XHWF Japan. 3/03/02 card at Nippon
Budokan
All matches are clipped but
Misawa/Kawada and the main event.
Jason Roberts: Welcome everybody
to the first card of XHWF in Japan! I’m Jason Roberts…
Rob Doucette: And I’m Rob
Doucette, and we’re here at the famous Nippon Budokan to bring you an action
packed card!
JR: That’s right, we’ve got some
of the best that Japan has to offer, from newcomers Eric Esch and Matt Bourne
to Jr. Heavyweights like Great Sasuke and Crazy MAX to legends like Mitsuharu
Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada!
Vader vs. AKIRA
AKIRA wins at 10:13with a Lariat
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki
Kawada
This crowd was warmed up right from the beginning and would stay
that way for the rest of the night. Misawa and Kawada start out exchanging
elbows and chops respectively. Irish whip, Misawa goes for the elbow but Kawada
holds the ropes. He comes in for a running high kick but Misawa backs away.
Surprised no one got in the first shot? Of course not. These two knew each
other like no other and know what to expect. Irish whip, Kawada ducks the spin
kick and comes back with a running high kick followed up with a roundhouse
kick. He goes for a suplex but Misawa slips out and hits a gorgeous backdrop
suplex. #2 man Kawada takes #1 man Misawa’s backdrop suplex just as #2 man
Misawa once took #1 man Tseruta’s trademark backdrop a few years ago. A
reminder that Kawada know his role in the scheme of things. Back to a vertical
base as Kawada gets in a wristlock, Misawa kips out and hits an elbow strike
followed with a dropkick. Kawada to the outside and Misawa comes off the apron
but Kawada catches him with an elbow strike in mid air. Misawa manages to
recover, and send Kawada crashing into the guardrail but he has none of it and
comes right back with a BIG TIME lariat. They return to the ring and Kawada’s
contempt is released. He lays in lots of stiff chops and nasty kicks. He even
slaps on a half crab, takes is very high and stands on Misawa’s head. There is
no desire to win at this point. This is about letting off some frustration.
Kawada hits a few more kicks including a brutal one right to Misawa’s mouth. No
holding back here.
Finally Misawa has enough of this beating and lays in some stiff
kicks to Kawada’s left leg. Going to back to the previous December during the
Kobashi/Misawa vs. Kawada/Taue match, Misawa and Kobashi worked over Kawada’s
leg to no end. The sell job by Kawada in that match was one of the best I have
ever seen. He continued to sell the leg injury throughout all of 1994 and into
this match as Misawa goes to work. Misawa slaps on a half crab but Kawada’s
flexibility proves helpful as he manages to kick Misawa in the mouth from the
prone position. That’s the second time Misawa had been kicked flush in the
mouth and he is not pleased at all. He works over the leg with various
grapevine submissions. The old adage of "respect flying out the window in
the face of anger" comes forth as Misawa lets Kawada up on a couple of
occasions only to kick him in the leg and watch him tumble in pain. The sympathetic
face gains the support of the crowds as "KA WA DA, KA WA DA" rings
out through Nippon Budoken. Irish whip and Misawa hits a spin kick. He goes for
the Tiger Driver but Kawada forces him into the corner. Misawa comes right back
with a couple of elbow strikes. Irish whip and Misawa goes for a dropkick but
Kawada holds the ropes and hits another spot on running high kick. Kawada hits
the first big move of the night with his trademark jumping head kick for a 2
and ½ count. He goes for the power bomb but gets back dropped. Kawada comes
right back with a dropkick to the head. Kawada comes off the second turnbuckle
on the inside with a knee drop to the back of the head. The pain from Misawa’s
earlier legwork comes through as Kawada limps away from his prone victim.
Kawada hits four consecutive sets of mini chops and that nets a 2 and ½ count.
Back to a vertical base, Misawa goes for a roundhouse kick but gets caught.
However Misawa recovers with an enzugiri. The camera gets a beautiful shot as
Misawa is bleeding hardway from his left ear. A probable result of one of
Kawada’s many kicks to the head.
Misawa goes for the Tiger Driver but Kawada backdrops him. Misawa
lands on his feet and goes for the Tiger Suplex but gets hip toss. Kawada goes
for the jumping head kick but it’s blocked and Misawa hits a dropkick to the
face. Now Misawa hits the Tiger Driver for 2 and ¾. This crowd is really
starting to warm up. Misawa hits a Frog Splash for 2 and ¾. Misawa comes off
the top for a diving elbow but Misawa hits a jumping high kick in mid air.
Kawada goes for his power bomb but it’s blocked. They go back and forth with
elbows until Kawada hits a high kick and then a LARIATOOOOOO! Kawada hits THE
DANGEROUS BACKDROP followed up with the high angle power bomb. 1… 2… 2.999999! The
crowd appreciates every second as the decival level raises another notch.
Kawada hits two consecutive jumping head kicks followed up with a NASTY
released German suplex. Kawada cinches Misawa up and hits another high angle
power bomb. 1… 2… 2.999999! He goes for yet another but Misawa reaches the
ropes. Ever determined, Kawada pulls Misawa into the middle of the ring and
slaps on the Stretch Plum. Battered and beaten, Misawa finds the resolve to
slowly make the ropes. Kawada will not be denied his victory as he again pulls
Misawa away from salvation into the hell mouth that is the middle of the ring.
This time a torture style Stretch Plum is the harbinger of pain. The crowd
plays their role to perfection as the chant of "MI SA WA, MI SA WA"
rings throughout the building. Frustrated with the lack of submission, Kawada
lets go and gets a count of 2 and ¾.
Misawa is picked up and returns to his primary weapon, the elbow
smash. He follows up with a twirling clothesline. Misawa goes for a German
suplex but it’s blocked. Not to be denied, Misawa hits a flurry of elbows and
then hits a released German suplex. The big guns are brought into battle as
Misawa hits the Tiger Suplex for 2 and 9/10. Misawa goes for another German
suplex but it’s blocked. Kawada hits a chop and then fires off a Koppo kick.
They go back and forth with elbow strikes and Misawa is sent reeling into the
corner. Kawada brings unleashes the fury with multiple kicks to the head.
Misawa will have none of it. He no sells, fires off a couple of elbow shots and
then hits a spot on Rolling Elbow. The challenger is in trouble. Kawada gives
one last ditch effort as he lets loose with his trusty kicks. The will is there
but the body has nothing more to give, as the kicks don’t faze Misawa. He hits
a few more elbow smashes and then uses a weapon not used in three years; THE
TIGER DRIVER ’91. 1…2…3!
JR: Misawa wins! Misawa wins!
RD: Oh my God! What could possibly follow that?
JR: I dunno, but the 6 men in the next match are sure going to
try!
TAKA Michinoku, Dick TOGO and MENS Teioh vs. Crazy MAX
Crazy MAX wins when CIMA pinned TOGO with the Iconoclasm.
Great Sasuke vs. Dragon Kid
Great Sasuke wins with the Thunderfire Powerbomb.
JR: And now it’s time for the main event, “Superstar” Eric Esch
vs. “Maniac” Matt Bourne.
RD: These two newcomers have a lot to prove in this one.
JR: That’s right, Matt Bourne especially, as Esch has experience
out the proverbial wazoo, just not in pro wrestling. He started out in high
school, and won 4 state titles in a row and one national title in his junior
year. After high school he trained in shoot fighting and wrestled for Rings for
4 months before making the transition to pro wrestling when he joined New
Japan, and that’s when Larry Lafayette picked him up and here he is in XHWF
Japan.
RD: …that’s right!
¤They lock up. Esch locks Bourne in a headlock. Bourne tries to
reverse it into a back suplex but Esch drops to a knee to block it. Bourne
grabs his wrist and reverses it into a hammerlock. Esch reverses that into his
own hammerlock. He wrenches up as Bourne tries to reach the ropes. Matt takes
him down with a drop toehold. Bourne tries to segue that into a spinning
toehold but Esch flips over and reverses it into a sharpshooter. He wrenches
back but Bourne grabs the bottom rope, so Esch has to release it. Just as
Bourne gets up, Esch takes him back town with a sweep to the right knee. He
picks him up and Bourne tries to hit a lariat, but Esch ducks and takes him
back down again with a single leg takedown, hooks the right leg, and segues
that into an STF. Bourne tries to reach the ropes but he’s too far. He screams
in pain as Esch wrenches back. With his free leg, Bourne turns them both over
so Esch is on his shoulders. The ref counts 1…2… Esch releases the STF. Esch
picks Bourne up and goes for a power bomb. But Bourne uses his forward momentum
to fall behind Esch, making sure to land on his left leg. Just as they both
turn around, Bourne goes for a Yakuza kick, but Esch catches his leg and kicks
him down, while still holding his leg. He goes for a Sharpshooter again, but
before he can lock it in, Bourne turns over and locks a leg grapevine. Esch
bridges himself, while keeping his own shoulders off the mat, and pushes
himself to a vertical position. He hooks the right leg and flips over into a
single-leg crab. Bourne grabs his ankle and twists it, causing Esch to break
the hold. As Esch is backing up, Bourne goes for a double-leg, but Esch
sprawls. Bourne drives forward, still trying to grab his legs, but Esch
cross-faces and keeps backing up out of Bourne’s reach. Esch tries to get
behind Bourne but Bourne turns with him to keep him in front. Finally, Esch
gets near the corner and springs off the bottom turnbuckle for momentum to get
behind Bourne and clotheslines his face into the mat. Frustrated, Matt gets up
and clotheslines Esch out of the ring, and leans against the turnbuckle to
rest. Esch grabs his foot and tries to pull him out, but Bourne pulls away and
kicks him in the face. Esch tries to slide in behind Bourne, but he sees him
and turns to face him. Esch comes up and takes him down with a fireman’s carry.
Esch drops a leg and covers him. 1…2… Bourne kicks out. Esch picks him up and
nearly kills him with a vicious power bomb! Esch covers again. 1…2…2.999!
Bourne kicked out again! He sets Bourne up on the top turnbuckle. He climbs up
and sets him up for a super bomb, but Bourne reverses it into a tornado DDT
MID-AIR! He covers Esch…1…2…2 999/1000!!! Bourne drops a knee and pins him
again…1…2…He kicked out again! He
didn’t have enough energy to make a good enough cover. Bourne picks Esch up,
but Esch grabs him and sets him up for a Superstar Slam! But as he lifts him
up, Bourne grabs his arm and reverses it into a standing armbar, which he
segues into a fisherman’s buster. He covers him…1…2… Esch kicks out again! He
goes for another fisherman’s buster, but Esch hooks him and rolls into a small
package…1…2… Bourne kicks out. Esch picks Bourne up but Bourne hooks his waist
and nearly kills him with a belly-to-belly suplex! Then he picks him up and does it again! He goes for a third time,
but Esch hooks his arms and hits a reverse tiger suplex! But he used the
remainder of his energy on that move and can’t capitalize. Both men are down,
the ref starts his count …1…2…3…4…5… Esch is stirring …6…7… he’s on one knee
…8… he’s struggling to get up …9… Esch is up! Matt Bourne is getting up too!
Before he can get all the way up Esch smashes him with a lariat. Esch stands
back and waits for Bourne to get up again, and gives him another lariat! He
stands back again, but Bourne isn’t getting up. He covers him…but just before
the ref starts the count, Bourne cradles Esch! 1…2… Esch kicked out! Esch is
frustrated. He picks up Bourne and throws him into the turnbuckles. He pulls
him back and powerbombs him against the turnbuckles! He drags him to the next
corner and does it again! He drags him to another corner and does it again!
Esch drags him to the last corner but before he can powerbomb him Bourne back
drops him against the turnbuckles and Esch lands on his head! Bourne climbs the
turnbuckle and waits for Esch to get up… Esch is getting up… Esch is on his
feet, and Bourne flies off the top rope and hits him with the Bourne Again! But
Bourne is down, too, he landed on his right leg! Neither man can capitalize.
Bourne crawls over to Esch and covers him…1…2… he kicked out! Bourne can’t
believe it! He picks Esch up and powerbombs him down! He covers again…1…2… Esch
kicked out again! Bourne picks him up again and powerbombs him again! He
covers…1…2…Esch kicked out again! Bourne picks him up and powerbombs him again!
Instead of covering he picks him up and powerbombs him again! He picks him up and does it again! He picks
him up and powerbombs him for the 6th time! He covers…1…2…2.9999999999!
Bourne gets pissed and climbs out of the ring. He pushes the timekeeper aside
and grabs his chair. He slides in the ring and prepares to hit Esch with it but
the ref grabs the chair. While Bourne is arguing with the ref Esch manages to crawl
up behind Bourne and schoolboy him…1…2… Bourne kicks out! Bourne gets up and
kicks Esch right in the back of the head! He picks him up and puts him on the
top turnbuckle. He sets him up… and superbombs him to the outside! He rolls him
inside and covers him…1…2… Esch kicks out again! He drags Esch to the outside
and to the steel ramp. He sets him up for a tombstone, but Esch counters it
with a face buster! They brawl up and back down the entrance ramp. Bourne goes
for a lariat, but Esch ducks and gives him a Superstar Slam right on the steel
ramp! He drags Bourne over and rolls him in the ring. He covers…1…2… Bourne
kicks out! Esch picks him up and gives him another Superstar Slam and covers
him…1…2…2.99999! Esch picks him up and sets him up… Brain Damage! He covers him
again…1…2…3!!! Esch wins! ¤
JR: Oh my God what a match!
RD: I don’t think we’ll ever see a match like that for a long time
here in XHWF Japan! Wait, both men are up…
¤Esch offers a handshake to Bourne and Bourne accepts¤
JR: And a display of sportsmanship between Eric Esch and Matt
Bourne. For XHWF Japan, I’m Jason Roberts, not that other JR…
RD: and I’m Rob Doucette, good night!
