FINAL BURNING - pics from Kenta Kobashi retirement match

[Warner2BruceTD]

Protecting an uber-finisher is kinda necessary in the King's Road style. It also allows for it a lot more than the typical American approach. Still awesome move and awesome how rarely he used it.

The idea that he wouldn't (need to) use it in random Champion Carnival matches against Doug Furnas or The Patriot or Kikuchi or Ogawa is what makes a move like that retain its magic. There's a reason the fans would go batshit crazy when they would see him set it up in a big match vs Misawa or Akiyama. It's like, holy shit, I didn't think he could finish this guy, but if he hits this, game over.

[Warner2BruceTD]

[BigBiss]

You know, most people prefer the 10/31/98 or especially the 6/11/99 match, but for me, the 1/3/03 Misawa/Kobashi match is not only the best match they ever had against each other, but it just might be the best match i've ever seen - period.

Flawless execution, worked at a ridiculous pace, memorable spots (the Tiger Suplex off the ramp, Kobashi kicking out of the Emerald Flowsion, Misawa nearly beheading himself on the guardrail, the BURNING HAMMER at the finish), red hot crowd, historical world title match, it really has it all. Perfect match, *****+.

I still own the event on VHS

[Warner2BruceTD]

Meltzer's Kobashi write up in today's Observer is fantastic.

Baba is the gold standard of wrestling booking and being reminded about all of those subtle layers really makes me want to dig into my VHS collection a rewatch the All Japan golden period.

Every wrestling fan should at some point watch All Japan/NOAH from the match where Misawa sheds the Tiger Mask gimmick, to the Kobashi vs Misawa NOAH 2003 GHC title match. Those are poignant starting/ending points for what I think is the greatest era of wrestling history.