Today, I'm starting a project where I chart the complete story of what I consider to be the bestt tag-team come rivalry in wrestling history. I'm sharing every match I can find featuring both Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi in chronological order. One per day in this thread.
Though they were involved in some prior house show tags, this is the first televised AJPW match featuring both Misawa and Kobashi in the same ring. Tiger Mask II & Kenta Kobashi Vs The British Bulldogs. 20 January, 1990.
I can't find the whole of this match, so here is the conclusion of Kenta Kobashi & Tiger Mask II Vs Stan Hansen & Joel Deaton from 24 February, 1990. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Kenta Kobashi Vs Tiger Mask II, 6 March, 1990. Misawa and Kobashi facing each other in a singles match for the very first time. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Kenta Kobashi & Tiger Mask II Vs The Can-Am Express, 19 April, 1990. The last match Misawa would complete under the mask. facebook.com/LaRouteDuRoi/v…
May 17, 1990. Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (who unmasked while teaming with Toshiaki Kawada) defend the All Asia tag team titles, which they had won on a previous house show, against Davey Boy Smith & Johnny Smith.
Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Akira Taue Vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Masanobu Fuchi & The Great Kabuki. 26 May, 1990. The first really great match of this list and the beginning of a faction rivalry that would dominate the next couple of years of AJPW.
Jumbo Tsuruta & The Great Kabuki Vs Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa. 1 June, 1990. One week before an unmasked Misawa's first singles match with Tsuruta. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Jumbo Tsuruta, Mighty Inoue & The Great Kabuki Vs the Super Generation Army team of Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada. 12 July, 1990. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Akira Taue Vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Masanobu Fuchi & The Great Kabuki. 17 July, 1990 (broadcast 23 July, 1990). This video is sourced from @roylucier's impressive archive collection. dailymotion.com/video/x6thkh6
Stan Hansen & Terry Taylor Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 19 July, 1990 (broadcast 30 July, 1990). dailymotion.com/video/x6tjaig
Jumbo Tsuruta, Masanobu Fuchi & Mighty Inoue Vs Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. 21 August, 1990. It took me quite a bit of hunting to find this one. facebook.com/TommyJumboTsur…
Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada Vs Johnny Ace & Kenta Kobashi. 29 September, 1990. The first televised instance of Misawa and Kobashi being on opposing sides since the former's unmasking. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
The Tsuruta-Gun team of Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Mighty Inoue Vs the Super Generation Army team of Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Toshiaki Kawada. 10 October, 1990. The first time all four pillars were seen in the same match, besides a battle royal. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi. 19 October, 1990. A real must watch, all time classic match.
Kenta Kobashi & Toshiaki Kawada Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. 15 November 1990. TV coverage is only available for this match's conclusion, but handheld fan footage is added to this video to give us the whole thing. dailymotion.com/video/x10xjma
Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada Vs Johnny Ace & Kenta Kobashi. 21 November, 1990. facebook.com/13006078738902…
2 January, 1991. Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi are among the many familiar faces who take part in the AJPW New Year's Battle Royal.
Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Masanobu Fuchi & Mighty Inoue. 15 January, 1991. Apologies for the video quality on this one. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
The Miracle Violence Connection Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 23 February, 1991. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. 23 March, 1991. I really enjoyed this one. dailymotion.com/video/x34fvh
Danny Spivey & Stan Hansen Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 26 March, 1991.
Here's a handheld fan recording of the first singles match between Kenta Kobashi and an unmasked Mitsuharu Misawa. It took place at an untelevised AJPW house show on 5 April, 1991.
Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi Vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi. 20 April, 1991. The greatest 6-person tag team match of all time, outstanding!
The Miracle Violence Connection Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 20 May, 1991. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi Vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue. 18 August, 1991.
The Miracle Violence Connection Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 2 October, 1991. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
An all Super Generation Army clash as Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada take on Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. 21 November, 1991.
Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 2 January, 1992.
Jumbo Tsuruta, Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. 10 January, 1992. Ogawa is the first currently active wrestler to feature in this thread. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi. 24 January, 1992. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Stan Hansen & Johnny Ace Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 22 February, 1992. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
This 8-man elimination tag match pits Rusher Kimura, Jumbo Tsuruta, Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa against Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. 18 April, 1992. facebook.com/13006078738902…
Jumbo Tsuruta, Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi. 19 April, 1992.
Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi Vs Steve Williams, Terry Gordy & Richard Slinger. 16 May, 1992. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi. 22 May, 1992. The last of the all time classics between these two trios.
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi challenge Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue for the AJPW world tag team championship titles. 5 June, 1992. Great stuff.
Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada Vs Stan Hansen, Johnny Ace & Barry Horowitz. 4 July, 1992. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa Vs Stan Hansen & Johnny Ace. 17 July, 1992. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Akira Taue, Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. 21 July, 1992. An injured Misawa is replaced halfway through the match by Toshiaki Kawada. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada Vs Akira Taue, Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa. 28 July, 1992. facebook.com/13006078738902…
The Miracle Violence Connection Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 27 August, 1992. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Vs Steve Williams, Terry Gordy & Richard Slinger. 2 October, 1992. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Yoshinari Ogawa Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. 17 October, 1992. Jumbo's last appearance on this list. Hepatitis would end his main event run. I strongly recommend checking out his big 70s and 80s stuff. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada Vs Kenta Kobashi & Giant Baba. 27 November, 1992. This very good match marks both the first time we see Baba and the last time we'll see Kawada as part of Super Generation Army.
2 January, 1993. Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi are once again among the participants in the AJPW New Year's Battle Royal. We also catch our first glimpse of Jun Akiyama here.
Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Vs Akira Taue, Masanobu Fuchi & Jun Akiyama. 8 January, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa Vs Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi. 15 January, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
The Miracle Violence Connection Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 21 January, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
12 April, 1993. A handheld fan recording of this fantastic Champion Carnival match between Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi.
... And here's the televised conclusion of the above match.
20 May, 1993. The conclusion to Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa Vs Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Akira Taue, Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. 29 May, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
1 June, 1993. The first of the absolute classic series of tag matches between the Super Generation Army team of Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi and the Holy Demon Army team of Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue.
Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Vs Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue & Yoshinari Ogawa. 3 June, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama Vs Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue & Yoshinari Ogawa. 2 July, 1993. Absolutely tremendous stuff.
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi Vs Stan Hansen & Big Bubba (Big Bossman). 9 July, 1993. Bossman shows some nice moves here. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama Vs Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi. 12 July, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Jun Akiyama, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa Vs Yoshinari Ogawa, Masanobu Fuchi, Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada, elimination tag team match. 28 July, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Joel Deaton, Tracy Smothers & Steve Williams Vs Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 23 August, 1993. Williams and Kobashi are really going for each other as they build to their big singles match. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Stan Hansen, Tracy Smothers & Ted DiBiase Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama. 5 September, 1993. Just a few days removed from DiBiase's final WWF match at that year's SummerSlam. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
9 September, 1993. The conclusion to Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa Vs Tracy Smothers & Steve Williams. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Big Bubba, Steve Williams & Richard Slinger Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama. 29 September, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Vs Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi. 2 October, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
13 November, 1993. The final few seconds of Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa Vs Dan Spivey & Johnny Ace. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
Steve Williams, Big Bubba & Richard Slinger Vs Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama. 17 November, 1993. facebook.com/AJPWClassics/v…
24 November, 1993. A handheld fan recording of Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi Vs Steve Williams & Big Bubba. Really good stuff.
And here's the televised conclusion of the above match. I think it comes across better in the fan footage facebook.com/13006078738902…
25 November, 1993. A good quality handheld fan recording of Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama Vs Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue & Yoshinari Ogawa.
Giant Baba & Stan Hansen Vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. 30 November, 1993. Baba, a late replacement in that year's Real World Tag League, gives his all to make his younger opponents look good here.
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi Vs The Eagle & The Patriot. 1 December, 1993. Thank you to @hardcopyDOTie, @IVPvideos, @catsbatsrats666 and @Rodleiva1 for their help in finding this fun match for me.
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi Vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue. AJPW Real World Tag League final, 3 December, 1993. The match of the year.
Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama Vs John Nord (The Berzerker!), Johnny Gunn & Stan Hansen. 2 January, 1994 (broadcast on 9 January).
Also from 2 January, 1994. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, The Berzerker and many others take part in the annual AJPW new year battle royal. dailymotion.com/video/x4y7d4a
