AJPW '93 - King's Road Global

It's funny that I agree with you (on the bold take) and I purposely tried to cut the writing in this show, as Kawada vs. Kobashi was actually one of the shortest main event write-ups in the Carnival. I struggle with writing smaller shows/important matches/angles, but I definitely need to cut it and this one worked out really well because of that!

Thanks!

Moore, are the New Breed in your mod? If Royal isn't active, you can always try to talk him back into the business.

AJPW 1993 Champion Carnival Day 12
April 10th 1993
Attendance: 8,700 – Sapporo, Hokkaido, JP
TV Rating: 1.71 [tv Asahi – JP] + 0.17 [ITV – UK] + 0.06 [Fox Sports Networks – US]

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Championships and holders
» AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship: Mitsuharu Misawa
» AJPW National Openweight Championship: Cactus Jack
» AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship: Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express]
» AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Ultimo Dragon

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Pre-Show
0. Dark Match: Mark Youngblood & Masayoshi Motegi def. Rusher Kimura & Satoshi Kojima
- Youngblood > Kimura (Tomahawk Chop - Pin) --- 7:09
- Rating: 48

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Full-Show Recap
X
1. Al Perez & Giant Kimala & Giant Warrior vs. Doug Furnas & Giant Baba & Mitsuo Momota
The non-tournament matches of Day 12 focused on the title match clashes for the Finale. In the first, the team of Kimala beat Furnas’ team after the giant’s Running Big Splash on Momota. Warrior was also a powerful ally to neutralize Baba.
- Kimala > Momota --- (Running Big Splash - Pin) --- 8:40
- Rating: 68

»» After the match, Haku wanted to get his hands dirty. So, he joined in to ambush Doug Furnas, making it two-on-one for Savage International. Dan Kroffat got to the ring and Giant Baba intervened as well, but it was a bit late. Then, Baba announced that if Giant Kimala and Haku put their hands on Can-Am Express once again until their title match… they don’t get one.

X
2. Dan Kroffat & Gran Hamada & Ultimo Dragon vs. Haku & Dean Malenko & The Great Sasuke
If you thought the all-babyface team of skilled wrestlers would beat the strange trio of Haku, Malenko and Sasuke you’d be wrong. The technical trio couldn’t do it, mostly thanks to Malenko and Sasuke’s surprising teamwork. However, Haku tagged in to be the one winning the match with a Thrust Kick. Malenko was pissed.
- Haku > Hamada --- (Thrust Kick - Pin) --- 12:38
- Rating: 79

X
1993 Champion Carnival – B Block Match
3. Dory Funk Jr. (0 pts.) vs. Tommy Rogers (0 pts.)
The battle of the last ones of the Block. Dory and Rogers worked a technical match, both’s favorite style, to try and get the first two points. The Texan veteran seemed to have the bout won, but ‘The Fantastic Bruiser’ poke his eyes and hit the Tomikaze, stealing the win.
- Rogers (2 pts.) > Funk Jr. --- (Tomikaze - Pin) --- 10:50
- Rating: 68

X
1993 Champion Carnival – B Block Match
4. Terry Gordy (8 pts.) vs. The Gladiator (6 pts.)
This was… intense. Gordy and Gladiator are allies, but they went into the match like fighters looking to still be part of the B Block contender picture. The first move of the match was Gladiator’s Big Boot, after blocking a Lariat attempt from Gordy. And from then on, it was a brawl!
The two fought in and out of the ring, hitting some big moves and avoiding each’s ultimate weapon (the Backdrop Driver and the Gladiator Bomb) until they fought in the middle of a scared crowd that remembered Bruiser Brody.
Beating each other so much, they were unable to beat the 20-count and so… none got any point because count-outs count as a loss.
- Count-Out Draw: Gordy (8 pts.) & Gladiator (6 pts.) --- 12:28
- Rating: 80

»» The two were furious and looking for some explanations from the referee, who, of course, only did his job. The official understood the assignment and got the hell out the ring. Then, Terry Gordy and The Gladiator began bashing each other verbally and shoving one another, until the slightly cooler head of the former FMW star prevailed. He offered his hand for Gordy and they slapped each other’s hand. Gordy left. Gladiator followed.

X
1993 Champion Carnival – B Block Match
5. Akira Taue (6 pts.) vs. Steve Williams (8 pts.)
A match that could have main evented the show, proving that neither is merely a B+ player. Taue and Williams wrestled intensely, with Taue proving to be slightly stronger, but Williams more impactful. The Tsuruta-gun giant had fewer chances to maintain a contendership status in the League, and the long main event vs. Misawa a few days earlier took its toll on him.
Taue scared ‘Dr. Death’ on a few occasions, though, and he was able to hit the Ore Ga Taue, leading the Sapporo crowd into thinking he’d get the two points. Instead, he only got a two-count. And from then on, Williams was unstoppable. A series of high impact maneuvers shook Taue and sent a lot of pain through his spine. He kicked out of the Backdrop Driver, but then Williams told him clearly «You’re still not as good as they tell you!» (they = Tsuruta and Misawa), before hitting an impressive Doctor Bomb that sealed the match and gave Williams the Block lead.
- Williams (10 pts.) > Taue (6 pts.) --- (Doctor Bomb - Pin) --- 17:14
- Rating: 85

»» After the match, it was Terry Gordy to come to the ring. ‘Bam Bam’ didn’t give ‘Dr. Death’ a chance to breathe and the two halves of the former Miracle Violence Connection now stood face-to-face in the ring. It would all come down to Day 14, when the two meet for the first time in singles action after the end of the team. Both have a chance to top the B Block, so the match will have some high stakes.
While butting heads, Gordy told Steve Williams «I want and I need this more than you!». Williams smirked and didn’t back down until Gordy exited the ring.

X
1993 Champion Carnival – B Block Match
6. Eddie Gilbert (4 pts.) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (8 pts.)
There was no doubt that both Gilbert and Misawa respected each other. A lot. Specially after their Royal Road Finale encounter five months ago, where Gilbert proved himself. The thing is: he kept proving himself for the next months and continues to do so in Champion Carnival.
The match began with the two as cautious as possible, as a series of long matches had taken their toll on each one. But soon it became apparent that Misawa had a slight advantage and he hit some Suplex variations to prove it and even a very early Tiger Driver. Gilbert kicked out of it, but most of the crowd sensed that Misawa would win soon.
Slowly, the ‘Hot Stuff’ started to work his way back into the match and had to force Misawa to retreat to the outside. The Triple Crown champion was in trouble, but Gilbert bit more than he could chew, throwing himself with a Suicide Dive that saw him crashing head first onto the guardrail, busting him open. Even Misawa got worried about Gilbert’s state, but once the okay was given, the match continued.
After some more dominance by the champion, Gilbert did what no one expected, having the awareness to stop Misawa from hitting a Crossbody from the top, instead stunning him and hitting… The Hot Shot DDT! 1…2… Misawa kicked out just in the nick of time. The smile was the only thing really distinguishable from Gilbert’s crimson mask and it meant that he knew he could beat the champion. So he tried to capitalize on that control and tried going for a Piledriver, only for Misawa to counter it and then hit a surprise Tiger Driver! 1…2… that was it, surely… no! The gaijin kicked out again and rolled out of the ring. The crowd was electric!
The minutes progressed, the five minute warning was given, and the two were now going for less-seen submission holds. Gilbert went for the Sleeper, but he couldn’t tap Misawa out. One minute was left! Misawa managed to win a strike battle and hit a devastating Rolling Elbow! He took some seconds, but picked his opponent up: Tiger Dri… but Gilbert counters with a majestic Frankensteiner! He doesn’t have much time, but he’s not losing now! He goes for the cover: 1…2… once again, Misawa lifts his shoulder! Gilbert can’t believe it and the time vanishes! It’s another Time Limit Draw! Gilbert was sooo close…
- Time Limit Draw: Gilbert (5 pts.) & Misawa (9 pts.) --- 30:00
- Rating: 91

»» The whole crowd stood clapping at both men’s effort tonight. Eddie Gilbert stood first and sat in the mat with his back on the turnbuckle padding. Mitsuharu Misawa sat in the opposing corner, but got up and asked for a microphone.
Then, Misawa got to the center of the ring and spoke directly to Gilbert. The words said by Misawa were ones of appreciation, as it’s because of Eddie that Misawa is not leading the Block alongside Williams and now he’s not the favorite heading to Day 14. So, the Triple Crown Champion told Gilbert: «I’m completely sure that you’re a top dog anywhere and you surely are a top dog in AJPW too! Tonight I couldn’t beat you… but I’m looking forward for our next match so I can do it again. And I’m sure of one thing: I’ll have to put in some extra work to do so!»
Misawa then received his three title belts as the ‘Hot Stuff’ cleaned his bloody face with a towel and the two then shook hands, ending the show on a high note. The evolution of Gilbert is clear in everyone’s eyes.

Show Rating: 88

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Last Days’ Recap:
»» Nothing noteworthy of report.

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B Block League Field

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Prediction Contest (Day 11 and 12) - Results:
Asaemon - 4/8
Frank Reed - 3/8
kyegds - 4/8
marc91 - 2/8
Purotastic - 4/8

The winner is: No one! I admit this one was very hard and so will be the last two League rounds, I'm sure.