AJPW Battle Ready
March 7th 1993
Attendance: 7,000 – Matsuyama, Shikoku, JP
TV Rating: 1.68 [tv Asahi – JP] + 0.14 [ITV – UK] + 0.06 [Fox Sports Networks – US]
Championships and holders» AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship: Mitsuharu Misawa
» AJPW National Openweight Championship: Kenta Kobashi
» AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship: Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express]
» AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Ultimo Dragon
Pre-Show0. Dark Match: Mark Youngblood & Mitsuo Momota & Octagon & The Great Sasuke def. Al Perez & Giant Warrior & Richard Slinger & Satoru Asako
- Youngblood > Asako (Diving Tomahawk - Pin) --- 11:37
- Rating: 59
Full-Show Recap
X 
Inter-Nations Tournament Semi-Final
1. Dan Kroffat [Canada] vs. Dean Malenko [United States of America]Battle Ready kicked off with an amazing match that would set the bar very high for the rest of the card. On the line was a place at the Inter-Nations Tournament Finale and two of the most technically gifted wrestlers in AJPW battled fiercely for it.
Kroffat may have had a very slight size edge but Malenko is no man to give up to details and relied on his submission game to put the World Tag Team Champion’s back through hell. He got close to submit the Canadian grappler with the Texas Cloverleaf, but didn’t. Kroffat was close to pin Malenko with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb, but also couldn’t.
In the end, Malenko defied the odds again and advanced to the final in the same fashion he beat Larry Zbyszko in the First Round: surprising his opponent with an effective Crucifix Pin.
- Malenko > Kroffat (Crucifix Pin - Pin) --- 17:20
- Rating: 74
X 
AJPW National Openweight Championship – V2 + Inter-Nations Tournament Semi-Final
2. Toshiaki Kawada [Japan] © vs. El Hijo del Santo [Mexico]Not a dream match, because both are so different, but there was no doubt the first National Openweight Championship match of the night was a must-see one, between the violent Kawada and the best wrestler of 1992.
The match started slow, with El Hijo del Santo catching the champion off guard with his agility and quick lucha style, so Kawada figured out he must move to second gear, and he did, countering a Plancha with a boot to the head of his challenger.
From then on, the Mexican luchador was more prone to Kawada’s offense: the champion’s kicks got deadlier, his moves more impactful and while Hijo del Santo survived a Dangerous Kick (a very rare happening), he fell victim of a Folding Powerbomb soon after. Kawada beat the best and will go to the final as champion!
- Kawada > Hijo del Santo (Folding Powerbomb - Pin) --- Still champion! --- 17:31
- Rating: 76
X 
3. Doug Furnas & Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (The Funks/The Outlaw Stable) & Jackie Fulton & Steve Williams vs. Giant Kimala & Haku (Savage International) & Johnny Smith & Tommy Rogers (Fantastic Bruisers) & The GladiatorA filler match for the so-called minor feuds? Sure, but some of the players involved here brought their A-game to battle. Williams and Gladiator beat the hell out of each other, calming themselves down as the match progressed… thankfully.
The true stars were, however, Fulton and the Fantastic Bruisers, who kept their heated feud alive. Fulton counted with The Funks help to neutralize the threat of Savage International, and paired nicely with Furnas. He then got the win over former partner Johnny Smith with an Eagle Driver.
- Fulton > Smith (Eagle Driver - Pin) --- 14:40
- Rating: 80
X 
Special Singles Match
4. Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Naoki SanoThe most heated Jr. Heavyweight clash in recent times. Two New Japan dojo buddies turned bitter rivals and Yamazaki was still looking for revenge after Sano turned on him in the first show of 1993.
This time, Sano predicted Yamazaki was going to be more methodical… and how wrong was he. Aggressively, the betrayed fan favorite beat the living hell out of Sano for the earlier stages of the match, kicking at will and locking painful submissions while Sano had to survive. The bout got a bit more balanced, but the villain could never get full control of Yamazaki.
He did avoid getting submitted, and he avoided a pinfall loss at the first Roundhouse Kick, but a second one would suffice. Yamazaki got his revenge in one of the highlight matches of the night!
- Yamazaki > Sano (Roundhouse Kick - Pin) --- 13:51
- Rating: 84»» …Or so he thought! Kazuo Yamazaki celebrated and left the ring. But as he was heading backstage, Naoki Sano rushed violently, hitting him with a criminal Dropkick to the back of his head. We understood right ahead there was no way for Yamazaki to be fine, but Sano wasn’t done, as he then hit Yamazaki with a Running Sole Kick to the face, leaving him out. The AJPW projects rushed in to assist Yamazaki.
X 
Special Tag Team Match
5. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshinari Ogawa [Tsuruta-gun] vs. Kenta Kobashi & Gran HamadaThe main event of Battle Ready is all about restoring Tsuruta’s pride (and the Triple Crown Championship, of course), but this match was also about that, we think. Tsuruta challenged Kobashi weeks following a loss, and he brought Ogawa in, as Kobashi brought Hamada.
Two young wrestlers and two illustrious veterans fought in a pretty good filler match and, normally, Tsuruta and Kobashi were the ones controlling most of it when pairing against each other’s partners. Tsuruta had a bit more trouble, as Hamada put a lot of effort, not wanting to be seen as a has-been.
In the end, Kenta Kobashi managed to get another win over Tsuruta, but not directly, beating Ogawa with a Vertical Drop Brainbuster.
- Kobashi > Ogawa (Vertical Drop Brainbuster - Pin) --- 13:08
- Rating: 81
X 
AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship – V3
6. Ultimo Dragon © vs. Masanobu FuchiThe fans knew what they were going to see. Months ago, it would have been different, but now Dragon is the established champion, while Fuchi is desperate to prove that he can still be relevant in the division.
By desperate, we don’t mean dumb. Fuchi had a plan: to take the match to the ground and to prevent Ultimo from reaching the skies. A lot of submission wrestling was used in this technical match, as Fuchi was close to submit the champion a number of times, most notably with a STF.
But he didn’t. However, the masked flyer’s aerial offense was getting less frequent due to wear and tear, so something was working in the veteran’s strategy. Dragon had to change his gameplan, and he did, allowing Fuchi to take the match his route. Finally, when he had the chance, he tried to surprise Fuchi with an Asai DDT… but Fuchi prevented it… so Dragon locked in a Dragon Sleeper! The veteran fought for his life, but ultimately, got defeated in his own game: Ultimo submitted Fuchi!
After the match, Ultimo Dragon waited for Masanobu Fuchi to get up, as he wanted to pay respect to his opponent. Grumpy, as always, Fuchi nodded in appreciation (we think) but left the ring.
- Dragon > Fuchi (Dragon Sleeper - Submission) --- 15:53
- Rating: 79
X 
Special Tag Team Match
7. Cactus Jack & Terry Gordy vs. Eddie Gilbert & Stan Hansen [The Outlaw Stable]A hoss fight… and Eddie Gilbert was there too. Gilbert and Hansen were teaming again on a major event and they had the fans pulling for them now. What could go wrong? Well, everything, as the unpredictable team of Cactus and Gordy was on the opposite corner.
Truth be told, there were no one in the corners for most of the match, as it turned out to be a brawling mayhem, as if Matsuyama was Japan’s Mid South, and Cactus chose Gilbert as his nemesis, while Gordy and Hansen pummeled each other. At ringside, five minutes in, Gilbert took Jack out with an Hip Toss, sending the mad man towards the guardrail.
For some time, The Outlaw duo had a numbers’ advantage, until Gordy was able to neutralize Gilbert with a heavy Lariat to keep the fighting one-on-one. And then Cactus was back and bitter, attempting to choke Gilbert out, something that angered Hansen.
The match progressed and, finally, after a while, there was some order in the match: Gilbert and Cactus were given time legal in the ring as ‘Hot Stuff’ was holding on, trying to hit the Hot Shot DDT but failing each time. Order was disrupted when Gordy tried to attack him, but Hansen hit the Western Lariat to send him to the floor.
And then… the referee took a tumble, when Cactus shoved Gilbert towards him. Out of nowhere came… KY Wakamatsu!? With a kendo stick, Wakamatsu waited for the right time to hit Gilbert on the back of his head. ‘Bam Bam’ wrecked Hansen! And in the ring, Cactus hit a Stump Puller Piledriver! The ref got his senses back: 1…2…3! Cactus steals it!
- Cactus > Gilbert (Stump Puller Piledriver - Pin) --- 16:02
- Rating: 81»» After the match, even Terry Gordy looked confused. Sure, he took advantage, and was smirking, but… what?! As for Cactus Jack, he was a bit more confident shaking hands with KY Wakamatsu during the celebration. Gilbert and Hansen were out, but The Funks and Wild Bunch hated seeing what was going on, and so did the fans. The Outlaw Stable ran Gordy, Cactus and that weirdo Wakamatsu off.
X 
AJPW National Openweight Championship – V3 + Inter-Nations Tournament Finale
8. Toshiaki Kawada [Japan] © vs. Dean Malenko [United States of America]After the bullshit that happened in the end of the last match, we needed a good competitive match between two respectable opponents… so we got one. The finals of the Inter-Nations Tournament: is Malenko able to shock the world and defeat Kawada?
The match started out methodically, with both men feeling the effects of their semi-final bouts. But Malenko wasn’t shy or afraid of trying to go for submission attempts. The focus was on the champion’s legs, of course, but they were strong enough to counter most of the offense. When Kawada couldn’t, Malenko really wrenched the holds, and he locked the Texas Cloverleaf in multiple occasions, each one taking more time to break than the previous one.
Damage was done, so Kawada had to resort to a different strategy, realizing his arms can work as well as his legs. Notably, a series of Belly to Back Suplexes took a toll on Malenko. The Jr. Heavyweight would then do a thing that El Hijo del Santo couldn’t: escape the pin after a big Folding Powerbomb. But when he did so, Kawada stole a card, locking the Texas Cloverleaf.
Malenko escaped, of course, but when he got back, he got surprised by a stiff Gamengiri! 1…2…3! Credit to Malenko, but Kawada gives Japan a second Inter-Nations Tournament and retains the National Openweight Championship!
After the match, of course, Toshiaki Kawada waited for Dean Malenko to get to his feet. After a hell of a final, the champion raised the hand of the fallen challenger. Both shook hands, Malenko lowered his head, as he couldn’t help but to be disappointed, and left the ring.
- Kawada > Malenko (Gamengiri - Pin) --- Still champion! --- 19:22
- Rating: 78»» Time for a big announcement! Giant Baba was in the ring and reminded the fans that Champion Carnival is closing in, as the first two nights will take place March 20th and 21st, in the United States (Texas and New York), however, four spots are still vacant (no entrants were announced yet). So, Baba announced that the next edition of Puro Spirit TV (#10) will feature a Double Team Carnival Series. Eight teams will compete and the two teams who win each bracket of the series will advance to Champion Carnival.
X 
AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship – V4
9. Mitsuharu Misawa © vs. Akira TaueThe bar was high. Taue was fighting for himself and for the former ace of AJPW, Jumbo Tsuruta, so Misawa had a very difficult task in his hands. And it showed as soon as the match started.
‘The Dynamic One’ was smart, cautious, but stiff every time he had a bit of control, like when he hit a brutal Overhead Chop on the champion, stunning him for a while. Misawa had to revise his plan and surprise Taue from the back with some Suplex variations to shake his challenger in the first half of the bout.
With time, the match spilled to the outside too and both men proved their agility as well, with Suicide Dives. There, Misawa seemed to have the edge until Taue hit a Nodowa Otoshi on the floor. Taue could’ve won by count-out, but he didn’t want that, and at cost got Misawa to the ring to pin him. 1…2… but the champ survives! His sandbag body probably saved him after costing Taue valuable time.
Truth was the new ace was on his heels and having his will and real value tested by the Tsuruta-gun athlete. And he was in the limbo of losing his title for some time, until he was able to catch Taue off guard will a strong Elbow Smash that set up for a vicious Brainbuster. From then on, the momentum shifted back and forth.
Finally, Misawa had the chance to make it out of another title defense alive: after being countered two times, he hit the Tiger Driver! 1…2… but Taue raised his hand. And he got up sooner, rather than later, channeling a lot of fighting spirit. Shots were traded and Taue hit his own Rolling Elbow, surprising Misawa! He then got the champ up for an Ore Ga Taue! But Misawa kept his feet on the ground and rolled to the back: German Suplex with the bridge: 1…2… not yet!
So, Misawa got Taue up… Rolling Elbow… and another Tiger Driver! This time, the ’91 variation! 1…2…3!!! Taue falls in the end of an amazing main event.
- Misawa > Taue (Tiger Driver ’91 - Pin) --- Still champion! --- 23:49
- Rating: 82»» After the match, it took a while for both men to regain their composure, but as soon as Mitsuharu Misawa was able to move properly, he got a microphone. Then, he asked Akira Taue not to leave the ring, and the Tsuruta-gun member, while reluctant, did not.
Misawa wasn’t shy of complimenting the challenger, saying he gave his all to leave Battle Ready with the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, «which I’m sure you’ll hold someday.» Jumbo Tsuruta came to the ringside as well, as Misawa told Taue he’s very sure that the Tsuruta-gun leader is proud of him. Tsuruta nodded affirmatively, as Taue did the same, thanking Misawa for the words, but assuring he will get ready for Champion Carnival, because if he is to be champion, he wants to be champion sooner, rather than later.
Taue then left with Tsuruta, as Misawa celebrated in the ring, closing the show.
Show Rating: 82
Prediction Contest - Results:Asaemon - 6/9
piowski - 6/9
Frank Reed - 5/9
johnnyboombatz - 6/9
kyegds - 3/9
marc91 - 6/9
Purotastic - 8/9
The winner is:
Purotastic! The dude got pretty much everything right, only failing to predict the finalist for the Inter-Nations Tournament... great effort, mate!
Thanks for reading!
