AJPW Royal Road Finale
Nov. 28th 1992
Attendance: 38,000 – Sendai, Tohoku, JP
TV Rating: 1.48 [Nippon TV – JP] + 0.07 [WGN America – US] Mitsuharu Misawa
» AJPW National Openweight Championship: Kenta Kobashi
» AJPW Unified Tag Team Championship: Akira Taue and Jumbo Tsuruta [Tsuruta-gun]
» AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Ultimo Dragon
Results – Full Show:- Match #0 – Dark Match: Haruka Eigen & Isamu Teranishi & Jun Akiyama & Jun Izumida def. Mitsuo Momota & Masayoshi Motegi & Minoru Tanaka & Satoshi Kojima --- Eigen > Kojima (Cradle Pin) --- 8 min. --- [43];
- Match #1: Al Perez & Giant Kimala & Giant Warrior & Richard Slinger def. Chris Youngblood & Mark Youngblood & Mighty Inoue & Fire Cat --- Kimala > Cat (Running Big Splash) --- 10 min. --- [45];
- Match #2: The Gladiator & The Great Sasuke & Ultimo Dragon def. Rusher Kimura & Dean Malenko & Kazuo Yamazaki --- Dragon > Yamazaki (Dragonsteiner) --- 15 min. --- [56];
- Match #3 – Royal Road Cup Semi-Final: Jumbo Tsuruta def. Steve Williams --- (Powerbomb) --- 17 min. --- [74];
- Match #4 – Royal Road Cup Semi-Final: Toshiaki Kawada def. Terry Gordy --- (Dangerous Kick) --- 16 min. --- [81];
- Match #5: Billy Black & Dory Funk Jr. & Joel Deaton & Stan Hansen & Terry Funk [The Outlaw Stable] def. Bobby Fulton & Jackie Fulton & Jackie Fulton & Johnny Ace & Johnny Smith & Tommy Rogers --- Hansen > Smith (Western Lariat) --- 18 min. --- [76];
- Match #6: Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas & Naoki Sano def. Akira Taue & Satoru Asako & Yoshinari Ogawa [Tsuruta-gun] --- Kroffat > Asako (Doomsday Device) --- 16 min. --- [68];
- Match #7 – AJPW National Openweight Championship – V3: Kenta Kobashi © def. Masanobu Fuchi --- (Moonsault) --- 14 min. --- [80];
- Match #8 – AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship – V3: Mitsuharu Misawa © def. Eddie Gilbert --- (Tiger Driver ‘91) --- 23 min. --- [87];
- Match #9 – Royal Road Cup Finale: Jumbo Tsuruta def. Toshiaki Kawada --- (Backdrop Driver) --- 23 min. --- [78].
Show Rating: 80
Highlights – Non-Tournament and Non-Title Matches»» 1st match: Nothing much to be said about the opener, which could’ve been placed in the pre-show, due to the lack of big stars involved. Giant Kimala won for his team with a Running Big Splash on poor Fire Cat.
»» 2nd match: The Gladiator was the only full-fledged bad guy in a six-man tag match that had him teaming up with The Great Sasuke and Ultimo Dragon against the more likely team of Rusher Kimura, Dean Malenko and Kazuo Yamazaki. Gladiator dominated everyone, pretty much, but it was the World Jr. Heavyweight Champion to get the pin victory over Yamazaki after a Dragonsteiner. However, it was Great Sasuke the one to avoid Malenko from breaking the pin with a Senton Atomico, soaring over the pin and onto his opponent.
After the match, Sasuke felt he finally deserved a title match, so he challenged Dragon for Season Closure, on December 21st.
»» 5th match: In a very similar match-up from The Outlaw Stable’s pre-debut match, the faction faced Johnny Ace and the duos of Jackie Fulton and Johnny Smith and The Fantastics. Again a great match, again a win for AJPW’s gang of outlaws, as Stan Hansen pinned Johnny Smith following a devastating Western Lariat after rookies Wild Bunch took everyone out from the top ropes to ringside with Stereo Crossbodies.
»» 6th match: Can-Am Express prepared for their promised Unified World Tag Team Title match alongside Naoki Sano, against Tsuruta-gun’s team of Akira Taue, Satoru Asako and Yoshinari Ogawa. The match was good, with Taue trying to take out Can-Am Express by himself as he was the only one who could do it, frankly. However, the fan favorites won following a Doomsday Device on poor (bastard) Asako.
Highlights – Marquee Matches
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3. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Steve WilliamsTsuruta was the ace of All Japan throughout most of the 1980s. But we can assure you about 75% of the fans would bet on ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams to advance to the finals.
The match started out with both men assuring each other they were there to fight for their goals. Both hit hard but were cautious at first: Tsuruta knew of Williams’ amateur accomplishments and Tsuruta’s accolades speak for themselves. But as the match progressed, the two realized they were also battling the clock, as the winner would have another match that night. The match became very technical with the back being the main focus of each wrestler’s attacks. At times, the bout was faster faced, resembling a catch-as-catch-can contest.
In the second half, the strategy was one and the same: try to hit the Backdrop Driver. But odds were if one succeeded, the other wouldn’t have a chance. So the counter attacks delayed the move and the climax. And then… a great finish! ‘Dr. Death’ had the control, and against a very worn out veteran opponent, when he hit the Backdrop Driver, everyone thought it was it.
No way! Tsuruta got up instantly, meeting Williams’ face with a High Knee. Then: Backdrop Driver!!! Zealous, he prefer to get Williams up for a Powerbomb!!! And that was it! The former ace has another chance to prove he’s still all that!
Result: Jumbo Tsuruta over Steve Williams --- Pinfall --- 17:00
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4. Terry Gordy vs. Toshiaki KawadaBrutal brawls and hoss fights got them there, so it had to be another of those that would get one of them to the Finale. Different to the other semi-final, this one sparked from bell to bell, as both men were eager to end the match.
But that wouldn’t be easy at all, as ‘Bam Bam’ and ‘Dangerous K’ have resiliency and guts to spare. Kicks, forearms and shoulders dictated the rhythm and wore both men out. Gordy was bleeding from his mouth after some minutes, but he seemed to feed on his own red juice. Kawada only hit harder from then on and started to focus more on Gordy’s head.
Nearing the end, both men seemed exhausted and one thing was sure: whoever won had to rest very well during the couple of hours until the Finale. Kawada was aware enough to avoid a Backdrop Driver and tough enough to eat a Big Boot and reply with a Gamengiri. Both were down in the canvas for a little while after that.
And when they got up… oh boy! A huge sequence of strikes followed and Gordy seemed to have got the best of it… until Kawada countered another Backdrop attempt with an Elbow! Then, Folding Poweromb! 1…2… but no! Gordy kicks out and he tried to get up, but just as he was kneeling near the ropes… Dangerous Kick! Kawada pulls him to the center: 1…2…3!!! Kawada will meet Tsuruta in the Finale!
Result: Toshiaki Kawada over Terry Gordy --- Pinfall --- 16:24AJPW National Openweight Championship – V3
7. Kenta Kobashi © vs. Masanobu FuchiFuchi became the first-ever Jr. Heavyweight to challenge for the recently-established National Openweight Championship. But did he win it?
Despite Fuchi’s attempt to get back to his glory days, it was Kobashi to control the first few minutes of the match, wearing and tearing the veteran down with some stiff chops in the process. Meanwhile, of course the tempered Fuchi wasn’t going down easily, so he managed to balance the course of the match with nice technically-based offense, even getting near of an early win with a Small Package. It became clear, then, that his strategy was to go for the STF that could hand him the championship.
When he finally managed to apply it, Kobashi had a hard time getting off the hold, but he eventually reached the ropes. And when Fuchi had Kobashi down and tried to go for it again… the champion was aware! Shoving Kobashi off, he then got up on one leg and proceeded to turn his chest red with some Machine Gun Chops before hitting a devastating Vertical Drop Brainbuster. One thing left: a big Moonsault! 1…2…3! And Kobashi retained!
Result: Kenta Kobashi over Masanobu Fuchi --- Pinfall --- Still champion! --- 14:04»» But the National Openweight Champion wasn’t expecting what followed… out of nowhere came
The Gladiator, rushing to the ring and hitting an immediate Overhead Belly-to-Belly Suplex! After that and in a matter of seconds, Kenta Kobashi was victim to two Gladiator Bombs! Rampant and very decided, The Gladiator lifted the title belt, ensuring Kobashi that he will be the next challenger.
AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship – V3
8. Mitsuharu Misawa © vs. Eddie GilbertA very unnatural scenario this one: the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship bout not main eventing. But as most predicted Misawa to win and Gilbert to be no more than a filler opponent for the champion, no one seemed to complain. However, how would they be wrong…
The first minutes were, indeed, controlled by Misawa, and a short title match was anticipated after some big moves, such as the German Suplex. Gilbert had a terrible build-up and he was being beat up, after all. But the silence of the crowd watching him on his way to becoming “just another challenger” woke him up. He began fighting equally, eye on eye with the champion. He began absorbing blows, clenching his teeth and hitting harder than the usual.
Then, he even turned the match to his favor, apparently, after a nice Bulldog. By the fifteen-minute mark, not only was he still alive in the bout, but he was actually troubling the champion. But Misawa got a break… and he went for a Diving Crossbody, but Gilbert was aware and quick! He got to the turnbuckle and hit a big Superplex: 1…2… but it was only two and his best chance so far. The crowd was electric.
Misawa then realized Gilbert was no inferior challenger, and he had to give 100% to walk out with the trio of gold belts. He became stiffer and seemingly had a strike exchange won… but he didn’t, and Gilbert hit a Rolling Elbow of his own, knocking the champion to the apron. And there’s a key moment: he should’ve went for the Hot Shot DDT right ahead, but he teased the crowd for a big, pointing at his “big brains”… when he got to Misawa, he was met with an Elbow that stunned him, allowing Misawa to hit a Diving Crossbody!
Then, Misawa got him up: Tiger Driver! 1…2… but Eddie Gilbert kicked out! However, he wouldn’t kick out of a Tiger Driver ’91 immediately after that… and that was it for Gilbert’s fairytale. But what a match and what a challenge by the ‘Hot Stuff’.
Result: Mitsuharu Misawa over Eddie Gilbert --- Pinfall --- Still champion! – 22:46Royal Road Cup – Finale
9. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki KawadaIt all came down to this: on the red corner, the former ace of All Japan, who’s had multiple World title reigns; on the blue corner, one of the future pillars of the federation, undoubtedly. Who wants the final shot of 1992 at Mitsuharu Misawa’s Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship the most?
The match started slow, with both men showing apparent signs of the grueling matches they had to survive earlier in the night. Tsuruta was very cautious not to get caught by a surprise kick from Kawada, and Kawada was very aware of Tsuruta’s reach and he seemed to know how to avoid the veteran’s big moves.
But as the time progressed, the intensity rose too. And Kawada was very near to fall early, after getting caught by a High Knee (the move that propelled Tsuruta’s final moves in the Semi-Final), followed by an Exploder Suplex. It was only a near fall, tho, but that near fall woke ‘Dangerous K’ up. Fierier than ever, he started to charge at Tsuruta at any opportunity, and like Gordy earlier on, the veteran got a bloody mouth after a series of Front Face Kicks.
The match was going to fall for Kawada, surely? He even managed to have the Kawada Crab locked in, but Tsuruta escaped reaching the ropes and proving he was alive. But he needed to get back into the match too. Which he did! Avoiding a Gamengiri, he Dropkicked Kawada and followed it with a Lariat when the man got back up. Then: Powerbomb! 1…2… only two! So he got Kawada up, who instantly hit a Gamengiri, finally! He went to follow it up with a Dangerous Kick, but Tsuruta ducked. Abisegiri was the answer! Kawada will surely win it!
So he went for a Spike Brainbuster… but Tsuruta managed to avoid it and hit a Backdrop Driver!!! 1…2… but no! Kawada must be an iron man. Is he? The former ace pulled him to his feet for another… Backdrop Driver!!! 1…2…3!!! Jumbo Tsuruta will have another shot at the Triple Crown!
Result: Jumbo Tsuruta over Toshiaki Kawada --- Pinfall --- Royal Road Cup winner! --- 23:09»» The crowd went silent at first, but soon started to applaud both finalists’ effort, as the rest of Tsuruta-gun joined Jumbo Tsuruta in the ring. Afterwards, Tsuruta could finally get up properly and say a few words after being handed the Royal Road Cup trophy. And there he dropped some of the biggest words in AJPW’s year.
First, he started to assure Mitsuharu Misawa of one thing: he plans to get the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship back at Season Closure, on December 21st. And he will only accept that. Because if he doesn’t, he won’t have another shot: «Misawa-san, this will by my last ever shot at the Triple Crown! If I can’t beat you, I won’t try to get the gold again!»
And then, he told Can-Am Express he doesn’t plan to let them wait for the shot they want to have at the Unified World Tag Team Championships. So the date for their clash is… December 3rd. Only three days away.
Recap from the Road:»» NJPW held Battle Zone just a day before our Royal Road Finale. It was an amazing show, headlined by Masahiro Chono's IWGP Heavyweight Championship retention over Antonio Inoki. There were also two title changes in the show, as Jushin Thunder Liger regained the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship from Kantaro Yoshino and the all-star duo of Hiroshi Hase and Keiji Mutoh beat Super Strong Machine and Tatsutoshi Goto for the IWGP Tag Team belts.
»» Also on the 27th of November, WWF held Survivor Series. The Undertaker became a two-time WWF Champion after defeating Ted DiBiase in the main event (where the hell is Hogan? lol), but the most heated match of the show was definitely Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage, ending with Warrior getting the win. Bret Hart is really growing as a anti-American heel, having defeated Sgt. Slaughter. Hulk Hogan (oh, there he is) teamed up with Sid Justice to beat two midcarders: Rick Martel and The Mountie. Hogan then cut a shoot promo stating: «It's because of bullshit like this that this company is in this state!». No, he didn't.
»» I had to make some jokes, because... we've fallen to Medium size... again. Why? Because I didn't pick Misawa vs. Gilbert as the main event, which would give us the better show of the month in the battle against NJPW (their Battle Zone had a 82 rating). That means Nippon TV won't negotiate our touring deal, so we'll need to head a new route in 1993. It kinda pisses me off, because we've been constantly putting great shows, better than those of NJPW and we were probably take over Japan soon. We still will!
Prediction Contest - Results:Asaemon - 6/9
henriquesser - 6/9
johnnyboombatz - 7/9
kyegds - 4/9
marc91 - 7/9
Purotastic - 7/9
The winner is:
no one! We got a new record of three people drawing! That's amazing. What's more impressive is that the only person to guess who the Royal Road Cup winner would be actually ended in the bottom of the prediction contest.
Thanks for reading!
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