This match took place in Misawa's Pro Wrestling NOAH promotion on October 27, 2007. Samoa Joe came across the sea to challenge for Misawa's GHC Championship. I found it on Youtube in three parts. Here they are:
Part 1:
Part 2:
(note, at around 6:25 on Part 2, watch for Joe to completely whiff on a leaping kick to the face)
Part 3:
I was expecting a little more from the match, but for 20 minutes, the competitors involved provided a nice little show. It was basically a showcase piece for Joe to unload on offense. Until the end, the only offense Misawa really cared to muster were his legendary elbows, although in part 1 or 2, somewhere in the mid-beginning, he teased the Tiger Driver. Joe hits a few pretty sweet enzugiris and a tamer version of the Muscle Buster. It was more like a "Muscle Suplex", which is odd seeing as guys usually go to Japan to stiffen up the offense.
I thought the star of the show here was Joe. Even in defeat, he works a great offensive match, playing into the story of the young, hungry gaijin coming across the ocean to challenge the wizened old legend. Misawa held up his end of the deal, selling when he needed to sell, no-selling headbutts (another signature!), throwing the elbows and breaking out a sort of modified Emerald Flowsion/over-shoulder powerslam hybrid at the end.
The most impressive part of the match for me was the finish. It didn't end in Tiger Driver '91 or in a crazy head-dropping move. It was a stiff elbow to the back of Joe's head, which Joe sold like crazy post-bell. I thought that was a great way to finish a match, especially since a move like that would legit knock someone out. Say what you want about puro strong style, but I think most of the emphasis is on having a credible, nasty strike. Joe has his enzugiri, Misawa has his elbows.
Not the best Misawa match by a longshot, but it's a good intro for someone wanting to get into his work against a familiar face. It's also a good way to see Samoa Joe away from the clusterfuck booking of TNA and without the penis tattooed on his face.
Thursday, we watch Misawa's legendary breakthrough win over Jumbo Tsuruta.
If you ever seen the match between Samoa Joe and Kobashi Kenta, this match with Misawa an Joe is about the same, except there were a A LOT of Lariats in that match (mainly from Kenta, where he won with the Lariat). Some people might find Puroresu boring at hell, but when you're old school like me, Puroresu between two wrestlers who love what they do, and know how to entertain a crowd. Sure, the matches are inudated with chops, elbow, and the like, but that's what I like to see, along with a bevvy of Suplexes and other moves that'll make you cringe.
ReplyDeleteMisawa maybe gone, but his legacy will live on, and I bet the next match Samoa Joe is in, he'll do some moves in memory to one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
—Jeremy.