under the mask, this success was attributed more to the Tiger Mask character than to the man behind the mask. This would all change here in a moment that has gone down as one of the most pivotal in wrestling history. The action between the ropes might not blow you away but the story being told shines brightly. For the opening part of the match both Misawa and Kawada are being beaten down and mocked by their opponents. Unable to find an opening and sick of getting his ass kicked, Misawa demands Kawada remove his mask. The crowd erupts with chants of “Misawa, Misawa, Misawa” as Misawa starts to beat the living crap out of Fuyuki and Yatsu. With the tables now turned, Kawada starts to fire up and join in on the ass kicking. Misawa connects with a Tiger Suplex to pick up the win and start his journey to becoming one of the greatest wrestlers to have ever lived.

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jumbo Tsuruta – June 8^th 1990

The match that made Misawa a star almost had a very different outcome. Less than a month after his unmasking, Misawa was already set to challenge Jumbo’s reign as the Ace of AJPW. Baba’s original plan was to have the young lion fall in a valiant effort to the grizzled Ace. So what changed his mind? The story goes that Baba was walking around the merchandise tables before the start of the show and was taken aback by the excitement the fans had for Misawa as they filed into Budokan. This prompted Baba to change the outcome of the match which was no easy decision. Just three days before this match, Jumbo had suffered a shocking loss to Terry Gordy that cost him the Triple Crown Championship. Having your Ace lose two high profile matches in such a short space of time could be seen as damaging. But Baba saw an opportunity to skyrocket his young star into the limelight and create an everlasting moment. For me, the decision Baba made that night is the perfect example of the incredible mind he had for wrestling.

The match itself is one of many classics that Misawa would have from this point onwards. As the action begins you can see that Jumbo isn’t taking this challenge as seriously as some of his previous encounters. He’s almost disrespected by the audacity this young man has to challenge him. But with each passing minute, Jumbo slowly comes to the realisation that he’s in for one hell of a fight. Each time he puts Misawa down the young lion comes roaring back with the crowd right behind him. With every shot that rocks Jumbo the crowd starts to reach a fever pitch as they come to the realisation that Misawa could actually do the unthinkable. After an intense closing stretch Misawa scores the pinfall and Budokan becomes unglued. Not only is the pop deafening but fans are crying tears of joy as they rush forward to try and congratulate their hero. It’s a moment that, to this day, still gives you chills.

AJPW Triple Crown Championship Match: Mitsuharu Misawa vs Stan Hansen – July 27^th 1990

Misawa’s first shot at the Triple Crown would come just over a month later. Gordy’s reign with the Triple Crown would come to an abrupt end after he was forced to vacate the title due to being hospitalised. Misawa’s win over Jumbo earned him the right to fight for the vacant title. Even though he was riding a wave of momentum his path to the Triple Crown would not be an easy one. Before him stood a veteran of AJPW and a legend in his own right, Stan Hansen. Hansen had been with AJPW since 1981 and had risen through the tag team ranks to become a five time World Tag Team Champion and a four time winner of World’s Strongest Tag Determination League. Just three days after beating Jumbo for the Triple Crown, Gordy would lose the title to Hansen who in turn would lose it back to Gordy 39 days later. As the last man to hold the title before Gordy, Hansen was chosen as Misawa’s opponent.

Hansen’s greatest weapon was The Western Lariat. A knockout blow so feared that Misawa attacks from the bell with a Western Lariat of his own. This shot knocks Hansen to the outside where Misawa continues his attack. Misawa whips Hansen with his own bull rope, rains down chair shots and whips into the guard rail and ring post all with one goal in mind. To weaken Hansen’s left arm and take away his best weapon. So vicious is Misawa’s attack that any attempt by Hansen to regain control is neutralised by Misawa going back to his left arm. Ultimately, it’s this aggression that costs Misawa, as a failed diving body press to the outside gives Hansen the one opening he needs. Throwing caution to the wind, Hansen hits the Western Lariat and takes home the Triple Crown.

This match serves as an important step in Misawa’s development. He takes the fight to Hansen with an almost perfect game plan. But just falls short as his frustration gets the better of him which leads him to take an unnecessary risk. A sign that the young future Ace still had much to learn.

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Kenta Kobashi vs Jumbo Tsuruta/Masanobu Fuchi/Akira Taue – April 20^th 1991

Just how good is 90’s All Japan? One of their finest matches is a 51 minute six man tag on a fan appreciation show that has the Korakuen Hall crowd rocking throughout. Misawa wasn’t alone in challenging the old guard of All Japan. Toshiaki Kawada had been by his side since the unmasking and they were soon joined by Kobashi. On the surface this match is a continuation of this “generational war” with this young trio battling two of the elder statesmen in Jumbo and Fuchi. But the stories in this match run much deeper than the young lions trying to prove themselves. June 8^th wouldn’t be the only meeting between Misawa and Jumbo, as they would do battle many times both in singles and tags. You can feel the bitterness Jumbo still holds towards Misawa over his loss the previous year. However, the real hatred is between Kawada and Taue. Taue debuted in 1988 and would soon form a successful team with Jumbo. The team of Jumbo and Taue would feud with the team of Misawa and Kawada which lead to the intense rivalry between Kawada and Taue.

At the onset of the match, Taue takes several cheap shots on Kawada who is stood on the apron. After several of these cheap shots, Kawada can’t take anymore and storms the ring to get at Taue. This sets in motion a hotly contested back and forth match full of hot tags, dirty heel tactics from the veterans and brutal strikes that doesn’t slow down for a second. After the thirty minute mark is announced the crowd starts to grow into a frenzied state as they come to realise that they could be about to witness a sixty minute draw. By the fifty minute mark all six men are reaching their limit with just one big shot required to finish it. With the ring clear, Misawa seizes the opportunity and hits Taue with the Tiger Driver to give the young lions a hard fought win.

AJPW Triple Crown Championship Match: Stan Hansen (C) vs Mitsuharu Misawa – August 22^nd 1992

The two years between Misawa’s first Triple Crown Championship challenge and his eventual win was a period of growth. He would face Jumbo two more times, the first was a rematch from their June 8^th meeting but this time Misawa fell to Jumbo. Their second meeting would be Misawa’s second challenge for the Triple Crown. For the second consecutive time he would fall to Jumbo and fail to capture this Triple Crown. While singles championship success may have eluded him, Misawa formed a successful tag team with Kawada. The two would win the World Tag Team titles twice along with a winning the World’s Strongest Tag Determination League. He also had two strong showings in the Champion Carnival finishing with ten points in ‘91 and making the finals in ’92 before losing to Hansen in the Finals. We’ll take a deeper look at these two years in later parts.

With a number of failed attempts to win the Triple Crown, Misawa vowed this would be his final attempt at winning the biggest prize in All Japan. The ensuing match is an all-out war that features some of the stiffest shots you’ll see in any match. In a reversal of roles from their 1990 encounter, it’s Hansen who is relentless in his attack and attacks Misawa’s left arm. This includes a nasty shoulder breaker on the guard rail. Just a few months prior to this match, Misawa had submitted Jumbo during one of their tag team encounters and Hansen did not want to suffer a similar fate. With the opportunity slipping away from him, Misawa reaches down and shows the immense fighting spirit he would become famous for. The closing stretch sees Misawa nearly repeat the same mistake that cost him the championship in their first meeting. A missed frog splash seems to give Hansen the opening he needs to finish Misawa. However, this time Misawa is able to fight through Hansen’s counterattack and land his famous knockout right elbow shot for the win. After two long years of waiting, the Budokan crowd erupts in celebration at the fact Misawa has finally cemented himself as the Ace.

It wouldn’t be long before Misawa was challenged by his friend and former tag team partner, Toshiaki Kawada. This friendship would turn into one of the most heated and critically acclaimed rivalries in wrestling history. It would propel AJPW to claim the spot of not just the best wrestling promotion in Japan, but arguably the best promotion in the world. The story of this legendary rivalry is what we will explore in part two of our journey along the King’s Road.