Glass Hand Dissolving: Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

 

vs Toshiaki Kawada & Mitsuharu Misawa (AJPW 11/21/1991)

Kawada and Kobashi start things off, and you can see the contempt on Kawada's face from the very beginning. Kawada tags out, and Misawa spends a few minutes working Kobashi's arm. Kawada tags back in, and isn't interested in working the arm all that much; he'd rather just kick Kobashi some more. Kobashi hits a spin kick and uses the opening to tag in Kikuchi. Kikuchi really tries, he does, but his forearms don't do much to Kawada, who knocks him to the mat with two chops. Misawa comes in and works over Kikuchi for a bit, but after a while, Kikuchi escapes the hold and gets Kobashi back in the match. Misawa and Kobashi go at it for a bit, and Kobashi doesn't offer much. Kawada tags in and thinks he and kick with Kawada, but Kawada grabs a kick and takes down Kobashi. Kawada reverses a suplex into a sleeper, and Kikuchi enthusiastically comes in to break it up. Misawa tags back in for a brief moment to stomp Kobashi, but quickly tags Kawada back in. Kikuchi tags in, and man, Kikuchi is so good at playing a guy out of his depth. He jumps between submission holds, just looking for something that works. He's only in there briefly though until he tags Kobashi back in. Kobashi works a stretch muffler for a while, before transitioning into a weird half-crab. He tags in Kikuchi, who does some other version of a weird half-crab. Kikuchi goes back to the forearms, and this time they are registering, that is until Kawada kicks him in the back of the head and he slides out of the ring. Kobashi goes out to help him, and Kawada kicks him in the head for trying. When Kikuchi gets back in the ring, Kawada throws him back out on top of Kobashi. Misawa tags in and grinds down Kikuchi for a while. Kawada tags back in and does much of the same. He puts Kikuchi in a sharpshooter, and Kobashi has to come back in to break it up. Misawa comes back in, hits a big monkey flip on Kikuchi, beats him down a bit, and tags back in Kawada. Kikuchi finds an opening and tags in Kobashi. Kobashi and Kawada fight for an abdominal stretch, which turns into fighting for a pin, which Kobashi finally gets for a two count. Misawa tags in and hits a flying forearm. He lines up a Tiger Driver, but Kikuchi jumps in to prevent it, and that buys Kobashi enough to get out of it and tag in Kikuchi. Kikuchi climbs the top rope, hits a top rope dropkick for a two count.  Kikuchi and Misawa exchange forearms for a bit, and he has to tag out. Kawada comes in, hits a few knees to Kikuchi's midsection, and lines up a powerbomb, which Kobashi has to break up. Kawada hits a top tope elbow drop, and both Misawa and Kobashi come in thinking the match must be over, but Kikuchi kicks out at two. Kawada just starts stomping Kikuchi for having the temerity to kick out, but Kikuchi withstands, rolls to the corner, and tags in Kobashi. Kobashi comes in and takes it to Kawada. He goes up for the moonsault, but Kawada gets the knees up. Kawada tags in Misawa, who hits a flying clothesline for a two-count. Kobashi still has something left in the tank; he hits a bulldog, then a body slam, then tags in Kikuchi, who hits a splash off the top rope. No dice. A kick-assisted northern lights suplex, no dice. Misawa blocks a dropkick, throws a bunch of forearms, then a flying forearm, but only gets a two. Misawa has had enough, Tiger Driver and it's over. I liked this, but it does verge on the sorts of things I don't like about this area of All Japan. It doesn't have Kobashi's over-dramatic selling, but it does degrade into WHATS IT GOING TO TAKE! I'll also say that this is really buoyed by Kawada, and to a lesser extent Misawa. Kikuchi and Kobashi aren't bad, and they aren't being carried, but Kawada pulls the bulk of the load here. 

vs Barry Horowitz & Al Perez (AJPW 1/3/1993)

Perez and Kikuchi start things off; Kikuchi as some point, just grabs a leg in what is supposed to be a submission, I suppose, but it doesn't look like it would hurt, even using wrestling logic. Perez gets to the ropes, and Kikuchi tags out. Perez takes control, and tags in Horowitz. Horowitz is competitive for a bit, but eventually Kobashi takes charge and tags in Kikuchi. Kikuchi goes to work with forearms, hits a dropkick, and tags Kobashi back in. On the interchange, Horowitz goes after Kobashi, gains a slight advantage, and tags in Perez. Perez goes after Kobashi for a bit, and Kobashi bails and tags in Kikuchi. Kikuchi can't keep the pressure on, and quickly Perez is grinding down Kikuchi in the center of the ring. Kikuchi is able to fight his way to the corner and tag out. Perez and Kobashi end up on the outside, and Perez hot shots Kobashi on the guard rail, rams him into the apron, and throws him back into the ring. Perez tags out, and Horowitz comes in. Almost immediately, Kobashi takes over. Chops, flying shoulder block, suplex, and then Kikuchi gets tagged in. Kikuchi, the second he's in the ring on his own, is getting beaten up by Horowitz. Perez comes back in and just brutalizes Kikuchi and antagonizes Kobashi.  Perez really grinds down Kikuchi here in an extended heat segment. Kikuchi is able to hit a back elbow on Perez after a failed Irish Whip, and tags in Kobashi. Kobashi comes in and starts spamming dropkicks. Horowitz elbows Kobashi as he's running the ropes, which sets up Perez for what was his finish in Crockett, which is essentially a spinning Razor's Edge that doesn't end in a powerbomb, but only gets two. Horowitz tags in and hits a double underhook suplex that gets two. A reverse DDT gets a two, Horowitz goes to the top rope, but Kobashi nails him with a knee to the midsection. Kobashi tags out; he doesn't mount much offense. Horowitz hits a back suplex, but eats a superkick trying a reverse DDT. Kikuchi hits a top rope dropkick followed by a bridging German suplex for the win. There are things I liked about this; there is a real and direct hierarchy established, Perez works a tough and grinding heat which Kikuchi sells well, but I thought Kobashi was too giving here, in his structuring of this match, in his selling, and his willingness to tag in Kikuchi when the match clearly establishes that's not a good idea. 

vs Steve Williams & Johnny Ace (AJPW 1/14/1995)

This match is slightly clipped, with about five minutes missing. We open with Kobashi attempting a plancha, with Williams catching him and slamming him on the outside. Back in the ring, Williams has Kobashi in a Boston Crab. Kikuchi comes in to try and break it up, but his forearms don't register on Williams. Doc tags in Ace, who hits a top rope clothesline and some other offense, before he takes a suplex from Kobashi, who seizes the opportunity and tags in Kikuchi. This is fairly even between Ace and Kikuchi, but Kikuchi's fire wears off after a while, and Ace takes control. Ace holds Kikuchi in the tree of woe while Williams goes to town, which draws out Kobashi for the save. Ace tags out, and Williams comes to beat on Kikuchi for a bit. Ace tags back in and has Kikuchi in a liontamer until Kikuchi can grab the rope. Kobashi has to come in to prevent an Ace Crusher, which creates an opening for Kikuchi to tag out. Kobashi and Ace exchange chops in the corner, and you are never going to impress me with that, but Ace is particularly laughable in that setting. Kobashi takes it to Ace for a bit, and Ace tags out. Dr. Death comes in, and he and Kobashi start chopping, again not something I'm ever going to like, but this at least has some malice in it. They fight over an Irish whip, the struggle ends with Dr. Death splashing Kobashi in the corner, and he follows up with a German suplex. Williams goes for the cover, Kikuchi comes in to break it up, and Williams really only breaks the pin out of annoyance. Dr. Death goes after Kobashi again, but Kobashi hits a backfist out of desperation, which buys him enough space to tag in Kikuchi. As is his want, Kikuchi comes in and really tries, but he doesn't really get anywhere. Williams tags out, but doesn't leave the ring until after he and Ace drop a half dozen elbows each on Kikuchi. Ace goes to the top tope, Kobashi comes over to harry him, Williams comes over to take care of Kobashi, and Kikuchi climbs the ropes looking for a suplex. Kikuchi climbs the top rope, but is hassled by Dr. Death, which buys Ace some time to line up and Ace Crusher from the top, which he hits, and Kobashi has to break up the cover. Dr. Death comes in to take care of Kobashi, and Ace hits a Doctor Bomb for the win. This is fine; Johnny Ace isn't great, and this is more about Williams and Kobashi than it is about the teams. Not a bad match, but not one you'd recommend.

vs Jun Akiyama & Yoshihiro Takayama (NOAH 9/16/2000)

Akiyama attacks Kobashi during his entrance; Kobashi throws Akiyama in the ring, and we are off. Kobashi hits a DDT and tags in Kikuchi. Kikuchi makes a dent with some forearms, and follows up with a couple suplexes, and tags Kobashi back in. They end up outside the ring, Akiyama whips Kobashi into the barricade and rolls him back in and tags in Takayama. They work a pretty even section before Kobashi grabs a sleeper, and Akiyama has to come in and break it up. Kobashi tags in Kikuchi, and Takayama just isn't having any of what Kikuchi is doing. He tags in Akiyama, and Akiyama proceeds to throw Kikuchi around the ringside area with contempt. When they get back in the ring, Akiyama taunts Kobashi with his offense on Kikuchi. Takayama comes in, and again it is complete contempt for Kikuchi. Takayama works a variety of holds, chicken wings, crossfaces, and Kikuchi has to bite Takayama's hand to finally escape. Kikuchi fires up, but it only takes Takayama one elbow to level him. Kikuchi pops back up, bleeding from the mouth, goes back at Takayama with forearms, dodges an attack in the corner, and is able to get the tag to Kobashi. Kobashi hits a big delayed vertical suplex and turns Takayama over for a Boston crab. Akiyama tries to break it up with forearms, but Kobashi isn't having it. Kobashi does let go of the hold to go after Akiyama, which buys Takayama some time to recover and come after Kobashi. He takes it to Kobashi just enough so that he can make the tag. Akiyama and Kobashi struggle for and trade multiple suplex variations. Kobashi hits a half-and-half and tags in Kikuchi. Kikuchi gets in on the suplexes and hits a few Germans, requiring Takayama to come in and break up the pin. Kikuchi whips Akiyama at Kobashi for a lariat, but Akiyama delivers a knee to Kobashi's chin before the lariat can land. Takayama comes in to land a big boot for good measure. Akiyama goes after Kikuchi, landing a gutbuster, and tags out. Takayama, again, just brutalizes Kikuchi with knees, and Kobashi has to come in for the save. He fights valiantly, but can't quite take on both by himself. Akiyama hits him with an Exploder, and Kobashi rolls out. It's a formality from here; Akiyama and Takayama beat on Kikuchi for a bit, Takayama hits a German, and the match is over. This is good; Takayama is especially menacing toward Kikuchi, and this is one of the better Kikuchi performances, but the match seems sort of perfunctory in service of a bigger Akiyama/Kobashi feud. 

vs KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH 4/2/2006)

It's a generational battle in Pro Wrestling NOAH. Right off the rip, KENTA and Kikuchi are exchanging forearms, and I hate it. KENTA, I suppose because they are similarly sized, sells for Kikuchi, which is not something that has happened in these other four matches; even Barry Horowitz carried himself above Kikuchi. Kobashi comes in and shows KENTA a thing or two, and Marufuji tags in. Marufuji wants to exchange chops because you should let people hit you, I guess, and Kobashi obliges. Marufuji dropkicks Kobashi in the knee, in the first good thing to occur in this match. Marufuji and KENTA work that advantage until Kobashi fires up, chops Marufuji in the neck, and goes after KENTA, throwing him off the apron, at a guardrail, and then suplexing him on the floor. They go up in the bleachers, because count-outs are for marks. Kobashi comes back to the ringside, deciding to go after the legal man now, and chops Marufuji around the outside. Kobashi, because he's made it clear he's not all that interested, tags in Kikuchi. Kikuchi goes for a pin, but breaks it before the referee counts. One guy sells for you, and all of a sudden you're a killer, I guess. KENTA comes roaring back to the ringside and grabs Kobashi. They brawl a bit, but Kobashi gets bored, I guess, because he just goes in the ring, without tagging, and starts wrestling Marufuji. Kobashi puts Marufuji in a hold, and Kikuchi runs interference, or at least tries to look menacing. KENTA comes in and breaks it up the second Kikuchi turns it back, and Kobashi throws a strike at KENTA for good measure. Marufuji hits a dragon screw, and they go back to wrestling an actually good match. KENTA comes in and starts taking it to Kobashi. KENTA starts delivering kicks to Kobashi's chest, KENTA starts slapping Kobashi, and Kobashi chops KENTA to the mat. Kobashi takes control from here, then tags in Kikuchi. Kikuchi clubbers KENTA for a bit, but KENTA tags out. Marufuji and Kikuchi do a lot of consensual striking because of fighting spirit, or something. Marufuji grabs a slight advantage and dangles Kikuchi out through the ropes so he and KENTA can take turns kicking Kikuchi. KENTA tags in, and he and Kikuchi take turns hitting each other, which is what we are doing in this match. KENTA puts Kikuchi in a crab and taunts Kobashi as he does it. Marufuji comes off the top with a knee while the referee has his back turned. Marufuji tags in and goes to work on Kikuchi. Eventually, Kikuchi works his way to the corner and tags Kobashi, who comes in with no fire. Kobashi chops Marufuji in the corner a bunch. Marufuji flips out of a half and half suplex and tags in KENTA. KENTA comes in, throwing kicks with pace to overwhelm Kobashi. KENTA hits a beautiful missile dropkick to Kobashi's head, followed up with a handful of strikes, but Kobashi hits a backfist out of desperation. He follows up with a dragon suplex and tags in Kikuchi. Kikuchi hits a cradle slam type of deal of which I have no clue what to call, and KENTA has to come in to break up the pin. He goes for another one, KENTA flips out, hits a bunch of kicks, and Matufuji rolls in. They double-team Kikuchi, Marufuji rolls out, KENTA hits a bunch of strikes, goes for the cover, and Kobashi has to break it up. All four men are in the ring now; Kobashi eats a double super kick and rolls out. Marufuji and KENTA go for a Sliced Bread Powerbomb, but Kikuchi headbutts Marufuji off the top and hurricanranas out. Kikuchi hits a German suplex, then a powerbomb, and Marufuji has to break up the pin. Kikuchi is fighting off both guys now, but it doesn't last long. He eats a superkick and then a few more kicks, but Kobashi is there to break up the pin. Kobashi eats a bunch of kicks and a sliced bread, and he rolls to the outside. KENTA hits a big suplex on Kikuchi, for two. Kikuchi gets back to his feet, but a kick dazes him; KENTA capitalizes and hits a running knee that looks like crap, but it gets the win. This could have been really good, but the style of the time and it is a style that still has its negative effects today make long stretches of this irredemible. The closing stretch is very good; if you replace the first ten minutes with a heat on Kikuchi or something, this is a heater. 

Verdict

This is a team that has all the things you would need to be a great team, and in these five matches they never really put it together. Kikuchi never strikes the right balance of good wrestler and face in peril. Kobashi never struck the right balance between great teammate and guy who lets Kikuchi get beat up until it's his turn to wrestle. Kobashi is a guy who leans into the worst parts of the All Japan and NOAH trappings that I dislike, and you see some of that in the first and last match. I don't dislike this team, but I am frustrated by them.