The Single File #26
Posted: 02/06/02

If I've timed it right, this article should debut on 2/6/02, which happens to be my first anniversary on TCF.com. It's an extra-sized jumbo edition featuring the longest match I've ever examined, but I assure you, it's merely coincidence. I've been putting this bad boy off for a while, but some inclement weather this weekend trapped me indoors, so I bit the bullet and churned it out. It's probably a little silly to get worked up about spending a year writing for a wrestling website, although I will say it's been a blast to be a part of a site that provides cool stuff with none of the stupid B.S. that permeates many other websites. Okay? Okay.

Now, if I asked you to list your 30 favorite U.S. matches of all time, I'm sure a lot of worthy candidates would come up instantly: Flair/Steamboat, Hart/Austin, HHH/Foley, and many more. But how many tag matches would there be on your list? Would there be one in your top ten? Twenty?

What tag matches would be there? Well, maybe the various TLC matches, but I'll point out that those aren't tag matches in the traditional sense (since they didn't have any, you know, tags in them) What else? Maybe Benoit/Jericho vs. Austin/HHH. After that, what else?

The problem is that tag matches have killed any chance of excellence by staying close to the North American formula. And you know what I'm talking about: match starts, faces kick butt, heels soon isolate one face and beat on him for a good while, face makes a dramatic tag to partner who cleans house, go directly to finish. And every match follows this pattern. Every one. And it's hard to be excellent when there's such a rigid pattern to follow. Sure I see a lot of tags that are good, maybe even great. But classics? Nuh-uh.

But in Japan, they don't follow the standard formula. Why? Well, there aren't really any face/heel alignments, so the method doesn't apply. Sure there are times when one wrestler gets worked over for a while, but when he makes the tag it's not nearly as dramatic.

But what this freedom allows is the ability to construct longer, more complex matches. There have been plenty of 60-minute tags in Japan. You can't do that in the States. Why not? Well, that would mean that Jeff Hardy would have to get beaten up by the heels for over a half-hour. And no formula means wrestlers in Japan can play around with things like momentum shifts and extended selling. The end result: not just great matches, but classics. I'll demonstrate by dissecting what I consider to be the best tag match of all time.

Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi [c] vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue (All Japan Pro Wrestling Tag Title Match)
When: 6/9/95
Where: Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Backstory: Even if you don't follow Japanese wrestling you've probably heard of the above four competitors. Misawa, Kobashi, and Taue have all put in appearances in the SF before (1), but we've amazingly never seen Kawada here before. I say amazingly because he's quite honestly one of the best wrestlers of all time. I'd back up that statement with a list of attributes, but honestly, they'll be on parade in the paragraphs that follow.

Misawa and Kobashi pretty much had a lock on the tag titles, pretty much holding them since 12/3/93 (2). Kawada and Taue had a reign as well, holding them for a little over three months in mid-93. The big story here is Kawada and Misawa. The two used to be a team and actually won the tag titles twice. But while Misawa went on to win the Triple Crown in '92 and hold it for nearly two years, and had actually won it again two weeks before this match. Kawada couldn't reach the same pinnacle and in fact, had never pinned his former partner. Remember that.

These four are no strangers to each other in the ring. In fact, these teams have met each other 9 times in the ring, from 1993-1995. Some have called this the greatest feud of all time, and based on the quality of the matches, they may be right.

The Match: The challengers come out first. Kawada wears this goofy looking white t-shirt to the ring, while everyone else wears jackets. I dunno, this struck me as weird. Big "Misawa" as the champs make their appearance, carrying their two belts (3) to the ring. Some guy reads something off a parchment-maybe the president of All Japan? Both teams are introduced and streamers fly. Both teams confer and Kobashi and Taue start us off.

Both men tie-up as the crowd chants "Kobashi." Taue backs Kobashi into the ropes, and we get a clean break. Another tie-up, and Taue hits a chop, and Kobashi fires right back with one of his own, which causes Taue to back off. A third tie-up, Taue tries another chop, but Kobashi blocks it and fires back with several of his own. He sends Taue to the ropes and hits a back elbow, but Taue shrugs it off and boots Kobashi right in the face. Taue tries another one, but Kobashi ducks and we've got a standoff. 

Another tie-up, and Taue manages to apply a wristlock. Kobashi tries to power out and is first unsuccessful, but tries again and does manage to reverse it, only to have Taue kick him in his bad leg to escape. Another tie-up, and this time Kobashi backs Taue into the corner, and opts to lay in some chops rather than break clean. He tries a cross corner whip but Taue reverses, and hits a bulldog as Kobashi stumbles out of the corner (yeah, just like Scotty 2 Hotty (4)). Taue makes the tag to Kawada.

Kawada shoots Misawa a quick "screw you" look on the apron. He goes to tie-up with Kobashi, but Kenta kicks him in the gut. Kobashi with some more chops, which don't faze Kawada. Kobashi tries to send Kawada into the ropes, but Kawada blocks it. Another chop, another attempt, same result. Now Kawada slaps Kobashi in the face and lays in some chops of his own. He tries to send Kobashi to the ropes, but Kenta reverses it. However, Kawada uses the momentum to hit a running boot to the face of Misawa that sends him flying off the apron. Big ol' "FU" right there. Kobashi first yells to Misawa to see if he's alright (never actually leaving the ring to check on him), then has words for Kawada. Kawada looks like he couldn't care less. Awesome. Misawa finally shakes the cobwebs and gets back on the ring and gets the tag.

Man, the tension here is something else. Crowd's either chanting for Misawa or Kawada (maybe it's split). They tie-up and Misawa backs Kawada into the ropes. He tries a forearm, but Kawada ducks and lays in three hard chops on Misawa. Misawa then reverses their positions and lays in two forearm shots. He sends Kawada into the ropes and hits a big dropkick. But Kawada shrugs that off and hits the ropes himself, nailing Misawa with a running boot. But that doesn't faze Misawa, who hits the ropes again and tries a forearm that gets blocked by Kawada. Kawada tries a jumping kick that gets blocked by Misawa. Misawa tries a spin kick that gets ducked, and Kawada then opts to boot Kobashi in the face on the apron. Kobashi is understandably upset by this, and gets in the ring. Taue joins him, but the ref manages to keep both teams apart.

Things finally settle down and Kawada makes the tag to Taue. They tie-up and Taue backs Misawa into the corner where he lays in some punches. He tries to whip Misawa to the opposite corner, but Misawa halts his momentum, then turns around and belts the charging Taue with a forearm. Kobashi gets tagged back in, and he sends Taue to the ropes and hits a jumping shoulderblock. Cover, and barely a 2 count. Kobashi slaps on a chinklock, but Taue soon escapes with a jawbreaker. Both men start exchanging chops, until Kobashi hits the ropes and boots Taue right in the kisser. Kobashi tries a Suplex, but Taue blocks it. So Kobashi hits some chops and tags Misawa back in, and he lays in some forearms. Taue tries to fight back, but a few kicks from Misawa send him crashing to the mat. Misawa hits a big jumping elbow and covers for a 2 count. Misawa sends Taue to the corner and tags in Kobashi, then gives Taue a parting forearm shot. Kobashi comes in and manages to hit a delayed suplex on Taue, then covers for another 2 count. Kobashi applies an abdominal stretch and really wrenches it in, but Taue's able to hiptoss Kobashi off of him. Kobashi's quick to his feet and lays a kick on Taue, then tags Misawa back in. Misawa lays in some forearms to the back of Taue's head. Misawa tries a suplex, but Taue reverses it. But Misawa's able to escape and land on his feet. Misawa tries a spinkick that gets ducked, but connects on a forearm and another spinning kick that sends Taue to the floor. Misawa gets a running start, but opts to due that little flip thing where he lands on the apron and backflips into the ring. While Taue's distracted by Misawa's gymnastics, Kobashi nails him with a diving shoulderblock off the apron. Kawada comes in the ring and gets nailed with a forearm. Now Misawa gets a running start and nails Taue with a tope suicida on the floor. Misawa dumps Taue back in the ring and tags in Kobashi. The champs hit a double suplex, then Kobashi covers for 2. Kobashi lays in some stomps, then tries a second rope shoulderblock, but Taue moves and Kobashi lands awkwardly on his bad leg. Taue makes the tag to Kawada.

Kawada comes in and immediately starts laying in the kicks on Kobashi's bad leg, then follows with some forearms to the face for good measure. Kobashi tries to fight back with a kick of his own, but Kawada just boots him in the face. More kicks to the leg, and Kobashi manages to boot Kawada in the face, but the pain is too great and he crumples to the mat. Kawada drops a big knee on Kobashi's leg, then hooks on this weird leglock variant, then tags in Taue while holding onto the move. Taue lays in some stomps on the leg, and then applies a Scorpion Deathlock. Kobashi tries to reach the ropes, but Taue just drags him back to the middle of the ring. Kobashi actually manages to power out of the move, but is too worn down to make a tag. Taue casually tags Kawada, who comes in and lays some more stomps on the leg. He picks up Kobashi and lays in some chops, and Kobashi surprisingly fires back with some of his own. But Kawada just goes back to kicking the leg to halt the comeback. Kobashi can't even get up, so Kawada punts him in the spine and leg again, then tags in Taue.

Taue tries the atomic-drop-on-the-knee, but Kobashi punches him in mid-air before he can complete the move. Kobashi lands and hits a quick spinning chop, then basically falls backwards and tags Misawa (5). Misawa comes in with some forearms shots, then sends Taue to the ropes and nails a jumping forearm. He goes to hit Kawada on the apron, but Kawada smartly drops to the floor. Misawa turns his attentions back to Taue, and the two trade forearms. Misawa gets the upper hand and tries to send Taue to the ropes, but the whip is reversed. However, Misawa holds on to the ropes, and this time manages to nail Kawada with a forearm. Misawa manages to catch Taue with an elbow and tries a cross corner whip, but Taue reverses. Misawa jumps to the second rope and tries a jumping back elbow, but Taue sidesteps him. Misawa manages a backwards roll and lands on his feet and nails Taue with a forearm that knocks him to the mat. Misawa drags Taue to the middle of the ring and locks on a Boston Crab, as we see Kawada just getting to his feet on the floor. Kawada gets in the ring and casually punts Misawa in the face to break the Crab as the announcers have a coronary. Misawa's so out of it he rolls to the outside. Taue goes to the floor and tosses Misawa back in, then tags Kawada back in. Kawada punts a hunched-over Misawa in the face, and when Misawa slumps in the corner, Kawada nails an absolutely VICIOUS kick to the face. Kawada follows up with some nasty knees to the face, and when the referee tries to stop it, Kawada shoves him away and goes back to moidering Misawa with kicks and knees. Misawa manages to block some kicks and get to his feet, then plasters Kawada with some forearms. Taue comes in the ring and gets the same, but the distraction allows Kawada to boot Misawa in the face again. Kobashi comes in and lays some in some chops on Kawada. Taue lays in some chops on Kawada while Taue shoves Misawa down to the mat. Taue then lays a dropkick (no mean feat for a guy his size) from behind on Kobashi's bad leg. Kawada stands on Kobashi's bad leg while Taue picks up Misawa and gets nailed for his troubles. But Kawada nails Misawa with a chop and lays in some kicks to the face the Misawa no-sells. Kawada tries again, same result, and Misawa forearms Kawada in the corner. Misawa goes nuts on Kawada with forearms until he's blindsided by Taue and shoved to the mat again. Kobashi rejoins the fray and hits some chops on Taue, until Taue blocks one and kicks Kobashi's leg out from under him. Taue then turns Kobashi over and slams his knee to the mat. Misawa comes back and hit Taue with some forearms, until Taue ducks, grabs Misawa, and chokeslams him on Kobashi's leg (6)!

Kawada goes to the second rope and drops a knee on Kobashi's leg. Kobashi rolls outside and you know at this point it's basically 2 on 1. Kawada sends Misawa to the ropes and hits a nasty spin kick to the face, then covers for a 2 count. Kawada slaps on a chinlock, then opts to rub his forearm in Misawa's face. Kawada drops a knee on Misawa's face and tags Taue back in. We see Kobashi still crumpled on the floor as Taue gives Misawa a Nash-esque Snake Eyes in the corner (7). Taue takes Misawa over and covers for a 2 count. Kawada gets tagged back in and slaps on a chinlock, but Misawa manages to make it to the ropes.

We see Kobashi on the floor trying to retape his leg as Kawada just stands on Misawa's face and tags in Taue. Taue picks up Misawa and knocks him back down with a clothesline, then covers for a 2 count. Taue picks up Misawa like he was attempted an atomic drop, but instead heaves him forward. Misawa crashes to the mat and Taue covers for another 2 count. Tag back to Kawada, who comes in and lays a kick between the ropes to Kobashi (just now getting to his feet) on the floor. Kawada and Misawa start trading forearms, until Kawada staggers backwards and comes back with a clothesline that floors Misawa. Cover, another 2 count. Kawada goes for a powerbomb that gets blocked, allowing Kobashi time to stagger into the ring and lay in some chops on Kawada. Taue comes in and boots Kobashi back outside the ring to stop the rally as Kawada opts to nail Misawa with some kicks instead. Kawada tries again and this time does hit the powerbomb as we see Taue drop Kobashi leg-first on the guardrail on the floor. Kawada covers, another 2 count.

Kawada locks the Stretch Plum (8) on Misawa in the middle of the ring. We see Kobashi crawling back into the ring, but he gets cut off by Taue, who boots him in the face. Taue hits a running boot to the face that sends Kobashi backwards into the ropes, but he uses his momentum to come back with a clothesline. As Taue rolls out of the ring, Kobashi wails away on Kawada with punches to get him to break the hold. Kawada does just that, and decides to focus his attention on Kobashi and nailing him with forearms. Finally both men wallop each other with clotheslines that knock both of them for a loop, leaving us with Misawa, Kobashi, and Kawada on all the mat. Kobashi rolls outside as Kawada tries to grab Misawa, but gets caught with some forearms for his troubles. Misawa tries a spinning kick, but Kawada catches the leg, so Misawa improvises by using his free leg to hit a enziguiri to Kawada's face. Misawa makes the tag to Kobashi (who, despite a banged-up leg, is still in better shape that Misawa). Kobashi lays in the chops on Kawada, sends him to the ropes, and nails another chop, but Kawada's able to shrug it off. Two more chops, same result, and Kawada follows with another kick to Kobashi's leg. Kobashi manages to fire back with a kick of his own, and both men begin trading kicks to the leg. Kobashi finally catches Kawada's leg and peppers him with chops and a right that floors the challenger. Kobashi then knocks Taue off the apron for good measure. Kobashi goes to pick Kawada up off the mat, but gets kicked twice in the back of the head. Kawada gets to his feet and takes Kobashi down with a leg sweep, then tags out.

Taue comes in but gets caught with a dropkick to the knee by Kobashi. Taue stumbles into the corner where Kobashi peppers him with chops, but Taue shrugs them off and shoves Kobashi down to the mat. Kobashi gets up and tries more chops, with the same result. Kobashi gets up but gets caught with a boot to the face, then a second one that sends him crashing to the mat. Kobashi gets to his feet in the corner, and Taue comes after him with some overhand chops. But now it's Kobashi who shrugs them off and shoves Taue down to the mat. Kobashi tries a lariat but Taue ducks and shoves him back into the corner. Taue charges in but gets caught with a boot to the face, and this time Kobashi is able to hit the jumping lariat. Kobashi covers rather than going for a tag and gets a 2 count. Kobashi goes for a Powerbomb but Taue blocks it, so Misawa comes in and the champs hit a double Tiger Driver! Kobashi covers but Kawada breaks up the pin and starts wailing on Kobashi with kicks until Misawa nails him with some forearms. The champs send Kobashi to the ropes and hit a double back elbow that sends him outside the ring. 

Back in the ring Kobashi slams Taue and heads up for the moonsault, but Kawada gets on the apron and knocks Kobashi off the top with a jumping hook kick. Both Taue and Kobashi play dead for a few seconds until both start to get to their feet. Kobashi nails Taue with a superkick and falls back to make the tag. Misawa comes in and nails Taue with 8 forearm shots, then sends him to the ropes and hits the jumping spinning clothesline. Misawa picks up Taue and goes for a Tiger Driver, but Taue backdrops out of it. Misawa lands on his feet and hits the ropes. Taue tries a big boot, but Misawa catches it and nails Taue with a spinning forearm. Kawada comes in and tries a big boot but gets the same result. Misawa picks up Taue and is this time able to hit the Tiger Driver, and covers for 2 and 7/8. Misawa locks on what looks to be a headlock of some kind (can't really tell from the vantage point) until Kawada comes in break it up. Misawa fights him off with some forearms, and Kobashi locks a sleeper on him from the apron. Misawa locks in his hold again on Taue, but he won't give it up. Kawada finally elbows out of the sleeper and boots Kobashi off the apron, then breaks up Misawa's hold. Misawa tries to fight off both challengers with forearms, but gets caught with a Dangerous Backdrop (9) from Kawada. Kawada gets on the apron to receive the tag from Taue, but Kobashi comes storming into the ring and knocks Kawada off with a jumping shoulderblock. Kobashi gets back on the apron and gets the tag from Misawa. He tries the Half-Nelson suplex on Taue, but Taue grabs the ropes to block. Kobashi nails him with some forearms to the back, drags him top the middle of the ring, and opts for a release German Suplex. He covers, but only gets too. Kobashi slams Taue again and again goes for the moonsault, but again Kawada stops him, this time by kicking him in the leg and chokeslamming him off. 

Now Kawada gets on the apron and receives the tag from Taue. He comes in and lays in some quick kicks to the face of Kobashi, then tries a Dangerous Backdrop, but Kobashi counters with a headlock and some elbows. Kawada is finally able to lift Kobashi up, but Kobashi's too heavy and falls on top of him for a two count. Kawada tries a German suplex, but Kobashi elbows out. Kawada hits the ropes and tries a clothesline, but Kobashi ducks and hits a backdrop suplex. Kobashi sells the knee and both men stay down on the mat for a while. Kobashi gets to his feet first but Kawada lays in some kicks to the leg while laying on his back. Kobashi punches him in the head to put an end to that. He picks up Kawada and slams him, then tries a third time for the moonsault. But this time Taue wanders over on the apron to try and knock him off, and they start slugging it out. Meanwhile, Misawa comes into the ring and slams Kawada, then heads up top and hits a frog splash. Kobashi finally knocks Taue off the apron with a punch as Misawa exits the ring. Kobashi gets off the top rope. He slams Kawada and goes for the moonsault a fourth time, but Kawada manages to get to his feet and tries to pull Kobashi down. Misawa comes in and grabs Kawada, slams him, and hits a standing senton. Fifth time's the charm as Kobashi finally hits the moonsault (10). He covers…and gets 2 and 9/10. Kobashi sells the leg and tags Misawa back in.

Misawa goes for a Tiger Suplex, but Kawada reaches the ropes. Misawa pounds him with elbows to the back of the head, then drags him to the middle of the ring and tries a Tiger Driver. Kawada blocks that, so Misawa does a guillotine kick to a hunched over Kawada, and follows with a cranium crunching released German Suplex. Misawa signals for Kobashi to cut off Taue as this time he hits the Tiger Suplex on Kawada! It gets…another 2 and 9/10.

Misawa picks up Kawada and hits a big time Tiger Driver. Cover…and Taue gets by Kobashi and breaks it up at 2. Misawa gets up and tries a forearm, but Taue blocks it and hits the Nodowa (11)! Not content, Taue picks up Misawa by the throat and places him on the top rope, presumably for a top rope Nodowa. But Kobashi comes up behind him and starts nailing him with forearms and elbows to the back. But then Kawada sneaks up on Kobashi and nails him with a sliding dropkick to the leg. Kobashi collapses to the mat as Taue hits the chokeslam off the top! Taue exits the ring and Kobashi rolls to the outside, leaving Misawa and Kawada lying in the middle of the ring. Kawada crawls over and grabs Misawa, but Misawa tries a surprise forearm, but Kawada blocks it, hits a punch of his own, and a stiff rolling kick that looks like it caught Misawa in the throat. Misawa rolls near the ropes, where Taue grabs him and yanks him out on the apron with him. Taue goes for a chokeslam off the apron to the floor, but Misawa is able to block it. Kobashi hobbles over and pounds on Taue with forearms, but turns around and walks right into a Kawada punch and a kick to the leg that knocks Kobashi to the mat again. Meanwhile, Taue hits Misawa with a forearm and tries the chokeslam again, but Misawa blocks it a second time. Kawada blindsides Misawa with a clothesline to the back of the head, and that allows Taue the opportunity to splat Misawa with a chokeslam to the floor. The announcers are having a fit at this point.

Misawa is doing his best imitation of a corpse at this point. Taue tries to pick him up, but Kobashi crawls over and covers up his partner. So Taue stomps on him and yanks him off. Taue rolls Misawa back into the ring where Kawada tries to cover him, but Misawa keeps rolling until he rolls out of the ring again. But Kawada follows him, rolls him back in the ring, and covers…for a 2 and 9/10. Kawada picks up Misawa and tries a powerbomb, but Misawa blocks it and makes his way to the ropes. Kawada yanks him out to the middle of the ring, kicks him in the face a few times, and tries the powerbomb again. But this time Kobashi comes in the ring and grabs Misawa's leg to block the move. But Taue comes into the ring and stomps on Kobashi to get him to let go. Taue grabs Kobashi and chokeslams him as Kawada simultaneously gives Misawa a folding powerbomb. Kawada covers…and gets another 2 count. Kawada tries another powerbomb, but Misawa is able to backdrop out of it. He trips Kawada as he gets to his feet in a desperation move, but it's for naught, as Kawada is soon to his feet and stomping away on Misawa. Kobashi again crawls over and covers up his comrade, but the challengers yanks him off and hits him with a backdrop suplex/chokeslam double team that puts Kobashi OUT.

Taue goes to pick up Misawa, but the champ fights back and knocks the big man down with a spinning forearm. But Kawada comes over and nails him with a jumping kick to the face. Cover…another 2 and 9/10 count! Kawada tries to pick up Misawa but gets plastered with a forearm. But it's not enough, as Kawada is soon up and spikes Misawa with a Dangerous Backdrop. Kawada covers as Taue holds back Kobashi…and another 2 and 9/10. Everyone in the stadium is exhausted at this point. Kawada picks up Misawa and hits another jumping kick to the face. With one last gasp, Kawada gets Misawa in a powerbomb position, but Misawa blocks it twice. But with his last ounce of energy, Kawada picks up Misawa and hits the folding powerbomb! Taue holds off Kobashi, Kawada with the cover…1…2…3!!!! (42:37)

Streamers fly, the crowd goes crazy, and attendants come in to check on both competitors. Taue and Kawada soon get to their feet and accept their trophies and belts. Both men give comments and seem remarkably subdued, especially since Kawada just pinned the Triple Crown Champion. Maybe it's the exhaustion.

Now we see a litany of slo-mo highlights from the match. People who decry stiffness in wrestling should probably turn their eyes.

Hands down the best tag team match I ever saw. Picture perfect psychology, in that Kawada and Taue go apeshit attacking Kobahsi's injured leg, leaving Misawa to basically fight 2 on 1. Misawa does the best he can, but it's too much in the end as Kawada gets his first pinfall on his old partner.

But what really made the match was that it wasn't your normal All-Japan match. Normally there's an "I'm a great athlete, so are you, let's have a match" vibe in situations like this. But man, Kawada and Taue just were complete asshole heels here. Not that they were using foreign objects or cheating outrageously, but in the way they just kept going after Kobashi's leg, the way Kawada booted Misawa in the face out of the blue, the way they just yanked Kobashi off as he tried to cover up Misawa wow. They took all the good things about the All-Japan style and mixed it with American elements and…ta da, instant classic.

Man, I mentioned forearms more than…I'm drawing a blank. Sorry. 

Fallout: Kawada and Taue lost their belts to Stan Hansen and the late Gary Albright on 1/24/96, but would go on to win them 3 more times. Everyone in this match would go on to hold the Triple Crown.

Misawa, Taue, and Kobashi all ended up leaving All Japan for NOAH, while Kawada stuck around in All Japan. Misawa and Taue are winding down their careers, while Kobashi is trying to make a comeback after roughly 874 knee surgeries. Kawada has found himself screwed out of a lengthy Triple Crown run due to the huge popularity of Keiji Mutoh.

Anyway, this is a match, you, as a wrestling fan, need to see. It's easily one of my top ten matches of all time, maybe a top five depending on my mood. See it. It's good.

And that (finally) wraps things up here at year one of the SF at TCF.com. Stick around, we've got a No Way Out preview next week and more great (and hopefully shorter) matches in the future.

Thanks for reading.

Joe Gagne
bwo@infi.net

Endnotes:
(1) All three were in the very first Single File, and Misawa popped up again in issue #9.
(2) Misawa and Kobashi actually vacated them in November for 1994 for the annual Real World Tag league, but ended up winning the tournament so they got their belts right back. They're officially credited with two tag title reigns. 
(3) The All Japan tag titles were created when the PWF World Tag and NWA International Tag Titles were unified back in '88, so the titleholders get two belts. Like Chris Jericho and the Unified World Title.
(4) A rare comparison between the ringwork of Scotty 2 Hotty and Akira Taue.
(5) See, that would be like a hot tag in the States. But here it wasn't overly dramatic, and there's still a lot of match left.
(6) Actually it was more of a shove than a chokeslam, but hey, A for effort.
(7) A rare comparison between the ringwork of Kevin Nash and-oh, forget it.
(8) From the Big Book of Wrestling Moves: "The attacker stands behind the victim. The attack reaches around the victim's body with one leg so it is around the victim's side and between their legs, hooking the leg on the same side as the attacker's leg. The attacker forces the victim down into a sitting position, with the attacker's leg still positioned around the victim's body and inbetween their legs and applies an inverted face lock. From there, the attacker twists in the direction opposite their leg (if the attacker has their left leg around the victim, twist to the right)."
(9) A Dangerous Backdrop is a backdrop suplex where you drop your opponent on their head/neck. So named because it's a, well, dangerous backdrop.
(10) I always thought this was interesting stategy, since you take a lot of impact on your knees with a moonsault. I guess it was a sort of go-for-broke move.
(11) A Nodowa is Taue's version of the chokeslam, where you pretty much pick the guy up and slam them down with minimal hang time. 

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