The Single File #9
Televised/Written: 04/10/01

Sorry I’ve been MIA for a while.  A combination of being burnt out on wrestling after hosting a Wrestlemania party and a long overdue dental operation kept me away from wrestling for a bit.  But now with batteries recharged, we delve back into the Sport of Kings (TM Dean Rasmussen).

On the lengthy list of reasons of why I hate Hulk Hogan, his near destruction of Vader’s credibility is  the top of the list.  I mean, here was Vader, arguably the best big man to ever compete, a 400+ pound man that can do moonsaults, a true monster heel, and a wrestler who could have great matches to boot (1). But then Hogan comes into WCW with his mid-80’s schtick, goes over Vader on several PPV main events, and very nearly wrecks the big guy’s credibility forever.  They tried turning him babyface, but that went nowhere, and Vader soon left WCW after getting beaten up by Paul Orndorff backstage.

He soon showed up in the WWF, and hey, that’s gotta be gold, right?  Well, things started well enough, as Vader squashed Gorilla Monsoon on his first RAW.  He soon set his sights on Shawn Michaels, and a World title win seemed a sure thing.  But a pinfall loss to Michaels at Summerslam ’96 put a big halt to Vader’s momentum.  After that, the WWF never really seemed willing to pull the trigger on a big Vader push, and the Mastodon’s increasing weight and ring apathy didn’t help matters.

So in 1998 Vader was finally let go from the WWF.  Since he burned all his bridges in WCW, the only real alternative left was Japan, where Vader had found great success earlier in the decade.  So Vader signed up with All-Japan, and slowly but surely he started to regain his old form.  He was allowed to be a lot stiffer in the WWF, and let’s face it, fighting Kenta Kobashi instead of the Godfather is going to help your workrate.  So today we’ll look at my favorite Vader in Japan match, and encounter between Vader and Mitsuharu Misawa for the Triple Crown (2).

Backstory:  Well, Vader won the held-up Triple Crown (3) by beating Akira Taue on 3/17/99.  Misawa beat Vader for the title on 5/2/99, and now the big guy wants his titles back.  Simple, no?

The Match:  All-Japan entrances are different from America in that the camera follows the wrestler from the backstage to the ring.  Vader’s theme is a Motorhead song, I think (it’s a little tough to make out), and curiously has Vader yelling “It’s Vader Time,” just like on his old WWF theme.  Vader’s got his share of fans, as evidence by all the Japanese fans doing the Vader hand gesture.  Misawa has his own theme, and is of course mega-over with the crowd.

With both wrestlers in the ring, we get a handshake to start.  Vader takes off his mask (hey, he did lose it to Kane, ya know).  Misawa shows zero emotion, which I love.  Stoicism rules!

Before the match, we cut away to the All Japan television intro.  Okay, now we’re back…whoops, just cut to a commercial.  OK, now we’re good to go…

Both men are tense to start.  They tie up, then quickly break off when neither man gets an advantage.  They tie up a second time, and Misawa actually pushes Vader back a few steps, then breaks off the hold.  They tie up for the third time, and again Misawa pushes Vader back and again breaks the tie up.  But this time, Vader responds by punching Misawa right in the face. 

Vader says “come one!” and Misawa does, charging the big man and hitting him with forearm shots in the corner.  Vader fights back with shots of his own and tries to give Misawa a German suplex out of the corner, but Mitsuharu manages to hold onto the ropes.  Vader releases the waistlock and clamps on a kind of standing chinlock, then quickly tries another German suplex, but Misawa grabs the ropes just in time.  Vader goes back to the chinlock, and this time he lets go and slaps Misawa in the head.  With Misawa momentarily disoriented, Vader goes for and hits a release German suplex that dumps Misawa RIGHT ON HIS HEAD!  God lord, that was nasty.  Vader picks up Misawa and clocks him, then hits ANOTHER release German, but this time Misawa “only” lands on his shoulder.  Vader picks up Misawa and hits ANOTHER release German!  Misawa tries to get to his feet but collapses, and Vader gives him a splash for his troubles.  He drags Misawa over to the corner and hits a second rope splash for a count.  Vader tosses Misawa into the corner and nails some more stiff punches.  Misawa tries to fight back, but Vader just mauls him.  Vader picks up Misawa and just drops him like a sack of garbage.

Vader goes up top for a moonsault, but Misawa gets to his feet and actually tries to pick up Vader on his shoulders, but Vader manages to nail Misawa with a punch that sends him tumbling to the mat.  Vader waits for Misawa to get to his feet and tries a double axehandle from the second rope, but Mitsuharu hits him with a forearm in mid-air, followed by 2 more that send the big man to the canvas.  As Vader gets to his feet Misawa tries a Tiger Driver, but Vader manages to get to the ropes.  Misawa lays in with some forearm shots, but Vader retaliates with an eyepoke.  Vader goes for another German suplex, but again Misawa’s holds onto the ropes.  But this time Misawa manages to elbow out, then goes behind Vader and hits a release German of his own!  Vader slowly gets to his feet, but Misawa hits another release German!  Misawa covers, but only for 2.   

Misawa heads up top and hits a gorgeous front dropkick that sends Vader to the outside.  Misawa goes up top again and this time dives to the floor and hits Vader with a forearm. Misawa hops back up on the apron and hits a running somersault  bodyblock, and pretty much ends up powerbombing himself on the floor. Misawa rolls back into the ring while Vader tries to catch his breath by resting on the guardrail.  Misawa gets a  head of steam and tries a tope suicida, but Vader gets a foot up and nails Misawa in the shoulder.  Vader sets up Misawa and powerbombs him on the floor!  Good gawd, he’s broken in half!

Vader rolls Misawa back in the ring, then picks him up and hits a delayed brainbuster!  He covers, but Misawa kicks out at 2!  Vader goes for another powerbomb, but Misawa wriggles free and lays in with some forearm shots.  He tries a corner whip, but Vader reverses.  The Mastodon tries an avalanche, but Misawa dodges and hits the big man with another forearm in the back of the head.  Misawa hits a backdrop suplex, then heads up top and hits a nice frog splash for 2!  Misawa runs off the ropes and tries a clothesline that Vader ducks, but Misawa pastes him with a forearm on the rebound.  Misawa covers, but only for 2!  It’s time for the big guns—Misawa sets up and nails a Tiger Driver 91~!  Misawa covers, but only for 2!  Misawa goes up top again, but Vader powerslams him off the top!  Vader hits 2 standing butt splashes, then a running splash.  He covers, but only for 2!  Vader follows up with a chokeslam that folds Misawa in half!  Cover, but another kickout at 2!  Vader picks up Misawa, and Mitsuharu tries valiantly to fight back with some forearms.  He runs off the ropes, but Vader CLOCKS him with a clothesline to the side of the head!  I mean, I’d be shocked if Misawa didn’t have a busted eardrum.  The match is all over, but Vader picks up Misawa and hits one last powerbomb for the pin and the belts!  (12:12)

My tape cuts out here, but I believe the American contingent of Johnny Ace, Mike “Bart Gunn” Barton, and Maunukea Mossman run in and congratulate Vader for the win.

Great match, I just wish it had been a little longer.  Misawa busted ass as always and took some hellacious bumps, while Vader was stiff as hell and wasn’t afraid to get dropped on his head either.  Vader’s always at his best when mauling a smaller opponent (Sting, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels), and this match was no exception. 

Fallout:  Vader lost the titles to Kenta Kobashi on 2/27/00.  Then Vader was out with an injury while the Noah split occurred.  Today, Vader’s the only gaijin to work for the Noah promotion, and he continues to feud with Misawa.(4)

If you ever wanted to try All-Japan, Vader’s matches are a good place to start.  If you’re looking for more wrestling than sports entertainment, you should check it out.

I’ll gone until a later time period.  I’ll try to squeeze in another Single File before we preview Backlash.  If you have anything you want to see, drop me a line.

Joe Gagne
bwo@telegram.infi.net

Endnotes:

(1) Like his Starrcade ’93 match against Ric Flair or his bazillion PPV matches with Sting.
(2) All-Japan actually had three heavyweight titles back in 1989.  NWA International Champ Jumbo Tsuruta defeated PWF and NWA Unified champion Stan Hansen to unify all three titles on 4/18/89.  So when you win the Triple Crown, you really do get three titles (and a big trophy)..
(3) Previous champ Toshiaki Kawada broke his arm in the famous match where he beat Misawa for the belts, and had to surrender them.
(4) They supposedly had a boss match at the 12/24/00 Noah PPV that I really need to see..

BACK